A Believer’s Peace

Where does a believer find real and genuine peace? On what foundation can we rest and say in truth, “It is well with my soul”? I’ll tell you; it lies in this – that we are justified by faith and not by works. Christ Jesus stood in my stead before God. I was guilty with nothing to pay, doomed to hell; and Christ took my place! He died for me! How can I perish? How can I be punished for sins which have already been laid on Christ and for which He has suffered?

God demands of me that I keep His holy law perfectly. I cannot do it. But Christ has kept it for me. He kept it, magnified it, made it honorable in my flesh. What more can God demand of me? I am washed in the blood of Christ Jesus; I am risen and seated at His right hand in Christ Jesus.

You may ask, “How is all this yours?” I reply, “By the grace of God, through the merits of Christ, revealed by the Spirit of God THROUGH FAITH!” God said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” I do believe, I sincerely believe in Christ; therefore, I have eternal life. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

“Ye Are Saved!”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

The happiest word in the Bible is the word “Saved”. That man or woman who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is saved. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).But what does it mean to be saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ?

1). To be saved is to be Forgiven of all sin (Ephesians 1:7).

2). To be saved is to have Peace with God (Romans 5:1).

3). To be saved is to be Free from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).

4). To be saved is to be Free from all possibility of condemnation (Romans 8:1).

5). To be saved is to have Eternal life (1 John 5:11).

6). To be saved is to have the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).

7). To be saved is to Own and acknowledge Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10).

8). To be saved is to be In love with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 16:22). Pastor Don Fortner (1950-2020)

JOHN NEWTON

John Newton was one of England's greatest preachers. He is probably best known for his hymn, "Amazing Grace," and for many other songs he wrote. He preached his last sermon on Dec. 21, 1807, at the age of 82.

These were some of his last words; "I am a great sinner and Jesus Christ is a great Saviour." Newton was buried beneath his church of St. Mary Woolnoth, and a tablet was placed on the church wall with an inscription he had written himself; "John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine (unrestrained), a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had labored to destroy." All of God's elect, like John Newton, never cease to be totally amazed by God's rich grace, abounding toward them through the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24). God help us never to graduate above the station of a sinner saved by almighty grace (1Cor. 15:10; 1 Tim. 1:15)!

Tis A Point I Long To Know

John Newton

‘Tis a point I long to know, oft it causes anxious thought.

Do I love the Lord or no, am I His or am I not?

If I love, why am I thus, why this dull and lifeless frame?

Hardly sure can they be worse who have never heard His name.

Could my heart so hard remain, prayer a task and burden prove,

Every trifle give me pain, if I knew a Savior’s love?

When I turn my eyes within, all is dark, and vain, and wild;

Filled with unbelief and sin, can I deem myself a child?

If I pray, or hear, or read, sin is mixed with all I do;

You that love the Lord indeed, tell me, is it thus with you?

Could I joy His saints to meet, chose the ways I once abhorred,

Find at times the promise sweet, if I did not love the Lord?

Lord, decide the doubtful case; Thou Who art Thy people’s Sun,

Shine upon Thy work of grace, if it be indeed begun.

Let me love Thee more and more, if I love at all, I pray;