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Bulletin - September 13, 2020

September 13, 2020

Hymn of the Day

(tune: There is a Fountain, 222)

 

In evil long I took delight, Unawed by shame or fear;

'Till a new object struck my sight, And stopped my wild career.

I saw one hanging on a tree, In agonies and blood;

Who fixed his languid eyes on me, As near his cross I stood.

 

Sure, never to my latest breath, Can I forget that look:

It seemed to charge me with his death, Though not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt, And plunged me in despair;

I saw my sins his blood had spilt, And helped to nail him there.

 

Alas I knew not what I did, But now my tears are vain:

Where shall my trembling soul be hid? For I the Lord have slain.

A second look he gave, which said, "I freely all forgive;

This blood is for thy ransom paid; I'll die that thou may'st live."

 

Thus, while his death my sin displays, In all its blackest hue,

Such is the mystery of grace, It seals my pardon too!

With pleasing grief and mournful joy, My spirit now is filled,

That I should such a life destroy, Yet live by him I killed.

 

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Today's Hymns: Sun of My Soul #77,

Praise Ye the Lord, #13 My Hope Is I0n the Lord #cb5

Special Dates: Jim Laird – 16 ~ Amy Van Der Brink – 20

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I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.  ~Romans 1.16

 

      If you are going to command a lame man to take the first step… if you are going to call upon dead sinners to live….if you are going to insist that a maniac make a right decision…you'd better have a Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, or else you mock the souls of men. You had better be speaking for the One, of the One, and with the power and blessing of the One Who is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him. Salvation is not in the ability of the preacher, nor is it contingent upon what men will do, but it is sure to all of God's elect, because of Christ and what He did do. Christ does not taunt the lame with the bargain that if they will only take a step, He will save them. He saves them, by the preaching of the Gospel, and then they leap and shout and praise God.    -Chris Cunningham

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Just because our God brings good out of evil, it does not mean that evil is good.  The responsibility for sin always lies squarely on the shoulders of the sinner.  Nowhere in Scripture does God relieve us of our guilt by saying; "It's OK, I ordained it."  Neither does He say, "You are just a sinner; you can't help yourself." Nor does He allow us to justify the means by the end.  Yes, our omnipotent, sovereign God brings good out of evil for his people. That is seen most clearly at Calvary. Yet that never makes evil good.  Nor does it justify disobedience. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. James 1:13-16       

If we "confess" (say the same thing) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I Jn 1:9. Take sides with God against yourself, and rest in Christ for all your justification and righteousness.    -Greg Elmquist

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Brother Scott Richardson once said, "Any sermon that does not have Christ in the beginning, the middle, and the end is a mistake in conception and a crime in execution."  And I heartily say, amen!  The apostle Paul never said, "Woe is unto me if I preach not," but "woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel."  And he told the Corinthians, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified."  Any man who stands before men and women in the name of God and does not plainly, clearly and consistently preach the Gospel of God's glory and grace in Christ Jesus is the worst sort of a criminal!  He is a deceiver and murderer of the souls of men and women!      -Milton Howard

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Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.  ~1 Peter 2.7

Many have sought out means by which to determine if a person is saved. Often, the person whose salvation they are trying to prove is themselves. Because those who have been born again by the Spirit of God yet live in a body of flesh, there faith is mixed with unbelief and they are cast into a despairing doubt about the eternal welfare of their souls. And this despair is only increased if they begin looking for "evidences" in their conduct or feelings, for neither of those things will prove sufficiently good to silence the accusations of a doubting mind.

But, one need not live in such a miry place as a doubtful mind. Peter has given us the rule by which anyone's faith is proven genuine and, thus, saving: What value does that person put on Christ? And you can know of a certainty where you stand as to the genuineness of your faith: What does Christ mean to you? What value do you place on Him?

Sadly, I have met many professing Christians who seem to have little regard for Christ and their lack of regard for Him is shown in how little they speak of Him. If you speak to them of religion, they will speak to you about their church or their activities or their daily devotions and so forth. You could take out the few references to Christ that might be found in their profession and it would not really change the meaning. It is obvious then that Christ is not precious to them: He is of little or no value.

But to the believer, Christ is not just good; Christ is not just a necessary part, "Christ is all." A believer will not part with Christ. He sees Christ as not only necessary to his salvation, he sees Christ and necessary and sufficient. Christ is so highly valued by the believer that everything else and everyone else is regarded as rubbish if they threaten his connection to Christ. "I must have Christ, and I am satisfied with Christ."

You know what Christ means to you. Is He precious in your sight? Then you are among the believing.  -Joe