“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 (Hebrews 9:12). Christ is all in our calling; He called us with a holy calling (II Timothy 2:9). Jesus Christ is all our righteousness: He worked it out for us as our Advocate (I John 2:1). He is all in our regeneration; He quickened us when we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). He is all in our final glorification; “He raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

All our spiritual blessings are in Him and from Him (I Corinthians 1:30).

Pastor Donnie Bell

Our missionary Daniels Parks is scheduled to be here on Wednesday, June 26. He is also schedule to preach for our friends at Dingess on Monday, June 24.

Scriptures Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone

It’s amazing how history repeats itself! We seem to go around in a circle. During the days of the Reformation, when superstition, tradition, and the human will reigned in religion, the reformers waged their battle for the glory of God and the true gospel on a foundation with three critical points.

1.) THE SCRIPTURES ALONE. “Let God be true and every man a liar.” We bow to the Word apart from visions, revelations, or opinions of men (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25).

2.) GRACE ALONE. Salvation only by free, sovereign, and full grace apart from law, works, or any other contribution of any sort (Rom. 9:12-16; 2 Tim. 1:9).

3.) CHRIST ALONE. “By Himself purged our sins.” His person and work effectually, totally, and eternally redeemed His elect (Heb. 1:3; 9:11-12; 9:26).

This is where the battle rages TODAY in America, where fundamentalism with its emotion, easy believism, freewill, and super programs seem to have captured the people. It’s back to this three-fold foundation for every true preacher.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1985)

“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning” (Psalm 130: 5-6).

Waiting on the Lord does not imply idleness on the part of the believer. His people are active in the kingdom of God; zealous of good works (Titus 2:14); diligent about their Father's business (Luke 2:49); vigorous in spreading the gospel by whatever means the Lord supplies (Acts 5:41-42). Our God highly disapproves of idleness; "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1).

However, we do wait on Him for direction, open doors, liberty, wisdom, and for results. Here is the source, strength and the sweetness of our waiting, "In His WORD I do hope." (Psalm 130:5) His WORD is always successful (Isaiah 55:11); His WORD is always true (Psalm 33:4); His WORD is living (John 1: 14) and powerful (Heb. 4:12). The apostle Paul declared that he labored hard in preaching the WORD and this by the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10).

But he waited on the Lord for the blessing and the results. Listen to what he said, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6).

Let us be diligent laborers in the kingdom of God, always striving to preach the WORD, Jesus Christ, knowing our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). But let us be just as diligent to wait on the Lord for the results. His blessings are worth waiting for (Eph. 1:3).

“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Eccl 7:1).