1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life ." “And we know that the Son of God is come.” He came, lived, died and rose again. All of that is summed up in the word “ come .” He ascended on High having fulfilled all righteousness on behalf of His people. And now “hath given us an understanding. ” This is not just a knowledge of understanding but a discerning understanding—a knowledge of the difference between truth and error. Before the LORD opened our eyes and taught us, we were dung. We were blind. We were lost. We couldn’t see. We fell easily into deception, and back into the works of the flesh. But now, it speaks of those that have been taught of the Spirit. “ ... that we may know Him that is true.” All true doctrine is founded on Him. To know Him and be found in Him is, as Paul said, “...not having mine own rtghteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith:” (Philippians 3:9). “And we are in Him that is true.” If we know Him that is true, it is because we are in Him that is true. “...even in His Son Jesus Christ.” “This is the true God, and eternal life.” " And this is life eternal, That they might know Thee the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). That is why we constantly return to the truth expressed in this hymn: "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.” It is often when you are in the sweetest frame that your wandering has begun. You are asleep in the boat, and the current is taking you away. "We dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness."

Proverbs 11:1 "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight is His delight." A false balance is one that tips the scale, usually making what is being weighed appear to be more than it is. It is a form of lying for personal gain. In our depravity we do this daily, both in worldly matters and in Spiritual ones. God's justice is always misrepresented by the false balance of our depravity. Wicked men always believe they are chosen and righteous in their flesh. It does not matter how they justify it—whether by 'good' deeds, keeping the law (as they perceive it), attending their places of worship, giving to charity, being born into a 'religious' family, making a profession of faith, or even, as some preach, being infused with righteousness by God. These are the works and lies used by fallen depraved sinners to attempt to 'tip' the scale of justice in their favor. Any false balance or weight is a sin to the LORD—an abomination. Paul tells us to lay aside the false notion that we carry ANY weight in righteousness, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). To think that we carry any measure of weight in opposition to God's Christ is an abomination, " Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights ” (Micah 6:10-11)? When you hear the word " delight, " what comes to mind? It brings to mind what the Father said of His Son while He was here on earth, " This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Where are we to find this Just Weight? We do not know until the Spirit teaches us that there is only one Just Weight and Balance, and that is the LORD Jesus Christ , "A Just Weight and Balance are the LORD's: all the Weights of the Bag are His work"  (Proverbs 16:11). Christ is the One Who fulfilled every law and demand of God’s justice —every jot and tittle—-not just in word and deed but in thought. When He had laid down His life as the Just Weight, the Perfect Lamb without spot or blemish, there was nothing but righteousness left to impute to the account of those for whom He paid the debt. That is why it was all settled at the cross.

Acts 4:28 "For to do whatsoever Thy Hand and Thy Counsel determined before to be done." ALL things were ordained by God in eternity and carried out in time, just as the Father and the Son determined they would be. The choosing of the elect occurred in eternity. Some try to teach what they call “Eternal Justification,” claiming that since God's thoughts are eternal, all whom He chose to save were saved at the moment He thought it. However, that is not what we see throughout God’s Word. We see that there was a requirement for blood to be shed unto death. Yet, no blood was shed in eternity—no death occurred there. Deliverance had to be accomplished in time on this earth—the prison where His chosen were held captive, "He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" (Isaiah 61:1). God's promise to His people did not actually take effect until Christ came and fulfilled it. It began in eternity by the Word of God and was completed by the Word of God in time. "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). Adam sinned against the LORD in the fall, and all his seed are born into sin, owing the wage of sin, which is death. " 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:" (Romans 5:12) . To pay the wage of sin for His chosen, Christ gave His life, shedding His blood unto death. But to give life again to the dead, He had to earn righteousness on this earth. He did this through perfect obedience in His flesh, in time, then offering that obedient life as the Just Sacrifice and the Righteous Substitute. Christ was not slain in eternity. He had to come into the world, " Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me:" (Hebrews 10:5). "For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). "Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Romans 9:20 "Nay but, O man, who are thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?" When God directs our lives differently than we think He should, whether we express it or not, the question "Why hast Thou made me thus?" arises in our hearts. This is the essence of rebellion. It resides in our nature, in our flesh. Consider a king's palace where there are vessels of gold placed on the table, used when the king invites guests to dine—these are the vessels of honor. There are also vessels made solely to carry out waste.—these are vessels of dishonor. Both types exist for the king’s honor. Understanding this in life, why would we find fault with God ordaining a similar arrangement spiritually? "Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:21). God's attributes are these; He is Just, Holy, Truth, Mercy, Grace, and Love! How can these attributes each remain in force when saving wretched sinners worthy of His Wrath? How can His Justice be satisfied by accepting the payment of Blood shed unto death at the Hand of His Wrath for sins against Him? Grace bestowed on any sinner must accord with Holiness and Justice. God could not simply overlook sin to save sinners and ignore His Justice. Instead, He poured out that Wrath on His Son. He did not spare His only Son but gave Him up to freely give His chosen vessels of Mercy all that He is. " He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). Our LORD Jesus Christ willingly laid down His Perfectly Obedient Life to satisfy the Perfect Justice of God the Father. He shed His Righteous Blood in this dimension of time to satisfy God's Justice for helpless sinners chosen before time began. “Behold, what Manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us” (1 John 3:1).

Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him:" To trust Him is to confide in, depend upon, and rest wholly in Who Christ is and in His promises. When you think of trust, you think about a person keeping their word. We know Him to be trustworthy, whatever the situation may be. Proverbs 14:26 says, "...fear of the LORD is strong confidence:" This is not a fear of torment but an awe in the knowledge that, if we are His children, nothing can come against us except what He ordains for His Glory, which is for our good in Christ. Whether it be an emergency or a peaceful day, we are to trust Him. So much religion is formality—going through the motions, "Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people drew near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Isaiah 29:13). This legalistic fear is taught by false religion. But the LORD calls us to, "pour out your heart before Him." There is a trust that causes us to pour out all we are before Him without pretense. We continually confess who we are as sinners before Him because we know Him as a Merciful God for Christ's sake. "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy Mercy, and for Thy Truth's sake” (Psalm 115:1). The term, "pour out your heart," is significant because in the Old Testament, drink offerings were poured out before the LORD upon the alter. This prayer is identified as a “pouring out of the heart,” just like the drink offering. It is always connected to the offering—the Sacrifice. God cannot hear a sinner apart from The Sacrifice of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. This prayer and confession before the LORD, is a pouring out of the heart before God, laying it open before Him, because of Him and the Sacrifice unto death of His Son, having born the sin away at Calvary. Therefore, we are heard by the Holy God , sinful though we are, because of the Son’s redeeming, justifying death. Additionally, the Spirit of Christ is given to each elect, redeemed sinner to continue making intercession for each one: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be Merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." We should never forget that our justification before God was wholly accomplished "...through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24) . When the justified, regenerated sinner's conscience cries out, "What about my sins?" the answer from the Word of God is, "They are no more!" Did the LORD Jesus Christ once and for all put away sin, or was sin merely passed over? Did Christ merely atone for (cover) sin? Is God ignoring sin? But isn't God just? Doesn't He demand absolute satisfaction? No, our sins were not merely passed over or simply covered. Scripture states that God forebore the sins of His elect from the fall to the cross, passing over their sin UNTIL Christ came and put it away, " Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation, through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). Christ did not merely atone for the sins of His people. In the Old Testament atonement was a temporary covering for sin through animal sacrifices only lasting until Christ came. His death did not simply atone for sin, or cover it up. His death TOOK SIN AWAY! "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) ; " And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5) . The sin question demanded an absolute answer and the matter was settled for God's elect in the doing and dying of the LORD Jesus Christ: "Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the Free Gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18) . The law demanded that sin be punished. The cross at Calvary is where redemption and justification were accomplished and applied upon completion of Christ's death. The 'sentimental theology' so prevalent today, which proclaims a god who overlooks human fault and sin, is contrary to the Word of God. Redemption means deliverance through a ransom—a release from God’s claim of justice through a satisfactory settlement of that claim. Righteousness was not imputed until the ransom was paid. Rather than overlooking sin, God sent His Son as the Substitute and punished Him in the place of His chosen sinners. What about my sins? If Christ died for you, they are no more!

John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" Nothing is of greater importance to poor, wretched, awakened sinners of the world than that which truly could, would, and has taken away their sin. What is the effectual remedy? Only the Lamb of God! Why is the Lamb of God the only remedy? Christ Jesus the LORD, the Lamb of God, is the only remedy because He has taken away all the sin of His people by His sacrifice on the cross. But for John the Baptist this was yet to be accomplished, and yet He spoke with assurance that the Lamb was even then taking away sin. That's because in order for sin to be removed from the sinner, it had to be laid upon the Only Perfect Substitute as the Sin-Bearer. Even the Old Testament Passover lamb, as a type of Christ, was first to be observed and proven to be without spot or blemish. "Your lamb shall be without blemish" (Exodus 12:5) and " ...the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: " (1 Peter 1:19) . In His life, Christ Jesus the LORD was working out that perfect obedience that the justice of God His Father demanded. By His obedience, He was already answering the laws demands, wherein we, His chosen ones, had failed. He alone has thereby taken away that aspect of the curse of our sin. However, it would also require Him, not only obeying the precepts of the law, but to lay down His life to pay its penalty. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). So complete was Christ’s sacrifice that He is no longer the sin-Bearer because He bore it all away once for all for His chosen sinners! The eye of Faith beholds the Lamb as the only remedy. However, in order to behold the Lamb of God, it takes eyes to see. God alone must not only give the eyes to see, but the ability to look to Him. It is only when the Spirit opens the heart and reveals Christ that they can behold the LORD Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Sin has been put away from God's sight for the LORD's redeemed, and when beholding the Lamb, it is put away from their sight. May the LORD grant us eyes to look only and always to the LAMB OF GOD !

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” It is clear from the Word of God and from the experience of every born-again sinner, that our flesh is what it has been from birth: sinful, corrupt and lustful. So long as we are in this life we can expect fleshly desires to work in us, through us and against us. “The flesh lusteth,” (literally: ‘“continually rages against the Spirit in angry passion”). The Good News is that it cannot condemn those for whom Christ died ( Romans 8:1) . Being born of the Spirit of God, Christ indwells us by His Spirit, giving life to our otherwise dead souls, and continually reconciles our hearts of enmity into agreement with the person and work of the LORD Jesus Christ. It was on our behalf that HE redeemed and justified us by His death on the cross. He makes us willing, in the day of His power ( Psalm 110:3) . His Grace reigns, reconciling our will to His and bringing us to believe Him Who died for us, and is ALL our righteousness ( Philippians 2:13 ). The Spirit’s work is to reveal Him continually to our souls ( John 15:26; 16:13 ) giving the grace of faith to believe on Him and rest in what He accomplished for sinners at Calvary. Were it not for the indwelling Spirit of God leading, directing, ruling and overruling, the power of this flesh would lead us into condemnation. Just as the evil spirits did overtaking the swine when the demoniac was delivered. They brought them to destruction, running them into the water. We would be like helpless swine casting ourselves into the water and into certain death. Paul declares here, “...so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Elsewhere the apostle Paul declared as a regenerated sinner, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” (Romans 7:18). Since NO good thing dwells in me, it follows that the only righteousness I have is not one seated in me, but that ONE seated ABOVE in the person of the LORD Jesus. I was redeemed, justified and reconciled at the cross by Him, and now He ever lives to intercede for me, seated in Heaven ( Hebrews 7:25 ). It is there that the Spirit of God continually turns our hearts, minds, and affections away from the flesh. Therefore, we set our affection on things above, NOT on things on the earth ( Colossians 3:1-7).

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” Context is so vital in understanding the Scriptures. If you simply take and cut out the above verse and put it under the microscope, you might come away with the idea that our salvation is somehow gained or maintained by what we do or don’t do. However, broaden the scope of the verse to what comes before and after, and what you will find is that,  “...this faithful saying...,”  refers back to verse 7 , “ That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life.” We do not become heirs of Eternal Life by what we do, but by being justified by the Grace of God, exclusively in, through, and by the LORD Jesus Christ, and upon completion of His finished work at Calvary. This is the faithful saying that every true preacher of God affirms constantly. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to save the righteous, as there are none ( Romans 3:10).     “This is a faithful saying and worthy of ALL acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save SINNERS...” (1 Timothy 1:15). Sinners, by definition, are nothing but sin in their persons and works. Therefore, they are unable to do anything, contribute anything, or plead anything, except that it brings them into condemnation ( Romans 3:23). There must be the necessary work of the LORD Jesus Christ for their justification as their Substitute. He did not come to attempt to save sinners, He  saved  them ( Matthew 1:21 ). He did not render them savable on condition that they do something. HE SAVED THEM by His blood applied to their Spiritual account for forgiveness, and His righteous obedience imputed to them as their righteousness, entirely accomplished once and for all in His death on the cross ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ).     It is just such a Message, when revealed in the heart of those whom the Spirit of God has regenerated, that causes them to believe God and be careful to maintain Good works. It is having been justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, sanctified by His blood and righteousness alone, and made alive by the Spirit of God that causes us to live, move and labor for His glory and honor in all things and the advancement of His Gospel in a lost and unGodly world. The Good works are not in order to earn our salvation, but rather are the Fruitful manifestation of that salvation that the LORD earned for His own ( 1 Thessalonians 1:3). The Good works they maintain give Christ ALL the glory.

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Earthly authorities may exercise their right to pardon condemned criminals, but cannot justify (declare righteous) by removing all remembrances of the charges from the record. How different is the work of God in pardoning and justifying sinners!         The LORD God BLOTTED OUT the transgression of His people through the just payment of their sin by their Substitute, the LORD Jesus. This was not because of anything in them, but for HIS OWN SAKE. That is FREE GRACE. The LORD Jesus so fully paid the sin debt of those that God the Father chose from eternity that they no longer stand under condemnation and wrath, all because of His obedience unto death. All for whom He died not only stand absolved of all guilt, but also are declared perfectly righteous in His sight.         O sinner! If the LORD Jesus died for you, then it must be that the LORD will have compassion on you, and by His Spirit, turn you to His Son in repentance, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,” (John 6:37). All whom He draws come to Him knowing that their sins are not only ALL forgiven but that they stand justified before God because of Christ’s finished work. Is HE your Hope and Assurance alone?

Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name." We should get up in the morning and hallow God's Name for exactly how the day will unfold, because it is going to unfold exactly as He has purposed. Whether you agree or not, you are along for the ride because God has predetermined all things. That is why Christ taught in verse 10: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Then in verse 11,  "Give us this day our daily bread."   What are most of us thinking? We're thinking two or three days down the line, a week, a month, a year! However, who said we even have today? "Give us this day our daily bread.” Give us that which is necessary, not only for our physical well-being, but especially for our Spiritual well-being. This "daily bread " is Christ! And verse 12, "Forgive us our debts [sins}.” Continue to forgive us our sins. There is no greater blessing or freedom than to be IN CHRIST where our sins are already forgiven by His death on the cross. So what is there to fuss about? We spend all our time just spinning through this world like we were still bondsmen, still prisoners. However, we are free if Christ has paid our debt: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."  (John 8:36) Why does the world knock us off balance? Why does that person over there get us upset and we run around acting like they do? They act the way they do because they're still in bondage. Yet, there is a Calm, a Rest, and a Peace that this world does not know, and that is Christ. Therefore, there is a difference in how we are to live as His children: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye Light in the LORD: walk as children of Light [Christ]:"  (Ephesians 5:8) We are to live as those that God by His Grace and Mercy has redeemed by His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. Christ said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) You may say, "Oh, the world is so evil, so contrary!" Yet, Christ says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have Peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33) When we try to wrestle with this flesh it's going to beat us up and leave us for dead. The LORD says to look to Him and run this race having our eyes fixed upon Him alone: "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith;"  (Hebrews 12:2)

2 Kings 19:23 "By thy servants hast thou reproached the LORD, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains." How is it that men reproach God? How is it that they blaspheme His Name? Religious people that take great care to make sure they never say a swear word, and take great pride in keeping themselves from certain activities in this world, because they call themselves Christian, and yet who blaspheme the Name of the LORD, and are a reproach unto the Holy One of Israel. How? By giving glory to themselves. They call it Christianity, but it is really a world of self will-worship. It begins with the words me, myself, and I. We can't even talk about us having come to Christ, because Christ said, "No man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father." (John 6:65) There is only one answer that anybody can ever give as to why they are the LORD's, and as to why they have a True Hope of salvation. It is the LORD Jesus Christ. It is by His mercies that we are not consumed. It is by His Blood shed unto death. That is all I can say. “Guilty sinner that I am, it is the LORD Jesus Christ that has paid my horrible sin debt. It is because of His unconditional love that I am kept.” What the LORD has purposed no one can alter. We say we believe but when the tide begins to rise and the storm darkens the skies, that is the test of whether we really truly believe or not. Nothing can take place, but what He has purposed, and nothing can alter what He does. When we are in good health, and everything seems to be going our way, it is easy to say, “His will be done.” Yet, when the LORD will take a loved one and before your eyes diminish them and cause them to deteriorate into possibly even a vegetative state because of a debilitating illness, reality hits home. It is a matter of looking at it and saying, "Even in this the LORD is doing His will." Whether He takes one of our children and causes them to run in a rebellious way, headlong as if they had never heard the Gospel, even in that trial, we weigh our heart before the LORD. We must bow to Him for His glory. "It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth good." (1 Samuel 3:18) That is the reality of His sovereignty. If the LORD has purposed their destruction, they will go that way. So what do we do? We cast ourselves upon His mercy and we bow with our mouths shut. Do we give them direction? Yes. Yet, God is going to teach us, each one in His time and in His manner. He is going to put the Assyrians at our door at some point in our life to where the only way we have to look is up, to Christ!