Hymns for service: “All Hail the Power” – p. 42 “Jesus Paid It All” – p. 125
REMINDER
NEXT SUNDAY (JUNE 5), WE WILL SERVE THE LORD’S SUP PER. We will also provide our usual covered-dish dinner following the worship services.
TRUE FAITH
Always know that true faith in salvation is the gift of God to willful unbelievers who by nature are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). True faith is from the power of God’s grace and proceeds from the meritorious work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the righteousness He established by Himself for His people on the cross. True faith is the breathing of spiritual life which no sinner by nature has. Spiritual life comes to dead sinners from the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus Christ. True faith comes by the drawing power of the Holy Spirit when He brings God’s elect under the preaching of the Gospel and imparts spiritual life and knowledge by giving them a new heart and a new spirit in regeneration. True faith is no more the product of any person’s so-called “free will” than spiritual life is the result of any person’s “decision for Christ.” Those who believe that being born again is the outcome of their faith or their decision neither know the Scriptures nor their own natural hearts (Jer. 17:9; John 6:44; 1 Cor. 2:14). Believing is not the cause but the effect of being born again of the Holy Spirit. Why is this so important, even vital? It is because God’s purpose in the salvation of sinners is to glorify Himself in the preeminence of Christ and leave no room for sinners to glory in themselves (1 Cor. 1:29-31). Therefore, the foundation of true faith is the righteousness of Christ freely imputed to God’s chosen people. The object of true faith is the Lord Jesus Christ as Godman who as the Surety, Substitute, and Medi ator of God’s elect paid the full price of redemption by His death on the cross and arose from the dead because of their justification. True faith, then, can never be measured by any experience we have or decision we make. It can only be measured by its object – “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). -- Pastor Bill Parker
If you have seen Christ truly, you have seen pure grace, pure righteousness in Him in every way infinite, far exceeding all sin and misery. If you have seen Christ, you can trample upon all the righteousness of men and angels, so as to bring you into acceptance with God. If you have seen Christ, you would not do a duty without him for ten thousand worlds (1 Cor. 2:2), If ever you saw Christ, you saw Him as a Rock, higher than self-righteousness, Satan, and sin (Psalm 61:2), and this Rock follows you (1Cor. 10:4); and there will be continual dropping of honey and grace out of that Rock to satisfy you (Psalm 81:16). Examine if ever you have come to Christ as the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Be sure you have come to Christ, that you stand upon the Rock of Ages, and have answered to His call to your soul, and have closed with Him for justification.
-- Excerpt from “Honey From the Rock” by Thomas Willcox (1621-1687)
WHY IS GOD’S STANDARD SO HIGH?
Obedience, morality, sincerity, compassion, fairness, responsibility, charity – All of these are characteristics of what we view as “good” people. As we measure people by man’s standard, we know they are found in both believers and unbelievers. But when we measure them by GOD’S STANDARD we find something much different – “There is none that doeth good, no, not one,” (Rom. 3:12); “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20). Why is God’s standard so high? Is it because He is cruel, unreasonable, and simply likes to torment His creatures? NO! His standard is so high because of who He is. It is His nature as a holy, just, and righteous God. He cannot require anything less than perfection. Then this leaves us as sinful people without any hope, doesn’t it? NO! In mercy and grace God has provided the way of salvation, righteousness, forgiveness, cleansing from sin, and life for sinful people. It is the one and only way He will save sinners – BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BASED ON HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED ALONE! When it comes to salvation, a right relationship with God, and eternal life, goodness and righteousness can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord our Righteousness. Now, believe in HIM and submit to Him for all goodness and righteousness. Christ is the fulfillment of God’s standard – “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that be lieveth” (Rom. 10:4). – Pastor Bill Parker
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