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##### Work to Obtain Heavenly Treasures

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation and Counsel to Professors of Christianity

Work to Obtain Heavenly Treasures}

Another part of the heavenly trade is to bring in heavenly goods. [After this motivational subchapter, Ashwood will give us much practical instruction in the next subchapter that will answer the question, “Well, how do I do this?” Ed.] A great part of a trader’s business is to furnish themselves with wares suited to their employment and to their advantage. The craftsman needs raw materials and the merchant needs salable goods that can be sold at a profit. Likewise, wisdom’s merchants must obtain stores of wisdom’s wares so that they may be able to pursue her trade. But there is a difference: earthly wares are either the product of people’s industry and labor or have been purchased with money and treasure. But heavenly goods are not obtained this way and are not in proportion either to people’s labor or money invested. Indeed we must labor for heavenly bread, but when all is done, the Son of Man gives it to us (John 6:27).648 Salvation must be worked out as if it were at our fingertips, yet this very will and labor is God’s work in us. “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13 NASB). A corpse cannot obtain life by itself. In the same way, no creature has the ability to embrace the Gospel until saving grace empowers the person to embrace its overtures (Ephesians 2:1).649 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you” (John 15:16 NASB). The soul’s choice of Christ is the effect of Christ first choosing him; its love for God is the product of God first loving him (1 John 4:19).650 Likewise, a soul’s fruitfulness is the effect of Christ’s design and remodeling of that soul to make it fruitful. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44 ESV). God does not merely persuade the will with potent moral arguments, but He repairs the malfunctioning will itself; thus repaired, the will is inclined and disposed to come to and choose Christ by the irresistible operation of the Holy Spirit.651 “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16 ESV). At salvation, Christ gives Himself to the thirsty soul, along with grace, righteousness, and holiness through Himself (Revelation 20:6).652 Christ also bestows the inclination and power to receive these freely bestowed gifts. “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29 NASB). Faith itself, which is the power and will to believe, is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8–9)653 and is not given to every person alike. “And that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith” (2 Thessalonians 3:2 ESV). Those who do not have faith lack it because the Father was not pleased to effectually bestow it. “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear” (Deuteronomy 29:4 ESV). “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV). If the differences between one person and another with respect to how well they use their grace were due to their own inclinations and the natural freedom of their own wills, then there was something in those creatures that made the difference. But that is contrary to Scripture and would be a reason for people to glory in themselves. It would wholly overthrow [part of] the design of the grace of redemption, which is to eliminate all boasting (1 Corinthians 1:26–29; Romans 3:27)654 and give all the praise and glory of people’s salvation to [God’s] special grace (Ephesians 1:5–6).655 And, it is not only the first [saving] grace that is freely given, but more grace, all-sufficient grace, is conferred for every good word and work, and yes, for every thought that is good. This ability comes from the same grace that first called [converted] you and it must also perfect every good work all your life (2 Corinthians 3:5).656 For those of us who have grace, our adequacy to think or do the least spiritual good comes from that same fountain of fullness that is in Christ (John 1:16).657 Eternal life, including whatever [of God’s works] leads to it, is the gift of God (Romans 6:23).658 As Christ is freely given, so all things with Him are also freely given (Romans 8:32).659 Not only is the seed of grace freely given, but the growth of grace; not only good intentions, but good actions of grace; all kinds of grace come from Christ as part of redemption-grace. Get your hearts well established in this gracious truth: nothing in you or done by you can merit or procure anything from the Father; rather, all who come to the Father in Christ receive everything on account of Christ, His grace, and God’s promise in Him. You need goods for a daily trade, but no money or price will be accepted (Isaiah 55:1).660 They are freely given, yet you may boldly come for them. You must go with empty sacks and your friend in Heaven will fill them and return your money in the top opening of your sack (Genesis 42:27; Genesis 43:19–23).661 Christian, a considerable part of your work, and that which lies at the foundation of all your trade, lies in getting your soul furnished with heavenly wares. You will do little traffic in your trading for Heaven if you do not often receive goods from Heaven. Alas! What can you do in Christianity without continual supplies from Christ? Laodicea could not do any good in Christianity because of a lack of goods from Christ (Revelation 3:15–18).662 She had none of His refined gold and therefore soon grew poor and miserable. If goods do not come in, trade falls and livelihood with it. [Consider] what advantages the tradesman misses and what losses he suffers if he lacks goods with which to serve his customers. Likewise, when Christians lack grace to serve their opportunities, necessities, temptations, and duties, they suffer loss. When they engage in ordinances [sacraments, public worship, and so on] and holy duties, they lose what advantage their souls might have gotten if they had had grace. They suffer losses due to lack of grace when under afflictions or trials and in their work for God. How pitifully do they sag under troubles and providential discipline and are frequently sadly foiled due to lack of grace and wisdom to manage such trials. Just as you need food for your bodies every day, so you need more grace every day. Various happenings in your life, your temptations, and your work cost you, and without fresh supplies from the treasury, you will soon be empty and impoverished. Neglect your spiritual replenishment just one day and you will feel it. If you are a trader, it is in your interest to keep your shops full and be frequently sending for more goods. Unlike other goods, grace will never stay in your hands for a long time. You will have many occasions to exercise grace in your dealings with God and people; you can never have an excess inventory of wisdom’s wares.

It is also your duty to receive gifts from Christ continually. In everything, make your requests known to Him. Draw water out of the well of salvation every day. He is a fountain promised for your benefit. He is ordained by God to be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is God’s purpose that believers live in Christ and obtain these blessings from Him. This is [what it means] to live by faith in the Son of God; it is the Christian’s daily duty. Christ complains of being offended when His people will not come to Him that they might have life (John 5:40).663 He is troubled when His children will not ask and receive from Him. “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24 NKJV). Never was a full breast more pained for lack of drawing than the Lord Jesus is when His people do not receive from Him that fullness that is laid up in Him for their use.

It is to your advantage also to be at Christ’s door frequently, and to be continually getting in supplies for your souls. The way to grow rich rapidly is to obtain more and more of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Revelation 3:18).664 This is the way to be filled with the fruits of righteousness and to be more thoroughly furnished for all good works, all to the glory and praise of God (2 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 1:9–11).665 This is the way to do everything better and to abound in the work of the Lord and be more completely in the will of God (1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 4:12).666 By this means, you will become better able to serve others and more useful in the place where you live and to the people among whom God has placed you. The more full of grace you are, the better you can profit others. “Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14 NKJV). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV). Those who freely receive will be able to give freely, and that is a blessed thing (Acts 20:35).667 And, until you receive, you cannot give. Christian, get in more grace every day for your own use, for the glory of God, and for the good of others. Labor to be furnished with every grace, especially those graces of which the Lord makes more use, and according to the needs of your time, condition, and place (Hebrews 12:28; 2 Peter 1:5–6).668 Be sure to be well furnished with faith; that is a useful grace at all times because we live by faith (Hebrews 10:38).669 But faith is especially useful in evil times and in times of temptation and affliction. Faith is an eye, a hand, and a foot at all times. It is a grace that is always useful whichever way you turn; you cannot be without it and be well. Faith is a working grace and that is good for traders; you cannot work without it (2 Thessalonians 1:4).670 Faith is a building grace (Jude 1:20–21),671 a nourishing grace (1 Timothy 4:6),672 a soul-enriching grace (James 2:5),673 and a soul-strengthening grace (Ephesians 3:16–19).674 But faith is particularly needed in evil times because it is a cheering grace (Romans 15:13).675 Faith is a soul-preserving grace, and that is good in dangerous times (1 Peter 1:5).676 Faith is a soul-saving grace that saves both in and out of times of trouble. (Psalm 27:5; James 5:15).677 Faith is a heart-establishing grace (2 Chronicles 20:20).678 Faith gives grace to disdain the world’s treasures for heavenly things (Hebrews 11:24–26),679 and to overcome the world (1 John 5:4).680 Faith is a grace that makes a soul secure. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23 NASB). Faith makes one secure during troubles. It is a breastplate to preserve the heart (1 Thessalonians 5:8)681 and a shield to cover the head (Ephesians 6:16).682 Faith leads a person [safely] through trouble. “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29 NKJV). Oh, gather in plenty of this precious unfeigned faith, for it is the great trading-grace of a Christian; faith brings in and makes available every other grace. Faith is the receiving grace; it receives Christ (Ephesians 3:17),683 and it receives from Christ (John 1:16).684 Faith is the key that opens Christ’s treasures and the hand that takes out His tried gold. Faith is the grace that both carries to us and from us.685 [True] faith accepts God’s market price and terms and agrees to all of Christ’s commandments, and thus never returns empty. Christian, you will never lack goods for your heavenly trade if you can just keep exercising faith. Your shops will never be empty so long as faith stirs you up and keeps you on your journey to Heaven. If there are any goods in the promises or any wares in Heaven, faith will bring them down as long as the soul needs them and it be in God’s interest to part with them. Oh, then get faith! Alas, what a pitiful trade some have due to lack of faith! Choice goods will not come in and precious promises, pertinent instructions, persuasions, and encouragements stay in Christ’s hands due to lack of faith in those who hear.

Christian, you will accomplish nothing in Christianity without faith. In these days in which we live, without a store of faith, you will soon shut up shop, decay, and go bankrupt when troubles come. Faith will fill your storehouse, do your work, move your goods off the shelf, secure your rights, pay your debts, and maintain you richly on the income of your trade.

Patience is another grace that will serve you well in your spiritual trade. You have need of patience to do the will of God; you cannot do His work without patience. “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works” (2 Corinthians 12:12 ESV).686 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance [patience, endurance], proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3–5 NASB). Patience brings about proven character [and more]. Souls are apt to become weary of well-doing without patience and tire in running without this continually given grace of patience. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 ESV). The fruit of ordinances and duties cannot be received without patience. “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15 ESV). The Lord usually tries His people’s patience before they come to the fruit of the promises and bring forth obedience to His Word. There is a winter between planting and harvest and many wet, weeping days between planting and reaping. It may be that the seed must lie long underground, and when it comes up, it may be bitten with frost, be covered with snow and hail, and bear many a storm before it ripens and brings forth fruit. This calls for patience, yes, many times of long suffering. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (James 5:7 NKJV). Patience is needed in order to suffer [without sinning], as well as do the will of God. “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10 ESV).687 This patience and faith is [necessary] to endure captivity and cruel death for the sake of Christ, and to have patience to wait for the promise (Romans 8:25)688 and to have patience to receive it (Hebrews 10:36).689 “Patience,” said Seneca, “is a salve for every sore, the only thing that alleviates our burdens.” “Without patience, we cannot be men or Christians,” said another. “It is the grace that makes a complete and well-accomplished Christian,” said Manton (James 1:4).690 When reason is at a loss, hope almost at an end, and all refuge fails, patience steps in, bears the burden, and calms the soul.

Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking and is counted among the three cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian’s spirit and way of life. “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV). Hope is the offspring and refresher of faith. It is begotten by faith, and said one, “As a good child relieves its father, [so hope relieves] faith in time of need.” Hope is an expectation and faith a persuasion. Faith looks at the promise, hope the thing promised as sure, although future. Hope comforts the soul under present lack of desired mercy; it is something needed in order to cheer the soul under pressing needs and disappointments in its Christian life. Hope keeps the fire going and keeps up the house [household of Christ]. “But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6 NKJV). Were it not for hope, the house would fall apart, but hope keeps it together until the Lord builds it new in Heaven. Hope anchors the soul in a storm and makes it steady under shaking tempests (Hebrews 6:19).691 Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter while the seed is underground and until the corn is brought into the barn. “Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops” (1 Corinthians 9:10 NASB). Hope for a good harvest will compensate all his labors. Hope protects the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary delay by God to fulfill His promise (Psalm 34:22).692 Hope helps the soul to rejoice in tribulation (Romans 5:2),693 and surrounds it with mercy (Psalm 32:10).694

Humility, self-denial, goodness, temperance, gentleness, love, zeal, and holy fear [of God] are all good wares that will move off the shelves well and turn to the trader’s profit if well used. Get your souls well stocked also with these graces of the Spirit if you ever think to pursue a good trade of godliness.

Get your minds filled with knowledge just as you get your hearts filled with grace. Knowledge is part of the Christian’s treasure: “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 ESV). We have this treasure, that is the knowledge of God in the face of Christ, in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7).695 Saving knowledge is a treasure laid up in Christ for believers to be fetched out for their use and comfort, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself” (Colossians 2:2 NASB). The Gospel is a mystery, a secret hidden from the natural eye; it cannot be known except by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. To have an inward, clear, sensible, experiential, and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel, opened and confirmed to the eye of faith, is beyond the reach of anyone. But it is given those who have the anointing of the Holy Spirit; it is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer and faithful attention to His teachings in the Gospel and the ordinances of Christ. This is called rooting and establishment in the faith (Colossians 2:7),696 and growing in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).697 These verses use the metaphor of trees, that being well planted, take deeper root in the earth and, in time, are more settled and have strength against being shaken [by wind and storm]. As children gradually grow and increase in height, so this spiritual knowledge is gradually increased. It is not the privilege of newborn babies, or of people right after their conversion, to have this deep understanding of Gospel mysteries. But stronger Christians, by constant attendance on the means of grace and by faith, humility, prayer, and attention to the Holy Spirit, do at length come to higher measures of this illumination and full assurance of truth. Gerson reported concerning a godly man he knew: At first he was vexed by many doubts, fears, and times of shaken faith. But at last, through humiliation of soul, submitting his understanding to divine truth, and by the illumination by the Holy Spirit, he came to wonderful clearness in matters of faith and of the state of his soul. He obtained a settled spirit and certainty regarding his assurance of salvation and had no doubts remaining. Christian, do not content yourself with some notions of truth and a shallow, cold understanding of the great mysteries of salvation. Rather, labor to obtain greater measures of spiritual understanding, both objective, the truths to be known, and subjective, internalizing these truths. Alas, we yet know nothing as we ought. There are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for elephants and shallows for lambs. There are always available brighter beams on the soul’s eye, more certain understanding, and better acquaintance to be had of the truths we already know. Your business, Christian, in the heavenly trade is to get more divine wisdom, to be led further into all truth, to enter into the mysteries of the Gospel, to wade further and further into the deeps of the sanctuary, to know more of God and of the way to Him, to know better the things that He freely gives, and to know better what you [already] know. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants’” (Matthew 11:25 NASB). There is a secret in Gospel truths that the wisest men in the world can never come to comprehend by their great wisdom, except only by the special revelation of the Holy Spirit. People cannot observe some of the useful substances that are hidden in some herbs and minerals until by chemistry they are extracted. People may observe and receive these herbs and minerals knowing only of their outward characteristics without ever knowing or experiencing the useful substances they contain. So it is with those who are strangers to spiritual knowledge. They apprehend only the gross and outside truths and never the inner truths. “A carnal man,” said Thomas Hooker in his A Comment Upon Christ’s Last Prayer, “may hear the sound of the Word and understand the meaning; his judgment may see the evidence for the arguments and force of reason in them; and yet the reality and spiritual nature of that Divine good is never apprehended.” “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV). There is no proportion between a spiritual object and [the ability of] a carnal eye. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). Labor to see the beauty and loveliness of truth, to see that you have an ownership interest in the truth, and to taste an inward sweetness and a ravishing pleasure in truth. As God reveals truth to you, seek to feel the sense of special love to your souls. Be sure to observe God’s power working on your souls by every truth, changing you into the very spirit and image of truth. Labor to grow broadly in the knowledge of all truth. At the same time, labor to apprehend and experience the truth more deeply, more spiritually, and more powerfully. It is the lack of such right knowledge that causes so many people to be cold, dead hypocrites and barren professing Christians in this day of light and available spiritual resources.

Also, get your consciences stocked up with the peace of God that passes understanding This is the salt that seasons every thing, condition, and duty (Mark 9:50).698 This will shoe your feet for travel through the rough and tiresome ways of affliction, temptation, and persecution that you will necessarily encounter in your pursuit of your heavenly trade (Ephesians 6:15).699 This will calm your hearts in storms, maintain a summer inside you when it is winter outside you and when there is nothing but storms and troubles in the world (John 16:33).700 This peace will preserve you when all is going wrong and keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).701 This peace will guard your hearts from those slavish fears, dark doubts, and dreadful troubles that beset many today, and make you triumph over sin, trample on the world, and smile in the midst of all the frowns of people and demons. Oh, get and keep this rare jewel of inward peace that will help you to draw near to God with boldness and cheerful serenity702 in every duty (Hebrews 10:22).703 Get your consciences bathed in the blood of Christ and the evidence of your sincerity cleared up every day.704 This will help maintain a feast of inward peace under the temptations of Satan and your awareness of your daily failings and stumbling.

Get your hearts warmed and affections enlivened with a sense of God’s love to your souls. This is a choice part of heavenly treasures, and it is abundantly helpful to a lively carrying on of this divine trade. Affections raised by the application of redemption grace will be to your souls as spread sails to a ship. They will carry you strongly along against wind and storm, fill you with pleasant gales within, and give you a speedy and comfortable passage through the waves of this world. God’s love gives souls wings to fly up toward God and carry them aloft above the entanglements of sin, the world, and the flesh in the earnest pursuit of God’s commandments (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).705 Where God’s love has influenced the heart, His commands will not be thought grievous or His yoke heavy (Psalm 119:32; Romans 13:10).706 God’s love will exceedingly sweeten the waters of Marah (Exodus 15:23)707 to you and make the paths of God’s providences, as well as His precepts, pleasantness and peace.

Also, take in the consolations of the Holy Spirit and the joys of the Holy Spirit. These will be useful to cheer your hearts under tribulation and strengthen and invigorate you under heart-fainting and qualms you may meet with from those toxic vapors of this lower world and lack of creature comforts (2 Corinthians 7:4; Revelation 15:4).708 This spiritual comfort will also help to drown your carnal joys and prevent your being surfeited with the pleasures of this world—another danger to wisdom’s merchants at times. “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence” (Acts 2:28 ESV). Where there is spiritual joy, it fills the heart and leaves no room for carnal delights. Just as the heat of the sun makes a fire needless for warmth, so spiritual consolation makes carnal joy needless. It was the comfort that Moses, by faith, obtained from a view of an invisible God, that made him choose ill-treatment with the people of God rather than the pleasures of sin that were only for a season (Hebrews 11:24–25).709 This spiritual comfort is a notable way to stability in every good work (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17).710 This comfort helps move forward your soul’s edification and growth in grace and holiness (Acts 9:31).711

Oh! Christians have so much work to do besides the world and minding their own things. If Christianity were followed as it ought to be, people would have no leisure for sin and vanity. Oh! There is great need for gracious souls to have a diligent hand to make them rich and to be bringing in spiritual goods every day.

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648“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27 NKJV).

649“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1 NASB).

650“We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NKJV).

651Imagine someone with a brain tumor that causes him to disdain wholesome food, and instead, eat paper. There is nothing forcing his will; he is doing what he wants to do—the problem is that his will is malfunctioning. After surgery repairs his brain, he resumes a normal diet. Due to Adam’s fall, we are all born with a sinful, malfunctioning will that rebels against God. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, He fixes the malfunctioning will. The new believer thus embraces Jesus Christ freely and willingly.

652“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6 NKJV).

653“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB).

654“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV). “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith” (Romans 3:27 NKJV).

655“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5–6 NASB).

656“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB).

657“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16 ESV).

658“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NASB).

659“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 ESV).

660“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1 ESV).

661“But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack” (Genesis 42:27 NKJV). “When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, and said, ‘O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.’ But he said, ‘Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.’ Then he brought Simeon out to them” (Genesis 43:19–23 NKJV).

662“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:15–18 NKJV).

663“Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:40 ESV).

664“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (Revelation 3:18 NASB).

665“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11 NASB).

666“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB). “Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12 NASB).

667“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35 NASB).

668“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28 NKJV). Note: Some translations render the Greek λατρευωμεν [root: λατρεύω (lat-ryoo´-o)] as worship instead of serve, a valid option. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness” (2 Peter 1:5–6 ESV).

669“But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38 ESV).

670“So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (2 Thessalonians 1:4 NKJV).

671“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life” (Jude 20–21 NASB).

672“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following” (1 Timothy 4:6 NASB). The ESV has trained instead of nourished. The Greek ἐντρέφω [en-tref´-o] has a wide range of meanings, including the concept of educate, nourish, bring up, rear support, and so on.

673“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5 NKJV).

674“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16–19 ESV).

675“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NASB). [In the Greek, believe and faith come from the same root, being the verb and noun forms, respectively.]

676“…who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5 NASB).

677“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5 ESV). “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15 NKJV).

678“And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed’” (2 Chronicles 20:20 ESV).

679“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24–26 NKJV).

680“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4 NASB).

681“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV).

682“…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16 NKJV).

683“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17 NKJV).

684“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16 NASB).

685Faith is like an indispensable container such as the cup by which a host gives coffee to a guest. That is why Scripture teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Faith carries both ways; for example, faith carries our prayers to God and His answers to us.

686Other translations will render ὑπομονη [hoop-om-on-ay´] as perseverance. Other meanings are endurance, fortitude, and steadfastness. The idea of patience/perseverance is that of remaining under God’s perfect providence without discontent or complaint over His chosen timespan.

687The NKJV reads: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10 NKJV). Other versions will also vary in the translation; the differences are due to slight manuscript variations. While the editor declines to adjudicate between translations, he has chosen to quote the ESV because it fits Ashwood’s present discussion better.

688“But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:25 NASB).

689“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Hebrews 10:36 ESV).

690“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4 NKJV).

691“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:19 ESV). Curtain refers to the one that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple.

692“The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22 NASB).

693“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2 ESV).

694“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him” (Psalm 32:10 NASB).

695“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV).

696“…rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7 NKJV).

697“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 ESV).

698“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mark 9:50 NKJV).

699“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15 NKJV).

700“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NASB).

701“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 ESV).

702Godly contentment is a great and useful friend to the peace of God. The editor recommends Jeremiah Burroughs’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.

703“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22 NKJV).

704Daily self-examination and confession of particular sins particularly is of great value here.

705“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NKJV).

706“I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” (Psalm 119:32 ESV). “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10 NASB).

707“When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah” (Exodus 15:23 NASB).

708“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4 NKJV). “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:4 ESV).

709“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24–25 NASB).

710“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 NASB).

711“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (Acts 9:31 ESV).

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