glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- it must needs follow that we are lost in ourselves "The evils from which we are saved are own sins, in that Christ frees us from the guilt and the punishment and fault of them all, when we believe. Thus much for the meaning of this title "Jesus." Now follow the uses which arise from it. First of all, whereas we are taught to make confession that the Son of God is Jesus-that is, a savior-hence, it must needs follow that we are lost in ourselves. And indeed before we can truly acknowledge that Christ is our Savior, this confession must needs go before, that we are in truth and therewithal do feel ourselves to be miserable sinners under the wrath of God, utterly lost in regard of ourselves; for "Christ came to save that which was lost" (Matt. 18:11). And when He talked with the woman of Canaan, He checked her and said He was not sent but "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (15:24). Christ Jesus came to pour oil into our wounds. Christ came to set them at liberty which are in prison and to place them in freedom that are in bondage. Now a man cannot pour oil into a wound before there be a wound or before it be opened, [and] we feel the smart of it. And how can we be set at liberty by Christ, except we feel ourselves to be in bondage, under hell, death, and damnation? When the disciples Christ were upon the sea in a great tempest, they cried, "Master, save us, we perish" [8:25]. So no man can heartily say, "I believe Jesus Christ to be my Savior," before he feel that in himself he is utterly lost and castaway, without His help. But after that we perceive ourselves to be in danger and to be overwhelmed in the sea of the wrath of God, then we cry out with the disciples, "Lord Jesus, save us. We perish." . . ."William Perkins pg. 100.101 'An Exposition of the Creed 'The Works of William Perkins' Volume 5 10:13 p.m. - 2023-02-05 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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