“GRACE and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

These two are inseparably joined together. We cannot have grace without truth nor THE TRUTH without grace. "Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.5:21). The grace which saves sinners is not moral weakness nor a sen­timental gesture, but the grace which saves sinners is grace which is (in Christ) established on the principle of AN HONORED LAW AND SATISFIED JUSTICE! (Rom. 3:23-26.) Grace does not ignore the truth of God's law and justice, nor does grace set aside their demands. Grace establishes the law and glorifies God's justice. The law manifests what is in us--sin! Grace and truth manifest what is in God--love! The law demands righteousness from us. Grace and truth bring righteousness to us. The law sentences us to death. Grace and truth bring life to dead men. The law speaks of what we must do. Grace and truth tell what Christ has done.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

“A Merciful and Faithful High Priest” Hebrews 2:17

It is this conformity to us that qualifies our Lord to be the kind of Priest we need. He was made a man that he might be our High Priest. And he suffered, being tempted as a man, that he might be “a merciful and faithful high priest.”

Christ is moved to compassion and pity by the things that we suffer, being touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because he has also suffered those very things. He is merciful, not only because it is his will as God to be merciful, but also because he has a fellow feeling with those who need mercy.

Our Savior faithfully shows mercy to us because the things he suffered, he suffered specifically and distinctly for us. He exercises constant care for all the concerns of his brethren. He lovingly condescends to the wants and sorrows of his suffering, tempted brethren (Isaiah 40:11). Because his compassion does not fail, his faithfulness is great.

Such is the unspeakable love of Christ for us that he willingly endured all that was necessary for him to be our merciful and faithful High Priest. Like Jacob because of his love to Rachel, our Lord was content to submit to any terms, to undergo any sorrow, to meet any conditions, that he might save and enjoy his beloved bride (Ephesians 5:25-26). Pastor Don Fortner

“Prepare Ye the Way of the LORD” Is. 40:3

John the Baptist was commanded to “Prepare the way of the Lord,” and every preacher of the Gospel does the same. To “prepare” means to turn, face, look, or regard and as John declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” He was exhorting men to look, by faith, unto Him who is God’s Lamb, the only One who can and has borne away the sin of the world, the sin of every one of His sheep given Him in electing grace…Jew and Gentile scattered throughout the world. Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

These verses reveal unto us the very essence and glory of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1). Divine intervention, “The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” One thing is most obvious; we did not merit God’s grace. We were shut out by sin and on the fast track to destruction; deserving of God’s righteous wrath (Rom.6:23). But our sovereign God intervened and came to our rescue. He was manifested in our nature, in the flesh (Rom. 8:3; Gal.4:4) to fulfill all righteousness and to make perfect atonement for sin (Heb. 2:17; Heb.9:26).

2). Divine salvation, “According to his mercy he saved us.” Salvation is not by what we do, but rather according to God’s sovereign, and everlasting mercy (Rom. 9:11-16). No sinner can produce nor can he possess a justifying righteousness in the energy of the flesh, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done (Rom. 8:8). The only reason for grace is grace (John 1:17). The Lord saves His people out of a clear, unmixed and undiluted mercy and redeeming grace and for no other reason, “By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” ( John 1:12-13; 2Tim 1:9). The new birth is not an option in salvation it is a must (John 3:3-7). The new birth is not something you do, it is something God does in you (Phil.1:6).

3). Divine blessings, “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Every spiritual blessing the believer enjoys is through, in and by the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.1:3). All the promises of God are in Christ Jesus (2Cor.1:20). The love and kindness of God are in Christ (Rom. 8:39). The forgiveness and redemption from all sin is only found in Christ (Eph.1:7). The righteousness imputed to sinners is Christ, the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer.23:5; 1Cor. 1:30). The hope of salvation is Christ in you the hope of glory (Col.1:27; 2Thes.2:16).