Calvary Reformed Church

LOVE NOT THE WORLD, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15) The foolishness in loving the world is evident in that Lovers of the world are much more afraid of losing their earthly substance, than they are of losing their immortal souls. ~ Nathaniel Vincent (1639-1697)

I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (Philippians 3:8) Thus, the testimony of the Christian is this: The cross of Christ is my crown! The reproach of Christ is my riches! The shame of Christ is my glory! ~ James Janeway, 1636-1674

BUT GROW IN GRACE, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18) When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith is becoming stronger, his hope is becoming brighter, his love is becoming more extensive, and his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked. ~ J. C. Ryle

RISE AND PRAY! When our Lord Jesus Christ rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. (Luke 22:45-46) So then, If those professing faith in Christ cannot exercise so much self-denial as to rise early to pray; then, how will they be able to die at a stake for Jesus Christ! ~ George Whitefield

Join Pastor Merica today as he looks at the truth of born-again believers and their state as true spiritual children of God the Father.

OUR GOD IS IN THE HEAVENS: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. (Psm. 115:3) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35) So then, None but God can pierce into man’s heart, binding his will & affections, even against his will & affections, with powerful & mighty chains. ~ Francis Rous

REMEMBER THIS, that your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore, faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all. (Thomas Brooks) So then, how great is the sure reward of the righteous? The Apostle Paul says, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Who are the blessed in this world? Our Lord Jesus Christ said, Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (Luke 6:22) Thus it was with the English Bible translator and martyr, William Tyndale, who said, God hath made me evil-favored in this world, and without grace in the sight of men.

Glory in the Cross of Christ! The Apostle Paul said, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Gal. 6:14) A Christian glories in the cross because, The cross of Christ is the Christian's crown! The reproach of Christ is the Christian's riches! The shame of Christ crucified is the Christian's glory! ~ (James Janeway, 1636-1674)

"Pray for the Sick" The Apostle James says, . . . pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) When Theodore Beza was afflicted with the plague, John Calvin wrote to William Farel saying of Beza, I would not be a man if I did not return his love who loves me more than a brother and reveres me as a father: but I am still more concerned at the loss the church would suffer if in the midst of his career he should be suddenly removed by death, for I saw in him a man whose lovely spirit, noble, pure manners, and open-mindedness endeared him to all the righteous. I hope, however, that he will be given back to us in answer to our prayers.

God’s Sacrificial Love for Us! Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) So then, The heights of God’s love are manifest, not only in sending His only begotten Son, but in sending Him to be a propitiation for our sins; that is, to become a sin offering for us, and to die for us. ~ PNT Commentary

God’s Grace Is Sufficient for You! The Christian's testimony is By the grace of God I am what I am! (1 Cor. 15:10) So then, let this be your prayer, Lord, You have said, ‘I will cast all your sins into the depths of the sea!’ They shall be carried into a land of everlasting forgetfulness. And to confirm all, You have added, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you!’ Is this . . . can this be for such a vile wretch like me? O wondrous mercy! O boundless sovereign, everlasting, unchangeable love! Yes, it suits me, because it is all of grace, free grace, from first to last . . . without works, and without boasting. ~ James Smith