The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Proverbs 16:4-6

"CHRIST IS ALL"
Colossians 3:11

He is the first cause and the last end of all things; in election, salvation, redemption, calling, righteousness, regeneration, and glorification. He is all in the salvation of His people. Salvation is of the Lord. He is all in election; we are chosen in Him, He is the Elect (Isaiah 42:1). He is all in redemption; He obtained it with His own blood (Heb. 9:12). Christ is all in our calling; He called us with a holy calling (2 Tim. 2:9). Jesus Christ is all our righteousness: He worked it out for us as our advocate (1 John 2:1). He is all in our regeneration; He quickened us when we were dead in sin (Eph. 2:1). He is all in our final glorification; "He raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," (Eph. 2:6). All our spiritual blessings are in Him and from Him (1 Cor. 1:30).

Pastor Don Bell

Trust

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15).

How blessed it would be for us, and for all who cross our paths, if we could put our theology into deeds and not mere words. We profess to believe in God's immutable sovereignty and then constantly mourn over our lot in life. We claim to believe in God’s purpose and providence but fill every ear that will listen with our discontent and our sad state of af­fairs. Usually those who do the most complaining have, in reality, the least to complain about; while those who have serious handicaps, heavy burdens, and deep sorrows find a reason to praise the Lord and re­joice in His blessings. I need not remind you of God's anger with Israel because of their murmuring, or to remind you of the words of our Lord, "Take not anxious thought for what ye shall eat, drink; or wear," or to remind you of the words of Paul, “Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have."

No! I need not remind you of these words; for you have read them, taught them, and perhaps preached them. Then, our problem is not ignorance of the Word and will of God (perhaps it would be better if this were our problem) our problem is identified in Heb.4:2, "The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

It is a heart problem, for out of the heart the mouth speaks. And truthfully, our complaints are not with men, who are but second causes, but with God. WHOM WE SAY is the first cause and Lord of our lives. I can understand the free-willer (whose God is but a puppet of man's permission) complaining, murmuring, and finding fault with all about him! But the most inconsistent per­son living is the professed Christian who says he believes, "The Most, High rules in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will,' or, "In every­thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" and then fills the air about with a constant stream of complaints and rea­sons why he should be somewhere else, or doing some­thing else, or blessed in a more abundant measure. A certain cure for anxious care is TRUST. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him." Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1982 bulletin)

CHRIST DIED ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures"(1Cor. 15:3).

The gospel is not just that Christ died. The gospel is how that He died for us according to God's eternal and immutable decree, "the scriptures" (Acts 2:23: Rev. 13:8).

The scriptures declare that His death was appointed (Gen. 3:15; 22:8; Psa.22; Psa. 69; Matt. 16:21; Gal. 4:4).

The scriptures declare that His death was voluntary, He willingly laid down His life for us (Isa. 53:7; John 10:17-18).

The scriptures declare that His death was substitutionary (Isa. 53:4-6; 2Cor.5:21; 1Pet.3:18 ).

The scriptures declare that His death was to accomplish definite atonement for His people (Isa.53:8; Matt. 1:21; John 10:15; Heb. 2:17).

The scriptures declare that His death satisfied all the demands of God's holy Law (Isa. 42:21; 53:10-12; Dan. 9:24).

The scriptures declare that His death was most effectual to put away all the sin of the covenant people (Psa. 103:12; Isa. 38;17; Micah 7:18-20; Heb.9:26; 10:17; 1John 1:7).

Every pledge of salvation has its accomplishment in the Lord Jesus Christ, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2Cor. 1:21). All that God has promised concerning salvation in Christ is certain and sure, "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:21).

John Gill said, "Every promise, type and prophecy recorded in the law, in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning His sufferings and death, had their fulfillment in Him; nothing was more clearly prefigured and foretold and nothing more punctually and fully answered."

Our Lord said, "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matt. 26:54,56), "It is finished" (John 19:30).

The apostle Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Christ" (Gal. 6:14).