by John Carpenter | Aug 15, 2016 | Devotional
“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…(14)For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if One died for all, then were all dead; (15) and He died for all, that they which live should not, henceforth, live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them — and rose again!” [2Co.5:9-11;14-15]
It is a natural characteristic of having been quickened, or regenerated, by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for the new “born-from-above” true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to be eager and earnest — throughout this life — to desire to do something for the furtherance of the eternal Kingdom of Christ their Savior and Lord. This is what is being communicated to us from the Holy Spirit’s use of the word, labor, in the opening statement of our scripture that is referenced above. And, it becomes our ambition to be of service to Him in a way that is in full agreement and complete acceptance with that which the Word of God describes and declares concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our eternal Redeemer.
This scripture reference also states that it is inevitable that all of fallen mankind will eventually, and personally, appear before the judgment seat of Christ where we will justly receive from Him that which is justly due to us according to our life and the way that we have lived in this fallen and sinful body; “whether it be good or bad”. This means that we will experience being righteously judged for all the things we have thought; we have said; and, we have done. What a fearful and foreboding event that will be! It is no wonder that the Holy Spirit says: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!”
We put forth our most persuasive arguments from God’s Word — not for fallen and sinful men and women to convert themselves, or to make themselves, to be ready to appear before the judgment seat of Christ — for that is not something any of us can do for ourselves — no — we need the grace of the Savior for that accomplishment. But, it is the earnest desire of true godly ministers to convince fallen men that they are in an eternally dangerous state and condition as they continue to walk in their sinful ways that most certainly will lead them to no other place, but hell!
The true gospel ministers, that are yet in this world, are constrained, or literally controlled, by the love of Christ because they genuinely discern the truth of the efficacy of Christ’s sacrificial death as the only sovereign Savior substitute that there ever was, is, or ever will be. They see and understand that they which live by virtue of His death, “should not, henceforth, live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again!” Praise His all glorious and great Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 14, 2016 | Devotional
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood — the forgiveness of sins… [Col.1:12-14]
From Mt.11:27 we have it taught directly from Christ Jesus that no man knows the Son, but the Father — and “neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him”. Therefore, for us to be able to give thanks unto the Father, the Son of God must — first of all — reveal Him unto us! And, look at what this great text from Colossians 1 declares that this revelatory experience will give to us. It not only gives to us a knowledge of God the Father, but it also gives to us a knowledge of He who makes us (literally) qualified to be heirs along with all of the saints in light! This, dear ones, is but another way of saying, “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves” (Eph.2:8).
Col.1:13 goes on to describe of God the Father as being the one “who has delivered (or, rescued) us from the power (or, the ruling authority) of darkness…”! Acts 26:18 tells us plainly that this ruling power of darkness is in truth the power of Satan! God the Father, Himself, intervenes on our behalf to reveal to us the saving, guiding “Light” of this world of darkness. We then are drawn by the Father (Jn.6:44) to come out of darkness to the Light — which is His Son — and from that time onward “we walk in the Light as He is in the Light” (1Jn.1:7) and we enter into a vibrant, living relationship of close fellowship with one another and “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin”. Praise and glory to His great eternal Name!
In addition, Col.1:13 goes on to say of God the Father that He has (in Christ) delivered us from Satan’s darkness and ruling power over us — and “translated us into the Kingdom (literally) of the Son of His love”! We are transferred from the temporal kingdom of the devil and his darkness to the eternal Kingdom of Christ and His Light; out from being under the enslaving dominion of Satan, sin and death into the life transforming realization of Christ’s “wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Co.1:30); from being under sin’s reigning influence to being under God the Son’s reign of love and grace.
Yes, we give our most heartfelt thanks unto God the Father for all of this because He has wrought it all for us through His beloved and eternal Son — our blessed and eternal Savior. And, praise to the Holy Spirit of God who personally bears witness unto us of all these wonderful things (Ro.8:16)! He it is that gives us the knowledge that in Jesus we do have “forgiveness of sins” (or, more lit., freedom from the penalty of our sins). Praise to the all glorious Savior!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 25, 2016 | Devotional
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2Th.1: 11-12
There is a copulative and cumulative connection that this text has with 2Th.1:7-10 that is right before it. It is a connection of great significance in that in verses 7-10 is described the truth and certainty of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ that is for certain going to take place on Judgment Day in eternity against all who do not truly know God, nor have genuinely obeyed the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.
It is in reaching the point of realizing this truth that the apostle declares from vs.11-12 that which has stirred him up into being so busy in always praying for those who have become the recipients of his pure truth gospel ministry. And, it is in this light that there are five specifics that are given for which he and his companions do pray will be accomplished by God on their behalf. They are:
1. That God would count them worthy — or, deem them entitled to and for — this, His effectual calling;
2. And next, that God would, in turn, then fulfill in them all the good pleasure of His goodness viz. His virtue and beneficence;
3. And, even more so, that He would fulfill in them His divine work of faith with power;
4. To the end that the Name — that is the very authority and the description of the character — of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in them; or, in their work.
5. And, they, in His transformation of them, in Him.
All of these grand things are accomplished in accordance with the bestowal, by God, of His grace upon us. This text plainly demonstrates how that the blessing of God’s grace is indeed an edifying and an empowering work that culminates in our bringing glory to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to Ro.8:28-29, all things work for our good because we are predestined to be conformed to His image.
But even more than this, this text tells us that we, being, by grace, His saved ones become the substance of the glory of God in Him! Dear ones, this is indeed a very incredible thing! It’s easy to see how that He as our Savior is obviously our glory, but the fact that we become His glory emphasizes the exceeding riches of His mercy and grace toward us. These are the things that make up being in the ministry!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 16, 2016 | Devotional
“It is the Spirit that quickeneth — the flesh profits nothing” “For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.” [Jn.6:63; Phil.3:3]
The first of these texts is a statement of eternal, immutable truth directly from Christ. The second is a Holy Spirit inspired truthful description of all who have been saved that comes from the writings of the apostle Paul. Both of these texts expose and have to do in some way or another with revealing to us the truth about the “flesh”.
First of all, the Lord Jesus declares concerning the “flesh” that it is completely and totally unprofitable; or, more literally, the “flesh” is without any use or benefit to us spiritually! In fact, the rest of vs.63 and 64 go on to say, “…the words that I say unto you, they are spirit and they are life; but there are some of you that believe not!” Then the Word tells us: “For Jesus knew, from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.” Those who betray Christ in this life — do so by their reliance upon, and trust in, the “flesh” instead of Him.
Next, the holy Spirit of Christ through Paul, His apostle, teaches us that the true and genuine eternally loved and chosen child of God comes to realize that in this fallen and sinful world they cannot put any confidence at all in the “flesh”! This is so significant where our walk through life in this world is concerned. We cannot trust the “flesh” at all! This has to do with our feelings, our wills or the way that things in this world may seem to be. This teaches us that we need to be enabled and led by the Holy Spirit in order to rely only on the sovereignty of our Savior for everything that confronts us here circumstantially! This keeps us in a constant posture of humble prayer — waiting upon our great God and deliverer to manifest His saving presence in the midst of all of our trials. And, He will never leave us. He will ever be there for us to preserve, protect, provide and guide us. Praise His mighty Name!
Jesus told us from Jn.16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In this world, ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world!” This points us directly to the discourse that Jesus delivered right before He went to the cross. Here He tells us where it is that we have peace, even in this turbulent world of, oh so many, fleshly trials! We have peace “in Him”. In fact, He is our peace (Eph.2:14)!
Woe unto those that continually put their confidence and trust in the thinking and the deeds of the “flesh”. May our sovereign Lord, by His great grace, cause us to both will and do of, only, His good pleasure just as it says in Phil.2:13. This is that which constitutes for every true believer that which is described from Gal.5:16: “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Let us pray for one another that this be the substance of our walk in this world.
For Christ’s Glory Only-
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 28, 2016 | Devotional
“…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings…” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit — the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” [Phil.3:10; Col.3:1-2; Ro.8:5-6]
ce the world celebrated Christ’s Resurrection Day at the end of March this year, I want to give it specific acknowledgement here in April. And, what we see from our chosen texts actually demonstrates that through the resurrection of our wonderful Lord we for whom Christ died become the recipients of His eternally gracious blessings throughout our entire walk through this sinful fallen world!
First of all, the Philippian text declares that learning to know Christ is tantamount to both: getting to know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. This reflects Eph.1:19-20 which describes…what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His mighty Power (20) which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places…”. So, we owe the genuineness of our faith and of our true believing in the Lord Jesus Christ to His true and real resurrection from the dead as well as His ascension back into heavenly glory! In fact, we who are truly His have been spiritually quickened and “raised up together, (with Him) and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” [Eph.2:6] How wonderful is that!?
The Col.3 text, also, descriptively puts all the true children of God with Christ in His resurrection and His ascension. It poses a rather rhetorical question about that fact that includes the way the child of God should think while they are still here in this sinful and fallen world. It suggests that if we have been risen with Christ, we, therefore, should (lit.) set our minds on things above where He is and from where He rules! He is seated there on His sovereign throne of ruling authority over us and over all things! Think about that! Meditate on that almighty and victorious reality!
The Rom.8 text goes another step further with this and declares that this way of spiritually thinking is critical to our being a true child of God. It is even a common way of thinking among all who have truly been made alive in, and by, the Spirit of Christ! One is either in the flesh, or in the Spirit. If one is in the flesh, then they are spiritually dead; if they are in the Spirit, then they are spiritually alive and in a position of peace with God. This is because the mind of the flesh is enmity with God and not subject to the law of God and neither, indeed, can it be! However, the mind of the Spirit is the mind of Christ, our Substitute, and because of His eternally accomplished and completely finished atonement — He has wrought peace with God for us.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Mar 17, 2016 | Devotional
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Mt.11:28]
“All that the Father giveth me — shall come to me — and them that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out.” [Jn.6:37]
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him — for he that cometh to God — must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” [He.11:6]
“No man can come unto me — except the Father which hath sent me draw him — and I will raise him up at the last day.” [Jn.6:44]
These four texts of scripture succinctly declare the purity of an important truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the most part, many see the activity of “coming to Christ” as a primary and decisive act of the sinner…and it is not. In fact, the last text from Jn.6:44 clearly states that no sinful, fallen man can come to Christ — except the Father (God the Father) draw him! The third text from He.11:6 plainly says that it is impossible to please God in coming to Him as a saved one without true and genuine faith to believe in God and that He is an eternal Savior! The God/man, Christ Jesus, Himself, tells us from Jn.6:37 that all those from out of lost and fallen mankind whom the Father has eternally given to His eternal Son shall come to Him — and all those that do come — He will in no wise cast away from Him.
This, in turn, leaves us with the first text that is commonly purported to be a general worldwide invitation of Christ, Himself, for any and all sinners to come unto Him. However, the context of Mt.11:28 is that of being a command — not an invitation! Jesus is in no way contradicting the specificity of the other three texts, but He is in actuality underscoring and further identifying the ones who truly do come to Him in eternal salvation! They are sinners who have become weary and heavy laden with their constant, inescapable sinfulness and hear the commanding voice of the loving Spirit of Christ summoning them to come to Him for eternal redemption, peace and rest. To their weary and burdened soul this summons is irresistible music to their hearing ears!
As they come to the sound of His powerful voice — out of the mists of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pe.2:9) — He reveals Himself unto them as their personal Savior and Lord who will never ever leave them, or forsake them, or cast them out. Praise His holy Name! He truly becomes to them “the way, the truth, and the life” throughout the time of their life in and through this fallen world. His Word is the only thing that sustains and satisfies their longings — and counsels them all the way until they literally enter into His most glorious presence (Ps.73:24). Indeed, their daily struggles seem to center upon the dark and deadly iniquities that are so prominent where the proclamation of pure gospel truth is concerned (Ps.119:130> “The entrance of thy words giveth light”). His Word is to them a lamp unto their feet; and a light unto their path through this troubled and trying world (Ps.119:105).
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
