1999-09-07 - Port’s Faithful Shepherd

Chapter 2, Part 2

1 Corinthians 6:17, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

“Get your union with, and interest in Christ cleared and confirmed to you daily more and more. Confirm that you are a branch in his vine, John 15:1-7, a member in his body, 2 Corinthians 13:5.

This may be done three ways (Editor's note: Please see 99-08-31 for Part 1.)

2. By examining your heart upon what grounds you take Christ to be yours, and they are five:
   1. A sight and sense of your sins, and the greatness of your guilt. A real understanding of the impending punishment of your sins and your misery because of them, Matthew 9:13.

   2. Your need of Christ to be seen and felt in your heart, to justify, sanctify, redeem, and save you, or else you are utterly lost and undone everlastingly, Luke 19:10.

   3. God’s free and general offer of Christ to any that will take him by faith, John 3:16, and other manifold promises of this kind. The ground of all God’s offers and giving of Christ to you, being free Grace, rich mercy, and undeserved love, Ephesians 2:4-8, Titus 3:4-7.

   4. Christ’s sweet and gracious invitation to all those who come to him, who are weary of sin (Matthew 11:28), to buy, who have no money, and no righteousness, to commend them to Christ (Isaiah 55:1), even though they have no worth or desert in themselves.

   5. As sinful vile wretches as you are, still many have been bought by Christ, and found in Christ, see 1 Corinthians 9:9-12, 1 Timothy 1:13, Philippians 3:3-10, why may not you? The more clearly you discern upon what grounds you take Christ, the more clear is your title to Christ.” Robert Port

Having quoted Port at length here, I would just like to emphasize how vital the points about union with Christ are that Port brings out. If you take the time to read what Port says carefully, I have no doubt, that you will find that it brings peace and joy to all of you who are in Christ. How wonderful is the grace of Christ and how excellent is His way of salvation. In less than one page, Port touches on so many deep and important themes concerning salvation that he has here written an early version of the cliff-notes to the encyclopedia that is salvation by grace through Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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http://www.cfdevotionals.org
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