My niece in her first birthday, happy mexican independence day to y´all!

RTS Jackson Student Cabinet

The Everlasting love of God for us

The Israel of God is the Church. The Bible says, "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" Ephesians 6:25-27. Lets see what the Bible says about the church in the Old Testament.

These verses are found in the book of Isaiah in the Bible:

"The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth"

"You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine"

"For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior"

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life"

"O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me"

"Return to me, for I have redeemed you"

"That you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name"

"I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me" "I equip you, though you do not know me"

"But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity"

"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other"

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me"

"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted"

The love of God for us is a reality.

J.C. Ryle on Holiness

I think I should write more about what I am learning at seminary. Here are some quotes by J.C. Ryle(1816-1900):

"It is a solemn thing to hear the Word of God saying, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14)

"Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God´s judgment- hating what He hates, loving what He loves and measuring everything in this world by the standard of Hid Word".

"True Holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seem, and known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is a precious ointment: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid".

"I do not understand how a man can be a true believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow and trouble" (He is quoting John Owen)

"Without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven".

"You reckon the sabbath a burden and a weariness; you could not possibly spend more than a samll part of it in worshipping God. But remember, heaven is a never-ending sabbath. The inhabitants thereof rest not day or night, saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" and singing the praise of the Lamb. How could an unholy man find pleasure in occupation such as this?"

"To reach the holiday of glory, we must pass through the training school of grace. We must be heavenly minded, and have heavenly tastes, in the life that now is or else we shall never find ourselves in heaven, in the life to come"

"That which costs nothing is worth nothing"

"Holiness comes from Christ. It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine. Go then to Christ and say, "Lord, not only save me from the guilt of sin, but send the Spirit, whom Thou didst promise, and save me from its power. make me holy. Teach me to do Thy will"