Here's a thread for NetChaplains Devotions
NetChaplain's Devotions
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Exeter
Active Member
Has he checked in?
civic
Active Member
Looks like it
Yesterday at 3:06 PM was last activity
Joined Jul 14, 2023
Yesterday at 3:06 PM was last activity
Joined Jul 14, 2023
Exeter
Active Member
Hope he hasn't run out of devotions.
I don't think that'll be likely.
Posts from 25 years of study of MJS Daily Devotional and —J N Darby
@NetChaplain here is your spot all ready for you
NetChaplain
Active Member
If you can, you also have my permission to copy all my posts from other sites (about 12 of them) and post them in my devotional section; and no, I'll never run out of devotionals! Thanks much for everyone reminding me to join this site; it's definitely one of my favorites, because of showing me the desire to have me onboard! God bless!!
NetChaplain's Devo from https://berean-apologetics.boards.net/post/6695/thread
That the will of God, where it is expressed in the Word of God, ought to govern every Christian, every true believer will admit. But the Word of God is wiser than men; never does it set the believer under the law since the death of Christ. It was a “schoolmaster” until the Cross (schoolmaster showed the way to Christ but could not deliver - Gal 3:24, 25, they were just “forgiven” by the sacrificial ordinance—NC). The Word speaks of commandments, and they are not painful to the growing believer (1Jo 5:3). But it never places him under the law; that Word comes from a God who knows the heart of man, and who knows what is necessary for him and what is injurious to him or impossible. The law is to convince him of sin.
The Father knows, and the man who is taught of the Spirit knows and is familiar with his own heart and knows that the law—all law—is a ministry of death and condemnation; and that it could not be anything else. He knows that as man is set, in any degree whatever under a law, you must either condemn him or enfeeble the obligation of the law. In a word, men do not understand the mind of God about the law. They speak vaguely of a notion of obligation to law, of being bound by the law. But if they are bound by the law, assuredly even Christians have not kept it in fact, though their nature loves it (it being God’s Word—NC), and love is an accomplishing of it.
Now, if they have not kept the law (since they have not kept the law—NC), and yet are bound by it, they are condemned; the law drives them even as Christians (it wasn’t until 30 years after Christ’s resurrection before they realized the law is not compatible with the Gospel of Christ—NC), from the presence of God. If you are bound by the law, and have failed in your obligation—which is just the truth, either the obligation must be weakened and destroyed (in the case of Christ sacrifice—NC), or you must perish. The only obligation which the law knows is to keep it or be lost—nothing else. The law knows nothing of grace, and it ought to know nothing of it. You, believer, have not kept the law (requires a sinless nature, obedience without sin in the soul—NC). Are you under the obligation of doing so? In order to escape, the obligation must be blotted out. Such is the inconsistent conclusion of those who place the believer in subjection to the law!
Faith in God alone maintains the authority of the law (keeps it nullified for believers in Christ—NC)—and for this reason: I own myself lost if I am under law, and I see that Christ has undergone its curse, and has placed me in a new position which reunites two things; perfect righteousness before God, because it is the righteousness of God, accomplished in Christ; and life, the participation of the divine nature (2Pe 1:4), according to the power of resurrection.
I cannot have two husbands, the two obligations, at the same time—the law and Christ (law could only “bring us unto Christ” but not deliver - Gal 3:24—NC). In Christ I am dead to the law, and live unto God. Now the law has authority, and binds as long as we live; but having died (crucified with Christ) I am delivered from the law, in order that I should belong to another—such is the positive language of the Word—to Him that is raised from the dead, that I should bring forth fruit unto God. If you are bound by the law, the law will maintain its authority and its obligation with rigor; it ought to do this, and it will condemn you as sure as you commit sin (the value of the law was to inform man of his sin - Jhn 15:22, 24; 9:41, and what to do about it; this is true love—NC).
If I have died with Christ, the law has no more authority over me, for it does not pass over that barrier. I belong to Another. I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). He was under the law while He lived here; but risen, He is no longer so. Now the commandments, whether we say of God or of Christ, have another character for the Christian.
All that Christ has said, all the His apostles have said and all the things in which the OT enlightens us upon His will, direct and govern the life that we already possess and have the authority of the Word of God, that is of God Himself over the soul. I have the life; the words of Christ, His commandments (love as I have loved you—NC) are the expression of this life in Him, its fruits in all respects according to the perfection and the will of God Himself, and the direction of this life in me.
I walk, following then according to the thoughts and intents of my Father and His blessed will; it is the law of liberty (God’s Word, esp. the Gospel of Christ—NC), because I possess already the life. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Ro 8:2). If people really felt what the law is, they would know that upon that ground they are lost, because the law has not lost its strength (1Co 15:56), and it is always and everywhere a ministry of condemnation and death (Though the law obeyed, yet its adherers are still unchanged sinners; we’re to remember that forgiveness came from the sacrificial ordinances, and not from the obedience—NC). Not that we would make such a thing of reproach (because “all have sinned”—NC); for many dear souls were found under the law (Jews—NC)—not, of course, according to God’s will, but through their own want of faith, and through bad teaching (the Law is no more—NC).
We cannot be too watchful for our growth; we are sanctified unto obedience (sanctification sets apart and obedience shows it—NC). The independence of the will is the principle of sin; but the law is not the means of arriving at holiness (forgiveness only is not holiness – Num 15:25, which requires the Son and Spirit—NC). It does not give a new will, nor strength when we have one. Those who are on the principle of the works of the law (which are good but not perfectly obeyed—NC) are still “under the curse” (Gal 3:10). It is to ignore what the heart of man is, to suppose that he can be under a law coming from God and live (laws are only to show condemnation, which answers to why they are for the “unholy” - 1Ti 1:9; the Jew was “forgiven” only by the sacrificial ordinance, and obedience shows gratitude and love—NC).
The Word of God is clear as day that, unless one be condemned, there is no such thing as having to do with the law without weakening its obligation, and it penalties. Grace alone maintains it authority. If I place myself under a mixture of law and grace, I ought to beseech God (like the people with Moses) to hide from me His glory as an unbearable thing; whereas, when I see that glory in the face of the glorified Lord Jesus, by the Spirit’s ministry, I can contemplate this glory with unveiled face, and be “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Co 3:18).
—J N Darby
MJS devotional excerpt for May 6
“The marvel of divine grace is that not only has everything according to the heart of God been secured for me through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but that I, a child of Adam, should be, not only in peace with God where I was under His judgment, but that I am transferred from Adam to Christ, and I am to have Christ formed in me now.
“I am born of God—of new and divine origin—a new creation to be here on earth now where I was a child of Adam, in the grace and beauty of Christ, led by His own power to stand for Him; daily more and more transformed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Cor. 3:18).
“I used to study this passage and that passage to obtain guidance and light. I see now that if I were really near Him beholding His glory (2 Cor. 3:18), I should be transformed, should come from Him so impressed with Himself that His interests would, as it were, naturally control me.” -James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)
www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us; 'no longer I, but Christ.'" -MJS
That the will of God, where it is expressed in the Word of God, ought to govern every Christian, every true believer will admit. But the Word of God is wiser than men; never does it set the believer under the law since the death of Christ. It was a “schoolmaster” until the Cross (schoolmaster showed the way to Christ but could not deliver - Gal 3:24, 25, they were just “forgiven” by the sacrificial ordinance—NC). The Word speaks of commandments, and they are not painful to the growing believer (1Jo 5:3). But it never places him under the law; that Word comes from a God who knows the heart of man, and who knows what is necessary for him and what is injurious to him or impossible. The law is to convince him of sin.
The Father knows, and the man who is taught of the Spirit knows and is familiar with his own heart and knows that the law—all law—is a ministry of death and condemnation; and that it could not be anything else. He knows that as man is set, in any degree whatever under a law, you must either condemn him or enfeeble the obligation of the law. In a word, men do not understand the mind of God about the law. They speak vaguely of a notion of obligation to law, of being bound by the law. But if they are bound by the law, assuredly even Christians have not kept it in fact, though their nature loves it (it being God’s Word—NC), and love is an accomplishing of it.
Now, if they have not kept the law (since they have not kept the law—NC), and yet are bound by it, they are condemned; the law drives them even as Christians (it wasn’t until 30 years after Christ’s resurrection before they realized the law is not compatible with the Gospel of Christ—NC), from the presence of God. If you are bound by the law, and have failed in your obligation—which is just the truth, either the obligation must be weakened and destroyed (in the case of Christ sacrifice—NC), or you must perish. The only obligation which the law knows is to keep it or be lost—nothing else. The law knows nothing of grace, and it ought to know nothing of it. You, believer, have not kept the law (requires a sinless nature, obedience without sin in the soul—NC). Are you under the obligation of doing so? In order to escape, the obligation must be blotted out. Such is the inconsistent conclusion of those who place the believer in subjection to the law!
Faith in God alone maintains the authority of the law (keeps it nullified for believers in Christ—NC)—and for this reason: I own myself lost if I am under law, and I see that Christ has undergone its curse, and has placed me in a new position which reunites two things; perfect righteousness before God, because it is the righteousness of God, accomplished in Christ; and life, the participation of the divine nature (2Pe 1:4), according to the power of resurrection.
I cannot have two husbands, the two obligations, at the same time—the law and Christ (law could only “bring us unto Christ” but not deliver - Gal 3:24—NC). In Christ I am dead to the law, and live unto God. Now the law has authority, and binds as long as we live; but having died (crucified with Christ) I am delivered from the law, in order that I should belong to another—such is the positive language of the Word—to Him that is raised from the dead, that I should bring forth fruit unto God. If you are bound by the law, the law will maintain its authority and its obligation with rigor; it ought to do this, and it will condemn you as sure as you commit sin (the value of the law was to inform man of his sin - Jhn 15:22, 24; 9:41, and what to do about it; this is true love—NC).
If I have died with Christ, the law has no more authority over me, for it does not pass over that barrier. I belong to Another. I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). He was under the law while He lived here; but risen, He is no longer so. Now the commandments, whether we say of God or of Christ, have another character for the Christian.
All that Christ has said, all the His apostles have said and all the things in which the OT enlightens us upon His will, direct and govern the life that we already possess and have the authority of the Word of God, that is of God Himself over the soul. I have the life; the words of Christ, His commandments (love as I have loved you—NC) are the expression of this life in Him, its fruits in all respects according to the perfection and the will of God Himself, and the direction of this life in me.
I walk, following then according to the thoughts and intents of my Father and His blessed will; it is the law of liberty (God’s Word, esp. the Gospel of Christ—NC), because I possess already the life. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Ro 8:2). If people really felt what the law is, they would know that upon that ground they are lost, because the law has not lost its strength (1Co 15:56), and it is always and everywhere a ministry of condemnation and death (Though the law obeyed, yet its adherers are still unchanged sinners; we’re to remember that forgiveness came from the sacrificial ordinances, and not from the obedience—NC). Not that we would make such a thing of reproach (because “all have sinned”—NC); for many dear souls were found under the law (Jews—NC)—not, of course, according to God’s will, but through their own want of faith, and through bad teaching (the Law is no more—NC).
We cannot be too watchful for our growth; we are sanctified unto obedience (sanctification sets apart and obedience shows it—NC). The independence of the will is the principle of sin; but the law is not the means of arriving at holiness (forgiveness only is not holiness – Num 15:25, which requires the Son and Spirit—NC). It does not give a new will, nor strength when we have one. Those who are on the principle of the works of the law (which are good but not perfectly obeyed—NC) are still “under the curse” (Gal 3:10). It is to ignore what the heart of man is, to suppose that he can be under a law coming from God and live (laws are only to show condemnation, which answers to why they are for the “unholy” - 1Ti 1:9; the Jew was “forgiven” only by the sacrificial ordinance, and obedience shows gratitude and love—NC).
The Word of God is clear as day that, unless one be condemned, there is no such thing as having to do with the law without weakening its obligation, and it penalties. Grace alone maintains it authority. If I place myself under a mixture of law and grace, I ought to beseech God (like the people with Moses) to hide from me His glory as an unbearable thing; whereas, when I see that glory in the face of the glorified Lord Jesus, by the Spirit’s ministry, I can contemplate this glory with unveiled face, and be “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Co 3:18).
—J N Darby
MJS devotional excerpt for May 6
“The marvel of divine grace is that not only has everything according to the heart of God been secured for me through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but that I, a child of Adam, should be, not only in peace with God where I was under His judgment, but that I am transferred from Adam to Christ, and I am to have Christ formed in me now.
“I am born of God—of new and divine origin—a new creation to be here on earth now where I was a child of Adam, in the grace and beauty of Christ, led by His own power to stand for Him; daily more and more transformed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Cor. 3:18).
“I used to study this passage and that passage to obtain guidance and light. I see now that if I were really near Him beholding His glory (2 Cor. 3:18), I should be transformed, should come from Him so impressed with Himself that His interests would, as it were, naturally control me.” -James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)
www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us; 'no longer I, but Christ.'" -MJS
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NetChaplain
Active Member
Good job, you can keep them going if you like. Also, I went to the devotions to post and I don't see where it says to post. Thanks!
civic
Active Member
Right here's the place... just like you made the above post...Put your devotions right here. If you put them all in this thread right here where we're at right now they will all be organized in a row. So each day you go to the post you made the day before and then reply to it right underneath it that way it stays neat and organized.
NetChaplain's Devo from https://berean-apologetics.boards.net/post/8690/thread
The Lord Jesus Christ lived and spoke to His apostles while He was on earth, and in His natural state; and He chose Paul to reveal many things that nobody knew about. He appeared and spoke to Paul from the “glorified state” (about 8 years after His resurrection). Isn’t it like the Father to choose one who was the worse opposition to Christianity!
NC
Pauline “Mysteries”
“Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (revealed only by Paul, e.g. 1Co 1:27, Eph 5:32—NC), which was kept secret since the world began” (Ro 16:25). The mystery, in a general sense, includes all those peculiar revelations kept in silence from the times before Adam and from the generations since Adam. Heavenly revelations they were, given by the Lord to Paul (Act 9:5), according to which his whole ministry proceeds. They revealed resurrection things; they are nonearthly and heavenly in their character, and are connected with neither Judaism more any forms of worship. “For we are the circumcision (spiritually—NC), who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phl 3:3).
(1) The “mystery of faith” (1Tim 3:9). “The faith” is not only the body of doctrine that sets forth the heavenly truths revealed in Paul’s gospel (Rom 2:16; 16:25; 2Ti 2:8), but that spiritual apprehension of them that held them fast one’s spirit and in a good conscience. It is not opinions, but vital revelations of the Gospel, held as living “oracles of God” (Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11).
(2) The mystery of the union of Christ and the Church as His Body and Bride, especially revealed in Eph 5:23, but appears throughout all the Pauline epistles, even in Romans 12:5, as also in 1Co 12:12, and Eph 1:22, 23; 5:23; Col 1:18). This union is the basis of all the exhortations to love and obedience.
(3) The “mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4), shows that in this mystical Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, all having been chosen in Him before the “foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4), having been cut off from their connection by birth with the first Adam at the Cross, and created anew in Christ. Paul was made a minister of this and given the task “to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:9). The object was that through this Church might be made known the manifold wisdom of God unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10).
The Church itself is to belong to heaven, thought formed by the Spirit on earth (Jhn 3:6, 8), Christ Himself being Head of it, and every believer a member of Christ and of one another in this Body which has been given the highest place in glory, though recreated from earth’s sinners, according to the purpose of the ages (Eph 2:7), which the Father purposes in the Son. The highest place given to the lowest creatures (because man knows better—NC), thus reveals the character of the Father—His manifold wisdom forever as nothing else could do. God Himself love, and the Cross is an exhibition of that love and the commendation of it.
The Church, being given the highest position in heaven, will exhibit the activity of that love which is called in Scripture, grace. The world knows nothing of this. It regards the Church as having taken Israel’s place (which is error—NC), and being simply an earthly religious organization seeking to obey the general human conscience. The world knows nothing of the fact that the Church is already called, justified and glorified, being united to Christ Himself, in death, risen and seated with Him (positionally—NC) in the heavenly places; and that same favor is extended to it, that is extended to the Father’s Beloved, its Head; and its worship is by the Holy Spirit.
(4) “The mystery of God”—even Christ, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:2, 3). This heavenly and glorified Lord Jesus is revealed to the heart of the believer as the Object of his worship, faith, praise and fellowship—by the Holy Spirit. This heavenly One is altogether unknown by the unsaved man.
(5) The mystery of Christ indwelling the believer (Col 1:26, 27). He is called “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). This is the great twofold mystery, which in these Colossians verses is said to fill up the Word of God, being the highest revelation therein, and being “the mystery which hath been hid from the ages and generations, but now being manifested. The “riches of the glory of this mystery” is made known to the saints (Col 1:26, 27).
(6) The mystery of the Rapture of the Church at the Lord’s coming into the air, involving both the raising of those who have fallen asleep in the Lord Jesus, and also those alive at that moment (1Thes 4; 1Co 15).
(7) The mystery of the fellow-heirship in Christ of Jew and Gentile (Eph 3:3, 4, 6, 9). This mystery does not seem great to us now who live on this earth, where we are accustomed to Jew and Gentile distinction as well as national differences generally, but when we remember that the Church was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (when there was no human being whatsoever), we see how great a secret this is: especially in view of the peculiar promises to national Israel in the Old Testament.
(8) The mystery of the wisdom of God, in secret in Christ (Eph 3:9; Col 3:3): so that Paul and true preachers speak the wisdom of God that has been hidden before the ages for our glory (1Co 2:7). These things are revealed to us by the Spirit Who not only refuses to use man’s wisdom but also man’s words: “in words which the Spirit teacheth combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (1Co 2:13).
(9) The mystery of the Kingdom of God, in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:17). Only newborn or newly-created men in Christ know this mystery (2Co 5:17; Jhn 3:3).
(10) The mystery of iniquity (2 Thes 2:7). Satan is not permitted as yet to bring forth fully the apostasy, which will come when the world worships Satan intelligently (Rev 13), the Church having been previously taken away according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 3:10. Babylon or “confusion” is another name for this mystery in this age—see harlot church (Rev 17), centered in seven-hilled Rome (the papacy and its adherents will represent the “harlot,” on which most Bible commentators agree—NC).
(11) The mystery of the hardening in part of Israel (Ro 11:25). Though there is at present a remnant according to the election of grace (true believers in God, but not yet in Christ—NC), yet national Israel’s eyes (the majority of Israel—NC) are peculiarly blinded to their own Scriptures, to Christ as their Messiah and to grace as God’s only method of salvation (and will be brought to return to fellowship with God after seeing Jesus again and believing, but will not be in the sonship of Christ for not believing before seeing Christ again – “For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” – “so all Israel shall be saved” - Rom 11:24, 26—NC).
(12) The mystery of God’s will purposed in Christ, looking unto “a dispensation of the fullness of times, to sum up (Eph 1:10) all things in Christ, that is, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth” (not the lower or lost world, as in Phil 2:10; Rev 5:13). The foundation of this in Eph 2:10 will be the “Blood of His Cross” (Col 1:19, 20). The saints alone have this mighty future purpose of God revealed to them; all others count upon man and the earth, which is cursed.
—Willam R Newell (1868-1956)
MJS devotional for July 27
The Blesser sends trials because the trials are blessings. Most covet the “blessing” of having the trial removed.
“I find the brightest summer is when the winter has been longest and most severe. The wheat, the best grain, passes a winter in the soil. The bud, the blossom, or fruit, most fragrant of Christ, is the one which nobody knows what it cost me but Himself; and where one had hardly noticed it; like the beautiful wild flowers in the hedgerow, contending with bushes and briars, to shed their fragrance on the unthankful or unthinking traveler going by.”
“I think we are sometimes ready to say to the Lord—Could you not have taught me without subjecting me to so much sorrow and humiliation? The answer I have had is, You could not be effectually taught any other way. The Lord knows the nature of the obstacle in me which He has to overcome: a less efficient hand might think that it could be dealt with in some other way.
“A weakness be it bodily or otherwise, is sometimes allowed to continue in order that there may be dependence, and when there is dependence, the weakness becomes a gain; the grit—the trying thing—is superseded by a pearl of great price.” -J.B. Stoney (1814-1897)
www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
The Lord Jesus Christ lived and spoke to His apostles while He was on earth, and in His natural state; and He chose Paul to reveal many things that nobody knew about. He appeared and spoke to Paul from the “glorified state” (about 8 years after His resurrection). Isn’t it like the Father to choose one who was the worse opposition to Christianity!
NC
Pauline “Mysteries”
“Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (revealed only by Paul, e.g. 1Co 1:27, Eph 5:32—NC), which was kept secret since the world began” (Ro 16:25). The mystery, in a general sense, includes all those peculiar revelations kept in silence from the times before Adam and from the generations since Adam. Heavenly revelations they were, given by the Lord to Paul (Act 9:5), according to which his whole ministry proceeds. They revealed resurrection things; they are nonearthly and heavenly in their character, and are connected with neither Judaism more any forms of worship. “For we are the circumcision (spiritually—NC), who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phl 3:3).
(1) The “mystery of faith” (1Tim 3:9). “The faith” is not only the body of doctrine that sets forth the heavenly truths revealed in Paul’s gospel (Rom 2:16; 16:25; 2Ti 2:8), but that spiritual apprehension of them that held them fast one’s spirit and in a good conscience. It is not opinions, but vital revelations of the Gospel, held as living “oracles of God” (Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11).
(2) The mystery of the union of Christ and the Church as His Body and Bride, especially revealed in Eph 5:23, but appears throughout all the Pauline epistles, even in Romans 12:5, as also in 1Co 12:12, and Eph 1:22, 23; 5:23; Col 1:18). This union is the basis of all the exhortations to love and obedience.
(3) The “mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4), shows that in this mystical Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, all having been chosen in Him before the “foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4), having been cut off from their connection by birth with the first Adam at the Cross, and created anew in Christ. Paul was made a minister of this and given the task “to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:9). The object was that through this Church might be made known the manifold wisdom of God unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10).
The Church itself is to belong to heaven, thought formed by the Spirit on earth (Jhn 3:6, 8), Christ Himself being Head of it, and every believer a member of Christ and of one another in this Body which has been given the highest place in glory, though recreated from earth’s sinners, according to the purpose of the ages (Eph 2:7), which the Father purposes in the Son. The highest place given to the lowest creatures (because man knows better—NC), thus reveals the character of the Father—His manifold wisdom forever as nothing else could do. God Himself love, and the Cross is an exhibition of that love and the commendation of it.
The Church, being given the highest position in heaven, will exhibit the activity of that love which is called in Scripture, grace. The world knows nothing of this. It regards the Church as having taken Israel’s place (which is error—NC), and being simply an earthly religious organization seeking to obey the general human conscience. The world knows nothing of the fact that the Church is already called, justified and glorified, being united to Christ Himself, in death, risen and seated with Him (positionally—NC) in the heavenly places; and that same favor is extended to it, that is extended to the Father’s Beloved, its Head; and its worship is by the Holy Spirit.
(4) “The mystery of God”—even Christ, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:2, 3). This heavenly and glorified Lord Jesus is revealed to the heart of the believer as the Object of his worship, faith, praise and fellowship—by the Holy Spirit. This heavenly One is altogether unknown by the unsaved man.
(5) The mystery of Christ indwelling the believer (Col 1:26, 27). He is called “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). This is the great twofold mystery, which in these Colossians verses is said to fill up the Word of God, being the highest revelation therein, and being “the mystery which hath been hid from the ages and generations, but now being manifested. The “riches of the glory of this mystery” is made known to the saints (Col 1:26, 27).
(6) The mystery of the Rapture of the Church at the Lord’s coming into the air, involving both the raising of those who have fallen asleep in the Lord Jesus, and also those alive at that moment (1Thes 4; 1Co 15).
(7) The mystery of the fellow-heirship in Christ of Jew and Gentile (Eph 3:3, 4, 6, 9). This mystery does not seem great to us now who live on this earth, where we are accustomed to Jew and Gentile distinction as well as national differences generally, but when we remember that the Church was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (when there was no human being whatsoever), we see how great a secret this is: especially in view of the peculiar promises to national Israel in the Old Testament.
(8) The mystery of the wisdom of God, in secret in Christ (Eph 3:9; Col 3:3): so that Paul and true preachers speak the wisdom of God that has been hidden before the ages for our glory (1Co 2:7). These things are revealed to us by the Spirit Who not only refuses to use man’s wisdom but also man’s words: “in words which the Spirit teacheth combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (1Co 2:13).
(9) The mystery of the Kingdom of God, in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:17). Only newborn or newly-created men in Christ know this mystery (2Co 5:17; Jhn 3:3).
(10) The mystery of iniquity (2 Thes 2:7). Satan is not permitted as yet to bring forth fully the apostasy, which will come when the world worships Satan intelligently (Rev 13), the Church having been previously taken away according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 3:10. Babylon or “confusion” is another name for this mystery in this age—see harlot church (Rev 17), centered in seven-hilled Rome (the papacy and its adherents will represent the “harlot,” on which most Bible commentators agree—NC).
(11) The mystery of the hardening in part of Israel (Ro 11:25). Though there is at present a remnant according to the election of grace (true believers in God, but not yet in Christ—NC), yet national Israel’s eyes (the majority of Israel—NC) are peculiarly blinded to their own Scriptures, to Christ as their Messiah and to grace as God’s only method of salvation (and will be brought to return to fellowship with God after seeing Jesus again and believing, but will not be in the sonship of Christ for not believing before seeing Christ again – “For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” – “so all Israel shall be saved” - Rom 11:24, 26—NC).
(12) The mystery of God’s will purposed in Christ, looking unto “a dispensation of the fullness of times, to sum up (Eph 1:10) all things in Christ, that is, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth” (not the lower or lost world, as in Phil 2:10; Rev 5:13). The foundation of this in Eph 2:10 will be the “Blood of His Cross” (Col 1:19, 20). The saints alone have this mighty future purpose of God revealed to them; all others count upon man and the earth, which is cursed.
—Willam R Newell (1868-1956)
MJS devotional for July 27
The Blesser sends trials because the trials are blessings. Most covet the “blessing” of having the trial removed.
“I find the brightest summer is when the winter has been longest and most severe. The wheat, the best grain, passes a winter in the soil. The bud, the blossom, or fruit, most fragrant of Christ, is the one which nobody knows what it cost me but Himself; and where one had hardly noticed it; like the beautiful wild flowers in the hedgerow, contending with bushes and briars, to shed their fragrance on the unthankful or unthinking traveler going by.”
“I think we are sometimes ready to say to the Lord—Could you not have taught me without subjecting me to so much sorrow and humiliation? The answer I have had is, You could not be effectually taught any other way. The Lord knows the nature of the obstacle in me which He has to overcome: a less efficient hand might think that it could be dealt with in some other way.
“A weakness be it bodily or otherwise, is sometimes allowed to continue in order that there may be dependence, and when there is dependence, the weakness becomes a gain; the grit—the trying thing—is superseded by a pearl of great price.” -J.B. Stoney (1814-1897)
www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
NetChaplain
Active Member
Will give it a try! Thanks and God bless!
NetChaplain
Active Member
When John wrote that we "cannot sin" it is in reference to desiring after sin, sinning "willfully" (Heb 10:26) or "presumptuously" (Num 15:28, 30). The sins of one reborn are never intentional. What believer would ever want to purposely offend God? The whole point is that the "old man" can no longer cause us to desire to sin (Ro 6:14; 8:9). I believe God left the old man (sin nature) in us to continue to learn from it, by exercising our faith in His forgiveness.
Please give Gill a test-read on 1Jn 3:
www.christianity.com
Please give Gill a test-read on 1Jn 3:
1 John 3 Bible Commentary - John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
Study 1 John 3 using John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning.
civic
Active Member
Brother do you lean more calvinistic or arminian ?When John wrote that we "cannot sin" it is in reference to desiring after sin, sinning "willfully" (Heb 10:26) or "presumptuously" (Num 15:28, 30). The sins of one reborn are never intentional. What believer would ever want to purposely offend God? The whole point is that the "old man" can no longer cause us to desire to sin (Ro 6:14; 8:9). I believe God left the old man (sin nature) in us to continue to learn from it, by exercising our faith in His forgiveness.
Please give Gill a test-read on 1Jn 3:
1 John 3 Bible Commentary - John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
Study 1 John 3 using John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning.
or something else ?
thanks
NetChaplain
Active Member
Still studying the two systems and undecided about either (may never decide). Two things are certain in my understanding: If Calvin thinks God chooses who gets saved (not sure that's his thinking), then he's wrong, because God is not a "respecter of persons" - Acts 10:34; Mat 22:16; Luk 20:21; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17.
If Arminius thinks man can loose his salvation, he's wrong, because everything God does in Christ is eternal.
Since Calvin believed one can't lose salvation, I would lean towards him, if I decided to choose which, which I still don't chose.
To me, God's omniscience explains everything. It's reasonable to think that He would not give eternal life to one and then take it back. That would be misunderstanding His omniscience. Before God created, He knew everyone who is going to truly choose salvation in Him, and thus they are predestined to eternal life (Arminian theology).
civic
Active Member
Yes calvin taught that Gods created some to be saved and others to be damned. Man has no choice in their salvation its 100 % from God which is monergism ie calvinism. Also in calvinism its impossible for an elect, chosen, predestined person to ever lose their salvation.
NetChaplain
Active Member
But God is not prejudice, which answers to that He already knows who will reject Him. In my understanding it's man who chooses, or it respecter of person. No other possibility in my opinion.
This also answers to why He placed the Tree of Knowledge. He knew they would eat of it, then know what evil is, not just knowing right and wrong; then knowing what evil is they could learn what His holiness is. God wanted them to know good and evil, and be like Them (Gen 3:5, 22). I believe man having a choice is the only answer (Deu 30:19).
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