Faith in Christ is not the cause of the new birth, but the result.
• I am scheduled to preach Thursday – Sunday at the GLORY OF CHRIST CONFERENCE in Kansas City, MO. Other scheduled speakers are Steve Carpenter, Michael Pickett and Bob Ganote. Contact Bro. John Carpenter — Telephone: 816-690-3497. • BRO. TODD NIBERT, pastor of Todds Road Grace Church in Lexington, KY will be here to preach the gospel to you on Tuesday evening.
The Way — Don Fortner (Tune: #497 — When I can Read My Title Clear — CM)
1. Poor sinners lost, far off, astray, With guilt’s oppressive load, Behold, the Lamb of God, the Way, The only Way to God.
2. This Way, prepared by sov’reign grace, Is marked with precious blood; The Way of righteousness and peace That magnifies our God.
3. Christ is the Way that God approves, (The only Way from hell), In which He brings the souls He loves, With Him on high to dwell.
4. Lord, I adore Your matchless grace, Which put me in the Way; O, give me grace to run the race, And keep me in the Way!
“Do you consider yourself a Christian?”
“The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)
“Do you consider yourself a Christian?” The word “Christian” was first applied to believers by those who lived around them in Antioch. The word “Christians” means “Anointed Ones.” Obviously, it was not used to deride these believers; but was used as a term of respect by those who were friendly toward them. Later, God’s elect used the term to refer to themselves. Peter speaks of God’s suffering saints, assuring us that anyone who suffers “as a Christian,” anyone who suffers because of his faith in Christ, has no reason to be ashamed, but only to glorify God (1 Peter 4:16). Yet, the word “Christian” was very soon corrupted in the minds of men to represent nothing more than a religious order, a religious system and a chosen set of beliefs. Agrippa told Paul that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian (Acts 26:28). Like most people today, that ignorant man thought, “I can choose to become a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Christian.” Most people consider a Christian to be anyone who believes that Jesus of Nazareth is (or was) the Messiah. Papists, Mormons and Russellites (Jehovah’s Witnesses) as well as Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians are all considered “Christian” religions. Many think that all Americans are Christians, unless they choose some other religion. And many imagine that they are Christians because their parents are Christians, or because they have been raised in Church. Would it be better to use the word “believer” to describe ourselves? In most of the churches with which you and I are commonly associated, “believer” is the word by which God’s saints are distinguished from others. Yet, that word is also corrupted by most. Indeed, many profess to be believers who are not. That has always been the case (John 2:23-25; 12:42-43). You may believe all the right doctrine and still be an unbeliever. If I am asked, “Are you a Christian?” or “Are you a believer?” or “Are you born again?” I answer, “I hope that I am; and I am confident that my hope is good, because I believe that the man Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God. I trust him as my Savior and Lord. His blood alone has atoned for my sins. His righteousness alone makes me righteous. Yes, I hope I am born of God, a believer, a Christian, a child of God, because I trust Christ.” Christianity is not just a religion. Christianity is “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Many years ago I was asked by a man sitting next to me in a hospital, “What does it take to be a true Christian?” After a brief pause, praying that the Lord would give me the right words to answer him, I said, — “Nothing from you, but all of you. True Christianity is the voluntary surrender of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting him alone for the salvation of your soul.” I ask you the question my granddaughter was asked last week. — “Do you consider yourself a Christian?” If so, I ask you — “Why? What is the basis of your hope before God?” If you have a good hope, you can answer that question. If you do not have a good hope, you cannot and you are not a Christian.
All things in Christ’s Hands
“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”
(John 3:35)
All things are in the hands of Christ our Redeemer. May God be pleased to enable you to see this blessed fact! — All things have been put into the hands and under the feet of our most glorious Christ, the God-man, as our Mediator. — “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet” Hebrews 2:8).
When the Scriptures declare that all things have been put into Christ’s hands and placed under his feet, they speak not of our Savior in his absolute divinity, but in his office capacity as the God-man, our Mediator. All things have always been in his hands and under his feet as God. He who is God the Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. As such, he is the Owner, Ruler and Disposer of all things. Consequently, as God, nothing could be put into his hands and under his feet. God the Son is in every sense one with and equal with God the Father. That is exactly what John tells us in 1 John 5:7.
All things have been put into Christ’s hands and under his feet, for him to rule over and dispose of for the salvation of his people, as the God-man, our Mediator. Listen to our Savior’s words in John 17:2. — “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” In Romans 14:9 we read, — “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
By virtue of his obedience to the Father in his great work of redemption, the Lord Jesus Christ took his seat as a man, as Immanuel, as God in human flesh, upon the throne of heaven, exactly as the prophets said he would (Psalm 2:8; Daniel 7:14). He sat down in glory because his work was finished, according to the will and purpose of the triune God. In Hebrews 10:5-14 we are given the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of David’s prophecy in Psalm 40. Because it was not possible for sin to be put away in any other way, Christ came to die for chosen sinners, according to the will of God. Having redeemed those whom he came to redeem, having obtained eternal redemption for us with his own blood, our Mediator sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. The opening verses of the Book of Hebrews state the same thing (Hebrews 1:1-9).
Rejoice in this child of God. All things are in the hands of him who died to save us! God most high “that performeth all things for me” (Psalm 57:2) is Immanuel, the God-man, my Savior, who loved me and gave himself for me! Nothing in heaven, earth or hell writhes or wriggles without his decree and according to his good purpose of grace toward his elect, whom he has redeemed out of every nation, kindred and tongue. Therefore, — “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
GRACE BULLETIN
May 30, 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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