NT-EPISTLES.filter - mhcc 1-13:

mhcc@Romans:14 @ ****** Romans 14 ****** *** Outline of Romans 14 *** The Jewish converts cautioned against judging, and Gentile believers against despising one the other. (_1-13.) And the Gentiles exhorted to take heed of giving offence in their use of indifferent things. (_14-23.) *** Commentary ***

mhcc@Ephesians:2 @ ****** Ephesians 2 ****** *** Outline of Ephesians 2 *** The riches of God's grace towards men, shown from their deplorable state by nature, and the happy change Divine grace makes in them. (_1-10.) The Ephesians called to reflect on their state of heathenism. (_11-13.) And the privileges and blessings of the gospel. (_14-22.) *** Commentary ***

mhcc@Ephesians:2:11-13 @ Verse 11-13 - Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all eternity? To have no part in Christ! What true Christian can hear this without horror? Salvation is far from the wicked; but God is a help at hand to his people; and this is by the sufferings and death of Christ.

mhcc@1Thessalonians:3 @ Henry'_1__2 ****** 1st Thessalonians 3 ****** *** Outline of 1st Thessalonians 3 *** The apostle sent Timothy to establish and comfort the Thessalonians (_1-5.) He rejoiced at the good tidings of their faith and love. (_6-10.) And for their increase in grace. (_11-13.) *** Commentary ***

mhcc@1Thessalonians:3:11-13 @ Verse 11-13 - Prayer is religious worship, and all religious worship is due unto God only. Prayer is to be offered to God as our Father. Prayer is not only to be offered in the name of Christ, but offered up to Christ himself, as our Lord and our Saviour. Let us acknowledge God in all our ways, and he will direct our paths. Mutual love is required of all Christians. And love is of God, and is fulfilling the gospel as well as the law. We need the Spirit's influences in order to our growth in grace; and the way to obtain them, is prayer. Holiness is required of all who would go to heaven; and we must act so that we do not contradict the profession we make of holiness. The Lord Jesus will certainly come in his glory; his saints will come with him. Then the excellence as well as the necessity of holiness will appear; and without this no hearts shall be established at that day, nor shall any avoid condemnation. Henry'_1__4 **** Matthew Henry's Commentary **** _

mhcc@James:2 @ ****** James 2 ****** *** Outline of James 2 *** All professions of faith are vain, if not producing love and justice to others. (_1-13.) The necessity of good works to prove the sincerity of faith, which otherwise will be of no more advantage than the faith of devils. (_14-26.) *** Commentary ***

mhcc@James:2:1-13 @ Verse 1-13 - Those who profess faith in Christ as the Lord of glory, must not respect persons on account of mere outward circumstances and appearances, in a manner not agreeing with their profession of being disciples of the lowly Jesus. St. James does not here encourage rudeness or disorder: civil respect must be paid; but never such as to influence the proceedings of Christians in disposing of the offices of the church of Christ, or in passing the censures of the church, or in any matter of religion. Questioning ourselves is of great use in every part of the holy life. Let us be more frequent in this, and in every thing take occasion to discourse with our souls. As places of worship cannot be built or maintained without expense, it may be proper that those who contribute thereto should be accommodated accordingly; but were all persons more spiritually-minded, the poor would be treated with more attention that usually is the case in worshipping congregations. A lowly state is most favourable for inward peace and for growth in holiness. God would give to all believers riches and honours of this world, if these would do them good, seeing that he has chosen them to be rich in faith, and made them heirs of his kingdom, which he promised to bestow on all who love him. Consider how often riches lead to vice and mischief, and what great reproaches are thrown upon God and religion, by men of wealth, power, and worldly greatness; and it will make this sin appear very sinful and foolish. The Scripture gives as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves. This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of kings; and if Christians act unjustly, they are convicted by the law as transgressors. To think that our good deeds will atone for our bad deeds, plainly puts us upon looking for another atonement. According to the covenant of works, one breach of any one command brings a man under condemnation, from which no obedience, past, present, or future, can deliver him. This shows us the happiness of those that are in Christ. We may serve him without slavish fear. God's restraints are not a bondage, but our own corruptions are so. The doom passed upon impenitent sinners at last, will be judgment without mercy. But God deems it his glory and joy, to pardon and bless those who might justly be condemned at his tribunal; and his grace teaches those who partake of his mercy, to copy it in their conduct.