Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Psalm 35:1-3

IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN (1 Cor. 15:13-19)

1. If Christ is not risen, there is no resurrection.

2. If Christ is not risen, our preaching is vain and your faith is vain.

3. If Christ is not risen, we have misrepresented God and deceived our hearers.

4. If Christ is not risen, He is an imposter.

5. If Christ is not risen, you shall die in your sins; for His work depends on His resurrection.

6. If Christ is not risen, all who have died believ­ing in Him are perished forever.

7. If Christ is not risen, we are of all men most miserable.

8. If Christ is not risen, all are without help, without hope, and without God in this world. "BECAUSE God hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by THAT MAN whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assur­ance unto all men, in that HE BATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD" (Acts 17:31). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1993)

What Is The Church?

From the Scriptures we know the church is His body, His bride, the people He loved and purchased with His own blood that He sees as glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It is the church of Christ, the church of God, the house of God, the pillar and ground of the Truth. It is that which He built and of which He is the Head. It is the ones He feeds, and walks in their midst, and promises His presence. It is the place from whose midst He sings. It is the general assembly and church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven. It is that group of people of whom Christ said, “In as much as ye have done it to the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.” We see how important church is to Him. How important is it to you?

Pastor Todd Nibert

Christ Is All

The same man who said: “I be nothing” (2 Cor. 12:11)said: “Christ is all!” (Col. 3:11)Every true child of God enters in to what the apostle said, and totally agrees! I am the chief sinner; He is the Chief Shepherd and Savior of sinners! I am vile and wicked; He is Holy and Just! I am absolute weakness; He is infinite strength! I must decrease; He must increase! I am worthless vanity; He is unsearchable riches! I deserve wrath; He deserves Honor! I deserve death; He deserves glory! I am nothing; and Christ is all! But do you know what the glory of the gospel is? He traded places with me. Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water” (Zech. 9:9-11).

God gave to His prophet the very exact description of our Lord Jesus Christ as He entered into Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation, 550 years before it actually happened (Matt.21:1-11). Zechariah not only describes for us the circumstances how Christ would come but also gives us a very vivid description of Who this is. Notice these things!

1). Jesus Christ is the King of our salvation. "Behold thy King cometh unto thee." The wise men asked, where is He that is born King (Matt. 2:2). Our Lord as God incarnate, is King of kings (Rev. 19:9-16; Psa.2:6; Acts.2:36). As King He is sovereign in salvation (John 17:2; Rom. 9:12-16).

2). Jesus Christ is the Just God, "He is just." That means He is righteous in all His ways and Holy in His character. Stephen and Peter called Him, "the Just One" (Acts 3:12-15; 7:52).

3). Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, "having salvation." He is not only a Just God but also our Saviour (Isa.45:22). Paul often calls Christ, God our Saviour (Titus 1:3; Luke 2:30). He came to give His life as a ransom to purchase His covenant people (Matt. 20:28; Acts 20:28; Acts 4:12).

4). Jesus Christ is also identified with our humanity, "lowly, and riding upon an ass." Totally, fully God Almighty, yet also a real man (John.1:14; 1Tim. 3:16; Phil.2:5-9). As the Godman He honored the law and perfected righteousness for us (Isa. 42:21; 2Cor.5:21; 1Peter 3:18; Heb. 9:12).

5). Jesus Christ is our Peace with God, 'he shall speak peace unto the heathen." Surely, no one else has the authority to speak peace unto the sinner, but Jesus Christ Himself (Eph.2:12-17; Rom. 5:1). He made peace with God for His people through the blood of His sacrifice (Col. 1:19-22).