We Come to a Person

I hear men talking about coming to faith in Christ. Without being contentious wouldn’t it be more accurate to say, “I CAME TO CHRIST in faith?” Faith comes to us as the gift of God, through the work of God’s Spirit and the Word of God; and by faith and in faith WE COME TO CHRIST! Christ is the fountain, Christ is our life and Christ is made unto us all things; wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We do not find these things in faith but IN CHRIST.

Also men say, “I came to the doctrines of grace.” One can come to a doctrine or even learn a system of doctrine and never come to Christ. You may weary of hearing me say it, but salvation is not in a decision, profession of faith, mental acceptance of facts, nor the letter of the law. Salvation is in a person!

This is what Christ told Martha, who insisted that she believed in the resurrection. “I AM the resurrection and the life.” We live because He lives and we are in Him. We are accepted because He is accepted and we are in Him. Paul cried, “That I may win Christ and be found in Him” (Phil. 3:8-10). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

THY GOD REIGNETH

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7)

The message of salvation, peace, and comfort that every servant of God preaches is Thy God reigneth. Almighty God is sovereign over everything. God elected a people unto salvation. Those people shall be saved and glorified because thy God reigneth. Thy God lives and reigns to ensure the salvation of His people. Nothing in heaven, earth or hell will ever cause any of God’s elect to lose their salvation and perish because thy God reigneth. Thy God lives and reigns to ensure the salvation of His people. When God’s elect endure hard trials and deep waters that we do not understand (we believe that God has not made a mistake and that He is bringing good out of even this painful trial, but we do not understand how He will do it) our comfort is thy God reigneth. Our God rules over this trial just like everything else in His creation. Since our God reigneth He is able to comfort the hearts of His people. Pastor Frank Tate

“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5).

The eternal purpose, will, and grace of God assured that the steps of the Lord Jesus would cross paths with this object of God’s mercy. The Lord Jesus had come to the place where Divine compassion would be shown to this spiritual son of Abraham. The Lord came to the place, looked up, and saw Zacchaeus. Here was one that the Lord knew in mercy…one He had seen eternally as being chosen in Him before the foundation of the world by His Father…one for whom He came to redeem and therefore said, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” Hearing the voice of the Master and being made willing in the day of God’s power, this vessel of God’s mercy did come down…came down from his lofty perch of ignorance and received Him joyfully, confessing himself to be a sinner in need of Christ. What amazing grace was beheld that day! The Lord saved a hell-deserving wretch…a wretch like me…praise His holy name! Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

FREE IN CHRIST

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).

The Apostle Paul encourages and inspires every believer to, "Stand fast," defend at all cost the precious freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus (John 8:32). Through His perfect blood atonement (Heb. 9:12), His provided righteousness freely imputed (Rom. 4:6), every believer has been set free; free from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13), free from spiritual death (Eph. 2:1) and free from the condemnation of sin (Rom. 8:1).

Not only are we instructed to, "Stand fast," defend and hold to the ground of salvation by free grace in Christ at all cost, but we are also encouraged NOT to be entangled with the, "Yoke of bondage" (Gal. 2:16). Don’t be entangled, hampered or ensnared again with the bondage of works and law to obtain the favor and blessings of God, in Christ we have the favor and blessing of God (Eph. 1:3; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:9-10).

Believers do not wear the yoke of the Law (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 4:18), however they do wear the yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:25-28).