Today’s Speaker: Brother Jim Casey will conduct the 11:00 am service 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.
Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM –WISK.
O the unsearchable riches of that grace which took a countless multitude of Adam’s sons and daughters, before creation’s work was begun, and so united them to JEHOVAH-JESUS that nothing in time or eternity can ever separate them. In Him they were when He fulfilled the precepts of the law. In Him the Father saw them when down in dread Gethsemane and amid the fearful solitudes of Calvary He bore sin’s curse, and made an end of all their black transgressions. In Him they stood when on the resurrection morn He triumphed over death, and gained the victory o’er the grave. In Him they rose in glory to the skies. In Him they are accepted of the Father and the admiration of all the host of heaven. In Him they are complete. He presents them daily, without spot, holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in His Father’s sight.
--- Thomas Bradbury
FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRUSTING CHRIST
The life-boat of free grace has put you on board the vessel of salvation, and that will convey you safely to the port of glory! Do not look at your spiritual destitution, or feebleness, or incapacity, or imperfections, but trust in your Pilot, rely on your Captain, and expect His mercy and merit to land you safe in Heaven at last! As imperfect as you now are, and as imperfect you will be, your dying prayer will still be, "God be merciful unto me — a sinner!" Hope in God! His mercy is
great unto the heavens, His grace is as free as the air, His love is as changeless as His nature, His promise is as immutable as His love. Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. He will save you for His own sake, and present you before assembled worlds as a monument of His mercy, and a trophy of His grace!
--- James Smith (1864)
Proper Attire
Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fill the lusts thereof.”
Casual dress at a black tie affair, whether in ignorance or intentional reveals contempt for the host. Proper etiquette in dress always respects the host, and failure to comply is rejection of and rebellion against the host and his set standard of dress.
No less is expected from God toward those whom he invites into his fellowship. Careless dress is not acceptable, nor is it necessary since God has provided the proper garment for all who enjoy his fellowship. Those “in Christ” are there eternally by election, calling, regeneration, faith and by declaration from God of their justification based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ, established by his satisfaction to law and justice. This righteous garment is the only attire acceptable to God for fellowship with him. Ignorance of, and, or rejection of this righteousness imputed leaves the sinner some obedience to render. It leaves him “going about seeking to establish a righteousness of his own.” (Romans 10:1-4) It leaves him lusting after the flesh. True faith sees Christ’s righteousness as all the sinners’ salvation without works of righteousness which we have done. God’s people stand unchangeably righteous “in Christ.”
Those eternally secure “in Christ” are to put “on Christ.”
“Putting on Christ,” preceded by true repentance is to believe and hold dogmatically Christ’s righteousness imputed as my whole salvation with no contribution from my person as to gaining or maintaining any part of it. Compromising this principle is “making provision for and fulfilling the lust of the flesh.” If I think anything performed in or by my person adds to or detracts from my standing of perfection in Christ, I am fulfilling the natural desires of my flesh. . “Putting on Christ is a daily, constant, moment by moment looking to “the Lord Jesus Christ” the Author and finisher of my faith. It is to walk in love toward Christ who loves me eternally, in spite of my nakedness and shame and paid the ransom for my soul. Anything more or less is lusting after the flesh. Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Then, “put ye on Christ” and enjoy the pleasures of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Read Matthew 22:11-14.