CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – Doxology)

(Words written by Pastor Gary Shepard)

All praise to God for all His grace,

That grace that reigns in righteousness.

A just God and a Savior He,

This way He must forever be.

From old eternity was wrought,

A purpose of His grace to show.

Eternal love then did design,

To send the Son down here below.

Christ came and lived the perfect Man,

Submissive to the Father's will.

Then on the cross He died to save,

And there His blood did freely spill.

That sacrifice for sins then made,

The debt to justice satisfied.

Now all for whom He suffered there,

Must now be freely justified!

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

Blessed are the Pure in Heart – Matthew 5:8

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – 1 Peter 1:18-20

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – When I See the Blood – p. 232

• READING – Exodus 12:1-14

• MESSAGE – CHRIST IS OUR PASSOVER – Heb. 11:28

• CLOSING HYMN – Pass Me Not – p. 235

Birthdays: Ashlyn Jones – Aug. 14^th | Dennis Vanzandt – Aug. 17^th
Kathryn Cox – Aug. 19^th | Jane Sparks – Aug. 19^th

GOSPEL MEETING – OCTOBER 6-8

If at all possible, clear your calendars for the weekend of October 6 – 8. Brother Richard Warmack and his wife Pam will be visiting with us that weekend. We will have special meetings and times of fellowship. The schedule of meetings will be printed in a later bulletin.

WE STAND BEFORE GOD IN CHRIST

In another’s righteousness we stand, and by another’s righteousness are we justified. All accusations against us, founded upon our unrighteousness, we answer by pointing to the perfection of the righteousness that covers us from head to foot. Protected by this perfection, we have no fear of wrath, either now or hereafter. It is a buckler to us; and we cry, “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed” (Psa 84:9), as if to say, “Look not on me, but on my Substitute. Deal not with me for sin, but with my Sin-bearer. Challenge not me for my guilt, but challenge Him; He will answer for me.” Thus, we are safe beneath the shield of His righteousness. No arrow, either from the enemy or from conscience, can reach us there.

Covered by this perfection, we are at peace. The enemy cannot invade us; or if he try to do so, we can triumphantly repel him. It is a refuge from the storm, a covert from the tempest, a river of water in a dry place, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The work of righteousness is peace; and in the Lord we have righteousness and strength.

Beautified with this perfection, which is the perfection of God, we find favor in His sight. His eye rests on the comeliness that He has put upon us; and as He did at viewing the first creation, so now, in looking at us as clothed with this divine excellency, He pronounces it “very good.” He sees no iniquity in Jacob and no transgression in Israel (Num 23:21). “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found” (Jer 50:20). This righteousness suffices to cover, to comfort, and to beautify.

–Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

GOD’S ELECTION OF GRACE BRINGS HUMILITY

Does belief in the doctrine of election (that before the world was created, God chose a people to save in and by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ) result in pride for those who claim to be chosen of God? Consider this – God’s Word identifies true believers as elect who have been called to faith in Christ (1 Thess. 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13-14). By revealing this is God promoting pride in His people? Obviously not. God hates a proud look (Prov. 6:16-19). Also, God commands us as believers to give diligence to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). Again, is God telling us to be proud of our election? Absolutely not. The Apostle Paul referred to believers as being elect of God and justified by Him through Christ (Rom. 8:33-34). Is this to promote our pride? NO!

We know that the unbelieving Jews made their view of election a point of pride. How? They did so by claiming to be chosen of God because of their physical pedigree, religious ceremonies, and their works under the Law. How, then, can the BIBLICAL truth of election not become a point of pride in those who claim to be God’s elect? It is by the Holy Spirit showing and convincing us that we who are chosen of God, justified by grace, redeemed by His blood, and regenerated by the Spirit are “VESSELS OF MERCY, which HE had afore prepared unto glory” (Rom. 9:23). Nothing God has done for us or given to us is deserved or earned by us. We did not deserve to be chosen or called or saved or justified or born again. Nothing in us or done by us influenced God to make it happen. All good that comes to God’s elect from God is all mercy and grace based totally on the righteousness of another – the Lord Jesus Christ!