Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03250

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 154 lines

03254
 #17-20 If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father
 better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God,
 who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and
 grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our
 departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot
 hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer,
 than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can
 look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and
 better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a
 time.

03258
 #21-29 Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they
 die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world,
 but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his
 doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste.
 But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the
 grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace
 will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of
 Christ's grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from
 sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is
 given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say,
 Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an
 excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot
 acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not
 this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour
 him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the
 world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know
 by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always
 spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the
 highest honours to himself.

03267
 #30-36 Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were
 convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them
 to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his
 commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing,
 they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his
 word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength
 lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel
 no other grievances than those that molest the body, and
 distress their worldly affairs. Talk to them of their liberty
 and property, tell them of waste committed upon their lands, or
 damage done to their houses, and they understand you very well;
 but speak of the bondage of sin, captivity to Satan, and liberty
 by Christ; tell of wrong done to their precious souls, and the
 hazard of their eternal welfare, then you bring strange things
 to their ears. Jesus plainly reminded them, that the man who
 practised any sin, was, in fact, a slave to that sin, which was
 the case with most of them. Christ in the gospel offers us
 freedom, he has power to do this, and those whom Christ makes
 free are really so. But often we see persons disputing about
 liberty of every kind, while they are slaves to some sinful
 lust.

03274
 #37-40 Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these
 Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit
 those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no
 place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all
 wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will
 take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The
 truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive
 it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and
 effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the
 privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham's works; must be
 strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of
 God in their families, and always walk before God.

03278
 #41-47 Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder
 themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to
 ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every
 kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his
 calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin.
 He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with
 whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special
 lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the
 mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice,
 enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here
 understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men
 by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which
 the Jews opposed.

03285
 #48-53 Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. Those
 who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God
 will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these
 verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of
 believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that
 keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a
 believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now
 they cannot avoid seeing death, and tasting it also, yet they
 shall shortly be where it will be no more forever, #Ex 14:13|.
03291
 #54-59 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour.
 Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such
 as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put
 together, #2Th 1:8|. All who rightly know anything of Christ,
 earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn
 of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his
 rising. "Before Abraham was, I AM." This speaks Abraham a
 creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he
 make himself greater than Abraham. I AM, is the name of God, #Ex
 3:14|; it speaks his self-existence; he is the First and the
 Last, ever the same, #Re 1:8|. Thus he was not only before
 Abraham, but before all worlds, #Pr 8:23; Joh 1:1|. As Mediator,
 he was the appointed Messiah, long before Abraham; the Lamb
 slain from the foundation of the world, #Re 13:8|. The Lord
 Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and
 Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by
 faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus
 for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he
 passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we
 know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham's
 faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the
 Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies,
 and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.
03297
 * Christ give sight to one born blind. (1-7) The account given
 by the blind man. (8-12) The Pharisees question the man that had
 been blind. (13-17) They ask concerning him. (18-23) They cast
 him out. (24-34) Christ's words to the man that had been blind.
 (35-38) He reproves the Pharisees. (39-41)

 #1-7 Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident;
 here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help
 in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the
 souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature.
 This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if
 we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were
 first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that
 they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of
 sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest
 his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do
 the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it
 will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day.
 The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our
 opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an
 opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never
 do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against,
 will leave many a good work for ever undone, #Ec 11:4|. Christ
 magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that
 which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind.
 Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means
 and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by
 Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool
 wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the
 benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment;
 souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come
 away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind,
 and come away seeing.