Count the Cost

We are living in the day of “instant religion”. The conviction is gone, the struggle is gone, counting the cost of discipleship is a thing of the past. Men make a profession today and are teachers tomorrow.

It is far easier and quicker to shake a preacher’s hand than to cling as a beggar to the hand of the Redeemer. It is easier and quicker to walk an aisle than to seek the Lord. It is easier to eat a wafer than to feed on the Living Bread. It is more convenient to receive water on the brow or be plunged beneath the water than to drink continually at the Fountain of Life.

It may sound like I am discouraging, rather than encouraging, men to confess Christ. Not so! I am discouraging you from making a hurried, careless, half-hearted profession of religion that will leave you in a false refuge without God and without hope.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” (Rom 10:1).

Believers pray for their sin to be forgiven. We pray for our loved ones to hear the Gospel of free grace in Christ and to be drawn to Him. We pray for our brethren in Christ to be comforted, and we pray for God to call out His elect in this generation. But do we pray for our enemies?

Paul was praying for the salvation of his earthly kinsmen in Romans 9:3 & 10:1. Those Jews viewed him as a traitor. One who changed sides during a holy war. They likely referred to him only as Saul, and with a sour tone in their voices mocking him. They would torture and kill him if they could. But Paul earnestly prayed for them to hear and to know Christ.

Our Master told us to do just that in Matthew 5:44. He said to “pray for them that despitefully use you.” Christ not only told us to pray for OUR enemies, but on our behalf, He prayed for HIS enemies – “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23v34). Also, He died for His sheep while we were ungodly enemies against Him. (Rom 5v6-8)

May we be given the grace to pray for the ones that hate us, despise us and would kill us if possible. That they too may know their sin and know the One who was made sin for His people, The Lord Jesus Christ!

Pastor Kevin Thacker

A Perfect Sacrifice

God cannot have a blemished priest at His altar or a blemished sacrifice thereon. Both the priest and the sacrifice must be perfect (Lev. 21-22). Now we have both the perfect Priest and the perfect sacrifice in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, He having offered Himself without spot to God. In Him we have all that God requires, whether as the victim or the Priest. We have all that God could require, and all that a man could need.

Pastor Scott Richardson

Jesus Is The Christ

“Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:2-3).

Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God; the promised and anointed Saviour and Redeemer of the covenant of grace (Heb. 13:20). This was Peter’s early confession given in Matthew16:16, “And Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This was Peter’s same confession when the multitude of sinners walked away; “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:66-69).

This was also Peter’s declaration at Pentecost; “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

As the Christ of God; Jesus of Nazareth is Anointed Messiah and Christ in all His office fulfilling the scriptures (Isa. 61:1-4). Jesus Christ is the Prophet to reveal God to us (Deut. 18:18; Matt. 11:25). Jesus Christ is the Priest to redeem us unto God (Heb. 2:17; 9:11-12; 1 Peter 1:18). Jesus Christ is the King to sovereignly rule and reign over us and all things (Psalm 135; 5-6; Matt. 28:18; John 17:2).

But also consider how the Lord Jesus Christ is abundantly anointed of God without measure to accomplish all our salvation (John 3:34-35).

The only Redeemer of His people (1 Peter 1:18).

The only Saviour of the Sheep (Matt. 1:21).

The only Surety of the Covenant of Grace (Heb. 7:22).

The only Good and Chief Shepherd of the sheep (John 15:5).

The only Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).

The only Advocate for the elect (1 John 2:1-2).

The only Intercessor for sinners (Heb. 7:25).