the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.- 1 John 5:8.
Sincere upright souls before God, the scriptures deem PERFECT. They are free from hypocrisy and dissimulation; they judge and speak of themselves according to truth; Christ who is essentially THE TRUTH, dwelleth in their hearts by faith; the Spirit leads them into all truth, concerning themselves and salvation in Christ. Satan, who abode not in the truth, is ever blinding souls to the truth, striving to seduce them from the truth, and to make them not only deceive others, but themselves also. He never baits his hook with a more alluring bait than pride. He aims to make us think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and to judge of ourselves, and say, "I am not like other men," I have no sin, I am perfect. This is the very essence of Pharisaism.
That very moment any soul says so, he is under the influence of a lying, deceitful spirit; "he bridleth not his tongue, he deceiveth his own heart, his religion is vain."- James 1:26. "He flattereth himself in his own eyes, till his iniquity be found hateful."- Psalms 36:2. But if we see no sin, if we feel no sin in us, are we not to tell of our happy state? Is not Jesus glorified hereby who hath thus PERFECTLY saved us? Seeing and feeling! If one in a high fever says, "I am quite well, I feel no disorder," we are sure he has a deceitful sense, he is not in his right mind. Alas! our senses are deceitful judges; they may delude us; they most certainly do, if they testify contrary to the truth of God’s word. Our Saviour is only glorified by the truth. What! shall we give the lie to the Spirit of truth and the word of truth, under pretence of glorifying Jesus? Beware, O soul, "Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and makes thee think and say, thou hast no sin," for another reason than to glorify Christ, even to glorify thyself in thine own eyes, and in the sight of others. Hear confident Peter.
Little did he think what was in his heart when he said, (perhaps he saw no sin, nor felt no sin at that time) "Though I die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." Think of his awful fall, his horrid oaths and dreadful imprecations, and be humble. Awful effects are not wanting in our day, of such whom Satan has puffed up with this unscriptural notion of being SINLESS; but dreadful effects have followed. The higher the elevation, the greater the fall. O soul, ever remember, "thou standest by faith;" this leads us entirely out of ourselves to the perfection of Jesus. "Be not high minded," exalted with the notions of a state contrary to God’s truth, here styled selfdeceit, "but fear;" ever be afraid of setting up thyself in opposition to the positive assertions of the Spirit of truth. He who says he has no sin, commits sin in saying so; for he lies, the truth is not in him, he is deceived by the father of lies.
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. Hebrews 13:9.
The doctrines of grace are streams which flow from the fountain-head, the covenant of grace. They all lead to Jesus, the surety of the covenant. All doctrines that oppose the covenant-engagements of the Holy Trinity, for the salvation of sinners, are diverse, and strange doctrines. They direct to a different hope than Christ, and lead souls from the truth, as it is in him. With these diverse and strange doctrines, men may evidence great zeal for holiness and good works, while they have rooted enmity against the leading truths and capital doctrines of the gospel. Who talk more of holiness, and contend more for good works, than Arians and Socinians, and yet deny the proper deity of Christ? So many of another cast, carry their notions of holiness and perfection to the greatest height; yet vehemently oppose the doctrines of grace, election of grace, salvation by glace, justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the sure and certain perseverance of all his saints to eternal glory. We are in danger of being carried about, like clouds and meteors in the air, by the wind; so as to have our minds always fluctuating, wavering, and unsettled, by diverse and strange doctrines, touching our acceptance with God, and the hope of eternal life.
But as a remedy against this evil, says the apostle, “It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;” with the doctrines of grace, and with an experience of the grace of those doctrines. But this is not to be expected, if the doctrines of grace are not constantly attended to, cordially believed, and highly prized, as making the everlasting love and salvation of the Trinity precious to our souls. Some are all for warm affections, but care little for solid judgment. These soon grow giddy-headed. Others are all for doctrines, and aim only to have clear heads and a sound judgment; but care not whether the heart is warmly affected, and the life powerfully influenced. Such are like dry sticks in a garden, which support vegetables, but neither grow, nor bring forth any fruit to Christ’s glory. O Christian, be concerned to have thy heart established with the grace of Christ, rooted in the love of Christ, and animated by the Spirit of Christ! “Built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7. This is the good thing which you should earnestly covet day by day.
Tho’ men and Satan me perplex
About a thousand things;
Christ’s word is simple and directs
Where hope and comfort springs.
Whatever tends to drive away
My faith and hope in Christ
Shall never with my spirit stay,
But boldly I’ll resist.
