This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master in Israel. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word "freely." This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the only way in which God can love such as we are. The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness: "I will love them freely." Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us, then He would not love us freely, at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, "I will love you freely."We complain, "Lord, my heart is so hard." "I will love you freely." "But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could wish." "I will not love you because you feel your need; I will love you freely." "But I do not feel that softening of spirit which I could desire." Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when He said, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned." It is blessed to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price! "I will love them freely." These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such—"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely." Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father's face.
Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church
Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind
Rev John Armstrong, the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, is on record saying on behalf of the Church officers: “That, as a denomination, the Free Presbyterian Church is grieved that the Centenary Service scheduled to be held in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on 21st October 2021, […]
Continue ReadingDate: Mon 8:00PM 18th October 2021 Preacher: Rev. Fred Greenfield Bible Reference: Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 17th October 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Isaiah 17:10-11 10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: 11 In […]
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 17th October 2021Preacher: Rev. Paul HannaBible Reference: Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 10th October 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 10th October 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof […]
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 3rd October 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: John 11:35 Jesus wept.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 3rd October 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 26th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 26th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 19th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 19th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: 2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go […]
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 7:00PM 12th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Continue ReadingDate: Sun 11:30AM 12th September 2021 Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin Bible Reference: John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
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Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church
Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind
