Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Christ is the salvation
of those that fear him. For them he came into the world,
was tempted, that is, tried in all points, like as they, and
has completely fulfilled every jot and tittle of that law, which
could do nothing but condemn those who had broken its precepts.
The law which was given to Moses was indeed true, but that work
which was brought in by Jesus Christ was the truth. A man might
learn many things about himself by the trueness of the law, but
it is only by the truth which is in Christ that a man might
become acquainted with the kingdom of God. Before any law was given
to Moses, the promise had already been made to Christ. Now to Abraham
and his seed were the promises made. He said, Not unto seeds,
as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. The Jews assumed, as many do
today, that God's promise to Abraham was a blanket promise
to all who sprang from the loins of Abraham. Yet the scripture
clearly states that the promise was given to the seed of Abraham,
which is Christ. Thus it is plain that the giving
of this promise is the single most important covenant which
exists in the kingdom of God. It is according to the promise
of this covenant that all of the blessings which are given
to Christ are found to be equally shared by those who are in Christ.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God. And if children, then heirs,
heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Mercy
is the sovereign prerogative of him who has said, I will show
mercy to whom I will show mercy. Men have no claim upon it, nor
any reason rising from within themselves to expect that he
should show mercy to them. Yet the glorious revelation of
Jesus Christ discloses to men the great willingness of God
to show mercy. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David the Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a
sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising
God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, goodwill toward men. Mercy and truth are met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Christ came
on a mission not to do away with the law, but to satisfy its every
claim, which might present itself against the sons of God in the
courts of heaven. Paul declares as much. What shall we then say
to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him
up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. For 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. To the thinking of natural men,
justice and mercy cannot coexist. Men might, from time to time,
suspend justice in order to show mercy. Out of this notion arises
the thought that God will weigh the good of men over against
their evil, and in some measure seek a modification. This is
what they generally consider when they think of mercy. Yet
God is perfect in all His ways, and will not at all acquit the
wicked, nor by any means clear the guilty. The soul that sinneth,
it shall die. There are no modifications attached
to that judgment and its swift recompense of justice. When the
woman was taken in adultery, many believed that the Lord ignored
her crimes. Yet the reality is that He forgave
her, because He became sin for her and took upon Himself all
of her crimes. It was impossible that any man
could condemn her whom the Lord had made clean. The Pharisees
hated this revelation when He forgave the sins of the man with
the palsy. Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Some be of
good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. And behold, certain of
the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus,
knowing their hearts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For whether it is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or
to say, Arise and walk, but that ye may know that the Son of Man
hath power on earth to forgive sins, then saith he to the sick
of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house. This harmony of justice and mercy
exists nowhere in heaven or earth except in Jesus Christ. For when
we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for
the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, and that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then,
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.