Watson said this so well that I'm going to leave it in his capable hands. This is humbling, encouraging, and (missions) stimulating all at the same time!
THE LOT OF FREE GRACE!
By Thomas Watson from "A New Creature"
"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
The new creature is a work of free grace. There is nothing in us, to cause God to make us anew. By nature we are full of pollution and enmity—yet now God forms the new creature. Behold the banner of love displayed! The new creature may say, "By the grace of God I am what I am!" In the creation, we may see the strength of God's arm; in the new creature, we may see the working of God's heart! That God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace—is an act of pure love! That He should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another—must be resolved into sovereign grace! This will increase the saint's triumphs in heaven, that the lot of free grace should fall upon them—and not on others.
The new creature is a work of rare excellency. A natural man is a lump of dirt and sin mixed together. God loathes him! But upon the new creature is a spiritual glory—as if a piece of clay, was turned into a sparkling diamond!
Those are not new creatures, who continue in their sins and are resolved so to do. These are in the gall of bitterness, and are the most miserable creatures that ever God made—except for the devils. These stand in the place where all God's arrows fly! These are the center where all God's curses meet!
An unregenerate person is like one in debt—who is in fear of being arrested by death, and carried prisoner to hell! Can that traitor be happy—who is fed by his prince in prison—only to be kept alive for his execution? God feeds the wicked like prisoners. They are reserved for the day of wrath!
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
February 21, 2008
September 1, 2007
The Word of God-Where the One Road and One Passion Collide
Make time to read Psalm 119. Passion, wisdom, instruction, and direction all weave together here. Here are a couple of excerpts:
Verses 1 & 2: "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, how blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart."
Verse 11: "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
Verse 35: "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."
Verse 97: "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Verse 103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
The Word of God, for the unbeliever, is just another book of harsh, rigid rules.
For the professing, or wannabe, Christian, the Word of God is that book they take to church on Sunday. Their life is dictated by their own philosophy, not God's Word (See Proverbs 12:15).
But for the TRUE Christian, the Word of God is his treasure, his collection of loving instructions from his Father, his manual for life. Who should you marry, Husband/Wife responsibilities, disciplining children, how to serve God, how to serve people, how to pray, what kind of entertainment should you watch/listen to, what should you wear, etc., etc.-It's all there.
What we are seeing in the American church today are congregations full of (at best) "baby Christians" that have no discernment and little, if any, knowledge of the Bible. The problem is that so many churches never preach and/or teach beyond John 3:16, the "Romans Road," and "7 Keys to [whatever] in Your Life."
My desire is that you fall in love with the Word of God and seek the path that leads to life and cling to it. Go beyond the Sunday morning pep rally and dig into the truth of God's Word! Check out some of the "Solid Sources"-particularly Desiring God and Anchored in Truth.
Let me know your thoughts on Psalm 119; I would love to hear how God uses it in your life!
God Bless.
Verses 1 & 2: "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, how blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart."
Verse 11: "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
Verse 35: "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."
Verse 97: "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Verse 103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
The Word of God, for the unbeliever, is just another book of harsh, rigid rules.
For the professing, or wannabe, Christian, the Word of God is that book they take to church on Sunday. Their life is dictated by their own philosophy, not God's Word (See Proverbs 12:15).
But for the TRUE Christian, the Word of God is his treasure, his collection of loving instructions from his Father, his manual for life. Who should you marry, Husband/Wife responsibilities, disciplining children, how to serve God, how to serve people, how to pray, what kind of entertainment should you watch/listen to, what should you wear, etc., etc.-It's all there.
What we are seeing in the American church today are congregations full of (at best) "baby Christians" that have no discernment and little, if any, knowledge of the Bible. The problem is that so many churches never preach and/or teach beyond John 3:16, the "Romans Road," and "7 Keys to [whatever] in Your Life."
My desire is that you fall in love with the Word of God and seek the path that leads to life and cling to it. Go beyond the Sunday morning pep rally and dig into the truth of God's Word! Check out some of the "Solid Sources"-particularly Desiring God and Anchored in Truth.
Let me know your thoughts on Psalm 119; I would love to hear how God uses it in your life!
God Bless.
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