Having spoken of the adversaries we face as believers, Paul reaches back to Psalm 44 to illustrate that suffering and death have been the lot of believers through the ages. The unbelieving world has always hated and oppressed the christian. Paul recounts his own experiences of suffering in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Of verse 36, John Gill makes this observation,"this testimony is produced, to show that suffering death has been the common lot of the saints in all ages: and is designed to animate the people of God under the Gospel dispensation, to suffer with cheerfulness". John MacArthur makes this comment,"'The cost of faithfulness to God has always been high. Jesus declared, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 1O:37-39). Paul assured his beloved Timothy that "indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3: 12).
Recently, I have seen so many of my friends facing severe physical circumstances. Some dealing with cancer, some dealing with illnesses that defy description. The tendency is to wonder why God would allow such suffering. Those words tribulation, distress, and peril now become very real life circumstances. Facing these things, all of us have said at one time or another,"why God"? Note Vance Havner's perspective,"The Christian meets with sorrow, accidents, sickness and death. All the tribulations of this life are but incidents on the road from Groans to Glory, and a Christian is not a citizen of earth trying to get to heaven but a citizen of heaven making his way through this world". John MacArthur observes,"In this context, the love of Christ represents salvation. Paul is therefore asking rhetorically if any circumstance is powerful enough to cause a true believer to turn against Christ in a way that would cause Christ to turn His back on the believer. At issue, then, are the power and permanence of the love of Christ for those He has bought with His own blood and brought into the family and the kingdom of His Father".
We have faced a number of the adversaries during the years. Sad to say, there were moments of asking "why,God" and there was no response other than searching the Scriptures for wisdom and strength in the situation. Having faced far worse events,the apostle Paul assures us that none of these will separate us from God's love. Verse 37 indicates that it is "in all these things"; afflictions, distresses, persecutions, famine, nakedness, sword, or any other thing of the same kind: we are more than conquerors; not only over sin and Satan, but the world, the reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions of it; which they cheerfully and courageously undergo, insomuch that they are not only conquerors, but "more than conquerors": they have above overcome, they have exceedingly the better of it; for they not only patiently bear afflictions and persecutions, but they glory in them.(John Gill) Paul explains it this way, and He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Threfore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Cor. 12:9,10)
Trust this will be New Day for you,
SWORDMAN
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
My Real Joy Part 5
Since we have looked at the fact that God is for His own, we should also consider the fact that we have many adversaries. Satan and the world are formidable in their opposition to the christian."Paul was not ignorant of Satan's devices, but we are not so wise. Among his most successful devices today are these: exalting tolerance above truth; emphasizing the head more than the heart; making size more important than sort; stressing the positive to the neglect of the negative; putting happiness above holiness; majonng on this world instead of the next.(Pepper "n" Salt, Vance Havner)
There are others that enter that adversarial relationship.The question then comes,who shall separate us from the love of Christ"? I love the way Paul not only asks the question, but exhausts the adversaries in proving that there is nothing in time, space, or eternity that can separate us from Christ. There is a marvelous trilogy here, no one can issue a charge against us, no one can condemn us, nothing can separate us from Christ.To put it in perspective, in response to any charge, it is God who justified the sinner, in response to one condemning, Christ has paid the sinner's debt so there is now no condemnation, in response to fear of separation, nothing in time, space, or eternity can accomplish that. A.T. Robertson in his Word Pictures makes this observation,"Can any one put a distance between Christ’s love and us, can any one lead Christ to cease loving us?
Now, consider some of the adversaries with which we struggle. The Greek word,"thlipsis", means pressure but also carries the meanings anguish, persecution, tribulation. Adam Clarke refers to it as grievous affliction, or distress of any kind
Albert Barnes says "the word properly refers to pressure from without; affliction arising from external causes. It means, however, not infrequently, trial of any kind".
The next adversary is distress Of this word, Barnes says,"this word properly means "narrowness of place;" and then, great anxiety and distress of mind, such as arises when a man does not know where to turn himself or what to do for relief. It refers, therefore, to distress or anxiety "of mind," such as the early Christians were often subject to from their trials and persecutions".
The next one is persecution. "It signifies such pursuing as an enemy uses in order to overtake the object of his malice". (Adam Clarke) Famine carries with it the idea of being destitute, scarcity of food, hunger. Nakedness needs little explanation, simply being without clothing.
There are others that enter that adversarial relationship.The question then comes,who shall separate us from the love of Christ"? I love the way Paul not only asks the question, but exhausts the adversaries in proving that there is nothing in time, space, or eternity that can separate us from Christ. There is a marvelous trilogy here, no one can issue a charge against us, no one can condemn us, nothing can separate us from Christ.To put it in perspective, in response to any charge, it is God who justified the sinner, in response to one condemning, Christ has paid the sinner's debt so there is now no condemnation, in response to fear of separation, nothing in time, space, or eternity can accomplish that. A.T. Robertson in his Word Pictures makes this observation,"Can any one put a distance between Christ’s love and us, can any one lead Christ to cease loving us?
Now, consider some of the adversaries with which we struggle. The Greek word,"thlipsis", means pressure but also carries the meanings anguish, persecution, tribulation. Adam Clarke refers to it as grievous affliction, or distress of any kind
Albert Barnes says "the word properly refers to pressure from without; affliction arising from external causes. It means, however, not infrequently, trial of any kind".
The next adversary is distress Of this word, Barnes says,"this word properly means "narrowness of place;" and then, great anxiety and distress of mind, such as arises when a man does not know where to turn himself or what to do for relief. It refers, therefore, to distress or anxiety "of mind," such as the early Christians were often subject to from their trials and persecutions".
The next one is persecution. "It signifies such pursuing as an enemy uses in order to overtake the object of his malice". (Adam Clarke) Famine carries with it the idea of being destitute, scarcity of food, hunger. Nakedness needs little explanation, simply being without clothing.
Peril
is described by Adam Clarke as a state of extreme and continued danger, perplexing and distressing with grievous forebodings and alarms. John Gill adds,"dangers from different quarters, by different persons and ways. Sword carries the thought of the authority and power of judicially terminating life; i.e. of inflicting capital punishment. All of these constitute a formidable array of adversaries and there are more.
Why can these not separate us from the love of Christ? John Gill says it best,"That Christ does love the elect of God, who are the persons here spoken of, is evident from his undertaking for them, espousing their persons, assuming their nature, dying in their room and stead, paying off their debts, and redeeming their persons, by going to prepare a place for them, by interceding for them, by supplying them with all grace, and using them in the most free and familiar manner; which love of his is wonderful, matchless, and inconceivable, special and peculiar, free and undeserved, exceeding affectionate, unchangeable, durable, and for ever. This is the bond of union to Christ; and the union which is made by it is exceeding near and close; it is real; perfect, and indissoluble, nothing can separate from it.
This will make any day a New Day,
SWORDMAN
Why can these not separate us from the love of Christ? John Gill says it best,"That Christ does love the elect of God, who are the persons here spoken of, is evident from his undertaking for them, espousing their persons, assuming their nature, dying in their room and stead, paying off their debts, and redeeming their persons, by going to prepare a place for them, by interceding for them, by supplying them with all grace, and using them in the most free and familiar manner; which love of his is wonderful, matchless, and inconceivable, special and peculiar, free and undeserved, exceeding affectionate, unchangeable, durable, and for ever. This is the bond of union to Christ; and the union which is made by it is exceeding near and close; it is real; perfect, and indissoluble, nothing can separate from it.
This will make any day a New Day,
SWORDMAN
Thursday, November 10, 2011
My Real Joy Part 4
We have looked at Romans 8 contemplating that great truth that God is for those who are His redeemed ones. Now in verse 33 the apostle asks some questions. The first one is "who shall bring a charge against God's elect". There is that word "elect" which clarifies who the "us all" are in verse 32. Satan and the world are constantly bringing charges against God's elect. Satan is called "the accuser of the brethren". There are plenty of those in the world who bring their charges against believers. In some instances they are right, believers do sin. Does that make our salvation of none effect? Does that mean that we lose that for which God delivered up His Son? Absolutely not! Even when the charge is true, the child of God has sinned, all his sins, past, present, and future have been paid for in the sacrifice of Christ, his substitute.
Note the comment by John Gill,"are these persons chargeable with nothing criminal? yes, with Adam's sin; with a want of original righteousness; with multitudes of sins before conversion, some of them with very great ones; and all, even after conversion, with frequent infirmities and backslidings: and will none rise up and exhibit charges of this nature against them? yes, even now, they very often bring charges against themselves; they are very apt to charge one another; Satan, the accuser of the brethren, lays many things to their charge very frequently, and so do the men of the world; but all these charges avail nothing, since none of the divine persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, lay anything against them: not God the Father, for he against whom sin is committed, who is the lawgiver, and the righteous judge, justifies them from every charge; not by teaching them the way of justification, nor by infusing righteousness into them, or on account of any works of righteousness done by them, but by pronouncing them righteous through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: observe, that "God's elect", as such, are the objects of justification; which proves the eternity of it; the speciality of it as belonging to particular persons, and the everlasting security and continuance of it.
No charge can come from God because He is the justifier. Christ does not condemn because there is now no condemnation for the elect because of His sacrifice. Again, John Gill clearly states,"the whole world of the ungodly will be condemned at the last day; but none of God's elect are, or shall be condemned: for they are loved with an everlasting love; they are chosen unto salvation; they are in Christ, where there is no condemnation; they are brought to believe in him, and by him are justified from all sin, and so are secure from condemnation. His death, resurrection, ascension, and His position at the right hand of God guarantee no condemnation. Here is a quote from Matthew Henry that says it all,"He is there, not unconcerned about us, not forgetful of us, but making intercession. He is agent for us there, an advocate for us, to answer all accusations, to put in our plea, and to prosecute it with effect, to appear for us and to present our petitions. And is not this abundant matter for comfort? What shall we say to these things?
Here is a clear response from John MacArthur in his book "Slave". "God's will in salvation is singular, dependent on nothing other than His uninfluenced, free, electing choice.Therefore, the Holy Spirit works where He wills, The Son gives life to whomever He wishes, and unless the Father draws them, unbelievers cannot come to Christ. When we were bound in our sins, the Son set us free(John 8:36). When we were blinded by unbelief, God "shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ"(2 Cor. 4:6). When we were dead in trespasses and sins, He "made us alive together with Christ"(Eph. 2:5). He is the one who initiated every aspect of the work of salvation in our hearts, such that we can take no credit for anything in our salvation.All the glory goes to Him.
Grateful for my new day,
SWORDMAN
Note the comment by John Gill,"are these persons chargeable with nothing criminal? yes, with Adam's sin; with a want of original righteousness; with multitudes of sins before conversion, some of them with very great ones; and all, even after conversion, with frequent infirmities and backslidings: and will none rise up and exhibit charges of this nature against them? yes, even now, they very often bring charges against themselves; they are very apt to charge one another; Satan, the accuser of the brethren, lays many things to their charge very frequently, and so do the men of the world; but all these charges avail nothing, since none of the divine persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, lay anything against them: not God the Father, for he against whom sin is committed, who is the lawgiver, and the righteous judge, justifies them from every charge; not by teaching them the way of justification, nor by infusing righteousness into them, or on account of any works of righteousness done by them, but by pronouncing them righteous through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: observe, that "God's elect", as such, are the objects of justification; which proves the eternity of it; the speciality of it as belonging to particular persons, and the everlasting security and continuance of it.
No charge can come from God because He is the justifier. Christ does not condemn because there is now no condemnation for the elect because of His sacrifice. Again, John Gill clearly states,"the whole world of the ungodly will be condemned at the last day; but none of God's elect are, or shall be condemned: for they are loved with an everlasting love; they are chosen unto salvation; they are in Christ, where there is no condemnation; they are brought to believe in him, and by him are justified from all sin, and so are secure from condemnation. His death, resurrection, ascension, and His position at the right hand of God guarantee no condemnation. Here is a quote from Matthew Henry that says it all,"He is there, not unconcerned about us, not forgetful of us, but making intercession. He is agent for us there, an advocate for us, to answer all accusations, to put in our plea, and to prosecute it with effect, to appear for us and to present our petitions. And is not this abundant matter for comfort? What shall we say to these things?
Here is a clear response from John MacArthur in his book "Slave". "God's will in salvation is singular, dependent on nothing other than His uninfluenced, free, electing choice.Therefore, the Holy Spirit works where He wills, The Son gives life to whomever He wishes, and unless the Father draws them, unbelievers cannot come to Christ. When we were bound in our sins, the Son set us free(John 8:36). When we were blinded by unbelief, God "shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ"(2 Cor. 4:6). When we were dead in trespasses and sins, He "made us alive together with Christ"(Eph. 2:5). He is the one who initiated every aspect of the work of salvation in our hearts, such that we can take no credit for anything in our salvation.All the glory goes to Him.
Grateful for my new day,
SWORDMAN
Monday, November 7, 2011
My real joy Part 3.
When you think of God not sparing His own Son, delivering Him up for us all, you are overwhelmed with the amazing love of God for sinners like us. Think back to Peter's message in Acts 2, "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power".(Acts 2:22-24)Paul says the same thing in Romans 4:2,"He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification". Those are some amazing words, delivered up, predetermined plan, foreknowledge of God. Think about how much they mean to you. The same actions of God that Peter and Paul speak about are worthy of our consideration constantly. Before there was a world, before there were any of us, God's love for us is demonstrated in His foreknowledge and predetermined plan to deliver up His Son as the substitutionary sacrifice for sin.
Verse 32 continues,"how will He not also with Him freely give us all things". Before you make a list of your all things, probably many of them temporal, consider this. Is there anything greater than God giving His Son as a sacrifice for sinners? Then anything else that he gives will be lesser. For us to be redeemed, certain things were needed. S.Lewis Johnson has a list of them, "we need for God to be propitiated, we need for justice to be satisfied, we have a need for righteousness and it's requirements to be met, and Christ has accomplished that by His death on the cross. We need the work of the Holy Spirit in applying the redemption, we need the work of the Holy Spirit in efficacious grace, we need the gift of new life and repentance and faith". All these things are lesser than the gift of His Son. Since He has given the greatest gift, the gift of His Son, shall He not give the rest of these things.The answer of course is certainly He will, for us all, and remember the "us all" are those defined in verse 33 as God's elect. This insight from John Gill,"such was his grace, that he has given his own Son unto them; and not him alone, but "all things" with him: all temporal good things, needful and convenient; all spiritual blessings, a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, sanctifying grace, adoption, and eternal life: and all "freely", in a sovereign way, according to his own good will and pleasure, without any obligation or compulsion; not grudgingly nor niggardly, but cheerfully and bountifully, absolutely, and without any conditions; for he is not moved thereunto by anything in them, or performed by them.
The result is no condemnation to anyone who has put his faith in Christ. When you go back to verse 1, those two words, no condemnation, reveal the results of that loving sacrifice in the life of the penitent believer. Just think, no condemnation regardless of years of carelessness and sin. No condemnation even though there were years of rejecting the gospel. Whatever the circumstances of life were, the Holy Spirit is the one who set us free from sin resulting in no condemnation and granting a whole new life of obedience. This great statement from John MacArthur," The Law can condemn the sinner, the cross condemns sin". I trust you are rejoicing in the God who gave His Son, the greatest gift, and all the rest of the things that accomplished your redemption.
Yours for a new day,
SWORDMAN.
Verse 32 continues,"how will He not also with Him freely give us all things". Before you make a list of your all things, probably many of them temporal, consider this. Is there anything greater than God giving His Son as a sacrifice for sinners? Then anything else that he gives will be lesser. For us to be redeemed, certain things were needed. S.Lewis Johnson has a list of them, "we need for God to be propitiated, we need for justice to be satisfied, we have a need for righteousness and it's requirements to be met, and Christ has accomplished that by His death on the cross. We need the work of the Holy Spirit in applying the redemption, we need the work of the Holy Spirit in efficacious grace, we need the gift of new life and repentance and faith". All these things are lesser than the gift of His Son. Since He has given the greatest gift, the gift of His Son, shall He not give the rest of these things.The answer of course is certainly He will, for us all, and remember the "us all" are those defined in verse 33 as God's elect. This insight from John Gill,"such was his grace, that he has given his own Son unto them; and not him alone, but "all things" with him: all temporal good things, needful and convenient; all spiritual blessings, a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, sanctifying grace, adoption, and eternal life: and all "freely", in a sovereign way, according to his own good will and pleasure, without any obligation or compulsion; not grudgingly nor niggardly, but cheerfully and bountifully, absolutely, and without any conditions; for he is not moved thereunto by anything in them, or performed by them.
The result is no condemnation to anyone who has put his faith in Christ. When you go back to verse 1, those two words, no condemnation, reveal the results of that loving sacrifice in the life of the penitent believer. Just think, no condemnation regardless of years of carelessness and sin. No condemnation even though there were years of rejecting the gospel. Whatever the circumstances of life were, the Holy Spirit is the one who set us free from sin resulting in no condemnation and granting a whole new life of obedience. This great statement from John MacArthur," The Law can condemn the sinner, the cross condemns sin". I trust you are rejoicing in the God who gave His Son, the greatest gift, and all the rest of the things that accomplished your redemption.
Yours for a new day,
SWORDMAN.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
My Real Joy Part 2
In the last post, I looked at that encouraging thought that "God is for me." Regardless of any of life situation you, as a christian, may be dealing with, just think, God is for you. To emphasize this point, consider the reason that follows. The reason that I know that God is for me begins with the fact that He did not spare His Son. That word"spare" is most interesting. It occurs in the Greek text of the Old Testament in reference to the story of Abraham and Isaac. You remember the trip to Mount Moriah. Isaac was spared in response to the angel stopping the hand of Abraham. But at Calvary, there was no one who could stay the hand of God when His Son was being made the sacrifice for sin. He spared not His own Son! In Genesis, Abraham tells Isaac,"God will provide for Himself the lamb". At Calvary, God provided for Himself THE LAMB and did not spare Him.
This is a most precious comment by John Gill,"that he should not spare "his own Son", his proper Son, of the same nature with him, and equal to him, the Son of his love, and who never sinned against him, is very amazing: he spares many of the sons of men in a providential way, and in a way of grace, but he did not spare his own Son, or abate him anything in any respect, what was agreed upon between them, with regard to the salvation of his people; as appears by his assuming human nature, with all its weaknesses and infirmities; by his having laid on him all the iniquities of his people, and all the punishment due unto them he inflicted on him, without the least abatement; and by his sufferings not being deferred at all, beyond the appointed time; when full satisfaction for all their sins were demanded, the whole payment of their debts to the uttermost farthing insisted on, and all done according to the utmost strictness of divine justice: and which was not out of any disaffection to him; nor because he himself deserved such treatment; but because of the counsel, purpose, and promise of God, that his law and justice might be fully satisfied, and his people completely saved.
The verse also says, He delivered Him up for us all. Those two words,"us all", pose a problem when we try to understand who is referred to here. It can only be one of two options, either all men without distinction or all men without exception. "Us" in verse 31 and "us all" in verse 32 have to be the same. John Gill explains it clearly," God the Father delivered him, according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge, into the hands of wicked men; into the hands of justice, and to death itself; not for all men, for to all men he does not give Christ, and all things freely with him, nor are all delivered from condemnation and death by him; wherefore if he was delivered up for all men, he must be delivered up in vain for some; but for "us all", or "all us", whom he foreknew, predestinated, called, justified, and glorified; and not merely as a martyr, or by way of example only, and for their good, but as their surety and substitute, in their room and stead. Thus it is all men without distinction, Jew or Gentile.
Considering this marvelous truth that Christ was delivered up by the Father to be sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him will make any day a new day when you live in the light of it. The World and Satan will do everything possible to distract from these great truths but the focus of the christian on them will make every day a new day.
Yours for another new day,
SWORDMAN
This is a most precious comment by John Gill,"that he should not spare "his own Son", his proper Son, of the same nature with him, and equal to him, the Son of his love, and who never sinned against him, is very amazing: he spares many of the sons of men in a providential way, and in a way of grace, but he did not spare his own Son, or abate him anything in any respect, what was agreed upon between them, with regard to the salvation of his people; as appears by his assuming human nature, with all its weaknesses and infirmities; by his having laid on him all the iniquities of his people, and all the punishment due unto them he inflicted on him, without the least abatement; and by his sufferings not being deferred at all, beyond the appointed time; when full satisfaction for all their sins were demanded, the whole payment of their debts to the uttermost farthing insisted on, and all done according to the utmost strictness of divine justice: and which was not out of any disaffection to him; nor because he himself deserved such treatment; but because of the counsel, purpose, and promise of God, that his law and justice might be fully satisfied, and his people completely saved.
The verse also says, He delivered Him up for us all. Those two words,"us all", pose a problem when we try to understand who is referred to here. It can only be one of two options, either all men without distinction or all men without exception. "Us" in verse 31 and "us all" in verse 32 have to be the same. John Gill explains it clearly," God the Father delivered him, according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge, into the hands of wicked men; into the hands of justice, and to death itself; not for all men, for to all men he does not give Christ, and all things freely with him, nor are all delivered from condemnation and death by him; wherefore if he was delivered up for all men, he must be delivered up in vain for some; but for "us all", or "all us", whom he foreknew, predestinated, called, justified, and glorified; and not merely as a martyr, or by way of example only, and for their good, but as their surety and substitute, in their room and stead. Thus it is all men without distinction, Jew or Gentile.
Considering this marvelous truth that Christ was delivered up by the Father to be sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him will make any day a new day when you live in the light of it. The World and Satan will do everything possible to distract from these great truths but the focus of the christian on them will make every day a new day.
Yours for another new day,
SWORDMAN
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
My real joy Part 1
The 8th chapter of Romans has always been a favorite of mine. The verses at the end of the chapter contain marvelous truth. Verse 31 asks the question, "What shall we say to these things?" What things are we considering? In the immediate context five great truths; foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. When you go back to the beginning of the chapter, you find "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (8:1)" How does that happen? " For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (8:2)" For that to be true, four great things have transpired. Foreknew, predestined, called, and justified have all been realized now since we are new creatures in Christ. Now we are His children, " and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (8:17)" Though we don't look forward to it, suffering is a necessary part of our Christian life. The fear of it goes away when we get to verses 28 through 30. " And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
When we find ourselves in situations that are difficult to bear, unwanted, undeserved, and fraught with fear, our usual response is, "Why is this happening to me?" Imagine the difference in response if we were to call to mind these five truths. It might go something like this," I have been foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and one day to be glorified, God is for me, and the sufferings now can't compare with that which is mine in Christ." Unfortunately, we get more involved in the moment and let it capture our attention. There are times when that is necessary and proper in dealing with a situation. In a free moment, however, our thoughts need to be captured by eternal truth. That word "if" in verse 31 is better translated "since." Since God is for us, who can be against us? Just think, God is for me! He is for me when things go well or when problems arise. He is for me whether I am well or sick. He is for me whether I have plenty or I am in need. He is for me when I am loved or persecuted for my faith. Regardless of any situation you can name, HE IS FOR ME!
Matthew Henry has a great quote," All that he is, and has, and does, is for his people. He performs all things for them. He is for them, even when he seems to act against them". Add to that, the insight from John Gill, "seeing he is for us", has an affection for us, which appears from the gift of himself, Son, and Spirit, and all the blessings of grace and glory; and is on our side: as that he is on the side of his people, is evident from his preservation of them from the evils of the world and their own corruptions; from the supports he gives them under afflictions and temptations; from his carrying on the work of grace upon them, notwithstanding all the opposition made unto it; and from their safety and security they enjoy by him, notwithstanding the power of their enemies; he is so for them, and on their side, as that he will certainly save them. This he has determined to do, he has sent his Son to obtain salvation for them, his Spirit to apply it to them, and keeps them by his power to the full enjoyment of it: and since this is the case,
This should put a different start to your day, make it a new day! Yesterday is past,
tomorrow is not here, make today something special.
Yours for a bright, new day.
SWORDMAN.
When we find ourselves in situations that are difficult to bear, unwanted, undeserved, and fraught with fear, our usual response is, "Why is this happening to me?" Imagine the difference in response if we were to call to mind these five truths. It might go something like this," I have been foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and one day to be glorified, God is for me, and the sufferings now can't compare with that which is mine in Christ." Unfortunately, we get more involved in the moment and let it capture our attention. There are times when that is necessary and proper in dealing with a situation. In a free moment, however, our thoughts need to be captured by eternal truth. That word "if" in verse 31 is better translated "since." Since God is for us, who can be against us? Just think, God is for me! He is for me when things go well or when problems arise. He is for me whether I am well or sick. He is for me whether I have plenty or I am in need. He is for me when I am loved or persecuted for my faith. Regardless of any situation you can name, HE IS FOR ME!
Matthew Henry has a great quote," All that he is, and has, and does, is for his people. He performs all things for them. He is for them, even when he seems to act against them". Add to that, the insight from John Gill, "seeing he is for us", has an affection for us, which appears from the gift of himself, Son, and Spirit, and all the blessings of grace and glory; and is on our side: as that he is on the side of his people, is evident from his preservation of them from the evils of the world and their own corruptions; from the supports he gives them under afflictions and temptations; from his carrying on the work of grace upon them, notwithstanding all the opposition made unto it; and from their safety and security they enjoy by him, notwithstanding the power of their enemies; he is so for them, and on their side, as that he will certainly save them. This he has determined to do, he has sent his Son to obtain salvation for them, his Spirit to apply it to them, and keeps them by his power to the full enjoyment of it: and since this is the case,
This should put a different start to your day, make it a new day! Yesterday is past,
tomorrow is not here, make today something special.
Yours for a bright, new day.
SWORDMAN.
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