Christian Life

Perfectly Man; Infinitely God

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

Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh… – Romans 1:3

I bid you consider how great this man was in His relationship to God. For though He was man, He was not merely man. He was assuredly and truly man in all respects, “man of the substance of His mother,” bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh; and yet He was indeed and of a truth very God. Do not think of Him as a divine man, or as a human God; He was neither the one nor the other. He was perfectly man, yet He was infinitely God. Think, then, into what a position of honour and dignity His manhood was uplifted by union with the Godhead in one person. Born, growing, gathering strength, coming to manhood, suffering, dying, in all this He was man; yet He was never at any time less divine. Our Lord’s humanity is not to be thought of apart from His deity, for He is one and indivisible…Take note that in the Scriptures you shall find frequent confusions of speech upon the person of our Lord, intentionally made, in order to show that although the natures were distinct, yet they were indissolubly united in the one person of Jesus. Of His one person might popularly be predicated that which in strict accuracy could only be true of His humanity, or only of His deity…My Lord Jesus is to me no less a man because He is God. Oh, how my heart loves Him! He is to me fairest of the sons of men, chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. But He is to me because of His manhood none the less, but all the more, “God over all, blessed for ever.” Into the dust my spirit bows before His majesty, and my soul adores Him. I ask you, therefore, to consider the greatness of His manhood because it never was apart from His Godhead, and cannot be thought of except in connection therewith. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Inconceivable is the greatness of the man who is thus one with God. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1835.cfm

A Rock Beneath My Feet

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit 1 Comment

Now consider how great this man was… – Hebrews 7:4

Count every minute wasted in which you are not learning more about Jesus. Reckon all other knowledge to be as mere chaff and dog’s meat as compared with the knowledge of Christ crucified. In these days of science, falsely so called, determine with the apostle to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is imperative upon you that you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind; and that God in Christ Jesus should call into exercise every faculty of your inner man, while, with blended intellect and emotion, you consider how great He was.

Here is a rock beneath my feet-“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” Certain great facts concerning God and His Christ have been made known to us by the Holy Ghost, and these are infallibly sure. God’s revelation is true, whatever man’s dreams may be. On the basis of revelation there is foothold. A personal knowledge of Christ revealed by the Spirit is also a sure matter. I get to Jesus, I speak to Him, and meditate upon Him, and He rises before me greater than ever, till in His presence all the learning of men condenses into folly. He is “God only wise.” Ah, then I live when He is all in all! My heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth when I forget all else save Christ Jesus my Lord. Therefore, brethren, I say that you shall find a great reward in full often coming near to your Lord, and considering again and again how great He is. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1835.cfm

I Find Myself a Learner Yet

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

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. – 1 Timothy 3:16

Dear friends, we shall never gain an idea of how great Christ is unless we do consider, and consider much. Here is a great deep, and it cannot be fathomed by the thoughtless. You think you know Christ, and, blessed be His name, you do know Him in a sense; but do you know the thousandth part of Him? When the apostle Paul had known Christ for many years he wrote to the Philippians, and he then expressed himself as desiring to know Christ; for though he knew Him to his own personal salvation, yet he felt that he did not know Him to the full. He owned that he knew the love of Christ, but he added, “it passeth knowledge.” Well may each of us who has been for years a student at the Master’s feet exclaim, “I find myself a learner yet.” I suppose the saints who have been in heaven now for thousands of years, and have been evermore adoring Him, are still students of Him. This is the philosophy which the most cultured mind shall never fully compass,-“God manifest in the flesh.” “Consider how great this Man is!” This is a matter worthy of continual research, and calling for profound thought.

Oh, you servants of the Lord, by looking to Jesus you began to live, by looking to Him you shall continue to live, and your life shall find strength and growth. This sacred subject shall ever need more and more consideration from you. Oh the depths of the love, and wisdom, and glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ! ~ C.H. Spurgoen

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1835.cfm

One with Him

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

“The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ ” by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. – Hebrews 7: 21, 22

I do not think it should be a matter of option with you whether you will now consider the greatness of your Lord or not; it is His due and right that you should consider His greatness. For He of whom we speak,-“this Man,” is one well known among us. If you be true to your profession He is one most dear to you, to whom you owe all things, aye, owe your very selves. He is one between whom and you there is a troth plighted: you are espoused unto Him, your hearts are His, even as His heart is yours. If you do not consider Him, who will? He has loved you, and given Himself for you. Strangers may listen to our teaching at this time, and in vain we may cry,

“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?
Is it nothing to you that Jesus should die?”

But you are no stranger, you are not even a guest in His house, but you are a child living at home with Him. He is your brother, and much more; for He is bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. All your interests are wrapped up in Him. You are one with Him: by an endless union, one. I claim, therefore, and I am sure you assent at once to the claim, that you should often consider your Lord, and the greatness of His nature, person, office, and work. His greatness should be your perpetual theme…I urge it on you that you do now consider with your whole heart and mind, how great this Man is. Do you not consent to the claim? ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1835.cfm

Consider How Great This Man

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

“Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. “- Hebrews 7:4

Consider how great Melchizedek was. There is something majestic about every movement of that dimly-revealed figure. His one and only appearance is thus fitly described in the Book of Genesis,-“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” We see but little of him, yet we see nothing little in him. He is here and gone, as far as the historic page is concerned, yet is he “a priest for ever,” and “it is witnessed that he liveth.” Everything about him is on a scale majestic and sublime.

Beloved friends, if Melchizedek was so great, how much greater is that man whom Melchizedek represents! If the type is so wonderful what must the Antitype be! I invite you to consider “how great” is He of whom it is written, “The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” I will not say “Consider how great this man was”, for there is no verb: the “was” is inserted in italics by the translators. We are to consider “how great this man.” Say “was” if you will, but read also “is,” and “shall be.” Consider how great this man was and is, and is to be, even the Man Christ Jesus. ~ C,H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1835.cfm

Kept from Temptation

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

Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. – Revelation 3:10

Those who keep God’s word, shall themselves be kept from temptation. The Lord returns into His servants’ bosoms that which they render to Him: He gives keeping for keeping. I know that we can bear witness that this promise is true. One says to me, “Are you not perplexed about the prevalence of modern thought-the new phase of divinity that has come up of late, and the general progress that is being made towards a new theology? Does it not trouble you?” Not a bit. Modern ideas do not affect me in the slightest. If all men that live or ever shall live should throw up the old Calvinism, there remains One that will hold it, for this reason-that He could not hold any other. I must be crushed out of existence before my convictions of the truth of the doctrines of grace in the old-fashioned form can ever be taken from me. I am miserable, wretched, lost if the doctrines of grace be not true. I am joyous, glad, strong, happy if these doctrines be true…If a man does not believe the doctrines of grace, he comes to hear me once, and he says, “I am not going there any more.” He talks to some of you, and you are so dogmatic, and firmly rooted, he calls you pig-headed, and says it is no use arguing with such bigots; and so he goes to argue somewhere else. This is exactly as we would have it. This is the Lord’s way of delivering those who keep His Word: thus He shuts them away from the temptation that comes upon others. He seems to say, “Dear child, since you will not go beyond My written Word, you shall not be tempted to go beyond it. I will cause the enemies of the truth to leave you alone. You shall be offensive to them, or they to you, and you shall soon part company.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1814.cfm

An Open Door

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

“Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word.” – Revelation 3:8

“You have been faithful; therefore I will use you. You have been steadfast; therefore I will employ you.” For a considerable period of human life, it may be, God does not give to all of us a field of usefulness, but He provides a field of trial. There are some to whom He early opens the gate of usefulness, because He sees in them a spirit that will bear the temptation of success; but in many other cases it is questionable whether they could bear promotion, and therefore the Lord permits them to be tried in different ways until He sees that they are found faithful, and then He puts them into His service, and gives them an opportunity of bearing witness for Him…There are opportunities before you now which were not there before: these are placed before you especially because you have been tried, and have been proved faithful. If you will now begin to talk to others about that which you love so well, you will be astonished to find how gladly they will receive it from you. You have been a receiver yourself until now, and that is well and good; but, now that you have become filled, overflow to others, and let them receive of your joy.

Before you the Lord God has set an open door. Go ahead! Do not be afraid. People will be willing to hear what you have to say, and, what is more, people will be converted by what you say, for God has set before you this open door, and no man can shut it. It is amazingly easy to go through a door when it is wide open, and it will be very easy to you-much easier than you think, now that you have been schooled by God’s Spirit into steadfastness of character, just to say in God’s name, dependent upon God’s strength, what He has taught you. You will bring many to Christ, because you yourself abide in Christ. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1814.cfm