by John Carpenter | Oct 26, 2015 | Devotional
“Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my Word.” “He that is of God, heareth God’s words. Ye, therefore, hear them not — because ye are not of God.” [Jn.8:43,47]
These two verses are found in a context that involves a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. They declare and underscore an important spiritual reality. They reveal an immutable divine principle that determines who has and who has not received God’s sovereign grace among sinful, fallen mankind. This is why pure gospel preaching ministries are, for the most part, seed sowing ministries.
Earlier in Jn.8:21 Jesus told them: “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go — ye cannot come.” Then He said to them from vs.23-24: “Ye are from beneath; I am from above. Ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins — for if ye believe not that I am — ye shall die in your sins.” This is an astoundingly poignant descriptive declaration! It elicits from them the most relevant question: “Who art thou?” Which Jesus answers: “Even the same that I said unto you — from the beginning”.
Now that which our Lord is referring to here is everything that He had been saying about Himself from Jn.2:23 down through Jn.8:12. In this portion of scripture a definite distinguishing line is continually being drawn between those that do hear, see and believe the truth as to whom the Lord Jesus really is as being the eternal Son of God incarnated into the likeness of fallen human flesh, and those who do not.
Observe what is said from Jn.2:23-25 about certain ones that believed in Jesus because of the miracles that He did. Their faith was not genuine! It was based simply on sensationalism! Jesus did not close on their hearts so that they truly did believe in Him. Not like Nicodemus exemplifies in Jn.3. Nor like the woman at the well, or the other Samaritans from Sychar in Jn.4. Nor was it like the lame man in Jn.5 whom Jesus singled out from among all the other sick and infirm folk to be healed by Him. Jesus revealed Himself to only that one, and told the persecuting Jews who sought to slay Him, “My Father worketh hitherto – and I work.” They knew, right then, that He was saying that God was His Father, and that He was equal with God [Jn.5:18]. In Jn.6 Jesus explains that it is the particular work of His Father to cause lost and fallen men to believe on Him whom He had sent [6:29]; and that it is these — that make up all that the Father has given to Him – and they most certainly shall come to Him – and not one of them will be lost [6:37-40, 44-45]. Nevertheless, right before, Jesus tells them from vs.36, “You also have seen me — and believe not.” Jn.7 continues to unfold the line that divides and distinguishes the true believers from the false [observe 7:30-31 and 40-44]. Ch. 7 ends with Nicodemus showing up again as defending Jesus against the unbelievers [see 7:45-53]. Then in Jn.8:12 Jesus rescues the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death, and declares Himself to be the sin cleansing Christ of God and the “Light of the world”.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
– John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 15, 2015 | Devotional
“And without controversy — great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh — justified in the Spirit — seen of angels — preached unto the Gentiles — believed on in the world — received up into glory” “And the Word was made flesh — and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory — the glory as of the only begotten of the Father — full of grace and truth” 1Ti.3:16; Jn.1:14
It is without a doubt, or any argument whatsoever, that absolutely the most mysterious divine truth of God’s wonderful grace is — first of all — how that the eternal almighty, all holy, all powerful, all just and all righteous Son of God — is manifested in fallen human flesh. He, the creator God, not only entered and became a part of our human history, but He has also forever changed it! There is no disputing this fact — as the eternal Son of God and the eternal Savior Son of man, He historically lived, He died, He was buried, He was raised again and He was received up into Godly glory and grandeur as the only triumphant and totally sovereign Savior/substitute — that there ever was, is, or forever will be. He became this for all His eternally loved and chosen ones! Praise His all glorious Name! This is the very substance of the gospel of the glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This is what the Word of God descriptively declares throughout its holy scriptures. This is why it is that John refers to Jesus as being the living “Word” of God.
Jn.1:1-2 declares this: “In the beginning was the Word — and the Word was with God and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God!” Hence, it is most definitely true that by, the “Word”, John is here referencing Christ Jesus as being the incarnated eternal Son of God — of whom he, also (under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit) goes on to write from vs.3 that “All things — were made by Him — and without Him was not anything made that was made!” And then, we see from vs.14, as is stated above, that: “the Word was made flesh”. Oh, think about that! The “Maker” of all things in all of creation was, Himself, made flesh! It in fact declares that: “He was made flesh — and dwelt among us…”. The Spirit chosen word here for “dwelt” is the verbal form of the word, “tabernacle”. In other words, the gospel is here declaring that the living and eternal Word of God became human flesh and blood and “tabernacled” among us. Wow!
Therefore, this same gospel of the wonderful grace of Jesus is that which is being descriptively declared by type — by symbol — by representation — throughout the Holy Bible wherever the “Tabernacle” is mentioned, or referenced. How grand is that, my friends!? The very place in which the sovereign saving sacrifice was symbolically performed by the chosen people of God — is, in Christ, made to be real and actual! Jesus, the eternal and living “Word” of God, became the very same eternal and living and saving sacrificial “Lamb” of God — for all of His eternally loved and chosen ones. He is the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 19, 2015 | 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 forcefulness in that there is described the truth and certainty of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ that is going to take place in judgment in eternity against all who do not truly know God, nor have genuinely obeyed the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.
In reaching the point of the realization of this truth, which the apostle declares from vs.11-12, he is then motivated by the Holy Spirit into being busy in always praying for all those who have become the good recipients of his ministry. And, in this light there are five specifics that are given for which he and his companions do pray will be accomplished by God on their behalf:
1. That God “would count them worthy” — or, deem them entitled to, 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 toward them.
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 character — of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in them —
5. And, they 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 the blessing of God’s grace is indeed an edifying work that culminates in our bringing glory to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed noteworthy that, according to Ro.8:28-29, we – who are His true children — are predestined to be conformed to His image.
But even more than this, this text tells us that we, being His eternally saved ones, are also the very 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 also obviously our glory, but the fact that we become His glory emphasizes the exceeding riches of His mercy and grace. These are the things that comprise the ministry of the gospel.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 10, 2015 | Devotional
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ — he is a new creature — old things pass away; behold — all things become new.” “Create in me a clean heart, O, God, and renew a right spirit within me.” “A new heart also will I give you — and a new Spirit will I put within you…And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.” “For it is God that worketh in you — both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
[2Co.5:17;Ps.51:10;Ez.36:25-27;Phil.2:13]
These descriptive texts tell of the work of God’s great grace in the personal life and experience of each of His eternally loved and chosen and placed in Christ saved ones — from before the foundation of the world — according to the everlasting gospel of the Everlasting Covenant. [Jer.31:3; 2Ti.2:19; Eph.1:3-4; Rev.14:6; He.13:20-21]
That it is the heart and spirit of the sinner that is totally transformed by being born from above by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God is obvious by virtue of all the scriptural references cited above that specifically mention them. Besides — it is the heart that is Biblically stated to be the most deceitful thing about any fallen sinner. Jer.17:9 plainly syas this about the heart of any fallen sinner: “The heart is deceitful — above all things — and desperately wicked — Who can know it?”
And just who is a fallen sinner? The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, answers this question from Jn.8:34> “Verily, verily, I say unto you — Whosoever committeth sin is the servant (lit., the bond-slave) of sin.” If we’ve ever sinned, then we’re its slaves.
The only hope of any sinner being made free from sin and all of its consequences is through their receiving the grace of repentance and the grace of faith in accordance with the pure gospel truth of the God’s Word — and the genuine regeneration of the Holy Spirit of Christ! “Of His own will — begat He us with the Word of truth!” [Jas.1:18] The Lord Jesus also rightly said: “…If ye continue in my Word — then are ye my disciples indeed — and ye shall know the truth — and the truth shall make you free.” “If the Son, therefore, make you free — ye shall be free, indeed!” [Jn.8:31-32,36]
A new heart along with the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is the only remedy for the fallen sinner’s natural innate obstinate obdurateness to spiritual things. And, this can only be provided by our saving Lord! He must seek us out and save us — or else we be lost! If we believe that anything is left up to us in Christ’s eternal purpose and plan for the salvation of our souls — we come dangerously close to what the Word describes of our being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. May God have mercy and deliver us from this! But, that’s just it! This is the wonderful truth about the eternally saving person and work of Christ Jesus the Lord…He, Himself, declared from Lk.19:10 “For the Son of man is come — to seek and to save that which was lost.” Praise His loving and gracious Name — along with His great and mighty power — to save us forevermore!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 5, 2015 | Devotional
The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble — the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice — Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart — and fulfill all thy counsel.” Ps.20:1-4
When this wonderful Psalm of David says: “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble” it pertains — first of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ — and then unto all of us whom God has placed in Him before the foundation of the world. The word so translated as “hear” — literally means: “answer”. So, the phrase actually says: “The Lord answer thee — in the day of trouble”. This denotes petitionary prayer being made — “in the day of trouble”. Our sovereign Savior substitute was often vanishing from the crowds to get away to a place of private prayer with His heavenly Father. Even so, we who have been eternally loved and chosen by God — and place in His dear Son — will do the same thing.
The “day” of trouble for Christ was every day that He spent in His special time of divine incarnation in this world — our fallen world — on our behalf. So, if ever there is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for wisdom; for guidance; for provision; for protection and preservation — it is now.
Our Lord prayed — just to simply spend time in the presence of His Father. Even so do all of God’s true children whom He has set apart from this evil world to be eternally saved. Our Savior’s prayers were not for His own deliverance, but for ours! He was sent by the Father to act as our Surety and Substitute. To seek and to save all of God’s lost children…every one. His petitions were always concerning us!
And, what does the Word of God command of us? What does the Law of the Lord command all of His true children? Why, it commands of us that we should love one another — bear one another’s burdens — and pray without ceasing for one another. This is the holy practice which makes up the bulk of our days in this world of trouble, trial and affliction. And, as the Father sent help from Zion unto His Son to strengthen Him in the accomplishment of the eternal holy atonement that He was sent to perform — even so, has He sent and supplied us with Christ — who is our help and strength! He is even our all and in all.
It is certain that the Father hears and grants the petitions of His Son — who is the eternal Son of God! And again, the same assurance is given unto us: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him — that if we ask any thing according to His will — He heareth us: (15) and if we know that He hear us — whatsoever we ask — we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1Jn.5:14-15 We have been given this eternal assurance by virtue of Christ’s eternally accomplished atonement on our behalf as being “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”– Praise His Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 27, 2015 | 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…(13)…arise my love, my fair one, and come away.” [Song. 2:10-13]
This text is a wonderful reflection of our loving Savior graciously coming unto us and refreshing upon us His divine presence and power. It’s like a brand new morning — of a brand new season — that He is awakening us to realize. His personal coming brings both unto us, and it is grand! It is grand because He, it is, who is “full of grace and truth” [Jn.1:14]. We, who are His loved and chosen from everlasting, are awakened with His eternally gracious and faithful presence.
This, in turn, provides the means to make the moment even more special. When He says: “Rise up, my love — my fair one — and come away”– we cannot help but do it! Just like when He first called unto the disciples to follow Him. Some were busy mending their fishing nets, but when He called them, it says, immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. Whatever preoccupied their time — whether family, or personal work — it all instantly lost its appeal to their obeying the loving command of Christ to follow Him! [Mt.4:18-22]
Even so, from this text found in Solomon’s Song we cannot expect it to be any different. Irresistible grace is absolutely at work here — just like when our Savior issued various commands during His holy walk among mankind during His time of incarnation. The Bible says from 1Co.15:10 “But by the grace of God, I am what I am
— and His grace toward me was not in vain — but I labored more abundantly than they all — yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Praise the Savior!
The Word of God communicates the truth of the story of redemption so much through Old Testament types and shadows — and here in Solomon’s Song we have, as it were, our Lord coming to each of us individually — who make up being His Bride — and awakening us. Jesus said that He will raise us up at the last day [Jn.6:39-40,44]. Here, in this text, we have a glimpse of how He lovingly and gently does this. He comes to us and says, “Rise up, my love (Or lit. My companion) my fair one (Or, one whom I have made beautiful with my righteousness) and come away!” Just like the disciples were irresistibly summoned to come and follow Christ. even so, we, at that glorious moment will be summoned to come away with Him — right into heaven!
Truly, then we will adoringly and joyfully say: “O how marvelous, O how wonderful — and my song shall ever be! O how marvelous, O how wonderful, is my Savior’s love for me!” We shall be irresistibly summoned to rise up from the death of this dark, cursed world’s Winter time of night — to go away with our Savior into the light of the eternal life of Heaven’s eternal Spring day!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
