CALL TO WORSHIP (Tune: Doxology) (Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)
Adore the God of endless days, Lift up your heart to Him in praise; O magnify His sovereign grace, And to the Lord salvation trace.
The Father long ago decreed, Salvation for His chosen seed; To God the Son in love He gave A multitude that Christ would save.
Exalt the Savior, praise His Name; He saved us from our guilt and shame! Christ bought the people of His choice, Lift up His praise with heart and voice.
When far from God and dead in sin, The Spirit wrought a work within; Since He our sinfulness has shown, We trust in Jesus Christ alone.
Saved by God’s free and sovereign grace, A chosen, ransomed, quickened race; Praise God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in one.
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Today: Bible Classes – 10:00 a.m.; Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m. Messages by Pastor Bill Parker
Television: Reign of Grace – Sunday morning on WALB-TV @ 9 AM.
Live Streaming – 11:00 a.m. service from Sermon Audio web site
Birthdays: Jim Byrd – Jan. 11th – Amy Lee – Jan. 12th – Harold Wiggins – Jan. 17th – Jerry Wages – Jan. 17th
God saves sinners based on the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ, His righteousness imputed and received by God-given faith. If we are truly saved, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we know and admit that our faith is not in ourselves, our works, or even our faith. Our faith is in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing we have by way of eternal salvation and final glory is owing to our own goodness, strength, or even our own will. All who are children of God see that Christ alone saved us and entitles us to the whole inheritance of eternal life and glory. We are to use all the means that God has given us in order that we may be blessed, but even in the use of such means, we are to admit that nothing we have is the result of anything done by us or in us. It is all owing to God’s sovereign love and grace and based on the blood and righteousness of Christ. This is true humility. – Pastor Bill Parker
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Here is a good thing to remember in starting this New Year –
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
An old preacher once said, “If you wish to be disappointed, look at others; if you wish to be disheartened, look at yourself; if you wish to be encouraged, look to Jesus Christ.”
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What is the remedy for all sin legally, spiritually, and eternally? Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the one and only remedy for all sin in all aspects of the damaging effects of sin.
Let us learn never to despair of the salvation of anyone – as long as he lives. Fathers ought never to despair of prodigal sons. Mothers ought never to despair of self-willed, headstrong daughters. Husbands should never despair of wives, nor wives of husbands. There is nothing impossible with God. The arm of grace is very long, and can reach those who seem very far off. Let us pray on, and hope on, for others – however unlikely their salvation may appear to be at present. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save!” (Isaiah 59:1) -- Author unknown
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THE DIVINE NATURE
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3).
What a glorious thought – that we who are such sinful people are brought by the Holy Spirit into fellowship with “the Divine Nature,” which is the nature of God Himself – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How is this possible? It is by the “exceeding great and precious promises” of complete salvation in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. The “Divine Nature” of God Himself is revealed to us and glorified within our hearts as the Holy Spirit gives us life from Christ and gives us faith to believe in Him as the Lord our Righteousness. Having “obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1), and by God’s grace and power having been freely given “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3), through Jesus Christ, we are brought into eternal fellowship with “the Divine Nature.” The glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can only be seen and experienced through faith in Jesus Christ. And having been brought into this wonderful and gracious fellowship, we escape “the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4), i.e. we are brought to repentance of sin, of dead works, of idolatry by the Holy Spirit. Having been born dead in trespasses and sins, in fellowship with the sinful, unbelieving world, we are now brought into fellowship with “the Divine Nature” through Jesus Christ. – Pastor Bill Parker
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