January 24, 2010
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

Matthew 7:28: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine; 29: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

MEETING LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10:00 AM Bible Class
11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service

WEB ADDRESSES
Be sure to bookmark our website for daily articles, sermon notes and audio messages
http://www.sovereign-grace.us/
http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=sgbcpnj
http://www.freegraceradio.com/

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

DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, January 24, 4 pm: Your pastor is preaching in PA.

Sunday, January 31: Scott Keller will bring one message to you at 11 am. I will be preaching to our brethren in Rocky Mount, VA where Brother Paul Mahan is pastor.

Friday, February 5, 7 pm: Young People's Bible Study at pastor's home.

HIS WORD OR YOURS?
James 1: 13-27

LUST
James 1: 13, 14

Lust is that which is of man (James 3: 14-16; 4: 5; I John 2: 16). The flesh in every sinner lusts to be as God, not in righteousness, but in power: to be our own joy apart from Christ, to deliver ourselves without having to wait on God, to be our own wisdom apart from Christ our Wisdom, to be our own provider, having all we want rather than being content with God and that which God provides. It is man's own lust which draws him from God.

ENTICEMENT, CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF A SINNER
James 1: 14, 15

The first enticement away from God began with a word: "Hath God said?" (James 1:14; Genesis 3:1). This corrupt word conceived lust, "desire", for wisdom from a source other than God (James 1:14; Genesis 3:6). The child born from this corrupt seed was a spiritually dead sinner. A flood gate of dead works, of looking to self to cover up transgression, of self-justifying by blaming others, even God began (James 1:15; Genesis 3:6-8, 12). Let no man blame God when he is drawn away. Sin is your baby and mine.

THE FATHER OF LIGHTS
James 1: 16, 17

Spiritual death, along with every defilement and imperfection is the corrupt wage earned from below by every man born of Adam. Christ Jesus the Son of God, spiritual life, along with every grace is the good and perfect gift from above from God the Father of lights (1 Corinthians 4:7). There is no varying, not even a shadow of turning with God. What God gives shall never be taken away. The manner in which God gives his gifts is the manner in which God continues to save unto final glory.

ENTICEMENT, CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF A SAINT
James 1: 18

When a sinner is born a second time of God it is "of his own will." It is not with a corrupt word, but the incorruptible "word of truth." This conception brings forth living fruit, the new man recreated after the image of God in the righteousness and true holiness of Christ Jesus the Lord.

WHEREFORE
James 1: 19-21

Seeing that being drawn away from God and his word is of the lust of our sinful flesh and seeing that every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights, let every man be swift to hear the word of God, slow to speak and slow to wrath. Beginning with Adam in the garden, we see that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God, wherefore lay apart the defiling excess of our own wisdom and words (Col 2:3, 4; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8). And receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save the soul (1 Peter 1:23-25; 2:1-3).

DIFFERENCE IN DOERS AND HEARERS ONLY
James 1: 22-25

The word of God shows us what we are by nature like the mirror shows us our natural face. We are dying flesh with no good thing or word in us by nature, only defiling excess. The hearer forgets this quickly. But every believer, with open face beholds in this word as in a mirror, the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. Every believer is changed into his image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor 3:18). Therefore, as we receive mercy of the Lord, the believer does not forget that there is no good thing in him, but continues in Christ Jesus his Redeemer. The believer is a doer of the work: waiting on the Lord in patience of hope (James 1:4), asking wisdom of God in faith (James 1:5), rejoicing in Christ no matter the station the Lord has placed him (James 1:9-11), putting off the old man and receiving with meekness the engrafted word (James 1:21.) The hearer finds these things a great burden, but the Lord makes the sinner in whom the Word of God truly abides happy to continue in them.

VAIN RELIGION AND PURE RELIGION
James 1: 26, 27

The vain religionist possesses plenty of outward dress so as to appear religious: he may profess salvation is in Christ Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. He may claim to no longer have any confidence in his flesh, but when offended by the word of God or the trial, out of the abundance of his corrupt heart, his mouth betrays his profession. His general tenor is to defend self and blame God (James 1:13). He is slow to hear and quick to speak his words of excess which go beyond the simplicity of faith in Christ Jesus (Ps 39:1). An exalter of self and a hewer of brethren, in private insinuations, as well as public charges, he does all to the dishonor of God.

Pure religion and undefiled is that good and perfect Gift which came down from above from the Father of lights. Before God and the Father, He visited his utterly helpless and comfortless brethren, comforting the Lord's people with the word of His grace, that He has accomplished their warfare, purged their iniquity and rewarded them in abundant grace (Isaiah 40:1, 2). He added nothing, subtracted nothing but gave His orphans and widows the word of His Father (John 17:14). His prayer was for the Father to separate them by making the word of truth effectual in their hearts (John 17:17). He kept himself unspotted from this world that His word of truth be not hindered in sanctifying those He visited (John 17:19). And He prayed for those who would believe on Him through the word (John 17:20). Christ Jesus the Lord is pure religion and undefiled. May the Father answer His petition making His word effectual in our hearts, increasing faith in Him, bridling our tongues, and causing us to visit one another in love with His word of grace. (1 Peter 2:1-3; John 6:68-69).

SERMONS

Clicking on the titles of the sermons below will take you to our website. You will arrive at a page with the written notes for these sermons. When you get to the website simply click on "listen" at the top of the page for the audio. We have provided options for your download capabilities such as 32 bites per second or 128 (CD quality.)

Seven Comforting Words for Tyre
His Word or Yours?
Ready to Die!

ARTICLES & DEFINITIONS
Therefore
Savor of the Savior
Ye Are the Light
Let Your Light So Shine
The Fulfillment
Then and Now

ARTICLES FROM OTHERS
Do I Really Want to Know?
The Language of Son
Who?
Complete Restoration In Christ
History Repeats It's Self

SPECIAL MEETINGS