CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: He Leadeth Me)

Hark! How the Gospel trumpet sounds!

Christ and free grace therein abounds;

Free grace to such as sinners be,

And if free grace why not for me?

The Saviour died and by His blood

Brought rebel sinners near to God;

He died to set the captives free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Thus Jesus came the poor to bless,

To clothe them with His righteousness;

That robe is spotless, full and free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Eternal life by Christ is giv'n,

And sinful men are raised to heav'n;

Then sing of grace so rich and free,

And say, my soul, why not for thee?

Bible Study: "Established and Exalted" - II Samuel 5

Today's Speaker: Brother Randy Wages will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God's word.

Guest Speaker: We are looking forward to having Pastor Bill Parker as our guest speaker on January 17^th.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM -WISK. You can also hear the sermons on your computer. Just click on http://www.americusradio.com/

Birthdays: Amy Lee - Jan. 12^th.

Donations: Those of you that would like to make a donation to this ministry, Sermon Audio has placed a Donation icon at the top right on our Sermon Audio web page.

"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:..." II Timothy 2:11-12

Here Paul asserts that "it" is a faithful saying. Now the "it" he is referring to is the specific Gospel message of how God saves sinners. It is the true gospel that is distinguished from any other in that therein (in the gospel message itself) is the righteousness of God revealed (Rom. 1:16-17). That is, His righteousness - the perfect satisfaction to God's law and justice that Christ alone rendered in His obedience unto death on the cross - is revealed in this faithful saying.

This expression, "It is a faithful saying" is used by Paul and recorded in the scripture a total of 4 times. In each case, it is referring to the specific gospel message. The Greek word for "saying" is the word "logos." It is the same word used in 2 Tim. 2: 9 in referring to the "word of God" which from the context we have seen is the specific gospel message (called by Paul "my gospel") back in verse 8. Perhaps the most well known usage of this phrase is found in I Timothy 1:15 where Paul wrote to Timothy, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." There, Paul is describing the gospel in one of its simplest forms as He tells us that the "faithful saying," worthy to be accepted by all, is simply this: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;..."

In contrast, notice that in using this phrase in 2 Timothy 2, Paul does more than simply describe what the faithful saying is. Here, after stating that it, the gospel, is faithful (worthy of your faith), he describes for us why it is so trustworthy - why it is a faithful saying - as he continues with the words "..for if..." And from this point through verse 13, he tells us why it is a faithful saying. And herein we see that it is indeed good news for sinners who are brought to see their desperate need for the union with Christ that he proceeds to describe.

Union with Christ:

Now in verse 11 and the first part of 12, Paul begins this description as to why the gospel if a faithful saying. And as I hope you'll see, he describes why salvation is sure and certain for God's elect - for all of those given to Christ as their Surety, their Representative, their Substitute so that in the eyes of God's law and justice they are one with Him. And our understanding of this union or oneness with Christ is essential to our understanding of why God's gospel is indeed a faithful saying. The gospel of grace sets forth how God saves sinners, not based upon any contributing conditions or requirements met by those sinners, but rather based solely upon the Person and finished work of their Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Randy Wages

Grace Proved to be at the Sovereign Disposal of God

Hence the new Birth is always ascribed to Him. The Saints are said to be born of God. To be born of the Spirit. Which were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man; but of God. That which is born of the Flesh, is Flesh: That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. God of his abundant Mercy begets us again. Of his own Will begat He us. This Principle is a good, and perfect Gift, which cometh down from above, from the Father of Lights. With respect to Faith, the Apostle asserts negatively, that it is not of ourselves: And he affirms positively, that it is the Gift of God. By Grace are we saved through Faith, that not of ourselves, it is the Gift of God. And declares to the Ephesians, that we are, as Saints, the Workmanship of God. For we are the Workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good Works. This Principle, therefore, is a divine Gift, and is not acquired, by those in whom it is. It is so the Gift of God, that the Subjects of it had not, nor could have the least causal Influence in its Production. For this Principle, is not only superior unto, and above all that was in them before, in its Nature; but also, it is absolutely contrary to the natural Disposition of their Minds. And, consequently, it must have been produced in them by divine Grace, without any concurrent Act of their Will therein, or in order thereunto. It is unreasonable to suppose, that one contrary, is capable of exerting Acts, which tend to the Production of another. Is not the Flesh contrary to the Spirit? It is. And is not the Spirit contrary to the Flesh? It is. And they counter-act one another perpetually. And, therefore, this holy, spiritual, and supernatural Principle, must be a divine Gift, in the most full, and absolute Sense. It is a new Life in the Soul, which was dead before. And it is as much the Gift of God, as Life is, which is communicated to a Man, who before, was dead naturally. As a Man who is naturally dead, cannot contribute to the Production of Life in himself: So such who are dead in Sin, can contribute nothing to the Production of a vital Principle of Holiness, in themselves. If God doth not graciously give to them such a Principle, they will eternally remain destitute of it: Or continue dead in Trespasses and Sins for evermore. For, as hath been before observed, they cannot possibly be assisted to acquire it. As a Man naturally dead cannot be enabled to acquire Life: So one who is dead in Sin, cannot be assisted to acquire this new, and heavenly Life.