CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune – Like a River Glorious – p. 287)
(Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)

Sinners saved by Jesus, glory in His Name;
For He came and cleansed us from our guilt and shame;
He alone could save us from our lost estate,
Praise the great Redeemer, only Potentate.

CHORUS: Praise the name of Jesus, Let your voices soar,
Praise the name of Jesus, Praise Him evermore

With His sacrifice the Lord was satisfied,
By His bloody death our souls were justified;
Risen from the grave He evermore shall reign;
Christ our mighty King will soon return again.

None can save but Jesus, look to Him we must,
O that Christ the Savior would be all our trust;
May the Spirit grant that each of us would flee,
To the Lamb who saves for all eternity.

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker
BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m.
· Faithful and True (2) – Revelation 19:17-21

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m
·OPENING – John 3:18-2
· CALL TO WORSHIP (above
· HYMN – How Firm A Foundation – p. 26
· READING – Matthew 12:22-3
· MESSAGE – What's Really New? (5) – 2 Corinthians 5:1
· CLOSING HYMN – Praise the Savior – p. 51

MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY – WEDNESDAY – 7:00 P.M.

Birthdays: Randy Wages – Dec. 5^th

Minutes for our annual business meeting held on November 16, 2016, are available upon requests. Please see Brother Jim Casey.

A person can say, “I have faith,” but this means nothing unless faith has a proper ground and object. People believe many things that simply are not true. God’s Word says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). This describes God-given faith that evidences salvation. This faith is the substance and assurance of a true Christian’s hope and conviction of the reality of things we do not see with physical eyes. How can this be? Is it simply because we believe it to be true? No! It is because this faith is grounded upon God’s Word heard and believed in the power of the Holy Spirit – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). And faith’s object is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as God manifests in the flesh who lived, died, was buried, and arose again to put away the sins of His people and establish righteous for them to be justified before God – “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). Spiritual life and faith come from and by Him, and faith is not merely believing. It is believing Him and in Him as the one true Savior, the Lord our Righteousness. –Pastor Bill Parker

With reference to our spiritual union with Christ, it is said that “we are sanctified in Christ Jesus,” that “if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature,” and that from Him “as the Head, all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” With reference to both of these blessed effects of our union to Christ, it is said, “Ye are complete in Him,” and “of God are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” It is from “the fullness that is in Christ,” that all saving blessings flow; for “it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell,” and “of His fullness have all we received and grace for grace.” –James Buchanan

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? –2 Corinthians 13:5

The sinner who has saving faith believes that there is a fullness of salvation in Christ for poor sinners. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him….” (Heb. 7:25). In the word of the Gospel Christ is held forth as an able Saviour – able to save men from their sins and from the wrath of God. His merit is a sufficient shield against the tempest of wrath which incensed justice is ready to exact against transgressors.

The sinner who has saving faith knows that the righteousness Christ fulfilled as the condition of the Covenant of Grace is so valuable in itself, and in the eyes of the Father, that it is sufficient to procure justification, sanctification, and all other saving benefits to sinners who in themselves deserve death and damnation. So they are happy who are in Him. They shall never perish but have everlasting life, being eternally secure under the cover of His righteousness as a sufficient defense. –Thomas Boston

The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). If a sinner has been born again by the Holy Spirit and has been given faith to believe, his faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ and Christ’s ability to save him completely. His faith is not in himself, nor in his works, and not even in his faith. It is in Christ. The truly saved sinners has committed his whole salvation to Christ who alone is “able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day,” which is the day of trouble throughout this life and the day of Judgment in the end. Our abilities are nothing. Christ’s ability is our whole salvation –