The Grace Of God

“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).

The grace of God makes all men who feel its power to be BRETHREN. We are one family in Christ. GRACE makes the prosperous give his hand and help to the poor. GRACE makes the healthy to reach out and care for the weak and sickly. GRACE makes the learned and the intellectual to stoop from their so-called dignity and embrace the ignorant and the unlettered. GRACE makes the important to be polite and consid­erate of the lesser. GRACE makes the elder to be understanding and patient with the impulsive youth. GRACE makes the offended to forgive the offender and to forget the offense. Let the grace of God lay hold of a man's heart and pride, envy and bitterness go to their graves.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

Salvation is of the LORD

Growing up I heard preachers talk about “the Plan of Salvation” then they would commence to tell sinners how to “get saved.” Salvation is not a “how to plan.” Salvation is of the LORD. It is not how to get saved but who saves, the LORD. The LORD purposed to save a people, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, died for those people and the Holy Spirit calls them by the gospel and regenerates them. It is all of the LORD from alpha to omega. If we are to build a house, let’s talk about the how to plan, if we are talking about salvation, let’s talk about the doing and dying and rising again of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor John Chapman

Justice or Mercy

All men approach God in one of two ways. One pleads His mercy. The other demands justice. The poor and needy, the weak and wounded, the fallen and sinful, will come pleading for mercy. Their hands will be open and empty. The self-righteous, the proud, the strong, will demand justice based on something they bring in their hand. Those pleading mercy will know that the only thing that satisfies the justice of God is the sacrifice Christ made on Calvary’s Tree. They will pray with David; “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies…” Those demanding justice will try to obligate God with something they have done. Their voices will be heard to say; but Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in thy name? Justice demands reward based on works. Mercy looks in faith to Christ for grace. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:4-5). Pastor Greg Elmquist

SO GREAT SALVATION (Hebrews 2:3)

How shall we escape judgment, wrath and eternal damnation; if we neglect (disregard, count as non-essential) the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His great salvation? This is a very vital, soul searching question and one that needs to be honestly answered in our hearts. The answer is obvious, that absolutely none shall escape who neglect the gospel of Christ (John 3:35-36). The scriptures are very plain about this, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema (cursed)" (1 Cor. 16:22). Let me give you several reasons why this is called, "So great salvation."

1). This salvation is great in its PLANNING (Heb. 5:8-9)!

This salvation was eternally conceived by God before Adam was created or sinned. Before there was a sinner there was a Saviour, before Adam fell our Lord Jesus Christ stood, as the Surety and Mediator of His people (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:22; Rev. 13:8).

2). This salvation is great in its PURCHASE (Acts 20:28)!

This salvation is free to any sinner, because of the great price that was paid to secure it (Rom. 3:24; 1 Cor. 6:20). “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him, freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:32).

3). This salvation is great in its PERFORMANCE (Psalm 57:2)!

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation has met all the demands of which salvation required (Rom. 4:20-21). His performance in all aspects was perfect, complete and of infinite value. He performed, perfected and provided all righteousness (Isa. 42:21) and all redemption for us (Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-20).

4). This salvation is great in its POWER (Romans 1:16)!

What does it take to make a vile, guilty sinner a saint? Power! This is what the gospel reveals unto us, saving power (John. 17:2), calling power (2 Tim. 1:9) and keeping power (1 Peter 1:5).

5). This salvation is great in its PURPOSE (1 Cor. 1:26-31)!