Hi All
I was contemplating a 'Daily Reading' note from the eminent preacher and Theologian J Sidlow Baxter this morning and was touched by the teaching he sought to give.
(If you are ever looking for a Daily Reading programme then I recommend Baxters book 'Awake my Heart' (ISBN 978-0-8254-2175-4)).
The subject was Christ's interaction with the disciple Peter and his restoration after the resurrection -
John 21.
For the Christian there is the Authority of God's Word in our lives and subsequently the obedience to its teaching by the Power of the Holy Spirit to bring about a blessed existence here on earth.
Yet if a believer has the thought of having to obey God rather than wanting to obey God then life becomes less bless.
To note what Jesus said to Peter makes this a bit clearer:
John 21:15-17
(15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
(16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Note what comes first before we live our lives for the Glory of God:
'lovest thou me?'
For a believer to live their lives in the joyous privilege of being 'in Christ' He must be put first in everything because 'He first loved us':
1 John 4:19
(19) We love him, because he first loved us.
May we all have the same desire of the Apostle Paul:
Philippians 1:21
(21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
The only way a Blood Bought, Blood Washed believer wants to live is with Jesus Christ as preeminent and not just prominent.
Praying for the Church in these days of Apostasy
Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Friday, May 4, 2018
The Joy in the Believers Faith
Hi All
I was just reading yesterday some of the Daily Devotional notes from J Sidlow Baxter (Commentator and Preacher now since 1999 basking in Heavens Glory with His Saviour) and was encouraged by his teaching on the Faith that I have as a believer on the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
He states and I quote:
'Faith is the very life of man's spiritual nature'
In relation to this thought he goes on to say:
'until the mind can rest itself by faith in guaranteed certainties there is no real joy for us'
To doubt in the certainty of God's Love and Mercy to us as sinners is to be robbed of the certainty that Jesus Christ stood in the place of you and me in taking upon Himself the Wrath of God's judgement that was most certainly ours.
To think that we as mankind are free from failure in sin is to delude ourselves in a false security.
Often we hear that we as human beings are essentially good in our nature however even that promotes a sense of pride in ourselves that cannot be right.
God's Word on the matter tells us:
Romans 3:23
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
I am a sinner Saved by God's Amazing Grace and rejoice that I can rest on the certainty that Jesus died for me as that sinner:
Romans 5:6
(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:8
(8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Praise God in His Love and Mercy that He has provided for us a certainty of sins forgiven and an assurance of Heavens Glory because of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
The question needs to be asked as to what you are depending upon for the certainty of your Salvation.
I pray it is totally on Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter speaking of Jesus Christ declared:
Acts 4:12
(12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Thanks for reading.
Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com
I was just reading yesterday some of the Daily Devotional notes from J Sidlow Baxter (Commentator and Preacher now since 1999 basking in Heavens Glory with His Saviour) and was encouraged by his teaching on the Faith that I have as a believer on the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
He states and I quote:
'Faith is the very life of man's spiritual nature'
In relation to this thought he goes on to say:
'until the mind can rest itself by faith in guaranteed certainties there is no real joy for us'
To doubt in the certainty of God's Love and Mercy to us as sinners is to be robbed of the certainty that Jesus Christ stood in the place of you and me in taking upon Himself the Wrath of God's judgement that was most certainly ours.
To think that we as mankind are free from failure in sin is to delude ourselves in a false security.
Often we hear that we as human beings are essentially good in our nature however even that promotes a sense of pride in ourselves that cannot be right.
God's Word on the matter tells us:
Romans 3:23
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
I am a sinner Saved by God's Amazing Grace and rejoice that I can rest on the certainty that Jesus died for me as that sinner:
Romans 5:6
(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:8
(8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Praise God in His Love and Mercy that He has provided for us a certainty of sins forgiven and an assurance of Heavens Glory because of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
The question needs to be asked as to what you are depending upon for the certainty of your Salvation.
I pray it is totally on Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter speaking of Jesus Christ declared:
Acts 4:12
(12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Thanks for reading.
Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com
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