Proverbs 26: 10-12

The Sobering Truth

Men and women do not go to hell because of God’s sovereignty or because of God’s predestination. Men and women go to hell because of their sin. God’s will saves—man’s will damns. God’s choice saves—man’s choice damns. God’s work saves—man’s work damns. The cause of grace is God—the cause of wrath is man! If you go to heaven, it will be God’s work—and God alone shall have the praise for it. If, however, you go to hell, it will be your fault—and you alone shall have the blame for it.

Pastor Don Fortner

The Lord Has Heard Us…Shall we not Then Speak?

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill” (Psalm 3:4).

The Lord heard me when I cried for mercy in Christ. He abundantly pardoned my sins and gave me a good hope through grace. He has heard my voice in prayer every day and so graciously blessed and supplied every need. If He is not pleased to grant another earthly blessing, I can still say that I have been the object of special love and favor. This being the case, I want to learn THREE LESSONS:

1). He shall hear my voice IN PRAISE! If He has heard me pray, then He shall hear me give thanks. If He has heard me when tears were in my eyes, then He shall hear my voice of thanksgiving when my eyes laugh and rejoice. My communion with God shall not be confined to the sickbed and the dungeons of despair.

2). He has heard my voice; then I SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE! What did the prophet say? “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:10). How foolish is the man who would talk to God in prayer but seldom takes down the blessed Word of God that he may hear God speak to him. May God ever deliver us from pride of grace, for all that we are or have is His gift and work. But I do believe His infallible, inspired Word means more to me now than ever before. I find all that I need in this divine book. Feeding upon it gives me hope, strength, and grace; neglecting it leaves me empty and depressed.

3). I have talked to God about my friends, and He heard me; then I shall TALK TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT GOD: perhaps they will hear. “I will tell to sinners round, What a dear Saviour I have found.”

Is it possible that we cannot name one person whom we have brought to hear the gospel or been the instrument used by the Spirit of God to give them the good news of Christ?

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1983 Bulletin)

ABSOLUTE EXCHANGE

“For by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5: 19).

It was by the sin of Adam that sin and death passed upon us, we not only had his sin imputed to us, but we also inherited his sinful nature. We then are sinners by birth and sinners by practice. “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20).

But blessed be the name of the Lord the same way we became sinners we become righteous. We did nothing to become sinners; we do nothing to become righteous. There is an absolute exchange made, when our dear Savior went to the cross and died under the judgment and wrath of His Holy Father. He suffered not for himself but for those whom he represented. He was suffering the wrath of God because he was bearing his people’s sin upon his body on that tree. What was the absolute exchange? He became what I am, that I might become what He is; He took my sin, that I would have His righteousness; he took my disobedience, I get his obedience; he suffered my death, (my separation from God), that I would receive his life; He was made a curse, that I might be blessed; He was separated from God, that I might be brought nigh to God. (Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 3:18.)

Just as we also inherited Adams sinful nature, we also become partakers of Christ's nature. His holy nature is given to us in the new birth and it makes us love things we once hated and hate things we once loved. Our sinful natures loved sin, hated righteousness; now we love righteousness and hate sin. Once, listening to preaching and reading the Bible would be the last things we would have done, now it is our delight.

“God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6.) Thank God not only was Christ for us at the Cross, and accomplished our complete salvation, but, He is also in us “Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col. 1:27. By his Spirit in us, He continually works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, and we are kept in the enjoyment of what He did for us by His sacrificial death on the cross. It is not only an absolute exchange; it is also an eternal exchange.