Believers are not saved by their “decision.” No, they are saved because God decided upon them, chose them in Christ and blessed them with all spiritual blessings in Him before the world began. He redeemed us by His blood and calls us.

Yet, as believers in Christ and servants of the living God in this world, we have many decisions in this life. These decisions, some big and some small (so we think), do not determine anything but they do reveal many things. You see, it is our decisions concerning the things of this life that prove to be the test of our faith. Decisions concerning family, work, recreation, worship, etc. Actually, every decision in life! In making these decisions there are a number of things we as believers should consider:

1. Will I be acting according to God’s plain commands and statements in His Word? The Spirit of God never leads us to act contrary to the written Word. “He that is of God hears God’s words” John 8:47

2. Will my decision be for the glory of God above all things? “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1Co 10:31

3. Will what I choose to do really work for my spiritual and eternal good? “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” 1Co 10:23 “Set your affection on things above…”

4. Will the course of action I choose encourage or be a good example for the people of God? “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Ro 14:19

5. Will my decision work for the good of Christ’s church in this world and the advancement of His gospel? Will it encourage the one He has sent to feed and watch over my soul?

Remember Joshua’s words to the people: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Jos 24:15 God give us grace to serve YOU!

Gary Shepard

WHAT A WONDER IT IS!

With all of today’s divisions, debates and displays of ungraciousness characterizing those who profess to believe the gospel of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, is it any wonder there are so many instructions, reproofs, admonitions, warnings and rebukes in the epistles pertaining to these very things? God knew and knows what we are! What was present even in the early church seems to have reached epidemic proportions in it today. Is it any wonder that Paul asked the church at Corinth what must be asked today? “Is Christ divided, was ______ crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of ______?” Is it not a wonder that those who say they love Christ must be told to “love the brethren?” That those forgiven of all their sins must be told to forgive and forbear one another? That those who had to be justified through the shedding of Christ’s blood would be so quick to condemn another? Such wretched creatures could only have been saved by God Almighty alone, by His free and sovereign grace alone and in One outside of themselves which was Christ alone! Perhaps even more than we are proclaiming in the gospel message we preach, we are showing (to our shame) in our attitudes toward each other that the absolute only way a sinner can be saved is by GRACE! How we ought to bow down as low as we possibly can in heart and mind before God and men and confess our utter wretchedness in light of such grace shown to us! I do so this day, “God have mercy on me THE SINNER!”

Gary Shepard ‘10

By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

The true Christian is sensible and mindful of indwelling sin. He confesses that in everything he comes exceedingly short, and that his best services are not only defective—but defiled. He accounts himself as an unprofitable servant—and is abased in his own eyes. He knows that all that distinguishes him from the vilest of men—is the free grace of God!

He derives all his hope and comfort, as well as his strength—from Jesus, whom he has known, received and loved, and to whom he has committed his soul. He renounces all confidence in the flesh, and esteems all things as loss—compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ his Lord, for whose sake he has lost all things—considering them rubbish, that he may gain Christ!

John Newton

In the teeth of all thy sins believe that He is thy righteousness still. Thy good works do not improve His righteousness; thy bad works do not sully it. This is a robe which thy best deeds cannot mend and thy worst deeds cannot mar. Thou standest in Him, not in thyself. Whatever, then, thy doubts and fears may have been, do now, poor troubled, distressed, distracted believer, say again, “Yes, He is the Lord my righteousness.”