"In Christ Alone"

In Christ, we have “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8), “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:19), and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). In short, the fountain of the glorious gospel is limitless and inexhaustible in its power and supply to quench the thirsty soul. O saints come to Him and drink from Him! For in Him alone, there is true satisfaction.

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Below is from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.16.19

19. CHRIST ALONE IN ALL THE CLAUSES OF THE CREED

We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ [Acts 4:12]. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else.

If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is “of Him” [1 Corinthians 1:30]. If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in His anointing. If we seek strength, it lies in His dominion; if purity, in His conception; if gentleness, it appears in His birth. For by His birth He was made like us in all respects [Hebrews 2:17] that He might learn to feel our pain [cf. Hebrews 5:2].

If we seek redemption, it lies in His passion; if acquittal, in His condemnation; if remission of the curse, in His cross [Galatians 3:13]; if satisfaction, in His sacrifice; if purification, in His blood; if reconciliation, in His descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh, in His tomb; if newness of life, in His resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in His entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in His Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to Him to judge.

In short, since rich store of every kind of good abounds in Him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other. Some men, not content with Him alone, are borne hither and thither from one hope to another; even if they concern themselves chiefly with Him, they nevertheless stray from the right way in turning some part of their thinking in another direction. Yet such distrust cannot creep in where men have once for all truly known the abundance of His blessings.

"Of the Incomparable Treasure of the Holy Scriptures, with a Prayer for the True Use of the Same"

Here is the spring where waters flow, to quench our heat of sin:

(Isa. 12:3 and 49:10; Rom. 5:16 & 6:17)

Here is the tree where truth doth grow, to lead our lives therein:

(Jer. 33:15 and Ps. 119:160)

Here is the judge that stints the strife, when men's devices fail:

(Rev. 2:7 and 22:2; Ps. 119:142,144)

Here is the bread that feeds the life, that death cannot assail.

(John 6:35)

The tidings of salvation dear, comes to our ears from hence:

(Luke 2:10)

The fortress of our faith is here, and shield of our defense.

(Eph. 6:16)

Then be not like the hog that hath a pearl at his desire,

(Matt. 7:6)

And takes more pleasure in the trough and wallowing in the mire.

(2 Pet. 2:22)

Read not this book in any case, but with a single eye:

(Matt. 6:22)

Read not but first desire God's grace, to understand thereby.

(Ps. 119:27,73)

Pray still in faith with this respect, to fructify therein,

(Jude 20)

That knowledge may bring this effect, to mortify thy sin.

(Ps. 119:11)

Then happy thou in all thy life, what so to thee befalls.

(Josh. 1:8)

Yea, double happy shalt thou be, when God by death thee calls.

(Ps. 1:1,2; 94:12,13)

O Gracious God and most merciful Father, which hast vouchsafed us the rich and precious jewel of thy holy word, assist us with thy spirit, that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according to thine own Image, to build us up, and edify us into the perfect building of thy Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

(From Geneva Bible 1599).

John Piper, "You can't scare people into heaven"

Hunger for Holiness...

I hunger and thirst for holiness... But I find it elusive and it is impossible without Christ. I want to behold the beauty of His holiness. There is a delight in holiness produced by the Gospel and the Spirit. There is a freedom in holiness that I can enjoy in fellowship with God.

So I pray as Paul prayed, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Thess. 5:23).

O Lord, burn me with Your love and consume all my evil so that I may stand holy before You! O Lord, I wait for the day when I will be perfectly free from the very residue and the presence of sin!

"Walk On" by 4Him

"Walk On"

The wind blows hard
The climb is slow
Shadows are dark
I stumble on these stones
But my Lord, You are near
I will not fear

(CHORUS)
I chose to take this road called faith
I will walk on
I trust that You will lead me through
I will walk on

No end in view
At times I feel alone and the signs are few
But at least they all say home,
And You my Lord, You're the hope I hold
Strength of my soul

(REPEAT CHORUS)

Because of love
There was an awful hill You climbed
And because of love
I'll live my faith
One step at a time

The course is set
Life's hard but yet
We will walk on
Around each bend, until the end
We will walk on

We chose to take this road called faith
We will walk on
We trust that You will lead me through
We will walk on

We Will Walk On
We Will Walk On

A Limitless Perfection...

"I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad"
(Psalm 119:96 NASB).

The Word of God has no limit as to its perfection. All other worldly "perfections" pass with time. A "perfect" car at the purchase, will soon lose its original luster and power, but the word of God, remains perfect forever! It will never lose its power, glory or beauty! No wonder the Psalmist says in the next verse, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day" (Ps. 119:97).

Meditating on the perfect word of God, what a priceless privilege! It is more so wonderful, because this perfect word of God directs us to the Son of God whereby we receive eternal life by faith.

"What Faith Can Do" by Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

(Chorus)
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

(Repeat Chorus)

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

(Repeat Chorus)

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise