The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.

Proverbs 8:22-25

Next Sunday, May 22, we will observe the Lord’s Table and enjoy lunch together after the morning service…

You must BE born again

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again” (John 3:7).

It is no marvel that our Lord told Nicodemus that all sinners must be born again. We are dead in sin so it is obvious that we must be born again. We can’t be born again by making a decision because dead sinners can’t decide to do anything but sin. Sinners are completely passive in the new birth. A sinner does not decide to accept Jesus and be born again any more than a baby decides to accept its parents and be conceived in the womb of its mother. The new birth is an act of God done in a sinner, without any help from us whatsoever. The new birth is not something you do. The new birth is something God does for you and in you by a miracle of His grace. You must BE born again. Pastor Frank Tate

Cain or Abel

There are really only two religions in the world. One of Cain and the other of Abel. One of Ishmael and the other of Isaac. One of Esau and the other of Jacob. One of law and the other of promise. One of Mount Sinai and the other of Mount Calvary. One condemns, the other finds no fault. One leads to bondage, the other to freedom. One

tendeth to death, the other to life. One of weakness, the other of power. One of merit, the other of mercy. One of the weakness of the letter, the other of the power of the Spirit. Copied

By The Grace Of God

1 Cor. 15:10

"By the grace of God I am what I am." If I am elect, my election is of grace. If I am redeemed ­my redemption is of grace. If I am called, I am called by grace. If I am preserved, I am preserved by grace. Whatever there is in me that is accept­able or gives my soul any comfort, must be all of grace and grace alone.

John Newton used to say that, “For a believer in sovereign grace to be proud was the most inconsist­ent thing in the world. By his own profession he is what he is, knows what he knows, and has what he has by the grace of God.”

Perhaps we have worshipped with some friend, prayed with him, or even heard him preach and teach the Word. He seemed to be a man of strong faith, deep conviction, and devout life. Then all of a sudden he is gone from the church, from the gospel and from the fellowship of the saints. What do you feel at such a time? You feel a sadness and broken heart for him and a fear for yourself and you say with Paul, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

Let us all be warned against pride of heart and spirit and be ever reminded by His word and our own experience that, "By the grace of God we are what we are."

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1981)

STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ABOUNDING

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1Cor. 15:58).

Because believers have been given the complete victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 15:57), we have such a sure and certain hope of forgiveness and pardon from all sins (Eph. 1:7; 1John 1:7), full redemption in Christ (Gal. 3:13), total reconciliation in Christ (2Cor. 5:18), everlasting righteousness in Christ (Rom. 4:6), washing of regeneration in Christ (Titus 3:5), and sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection in Christ (John 11:25; 1Cor.15:51-56) “therefore, be steadfast, unmoving and abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Be steadfast; settled in Christ, rooted and grounded in Christ, stand fast ( Eph. 3:17; Col. 2:7; ). Take a stand for the cause of God and truth and don’t compromise. (Gal. 5:1; Phil. 1:27).

Be unmoveable; wherever the gospel is being denied or challenged be firm, strong, confident in the faith, and in view of the truth. Let nothing shake your faith or move you away from the gospel. Contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints; (Jude 1:3).

Always abounding in the work of the Lord; always engaged in doing the will of God; in promoting His glory, preaching His gospel and advancing His kingdom. The phrase means, not only to be engaged in this fully, but also to be engaged diligently, laboriously and excelling in this. You must work and labor in the Lord, for His glory, under His direction, and by His influence; for without him ye can do nothing (John 15:5); never to be saved, but rather because we are saved by His power and sovereign grace. (Eph. 2:8-10; 2Tim. 1:9).