Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Paul sets forth some of
the most glorious prose in all of the New Testament in the eighth
chapter of Romans. He begins with this, there is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
and ends it with, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. The ultimate winner of a sporting
contest is not always readily apparent at the beginning of
a game, but it is always clear at the finish. Paul is not here
making a prediction about how the contest is going to come
out or who he thinks will triumph. No, he is speaking as one who
knows that the game is over and the championship trophy is in
hand and the champion has procured the victory. It is finished.
Three short words uttered by our Savior, but the hope and
expectation of all of the elect children of God forever rests
upon His pronouncement. Man's natural religious bent
continually causes him to desire to add a little something to
this finished work in order that it might be complete. But nothing
can be added to something which is finished. One of the most
common errors that is received by multitudes of professing believers
today is that of paying lip service to believing that Christ finished
the work he set out to do. yet believing that the elect
are not counted as righteous until they add their faith, and
in some cases their works of righteousness, to this equation,
causing God to apply the forgiveness which was purchased by Christ.
The forgiveness of the sins of God's elect children was procured
and applied at the cross of Jesus Christ. This is the very basis
and object of the faith which is given to each of them at the
time selected by God the Father. Those for whom He shed His precious
blood have never been the objects of God's wrath, nor appointed
to destruction, but to obtain salvation. It is for this reason
that he came into the world to redeem them, in order that he
might be both just and the justifier of his own. Where is boasting
then? But God forbid that I should
glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sons of
God rejoice in the triumph of their champion. None of them
entertain the slightest notion that they contributed to the
victory. They just rejoice in what was procured and benefit
from the performance which was carried out by another. The scripture
says that Christ is presently making intercession for us. Some
have assumed that this means He is actively pleading and praying
that God would forgive His people. This is a false assumption. Christ
does not intercede for us with words or groans. He intercedes
for us by His presence before the Father. Charles Wesley wrote
these words, five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary.
They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me. Forgive
him, O forgive, they cry, nor let that ransomed sinner die.
This intercession of Christ ensures the absolute forgiveness of all
of the sins of all of his elect sons. As far as the East is from
the West, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Our
forgiveness is in no way dependent on our faith, but on the living
Savior, who is our faith. This intercession of Christ ensures
the safety and perseverance of His people. Nothing can separate
us from Him, because He is alive to keep us from falling. Having
loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the
end. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. This intercession
of Christ ensures the resurrection of the bodies of the elect unto
immortality. Paul said we had no hope and
our message is vain if Christ is not risen from the dead. Our
assurance, however, is now Christ is risen from the dead and become
the firstfruits of them that slept. The fact that he is now
alive at the right hand of the Father is the proof that he arose
and so shall all of those for whom he became their firstfruits. The eternal bliss of the sons
of God is ensured by the intercession of Christ. We look for a city
which hath foundations which he has prepared, that in the
ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Christ is all. Are you trusting in that work
which Christ has finished, or do you seek to add your own deeds
of righteousness to it? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.