CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – Majestic Sweetness – p. 52)

Unto the Lord, this sinner owed

A debt I could not pay;

My sins were such an awful load,

But Christ put them away. (R)

His blood has washed away my shame,

And satisfaction made;

O bless the dear Redeemer’s name,

My ransom price is paid. (R)

Salvation unto Christ I owe,

O what a gracious Friend;

He washed and made me white as snow,

On Him my hopes depend. (R)

Some day in heav’n I’ll sing His praise,

With all the ransomed throng;

And joyfully my voice I’ll raise,

To sing redemption’s song. (R)

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

We Are Saved by Hope – Romans 8:23-27

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – Isaiah 51:4-6

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – Come Thou Fount – p. 17

• READING – Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

• MESSAGE – The Wheat and the Tares – Matt. 13:34-39

• CLOSING HYMN – What a Wonderful Savior – p. 454

Birthdays: Jane Margeson – June 8^th

THE RECONCILIATION OF ENEMIES

“For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). There was but one way a holy God and His vile enemies could be reconciled. One who was equal with the offended God and yet a brother of the offenders, must answer the demands of the divine law. He must be perfect in the place of the offenders, and He must experience death as their Substitute in order to satisfy the just penalty of a broken law. Bless the name of Jesus Christ, He is the Son of God and the Son of Man who has fully satisfied God and completely accomplished the redemption, reconciliation and salvation of His people by His obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. —Pastor Jim Byrd

ASSURANCE BASED ON WHAT? THE FOUNDATION

The Gospel is the promise of the absolute certainty that salvation is conditioned on Jesus Christ alone without any contribution of works and merits from the sinner. This is without doubt good news, especially when it is revealed to us in the condition of man's inability in a condemned state. This promise that all of salvation is conditioned on Christ, the Representative of God's people, was established in the eternal Covenant of Grace when He was declared to be the Son of God as High Priest forever. Because God could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself that Christ was to be such a Priest to fulfill all the terms and conditions of this covenant. There is a rich source of assurance to be drawn from the eternal purpose of God in promising salvation only by the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The covenant of grace is really only the beginning of the overflowing spring of assurance, which we tap into by God-given faith. That promise actually was fulfilled as Christ finished the work. —Pastor Scott Price

“Wherefore HE [the Lord Jesus Christ] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

ASSURANCE IN CHRIST

Brethren, true godly assurance of salvation comes NOT by looking within ourselves to see if we have done enough or have grown enough, nor even to determine if we are sincere enough. True godly assurance of salvation comes by God-given faith that causes us to look only to Christ crucified and risen from the dead and to Christ as our Great High Priest Who ever lives to make intercession for us and Who keeps us by His grace and power. Consider –

In Christ, and by God-given faith in Him, we are assured in God’s Word that no sin can be charged to us, and we are righteous in God’s sight based on Christ’s righteousness imputed to us (Rom. 4:6-8; 8:33-34)

In Christ, and by God-given faith in Him, we are assured that we cannot be condemned by the law or separated from God’s love in Christ (Rom. 8:1,35-39).

In Christ, and by God-given faith in Him, we are assured that Satan’s and our enemy’s accusations against us are futile because they are turned back by the blood of Christ and the word of our testimony which is our salvation secured in and by Christ (Rev. 12:11).

In Christ, and by God-given faith in Him, we are assured that not even the remaining presence, influence, and contamination of our sinful flesh can bring us to forsake Christ and drag us down into condemnation (Rom. 7:24-25).

In Christ, and by God-given faith in Him, we are assured that the world cannot defeat us or bring us to condemnation because Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33; Isa. 54:17). —Pastor Bill Parker