ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH Weekly Bulletin Sunday, November 29, 2009
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.Psalm 119: 49-52
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
Scriptures such as this make it obvious that in order for a man to understand the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, he must cease to be a natural man (though he retains the old nature) and become a spiritual man. He must be born of the Spirit else he cannot see or enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). John Flavel (1628-1691) wrote this: “We once thought that the death of Christ, in itself, had been enough to secure our salvation; but, under the teachings of God, we discern plainly the necessity of a change of heart and state; or else the blood of Christ can never profit us.” The point is, spiritually, there must be a work of grace done in us before we can rightly understand the work of Christ done for us. We must have righteousness imparted to us (the new birth and nature) before we can spiritually understand righteousness imputed to us. Pastor Charles Pennington
WHAT IS IT TO CONFESS CHRIST? Our Lord said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32). What is it to confess Christ?
1. It is to have an understanding in the mind of WHO Christ is, WHAT Christ did, and WHERE Christ is. "The Son of God has come and given us an understanding...” “1John 5:20).
2. It is to believe Christ in the heart (Rom. 10: 9‑10), to receive Christ with a sincere and genuine heart love, and committal as Lord and Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King.
3. It is to confess Christ openly and publicly in believer's baptism. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Baptism does not save nor add anything to the Saviour's work; but it is a confession of, identification with, and testimony of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord, and our own death to sin and resurrection TO WALK WITH HIM.
4. It is identification with the church of our Lord Jesus, the people who love Him, and the preachers who preach His gospel of free and sovereign grace. Paul said to Timothy, "Be not ashamed of the testimony (gospel) of our God, nor of me His servant, but be ready yourself to partake (be identified) of the afflictions of the gospel." Where the gospel is preached, where the true people of God meet to worship, where the name of Christ is worshipped and exalted, THERE I WANT TO BE! And if I truly love Christ and confess Christ, THERE I WILL BE!
5. It is to speak of Christ daily in conversation, prayer, and as a faithful witness.Pastor Henry T. Mahan
BLOOD BEFORE THE LORD Note in scripture how many times the blood is said to be “before theLord.”Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin “before the Lord.”When the Passover lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed?It was on the OUTSIDE of the door “before the Lord.”He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”The suffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was “BEFORE the Lord,”UNTO the Lord, to declare the Lord’s righteousness, to satisfy the Lord’s justice, to fulfill the Lord’s purpose, to glorify the Lord’s character, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier!The atonement does not change the NATURE and character of God, but rather the atonement HONORS and MAGNIFIES the character of God.The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God’s love, but the result of it.God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God is merciful.In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Savior of the chosen people!Thank God we have atonement “before the Lord.”Pastor Henry T. Mahan
PAST PERFORMANCE AND FUTURE RESULTS I recently read a statement in a magazine about the investment strategy of a successful financial company. They talked all about their past successful performance to encourage investors to trust them with their money.But then they put this disclaimer, “our past performance is no certain guarantee of our future results.”How willing are people to risk all their capital on the flimsy and feeble promises of men.But they think very little of what is at stake in the welfare of their eternal state before almighty God.
However, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a risk (Rom. 4:20-21).We can safely invest all our salvation to our Saviour, Who cannot fail (Isa. 42:4) and Who is always successful (Rev. 1:18; 1Cor.15:57). The past performance of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His Mediatorial office; as Prophet to reveal (Deut. 18:18), Priest to redeem Heb. (2:17, 9:11-12) and King to reign (Matt. 28:18) is the certain and sure guarantee of the future results to all the heirs of grace (Rom. 8:32; Heb 9:15).The covenant of grace, in Christ is ordered in all things and is sure (2Sam. 23:5; Rom. 4:16; 2Cor. 1:20; Heb. 13:20).We can never go wrong and always invest wisely, trusting the Lord Jesus Christ with all our salvation (1John 5:11-12; Acts 4:12). Pastor Tom Harding
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M. Kingsport service 6:00 P.M. Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.Radio (Sundays): WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week