October 12, 2008
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey
Hebrews 12: 3: For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4: Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
MEETING LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month we meet at 10 AM for morning worship then observe the Lord's Table. After services we have lunch together.)
WEB ADDRESSES AND MAILING ADDRESS
http://www.sovereign-grace.us/
www.sermonaudio.com/sgbcpnj
www.freegraceradio.com
Clay Curtis, Pastor
7 Birch Street
Pennington, New Jersey, 08534
Phone: 615-513-4464
Email: clay@sovereign-grace.us
Newest Sermons
One Husband, One Bride
The New Testament In My Blood
Grace In The Midst of Trial
Newest Articles
A Backward Proposal
Spirit of Judgment and Burning
Cause of Contention
Walking Uprightly?
Work of the Triune God
ABLE TO SAVE
Henry Mahan
"Able to save" means something more than just delivering men from hell. "Able to save" is the whole work of salvation from the first conviction of sin to complete glorification. Christ is not only able to save" those who REPENT, but He is able to make men repent. Christ is not only "able to save" those who BELIEVE, but He is able to give a new heart and work faith in men. Christ is not only "able to save" those who CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, but He is able to keep us from falling and give us a holy desire to be like Him.
THE NECESSITY OF THE HUSBAND'S GLORY
Isaiah 4: 1: And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
It is improper for the bride to propose to the man. Merely taking his name does not constitute a marriage. If her reproach will be taken away, Christ the GodMan must draw his bride in cords of love, unite himself to her in a holy, unbreakable union, and provide all her needs.
God created one wife for his beloved Son. She is the church made up of his elect people out of ever nation on this earth. God espoused this bride to one husband even Christ Jesus his own Son. He is her All and she is his all.
First, the full provision Christ bestows upon his bride is found in his name which he gives her. The maiden name of a sinner is that of our father Adam. Our maiden name is a name of reproach, of disobedience to God, a name which declares we are dead in trespasses and in sins. But Christ gives his bride his name and his name declares her reproach is taken away by him. Jeremiah 23:6: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 33:16: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
Secondly, the name of Righteousness given to his bride declares that Christ has fully met every requirement of a faithful husband. Concerning the responsibility of the husband the law states, If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. Christ shall never take another bride as sinful men do for he has everlastingly loved the bride betrothed to him by his Father. Christ is her Food (Life) and thus Christ's bride shall never be found begging bread. Christ is her raiment of Righteousness thus she is arrayed in the finest garment. Christ the Son of God unites himself intimately with her, which scripture terms the "the duty of marriage", by making himself one with her nature that he might make her one with his nature (Ephesians 5: 30-32; Heb 2: 11, 14-16; Eze 36: 27; 2 Peter 1: 3, 4; Rom 8: 9-12.)
The marriage is about much more than the bride's reproach being taken away, it is about Christ's glory in being a true and faithful Husband. Christ is that glorious Husband thus the reproach of his bride is forever removed.
SHOW ME THY FAITH James 2:18
Pastor Don Fortner
Not all faith is true faith. There is a living faith and a dead faith, the faith of God's elect and the faith of devils, a faith that saves and a faith that deceives, a true faith and a false faith. False faith is a faith of words only. True faith is a faith of works, a "faith that worketh by love" (James 2:14-17; I John 3:16-18; Gal. 5:6). If a man or woman says, "I have faith in Christ," James makes a fair and reasonable request. He says, "Show me thy faith." He is saying, "Convince me that you have faith. Justify your claim. Justify your faith." Abraham did (vv. 21-24). He proved the reality of his faith in God on Mt. Moriah. Rahab did too. She demonstrated the reality of her faith by risking her life to protect the servants of God (v. 25). You may say, "Oh, but I believe in one God, omnipotent, sovereign, eternal, and saving, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!" That is very good. But the devils have that kind of faith. You may be as orthodox in your doctrine as the apostle Paul himself and yet possess nothing but a false faith. The demons of hell are as orthodox in doctrine as any of us! There is more to faith than doctrine! "Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (v. 20). James was directed by the Holy Spirit to repeat that statement three times in ten verses. The Spirit of God means for us to understand that dead, cold, dry letter, doctrinal faith is of no value to our souls. What kind of faith do we have? Is it a true and living faith, or is it a false, dead faith? If we will honestly deal with our souls the answer will not be difficult to find. True faith hears and believes the Word of God. It is submissive and obedient. It grows with experience. True faith works by love. It is gracious, merciful, and kind. It builds relationships. True faith glorifies God, rejoices in Christ, and is led by the Spirit. True faith is lasting, persevering, enduring faith. Yes, God's saints have their struggles, difficulties, and failures. But the bent of the believer's will, the tenor of his life is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, serve his people, and finish his course with joy in faith, whatever the cost.
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