The Ways and Ends of the Wicked

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
 
Psalm 1:4-6,
 “Not so the wicked!
  They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
  For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish!”
 
“Not so the wicked!” With these solemn words, the Psalmist draws a sharp contrast between the godly and the ungodly. The righteous are like fruitful trees–rooted, nourished and prosperous. But “the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away.” Chaff is the worthless husk separated from grain–light, dry, and empty. It is easily scattered and quickly forgotten. Such is every life lived apart from God: rootless, fruitless, and ultimately futile. However impressive the wicked may appear for a season, their prosperity is short-lived and their end is destruction! (Psalm 73:18-19)
 
The wicked “will not stand in the judgment.” They will have no defense, no covering, no hope. When they stand before the Judge of all the earth, their works will be burned up as stubble. All their excuses will be silenced. The day of judgment will reveal what they are: rebels against the Most High God, having rejected His Son and despised His Word. They will not be counted “in the assembly of the righteous.” They may have mingled with the godly on earth–but in the last day, the Shepherd will infallibly separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Their exclusion will be eternal.
 
“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Here is the final contrast.
 
The Lord lovingly and attentively watches over the path of His redeemed people. He guards their steps, directs their course, and brings them safely home. 
 
But the way of the wicked, though it may seem smooth for a time–leads only to ruin! Their end is not annihilation, but everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). The broad road may appear pleasant, but it descends into outer darkness, with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!
 
Reader, Psalm 1 presents only two ways: 
The way of life, and the way of death. 
One is watched over by God, ending in glory. 
The other is forsaken by God, ending in judgment. 
 
Which way are you walking? The only escape from the perishing path, is found in Jesus. He bore the wrath for sinners, that all who turn from their wicked ways and trust in Him, may be counted among the righteous. “The Lord knows those who are His!” (2 Timothy 2:19) Let every soul flee to Him and find life!

The world crucified!

Charles Spurgeon, “Three Crosses“
Galatians 6:14, “But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The apostle Paul speaks with Spirit-given clarity: the world has been crucified to him. He looked upon the world–its pride, its rebellion, its mockery of God–as crucified and dead. The same world that crucified the Lord of glory (Acts 2:36) cannot be trusted, admired, or feared.

The world’s character is condemned. Paul saw a world that rejected Jesus, the eternal truth; and hated and murdered Jesus, the only Savior of sinners, in His perfect innocence. The world’s values, judgments, and opinions were worthless to Paul.

Just so, must the believer think biblically about the “spirit of the age.” Public opinion, cultural trends, and fashionable ideas–deserve no authority over a Christian conscience held captive to the Word of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Christian will never deny or soften Scripture truth, to satisfy a world that despises his Savior and Lord.

The world’s pleasures are rotten. Today’s  entertainments spring from the same soil of depravity (Ephesians 5:11). The world’s pleasures are not neutral; they reveal a heart in rebellion towards God (James 4:4). Paul looked upon all the world’s pleasures as so much rottenness–a carcass nailed to a cross.

The world’s honors are empty. Most who possess power, wealth, and applause–are enslaved to lust and pride. Worldly status is but a chain of vanity (1 John 2:16–17). The Christian must never seek those painted vanities which the world desires.

The world’s riches are futile. Content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8), Paul viewed mammon as temporary and ultimately useless. The world shouts, “Make money at all costs!” Scripture whispers a better wisdom: “Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death (Proverbs 11:4). Grasping, hoarding, and coveting are idolatry!

When Paul said that the world was crucified to him, he meant just this: “I am not enslaved by any of its pursuits. I care nothing for its maxims. I am not governed by its spirit. I do not court its smiles. I do not fear its threatenings. It is not my master, nor am I its slave.” So says every true believer.

To be a follower of Jesus is to nail the world to the cross, and to find in Him a new Master, new desires, and a new destiny.

Christian! Can you say that the world, in its riches and honors, as well as in its despicable vices, and its manifold vanities–is a crucified thing to you?

The necessity, source, effects, and end of regeneration!

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 
John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God!”

Regeneration (or the New Birth) is the sovereign act of God, performed by the Holy Spirit through the Word, bringing a Hell-deserving sinner from spiritual death, to life in Christ.

1. The NECESSITY of regeneration.
 
Every man and woman enters this world not as a blank slate, but as a fallen creature–“dead in trespasses and sins”. (Ephesians 2:1). Our hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked! (Jeremiah 17:9). By nature, we are enemies of God (Romans 8:7), children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), and slaves to sin and Satan (John 8:34). In our natural state, we have no spiritual life, no spark of goodness, no inclination toward God. Our will is bound by sin, our affections are corrupt, and our understanding is darkened! (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Since this is the spiritual condition of every person, then nothing short of a new birth can save us. The words of Jesus to Nicodemus are  absolute–unless one is born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. Neither reformation, education, morality, or religion; can produce spiritual life from spiritual death. The heart of man is a little Hell; full of sin, and only fit for the eternal fire. We are all born with a bias toward evil, and leave the womb as heirs of wrath!

“Do not be amazed that I told you, that you MUST be born again!” (John 3:7) To be born again is not a luxury, it is a necessity. There is no other way to Heaven. Without the new birth, you can never enter the kingdom of God.

2. The SOURCE of regeneration.
 
Regeneration is not man’s work, but the Spirit’s work from beginning to end. Man can no more create a new heart in himself, than he could create the world! It is the sovereign act of the Holy Spirit, applying the saving work of Jesus to the heart. The Spirit quickens whom He wills, through the preaching of the Word, according to the Father’s eternal decree, and the Son’s redeeming grace (Titus 3:5).
  

3. The EFFECTS of regeneration.
 
When the Spirit regenerates, He gives a new heart. The man now loves what he once hated–Jesus, holiness, and truth; and hates what he once loved–the world, the flesh, and the devil’s delights. In regeneration, the man becomes a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17); his affections are transformed, his desires are sanctified, and his life is increasingly conformed to the Lord Jesus.
  

4. The eternal END of regeneration.

The life begun by regeneration on earth, is consummated in the glories of Heaven. The believer, once a child of wrath, is now an heir of God and a co-heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17). The end of regeneration, is eternal communion with Jesus, and the enjoyment of His presence forever! (Revelation 22:4–5).

Christian, marvel at the sovereign mercy of God–that when you were dead in sin, He made you alive in Jesus! (Ephesians 2:5). Let this truth  humble you, sanctify you, and move you to worship Him who has rescued you from the dominion of darkness, and brought you into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, and the forgiveness of sins! (Colossians 1:13–14)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope!” 1 Peter 1:3

The Exclusivity of the Gospel

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

The message of the gospel stands as a divine declaration of absolute truth in a world that hates absolutes. In an age intoxicated with pluralism and compromise, few doctrines are more offensive to human pride than the exclusivity of the gospel. Yet Scripture is crystal clear: there is only one way to be reconciled to God, only oneMediator between God and man, and only one name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). This is not bigotry or arrogance, but divine revelation. The exclusivity of the gospel does not reveal God’s narrowness, but His mercy–for He has not left the world in confusion, but has clearly revealed the only way of salvation in His Son.

The Scriptural view of salvation rests upon three foundational truths. Together, they display both the gravity of man’s condition, and the glory of God’s grace.
 
1. All people without exception are lost sinners and in need of salvation.

The gospel begins with the bad news. Every man, woman, and child enters this world under the dominion of sin and the curse of damnation. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10–11). Sin has corrupted every faculty of human nature–the mind is darkened, the heart is hardened, the affections are perverted, and the will is enslaved. Humanity does not merely need forgiveness; it needs spiritual life. “You were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

All stand guilty before the bar of divine justice, and the sentence is eternal condemnation. Man cannot climb to God through morality, good works, or religion. All human virtue is tainted, all human merit is worthless, for “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

This first foundational truth strips man of every excuse and leaves him speechless before God. It prepares the heart to receive grace. Until a sinner sees that he is utterly lost, he will never value the Savior. Until the soul feels the depth of its ruin, it will never cling to the Redeemer. The exclusivity of the gospel begins with this: that apart from divine regeneration, all mankind is hopelessly lost.
 
2. There is no salvation without conscious faith in Christ.

The second foundational truth proclaims that salvation is found in Christ alone. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Every other so-called path to God is false. Every other foundation is sand. Jesus did not die to make many ways possible, but to open oneway to God–through His sin-atoning death.

He is the exclusive Redeemer because He alone met the demands of divine justice. On the cross, He bore the sins of His people, endured the wrath they deserved, and cried, “It is finished!” His resurrection is the Father’s declaration that full payment has been made and accepted. Therefore to seek salvation outside of Him, is to reject God’s provision and insult His grace.

Here the words of the apostle Paul ring with terrifying solemnity: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8–9)

These verses underline the seriousness of tampering with the gospel. Paul does not leave room for multiple  paths to Heaven. He twice pronounces a curse–anathema–upon anyone who alters, dilutes, or distorts the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

This second foundational truth, illuminated by Galatians 1:8–9, reminds us that the exclusivity of the gospel is not a secondary issue–it is the essence of Christianity. To alter it is to forfeit salvation itself.

From this passage flow several solemn principles:

(1) The gospel’s purity must be guarded.
No message, no teacher, no experience, no dream is above the written Word of God. Even an angelic revelation is to be rejected, if it departs from Scripture. Truth does not evolve. The gospel proclaimed by the apostles remains the only saving message for all generations.

(2) The gospel’s exclusivity must be proclaimed.
To say that Jesus is one of many ways, is to preach “another gospel.” To teach that moral effort or human goodness contributes to salvation, is to deny grace itself. There is only one gospel–and it centers on the crucified and risen Savior who alone saves sinners by His grace.

(3) The gospel’s enemies must be exposed.
Paul’s words remind believers that the gravest threats to Scripture truth often come from within religious circles. False teachers preach “Christ,” but not the biblical Christ. They use the language of grace, yet deny its substance. The church must therefore test every spirit and measure every message by the Word of God.

(4) The gospel’s authority must be submitted to.
If the true gospel alone saves, then every human philosophy, every religious sentiment, and every self-invented spirituality, must be rejected. God’s truth is not subject to man’s opinions. The gospel commands repentance and faith, not negotiation and compromise.

3. There can be no faith in Christ without first hearing the gospel message.

The third foundational truth reveals the necessity of gospel proclamation. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the message about Christ” (Romans 10:17). God has ordained that His saving gospel be made known through preaching, teaching, and witnessing. He could have saved men through visions or nature, but He has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). These rhetorical questions leave no doubt: there is no salvation apart from the hearing of the gospel. Sinners cannot believe in a Savior they have never known, and they cannot know Him unless someone tells them.

Therefore, the exclusivity of the gospel compels evangelism. If Jesus is the only Savior, and His gospel is the only saving message, then Christians must speak with urgency. Silence is cruelty. To know the truth that saves and to withhold it from others, is unthinkable. The narrowness of the way, demands the breadth of our witness.
 
Conclusion

The exclusivity of the gospel is not a man-made doctrine–it is the heartbeat of divine revelation. It humbles man’s pride, glorifies God’s grace, and exalts Jesus as the only hope for a lost world. All are sinners, none can save themselves, and only conscious faith in the crucified and risen Savior brings forgiveness and spiritual life.

Galatians 1:8–9 thunders across the ages as God’s unchanging verdict against every counterfeit gospel. It warns us that to corrupt the gospel is to be cursed; to cling to it is to be saved.

You must be saved by faith in Jesus Christ, or be lost forever. There is no other gate, no other way, no other door. All roads do not lead to Heaven. Some lead to perdition. Only one road has the blood-stained footprints of the Savior upon it.

The necessity of fearing God

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 
Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
 
The fear of God is not a mere emotion–it is the soul’s rightful posture before the majesty of the Almighty. It is the awe that grips the heart, when the creature truly beholds the Creator. It is the reverent submission that arises when one recognizes that, “our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases!” (Psalm 115:3). To fear God rightly, is not to cower as a slave before a tyrant–but to bow as a redeemed child before a holy Father who is infinitely glorious, righteous, and just.
 
In Scripture, the fear of God is the fountainhead of all true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). It anchors wisdom in humility, restrains sin, and cultivates holiness. When Moses drew near the burning bush, he was told, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground!” (Exodus 3:5). That moment captures the essence of godly fear–an  awareness of divine holiness that commands reverence and shapes obedience.
 
This fear is not abolished in the New Covenant, but deepened. Through the gospel, believers encounter God not only as Creator, but as Redeemer. Jesus bore the wrath which we deserved, and in Him God’s justice and mercy meet. The cross reveals that our holy God cannot be trifled with–our sin costs the blood of Jesus! Yet it also shows that in Jesus, the God who should consume us, has chosen to cleanse and forgive us. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire!” (Hebrews 12:28–29).
 
To fear God is to live under the perpetual sense of His presence, which sanctifies our speech, our thoughts, and our actions. The fear of God purifies our hearts. It . . .
   slays pride,
   mortifies lust,
   silences worldly ambition,
   and fuels sincere worship. 
Those who fear God revere His majesty and walk in righteousness, because they love His holiness more than their sin.
 
It is this fear that drove Joseph to flee from Potiphar’s wife; that sustained Daniel in Babylon; and that emboldened the apostles to say, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29).
 
To live without the fear of God, is to live as though God were small and man were great. But to live in the fear of God, is to see Him rightly: He is infinite majesty–and we are creatures of the dust. And yet this same majestic God stoops to call us His beloved children.
 
Let us therefore cultivate a holy fear–a reverent joy that delights in God’s glory and obeys His Word. Such fear guards our souls, sanctifies our desires, and anchors us in wisdom. For only those who fear the Lord, truly know Him; and only those who truly know Him, can truly love Him.

A woman to be remembered!

J.C. Ryle 
Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife!“
 
Few words ever spoken by the Lord Jesus are more solemn or searching than this brief, three-word warning: “Remember Lot’s wife!” How striking it is that, out of all the women of Scripture, our Lord singled out one for us to remember–not Sarah for her faith, not Ruth for her devotion, not Hannah for her prayer, not Mary for her love–but Lot’s wife, for her destruction! The Spirit of God has placed this warning before us as a perpetual beacon, lest we too be deceived by the bewitching world and perish.
 
Yet all of this availed her nothing. She perished miserably because her heart was never truly separated from the world. Outwardly she fled Sodom, but inwardly she lingered. Her body was on the path to safety, but  her affections were chained to the city of destruction. With one glance backward, she revealed the state of her soul. That look cost her eternal glory, and she was turned into a pillar of salt–a monument of God’s righteous judgment against hypocrisy and divided hearts.
 
The tragedy of Lot’s wife stands as a warning to all who imagine that religious advantages, spiritual associations, or outward privileges can save. Many think that because they were raised in a Christian home and attend church, that they are safe. Lot’s wife shows us that one may be surrounded by light and truth, and yet perish in eternal darkness. She had seen angels, heard warnings, and been led by the hand of mercy–yet she never savingly believed. The heart is what God is concerned with–and her heart was still in Sodom.
 
Her backward look was not a small matter. It was the outward expression of inward rebellion. God had said, “Do not look back” (Genesis 19:17). In disobeying, she revealed where her treasure lay. She longed for the life she left behind–the comforts, the pleasures, the society of Sodom–and in doing so she despised the salvation of her soul. Jesus declares, “No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). The danger of worldlinessand divided affection is real. How many professors of religion today claim to follow Jesus, yet their hearts cling to the world! They say they are bound for Heaven, but they look longingly at Sodom. They want to go to Heaven when they die, but they also want the soul-ruining world. The end of such double-mindedness is eternal destruction.
 
Scripture is full of warnings against this very danger. John writes, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). James tells us that “friendship with the world is hatred toward God” (James 4:4). The Savior Himself declared, “Remember Lot’s wife!” She was almost saved, yet lost forever! There are many in churches today who will come just that far–they will hear sermons and sing hymns, and yet their hearts remain with the world. Their empty profession will not hold up in the Day of Judgment.
 
Beloved reader, let us examine our hearts. Are we secretly longing for the very things that God calls us to forsake? Are we following Christ with a whole heart, or are we still glancing backward toward Sodom? When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, we must not look back to our Sodom. Salvation demands the forsaking of sin, and the forsaking of the world. It demands a heart fixed on Christ. “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).
 
The warning of Lot’s wife is not written to terrify the believer, but to search the heart of the hypocrite and to awaken the careless professor. If you are resting in your church attendance, your upbringing, your knowledge–then remember Lot’s wife. If you are unwilling to forsake the world and to follow Christ–then remember Lot’s wife. If you are almost persuaded, almost a Christian, almost saved–remember Lot’s wife. If you are but almost saved–then you will be altogether damned!
 
“Remember Lot’s wife!” Let us take warning. Let us not dally with sin, linger in compromise, or toy with the world. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). For the soul that looks to Him in faith shall never be cast away, but the soul that loves the world will be lost forever.

Everyone needs a little kindness!

Don Fortner 
1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is kind“

Often, the best thing one man can give another is kindness. Oh, how sweet it is to hear a kind word, when your heart is breaking! How delightful it is to see a kind smile, when you have seen many growling faces! How pleasant it is to feel the kind embrace of a friend, when you have felt the betrayal of those you thought were your friends! Kindness is always right. Kindness is always in season. It is never wrong to be kind, but always good.

Kindness must have for its object: one who is weak, poor, fallen, outcast, down-trodden, or needy.

To be “kind” is to be useful, generous, sympathetic, and tender.

Kindness accommodates itself to the needs of its objects.
If a man offends–kindness forgives him.
If a person is fallen–kindness picks him up.
If one is hungry–kindness feeds him.
If a brother is lonely–kindness visits him.
If a sister is downcast–kindness encourages her.
If one is weak–kindness offers strength.
If one is needy–kindness helps.
If a person is afflicted, in trouble and hurting–kindness is tender-hearted.

Sometimes kindness is a word of appreciation, encouragement, or compliment. Sometimes it is a visit, a gift, or an expression of love. Everyone needs a little kindness. And those who love one another, are kind to one another. They overlook and find excuses for one another’s faults and failings. They speak well to one another, and about one another.

Kindness is never wrong.

God, give me grace to be kind to sinners like myself.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

The exclusivity of the Gospel

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 
In an age of religious pluralism and tolerance of error, the biblical teaching on the exclusivity of the gospel is essential, even though most people find it to be offensive.

Scripture leaves no room for ambiguity: there is only one way of salvation. There are not many paths to God, nor are there multiple gospels tailored to different groups. There is but one Savior, one gospel, and one way to eternal life. The way to Heaven is not left to our choice, but is revealed by God. And that way is Christ alone.

The apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, wrote with utmost clarity: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all!” He immediately pronounced a curse upon anyone who preached a gospel contrary to the one he had delivered (Galatians 1:6-8). There is no allowance for alternative methods of salvation. There is no second gospel for Jews, Muslims, sincere religious people, moralists, the heathen or the young. The gospel is singular, exclusive, and absolute.

Jesus Himself declared the narrowness of the way when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!” (John 14:6). He did not say He was A way, but THE way. Faith in Jesus and His sin-atoning death is not one option among many, but the only gospel by which sinners can be reconciled to God. Peter echoed this exclusive claim when he boldly proclaimed, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved!” (Acts 4:12).

This one way of salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast!” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

To deny the exclusivity of the gospel, is to deny the very heart of the gospel. To suggest that sincere people in other religions can be saved apart from Jesus, is to make His sin-atoning death unnecessary, and His words untrue. It is a rejection of the only remedy for sin that God has provided.

There are not fifty ways to God–there is only one. The road is narrow, and it is marked with blood. Let us then stand firm, unashamed, and uncompromising in proclaiming the one true gospel–the only gospel that saves.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes!” Romans 1:16

The Beauty of Jesus

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

Song of Solomon 5:16, “Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!”

The soul that has been awakened by grace, drawn by the Spirit, and brought to behold the Lord Jesus through the eyes of faith, cannot help but echo this exclamation: “Yes, He is altogether lovely!” In . . .
every aspect of His person,
every office He holds,
every work He performs,
and every word He speaks
–Jesus is infinite in loveliness!
The redeemed heart, taught by the Spirit, finds no flaw in Him, and no rival to Him.

Consider the beauty of His PERSON. He is fully God and fully man–God manifest in the flesh. In Him, all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of His being. And yet, He is tender and lowly, gentle and accessible. The glory of His majesty does not drive sinners away–it draws them near. The same hand that upholds the universe, was stretched out to touch lepers and lift fallen sinners.

His CHARACTER is equally lovely. His holiness is not austere, but beautiful. His righteousness is not harsh, but winsome. He was full of grace and truth–never compromising either. In Him, mercy and justice meet. He never turned away the penitent, never coddled the proud, never failed to glorify His Father.
His every motive was pure,
His every word was true,
His every act was love.

The beauty of Jesus shines most in His sin-atoning sacrifice. He gave Himself for us. It was the grandest display of self-sacrificing love the world has ever seen! At the cross, we behold the perfection of His grace and justice meeting in breathtaking harmony. There is no beauty like the beauty of a bleeding Savior! None so lovely–as He who was scorned, despised, and crucified for us. Would you know the sweetness of Christ? Come near to Him–look into His wounds, sit beneath His cross, and ponder His dying love for you!

The beauty of His WORK is beyond comparison. Who else but the Son of God would willingly humble Himself to the death of the cross? Who else could bear the full weight of God’s wrath, and yet cry, “It is finished!” He loved His people to the uttermost. He purchased them with His own blood. He rose in triumph, intercedes with compassion, and will one day return in glory!

His beauty never fades. Unlike the passing charm of earthly things–Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The more He is known, the more He is loved. The more He is seen, the more He is desired. The more He is worshiped, the more the soul cries, “Show me more of Jesus!”

The longer we walk with Jesus, the more His beauty unfolds–dazzling us anew with His mercy, wisdom, and power. Beloved, take time today to meditate on the matchless beauty of Jesus. Look into His heart of love, His hand of power, His crown of glory. In each of these, He is altogether lovely!

Let us then join the voice of the bride in Song of Solomon: “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” Not merely a doctrine, not merely a Savior–but our Beloved. The One our souls love, the One who has loved us with an everlasting love. Let us gaze upon Him with adoring hearts, worship Him with reverent love, and long for that day when we shall see Him as He is, and be with Him forever!

“Lord Jesus, You are the altogether lovely One.
Captivate my heart with Your beauty.
Help me to . . .
know You more clearly,
love You more deeply,
and follow You more closely. Amen.”

The Preciousness of Jesus!

Wilhelmus à Brakel,
1 Peter 2:7, “To you who believe, He is precious!”

To the regenerate soul, Jesus Christ is the chief delight and treasure of the heart.

The world may see no beauty in Him, but to the one born of God, Jesus is altogether lovely and worthy of all of our love, honor, and adoration.

His preciousness lies first in His Person. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and yet He took upon Himself true humanity. What mystery, that He who upholds all things by the word of His power, also humbled Himself to become obedient to death–even death on a cross! Who can fathom such condescension? Who is like this glorious Mediator, who is both the Son of God and the Son of Man?

Christ is also precious in His offices.

As Prophet, He reveals the Father’s will, teaching us the way of salvation with divine authority and tenderness.

As Priest, He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and ever lives to intercede for us.

As King, He rules over us with perfect righteousness and protects us from all our enemies. Each office meets our deepest need, and each one displays His surpassing worth.

Further, He is precious in His benefits. Who but Jesus can give . . .
  rest to the weary,
    peace to the troubled,
      righteousness to the guilty,
        and life to the dead?

His blood cleanses from all sin.

His Spirit renews the heart.

His intercession secures both our perseverance and preservation.

His promises are sure and sweet.

And His presence is the joy of the believer’s soul.

All the infinite treasures of grace are found in Him!

The more we grow in grace, the more Christ becomes our all. The soul cannot but long for Him, be satisfied with Him, and rejoice in Him above all things! This longing is not merely sentimental; it flows from a spiritual apprehension of His beauty through the Word and by the Spirit. This is the cry of every true Christian: “Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You!” Psalm 73:25

Let us then prize Christ above all. Let us . . .
   seek Him diligently,
    love Him fervently,
      and trust Him implicitly.

Nothing but Jesus can truly satisfy the soul of men. In life and death, time and eternity–Jesus alone is the soul’s eternal portion and inheritance. O believer, cling to Him as your only treasure–for He is infinitely precious.

“Lord Jesus, open my heart more fully to see Your surpassing worth. Let the world grow dim, and let Your glory shine brighter in my heart. May I count all things loss for the sake of knowing You, and may my soul be ever ravished with Your loveliness. You are altogether precious. Amen.”

What are you doing, groaning through the world beneath a load of fears and cares? 

Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873 
Matthew 10:29-31, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 

There is no such thing as chance. All the reins that guide and govern the world, are gathered into the hands of Jesus. His care of His people extends to the most common, and apparently trivial matters; all are links in the golden chain of providence. 

Divine Providence is a comforting doctrine, too precious to be parted with! 
Let the thought that Jesus . . .
  watches over all your affairs, 
  and guards your welfare,
  and guides all your ways–
banish your every anxious care. 

I do not say that you will never be disappointed, but certainly you ought never to be discontented. Many things in your circumstances may occasion anxious thought, but nothing should cause or can excuse sinful repining. 

Child of God! He has numbered the hairs of your head, as well as the stars of Heaven!

Believer,  what are you doing, groaning through the world beneath a load of fears and cares? What should discourage you? What should disturb your peace? What can ruffle the calm spirit of a man who knows that the hands which were once nailed to the tree for him, now hold the helm of his destiny? The blessed Savior, who by love’s golden scepter reigns within his heart, holds sovereign sway over earth and Heaven; and . . . 
  by both bitter and sweet providences, 
  by both coffins and cradles, 
  by both disappointments and joys, 
  by both losses and gains, 
shall cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Mortification and Vivification

Arthur Pink,
Ephesians 4:22-24, “You were taught with reference to your former way of life, to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires–to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image–in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.”

The Christian life is not a playground, but a battlefield. We are called to take up arms against two mighty foes: the indwelling corruption of our flesh; and the sluggishness of our hearts toward God. Scripture speaks of this double duty as mortification of sin, and vivification of grace.

Whenever the Holy Spirit regenerates someone, He implants a holy principle within that person which always manifests itself in the ongoing work of mortification and vivification. That is, the practical putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new man. This mortification and vivification is continued throughout life, and will not end until glorification.

First, the mortification of sin. The flesh is a restless rebel, forever plotting treason against its rightful King. Pride, envy, lust, sloth, anger, impurity–these are no trifles, but serpents whose venom would destroy the soul if left unchecked. Our duty is not to pamperthem, but to slay them. The believer must take the sword of the Spirit and pierce through every darling sin, however small it may appear. Yet we cannot mortify any sin by the sheer strength of our will. Only as we walk in the Spirit, will He enable us to mortify sin.

“Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh!” (Galatians 5:16)

Second, the vivification of our graces, so that we increase in strength and make further advances in true piety. To mortify sin is to pull up the weeds–but we must also nurture the flowers of holiness. We can do this, only as we vivify our graces: faith must be exercised, love  must be kindled, hope must be nourished, prayer must be cultivated. A barren soul is not a safe soul. When our graces are not growing, then our sins will be spreading. But again, here is our weakness: left to ourselves, we can no more make faith flourish than we can make the lilies grow. It is the Spirit who breathes life, waters every grace, and makes the believer fruitful in every good work.

Thus the Christian is ever cast upon the Spirit. Only through Him, can we kill sin and cultivate holiness. Let us then walk by the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, and depend wholly on the Spirit–until that day when sin shall be no more, and grace shall blossom into glory!

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14)

The workings of grace in the heart

J.C. Ryle 
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
 
The workings of grace in the heart are utterly mysterious and unsearchable. 
  
We cannot explain why the Word produces effects on one person in a congregation, and not upon another. 
  
We cannot explain why, in some cases; with every possible advantage, and in spite of every entreaty–people reject the Word, and continue dead in trespasses and sins. 
  
We cannot explain why in other cases; with every possible difficulty, and with no encouragement–people are born again, and become decided Christians. 
  
We cannot define the manner in which the Spirit of God conveys life to a soul, and the exact process by which a believer receives a new nature. 
  
All these are hidden things to us. 
We see certain results, but we can go no further. 
  
This is deeply instructive. It is humbling no doubt to ministers, and teachers of others. 
  The highest abilities, 
    the most powerful preaching, 
      the most diligent working, 
        cannot command success. 
 
God alone can give spiritual life! 
 
But it is a truth at the same time, which supplies an admirable antidote to excessive anxiety and despondency. Our principal work is to sow the seed. That done, we may wait with faith and patience for the result. We may leave our work with the Lord. He alone can, if He thinks fit, give success. 
  
Romans 9:15, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

The whole Christian life is drawn in one line

Charles Spurgeon, “Coming, Always Coming” 
1 Peter 2:4, “Coming to Him”

This is an apt description of the whole of the Christian life. I consider it to be a complete picture of a saint, drawn with one stroke. In all circumstances and conditions, we are to come to Jesus alone.

The Christian life is begun, continued, and perfected altogether in dependence upon the Lord Jesus. He is both the author and the finisher of our faith.

If we begin aright, we begin with “Christ is all!”
If we live aright, we live with “Christ is all!”
And if we finish aright, we finish with “Christ is all!”

We are to be always coming to Him:
coming to Him for spiritual nourishment;
coming to Him for needed grace;
coming to Him for cleansing, guidance, support and comfort;
coming in fact, for everything. 

The whole Christian life is drawn in one line–it is a continuous “coming to Jesus!”

I am persuaded that the only happy, holy, safe way for a Christian to live, is to live in daily dependence upon Jesus and to come to Him at all times, in all respects, under all circumstances, for everything!

May it be the habit of our lives to be incessantly coming to our loving and merciful Savior.

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!” Isaiah 43:1-3

Better than wine!

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 
Canticles 1:2, “Your love is better than wine!”

The believer finds his truest joy, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world, but in the enduring and soul-satisfying love of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Your love is better than wine,” says the Bride to her Beloved–and the heart of every redeemed soul echoes the same. Earthly joys may sparkle for a moment, but they soon fade. Christ’s love is better–it is . . .
  purer,
    deeper,
      richer,
        and forever satisfying.

Wine may gladden the heart of man, but it cannot quiet his conscience. It may brighten the face, but it cannot cleanse the soul. But the love of Christ–what comfort, what peace, what delight it brings! One moment in communion with Him, outweighs a lifetime of the world’s pleasures. We have tasted His love, and it is like honey from the comb–sweeter than anything earth can offer.
His presence lifts the downcast.
  His fellowship strengthens the weary.
    His nearness satisfies every longing.

Beloved, consider how Christ has poured out His love for you. Not in word only, but in blood–love proven on the cross; love triumphant over sin, death, and Hell.
He loved you when you were unlovable.
He sought you when you were wandering.
He died for you when you were madly rushing to Hell.
And now He bids you to draw near and drink deeply of His love.
He is the Fountain of living waters, the true Vine from which every drop of heavenly joy flows.

Has the world disappointed you? 
Has its wine turned sour in your mouth?
Come again to the Savior. Let His love be your comfort, your song, and your strength. Here is no deceit, no regret, no after-bitterness–only pure delight, joy unspeakable and full of glory.

O believer, dwell often beneath the shadow of the Cross. Sit down under His banner of love, and feast on the riches of His grace. The love of Jesus is the joy of Heaven begun on earth, and the foretaste of eternal bliss! Drink to the full, and be satisfied in Him!

A new creation!

Charles Spurgeon, et al. 
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Whenever anyone is saved by the sovereign grace of God, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit–he becomes a new creation in Christ. This is not a mere moral improvement, nor a religious reformation, nor the adoption of a more wholesome lifestyle–but a supernatural work of the Spirit, producing a new nature.

Having experienced this miracle of salvation, the new man now has new views, new ambitions, new convictions, new desires, new notions, new hopes, new dreads, new pleasures, new aims, new principles, new affections, new joys, and new pursuits. Everything about him is changed. He does, as it were, live in a new world!

He was once spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, governed by the flesh, blind to truth, and hostile to God!

Now, his affections are changed–he loves what he once hated, and hates what he once loved!

Now, his mind is renewed–he no longer sees life through the lens of popular culture, but through the lens of Scripture.

Now, his will is liberated–he longs to do the will of God, though not without struggle. Though sin still remains in his flesh, it no longer  reigns in his life.

The believer is brought into a new realm: from darkness, to light; from death, to life; from the kingdom of Satan, to the kingdom of God. He is  adopted as God’s child, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed  for the day of redemption. In Christ, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is now his! (Ephesians 1:3-8).

His past is forgiven,
his present is transformed,
and his future is secured.

But the glory of this new creation lies not in the man himself, but in the One who made him new. Just as the original creation displayed the majesty of God–so this new creation displays the greatness of His sovereignty, mercy, and grace.

Christian, never forget who you are–you are not what you once were. And though you are not yet what you will be–you are already made new in Christ. Let this truth humble you, encourage you, and move you to walk in newness of life, to the glory of God who “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!” Colossians 1:13–14

Judge not, lest you be judged!

Charles Spurgeon, et al.
Few verses are more misunderstood or misused than the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest you be judged!” In our day of moral relativism, blame-shifting, and self-justification, this verse is regularly pulled out of context to silence any voice that dares to call sin what it is. Yet such misuse turns the Lord’s words on their head, distorting both His meaning and His purpose.

First, what Jesus is NOT saying: He is not forbidding all forms of judgment. Scripture itself commands believers to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), and to confront a brother or sister who is in sin (Galatians 6:1). In fact, just a few verses later in Matthew 7, Jesus warns against giving what is sacred to dogs (verse 6), and identifying false prophets by their fruits (verses 15-20)–both of which require spiritual discernment and righteous judgment. Clearly then, Jesus is not promoting a blind tolerance of sin, or moral indifference.

Nor is He forbidding the correction of others. His very command, “then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”–implies that helping a brother overcome sin is a necessary and loving work. But it must be done with humility, self-awareness, and sincerity.

What Jesus IS condemning, is self-righteous, hypocritical judgment–the kind that sees minor faults in others, while ignoring major ones in ourselves. He is exposing the pride that delights in criticizing others from a position of moral superiority, while remaining blind to our own sin.

The image which Jesus paints is intentionally exaggerated in order to make His point: a man with a plank sticking out of his eye, trying to remove a speck of dust from someone else’s eye. None are more unjust in their judgments of others, than those who have a high opinion of themselves.

Until we have first humbled ourselves before God, repented of our own sin, and been cleansed by His grace–we are not fit to help others. We must first judge ourselves rightly–only then will we be able to see clearly and act compassionately.

In the end, this passage is not a prohibition against loving confrontation. The real force of Jesus’ words is this: Judge yourself first. Deal with your own sinful heart, before you presume to deal with another’s. And when you do speak to others about their sin, let it be from a place of grace, truth, and godly love–never from hypocrisy.

Judgment that aligns with God’s Word, is exercised in humility and aims at  restoration–is not only permitted–it is commanded. The problem is not judgment itself, but self-righteous, hypocritical, or unjust judgment.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should  restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

The Ways ad Ends of the Wicked

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
 
Psalm 1:4-6,
“Not so the wicked!
 They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked will perish!”

“Not so the wicked!” 
With these solemn words, the Psalmist draws a sharp contrast between the godly and the ungodly. The righteous are like fruitful trees–rooted, nourished and prosperous. But “the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away.” Chaff is the worthless husk separated from grain–light, dry, and empty. It is easily scattered and quickly forgotten. Such is every life lived apart from God: rootless, fruitless, and ultimately futile. However impressive the wicked may appear for a season, their prosperity is short-lived and their end is destruction! (Psalm 73:18-19)

The wicked “will not stand in the judgment.” 
They will have no defense, no covering, no hope. When they stand before the Judge of all the earth, their works will be burned up as stubble. All their excuses will be silenced. The day of judgment will reveal what they are: rebels against the Most High God, having rejected His Son and despised His Word. They will not be counted “in the assembly of the righteous.” They may have mingled with the godly on earth–but in the last day, the Shepherd will infallibly separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Their exclusion will be eternal.

“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Here is the final contrast.

The Lord lovingly and attentively watches over the path of His redeemed people. He guards their steps, directs their course, and brings them safely home.

But the way of the wicked–though it may seem smooth for a time–leads only to ruin! Their end is not annihilation, but everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). The broad road may appear pleasant, but it descends into outer darkness, with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!

Reader, Psalm 1 presents only two ways: the way of life, and the way of death.
One is watched over by God, ending in glory.
The other is forsaken by God, ending in judgment.

Which way are you walking? The only escape from the perishing path, is found in Jesus. He bore the wrath for sinners, that all who turn from their wicked ways and trust in Him may be counted among the righteous. “The Lord knows those who are His!” (2 Timothy 2:19) Let every soul flee to Him and find life!