Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Quite often the sons of
God, due to their sinful flesh, find themselves acting contrary
to the expressed commandments of God. But if the Spirit of
God dwells in them, they cannot cast off the truth of God, as
being of no consequence, but rather they desire to walk according
to its precepts, even as Paul describes in the seventh chapter
of Romans. Those who are born of the Spirit will not transgress
the law, which means they will not count it as of no use and
value. This law will not fail to bring
them to repentance due to the tender heart which the Lord is
pleased to give unto those whom he loves. But this shall be the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
days, saith the Lord. I will put my law in their inward
parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God,
and they shall be my people. The transgression of the law,
of which we read about in the book of 1 John, is not simple
disobedience or failing to hit the mark, which even the strongest
of the sons of God do on a regular basis, but rather it is to have
a contempt for the truth, which has fallen from the lips of him
who is the propitiation of the sin of his elect. A consideration
of him who has died for sinners will cause those who were born
from above to hate their own wicked way, which was the occasion
of his grief and suffering. The man who is unmoved by such
a consideration has no reason to consider that the Spirit of
God dwells in him. For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds. All of the sons of God share
a common faith, yet all of them do not share the same measure
of faith, nor even the same level of understanding. For I say through
the grace given unto me to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to
think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure
of faith. But unto every one of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. The Lord
is pleased to construct His church, which is His body, of many diverse
parts and gifts, which demonstrate both His wisdom and power to
make one cohesive unit with one head, as He gives gifts unto
men, not for their own benefit, but for the strengthening of
the whole body. till we all come in the unity of the faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That
we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking
the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
John testifies of his knowledge of this fact as he makes an exhortation
to three different groups of people, which are generally found
wherever the sons of God are gathered together. He writes
to little children. This describes all of the saints
of God, from the youngest to the oldest, and from the one
with the least understanding in faith to the one who is a
seasoned veteran of much battle. The most basic comfort to the
saints, regardless of their station, is found in being reminded that
their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, and that he has sent the
spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father. He then writes to the fathers
who have known him that is from the beginning. These are those
saints who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. To them belongs
strong meat. Their consolation and ability
to comfort the saints arises from a firm understanding that
he inhabited the eternity and is a God who is in the heavens.
He hath done whatsoever he is pleased. They will affirm that
his decrees are unaltered and unalterable. For I am the Lord,
I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are
not consumed. Then he writes to the young men
who were full of faith in the Holy Ghost. They are known for
their zeal in the way of God, being made strong by his power.
They are able to exhort and convince the gainsayers as they earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The body of Christ is composed of all of these individual groups,
which John addresses, and each one supplies the need for which
they are gifted. Do you fellowship regularly with
those who love the way of Christ and the gospel of his free grace
and full salvation? Are you being built up in the
most holy faith, or are you satisfied with the platitudes of free will
religion? Christ alone is the sufficiency of his people in
whom he inhabits. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.