Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Lord alone has immortality,
who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be
honor and power everlasting. Amen. This immortality is that
which sets the Lord apart from His creation. It is that which
sets Christ apart from those He came to minister to. For as
the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to
have life in himself. And it is this gift of eternal
life which sets the sons of God apart from the world. And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life,
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. The new
birth is an event which is transformative, and those who are, by the grace
of God, privileged to experience it. They receive life which they
did not heretofore possess. This is not a restoration back
to some state which they walked in before Adam's sin, but rather
a new creation which never existed, but to which they were ordained
according to the purpose of God. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. That which is spiritual is lasting
in nature, while that which is natural must and shall pass away. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel
not that I said, ye must be born again. All men are born with
a conscience which operates in varying degrees according to
the purpose of God. For when the Gentiles, which
have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,
these having not the law are a law unto themselves, which
show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing them witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile
excusing, or else excusing one another. The operation of this
natural conscience is demonstrated when the men who had taken the
woman in adultery were each one convicted of their own sin, as
the Lord said, let him that is without sin cast the first stone.
The same is seen in Judas who went out and hanged himself due
to his guilt. This is not true repentance,
but rather natural sorrow. It is pleased the Lord to turn
this natural conscience in some over to a reprobate mind. And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which
are not convenient. The most severe case of this
is found among those who deny the gospel, twisting it into
a perverse lie, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience
seared with a hot iron. While this conscience works in
all men to a greater or lesser degree, there is a conscience
which is bestowed on none but the children of God. Paul testifies
of it. And herein do I exercise myself
to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward
men. He is speaking of the hope which
he has been given in the resurrection of Christ. Even the reborn sons
of God have doubts and fears due to their corruptible flesh.
Yet it is this conscience from which they cannot thankfully
escape, as the Spirit of God works in them both to will and
to do of His good pleasure. It is that which Peter spoke
of when the Lord asked them if they too would depart from him.
Peter confessed, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words
of eternal life. It is the same with Job who said,
though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. It is this conscience
which caused Paul to preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified,
among those to whom he was sent. For our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have
had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to youward.
When the high priest made continual offerings of bulls and goats,
they could only outwardly make an atonement for sin. Neither
the priest, nor those for whom the offerings were made, could
have any lasting peace as pertaining to the conscience. Yet Christ,
as that perfect sacrifice, has brought this peace. 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? This is the ministration
of that good and pure conscience which is given to the sons of
God as they are reconciled unto him. Do you have a conscience
which is void of offense as you look upon the perfections of
Christ and are satisfied therein? Or do you expect to bring some
righteousness of your own into his presence? For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.