Only the Lord knows when the trial of this virus will end. So, again, because we want to try to be safe, we are asking you to stay home this morning and watch Pastor Parker preaching the messages on live-stream at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. As you know, you can access our live-stream by going directly to SermonAudio.com or through our website at www.rofgrace.com. And, again, be aware that SermonAudio has a hard time dealing with the high traffic load during this crisis, and many have had trouble getting on and staying connected. If you cannot stay connected, know that we are recording both messages, and they will be posted on SermonAudio and on our website as soon as possible.

We continue to pray for our nation and that our sovereign Lord would cause this virus to pass soon. Let us all live in the light of our Lord and Savior. We know that we are safe in His arms and secure in His grace that reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

—Pastor Parker

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TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

Thank God for Our Brethren – Romans 16:1-16

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

READING – John 15:1-16

MESSAGE – Bearing the Fruit of Faith (2) – 2 Peter 1:5-11

Knowing, believing, and resting in the truth that our Lord is in control of all things, and that He is working all things for His glory and the good of His children should never cause us to have a fatalistic attitude and throw caution to the wind so as not to use the knowledge and wisdom that God has given us. We should take every precaution to keep ourselves and our families safe realizing that we are in God’s hands and that He is going to keep us eternally safe and secure in Christ our Lord.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible is not only a great book; it is the greatest of all books. Its greatness is not necessarily found in its fulfilled prophecies, its historical accuracy, its accounts of God’s mighty acts, or its guidelines for living. These are indeed fascinating aspects of the Bible, each add its own evidence of authenticity to the “big picture” of the Bible as a whole. The Bible’s greatest wonder is its revelation of Jesus Christ Himself, along with the work of redemption He has accomplished to save His people from sin, and provide all things necessary to bring them to eternal life and glory. The truly remarkable facet of the Bible is that Christ crucified and risen as the righteousness of God for His people can be seen in each and every book – Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Every book, every chapter, every line holds a picture of Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. – Copied

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PEACE WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE

God charged the false prophets in Jeremiah’s day of healing “the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). This is another way of saying that these religious liars pointed the people to and offered them cures for their sins that could not work – man’s works and will, religious efforts and ceremonies, etc. They would give them a “quick fix” as these false cures could make people feel well for a while, healing them “slightly” (quickly and temporarily). But they did not heal the sickness of sin permanently.

Christ alone is the great Physician, and He Himself is the only real and lasting cure for our sins. His blood is the effectual and powerful cleansing ointment that washes away all our sins forever. His righteousness imputed binds our wounds for healing and provides us with the clean robes of holiness whereby we stand before God justified. His life-giving power alone heals and changes our hearts to be broken and contrite over sin yet confident and bold in Christ. All other supposed cures are false. – Copied

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Surety of salvation for every true believer, because only “HE IS ABLE also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

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WHO IS THE SURETY OF YOUR SALVATION?

Many who claim to be “Christian” say that Christ’s death satisfied justice, brought in righteousness, put away all sin, and paid the sin-debt in full, BUT, as they say, “It has no power to save us unless we believe and/or repent.” They may not realize it, but they have just declared themselves, not Christ, to be the surety of their salvation. If the death of Christ did not insure and secure the complete salvation of all for whom He died, then He is not the surety of salvation. But we know from God’s testimony that this is not the case. CHRIST IS THE ONE AND ONLY SURETY OF THE SALVATION OF HIS PEOPLE. Christ was appointed by God the Father in the everlasting covenant of grace before the foundation of the world to be the Surety of His people. Christ was “made a surety of a better testament” (covenant) (Heb. 7:22), and as the Surety of this covenant of salvation, all the promises of it are established upon HIM as our Surety (2 Cor. 1:20; Eph. 1:3; Heb. 8:6) and on the ground of His obedience unto death (Heb. 13:20-21). As our Surety His righteousness secures and demands the eternal salvation and final glory of all for whom He lived, died, arose.