CALL TO WORSHIP

Bethlehem’s Son

(Tune “BE THOU MY VISION”)

Words by Winston Pannell

Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be small,

From Judah’s thousands, Jehovah has called

One from among thee to be Israel’s king,

Born in a manger, salvation he brings.

Despised and rejected, the Savior of men

Loved of the Father, he loves to the end

All that the Father in covenant gave,

Made him a Surety, mighty to save.

His life for my sin, my life by his death

Wrought for his people a sure righteousness

Satisfied all of the law’s just demands

Witness his side and his nail pierced hands.

New every morning the story when told,

His goings forth from eternity old,

Will be our anthem the victory he won,

Jehovah our Savior, Bethlehem’s Son.

Today’s Speaker: Brother Jim Casey will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.

Lords Table: We will serve the Lord’s Table following the morning message.

Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast every Sunday morning on WALB-TV @ 9 AM.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 10:30 am on Mix 107.7 FM

Web Sites: Visit our web sites at:

Reign of Grace: www.rofgrace.com

Sermon Audio: www.Sermonaudio.com\reignofgrace

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reignofgrace

Radio: http://www.mix1077albany.com/

Birthdays: Patricia Pannell – Dec. 30^th ; John Pedersen – Dec. 30^th

Becky Wages – Dec. 31^st ; William Sparks III – Jan. 4^th

RIGHTEOUSNESS ESTABLISHED BY DEATH

A robe or garment is often used in Scripture to portray righteousness. “He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10). “And to her (the church) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Rev. 19:8). When Adam and Eve sinned and “knew they were naked” (Gen. 3:7), they tried to cover their shame by making fig-leaf aprons. Their actions pictured man’s vain attempts to establish a righteousness for himself, but righteousness can only be established by the Lord, otherwise the sinner will remain “naked.” Nakedness sets forth man’s unrighteousness and his exposure to wrath. The Laodiceans were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” and were told they needed “white raiment, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:17-18). Thankfully, the Lord came to the rescue of our fallen parents. He provided for their acceptance, but what did that require? In order for them to be covered, animals had to DIE and be skinned and then God robed Adam and Eve with those skins.
We read that Christ is made of God to be the righteousness of His elect (1 Co. 1:30). A perfect standing before divine justice has already been established by the Savior for all of His people, but how was that accomplished? Was it by His life of exemplary obedience? Certainly our Lord lived perfectly in this world, but His life did not bring in righteousness any more than the life of the animals provided garments for Adam and Eve. That which was necessary in both cases was DEATH. Daniel said Messiah would “finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness” (9:24) and He would accomplish those things by being “cut off” (verse 26), that is, put to DEATH. The Apostle Paul believed righteousness was established by the substitutionary, justice-satisfying cross-death of Christ, and so He wrote these words. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is DEAD in vain” (Galatians 2:21).

--- Pastor Jim Byrd

“WITHOUT SPOT”

Many times in the descriptions of the various sacrifices and offerings in the Old Testament we read these words “without spot.” Here is one of many:

“And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;” (Nu 28:11)

These offerings were all pictures and types of the Lord Jesus who was the one sacrifice for sins forever. (Heb. 10:12) He is not an offer to men but an offering for His people. By that one offering He perfected forever them that are sanctified, set apart in Him, by God’s sovereign choice of grace. (Heb. 10:14) This was all according to God’s will through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10) Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. (Heb. 9:28) How could He do this and how could the thrice holy God accept His sacrifice?

Because he offered Himself without spot to God. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14) One instant He is the Lamb without spot or blemish and the next instant He is the Lamb slain! Why? Because the wages of our sin is death! (Rom. 6:23) One minute He is the only One acceptable to pay that debt; the next minute He is the One who has paid it! The soul that sinneth shall surely die (Ezek. 18:4, 20) but a sinner cannot die for a sinner. Oh, but He who knew no sin can and He did. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1Pe 1:18-19) It is because of His sinless offering offered to God in the place of sinners that Paul says to believing sinners that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27) “What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord…”