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.
Today’s Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.
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
Birthdays: Jack Cox – Jan. 5th ; Jordan Drake – Jan. 5th ; Carolyn Ross – Jan. 9th
SUBSTITUTION AND SATISFACTION
In the fall of 1969, I began attending a bible college which was considered one of the most conservative in the country. While there I learned the truth of God’s free and sovereign grace, not due to my professors, but in spite of most of them. I discovered that "salvation is of the LORD," that God chose a people unto salvation, and that when Christ died, He actually accomplished their redemption, effectually putting away their sins and bringing in everlasting righteousness. The Lord taught me the error of free-willism and the omnipotence of the divine will in the experience of salvation. "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy" (Romans 9:16). When the authorities of the college passed a resolution stating that no one could graduate without signing a statement affirming their belief in universal redemption, I made my position clear without hesitation and paid the price by being forced to leave. I considered it an honor to stand firm for the gospel of sovereign grace. In no sense whatsoever did Christ give His life a ransom for all mankind: universal redemption is a lie. He died "to save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The Savior was sacrificed, not to make salvation a possibility for all, but to sanctify and cleanse the church (Ephesians 5:25-26). He"obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12). Christ gave Himself for His elect that God might be a just God and a Savior. "I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). He paid the ransom demanded by divine justice, the price being His own death. Justice cannot and will not condemn those in whose stead Christ has died for its requirements have been fulfilled by His cross-death as evidenced by His resurrection. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:33-34). Learn these two words - substitution and satisfaction - for they are the very heart of the gospel.
--- Pastor Jim Byrd
Election in Christ
Neither is God unjust, but most righteous, in rewarding every man according to his works; for God is so infinitely holy and righteous, that he cannot do any unjust act. {Rom.9:14} Nay, he neither doth, nor will do anything, but wherein he will appear most perfectly just and righteous; {Ezek.18:25;} for God did not elect man, and afterward reject him, or damn him; love him, and afterward hate him; but the Lord, who is infinite in wisdom, did see and behold all things, before anything was created, for all things were in Him, although they were not brought forth or manifested; and in his fore-knowledge, and in himself, he beheld all men, when as yet there was none of them; yea, even then he beheld them in their several conditions, both in their creation, and in their fall. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” {Is.46:10} Now God thus beholding man’s several conditions at one and the same instant {for there is neither first nor last with God} did purpose in his eternal counsel, to make man an upright creature; and did also at the same instant fore-know and fore-see, that men by sin would undo themselves; and was pleased also in the very same instant, and according to this foreknowledge, out of the abundant riches of his love in Jesus Christ, to choose out some poor miserable fallen wretches, and to make known to them the exceeding and super-abundant treasures of his grace and favor in Him, {I Pet.1:2,} in their several generations, and so to unite them to himself in Christ; {Eph.1:4-6;} that they should be to the praise of his glorious grace; {Rom.9:23;} and also to let others alone in their sins, by leaving them to their own hearts lust, unbelief, hardness, and impenitency; delighting themselves in sin, and all ungodliness, and becoming one with Satan, and willingly obeying his commands, he might then declare Himself infinitely glorious in justice, in rendering to every man according to his work. And in this respect it is said, “shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?” {Rom.9:20} “For he hath mercy {namely, in restoring men to grace and favor in Jesus Christ} on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth,” {Rom.9:18,} or leaves them in their sins. Thus God did not elect, and afterward reject; neither doth he love and afterward hate, for whosoever God loves indeed, with an especial love, a love to eternal life, he loves them in Christ; {Eph.1:4,5;} and he loves none in Christ, but whom he hath elected and chosen in him; {Jn.13:1;} and those whom he thus elects he cannot hate, for he loves them in Christ, and as Christ. {Jn.17:23}
--- William Mason{A Little Star – Giving Some Light into the Counsels and Purposes of God Revealed in the Scriptures, 1653}
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