Spiritual Blessings in Christ

     Come to the fountain; it is opened for those who feel the plague of their heart, who are burdened with sin and uncleanness, and whose cry is with the leper of old, "Unclean, unclean." This fountain is opened to cleanse you from sin and to purify you from uncleanness. "Ah," says the poor child of God, "I want to get at it, and cannot." You may want to get at it by your own wisdom and strength; but, blessed be the Lord, it is not left to your getting. If you could get it when you would, then you could do the work of the Holy Spirit. But God has determined that you shall not do his work; hence the dear Redeemer tells his disciples that "when he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." (John 16:13,14) The blessed Spirit takes the atoning blood of the Lamb and applies it to the conscience of the poor sinner; he removes the burden of sin and softens the heart; and the dear child of God feels the blessedness of that text, which I cannot speak without feeling its blessed and solemn import: "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) This is its blessed effect. And the redeemed soul for a while sings in this valley of tears the same song as the glorified spirits above: "Unto him that has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." (Rev. 1:5,6) "For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Heb. 9:13,14) It is in Christ, my friends. The Holy Spirit takes the atoning blood of the Lamb, applies it afresh to the conscience with power, and bears witness to the spirit of the living family that they are the redeemed of the Lord. May we glory only in a precious Christ! "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."