CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: “Come Thou Fount”)

Glory to the Holy Father,

Fountain of eternal love,

Who, His wand’ring sheep to gather,

Sent the Savior from above.

Glory to the Son be given,

Who with love unknown before,

Left the bright abode of heaven,

And our sins and sorrows bore.

Glory to the Holy Spirit,

Let His praise our tongues employ,

Author of all saving graces,

Source of wisdom, peace, and joy.

Praise the God of our salvation,

Hosts on high His pow’r proclaim;

Heav’n and earth and all creation,

Laud and magnify His name!

Today’s Speaker: Brother Winston 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 on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM –WISK. To hear sermons click here

Web Sites: Visit our newly designed web site at: www.rofgrace.com

Also visit us at: www.Sermonaudio.com\reignofgrace

Birthdays: Brooke Young – Sept. 20^th – Dawson Young – Sept. 23^rd

Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, the Lord’s command to “be still and know that I am God” is largely unheard and unheeded. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in each day to be still. Even in retirement the question is raised, “how did I ever work a steady job and find “still time?” We blame our negligence of still time on our lack of time itself, and yet an eight hour work day is only a third of the twenty four hours available each day. The Psalmist believed the level of our knowledge of God is directly related to the amount of time we engage in being still?

If we would know God, we must be still. If we would be still, we know God. Not a contradiction, these two actually complement each other. Truth is, you can’t have one without the other.

Being still has nothing to do with time spent “in neutral.” To be still is to rest our souls in the finished work of Christ for his people. To be still is to see all our salvation accomplished in his work and lay aside our contributions toward that end. To be still is to see his sin satisfying righteousness as the sum and substance of our salvation. To be still is to “behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.”

If we would be still we know God. We know the God who chose a people for himself and conditioned all their salvation on his Son. We know the God who poured out his wrath on his Son based on sins imputed to him. We know the only true and Living God, a just God and Savior who raised him from the dead because of our justification. We know Him whom to know is life eternal. And we know the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Sovereign God who “will be exalted among the heathen” is never too busy for still time with sinners. Will you be still? (Isaiah 40:31)

--- Winston Pannell

Public worship is a privilege that many believers are not able to enjoy as we do each week. I hope that you never fall into the subtle trap of having an apathetic, nonchalant attitude towards worship. Worship is food for our souls. But even more, it is an opportunity to praise, adore, and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there a greater privilege than this?

--- Doug Weaver

What is“the Righteousness of God”?

(Rom 3: 21-22)

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.”

FIRST, it is “without the law”. I.e. It is WITHOUT a SINNER’S obedience to the law. God has graciously provided a Righteousness for fallen humanity that is totally outside sinners. It is a Righteousness that is totally exclusive of a sinner’s obedience, reformation and effort.

SECOND, “God’s Righteousness” is “witnessed by the law and the prophets”. The Mosiac law set forth this Righteousness in picture and type. The High Priest of Israel was one chosen by God and approved for his office. The sacrifice offered was SPECIFIC (without spot or blemish). And the prophets proclaimed it to those of their generations.

THIRD, “God’s Righteousness” is “by faith (by the faithfulness) of Jesus Christ”. It is by Christ’s “faithfulness” to “finish the work” His Father gave Him to do (Jn 17:4). It is by Christ’s “faithfulness” to “give Himself a ransom for many” (Matt 20: 28). It is by Christ’s “faithfulness” to be “made under the law to redeem them that were under the law” (Gal 4: 5). It is by Christ (the Shepherd’s) “faithfulness to give His life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11).

The “Righteousness of God” is by the “faithfulness” of Jesus Christ. It is NOT by the “faithfulness” of sinful men. Nor is it by the “faith” of sinful men. Nor is it by anything found IN sinful men.

Bottom line: “The Righteousness of God” is what Christ did in His life and in His death that makes it RIGHT for God to be merciful to a chosen multitude of sinners who have done nothing to DESERVE and nothing to OBTAIN His mercy.

And, “God’s Righteousness” (the One provided by God and worked out in the body and soul or Christ) is the BASIS (THE ground) for God blessing a sinner (the ONLY basis, the ONLY ground).

God shows mercy to a sinner BECAUSE He has chosen to (“I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33:19). Christ has fulfilled all the requirements and met all the conditions (i.e. established the Righteousness) that makes it RIGHT/JUST for God to show that mercy.

“Lord, be merciful to me (the sinner)”. Show me mercy for Christ’s sake. Show me mercy based on the Righteousness Christ worked out charged to my account.