CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – I Love Thy Kingdom – p. 188)

Thy works, not mine, O Christ,

Speak gladness to this heart;

They tell me all the work is done,

They bid my fear depart.

Thy cross, not mine, O Christ,

Has paid the ransom due;

Ten thousand, thousand deaths like mine,

Would have been all too few.

Thy righteousness, O Christ,

Alone can cover me;

No righteousness can satisfy,

Save that which is of Thee!

TODAY’S SERVICES –

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. – Brother Jason Renfroe

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – Redeemed – p. 475

• MESSAGE – Convinced of Judgment – John 16:7-11
  Brother Mark Pannell

• CLOSING HYMN – Jesus Paid It All – p. 125

Birthdays: Alisha Pederson – Aug. 7^th | Edith Ann Tennyson – Aug. 9^th

I am in Ashland, KY, today visiting family and worshipping with the saints at 13^th Street Baptist Church where Brother Jim Byrd is pastor. Lord willing, I will return home tomorrow. Please pray for all of us in Ashland and the men who are preaching God’s Word to you this morning. —Pastor Bill Parker

The perfection of righteousness required by God in the justification of His people can only be found in Christ. Believe and rest in Him!

Here is an article that I have recently printed in our bulletin, but I believe it bears repeating. It was written by John Warburton in 1853 –

“The longer I live, the more I feel that if there were one thing left undone, if the devil were not conquered, sin not expiated, justice not satisfied, the law not honored and magnified, death not overcome, and every burden not carried, I should not have a ray of hope. I used to think I saw this as clear as the noon day thirty or forty years ago; but I saw it very differently then compared to what I see now, for I see and feel now that if one hair-breadth is left for me to do to merit heaven, or bring as a plea before God, I am undone for ever and ever. But on the Mount of Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ undertook the cause of His people; and there is not a jot nor a tittle that He left undone, but, ‘By one offering He perfected for ever them that are sanctified’ and ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ Here is complete perfection – ‘Saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.’”

Why is sin suffered to dwell in us, make us groan and distress us? To make it more hateful to us, to put us out of conceit with ourselves and our own righteousness, and to endear Christ’s atonement and righteousness to our souls, that all our comfort should spring from Him.

—William Mason, 1719-1791

There are really only two religions in the world. One of Cain and the other of Abel. One of Ishmael and the other of Isaac. One of Esau and the other of Jacob. One of law and the other of promise. One of Mount Sinai and the other of Mount Calvary. One condemns, the other finds no fault. One leads to bondage, the other to freedom. One tendeth to death, the other to life. One of weakness, the other of power. One of merit, the other of mercy. One of the weakness of the letter, the other of the power of the Spirit. —Unknown

I think it can be truly said that in the matter of sin man has a "will." He will sin, he will live ungodly and he will seek to justify himself before God by his works and person. But in the matter of God and salvation, what most call a "will" which they say is free, is really a "won't!" Sinners won't come to Christ, won't obey God and won't submit themselves to God's righteousness in Christ. Only a regenerated sinner has a real "will" and that only because he has been made willing in the day of God's power. Those who defend "freewill" are still rebel sinners who, concerning God and the Gospel of truth, ..."won't"! —Pastor Gary Shepard

MADE WILLING

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power” (Psalm 110:3). We categorically denounce the error of free-willism which insists the Lord’s purpose in salvation hinges upon the will of man which is free to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior. On this point, as in all others, we bow to the Word of God – “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16). Those who believe Christ do so because they are “born of God” (John 1:12-13).

Having said that, it is necessary that people understand that when we denounce free-willism, we do not mean to imply that those who are converted are brought to a knowledge of Christ against their will, that they are forced into the kingdom of grace whether they want to come or not. The Lord’s people believe, worship and serve Him with a willing heart. We willingly repent and embrace the Gospel; we willingly trust Christ as our only Hope of glory. We willingly attend the public ministry of the Gospel, read the Word of God and pray to our heavenly Father; we willingly bow to Him as Lord. We willingly attend the place of worship and willingly contribute towards the expenses of the Gospel. The reason we willingly do these things is because the Lord made us willing in the day of His mighty power which worked within us “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). —Pastor Jim Byrd