The BLB Blog

The official blog of Blue Letter Bible

The Comfort of Christ

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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

“‘He will not quench the smoking wick or flax.’ It adds strength to faith to consider that all expressions of love issue from nature in Christ, which is constant. God knows that, as we are prone to sin, so, when conscience is thoroughly awakened, we are prone to despair for sin.

And therefore He would have us know that He setteth Himself in the covenant of grace to triumph in Christ over the greatest evils and enemies we fear, and that His thoughts are not as our thoughts are, and that He is God and not man, and that there are heights, and depths, and breadths of mercy in Him above all the depths of our sin and misery, and that we should never be in such a forlorn condition, wherein there should be ground of despair, considering our sins be the sins of men and His mercy the mercy of an infinite God.

But though it be a truth clearer than the sunbeams, that a broken-hearted sinner ought to embrace mercy so strongly enforced, yet there is no truth that the heart shutteth itself more against than this, especially in sense of misery, when the soul is fittest for mercy, until the Holy Spirit sprinkleth the conscience with the blood of Christ, and sheddeth His love into the heart, so that the blood of Christ in the conscience may cry louder than the guilt of sin.

For only God’s Spirit can raise the conscience with comfort above guilt, because He only is greater than the conscience. Men may speak comfort, but it is Christ’s Spirit that can only comfort.”

–Richard Sibbes, “To the General Reader,” The Bruised Reed

Did you like this? Well, stay tuned! Certain works of Richard Sibbes that have not been previously available will be added to the Blue Letter Bible. For more information, go here and here.

Comments

  2. Thank you, Father God, for sending Jesus so that I might know God. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for calling me.

    But I think Frank Rodenberg (commenter on this blog) said it best, “My God is big.” I love it that! He said it all. 🙂

    • im glad i know that God became flesh in Jesus christ.and when we get the holy ghost like they did at pentecost that that is Jesus in us.

  3. This hymn came to mind as I read the post this morning, and both ministered to me. Hope you’ll find it does you as well!

    “What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
    What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
    O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
    All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

    Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
    We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Can we find a Friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
    Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

    Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
    Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
    In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.” (Hymn by Scriven & Converse)

  5. That was beautiful to wake up and read– so rich and eloquent. “As deep calls to deep” His mercy is so infinite.

  7. Thank you precious Lord for speaking comfort into me tonight, through your Word, through this message, through the notes of the others left here tonight, esp.the hymns (What a Friend in Jesus, and Psalm 103 shared, subsequently the song “Bless the Lord, Oh my Soul”. Lord I praise you for being ever present and quick to speak and comfort when we cry out to you. Thank you for reminding me in near desperation, for my children’s lives, that you are their Father, as much as my own and you will not leave them. Thank you for causing me to revisit Jer. 31:15-17. Forgive my faithlessness and unbelief. I place them again at your feet, and cry out victory before satan and ALL principalities, that You my Lord have already won the battle and satan can not have my children, your children. I praise Your Holy name.

    • That is a beautiful prayer, Christie. Like you and many others, I, too, have had to constantly be reminded of the promises that God has given for our children. He gave me Isaiah 54:13 which says, “And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.” I couldn’t have borne this trial without God giving me this verse to strengthen me, and I thank Him everyday for His love and concern. I will you and your children on my prayer list. God bless you!

  8. This is the first time I have heard of Richard Sibbes, but it is evident that he is gifted by the Holy Spirit as he has illuminated the Word of God so well in so few words; words that are of great comfort to me this morning. I will check out the links for more of his writing. Thank you BLB for unearthing this treasure.

  9. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me LORD LORD and do not the things which I say

    1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things brethren I have in a figure transferred to my self and to Apollos for your sakes that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written that no one of you be puffed up for one against another

    John 15:14 You are MY friends if you do whatsoever I command you

    Luke 8:21 And HE answered and said unto them MY mother and MY brethren are these which hear the word of GOD and do it

    2 Timothy 4:3&4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears (4) and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables

    Matthew 15:3 But HE answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the commandment of GOD by your traditions

    Matthew 15:8&9 THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH AND HONORETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME (9) BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN

    Matthew 15:10&11 And HE called the multitude and said unto them hear and understand (11) not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth this defileth a man

    Matthew 15:12-14 Then came HIS disciples and said unto HIM knowest thou that the pharisees were offended after they heard this saying (13) but HE answered and said every plant which MY HEAVENLY FATHER hath not planted shall be rooted up (14) let them alone they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch

    Luke 8:14&15 And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection (16) but that on the ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience

    2 Peter 2:22 But is happened unto them according to the true proverb the dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire

    2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them

    Loving the LORD

    • All of those passages are absolutely true of course. Yet it is the knowledge of God’s tremendous grace that empowers us to live for Him, not condemnation. Steve- please consider…

      Neh 8:9 And Nehemiah, who [was] the governor, [fn] Ezra the priest [and] scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day [is] holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

      Neh 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for [this] day [is] holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

      Neh 8:11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day [is] holy; do not be grieved.”

      Neh 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.

  10. Isaiah 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked they do not learn righteousness even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD

    Romans 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgement Felix trembled and answered go thy way for this time when I have a convenient season I will call for thee

    2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine

    Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of GOD is not meat and drink but righteousness and joy in the holy spirit

    Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple

    Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them

    Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the law is light and reproofs of instruction are the way of life

    2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST who is the image of GOD should shine
    unto them

    John 3:19&20 And this is the condemnation that the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved

    Psalm 119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross therefore I love thy testimonies

    Psalm 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly

    Psalm 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold yea above fine gold

    Psalm 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts quicken me O LORD according to thy loving kindness

    Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it

    Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep HIS covenant and HIS testimonies

    Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornication thefts false witness blasphemies

    Matthew 19:18 HE saith unto him which JESUS said THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY THOU SHALT NOT STEAL THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS

    Proverbs 6:16&19 These six things doth the LORD hate yea seven are an abomination unto HIM…… (19)A false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren

    Acts 20:19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews

    John 14:15 If you love ME keep MY commandments

    Loving the LORD

  11. Do you all have any without the background music ,it does not help my hearing aid in the back ground . thanks.

  13. whoops verse 24:25 above is from acts
    forgive me LORD and help me to be more accurate

    Acts 5:29 Then peter and the other apostles answered and said we ought to obey GOD rather than men

    Acts 13:10 And said O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the LORD

    John 21:15 So when they had dined JESUS saith to Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest thou ME more than these he saith unto HIM yes LORD thou knowest that I love thee HE saith unto him Feed MY Lambs

    John 21:16 HE saith to him again the second time Simon son Jonas lovest thou ME he saith unto HIM yea LORD thou knowest that I love thee HE saith unto him Feed MY Sheep

    John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou ME Peter was greived because HE said unto him the third time lovest thou ME and he said unto HIM LORD thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee JESUS saith unto him Feed MY Sheep

    • The Law shows no mercy, only condemnation. It will always drive you from God to see something to cover you from His Wrath. Grace draws you to God, Grace covers and cleanses what we cannot. All those scriptures that point to God’s wrath upon hypocrites and those that are not really His, is true, right and good. However, let me ask you, Brother,… how do you stand in His Light? Can you? Can anyone? Isn’t that why He came and took our curse and punishment? Isn’t that why He is the Light that is in us so the Father accepts us as sacrifices of praise? Isn’t it HIS righteousness that saves us? You are very adept at shouting the wrath of God, how are you at shouting The Good News?

  14. For everyone of those scriptures that drives us down under condemnation, I can give you ten that shows the mercy of God..

  15. Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep HIS covenant and HIS testimonies

    Isaiah 30:8-10 Now go write it in a table and note it in a book that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever (9) That this is a rebellious people lying children children that will not hear the law of the LORD (10) which say to the seers see not and to the prophets prophesy not unto us right things speak unto us smooth things prophecy deceits

    Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of GOD that bringeth salvation hath appeared to a;ll men (12) Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world (13)looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST (14) who gave HIMSELF for us that HE might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto HIMSELF a peculiar people zealous of good works (15) these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise you

    May GOD Bless you and yours

    Loving the LORD