What's Whiter than Snow?

From The Watchman's Message: 1877

"Do you know anything whiter than snow? I put that question to an old man, one who was tottering on the brink of the grave, and to whom I was endeavoring to speak of Jesus. Some remark having been made relative to the late fall of snow, I seized the opportunity, and asked him the question I ask you now. He seemed surprised, hesitated, and then declared that he did not. I said I did. 

He, looking very hard at me asked what it was. 

I replied " A sinner washed in the precious blood of Jesus." I then told him of the verse in Isaiah which says "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"; also the end of the seventh verse of the first epistle of John " the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." and of David's prayer "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." 

Have you been washed whiter than snow in the precious blood of Jesus? You can never enter Heaven unless you are. 

Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on HIM and pardon me."

The Antinomian Legal Spirit

Originally posted in 2010, adapted and updated for today.

The Antinomian Legal Spirit by Thomas Boston from the notes on the book The Marrow of Modern Divinity by E. Fisher.

"The Antinomian principle, that is needless for a man, perfectly justified by faith, to endeavor to keep the law, and do good works is a glaring evidence that legality is so ingrained in man’s corrupt nature, that until a man truly come to Christ, by faith, the legal disposition will still be reigning in him’ let him turn himself into what shape, or be of what principles he will in religion; though he run into Antinomianism he will carry along with his legal spirit, which will always be a slavish and unholy spirit. He is constrained, as the author observes, to do all that he does for fear of punishment, and hope of reward; and if it is once fixed in his mind that these are ceased in his case, he stands still like a clock when the weights that moved her go are removed, or like a slaved when he is in ho hazard of the whip; than winch there cannot be a greater evidence of loathsome legality."

Boston points out a great irony in the life of the antinomian. The very spirit that happily declares there is no law is the spirit of legality, just the other side of the coin of depravity. The lawless do not rejoice in the rest of Christ, but the freedom from law; which display the legalistic heart of the antinomian. Both the legalist and the antinomian have the same problem. One thinks that the law can justify, the other rejoices that the law is gone and believes it to be altogether unprofitable. The Biblical teaching shows us that we are dead to the law unto justification. We cannot, could not and will not keep God’s law and Jesus Christ came and freed us from the curse of the law; it now has no condemning power over us any longer. We are not under the law for justification, but under grace. We are not free to live as we will because we will not live as we ought (Romans 7). We are to follow Christ, not for salvation, but follow Him since we have been saved. We do not obey God to be saved, but because we are. No longer is it ‘do this and live’, but ‘live and do this’. We cannot please God without faith and faith without works is dead. A Christian follows and obeys Christ, not out of hope of Heaven, but love for the Lord.

The legalist has a heart to keep the law to go to Heaven, the antinomian has a heart to break the law because he feels freed from its grievous hold on him. The leagalist tries to keep the law because he feels he has to, not out of love for God. The antinomian has no concern for the law, not because he wants to please the Lord, but because he no longer feels he has to.

So both people are running in opposite directions from the same heart, a heart of law. One loves the law and runs under it for justification. The other hates the law and runs from it for perceived freedom. But both are running BECAUSE OF THE LAW. The love of the law, or the hatred of law cause both camps to run. The Child of God runs to Christ, with Christ and for Christ. He is the freeman who runs not because of the law, but because of Christ.

The Lord’s commandments are a rule of life to us, not a means of justification. We must strive not to drive in the ditch of the legalist who uses the law to be saved in hope of reward; and not to swerve into the ditch of antinomian and rebel against following Christ in spiritual anarchy against the Lordship of Christ.

______________________________________________________________________


Douglas Newell 

The Divine Attributes of Christ

Charles Hodge:

"All divine names and titles are applied to [Christ]. He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God overall; Jehovah; Lord; The Lord of lords and the King of Kings. All divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared to be omnipresent, omniscient, almighty and immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is set forth as the creator and upholder and ruler of the universe. All things were created by Him and for Him; and by Him all things consist. He is the object of worship to all intelligent creatures, even the highest; all the angels (i.e., all creatures between man and God) are commanded to prostate themselves before Him. He is the object of all the religious sentiments; of reverence, love faith, and devotion. To Him  men and angels are responsible for their character and conduct. He required that man should honor Him as they honored the Father also. He calls all men unto Him. Promise to forgive their sins, to send them the Holy Spirit; to give them rest and peace; to raise them up at the last day and to give them eternal life. God is not more, and cannot promise more or do more that Christ is said to be, to promise and to do. He has therefore been the Christian’s God from the beginning, in all ages and in all places."

Evil and Error by J.C. Philpot

The following is and excerpt from J.C. Philpot's excellent book The Eternal Sonship of Christ.

"There are two things which every child of God has the greatest reason to dread; the one is evil, the other is error. Both are originally from Satan; both have a congenial home in the human mind; both are in their nature deadly and destructive; both have slain their thousands and tens of thousands; and under one or the other, or under both combined, all everlastingly perish but the redeemed family of God."

God is Able

Matthew 9:27-28  And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

How would you answer the question Jesus asked the blind men? Do you believe that God is able?  The Holy Word of God is full of victorious language to the saints of God.  They are doubtless words to doubting men.  Time and time again we are encouraged in the inspired scriptures and are told how great our God is, and with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible, and we can do all things through Christ which strengthen us. God is able!  Speaking as a man, God has power to accomplish His will.  He has strength, knowledge and wisdom to carry out what he wills to be.  There is indeed nothing that is able to keep God from doing what he wills.  There is no power in Heaven or Earth that can overcome God.  In other words, God can!  Where man fails, God is able, when you and I can’t even try, God can.  When I don’t have the capacity to imagine, God is masterful in His works.  We have a tendency to get discouraged.  We can look at a situation and feel it’s lost, and that we are defeated.  That is what happens when we rely on self and live by sight.  But we serve a mighty God, and our Lord Jesus is our victorious King!  We are in Christ, and Jesus is all powerful, and with Him all things are possible.  As obedient children, we must submit to the will of God, and not question Him, so the purpose today is not to wonder why, but to understand why it is that we DO NOT question His will and trust Him, because God is able.

God is Able to Heal

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

 God can heal our physical bodies, without question, but more importantly, He is able to heal the soul. Sunken and consumed in the depravity of the human heart, I am not able to offer my wicked heart to God, I am not able to offer for  myself let alone anyone else.  You, dear reader as well, are in such a state of despair, left to yourself. No, it is only Jesus the Christ who could be able to be made sin for another, the holy, blameless, righteous Eternal Son of God, only He is able.  Jesus is able to save 

 Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  

 He saves to the uttermost, He is victorious, not simply trying His best, but is able and never fails!  Put your trust in He who is worthy, the Lamb of God, who is able to intercede.  It’s not a blind faith in uncertainty and unproven experiments, but a living faith in the risen Saviour!  What the bible declares of our Lord is true, believe in Him who is able to save.

God is able to HEAR

 Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  

God is able to HELP

Hebrews 2:16-18  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

  Our Great High Priest has the power to help us, no matter the trouble. Whether facing a giant Philistine, or facing a fiery furnace He has the power to help. Whether accused by Potifars wife, or accused by the enemy, Jesus has the power and ability to help us to serve Him.  Jesus knows how to help us. He knows what to do, for lack of a better phrase. Our merciful High Priest knows how we need help. As he was fully man as well as fully God, He is experienced (yet without sin) in the temptations we face. He also desires to help those He loves. How often we run to those who can’t help us, or won’t help us, or don’t care even if they do try to help us. We, who are saved, have a merciful and faithful priest. When we are tried or tempted, or in spiritual battle, Jesus intercedes for us, knowing our struggle, loving and not forsaking us, but gives us grace in our time of need. He heals, hears, helps and he also holds us. Not only does he start the work, but is able to see it through. You may not be like me, I sometimes will think I would like to try my hand at a certain project, or a new hobby.  I will be resolved to finish it, but as time goes on, the thought of the project or hobby was more enjoyable than the work, and it may go unfinished. Are there any half finished projects laying around our homes or work areas, or maybe project we didn’t put all we had into it, and could have done a little better job? Jesus knows nothing of that.


God is Able to Hold

 Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  He is able to keep us from falling into sin.  Where would you be, had not the Lord kept you from fulfilling all the lust of your heart? Our Lord is able to keep us to him, his love constrainth us, and thank God he doesn’t leave us to ourselves. He is able to keep us from falling into error. Let us not be so bold as to think that we hold to the truth by our great intellectual prowess and fortitude. God keeps us from falling by his marvelous grace.  I know men who have fallen farther spiritually than I thought was possible. Not one of us is beyond or above falling into error, save God keep us from falling. How happy Satan must be when a child of God, who is blessed to be a member one of the Lord’s churches, falls into error and from the truth.  He is able to keep us from falling into temptation.  If Jesus wasn't able, then why would He have told us to pray that He would not lead us into temptation, but DELIVER us from evil?  Jesus can, will and is in every way masterfully qualified with  all power, to keep us from falling. Are we so strong as to never be led away?  Oh, if it were not for the Lord, what depths of wickedness would we presently reside? Praise be to God that Jesus Christ is able to keep us from falling!  I can’t keep you, I am not able, I can’t even keep myself,  but God is able to keep you from falling.  He is able to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.   He is going to bring me through to the end.  I don’t trust a Saviour that can only do half the job, but one who is able and will save me to the uttermost, and with Him, I stand and fall.  He WILL present me faultless, cleansed by His blood, with great joy, and He is the only one who can, and the only one who will.  He will, with joy, be successful, as nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Good, Evil and God

"Let us confess with the greatest benefit, what we believe with the greatest truth, that the God and Lord of all things who made all things very good --
both 
foreknew that evil was to arise out of good,
and 
knew that it belonged to  his most omnipotent goodness to bring good out of evil, rather than not permit evil to be, and so ordained the life of angels and men as to show in it --
first:
what free will could do, and
second:
what the benefit of his grace and his righteous judgment could do."
Augustine.

Scandal Monger

Proverbs 11:13  A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

The talebearer. Strong defines the Hebrew word râkı̂yl as “a scandal monger” and that, my friends, wins the definition of the day.

That is exactly was a talebearer is - a scandal monger. He is a purveyor of confidence, a seller of secrets, and dealer of confidence. And we like it, except when it is about us -- and then of course, it is awful, just awful. How dare he spread MY secrets. 

WARNING: the next tale the talebearer tells may bear your secret tale. 

Selah.

Prospects for the Future: M.D.Lloyd-Jones

A Queen and Two Kings

Here is a message I preached a couple weeks ago at the New Testament Baptist Church in Bristol, TN with Pastor Lewis Kiger. The message is when the Queen of Sheba went to meet one king, and he introduced her to a greater King.

You don't get Grace Gems?

If you are not getting the daily Grace Gems e-mail, then you are missing out on sound, Biblical daily devotions. They are always theologically deep and edifying. Click here to sign up.***

Here is a sample:

(J.C. Ryle, "HAPPINESS" 1878)
It is an utter mistake to suppose that PLEASURE-SEEKING and AMUSEMENTS alone can give happiness. Of all roads that men can take in order to be happy, this is the one that is most completely wrong! Of all weary, flat, dull and unprofitable ways of spending life--this exceeds all! To think of a sinful, dying creature, with an immortal soul, expecting happiness . . .
  in feasting and reveling,
  in dancing and singing,
  in dressing and visiting,
  in ball-going and card-playing,
  in races and fairs,
  in hunting and shooting,
  in crowds, in laughter, in noise, in music, in wine!
Surely it is a sight that is enough to make the devil laugh and the angels weep!Even a child will not play with its toys all day long! But when grown up men and women think to find happiness in a constant round of amusement--they sink far below a child! 

*** I'm not affiliated in any way with Grace Gems, but I highly recommend the daily devotions. This is a free service that doesn't shy away from the truth and continually blesses and encourages me.

The Best Form of Government

Here is an excerpt from The Golden Age: A treatise on the One Thousand Year Reign of Christ on Earth by A.W Pink and Luther C. Peak. From the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, everyone knows that there is a problem with government and everyone has a way to "fix" it - but the only way to fix it is to take care of the root of the problem that ruins all systems of government, and that is sin. When Christ comes to rule, his reign will bring peace and joy.

The form of Christ's [millennial] government with be theocratic, not democratic. (Zec 14:9)  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. Many have been the experiments of politicians and reformers for the establishing of a government that should be equitable, stable and pure; but all have been in vain. Ever since the Flood, 4,500 years ago, God has allowed man every opportunity to develop hi schemes, but ancient and modern, Oriental and Occidental, monarchies and republics all have served only to demonstrate that man is a colossal failure. The record of human government is tyranny and oppression, greed and discontentment, war and bloodshed. How all this serves to show the crying need for One who has all power and yet all compassion, One who is God and yet Man. Under the rule of Christ shall be solved every problem of capital and labor, wealth and poverty, war and peace.

Solomon, I have a question. What is the Purpose of Proverbs?

Reader - "Solomon, what is the purpose of Proverbs?"

Solomon - "Glad you asked! The purpose of the book of Proverbs is...

1. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;   
2. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;   
3. To give subtilty to the simple, 
4. to the young man knowledge and discretion.   
5. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  
6. To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  
7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

(Pro 1:1-7)

Proverbs takes us to Christ. No one can live up to the book of Proverbs, not even Solomon. No one, but Christ Jesus, the greater than Solomon, who the world will not heed. 

The Power and Influence of the Holy Spirit

A.W. Pink in his book The Holy Spirit said

“The greatest lack of all Christendom today is the absence of the Holy Spirit’s power and blessing. Review the activities of the past 30 years. Millions of dollars have been freely devoted to the support of professed Christian enterprises. Bible institutes and schools have turned out “Trained workers” by the thousands. Bible conferences have sprung up on every side like mushrooms. Countless booklets and tracts have been printed and circulated. Time and labors have been given by an almost incalculable number of “personal workers.”  And with what results? Has the standard of personal piety advanced? Are the churches less worldly? Are their members more Christ-like in their daily walk? Is there more godliness in the home? Are the children more obedient and respectful? Is the Sabbath day being increasingly sanctified and kept holy? Has the standard of honest in business been raised?

Isn’t this the case? Assemblies grow in size and wealth but have no power – no influence. Even among the Lord’s churches:

·         an apathy towards truth,

·         a coldness towards service

·         an indifference towards of godly living

·         an scoffing of separation until there is no difference between us and the world, let alone churches of Christ and worldly churches 

On one side of the road is the ditch of Pentecostalism that wrongly attributes the works of Satan and the works of their own fleshly desires to the Holy Spirit.

On the other side of the road is the ditch of intellectualism that makes Christianity nothing more than a topic  of discussion and logic exercises. 

The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, or a power, or an influence. He is a person. He is God. He is a "He" not an it. He is God, and without His power or influence, all of our feeble efforts are worthless. 

 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zech. 4:6)

Paul and the heart of a pastor

On Paul's pastoral heart in Acts 20:17-38 from the chapter The Focus of Paul's Ministry

"Here is a man sacrificial in love, selfless in service, earnest in labor, honest in dealing, conscientious in duty, sober in warning, fierce in defense, faithful in prayer, fixed upon Jesus, pouring himself out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of the faith of the church."  - A Portrait of Paul Ventura & Walker

The Church Needs MEN

BH Carroll was right on when he described the need of the Lord's men to act like men. Baptist churches need men to act like men. We need "creek swimming, brier cutting men" today. Men who will stand up and fulfill their roles God has called them to, namely to act like men. In I Corinthians 16:13 it says "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." God has challenged us, to BE A MAN. Carroll says:

"It is the creek-swimming men that shake the world—the brier-cutting men who will not allow obstacles to keep them from doing what God wants them to do.
Let a congregation get the idea of their pastor that he is pink of perfection, can beat anybody in town tying a cravat [neck tie], and wears the nicest little shoes, knows how to fasten a nose-gay in his vest, and how to enter a room and entertain company; carries an umbrella so as not to burn his delicate skin, then what will be his power to awaken and save the lost? An umbrella is all right in its place, but what I want to impress is this—that a stalwart man, a real man, will accomplish more of the great things in the work than all of these little fellows. He will not stop to consider a thousand things that absorb the mind of the trivial man, but will go right straightforward to the accomplishment of his great purpose. I have heard these dainty essayists preach. I have gone to their churches hungry and tried to -get something—and failed.
It reminds me of the story of a preacher who tells this of himself: During the civil war he went to a house to get some supper. Army rations were poor, and he was very hungry. They had just a little butter and they all wanted to make it go as far as possible, so each one tried to hurry through in order to get another chance at the butter before it disappeared. He said that he could not get rid of the butter in his plate. He even tried to sop it up with his bread, but it did not have any taste to it. At last he looked up and saw through knot-hole in the roof over his head that the moon was shining down through into his plate, and that all the time he had been sopping moonshine.”