Psalm 36:9-11

My Only Hope

I will tell you this about myself – my sole hope for resurrection in the likeness of Christ and eternal glory lies only in the full atonement Christ made for the ungodly. On this I firmly rest, and I have not the faintest hope in anyone or anything else.

You and I are born of the same father, guilty of the same crimes, and burdened down with the same flesh. Neither of us has anything of his own to plead, nor does the best man who ever lived.

We shall all be saved by the same Saviour or perish in our sins.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Love

“We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14).

If there is anything better than being loved, it is to love; for this is the mark of discipleship, the evidence of regeneration, and the bond of perfection. It is the nature of God, for GOD IS LOVE. It is the old, the new, the great commandment, and all the commandments in one word – love!

It is the first fruit of the Spirit; it is the foundation of all other graces. And of all that abides, it is the “greatest of these.” It castesh out fear, it covers a multitude of sins, it brought Christ to earth to be our Redeemer.

Love sees what no eye sees, hears what no ear hears, and understands that which only love can teach. It can’t be defined, only experienced. It can’t be destroyed as long as God lives. It can’t be developed; it is the gift of God.

Its presence is evidence of God’s presence, and its absence is evidence of God’s absence; for “he that loveth not knoweth not God”. The apostle said, “Make love your aim” (1 Cor. 14:1).

. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1985)

FAITH—ESSENTIAL BUT NOT MERITORIOUS

Faith in Christ is essential to salvation. No man will ever be saved, accepted with God, apart from true faith in Christ. You must believe on Christ; or you will perish. But do not ever think that your faith is meritorious with God. Faith is the instrument by which we receive God's blessings; but it is not the meritorious cause of those blessings. The obedience of Christ alone is meritorious with God.

Pastor Don Fortner

WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING? Genesis 4:1-5

We live in a most religious world. In every county, country and culture; among all people, without exception there is some form of religion. Did you know that all religions can be summed into two groups. The way of Cain or the way of Abel. Cain represents the way that seems right unto men (Prov. 14:12), the way of the flesh, works, self-righteousness, self-glory, do the best you can and God will be satisfied. Cain approached God with the best efforts of all his labors, "the fruit of the ground" and God had no respect unto him or his offering. It is recorded in the scriptures, “woe unto them that have gone the way of Cain” (Jude 24).

Abel represents the way that God has established throughout scripture to show mercy to undeserving sinners. It is the way of free grace (Rom. 3:24), the way of effectual substitution by a blood offering (2 Cor. 5:21), the way of faith (Heb. 11:4). Clearly, Abel and his offering are a picture of the only way of salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The Lord called Abel a righteous man (Matt. 23:35). Now, which way are you going? I know that all of us by nature are going the way of Cain, because that is what comes to us naturally. It seems rather logical and reasonable to approach God on the basis of our works. However, our best efforts will never satisfy God’s offended justice (Psalm 39:5; Luke 16:15). God has singled out these two brothers to teach us the way of God’s salvation through faith alone (Heb. 12:2), Christ alone (John 14:6), through grace alone (2 Tim 1:9), through the blood alone (1 Peter 1:18-20), and to plainly condemn the way of works (Rom. 9:13-15; Titus 3:5).