CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune – This Is My Father’s World – p. 39)
(Words written by Pastor Gary Shepard)

Christ is the Father’ Son, and all His will He does;
The Surety was destined He, for all the ones God chose.
Christ is the Father’ Son; I rest my soul in Him;
The life He led and blood He shed has saved me from my sin.

Christ is the Father’ Son, in flesh begotten Man,
To sinless be and die for me, by God’ predestined plan.
Christ is the Father’ Son, by faith I know tis true.
He came to bless with righteousness and make His people new.

Christ is the Father’ Son, and I a son in Him.
The light of grace shines in His face that nothing else can dim.
Christ is the Father’ Son, all my adoption shown;
God looks at me His Son to see and loves me as His own!

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –
Exposing False Preachers – Jude 8-13

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – John 10:27-30

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – The Cleansing Wave – p. 227

• READING – John 8:12-32

• MESSAGE – Christ's Disciples Indeed– John 8:31

• CLOSING HYMN – My Savior – p. 226

MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY – WEDNESDAY – 6:30 P.M.
God’s Election of Grace – Romans 9 – 11

Birthdays: Melissa Riggins – May 22^nd | Sarah Hall – May 27^th

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Perseverance of the saints refers to the blessed fact that all of God chosen, justified, redeemed, and regenerated (born again) people (sinners saved by grace) will definitely continue believing in and looking to Christ without falling away unto damnation. They are saved AND kept by grace. Their endurance is not owing to their own power and/or goodness, but only to God’s power and goodness in and by the Lord Jesus Christ Who ever lives to make intercession for them (Rom. 8:33-34; Heb. 7:24-25; 1 John 2:1-2). Spiritual life (which is the resurrection life of Christ) is given and applied by the Holy Spirit to all of God’s people in the new birth, and it is fruit of Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. Sin demands death, but God cannot charge them with the debt of sin because their sin-debt was imputed to Christ who paid the debt in full with the price of His blood. Righteousness demands life everlasting, and God has imputed Christ’s righteousness to them (Rom. 5:21). So even throughout all their struggles with sin and unbelief, they will persevere unto the end because God Who promised to save them by His grace in Christ is faithful and powerful enough to finish what He started (Heb. 10:23; Php. 1:6; Jude 24-25). –Pastor Bill Parker

"Indeed this is one of the greatest mysteries in the world; namely, that a righteousness that resides with a person in heaven should justify me, a sinner on earth." (John Bunyan)

I cannot be brought lower by the accusations and charges of men than I was brought to when I died in Christ; nor can I be lifted up higher by the praises of men that I am already exalted in Christ. Nothing alters my state as a justified sinner in Jesus Christ. Having eternal life in Him, I cannot be threatened with death nor can I be enticed by promise of reward since I have Him who is all. As a man in Christ why would I want to be somewhere else? What more could you give me? God in grace put me where I am! –Pastor Gary Shepard

God’s corrections are our instructions; His lashes are our lessons; and His scourges are our school-masters. Both in Hebrew and Greek, the word for chastening and teaching is the same. —Augustus Toplady

IT MEETS MY NEED

Why do I love this Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace to sinners in Christ Jesus? This Gospel meets my every requirement; it suits the needs of this bankrupt, helpless sinner. The Gospel demands nothing of me, but supplies every spiritual and eternal need for me. It announces the glad tidings that everything required to make me pure and righteous before God, my perfect Substitute has accomplished. The Gospel doesn’t command me, “Do this or that,” but sweetly proclaims, “It is finished.” The Gospel declares that my eternal Surety has met every requirement stipulated by God for my salvation. Do I need my sin put away? Christ “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). Do I need righteousness? “God hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Do I need a Mediator between me and a holy God? “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). —Pastor Jim Byrd

Not all the outward forms on earth, nor rites that God has given,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth, can raise a soul to heaven.

The sovereign will of God alone creates us heirs of grace;
Born in the image of His Son, a new peculiar race.

The Spirit, like some heavenly wind, blows on the sons of flesh;
Creates a new, a heavenly mind, and forms the man afresh.

Our quickened souls awake and rise from the long sleep of death;
On heavenly things we fix our eyes and praise employs our breath.

—Isaac Watts, 1709