The Blessings of Our Union with Christ

“Evangelism is not simply saying, ‘Come to Christ; He will do this, that, and the other for you.’ No! The glorious thing about salvation is that I am taken out of Adam, that have finished with him, and am dead to sin. I am in Christ, and all the blessings that come to me come because of my union with Christ.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Wonderful Words of Life!

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the living God.’” (John 6:66-69, NKJV)

The story goes that Fleming H. Revell, brother-in-law of D. L. Moody and a Christian publisher was going to launch a new Sunday School Paper. Revell wanted a song that would highlight the immediate focus of the new publication.

The name of the paper was to be Words of Life with its emphasis being the vital importance of studying God’s Word. Mr. Revell went to Philip Bliss and asked him to write a song for the paper giving him the text of John 6:66 as the basis.

Bliss worked on the project and wrote a song called Wonderful Words of Life. He was able to tie in the theme of the new paper in verses two and three.

It was a simple yet effective song. After the issue of the first publication the song was all but forgotten. Until one day when Revell gave a copy of the song to another gospel song writer, George Stebbins. Stebbins began using the song Wonderful Words of Life in his evangelistic meetings. He and his wife (Elma) would sing it as a duet. From that exposure Bliss’s song became popular.

Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life

Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life

Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

It's A Miracle!

Teen, 17 Who Died In Christ,

Resurrected From the Dead

A San Jose, CA teenager who had been baptized into Christ Jesus and baptized into His death has been resurrected from the dead, Romans 6:4, 5 reported.

Gregory Dean Metcalf, 17, was convicted of his sin and offense against a righteous God after hearing a gospel message had been pronounced baptized into Christ’s death by the Holy Spirit.

Then, instantaneously Metcalf was resurrected to newness of life.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…” (Romans 6:4, 5, NKJV)

Larry Harper, assistant pastor and Bus Director of United Baptist Church assisted the teen in understanding the gospel in his office on Wednesday evening, April 12^th, 2972. Harper declared Metcalf’s resurrection from the dead as “Another miracle by the grace of God.”

Metcalf was led to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism (immersion) on Sunday morning, April 16^th, 1972. He was encouraged to live his life worthy of the One who had translated him from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

“Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I am amazed, grateful, and humbled,” Metcalf said. “To God be the glory for ever and ever Amen,” he added.

How Dangerous Is My Job?

Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:

Let not my temporal occupation injure my spiritual concerns, or the cares of this life make me neglect the one thing needful.

Gregory Metcalf "Dead" at 17

Obituary Notice

Gregory Dean Metcalf

This is a late notice of a death that occurred in San Jose, CA on April 12, 1972. The decedent died as a result of actions that took place approximately April 14, AD 32 on Mt. Calvary, in the city of Jerusalem. 

"How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death" (Romans 6:2, 3 NKJV)

Local San Jose resident, Gregory Dean Metcalf, 17, was slain on April 12, 1972, at the United Baptist Church.

He was first born February 3, 1955 in Salem, Ohio into a life of bondage to sin and the desires of his flesh. He lived for 17 years as a prisoner to sin under the judgment and condemnation of God.

Gregory served himself, taking great pains to please his fleshly desires. He had no desire to fight against them and to seek better things such as the things of the Holy Spirit of God. His only thoughts were of himself and how he could pamper his flesh.

However, on April 12, 1972, on a Wednesday evening after a sound preaching of the gospel, Gregory was “killed” as the Holy Spirit applied the atoning work of Jesus Christ to his dead, lifeless soul. Gregory was born a second time, aka born again.

He was baptized into the death of Christ and at that time he was joined in union with Christ and was adopted into Jesus Christ. Gregory’s sin was imputed to Jesus Christ and the righteousness of Jesus Christ was imputed to him at that time.

Gregory is a member of the body of Christ. He is survived by Jesus Christ who is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, which provided Gregory with eternal life.

Gregory was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn F. Metcalf and Evelyn L. (Reed) Metcalf who also were born dead in trespasses and sin who now temporarily reside in Modesto, CA awaiting their relocation to the very presence of God in heaven where they will be forever more.

No memorial service is needed or requested since a great celebration; including singing by the angels of God occurred the moment Gregory by the gift of faith trusted Jesus Christ as his savior.

Arrangements are by our Sovereign God who in eternity past elected Gregory to salvation, provided a sure and certain efficacious sacrifice which pleased and appeased God the Father, and who irresistibly drew Gregory unto Himself by the Holy Spirit, and who now works to preserve Gregory until his death or the rapture.

Book Review: The Puritans: Their Origins and Sucessors

Title:  The Puritans:  Their Origins and Sucessors

Author:  Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Publisher:  The Banner of Truth Trust

First Copyright:  1987

Pages:  411

Type of Book:  Hardback

General Subject Matter:  Historical, Theological

Special Features:  None

Price:  $28.00

ISBN:  0-85151-496-0

This book is a collection of messages that were delivered by the now deceased Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Lloyd-Jones was a former pastor of Westminster Chapel and the key-note speaker of the Puritan and Westminster Conferences. These conferences ran from 1959-1978. This volume consists of nineteen messages.

The Conference began as interest in the writings of the English Puritans gained popularity amongst a group of students who were members of the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union. These students developed an interest in the writings of the Puritans, particularly John Owen and Richard Baxter.

There is no particular theme to this book. Therefore  there is also no particular thesis to this book. Each message has its own theme and thesis.

There is no means or method of development as such since this again is not a book, but a collection of messages.

I found each message to be interesting and informative. I enjoyed reading them and actually learned quite a bit. Lloyd-Jones chose topics of interest, value, and historical significance to speak on during these conferences. The publishers chose nineteen of the best of these addresses for this collection.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (20 December 1899 – 1 March 1981) was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

I heartily recommend this book to any reader. The wide variety, careful preparation, intelligence, and wit of Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes this a great read for anyone.

Is Your Soul Awake? Time to Rise and Shine!

Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve, And press with vigour on; A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.

 

--Phillip Doddridge