_Do we begin again to commend ourselves?_ or need we … epistles of commendation? A PASTOR’S CLAIM 1. The voluntary relations of men are founded upon mutual confidence, and even those which are involuntary require reciprocal reliance. The parent who does not duly trust his children will soon ruin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not that we are sufficient of ourselves … our sufficiency is of God._ THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD The all-sufficiency of God is the essence of all Christian experience, it has been the support of the faithful in all ages of the Church; it gives strength to patience, solidity to hope, constancy to endu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hath made us able ministers of the New Testament._ AN ABLE MINISTER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT Two things are implied. I. First, Gifts--natural endowments. A minister of the New Testament ought to have intellectual qualifications. II. But now, in the second place, there are spiritual qualities wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if the ministration of death … was glorious _ THE PECULIAR GLORY OF THE GOSPEL I. That contrasted with the law as “the ministration of condemnation” the gospel is the “ministration of righteousness.” That the law was “the ministration of condemnation” will require little proof. The very glory... [ Continue Reading ]
_For if the ministration of condemnation be glory._ CONDEMNATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS here replace death and life, because it is through condemnation that man becomes the prey of death; and the grace which reigns in him to eternal life reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21). The contrast of these... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech _ THE DUTY OF OUTSPOKENNESS ON RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS True religion is very simple and very deep. A s simple as this statement, “God is good”; as deep as life and death. But it has ever been hard for men to receive religion in all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty._ CHRIST THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY I. Note the great principles in the text. 1. Christianity is a spirit. (1) There is a “letter” and a “spirit” in everything. These two things are quite distinct. The letter may... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image._ MIRRORS OF CHRIST 1. We should substitute “reflecting” for “beholding.” Christians are represented not as persons looking into a mirror, but as themselves the mirrors. They who uncover thei... [ Continue Reading ]