promises

Jesus is the Center of History

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit 2 Comments

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace… – Ephesians 1:7

Thousands of years before His birth holy men had been speaking of Him. Prophets and seers all pointed to Him as The Coming One. “How great this man was,” since the wisest and best of mankind all looked forward to His day with gladness. Think of that wonderful system of types, and emblems, and symbols which God ordained by His servant Moses; for the whole of this system was meant to set forth the Messiah, who would yet appear in the fulness of time. To Him witnessed each bleeding sacrifice, each censer of sweet incense, each golden vessel, each curtain and wall of tabernacle or temple: all spoke concerning Him. Ay, and more than that, all the histories of all the empires were all but concentric rings of which He was the center; for the Lord Jesus is the center of history, the sum total of all God’s doings and manifestations among the sons of men. That was an august Person towards whom all the past had been labouring, and for whom all the present was agonizing. “How great this man was,” that when He came the saints were watching for Him: Simeon and Anna could not depart till He appeared. Angels stood on tip-toe ready to descend and sing, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Humble shepherds, as they watched their flocks, did but wait for the signal to hasten to adore Him; and wise men from the east forgot the fatigues of a long journey that they might lay their gold and incense at His feet. How great this man was, when being born and laid in a manger, the whole earth was moved by His appearing.

For this man was not “born in sin,” as we are; neither was He “shapen in iniquity.” Conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, He was truly a man, but not fallen man. The method by which the pure human nature of the man Christ Jesus was produced is a great mystery, but it serves to make us see “how great this man was.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

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

Saints Are Blessed in Him

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

And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. – Ephesians 1:22, 23

Consider the relationship of Christ to His own people. Now we get on sure ground, and feel a rock beneath our feet. Long before the heavens and the earth were made, God with prescient eye beheld the person of His Son as God in human nature, and He saw all His elect lying in Him. The Church is His body, “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” God the Father saw in the divine decree the mystical Christ, and He was well pleased with all His redeemed for Christ Jesus’ sake. How wondrous was that transaction when in the council-chamber of eternity the covenant was made, and the Lord Jesus Christ became the surety of that covenant. He entered into covenant with the eternal God on the behalf of His chosen that He would make atonement for their sin, and would perfect the righteousness which should cover every one of them, and make them to be accepted in the Beloved. No actual sacrifice was offered for thousands of years; but see how great this man was, since on the strength of His bare promise the Lord continued to save men for thousands of years, admitting them to His infinite glory before the Mediator had appeared, or the Redeemer had put a hand to the work. Consider that you and I, and all of us who are in Christ, are this day beloved for His sake, accepted for His sake, justified for His sake. Still doth God embrace us in the arms of almighty love for His sake; for His sake heaven is being prepared for us; for His sake the treasures of the infinite are given to us; because we are the covenanted ones for whom He pledged His troth, and for whom in the fulness of time He poured out His heart’s blood, that He might redeem us unto God. “Consider how great this man was.” He is so great that all the saints are blessed in Him. He is so great that we, as many as have believed, dwell evermore in the clefts of this great Rock, and find in Him our castle and high tower. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. “Consider how great this Man was.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

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

An Amnesty Proclaimed through This Man

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

Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. – 1 Corinthians 15:47

Christ Jesus is the second man, the Lord from heaven. Adam, our first father, was the head of the race, and all men were in him as their representative: in him they stood in the garden; in him, alas, they fell when he broke the divine command, and the Lord took up the quarrel of His covenant, and cast him out of Paradise. “Oh, what a fall was there, my brethren: then you and I and all of us fell down.” We inherit, because of Adam’s failure, a nature whose tendencies are towards evil…But now comes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the greater man, the representative man, in whom none are made to fall, but multitudes arise. In this man the Lord is again well pleased with men. Time was when God looked on rebellious man, and it repented Him that He had made him; but now that He turns His eye to this perfect man He feels no such repentance; but, on the contrary, we read that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” For the sake of the man Christ Jesus He deals with the innumerable race of sinners in a way of long-suffering and pity, and does not destroy them…Yea, more; for His sake He sends the gospel of peace to men, and in the name of Jesus glad tidings are sent to every creature. It has sometimes happened that the illustrious deed of one man has served to elevate a class, or even a nation into honour. A grand, heroic deed has welded you not only to that one person but to all His kith and kin. Consider, then, how great this Man was, that the divine mind which cannot look upon sin without indignation, nevertheless was so charmed to look upon the person and character of this glorious Man, that an amnesty was proclaimed to the race, and a message was sent to the sons of men bidding them repent and turn to Him and live. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

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

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