ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, July 7th, 2008

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Psalm 69: 16-18

THE BELIEVER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, JESUS CHRIST
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3)

It is not for ignorance, as such, that the Jews were condemned. If that were so, a simple theology lesson would have brought them salvation. Rather, it was what their ignorance led them to do that sealed their doom: they would not submit to the righteousness of God revealed in Jesus Christ. It is certain that if a man is ignorant of the righteousness of God, he cannot and will not submit to it. But it is also true that a man may be fully aware of the righteousness of God as revealed in gospel doctrine yet not submit to it. So subtle is Satan and so deceptive the human heart that one may actually think that his acknowledgement of the righteousness of God is his righteousness: He may think that, because he believes the doctrine, and even publicly defends it, God accepts him. It is one thing to submit to a doctrine, it is another thing altogether to submit to Jesus Christ as one's only righteousness before God.

How can we know whether we have gone, not only from ignorance to knowledge, but also from knowledge to submission? It is primarily revealed in this: we cease from establishing our own righteousness before God. We glory in nothing other than Christ's cross, soothe our conscience with nothing but His blood, and rest our hope for favor with God on nothing other than Christ's acceptance before the Father. Pastor Joe Terrell

THE DEATH OF A BELIEVER
"Thou shalt come to thy grave IN A FULL AGE, like as a shock of corn COMETH IN HIS SEASON. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it FOR THY GOOD" (Job 5:26-27).

1. The death of the believer is INEVITABLE. "Thou SHALT come to thy grave." Because of sin, death has passed upon all. All men must die and be buried, believers and unbelievers.

2. The death of the believer is ACCEPTABLE. "Thou shall COME to thy grave." This reveals a willingness to die. We choose to be absent from this body and present with the Lord. Our Lord said to the unbelievers, "This night thy soul shall be REQUIRED of thee" (demanded of thee). Not so the elect! We are not forced to leave this earth and be with Christ; we willingly come to Him in death as we came to Him in faith.

3. The death of the believer is TIMELY. "Thou shalt come to thy grave IN A FULL AGE;" that is, in the fullness of the Lord's time! Our time on this earth is determined by our Lord. "Our bounds are set, the number of our days are with Thee." No believer dies before or beyond the Lord's appointed age, which is, regardless of the length of it, OUR FULL AGE.

4. The death of the believer is WITH VICTORY AND FULLNESS OF REDEMPTION. "Like a shock of corn cometh IN HIS SEASON" If corn is harvested before it is ripe, it would not be fit for use; and if it is left in the field too long, it will come to nothing. Our salvation is complete in Christ. "He hath made us sufficient and ripe for glory." So when the Lord's purpose for us (on this earth and in His church) is served, the believer is ripe and ready to be plucked from this field and taken to His table for the marriage feast.

5. The death of the believer is FOR HIS GOOD. Eliphaz says, "I have searched and studied these things and THEY ARE TRUE. I exhort you to HEAR IT and know it" (take it to heart as belonging to you) and know that all that our Lord brings to pass is for our good, who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Pastor Henry Mahan

A GOD READY TO PARDON
Nehemiah 9:17
God, as He has revealed Himself to us in the scriptures delights to show mercy and to pardon guilty sinners. He has not left us to guess about His character. David said of Him, "Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" (Psalm 86:5). His readiness to pardon is seen in His longsuffering to Israel. God's dealings with national Israel are very typical of His dealings with spiritual Israel. Though we are no more deserving of mercy than they were, yet God in Christ Jesus has been pleased to choose, justify and pardon His elect (Rom. 3:24). God's readiness to pardon His people is seen in the following points.

1). IN HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE (Eph. 3: 8-12)!
We must never think that Christ Jesus died to make God merciful. The death of the Lord Jesus is the result of the eternal purpose and love of God (Rev. 13:8). Before Adam's rebellion ever took place the remedy and redemption of the sheep of Christ was absolute and certain (1Cor. 15:22). Before Adam ever fell Jesus Christ stood as the Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace (Gen. 3:15; Heb. 13:20).

2). IN HIS GRACIOUS PROVISION (Gal. 4:4-7)!
God at great cost to Himself, from His own bosom gave His only begotten, well beloved Son (John 3:16). God in His holiness and strict justice cannot simply give the sinner pardon, without honoring His justice (Ezk. 8:20). Therefore, God took to Himself sinless humanity. Living as our representative He perfectly obeyed the law for us in all its precepts & penalties (Isa. 42:21; Rom. 8:1-4; Phil. 2:6-9).

3). IN HIS SATISFYING PROPITIATION (Heb. 2:16-18)!
How can God be just and yet justify the ungodly; be a just God and Saviour? That is the vital question of the hour, which nobody is asking. The only way is for God himself to satisfy His own justice (Isa. 53:10). This is what happened at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of His people, as the sinner's Substitute. Bearing the sin of His people being imputed to Him, He suffered for them to satisfy God's justice (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). The atonement doesn't change the character of God, it honors and glorifies his justice and mercy ( Psa. 85:10; Mic. 7:18-20).

4). IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL (1 Cor. 1:17-21)!
God in His infinite wisdom has devised very simple means to call out His elect (Rom. 10:13-17). God effectually calls out His sheep through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 10:27). Wherever His people are, whoever they are, God will cross their path with the truth of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:26-40; 1 Peter 1:23-25; James 1:18).

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