Tags
1 Corinthians 1:21-24, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Galatians 2:20, Isaiah 53:4-7, Jeremiah 17:14, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, Joel 2:25-26, John 1:29, Matthew 1:21, Psalm 51:12-13, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 5:1-6, The Cross of Jesus Christ, There IS (Still) A Fountain, Who Do You Believe?, Zechariah 13:1
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 16 There Is (Still) A Fountain!!!
I was thinking of this precious song this week and how imperative it is for us to remember that the cross upon which our Savior “bled and died” is the center of our faith; and without the “blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin” (See 1 John 1:7) we have no hope. I am always drawn back to Paul’s proclamation that is the refrain of my heart.
“And I, brethren,
when I came to you,
came not with excellency of speech
or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness,
and in fear,
and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching
was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit
and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand
in the wisdom of men,
but in the power
of God.” 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5
The fountain that flows from Calvary is the saving power of the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord! He came to die for our sin—and yes, sin IS the issue! Paul so clearly proclaims the truth and import of the Gospel of the cross and sacrifice of Jesus! Notice that Paul makes it clear that he claims no significance for himself, his great oratory skills, or his heritage; rather he directs the hearers to recognize that it is by God’s Holy Spirit, power, and wisdom, not man’s, that we find grace and salvation.
“For after that in the wisdom of God
the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching
to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign,
and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumblingblock,
and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-24
But what does all this mean to you and me? It means I must join Paul and determine with whom my devotion is aligned. I must recognize that GOD chose “the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” and keep this truth ever before me in all that I do.
“I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live;
yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me,
and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
You and I can bank our lives on the surety of the salvation that Jesus gives to all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith; receiving the great power, assurance, and hope that the Cross of Jesus Christ our Lord supplies! While it is by faith that we live; it’s not blind faith, but a complete confidence in the surety and security of God Almighty and HIS Son Jesus, who paid our sin debt—it’s why HE came—and the veracity (truth) of HIS WORD!
“And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
Part of what makes us secure is the truth of God’s Word, what it reveals from Genesis to Revelation about this fountain that flows with salvation, healing (soul always, and body as God sees fit!), restoration, renewal, and peace! Let’s spend some time looking at the scriptural support for these truths. I would love to post all of Isaiah 53, but for time and space, we will look at only a few verses (but I encourage you to read all of it when you can) of great import to who Jesus would be and what HE would do for us! For when we take it in its context, we see that Jesus would pay the price for our salvation—our healing from the plague of SIN!
“Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows:
yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God,
and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace
was upon him;
and with his stripes
we are healed.
6 All we like sheep
have gone astray;
we have turned every one
to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed,
and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth:
he is brought as a lamb
to the laughter,
and as a sheep
before her shearers is dumb,
so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:4-7
And as John the Baptizer confirmed so concisely:
“The next day John seeth Jesus
coming unto him,
and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away
the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Jesus is our perfect healer!
“Heal me, O LORD,
and I shall be healed;
save me,
and I shall be saved:
for thou art my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
Our restorer—on so many fronts!
“And I will restore to you
the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm,
and the caterpiller,
and the palmerworm,
my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty,
and be satisfied,
and praise the name
of the LORD your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you:
and my people
shall never be ashamed.” Joel 2:25-26
“Restore unto me
the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me
with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors
thy ways;
and sinners
shall be converted unto thee.” Psalm 51:12-13
Our renewal—heart, mind, soul, and spirit!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice,
holy,
acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove
what is that good,
and acceptable,
and perfect,
will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
The God of all peace!
“Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace
wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God.
3 And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation
worketh patience;
4 And patience,
experience;
and experience,
hope:
5 And hope
maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.” Romans 5:1-6
And as we consider all these things, I simply want to close with the beloved hymn that reminds me so often of the truth and import of the cross. It’s my hope, my confidence, my assurance, and my peace. How about you? The author based the song on Zechariah 13:1:
“In that day there shall be a fountain
opened to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
for sin and for uncleanness.” (Jesus)
There Is A Fountain by William Cowper
“There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away:
Washed all my sins away,
Washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more:
Are safe, to sin no more,
Are safe, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save:
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.”
Amen and Amen!!!