For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:10-11

A Nation on Edge

“The nation is on edge.” This is what some in the news media are telling us concerning the Coronavirus - "The nation is on edge." I don't know how many are on edge; I doubt there are very many comparatively speaking. What a freedom of heart it is to live in the faith that our Sovereign God rules all things. There is not a grain of sand outside of his control. Everything from Satan to kings to storms to viruses etc. are controlled by the One who calls Himself our God - "I will be their God and they shall be my people" (2 Cor.6:16).

How could anyone who can truly say, "This God is my God" be on edge about anything? I know that is easily said. I know there are things that trouble us. I know we are sometimes afraid. I know that sometimes our poor souls are like David when he complained, "Why art thou cast down O my soul?" But then he gives the remedy for his cast down-ness, "Hope thou in God." Live in the exercise of faith and hope, and you can live in the freedom that your God in whom you believe and hope controls all things. Pastor Bruce Crabtree

We Believe Him To Be The Christ

“Whosoever believeth that JESUS IS THE CHRIST is born of God,” (1John 5:1).

All who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ. The title THE CHRIST signifies anointedand includes all the offices of the Son of God. To believe Him to be THE CHRIST is to believe Him to that Prophet which Moses said should come, who has declared the whole mind and will of the Father. It is to believe He is that Priest which should arise after the order of Melchizedek and make full atonement for sin and effectual intercession for transgressors. It is to believe He is King of kings and Lord of lords, whom God hath set over all things from all ages and for all time.

This faith in Christ is not a mere assent to the fact nor merely acknowledging it as the demons have done (Lk. 4:41). It is to believe with the heart (Rom. 10:9-10). It is to bow the knee in repentance and to look to Christ, trust in Him, receive Him as our righteousness, to rest in His blood for cleansing, and to lay hold of Him as our Savior, Redeemer, and Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).

Such faith is far above and beyond the reach of the human mind. It is the gift of God. It is the result of regeneration and a new birth, for we must be drawn to Christ and taught of God (Jn. 6:44-45).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1986)

TAUGHT OF GOD

For as long as I can remember I have known what we call the doctrines of grace. I knew those doctrines as my parents, pastor, and Bible class teachers taught them to me. I knew those doctrines and felt that they were true, but I did not know Christ. Then everything changed when God taught me. When God taught me I saw that the Lord Jesus Christ is everything that I need. When God taught me, I loved Christ, needed Christ, and came to Christ. You know that God has taught you when you come to Christ for salvation. “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6:45) Pastor Frank Tate

GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Col. 1:12-15).

In these verses of scripture the Apostle to the Gentiles reminds every believer in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ about their spiritual biography. Paul gives to us a summary regarding the experience of grace that is common to all who believe (Titus 1:4). Here are five things to remember about the salvation that God works in His elect (Phil. 1:6).

1). God made us fit or qualified to be saints, “The Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” All those saved by the grace of God through the righteousness and blood of Christ are unfit by nature to be a partaker of the inheritance of grace (Rom.3:23; 5:12). The only thing that we deserve to be a partaker of is God’s holy judgement against our sin (Rom.6:23; Ezk.18:4). God in His sovereign mercy (Titus 3:5), is the One who has made us fit for His presence through Christ Jesus alone (1Cor.1:30; 4:7; Eph.1:6).

2). God delivered us from the power of sin, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness.” Darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance is our state by nature and birth (Eph. 2:12; 4:18). Because of our spiritual condition we are unable to deliver ourselves from this horrible position (John 6:44). Thank God that He is able to save to the uttermost (Heb7:25).

3). God translated us into Christ Jesus, “Translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Every believer has been called out of darkness into His marvelous light through the preaching of the gospel of Christ (1Cor.1:21) and the effectual work of the Holy Spirit within (2Pet. 1:9; Eph.2:1; John 6:63).

4). God redeemed us through His precious blood, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sin.” God has only designed one way of redemption from sin (John 14:6), which is through the effectual and eternal blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb.9:12; 1Pet.1:18). We have not only forgiveness of sin (Eph.1:7), but also righteousness established and freely imputed (Rom.4:1-6).