Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." The church of the first century was called to endure much suffering and opposition for Christ’s sake—arguably more than at any other time in its history. Therefore, the writer of Hebrews encourages them to persevere in the faith of Christ, to which they have been called by God’s grace. The word for "patience" means "steadfast endurance." It describes someone who does not swerve from a deliberate purpose and loyalty—in this context, to the faith once delivered to the saints by God—even amid the greatest trials and sufferings: "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" ( Hebrews 10:32-39). There is no greater example of patience than that of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, as the Substitute for those whose sins He bore, suffered under the hand of His Father. He endured every trial and temptation to the full satisfaction of God the Father, without wavering: "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" ( 1 Peter 2:23). By contrast, our flesh is weak. Under attack from the enemy—whether by external forces or the internal influences of our depraved nature—we need Strength and Power far greater than ourselves to endure. It takes nothing less than the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom He has sent into the world to indwell each of His redeemed ones, sustaining them in their earthly life until He is pleased to usher them into His glory. Our Lord promised: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever" (John 14:16). There is never a time when we, as God's children, do not need patience. However, the blessing is that patient perseverance is supplied by God's grace. This is the effect of what the Lord Jesus purchased on the cross for those whom the Father gave Him and for whom He laid down His life. It is a covenant grace that comes to us through the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, whenever we are tempted and weakened, Christ the Advocate is our Righteous Representative: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2) Since "all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us"   (2 Corinthians 1:20) , it follows that those that the Spirit of God preserves in Christ, having done the will of God by looking to Christ alone as the Author and Finisher of their faith, do receive the promise—preservation by Christ from ever falling away. Those who persevere to the end are saved, because they are preserved by God the Father on account of the completed work of the Lord Jesus. It is impossible that any should perish for whom He died: "O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer" (Psalm 31:23). "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:2-3). Our present conflicts in this life are often sharp and painful, yet they are tailor-made by God to meet our needs. The good news is that all these earthly trials are temporary and will soon be over. Through them, the Lord exposes those whose profession is merely formal and outward, who ultimately cannot and will not prevail. But those who are the objects of God's grace—redeemed and justified by Christ's death—are kept through even the greatest trials. Their endurance through past testing serves to strengthen their hope for the same sustaining grace in the future, enabling them to live by faith until they receive the end of their faith and patience—the salvation of their souls. The teaching of God's Word on perseverance: endurance in the faith is a mark of those who belong to the Lord. It is not a work of human effort, but the fruit of God's sustaining grace. Perseverance in the faith does not depend on man’s will or strength, but on the power of God in Christ, Who preserves His people to the end. The patience (or steadfast endurance) required is itself a gift of God's grace, ensuring that believers will continue in submission to Christ until the end and ultimately receive the promised inheritance—eternal life in Christ. Philippians 1:6 declares: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." The elect endure because God, in His sovereign power, upholds them, guaranteeing that they will finish the race He has set before them.

Song of Solomon 4:6,7 "Until the day break, And the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, And to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love: There is no spot in thee." The book Song of Solomon, also called "The Song of Songs," is a beautiful and intimate picture of love between Solomon and his bride. Yet beyond the earthly romance, it speaks of Christ’s deep and unwavering love for His Church. The sovereign grace of God is seen in these verses, for it is not by any goodness in the Bride that she is declared spotless, but by the gracious work of Christ, her Beloved. "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away..." The believer walks in a world where shadows still linger—shadows of sin, sorrow, and suffering. Yet, there is a promise of the coming dawn when all darkness will be dispelled by the full radiance of Christ’s glory. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1). When the LORD Jesus came into the world, it was to fulfill all the types, pictures, and shadows of the Law. With His coming, a new day has dawned, and the shadows have fled away. The concept of "the Law as a shadow" is rooted in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews. The Mosaic Law was a precursor or foreshadowing of what the LORD Jesus came to fulfill. He did not come to set aside the Law, but to fulfill it. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). The Law, given to Israel through Moses, was a temporary and symbolic system pointing to the ultimate redemption and revelation found in Christ. Yet, there is a twofold nature to the redemption that the LORD Jesus obtained for those whom the Father gave Him to be His Bride. Although Christ has accomplished the full salvation of the elect already at the cross, fulfilling all that God's Law required, we still await the fullness of His kingdom at the end of time, when all that pertains to the darkness of this world will be done away. He is now seated on the throne of glory, where He intercedes for His Church even now, abiding in the "mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense," picturing His ongoing work as our High Priest. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). "I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense." Myrrh and frankincense are symbols of Christ’s work. Myrrh is a bitter yet fragrant resin used in embalming, signifying suffering, sacrifice, and death. It reminds us of Christ’s redeeming death on the cross . "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight" (John 19:39). Frankincense is a sweet-smelling incense used in priestly offerings, symbolizing Christ’s intercession and mediation for His people. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight" (Exodus 30:34). By referring to the "mountain of myrrh" and the "hill of frankincense," Solomon’s words point us to Christ’s dual role as both our Sacrificial Savior and our Great High Priest. "The mountain of myrrh " represents a place of elevation, difficulty, and suffering. Just as Christ ascended Calvary to bear the sins of His people, He is portrayed here as going to the mountain of myrrh—symbolic of His sacrificial death. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5). For the Church, this reminds us that our Bridegroom has fully paid the price for our redemption. His sovereign grace alone has removed our sins, making us "all fair" in His sight. "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee" (Song of Solomon 4:7). "The hill of frankincense" represents a smaller elevation than a mountain, suggesting that while Christ's suffering (the mountain of myrrh) was great, His continued work as our intercessor (the hill of frankincense) remains. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." What a stunning declaration from Christ to His Church! In ourselves, we are not fair, but stained with sin. Yet, through the work of the LORD Jesus, accomplished at the cross by His shed blood unto death, we are declared pure and without spot or blemish in Him. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Awaiting the Dawn Those in the Old Testament, who were the LORD's elect, awaited the day of Christ's coming just as those in the first century did. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:16-17). Now, those since the first coming of Christ await a new day dawning, when "new heavens and a new earth" shall be ushered in. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:1-4). May our eyes ever look to our gracious Lord God, and thank Him for His sovereign grace in Christ, who has made wretched sinners as we are, fair in His sight. May we ever rest in the finished work of the LORD Jesus Christ and long for the day when these earthly shadows will flee away, and we will dwell in His presence forever. May the Spirit of Grace keep our hearts fixed on Christ Jesus, our Beloved Bridegroom, and rejoice in the bridal robe of righteousness whereby we stand spotless and pure before Him.

2 Corinthians 5:6 "Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:" This verse highlights the temporariness of our earthly existence in contrast to the eternal glory that awaits God's elect—those for whom Christ, as their perfect Substitute, paid the sin debt in full. In this present life, we dwell in frail, perishable bodies, burdened by sin and weakness. Yet, for those redeemed by sovereign grace, this earthly tent is not our true or permanent home. Our confidence rests not in the flesh, but in the finished work of Christ, who has obtained for us an everlasting inheritance by His death on the cross. As the apostle Paul declares in Ephesians 1:4-5, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." This divine election ensures that all whom the Father has given to the Son would be redeemed in time, justified by His effectual Sacrifice, and ultimately glorified in Him. While we are "absent from the Lord" in this mortal state, we nevertheless live in the blessed Hope and assurance that in God's appointed day, we will be clothed with immortality and dwell eternally in Christ's presence. This Hope is not based on human effort or merit but solely on the sovereign grace and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Substitute alone, Who bore our sins and obtained our eternal redemption as elect sinners. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7-8, " (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." The flesh that we inherited from Adam is a broken and corrupt shelter. As the psalmist declares, "Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah" (Psalm 39:5). Our earthly tabernacle is a temporary tent, built on sand. As the apostle Paul attested in Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." The only deliverance from these earthly, sinful tents in which we dwell is death. Our body is a tabernacle, comparable to the tents in which the people of Israel dwelt in the wilderness. Those tents were not designed to be permanent. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:1, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Just as the tents in the wilderness were earthly and temporary, so too is our fleshly body, yet our heavenly tabernacle (Christ) is eternal. We can only put off this earthly tabernacle when we die. Peter, understanding this, wrote in 2 Peter 1:14, "Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. We must be cast out of these sinful fleshly bodies either in death or at the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. As Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" This passage speaks to the believer’s unwavering confidence, not in self, but in the finished work of the LORD Jesus Christ. When the LORD Jesus died, rose again, and ascended on high, He did so for His chosen seed, the elect of God, so that His death was their death, and His resurrection and ascension were also theirs, being in Him as their Representative. As God's elected, redeemed, and justified children, our assurance is rooted in Christ's work alone, decreed by the Father, made effectual by His sacrificial death, and now dwelling in His Perfect Righteousness alone, our Hope of glory. Though we dwell in this earthly tent, longing for the fullness of His Presence, we are not left in doubt, for Christ has obtained our eternal redemption for each one given Him by the Father. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Hebrews 9:12. By His grace alone, we walk by Faith, and not by sight, knowing that our pilgrimage here is but a passing moment before we enter into the glory He has prepared for His elect, as Christ Himself promised in John 14:2-3, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." The LORD Jesus fulfilled this in going to the cross. It was there that the place was prepared by His shed blood unto death. He came again to His disciples in His resurrection, and in His ascension took with Him the souls of each of His redeemed ones, where their place is forever reserved in Him, Ephesians 2:6-9. Therefore, we take heart, knowing that our life is hidden with Christ, and in Him, we shall be raised in glory, clothed in immortality, and forever with the Lord. Colossians 3:3-4, "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."

Ezekiel 20:6 "In the day that I lifted mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:" This verse is a powerful testimony to God's covenant faithfulness, both historically in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and spiritually in the greater redemption found in Christ. Historically, it recalls God's sovereign grace in choosing Israel, delivering them from bondage, and leading them to a land of promise. Spiritually, it foreshadows the fulfillment of His covenant of grace through Jesus Christ, Who delivers His people from the slavery of sin and the bondage of the law into their eternal inheritance in His kingdom. This kingdom, which Christ came to establish, was consummated in His resurrection from the dead and His ascension into glory (Acts 2:32-36) . Therefore, this inspired Word of God not only recounts the history of Israel’s redemption but also magnifies its greater fulfillment in Jesus Christ, in Whom all the promises of God are "yea, and in him Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). It is through Him that believers are led out of darkness and into the glorious kingdom prepared for them before the foundation of the world (Colossians 1:13; Matthew 25:34) . The lifting of God's hand signifies His solemn oath and unchanging purpose. Just as He swore to bring Israel into Canaan, He has also established an everlasting covenant in Christ, securing the inheritance of the saints (Hebrews 6:17-18). The land "flowing with milk and honey" serves as a type of the spiritual blessings found in Christ, Who is Himself the true and living Way into the ultimate promised rest of God (Hebrews 4:9). This was the "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" to which Abraham looked by faith (Hebrews 11:10). Natural-minded readers of the Bible will typically interpret this passage in a literal, earthly sense, for only the Spirit of God can give eyes to see its fulfillment in Christ. Many still look for a physical, earthly kingdom, with natural Jerusalem as its capital, to which all nations will flow in some future millennial reign. Those with natural understanding believe this passage refers to the physical land of Israel, expecting an earthly restoration of that land to a privileged status among the nations before the end of time. But to believe this is to contradict the prophetic Word, which declares that when Christ came the first time, He established His kingdom on earth in His Person. He is now seated in heaven, ruling and reigning over His true Israel—the elect from every tribe, nation, and tongue, both Jew and Gentile—whom He redeemed with His blood (Revelation 1.5.6). The true Promised Land is Christ in glory! The land flowing with milk and honey is the grace of God that flows from Christ, the Savior and King, to His people (1 Peter 2:2). The Psalmist declared, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). And again, "Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue" (Song of Solomon 4:11). Christ, the living Word of God, is the true nourishment of His people. Ezekiel 20:6 speaks of God’s promise to bring His people into "a land flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands." This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is the true Promised Land for believers. Just as Canaan was a place of rest, abundance, and divine blessing, so the Lord Jesus is the promised rest for His people (Matthew 11:28) , their spiritual nourishment (John 6:35) , and the fullness of God’s blessings (Ephesians 1:3) . Through Him, we inherit the riches of God’s grace, making Him the true and perfect fulfillment of the land flowing with milk and honey. Christ is the Promised Land, in whom all His chosen race dwells—now and forever—having entered into His rest through His finished work on the cross. "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16). He is the Glory of all lands, the true Bread of Life that feeds His people, and the pure milk that nourishes His lambs. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 7:17).

Isaiah 66:10-12 "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees." These verses speak of God's abundant grace and mercy toward a chosen people, portraying Jerusalem, a type of Christ's church (Galatians 4:26), as a mother providing comfort and nourishment to her children. This passage is a beautiful picture of sovereign grace, showing how God Himself brings joy, peace, and satisfaction to His redeemed by the finished work of His Dear Son. Rejoicing in Jerusalem signifies the joy of salvation, granted not by human effort but by the LORD’s sovereign will. Just as a mother nurtures her child, God supplies His people with peace and spiritual abundance. The flowing stream of His grace is not earned but freely given, demonstrating His sovereign love and care for His chosen ones. This passage ultimately reflects the fullness of joy found in Christ Jesus alone (John 15:11) through whom God pours out His mercy on those He has called. It reminds His elect children, the true Israel, that all spiritual blessings come not by works, but by His sovereign grace and finished work at the cross alone. When, by God's grace, we truly grasp what He has done through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for sinners such as we are, our lives would be filled with rejoicing. Yet, like the parable of the sower, the cares of this world often steal our joy and peace. However, our standing before God remains unchanging. If He has chosen us from eternity, Christ has redeemed us, and the Spirit has drawn us, then we are as near to God as we will ever be in our state before Him. Yet, in our experience, our joy fluctuates like the waves of the sea. The world relentlessly seeks joy and peace, but what it pursues is fleeting. Isaiah 66:10 declares, "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her." Jerusalem symbolizes the church, which grows as God calls His people to Himself. Acts 2:47 affirms, " And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Salvation is not a new decree but the unfolding of God's eternal purpose in time. If you are one of those that God the Father has chosen and the LORD Jesus has redeemed, consider what grace it took to call you—wretched sinner—unto Himself. That is reason to rejoice! Even when we see hardness around us, we must remember the hardness of our hearts and rejoice in God's grace. There is no case too hard with the LORD. 1 Peter 2:2-3 states, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Just as an infant longs for its mother's milk, so must we continually hunger for Christ. This longing is the mark of spiritual life. Christ declared in Matthew 18:3, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The desire for Christ never fades; it is a lifelong dependency. Isaiah 66:11 speaks of drawing satisfaction from "the breasts of her consolations." These signify Christ and His Spirit—inseparable in their ministry. Christ, having completed His work and ascended, has not left us orphans. He sent His Spirit to intercede for us, drawing us continually to Him. The church's Glory is not in herself, but in Christ. As the hymn declares, "The bride eyes not her garment but her dear Savior's face." Isaiah 66:12 proclaims, "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream." The Jews of Christ’s time resisted the truth that He was the Savior of the world, not just of Israel. Many today misunderstand "world" in John 3:16 to mean every individual, but in context, Christ was revealing to Nicodemus that salvation always included the Gentiles. Our hope is not in physical Jerusalem, which remains in turmoil, but in the true Jerusalem—Christ and His finished work. "No other foundation can any man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). True joy and peace are most evident in the storms of life. The Lord continually exercises our hearts, keeps us from becoming too attached to this world, and draws us closer to Him. This is His grace—to make us rejoice in the finished work of Christ. May He ever cause us to know that abiding joy and peace in Him.

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" When it comes to blame for sin, a fallen nature will always look outside itself for someone, or something, to fault. In Genesis 3, when God questioned Adam, he blamed Eve— "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me" (Genesis 3:12). When God questioned Eve, she blamed the serpent— "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat" (Genesis 3:13). However, when God pronounced His judgment, He laid the blame squarely on Adam, to whom He gave the commandment well before taking Eve from his side. Therefore, by Adam’s one act of disobedience, the sentence of death passed once for all upon his entire race. The Scripture does not merely say that all are guilty because they imitate Adam’s sin, but that "all have sinned" in him. The trial is over, the sentence has been rendered. This truth is crucial to understanding the sovereign grace of God in salvation. Just as Adam was the representative head of all his race, even so Christ is the Representative Head of all His race—His elect, given to Him by the Father from eternity. Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation upon all he represented, but Christ’s obedience obtained righteousness for all He represented. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). This verse highlights the doctrine of original sin—how Adam’s transgression led to the fall of all His race. However, in the light of God's sovereign grace, it also sets forth the Truth for the glorious Substitution of Christ for His elected race and the imputation of God's righteousness by Him. Here are three key points of emphasis that we find revealed in this Scripture. Substitution in Christ Adam, as the federal head of mankind, brought sin and death upon all (1 Corinthians 15:22: “For as in Adam all die…”), but Christ, the second and last Adam, became the perfect Substitute for sinners. Isaiah 53:5 declares:"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." This substitutionary death of the LORD Jesus is further emphasized in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Christ took upon Himself the penalty of sin, absorbing the wrath of God in place of those that the Father sent Him to save, and did save by His obedience unto death. Imputation of Righteousness Just as Adam’s sin was imputed to all humanity, because of our descent from Adam, Christ’s righteousness was imputed to those who are of His spiritual descent, being chosen of God and put under the headship of the LORD Jesus as their federal head. Romans 5:19 explains this divine exchange: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." This imputed righteousness is not earned but is the gift of sovereign grace (Romans 4:6-8) , where David describes "the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." God’s Sovereign Grace in Salvation The overarching message of Romans 5:12 is that sin and death came by Adam, but grace and life come by Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces this: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Thus, God's sovereign grace triumphs over sin through the substitutionary work of Christ and the imputation of His righteousness. The believer, once under the curse of Adam, is now declared righteous in Christ—a truth that magnifies the free and sovereign grace of God. How humbling and yet how glorious is this divine arrangement! The blame for sin is ours alone, and we stand justly condemned in Adam. But the merit and glory of salvation, redemption, justification, and glorification belong to Christ alone! By His one obedience, the elect are declared righteous before God. This is the essence of sovereign grace: that God, in His infinite mercy and grace, would place our blame upon the LORD Jesus Christ and in return give us, as elect sinners, His righteousness. So complete is the work of the LORD Jesus as the Substitute of those chosen out by the Father, that when He had finished the work at the cross, there remained nothing but His Righteousness for God the Father to impute to their spiritual account. Let us, therefore, bow in gratitude and worship, knowing that while Adam’s fall brought our condemnation, Christ’s obedience has obtained our eternal life. "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20) . Praise be to God for His sovereign grace in Christ Jesus!

Romans 5:20 "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" In Paul's letter to the Romans, he describes the relationship between the law, sin, and grace. The apostle Paul emphasizes that the law was never given as a means of salvation but rather to reveal the sinfulness of sin more clearly and highlight the sinner's inability to obey God's commands perfectly, as required by God's law and justice. However, despite the increase of sin through the law, Paul introduces the overriding truth that God's grace surpasses sin in abundance. Where sin advanced and manifested itself increasingly in fallen sinners, God's grace was made all the more evident in the saving of those God had appointed to salvation by His grace in Christ. An example of this is found in the fall of Adam and Eve, where sin abounded in the imputation of his sin to all of his descendants. Yet God's grace reigned, for at that moment, God declared the coming of the LORD Jesus at the fullness of the time to pay the sin debt for those of Adam's race whom the Father had given to the LORD Jesus even before the fall. Because the LORD Jesus was already appointed as the Savior to bear the sin of each one of God's chosen people, He promised redemption and salvation through His coming, living, dying and rising again. This verse highlights the amazing depth of God's grace and His purpose to redeem grievously fallen sinners, no matter how vast their sin. The evidence of this was made plain even in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve clothed themselves with fig leaves to cover their nakedness. God, however, slew innocent animals and clothed them with the skins of those animals, a type of the death of the LORD Jesus, Who would come and lay down His life as their Substitute (Genesis 3:21). This profound contrast between sin and grace demonstrates the overwhelming power of God's love and the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for all whom He purposed to save. There are two clear lessons that we may draw from what Paul declared concerning the law of God and the grace of God: The Law and Its Purpose “The law entered that the offense might abound.” The law was not given to make men more sinful, but to expose the sinfulness of sin already present in the hearts of sinners. As the apostle Paul declared in Romans 7:7, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” The law uncovers to us the utter sinfulness of our sin, lest we ever imagine that any part of our being is without sin. The law shows people their inability to meet God's perfect standard and increases the awareness of sin. As Romans 3:20 states, "By the law is the knowledge of sin." The entrance of the law (primarily referring to the Mosaic Law) serves to reveal the depth of sinfulness in all of Adam's descendants—everyone born into this world is utterly sinful and depraved. There are no innocent babies. Psalm 58:3 says, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." The law declares, “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores…” (Isaiah 1:6). The law serves as the revelation of the holiness of God, revealing the total depravity of sinners and their incapacity to do any good or choose God apart from God's sovereign grace, which reveals Christ in them as the only Sacrifice and Substitute. Abundant Grace “That grace might much more abound”— Against the backdrop of the sinfulness of sin and the terrors of the law, the Light of God's grace shines forth. The darker the sin, the brighter God's grace shines, making the comforts of the Gospel sweeter as we see how the one sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ satisfied God’s law and justice for the guiltiest of sinners. "…Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound" because of the LORD Jesus' work of substitution for His people (Romans 5:8-11) . Grace reigns to life—eternal life—through righteousness, righteousness imputed to those God-ordained sinners for justification upon the completion of Christ’s work at the cross. In this abundant grace of God, there are two matters to underscore: It is God's Grace in Christ: It is not intended for all of Adam's race, but for those whom God the Father has given to Christ, for whom He would die on the cross (John 17:1-3, 9). Christ’s sacrifice obtained salvation for the elect, and this grace is not extended universally to all sinners, but only to those whom God has sovereignly chosen (Ephesians 1:3-7). The Grace of God in Christ Reflects the Glory of God's Sovereignty: Romans 5:20 points to God's supreme sovereignty in dealing with sin and grace. This verse highlights the contrast between human total inability (sin’s abundance) and God’s sovereign ability (grace’s greater abundance). The grace given is not merely a reaction to sin but a demonstration of God’s foreordained, sovereign will to save an elect people from all of fallen humanity (Revelation 5:9). It underscores the truth that salvation is entirely the work of God, from beginning to end.

1 Corinthians 12:6,7 "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." God is sovereign in the redemption, justification, and sanctification of His people. All spiritual gifts, callings, and workings are divinely appointed. In this light, 1 Corinthians 12:6-7 serves as a profound testament to God’s sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts within His church: “ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."   This passage affirms that all operations within the body of Christ are orchestrated by God Himself, according to His sovereign will. The phrase "it is the same God which worketh all in all"  underscores His divine prerogative in bestowing spiritual gifts, leaving no room for human merit or self-determination. The Spirit’s manifestations are not randomly assigned, nor are they earned; rather, they are given for the edification of the body, ensuring that each believer serves according to the purpose established by God before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5) . This truth harmonizes with all that the Scriptures teach on God's sovereignty in all things as revealed in Romans 9:16: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." Whatever some may think of the Church of the Lord Jesus, with all of her sins, troubles, and upheavals, it remains His Church. The imperfections and struggles within it do not negate the reality that it is the redeemed body that He has bought with His precious blood. Christ’s sacrifice was not in vain; it was effectual, obtaining the salvation and justification of His people. Upon the completion of His redemptive work, God the Father justified His elect, declaring them righteous in Christ: “ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9). The same Church that Christ redeemed, the Spirit now sustains, preserving every believer until the final day: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”  (Ephesians 1:13-14). Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ The Church is a body composed of believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Though there are diversities of people, there are also diversities of operations in the manifestation of God’s power. It is God’s work to reveal Christ in His people. Some are granted the word of wisdom, others the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8) , but both gifts are founded upon Christ crucified and flow to the members through His sacrifice unto death on their behalf. He is the Wisdom of God, as Paul declares: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  (1 Corinthians 1:24) . The knowledge of Christ in all His attributes—as Savior and Substitute—is a gift of God's grace and the effect of His finished work. Faith: A Gift from the Spirit To another is given faith, yet it is the same Spirit Who bestows it. This faith is not self-generated but is connected entirely to Christ and His redeeming work at the cross. It is the persuasion that salvation and righteousness are found singularly in Him. No believer can boast in their faith, wisdom, or knowledge as if they contributed to it; all these gifts come from God alone. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (v. 6).  This affirms that it is God alone who determines and energizes all Spiritual workings according to His sovereign will (Ephesians 1:11).    “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal”  (v .7).  This underscores that the Spirit sovereignly bestows gifts for the edification of the church, not based on human merit but according to divine purpose (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 4:7). All Spiritual gifts are granted by God’s sovereign will for the Glory of the LORD Jesus and the good of His people alone (Ephesians 4:7-12). God the Father is the Source of all wisdom and knowledge in Christ. The Spirit communicates Christ in truth to those that He redeemed, causing them to see, believe, and rest in His finished work alone. Every gift given is designed to produce praise, glory, and honor to Him alone. May we, as members of His blood-bought Church, continually glorify Him for the grace bestowed upon us, and rejoice in the work of salvation that is entirely of the LORD. To God alone be the glory!

1 Timothy 1:15,16 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." The Gospel is clearly defined in Scripture, and Paul sets forth a pattern for its proclamation in 1 Timothy 1:15-16. In a world filled with religious confusion, the Word of God remains our authority to discern truth. Paul declares that how he received mercy serves as a pattern for all who believe on Christ to life everlasting. The term "pattern" in verse 16 signifies an outline or form—a definitive model of how God saves sinners and why He does so. Salvation has always been by one means, by one manner, and by one message. In contrast to the world’s uncertainty, the Scriptures affirm God’s exclusive way of saving sinners. The Means of Salvation: Grace Alone Paul testifies in 1 Timothy 1:14, "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Grace—God’s unmerited favor in Christ—is the sole foundation of salvation. It is exceedingly abundant, greater than all our sins, and it ensures that God remains just while justifying those for whom Christ died. The Manner of Salvation: Christ’s Finished Work 1 Timothy 1:15 proclaims, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." He did not come to attempt salvation, but to accomplish it. At Calvary, He saved those that the Father gave Him from all eternity and in time obtained their eternal redemption by His death on the cross. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12) God the Father justified, sanctified, adopted, and reconciled His people to Himself by the death of His Son. The cross was not a mere provision but a definitive act of salvation by God. The Message of the Gospel: Mercy, Not Merit Paul presents his conversion as the pattern of sovereign grace. The word "pattern" also appears in 2 Timothy 1:13: "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Like an engineer sketches a design before building, God ordained salvation through Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This pattern reassures sinners that, since God has purposed to save the chief of sinners, then certainly His mercy extends to the worst of sinners that He has ordained to save, by His Sovereign Mercy alone, and not any merit in the sinner. The Certainty of Forgiveness Through Christ Alone Many struggle with whether God has truly forgiven them. Paul’s testimony answers this by demonstrating that salvation is solely through Christ’s work. His blood that He shed unto death is the reason God forgives, and every sin of every elect sinner has already been put away. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:13-14) The Greatness of God’s Mercy Paul’s conversion proves that no sinner is beyond God’s mercy. "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17) Since He has saved the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), there are none who are excluded for being too sinful. However, many are excluded for thinking themselves righteous. "Sin has slain its thousands. Self-righteousness has slain its tens of thousands." A Message of Mercy and Sovereignty Paul also speaks of God’s long-suffering towards His elect, while distinguishing them from the vessels of wrath. "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory?" (Romans 9:21-23) Some are chosen for salvation, while others are ordained to condemnation. Though this truth is unpopular, it is Scriptural and represents the God of the Bible. Mercy Before Faith Paul states in 1 Timothy 1:16, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." The biblical order is mercy, then faith. The sinner does not receive mercy upon believing. Rather, it is God’s mercy that brings the sinner to Christ in faith and repentance. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17) As a conquered rebel bows before a merciful king, the sinner surrenders to Christ and the Righteousness that He fulfilled to the satisfaction of God the Father for him, because of God’s prior work of grace and mercy. Mercy Unto Life Everlasting Finally, salvation is "unto life everlasting" —the eternal enjoyment of God in Christ. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11-12) Faith does not produce eternal life; rather, it is given to those that God has already chosen and quickened by the Spirit of Grace. This life is sure because it rests on the unchangeable merits of Christ and His accomplished work at the cross. Thus, the Gospel pattern is clear: salvation is by grace alone, through Christ alone, unto eternal life. Let us rest in Christ, the Mercy of God, and proclaim His sovereign grace with confidence.

Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." God, according to His eternal purpose, sent forth His Son to accomplish salvation apart from human effort, as demonstrated in the miraculous conception of the Lord Jesus in the virgin womb of Mary. This divine act reveals that salvation is solely the work of God, without human contribution or will. The Gospel of Luke begins with the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, a virgin in Nazareth, declaring that she would conceive the Messiah, not by natural means, but by the sovereign power of the Holy Ghost. This moment marks the mystery of the divine incarnation: God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). In this inspired declaration, the angel reveals God's sovereign initiative in the work of redemption. The eternal Son of God would take on human flesh, humbling Himself for the salvation of His people (Philippians 2:9-11) . This passage is a profound testimony that salvation is wholly of the LORD. Just as Mary had no part in initiating the conception of Christ, so too man has no part in the salvation that Christ accomplished, nor in the work of the Spirit in revealing Him. Salvation is entirely the work of God the Father, through the Son, and made effectual in the hearts of His people by the Holy Ghost. The Divine Origin of Salvation:   "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..." Here, we behold the sovereign work of God in the incarnation. Mary was chosen not for any merit of her own, but solely by God's free and sovereign grace. Likewise, the new birth of every child of God is the result of the Spirit's sovereign work (John 3:3,8). Salvation is not of the will of man but of God (John 1:13). The phrase "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee" emphasizes that salvation is entirely a work of the Spirit. As Mary could not conceive the Savior by her power, so man, dead in trespasses and sins, cannot bring forth spiritual life. As it is written, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). The Spirit's work is to give life, to quicken the dead, and to bring about the new birth, which is wholly a work of God's grace, apart from human effort. The Mystery of the Incarnation:   "Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Jesus Christ, both fully God and fully man, is the Divine Gift of sovereign grace. He was born holy, without the stain of Adam's sin, for the Holy Ghost conceived him. The term "thing" was added by the translators. The underlying Greek text simply uses the word "holy" and therefore would be better translated as "holy One." This truth is foundational, for our salvation depends upon a perfect Substitute, a sinless Savior. As God sovereignly brought forth Christ in the womb of Mary, so He sovereignly brings forth spiritual life in His elect, by the Spirit revealing Him in their heart (Galatians 4:19). The declaration, "That holy (one) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God," affirms the Divinity and Holiness of Christ, the spotless Lamb of God. It is throgh His holy life and effectual death that redemption is accomplished, and those elected by God from eternity are declared justified forever by His death. By sovereign grace, Christ was given as the Substitute for His people, effectually obtaining their salvation (Hebrews 9:12) . He did not come to make salvation possible but to save His people from their sins, according to the Father's eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:4-5). The Manifestation of God’s Power:   "The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..." This statement reveals the omnipotence of God. The same power that brought forth Christ in Mary’s womb is the power that calls sinners to life. No heart is too hardened, no soul too lost, for when God purposes to save, none can resist His will (Romans 9:16) . The electing grace of God ensures that all whom He has chosen will be drawn to Christ in faith. As the LORD Jesus declared: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:37-39). Furthermore, "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" highlights God’s supreme authority. Just as He accomplished the incarnation apart from human means, so too does He bring about the salvation of sinners apart from human works. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Mary humbly submitted to the will of God, calling God her Savior, showing that she was herself a needy sinner for the work of Christ (Luke 1:46-47). So we who are His chosen, redeemed ones rest in the sovereign work of God's grace, trusting that He Who has began a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Let us marvel at the sovereign grace of God in the incarnation of the LORD Jesus, God in the flesh, to work out our complete salvation as a Man. May we, like Mary, respond in humble faith and submission, rejoicing that salvation is not of ourselves but is the gift of God, accomplished by His infinite power and made sure by the work of the LORD Jesus according to His eternal decree. To Him be all glory forever. Amen.

Psalm 86:10 "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone." This verse proclaims God's sovereign majesty—the One Who alone does wondrous things. It is a declaration of His absolute authority, His mighty works, and His exclusive role in the salvation of sinners. In light of sovereign grace, we see here the Gospel of Christ, the Word made flesh, Who bore the weight of our sins upon the cross. These words reflect the very heart of Christ’s suffering, as He gave glory to His Father, just as He did in John 17:1-2, knowing that the Father would bless His completed work on behalf of those for whom He died. As the Lord Jesus hung in agony, forsaken by the Father to suffer and die, He bore the wrath due to the sinners whom the Father had given Him to save. Yet, amid His suffering, His trust in the Father never wavered. Even in His deepest affliction, He proclaimed the Father’s faithfulness in His redemptive work on the cross. Christ’s suffering was not in vain—it was the fulfillment of God’s sovereign purpose, the accomplishment of the wondrous work of redemption for His people. The cross itself was the greatest "wondrous thing" ever accomplished—the perfect redemption and justification of the elect, obtaining their salvation through sovereign grace alone, as affirmed in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 . When Jesus cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He echoed the truth of Psalm 86:10 : God alone is great, and He alone accomplishes salvation. In Christ, the sovereign God did what no man could do—He redeemed His people with His blood, (Acts 20:28). The depravity of our flesh leads us to wrongly believe that we must contribute something to our salvation—whether by earning it, achieving it, or maintaining it. Our sinful nature always seeks a share in the glory, rather than submitting to the clear testimony of Scripture that salvation is in, by, and through the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Hebrews 1:3 declares, "When he had by himself purged our sins..." Christ Jesus is the LORD, the Word of God, the Gospel, and the very manifestation of the grace of God. He alone earned and established the perfect righteousness necessary to satisfy the Father's law and justice. Then, laying down His life, He shed His righteous blood unto death, so that God the Father might justify His elect fully and finally at the cross (Romans 5:9-11). Many blindly misread the Word of God, believing that something more is required for salvation beyond what the Lord Jesus Christ has already accomplished. Some claim that a sinner must first experience an inner work of grace that enables him to perceive Christ and call upon Him before he can be saved. Others insist that faith must be exercised first, even asserting that faith is a gift from God, yet holding that until a sinner exercises it, they are not saved. This view subtly shifts the focus from the wondrous work of God to some supposed work of the sinner. But the truth of Scripture is clear: everything necessary for the salvation of a sinner has already been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Faith and coming to Christ are not conditions for salvation but the effects of His finished work. The Lord Jesus Christ alone has done wondrous things in His righteous life and redeeming death, and therefore, all glory belongs to Him. This is why He is called "Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Psalm 86:10 declares the unrivaled greatness of God: "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone." This truth is the foundation of True Faith—God alone is sovereign, and His works are mighty and marvelous, accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ alone. In Christ, we see the greatest of these wondrous works: the redemption of sinners through His effectual and finished sacrifice on the cross. No one else could accomplish salvation; no other name can save (Acts 4:12) . From beginning to end, salvation is the work of a sovereign and gracious God Who alone is worthy of our trust, worship, and devotion. Let us, then, rest in His greatness, rejoice in His wondrous grace, and proclaim that He alone is God. May we ever acknowledge that His sovereign hand rules over all in creation, providence, salvation, and condemnation. Therefore, to Him alone belongs all glory, now and forever.

John 16:20-22 "...and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Here the LORD Jesus speaks of the death that He was to die to the satisfaction of God the Father. This is the truth of Christ having died and risen again, whereby He would see His disciples again when He was raised from the dead. It is more than a mere story; it is the foundation of the completed work of the LORD Jesus that brings rest to all for whom He died. To know that He finished the work is a source of great comfort to the child of God. If that work were not complete, if even a single thread of righteousness were left for us to add, it would not be righteousness at all. He declares, “Your sorrow shall be turned to joy.” When? At His resurrection, when they would see Him again, fear would turn to joy. The LORD gives a simple yet profound illustration: “A woman, when she is in travail, hath sorrow because her hour is come.” What a fitting picture of Christ’s sufferings! Those women who have experienced the pains of childbirth know the sorrow and anguish that accompany it. It is a pain because her hour has arrived. “But as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” (John 16:21) Now, pause to consider this illustration in light of Christ’s sufferings. Was there not joy in the birth of a Man into this world, the God-Man? His coming into the world required not only the birth in Bethlehem, but also the travail of His soul. Isaiah speaks of the travail of His soul, saying, “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). As significant as His physical birth was, there was yet a greater travail He endured—a spiritual travail that He had to experience, that He might be delivered and justify His people. This is what Christ spoke of to His disciples. We know that Christ's travail did not end in death. He did not live just to die and not come back to life. He arose victorious from the grave. The sins of His people were imputed to Him, and, being risen, this is evidence that God had imputed that very righteousness to the spiritual account of everyone for whom Christ died. This is salvation! It is not a work that we complete individually; it was accomplished once, in one place, at one time. Christ Himself declared that He must go to Jerusalem and accomplish His death (Luke 9:22) . Did He go? Yes. Was it accomplished? Yes. He continues, “And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). When was the joy of the disciples made complete? When they saw the risen Savior, after His death, in revealing Himself to them (Luke 24:13-32). This was not a fleeting joy that came and went. When He says, “No man taketh it from you,” He means that this joy is divinely wrought. It is God’s work, and it is forever. In this life, we do nonetheless endure sorrow. As God's redeemed and justified children, we sadly continue to sin. We sorrow over unbelief. We sorrow over many fretful thoughts of heart and mind. Yet there is a joy that no man can take from us. And that joy is the knowledge, by God's sovereign grace, that when Christ died, He died for us and effectually put away our sins. When He rose, He rose on our behalf as proof that God the Father was satisfied with the work of the Son, and so complete was that work that when He raised from the dead, it was the declaration of the Father's satisfaction ( Romans 4:25). He now sits at the right hand of the Father, having returned to His rightful place. He sat down, for the work was finished (Hebrews 1:3) . What a blessed joy this is! "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? It’s written in His Word!"