September 27, 2009
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

Matthew 6: 1: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

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 Service
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service

WEB ADDRESSES AND MAILING ADDRESS
/www.sovereign-grace.us/
www.sermonaudio.com/sgbcpnj
http://www.freegraceradio.com/

Clay Curtis, Pastor
7 Birch Street
Pennington, New Jersey, 08534
Phone: 615-513-4464
Email: clay@sovereign-grace.us

Be sure to bookmark our website for daily articles, sermon notes and audio messages
http://www.sovereign-grace.us/

THE SOLEMN OATH
Matthew 5: 34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all;
God is the Word (Jn 1: 1.) He created by his Word (Gen 1: 3.) All things are upheld by his Word (Heb 1: 3.) The salvation of God's elect is by his Word (Heb 6: 13-19.) He gave Christ Jesus his Son for a Covenant (Is 49:8.) The complete salvation in which the believer totally rests is based on God's Word and fulfilled in every jot and tittle by the Son of his Covenant. So then when any man swears, whether God's name is mentioned or not, the very use of an oath is a slight on the Word himself.

Furthermore, there is nothing by which any can make an oath that is not God's. The continual use of oaths in everyday speech only increases suspicion that one can not be trusted. Worse, a light use of oaths makes the covenant word common. Our gospel is sure. If the believer desires for others to believe his gospel then a true word in everyday affairs is a must (2 Cor 1: 17-20.) The Lord instructs the believer to use a simple yes or no, for whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil.

TEMPORAL DEALINGS IN GRACE NOT LAW
Matthew 5: 38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:

The civil law of God teaches us of our need for grace like all the rest. God's civil law was founded in justice. In a court of law the fine was to equal the offense--life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. In everyday dealings between men, outside of a courtroom, such a rule of law promotes revenge, malice, retaliation, and an unforgiving spirit.

Therefore, our King Priest instructs that the believer is not to give back the offense others give to us but to deal in grace and love. The Lord Jesus Christ instructs us not to resist evil when it comes to personal injury (v39), personal possessions (v40), personal liberty (v41), and serving others (v42.) The Lord says love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you (v44.)

If we are children of our Father in heaven then we will be like our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father sends the rain not to those who earn it, but to the just and the unjust alike (v45.) But if we are only children of Adam then we will deal in kindness only toward those who merit our kindness (v46-47.) The lesson here is not that grace is common. Grace is not common any more than the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God is common. The lesson here is that grace is free, unmerited, not based on any good or evil in the receipent.

REMEMBER YOUR FATHER'S DEALINGS WITH YOU
Our standard is not our fellow man, but our Father in heaven (Ro 5: 6-8; I Jn 4: 10.) Remember how our heavenly Father dealt with us while as yet we were enemies toward him. God gave his only begotten Son, not for those who had strength to do good to him but only evil. God gave his only begotten Son, not for those who regarded him as their friends, but as their enemy. We were surely not righteous, we were not even merely good but we were ungodly sinners. But God commendeth his love toward us.

REMEMBER THE FATHER'S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
In laying down his life for you, believer, the righteous Son of God did not resist evil (v39) but opened not his mouth as he gave his back to the smiters, his cheeks to them who plucked off the hair, his face to shame and spitting (Is 53:7; Lk 22:64; Is 50:6.)

God had a suit against us. We broke the whole law of God. Yet, when he came as a faithful Son of his Father we took him to the court of law, crying, "We have a law!" (v40; Jn 19:7.) Yet, he gave not just a coat, not just a cloak, but he laid down his life and robed us in the garment of his own righteousness (Is 61:10.)

We complain about being compelled by the government (v41.) How we murmur that the tax burden lays too heavily on us to pay the way for others. Yet, the government of God was on his shoulder (Is 9:6.) Free grace compelled him to pay what was due to God for us. He went beyond, by not only paying our debt in full, but he made us kings and priests unto God (v41; Re 1: 6.)

What has he given to you, brethren? (v42) We cursed him, he blessed us. We hated him, he did us good. We despitefully used him, yet he everliveth to make intercession for us. Of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace (Jn 1: 16.) In Christ Jesus, we are perfect, holy and without blame before God in the Son of his love, accepted in the Beloved. In the Son of God we are as perfect as God's own Son (I Jn 2:1)

I SAY UNTO YOU
This is Christ Jesus, the Captain of our salvation speaking. This is the Author and Finisher of our faith giving us the grand conclusion. He is speaking unto "us"-who he has washed in his blood and forever set apart by his grace and love (1 Jn 3:1.)

Considering our Father in heaven, he says for us to treat all men in grace and love not based on any merit in them, but in grace and love even as our Father has dealt with us (Mt 5: 48; Eph 4: 32, 5: 1.) Be children of your Father in heaven.

SERMONS
Glory of God in Paul's Purpose (Beloved and Begotten Son)
Christ is the Mediator
Be Children of Your Father
How Shall We Escape
Gospel in the Garments
Born Not of Blood
The Lord Will Serve Us
Swear Not At All

ARTICLES FROM OTHERS
A Sinner Thief Learns Christ
The Love of God - Unconditional?
Crossing "t"s and Dotting "i"s
Do You Need Christ?
God's Order Is Not To Be Rearranged!