Look And Live!

”God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” | Hebrews 1: 4

Throughout the Bible that act of faith by which we receive eternal life is spoken of as a look.

Like those children of Israel who were bitten by the fiery serpents had to look to the brazen serpent for life, we must look to Christ crucified for life eternal.

We must look away from ourselves to Christ for our entire salvation.

Salvation begins in a look: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45: 22)

Salvation is maintained by a look: ”Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)

Salvation will end in a look: “And they shall see his face” (Revelation 22: 4)

If you hope to see the Savior’s face with joy in glory, you must look to him now.

Look, I say, look to Christ!

Look and live!

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Unrivalled Excellence of Our Lord Jesus Christ”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

The Blessed Man

”Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” | Psalm 65: 4

David gives us two marks of a man truly blessed of God.

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee”.

First, a man who is blessed of God has been chosen by God unto salvation in divine election. Election is a great blessing for a sinful man because no one can do anything to deserve salvation.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1: 5)

No one can do anything to get God to choose them. God elected sinners “according to the good pleasure of his will.”

Election is a great blessing because it is always undeserved.

Second, a man who is blessed of God has been caused to approach God by the irresistible call of the Holy Spirit.

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6: 44)

Man by nature does not have the ability to come to Christ unless God draws us to Christ.

“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5: 40)

Man by nature also refuses to come to Christ for salvation.

No one deserves to be drawn to Christ since we have long refused Him. But what a blessing of God when He draws everyone He chose in divine election to Christ, the Savior of His people!

May God be pleased to make us blessed men and women!

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Blessed In Christ”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Christian Racism

”My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” | James 2: 1

The Spirit of God reminds us, as brethren, against elevating one person while neglecting another.

Sinful men glorify or reject one another based on race, gender, class, religious-practice and other things.

Fact is, in ourselves and apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all one, putrid, mass of filth before the thrice-holy God.

By God’s grace, we believe that God did not choose any of his elect based on anything in us, good or bad.

Why then would we show favor to one and reject another based on anything produced by men?

God would have his one race glory in no other but the Lord of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why then would we glory in man by choosing one above another?

The glory of the Lord so far excels all, that when we behold him by faith, every imaginary difference between Jew and Gentile, male and female, rich and poor, the one who thinks he keeps the law and the one who knows nothing of God’s law vanishes.

Believers are complete in him, no sin, no schisms, and no differences.

The only true distinguishing characteristic that exists between sinners in this world is that some refuse to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ while others have been irresistibly made to glory only in the one who has made them the very righteousness of God.

Knowing therefore, who it is that makes one sinner to differ from another, let us glorify him, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Grace, Grace Unto It”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 11 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Strive To Enter In

”Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” | Hebrews 4: 14-16

The Lord said in Matthew 11: 12, “The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

While it is true that salvation is a work of God in which we are passive, men dead in sins do not actively seek the Living God.

It is equally true that when God does give a dead sinner life, that one who was dead in sins becomes very active.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” (Matthew 7: 13)

He “strives to enter in at the straight gate.”

He earnestly “seeks God with all his heart.”

“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” (Luke 11: 8)

He is “importunate” (‘insistent’) in prayer.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8: 12-13)

He seeks to “crucify the flesh” and “through the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body.”

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2: 10)

He is willing to “endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.”

The rest that the believer enters is not one of laziness, apathy, or indifference.

If our belief in sovereign grace has lead us to excuse our sin, justify our disobedience, dampen our enthusiasm, become indifferent to our responsibility, or make our love and zeal grow cold… we have not understood sovereign grace.

While all of our former religious activity does need to be killed, may God deliver us from using His grace to have a passive attitude that is not taught in Scripture!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “Who, Where, How, Why, and When”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Breadth, Length, Depth, Height

”Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” | Ephesians 3: 13-19

Even in the least difficult situations, God must give us His grace.

Even in the most difficult situations, God’s people find that His grace is sufficient.

Click here to listen to the message “Breadth, Length, Depth, Height”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Abounding Grace

“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” | Romans 5: 20

Grace Alone.

I hear many folks talk about their part in salvation. I can’t relate to that.

My experience of grace was God doing everything and me doing nothing.

Sin abounded in me and I could not free myself from its deadly grip.

The only explanation as to why this sinner is saved is because God’s grace in Christ Jesus abounded to me.

Grace did much more than offer to save me, grace abounded in saving me.

I was dead – Christ gave me life.

I was lost – Christ found me.

I was blind – Christ gave me eyes of faith to behold him.

Grace Always.

I know that only the same abounding, reigning grace will bring me to glory.

Of all the many unimaginable joys of heaven, to love Christ with an unsinning heart must surely be a choice one.

Then I shall have an abounding heart of gratitude to thank Jesus Christ for his abounding grace to me.

Grace taught my soul to pray – And made my eyes o’erflow; His grace has kept me to this day – And will not let me go.

I’m looking forward to that!

~ Pastor Larry Criss

Click here to listen to the message “Our Sovereign God”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 23 August, 2020 | Previous post date: 28 May, 2021

Temporary Believers

”There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” | John 1: 6-7

Over the years you and I have seen many leave their profession of Christ and go back to following the course of this world.

Our Lord Jesus calls such persons temporary believers, “Which for a while believe,” yet finally “fall away,” (Luke 8: 13) John Bunyan gave the manner in which these temporary believers “draw back.” He gives nine:

They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come.

Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet-prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like.

Then they shun the company of lively warm Christians.

After that, they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like.

Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly; that they may have a seeming reason to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmity they have spied in them) behind their backs.

Then they begin to adhere to and associate themselves with, carnal, loose and wanton men.

Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret, and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example.

After this they begin to play with little sins, openly.

And then being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceiving.

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Lying to God”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 10 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Blood Substitute Man

”The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi: And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.” | 1 Chronicles 1: 1-4

I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ.

My hope lies in another quarter.

I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, “You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself.”

My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Blood Substitute Man”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee

”And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” | Luke 18: 42

We know that strictly speaking, it is not our faith that saved us.

Faith did not keep the law for me. Christ did!

Faith did not die on the cross for my sins. Christ did!

Faith was not raised from the dead, Christ was!

Yet the Lord says, “Thy faith hath saved thee.”

Why does the Saviour put this high honor on our faith? Because faith looks to Christ alone!

It rests in Him only, and looks nowhere else!

It gives all the honor of salvation to Christ!

A faith that does not do that is not saving faith to begin with.

Christ puts such honor on faith because true faith puts all honor on HIM!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The Sinner’s Prayer”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

The Just Shall Live By Faith

”And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” | Genesis 25: 21-23

The phrase the just shall live by faith is in the scriptures four times

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2: 4)

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1: 17)

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Galatains 3: 11)

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10: 38)

The just shall live by faith must be important since it is in scripture four times, but what does it mean? Three things immediately spring to mind.

First, the just shall live by faith means that a sinner is justified by the faithfulness OF Christ to obey the law as a man as the representative of His people and to make the sacrifice that puts away the sin of His people without any help from the sinner.

Second, the just shall live by faith means that a sinner is justified through faith IN Christ without any of our works contributing in any way. A sinner is justified by relying on the Lord Jesus Christ to do all the work it takes to justify them.

Thirdly, the just shall live by faith means that the justified ones live believing the Word of God. The justified ones believe everything the Word of God says. The justified ones believe every promise of God.

They do not try to live on what they think God might do.

They live relying upon what God says He WILL do in His Word.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Election Must Be Preached”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky