Mortification and Rest

MORTIFICATION (Col 3:5)

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry”.

“… mortification may be considered as to its continuation, and the carrying on the life of grace, in the making dead all that is contrary to it; even the renewed person should be continually solicitous to have the old man killed outright without any reprieve. This is it that the apostle put the believing Colossians upon, not to spare any remaining ill dispositions or depraved habits of the old man; but by the assistance of the Spirit, (for it is not a natural, but spiritual work), #Ro 8:13 Ga 5:24, continually to resist to the killing of it, or putting it to death: never to desist in this war.”

M. Poole
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Col 3:5

"MORTIFY therefore"—wherefore? The previous words give the reason. Because "ye died" with Christ, and because ye "were raised together with Him." In other words, the plainest, homeliest moral teaching of this Epistle, such as that which immediately follows, is built upon its "mystical" theology. Paul thinks that the deep things which he has been saying about union with Christ in His death and resurrection have the most intimate connection with common life. These profound truths have the keenest edge, and are as a sacrificial knife, to slay the life of self. Creed is meant to tell on conduct. Character is the last outcome and test of doctrine. But too many people deal with their theological beliefs as they do with their hassocks and prayer books and hymn books in their pews—use them for formal worship once a week, and leave them for the dust to settle on them till Sunday comes round again. So it is very necessary to put the practical inferences very plainly, to reiterate the most commonplace and threadbare precepts as the issue of the most recondite teaching, and to bind the burden of duty on men’s backs with the cords of principles and doctrines.

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Christ Our Sabbath

“There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Brethren, we who, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, have believed in Christ and repented of our own dead works have entered into a true, spiritual, eternal sabbath rest. Our rest is not one day of the week on which we cease to work physically. Our rest is a Person who by Himself finished a work for us and rested from that work. Our sabbath rest is CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED! Christ on the cross finished the work He was sent to do in the redemption and justification of His people, God’s elect. He put away our sins and gave us His righteousness, and we rest in Him. When we by the Holy Spirit enter into our sabbath rest, we enter into HIS rest. We rest in His redeeming grace and love for us. The call of the Gospel is a call, not to work for salvation, but to rest in Christ for all of salvation. All good works are by the power of God and motivated in us as fruit unto God that flows from our rest in Christ our Sabbath.

(copied)

Patience and Preaching (Spurgeon; D. Pruitt)

Paitence

You look at the weather beaten sailor, the man who is at home on the sea. He has a bronzed face and mahogany colored flesh. He looks as tough as heart of oak, and as hardy as if he were made of iron. How did he become so inured to hardships, so able to breast the storm? He can go out to sea in any kind of weather; he has his sea legs on. How did he come to this strength? By doing business in great waters. He could not have become a hardy seaman by tarrying on shore. Now, trial works in the saints that spiritual hardihood which cannot be learned in ease. You may go to school forever, but you will not learn endurance there. You may color your cheek with paint, but you cannot give it that ingrained brown which comes of stormy seas and howling winds. Strong faith and brave patience come of trouble.

Charles Spurgeon

Two Songs and a Sermon
Pastor Darvin Pruitt

A comment was recently made to a member of our church that “all they ever do over there is sing a couple of songs and listen to a man preach.” What is inferred is that we do not attempt to minister to our generation, participate in public rallies, boycott alcohol and drugs, teach godliness, morality, and clean living. We do not participate with the rallies of religion because all their religious zeal is born in ignorance. Like Israel of old, “They being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Rom 10:3-4)

I do not encourage association or participate with blind leaders of the blind because both they who lead and those who follow will both fall into the ditch. I have no power to give life – I have no power to create – I have no power to convict or convert. We preach Christ who alone can reform, renew, restore, and reconcile to God. Being established in Christ we are not tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: But SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE that we may grow up into Him, in all things, which is the head of the body. (Ephesians 4: 14-15)

I know that outward shows and rallies of religion please men, But it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1Corinthians 1:21)