Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Lord God of glory has
always had a people in the earth which were and are the apple
of his eye. He does love them with an unwavering and everlasting
love. In times past he chose to manifest that relationship
by type and foreshadow as a conditional and temporary covenant with a
particular nation, the nation of Israel, out of all of the
nations of the earth. He did this in order that he
may demonstrate the inability of men to keep his law and to
magnify the glory of his grace in loving his true people unconditionally. Whole schemes of eschatology,
which is a big word which simply means the study of end times,
are built on the supposition that carnal Israel is the chosen
nation of God for all time. Entire systems of theology are
based on that idea that the rudiments and commandments of this old
covenant are still in effect and binding upon God's people
today in one form or another. Yet it seems abundantly clear
in the scripture that God has now, that is in these last days,
manifested his relationship to his people, not in the type and
foreshadow of the past, but as it truly is. My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them
eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. The only nation on earth which
is God's chosen people are those whose citizenship is in heaven,
who are not appointed to wrath. Those who are the recipients
of His grace have been given the privilege of partaking of
the benefits of this everlasting covenant, which is built upon
better promises than the first. None of the promises nor benefits
of this covenant are conditional, but are bestowed on God's people
without merit, either realized or foreseen. This covenant which
has now been revealed in Jesus Christ is not new, in the sense
that it is an improvement on the old, nor even that it is
a replacement for it. Rather, it is the true covenant
of grace which actually predates that which is called old. It
is new because the clarity of God's purpose has now been revealed
in the exaltation of His Son as the Redeemer of His elect
bride. This everlasting, that is, eternal
covenant has not been made with men, but rather with Christ Himself,
with sinners such as us as the beneficiaries. The evidences
and blessings of this everlasting covenant are seen, number one,
in God giving His people true repentance. Then thou shalt remember
thy ways, and be ashamed. The Lord Jesus said that the
work of His Spirit would be to convince men of sin, righteousness,
and judgment. Repentance, like faith, is an
action of man, but nonetheless the gift of God. When the Lord
quickens a man, He will bring him to a place of sorrow and
shame over his sin. As we look at most modern conversions,
we see little evidence of repentance, as multitudes are taught how
to be saved by an easy three- or four-step formula. Where is
the brokenheartedness spoken of in the Scripture? The evidence
and blessings of this everlasting covenant are seen, number two,
in God giving His people a glimpse of His glory. And thou shalt
know that I am the Lord. Unregenerate men can see everything
about Jesus Christ that the reborn sons of God can see, except they
cannot see His glory. Many believe him to be a prophet,
yet they do not hang on his every word. Many believe him to be
the Savior, yet they do not mourn that their sins caused his pain.
Many believe him to be a king, yet they ascribe to him no kingdom.
They do not know that he is high and lifted up, exalted above
the earth, which vision the true sons of God are given, leading
them to worship him. The evidence and blessings of
this everlasting covenant are also seen as God takes away the
sin and sorrow of his people. And never open thy mouth any
more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for
all that thou hast done. Though our weeping may endure
for a night, joy comes in the morning. Just as surely as the
Lord gives his people repentance, he also grants to them the glorious
relief of forgiveness. We no longer bear our sin and
shame when he grants us faith to believe his promise to take
away our sins as far as the east is from the west. Surely he hath
borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded
for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes
we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all. Is Jesus Christ the sum total
of all that you desire in this world or that to come? Do you
desire to know Him? He is the Savior of those who
seek Him. For a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts,
send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.