“ Great assurance. ” 1) Gos is for us; 2) God delivered up Christ for us; 3) God justifies us; 4) Christ performed a complete work for us; 5) God loves us with an unconquerable love.
“ Serious warning. ” Cain's master was the evil one; in his malice, he refused the invitation of God to repentance; and he bore the sign of God's wrath upon him.
“ Great encouragement. ” Great encouragement! We must trust in God and the great power of Him to accomplish all what He wants and declares. And a warning to the unconverted: this power of God shall turn against those who will remain in sin.
“ Great assurance. ” Three consequences of justification: forgiveness, acceptance and assurance of heaven (glorification). We are accepted before God as Christ is accepted. We are accepted because of Him.
“ Great salvation. ” The sinner cannot be justified by what is in himself or by his doings, he must be justified by the righteousness of Christ. Clear presentation of the doctrine.
“ Great encouragement. ” Very great encouragement for us to cry unto the Lord in hard times, knowing that He will answer us because of who He is. From depth of failure and sin, of guilt, of suffering and weakness, of a burden, we must come to Him and cry to Him only.
“ Great Savior. ” By His resurrection, Christ demonstrated His pretense that He was the Son of God; demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over life and death; demonstrated the efficiency of His death on the cross; demonstrated that He can save from death, sin and hell.
“ Work! ” A divine edict; a gracious encouragement; a final exhortation. A plea for being strong in the Lord and to work. Conviction must lead us to work.
“ Great encouragement. ” What a great encouragement - we are members of the Church of Christ. A divine possession, a divine promise, a divine power. Christ is always building His Church, never failed and never will.
“ A pastor's heart. ” A pastor's heart as exemplified in Paul. I appreciate especially the idea of accessibility, of being 24 hours from 24 at the disposition of the sheep. I saw many pastors who have not this principle, so it is a great thing to start a pastorate with this. Pastor Mercer, may God give you the strength to fulfill what you determined to do!
“ Great salvation. ” What an assurance: the elect given by the Father to the Son will be saved. What a divine love, power and protection, wisdom and grace are in this verse 37!
“ Encouraging. ” Great testimony of God's saving grace, calling into ministry and guidance. May the Lord bless your ministry in Greenville with power and vision from above!
“ Prayer of Paul. ” A message on verses 20 and 21. Addressing to God in prayer, on the basis of Christ's sacrifice, asking spiritual things in prayer. The will of God is our sanctification.
12/5/09 3:56 AM
