The First of May.

HE THAT HEARETH . . . --- James 5:16.

"Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant." --- Psalm 143:2.

Divine Answer: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." --- John 5:21.

See also chapter 8:51; Isaiah 25:8.

Since the Judge himself is our Brother, our Bridegroom, the Lord of death and life, yea, even our life, believers cannot die eternally, because "they are passed from death unto life."

He that owns the justice of God's judgment, confesses himself guilty in all things, and appeals from from the judgment seat to the mercy seat, him the Lord will own and justify through the righteousness of his Son; for, if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Nay, we shall even sit in judgment together with Christ, 1 Corinthians 6:2; and surely in that day we shall not pass a sentence of condemnation on ourselves, much less will Christ, for he loves us more than we do ourselves.

Who shall the Lord's elect condemn?
The God that justifies their souls;
And mercy, like a mighty stream,
O'er all their sins divinely rolls.

Who shall adjudge the saints to hell?
'Tis Christ that suffer'd in their stead;
And their salvation to fulfil,
Behold him rising from the dead.

Faith has a overcoming pow'r,
It triumphs in the dying hour;
Christ is our life, our joy, our hope,
Nor can we sink with such a prop.