Eternally Assured

Question: What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?  Answer: He is our Mediator and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God my sin, in which I was conceived and born.  (Heidelberg Catechism Question & Answer 36) During this Holiday Season, I am reminded of one of my favorite Christmas Songs "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus".  I have been rehearsing this particular lyric in my heart on repeat:  "Come to Earth to taste our sadness, He whose glory knows no end. By His life He brings us gladness, Our Redeemer! Shepherd! Friend! Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall. This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born Lord of all"   "Come to Earth to taste our sadness, He whose glory knows no end." In times of deep distress the overarching theme for me has been the kindness and the humanity of Christ. He came to earth to taste our sadness. He left glory to become a baby who was born unde...

  So please dear Elizabeth, learn to understand God's Word better, so that you do not regard Jesus as another Moses. By this I mean, that you will not treat our Advocate and Savior as an accuser and condemner, which is the greatest dishonor with which people can dishonor Jesus"" -Petrus Dathenus (The Pearl of Christian Comfort)  " Elizabeth: But now dear brother, please tell me, what purpose would this ability to distinguish between Law & Gospel serve?  Dathenus: It will serve to comfort and strengthen you by faith in Jesus Christ, and by the aforementioned gospel promises, quiet and overcome the anxiety of your conscience which is troubled by the killing letter of the law" - Petrus Dathenus (The Pearl of Christian Comfort)  "Dear Christian, the Gospel is for you. The forgiveness of sins is for you. Jesus, and His death and resurrection, His mercy and grace, His undeserved kindness are still for you, today and always. Your life is hidden with Go...

    " When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free. For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me" - Charite Lees Bancroft "When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast. When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path. For my love is often cold. He must hold me fast" - Ada R Habershon      Another week has passed in this "vale of tears" called life.  Christians everywhere have physically and mentally experienced the consequences of "East of Eden" living while simultaneously plagued with the awareness of their own sin and misery. Monday started with bright eyes and a promise of "I will never do it again" and "I will spend more time in the Word this week". However, by Friday and Saturday the law...