None But Jesus

None But Jesus
A Sermon
Delivered on Sunday morning, February 17th, 1861
by the
Rev. C. H. SPURGEON
At Exeter Hall, Strand

“He that believeth on him is not condemned” —John 3:18

The way of salvation is stated in Scripture in the very plainest terms, and yet, perhaps, there is no truth about which more errors have been uttered, than concerning the faith which saves the soul. Well has it been proved by experience, that all doctrines of Christ are mysteries—mysteries, not so much in themselves, but because they are hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded their eyes.

So plain is Scripture, that one would have said, “He that runs may read”; but so dim is man’s eye, and so marred is his understanding, that the very simplest truth of Scripture he distorts and misrepresents. And indeed, my brethren, even those who know what faith is, personally and experimentally, do not always find it easy to give a good definition of it.

They think they have hit the mark, and then afterwards they lament that they have failed. Straining themselves to describe some one part of faith, they find they have forgotten another, and in the excess of their earnestness to clear the poor sinner out of one mistake, they often lead him into a worse error. So that I think I may say that, while faith is the simplest thing in all the world, yet it is one of the most difficult upon which to preach, because from its very importance, our soul begins to tremble while speaking of it, and then we are not able to describe it so clearly as we would. Continue reading →

True Religion – Our Business

True Religion – Our Business
By
Thomas Watson

“Don’t you know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

These are the words of our Lord Jesus, whose lips dropped as a honeycomb. The occasion was this, Christ, having the Spirit of wisdom and sanctity poured out upon Him without measure, being but 12 years old, went to the temple and fell to disputing with the religious teachers, verse 46. Where should learning blossom, but upon that tree which bore several sorts of fruit? Who could better interpret secrets—than He who lay in His Father’s bosom, Colossians 2:9? According to Luke 2:47, “All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding.” Well might they admire—that He who had never been at the university should be able to silence the great religious teachers. John 7:15, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?”

While they were wondering, his mother, who now was come to seek Him, propounded this question, “Son, why have You thus dealt with us?” Luke 2:48. That is, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” In the words of the text, Christ made a rational and pious reply, “Didn’t you know I had to be about My Father’s business?” In the Greek it is “in the things of My Father.” It is as if Christ had said, “I must be doing the work which My Father in heaven has set Me about; for this I received My mission and unction, that I might do the will of Him who sent Me.” What am I in the world for but to promote His glory, propagate His truth, and be as a magnet to draw souls to heaven? “Didn’t you know I had to be about My Father’s business?” Continue reading →

Justification by Faith Alone

Justification by Faith Alone
by
Jonathan Edwards
(1703-1758)

Dated November, 1734 – Prepared from 2 Sermons

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” — Romans 4:5

Subject: We are justified only by faith in Christ, and not by any manner of goodness of our own.

The following things may be noted in this verse:

1. That justification respects a man as ungodly. This is evident by these words — that justifieth the ungodly, which cannot imply less than that God, in the act of justification, has no regard to anything in the person justified, as godliness or any goodness in him, but that immediately before this act, God beholds him only as an ungodly creature, so that godliness in the person to be justified is not so antecedent to his justification as to be the ground of it.

When it is said that God justifies the ungodly, it is as absurd to suppose that our godliness, taken as some goodness in us, is the ground of our justification, as when it is said that Christ gave sight to the blind to suppose that sight was prior to, and the ground of, that act of mercy in Christ. Or as, if it should be said that such an one by his bounty has made a poor man rich, to suppose that it was the wealth of this poor man that was the ground of this bounty towards him, and was the price by which it was procured. Continue reading →

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

RESOLUTIONS
of
Jonathan Edwards
(1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again. Continue reading →

Time’s Shortness

Time’s Shortness
By
Thomas Watson

A sermon preached July 2, 1676,
At the funeral of Pastor John Wells

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short.” 1 Corinthians 7:29

The blessed Apostle in these words shows us what our station in the world is, and what all our secular enjoyments are. They are short and transient. “But this I say, brethren, the time is short.” The text consists of two parts:

1. A kind address—”Brethren.”

2. A seasonable admonition—”The time is short.”

1. A kind address—”Brethren.” The saints of God are brethren. They are cemented together with the blood of Christ. Then let there be no strife among them, seeing they are brethren (Genesis 13:8). Believers are regenerated by the same Spirit; they suck the same breasts—the promises; and wear the same garment—Christ’s righteousness. They sit at the same board—the table of the Lord; and partake of the same glory—the inheritance in light (Colossians 1:12). Should they not love one another? There ought to be no contending among God’s people—but as to who would love most. Continue reading →