Religion Without Love

“Beloved, let us love, for love is of God. In God alone love has its true abode. Beloved, let us love, for those who love are truly His sons born from above. Beloved, let us love, for love is rest, and he who loveth not remains unblest!”

Religion without love is like a body without life; it is offensive and needs to be buried from sight. Religion without love is like a contaminated well which should bear the sign, “Do not drink.” Religion without love is a house built on sand, a branch which bears no fruit, a cloak of hypocrisy covering an unregenerate heart, and a form of godliness which denies the power!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1988)

Oh, The Wonder of It

Ephesians 1:6-7

When I think of the wonder, majesty, and glory of God, I can hardly believe that such a worm as I am should be called to be an heir of His grace. Yet, it is just this vast difference that manifests the glory of His grace. He who is the highest, the holiest, and the greatest has set His affection on the lowest, the most sinful, and weakest. It is "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Pastor Darvin Pruitt

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

God’s people rejoice in the Lord always. They rejoice that His grace is always sufficient, that His blood cleanses them from all sin, that by His imputed righteousness they are justified before the law, that His love for them never fails, that by His providence all things work together for their good, that His intercession for them before the Father is never ceasing and that their names, for His sake, are written in heaven.

Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

When I look at myself, I don't see how I can be saved. But when I look at Christ, I don't see how I can be lost.

Martin Luther

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN CHRIST

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).

Paul encourages all believers to stand fast in the liberty and freedom we enjoy in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal. 5:1).

Consider these brief thoughts on the believer's freedom in Christ:

1). Where Christ in the gospel is, there is the Spirit of illumination in our heart, there is freedom from darkness. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12).

2). Where Christ in the gospel is, there is the Spirit of regeneration in our heart, there is freedom from the bondage of sin. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:32,36).

3). Where Christ in the gospel is, there is the Spirit of redemption in our heart; there is freedom from the curse and penalty of sin. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Gal. 3:13).

4). Where Christ in the gospel is, there is the Spirit of Comfort in our heart, there is freedom from fear and wrath; "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine" (Isa. 43:1).

5). Where Christ in the gospel is, there is the Spirit of adoption in our heart, there is the freedom of a child to come unto his loving Father. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).