PROFITING FROM THE WORD

All professing Christians are agreed, in theory at least, that it is the bounden duty of those who bear. His name to honors and glorify Christ in this world.  But as to how this is to be done, as to what He requires from us to this end, there is a wide difference of opinion. Many suppose that honoring Christ simply means to join some “church” & take part in and support its various activities. Others think that honoring Christ means to speak of Him to “Others seem to imagine that honoring Christ signifies little more than making liberal financial contributions to His cause. Few indeed realize that Christ is honored only as we live holily unto Him, and that, by walking in subjection to His revealed will. Few indeed really believe that word, behold, to obey is better than “sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams  (1Sam. 15:22).  We are not Christians at all unless we have fully surrendered to and received Christ Jesus the Lord (Col. 2:6). We would plead with you to ponder that statement diligently.  Satan is deceiving many today by leading them to suppose that they are savingly trusting in the finished work of Christ while their hearts remain unchanged, and self still rules their lives. Listen to God’s Word: Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes (Ps.119:155). Do you really seek His statutes Do you diligently search His Word to discover what He has commanded “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him “1 John 2:4). What could be plainer than that. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say (Luke 6:46). Obedience to the Lord in life, not merely glowing words from the lips, is what Christ requires. What a searching and solemn word is that in James 1:22: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  There are many hearers & doers of the Word, regular hearers, reverent hearers, interested hearers; but alas, what they hear is not incorporated into the life: it does not regulate their way.  And God says that they who are not doers of the Word are deceiving their own selves!

1. A man profits from the Word as he discovers God’s demands upon him; His undeviating demands, for He changes not. It is a great and grievous mistake to suppose that in this present dispensation God has lowered His demands, for that would necessarily imply that His previous demand was a harsh and unrighteous one. Not so! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Rom. 7:12). The sum of God’s demands is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deut. 6:5) and the Lord Jesus repeated it in Matthew 22:37. The apostle Paul enforced the same when he wrote, if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema & (1 Cor. 16:22).

2. A man profits from the Word when he discovers how entirely and how sinfully he has failed to meet God’s demands. And let us point out for the benefit of any who may take issue with the last paragraph that no man can see what a sinner he is, how infinitely short he has fallen of measuring up to God’s standard, until he has a clear sight of the exalted demands of God upon him! Just in proportion as preachers lower God’s standard of what He requires from every human being to that extent will their hearers obtain an inadequate and faulty conception of their sinfulness, and the less will they perceive their need of an almighty Savior. But once a soul really perceives what are God’s demands upon him, and how completely and constantly he has failed to render Him His due, then does he recognize what a desperate situation he is in. The law must be preached before any are ready for the Gospel.

3. A man profits from the Word when he is taught there from that God, in His infinite grace, has fully provided for His people’s meeting His own demands.  At this point, too, much present-day preaching is seriously defective. There is being given forth what may loosely be termed a half Gospel, & but which is virtually a denial of the true Gospel. Christ is brought in, yet only as a sort of make-weight. That Christ has vicariously met every demand of God upon all who believe upon Him is blessedly true, yet it is only a part of the truth. The Lord Jesus has not only vicariously satisfied for His people the requirements of God’s righteousness, but He has also secured that they shall personally satisfy them too. Christ has procured the Holy Spirit to make good in the That obedience which God requires can proceed only from a heart which loves Him. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & (Col. 3:23). That obedience which springs from a dread of punishment is servile. That obedience which is performed to procure favors from God is selfish and carnal. But spiritual and acceptable obedience is cheerfully given, it is the heart’s free response to and gratitude for.

4. We profit from the Word when we not only see it is our bounden duty to obey God, but when there is wrought in us a love for His commandments. The blessed man is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:2).  And again we read, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments(Ps. 112:1). It affords a real test for our hearts to face honestly the questions, Do I really value His commandments as much as I do His promises? Ought I not to do so? Assuredly, for the one proceeds as truly from His love as does the other. The heart’s compliance with the voice of Christ is the foundation for all practical holiness.

5. A man profits from the Word when his heart and will are yielded to all God’s commandments. Partial obedience is no obedience at all. A holy mind declines whatsoever God forbids, and chooses to practice all He requires, without any exception. If our minds submit not unto God in all His commandments, we submit not to His authority in anything He enjoins. If we do not approve of our duty in its full extent, we are greatly mistaken if we imagine that we have any liking unto any part of it. A person who has no principle of holiness in him may yet be disinclined to many vices and be pleased to practice many virtues, as he perceives the former are unfit actions and the latter are, in themselves, comely actions, but his disapprobation of vice and approbation of virtue do not arise from any disposition to submit to the will of God. True spiritual obedience is impartial. A renewed heart does not pick and choose from God’s commandments: the man who does so is not performing God’s will, but his own. Make no mistake upon this point; if we do not sincerely desire to please God in all things, then we do not truly wish to do so in anything. Self must be denied; not merely some of the things which may be craved, but self itself! A willful allowance of any known sin breaks the whole law (James 2:10, 11). Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments (Ps. 119:6). Said the Lord Jesus, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14): if I am not His friend, then I must be His enemy, for there is no other alternative-see Luke 19:27.

6. We profit from the Word when the soul is moved to pray earnestly for enabling grace. In regeneration the Holy Spirit communicates a nature which is fitted for obedience according to the Word. The heart has been won by God. There is now a deep and sincere desire to please Him. But the new nature possesses no inherent power, and the old nature or flesh strives against it, and the Devil opposes.  Thus, the Christian exclaims, “To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (Rom. 7:18)”. This does not mean that he is the slave of sin, as he was before conversion; but it means that he finds not how fully to realize his spiritual aspirations. Therefore, does he pray, “Make “Me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight; (Ps. 119:35). And again, “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (PS 119:133). 

7.

We profit from the Word when we are, even now, enjoying the reward of obedience. “Godliness is profitable unto all things;” (1 Tim. 4:8)”. By obedience we purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:21). By obedience we obtain the ear of God (1 John 3:22), just as disobedience is a barrier to our prayers (Isa.59:2; Jer. 5:25). By obedience we obtain precious and intimate manifestations of Christ unto the soul (John 14:21). As we tread the path of wisdom (complete subjection to God) we discover that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace “(Prov. 3:17).” His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3), and in keeping of them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).6. THE SCRIPTURES AND OBEDIENCE

PROFITING FROM THE WORD

All professing Christians are agreed, in theory at least, that it is the bounden duty of those who bear. His name to honors and glorify Christ in this world.  But as to how this is to be done, as to what He requires from us to this end, there is a wide difference of opinion. Many suppose that honoring Christ simply means to join some “church” & take part in and support its various activities. Others think that honoring Christ means to speak of Him to “Others seem to imagine that honoring Christ signifies little more than making liberal financial contributions to His cause. Few indeed realize that Christ is honored only as we live holily unto Him, and that, by walking in subjection to His revealed will. Few indeed really believe that word, ” Behold, to obey is better than “sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams  (1Sam. 15:22).  We are not Christians at all unless we have fully surrendered to and received Christ Jesus the Lord (Col. 2:6). We would plead with you to ponder that statement diligently.  Satan is deceiving many today by leading them to suppose that they are savingly trusting in the finished work of Christ while their hearts remain unchanged, and self still rules their lives. Listen to God’s Word: Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes (Ps.119:155). Do you really seek His statutes Do you diligently search His Word to discover what He has commanded “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him “1 John 2:4). What could be plainer than that. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say (Luke 6:46). Obedience to the Lord in life, not merely glowing words from the lips, is what Christ requires. What a searching and solemn word is that in James 1:22: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  There are many hearers & doers of the Word, regular hearers, reverent hearers, interested hearers; but alas, what they hear is not incorporated into the life: it does not regulate their way.  And God says that they who are not doers of the Word are deceiving their own selves!

1. A man profits from the Word as he discovers God’s demands upon him; His undeviating demands, for He changes not. It is a great and grievous mistake to suppose that in this present dispensation God has lowered His demands, for that would necessarily imply that His previous demand was a harsh and unrighteous one. Not so! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Rom. 7:12). The sum of God’s demands is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut. 6:5) and the Lord Jesus repeated it in Matthew 22:37. The apostle Paul enforced the same when he wrote, if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema & (1 Cor. 16:22).

2. A man profits from the Word when he discovers how entirely and how sinfully he has failed to meet God’s demands. And let us point out for the benefit of any who may take issue with the last paragraph that no man can see what a sinner he is, how infinitely short he has fallen of measuring up to God’s standard, until he has a clear sight of the exalted demands of God upon him! Just in proportion as preachers lower God’s standard of what He requires from every human being to that extent will their hearers obtain an inadequate and faulty conception of their sinfulness, and the less will they perceive their need of an almighty Savior. But once a soul really perceives what are God’s demands upon him, and how completely and constantly he has failed to render Him His due, then does he recognize what a desperate situation he is in. The law must be preached before any are ready for the Gospel.

3. A man profits from the Word when he is taught there from that God, in His infinite grace, has fully provided for His people’s meeting His own demands.  At this point, too, much present-day preaching is seriously defective. There is being given forth what may loosely be termed a half Gospel, & but which is virtually a denial of the true Gospel. Christ is brought in, yet only as a sort of make-weight. That Christ has vicariously met every demand of God upon all who believe upon Him is blessedly true, yet it is only a part of the truth. The Lord Jesus has not only vicariously satisfied for His people the requirements of God’s righteousness, but He has also secured that they shall personally satisfy them too. Christ has procured the Holy Spirit to make good in the That obedience which God requires can proceed only from a heart which loves Him. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & (Col. 3:23). That obedience which springs from a dread of punishment is servile. That obedience which is performed to procure favors from God is selfish and carnal. But spiritual and acceptable obedience is cheerfully given, it is the heart’s free response to and gratitude for.

4. We profit from the Word when we not only see it is our bounden duty to obey God, but when there is wrought in us a love for His commandments. The blessed man is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:2).  And again we read, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments(Ps. 112:1). It affords a real test for our hearts to face honestly the questions, Do I really value His commandments as much as I do His promises? Ought I not to do so? Assuredly, for the one proceeds as truly from His love as does the other. The heart’s compliance with the voice of Christ is the foundation for all practical holiness.

5. A man profits from the Word when his heart and will are yielded to all God’s commandments. Partial obedience is no obedience at all. A holy mind declines whatsoever God forbids, and chooses to practice all He requires, without any exception. If our minds submit not unto God in all His commandments, we submit not to His authority in anything He enjoins. If we do not approve of our duty in its full extent, we are greatly mistaken if we imagine that we have any liking unto any part of it. A person who has no principle of holiness in him may yet be disinclined to many vices and be pleased to practice many virtues, as he perceives the former are unfit actions and the latter are, in themselves, comely actions, but his disapprobation of vice and approbation of virtue do not arise from any disposition to submit to the will of God. True spiritual obedience is impartial. A renewed heart does not pick and choose from God’s commandments: the man who does so is not performing God’s will, but his own. Make no mistake upon this point; if we do not sincerely desire to please God in all things, then we do not truly wish to do so in anything. Self must be denied; not merely some of the things which may be craved, but self itself! A willful allowance of any known sin breaks the whole law (James 2:10, 11). Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments (Ps. 119:6). Said the Lord Jesus, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14): if I am not His friend, then I must be His enemy, for there is no other alternative-see Luke 19:27.

6. We profit from the Word when the soul is moved to pray earnestly for enabling grace. In regeneration the Holy Spirit communicates a nature which is fitted for obedience according to the Word. The heart has been won by God. There is now a deep and sincere desire to please Him. But the new nature possesses no inherent power, and the old nature or flesh strives against it, and the Devil opposes.  Thus, the Christian exclaims, “To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (Rom. 7:18)”. This does not mean that he is the slave of sin, as he was before conversion; but it means that he finds not how fully to realize his spiritual aspirations. Therefore, does he pray, “Make “Me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight; (Ps. 119:35). And again, “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (PS 119:133). 

7. We profit from the Word when we are, even now, enjoying the reward of obedience. “Godliness is profitable unto all things;” (1 Tim. 4:8)”. By obedience we purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:21). By obedience we obtain the ear of God (1 John 3:22), just as disobedience is a barrier to our prayers (Isa.59:2; Jer. 5:25). By obedience we obtain precious and intimate manifestations of Christ unto the soul (John 14:21). As we tread the path of wisdom (complete subjection to God) we discover that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace “(Prov. 3:17).” His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3), and in keeping of them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).6. THE SCRIPTURES AND OBEDIENCE

PROFITING FROM THE WORD

All professing Christians are agreed, in theory at least, that it is the bounden duty of those who bear. His name to honors and glorify Christ in this world.  But as to how this is to be done, as to what He requires from us to this end, there is a wide difference of opinion. Many suppose that honoring Christ simply means to join some “church” & take part in and support its various activities. Others think that honoring Christ means to speak of Him to “Others seem to imagine that honoring Christ signifies little more than making liberal financial contributions to His cause. Few indeed realize that Christ is honored only as we live holily unto Him, and that, by walking in subjection to His revealed will. Few indeed really believe that word, ” Behold, to obey is better than “sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams  (1Sam. 15:22).  We are not Christians at all unless we have fully surrendered to and received Christ Jesus the Lord (Col. 2:6). We would plead with you to ponder that statement diligently.  Satan is deceiving many today by leading them to suppose that they are savingly trusting in the finished work of Christ while their hearts remain unchanged, and self still rules their lives. Listen to God’s Word: Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes (Ps.119:155). Do you really seek His statutes Do you diligently search His Word to discover what He has commanded “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him “1 John 2:4). What could be plainer than that. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say (Luke 6:46). Obedience to the Lord in life, not merely glowing words from the lips, is what Christ requires. What a searching and solemn word is that in James 1:22: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  There are many hearers & doers of the Word, regular hearers, reverent hearers, interested hearers; but alas, what they hear is not incorporated into the life: it does not regulate their way.  And God says that they who are not doers of the Word are deceiving their own selves!

1. A man profits from the Word as he discovers God’s demands upon him; His undeviating demands, for He changes not. It is a great and grievous mistake to suppose that in this present dispensation God has lowered His demands, for that would necessarily imply that His previous demand was a harsh and unrighteous one. Not so! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Rom. 7:12). The sum of God’s demands is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut. 6:5) and the Lord Jesus repeated it in Matthew 22:37. The apostle Paul enforced the same when he wrote, if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema & (1 Cor. 16:22).

2. A man profits from the Word when he discovers how entirely and how sinfully he has failed to meet God’s demands. And let us point out for the benefit of any who may take issue with the last paragraph that no man can see what a sinner he is, how infinitely short he has fallen of measuring up to God’s standard, until he has a clear sight of the exalted demands of God upon him! Just in proportion as preachers lower God’s standard of what He requires from every human being to that extent will their hearers obtain an inadequate and faulty conception of their sinfulness, and the less will they perceive their need of an almighty Savior. But once a soul really perceives what are God’s demands upon him, and how completely and constantly he has failed to render Him His due, then does he recognize what a desperate situation he is in. The law must be preached before any are ready for the Gospel.

3. A man profits from the Word when he is taught there from that God, in His infinite grace, has fully provided for His people’s meeting His own demands.  At this point, too, much present-day preaching is seriously defective. There is being given forth what may loosely be termed a half Gospel, & but which is virtually a denial of the true Gospel. Christ is brought in, yet only as a sort of make-weight. That Christ has vicariously met every demand of God upon all who believe upon Him is blessedly true, yet it is only a part of the truth. The Lord Jesus has not only vicariously satisfied for His people the requirements of God’s righteousness, but He has also secured that they shall personally satisfy them too. Christ has procured the Holy Spirit to make good in the That obedience which God requires can proceed only from a heart which loves Him. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & (Col. 3:23). That obedience which springs from a dread of punishment is servile. That obedience which is performed to procure favors from God is selfish and carnal. But spiritual and acceptable obedience is cheerfully given, it is the heart’s free response to and gratitude for.

4. We profit from the Word when we not only see it is our bounden duty to obey God, but when there is wrought in us a love for His commandments. The blessed man is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:2).  And again we read, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments (Ps. 112:1). It affords a real test for our hearts to face honestly the questions, Do I really value His commandments as much as I do His promises? Ought I not to do so? Assuredly, for the one proceeds as truly from His love as does the other. The heart’s compliance with the voice of Christ is the foundation for all practical holiness.

5. A man profits from the Word when his heart and will are yielded to all God’s commandments. Partial obedience is no obedience at all. A holy mind declines whatsoever God forbids, and chooses to practice all He requires, without any exception. If our minds submit not unto God in all His commandments, we submit not to His authority in anything He enjoins. If we do not approve of our duty in its full extent, we are greatly mistaken if we imagine that we have any liking unto any part of it. A person who has no principle of holiness in him may yet be disinclined to many vices and be pleased to practice many virtues, as he perceives the former are unfit actions and the latter are, in themselves, comely actions, but his disapprobation of vice and approbation of virtue do not arise from any disposition to submit to the will of God. True spiritual obedience is impartial. A renewed heart does not pick and choose from God’s commandments: the man who does so is not performing God’s will, but his own. Make no mistake upon this point; if we do not sincerely desire to please God in all things, then we do not truly wish to do so in anything. Self must be denied; not merely some of the things which may be craved, but self itself! A willful allowance of any known sin breaks the whole law (James 2:10, 11). Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments (Ps. 119:6). Said the Lord Jesus, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14): if I am not His friend, then I must be His enemy, for there is no other alternative-see Luke 19:27.

6. We profit from the Word when the soul is moved to pray earnestly for enabling grace. In regeneration the Holy Spirit communicates a nature which is fitted for obedience according to the Word. The heart has been won by God. There is now a deep and sincere desire to please Him. But the new nature possesses no inherent power, and the old nature or flesh strives against it, and the Devil opposes.  Thus, the Christian exclaims, “To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (Rom. 7:18)”. This does not mean that he is the slave of sin, as he was before conversion; but it means that he finds not how fully to realize his spiritual aspirations. Therefore, does he pray, “Make “Me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight; (Ps. 119:35). And again, “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (PS 119:133). 

7. We profit from the Word when we are, even now, enjoying the reward of obedience. “Godliness is profitable unto all things;” (1 Tim. 4:8)”. By obedience we purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:21). By obedience we obtain the ear of God (1 John 3:22), just as disobedience is a barrier to our prayers (Isa.59:2; Jer. 5:25). By obedience we obtain precious and intimate manifestations of Christ unto the soul (John 14:21). As we tread the path of wisdom (complete subjection to God) we discover that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace “(Prov. 3:17).” His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3), and in keeping of them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).6. THE SCRIPTURES AND OBEDIENCE

PROFITING FROM THE WORD

All professing Christians are agreed, in theory at least, that it is the bounden duty of those who bear. His name to honors and glorify Christ in this world.  But as to how this is to be done, as to what He requires from us to this end, there is a wide difference of opinion. Many suppose that honoring Christ simply means to join some “church” & take part in and support its various activities. Others think that honoring Christ means to speak of Him to “Others seem to imagine that honoring Christ signifies little more than making liberal financial contributions to His cause. Few indeed realize that Christ is honored only as we live holily unto Him, and that, by walking in subjection to His revealed will. Few indeed really believe that word, ” Behold, to obey is better than “sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams  (1Sam. 15:22).  We are not Christians at all unless we have fully surrendered to and received Christ Jesus the Lord (Col. 2:6). We would plead with you to ponder that statement diligently.  Satan is deceiving many today by leading them to suppose that they are savingly trusting in the finished work of Christ while their hearts remain unchanged, and self still rules their lives. Listen to God’s Word: Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes (Ps.119:155). Do you really seek His statutes Do you diligently search His Word to discover what He has commanded “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him “1 John 2:4). What could be plainer than that. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say (Luke 6:46). Obedience to the Lord in life, not merely glowing words from the lips, is what Christ requires. What a searching and solemn word is that in James 1:22: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  There are many hearers & doers of the Word, regular hearers, reverent hearers, interested hearers; but alas, what they hear is not incorporated into the life: it does not regulate their way.  And God says that they who are not doers of the Word are deceiving their own selves!

1. A man profits from the Word as he discovers God’s demands upon him; His undeviating demands, for He changes not. It is a great and grievous mistake to suppose that in this present dispensation God has lowered His demands, for that would necessarily imply that His previous demand was a harsh and unrighteous one. Not so! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Rom. 7:12). The sum of God’s demands is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut. 6:5) and the Lord Jesus repeated it in Matthew 22:37. The apostle Paul enforced the same when he wrote, if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema & (1 Cor. 16:22).

2. A man profits from the Word when he discovers how entirely and how sinfully he has failed to meet God’s demands. And let us point out for the benefit of any who may take issue with the last paragraph that no man can see what a sinner he is, how infinitely short he has fallen of measuring up to God’s standard, until he has a clear sight of the exalted demands of God upon him! Just in proportion as preachers lower God’s standard of what He requires from every human being to that extent will their hearers obtain an inadequate and faulty conception of their sinfulness, and the less will they perceive their need of an almighty Savior. But once a soul really perceives what are God’s demands upon him, and how completely and constantly he has failed to render Him His due, then does he recognize what a desperate situation he is in. The law must be preached before any are ready for the Gospel.

3. A man profits from the Word when he is taught there from that God, in His infinite grace, has fully provided for His people’s meeting His own demands.  At this point, too, much present-day preaching is seriously defective. There is being given forth what may loosely be termed a half Gospel, & but which is virtually a denial of the true Gospel. Christ is brought in, yet only as a sort of make-weight. That Christ has vicariously met every demand of God upon all who believe upon Him is blessedly true, yet it is only a part of the truth. The Lord Jesus has not only vicariously satisfied for His people the requirements of God’s righteousness, but He has also secured that they shall personally satisfy them too. Christ has procured the Holy Spirit to make good in the That obedience which God requires can proceed only from a heart which loves Him. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord & (Col. 3:23). That obedience which springs from a dread of punishment is servile. That obedience which is performed to procure favors from God is selfish and carnal. But spiritual and acceptable obedience is cheerfully given, it is the heart’s free response to and gratitude for.

4. We profit from the Word when we not only see it is our bounden duty to obey God, but when there is wrought in us a love for His commandments. The blessed man is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:2).  And again we read, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments(Ps. 112:1). It affords a real test for our hearts to face honestly the questions, Do I really value His commandments as much as I do His promises? Ought I not to do so? Assuredly, for the one proceeds as truly from His love as does the other. The heart’s compliance with the voice of Christ is the foundation for all practical holiness.

5. A man profits from the Word when his heart and will are yielded to all God’s commandments. Partial obedience is no obedience at all. A holy mind declines whatsoever God forbids, and chooses to practice all He requires, without any exception. If our minds submit not unto God in all His commandments, we submit not to His authority in anything He enjoins. If we do not approve of our duty in its full extent, we are greatly mistaken if we imagine that we have any liking unto any part of it. A person who has no principle of holiness in him may yet be disinclined to many vices and be pleased to practice many virtues, as he perceives the former are unfit actions and the latter are, in themselves, comely actions, but his disapprobation of vice and approbation of virtue do not arise from any disposition to submit to the will of God. True spiritual obedience is impartial. A renewed heart does not pick and choose from God’s commandments: the man who does so is not performing God’s will, but his own. Make no mistake upon this point; if we do not sincerely desire to please God in all things, then we do not truly wish to do so in anything. Self must be denied; not merely some of the things which may be craved, but self itself! A willful allowance of any known sin breaks the whole law (James 2:10, 11). Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments (Ps. 119:6). Said the Lord Jesus, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14): if I am not His friend, then I must be His enemy, for there is no other alternative-see Luke 19:27.

6. We profit from the Word when the soul is moved to pray earnestly for enabling grace. In regeneration the Holy Spirit communicates a nature which is fitted for obedience according to the Word. The heart has been won by God. There is now a deep and sincere desire to please Him. But the new nature possesses no inherent power, and the old nature or flesh strives against it, and the Devil opposes.  Thus, the Christian exclaims, “To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (Rom. 7:18)”. This does not mean that he is the slave of sin, as he was before conversion; but it means that he finds not how fully to realize his spiritual aspirations. Therefore, does he pray, “Make “Me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight; (Ps. 119:35). And again, “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (PS 119:133). 

7. We profit from the Word when we are, even now, enjoying the reward of obedience. “Godliness is profitable unto all things;” (1 Tim. 4:8)”. By obedience we purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:21). By obedience we obtain the ear of God (1 John 3:22), just as disobedience is a barrier to our prayers (Isa.59:2; Jer. 5:25). By obedience we obtain precious and intimate manifestations of Christ unto the soul (John 14:21). As we tread the path of wisdom (complete subjection to God) we discover that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace “(Prov. 3:17).” His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3), and in keeping of them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).