Character of Jesus

Take God at His Word

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, promises, salvation, The Holy Spirit Leave a comment

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. – John 6:29

Awakened souls, though they may have heard the gospel, do not in their hearts understand it. Many enquirers do not know what faith is. I am persuaded millions of our fellow country-men do not know what believing in Jesus means. Though every Sabbath-day they are told, yet do they not catch the thought, for the Spirit of God has not illuminated their minds. To believe in Jesus, as we say again, and again, and again, is simply to trust in Jesus-to take God at His word, to take Christ for what God says He is, namely, the atonement, the satisfaction for sin, the Savior of sinners…Many, though desirous to be saved, do not understand the work of Christ, or know what atonement is. Though the doctrine of substitution, which is the very marrow of the gospel, is to believers so very plain, yet many seekers have not learned it. That Jesus bore the sin of His people; that “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all;” that He was made a sin for us; that justice received its due at His hands; this precious fact many penitent sinners have not grasped. They still think there is so much repentance to do, so much feeling to endure, so much praying to go through, so much mystery to be experienced; but the plain, simple precept, Believe and live; trust and be accepted, hide under the shadow of the cross and be safe-this, through ignorance, they do not understand, and this involves them in trouble upon trouble, till their way is hedged up with thorns…How soon would their bewilderment end in sweet repose, if they would obey the divine mandate and accept the great salvation! ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0947.cfm

Drink of Salvation’s Cup

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God, The Father, The Holy Spirit Leave a comment

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

It is some good thing certainly to be a seeker, but it is also an ill thing if I follow my seeking and refuse God’s way of salvation. Hear what the apostle John saith: “He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.” This is no small sin to be guilty of, and it entails no small punishment, for “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Suppose that I have been told of a remedy for my disease. Well, it is so far good that I desire to be cured of my deadly malady, it is so far hopeful that I have sent for a physician. But after being informed that there is the one specific for my disease, and that it alone will certainly heal me-if I were still to continue seeking a remedy, or to say I am seeking this one true remedy, I shall remain sick, and ultimately die. I shall never be healed unless I take that which is prescribed: to seek it is not enough, I must actually take it…O seeker for Jesus, think of this, for while I would not discourage thee, yet would I encourage thee to end thy seeking by becoming a believer. Look not at salvation’s cup, but drink of it. Stand not by the fountain’s brim but wash in it and be clean. O may the Holy Spirit lead thee to cease thy search for goodly pearls, for the pearl of great price is before thee. Jesus is not to be discovered as a secret; He stands before thee openly. Behold His hands and His feet, mark well His riven side, and as thou lookest, trust, and henceforth He is all thine own. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0947.cfm

The Special Command of the Gospel

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, prayer, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… – Acts 16:31

What is the command of the gospel? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Properly speaking, Christ is not an object for seeking, He is not far from any of us; like the brazen serpent uplifted by Moses, He is not so much to be looked for as looked at. We have neither to clamber to heaven to find Him in the loftiness of His Deity and bring Him down; nor dive into the chambers of Hades, to bring Him up again from the dead. Thus saith the Lord, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. A prayer will reach Him, a wish will find Him, a groan will pierce His heart-do but confide in Him, and He is yours. The first command of the gospel to guilty sinners is not to pray, to search the Scriptures, to attend upon sermons-all these are natural duties, and woe unto the man who neglects any of them; but the command, the special command of the gospel is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0947.cfm

Seeking for Jesus

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, The Father Leave a comment

When the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. – John 6:24

The persons who are here described as seeking for Jesus, were looking after Him from a very mean and selfish motive, not because of the gracious words which He spake, nor to render Him thanks for benefits received at His hands, but merely because they had eaten of the loaves and fishes and hoped to do so again. From such sordid motives let us flee.

“Seeking for Jesus” has a large amount of hopefulness in it; it is as the almond tree in blossom, though as yet fruit there is not. The seeker at any rate is not indifferent now; he is not a careless sluggard, demanding yet more sleep and folding of the hands; he is not a defiant rebel, daring the wrath of God with blasphemous audacity; he is no longer a denier of revelation; he would not be seeking for Jesus unless he had some kind of faith-at any rate, a theoretical faith-in a Savior, and in his need of Him… For an alarmed and awakened sinner to seek rest in ceremonies, will be a search for bread among ashes; to labor for salvation by thine own righteousness, will be looking for substance among dreams. Thy seeking after Jesus shows that thou art on the right track, and though as yet thou hast not reached the haven, the helm is set in the right direction, and I am grateful to God for it, and encouraged concerning thee…What a pleasing sight it is to see a man who has formerly been prayerless, casting himself upon his knees in secret! How gratifying to see the unread Bible brought out from the dust and carefully studied! Methinks an angel must look on with holy interest when he sees the fresh tear fall in the solitary chamber, and the unaccustomed suppliant bow before his God. Glad are those blessed spirits when they hear the seeker say, “O God, I will seek Thee until I find Thee; I will cry unto Thee till I receive an answer of peace.” …A heart that turns itself to Christ if haply it may find Him, is evidently in a hopeful condition. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0947.cfm

Conquering Edom

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God 2 Comments

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? …Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 108:10,13

Have any of you enterprise enough to go up against the strong cities that are still in rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ? Can any of you go, and look after those who walk the streets, and seek to bring them to Christ? That would be conquering Edom itself. Have you confidence enough to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ can give you that Petra-like city, that dark spot where thieves congregate, where blasphemy is the current language, and where profanity seems even to pollute the very air? …Then, having asked the question, “Who will lead me into Edom?” do not forget to pray, “Wilt not Thou, O God? Thou hast spoken; wilt Thou not also act, through Thy people, so that all flesh may see the salvation of God?” Let each child of God say, “O my Father, I believe that, weak and feeble as I am, my weakness and feebleness need be no hindrance to me if I go to Thy service in Thy strength! ‘Thou hast spoken in Thy holiness; I will rejoice;’ and, in Thy name, I will conquer the foe, and gather the spoil for Thee.” “Through God,” says David, “we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Therefore, if ye believe in God, haste to the spoil of His enemies; quit you like men; be strong! If you really are linked with omnipotence, prove it. Do not talk about it, but let your deeds show that the Lord of hosts is with you, and that the God of Jacob is your refuge. If, indeed, the Lord’s arm be with you, smite as the Lord would smite. If, indeed, He speaks through you, speak as He would speak. Be strong, and very courageous, and press forward; in the name of God, set up your banners; and who knoweth whether even this feeble message of mine, in rousing you to action upon the basis of confidence in the Word of God, may not cast down some stronghold of the enemy, and make the walls of some mighty Jericho to fall flat to the ground? The Lord grant it for His name’s sake! Amen. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2864.cfm

All Things Are Mine

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Father Leave a comment

Therefore, let no man glory in men. For all things are yours…And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. – 1 Corinthians 3:21,23

The Bible is a dull book to a person who has no part or lot in it. There is no drier reading, in all the world, than the reading of a will in which one has no interest; but there is nothing that would interest you more than listening to the will of your old uncle, in which he had left you a large fortune. You would lean forward, and you would put your hand to your ear lest you should lose any of it, and you would think that you had never heard a more eloquent discourse than that, and when a man gets to know what “God hath spoken,” what he hath written for him in this blessed Book, which contains His will, every word is music to him, and he is ready to pick out some of the choicest words, and say, “Regeneration is mine; justification is mine; adoption is mine; sanctification is mine; union to Christ is mine; resurrection is mine; eternal life is mine; yea, all things are mine;” and he would dwell upon each one with a holy unction, at least to his own soul. Then, if you know what God has given you, mind that you use it all...Christian, if you have true faith, and mean to do real business with God, and for Him, say to yourself, “I have this, and that, and the other blessing, and I am going to use them all for His glory. I have been adopted by God; I am His child; so I will plead with Him and will get all I can from my Father to use in His service! I am justified, I have peace with God; so I will go forth, and, in the power of that peace, I will let others see what bliss Christians know. Then I also have sanctification given me in Christ; so I will use that, and seek to be a true saint, that my life may be a blameless, holy, gracious, Christ-like life. By God’s grace, I will not have even one unused privilege. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2864.cfm

Activate Your Faith

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

“God hath spoken in His holiness: I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.” – Psalm 108:7

Whenever you look into the Word of God and read what “God hath spoken” to you, see that you appropriate it. Suppose that He has promised you comfort, do not rest satisfied without that comfort. Suppose He has promised you joy and peace in believing; never rest till you have that joy and peace. Suppose He has promised you complete sanctification, full deliverance from the power of evil, do not be satisfied till you are delivered from it all. Never say, “Ah, that is a constitutional sin; that is the result of my temperament.” No, brother, if the Lord hath promised you the victory over your enemies, be not satisfied till you have planted your foot on their necks, and they are in subjection to you. Some Christian people are living, spiritually, on a penny a week, when their income might be ten thousand a day. You might live like kings, yet you are starving like paupers. Your faith might lay hold on God’s exceeding great and precious promises, and so fill her mouth with good things; but, instead of doing so, you are quivering with the palsy of unbelief, and so not grasping what God has put within your reach…Oh, if our faith did but really grip the promises, and believe in the promise-keeping God, she would never rest till she possessed all the blessings that are really hers!…If you have leave given you to go to Windsor Castle, or Buckingham Palace, as often as you like, and to take whatever you please that is there, and to be treated as a prince, I warrant that you would not need anyone to remind you that you had not been to either place for weeks. If you had such privileges accorded to you, you would be sure to avail yourselves of them; yet here are the gates of the palace of prayer always open to you, and the doors of communion never shut against you, and Jesus, the great King of kings, not only inviting you to come unto Him, but even urging you to abide in Him, and never to depart from Him…So, if we have faith in God, we ought to take possession of all that is ours, and, further, we ought to know what we really do possess. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2864.cfm