ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH Weekly Bulletin Sunday, October 26, 2009
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. Psalm 119:9-12
PREDESTINATION
The word "predestination" is used four times in the Bible (and only four times). It is used twice in Ephesians Chapter One and twice in Romans Chapter 8. Each and every time that it is used in the Word of God it has to do with the same thing; it has to do with what God will make of His elect. "We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son. We are predestinated to the adoption of children. We are predestinated to be like Jesus Christ."
God hath determined from all eternity, that those whom He saves and those for whom Christ died; God has determined the means; God has determined the way; God has determined the events and God has determined all things, to finally bring those people to His presence to be conformed perfectly to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. That is what predestination has to do with.
Election has to do with people. Predestination has to do with the means of making those people like Christ. God has chartered the course and God has planned the path. Almighty God has set forth the way that the person is going to come, because he is going to be like Christ. He predetermined your destination. Your destination has been determined prior to the beginning of the world. Pastor Henry Mahan
How was Jesus Christ made of God to be sin for us?
How was Jesus Christ made of God to be sin for us? Even so as if himself had committed all our sins; that is, they were as really charged upon him as if himself had been the actor and committer of them all. "He hath made him to be sin," not only as a sinner, but as sin itself. Some, indeed, will not have Jesus Christ our Lord to be made sin for us. Their wicked reasons think this to be wrong judgment in the Lord. It seems, supposing that because they cannot imagine how it should be, therefore God, if he does it, must do it at his peril, and must be charged with doing wrong judgment, and so things that become not his heavenly Majesty. But against this duncish sophistry we set Paul and Isaiah, the one telling us still, "the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" and the other that "God made him to be sin for us."
But these men, as I suppose, think it enough for Christ to die under that notion only, not knowing nor feeling the burden of sin and the wrath of God due thereto. These make him as senseless in his dying, and as much without reason, as a silly sheep or goat, who also died for sin, but so as in name, in show, in shadow only. They felt not the proper weight, guilt and judgment of God for sin. But thou, sinner, who art so in thine own eyes, and who feelest guilt in thine own conscience, know thou that Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God in flesh, was made to be sin for thee, or stood sensibly guilty of all thy sins before God, and bare them in his own body upon the cross.
God charged our sins upon Christ and that in their guilt and burden. What remaineth but that the charge was real or feigned? If real, then he hath either perished under them, or carried them away from before God. If they were charged but feignedly, then did he but feignedly die for them, then shall we have but feigned benefit by his death, and but a feigned salvation at last - not to say how this cursed doctrine chargeth God and Christ with hypocrisy, the one in saying, He made Christ to be sin; the other in saying that he bare our sin; when, in deed and in truth, our guilt and burden never was really upon him. John Bunyan
REPENTANCE
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!(2 Cor. 7:11).
Now Paul gives us seven evidences of true, sincere and genuine-godly repentance; that is the gift of God.
1). What carefulness (eagerness, diligence and haste) it wrought in you; to correct our behavior before God and to avoid future offences, diligence and carefulness; as opposed to our past negligence in the gospel and in spiritual matters. 1Thes. 1:4-9.
2). What clearing of yourself; not by denying our sin, (what we are before God) and our guilt (because of our transgressions against God), but rather by confessing and owning them and seeking forgiveness for them only thru Christ; 1John 1:7-9; Heb. 9:12-14.
3). What indignation, (righteous anger), not against God's holy law, nor against God's servant for declaring the truth, but rather against our own selves, because of our own sin and foolishness. For true repentance, is taking God's side against ourselves because of our own folly and sin. Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:5; Rom. 7:24-25.
4). What fear; (alarm) not of eternal condemnation; Rom. 8:1; no condemnation to them that are in Christ, but rather of the Father's disapproval and chastisement, and the fear of bringing reproach on the gospel of Christ. Prov. 16:6; "By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." What fear and reverence the Lord does give us when He grants unto us repentance; Psalm 111:9.
5). What a vehement desire; (longing for) to honor God and to live for His glory in the present evil world. When God gives repentance He changes our desires, of self glory, self-centeredness, self- righteousness to seeking His glory; Gal. 6:14; Phil. 3:7-14.
6). What zeal; to promote God's gospel; 1Peter 2:9. To stand for the true gospel of grace in Christ, having nothing to do with those who promote salvation by deeds of the law; Gal. 1:7-10; 2:16.
7). What revenge; not against any person in a private way, for vengeance belongs unto God, but rather against anything contrary to the gospel of Christ; Psalm 119:104; "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way."
These sweet and gracious effects wrought in us spring from the first great cause, God's sovereign grace in Christ. They come from God and always lead to Him. "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Rom. 2:4). Pastor Tom Harding
Bible Study 10:30 A.M. Morning Service 11:15 A.M. Kingsport service 6:00 P.M. Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.Radio (Sundays): WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week