Author: Charlie Garrett

Oak branch with wind bells.

Sunday, 8 September 2024

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Matthew 3:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having answered, said unto him, ‘Permit now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he permits Him.” (CG).

In the previous verse, John had tried to prevent Jesus from being immersed by him and said that rather he needed a baptism from Jesus. However, Matthew next records, “And Jesus, having answered, said unto him, ‘Permit now.’”

The Greek bears emphasis on the word “now.” The moment is being highlighted and set aside as an important point upon which John was to comply. Things would be different as time continued to unfold, but the immediate time bore its own particular significance and need. John’s immersion was one of reconsideration. People were asked to change their minds about their position before God. Jesus did not need to do this.

As the people were immersed, they confessed their sins. Jesus did not need to do this. John, having observed Jesus’ life, knew this. But yet, He had come to be baptized, saying, “for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Notice the plural word “us.” This was not something laid solely upon John, nor was it something that only pertained to Jesus. There is a sense of corporate need.

Where was it that the Jews normally went to confess their sins? They went to the temple, taking along a sacrifice as mandated by the law. Who did they go to? They went to the priests who ministered the law before God. The system was designed for this by God, and it was brought forth through the hand of Moses.

Along with any individual confessions of sin, there were various sacrifices each day, month, and annually. On the Day of Atonement, all the people were to refrain from work and to afflict their souls. There is nothing in the law that says, “When the Messiah comes, He will be exempt from the statutes, rules, and ordinances of this law.”

John was called as a prophet, but he was also called to have the people turn from their wicked ways and redirect their lives. Rote observance of the rituals of the temple did not change the inner man. However, they were required by law and the people were to submit to them. These were all ministered by the priests. John was of the priestly class, being a son of Zechariah.

If Jesus was required to observe the rituals of the law, and if God had called John to supplement those rituals with the people’s inward reconsideration of their ways along with an outward demonstration of that reconsideration, meaning immersion, then it was right for Jesus to submit to this ordinance as well.

On the Day of Atonement, He had no need for atonement, but being born under the law, He had a need to observe the day accordingly. With John’s immersion, the same need existed to fulfill all righteousness, meaning those things which God had ordained.

A true prophet of God under the law called forth the will of God in accordance with the law. Jesus understood this and He has informed John that He acknowledges John’s authority and position, including his status as a priest who administers before God in relation to the sins of the people, even if they had not committed a particular sin or any sin at all.

To understand this more fully, Leviticus 4:13 begins the section of corporate guilt by the congregation –

“Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which should not be done, and are guilty.” Leviticus 4:13

Israel was a corporate body as well as a nation of individuals. Jesus could not disassociate Himself from the nation’s corporate guilt just because He was the Messiah. All righteousness demanded that Jesus enter into John’s baptism regardless of His personal state before God.

As for the word prepó, translated as “fitting,” HELPS Word Studies defines it, saying it “refers to acting appropriately in a particular situation, i.e. as it is seemly to God and therefore ‘conspicuous amongst others; hence eminent, distinguished. . . seemly fit.’”

Jesus is identifying Himself as a person of Israel, born under the law and who was required to observe the law, just as any other Israelite was required to do. Whether John fully grasped everything Jesus’ words meant or not, it next says, “Then he permits Him.”

John submitted to Jesus’ submission. Thus, as a member of the priestly class of the law and also the prophet called to return Israel to the right road before God, his immersion included conducting that rite on the One who Created Him, gave Moses the law, and who would fulfill that same law. Astonishing.

Life application: Jesus. All hail the name of Jesus!

Heavenly Father, we come today to hail the great and exalted name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah and Amen.

In each Florida oak is an entire ecosystem of epiphytes, also known as tillandsias or air plants.
In this photo, there are probably a thousand, from very small to as big as a basketball.

Saturday, 7 September 2024

And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” Matthew 3:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And John, he thoroughly hindered Him, saying, ‘I, I have need by You to be immersed, and You, You come unto me?’” (CG).

The previous verse noted that Jesus came from Galilee upon the Jordan to be immersed by John. Now, John’s surprised reaction to this is noted, beginning with, “And John, he thoroughly hinders Him.”

The word is found only here in the New Testament, diakóluó. It is derived from dia, through, and kóluó, to hinder. Thus, it signifies to thoroughly hinder. John was completely adamant that this was the wrong thing to do. The verb, being imperfect, gives the sense of something continuing in the past rather than an event.

As such, John realized that Jesus’ life was already one of living properly before the Lord. This doesn’t mean that he knew Jesus was the Messiah. John 1 dispels that notion –

“And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” ³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.’” John 1:32-34

Rather, at this point, it might be like an associate pastor calling for people in the church to come forward and return their lives wholly to the Lord. When he does this, the lead pastor comes forward. The associate pastor might then say, “How can this be? I have observed him, and he is the epitome of piety.” That is seen in the next words where he was “saying, ‘I, I have need by You to be immersed.’”

John recognized Jesus’ life as one that was lived in a godly and upright manner. Being cousins, he probably saw this many times at annual festivals or other times when the extended family gathered. Because of this, he understood that Jesus had a greater right to immerse him than he had to immerse Jesus. And yet, he continues with, “and You, You come unto me?”

John, despite being the prophet of the Lord, realized his unworthiness. He was just a man, born of Adam and thus with sin. Within this great body of humanity, one can recognize greater or lesser piety and righteousness in others. When we see someone obviously more attuned to God and His ways, we do not have to consider them as the Messiah. Rather, we understand that the person’s life is one that is simply closer to God than ours is.

Such an understanding concerning Jesus by John fully explains the seeming conflict between this account and that of John. It was not until Jesus is actually baptized that John will realize why his cousin was such a godly person all along.

Life application: Paul says in Romans 3 –

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
¹¹ There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
¹² They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
¹³ “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
¹⁴ “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways;
¹⁷ And the way of peace they have not known.”
¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18

It has been noted in previous commentaries that the terms “good,” “righteous,” etc. are applied to people in the New Testament. Paul cites the psalms, specifically Psalm 14 and Psalm 53, where David applies those words to a person who says that there is no God. It cannot be an all-encompassing statement concerning every person because it says this in 2 Samuel 18 –

“Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, ‘There is another man, running alone!’
And the king said, ‘He also brings news.’
²⁷ So the watchman said, ‘I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.’
And the king said, ‘He is a good man, and comes with good news.’” 2 Samuel 18:26, 27

Therefore, it would be contradictory for David to say this particular man is good, and then make an all-encompassing statement about nobody being good everyone in the psalms. And such, he did not do. His words about there being none good must be taken in the context of the surrounding thoughts. Likewise, Paul did not rip the words of David out of their context to make an all-encompassing thought either.

Instead, words are used to convey meaning. Words such as good, righteous, just, etc. are used comparatively in Scripture. Ultimately, there is none “good” in relation to God. However, in comparison to others, we can and do make value judgments based on goodness, even if our standard of judging is biased or skewed.

John saw Jesus and knew that He was more righteous than he. Until God revealed to Him why this was so, he was just making a comparative analysis of his life in relation to that of his cousin. However, once he baptized Jesus, he came to realize the full scope of the goodness of who Jesus truly is.

For each of us, we must decide who we will trust to restore us to God. If we are trusting in ourselves and the things we do, we will never find that restoration. But when we behold and receive the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, our restoration will be realized. Be sure to choose wisely. Choose Jesus. He is truly the epitome of good because He is the God/Man.

Lord God Almighty, when we see the world around us, we observe people who each have their own flaws and failings. We may recognize goodness in them, but there is always something lacking because we are all sons of Adam, born of fallen fathers. But when we behold Jesus, we behold the Son of God. He alone is perfectly good in His being. May we not fail to come to Him for our reconciliation and restoration. Thank You, O God, for Jesus! Amen.

Wax Plant

Friday, 6 September 2024

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Matthew 3:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then Jesus, He comes from the Galilee upon the Jordan unto John to be immersed by him.” (CG)

The previous verse completed John’s words of warning and impending doom spoken to the Pharisees and Sadducees. However, during his speech to them, he had said, “Indeed, I, I immerse you in water to reconsideration, but He coming after me is mightier than I. He is whom I am not adequate to lift His sandals. He, he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

Having said that, the next words become a point of confusion to him. They begin with, “Then Jesus, He comes from the Galilee.”

Luke 3:23 says concerning this same time, “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age.” This was at the time that many people were coming to John to be baptized. Thus, what occurs would have been a public event for anyone there to see. This is hinted at in the word translated as “comes,” paraginomai. It signifies to become near. Strong’s adds in the thought “to appear publicly.”

Jesus voluntarily departed from the area He had been raised in and went with purposeful intent to begin His ministry, which was “upon the Jordan.” Rather than “to” as most translations say, the word is epi, upon. The word gives the idea of the superimposition of time, place, order, etc. One can think of the epidermis, which fits over a person.

Jesus has purposefully left the Galilee and has gone to the Jordan. Galilee comes from the Hebrew Galil. It signifies a circular district, it is identical to galil, to pivot or turn. That, in turn, comes from galal, to roll away. The meaning is thus Liberty. In the Hebrew, it is normally preceded by the definite article, ha’galil, the Galilee.

As seen in a previous commentary, the Descender pictures Christ in His incarnation, coming from heaven to earth. The time for this to be made manifest to the world has arrived. Everything about the narrative is purposeful.

One can get a hint of what is being presented. The people need liberty from the bondage of the law. Jesus’ ministry is now about to commence, and so He symbolically leaves Liberty to place Himself under the law in His descending from heaven.

As a Jew, He was born under the law, but the pictures here are being symbolically used at the initiation of His ministry. Thus, He has gone upon the Jordan, the Descender, “unto John,” or Yah is Gracious.

John is being used as the introduction of the ministry of Christ to Israel. The graciousness of the Lord is what is intended to be seen. All of this is reflected in the words of John 1 –

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:16-18

Jesus came to John “to be immersed by him.” In other words, the event is purposeful. John, and John alone, was to be the immerser of Jesus. It was he who was selected before birth to be the herald of the coming Messiah. It is he who came as the prophesied Elijah recorded in Malachi 4:5. He is he who was to be the final prophet of the Law of Moses, and thus the one whose work would close it out in the sense of messianic anticipation.

From this point on, the Messiah would become the central point of focus for all of Israel’s religious life. The law was to end, and a new economy was at hand. John is the one to initiate this transfer, immersing Jesus in preparation for His glorious ministry.

Life application: The words of the New Testament are understandable, and the ministry of Jesus is readily discerned from them. In reality, however, there is so much in the New Testament that is derived from the Old Testament that an entirely different level of understanding can only be derived from what is presented in the Old.

The two merge together harmoniously because they are both given to explain the intents, purposes, and actions of God as He works through His plan of redemption for humanity. Don’t be afraid to read and carefully consider the Old Testament as well as the New.

The more you read the word, the more it will settle in your mind. Eventually, connections will be made that you had not previously considered. From there, it is then good to study and see if your connections are valid. We can, at times, make faulty connections that need to be corrected. But this is a lifelong process.

Be sure to just keep reading the word and contemplating what God is telling us in this most wonderful treasure. Information about the King of the Universe is being conveyed. Bask in its riches all the days of your life.

Lord God, in Christ Jesus, there is liberty from the penalty of the law. Instead of condemnation, in Him, there is grace, mercy, and eternal salvation. The story of Scripture is Your story as You work out the redemption of humanity through the Person of Jesus Christ. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Night Blooming Jasmine… amazing stuff.

Thursday, 5 September 2024

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Whose winnower – in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor. And He will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will consume – fire unquenchable.” (CG).

In the previous verse, John spoke of the authority and power of the coming Christ, noting that He will immerse His people in the Holy Spirit and fire. John next says of Him, “Whose winnower – in His hand.”

The lack of verbs shows intent and purpose. John is carefully and precisely stating what the state of things is, demonstrating that things are set, and they are firmly fixed.

In this case, the word is ptuon. It will only be seen here and in Luke 3:17. It signifies a pitchfork, a winnowing shovel, or a winnowing fan. A single word to get the point across is winnower. The sheaves are taken to the threshing floor where they are threshed according to the type of product. Some things were run over with a cart or trod on by animals. Some were beaten with rods, etc.

Once the threshing was accomplished, the grains that are threshed out of the husks need to be separated from the rest of the stalks. This is accomplished through the winnowing process. One way this is done is by taking a pitchfork and throwing it all up into the air. The grains would fall back down while the blowing wind would carry the lighter chaff away. Thus, everything was separated, leaving only the grain in a pile below.

The word ptuon comes from ptuo, to spit. One can see the onomatopoetic nature of the word. Even today, we will make the p’tooh or p’tooey sound when describing someone spitting. The connection is when someone spits, there is a scattering of the spit into the air or on the ground. Likewise, the ptuon causes the chaff to scatter away in a similar manner.

John is saying that the Messiah is there, and He already has the winnower in His hand, “and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor.”

The word diakatharizo is used. Like ptuon, it is also only found again in Luke 3:17. It is an intensified form of the Greek word meaning to cleanse. Thus, it is to thoroughly cleanse. The halón, threshing floor, is now a third word found only again in Luke 3:17. It is the basis for the Greek word heilisso, to roll together. One can sense the wheel of a cart as it rolls over the stalks to break the kernels free.

John’s words equate people to the harvest that comes during the appropriate season in Israel. There is a harvest that the Messiah will collect, He will then process His sheaves, His people. There will be a separating of the people through a process of threshing. From there, a winnowing will take place.

When that occurs, there will be a pile of good grain, suitable for consumption. There will also be chaff all around the outskirts that has blown away from the grain. The whole threshing-floor will then be cleaned. John next describes this thorough cleansing, saying, “And He will gather His wheat into the granary.”

The word sitos, wheat, is a generic word for any edible grain, but it is typically wheat. Sometimes it will refer to barley. In this case, this good grain is the purpose of the entire harvest season. There is planting, growth, full development, and then the reaping. Jesus describes this in Mark 4 –

“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’” Mark 4:26-29

Once the grain is gathered, it is taken to the apothéké, granary. One can see the etymological root of our modern word apothecary, which is an archaic term for a pharmacy or pharmacist. In this case, the word is used to mean a place for storage John is describing what God intends to do with His people. It shows purpose and intent. It is not a willy-nilly process, but one which is methodically conducted to achieve an intended result. With the grain stored securely, John next says, “but the chaff He will consume.”

In contrast to the wheat, there is the achuron, chaff. This is the part of the stalk that has no further use. Its purpose was to bear the grain until the harvest. With the grain now safely separated and stored, the chaff is to be consumed, but not like grain which is made into something delightful. Rather, the chaff will be burned up in “fire unquenchable.”

The word is asbestos, the exact word now used to describe a product that, although now banned because it causes cancer, was developed as a heat-resistant material. In the case of the word in Scripture, saying unquenchable is an exact description. Nothing can put it out. It is perpetual and all-consuming. This is the destiny of those who are not a part of what is stored in the granary.

In Scripture, that final place of burning is known as the Lake of Fire. It is a place that refers to eternal torment.

Life application: There are various views on what really happens when people who are not saved die. Most agree that there will be a final judgment. However, from there the dispute tends to increase. Some hold to the doctrine of annihilationism, that people are simply annihilated and that is the end of them. They cannot see how God could torture someone forever.

But man was created to be eternal. It is we who have turned from Him. Without a remedy for our sin, an eternal separation from God in a very bad place is actually logical and in accord with His nature. We bear His image. To destroy His image bearers entirely would be contrary to His nature. However, even a single sin eternally separates us from an infinitely pure Creator.

Thus, the Lake of Fire, as described, is where those who bear sin will go. It is eternal, and it will not be pleasing. These metaphors being used by John come from God as advanced warnings that we have choices to make. God sent Jesus to take the punishment we deserve. How can we stand guiltless if we reject that?

God Himself was willing to pull us out of the mess we are already in. Let us not turn from so great a salvation. Instead, have faith in what He has done and be eternally reconciled to God. Praise the name! Jesus! He has prevailed, and we can be spared from what we otherwise deserve.

Lord God, You are carefully and methodically working out a plan that can include us if we will just believe. You have done it all! Jesus has come and has given us restoration if we will just receive it. Thank You, now and forever, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Burmese Giant Bamboo.

Wednesday, 4 September 2024

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Indeed, I, I immerse you in water to reconsideration, but He coming after me is mightier than I. He is whom I am not adequate to lift His sandals. He, he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire” (CG).

John had just told the Pharisees and Sadducees that any tree that did not bear fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire. Now he steps back and tells them about his ministry in comparison to that which is coming, beginning with, “Indeed, I, I immerse you in water to reconsideration.”

John was a prophet under the Old Covenant. Like other prophets, his calling was to get the people to wake up from their spiritual slumber and reconsider their ways. They were to return to the Lord, living for Him and not for idolatry, perversion, and self-indulgence.

His call went out, and for those who accepted it, he immersed them as a sign of their reconsideration. This was confirmed long after his ministry in the Book of Acts –

“Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’” Acts 19:4

As for Paul’s words which noted that John directed the people to another, that is confirmed in John’s continued words, saying, “but He coming after me.”

John understood that his role was to direct the people to the Lord through reconsideration of their ways. And yet, he speaks of One coming after him, meaning in the timing of his ministry. John came first and only then did Jesus make Himself manifest as the Messiah, even if the two ministries overlapped. Of this coming One, John next says He “is mightier than I.”

The word generally speaks of physical strength. In the case of John’s words, it must extend beyond that because John’s ministry was not one of physical prowess, but of spiritual strengthening. What he says about the coming One speaks of spiritual matters, even if they include the idea of physical strength through metaphor. What Jesus will say will be matters of judgment and salvation or condemnation. Next, John continues his description, saying, “He is whom I am not adequate.”

He uses a word, hikanos, that speaks of sufficiency, the root of which means to arrive at or come to. Thus, it is that which is adequate. John signifies that there is never a time he will be adequate “to lift His sandals.”

It was a metaphor that all would understand. If a man had slaves, the lowliest job for the lowliest slave would be to wait for the master to come through the door into the house. When he arrived, this slave would take off the shoes of his master and then proceed to wash his feet.

The meaning, when taken in light of Jesus’ words, is astonishing –

“For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28

Of all of the prophets, John was the greatest, and yet he was unworthy to lift the sandals of Jesus. John rebuked Israel’s leaders and even Herod the king with authority, and yet he was unworthy to take on the lowliest of duties of the least servant in the presence of the Messiah. And instead of immersing people in water, John next notes that “He, He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.”

The necessary connection to God, for man to be restored to Him, was available through the immersion of the coming Messiah. In this thought, the ideas of infant baptism and sprinkling are completely eliminated. Infants are not prepared for immersion. Sprinkling a person with the Holy Spirit does not come close to the intended meaning.

Rather, it signifies a complete and absolute change in status for the person. He goes from one position before God to a completely new one. This coming baptism is next described with the words “and fire.”

Fire speaks of purification. Fire burns up, removing that which is temporary or unneeded. At the same time, it also purifies that which can withstand the fire. This fire is not referring to the vengeance of God against unbelievers. They will not be immersed in the process. They remain outside of what the Messiah will do for His people. There is another type of fire awaiting them.

The symbolism of the fire is seen in Acts 2 –

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

This was a one-time outward demonstration for the sake of the people. It was a visible manifestation of the inward change that results from the purification of the person, making him acceptable to God.

Life application: The effects of accepting Jesus as the Savior through faith in what He has done are absolute and total. Even if we are still living in corruptible bodies that continue to sin, the purification that has come through believing the gospel is once and forever.

The immersion is complete. That which is impure and which separates us from God is removed, and we enter into new life. To say that this can be lost is to say that what God has done was in error, was insufficient, and that the salvation provided by Him remains up to us to maintain. In other words, it was not actually of faith, nor was it sufficient to save at all. Instead, the cross of Christ – though a nice attempt at salvation for the people of the world – was a failure.

This is what teaching the loss of salvation means. It points to a “god” who developed a plan that cannot overcome the frailty of humanity. In other words, it defaults back to the power of human endurance and self-sufficiency. If that is where you have put your hope, good luck with that. For those who understand the true and eternal effects of the ministry of Jesus Christ, we will rest wholly and entirely in His merits alone. In the end, guess whose merit will stand?

Lord God, may we never presume to rely on ourselves or our own goodness before You. Rather, may we remember the feelings we felt when we heard of what Jesus did? We were weak and stood at the abyss, ready to plunge in, knowing we had no hope. But when we heard the gospel, we trusted and were saved. How can we turn from that back to self? We will not! We will forever trust in Jesus alone. Amen.