Letter 185.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith in trusting God's promise and power to revive us, even when we feel dead and barren.
James Bourne preaches on the unwavering faith of Abraham in Romans 4, emphasizing how Abraham believed in God's promise despite the deadness of his own body, symbolizing the dead works of those who come to Christ with their sins. Bourne highlights the danger of deviating from God's truth and the entrance of error through a legalistic spirit, stressing the need for correction to turn away from obstinacy. He shares his personal spiritual journey of being greatly exercised but not in vain, pointing to the revival of barren, fruitless, and dead sinners through Christ's sacrifice.
Text
Fittleworth, Sussex, 20 July 1840.
Dear Mr. Maddy,
I was much struck with reading in Rom. iv. how Abraham was not disheartened at the thoughts of his own body being dead, but rather looked to the promise of God, and staggered not. That dead body is a figure of the dead works that dead professors bring to Christ; and why will they attempt at this? Because they have light in some measure to see their sins, and yet not light enough to see that this death is no hindrance to him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Though through the blackness and multitude of our sins there seems no prospect of life, yet Abraham "against hope believed in hope," and so must we believe; yea, believe that though we are barren and fruitless and dead, yet Christ has died to revive such sensibly barren fruitless and dead sinners, whom he has made to pine after him. Nothing is said of our wonderful performances in all this chapter; but the contrary is insisted upon and established.
Nothing is more dangerous than the slightest deviation from the truth of God's word; and nothing makes so ready an entrance for all error as a legal spirit; it will go on in an untoward way in thought, word, and deed, contrary to God, nor will anything turn that mighty torrent of obstinacy but the rod of correction.
I have been greatly exercised since I came here, but not in vain.
Yours very truly, J. B.
Sermon Outline
- Abraham's Faith
- The Danger of a Legal Spirit
- The Importance of Faith
- Believing against hope
- Christ's power to revive dead sinners
Key Quotes
“Nothing is said of our wonderful performances in all this chapter; but the contrary is insisted upon and established.” — James Bourne
“Abraham 'against hope believed in hope,' and so must we believe;” — James Bourne
Application Points
- We must be careful not to focus on our own performances and try to earn God's favor, but rather trust in His promise and power.
- A legal spirit can lead to deviation from God's word and make us obstinate, but the rod of correction can turn us back to the truth.
- We must believe against hope and trust in Christ's power to revive us, even when we feel dead and barren.