The Westminster Confession of Faith

Of Justification - Chapter 11 Section 3

"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.  Yet, in as much as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace; that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners."

Spurgeon's Pulpit

- The Believing Thief -

This sermon was preached by Charles Spurgeon on April 7th, 1889.  The text Charles preached on was taken from Luke 23:42-43, which reads "And he said unto Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.'  And Jesus said unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.'" This story, of one of the two thieves crucified with Jesus coming to faith in Him during his dying moments, is one of the most heart-touching accounts in all of Scripture.  It has brought tremendous assurance to many fearful hearts through the centuries who initially felt Jesus would never even hold fellowship with them, let alone save them, because of their lives of sin and life-long rebellion against God.  This event demonstrates categorically that Jesus will respond tenderly yet firmly to a sinner pleading for mercy with the answer of eternal salvation.  In his sermon, Spurgeon spoke of its significance this way, "The story of the salvation of the dying thief is a standing instance of the power of Christ to save and of His abundant willingness to receive all that come to Him, in whatever plight they may be.  May the Holy Spirit speak through it to the encouragement of those who are ready to despair."

Spurgeon made many wonderful and insightful points concerning the brief yet timeless interchange between Jesus and the repentant thief.  I would like to focus on two of those truths for this particular post; that Jesus is a friend of sinners, and that salvation is not by works but is by faith alone, in Christ alone.

The Befriender of Thieves and Sinners

Jesus' ministry was filled with touching examples of reaching out to those whom society and the world had cast aside as worthless and hell-deserving sinners.  But surely the grandest and most awe-inspiring example was when He reached out to this pleading thief, even while Jesus Himself was in the midst of His own suffering and excruciating pain on His own cross.  All other instances of Jesus showing mercy to the needy were when Jesus Himself was healthy and in no physical pain or discomfort.  But on the cross, Jesus is bearing the intense physical pain of crucifixion, and simultaneously bearing the wrath of God for the sins of mankind; and yet He summons the love within His own nature to hear the pleas and cries of an unholy man who was dying a deserved death.  Instead of Jesus being self-absorbed in His own final moments of His earthly life, He uses what strength He has left to impart life-giving words directly into the heart of one who was on the edge of death and the brink of hell, and gives him the ultimate assurance of passage into Heaven itself.  What more hope could we as sinners ourselves ask for then the hope received by the thief at Jesus' side?  In fact, we who cry out to Jesus today should exhibit more of a hope in Jesus, because the thief sought deliverance from Jesus while Jesus was dying, but we today have a risen and resurrected Jesus to save us from our sins.  Charles Spurgeon stated it as such, "If a dying Savior saved the thief, my argument is, that He can do even more now that He liveth and reigneth.  All power is given unto Him in heaven and earth; can anything at this present time surpass the power of His grace?"

No matter what heinous sins you may have committed in your life, nor any form of evil you may have taken part in or caused, if you trust in Jesus' love for you, then you are one with whom Jesus would show compassion, embrace, and hold unashamed fellowship with.  Charles points out this truth by focusing on the fact that of all people whom Jesus could have allowed to not only die at His side, but to enter into heaven with, He chose the most unworthy of all possibilities; a guilty thief who did not spend even one moment of his life for God.  Charles worded this profound truth this way, "Who is this that entereth the pearl-gate at the same moment as the King of glory?  Who is this favored companion of the Redeemer?  Is it some honored martyr?  Is it a faithful apostle?  Is it a patriarch, like Abraham; or a prince, like David?  It is none of these.  Behold, and be amazed at sovereign grace.  He that goeth in at the gate of paradise, with the King of glory, is a thief, who was saved in the article of death.  He is saved in no inferior way, and received into bliss in no secondary style.  Verily, there are last which shall be first!"

By Faith Alone In Christ Alone

In my personal opinion there is no more burden-relieving or soul-comforting doctrine in the entirety of Scripture than the doctrine of salvation being by faith alone in Christ alone.  This teaching is declared all throughout the New Testament, for example Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9.  It is one thing to be taught such teachings as a student learns a lesson from a teacher, but in the interaction between Jesus and the repentant thief we actually have this truth displayed before us in a very real and encompassing manner.  The thief was a criminal before He met Jesus, and therefore nothing in his life would even be considered godly, let alone salvation-worthy.  As well as after the thief spoke with Jesus, he did not and could not do any good works of his own, for he was dead within hours (perhaps even just minutes) after Jesus gave him the promise of entrance into His kingdom, which was fulfilled that very day.  The thief was literally bereft of any good works, and all he had to put his hope in was simply turning to Jesus for mercy, and that was enough.  Jesus and the thief did not barter for salvation, Jesus did not require time and effort from the thief before giving him passage into heaven, but rather having the thief call out to Jesus in complete desperation and complete trust was all that was required to fully unite the thief with his compassionate and loving Savior.  Spurgeon worded the thief's merciful deliverance as follows, "If anything beyond faith is needed to make us fit to enter paradise, the thief would have been kept a little longer here; but no, he is, in the morning, in the state of nature, at noon he enters the state of grace, and by sunset he is in the state of glory."

The thief had his life taken away because of what he stole with his hands, but with his faith he was given eternal life because of what Jesus freely gave him; grace.  We today are in the exact situation as the thief on the cross; devoid of worthiness, completely helpless, and entirely hopeless, until we turn to Jesus in faith and plead for His mercy.  As Spurgeon concludes, "He [God] that reads the heart will read your faith written on its fleshly tablets, and He will accept you through Jesus Christ, even though no act of grace has been visible to the eyes of man."

Let us learn to take great comfort, confidence, and joy in reading the brief but life-altering relationship the thief had with Jesus, as he was promised fellowship with Jesus as he was dying, as well as the promise of eternal fellowship with Him in His glorious kingdom.  We too may take hold of those same two promises of fellowship with Jesus in this life and the life to come, and it is all granted to us by faith when we meet Jesus as the thief did, on the Cross.  I would like to conclude with a poem I wrote about the repentant thief, as well as a few more quotes of Charles Spurgeon from his sermon "The Believing Thief."

A Dying Thief And His Dying Savior

Today is the day I die - A just punishment for my crime

I stole what I did not possess - Forfeiting my remaining time

My offense calls for crucifixion - To prolong my agony

But I will not be dying alone - To be executed today is three

One is a criminal as myself - He too must pay for his deeds

But with Jesus I do not understand - What his charges could possibly be

It's been said he healed the sick - And gave sight to the blind

His life should be celebrated - Not nailed to a cross crucified

Yet he speaks no word in protest - Does not declare his innocence

As the crowd cruelly mocks and jeers - He silently endures injustice

I wonder if his ministry - Of healings and miracles

Could produce one more act of grace - And overcome my sin's obstacles

Is it possible that I could find life - In one who is about to die

Pierced, bruised, and bloodied too - As seemingly helpless as I

I now have just a few moments - Before my life will pass away

I desperately need this day of judgment - Turned into my salvation day

For help I do not peer out - Into the incensed crowd

Nor to my criminal associate - Who is cursing Jesus aloud

With my last few ounces of strength - I well up words within my dry throat

Turning to Jesus for an ounce of mercy - I call to him as my only hope

"Jesus, remember me - When you are crowned King"

This my final plea I hoped - Would not on deaf ears ring

He lifted his head and softly spoke - His words melting my heart of ice

"Truly I say to you today - You will be with me in paradise"

At once my heart was set free - And embraced through divine love

No longer to reside here below - But taken to heaven above

Though his hands and feet are nailed - To the cross in a steadfast way

His love and grace freely roam - Capturing me as I drift away

I can now die in peace - A redeemed and forgiven thief

My soul stolen from hell's grasp - When I heard Jesus speak

Amidst my dying moments - When no one else would comfort me

My dying Savior by my side - Gave words of hope for eternity

"Today you will be with me in paradise" - Luke 23:43

"This poor thief breathed the humble but fitting prayer, "Lord, remember me."  This does not seem to ask much; but as he understood it, it meant all that an anxious heart could desire.  As he thought of the kingdom, he had such clear ideas of the glory of the Savior, that he felt that if the Lord would think of him, his eternal state would be safe... Can you not pray this morning, and thus secure a place in the memory of the Lord Jesus."
- Charles Spurgeon, The Believing Thief

"Our Savior took this dying thief into the paradise of infinite delight, and this is where He will take all of us sinners who believe in Him."
- Charles Spurgeon, The Believing Thief

"Jesus was last seen on Earth before His death in company with a convicted felon, to whom He spoke most lovingly.  Come, O ye guilty, and He will receive you graciously!"

- Charles Spurgeon, The Believing Thief

From the Pulpit of Charles Spurgeon

I would like to begin a new segment in this blog which highlights the sermon ministry of the 19th century London preacher Charles Spurgeon, of whom history has given the distinct titles of "The Prince of Preachers" as well as the "Last of the Puritans."  Spurgeon was considered the Prince of Preachers because of many facets; first, because his sermons were very Christ-centered, meaning they dwelt heavily on the person and work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and His resurrection; secondly, because of the sheer number of people that Charles had preached to during his lifetime (estimates are approximately 10,000,000 between 1850-1891).  Spurgeon was considered the "Last of the Puritans" because his ministry and life passed right before the dawning of the 20th century, as well as the fact of the large amount of Puritan books he possessed in his massive 5,000 book library.  Spurgeon read many devotional books written by the Puritans as well as used commentaries written by them during his own studies of the Scriptures.  In fact, the first Christian book Charles read as a child in his grandfather's attic was the book "The Pilgrim's Progress" by the 17th century Puritan John Bunyan.

After having read 28 sermons (and counting) by Charles Spurgeon myself, I would also declare him to be one of the best, if not the best, preacher of God's holy Word and the most prolific proclaimer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in church history.  Because of these facts, I would like to create periodic posts on this blog to focus on sermons from Spurgeon that I personally read through, and perhaps give some of my own thoughts and observations that I take away from wading through his often moving expositions.  I will also provide quotes directly from the sermons themselves.  My relationship with God has been greatly blessed by the godly wisdom and biblical expositions of Charles Spurgeon, and it is my prayer yours will be blessed as well.

"Far better for a man that he had never been born than that he should degrade a pulpit into a show box to exhibit himself in.  Aim at the right sort of effect; the inspiring of saints to nobler things, the leading of Christians closer to their Master, the comforting of doubters till they rise out of their terrors, the repentance of sinners, and their exercise of immediate faith in Christ.  Without these signs following, what is the use of our sermons?"

- Charles Spurgeon, Lectures To My Students, Volume 2, Lecture #1, pg 207

Praying With The Puritans

Christian Love

O Lover of the loveless,
It is thy will that I should love thee
with heart, soul, mind, strength,
and my neighbour as myself.
But I am not sufficient for these things.
There is by nature no pure love in my soul;
Every affection in me is turned from thee;
I am bound, as slave to lust,
I cannot love thee, lovely as thou art,
until thou dost set me free.

By grace I am thy freeman and would serve thee,
for I believe thou art my God in Jesus,
and that through him I am redeemed,
and my sins are forgiven.
With this freedom I would always obey thee,
but I cannot walk in liberty,
any more than I could first attain it, of myself.
May thy Spirit draw me nearer to thee and thy ways.

Thou art the end of all means,
for if they lead me not to thee,
I go away empty.
Order all my ways by thy holy Word,
and make thy commandments the joy of my heart,
that by them I may have happy converse with thee.
May I grow in thy love and manifest it to mankind.

Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus;
give me his benevolent temper,
his beneficent actions,
that I may shine before men to thy glory.
The more thou doest in love in me and by me,
humble me the more;
keep me meek, lowly,
and always ready to give thee honour.

- Taken from "The Valley of Vision" A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Love's Incarnation

Scripture informs us that "God is love" - 1 John 4:8.  But what exactly does the love of God look like?  Where can we go to observe His love or which portrait may we gaze upon to perceive His loving nature fully displayed?  Surely the answer to such questions cannot be compared with in terms of the heart-felt need to know and to be known by the love of one's own Creator.  And yet those questions have been answered by God in a more profound and concrete way than any other truth known in human history.  The absolute description of God's love is found in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.  No where do we find a more complete and perfect depiction of the manifestation of God's love than in the person, words, and works of Jesus of Nazareth.  The Scriptures teach us that Jesus was not merely a messenger of God's love, but that He was in fact the Incarnation of God's love in human flesh.  Concerning the character of Jesus being the character and nature of God Himself, Hebrews 1:3 testifies that "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being."  The greatest testament to Jesus being the true embodiment of God in every way is from Jesus Himself.  In John 14:8-9 Philip says to Jesus "Lord show us the Father" to which Jesus responds "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."  In Jesus Christ we have the very love of and face of God unveiled in the flesh for all to see.

There were many acts of Jesus which portray to us the nature and type of love God has for us, but the pinnacle of God's love is openly and unabashedly demonstrated in Jesus on the Cross.  It was on Calvary that the full length, breadth, and depth of God's love were revealed to the whole world.  Jesus, as God, dying on the Cross presents to us the incomprehensible and sacrificial love that was poured out to ensure a living and eternal relationship between us and our Creator.  It ensures that our relationship with God is to be alive because Jesus died in our place of condemnation, and is now our interceding and forever-living Mediator.  This truth concerning the purpose of Jesus' Incarnation should move us to indulge in the fact that God loves us not in word only, but literally went through intense pain to show us the fullest extent of how He loves us in physical reality.

Love, Love

Reveal thyself to me

I wish to know thy nature so

To dwell in thine company

Love, Love

Pour onto me thy tender grace

As I look upon the Cross you hung on

And there I behold Love's face

So let us take both comfort and confidence in knowing that Jesus coming into the world, clothed in human flesh, was actually God's love coming into the world and clothed in Jesus Christ.  Jesus being born was the Incarnation of God's love, and Jesus dying on the Cross was the embodiment of that love towards us, as the 17th century Puritan Richard Baxter concludes, "It hinders the soul's approach to God, when the infinite distance makes us think that God will not regard or take notice of such contemptible worms as we: we are ready to think that He is too high for our converse or delight.  In this case the soul hath no such remedy, as to look to Christ, and see how the Father hath regarded us, and set His heart upon us, and sent His Son to seek and save us.  Oh wonderful astonishing condescension of eternal love!  Believe that God assumed flesh to make Himself familiar with man; and you can never question whether He regards us, or will hold communion with us."

"God is love." - 1 John 4:8

"The Word was God... and the Word became flesh." - John 1:1,14

Quoting The Puritans

The Holy Spirit

"To believe in the Holy Ghost, is to take him for Christ's agent or advocate with our souls, and for our Guide, and Sanctifier, and Comforter, and not only to believe that he is the third person of the Trinity."

- Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, Chapter 3, pg 69

"What would you be without the Holy Spirit but like so many carcasses?  Without this, Christ would not profit you.  The blood of God is not enough without the breath of God.  Oh then, be thankful for the Holy Spirit."

- Thomas Watson, The Godly Man's Picture, pg 76

"Among those who walk with God, there is no greater motive and incentive unto universal holiness, to the preserving of their hearts and spirits in all purity and cleanness, than this, that the blessed Spirit, who hath undertaken to dwell in them as temples of God and to preserve them meet for him who so dwells in them, is continually considering what they give entertainment in their hearts unto, and rejoiceth when his temple is left undefiled."

- John Owen, The Mortification of Sin, Chapter 10, pg 117

"Holiness is the nature of the Spirit of God, therefore is called in Scripture the Holy Ghost.  Holiness, which is as it were the beauty and sweetness of the divine nature, is as much the proper nature of the Holy Spirit, as heat is the nature of fire, or sweetness was the nature of that holy anointing oil, which was the principal type of the Holy Ghost in the Mosaic dispensation... The Spirit of God so dwells in the hearts of the saints, that he there, as a seed or spring of life, exerts and communicate himself, in this his sweet and divine nature.  He makes the soul a partaker of God's beauty and Christ's joy, so that the saint has true fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus, in thus having communion or participation of the Holy Ghost."

- Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 1, pg 1707-1708

Puritan Poetry

A Friend That Sticks Closer Than A Brother

One there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end;

They who once His kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love.

Which of all our friends to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled to Him in God;

This was boundless love indeed.
Jesus is a friend in need.

Men, when raised to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations,
Though they valued them before;

But our Savior always owns
Those whom He redeemed with groans.

When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
Now above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:

Still He calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another
What He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
Loves us though we treat Him thus;

Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

Oh, for grace our hearts to soften,
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas, forget too often,
What a Friend we have above;

But when home our souls are brought,
We will love Thee as we ought.

John Newton
1725-1807

Puritan Library

"The Life of God in the Soul of Man"

Written by 17th century Puritan Henry Scougal, the book "The Life of God in the Soul of Man" has been used by many men and women throughout the past 300 years as a encouraging, exhorting, and convicting treatise on the necessity of mankind to have God permeate every area of life.  Henry Scougal wrote, "True religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul."  The best instance of Scougal's book having an impact on those who lived after him, was a century later when the great 18th century hymn-writer Charles Wesley gave a copy of Scougal's book to his friend George Whitefield.  One year before he died Whitefield stated the importance of that book in his life as follows, "I must bear witness to my old friend Charles Wesley; he put a book into my hands, called 'The Life of God in the Soul of Man', whereby God showed me I must be born-again, or be damned."  The relevance of Whitefield in Christianity is that he became one of the most important individuals whom God used to bring about the "Great Awakening" revival, and he would also develop into one of the greatest preachers in church history.

In the forward of "The Life of God in the Soul of Man", modern-day theologian J.I. Packer wrote the following words concerning the importance of Scougal's book both in Whitefield's life as well as how it would greatly benefit Christians to read today, "God used Scougal to awaken the man who himself came later to be known as the Awakener.  And all that remains to be said is that some today, who would call themselves Christian if asked, clearly stand in need of a similar awakening: which Scougal, under God, may bring them, if only they will read his smooth late-seventeenth century rhetoric thoughtfully and let it speak to them.  Real Christians will gain from Scougal a healthy reminder that heart-change and character-change thence resutling is what their faith is all about."

I personally recommend Henry Scougal's "The Life of God in the Soul of Man" as a very firm but very warm-hearted dissertation on allowing God to intrude all aspects of your nature and existence.  It is firm, because it is very uncompromising when sustaining biblical truths, but it is also very warm-hearted because the book was originally written as a letter Scougal sent to a personal friend of his for spiritual encouragement.  May it again produce encouragement and God-centeredness for those of us who read it in our time.

"Behold on what sure foundation his happiness is built whose soul is possessed with divine love, whose will is transformed into the will of God, and whose greatest desire is that his Maker should be pleased!  Oh, the peace, the rest, the satisfaction that attendeth such a temper of mind!"

- Henry Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Chapter 2, pg 78

The Westminster Confession of Faith

Of The Last Judgment - Chapter 32 Section 3

"As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen."

Hanging On To Mercy

Mercy!  Mercy!  Mercy!

Since the beginning of this year, I have become increasingly and overwhelmingly convicted of how much I need God's mercy literally every second of every day of my life.  I have been a Christian walking with the Lord now for twenty years (since 1991), but although God has brought me through many personal trials and tribulations, I do not rest in and find comfort in those past victories in regards to my present and future state of sinfulness.  The only thing I can rely on to get me through each passing moment of my life is God's undeserved and seemingly unending mercy.  When I meditate on past and present sins, I have neither the inclination nor the desire to utter long-winded and eloquent prayers to God for forgiveness, but simply cry out and beg for His mercy to be extended to me again and again and again.  One might naturally assume that the longer you walk with God, the more righteous you become, and hence need less and less of His mercy.  But this was certainly not the case with the most celebrated saints in history who experienced more intimacy with God than we can ever hope to attain, and yet they drank deeper and deeper from the fountain of God's mercy as they grew in the knowledge of their own sinfulness in comparison to God.  I am just beginning to learn that inescapable truth in my own relationship with Jesus.  The closer He draws me to Himself, and the more of His holy presence I sense in my life, the more I am brought low to my knees in utter disdain and despair of my darkened deeds and polluted heart.  I dare not bring to God's attention my own "righteousness" or my own "good works" when seeking forgiveness of my sins, but rather I rely solely and desperately on His awe-inspiring mercy, as the prophet Daniel said in a prayer to God, "We do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy" - Daniel 9:18.  Let us never entertain thoughts or impressions of our own perceived worthiness when we kneel before the Most High seeking for forgiveness or even daily bread, but rather may we seek out His mercy as the sole distributor of everything good that comes from His gracious hands to our unworthy lives.

"A child of God keeps two books always by him: one to write his sins in, so that he may be humble; the other to write his mercies in, so that he may be thankful."

- Thomas Watson, The Godly Man's Picture, pg 132

Although being severely humbled by God's mercy is not itself a pleasant experience, one tremendously pleasant and joyful affect of God's mercy in our lives is the fruit of thankfulness that it produces in our hearts and conscience.  As the 17th century  Puritan Thomas Watson noted in the quote above, God's gracious mercy and our indebted thankfulness go hand-in-hand.  Our outpouring of thankfulness to God in response to His mercy is as natural as a flower blooming when it is touched by the sun's life-giving rays.  And just as it brings us great joy to receive God's mercy, so it brings God joy to extend His mercy to us, as Micah 7:18 states, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."  Let us be forever grateful not only for the mercy itself, but for the joy it brings to God's own heart to grant that same mercy to us.  As Thomas Watson writes, "God loves to bestow his mercies where there is the best echo of thankfulness."

Do you rely on God's mercy every morning He awakens you to a new day?  Do you literally walk in His mercy with each step He allows you to take in your life?  Or do you only seek out God's mercy during the most troublesome times in your life, and ignore it the remainder of your days?  If you seldom live in conscious knowledge of God's continual mercy over you, then I fear your thankfulness to Him will be just as seldom.  Therefore, let us hunger after God's mercy and allow it to simultaneously create in us a heart of solemn thankfulness.  Let us glory only in our God's infinite and precious mercy, which is an absolute necessity to our continued existence.  Thomas Watson concludes, "We have been made to swim in a sea of mercy."

"I am in deep distress.  Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great."

- 2 Samuel 24:14

"May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need."

- Psalm 79:8

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

- Habakkuk 3:2

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

- Luke 18:38