The Lord willing we will observe the Lord’s Table on Wednesday.

There will be a drop in bridal shower for Clarah Floyd on Saturday, July 27^th from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Frank and Janet’s house.

Our young adult classes for ages 18-30 will be held July 29-31 beginning at 7:00 p.m. each evening.

I FIND I CANNOT DO GOOD

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:18-19)

Every believer knows exactly what the apostle is talking about. I want to trust God completely, but I find myself wanting to know what God is doing before I trust Him. I want to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and my neighbor as myself but I find too much self love in me to make it happen. I want to worship God in Spirit and in truth but I find the flesh is so strong it seems I seldom truly worship.

Where does that leave miserable men like Paul, you, and me? It leaves us right where we started when God first saved us: looking to and depending on Christ to be our all. The Lord shows all of His people the sinfulness and selfishness of our flesh so that we constantly depend on Christ and Christ alone and never in ourselves.

Pastor

DID CHRIST DIE FOR ME?

We know that Christ did not die for all men. Christ died for the elect the Father chose unto salvation (John 6:39 and 17:24). Christ died for His sheep not goats (John 10:11). Then how do I know if Christ died for me? Christ died for you if you fit the description of the people for whom He died. Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6). Christ died for sinners (Rom. 5:8). If you are an ungodly sinner, Christ died for you. Come to Him as all of your salvation. If you see some goodness in yourself or something that would make God save you, I pray God would give you an accurate view of yourself because Christ “came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

The Gospel is not an offer from God. He does not offer His mercy and grace so that it is up to your acceptance or rejection of what is offered as to whether or not you will have it. He does not offer anyone the forgiveness of sins. He does not offer salvation, and then wait and see if we accept His offer. If any aspect of salvation is an offer that means the determining factor of salvation lies in man’s decision to accept or reject the offer. That is salvation by works in grace clothing. The Gospel is a gracious command. When He says, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden”, that is an imperative. “If any man thirst let him come to Me and drink”, that is an imperative. When we read, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”, that is a gracious command. I need not wonder if I am offered salvation or invited to believe. Being weary and heavy laden, I am commanded to come to Him for rest. Thirsting, I am commanded to come to Him and drink. Having nothing to pay, I am commanded to take the water of life freely. God does not offer. He commands. And the ability to obey the command comes with the commandment. When He commanded the man with the withered hand to stretch forth his hand, the man stretched forth his withered hand. When He says to a man believe.....they believe!

Pastor Todd Nibert

SINNERS COME TO CHRIST

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (I Timothy 1:15) The only reason a person will not come to Christ is they do not believe they are a sinner. Everyone who knows they are a sinner comes to Christ who came to save sinners. Are you a sinner?