Which of these statements is true?

1. At the Fall man completely lost the image of God.
2. Even in their sinful condition, human beings retain the image of God giving them dignity and worth.

The article for this month was authored by J.C. Ryle, of whom I hope many if not all of you are familiar with. The title of the article is "Growth", i.e., growth in holiness and the biblical text he used as a foundation for what he wrote is: “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter iii. 18.


I remember vividly, which is a rare thing for me lately a phrase that a radio personality used to say at the end of every broadcast years ago which he obviously coined from this same text (2Peter 3:18)... "Grow in grace or groan in disgrace!"

Enjoy!

You can go directly to this month's Article of the Month by clicking here: Growth.

OR

You can always find this article and all past articles of the month by visiting The Highway website, scrolling down the main page and click on the logo for the "Article of the Month".

In His service and grace,

Can anyone identify the source of this quote by Dr. Paul Elliott?
"We cannot tell people what God can do for them, unless we tell them what God in Christ has done for us."

I have googled and looked on his website to no avail. Thank you.

If there could be one error which is lacking in the vast majority of what is pawned off as preaching and in the myriad counterfeit gospels of our day which could be singled out among many, it would be in my concerted opinion, the truth about sin; not sins, nor about sinning but SIN itself. Shedd understood the depth of sin and in his little lecture, he calls it the "Sinfulness" of sin. There are two similar truths found in Scripture which John Calvin saw as being two sides of one coin; The infinite holiness of God and the unfathomable depth of sin in man. In this world, none of us is capable of comprehending the fullness of these two fundamental truths. And in all honesty, I am not convinced any man ever will, even in his glorified state. But one thing I am sure of is that no sinner will ever come to Christ without the Holy Spirit's work of the conviction of sin, secondly of the holiness of God and the perfect righteousness of Christ and thirdly of the judgment to come because of the lack of the former two (Jh 16:8).

So, take a few moments and read what WTG Shedd learned from God's infallible Word concerning the "Sinfulness of Sin". It is a most valuable little study which can be most instructive, whether for the first time or by renewal.

You can read this month's Article of the Month by clicking hereI: The Sinfulness of Sin.

OR

You can always read it later along with all the archived Articles of the Month by visiting The Highway Website and clicking on the "Article of the Month" logo.

In His service and grace,

(James Buchanan, "Comfort in Affliction" 1837)

"Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, the Ever-living One! I died—but see, I am alive forevermore! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead)." Revelation 1:17-18

When it is affirmed that Jesus holds "the keys of DEATH," it is plainly implied that none can pass out of this present world without His appointment. And, more generally, that He is lord of the living not less than of the dead, and has a thorough control over everything that can in any way affect the lives of men. An absolute power over death, necessarily presupposes a corresponding power over life and its affairs. And it is by the exercise of His providence in sustaining life—that He fulfills His purpose as to the time and mode of their departure hence.

Has the Redeemer the keys of death? Then this should mitigate the anxiety which often preys upon the mind when we look forward into futurity, and contemplate the prospect of our own death. We should remember, that as the Redeemer alone has the keys of death—nothing can happen to send us forth from the world before the time which He has appointed for our departure. Neither man nor devils can abridge the term of probation assigned to us by our gracious Master. Nor, until He is pleased to call us away, shall any power on earth or in Hell prevail against us. The Redeemer is possessed of absolute power over the course of our lives on earth—and over the time and manner of our departure out of the world.

No accident, no hostile violence, no insidious snare, no dark conspiracy—can touch our life—but by His command. And surely, when we reflect on the numerous dangers to which human life is exposed—the frailty of our frame—the diseases to which it is subject—our constant exposure to fatal accidents—the malice of open or concealed enemies—it must be consolatory to know, that the key of Death is in the Savior's hands, and that, come what may, we cannot be forced out of the world, until He opens the door and bids us to come to Him.

More especially, when we are visited with disease, and threatened with a speedy termination of life—the Savior's power over the keys of death should repress or assuage those violent anxieties as to the probability of death or of recovery—and those disquieting speculations as to the outcome of disease, and the mode of its treatment. For disease cannot kill, nor can medicine cure—without the appointment of Him who holds in His own hands the keys of life and of death! And if He has fixed the outcome of this disease—then why should we be anxious?

If death is in our cup—that cup has been put into our hands at the time fixed by unerring wisdom and infinite love! And if the door of death is opening for our departure—it is because the tender Savior, whom we love and trust, is summoning us to be forever with Him!

Shall we, then, rebel against His appointment? Shall we doubt the love and wisdom of His determination? Or, as ignorant as we are of what is before us in this world, and of what really concerns our best interests—can we entertain the wish, that the power of determining the time of our death were wrested out of His hands and placed in our own?

True, we may have many ties that attach us to this world. We may be young, and, with the optimistic hope of youth, may cleave to life. We may be prosperous, and surrounded with many comforts. We may have a young and engaging family, whom we are loath to leave behind us to the cold charities of the world. We may have many dependents on our industry or bounty, who will bitterly lament our loss. But do we imagine that these considerations are not known to the Redeemer, or that He has not weighed them all? And if, notwithstanding, it is His will to summon us home—are we not prepared to yield up our faulty judgment to his unerring wisdom?

The duration of each man's existence on earth is determined by the Redeemer. It belongs to Him to appoint a longer or shorter period to each, as He wills. And in doing so, we have reason to be satisfied, that He determines according to the dictates of His infallible wisdom, although the reasons of His procedure must necessarily be to us, for the present, inscrutable.

We cannot tell why one dies in infancy, another in childhood, a third in the prime of manly vigor, and a fourth reserved to the period of old age. But suffice it for us, that this happens not by chance, neither is it the result of caprice or carelessness—but flows from that unerring wisdom, whose counsels are formed on a view of all possible relations and consequences. The power of death being in the hands of the Redeemer—the duration of human life is, in every instance, determined by Him. And none, therefore, ought to entertain the thought, either that death is, in one case, unduly premature—or, in another, unduly delayed. None live, either for a longer or for a shorter period, than infinite wisdom has assigned to them. Reason teaches, that to His appointment we must submit, however unwilling—it being irresistible, and far beyond our control. So, as Christians, we should learn to acquiesce in it cheerfully, as the appointment of one who cannot err.