CALL TO WORSHIP
(Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)

I sing praise to Christ my Redeemer,
The Savior Who came from above;
His death has obtained my redemption,
Thank God for the Gift of His love.

CHORUS: O praise – the Name,
The Name of our Savior and King;
O praise – the Name,
The Name of our Savior and King.

I sing praise to Christ for His mercy,
He died in my stead on the tree;
On Him fell God’s vengeance and justice,
For unworthy sinners like me. (CHORUS)

My sin-debt was cancelled completely,
When God’s Sacrifice took my place;
He died and secured my redemption,
What covenant mercy and grace! (CHORUS)

I trust in this gracious Redeemer,
My Prophet, High Priest and great King;
My Advocate, Shepherd and Savior,
His praises I joyfully sing. (CHORUS)

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Today: Bible Classes – 10:00 a.m.; Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m.
Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

Television Broadcast: Reign of Grace Television
Sunday morning on WALB-TV @ 9 AM.

Live Streaming – 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. – Sermon Audio web site

Web Sites: Reign of Grace: www.rofgrace.com
Sermon Audio: www.Sermonaudio.com\reignofgrace

WHY CHRIST CAME?

Jesus Christ came into this world, not only to reveal the Father, but to redeem sinners. He came not as the president of our country would go into a disaster area to look on the poor, helpless victims, but to redeem the victims of depravity whom the Father gave Him in the covenant of redemption. Christ came not to redeem by appointed meth­ods, but by Himself. He came not to stand by and prescribe, but to minister and provide the means of salvation. The Savior came not only to provide salvation, but to be Salvation (1 Peter 1:18; Revelation

1:5). — Scott Richardson

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"Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in para­dise." (Luke 23:43) Surely our Lord said these words to one who was of great moral character and fortitude? Surely Christ spoke like this to one who had merited such favor by rigorous and continuous perfect obedience to the 10 commandments? Surely these words were spoken to one who never missed a Sabbath day, prayed 3 times a day, and paid tithes on every­thing they came to possess in this life?

THAT WOULD NOT BE MERCY AND GRACE! Christ spoke these wonderful, comforting words to a SINNER, one like us who rightfully deserved eternal condemnation. This thief had NO WORKS or OFFERING to present before God. But thank God, "by ONE OF­FERING, He hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified." This sinful thief, "sanctified", literally set apart by God, was PERFECTED FOREVER by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE. Though a sinner by nature, by birth, by practice, and by choice, this thief was made the very "righteousness of God" in Christ Jesus our Lord. And found clothed in that righteousness alone, he had everything necessary to enter into heaven where our Lord sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high. -- From William Mason's "Evening Thought"

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“If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)

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THE OFFENCE OF THE CROSS

“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suf­fer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” (Gala­tians 5:11). The “offence of the cross” lies in the message of the cross, the Gospel, which leaves absolutely no room for the works of men to form any part of the righteousness God requires to save sinners and jus­tify them before Him. It reveals that righteousness and salvation can only come to sinners through the obedience unto death of the Lord Jesus Christ, God with us, as the one and only Surety and Substitute of the people whom God sovereignly chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-11). It reveals that this good news of the grace of God in Christ is applied to the hearts of sinners not by their decision or so-called “free will,” but by the power of the Holy Spirit in new birth when He imparts spiritual life and gives them a desire to believe in and trust Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; 3:3-7). It exposes all the works of men aimed at establishing their own righteousness before God as being “evil deeds” (John 3:19-20), because such deeds, though they appear righteous unto men, dishonor the glory of God, deny the purpose and merits of Christ’s death, and exalt sinners in pride and self-righteous­ness. It renounces every refuge from God’s wrath the natural man can conceive of and devise, and leaves him with no refuge but Jesus Christ crucified, raised from the dead, and seated in the heavenlies. The mes­sage of the cross sets forth the forgiveness of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ alone and justification before God by the righteousness of Christ imputed alone. Hereby it offends the unregenerate man’s natural wis­dom, dignity, self-righteousness, and self-will.