The Spirit of God tells us in James 5:16 to "pray one for another" and I try to do just that. I pray for the saints of God individually as He calls them to mind. I pray for their individual afflictions, trials and persecutions. But I also pray for them corporately, as a body or group. One of the greatest illustrations of God's elect is found in Ephesians and Colossians where it is said that Christ is the Head and we are His Body. Remembering this, I pray for all God's people as a whole, a Body.. I pray for them in this way because I realize that there are not only a multitude of them that I do not know by name but also some that I might not think of as being a child of God. Even those who believe that salvation is all of grace and all in Christ are found thinking some are not believers based on another standard, an outward standard or a self-made standard rather than the ground that God views and saves His elect on, Christ alone. If I had seen David's conduct first hand in his day, Noah's occasion of drunkenness or Samson's sad end, I might not have thought they were believers. Yet God names them in that list of the faithful found in Hebrews 11. Furthermore, if I were able to look at myself from the outside, from the perspective of someone else watching me on any given occasion, I might not think myself His child! All His children are saved completely by His grace in and through Christ and His cross death. These things being true, let us pray one for another. James records, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) Our prayers as those of righteous men and women are only because God has graciously made us the righteousness of God in Christ. If we need prayer, may God help us to pray for all His tried, weak and persecuted "little ones."

GS

God's predestination is like all His blessings, unless we are brought by sovereign mercy joined with power to bow to it, we will never be blessed by it! To predestinate means to mark out and determine before hand. While He determines all things by it, it specifically has to do with His elect. It has to do with individuals: "For whom He did predestinate.." (Rom.8:30) God predetermined that a people that He chose in Christ would receive all the inheritance of grace!

GS

HEAVENLY WISDOM

"The Comforter, the Holy Spirit .. . will teach you all things." John 14:26

There is a heavenly wisdom which the Holy and Blessed Spirit alone can give. He sheds a sacred light on His own word of truth, and by His personal and living teachings--opens, enlarges, and persuades the heart to receive what He thus shows and teaches. However valuable and blessed the book of God is, we cannot be made wise unto salvation by the word itself--without the special teachings of the Holy Spirit as a personal and living instructor. He can suit His teachings to our case; knows when, where, and how to teach us; can bear with our ignorance and stupidity; give us the right lesson at the right time and in the right way; and do for us what no earthly teacher can--write His own laws upon our hearts and give us will and power to keep and obey them.

"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

J. C. Philpot

“HE HATH SAVED US AND CALLED US”

Twas not my answer to His call

That saved me from my sins;

But sovereign grace in Christ then shown,

Before the world begins.

Twas not my choice of Him that saves

But His own choice of me;

His covenant made all things sure,

In old eternity.

Tis not the work that I have done

Or any I will do;

Christ’s righteous death upon the cross,

Alone can make me new.

For “He hath saved us” is the news,

Christ all the work has done;

Then as He purposed by His grace,

He calls us and we come.

86.86

Gary Shepard

PAYING FOR ADMITTANCE INTO HEAVEN

"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." Titus 3:5

Ritualism, or externalism, or traditionalism are all different forms of self-righteousness; man's self-invented ways of pleasing or appeasing God, or paying for admittance into heaven. These forms of self-righteousness are a human apparatus for procuring God's pardon. They are the means by which the performer of them hopes to win God's favor--perhaps, also, man's praise--most certainly, his own esteem.

Every act, or performance, or ceremony, which honors self, exalts self, or gives prominence to self--is an accursed thing. It is an abomination in the sight of God--however religious, or sacred, or solemn, or devout, it may seem to man.

It is to self-righteousness in some form or other, that man is always tending. Man attempts to make up for this badness, or to cover it over, by works, and devotions, and ceremonies. All this is pure self-righteousness.

The religion of self-righteousness in our day consists of works, feelings, fancies, music, rites, festivals, fasts, gestures, postures, garments. It is something which gratifies self; which pleases the natural man; which makes a man think well of himself; which gives a man something to do or to feel in order to earn pardon and merit heaven. Pride, religious pride, is at the root. Ritualism is man's expression of rejection of Christ. It was self-righteous religion which crucified the Son of God. All human rites and ceremonies are man's ways of getting rid of Christ. What can all

these things do? Can they save? Can religious postures save? Can religious garments save? Can religious candles save? Can religious music save? Can religious architecture save? Can religious cathedrals save? No! They lead away from Jesus! They make void the cross, and trample on His blood!

"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." Titus 3:5