April 12, 2009

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

Hebrews 13: 17: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

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

The Difference Between the Dove and the Raven
Todd Nibert
Why did the dove return to the ark and the raven never return? Because the raven could live off the dead, decaying animals drowned in the flood. But the dove could not. It had to return to the ark for its food. The raven represents the religious man who does not know Christ. He is satisfied with the dead, rotting works of the flesh. But the true believer must return to Christ his ark for food. The mark of a true believer is that he is continually coming to Christ for the same thing! Mercy and grace! He cannot be satisfied with anything less.

THE HOPE
Acts 16: 19: And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone...
The damsel's masters were concerned about only their gain. The power of Christ through the gospel turns sinners from the deceiving power of Satan and his messengers. It removes in us all hope of gain achieved by our persons or our works. Thus it makes us to depend upon the person and work of Christ: his sinless person, God with us; and his perfect work. His perfect love to God which caused him to lay down his life to declare God just and justifier is my love to God by faith in him. His perfect love to his brethren which caused him to take their sin upon him, to bear the stroke of justice, to put away our sin forever is my love for my brethren by faith in him. By his indwelling Spirit, Christ makes his vessels of mercy to be useless to the enemies of Christ for personal gain. But what good news for the damsel who has been made to find all her gain in Christ!

THE WELL-PLEASING SACRIFICE
Read these verses together: Mark 1:11: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. We learn why in Isaiah 42:21: The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Now read Hebrews 13: 15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16: But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The sacrifices that a believer offers are by the Son of God. They are the sacrifice of praise to God, giving thanks to his name, walking honestly and supporting the brethren. Such sacrifices are well-pleasing to God because God is well-pleased with his righteous Son who produces this fruit in the believer through the Spirit of grace. For the same reason, those whom Christ has given to lead you and teach you the word, also rejoice. Notice, in whom Paul rejoiced and why, Philippian 4: 10: But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again...17: Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Fruit that abounds to our account is not fruit that gives us a better reward--our reward is Christ--it gets no better for the believer. But fruit that abounds to our account is fruit produced by the righteous Son of God, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

"Christ is All" - Colossians 3:11
Don Fortner
It is not possible for any mortal to comprehend the full scope of those three words, but here are ten statements that might help to enlarge our understanding of them. After you have read this brief article, carefully study each statement, asking God the Holy Spirit to seal these words to your heart - "Christ is all!"

1. Christ is all to be known (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10). If you know Christ, you know enough, even if you are ignorant of other things. If you do not know Christ, it is nothing to have all other knowledge.
2. Christ is all to be chosen (Matthew 13:44-46). There is no way to obtain this Treasure and purchase this Pearl, but by selling all that you have. If you would save your life, you must lose it to Christ.
3. Christ is all to be trusted (John 3:36). His blood is atonement. His righteousness is acceptance with God. His advocacy is our assurance. His grace is preservation. His providence is our provision.
4. Christ is all to be loved (Luke 14:26). All other loves must be burned upon this altar, so that nothing and no one comes between my heart and my Savior.
5. Christ is all to be desired (Isaiah 26:8). Seek Christ to the exclusion of all else; and you will find everything you need in him, supplied from his fulness.
6. Christ is all our joy (Philippians 3:3). If a person has that which he desires above all else, he rejoices in it; and all who know Christ rejoice in him.
7. Christ is all to consume our thoughts (Philippians 4:6-8). If you must think of other things, think not on them. Think on Christ; and think of all things in the light of the knowledge of him.
8. Christ is all to be followed (John 13:15). The rebel must be ruled by law. The mercenary is motivated by reward. The believer is ruled by love. "The love of Christ constraineth us."
9. Christ is all in the house of God (Colossians 3:11). In preaching, praise and prayer, "Christ is all!" He is all our beauty, all our attraction and all our entertainment. All our activities serve him. All our ordinances remember him and proclaim allegiance to him.
10. Christ is all our hope before God (1 Timothy. 1:1). His obedience is the basis of our hope, his coming its fulfillment, his presence its satisfaction, and his likeness its consummation. "Christ is All!"

SERMONS
Grace Withstands
Continually
Do Good And Give

Articles
The Issue
Only By the Power and Wisdom
Public Confession and Vow of the Believer
The Anointed King Exalted

Articles From Others
Only If These Things Be In You and Abound
Not All Hope Is Hope
When EXACTLY Did God Save Me?
Believers Cannot Not Believe
But We See Jesus