Yes: this is God's purpose, which cannot be frustrated, that Christ shall be all. He is all in our justification and sanctification, for we are justified and sanctified IN HIS NAME.
He is all in our preservation and glorification, for we are kept by His power, and enter heaven through His merits. He should be all in our pursuits, pleasures, hopes, motives, and aims. Many put their comforts in the place of Christ, and then God puts comfort out of their reach; others put their graces in the place of Christ, and then faith, hope, and love, are concealed by a cloud.
There must be nothing between God and us, but Jesus; we must look away from sin, from graces, and from works, and expect to be accepted, blessed, and honoured only in the name and for the honour of Jesus. Christ is our conquering weapon, by which we ovecome our foes; our plea, by which we prevail with God; our righteousness, by which we are justified; and our peace, which supports and comforts us in life and in death.
Christ is all we want, or God can give. He is our sun and shield; our present joy and endless portion. He is our all on earth, He will be our all in heaven.
Saviour! the knowledge of Thy love into my soul convey; Thyself bestow! for Thee alone, My all in all, I pray.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
Yes: this is God's purpose, which cannot be frustrated, that Christ shall be all. He is all in our justification and sanctification, for we are justified and sanctified IN HIS NAME.
He is all in our preservation and glorification, for we are kept by His power, and enter heaven through His merits. He should be all in our pursuits, pleasures, hopes, motives, and aims. Many put their comforts in the place of Christ, and then God puts comfort out of their reach; others put their graces in the place of Christ, and then faith, hope, and love, are concealed by a cloud.
There must be nothing between God and us, but Jesus; we must look away from sin, from graces, and from works, and expect to be accepted, blessed, and honoured only in the name and for the honour of Jesus. Christ is our conquering weapon, by which we ovecome our foes; our plea, by which we prevail with God; our righteousness, by which we are justified; and our peace, which supports and comforts us in life and in death.
Christ is all we want, or God can give. He is our sun and shield; our present joy and endless portion. He is our all on earth, He will be our all in heaven.
Saviour! the knowledge of Thy love into my soul convey; Thyself bestow! for Thee alone, My all in all, I pray.