As we prepare for Christmas, which is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ—and in most cases has been altered conceptually into the biggest frenzy of consumer hedonism of the year; measured more by what we receive or how we impress the ones we care for about what we give them (which I too have immersed myself in, and continue to participate in excess), than to really, and seriously consider what God gave us in His Son—the most complete demonstration of His love for us – we need to ‘refocus’ on the ‘true meaning of Christmas.’
Continue Reading »

Low at Thy feet, Lord Jesus,

This is the place for me;

Here I have learned deep lessons,

Truth that has set me free.

Free from myself Lord Jesus,

Free from the ways of men;

Chains of thought that have bound me,

Never bind again.

None but Thyself, Lord Jesus,

Conquered this wayward will,

But for Thy love constraining,

I had been wayward still.

(Found in a man’s bible after he died.)

My prayer after reading this, is a prayer of solemn yet joyful thanksgiving for His merciful, love which authored His salvation through grace and freed even such a wretched sinner as me from the bondage and penalty of my sins. Grace — only through and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I love Him – and reverence Him. But, it is His love, and His righteousness to which I cling, and is the anchor of “my hope in Him” –as my love is fallible, conditional, inconsistent, and to truly describe it — is human, of my flesh — therefore, unreliable — my own heart deceives me, my will contends with His; and I will continue to sin –but I am forgiven! That is the truth that sets me free, free from the ways of men, but mainly, free from myself and my flesh. (Again, here I wish to state too that ‘divine election’ does not ‘dull human responsibility.’)

Continue Reading »

I found this devotional very stimulating spiritually. I thank God, and His precious Son, Jesus Christ, that I am saved through faith by grace, (without any merit or favor of my own—I could not and did not “earn it”) and that I can cling to His love, and His righteousness; as mine is so fallible, inconsistent, conditional, and human. I also praise Him, that “once saved, always saved” , and that I cannot lose my salvation—thus although I will continue to sin, no matter how hard I try to ‘not sin’ — but as long as I’m in this body of flesh. But, praise the Lord, I’m free from its penalty (and its curse) for which He has paid—he took my place, and paid my price—He satisfied The Father’s righteousness and holiness in that respect. In that, I can rest, and have the peace that I am reconciled to God the Father through His Son. (To ever again think that I would ever have to deal with sin in relation to the salvation He has freely given me, would be in effect “me re-crucifying Him”, and  that will never be! Praise Him, I am saved!) I hope this lets you reflect upon Him, and upon your own life in relation to Him.

Continue Reading »

Christ’s Impeccability, an article by James Martin, taken from Uplook Magazine, Nov.’98

It is agreed that He “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). But it is also true that “in Him is no sin” ( 1 John 3:5 ).

All Christians agree that the Lord Jesus dud not sin while He was on the earth, but sooner or later most Christians face the question, “Could He have sinned?” This is an important question and, as we consider it, reverence reminds us that “the place whereon [we] stand is holy ground.” There is no more sacred a subject than God’s beloved Son.

What is temptation? The issue of whether or not the Lord Jesus could have sinned goes hand-in-hand with the issue of temptation. When the Bible tells us that Christ was tempted (Heb. 4:15), what does it mean? It is at this point we encounter our first danger: we must be very careful that we do not impute to Christ the experiences and feelings we have as fallen creatures. Too often when considering this issue men start not with the Bible, but with their own personal experiences with temptation (as fallen men) and reason back to Christ. This is the course of disaster.

Continue Reading »