February 15, 2009
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

Hebrews 13: 8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

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

WEB ADDRESSES AND MAILING ADDRESS
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

A FULL-TIME ADVOCATE
By Henry Mahan

1 John 2: 1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

This scripture encourages the believer to trust and hope in the mercy of God AT ALL TIMES! It does not say, "If any man is holy, prayerful, and always faithful, he has an advocate;" but it says, "If any man SIN, he has an advocate with the Father." It does not say, "If any man sins, he forfeits his right to Christ's advocacy." Grace that can be forfeited because of human failure is not grace at all. Mercy that is conditioned upon the merit of the creature is not mercy at all. If my title to glory rests upon my works, either BEFORE OR AFTER conversion, it is a total failure. This scripture declares that at all times, under all circumstances, Jesus Christ is our righteousness, our sanctification, our advocate, and our redemption. So when I sin, when I consider my past or present and come creeping to my closet with a guilty conscience and an aching heart, I can rejoice in the mercy of my Father; for I have an advocate - JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS!

Immutable
Perhaps the most simple definition of the word "immutable" is found in Hebrews 13: 8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. "Jesus" means Jehovah is salvation. "Christ" means he is the Son of God appointed to deliver his people. I am full of sin and therefore full of change. But my rest is in knowing that the same Jesus Christ who revealed himself as God's chosen salvation for me yesterday, is the same for me today, and so he will be for me forever. The songwriters wrote: "Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same, all may change but Jesus never, glory to his name."

The Doctrines of Men, the Doctrine of Christ
By A.W. Pink
Hebrews 13: 9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
It is to be duly noted that the noun is in the plural number. This is in marked and designed contrast from the revelation which God has given us. Truth is a perfect unit, but error is multiform. There is but "one faith," as there is but "one Lord" (Eph 4:5), namely, that which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) in the revelation made of it by Christ and the apostles (He 2:3, 4). Hence, when the Truth is in view, it is always "doctrine" in the singular number, as "the doctrine" (Joh 7:17), "the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 1:9) and see Ro 16:17; 1Ti 4:16 etc. On the other hand, where error is referred to the plural number is employed, as in "doctrines of men" (Co 2:22), "doctrines of demons" (1Ti 4:1). The Truth of God is one uniform system and chain of doctrine, which begins in God and ends in Him; but error is inconsistent and manifold.

Gifts From Jerusalem
Acts 15: 22-35

When the saints at Antioch were troubled they sent word up to Jerusalem. As the saints today are troubled they send word up to heavenly Jerusalem in prayer to our High Priest and Advocate. (Heb 12: 22; Gal 4: 25, 26; Joel 2: 32.) The apostles and elders sent help from Jerusalem in 3 ways.

1: They sent faithful witnesses from Jerusalem, namely Judas Barsabas, and Silas (v22.) "Judas" means he shall be praised. "Barsabas" means the son of the oath. When his people cry out to him, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, the Son of God's oath who shall be praised, comes down from heavenly Jerusalem through the Spirit to bear witness in our hearts that we are the sons of God (Heb 6: Mat 28: 20; Isa 9: 7; Rom 8: 16, 17.)

2. They sent a letter from Jerusalem to the saints at Antioch (v23-26.) Just as they were taught by this letter from Jerusalem, we are taught by the word of God. The word of God, the Holy Scripture, is the Lord's greeting unto his troubled brethren from heavens Jerusalem. The message of their letter is the message of God's word. Like the gospel of the scriptures, their letter exposed error by declaring the truth (v24; Isa 8: 20; Rom 1: 1-3.) Believer's have no greater burden than the light and easy yoke of Christ our Lord (v28-29; Mat 11: 28-30; Acts 13: 38; 15: 11.) Therefore let us lay aside those things that will hinder us and our brethren and let us follow Christ alone.

3. They sent Paul and Barnabas, faithful messengers which Christ had given to the church at Antioch, to deliver this good news. Paul and Barnabas had gone up to Jerusalem. Once Paul and Barnabas got the word they simply went to where the saints were gathered together and delivered it. (v30.) Christ's messengers spend most of their time going up to heavenly Jerusalem by prayer to get a word from the Lord. Once they have it they simply deliver it to the Lord's people (Acts 6: 4.) So what was the result?

First, the brethren at Antioch were consoled and rejoiced (v31.) When they heard the word that they were free from the law and under grace, they heard that their warfare is accomplished, their iniquity is pardoned: for they had received of the LORD'S hand double for all their sins. (Is 40: 1, 2.) Secondly, they were confirmed--strengthened in the heart by the witness of those who came down personally from Jerusalem. From heaven, through his word, through his messengers, the Spirit of Christ establishes and strengthens the inner man of his troubled brethren (I John 5: 10; I Cor. 1: 6-9.) Thirdly, they were reminded that Christ would never leave them or forsake them as those preachers Christ had given them abode with them preaching and teaching the word of the Lord (v33-35; Heb 13: 5-8.) What great gifts from Jerusalem! This is what Christ is doing in our midst today (Php 2: 12, 13.)

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