January 19, 2020
Saving Faith
Saving Faith is not believing that you are saved; it is believing that Christ Jesus the Lord is the One and only all-sufficient, successful Savior. Saving Faith is not believing that you are elect; it is believing that you are a sinner completely dependent upon Christ for all your righteousness. Saving Faith is not believing that God will do something in the future; it is believing ALL that God has said and done. Saving Faith is not believing in the sovereignty of God; it is believing in a God who is absolutely sovereign. Saving Faith is not believing in the resurrection of the dead; it is believing that Christ Jesus IS the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Jn 11:25-26. ~GE
___________________________________________________
Here is a word from God that should brighten the day for you – "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." When the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hung upon the cross, he was made to be a curse, an object of Divine wrath and Judgment, so that we who believe might never endure the curse of God's wrath. He did not simply make it possible for us to be redeemed. He did not simply make us redeemable. The text says, "Christ Hath redeemed us from the curse of the law!" This redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the central theme of Holy Scripture, the foundation of our faith, and the only hope we have of eternal salvation. ~Donnie Bell
___________________________________________________
Neither salvation nor sanctification is in any way a cooperative effort. When Peter was sinking beneath the waves, he did not say, “Lord, nothing is going to happen today that you and I together cannot handle.” He said, “Lord, save me.” ~Chris Cunningham
___________________________________________________
The Gospel
Those who WEARY of hearing the Gospel, who LOSE INTEREST in hearing the Gospel, and LOSE THEIR NEED of hearing the Gospel of Christ, and His redeeming love and grace, have never REALLY heard the Gospel at all. If one can leave Christ, he has never truly met Him! (John 6:65-69)
~Maurice Montgomery
To view justification as a legal standing before God and sanctification as how to live your life is a debasing, if not heretical, view of both justification and sanctification. Sanctification is the word God uses to most completely describe His salvation. Justification is one of the great blessings that arise out of God’s great work of sanctification! We were chosen by God and separated to be holy in eternal election. “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy (sanctification) and without blame (justification) before Him.” We were declared to be, “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We were made holy when we were sanctified by the Holy Ghost, being given a holy nature that does not and cannot sin. “Whosoever is born of God sinneth not.” Sanctification, the work of the Triune God, is salvation! We do not grow or decrease in sanctification! Every believer is a saint, a sanctified one! ~Todd Nibert
___________________________________________________
There is nothing that the church does that is more important than assembling to worship Christ. To gather in order to honor Christ through praying, preaching, and hearing the Gospel is such an important thing that each of us should approach it very seriously. Let each one prepare himself in heart and body so as to arrive on time, having the heart clothed with a desire to hear from Christ and the body dressed modestly so as not to attract attention to one’s self. Let each of us enter into every song and prayer, closing out the thoughts of the world and all the cares it loads on us. Let each of us listen to the Word of God with the intensity of baby birds chirping for food. In short, let each of us give himself to worship in this hour as though there were nothing better or more important in all the world to do – because there isn’t. ~Joe Terrell
___________________________________________________
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:4-7
CALL TO WORSHIP
When this passing world is done
When has sunk yon radiant sun
When I stand with Christ on high
Looking o’er life’s history
Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not ‘til then, how much I owe.
When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink
Then Lord, shall I fully know
Not ‘til then, how much I owe.
When I stand before Thy Throne
Dressed in beauty not my own
When I see Thee as Thou art
Love Thee with un-sinning heart
Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not ‘til then, how much I owe.
Chosen not for good in me
Wakened up from wrath to flee
Hidden in the Savior’s side
By His Spirit sanctified
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show
By Thy love, how much I owe.
(Tune: “For the Beauty of the Earth” p. 54)
Nursery
This Week 10:00 Conf. Sitters 10:45 Conf. Sitters
Next Week 10:00 Diane & LG 10:45 Ruth & Ashley
Clean-Up Schedule
Week of Jan 19th Conference Volunteers
Week of Jan 26th Ed & Susan Emrick
Birthdays
Jan 20 Trevor Fancher Jan 21 Tricia Elmquist
Jan 23 David Murray