CALL TO WORSHIP
Christ Conquered Death
By Jim Byrd
(TUNE: O WORSHIP THE KING)

We gather this day to honor the King,
Who sits on His throne, His triumphs we sing;
The Savior who died to atone for our sin,
Came forth from the tomb and He liveth again.

Christ Jesus our Lord the battle has won,
He died and arose, the work is all done!
He took on Himself all our debt to repay,
The sins of His people are all washed away.

To Jesus our Lord all honors we bring,
And say unto death, "O where is thy sting?"
Enthroned in His glory, almighty to save,
King Jesus has triumphed o'er sin and the grave.

He rose from the tomb and reigns high above,
All praise to His Name, all power and love;
Made righteous in Jesus we someday shall rise,
To dwell with our Savior above earth and skies.

TODAY'S SPEAKER: Eager Avenue Grace Church extends a warm welcome to Bill Parker. Bill is pastor of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Ky. He will conduct both the 10:00 am and 11:00 am services today. Pray for him as he delivers God's Word.

Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM. Pray that God will use it for His glory.

Lunch: There will be a fellowship meal immediately following today's worship services. All are invited to attend.

Birthdays: Tammy Hall - April 13th.

"THOU ART WORTHY..."

In ourselves, we are "worthy of death" as the scriptures say. Death is our natural portion as the earned and deserved "wages" of our sin. This is not so of the Lord Jesus Christ! He alone is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. Christ is worthy to receive the praise of all His creatures and shall have it, even of those who will acknowledge it as they perish. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." But He shall have special glory, honor and praise and it shall come from unworthy sinners who are the objects of His great grace and mercy. These justified sinners, saved by His sacrifice of blood, shall both now and forever sing that new song that John spoke of:: "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev 5:9,10) The worthiness of which the redeemed particularly sing is worthiness above the essential worthiness of Christ which He has as the Creator God. It is His glory as the Savior, Mediator and Redeemer of those given Him by the Father. He is "worthy" because He alone can "open the book." The book of God's purpose and decrees, especially in His covenant of grace, are carried out and fulfilled through the Person and the doing of Christ Jesus! He alone, by "his own blood obtained eternal redemption for us." All believers are "justified freely through that redemption which is in Christ Jesus." That redemption is particular and successful for the song goes, "thou has redeemed (not tried to, or made redemption possible) us (not every son of Adam) to God!" It is a sovereign work of God who has mercy and is gracious to whom He will for these are redeemed "OUT OF every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Christ is to be praised because, by His redemptive work, all He died for are "made kings and priests" unto "our God." They shall "reign" with Christ and even now are "seated with Him in the heavenlies." His worthiness makes them worthy! It is in His redemptive character as the Lamb of God that has taken away their sin that they praise Him, "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Is this YOUR song?

Gary Shepard

FOR THE ELECT'S SAKE

The Bible doctrine of Divine Election is probably the most hated of doctrines to rank and file religionists. The fact that God, and not man is the determining factor in salvation grates against what we are by nature. Legalists will not surrender their works, (their contributions) in this matter of salvation. Man, by nature insists on controlling his destiny, and until and unless God intervenes, will continue on the broad way that leads to destruction. Salvation, to him is his election of God and not God's choosing him.
Adam started this practice when he sewed his fig leaves together to cover his nakedness, and this practice continues to this day, even by the Elect of God before regeneration. Unless the God of Election had chosen sinners to salvation, none would be saved. Unless God chose some unto eternal justification and glory and gave them to Christ, none would be saved. Unless God chose the man, the manner, the method and the means of salvation none would be saved. No sinner in his highest and loftiest imagination could have conceived such a plan of redemption, as has God. We know this to be true because even the wisest sinner by nature, when presented with the gospel cannot see the value of it. God's salvation is the only salvation where sinners are saved and God remains just.
The truth is, Election is unto salvation. God chose some out of Adams fallen race and saved them by His grace which is in Christ Jesus. God's Elect were chosen before they fell in Adam. God was not unjust to choose some and leave the rest to their own demonic desires. He is not unjust to send sinners to eternal misery who refuse His salvation and insist on their own way in spite of His repeated warnings and threats in the Scriptures to repent and believe the truth. He is not unjust to punish sinners who insist on thinking their faith and repentance is the cause and not the effect of salvation. And He is not unjust to save those whom He has "loved with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3) The truth is, if He had not elected some unto salvation, none would be saved.