by John Carpenter | Sep 16, 2023 | Devotional
“For Jacob, my servant’s sake – and Israel, mine elect – I have even called thee by thy name. I have surnamed thee – though thou hast not known me. (5) I am the Lord – and there is none else – there is no God beside me! I girded thee – though thou hast not known me. (6) That they may know from the rising of the sun – and from the west – that there is none beside me! I am the Lord – and there is none else. (7) I form the light – and create darkness. I make peace – and create evil. I the Lord do all these things!” [Is.45:4-7]
“Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) He answered and said unto them – He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man. (38) The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the Kingdom – but the tares are the children of the wicked one. (39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world – and the reapers are the angels. (40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire – so shall it be in the end of the world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity (42) and shall cast them into a furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear – let him hear.” [Mt.13:36-43]
The Lord God, Himself, declares His absolute sovereign control over all things without exception! And this is especially true where His elect-to-eternal salvation is concerned. The Isaiah passage is a true and powerfully profound portion of holy scripture! Our omniscient God has known – and loved – His elect before they have ever come – via the Word of the Truth of the gospel of His glory only — to know and love Him as being their Savior. When He says, “I girded thee, though thou hast not known me” – the Hebrew word used for “girded” is referring specifically of having our loins girt about with a belt. This points us directly to the Truth of the Word of God concerning our Lord Jesus Christ (see: Eph.6:14). When the quickening and awakening of our regeneration occurs and we – by the Holy Spirit of grace – “come unto the knowledge of the Truth”, then we know without a shadow of a doubt – from the rising to the setting of the sun – that He, and He alone is our Lord God! And, literally everything – even in and throughout our whole lives – is under His total control! Through every adversity and trial that this fallen-in-sin world may send into our lives – the Spirit of the Lord of our life continues to communicate unto us that our soul’s eternal salvation is being safely kept and secured under His almighty and sovereign care.
Why? Even because we are the – “Seed” – “the children” of His eternal Kingdom! And, through His Word and His Spirit – He continually communicates with us – i.e. bears witness with our spirit – that this is indeed true! He planted us in this world for Him to be sent here to rescue us from the hopeless captivity to our sin – which He has done! Praise His all glorious Name!
The truth concerning Jacob being God’s elect from the womb (see: Rom.9:10-13) – is the truth concerning all of God’s elect-unto-eternal salvation. God in His grace has known us – and loved us (see: Jer.31:3) – and girded us in this Truth (which is Christ Jesus) before we have ever even come to know and realize it. For it is in the communication (by the Holy Spirit through the Holy Word of Truth of the report of the pure gospel message) that comes the creation of the event of finally hearing with saving understanding this gospel report and personal announcement. Rom.10:17> “So then – faith cometh by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God.”
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 14, 2023 | Devotional
“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying: The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in His field (25) but while men slept – His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat – and went his way. (26) But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit – then appeared the tares also. (27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto Him Sir. Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field(?) – from whence then hath it tares? (28) But He said unto them: An enemy hath done this! The servants said unto Him: Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) but He said: Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares – ye root up also the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest – and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers – gather ye together first the tares – bind them in bundles to burn them – but gather the wheat into my barn.” [Mt.13:24-30; see also Mt.13:37-40]
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; He shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” [Ge.3:15]
“For the children – being not yet born – neither having done any good or evil – that the purpose of God according to election might stand – not of works – but of Him that calleth – (12) it was said unto her: ‘The elder shall serve the younger.’ (13) As it is written: ‘Jacob have I loved, but Esau I hated’. [Ro.9:11-13]
Our absolutely sovereign God’s pure gospel doctrinal truth concerning His eternal election unto salvation – and in regards to who among all of fallen humanity will be His eternally saved ones – all boils down to being one of 2 seeds. And, it is ultimately and totally dependent upon God – and God alone — as to who His “Elect Seed” truly are!
From the parable of Jesus referred to in the Mt.13 passage – all of us are either the one or the other. We are either “wheat” or “tares” — seed sown by the Savior – or, seed sown by the Serpent. From the Ge.3 passage we learn the Truth that we are either the direct progeny of the Serpent or the predestined progeny [see: Eph.1:5] of the Savior (who happens to be Jesus – the “Seed” – being referred to as “the Seed of the woman”). This same Pure-gospel-of-God’s-grace-Truth is being directly alluded from the Ro.9 text. For it refers to the two different origins of the seeds specifically related to the twin boys – Jacob (the Loved by God) and Esau (the hated by God) – when it descriptively declares the phrase: “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth”! All of this is very conclusive. From God’s perfect perspective – these three portions of the Word of God relate all of fallen mankind down to being either one of the seeds of the Savior – or, one of the seeds of the Serpent.
The apostle Peter also alludes to this truth when he descriptively declares from 1Pe.1:18-22 concerning all of God’s eternally redeemed ones. For, based upon the fact of our foreordained experience – in our coming to true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – he undauntingly states of God’s redeemed ones from 1Pe.1:23-25 that they have been “…born again – not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible – by the Word of God – which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass – and all the glory of man – as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away (25) But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this it the Word – which by the gospel is (lit.) being preached unto you.” Praise the Holy Name of our Lord! Hence, God’s elect all have a true testimony of personal regeneration rooted firmly in the Holy Word of God.
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 19, 2023 | Devotional
“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me — for my soul trusteth in thee — yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (2) I will cry unto God most high — unto God that performeth all things for me!” [Ps.57:1-2]
“Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us — for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (13) O Lord our God — other lords have had dominion over us — but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name.” [Is.26:12-13]
“For it is God that worketh in you — both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” [Phil.2:13]
“I am the vine – ye are the branches; he that abideth in me and I in him — the same bringeth forth much fruit — for without me ye can do nothing!” [Jn.15:5]
The reason we say: “If it’s not all Christ — it’s all wrong” — is because it’s true! God — who cannot lie — affirms this as being eternal Truth. Jesus, the incarnated God/man — was sent into this fallen world in the likeness of our sinful flesh — and being the eternal Son of God — He came to tell us the action-quickening Truth of Jn.6:37> “All that the Father gives to me – shall come to me – and him that cometh to me – I will in no wise cast him out!” Praise His Holy Name!! This — is what is divinely designed to motivate us — so that without hesitation — we do completely come to Him! And, to completely come unto Jesus means that we have been awakened and quickened to — first of all — fulfill that which is written from verse 2 of Ps.57 shown above — which says: “I will cry unto God most high — unto God — that performeth all things for me!” And, when we act — we don’t even think about the “calamities” that we face — that seem to surround us on every side. We just trust in our God, Jesus our Savior — and act! This will prove the reality of our having been truly quickened by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!
Then this, in turn, leads us right into truly — living out the activity of understanding the reality of Is.26:12-13 which declares for us what the Lord, our God has ordained for each one of His true sinner/children to be and to do — who are still here — travelling through all the calamities — of this world — “the valley of the shadow of death”. He has ordained “Peace” for us — by His having com-pletely worked out “all our works in us!” For He — and He alone — is our Lord and Savior! We can’t even mention His Name — without Him! By His doing we “cry” unto Him — and He hears and answers our cries!
Phil.2:13 descriptively declares — with bold assurance — that it is “God that actively and efficiently works in and through us — both to will and to do — of all His good pleasure!” Praise His Name!
And, all of this is completely culminated in the Pure Gospel Truth Words of Jesus, Himself, from Jn.15:5> “I am the Vine — ye are the branches; he that abideth in me and I in him — the same bringeth forth much fruit — for without me ye can do nothing!” He is the source of all our action — all our strength — and all our results. Hence, He gets all the Glory! Ro.11:16 tells us: “If the Firstfruit be holy — the lump is also holy — and if the Root be holy — so are the branches!” Christ Jesus is the “Root” and the “Firstfruit” — we who are “in Him” are “His branches”. He fills us up with Himself — and we bring forth the fruit of His eternally abiding presence in our lives. Hence, we are clothed with His comeliness — His fruit – His obedience and — praise God — His righteousness.
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 26, 2023 | Devotional
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven – Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God – and the power of His Christ – for the accuser of our brethren is cast down – which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb – and the Word of their Testimony – and loved not their lives unto the death.” [Rev.12:10-11]
“Of His own will – begat He us – with the Word of Truth – that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” [Jas.1:18]
These two texts reveal to us grace-quickened and awakened sinner/children – eight realities while we are still here in this fallen-in-sin world. First of all – right now in the present, it says – we have God’s eternal salvation, strength and a place in His Kingdom! This is a wonderful thing!
Second, all of this is ruled over and strictly maintained by the sovereign authority and power of Christ Jesus our Savior. Third, Satan – the accuser is defeated and cast down. Even though he is in a rage against God — and us – he is absolutely subservient to the will of Christ, our God! Our spiritual warfare goes on all around us – day and night – non-stop – but, by grace we stand and see the salvation of our Lord!
In fact, Fourth, we have overcome all his evil endeavors against us – by the “Blood of the Lamb” – having been shed for all of our sins at Calvary! Praise the Name of the Lord!
And, Fifth, we have overcome the devil by – it says – the “Word of our Testimony”! That’s the Word (the logos) of God that was instrumentally used by the Holy Spirit of God to awaken us unto the reality that we truly are one of His chosen-sinner-saved-by-grace-children! This refers to our genuine born again (or, more lit., born from above) experience. Just like Ro.8:16-17a says: “The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…”.
This brings us to the Sixth reality that also descriptively declares the fact of our spiritual birth from Jas.1:18> “Of His own will (not our will) – begat He us…”; or, He caused us to be begotten of Him.
The Seventh reality serves to substantiate the all important role that God’s Word plays in providing us with a true testimony from God unto us personally that we are one of His children – He communicates it to us “with the Word of Truth…”!
In fact, all three persons in the Godhead participate in an ongoing communication with each of His elect throughout their entire earthly walk – all the way to glory land! Jesus says that none of us can come to Him for His abundant life – except they be drawn by God the Father! [Jn.6:44]
And, He describes how that drawing process is worked out when He says from Jn.6:45> “It is written in the prophets – And they shall be all taught of God (or, more lit. taught by God the Father). Every man therefore that hath heard and learned (lit.) from the Father – cometh unto me.”
And, finally, Eighth, our Lord Jesus is not left out of this scenario: Eph.4:20-21 plainly says, “But you have not so learned Christ; (21) if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Indeed, Christ Jesus – is – the Truth!
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 22, 2023 | Devotional
“But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased!” [Ps,115:3] “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven and in earth – in the seas, and all the deep places.” [Ps.135:6] “For in Him we live and move and have our being…” [Ac.17:28] “Jesus answered and said unto them: This is the work of God – that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” [Jn.6:29] “And when the Gentiles heard this – they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord – and as many as were ordained to eternal life – believed!” [Ac.13:48] “For of Him – and through Him – and to Him — are all things – to whom be glory forever. Amen.” [Ro.11:36] “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit – that we are (the) children of God…” [Ro.8:16]
Each of these texts declare the absolute and total Sovereignty of God over absolutely all things throughout absolutely all of our lives! From the Old Testament it is written from Is.46:9-10 that God tells us: “Remember the former things of old – for I am God and there is none else I am God and there is none like me! (10) Declaring the end from the beginning – and from ancient times the things that are not yet done – saying – my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure!”
Then in the New Testament from Rev.22:13 Jesus – the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the eternal Son of man descriptively declares of Himself: “I am Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end – the first and the last!” In fact, the Ro.11:36 text above is referring specifically of Him as well — when it speaks of all things in this fallen world of fallen men – and, He is the one who gets all the glory if any of them are saved from their sins! Once again – it’s all Christ in regards to absolutely all that pertains to our eternal salvation.
The Holy Spirit inspired apostle wrote in 1Co.2:12-13 these words: “Now we (have) received – not the spirit of the world – but the Spirit which is of God – that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things we speak – not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth – but (in) which the Holy Spirit teacheth – comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
All of this alludes directly to what Jesus teaches us from Jn.16:12-13> “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when He – the Spirit of the Truth is come, He shall not speak of Himself – but whatever He shall hear (that) shall He speak: and He will show [or, more lit. “announce to”] you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me – for He shall receive of mine – and shall show [or, more lit. “announce it”] unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine – therefore said I that He [the Holy Spirit] shall take of mine, and shall show it [or, more lit. “shall announce it”] unto you!”
In other words, dear ones, our absolutely Sovereign-over-all-things Triune God has purposed and decreed – from His vantage point (which is eternity) – everything that pertains to our eternal Salvation! And, it is the mighty work of the Spirit of God to bear testimony unto us – to unfold to us – we, who are truly His children – all the pertinent things within our capacity to understand — while we are still in this world – that pertain to our having been eternally saved! And, Praise His Name, He unfolds it for us – from and through His wonderful magnanimous Word! Ro.10:17 tells us that true and saving “Faith – cometh by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God!” Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 15, 2023 | Devotional
“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one – and come away. (11) For, lo, the winter is past – the rain is over and gone. (12) The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.(13) The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. (14) O my dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock – in the secret places of the stairs. Let me hear thy voice – for sweet is thy voice – and thy countenance is comely.” [Song.2:10-14]
This wonderful text of scripture is a representation of a special communication that comes from the heavenly Bridegroom unto His Bride – awakening her from her sleep. This contextually seems to reflect the way that our Savior comes and rouses each one of His eternally saved ones who have finished their course of life in this world and finally fallen to sleep in their physical death. We will close our eyes here – and open them in our Lord’s glorious presence – where we will abide forever and ever. And, it will be like getting through a season of the death of winter (by God’s grace of course) and entering into an eternal-life-season of springtime…in the loving presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise His Name!
That this revelatory experience – of divine communication — includes each and every one of those particularly given by God the Father unto God the Son is evidenced by what Jesus says from Jn.6:37-40> “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven – not to do mine own will – but the will of Him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me – that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing – but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of Him that sent me – that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on Him – may have everlasting life – and I will raise him up at the last day!”
When it says from vs.39 “but should raise IT up again at the last day” it’s talking about the whole great congregation of all those whom the Father has given to the Son from out of the whole history of fallen-in-sin humanity! This whole company of particular persons is precisely what the Holy Scriptures mean by “the Bride of Christ”! And, just as the Lord God made Eve out of Adam and brought her unto him (see: Ge.2:22-24) even so are all the saved-by-grace of fallen-in-sin humanity created in Christ Jesus and ultimately by the Father drawn unto Him. Jesus said, “No man can come unto me – except the Father which hath sent me – draw him – and I will raise him upat the last day.”[Jn.6:44] Hence, all the Father gives to the Son to save – are all the Father draws to Him. And, these are all the ones that Jesus will raise up at the last day.
Plus, this resurrection of us by the Lord Jesus is according to God the Father — who has given us to Christ – and drawn us to Christ – He has also eternally saved us by Christ! Even at the very moment the Spirit of God makes His saved one to know that their eternal salvation has happened – He does so by speaking – testifying unto us — that we have been saved! Ro.8:16-17 confirms this true spiritual experience. It says: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”. This happens at our regeneration – our new birth! And, it is this same “still small voice” that effectually awakens us (see: Eph.5:14: “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead – and Christ shall give thee Light.”) This makes Christ’s Resurrection Day a real celebration!! Christ’s Resurrection takes us from Regeneration to Glorification! Hallelujah!!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
