Grace Baptist Church of Danville
March 27, 2011
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Eternal life, the gift of God, does not begin with our experience of God’s saving grace. Eternal life is eternal. When we are born again, we are made partakers of that eternal life, to use Bible terms, — “partakers of the divine nature,” “partakers of Christ!”
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The High and Lofty One — Don Fortner
(Tune: #43 — All Hail the Power — CM)
My soul, consider, and adore
“The high and lofty One,” —
Whose eyes survey the nations o’er,
Who sits on heav’n’s high throne.
Justice and mercy are His hands;
Omniscient is His eye!
His truth, unshaken, firmly stands,
When worlds in ruins lie!
Majestic glory, is His dress;
Eternal are His days;
His very name is Holiness;
And wisdom marks His ways.
High o’er all worlds, above all space,
Where summit is unknown, —
Jehovah has His dwelling place,
Immensity His throne!
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How refreshing! In this day (when practically every form of religion is so pigeonholed and typed that it appeals to some segment of our natural society) to preach the gospel of the mystery of Christ in such Bible terms that a natural man is shut up to divine revelation and is unable to identify us with some particular brand of religion! — Pastor Henry Mahan
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Wise Counsel for Preachers to Follow
The year was 1768. A young preacher by the name of Augustus Toplady, who wrote many of our best hymns, including “Rock of Ages”, spent the afternoon in London with an older, veteran Gospel preacher, whom he greatly admired and from whom he learned much.
The older preacher was a Mr. Brewer. I know absolutely nothing about him except what he told Toplady that hot July afternoon in London 240 years ago. Toplady thought his words were worth writing down; and I’m glad he did. This is what Mr. Brewer said to the 28 year old preacher, Augustus Toplady, as Toplady later recorded them in his diary…
“I cannot conclude without reminding you, my young brother of some things that may be of use to you in the course of your ministry:
Preach Christ crucified, and dwell chiefly on the blessing resulting from His righteousness, atonement, and intercession.
Avoid all needless controversies in the pulpit; except it be when your subject necessarily requires it; or when the truths of God are likely to suffer by your silence.
When you ascend the pulpit, leave your learning behind you. Endeavor to preach more to the hearts of your people than to their heads.
Do not affect too much oratory. Seek rather to profit [your hearers] than to be admired [by them].”
I cannot imagine four more needful admonitions. Every preacher needs to constantly remind himself of these things. I try to give heed to them every time I preach.
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Election 0r Atheism — No Middle Ground
Romans 9:16-18
If you receive the Bible as the Word of God, you have no choice; you must believe the doctrine of election. If you believe the Bible, you have to take it all as the Word of God. You cannot say, “I believe what the Bible teaches about heaven; but I just cannot accept the idea of hell.” You cannot say, “I believe in God; but I simply cannot believe in election.” Election is so much a part of divine truth, that it cannot be expunged from the Book of God without completely destroying the Word of God. It is taught in Genesis, in Revelation, and everywhere between. To deny the doctrine of election is to deny the Word of God, reject the religion of Jesus Christ, and to engage in the practice of utter atheism; for the denial of election is the denial of the God of election!
Yes, you read that right. I said the denial of election is a denial of God! It is a denial of His sovereignty. It denies that God has the right to do with His own what He will. Those who deny election deny God's government of the world and of His right to govern.
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Six Facts Plainly Revealed in the Gospel
Romans 3:24-26
While the Gospel of Christ is the singular message of all the Holy Scriptures, it is briefly stated, summarized in many passages of Scripture. One of the clearest, brief, inspired summaries of the Gospel is found in Romans 3:24-26. Following the example of Inspiration, let me summarize the Gospel in six, plain, unmistakable statements.
1. All men and women by nature, since the fall of our father Adam, are sinners, alienated from God. — “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As sinners, we are alienated from the life of God and have become enemies unto God. The wages of our sin and enmity to God is death. Every transgression must receive its just recompense of reward (Hebrews 2:2). All sin must be punished, either in the sinner or in the sinner’s Substitute. — “The soul that sinneth, it shall die!” (Ezekiel 18:2). — But…
2. It is the will of God to save sinners. — “He delighteth in mercy!” God has decreed the salvation of some. Christ came to save some. There are some people in this world who must and shall be saved, because it is the will of God to save them; and God’s will cannot be frustrated (John 10:16). Every chosen sinner (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), every predestined son (Romans 8:29-30), every heir of the covenant (Ephesians 1:3-7), everyone whose name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world must be saved (Revelation 13:8). There is no possibility that even one of God’s elect will perish! — However…
3. It is impossible for a holy and just God to save any sinner apart from the satisfaction of His justice (Hebrews 9:22). He declares, “I will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7). I know that God is omnipotent, almighty, and sovereign. He does what he will. But God cannot do that which is contrary to His nature. We do not rob God of His sovereignty when we repeat the declaration of Scripture and say, “God cannot lie.” He who is the Truth cannot lie. Neither do we rob God of His sovereignty when we assert this truth of Holy Scripture: — God cannot forgive sin without the satisfaction of justice.
4. The only way the justice of God could ever be satisfied is by the substitutionary sacrifice of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Job 34:23; Romans 3:24-26). God could not die, and man could not satisfy; but the God-man both died and satisfied. Would God almighty slay His darling Son, if there were any other way to save His people? If the salvation of His people could be accomplished by any means other than His death upon the cross, would not God the Father have granted his tormented Son the desire of his soul?
5. It is impossible for God in His holiness to punish any sinner for whose sins justice has been satisfied by the blood of Christ (Isaiah 53:11 Romans 7:14). The law has no claim upon an executed felon! “Payment God cannot twice demand, first at my bleeding Surety’s hand, and then again at mine!”
6. Every sinner who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ has been chosen, redeemed, and called, and must be forever saved. It is written in the Book of God, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). May God the Holy Spirit now enable you by his sovereign grace to trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Grace Bulletin
March 27, 2011
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
Tuesday
7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service
Television Broadcasts in Danville
Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.
Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.
Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.
Television Broadcasts in Harrodsburg
Channel 6 - Sunday Afternoon 3:00 P.M.
Channel 6 - Friday Evening 6:00 P.M.
Web Pages
http://www.DonFortner.com
http://www.FreegraceRadio.com
http://www.Grace-eBooks.com
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