J.A. Matteson
Reason and intellectual inquiry utterly fail to uncover the mystery of the love of God through Christ toward His people, "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19). By grace is this love received and comprehended, and exceedingly personal is its application by the Spirit. When by grace a sinner's understanding is illumined to the gospel of peace everything else becomes incidental. Time and eternity are laid bare in the midst of the reality of earthly suffering as a mere trifle in the context of the redemptive glory to be revealed. The love of Christ personally experienced through the gospel compels His servants to persevere in the face of unrelenting opposition, for they know, not in theory, but in truth what is the exceeding wealth of His glory towards all who believe through the foolishness of the preaching of the gospel. Eternal in origin, limitless in power, boundless in scope, beyond measure is the love of Christ toward His people. From grace to grace and faith to faith the love of Christ and the joy He gives sprouts forth in their hearts with increasing abundance to the glory of the Father. If this love is foreign to you Jesus bids you to come to Him today.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Monday, September 30, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Hidden in Christ
J.A. Matteson
Beloved, in your dealings with people as Christ's ambassador, consider how you speak of those whom you have influenced for Christ. "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Gal. 6:14). The object of your boasting reveals much about your understanding of the cross of Christ. What is the nature of your boast with those whom you have impacted? Consider the object of the apostles boast, it was in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross on behalf of His people. He understood that as Christ was lifted up He would draw all people to Himself, Gentile as well as Jew, that the message of the cross was not exclusive, but freely offered to all with ears to hear, and that by the keeping of the Law no one would be saved. To boast in the cross of Christ is to credit His work alone for all that is praiseworthy in the person who confesses Jesus as Lord, for apart from the work of the Spirit no one can confess Him as Lord. Their conversion and sanctification is the mark of grace in them, the evidence that they are children of promise, that the unseen circumcision of the heart by the Spirit has occurred, that by their confession and possession of genuine faith they have been sealed for the day of redemption. They need not conform to outward cultural norms, be they societal or denominational, to be validated as genuine heirs of grace, for their validation is hidden in Christ and evidenced by their progress in Him according to His Spirt who works mightily in them. It is in this finished work of Christ on the cross, with its effectual power by the Spirit in all who believe, that we greatly rejoice! Therefore, beware of burdening any brother or sister in Christ with dictates established by men which are antithetical to the grace of God. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free, do not be bound again by fabricated yokes of men.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Beloved, in your dealings with people as Christ's ambassador, consider how you speak of those whom you have influenced for Christ. "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Gal. 6:14). The object of your boasting reveals much about your understanding of the cross of Christ. What is the nature of your boast with those whom you have impacted? Consider the object of the apostles boast, it was in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross on behalf of His people. He understood that as Christ was lifted up He would draw all people to Himself, Gentile as well as Jew, that the message of the cross was not exclusive, but freely offered to all with ears to hear, and that by the keeping of the Law no one would be saved. To boast in the cross of Christ is to credit His work alone for all that is praiseworthy in the person who confesses Jesus as Lord, for apart from the work of the Spirit no one can confess Him as Lord. Their conversion and sanctification is the mark of grace in them, the evidence that they are children of promise, that the unseen circumcision of the heart by the Spirit has occurred, that by their confession and possession of genuine faith they have been sealed for the day of redemption. They need not conform to outward cultural norms, be they societal or denominational, to be validated as genuine heirs of grace, for their validation is hidden in Christ and evidenced by their progress in Him according to His Spirt who works mightily in them. It is in this finished work of Christ on the cross, with its effectual power by the Spirit in all who believe, that we greatly rejoice! Therefore, beware of burdening any brother or sister in Christ with dictates established by men which are antithetical to the grace of God. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free, do not be bound again by fabricated yokes of men.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Thursday, September 26, 2013
By the Power of Christ
J.A. Matteson
Conversion is not without behavioral transformation, and its fruit is sourced in Christ Jesus who died for your justification and was raised that you might walk in newness of life. "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24). When you were converted to Christ you could no longer continue in your former state of iniquity, for you became a new creation in Christ Jesus. And this transformation was not of your doing, but by divine initiative you are redeemed. As a leopard cannot change his spots, neither can an unregenerate man fundamentally alter his sinful nature, for he does not even desire to do so. When you responded to the call of Christ you slowly became aware that your former base desires had been replaced with a desire for holiness. Whereas before your conversion you delighted in satisfying the cravings of the sinful nature, you now are deeply grieved by those things which formerly brought you great satisfaction. Striving daily to mortify the flesh with its sinful desires is both the assurance of adoption and burden of kingdom life. Christ satisfied on the cross your sin debt and by grace His Spirit is operative within you, incrementally conforming you to His image. Painfully slow at times is the noticeable transformation of sanctification to the child of God, who is always mindful of sinful inclinations and distressed by them; rejoice in this for it bears witness that you belong to Christ. And lest you become discouraged beyond measure, recall that the battle has been won, being settled at Calvary. And the life that you now live in the flesh you live by the power of God to the glory of God. He who called you is faithful and will bring to completion that which He started in you. To the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Conversion is not without behavioral transformation, and its fruit is sourced in Christ Jesus who died for your justification and was raised that you might walk in newness of life. "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24). When you were converted to Christ you could no longer continue in your former state of iniquity, for you became a new creation in Christ Jesus. And this transformation was not of your doing, but by divine initiative you are redeemed. As a leopard cannot change his spots, neither can an unregenerate man fundamentally alter his sinful nature, for he does not even desire to do so. When you responded to the call of Christ you slowly became aware that your former base desires had been replaced with a desire for holiness. Whereas before your conversion you delighted in satisfying the cravings of the sinful nature, you now are deeply grieved by those things which formerly brought you great satisfaction. Striving daily to mortify the flesh with its sinful desires is both the assurance of adoption and burden of kingdom life. Christ satisfied on the cross your sin debt and by grace His Spirit is operative within you, incrementally conforming you to His image. Painfully slow at times is the noticeable transformation of sanctification to the child of God, who is always mindful of sinful inclinations and distressed by them; rejoice in this for it bears witness that you belong to Christ. And lest you become discouraged beyond measure, recall that the battle has been won, being settled at Calvary. And the life that you now live in the flesh you live by the power of God to the glory of God. He who called you is faithful and will bring to completion that which He started in you. To the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Christ Alone
J.A. Matteson
The most splendid awakening in a mans heart is the realization that he has been crucified with Christ, that he has been made right before God, not by merit, but by grace through faith. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Gal. 2:21). And a stumbling block indeed is the gospel of grace to the unregenerate mind. For if man lacks an understanding of God's plan of justification heaven will be closed to him. Should a man be trusting to any degree in anything or anyone other than in Christ alone, he does not yet understand the gospel, and if he does not understand the gospel he is still in his sin. The miracle of conversion is in the work of the Spirit, wherein the joyful dawning of justification occurs, not on the basis of the Law, but on account of Christ alone through the instrumentality of faith alone. As a flash of lightening the redeemed understand they are justified, for they believe, and that not of themselves, but through the Spirit they discern that the work of Christ and the faith to believe, is the gift of God. And in this they greatly rejoice giving all the praise and glory for their salvation to God alone.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
The most splendid awakening in a mans heart is the realization that he has been crucified with Christ, that he has been made right before God, not by merit, but by grace through faith. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Gal. 2:21). And a stumbling block indeed is the gospel of grace to the unregenerate mind. For if man lacks an understanding of God's plan of justification heaven will be closed to him. Should a man be trusting to any degree in anything or anyone other than in Christ alone, he does not yet understand the gospel, and if he does not understand the gospel he is still in his sin. The miracle of conversion is in the work of the Spirit, wherein the joyful dawning of justification occurs, not on the basis of the Law, but on account of Christ alone through the instrumentality of faith alone. As a flash of lightening the redeemed understand they are justified, for they believe, and that not of themselves, but through the Spirit they discern that the work of Christ and the faith to believe, is the gift of God. And in this they greatly rejoice giving all the praise and glory for their salvation to God alone.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Sunday, September 22, 2013
The Wisdom of God
J.A. Matteson
The content and effect of the message of the cross upon the heart testify to its origin and truth. "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man" (Gal. 1:11). Your base inclination is to esteem that which is dazzling; the cross is unsettling. Your base desire is for affirmation; the cross condemns. Christ informs you that that which you presumed to be true is false, and that which the world declares as false is true. Through the gospel the wisdom of God is revealed, brilliantly setting forth the inverse relationship between grace and the depraved wisdom of men. The gospel of Christ is antithetical to the wisdom of man and left to themselves men of corrupt mind would categorically reject it. But when grace illumines the heart to the majesty of Christ all else gets turned upside down. And a man would die a thousand deaths before denying the truth revealed in him. Intensely personal is the call of God, and no two mens accounts are identical. Yet the effect of grace is identical in that the work of the Spirit brings forth life from that which was dead, faith from unbelief, bearing witness to your spirit that you are a legitimate child of God. So offensive is the message of cross that its origin from heaven is obvious for those enlightened by it. Sinners would never devise something so hideous to the desires of their fallen nature.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
The content and effect of the message of the cross upon the heart testify to its origin and truth. "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man" (Gal. 1:11). Your base inclination is to esteem that which is dazzling; the cross is unsettling. Your base desire is for affirmation; the cross condemns. Christ informs you that that which you presumed to be true is false, and that which the world declares as false is true. Through the gospel the wisdom of God is revealed, brilliantly setting forth the inverse relationship between grace and the depraved wisdom of men. The gospel of Christ is antithetical to the wisdom of man and left to themselves men of corrupt mind would categorically reject it. But when grace illumines the heart to the majesty of Christ all else gets turned upside down. And a man would die a thousand deaths before denying the truth revealed in him. Intensely personal is the call of God, and no two mens accounts are identical. Yet the effect of grace is identical in that the work of the Spirit brings forth life from that which was dead, faith from unbelief, bearing witness to your spirit that you are a legitimate child of God. So offensive is the message of cross that its origin from heaven is obvious for those enlightened by it. Sinners would never devise something so hideous to the desires of their fallen nature.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Friday, September 20, 2013
To Know Contentment
J.A. Matteson
Many are the schemes of men under the sun, yet abruptly are they terminated. "Moreover, man does not know his time..." (Eccles. 9:12). For a season the hand of Providence is pleasurable and all is right in the world. The course of the day begins as any other, a delightful vestige from the plight that plagues other men. Your relationships are peaceful, satisfying, fulfilling. The physical aches and pains endured by the masses are foreign to you as good health defines your daily experience. Pleasurable comforts surround you and your heart is denied nothing which the eye deems desireable. You consider not the morrow as your yesterday's suggest to you a continuation of blissful living. Your storehouse is full, life is good; but you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Grazing in green pastures the steer is satisfied with plentiful grass and streams of cool refreshing water, ignorantly unaware that tomorrow morning it will be led away to the slaughter house. Men living under the sun are as cattle, fattened up for the day of their death. Stupid is the man whose heart is satisfied with worldly delights but who is not right with God. In an instant the hand of Providence pivots and he is mortally captured in the trap of presumptive arrogance, the delight of life under the sun immediately evaporates as a flashing vapor on the searing hot desert floor. Blessed is the man who knows the LORD and whose delight is in Him. For in his eyes each day is a gift and he finds contentment in the wisdom of Providence, be it pleasurable or painful. And this is a gift from God, to him in whose soul He is well pleased, to know contentment in the hand of Providence, whatever his lot in life may be.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Many are the schemes of men under the sun, yet abruptly are they terminated. "Moreover, man does not know his time..." (Eccles. 9:12). For a season the hand of Providence is pleasurable and all is right in the world. The course of the day begins as any other, a delightful vestige from the plight that plagues other men. Your relationships are peaceful, satisfying, fulfilling. The physical aches and pains endured by the masses are foreign to you as good health defines your daily experience. Pleasurable comforts surround you and your heart is denied nothing which the eye deems desireable. You consider not the morrow as your yesterday's suggest to you a continuation of blissful living. Your storehouse is full, life is good; but you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Grazing in green pastures the steer is satisfied with plentiful grass and streams of cool refreshing water, ignorantly unaware that tomorrow morning it will be led away to the slaughter house. Men living under the sun are as cattle, fattened up for the day of their death. Stupid is the man whose heart is satisfied with worldly delights but who is not right with God. In an instant the hand of Providence pivots and he is mortally captured in the trap of presumptive arrogance, the delight of life under the sun immediately evaporates as a flashing vapor on the searing hot desert floor. Blessed is the man who knows the LORD and whose delight is in Him. For in his eyes each day is a gift and he finds contentment in the wisdom of Providence, be it pleasurable or painful. And this is a gift from God, to him in whose soul He is well pleased, to know contentment in the hand of Providence, whatever his lot in life may be.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
The Call of Conversion
J.A. Matteson
God deals with our individual temperament in order align our wills to His purpose. "And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9). Saul was a man of action, on the move. God stopped him cold, temporarily removing physical sight while giving spiritual sight to become the instrument of God's choosing to the Gentiles. In an instant Saul's world was turned upside down, his entire worldview shattered. It is a humbling experience to realize that what you were certain of was in fact wrong! Repentance, reconciliation, and realignment to God's perspective and calling enraptured Saul's heart. The clarity and majesty of what he saw spiritually over three days radically transformed the passion and content of his message going forward, dumbfounding those who knew him. An intensely personal encounter is the call of conversion. And most are unable to adequately express the totality of the experience, accept to boldly proclaim that I once was blind, but now I see, I once was deaf, but now I hear! Acceptance or opposition bear no influence upon the messenger of Christ, for his delight is in the comforting presence of His savior, and His approval alone he seeks, He who saved his soul from death.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
God deals with our individual temperament in order align our wills to His purpose. "And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9). Saul was a man of action, on the move. God stopped him cold, temporarily removing physical sight while giving spiritual sight to become the instrument of God's choosing to the Gentiles. In an instant Saul's world was turned upside down, his entire worldview shattered. It is a humbling experience to realize that what you were certain of was in fact wrong! Repentance, reconciliation, and realignment to God's perspective and calling enraptured Saul's heart. The clarity and majesty of what he saw spiritually over three days radically transformed the passion and content of his message going forward, dumbfounding those who knew him. An intensely personal encounter is the call of conversion. And most are unable to adequately express the totality of the experience, accept to boldly proclaim that I once was blind, but now I see, I once was deaf, but now I hear! Acceptance or opposition bear no influence upon the messenger of Christ, for his delight is in the comforting presence of His savior, and His approval alone he seeks, He who saved his soul from death.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)
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