January 22, 2012
Church Websites: lantanagrace.org sermonaudio.com/dleeb
Pastor Bruce Crabtree will be here to preach next Sunday. I will be in Oregon preaching for Pastors Wayne Boyd and Norm Wells.
~~~ O ~~~
Having religion is one thing, but knowing and walking with Christ is different! Having religion the world understands and tolerates. But free grace the world neither understands, nor tolerates! Any two religious errors can walk together, and permit them both to exist! But the truth of the God's grace cannot exist with error – for one always must go!
- Henry Mahan
~~~ O ~~~
"What Money Cannot Buy"
A bed but not sleep.
Books but not brains.
Food but not appetite.
Finery but not beauty.
A house but not a home.
Medicine but not health.
Luxuries but not culture.
Amusements but not happiness.
Religion but not salvation.
A passport to anywhere, but not to Heaven and Glory.
- Henry Mahan
THE DIFFERENCE IN MINISTERS
Most people see no difference in sermons by religious ministers or theologians versus preachers of the gospel of grace, particularly when the text of the scriptures is the same. Is there a difference? Yes, and there are three primary reasons.
First, the COMMISSION, which is performed by the anointment of the Holy Spirit on those pre-ordained by God to deliver His Word, that is, preachers of the gospel of grace. The commission to religious ministers and theologians is conferred through self-development by the acquisition of human knowledge and is recognized by the titles of Reverend, Doctor, Father, Rabbi, etc., accompanied by prescribed acts of behavior (ethics) and worship (liturgy) deemed appropriate by the religion of choice.
Second, the SUBJECT of the sermon. For the grace preacher this will always be exclusively CHRIST CRUCIFIED, no matter what scripture is selected. But for the religious minister the subject is likely to be the works or acts necessary for man to perform in order to receive salvation.
Third, the RESPONSE expected of the audience. The grace preacher knows that only those who have been pre-conditioned by a spiritual life can hear and truly understand the gospel. Christ said, "My sheep hear my voice", the voice of the anointed preacher delivering God's revealed word from the scriptures. Being able to hear, they BELIEVE THROUGH FAITH and will in due time seek baptism as a public affirmation of faith. The religious minister expects that ALL may respond with equal chance for salvation, based on individual self-will, commitment, and adherence to the particular religion's code of conduct.
The most obvious difference, then, is in the subject matter, CHRIST CRUCIFIED. Spurgeon issued a warning about preachers when he advised, "When a preacher becomes heretical, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT CHRIST. If he is not clear about Christ crucified and you hear one sermon from him, that is your MISFORTUNE. But if you go and hear him again and hear another sermon like the first, it will be your FAULT. If you go a third time, it will be your CRIME."
- George Barker
The Perfect Ones
Our perfect Father has sent His own Son.
Jesus, our Lord, saying, "It now is done."
Alpha, Omega, and beginning, end,
Sinless and Perfect One on Him depend.
Jesus, the Lord of all heaven and earth.
Jesus, the Lamb of God before His birth.
Became the Captain of salvation's plan.
He is the Rock on which we now do stand.
Christ calls to men today, "Be perfect, too."
As you Father in Heav'n, So Great and True.
Those who are lost in sin, no hope within,
Are made His perfect ones only in Him.
He is the Perfect One, Salvation true,
Given to all His elect, His chosen few.
And He has made them all perfect in love,
Forgiving all their sin through His own blood.
All of God's just commands are for His own.
Given His great power, they shall be done.
His sheep are given hope eternally,
Complete in Christ their Lord, their only plea.
He will present them all to His Father,
Holy and without spot forevermore,
Dressed in the robes of white, His righteousness.
All will praise God the Son, God's perfectness
By Gary Spreacker
(Tune: 'Break Thou the Bread of Life', pg. 176)
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