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Our Sins And Our Guilt

”Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” | Acts 20: 28

As the people of God, we don’t deny Adam’s sin and guilt before Him.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3: 23)

We also confess and own that in Adam all have sinned, all have spiritually died, that we are all guilty by imputed and actual sin and imputed and actual guilt.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

However, I have never read in the scriptures of anyone praying forgive me for Adam’s sin, or Adam’s guilt.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5: 12)

Rather, the people of God are always praying, Lord forgive me for my sin, like the publican prayed, “Lord have mercy on me the sinner” or like David prayed, “Against thee and thee only have I sinned.”

We must understand, (and that only by sovereign revelation) that we are the guilty party, that we are ruined and lost and guilty before God.

Until we do, we will never earnestly beg for pardon, mercy or say with Job, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42: 5-6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Church Bought With His Blood”

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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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Blood Of Jesus Christ

”The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” | 1 John 1: 7

Oh, what good news the gospel of Jesus Christ declares to sinners!

We are by birth and nature children of darkness, loving darkness rather than the Light of the truth. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3: 19)

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2: 12)

However, by the marvelous power of God through the gospel of Christ, “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) God has delivered us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1: 13)

That we should show forth the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2: 9)

Furthermore, the gospel declares unto all that believe, that the precious blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Not the blood of bulls and goats, not the ceremony and traditions of men, but the glorious blood offering of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, nothing less and nothing more, cleanses from all sin.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1: 18-20)

Original sin, actual sin, spiritual and natural sin, ALL sin forever!!

Oh, the glory of this perfect, full and finished salvation we are blessed to possess and enjoy through our victorious Lord.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57)

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Freewill or Free Grace?”

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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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Preacher’s Call Or God’s Call?

”And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” | John 5: 37-40

The “invitation” or “altar call” at the end of a service has become such an accepted tradition in today’s religion that those who do not sing an “invitation hymn” and invite people to the front of the church to “get saved” are branded with all sorts of names and charges.

It never seems to trouble religious people that this “altar call” is nowhere to be found in God’s Word; that the great majority of those who “come forward” usually “go back” into indifference and worldliness; that the Scriptures present BAPTISM as our public confession of Christ, not “shaking the preacher’s hand;” that the gospel is a COMMAND to repent, believe, and follow the Lord in baptism, not a mere invitation.

The King of kings does not invite His subjects to obey and believe Him; He commands them!

I preach to you the Word of the living God!

In the preaching of His Word, the holiness, justice, and righteousness of God are declared.

The truth of our fall, sinfulness, and inability is clearly set forth, as is the grace and mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you a sinner?

Confess that fact before God, not before me!

Do you need mercy?

Tell God you need mercy, not me!

Do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer, righteousness, and sin-offering for one such as you?

Then settle that issue before the throne of grace, not at the front of the church!

Has God spoken peace to your heart in Christ?

Do you now rest in Him alone as your Lord and Savior, your High Priest and Mediator?

Is the old man crucified with Christ and buried, and are you risen in Him, a new creature?

Then ask the pastor to assist you in believer’s baptism that you may declare publicly what God has done in you personally!

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Why Men Won’t Come to Christ for Life”

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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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Who Does Your Work?

”The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” | Acts 8: 32-35

Nothing more clearly reveals to us that salvation, sanctification, and redemption is the work of our God than to observe the efforts and failure of those who TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK FOR THEMSELVES!

The disciples asked, “Lord, who then can be saved?”

He said unto them, “WITH MEN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE; but with God all things are possible.”

It is impossible in the flesh for a man to please God.

Yet millions, ignorant of the righteousness of Christ, still go about to establish their own righteousness and WILL NOT SUBMIT to the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 21-23)

Many keep up this masquerade to the judgment and then plead their works before God; but most finally lose interest, keep their names on church rolls, and play church on special days.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1: 3)

When they die, their preachers try to find some cause on which to give their families hope; but that, too, is impossible; for IF CHRIST IS NOT IN YOU, there is no hope of glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “An Encounter With 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Lord Is My Shepherd

”The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” | Psalm 23: 1-6

The important question is, “Have you come to Christ?”

It is not to which church you belong, but if you belong to Christ.

It is not if we believe in a church, but if we believe in Christ.

It is not if we go to church, but have we come to Christ.

It is not have we bowed at some altar, but have we bowed and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not professing religion, but professing Christ.

Christ said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to Me” He does not say you will be religious, good folks, Bible readers, hymn singers, hand clappers, or loud and long prayers, but that “You will come to Christ.”

~ Pastor Milton Howard

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Is My Shepherd”

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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: 22 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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One Of You Shall Betray Me – Master Is It I?

”Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” | John 11: 3

When the Lord told His disciples, “One of you shall betray me,” they all replied, “Lord, is it I?”

We should have such distrust of ourselves that we would have the same reply.

But one of His disciples answered differently, “Master (Rabbi) is it I?”

This is the same disciple who betrayed Christ with a kiss saying, “Hail, Master.”

Not one time do we read where Judas Iscariot ever called Christ “Lord.”

Master is a term of respect for a teacher.

But the fact that Judas never called Him Lord reveals what he was in His wicked heart.

To the believer, Christ is Lord.

We recognize His Lordship over all things, and we recognize and love His Lordship over us.

Rolfe Barnard used to say, “Don’t tell me who your savior is, tell me who your Lord is. Then I will know who your savior is.”

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “He Whom Thou Lovest is Sick”

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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: 22 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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Justification by Faith

”Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” | Romans 7: 1

It has been said that a church either stands or falls by the blessed truth of justification by faith and their view of it, and their stand on it.

Faith is the opposite of works, faith is not doing but believing, faith has to do with resting in Christ and His obedience and His righteousness.

Faith is the means of our justification: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5: 1)

Faith receives the truth of the gospel the merits of Christ. Faith receives the doing and dieing of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3: 28)

Faith is not its own object; those who have been given faith do not look to their faith but to Christ who is the object of their faith.

We know there is no merit in our faith but in our Savior.

Christ is faiths object and it is based on knowledge: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10: 13-14)

Faith is based on God’s word, it is believing with the heart.

Faith is based on trust, on commitment.

We don’t trust our faith we trust the Lord Jesus.

We don’t trust our feelings, we trust our Master who lived for us as our representative before God, and who died as our substitute bearing our sin away to a place where God doesn’t see it.

We don’t trust our knowledge or our intellect, we trust Him who has infinite knowledge of us.

Oh, what comfort in knowing He knows us, that all is open and naked with him and that even though He knows us as we are our Justification is sure and secure, because it is what He did for us.

We change, but not Him, our faith sometimes is so weak and feeble but He is our strength.

Listen! “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the Faith Of Christ” (Galatains 2: 16)

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Why does God allow sin to remain in us?”

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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: 21 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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Justification By Faith

”For whosever shall call on the Lord shall be saved. How then can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher” | Romans 10: 13-14

It has been said that a church either stands or falls by the blessed truth of justification by faith and their view of it, and their stand on it.

Faith is the opposite of works, faith is not doing but believing, faith has to do with resting in Christ and His obedience and His righteousness.

Faith is the means of our justification. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5: 1)

Faith receives the truth of the gospel the merits of Christ. Faith receives the doing and dieing of the Lord Jesus Christ. “We conclude that a man is justified without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3: 28)

Faith is not its own object; those who have been given faith do not look to their faith but to Christ who is the object of their faith.

We know there is no merit in our faith but in our Savior. Christ is faiths object and it is based on knowledge.

Faith is based on God’s word, it is believing with the heart.

Faith is based on trust, on commitment.

We don’t trust our faith we trust the Lord Jesus.

We don’t trust our feelings, we trust our Master who lived for us as our representative before God, and who died as our substitute bearing our sin away to a place where God doesn’t see it.

We don’t trust our knowledge or our intellect, we trust Him who has infinite knowledge of us.

Oh, what comfort in knowing He knows us, that all is open and naked with him and that even though He knows us as we are our Justification is sure and secure, because it is what He did for us.

Listen, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the Faith Of Christ” (Galatians 2: 16)

We change, but not Him, our faith sometimes is so weak and feeble but He is our strength.

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “The beginning of the gospel”

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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: 12 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away

”And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” | Job 1: 21

When God had sent Job severe trials he fell down upon the ground and worshipped.

In his worship he magnified his Lord as the absolute sovereign in all things.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11: 36)

Some people would only recognize that the Lord gives, which He abundantly does.

“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40: 5)

However, the believer rejoices that the Lord gives and that the Lord does take away.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)

The Lord Jesus Christ does abundantly give His people all things in salvation, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 32)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 12)

The believer can also rejoice that the Lord does also take away, He has taken away all our sin, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29)

“But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Believers like Job, bow before the Lord and worship Him.

We do rejoice that our great God does all things well, as David said, “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22: 31)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Sovereign Mercy Demonstrated”

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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

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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