Charles Spurgeon on the atonement

We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we say that Christ has not made satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved. Now, our reply to this is that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it, we do not. The Arminians say, Christ died for all men. Ask them what they mean by it. Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men? They say, "No, certainly not." We ask them the next question-Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular? They say, "No." They are obliged to admit this if they are consistent. They say, "No; Christ has died so that any man may be saved if"-and then follow certain conditions of salvation. We say then, we will just go back to the old statement-Christ did not die so as beyond a doubt to secure the salvation of anybody, did He? You must say "No;" you are obliged to say so, for you believe that even after a man has been pardoned, he may yet fall from grace and perish. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why you... We say Christ so died that He infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ's death not only may be saved, but are saved, must be saved, and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.

(Sermon 181, New York Street Pulpit, IV, p. 135)

The Armor Of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

"...with the breastplate of righteousness in place..." ~Ephesians 6:14

We come to the heart of our protection, the breastplate. This plate is meant to protect our heart, in the most spiritual sense. What is the cause of most heart break and disappointment in the Christian life? Forgetting our identity in Christian. We can easily forget that our righteousness and identity is not in what others think about us, or what our current situation looks like, but in who Christ was, is and will always be through the Cross.

Your relationships, or lack thereof, do not define you. You're broken family does not define your identity if you are a Child of God.

The Gospel defines you. The moment you were regenerated, repented of your sins and put your Trust in Christ, you became an adopted, chosen, loved, Child of the Creator God of the universe, our Father through Christ on the Cross.

So, let's put righteousness in it's place, the center of our thoughts, hearts and minds, so we may wages war against discouragement and the devils schemes.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. " ~2 Cor. 5:21

Pursuing The Promise Of Purity

Purity has became both a major topic in the Church as well as a major blind spot with the Body.  Most Christians don't seem to put pure purity at the of "list" for Christians.  "That's for Pastors," they say.

But this is not what Scripture says.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ~1 Thess. 4:7

But don't work that purity doesn't purity doesn't come through our persistence, but purity comes when passion for it begins to purely trust in the promises of God.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." ~2 Peter 1:3-4

While sinless perfection is out of reach for the Christian this side of Glory, the Word tells us plainly that our pursuit for purity is not in vain.  "not only has God given us all we need for Godliness", but Peter also tells us we have His promises to rely on.

What promises are these?  Well, let's look at a few:

He promises to keep His Children blameless untill He returns.  (Jude 24-25)

He has the power to began the work He began in our salvation. (Phil 1:6)

God ALONE has the power to "sanctify us through and through" (1 Thess. 5:23-24)

Do we not realize that our holiness it is graded on the Cross?  Hebrews 10:14 says that "by one sacrifice God has made perfect forever, those who are being made Holy."  Realize today that if you have truly been born again in Christ, you'll battle against sin has already been won.

Christ defeated sin, death, Hell and condemnation.  Those whom He calls He not only justifies, but glorifies! (Romans 8:29-30).

If you haven't repented of your sins and put your Trust in Christ, do so.  There is eternal life, victory through His blood and His resurrection, and freedom from the bondage of sin.

Remember, today, to set your mind on things above, and flee immorality, pursue God. (Phil. 4:8-9,  2 Tim. 2:22)

Pursue the Promise Of The Purity.  God is faithful to grant it too you.  (1 Thess. 5:24)

Happy Easter! He IS Risen!

Matthew 28

Jesus Has Risen

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”