The Law

The conscience begins to love God's law when God's law ceases to condemn me ; and God's law ceases to condemn me when I am in Christ Jesus ; ."There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus ."The effect of the Agreement is obedience to the law , - that is , the whole word of God . "Do we make void the law through faith .? God forbid . Yea ,we establish the law . "See the whole of the 119th Psalm ; observe the tone of it throughout ."O how love I thy law ......."There is a cherished companionship . This is needed in order to actual newness of life ; and this is secured by getting the enmity done away . As long as there is condemnation , and the word of God is the accuser , there is no cordiality to it . There may be a show of submission , for fear of yet greater evil ; but there is no love to the law , and without love there is no real obedience . But the law that beams forth in all the perfections of God and yet has no charge to make in the judgement against you , - the law that glorifies the judge and yet permits you to stand justified in his presence ,-  that law and you are at one . You have no cause to quarrel with it . It ceases to accuse , and you cease to keep it at a distance . You draw to it ; you walk with it ; you can make it your companion ; you can take it into your bosom and yet not be burned by its terrors ; you make it the man of your counsel . When the two are agreed they are seen walking together .
    The word still condemns the sins that linger in you ; but this does not renew the quarrel . You are on the side of the law , and against your own besetting sins . You will love it because it condemns your own sins . You will gladly run to the physician , who cuts the gangrened limb away , though that limb be your own right hand . You and the law are agreed ; you take it continually with you as your best defence against your foes (Your sins. ); yourself will drag them forth and place them under the uplifted sword that they may be slain .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muckle Kate Not a very ordinary name! But then, Muckle Kate, or Big Kate, or Kate-Mhor, or Kate of Lochcarron was not a very ordinary woman! The actual day of her salvation is difficult to trace to its sunrising, but being such a glorious day as it was, we simply wish to relate something of what shone forth in the redeemed life of that "ill-looking woman without any beauty in the sight of God or man." Muckle Kate was born and lived in Lochcarron in the county of Ross-shire. By the time she had lived her life to its eighty-fifth year she had well-earned the reputation of having committed every known sin against the Law of God with the exception murder. Speaking after the manner of men, if it took "Grace Abounding" to save a hardened sinner like John Bunyan, it was going to take "Grace Much More Abounding" to save Muckle Kate. However, Grace is Sovereign and cannot be thwarted when God sends it on the errand of salvation, and even the method used in bri
Read more
  Severance from Christ is death   to the Church. A Christless Church is a headless trunk. We may retain the doctrine and ethic of the New Testament, but, nevertheless, amputation of the Head means death. Even a partial severance of connection involves paraylsis - loss of spiritual power and loss of spiritual feeling. II.  INTERNALLY, THE CHURCH IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. It is filled with Christ. He is not only the Head above it; he is the life within it. He does not only teach, bless, command, and lead from without; he inspires his people and lives in his Church. Christ fills " all  in all;"  i.e.  the Spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth is in the whole universe, inspiring all creation and all providence with wisdom and goodness, purity and grace. The same Spirit is in the Church. As yet, unhappily, the Church is not filled with Christ. Though Christ is received into the heart of Christians, every door within is not yet flung open to the gracious Guest. But in the perfect
Read more

Lo, I am with you always

Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20) SUCH were “the words of Jesus” when He was just about to ascend to Heaven. The mediatorial throne was in view – the harps of glory were sounding in His ears; but all His thoughts are on the pilgrim Church He is to leave behind. His last words and benedictions are for them. “I go,” He seems to say, “to Heaven, to my purchased crown – to the fellowship of angels – to the presence of my Father; but nevertheless, ‘Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” How faithfully did the apostles, to whom this promise was first addressed, experience its reality! Hear the testimony of the beloved disciple who had once leaned on his Divine Master’s bosom – who “had heard, and seen, and looked upon Him.” That glorified bosom was now hid from his sight but does he speak of an absent Lord, and of His fellowship only as among the holy memories of the past? No! With rejoicing emphasis he can exclaim – “Truly o
Read more