“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 Justification and sanctification are distinct blessings. The first springs out of, and is connected with, the finished work of the … Read more
“The entrance of thy words giveth light.” Psalm 119:130 The blessed Spirit is pleased sometimes to give some testimony concerning Jesus, to open up some passage of Scripture which speaks of Jesus, to cast a divine light before the astonished eyes, and to throw some of the blessed beams of gospel truth into our souls, … Read more
“By grace ye are saved.” Ephesians 2:5 Oh! the volumes of blessed truth that are couched in these few words; thrown in out of the Apostle’s full heart as if to give a moment’s vent to his love of salvation by grace! Mercy, love, and grace are all in the bosom of God toward his … Read more
“My people are bent to backsliding from me.” Hosea 6:7 What an awful error it is to deny backsliding! What ignorance it manifests of a man’s own heart! How it stamps a man as a perverter of truth, and one that trifles with sin and the displeasure of the Most High! Who that knows himself … Read more
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” Matthew 9:12 A physician is useless without a case; and the deeper the case, the wiser and better physician we need. Thus a guilty conscience is a case for atoning blood, a wounded spirit for healing balm, a filthy garment for a … Read more
“And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:23 “Christ is God’s.” These are remarkable words, and need to be carefully and reverently opened up. The fulness of the mystery is beyond our grasp. Still, we may attempt to look at it in faith and godly fear. How, then, is Christ God’s? First, … Read more
“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours.” 1 Corinthians 3:22 “Life,” says the Apostle, is “yours.” But how can this be? In two ways. Life present and life future, both are the Christian’s, according to the words, “Godliness is … Read more
“These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.” Psalm 104:27 The “meat” which God’s children long after, is to have “the truth as it is in Jesus,” in its various branches, revealed with power to their heart. Not merely to see a certain truth in God’s word; that … Read more
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20 When the Lord Jesus is pleased … Read more
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 There are three kinds of righteousness, or at least three kinds of righteousness which bear that name. There is inherent righteousness, of which we … Read more
“Even to him shall men come.” Isaiah 45:24 The Lord has given an absolute promise that “In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” And no less absolute is the addition, and as it were divine corollary to that promise, “To him shall men come.” And who gives them … Read more
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 The glory of Christ, in his suffering manhood, was veiled from the eyes of all but those who were taught by the blessed … Read more