Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The teachings of Christ
set forth two basic truths or principles which serve to enrage
the righteous and to humble sinners. The first of these lessons is
that the Lord would have his children to be aware of how their
innate corruption would destroy them were it not to be restrained
by his mercy. The second is that he would have
them to know the perfections that dwell in him, as he demonstrates
a perfect righteousness before men and God, which cannot be
copied or exceeded. He was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin. In like fashion as Christ taught
these principles when he walked among the men of this world,
so too does he send forth men into the world to declare the
exact same things. On more than one occasion Paul
speaks of the simplicity of speech which he used in the declaration
of the gospel among those to whom he was sent. He is declaring
that the gospel cannot be enhanced or aided in any way by the sophistry
or eloquence of men in order for it to be successful in the
calling of the sheep of his pasture. The gospel message itself, when
indicted by the Spirit of God, cannot be overturned or rejected
by those whose hearts the Lord has opened, as seen in the cases
of the Ethiopian eunuch, the Samaritan woman, or Lydia. We
read of it in Acts 13, 48. And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, and as
many as were ordained to eternal life believed. It is quite unfortunate
that many religious men think that certain elements of the
gospel message should be hidden rather than simply declared as
plainly as the scriptures speak of them. Some of those are, first
of all, the absoluteness of God in his decrees. He said, I am
the Lord and there is none else. There is no God beside me. I
girded thee, though thou hast not known me, that they may know
from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none
beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none
else. I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create
evil. I, the Lord, do all these things."
What can possibly be added to this statement by the potsherds
of the earth? Or why would men spend hours seeking to explain
it in such fashion as to soften it up or make it more palatable
to the natural man? Do not the sons of God rejoice
in his majesty and tremble before him who does according to his
will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth? Can his hand be stayed? Can his will be thwarted? Plainness
of speech requires an answer that does not equivocate. the
unconditional election and predestination of his children unto eternal
life, and his determination to destroy the reprobate who he
has ordained unto destruction and created for this purpose.
Nay, but, O man, who art thou that replyest against God, shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made
me thus? Had not the potter power over the clay of the same lump
to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What
if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his
glory on the vessels of mercy which he had aforeprepared unto
glory? In the third place, the definite
and particular atonement for sin, which Christ has performed
in order to redeem those whom he has loved with an everlasting
love. Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Is it possible
that one for whom he has ordained eternal redemption should ever
perish? To teach such is a most egregious error and the very
antithesis of the gospel. Fourthly, the effectual calling
of the elect unto Christ, and the application of the gift of
faith to those whom he calls. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. Can any man enter the kingdom
of God without faith or the knowledge of Christ? Number five, the complete
and total salvation of those whom Christ has redeemed. There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the
law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do,
and that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that
are dead to sin live any longer therein? For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.