Category: The Good News

“Life Judicial”

You know, when a man receives a pardon from Government, he is said to receive his life. So it is here. This word is used in the same sense in [John 5:24], “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.” In this verse, you will notice that life is opposed to condemnation, and it appears to mean justification. The same meaning may be attached to those words in the 20th chapter, 31st verse, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye might have life through his name.” See also the first epistle of John, 5th chapter, 12th verse, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life.” In this passage, life appears to be the pardon of all sin, and admission into the favour of God. And it is said in Proverbs, “He that findeth me findeth peace.” Now, Christ, when he stood in the midst of the Jews, knew that they were all under the sentence of the broken law, and he knew that he was to die for sinners: therefore, he said to them, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” In my hand there is a pardon: “The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins:” yet ye will not come to me. This is true among yourselves: He is as much here present as he was then. He has suffered, the just for the unjust. He has died for sinners, and now he offers you pardon. Why are ye not saved? The reason is, ye will not come to him, that ye might have life.

-Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843)

Los Dos Deudores | The Two Debtors

Español. Únase a nosotros en directo aquí a las 7:00 p.m. del 9 de febrero. Y amigos en Woodbine: Le invitamos a que nos acompañe a las 6:00 p.m. con un refrigerio antes antes del culto de las 7:00 p.m.. La casa está ubicada cerca del antiguo museo de la sinagoga. Póngase en contacto conmigo, Pr. Michael Ives por teléfono o texto al 515-783-5637 o Peter Rivera al 787-800-7839 para la dirección.

English. Join us by livestream here at 7:00 p.m., February 9. And friends in Woodbine: We would warmly welcome you to join us for food and refreshments at 6:00 p.m. before the service at 7:00 p.m. The house is located near the old synagogue museum. Contact me, Pr. Michael Ives by phone or text at 515-783-5637 or Peter Rivera at 787-800-7839 for the address.

“The Temptation of Jesus” Summer Series / Ciclo de Verano “La Tentación de Jesús”

Join us for a short preaching series with three area pastors on the temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4. Complete information in English and Spanish in the PDF below. Livestream event info here. And we’ll be singing psalms a capella.

Únase a nosotros para una serie de predicaciones cortas con tres pastores del área sobre las tentaciones de Jesús en Mateo 4. Información completa en inglés y español en el PDF abajo. Información sobre el evento en directo aquí. Y también cantaremos salmos a capella.

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The cross: debt discharged

III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice in their behalf.a Yet inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them,b and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead,c and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace;d that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.e

Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), ch. 11.3, “Of Justification”

Peter, put your sword away!

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.  Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 

“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”

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Why didn’t Jesus defend himself? The next step was the horrific and shameful death on the cross. Didn’t he see it? Of course he did. Was he in the right? O yes! If ever there was an innocent man, Jesus was that man!

Continue reading “Peter, put your sword away!”