ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, July 20th, 2008

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. Psalm 70: 4-5

PASTOR'S NOTE
Remember our summer meeting with pastor Henry Mahan will begin on Friday at 7:00 pm. We will plan to have a time of snacks and fellowship afterwards. Please pray for these meetings!

A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Cor. 5:17).

"If any person is in Christ," not in religion, in the church, or in moral reformation, but in Christ, by faith in Christ, by a new birth wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God, in Christ through electing love, redeeming grace and a living union, he is "a new creature" (Gal. 6:15). This new creation describes a creation work, not of man but of God (Eph. 2:8-10; Col 3:10). It is a new nature, a new man and a new principle of grace and holiness, which was not there before and is distinct from the old nature, the old man, with which we are born in the flesh (John 3:5, 6; 1:12, 13).

"Old things are passed away" - the old way of life, which loves and serves the flesh, the old legal righteousness and religion, old companions and acquaintances, old desires for riches, honour and human philosophic, and old foolish thoughts of God, self and future glory. The new man thinks and acts from new principles, new rules, with new goals and objectives and in a new fellowship. He has a new commandment of love, a new name, a new song in his mouth, even praise to God, a new and living way opened by the blood of Christ, and an inheritance in the new heavens and new earth. In the new creation absolutely nothing of the flesh is needed, used, nor continued. Our Lord said, "Behold, I make all things new." Pastor Henry Mahan

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY CHRIST
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gal. 2:21).

It would be a miserable thing indeed, and sadly frustrating, and making void, the riches of God's grace, to join anything of the work of the creature, in whole, or in part, as in the least contributing to justification before God. For if righteousness come by the law: if any of the fallen race of Adam, could be supposed capable of working out for themselves a righteousness of their own; yea, could perform a single deed, or exercise a single thought of purity, to recommend themselves to the great searcher of hearts: in this case, it would set aside, the necessity of redemption. For this would at once show, that the creature hath a capability of somewhat, be that somewhat ever so little; and by improvement, more might then be expected from him.

And then, the consequences which would follow, would be, that there could have been no cause for so great a sacrifice as God's dear Son. The blood of Christ might have been spared: and Christ (as Paul saith) is then dead in vain. Whereas, the decided, unalterable language of Holy Scripture, on this point, is, that without shedding, of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22. That it was in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6. And that, if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Corinthians 5:14. Oh! the foul ingratitude, in attempting to lessen the infinite importance of Christ's obedience and death, as the sole cause of salvation! Oh! the horrible presumption, in thereby impeaching both the wisdom, and love of God, in the contrivance of such vast mercies! And, oh! thou dear Redeemer! what base returns, are these to thee, and all thine agonies, and soul-travail, when men set up a righteousness of their own, to lessen thereby, the infinitely precious sacrifice of thyself on the cross, whereby alone, thou hast perfected for ever them that are sanctified! Robert Hawker

IGNORANCE LEADS TO ERROR
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matt. 22:29).

Our blessed Lord answers the question of the Sadducees about the resurrection by telling them their problem. The problem is not with Christ and the truth of the resurrection, it is with the sinner. Here our Lord declares to us the root cause of all error and unbelief, it is ignorance of the scriptures and not knowing the power of God. These two truths are inseparable, there is no way of knowing and understanding the power of God apart from the revelation of holy scripture (Rom. 15:4; John 5:39; 20:31), nor is there any way of knowing and understanding the holy scriptures apart from the power of God revealing them unto us ( John 16:13-15; 1Cor. 2:9-14).

Therefore, it becomes absolutely necessary for each of us to avoid error and ignorance by taking advantage of the inspired word of God, for what the scriptures speak, God speaks (1Tim.3:16; 2Peter 1:20-21). He has promised to bless the truth of His word to the hearts of His people (Isa. 55:11). All who seek salvation by works of self righteousness, do so because of their wicked nature and, "not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Rom. 10:1-4). Surely, all who seek salvation by and through the Lord Jesus do so because of His sovereign grace, knowing what the scriptures do teach, "salvation is of the Lord" (1John 5:21; 2Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5; John 14:6) and knowing the gospel is the power and the wisdom of God unto salvation (1Co. 1:18-31; Rom. 1:16).

COMFORT IN TROUBLE
Being a believer in Jesus Christ and resting in His good providence does not exempt us from trouble, trial, sorrow and heartache in this life. Our Lord said, "In this world you shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). But here is our comfort and help, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psa. 46:1). Our blessed Lord said, "Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

Our gracious God has promised wisdom to understand the trial (James 1:5). Grace to endure and bear the trial (2Cor.12:9). Faith to trust and believe God through the trial (Rom.4:19-20). Peace to rest in His purpose, knowing that this trial works to our eternal good (Rom. 8:28-35). Hope to rejoice in our Lord and Saviour, Who said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). Surely, we must conclude that we are needy creatures and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our only resource of help and hope (Phil. 4:19)! 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