CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: He Leadeth Me)

Hark! How the Gospel trumpet sounds!

Christ and free grace therein abounds;

Free grace to such as sinners be,

And if free grace why not for me?

The Saviour died and by His blood

Brought rebel sinners near to God;

He died to set the captives free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Thus Jesus came the poor to bless,

To clothe them with His righteousness;

That robe is spotless, full and free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Eternal life by Christ is giv'n,

And sinful men are raised to heav'n;

Then sing of grace so rich and free,

And say, my soul, why not for thee?

Today’s Speaker: Brother Randy Wages 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: Elizabeth “Mills” Fuller – March 31^st

NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS

"To those who are in Christ Jesus." We here touch a vital and profound truth. Rich and accumulative as the passages are which offer their aid in its elucidation, we despair of conveying to other than a mind experimentally acquainted with the truth itself, anything like an adequate representation of the imposing magnitude and glory of the condition. To be in Christ may really be felt, but not easily described. The first view, then, which we present, is that which illustrates the mystical indwelling of the church in Christ, when he stood as its substitute. As all the nations of the world were federally and mystically in Adam when he fell; so the "holy nation," the Church of God, was federally and mystically in the Second Adam, "the Lord from heaven," when in the counsel of God he presented himself as its Surety, and when in the fullness of time he appeared, all robed for the sacrifice, to discharge the engagement. Approach that cross, and what do you behold? Is it that you see a guilty one, suffering—a criminal, worthy of death? No; you see the sinless Son of God bearing the sin, and, by consequence, the condemnation of his people. And in that wondrous spectacle, you see brought to the bar of Infinite Justice—tried, sentenced, and condemned, in the person of their surety—all those who are in Christ Jesus. In Christ they were chosen—to Christ they were betrothed—with Christ they were united—by Christ they are saved,—and, sitting with Christ on his throne, they shall reign with him forever and ever.

--- Octavius Winslow, 1862

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

Take the doctrines of grace isolated from the Person of Christ; they are scattered limbs. There is no beauty in them alone. But view the truth of the Gospel in connection with the Person and work of the Son of God, what a heavenly light, what a divine glory is cast upon every truth connected with His sacred Person, atoning blood, finished work, and dying love! This is the way to receive the Gospel; not as a thing of shreds and patches, a mere collection or scheme of certain doctrines floating up and down God’s Word, as waifs and strays from a stranded ship; but as ONE HARMONIOUS GOSPEL, full of grace, mercy, and truth, impregnated with divine blessedness, and all connected with, all springing out of the Person of the God-Man.

--- J. C. Philpot

COMPLETE IN CHRIST

Colossians 2:9 For in HIM (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. {10} And ye are complete in HIM, which is the head of all principality and power.

What a great and glorious message this is! All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all who are united to Him are complete in HIM! Christ is the fullness of all the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification (holiness), and redemption, God requires. And this is true of all who believe in Him, all who rest in the blessed fact that His righteousness alone entitles them to the whole inheritance of eternal life and final glory in Heaven. If all who believe in Him are complete in Him, and it is all based on the merits of His righteousness alone, then there is nothing left for believers to do in order to attain salvation. They have it completely, and it will never be lost. There is nothing for believers to do in order to be qualified, fit, or entitled to any part of eternal life. Christ has done it all for them, and they are complete and secure in Him. Is He qualified and able to attain and maintain all of this for them? Well, in His Person dwells all the fulness of the Godhead, and His righteousness satisfied God's law and justice for His sheep. His righteousness alone demands their whole salvation, from the new birth to final glorification.

In light of this glorious message, you would think that the whole world would believe it. You would think multitudes would come to hear this message. You would think that the churches where this message is preached would overflow with people. This is the only message by which God saves sinners. But the sad fact is this – Men and women by nature will always choose their own self-righteous efforts over the righteousness of Christ. Why? It is because of self-righteousness, self-love, and religious pride. Man by nature will not see himself as complete based on the righteousness of another. He by nature will insist on his own efforts at religion and morality as contributing to his completeness. This is the height of total depravity, human pride, unbelief, and idolatry. So the command of the Gospel is for self-righteous sinners to believe God's gospel proclaiming how all of salvation is based on the righteousness of Christ, and to repent of such dead works and idolatry. God promises to save and to make complete all who come to Him pleading the merits of His Son.