Psalm 50:4-6

Self-Righteousness Keeps Us From Coming To Christ

Ever since man became a sinner, he has been self-righteous. When man had a perfect righteousness be­fore God, he did not glory in it nor cherish it; but ever since man has fallen and lost all righteousness, he has PRETENDED TO HAVE ONE! Immediately after his fall, Adam wrapped himself in his apron of leaves and began to defend himself by blaming his troubles on God who gave to him the woman, and the woman for giving him the fruit. As it was with Adam, so it is with all men; we justify ourselves before God and men. Self-righteousness is born within us; and while we can, to a degree, control lust, lies, and murder, our self-righteousness will not allow us to confess our sins and come to God for mercy as guilty sinners. Millions of sermons have been preached against self- righteousness, but it remains the number one sin which keeps men from coming to Christ.

Martin Luther once said, "I scarcely ever preach a sermon without condemning self-righteousness, yet I find I cannot preach it down. Men still boast of who they are, what they have done, what they have NOT done, and mistake the road to heaven to be one paved by their own works and merit." God help us!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

Jn. 5:39.

Men go to the Bible, looking for lots of different things. Some are looking for laws to keep and precepts to perform, that they might earn favor with God by their works. Others are looking to increase their knowledge of doctrine, theology, and historical events, that they might have something to boast in with men. Some look for prophecy of end times that they might be able to interpret current events and better control their future. Some even look to prove from the Bible that the earth is flat, (for what reason I don’t know). Amazingly, what men look for is exactly what they find. Let us look for Christ. He is in the volume of the book. The Bible, from start to finish, is God’s revelation of the glorious person and accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are they which testify of me. We will find what we’re looking for. Search the scriptures looking for Christ, for in Him is life eternal. Pastor Greg Elmquist

“He Shall See His Seed” Isaiah 53:10

The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ shall never be discovered a miscarriage. Because he satisfied justice, justice shall satisfy him. Therefore, we read; “He shall see his seed.” He shall see all his seed brought out of Babylon, brought out of bondage, captivity, prison, and darkness. He shall see all his seed brought in, brought into himself, his church, his kingdom, his light, and his life. He shall see all his seed brought up in his house, educated by his grace, taught of God, and grown (matured) by his Spirit. He shall see all his seed brought through every trial and temptation, every river of woe and fiery furnace, and every snare laid for their hurt, brought through, all the way through this wilderness. And he shall see all his seed brought home at last to behold his glory forever. Pastor Don Fortner

"BEHOLD, I AM VILE"
Job 40:4

This was Job's reply after listening to Almighty God describe the majesty of His glorious character. This is good ground to be placed upon. Because it is only when we hear God speak as God and reveal Himself to us as God that we know something of our own sinful character (Isa. 6:1-5). However, according to the statement of scripture in Job 1:1 God said; "That Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and hated evil." How can Job be prefect and vile at the same time? Job was a believer like Abraham, David and all other believers who are made righteous and considered perfect only by receiving a justifying righteousness through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:30). There is in every believer two natures. That spiritual nature when we are made new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4) and the old, ruined, and vile nature we received by natural birth in Adam (Rom. 5:12). The spiritual nature can't sin (1 John. 3:9) and the old nature cannot produce anything but sin (Rom. 3:9-12). The believer is painfully aware of his sinful and corrupt nature and grieves over his sin. However, he never makes the corruption of his heart an excuse for the corruption of his life. We should never use our fallen nature for a reason to sin (Gal. 5:13-17). Because of our indwelling sin it is a daily miracle that we continue and persevere in faith (1 Peter 1:3-5). The enemy would be much easier to fight off if he didn't have an ally on the inside. One of the worst fears the believer has is the deceitfulness of his own heart (Psalm 140:-15; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21).

We carry within us an infamous traitor to our own soul! Beware, when he speaks to you of trusting others, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ alone; and heed the warning of scripture (1 Cor. 16:22). Beware, when he says to you that sin can be put away and we can be justified apart from the substitionary sacrifice and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; and heed the warning of scripture (1 John 1:7). Beware, when the old nature raises his ugly head and says that the gospel of grace is only for the theologian and the intellect; and heed the warning of scripture (Gal. 1:7-9). Beware, when the old nature says that those sitting, partaking and believing a false gospel are saved; and heed the warning of scripture (1 Jn. 5:11-12). Beware, when the old nature says to you that it doesn't matter how I live, how I act and what I say; and heed the warning of scripture (Eph. 4:17-24).