Acts 8:36,37 "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Why baptism? Isn’t salvation all of grace in the work of the LORD Jesus Christ alone? Yes! Salvation is in, by, and through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the LORD Jesus Christ alone. Those for whom He accomplished salvation are elect of God the Father, before the foundation of the world, whose salvation was accomplished in the fulness of the time, " But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," (Galatians 4:4). They are called by the Spirit of God in time to Christ, and according to Christ’s command submit to water baptism (immersion) as a testimony to the completed work of the LORD Jesus on their behalf. How did the Ethiopian eunuch even know to inquire about water baptism? Was it not that it was taught to him by Philip as the way of confessing the LORD Jesus, whose Spirit had already begun His work of grace in his heart? Before ascending into glory, our LORD commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel baptizing in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). One NAME...one GOD in whom salvation was purposed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and revealed by the Spirit. The One Name is Jesus in Whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, " (Acts 4:12). The Greek word for baptize means to ‘immerse’ or ‘dip’. That is because it represents the work of Christ in saving His people by His death, burial, and resurrection. However, just as the Gospel of Christ has been perverted by natural minds, so has water baptism (immersion). Decisional ‘regeneration’ has become the norm in pseudo-Christianity whereby salvation is attributed to making a profession of ‘faith’ by walking an aisle, raising the hand, bowing the head, or repeating a prayer, which is then followed up with a discipleship class, leading up to qualifying for baptism. We find no such practice in the Bible. It simply says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized,” (Acts 2:41). No prequalification or precondition is required in preparation other than the Spirit of God revealing Christ and His finished work in the heart of one of God’s elect. The watery grave of baptism is an apt picture of the death of Christ. Only the believer can truly testify and rejoice in His death because God has given him eyes to see (1 Corinthians 2:7-10). Who then may be baptized? (Acts 8:37) . Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is THE CHRIST, God’s Son, anointed and appointed as the Substitute for His people? Has God made Him Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption to you (I Corinthians 1:30) ? If so, then not only may you, but you should want to identify with the LORD Jesus in water immersion. Here we see the glorious simplicity and power of God’s saving grace in salvation declared. Just as with the Ethiopian eunuch, the inward work of the Spirit had already quickened his heart to believe by the time Philip, led by the LORD, approached him. He was already reading the Scriptures and longing to know the Person of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke—not merely what was spoken. Philip did not call for a work or demand any worthiness, but simply affirmed: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” That believing heart was not natural, but a gift of God’s grace. The eunuch confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This was not the result of human will or effort, but the fruit of God’s revelation of Christ in the heart, raising him from spiritual death and blindness, and causing him to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and His finished work alone. Christ is both the Object and the Author of Spirit-revealed faith. By His sovereign and saving grace, the LORD seeks, teaches, and draws His people—causing them to rest and rejoice in the sufficiency of Christ’s accomplished redemption.

1 John 2:15,16 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." There are many things in the world that we are commanded to love: our spouses, children, neighbors (Ephesians 5:25; Mark 12:33) our fellow believers and the fellowship of saints (Ephesians 4:2) and all that God the Father graciously bestows upon us—whether material, physical, mental, or spiritual, (Romans 14:14; 1 Timothy 4:4). However, it is important to note that we are specifically commanded to not love the world. While we can enjoy many aspects of God’s creation, as He is the Creator, Giver, and Governor of all, believers are called to be separate from the world, which is a fallen and depraved system [cosmos]. The world we are to detest is the realm of wickedness that opposes Christ, both externally and within ourselves: " And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness" ( 1 John 5:19). When the Holy Spirit breathes the life of Christ into a sinner's soul, He translates that soul from death to Life, from darkness to Light, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" ( John 5:24). This transformation spiritually separates the believer from the world, setting their affection on Christ, " Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" ( Colossians 3:2). A person redeemed by Christ and made alive by the Spirit will not willingly love anything above God. The Spirit continually draws the believer’s heart toward the LORD Jesus Christ, prompting them to serve Him alone. As Matthew 6:24 says, " No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." This principle holds in both doctrine and practice; we cannot take satisfaction in anything that dishonors Christ. All that stands opposed to Christ can be summed up as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Every temptation and sin can be traced back to one of these three sources: 1) The Lust of the Flesh : Carnal and sensual desires rooted in our sinful, fallen nature, " Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" ( Romans 8:7-8). 2) The Lust of the Eyes: The desire for the approval and praise of others, " Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" ( Matthew 6:1-5) ; " How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” ( John 5:44). 3) The Pride of Life : Ambition and honor that seek self-glory instead of recognizing oneself as the chief of sinners, " But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil" ( James 4:16). Any obsessive attraction to the world from the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. These things are passing away, fleeting and vain, but the one who is born of God—believing on Christ, abiding in Him, and walking by the Faith—abides forever. We who are God's children, therefore, are enabled by the Spirit of God to look beyond the temporal and fix our hearts on the eternal, finding our hope and life in Christ alone, and His finished work at the cross as all our “Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption,” (I Corinthians 1:30). Indeed, the flesh is a real and evil enemy within. Yet, the LORD knows who His are and He died to deliver those He has redeemed from the evil within them and in this fallen world. He promises to keep each one from being condemned with the world, as He states in John 17:15: “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Thankfully, Christ has already fulfilled the commandment to not love the world on behalf of those for whom He died and He now lives to intercede for them, " 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).

1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." Eyes and ears are attributed to the LORD metaphorically. God is Spirit and yet the Scriptures attribute to Him human elements that we might better understand Who He is and how He acts as God. Of course, it is true that in Christ, God’s Eternal Son, these are the eyes and ears with which He appeared in the flesh. He is the visible image of the invisible God, " Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" ( Colossians 1:15). God’s eyes speak of His perfect knowledge and perception—not merely of how things appear, but of how they truly are. His ears represent His attentiveness to the cries of His children, here called “the righteous.” Yet, Scripture declares, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) . Therefore, these must be those whom God sees and hears as righteous—those justified by the finished work of the LORD Jesus Christ. Christ alone established a righteousness that satisfied the just demands of God the Father. Upon the completion of His work on the cross, God once and for all imputed that righteousness to the spiritual account of every one of His elect (Romans 5:1). God judges them righteous, not for anything good or just in themselves, but solely by the imputation of that perfect righteousness which Christ fulfilled through His obedience unto death (Romans 5:9). Because the Father loves the Son, He is well pleased with His work of righteousness on behalf of those sinners He came to save—and has indeed saved—by His shed blood unto death. Having magnified the law and made it honorable by Him, God now beholds with holy pleasure and delight those to whom He has imputed that righteousness that He perfectly earned and established. His eyes are ever upon them—those clothed in the perfect righteousness of His Son—with all-knowing love, care, and protection. “...His ears are open to their prayers” : or "prayer" in the Hebrew text, that is ‘to their cry.’ As a Father, ever tender to His children, they have God’s ear and He always answers according to His will, in His time and wisdom. He shall avenge His elect who cry unto Him day and night, " And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them" ( Luke 18:7)? “...but the face of the LORD is against them that do evil” : God is not ignorant of those outside of Christ, but His face is against them, being condemned already by His justice. This clearly shows that God’s love is particular and exclusive to His elect. "...the face of the LORD," is not His kind, pleasant, and loving countenance but His anger. For He beholds His elect with delight because of Christ’s work for them and in them. But all others have nothing but His just condemnation, forever. What a comfort it is to know that “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. ”  The LORD does not merely glance at His people—He watches over them with covenantal love and unwavering care. He hears their prayers, not because of their eloquence or sincerity, but because they are made righteous in His sight through the perfect obedience and effectual Sacrifice of Christ. This is the only basis of their acceptance before God. Yet, we are also soberly reminded that “the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”  All who oppose Christ and reject God's righteousness imputed at the cross, abide under His just and holy displeasure (John 3:36) . May we rest in the favor of God that is ours in Christ Jesus, Who alone is our Righteousness and Peace. And let our hearts be stirred in true Spirit-given prayer, for the LORD of heaven is both watching and listening to His own, ever ready to answer according to His will in mercy and grace.

James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." In this verse, James directs our hearts to the blessedness found in beholding Christ, Who is the perfect law of liberty. This “law” is not a burdensome code of works, but the glorious Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ, and His perfect obedience to the law whereby God is just to justify each elect sinner for whom He paid the debt. He fulfilled the law for His people and has made them free indeed. The believer who looks into this gospel mirror and continues therein does so, not by natural strength or merit, but by the grace and power of God working in him. He is not a forgetful hearer, because the Spirit of Christ has written the Truth upon his heart. And being made a doer of the work—not to earn life, but because life has been freely given, this man is blessed already in his deed, for he walks in the light and liberty of the finished work of Christ. To those who persist in the way of works, either as a means of gaining or maintaining salvation (sanctification or justification) before God, there is enough in Scripture that the Holy Spirit has inspired to be a snare to such.  Romans 11:9 - “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:” There are many who, every time they read about looking into the law, and observing it, automatically assume that it means that God requires a personal obedience to the law to gain or maintain His favor.  The truth is that if someone is to expect God to save them based on their obedience, then nothing less than PERFECT obedience will satisfy His law and justice.  He is HOLY, and therefore cannot require anything less than a righteousness equal to HIM.  Just how strict is God’s law? James 2:10-   “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”   Men in their depravity tend to rank ‘sins’ in a hierarchy of lesser to greater.  Among those ranked by men and women with a perverted judgment, they consider sins such as adultery, murder, and robbery to be among the greater, and perhaps anger, covetousness, and lying to be ‘lesser’ sins.  However, in the context of James 2:10, showing respect for persons, favoring certain people over others is declared to be just as guilty of God’s law. James 2:9 states plainly that if you so much as show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by God’s law as violators.  Colossians 3:5  lists covetousness as idolatry, which in all cases is punishable by death under the law. There is no hope for any sinner in looking to the law for salvation, and that is certainly NOT where the Spirit of God is directing sinners to look, whom God the Father has chosen, and Christ has redeemed.  Paul speaks of the ministry of the law as one of condemnation ( 2 Corinthians 3:9).   The scripture calls it the law of sin and death that cannot save, ( Romans 8:2),  not because the law is faulty, but rather sinners are faulty and can in nowise produce the perfect obedience it requires not just in deed, but word and thought. Not just the letter of the law but the very spirit of it. Who then can be saved? James 1:25  is the inspired word of God directing sinners to look into the PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, and continuing therein.  What is this law? Galatians 5:1  declares, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  Therefore, the law into which we look is that law whereby God the Father has once and forever, fully, freely, and finally JUSTIFIED those for whom the LORD Jesus died and satisfied the law of sin and death.  It is the PERFECT LAW, because it legally declares justified and perfect everyone to whom it was imputed at the cross. Any who are caused to look into this law, the legal satisfaction of God’s law and justice by Christ are exhorted to continue in it, unmoved by legalists and moralists who would have sinners believe that something they do in addition to what Christ did is the way of grace.  Those who preach this mixed message of Christ plus, and together with those who follow them, both alike are deceived and condemned.  The perfect law of liberty is nothing less than the law of the Faith, which is the objective body of truth revealed in the Gospel of God that declares righteous each one for whom Christ paid the debt, (Romans 3:27) . It is perfect, as in Psalm 19:7 ,  because it is a revelation of the perfect righteousness of God, in the obedience of Christ, and of perfect justification by it, and free and full pardon of sins through Him. How glorious then is the liberty that is found only in Christ, Who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth (Romans 10:3). The true believer, made willing in the day of God’s power, beholds Christ in the gospel as the perfect law of liberty—a law not written in tables of stone, but upon the heart by the Spirit of grace (2 Corinthians 3:3) . He continues therein, not as a mere hearer, but as one whose life is hidden with Christ in God, and whose obedience flows from union with Him. This man is blessed indeed—not because of his deeds, but because he has been made a doer by grace, walking in the light of Christ’s accomplished redemption. His blessing is not a reward earned, but a gift received, for all his Righteousness is found in the doing and dying of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:" There is a lot of speculation surrounding the book of Revelation, starting with the misuse of the plural term "revelations" instead of "THE REVELATION" of Jesus Christ as stated in the first verse. The book of Revelation was written for the Church, not to provide clues or secrets about when Christ would return, but to affirm that Christ has come, lived, died for her redemption, risen again, ascended on high, and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, making intercession for her (I Corinthians 15:3,4). God the Father has entrusted all judgment to Him, and everything that occurs on earth is directly from His throne. This Revelation was particularly encouraging to the apostle John, who was suffering for the Gospel's sake on the Isle of Patmos. It also served to encourage the early Church during its persecution under the Roman government in the first century. Verses 1-3 : The theme and purpose of the book are to REVEAL THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and to encourage believers through reading it. Verses 4-20 : The LORD Jesus reveals Himself as God, One Who came in the flesh and laid down His life to redeem and justify an elect people for the Father’s glory alone. The Savior and Representative of the Church walks among the Church, represented by the seven candlesticks. In His right hand are seven stars, symbolizing the ministers of the Church that He has appointed over various local assemblies. These are referred to as the seven "angels" of the churches in verse 20 , but "messengers" would be a more accurate translation, reflecting the role of pastors as those sent by Christ as His spokesmen to preach Him to those He gathers for worship. They oversee His flock as under shepherds and nurture them in their respective assemblies, as God had appointed them, " Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17). The description of Christ in verses 13 and following defines His Holy and Glorious character in vivid language. His white hair symbolizes His eternality and wisdom. His eyes, like a flame of fire, represent His omniscience and omnipotence. His feet, like fine brass, signify His strength, stability, and immutability. His voice, as the sound of many waters, represents the power of His Word and His authority as Sovereign LORD and God. Here we have unveiled the majestic and sovereign Christ—not as a distant figure, but as the exalted LORD walking among His churches. This Revelation of Him assures us that Christ reigns even amid tribulation, having fully accomplished redemption for His people. This revelation, in the first-century context, emphasizes that the risen Christ was already present and active among His persecuted saints, bringing His sovereign judgment on apostate Israel and establishing His Church as the True Temple (John 2:19-21). This unveiling is not merely prophetic, but a present comfort: Christ, in His glory, governs history and shepherds His church with unwavering authority and grace. What a glorious Revelation of the LORD Jesus Christ declared by the Spirit in John’s testimony! It is comforting to know who He is, why He came, what He accomplished, for whom He did it, and where He is now!

2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." In this passage, the Spirit of God, through the writing of the apostle Paul, reveals the gracious and sovereign work of God in the life of the believer—a life transformed by divine grace. This transformation is not something we initiate or accomplish, nor is it an attempt to perfect the depraved flesh. Rather, it is the gracious state of new life given by the Spirit to each one for whom Christ died. Through the finished work of the LORD Jesus and the power of the Spirit, the redeemed and justified child of God is made to grow in the light of the glory of the LORD Jesus—not by striving, but by beholding His glory. This is not a path of self-improvement, but of God’s ongoing, Spirit-driven work, rooted in His mercy and grace, and aimed entirely at the glory of His Son. What is the Glory of which the apostle Paul writes?  But we all with open face:   no longer veiled in types and pictures but the very Glory of God as revealed in the LORD Jesus Christ, through His finished work at Calvary.  Beholding in a glass:  the fulfilled and revealed Word of God concerning Christ in the Gospel [to behold continually for oneself and not through the veil of the Old Testament prophecies that had yet to be fulfilled before Christ came and accomplished salvation].  The Glory of the LORD:  specifically Jesus Christ, manifest in the flesh, as the Redeemer, Reconciler and Justifier of God's elect; " For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" ( John 1:17-18).  Changed into the same image:  [metamorphosed] not that our flesh is being changed, for it is as sinful as it ever has been. Rather, by the Spirit of grace, the mind and heart are conformed (brought into subjection) to the very image or revelation of Christ as revealed in the Gospel. To grow in grace is to grow in the knowledge of the LORD Jesus and His glory as revealed in the Scriptures and all that HE is and has accomplished for the salvation of His people by His death on the cross.       The growth in Grace is a growth in perception of Who Christ is, what He did to save His people, and how He is God's Satisfaction and therefore ours.  This must be referring to the change of our heart, mind and will in submission to Him (as is used in Romans 12:2, " And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God), and not any inherent change into sinless perfection. Holiness has no degrees. We are either holy or not, and that is only by HIS imputed righteousness, Hebrews 10:10-14 . I do, however, change in my perception of Him, knowledge of Him and therefore willing submission to Him, as He is pleased to teach me, " Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" ( 2 Corinthians 10:5).        Another word, closely related to this is REPENTANCE. Those who have so learned Christ by the Spirit of God are brought to continual repentance about themselves and His Person and work, by the renewing of the mind and heart. " Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). The fact that we need this continual 'renewing' of the mind is an indication that there is no progression in holiness but a constant need of repentance as we contemplate HIS glory and marvel that HE should be merciful to sinners such as we are.  From glory to glory:   from the first revelation of His glory at regeneration, unto eternal [endless] glory (when we will be truly like Him in a glorified sinless state). Until then, we continue to reflect on His glory as revealed in the Gospel, the glory of His perfect Person and absolute substitution and satisfaction before the Holy God, in Whose righteousness we stand complete (nothing to be added) and kept until that final day of our bodily redemption and glorification, " But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" ( 1 Corinthians 1:30).     May we who are the LORD'S rest in the wonder of God's saving grace in Christ, His grace that not only justifies but transforms. This transformation is not the result of human effort or religious performance; it is the Spirit’s work in those whom Christ has redeemed, drawing them into deeper conformity to Christ as He is revealed throughout the Scriptures. We behold the glory of the risen Christ with unveiled faces, not because we have made ourselves worthy, but because God, in His mercy, has unveiled our hearts and opened our eyes to His Son. Paul’s language of being "changed from glory to glory" reflects a covenantal shift—the passing away of the old covenant with its fading glory and the full unveiling of the new covenant in Christ, Whose glory does not fade. The transformation, then, is not merely personal but redemptive and historical. The early church was witnessing the fulfillment of God's promises in Christ: the dawning of the kingdom, the revelation of His righteousness, and the permanent indwelling of the Spirit. In that light, our being changed from glory to glory is both the ongoing effectual work of the Spirit and the historical outworking of God's purpose of redemption, accomplished in Christ and applied by sovereign grace. All who are the LORD's have this hope in them, not trusting in any personal experience, or self-effort, but in the God Who is faithful to complete the work He has begun, continually conforming us to Christ, for the glory of Christ—all by His grace, and all for His glory.

Romans 3:26 "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." It was always the purpose of God the Father to send His Son, in the fullness of the time, to pay the sin debt and at the same time justify those sinners whom He had eternally chosen to save. As it is written, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Galatians 4:4). Not only did this take place in time, but in one place—and by His one obedience unto death—the LORD Jesus Christ paid, once for all, the sins of all God's elect, from the beginning of time to the end… AT THE CROSS!     “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15)  Those under the Old Testament were saved at the same time and in the same place as all of God’s elect—by the one  sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ at the cross. The elect who lived under the Old Testament economy lived and died in faith, awaiting the redemption and justification that the LORD Jesus would accomplish on their behalf. As Scripture declares: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39–40). Abraham, called the father of the faithful (Romans 4:16-18) , believed God and rejoiced to see the day when the LORD Jesus would fulfill this work of redemption and justification before God: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, affirms that the prophets of the Old Testament were “searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). Thus, the cross stands as the one place and one time in which the salvation of all God’s elect—both Old and New Testament saints—was perfectly accomplished.     Moses also looked to the same Savior/Sacrifice, time and place, “A prophet shall the LORD your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear.” (Acts 7:37)  As did Job, who declared, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)  The latter day was when Christ came to fulfill God’s law and righteousness in His life and death. Upon completion of His redemptive work, God simultaneously imputed righteousness to the spiritual account of all His elect, there and then. In glorious fulfillment of His eternal purpose, God declared at the cross that He is “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). There, in the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, the righteousness of God was revealed in perfect harmony with His mercy. Justice was not set aside but was fully satisfied in the death of the Substitute, the LORD Jesus Christ, Who bore the sins of His elect. God did not make salvation possible—He accomplished it. He did not merely offer righteousness—He imputed it. The cross was not a stage of potential redemption but the final, effectual act of justification for every sinner chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Here is the unfailing anchor and sure foundation of every believer’s assurance of salvation: God has righteously redeemed those whom He chose in Christ, and they now stand complete in Him, accepted in the Beloved, justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus—to the praise of the glory of His sovereign grace.

John 21:15-17 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Here on the shore of Galilee, we witness the risen LORD Jesus tenderly restoring His fallen servant, Peter. This is not merely an emotional conversation, but a sovereign act of grace—a drawing again to Himself of one for whom He had fully paid the debt of sin. Though Peter had denied the LORD with cursing and fear (Matthew 26:72) , Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, now gently reaffirms His calling with a threefold question: “Lovest thou me?” It is not Peter’s love that secures him, but Christ’s unfailing love that sought and restored him. This passage beautifully reveals the triumph of God’s sovereign grace in Christ over human failure and sin. In His mercy, Christ reclaims and restores His elect, broken, humbled, yet forever beloved. Consider how the LORD Jesus Christ in this encounter is the Shepherd who restores souls and calls His own lovingly and irresistibly to Himself, not by merit, but by grace. "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" When our LORD asked Peter if he loved Him, He used the strongest word for ‘love’ [agape]. Our LORD Jesus asked Peter if he loved HIM with the same everlasting love, that God the Father has always loved His Son, and His elect in Him from eternity, John 17:23. "He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." Although in our English translation it appears that Peter answered using the same word “love,” the original Greek reveals a different word— phileo —which refers to the love between friends. Rightly so, Peter could not bring himself to claim that he loved the LORD Jesus with a higher, self-sacrificing love above that of the other disciples, nor with the eternal love with which God in Christ had loved him. Though Christ is indeed worthy of such love—and commands it of His own (Matthew 22:37) —Peter, humbled by his recent failure, could not make such a claim. Yet the LORD did not rebuke Peter for his hesitancy. Instead, He gently instructed him, “Feed my lambs.” In doing so, the Lord was tenderly leading Peter to acknowledge his own weakness and insufficiency in love for Christ as he ought—especially in light of having denied Him just days earlier on the eve of the crucifixion, despite his bold claim that he never would. This explains the reason our LORD asked the question the way He did, ‘lovest thou me MORE THAN THESE?’ Matthew 26:34-   “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” How true are the words for any of us, “ Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall,”   ( 1 Corinthians 10:12). "He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Our LORD asked Peter the same question a second time, with the only difference being, ‘Feed my sheep’ (rather than ‘lambs,’ as previously asked). Sheep here is a reference to all those that the Father had given Christ from eternity (John 10:27-28) for whom Peter, with all of his weakness would be called upon to nourish through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, as evidenced throughout the book of Acts. These were to be both the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and his other sheep among the Gentiles, whom the Father had given him, and for whom He paid the price, ( John 10:14-16). "He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."  Here a third time our LORD repeats the question, only this time uses the word that Peter used, phileo, that of a friend. He asks, ‘Peter, do you love me even with the love of a friend?’ Christ called Himself the Friend of sinners, and therefore draws out of Peter that confession of loving HIM, as the Friend of sinners. By asking three times, He is doubtless causing Peter to remember the number of times that Peter had denied Him (Luke 22:60-61). However, our LORD does not do this to scold Peter but tenderly remind him that except for our LORD keeping him, or any of His own, none would stand, ( Luke 22:32). Even as after Peter had denied the LORD three times, and the LORD looked on him and Peter wept bitterly, ( Luke 22:62).  So here, Peter was grieved (greatly sorrowful) ( John 21:17).  Such was the preparation of the heart of Peter by our LORD for the ministry of preaching and overseeing Christ’s sheep.  He was to feed  the LORD’s sheep, by the LORD’s strength, by the LORD’S Word alone, and by His grace alone , The matter of preaching the Gospel is not taught in a school but by the Spirit. It’s not of men but unto the glory of God alone.

2 Peter 1:16-21 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." In this rich and profound portion of Scripture, the apostle Peter directs our attention to the unshakable foundation of the believer’s faith—not in cunningly devised fables, but in the sovereignly revealed glory of Christ and the sure Word of prophecy. Speaking as an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty on the mount of transfiguration, Peter affirms the certainty and sufficiency of divine revelation, rooted in God’s eternal purpose and fulfilled in His Beloved Son. This passage highlights the truth that salvation rests not on human speculation or experience, but on God’s infallible Word and His sovereign work of illumination. The same God Who gave the Scriptures by His Spirit is the One Who opens the hearts of His elect to behold Christ in them. The prophetic Word points us to the risen and reigning LORD, in Whom all grace and truth abide. "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." Peter and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of the glory of the LORD Jesus Christ from the time that He revealed Himself unto them, and separated them out to Himself. We are not left to speculation, or the perversions of evil men who deny Him His honor as the sovereign LORD. "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Not even the LORD Jesus sought His own glory, but that of His Father, Whose word testified on the mount of transfiguration that the LORD Jesus was His Beloved Son, in Whom IS all His satisfaction. The glorious truth is that since the Father is well-pleased with HIM, He is therefore well-pleased with those that the LORD Jesus came to save, loved with an everlasting love in Him (Ephesians 1:3-6). "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." Men and women today like to speak of special revelation, hearing the voice of God, and writing their experiences in books and novels that are popular with their followers.  However, in reading and listening to them, it’s all about the experience, and not about the Person and work of the LORD Jesus.  Peter declares His testimony to be from heaven, and the voice to be all about the LORD Jesus alone. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark  place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."    More certain for Peter, and for us who are the LORD’S, to which we do well to continue to hear and follow, is the prophecy [declaration] of the LORD Jesus that we have in the revealed, written, inspired Word of God. This word is not an index of subjects, but ONE revelation, ONE united message, transcribed by ‘holy men,’ [sanctified by the Spirit], whose ONE subject is the LORD Jesus Christ.  The revelation of Christ, through the inspired Word, is described as the Day Star (Sun of Righteousness) shining in the heart.  All is dark and obscure in our hearts because of sin until/unless the Spirit grants life to believe, and turn from sinful self-pleasing and self-righteousness to the only Righteousness that God the Father accepts, that which the LORD Jesus earned and established, and the Father imputed to the spiritual account of every one of His elect ones, once for all.  No scripture is of any private interpretation. It is the Spirit Who reveals Christ as the Word, and the One Satisfaction of God for His people. Any other interpretation that is less than giving Christ ALL the glory is false.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." In this portion of Paul’s final letter to Timothy, the apostle exhorts the servant of the LORD to conduct himself with humility, patience, and meekness—especially when dealing with those who oppose the Truth. As is consistently revealed throughout all of God’s inspired Word, it is not human effort or argument that brings sinners to Christ in repentance, but the free and sovereign gift of God’s grace. Therefore, the servant of the LORD must not strive, for salvation is not achieved through contention but granted by the gracious hand of God, Who alone gives repentance unto life by His Holy Spirit through the finished work of the LORD Jesus on the cross. It is Christ Who delivers from the snare of the devil, opening blinded eyes and bringing His elect out of bondage into the liberty of His truth. Thus, repentance is the fruit of Christ’s finished work, both for and in the elect sinner. By the electing grace of God, the Holy Spirit causes those chosen of Him to rest in Christ and His accomplished work, granting them repentance and faith, and raising them from spiritual death to life by His grace. "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes."   We cannot, by natural reasoning and debate, bring sinners to repent (have a change of mind and heart) in things pertaining to God, Christ, sin, salvation, grace, or any other Gospel truth. Men ask foolish and ignorant questions because, in their unregenerate state, they cannot discern the things of God.  All natural reasoning is sin and cannot bring a spiritually dead sinner to know God in truth.  1 Corinthians 2:14- “ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all (men), apt to teach, patient,"  God’s preacher is not to imagine that by arguing and debating with the unconverted, that he can in any way bring such to know God in truth.  Rather, in their dealings with the unconverted, they are to exercise gentleness, patience, and above all, teach them, looking to God alone to accomplish His work, rather than endeavoring to use the wisdom of men’s words.  As the apostle Paul declared to the Corinthians -“my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5). The message that the Spirit blesses to the converting of the souls of God’s elect redeemed ones is Christ and Him crucified- 1 Corinthians 2:1,2 .   "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" ‘Instructing’ literally, "disciplining," instructing with correction, as those who deal in "uninstructive" or "undisciplined questions."  Repentance is not a change of mind that comes from man’s will or determination, but God alone.  We instruct by preaching and declaring the singular, solitary person and work of Christ, pointing sinners to Him, and looking to God alone to grant repentance, if HE wills.  How can we know when He has granted repentance?  The Word declares, in ‘acknowledging the truth,’ not a mere acquiescence of the truth, but a bowing to the Truth as it is in Christ, revealed in God’s Word. It means to take sides with God against ourselves. "and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." No sinner has the free will to choose to free himself.  It is God who must deliver, and does deliver those that He has declared righteous by the satisfactory death of His Son.  He does in time grant repentance and cause them to be recovered out of the bondage of their sin and Satan, Christ having promised that He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.  So complete was His work accomplished for them that He must in His time bring them irresistibly to Himself.

Ephesians 5:8 "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" Here we see the glorious contrast between what we were by nature and what we now are by God's saving grace in Christ. In ourselves, we were not merely in darkness—we were darkness. But by the effectual work of Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, we are made light in the LORD. This is not our doing, but His mercy. May we behold the sovereign transforming grace of God in Christ, Who calls His redeemed to walk in the light of His Righteousness, no longer defined by sin and its condemnation, but by union with Him Who is the Light of the world. By God’s Grace, all regenerated children of God have this one testimony. “ Whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).   All of the elect children of God have been redeemed by the blood of the LORD Jesus, shed unto death. When they are taught of Him, they will look back on their lives—up to that moment when the Spirit of Christ entered in—and wonder how they could have lived in such darkness and blindness, without ever seeing Christ or longing for Him and the Salvation found in Him. The reason is this: being spiritually dead and blind, they could not see, nor would they have seen, were it not for the gracious Spirit of the LORD Who gave them eyes to see and ears to hear. “ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.” ( Proverbs 20:12)   Just as children love to hear of how they were born and welcomed into their family, so God’s children never tire of hearing, not only the story of their election in Christ but how He redeemed them, how the Father once and forever justified them by Christ’s shed blood unto death and how the Spirt of God gave them life in Him, ( John 3:3-8).   When we that are the objects of such Amazing Grace look back on what we were in our lost deplorable deceitful state, we can only ascribe praise to the LORD for having raised us out of the dust and lifted our needy souls from the dunghill to set us with the princes of His people ( Psalm 113:7-8).       There is a “ye were,’ "and a “you are,” in the salvation story of every child of God. “YE WERE”:   “ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” (Ephesians 4:18) But now:  “YE ARE washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the LORD Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)       What Grace, not only to be enlightened BY the LORD, to have Light FROM the LORD, and to have Light IN the LORD. Praise HIM, to have HIM Who is THE LIGHT and eyes and ears to see HIM as all our: “...Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). As children OF the Light (Christ Jesus) born of His Spirit, we, therefore, walk as children of Light (Christ Jesus). He is for us, not only the Light of Life  (John 8:12) but the very Sun of Righteousness  (Malachi 4:2)  in Whose life and perfection we walk. That light, life, and righteousness are in Him and not inherent in us.         Those who are children of the Light, see the very Glory of the Father shining in the face of Jesus Christ and behold Him: all Grace and Truth with all of God’s precious promises fulfilled in Him and by Him. Here is one of those precious promises:  “And if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleansers from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).

Philippians 4:18 "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." The apostle Paul speaks of receiving from Epaphroditus “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” This expression is more than a note of gratitude. It is a testimony to the gracious fruit that flows from hearts opened by the sovereign love of Christ. Paul does not see their gift as mere human kindness, but as a Christ-wrought offering, made acceptable and pleasing through the merits of the LORD Jesus. In this, we see the beauty of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ: that even our sacrifices, tainted and weak in themselves, are accepted in the Beloved. All spiritual fruit, all gospel generosity, arises not from fleshly will but from the life of Christ in His redeemed people. Herein is grace glorified and God well-pleased. Anyone who is in the LORD Jesus, by God’s electing grace and His redeeming death, has everything they need. There is no greater “rags to riches” story than the testimony of a child of God. Hannah described it in her prayer in 1 Samuel 2:8: “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory…” How happy and fulfilled are those whom the LORD has made the objects of His grace in Christ Jesus! He is infinitely richer than the wealthiest monarch on earth. Left to ourselves, we would have lived and died as poor, wicked, covetous wretches, foolishly chasing vain riches and pleasures, like the prodigal son who spent all and ended up in a pigsty. What grace it is to be chosen in Christ, redeemed and justified before God by His righteous obedience unto death, and called effectually by the Spirit to Him! Now, having ALL in Him, we lack nothing pertaining to our salvation and eternal well-being. Paul expressed this in Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power…” Everything Paul had strived to obtain in his former religion, he now counted as dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:8) . Therefore, Paul could declare, as do all of God’s children when Christ is revealed in them: “I have all, and abound: I am full… ” There is nothing more the child of God needs or wants. Being Christ’s, our wealth lies in “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Our greatest treasure is found in the LORD Jesus Christ and all that He is and has done for us to make us “heirs of God and joint heirs with Him” (Romans 8:17). Having all things in Christ does not mean a life of ease. Our contentment lies in knowing that, no matter the hardships, temptations, and trials we may face, as the apostle Paul did, we can still say: “I have all things and abound: I am full.” Christ is All in all. He is made unto us “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In Christ, we have everything we need. Yes, our sinful flesh may crave more, but the Spirit of Christ in us causes us to crave Him more than our flesh might ever do to draw us away. “For all things are yours; and ye are Christ’s” (1 Corinthians 3:21).