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« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2012, 07:18:47 PM » |
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That agency is the Spirit Jehovah, acting in honor of the Redeemer's ransom; those principles are from above, and are styled a new creation. Both the one and the other are necessary to accomplish the design of grace; and both are secured through the infinite merit of Immanuel's death.
Oh, admirable plan! how perfect, how glorious, and complete! Satan would have still held His captives, and the world would have claimed her vassals — but for the exertion of the power of God! But how the strong man is conquered, all that is in the world is overcome — and grace sets her children free, yes, and makes them free indeed.
Salvation is by free grace conferring blessings. Salvation is one vast blessing, which, like the rod of Moses, swallows up all other blessings in itself! It is not the payment of a debt — but the conferring of a favor. "He has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works — but according to His own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." All we are, and all we shall be — flows from divine grace: conviction of sin, a sense of danger, the cry of need, the longing for freedom, the appetite for righteousness, the confession of guilt, wrestling at the throne, the good tidings of pardon, the enjoyment of liberty, the witness of the Spirit, the unutterable groan, and the delightful cry of Abba, my Father and my God — all flow from divine favor, and are but effects produced by rich and sovereign grace.
Every blessing necessary for time or eternity, is included in the word "salvation." Grace has provided, promised, and proclaimed all blessings to all who believe in Jesus; faith evidences our right to all the blessings of the covenant, all the merit of the Son of God, and all the privileges of the everlasting gospel.
Salvation is by free grace commanding obedience. Grace is the expression of the favor of an infinitely holy God, and therefore cannot in any sense sanction sin. It requires obedience, not as a term of life, or to procure a title to Heaven — but to evince our gratitude to God, out of love to the Lord Jesus — to prove the power and purity of our principles, and to benefit society.
Grace removes sin meritoriously by the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross — and efficaciously by the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart.
Grace hates sin above all things. Sin is abhorrent to the very nature of grace, and therefore it is strictly prohibited, and invariably corrected.
The doctrines of the gospel exhibit . . . grace — in its supremacy, majesty, and glory; the promises — in its liberality, forethought, and bounty; and the precepts — in its hatred to sin, its holiness, and righteousness.
That which tolerates or sanctions sin — is not the grace of God. Divine grace breaks the heart for sin, leads us to hate and forsake it, and to sigh and cry for perfect freedom from it.
The commands of grace are imperative, necessary, and beneficial; they are intended for our good, as much as the promises, and should be loved equally with them. He who trifles with the commands — knows but little of the power of the promises, or the energy of the doctrines; for these rightly known and experimentally enjoyed — produce love to holiness, and concern to glorify God, by observing all His statutes.
Grace on the throne — produces sanctification of heart; and grace in the heart — produces holiness of life.
We look . . . to the doctrines for instruction; to the promises for support; and to the precepts for direction; and honor grace in each!
Salvation, then, . . . originates in the free grace of God, flows in the channel of the Redeemer's blood, and aims at the glorification of Jehovah in all His perfections.
Salvation was . . . planned in eternity, executed in time, and shall be realized and enjoyed until eternity can end!
Salvation is . . . divine in its contrivance, execution, and application; holy in its character, tendency, and design; and free in its bestowment and operations.
Salvation is of God, by grace, to holiness — forever!
Are you saved? Has the grace of God brought salvation to you? Is . . . your heart changed, your will renewed, and your conscience purified and made tender?
Do you . . . love holiness, hate sin, walk uprightly, fear God, and aim at the honor of Jesus in all you do?
Do you . . . groan, being burdened with inward corruption, live by faith in the Son of God, watch against temptation, resist Satan, conquer the world, and look for glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life?
Is . . . Jesus precious, grace delightful, mercy sweet, and your heart in Heaven?
The opposite of salvation is damnation. As salvation is entirely of grace — damnation is entirely of works! God alone is the author of the former — man alone is the author of the latter. Justice punishes for sin — and only for sin.
Every man . . . digs his own Hell, fixes the amount of his own punishment; and goes to perdition with a fixed determination!
He . . . closes his ear and heart against the gospel, turns his back upon the way of life, chooses and pursues the way of death.
He manifests a decided opposition to God, in every thought of his heart and action of his life; and says, "Depart from me, I desire not the knowledge of Your ways!"
Oh, sinner, God notices your contempt, regards your infidelity, and will surely bring you into judgment! Think of your imminent danger, stop in your dangerous course, call upon God for pardon, flee unto Jesus for life, and strive to enter in at the strait gate! The door of salvation is open, the way of escape is at hand, and salvation with all its blessings may be enjoyed; for "whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Oh taste and see, that the Lord is good! Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out; for our God will abundantly pardon. The Lord give you to know, enjoy, and confess this to be the case, to the glory of His grace!
Salvation! oh the joyful sound! 'Tis pleasure to our ears; A sovereign balm for every wound, A cordial for our fears.
Buried in sorrow and in sin, At Hell's dark door we lay; But we arise by grace divine, To see a heavenly day!
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