Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. From time to time, those who
preach the free grace of God and the salvation of sinners
are accused of not exhorting the sons of God to seek after
virtue and godliness. Nothing could be further from
the truth, since it is only as a man has a proper understanding
of the basis upon which the sons of God have their standing with
the Lord that the true exhortation can be given and properly received. Paul instructed Timothy, give
attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Without a reading
of the scriptures, one cannot know what the scripture says.
Without exaltation, the reading of the scriptures is like faith
without works, for knowledge merely puffeth up. Without sound
doctrine, exaltation becomes another excuse for the exercise
of the religious flesh, as those who go shipwreck desiring to
be teachers of the law but not understanding the very things
that they affirm. If a man does not have a clear
understanding of the perfect relationship which exists between
the one who has saved his elect children and those sons who are
thus redeemed, not with works of righteousness which they have
done, but by his own blood, then it is impossible to exhort the
sons of God to pursue after godliness without mixing human endeavor
with that which is the work of God alone. Some seem to view
the salvation of sinners as a cooperative effort between the Lord, who
justifies them by His work on the cross, and that which men
perform by receiving what He has done for them, by applying
themselves to and obeying the things which He has commanded
them to do. We are convinced that the salvation which Christ
has provided for sinners is the only salvation that will do them
any good at all, and that this salvation is complete in Him.
He has not left any part of it undone or lacking, whether it
be in justification, sanctification, or glorification. But of Him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who has made unto us wisdom and righteousness
and sanctification and redemption. There is no sanctifying that
which is already sanctified. So the purpose of exhortation
is to remind the sons of God of the joys and glory of the
salvation which is given to them in Christ Jesus, and which is
presently being made manifest in them by the power of the Spirit
of God, who works in them both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. The salvation of God's elect
is not simply to provide a place for them to dwell in the ages
to come, but rather to deliver them from this present evil world,
even while they are yet present in it. To this end he has seen
fit to indwell them with his Spirit, whereby he has written
his law in their hearts, and caused them to have a delight
in godliness, and a hatred of the sin which they discover in
themselves. Thus he told his disciples, And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things
are passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. In writing to the Ephesians concerning the love of a husband
for his wife, Paul says, So ought men to love their wives as their
own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. For no man ever yet hated his
own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord
the church. This is the same picture that
we see concerning these traits and characteristics which Peter
says we should diligently add. Is he telling us to add or join
our effort to the perfect work which Christ has done? Not at
all. James says we are to receive the engrafted word with all meekness.
This plainly indicates a word or law which is written in the
heart of those who are born again by the power of the Spirit of
God. These traits which Peter exhorts the sons of God to diligently
nourish, that is, add, are being wrought in them by the Spirit
of God. Just as a husband who loves his wife nourishes and
cherishes her, so the sons of God nourish and cherish these
traits and desire to see them more clearly manifest in themselves. This is the work of the Spirit
that causes them to delight in these virtues and to lament the
efforts of the flesh to weaken them and overcome them. They
are greatly encouraged when these traits are clearly seen, for
this ministers unto them much assurance. Those that lack them
are in ignorance and ultimately despair. So these exhortations
are not given to the sons of God for the purpose of stirring
them up to self-improvement, but rather to remind them of
those things which are truly precious to those who are indwelt
by His Spirit. We are called to virtue, which
literally means manliness. We are no more children tossed
to and fro with every wind of doctrine, but rather are to be
speaking the truth in love, and growing up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ. Yea, I think it meet, as long
as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in
remembrance. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them. Do you delight in the word of God? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.