An Act of the Will

 

There is much conflict

Between Armenians and Calvinists

And there is clearly a major point

That both of them miss.

 

That point being, of course,

God’s ways are past finding out

And that man’s enormous deficit

Is surely without doubt.

 

For every one who is saved

It was an act of the will,

Concerning what Calvinists hold

This is the bitter pill.

 

The elect chooses to be saved

By a definite act of the will,

Thus, the “whosoever will” may come

We hear the invitation still.

 

There is clearly no doubt

That choice is a factor,

Those who come will not be denied

Who don’t, is another matter.

 

 

 

God is God

And He is definitely in charge,

He was and is and always will be

Though often disparaged.

 

His sovereignty is intact

Despite giving man a choice,

That is to accept His invitation

Or ignore His voice.

 

In the acceptance of grace

Neither is compromised:

God’s sovereignty and our choice

Work side by side.

 

On this wise we ought to pray

Even when I don’t understand

Lord, let me never wander away

From your sovereign hand.

 

 

The elect is the elect

Because they’re chosen of God,

Is it any wonder, therefore,

They answered His call.

 

They were given to Christ

As is outlined in the Word

And to think Satan can snatch them

Is to be absurd.

 

Having said yes to His call

They are held by His hand

And nothing can pluck them out:

No creature or no man.

 

For by an act of their will

They show they are the elect

And seeing the footsteps of Jesus

They fell in step.

 

Prevenient grace or total depravity

Is not the critical issue

But having heard Christ call,

What will you do?

 

 

Christians argue technicalities

While sinners are lost and undone,

It is for such sinners the Saviour died

And now he bids them come.

 

A simple act of the will

Expressed in an act of faith,

God’s sovereignty and our free will

Meeting in wonderful grace.

 

Stewart Russell © March 21, 2024

 

What Depth of Love!

 

 

Love was a cross

On which a price was paid

When the prince of glory

On the same was laid.

 

What depth of love!

What abounding grace!

What encompassing mercy!

God took our place!

 

None could pay it

But the Redeemer

Who gave himself willingly

For the transgressor.

 

It was God Himself

In the person of His Son

And thus, in a very real sense,

Became our ransom.

 

Spirit hath not blood

Yes, I know this is true

But God was in Christ Jesus

For me, for you.

 

 

What depth of love!

What abounding grace!

What encompassing mercy!

God took my place.

 

‘Tis mystery all

That such depth of love

For a single worthless sinner

Came from above.

 

Were I the only one

Christ would have died,

God’s love for all is the same

As for a single child.

 

Unfathomable love,

Wonder working love

That brought God my Saviour

From heaven above.

 

 

What depth of love!

What abounding grace!

What encompassing mercy!

God took my place.

 

Stewart Russell © February 4, 2025

 

Christmas Time Again

 

 

A little less heat

In the day and in the night,

And as though on cue, the appearing

Of Christmas lights.

 

The yellows and blues

From our Independence

With the reds, greens and orange

Oh, what resplendence!

 

Twinkling in radiance

Both day and night

And to both the young and old

Bringing much delight.

 

Some started counting

From January 2024,

And the time flew by so quickly

It wasn’t a bore.

 

 

Just a few months ago

Twenty-twenty-four began,

At least, that is how it presently feels,

Given how the time ran.

 

And now it’s Christmas,

It’s upon us again

With its chilly nights, hectic days

And unseasonal rain.

 

There is a hue and a cry

About times being rough

And the forecast for Christmas says

It most likely will be tough.

 

We’ve had a hard year

Trying to make ends meet

And there’s not much in the kitty

For Christmas treats.

 

But the call still goes out

Regarding the needy,

Look out for that familiar red kettle

And give generously.

 

 

Not that tea kettle

That’s sitting on your stove

But that of the Salvation Army

Today as you rove.

 

The poor is ever with us

The words of the Master,

Help someone this Christmas tide

With what you can muster.

 

Opportunity, I perceive,

Is what Jesus meant,

To give help as he abundantly did

When from heaven sent.

 

Christmas time again,

The season of goodwill,

A time of love and hope and grace

And seeking hearts, fill.

 

Of the many carols

And hymns of the nativity,

Of him who came down at Christmas

To save such as you and me.

 

We celebrate his coming

Into our world of sin

And we commemorate this event

That drew us back to him.

 

 

Such blessed assurance!

Such redeeming grace!

That gives us the hope of one day

Looking on his face.

 

A time of celebration!

It’s Christmas time again

When we give unlike all year round

And sing the joyous strains.

 

Hark, hear the angels sing,

O come all ye faithful,

To a little town in Bethlehem

Come all ye people!

 

A king for all:

Both the rich and poor!

The life the light the way the truth

And the eternal door.

 

Let this Christmas time

Speak to your heart

And don’t wait for January 1^st

To press restart.

 

Stewart Russell © December 4, 2024

 

Second Work of Grace

 

 

Show me from God’s Word

This second work of grace

For I have searched and searched

But have found not a trace.

 

The first work I have found

And this, without a doubt,

For it was very straightforward;

Nothing to work out.

 

But I have a difficulty

With this second work

Though I must tell you up front

I’m no Bible expert.

 

The Spirit witnessed to me

I am a child of God

And having been born again,

I thought this was all.

 

But it seems I am wrong

According to some

And I don’t yet have the Spirit

Or even God’s dear Son.

 

 

I have seen many struggle

Trying to explain this

And however hard they tried

Something they missed.

 

Some call it a filling;

This second work of grace

Giving me a kind of impression

It’s more than a taste.

 

But how would I know

This grace when received?

Is it the same witness of the Spirit

As when I first believed?

 

It’s entire sanctification

Some are heard to say

But while entire, it’s not entire,

Is another way.

 

“You will know for sure

You cannot go wrong,”

The evidence, some people say,

Is speaking in tongues.

 

I cannot remember

Ever speaking in tongues

So, I have never been sanctified

If they are not wrong.

 

However, this I know,

And I know this for sure,

I am a born-again child of God-

No less and no more.

 

 

I have the Spirit’s witness

That I am a child of God

And I have His blessed assurance

Even when I fall.

 

If I have not the Spirit

I do not belong to him

And so, it is crystal clear to me

I am still in my sin.

 

But I thank God today

This is not my case

For I have been wonderfully saved

By His miraculous grace.

 

This same grace that saves

Is also able to keep

As in Jesus, the Shepherd’s vigil

Over each of his sheep.

 

I know of one grace

As in that wonderful song,

It’s the wonderful grace of Jesus

And to Jesus I belong.

 

I dare not split God’s grace

Into a one, two, three

But He who has started this work

Will continue it in me.

 

 

Nothing more definitive

Than a sinner saved by grace,

This I am and this I will always be

Until I see his face.

 

Stewart Russell © June 9, 2024

 

Faith and Faith

 

 

Of what faith are you

Is a question often asked

And depending on who you are

This is an easy task.

 

I am of the Wesleyan faith

Or I am an Anglican,

I am a Moravian or Catholic

Or even Presbyterian.

 

Faith meaning sect

Is one of the expressions

That quickly come to one’s mind

When asked this question.

 

I am of Apollos

And I am of Paul

Of Cephas and Christ

Or none of the above at all.

 

Like the Pharisees,

That were none of the above,

They were sectarian and apart

And full of self-love.

 

So, faith as in doctrine

Is one definition of faith,

I will hurry on to the next one

I’ve reserved for this space.

 

Faith as in believing

For something to happen,

The faith expressed in a prayer

When something threatens.

 

Mustard seed faith

That will result in a miracle,

The faith that moves mountains

Or whatever the trouble.

 

 

 

So, faith as in a doctrine

And faith as in belief

Hence, the faith and faith title

In this poetic brief.

 

Both are important

One more than the other

And if not properly understood

They can be a bother.

 

Faith in God’s Word

Meaning one’s faith in the faith

Is what we should aspire to

And this by God’s grace.

 

The faith as in the doctrine

Purported by the apostles

Who also walked with Christ

As his first disciples.

 

And afterwards, Paul

And Barnabas and Timothy

And all in the New Testament

That we can see.

 

 

The apostle’s doctrine

Founded on Jesus the Christ

With Jesus the chief cornerstone

Does adequately suffice.

 

There is much dispute

In the church today

And many seek the miraculous

And keep doctrine at bay.

 

Sound doctrine I mean

As lived by the apostles

And this they have exchanged

For charismatic people.

 

Modern day apostles

And future telling prophets

Not necessarily based in the Word

They live to regret.

 

Emphasizing the gifts

While disregarding the Giver

And more or less placing faith

In a charismatic leader.

 

But faith is of no avail

If not placed in the faith

First given to the Bible apostles

That saw Jesus’ face.

 

 

A more-sure word of prophecy

Is how Peter put it,

One’s faith in this faith

Ought to be one’s daily habit.

 

To be like Jesus

This is the the faith to be,

Conformed to the image of Christ:

A reflection for all to see.

 

Stewart Russell © May 6, 2024

 

Absolutely No Conflict

 

 

 

Some perceive there’s a conflict

Between the apostles James and Paul

On the matter of salvation

But I see none at all.

 

For a background to this matter

Of these two texts take note:

There are Ephesians 2:8 and 9

And James 2:24 and I quote:

 

You see then how

That by works

A man is justified

And not by faith only.

 

Now hear the apostle Paul:

 

For by grace are you saved

Through faith;

And that not of yourselves:

It is the gift of God:

Not of works,

Lest any man should boast.

 

At a glance it would appear

There is obvious contradiction

But look a little closer and you’ll see

There is no such opposition.

 

Paul appeals to the fact:

The fact of salvation, I mean,

While James coming in behind

Speaks to the resulting scene.

 

Saved by grace!

It starts and ends with God,

And the faith that comes by hearing

Is also divinely caused.

 

By grace through faith:

Both from God’s loving hand,

Compliments of His precious Word

Effecting salvation’s plan.

 

No works to raise the dead

Or in keeping the dead alive

And none can maintain salvation

No matter how he strives.

 

So, where do works come in

As James appeared to suggest?

It is the fruit-producing consequence:

The evidentiary process.

 

 

By their fruits!

This is how we come to know,

The fruit of the one that is saved

Will gradually begin to show.

 

Paul speaks to the heart

While James reflects the walk,

It’s what’s inside intimates Jesus:

Living is more than talk.

 

Paul speaks to the internal:

That’s where God’s work is done,

James appeals to the external:

That’s where our race is run.

 

Compass by many witnesses

As this Christian race we run,

The battle’s is the Lord’s, we are told

And He has already won.

 

Take note of James’ “Show me!”

 

Show me your faith

Without your works,

And I will show you

My faith by my works.

 

 

Works is the external evidence

Of the work done inside:

The work of the Holy Spirit

In the one in whom he abides.

 

There is therefore no clash

Between the two apostles,

Actually, one complements the other

In this perceived tussle.

 

No evidence, no life!

That poor old soul is dead!

“All talk and no walk”, indicates

He is on his deathbed.

 

 

For as the body

Without the Spirit is dead,

So faith without works

Is dead also.

 

No conflict, I reemphasize,

Absolutely no conflict at all,

No contradiction of sorts or otherwise

Between the apostle James and Paul.

 

Stewart Russell © October 11, 2022