Spurgeon Quote

Backsliders begin with dusty Bibles and end with filthy garments.




C. H. Spurgeon

Now Redaing

I am now reading Jerry Bridges book....
the Gospel for real life.

Today's Eagle's Wings: Friday, May 08, 200

9

A Light for Dark Days

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, . . . that walketh in darkness? . . . Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
ISAIAH 50:10

Somehow the notion has spread abroad that true Christians should never endure periods of darkness, trial, or trouble. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trials will come to every Christian. Satan will attack every Christian. When these things occur, we can become very confused and distressed. It appears that the Lord has forsaken us. Is that your experience today? Are you an heir of heaven walking in darkness? Todays text has a word for you.

Dark days are not necessarily a judgment on sin. Isaiah addresses those who fear the Lord. They obey the voice of His servant. This is a description of a believer walking according to the Word of God. Yet he walks in darkness. He is fighting a spiritual battle that depresses his soul. He reads his Bible but receives no light. He prays but obtains no relief. The devil tells him that all this is Gods judgment on him and that He has forsaken him. Our text brands that as a lie.

Faithful Christians face dark days. So what is the answer? Will the Lord leave a believer in such a condition indefinitely? No, but He may allow the darkness to continue until the necessary lesson of faith has been learned. What is that lesson? It is that we are not to base our assurance on good feelings or prosperous circumstances, but on the character and Word of our God. If you are compassed about by doubt or darkness, stay, or lean, upon the Lord. Trust Him. He will not fail you or forsake you. Stand upon His promises, and light will arise in the darkness.

Today's Eagle's Wings: Wednesday, May 06, 2009

The Reign of Grace

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
ROMANS 6:6

The Church of Rome has always hated the doctrine of justification by grace alone. Since the days of the Reformation, she has asserted that such preaching will lead to licentious living. Of course, this is not a new charge against the gospel, for Paul had to face the same accusations in his day. Now it seems that todays popular carnal Christian theory is giving credence to Romes allegation. In our day a person can make a decision for Christ without being made a disciple of Christ. He can be saved from his present troubles (or so he hopes!) or saved from hell, but never need to be saved from his sinful vices. Paul addresses both of these fallacies in the sixth chapter of Romans by proving that justifying grace will reign in the life of the true child of God.

By our union with Christ in His death, our old man is crucified with him (v. 6). As Christ died to sins guilt, sins condemnation, and sins reign, so did we! That is, by bearing our sin on the cross, He destroyed all that sin could do to us. Not that our sinful nature was eradicated, but it lost its power to dominate us, for he that is dead is freed from sin (v. 7). Can it be any plainer than Pauls declaration in verse 14, For sin shall not have dominion over you?

What does this say to those who claim that this doctrine of free justification leads to immorality? And what does it do to the theory of the carnal Christian, which says a man can be saved and never leave his sinful habits and wicked living? Most certainly, these notions are left high and dry. Thank God for the sanctifying power of the truth of justification! For how shall we who have been freed from the horrors of sin by the awful death of our Redeemer live any longer in sin? Let us therefore yield ourselves as servants of God unto holy living.