GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE February 21, 2010
Always beware of those who, like Diotrephes, love to have pre-eminence. They are easily spotted and identified. — Such people promote themselves, discredit others and divide brethren.
The Lord our Righteousness — Don Fortner (Tune: When I can Read my Title Clear — CM)
1. Sinners condemned by Sinai’s law, And sunk. in deep distress, To Calv’ry look, and comfort draw From Christ our Righteousness.
2. This is the name by which He’s known, The name His saints confess. We look on Him and humbly own — “The LORD our Righteousness.”
3. Our title just, our pardon sealed, Our spotless wedding dress, Both grace and glory are revealed In Christ, our Righteousness.
4. By faith He gives, sinners may claim, (O blessed gift of grace!) Eternal life in Jesus’ name, — “The Lord our Righteousness!”
“In 1860 Andrew Bonar’s little son, also called Andrew, died. It was a Sunday and somehow the grieving father managed to preach that day. His lament was real and he wrote in his diary: ‘O to see him come with Christ, to recognize that sweet, sweet voice amid the company of the redeemed!’ Four years later, Bonar’s wife. Isabella, died and this time Bonar wrote: ‘I’ve been thinking of her in glory, perhaps with little Andrew beside her, and how they will meet me. ‘Weeping may tarry for a night, but joy comes in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5).” — Peter Barnes
“Good News”
Proverbs 25:25
I have a good many dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, who could benefit greatly by a little good news. I want, by the Spirit of God, to be a messenger of good news to them and to you.
Good News for Sinners
Here is good news for helpless sinners from the almighty God of sovereign grace. The God against whom we have sinned is a gracious, almighty God. It is true; God is holy, righteous and just. He must and will punish sin. But it is the glory of God to forgive iniquity, transgression and sin. His goodness is his glory (Exodus 33:18-19; 34:5-7). This great God has found a way to save sinners without compromising his holy character. He gave his Son, Jesus Christ, to be a propitiation for our sins. The Lord Jesus Christ has obtained eternal redemption for every sinner who comes to God by him.
Good News for Pilgrims
Here is good news for weary, heavy-hearted pilgrims from our homeland in heaven. Do you have heartaches and troubles too numerous to count? It will do you good to receive some good news from home. — The Lord our God is still on his throne. — Our Savior is still in heaven, preparing a place for you, representing you, interceding for you. — There are many in heaven just like you and me already. There is a fallen David there, a doubting Thomas, an angry Moses, a feeble Philip, an impetuous Peter and a righteous Lot. All are there by grace alone, through the merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness.
And you are wanted there! God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost want you there. The angels of God want you there. Your glorified brethren want you there. — And, soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to take you there (John 14:1-3).
Good News for the Church
And we have good news for the church above from the church here below. Our brothers and sisters in heaven are interested in God’s church on earth. They rejoice to hear that sinners are repenting. God’s saints are running the race with patience. Gospel churches are being established. The gospel is spreading again through America, Mexico, Africa, Europe, Asia, Canada, Australia and the islands of the seas. God’s saints are growing in grace. Some are growing old gracefully. Some are growing feeble, but growing strong in the Lord. And some will be going home soon. — Rejoice! There is good news all around!
God’s Method of Grace
“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.” (Zechariah 3:3-5)
We must be careful not to suggest that sinners must meet certain qualifications, pass through the same feelings, emotions and experiences, or possess great knowledge before they can be saved. It is the task of gospel preachers not to place obstacles in the sinner’s way, but to remove every obstacle that might hinder sinners fleeing to Christ for refuge. Salvation is as simple and profound as this: —-“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Still, in the Scriptures we are given many pictures of salvation which reveal God’s method of grace. One of those pictures is found here in Zechariah 3:3-5. Here is Joshua the High Priest of Israel. Though he was of the priestly line, he was a sinner in need of grace. And what he experienced is a picture of God’s grace. This is what happens when God saves a sinner by his grace.
1. We must take our place as guilty sinners before the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 3). Take the ground God gives you. If you take your place as a sinner before God, he will lift you up by his grace (1 John 1:9).
2. Our sin must be taken away (v. 4). Christ took away the sins of his people when he died upon the cursed tree as the sinners’ Substitute (Hebrews 9:27). He sends his servants to proclaim the free pardon and forgiveness of sin by the gospel (Isaiah 40:1-2). And in the day of grace, by faith in his blood, he causes the guilt of sin to be removed from your conscience (Hebrews 9:14).
3. Then the Lord Jesus clothes us with change of raiment, the garments of salvation (v. 4). This change of raiment is the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us in justification and imparted to us in regeneration. Like a garment, it covers us, protects us, warms us and adorns us.
4. At last, the sinner saved by the grace of God is given the miter of assured acceptance (v. 5). The miter of the High Priest had a golden plate upon the front of it, with these words inscribed upon it: — “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Exodus 28:36-38). The sinner, with his sins washed away and Christ’s righteousness imputed and imparted to him, is assured of acceptance with God by faith in Christ. With his spotless garments on, all who believe are as holy as God’s own Son!
GRACE BULLETIN
February 21, 2010
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE 2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438 Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
Schedule of Regular Services
Sunday 10:00 A.M. Bible Classes 10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service 6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service
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