Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Willfull Sin

”For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” | Hebrews 10: 26-27

First, this text does not support the lie that God’s saves sinners and then they can be lost.

To say such a thing is an attempt to belittle the Lords’ strength to deliver.

The apostle John was clear about whom a verse such as this is speaking when he said in 1 John 2: 19: ”They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Secondly, the willful sin mentioned here is the same sin that the morality-preachers who crept into the Galatians’ assembly devoted their time to by preaching the necessity of a sinner’s law-obedience

”Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5: 2-5)

It is the sin the Hebrew brethren would commit if they gave in to the pressure of those around them who compromised.

”Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Romans 3: 31)

Such sin is the willful rejection of the truth that Christ the Lord fully completely accomplished salvation on behalf of his people

”Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2: 8)

This willful sin is a forsaking of the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ alone upholds the law of God as the representative of those trusting him.

”But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3: 21-22)

It is the willful denial of the truth that Christ by himself purged the sins of a particular, exact number of sinners chosen by God before the foundation of the world

”According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1: 4-5)

It is the sin of deliberately compromising with those who claim Christ’s blood is only effectual by the sinners will, by the sinner’s faith in his faith, by the sinner’s pretense of devotion

”Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” (Galatians 1: 6-9)

”O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 1-3)

It is the willful, deliberate sin of choosing to side with father or mother who trust in their religious acts and creeds and vain traditions instead of Christ Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life

”He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10: 37)

”Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1: 23)

This truth is always too strong for the prostituting, intellectual, compromising Pharisees and Sadducees of the day but God promises that his eternal vengeance will be far stronger!

”For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10: 30-31)

By all means, seek a place where Christ is preached unapologetically every time you attend the service – HE IS THE ONE THING NEEDFUL!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Parable of the Mustard Seed” (32:21 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 26 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The God Of Peace Shall Be With You

”And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” | Acts 16: 14

All the glory in salvation belongs to Christ Jesus the Lord.

Even the believers willingness and obedience is by Christ the Power and Wisdom of God.

”For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1: 16)

We all know that the power is exercised in these last days through preaching.

”And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5: 20)

Throughout the generations the LORD God has proven that you and I can never know God by our own wisdom.

”For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1: 21)

Therefore the preaching of the gospel is God’s ordained means of saving his people in these last days.

”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

But the power in the gospel is the person of Christ who reveals himself in the sinner

”Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Psalm 110: 3)

The Power which makes the gospel the power of God unto salvation is not the power of a preacher, or of a discourse, or of persuasion – Christ worked all things to bring the sinner and the gospel together, Christ sent the truth, Christ opened the heart and revealed himself, and the revelation is Christ himself, the Power of God.

The revelation of the mystery is Christ.

”That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1: 17)

This is the true God, and eternal life.

”But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1: 23, 24)

The hope of glory is Christ in you, the Power and Wisdom that Christ IS when he makes himself known in the heart which makes a sinner willing.

”That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1: 17)

Only when you see Christ — the beauties of holiness in him – will you be persuaded that he is All.

”And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5: 20)

All your complete acceptance with God with nothing needed by you.

As we endeavor to bear witness of Christ in this place let’s remember when we are forbidden to go forward as we plan that the Lord always opens the door in his time and not ours.

Let us actively wait on the Lord.

We will know as assuredly as Paul knew when it is time.

Seeing the great detail with which our Lord governs the hearts of those he uses and those whom he calls out, let it not cause us to use his sovereignty as an excuse for laziness.

But may it give us assurance that we can give ourselves to this work: Immediately, Making a straight course, Today and the next day and the next day, Assuredly gathering that the Lord has called us to promote the gospel of Christ in this place.

And finally, may we do so giving all glory to Christ Jesus the Lord in whom dwells all fullness.

”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4: 8)

When Paul wrote to the Philippian church later he comforted them by reminding them to always think on “things” – those things are the blessings of the person and work of Christ which you have learned and received (been given.)

The God of peace shall be with you.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Teaches Lydia the Gospel” (42:14 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 26 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Prayer Of Faith

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” | James 5: 15-16

James assures us that the prayer of faith, the prayer that is born of and caused by faith in Christ, shall save the sick.

Of course the word “save” means “deliver.”

The prayer of faith shall, most assuredly, deliver the sick from his sickness.

What is “the prayer of faith”?

The next verse tell us: “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

“THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS “EFFECTUAL”.

The word used by James means “in wrought”.

It is a prayer wrought in, or produced in the heart of a believer by the Spirit of God.

“For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.” (2 Samuel 7: 27)

It is a prayer that is found in the heart, produced by the work of God and based upon the Word of God.

Without question, the prayer of faith willingly submits to the will of God.

But there is more to it than that.

“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 27)

The prayer of faith discerns what the will of God is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit in his heart.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5: 14)

And the prayer of faith is according to the will of God.

THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS “FERVENT”.

Faith is importunate.

“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. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Luke 11: 8-10)

It will not give up its plea until it obtains the mercy it seeks.

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15: 28)

Like the Syrophenician woman, faith cannot be turned away.

“Wherefore he 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)

THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS THE PRAYER OF “A RIGHTEOUS MAN”, one who has been made righteous by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to him and by the cleansing of his blood.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14: 15)

It is the prayer of one who draws near to, calls upon, and is accepted of God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH “AVAILETH MUCH”.

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Proverbs 15: 8)

The prayer of the righteous is God’s delight; therefore “he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5: 1)

We have what we desire, because what we desire is what our heavenly Father desires – his will and his glory.

“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15: 29)

We gladly subject all our desires to these two things.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4: 3)

The prayer of faith is free of selfish desire and personal want.

The prayer of faith wants what God has purposed.

Therefore, it is always effectual.

If my will is subject to and in harmony with my Father’s will, I may, and most assuredly shall have what I will.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Baptist, The Bride, & The Bridegroom” (45:01 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 11 August 2008 | Previous post date: 8 March, 2022 | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Go Forth Unto Him!

”Let brotherly love continue.” | Hebrews 13: 1

If you confess to this world that all your hope is — not in yourself – but in Christ Jesus your Lord whose suffering without the camp made you holy and accepted with God eternally then you will be an offense to this world.

Glorying in the cross of Christ means renouncing any sanctifying, justifying work that you, or any other man, has or can perform.

Glorying in the cross of Christ is to give yourself, your time, your energy, your all to worship and witness of Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior.

”Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3: 12)

If you leave behind this self-serving, self-righteous, will-worshipping generation and go forth unto Christ without the camp then you shall bear reproach.

You will bear it from unbelieving fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and family, but the Lord stated that if we love any more than him we are not worthy of him.

You will bear scorn from the religious world.

Remember: the reproach which Christ suffered was at the hands of religious men and women — religion excommunicated him, kicked him out of the camp, because they would not confess their sin, let go of their self-righteous deeds, and confess him to be Lord and Savior.

The political, secular world rejected him because faith in Christ requires no compromise and the world’s system requires you to compromise to the world’s government, business, and popularity.

It is fine with the world if you serve Christ and the world; but Christ is clear that it is an impossibility to do so.

Yet if Christ makes you know in spirit that he was suffering for you then you will find that there is not anything which is too much to suffer for Christ!

Either we go without the camp and bear his reproach or we compromise with the enemies of Christ.

We can not do both.

”Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Hebrews 13: 13)

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Unbelief and Faith” (59:19 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

What Is Your Comfort?

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” | Psalm 23: 4

Are you happy?

Yes!

But I am not without times of sorrow and depression.

Like any human, I weep over loved ones, friends, sickness, death, and disappointment.

But I sorrow not as those who have no hope.

CHRIST IS MY HOPE!

He loved me, gave Himself for me, and will make ALL THESE THINGS work together for my eternal good.

Are you at rest in your soul?

Yes! but I am not free from concern and conviction over my sins and my infirmities.

I love Christ but not as I should or as I desire.

I am satisfied with Him, His mercy, His grace, and His love; but I will never be totally satisfied until I wake with His likeness.

Do you have peace?

Yes! but that peace with God, peace of conscience, and peace in any situation or condition is not based on my merit, feelings, nor religious duties.

CHRIST IS MY PEACE!

He said, “In ME ye have peace. In the world ye shall have trouble.”

Any man or woman who claims continual, uninterrupted joy, rest, and peace in this world is either not telling the truth or has no connection with reality!

True joy, rest, and peace are things we enjoy in Christ IN THE MIDST of troubles, afflictions, and infirmities.

Paul’s exhortation was “rejoice in the Lord.”

When I am conscious of my weakness, failures, and sins, I rejoice in Christ, my righteousness.

When I am concerned about food, clothing, and shelter, I rejoice in Christ, my provider.

When I am sick, Christ is my healer.

When I am grieved, Christ is my comfort.

When I am faced with death, Christ is my life!

So it is not necessary to put on a false face and deceive others.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (Isaiah 26: 3)

We are still human; but our peace, rest, and joy is Christ.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Believer’s Comfort” (27:27 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 11 August 2008 | Previous post date: 1 September, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Lord, What Will You Have Me To Do?

“Lord, what will you have me to do?” | Acts 9: 6

This is Paul’s question on the road where he met the sovereign Christ.

It was not, ‘what do I think is best for me?’

Or ‘what will afford me the most pleasure and comfort?’

Or even ‘what do other people do?’

But “Lord, what will YOU have me to do?”

In every case enable me, by Thy grace, to do what is pleasing in Thy sight and that which will bring glory to Thy name.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3: 6)

Where we get in trouble is putting our wills and ways before His!

It is not I but Christ, His gospel, His church, His kingdom, His glory, which must be considered.

When this is settled “I” will fall in the right place and though the way may not be easy; in the end it will be pleasant.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “God Created Man” (36:16 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: Special | Previous post date: 30 June, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Confessing And Professing Christ

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” | Romans 10: 13

Try to remember these words of Martin Luther as you live out your days in this religious world: “If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that point where the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him! Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-front besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

Dear souls, though there is hardly any doctrine of Scripture that modern religion firmly stands for, yet the most basic and essential doctrines of God’s Word, they firmly and unitedly stand against.

Modern religion vehemently opposes the truth of God’s sovereign, almighty, saving grace.

They oppose the five points of what we call Calvinism – which is God-exalting, God-honoring, gospel truth.

They hate the Bible doctrines of man’s Total Depravity, God’s Unconditional Election of men unto salvation, the Limited Atonement of Jesus Christ, God’s Irresistible Grace, and the Preservation and Perseverance of God’s elect. (They especially hate the truth of Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption.)

Do not try to push these dear and precious truths of God upon anyone, but do not ever be embarrassed or ashamed to own these truths, though you stand all alone in a crowd of unbelievers.

John Calvin once said, “Even a dog will bark if his master’s vineyard is being overrun.”

Be zealous for the good opinion of God and care little for the good opinion of men.

I have been called a “cultist,” a “different kind of Baptist,” and even a “Jim Jones,” but none of these things move me away from owning God’s precious, eternal truths.

God’s Word is more than mere doctrine, even divine doctrine – in a sense it is our life!

Let us not be mere professors of Christ, but daily confess our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in both doctrine and practice.

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Who Will Be Saved?” (44:37 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: Special | Previous post date: 24 June, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Jesus Christ Himself

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” | Colossians 2: 9,10

My friends, how vain and futile are any efforts on our part either to add unto or to improve upon the glorious righteousness of our blessed Lord Jesus.

Then what must I do to be saved?

‘BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!’

Ours is to ‘BELIEVE.’

His is to ‘DO.’

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus Christ Himself”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: Special | Previous post date: 2 May, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed God

”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” | 1 Timothy 1: 15-16

Suppose that an ‘accident’ should take away our lives; I smile to think that the worst thing that could happen would be the best thing that could happen.

If we should die, we should but the sooner be “forever with the Lord.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed God” (33:09 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: Special | Previous post date: 8 April, 2023

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

A Powerful Word

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” | Acts 9: 6

Here is a powerful word — “Born”

Salvation is the gift of life, eternal life.

When our Lord declares, “Ye must be born again,” he is saying you must be the object and recipient of Divine power.

Just as God created the world, God must create life in your soul.

Just as God breathed into Adam and made him a living soul, so God must breathe into you the breath of life by his Spirit, or you will perish in your sins.

This is what I am saying: you are spiritually dead, helplessly lost by nature.

Your only hope is that God the Holy Spirit will give you life — “You must be born again!”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “When Is a Person Saved?” (31:52 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: Special | Previous post date: 1 April, 2022