CALL TO WORSHIP (Tune: “Immortal, Invisible,” – p. 34) (Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)
Christ Jesus the Savior came down from above, In covenant mercy and infinite love; The Lord of creation a Servant became, To save all His people from sin, guilt and shame.
Enthroned in His beauty and all glorious, The God of creation was made like to us; The Word was made flesh and laid glory aside, What grace and affection for His chosen bride.
Our Prophet, High Priest and our eternal King, Descended from heaven salvation to bring; Em-man-u-el came, the Lord with us on earth, Behold a great myst’ry - the dear Savior’s birth.
O what a Redeemer is Jesus our Lord, He paid all our sin-debt, to God we’re restored; Redeemed by His blood, He our ransom has paid, And clothed in His beauty His saints are arrayed.
All praise to the Savior, our Refuge is He, In Christ we are safe throughout eternity; Come now and adore Him Who made us His choice, Let all of His people in Jesus rejoice.
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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 Televisio Sunday morning on WALB-TV @ 9 AM.
Live Streaming – 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. – Sermon Audio web site
Hymns for service: "Praise the Savior” – p. 51 “Hallelujah, What a Savior” – p. 127
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The true church is “the church of the LIVING GOD, the pillar and ground of the TRUTH” (1 Tim. 3:15). It is the TRUTH that identifies and distinguishes the true and living God from idols and the true Messiah from all counterfeits. It is made up of God’s elect, redeemed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, given spiritual life, and called out through the power of the Holy Spirit by the Gospel of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. It is His bride, and she is clothed in the wedding garment of His righteousness imputed to her (Isa. 61:10; Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-16). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Builder and Foundation of the church; for He said, “upon this ROCK [Christ’s Person and finished work] I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Christ is the Heart and Life of the church (Matt. 18:20; John 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12; Rev. 1:13). Christ is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18). Without Christ there is no church. Therefore where people gather together in places of worship and Christ is not preached in the glory of His Person as “Emmanuel …God with us” (Matt. 1:23), and in the effectual power of His finished work of redeeming His people whereupon they are all accounted righteous before God and from which they all receive the gift of spiritual life, “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14), call it what you will. It is not a true church. -- Pastor Bill Parker
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There is a power, an actual, substantial, intrinsic power, in the blood of the Lamb. As a divine ordinance and appointment, of course God Himself will not disregard it; but the power of the Saviour’s blood is not typical, or shadowy, or ceremonial, or merely the result of Divine appointment. The power of Christ’s blood is living, legal, meritoriously, absolutely and necessarily saving. Its power comes from the dignity, worth, and greatness of the Person that shed it. All His dignity and glory are inseparable from the life He lived, and the death He died.
-- John Hazelton
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
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The affair of redemption by Christ is no new thing. The scheme of it was drawn up in eternity. The persons to be redeemed were fixed on. The Redeemer was appointed in the counsel and covenant of peace. And even the very gospel which proclaims it was ordained before the world for our glory. A Savior was provided before sin was committed, and the method of man's recovery was settled before his ruin took place. This was done without any regard to the works and merits of men, but is wholly owing to the free and sovereign grace of God and to His everlasting love.
-- John Gill (1697-1771)
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A naked sinner can be clothed, but a sinner covered with his own righteousness must be stripped. This is always true. We must be stripped of all that has to do with self or we cannot be clothed with that which pertains to God. We are called to live by faith; we can see nothing with the eye of sense. The Lord Jesus has gone up on high, and we are told to wait patiently for His appearing. God's Word carried home to the heart in the power of the Holy Spirit is the basis of confidence in all things: temporal and spiritual, present and future. He tells us of Christ's completed sacrifice. We by grace believe and commit our souls to the efficacy thereof, and we know we shall never be disappointed.
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