ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, April 13th, 2008

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me. God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 60: 4-6, 11-12

TODAY'S RELIGION
Anyone who is serious about a knowledge of and relationship with the living God ought to question today's religion which makes salvation only a profession and not an experience; which operates only in a person's mind and not upon his heart; which obligates God but does not glorify God; which designates Jesus Christ as Saviour and denies His Lordship; whose hope of eternal life is based mainly upon what men think and not upon what God says. Pastor Henry Mahan

INFINITE VALUE OF REDEMPTION
God is infinitely holy, so sin (which is against God) is infinitely sinful. Therefore, the price of redemption must be of infinite value. Only one of infinite worth can pay this price; in other words, God Himself! This He has done in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). How abominable to God must be the folly of man in seeking to add his filthy rags to the precious blood of the Incarnate God. Pastor Charles Pennington

THE REPETITION OF THE GOSPEL
"To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe" (Philippians 3:1). Paul is not speaking of the repetition of certain words or phrases that need to be stated or the Gospel is not preached. When a preacher adopts that mentality, his words do indeed become grievous (irksome; tedious), and in reality it is not safe, because the standard of soundness becomes certain key phrases rather than the Word of God. However, you cannot preach the Gospel without the repetition of the "same things." Even if certain words or phrases are not used, the foundational truths of ruined by the fall, redeemed by the blood, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit are there. God's sovereign election, justification by faith, sanctification by grace, union with Christ, and the glory of God is the framework of all that is said. When preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and heard by needy souls, the Truth is never tedious. It is always safe. Pastor Todd Nibert

FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? John Owen (1616-1683)

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent. All the sins of all men. All the sins of some men, or some of the sins of all men. In which case it may be said:

a. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved.

b. That if the second were true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.

c. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?

You answer, because of unbelief. I ask, is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

When God's preachers go forth with the Word of truth they go with great confidence that the Holy Spirit will bless and honor the gospel of Jesus Christ to the conversion and comfort of the elect (Isa. 55:11). Here are several things taught in the word about the Holy Spirit's ministry.

1). He will reprove (convict, convince) the world of sin!

There is no way the preacher can convict the sinner. While he may be able to expose the truth to your head, he is unable to reach your heart. The Holy Spirit through the Word not only spells out our problem (sin), but also reveals and proves it to our heart and causes us to humbly own it before the Holy God. The fact of sin (Rom. 3:23), the filth of sin (Isa. 64:6), the fountain of sin (Matt. 5:19), the fruit of sin (Rom. 6:23). Then He centers in on the target of the problem "unbelief;" this is the great reigning and ruining sin that will condemn our soul (John 3:36). If God has taught and convinced you of what you are; rejoice, only sinners will come before God as mercy beggars (Luke 18:13-14;Heb. 4:16).

2). He will reprove the world of Righteousness!

The Holy Spirit will also reveal unto the sinner the absolute righteousness and purity of Jesus Christ. He truly is "Jesus Christ the Righteous." Our Lord had no sin, did no sin and knew no sin (Heb. 7:26). Then He also reveals and teaches us our need of righteousness and shows us that this is freely imputed and fully provided in Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works" (Rom. 4:6-8). He is the Lord our Righteousness, Who ever lives to intercede for us (1Cor. 1:30)!

3). He will reprove the world of judgement!

The Holy Spirit will reveal unto the sinner what happened at Calvary. The prince of the world (Satan), all principalities and powers have been judged, spoiled, conquered and disarmed by Jesus Christ crucified (Col. 2:15). Christ Jesus also by His glorious sacrifice made an end of our sin (Heb. 9:26). In Christ there is no condemnation to those that are in Him. Because our sins have been eternally judged in our Substitute (2 Cor. 5:21), the believer has been fully acquitted and made righteous before God (Rom.8:1).

Thank God for this vital and necessary work of the Holy Spirit! Pastor Tom Harding

Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week