“The Lord caused to meet in him, as the passage might have been rendered, the iniquities of us all. Isaiah 53:6. Jesus was made as the common receiver, the drain, the sink, into which all the sins, and every minute and particular sin, was emptied.” — Robert Hawker
Why not for Me? — Don Fortner (Tune: The Doxology LM)
1. GRACE from the gospel trumpet sounds! Free grace in Jesus Christ abounds! Is grace in Christ to sinners free? Then why, my soul, why not for me?
2. Christ Jesus died; and by His blood Sinners are reconciled to God! He died to set the captive free: Then why, my soul, why not for me?
3. Redeeming blood, (How sweet it sounds!) To cleanse my guilt and heal my wounds! This fountain’s full of grace most free For sinners. So, why not for me?
4. Christ came the naked, poor to bless, To clothe them with His righteousness. His blood, His robe, His grace, — ALL FREE! Then why, my soul, why not for me?
5. Eternal life by Christ obtained Is for all who believe on Him. I trust Him for God’s grace so free; And say, “My soul, it’s all for me!”
Christ died for God’s Elect — For All God’s Elect Only for God’s Elect
Recently I saw two young men standing on a Danville street corner wearing large placards over their coats, that read, “No matter who you are Jesus died for you.” I am sure those young men are very sincere; but they are horribly deluded. The Scriptures teach nothing of the kind; and those who declare such an absurdity are really saying to all who pay attention to them, — “The fact that Jesus died on the cross is totally meaningless. His death is of no benefit to anyone.”
The Scriptures teach otherwise. The Lord Jesus declares that he laid down his life for his sheep, not for goats (John 10:15, 26). If he hated Esau, as the Book of God asserts (Romans 9:13) and Judas was already in hell, why would he have died for them? The Word of God teaches us that the objects of election and redemption are the same. It is written, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is Christ that died" (Romans 8:33-34). That bold challenge of faith makes sense only if you understand that Christ died for God’s elect, for all God’s elect, and only for God’s elect, and infallibly secured their salvation by his death.
The “us all” for whom God delivered up his Son are the same as those whom he foreknew and predestinated, whose calling, justification and glorification were accomplished from eternity by God’s sovereign purpose of grace toward them. Paul teaches this same thing in Ephesians 1:4 and 7. The “us” who are there said to be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world are the same as those who have redemption in him through his blood and the forgiveness of sins. Those for whom Christ died, those who are redeemed by his precious blood are those for whom he makes intercession (John 17:9, 20).
Yes, the objects of election and redemption are the same. No more were redeemed by Christ at Calvary than were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, and no less. God’s elect are special to him above all people in the world. Special things belong to them which belong to no one else. Yet, we see that everything which is said to be true of the elect is also true of the redeemed. Therefore, we must conclude, according to the Scriptures, that the elect and the redeemed are the very same people.
Are the elect the beloved of the Lord? Does the act of election spring from love? Election presupposes love. So the redeemed are the beloved of the triune God. And our redemption by Christ’s precious blood flows from God’s everlasting love toward us in him.
Are the elect a people whom God has chosen for his peculiar treasure? The redeemed are purified by Christ to be a peculiar people to himself.
Do the vessels of mercy, afore prepared for glory, consist of Jews and Gentiles alike? So Christ is the propitiation, not for the sins of the Jews only, or the Redeemer of the Jews only, but for the sins of the Gentile world also, the Redeemer of his people among the Gentiles (1 John 2:1-2).
Are God’s elect a great number, a multitude which no man can number out of all nations, kindred, peoples and tongues? So Christ’s redeemed ones are those he has redeemed unto God, out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation.
Is it true of the elect that they shall never perish, that they cannot be totally and finally deceived and perish? So, too, it is true of the ransomed of the Lord. They shall come to Zion with everlasting joy. Christ will never lose any part of the purchase of his blood.
It is ludicrous to imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of any whom he did not come to save. He came into this world to save his people (They were his people by Divine election long before he came to save them!) from their sins by the sacrifice of himself as their Substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, chose his people and them alone. He redeemed his people and them alone. He prays for his people and them alone. And he will save his people, all of them, and only them.
Divine Sovereignty — A. W. Pink
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His own Word expressly declares: “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10); “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand” (Daniel 4:35). Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things “after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).
Choosing a Text for a Sermon — J. C. Philpot
I found upon the vestry table this morning a letter requesting me to preach from a certain text, "Jesus wept." The writer of that letter must know very little of the perplexities and exercises that I and every minister of truth have with respect to the texts that we preach from. I cannot take a text, and speak from it in the mere exercise of my judgment. Before I can take a text, and preach from it, I must have three things. First, I must see a vein of experience in it; in other words, I must have light upon it: secondly, I must find a measure of sweetness and savor in it; I must know something personally of the experience contained in it, and feel a measure of dew and unction to rest upon it; in other words, I must have life from it: and thirdly, I must find in it sufficient matter to form a tolerably full and connected discourse. I cannot run here, there, and everywhere all through the scriptures, nor deal in vague, loose generalities: but as far as the Lord gives me wisdom, strength, and ability, my path is to unfold the mind of the Spirit in such portions of the scripture as are commended with some savor to my conscience. In making these remarks, I wish not to condemn other gracious men who are led differently. Each has his own path and his own work: and God will bless each according to that line in which he leads him.
THE GRACE BULLETIN
January 15, 2012
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