CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: "How Firm A Foundation")

A refuge for sinners the Gospel makes known,

‘Tis found in the merits of Jesus alone;

The weary, the tempted, the burdened of sin

Are never excluded from entering in.

This refuge for sinners God's love did ordain

In Jesus, the Lamb, from eternity slain;

In Christ the Redeemer Who lived and Who died,

God's law and His justice are now satisfied.

Should conscience accuse us, as often it may,

The blood of our Saviour has put sin away;

In Jesus, our Surety, the sinner can view

A city of refuge and righteousness too.

Psalms 32:1-2

¹ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

² Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

MORNING WORSHIP:

10:00 Bible Study: Video sermon by Bill Parker

11:00 Service: Speaker Randy Wages, Eager Ave. Grace Church

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM -WISK

Birthdays: Winston Pannell- March 12^th.

Justification By Christ Alone Is A Doctrine of Grace

You know this Doctrine I contend for is the Doctrine of Grace. In the knowledge whereof you find sweetness, because the work of your salvation is finished by Christ, Whose works are all perfect. This glads your hearts and keeps your souls from fainting,. This removes all objections that otherwise would discourage us. This is the fountain that cannot be drawn dry that ever flows with sweet and strong consolation and is full of Spirit and life where our souls may drink freely at all times and be refreshed with this marrow and fatness that all is finished.

--- Samuel Richardson

IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIES

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Rom. 8:33)

To be justified is to be declared righteous, not guilty, before God based on the finished work of Christ on the cross (His shed blood and imputed righteousness). This was God's purpose in eternity as we see that the Gospel is the preaching of the terms of the everlasting covenant of grace. God's purpose has never changed and never will. What a blessing for sinners to be justified BEFORE GOD who is holy and who must punish sin! What an amazing truth of God's grace - IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIES! Sinful, unbelieving man tries to justify himself but fails miserably. Why? Because God looks on the heart and sees the depths of our sin. The things of which we naturally are so proud and value (our works and efforts) are an abomination to God (Luke 16:15). God justifies the ungodly based upon that which HE highly esteems - the blood and righteousness of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ"

- Bill Parker - Pastor of 13^th. Street Baptist Church

Matthew 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Christ says here that if the salt isn't salty anymore - how will it regain its saltiness - it's good for nothing. He's showing the absurdity of un-salty salt. The "if" in "if the salt have lost his savour" is hypothetical. If it could lose its savor, it never was salt.

Salt in the ancient world was used primarily as a preservative. Salt is also used as a seasoning - to make things savoury. Consider that salt is distinct. It has its own flavor. It does not merely blend in with the surroundings. Our Gospel, our doctrine, is distinct and unique. It does not blend in with the doctrines of this lost religious world. We cannot say, AWe all believe the same thing@ because many still rest in that which we have been brought to repent of - seeing the very evil of our former religious thoughts that we once considered good. The distinctiveness of our doctrine is that we trust in Christ alone for all of our salvation, based upon the righteousness of God established by Christ alone in His life and death, with no contribution by or through us, the sinner.

Now the true church will never lose its savour. Here on earth there will be unbelievers, false professors, present in the visible church, but all true believers, the salt of the earth, will never lose their savour. They will endure until Christ comes again because their entire justification, salvation, and sanctification are found in the immutable (unchangeable) God-man, Christ Jesus, who cannot and does not fail.