October 18, 2020
Justice or Mercy
All men approach God in one of two ways. One pleads His mercy. The other demands justice. The poor and needy, the weak and wounded, the fallen and fearful, will come pleading for mercy. Their hands will be open and empty. The self-righteous, the proud, the strong, will demand justice based on something they bring in their hand. Those pleading mercy will know that the only thing that satisfies the justice of God is the sacrifice Christ made on Calvary’s cross. They will pray with David; “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies…” Those demanding justice will try to obligate God with something they have done. Their voices will be heard to say; but Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in they name? Justice demands reward based on works. Mercy looks in faith to Christ for grace. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom. 4:4-5. ~GE
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The Believer’s Desire
The believer’s great interest is to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but having the righteousness of Jesus Christ and to know Jesus Christ in his heart. To have fellowship with Christ in spirit and in truth, and to know the power of His resurrected Life flowing through himself as he lives out his life on this earth. In other words, to walk with Him, talk with Him and be with Him when this earthly life is over. Lord, make this desire to grow. (Philippians 3:8-11) ~John Chapman
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“The gospel of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is not a thing to be proved, but truth to be believed. It is not submitted to our reasoning powers as a subject for critical examination. The gospel is a message from God, addressed to the conscience, feelings, and affections. For this reason, men fond of arguing and proving everything by strictly logical deduction generally make very poor preachers. In the Scriptures, God does not argue. He proclaims!”
~J. C. Philpot
It is said of Christ that, unlike the Old Testament priests, “Who needeth not daily (as those high priests) to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s; for this He did once when He offered up Himself.” (Heb. 7:27)
Every Old Testament priest had to first offer a sacrifice for his own personal sin before he could offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. Every day two sacrifices had to be offered: one for the high priest and one for the people. But Christ’s sacrifice was only offered once. When the sins of the elect became His sins, the one-time sacrifice of Himself put away sin, and literally accomplished what both of these Old Testament sacrifices figuratively pointed to. My sin became His sin. He put it away by the sacrifice of Himself. And He now comes as the Priest without sin, therefore able to bring the people He represents to God. ~Todd Nibert
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One of the old writers once said: ‘Do not look for that in the law which can only be found in the gospel; do not look for that in ourselves which is only to be found in Christ; do not look for that in the creature (world) which can only be found in the Creator; and do not look for that on earth which can only be found in Heaven.’ ~William Jay
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“There is a Friend that Sticketh Closer Than a Brother”
Proverbs 18:24
Where can we find the complete fulfillment of these words, except in Him who became our Brother that he might cleave to us “closer than a brother” in tenderness and help? “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:11). We bear witness that Jesus Christ is the greatest, best, most loving, and faithful of friends. Truly, he “loveth at all times.” Christ is a Friend to those who have no other friends. He is a Friend who abides when all others are gone. Christ is a Friend always present. In temptation, he is a way of escape. In affliction, he is the divine Comforter. In death, he is our Sustainer. In eternity, he is our Reward. What brother sticketh so close as Christ, our divine Friend?
~Don Fortner
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come let us join our cheerful songs
With angels ‘round the Throne
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues
But all their joys are one.
“Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry
“To be exalted thus”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our lips reply
“For He was slain for us.”
Let all that dwell above the sky
And air, and earth, and seas
Conspire to lift Thy glories high
And speak Thine endless praise.
The whole creation join in one
To bless the sacred Name
Of Him who sits upon the Throne
And to adore the Lamb.
(Tune: “O for a Thousand Tongues” p. 46)
Nursery
This Week 10:00 Tricia 10:45 Laura Grace
Next Week 10:00 Jennifer M 10:45 Kay
Clean-Up Schedule
Week of Oct 18th Caleb & Bobbi
Jeremy & Sandy
Week of Oct 25th Jim & Callie
Trevor & Sarah
Birthdays
Oct 18 Michael Etheridge Oct 19 Chris Waesche
Oct 19 Saylor Allen Oct 23 Deanna Horton
Oct 25 Brandon Parker