1 PETER 4:7.—“Watch unto prayer.” IN explaining this injunction of St. Peter, we shall show the importance of a watchful and prayerful spirit, by considering the innate disposition of the human heart. We shall find the argument derived from the fact that man is naturally …
Tag: Shedd
SANCTIFICATION COMPLETED AT DEATH
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9.—“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” THESE words primarily refer to the higher knowledge which is in reserve for the Christian in heaven. …
THE CHRISTIAN IMPERFECT, YET A SAINT
COLOSSIANS 3:12.—“Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.” IT appears singular to the reader of St. Paul’s Epistles, that the apostle in one passage speaks of Christians as perfect, and in another …
CONNECTION BETWEEN FAITH AND WORKS
JAMES 2:24.—“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” THIS affirmation of the inspired apostle James seems to flatly contradict that famous assertion of the inspired apostle Paul which is so often quoted, as containing the pith …
PRIDE VITIATES RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE
1 CORINTHIANS 8:2.—“If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” IN reading this text, we must lay a strong emphasis upon the word “think,” if we would feel the force of it. St. Paul would teach …
CHRISTIAN HUMILITY
1 PETER 5:5.—“Be clothed with humility.” HUMILITY is a grace that pertains exclusively to the Christian religion. The better codes of pagan morality recommend some of the virtues of our religion—such as benevolence, justice, truthfulness, and the like—but this quality of meekness, which is so …
THE IMPRESSION MADE BY CHRIST’S HOLINESS
LUKE 5:8.—“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying: Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” THE occurrence which called forth this at first sight singular request from Peter, is one of the many interesting incidents which …
THE SENSE OF SIN LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE CONCEIT OF HOLINESS LEADS TO SIN
JOHN 9:41.—“Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” SOME of the most striking and significant teachings of Christ are put into the form of a verbal contradiction. Taking them …
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THE LAW IS THE STRENGTH OF SIN
1 CORINTHIANS 15:56.—“The strength of sin is the law.” ANY man who thinks or feels at all about the sin that is in him, knows that it is strong; and, also, that it is the strongest principle within him. His will is adequate for all …
THE LAW IS LIGHT
PROVERBS 6:23.—“The law is light.” THE fitness and beauty of this comparison of the law of God with light are seen immediately. If we consider the nature of law, we find that it is like the nature of sunlight. There is nothing so pure and …