Saturday, January 30, 2010

JESUS ONLY--CHARLES SPURGEON


WE cannot too often or too plainly tell the seeking soul that his only hope for salvation lies in the Lord Jesus Christ. It lies in him completely, only, and alone. To save both from the guilt and the power of sin, Jesus is all sufficient. His name is called Jesus, because “he shall save his people from their sins” "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” He is exalted on high “to give repentance and remission of sins.” It pleased God from of old to devise a method of salvation which should be all contained in his only-begotten Son. The Lord Jesus, for the working out of this salvation, became man, and being found in fashion as a man, became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. If another way of deliverance had been
possible, the cup of bitterness would have passed from him. It stands to reason that the darling of heaven would not have died to save us if we could ‘have been rescued at less expense. Infinite grace provided the great sacrifice; infinite love submitted to death for our sakes. How can we dream that there can be another way than the way which God has provided at such cost, and set forth in Holy Scripture so simply and so pressingly? Surely it is true that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must ‘be saved.”

To suppose that the Lord Jesus has only half saved, men, and that there isneeded some ‘work’. or feeling of their own to finish his work is wicked. What is there of ours that could be added to his blood and righteousness? “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Can these be patched on to ‘the costly fabric of his divine righteousness? Rags and fine white linen! Our dross and his pure gold! It is an insult to the Savior to dream of such a thing. We have sinned enough, without adding this to all our other offenses.
( Taken from Around the Wicket Gate; some emphasis mine, cw)

Friday, January 22, 2010

HELP FROM WITHOUT-- CHARLES SPURGEON


"Yea, I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:10).
Yesterday's promise secured us strength for what we have to do, but this guarantees us aid in cases where we cannot act alone. The LORD says, "I will help thee." Strength within is supplemented by help without. God can raise us up allies in our warfare if so it seems good in His sight; and even if He does not send us human assistance, He Himself will be at our side, and this is better still. "Our August Ally" is better than legions of mortal helpers.

His help is timely: He is a very present help in time of trouble. His help is very wise: He knows how to give each man help meet and fit for him. His help is most effectual, though vain is the help of man. His help is more than help, for He bears all the burden and supplies all the need. "The LORD is my helper, I will not fear what man can do unto me."

Because He has already been our help, we feel confidence in Him for the present and the future. Our prayer is, "LORD, be thou my helper"; our experience is, "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities"; our expectation is, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help"; and our song soon will be, "Thou, LORD, hast holpen me."



C. H. SPURGEON (Main article from Faith's Checkbook for January 6th)
"God has given no pledge which He will not redeem,
and encouraged no hope which He will not fulfill."

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

LOVE UNTO THE END---CHARLES SPURGEON


Praise the Lord! My computer is restored after a nasty virus suddenly took out almost everything. So in humble celebration, I am featuring here for a time Charles Spurgeon, my favorite gospel preacher of old.

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever” (Lamentations 3:31).
He may cast away for a season, but not for ever.

A woman may leave off her ornaments for a few days, but she will not
forget them, nor throw them upon the dunghill. It is not like the Lord to
cast off those whom He loves: for, “having loved his own which were in
the world, he loved them unto the end.” Some talk of our being in grace
and out of it, as if we were like rabbits that run in and out of their burrows:
but, indeed, it is not so. The Lord’s love is a far more serious and abiding
matter than this.

He chose us from eternity, and He will love us throughout eternity. He
loved us so as to die for us, and we may therefore be sure that His love will
never die. His honor is so wrapped up in the salvation of the believer, that
He can no more cast him off than He can cast off His own robes of office
as King of glory. No, no! The Lord Jesus, as a Head, never casts off His
members; as a Husband, He never casts off His bride.

Did you think you were cast off? Why did you think so evil of the Lord
who has betrothed you to Himself? Cast off such thoughts, and never let
them lodge in your soul again. “The Lord hath not cast away his people which he foreknew” (Romans 11:2). “He hateth putting away” (Malachi 2:16).

(Faith's Checkbook reading for January 12th)