"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:4) ***********************************************
PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS Tune "COME THOU FOUNT" 8.7.8.7. Words by JIM BYRD
1. Praise the blessed Name of Jesus, Prophet, Priest and reigning King; Bow before the mighty Sovereign, Unto Him our praises bring. Hallelujah, He’s our Savior, Let our thanks to Him ascend; Trust Him only for salvation, Jesus Christ the sinner’s Friend.
2. Praise the blessed Name of Jesus, Who upon Mount Calvary; Shed His blood to save His people, Died to set the captives free. Let the ransomed sing His praises, Till we see Him face to face; Then throughout the endless ages, Praise Him for His love and grace. *************************************************************************** CONGREGATIONAL SCRIPTURE READING: HEBREWS 9:1-14 *************************************************************************** Readings- Oct. 30 - Nov. 5 Sunday - Luke 19-20 Monday - Luke 21-22 Tuesday - Luke 23-24 Wednesday- John 1-3 Thursday - John 4-5 Friday - John 6-8 Saturday- John 9-10 *************************************************************************** THE GREAT MYSTERY Steve Jobs was the CEO of Apple, an acknowledged genius and a noted inventor who died of cancer on October 5th. He was greatly respected and admired for his intellectual ability and business savvy. As remarkably brilliant as he was in so many areas, he was (as all men are by nature) ignorant of spiritual issues. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Co 2:14). In the recently released book Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, Jobs says this about religion. "I think different religions are different doors to the same house. Sometimes I think the house exists, and sometimes, I don’t. It’s the great mystery." That statement, "different doors to the same house," stands in stark contrast to the declaration of the Word of God. There is but one way to the Father, to heaven’s glories, to salvation and everlasting life, and Christ is that way. He is the Door, there is no other. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the Door of the sheep...I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:7, 9). There are not "different doors to the same house." The Savior declared in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." The natural man does not see the glory of God in the salvation of sinners. Behold the infinite wisdom of our Lord in His way of graciously saving a remnant of Adam’s fallen race through the person, blood and righteousness of His Son. The strictness of God’s law which demanded perfection could not be diminished and the sternness of His justice which required satisfaction for sin could not be compromised. The infinite wisdom of God which purposed salvation for a chosen people could not be confounded and the everlasting love and grace of God which determined salvation could not be disappointed. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all of the attributes of God were exalted, sin was removed and righteousness brought in for all of the Lord’s people. Every one of "the sheep" (verse 7) will be brought by effectual grace to enter into the door of salvation, Christ Jesus the Lord.
Steve Jobs was dead wrong in believing that "different religions are different doors to the same house." He was, however, absolutely correct about this: "It’s the great mystery." The good news of salvation by sovereign grace, substitution and satisfaction, the joyful message that God receives, accepts and declares chosen sinners to be righteous in, through and by "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," is indeed "the great mystery." No wonder Paul referred to the glad tidings of salvation by grace as "the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19). None can know, appreciate, love or rejoice in Christ and Him crucified unless the Lord is pleased to reveal "the great mystery" to them. –Pastor Jim Byrd ***************************************************************************
"I AM THE DOOR" (John 10:9) What is a door? It is that space cut into a wall which allows passage between two points. There is a wall that stands between a holy God and sinful men, but, mercifully, Christ is "the Door," standing between God and men. This Door allows God to come to us and us to come to God. Christ is the Mediator of the covenant of grace. As God comes to us through Him and conveys all the blessings of the covenant to us by Him and His work of redemption, so we approach God through Him. As to our persons, we come to God by Christ and with regard to our worship and service, we offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Him. –Pastor Jim Byrd
Older
Top
