Reformed Christian Studies

  " Behold the Man! " John 19:5 If there is one place where our Lord Jesus most fully becomes the joy and comfort of His people—it is where He plunged deepest into the depths of woe. Come, behold the Man in the  garden of Gethsemane . Behold His heart so brimming with love, that He cannot hold it in. Behold the bloody sweat as it distills from every pore of His body and falls upon the ground. Behold the Man upon the  bloody tree . Stand amazed as they drive the nails into His hands and feet. Look up and see the sorrowful image of your suffering Lord. Mark Him as the ruby drops stand on the thorn crown. Behold the Man when all His bones are out of joint, and He is poured out like water and brought into the dust of death. God has forsaken Him—and Hell encompasses Him. Behold and see—was there ever sorrow like His sorrow? Gaze upon Him! We have only to sit longer at the cruel cross—to be less troubled with our trials and woes. We have but to see His sorrows—and we shall be asham

  "The eternal God is your refuge." Deuteronomy 33:27 The word "refuge" may be translated "abiding place"—which gives the thought that  God is our abode, our home . There is a fullness and sweetness in the metaphor, for our home is dear to our hearts—although it may be the humblest cottage or the scantiest garret. But dearer far is our blessed God, who is our eternal refuge. It is at home that we are  safe —here we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. Just so, God is our shelter and retreat—our abiding refuge. It is at home that we take our  rest —it is there that we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. In the same way, our hearts find rest in God when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our  hearts loose —we are not afraid of being misunderstood nor of our words being misconstrued. Just so, when we are with God—we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hid

  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that  the trial of your faith —of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7 Untried faith may be true faith—but it is sure to be  little  faith, and it is likely to remain  dwarfish  so long as it is without trials.  Faith never prospers so well , as when all things are against her. When a calm reigns on the sea—you may spread the sails as you will, but the ship will not move to its harbor. Only let the winds rush howling forth—it is then that she makes headway toward her desired haven. No  stars  gleam so brightly—as those that glisten in the polar sky, no  water  tastes so sweet—as that which springs up amid the desert sand, and no  faith  is so precious—as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Trie

  "God is our refuge and strength—a very present help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1 We do not know what we might have been —if God's gracious protection had not been like a wall of fire around us, as it still is—for the Lord continues to deliver all who put their trust in Him. Believe with unquestioning confidence that God is delivering you even now. You know that He  has  delivered you—be just as sure that He will continue to help you in every time of trouble. "I am locked in a prison of despair!" Yes, but your Lord has a key that can open the door and let you out. "I am in great poverty!" another says. But He knows all about it, and He is going to supply all your needs. Yet another says, "But I am fainting!" God is near, ready to revive and encourage your fainting soul. Perhaps a person says, "I find faith for the past and the ultimate future quite easy, but I don't have enough faith for the present." We sometimes forget th

  "Do not store up for yourselves  treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves  treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 Christian! If you have anything that you prize very highly, hold it very loosely—for you may easily lose it. Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a deathlike grip. Of everything on earth, it is wise for us to say, " This is not mine to keep! " It is essential to realize that this it is true, for everything here is temporary. Mind what you are doing—you prosperous people, you who have nice homes, you who are hoarding up money. There is nothing permanent for you here on earth. Your home is in Heaven—your home is not here. If you find your treasure here—your heart will be here also. You must keep all earthly

  "He chooses our inheritance for us."  Psalm 47:4 "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in  the way chosen for him."  Psalm 25:12 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 "As for God, His way is perfect. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:30 "He guides the humble in what is right, and teaches them His way." Psalm 25:9 "I guide you in the way of wisdom, and lead you along straight paths." Proverbs 4:11 Believer, if your place is a lowly one, you should be satisfied with your earthly portion—for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected the safest and best condition for you! Christian! You would run aground and suffer shipwreck—if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succe

  "Behold, I saw a Lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne!" Revelation 5:6 Why should our exalted Savior appear in Heaven with His wounds? The wounds of Jesus are . . .   His glories,   His jewels,   His sacred ornaments! To the eye of the believer, Jesus is more than beautiful because He is "white and ruddy" Song of Solomon 5:10. He is white with innocence, and ruddy with His own blood. We see Him as the 'Lily' of matchless purity—and as the 'Rose' encrimsoned with His own blood. Christ never was so matchless as when He hung on the cross! There we behold all His beauties in perfection. The wounds of Jesus are far more beautiful than all the splendor and pomp of kings. Jesus appears as the  slain Lamb  who sought our souls and redeemed them by His complete atonement. His wounds are the trophies of His love and of His victory. He has redeemed for Himself a great multitude which no one can number—His scars are the me

  "The Lord takes pleasure in His people!" Psalm 149:4 How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His people's interests that He does not consider; and there is nothing that concerns their welfare, which is not important to Him. Not merely does He think of you, believer, as an  immortal  being—but as a  mortal  being, also. Do not deny it or doubt it: "The very  hairs  of your head are all numbered." "The  steps  of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in His way." Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your common affairs. The breadth of His tender love is such that you may resort to Him in all matters; for as a father pities his children, so does He pity you. Oh, what a heart is His—which comprehends all the diverse and innumerable concerns of all His redeemed people! Do you think that you can measure the love of Christ? Think of what His love has brought you—justification, adoption, sanctification

  "His  delight  is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he  meditates  day and night." Psalm 1:2 Do not many of you read the Bible in a very hurried way— just a little bit, and off you go!  Do you not soon forget what you have read, and lose what little effect it seemed to have? How few of you are resolved to get at its soul, its juice, its life, its essence—and to drink in its meaning. Well, if you do not do that—then your reading is miserable reading, dead reading, unprofitable reading; it is not  reading  at all, the name would be misapplied. May the blessed Spirit give you repentance concerning this thing. Meditation and careful thought, exercise us and strengthen the soul for the reception of the yet more lofty truths. We must meditate, brethren. These  grapes  will yield no wine until we tread upon them. These  olives  must be put under the wheel, and pressed again and again—that the oil may flow therefrom. In a dish of nuts, you may know which nut has been eaten by

  Could we roll all sins into one mass—could we take murder, blasphemy, lust, theft, immorality, and everything that is vile, and unite them all into one vast ball of horrid corruption—they would not even then equal  the sin of unbelief! Unbelief is . . .   the king sin,   the quintessence of guilt,   the mixture of the venom of all crimes,   the dregs of the wine of Gomorrah,   the root sin,   the masterpiece of Satan,   the chief work of the devil. Unbelief developed into  deicide —and murdered the Lord Jesus Christ! Unbelief! it has mixed many a cup of poison. It has brought thousands to the gallows, and many to a shameful grave. Many have murdered themselves, and rushed with bloody hands before their Creator's tribunal, because of unbelief. Give me an unbeliever—let me know that he doubts God's Word—let me know that he distrusts His promises and His threatenings; and with that for a premise, I will conclude that the man shall, by-and-by, unless there is amazing restraining

  "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in grace"—not in  one  grace only, but in  all  the Christian graces. Grow in the starting place of grace,  faith . Believe the promises more firmly than you have before. Let faith increase in fullness, constancy and simplicity. Grow also in  love . Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word and deed. Grow likewise in  humility . Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward—having nearer approaches to God in  prayer  and more intimate  fellowship with Jesus . To know Him is "life eternal"—and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. Whoever has sipped this wine will thirst for more; for although Christ satisfies—yet it is such a satisfaction that the appetite is not only satisfied, but invigorated. If you kn

"He was  despised  and  rejected  by men, a man of  sorrows , and familiar with  suffering . Like one from whom men hide their faces He was  despised , and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our  sorrows —yet we considered Him  stricken  by God,  smitten  by Him, and  afflicted . He was  pierced  for our transgressions, He was  crushed  for our iniquities; the  punishment  that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His  wounds  we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5 Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were intertwined among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down, these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration and tore off the flesh from the bone. The Savior was, no doubt, bound to the whipping post and thus beaten. He had been beaten before; but this flagellation of the Roman lictors was probably the most sev

  "Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God!" Psalm 90:1-2 The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He himself may be rich today—and poor tomorrow, he may be sickly today—and well tomorrow, he may be in happiness today—tomorrow he may be distressed; but there is never any change with regard to his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday—then He loves me today. My unmoving mansion of rest, is my blessed Lord. Let prospects be ruined, let hopes be blasted, let joy be withered, let mildews destroy everything— I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is "my strong habitation where unto I can continually resort."  I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God . In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation. "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on t

  "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 Humiliation of soul always brings a positive blessing with it. If we empty our hearts of self—then God will fill them with His love. Stoop, if you would climb to Heaven. You must grow downward, that you may grow upward. The sweetest fellowship with Heaven is to be had by humble souls, and by them alone. God will deny no blessing to a thoroughly humbled spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven"—along with all its riches and treasures! God blesses us all up to the full measure of what it is safe for Him to do.  If you do not get a particular blessing—it is because it is not safe for you to have it!  If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in His holy war—you would pilfer the crown for yourself! And meeting with a fresh enemy, you would fall a victim. He keeps you low for your own safety. When a man is sincerely humble and never venture

  "The precious  blood  of Christ!" 1 Peter 1:19 Standing at the foot of the cross,  we see hands and feet and side, all pouring forth crimson streams of precious blood! Christ's blood is precious because of its  redeeming and atoning efficacy . By it, all the sins of all Christ's people are atoned for! Christ's blood is also precious in  its cleansing power . "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!" "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Through Jesus' blood, there is not a  spot  left upon any believer—no  wrinkle  nor any such thing remains. Oh, precious cleansing blood—which removes the stains of abundant iniquity, and allows us to stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God. The blood of Christ is likewise precious in  its preserving power.  Under the sprinkled blood, we are safe from the destroying angel. Remember that it is  God's 

  "Look on my  affliction  and my pain—and forgive all my  sins ." Psalm 25:18 It is good for us when prayers about our  sorrows , are linked with pleas concerning our  sins —when, being under God's hand, we are not wholly taken up with our pain, but remember our offenses against God. It is good to  take both  sorrow  and  sin  to the same place . It was to God, that David carried his  sorrow —and it was to God, that David confessed his  sin . Even your  little  sorrows you may turn over to God—for He counts the  hairs  of your head! And your  great  sorrows you may commit to Him—for He holds the  ocean  in the hollow of His hand! Go to Him, whatever your present trouble, and you will find Him both able and willing to relieve you. But we must take our sins to God, too. We must carry them to the cross—that the blood may fall upon them, to purge away their guilt. We are to go to the Lord with our sorrows and with our sins, in the right spirit: " Look  on my affliction

  "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!" Psalm 30:5 Christian! If you are in a  night of trial , think of tomorrow. Be patient! Your  head  may now be crowned with thorny troubles—but it shall wear a jeweled diadem before long! Your  hand  may now be filled with cares—it shall sweep the strings of the harp of Heaven soon. Your  garments  may be soiled with filth now—they shall be white as snow in a short time. Wait a little longer. How despicable our troubles and trials will seem —when we look back upon them from Heaven's glory! Looking at them presently, they seem to be immense—but they will then seem as light and momentary afflictions. Let us go on boldly. After the dark of night, the morning comes. We should be thankful that we are not shut up in the eternal darkness of Hell. Do you know what it is to live in the future—to live on expectation—to anticipate Heaven? It may be dark now, but it will soon be light. It may be all trial now, but it wi

  "You are to give Him the name Jesus, because  He will save His people from their sins ." Matthew 1:21 Many people think that, when we preach salvation, we mean salvation from going to Hell. We do mean that, but we mean a great deal more. We preach  salvation from sin.  We say that Christ is able to save a man; and we mean by that, that He is able to save him from sin and to make him holy—to make him into a new man. No person has any right to say, "I am saved," while he continues in sin as he did before.  How can you be saved from sin, while you are living in it? You will always know whether you are delivered from the guilt and condemnation of sin, by answering this question:  "Am I delivered from the love of sin?" It is faith that saves us—not works. But that faith which saves us, always produces works. Does the world satisfy you? Then you have your reward and portion in this life. Make much of it—for you shall know no other joy! If your religion does no