J.A. Matteson
The sons of Adam fret and strain in dreadful anticipation of some adversity intersecting their life. Daily events are perceived as random occurrences, some pleasant, others miserable. The concepts of chance and luck dominate their thinking and govern their actions. Many live lives of quiet desperation in perpetual fear that what they dread most may overtake them. Conversely, the children of God live in the daily assurance of their Father's providential blessing and care. "These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come" (Jn. 8:21). John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded this day in the life of the Savior and interpreted the outcome of His teaching [He was not seized] as ordained by God. The providential outcome itself underscored the will of the Father Who is sovereign over all. What blessed assurance is given to the heirs of salvation for time and eternity? If the heirs may confidently trust in Him for everlasting life, can they not also entrust their daily experiences to Him who loves them and surrendered up His life for them? Absolutely! Entrust the day to the Shepherd of your soul and regardless of the events to follow give thanks to God in all things knowing that He is using them for your good and His glory.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Joyfully Persevere
J.A. Matteson
When Christ bids a man to follow Him it is an invitation to die. First century disciples understood vividly what was implied by picking up ones cross to follow Him. "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore" (Jn. 6:66). The road is narrow and the way difficult that leads to life. Christ refuses to redeem a man on his terms; the Way is His and the means is death. The flesh is characterized by a stubborn inclination bent on independence from divine authority. The Way is spiritually discerned and an enigma to the flesh. Therefore the commands of Christ to those in the flesh are received as harsh, unreasonable, and undesirable. Predictably, when the road narrows and the Way becomes difficult they turn back to the mire. Not so for those born of the Spirit. The sweetness of the Shepherds guidance is received as by One intending to direct them to gentle green pastures and refreshing cold waters. And when the path become difficult they joyfully persevere along its way knowing that the Good Shepherd is leading them to Paradise and will protect them from the evil one. At each higher vista along the road He increases and they decrease to the praise of His glory.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
When Christ bids a man to follow Him it is an invitation to die. First century disciples understood vividly what was implied by picking up ones cross to follow Him. "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore" (Jn. 6:66). The road is narrow and the way difficult that leads to life. Christ refuses to redeem a man on his terms; the Way is His and the means is death. The flesh is characterized by a stubborn inclination bent on independence from divine authority. The Way is spiritually discerned and an enigma to the flesh. Therefore the commands of Christ to those in the flesh are received as harsh, unreasonable, and undesirable. Predictably, when the road narrows and the Way becomes difficult they turn back to the mire. Not so for those born of the Spirit. The sweetness of the Shepherds guidance is received as by One intending to direct them to gentle green pastures and refreshing cold waters. And when the path become difficult they joyfully persevere along its way knowing that the Good Shepherd is leading them to Paradise and will protect them from the evil one. At each higher vista along the road He increases and they decrease to the praise of His glory.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Work of Grace
J.A. Matteson
Blessed is the man who believes in Jesus Christ. The commands He gives; the claims He makes; the predictions He declares are fantastic, so much so that none will accept them apart from grace. "Does this cause you to stumble?" (Jn. 6:61). Believing in Christ is both the simplist act and the most impossible one simultaneously. For to one man the volitional aspect to believe strikes him as clear as a lightening bolt and is the plainest response to all that his heart has seen and heard. To another man His words are hard to accept and he stumbles, remaining in a state of unbelief, spiritually deaf and blind to the Light before him. The Lord spoke exactly when He proclaimed the flesh, or fallen human will, is of no benefit in assisting a man to believe; rather, it is just the opposite...a hindrance. Life which the Spirit gives is predicate to and essential for faith exercised...it is the Spirit Who gives life. For this reason two men hear the same Gospel, one believes and one stumbles. If not for grace both would stumble and remain in darkness. And the Lord describes the work of grace in the heart, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father" (Jn. 6:65). All are commanded to come to Christ, but apart from grace they lack the moral ability to do so. If any man desires Christ he is indeed blessed. The Lord will never turn away those who come to Him in faith.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Blessed is the man who believes in Jesus Christ. The commands He gives; the claims He makes; the predictions He declares are fantastic, so much so that none will accept them apart from grace. "Does this cause you to stumble?" (Jn. 6:61). Believing in Christ is both the simplist act and the most impossible one simultaneously. For to one man the volitional aspect to believe strikes him as clear as a lightening bolt and is the plainest response to all that his heart has seen and heard. To another man His words are hard to accept and he stumbles, remaining in a state of unbelief, spiritually deaf and blind to the Light before him. The Lord spoke exactly when He proclaimed the flesh, or fallen human will, is of no benefit in assisting a man to believe; rather, it is just the opposite...a hindrance. Life which the Spirit gives is predicate to and essential for faith exercised...it is the Spirit Who gives life. For this reason two men hear the same Gospel, one believes and one stumbles. If not for grace both would stumble and remain in darkness. And the Lord describes the work of grace in the heart, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father" (Jn. 6:65). All are commanded to come to Christ, but apart from grace they lack the moral ability to do so. If any man desires Christ he is indeed blessed. The Lord will never turn away those who come to Him in faith.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Heavy Heart
J.A. Matteson
Few occasions more prominently contrast the sovereign activity of the Spirit than familial relationships where certain members have received transformative grace while others remain in darkness; "for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three" (Luke 12:52). Evidence of the authenticity of the Spirit's work in the soul is a resolute commitment to the Christ who calls at the expense of being accepted by members who reject the gospel. Marginalization from the family ethos and estrangement accompany disciples; it is their lot as they are perpetually challenged to deny their foolishness and denounce Christ to once again gain full acceptance into the family fold. But this they will not and cannot do, for His seed remains in them, and they would willingly die a thousand deaths than deny the Savior of their soul who raised them from spiritual death. And so it is with a heavy heart they stand fast as sentinels of grace and light before members in darkness, continually interceding on their behalf that the light of the gospel might pierce through the darkness and they be saved.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Few occasions more prominently contrast the sovereign activity of the Spirit than familial relationships where certain members have received transformative grace while others remain in darkness; "for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three" (Luke 12:52). Evidence of the authenticity of the Spirit's work in the soul is a resolute commitment to the Christ who calls at the expense of being accepted by members who reject the gospel. Marginalization from the family ethos and estrangement accompany disciples; it is their lot as they are perpetually challenged to deny their foolishness and denounce Christ to once again gain full acceptance into the family fold. But this they will not and cannot do, for His seed remains in them, and they would willingly die a thousand deaths than deny the Savior of their soul who raised them from spiritual death. And so it is with a heavy heart they stand fast as sentinels of grace and light before members in darkness, continually interceding on their behalf that the light of the gospel might pierce through the darkness and they be saved.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Friday, October 26, 2012
By Grace
J. A. Matteson
Every religious system on earth seeks so merit a righteous standing before its deity(s) through an appeasement of good works. Christianity is unique in this regard, ascribing an imputed righteousness to the transgressor, not on the basis of works, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who God put forth as a propitiation for sin. "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed...." (Rom. 3:21). The righteousness to which the apostle speaks is not that by which God is righteous, but that righteousness He freely makes available to us who don't have it. The person who thinks they can keep the law fail to grasp its demands. For keeping the law in deed precedes from the heart and the heart of fallen sinners is opposed to the law. The thoughts and intent proceeding from the heart of sinners self-validate the laws indictment that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Helpless and hopeless are transgressors of the law who's will is in bondage to sin and death. But praise be to God who by grace raises the dead and brings into existence that which did not exist; namely, faith.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Every religious system on earth seeks so merit a righteous standing before its deity(s) through an appeasement of good works. Christianity is unique in this regard, ascribing an imputed righteousness to the transgressor, not on the basis of works, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who God put forth as a propitiation for sin. "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed...." (Rom. 3:21). The righteousness to which the apostle speaks is not that by which God is righteous, but that righteousness He freely makes available to us who don't have it. The person who thinks they can keep the law fail to grasp its demands. For keeping the law in deed precedes from the heart and the heart of fallen sinners is opposed to the law. The thoughts and intent proceeding from the heart of sinners self-validate the laws indictment that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Helpless and hopeless are transgressors of the law who's will is in bondage to sin and death. But praise be to God who by grace raises the dead and brings into existence that which did not exist; namely, faith.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Faithful Ambassadors
J.A. Matteson
Faithful ambassadors neither add to nor subtract from the message entrusted to them. Ambassadors of state often put their necks on the line when recipients of the message are hostile to it. Ambassadors often suffer the brunt of rejection on behalf of the sovereign they represent. "As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord" (James 5:10). Pluralism and secularism are not friendly toward ambassadors of Jesus Christ. For ambassadors deliver a message of propositional truth, a divine ultimatum of an impending day of judgment for sin. The message of Christ's ambassadors is both dire and hopeful. It is unconcerned with bolstering self esteem; rather, it obliterates it. It is not mindful of political correctness; to the contrary, its fidelity to truth is antithetical to the whims of cultural acceptance. Indeed, the foreign origin of the cross is so repugnant to sinners that its acceptance is soley dependant upon grace. Blessed are those who believe the gospel, for they are the true children of Abraham according to the promise, displaying the righteousness of God, that imputed by faith. Therefore, let the ambassadors of Christ deliver the pure message of the cross without alteration. For it is His message, empowered by the Spirit that saves, and it is not dependant on the eloquence of the messenger. To the praise of His glory.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Faithful ambassadors neither add to nor subtract from the message entrusted to them. Ambassadors of state often put their necks on the line when recipients of the message are hostile to it. Ambassadors often suffer the brunt of rejection on behalf of the sovereign they represent. "As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord" (James 5:10). Pluralism and secularism are not friendly toward ambassadors of Jesus Christ. For ambassadors deliver a message of propositional truth, a divine ultimatum of an impending day of judgment for sin. The message of Christ's ambassadors is both dire and hopeful. It is unconcerned with bolstering self esteem; rather, it obliterates it. It is not mindful of political correctness; to the contrary, its fidelity to truth is antithetical to the whims of cultural acceptance. Indeed, the foreign origin of the cross is so repugnant to sinners that its acceptance is soley dependant upon grace. Blessed are those who believe the gospel, for they are the true children of Abraham according to the promise, displaying the righteousness of God, that imputed by faith. Therefore, let the ambassadors of Christ deliver the pure message of the cross without alteration. For it is His message, empowered by the Spirit that saves, and it is not dependant on the eloquence of the messenger. To the praise of His glory.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Saturday, September 1, 2012
All Power and Authority
J.A. Matteson
A notable hush filled the sanctuary of heaven as the elders paused in anticipation of the One worthy to open the book closed up with seven seals. "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing'" (Rev. 5:12). Enduring His humiliation on the cross the Son of God is exalted to supremacy. The Lamb that was slain in meekness is coronated with power and might. The Lamb who was received up into heaven will soon return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah to vanquish His foes. All power and authority is given to the Son who will reign in righteousness and shatter with a rod of iron His opposition. All of the energy of the nuclear weapons of men, multiplied tens of millions of times, are as a scant whimper in comparison to one word spoken by the Lamb in judgment. Make straight a highway for our God. Let us lift up our hearts for the reception of the Lamb, for the day of His appearing is near.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
A notable hush filled the sanctuary of heaven as the elders paused in anticipation of the One worthy to open the book closed up with seven seals. "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing'" (Rev. 5:12). Enduring His humiliation on the cross the Son of God is exalted to supremacy. The Lamb that was slain in meekness is coronated with power and might. The Lamb who was received up into heaven will soon return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah to vanquish His foes. All power and authority is given to the Son who will reign in righteousness and shatter with a rod of iron His opposition. All of the energy of the nuclear weapons of men, multiplied tens of millions of times, are as a scant whimper in comparison to one word spoken by the Lamb in judgment. Make straight a highway for our God. Let us lift up our hearts for the reception of the Lamb, for the day of His appearing is near.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
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