The Good Sheperd Laid Down His Life For His Sheep, Not For Goats

May21
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My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
(John 10:27-29 KJV)

Pastor Don Fortner

The Son of God laid down his life and died for those people who are specifically designated his sheep (John 10:15, 11, 26). The objects of redemption, those for whom Christ laid down his life a ransom price, are described as ”sheep”. They are the sheep of Christ, his special property as the Good Shepherd. As such, they were given to him by his Father from eternity. These sheep are represented as being everlastingly distinct from others, who are not his sheep.

The whole human race is divided into two groups: sheep and goats. Sheep never become goats. And goats never become sheep. All of us are one or the other, either sheep or goats. Some of the sheep are saved. Some are lost. But all are safe. They are his sheep! Some are folded. Some are straying. But all are redeemed. They are his sheep!

The Word of God tells us certain, specific things about these sheep, things which distinguish the sheep from the goats. Continue reading →

Depression and the Christian (Article 2)

May20

depression 2

Depression and the Christian (Article 2)

Re-posted on For the Love of His Truth by Grant Swart

I have copied this same introduction paragraph from Article 1 on this blog. If you have already read this introduction, please page down to read Article 2 below, which is one of the best I have seen on this subject.

Depression is certainly not something which should be taken lightly, true depression is absolutely devastating and debilitating. It can snuff out all sense of worth and quality of life like a candle in a gale force wind. Depression is not limited to any specific group or type of person, age group or gender. Depression can “attack” all people just as easily as the common cold can. I speak from personal experience, as there have been times in my life when depression has overwhelmed me. I praise our merciful and gracious Lord for having provided me with the means and people who helped me to overcome this terrible condition.

I have encountered so many people who suffer from all manner and degree of depression. Almost all of them suffer with this terrible condition and bear the burden unnecessarily, either due to not recognizing depression, not knowing how to deal with it and where to seek help, or because either their family and friends, and possibly even their church, do not know how to deal with the problem.  Continue reading →

Depression and the Christian (Article 1)

May20

depression 1

Depression and the Christian (Article 1)

Re-posted on For the Love of His Truth by Grant Swart

Depression is certainly not something which should be taken lightly, true depression is absolutely devastating and debilitating. It can snuff out all sense of worth and quality of life like a candle in a gale force wind. Depression is not limited to any specific group or type of person, age group or gender. Depression can “attack” all people just as easily as the common cold can. I speak from personal experience, as there have been times in my life when depression has overwhelmed me. I praise our merciful and gracious Lord for having provided me with the means and people who helped me to overcome this terrible condition.

I have encountered so many people who suffer from all manner and degree of depression. Almost all of them suffer with this terrible condition and bear the burden unnecessarily, either due to not recognizing depression, not knowing how to deal with it and where to seek help, or because either their family and friends, and possibly even their church, do not know how to deal with the problem. Continue reading →

A Golden Chain of Grace

May19

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Donald S. Fortner

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

Here is a golden chain of grace with five unbreakable links by which our souls are anchored with Christ in Glory.

“My Sheep”

“My sheep” — That is our election. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees standing before him, “Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” With these two words, “my sheep,” our Lord Jesus Christ declares the gospel doctrine of sovereign election and describes all his people. It is not very flattering to be compared to sheep. Sheep are truly “dumb animals.” They are weak, helpless, defenseless creatures. But there is beauty in these words, “my sheep.” The Lord Jesus Christ identifies himself with and owns all of his people. He says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Then he points to us and says, “These people are ‘my sheep.’”

Christ’s sheep are those people who were chosen Continue reading →

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ISAIAH

May18

Isaiah 53

“OUR CONFESSION OF FAITH”

Isaiah 53

 The Works of Henry Mahan, Volume 1 containing The Gospel According To Isaiah, Chapter 20

Someone asked an old minister of the gospel, “Is your creed in print?” He replied, “Yes, you will find it all in Isaiah, Chapter 53.” Here is the gospel of God’s grace in one chapter.

(Vs. 1) “Our report” is our message of the love, mercy, and grace of God in Christ Jesus. It is the testimony of Cod concerning Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1-4). There has never lived a prophet who did not mourn the fact that men would not believe the good news of grace.

“The arm of the Lord” is Christ Jesus, the wisdom and POWER of God; for the gospel of Christ is the power of Cod unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Natural men do not see, hear, nor understand how God can be just and justifier, righteous and merciful to sinners through the obedience and death of Christ, the substitute (I Cor. 2:8-14). He must be revealed to the heart by the Holy Spirit.

(Vs. 2) “A tender plant”signifies His lowly entrance into the world. He came not full grown in the pomp and glory of men but as a tiny, frail, helpless infant, born of a woman (Gal. 4:4-5).

“A root out of a dry ground” reveals the condition of David’s house and the nation of Israel at this time. There was nothing left of the glory of David’s kingdom, only dry ground, its king an unlikely son of a carpenter (John 6:42).

“No form … no comeliness … no beauty.” In sending our Redeemer into the world, the Lord God rejected and refused all fleshly, human attraction. Anything that would attract the eye of the flesh or support of the natural mind was refused. “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 1:10-11). Continue reading →

The believer’s comfort

May18
bible-isaiah

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
(Isaiah 40:1 KJV)

The Works of Henry Mahan Volume 1 containing The Gospel According To Isaiah

The believer’s comfort

Isa_40:1-9

Isa_40:1. ‘Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.’

1. Who speaks? It is the Lord God of hosts. Do we have ears to hear what the Lord says?

2. To whom does he speak? He speaks to his prophets, preachers, pastors, teachers–all who are bond-servants of the Lord.

3. What is his commandment? ‘Comfort ye my people.’ There is a time to rebuke, reprove, and correct, and there is a time for examination; but the command here is to comfort!

4. Who are his people? We cannot comfort where God has not converted. We cannot cry ‘peace’ when there is no peace. We cannot give false assurance to rebels. Who are his people? They are a chosen people, a called people, a redeemed people, and a believing people. Continue reading →

Faith And Love

May17
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Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(Habakkuk 2:4 KJV)

Don Fortner

“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 4:6

Here is the law of Christ’s church and kingdom. This is the believer’s rule of life. And this must be the principle by which we function as a church. “This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (I John 3:24). Being united to Christ by faith and to one another in the bond of love, let us endeavor always to demonstrate these two graces.

1. WE LIVE BY FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  “The Just shall live by faith.” First and foremost, this means Continue reading →