Two Ways
There is a way that seems so right,
A way of death without God's light.
Men try to do what they think best,
To add to grace their righteousness.
They build their house upon the sand.
Their foundation to commend.
They stand and pray within themselves,
"We’ve kept the law; we've done so well."
Our Lord professed their work is vain.
"I am the Way", Christ does proclaim.
Not by their works of righteousness,
But by His mercy He saves us.
Like some before me, I tried so hard
To please the everlasting Lord.
He showed me Jesus on the tree
Who bore the wrath of sin for me.
He calls His own unto His way.
He is their Guide; He is their Stay.
He prays for them with Him to be,
With grace and mercy sets them free.
With praise and honor, we bless our King.
The Lamb of God Who has redeemed.
He sits on high, our Surety
To call His own with Him to be.
(Tune: ‘Just as I Am’ # 249, by Gary Spreacker)
The word of God declares that "The children being not yet born, neither having done good or evil Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated, that the PURPOSE OF GOD according to election might stand".
Man, who makes a god in his own image, when he hears this blessed truth says, "That is not fair, God is unrighteous to treat people this way". But God answers, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy". Man can accuse God of being unjust, and unfair, but we will make no apologies or defend Him. We just bow and submit to Him, for we know that he is debtor to none.
If it were not for His mercy none would be saved at all, for all are sinners. -
Pastor
~~~ O ~~~
FAITH is that belief and trust which the saints have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through faith they are both humbled and exalted, brought down and lifted up. Through faith they see the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the pure righteousness of Jesus the Christ. Through faith they are condemned yet justified, guilty yet innocent, naked yet clothed, sorrowful yet “rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” No wonder the Bible speaks of faith as “precious faith.”
- Pastor Maurice Montgomery
~~~ O ~~~
To suppose that the Lord Jesus has only half saved men, and that there is needed some work or feeling on their own part to finish His work, is wicked. What is there of ours that could be added to His blood and righteousness? "All our righteousness's are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). 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 Saviour to dream of such a thing. We have sinned enough, without adding this to all our other offences.
- C.H. Spurgeon
HOW THE APOSTLES DIED
All of the apostles were insulted by the enemies of their Master. They were called to seal their doctrines with their blood, and nobly did they bear the trial. Schumacher says that according to traditional statements the following was the fate of the apostles:
MATTHEW suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword, at a distant city of Ethiopia.
MARK expired at Alexandria, after having been cruelly dragged through the streets of that city.
LUKE was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece.
JOHN was put in a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner, and was afterward abandoned at Patmos.
PETER was crucified at Rome, with his head downward.
JAMES THE LESS was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a fuller's club.
BARTHOLOMEW was flayed alive.
ANDREW was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his persecutors until he died.
THOMAS was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in East Indies.
JUDE was shot to death with arrows.
MATTHIAS was first stoned and then beheaded.
BARNABAS of the Gentiles was stoned to death by the Jews at Salonica.
PAUL, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
~~~ O ~~~
If God loved us because we loved Him, He would love us only so long as we love Him, and on that condition; and then our salvation would depend on the constancy of our treacherous hearts. But as God loved us as sinners, as Christ died for us as ungodly, our salvation depends, as the apostle argues, not on our loveliness, but on the constancy of the love of God.”
- Charles Hodge
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