Failings and Infirmities
God will not cast off His people for their failings and infirmities because it is His glory to pass by them.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God will never abandon His people due to their failings and infirmities. He illustrates this by comparing God's grace to a father's love for his children, highlighting that just as a father does not reject his children for their weaknesses, God also embraces His people despite their shortcomings. Brooks further explains that believers are members of Christ's body and His purchased possession, and thus, their flaws do not disqualify them from His mercy. He concludes that if God were to cast off His people for their imperfections, no one would be saved, as all have sinned and fall short of His glory.
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God will never cast off His people for their failings and infirmities.
First, It is the glory of a man to pass by infirmities, Proverbs 19:11. Oh how much more, then, must it be the glory of God to pass by the infirmities of His people!
Secondly, Saints are children; and what father will cast off his children for their infirmities and weaknesses? Psalm 103:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:27.
Thirdly, Saints are members of Christ's body; and what man will cut off a limb because there is a scab or wart upon it?
Fourthly, Saints are Christ's purchase; they are His possession, His inheritance. [Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; 1 Peter 1:18-20] Now what man is there that will cast away, or cast off his purchase, his possession, his inheritance, because of thorns, bushes, or briars that grow upon it?
Fifthly, Saints are in a marriage-covenant with God, Hosea 2:19-20. Now what husband is there that will cast off his wife for her failings and infirmities? So long as a man is in covenant with God, his infirmities can't cut him off from God's mercy and grace. Now it is certain a man may have very many infirmities upon him, and yet not break his covenant with God.
In a word, if God should cast off His people for their failings and infirmities, then none of the sons or daughters of Adam could be saved: "For there is not a just man upon the earth that does good and sins not," Ecclesiastes 7:20.
Sermon Outline
- It is the glory of God to pass by infirmities
- Saints are children of God
- Saints are members of Christ's body
- Saints are Christ's purchase
- Saints are in a marriage-covenant with God
- Hosea 2:19-20
- God's covenant is not broken by infirmities
- God will not cast off His children
- God's love is like a father's love
Key Quotes
“Oh how much more, then, must it be the glory of God to pass by the infirmities of His people!” — Thomas Brooks
“What husband is there that will cast off his wife for her failings and infirmities?” — Thomas Brooks
“For there is not a just man upon the earth that does good and sins not,” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize that God's glory is greater than human glory, and He will not be diminished by our infirmities.
- Understand that God views His people as His children, and He will not cast them off for their infirmities.
- Remember that being a member of Christ's body means that God will not cut off a limb because of infirmities.