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He Has Made Him Sin

”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” | 2 Corinthians 5: 21

The Lord Jesus being made sin for us must extend beyond the idea of the imputation of our sin to Him.

We would never be made the righteousness of God in Christ as a result of His being merely charged with our sin. No, He must also suffer for those sins. He must not merely bear our sins, but must bear them on the tree of curse and punishment. To bear the sins of someone else and suffer in their place is the very definition of a sin offering, so we understand Paul to mean that the sinless Christ was made a sin offering for sinful us. Paul’s words are essentially the same as the prophet Isaiah in 53: 10 of his prophecy, “…you shall make his soul an offering for sin.”

In the original Hebrew the word “offering” does not appear, for, in the language of the old testament, the word for sin and the word for the offering to put it away are one and the same.

Nor is our being made the righteousness of God in Christ merely an act of imputation.

In the case of our being “made” the righteousness of God, the word signifies a change in the very essence of a thing. In being made a sin offering, Christ’s status before God was changed, as the word signifies; but His essence remained unchanged. But, in being made the righteousness of God, our very essence is changed.

Christ’s sacrificial death did not make us the righteousness of God in Him, but opened the door to the other works of God’s grace which do, indeed, make us the righteousness of God.

Christ’s work for us made possible God’s work in us.

Thus, beginning with the New Birth and finishing with our glorification to be like Christ, we are quite literally made into something different from what we were at our natural birth: our nature is changed by God.

When in glory, we shall not be righteous only by a legal act of imputation, but we shall be essentially righteous, even as the Lord Jesus Christ is righteous. And even now, the born again child of God possesses a new nature called spirit – the restored image of God – which is flawless in every respect. It is the beginning of the New Creation and bears the image of the One Who made it. It is incapable of sinning, for it is the offspring of its Perfect Creator.

The child of God – who still finds no good thing in his flesh – is yet flawless in his spirit; and in those things the spirit does, he acts without sin.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “The Judgment Seat of 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 3 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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OUR REDEEMER

”As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel” | Isaiah 47: 4

We often use the terms “particular redemption” and “limited atonement” as we preach the gospel of Christ.

If we indeed use these terms scripturally we are saying, all for whom Christ died shall be saved, no more – no less. The word of God sets forth this grand and glorious truth from beginning to end.

However, living faith, the faith that God Almighty gives in regeneration is not in this doctrinal point, or in any doctrinal point. Saving faith has for it’s Object the Redeemer, rather than any work that He wrought.

There is a difference.

The Bible does not say, “Believe in particular redemption and thou shalt be saved”. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. We often hear folks say, “I came to the doctrines of grace”. Our redeemer said, “Come unto me”.

What I am saying is this, the Lord Jesus Christ alone is our redeemer.

In him alone is all truth revealed.

We trust the one who redeemed, he who made eternal redemption efficacious.

Those who know Christ, believe on Christ, look to Christ and trust Christ for all their salvation, believe he accomplished eternal redemption for them and all for whom he died.

But, as for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

We labour to preach Christ and all truth in Him. It is he that adorns all truth with his glorious Person. We desire to point sinners to Christ, in whom alone is life.

I fear that many may find a false security ( as once I did ) in having arrived at and giving mental accent to some doctrinal truth rather than having a living faith in a living person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I realize that some will disagree with me and say I am confusing the issue. However, salvation is not in what we know and believe, salvation is in “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world”.

As for me there is no argument or debate, Christ Jesus is my Redeemer – “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19: 25)

~ Pastor Tommy Robbins

Click here to listen to the message “The Exaltation of 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 1 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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IN CHRIST HIMSELF

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” | Ephesians 1: 10-11

The Holy Spirit does not reach after something novel, new, nor spectacular in order to glorify Christ or to preach Christ to men.

He does not need tongues, fleshly emotion, bodily healings, and creature fame and importance in order to bring glory to Christ and call out His sheep.

He finds Christ’s glory IN CHRIST HIMSELF!

If we want to honor Christ, glorify Christ, and preach Christ, we must not look for something outside of Christ; but we must honor Him by preaching that which is His already – His deity, His person, His man-hood, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession, His return!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Collected Ones!”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Righteousness of Faith

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” | Romans 10: 4

If all our works were perfect and we expected salvation thereby, we would still be living in total unbelief, because the end of every precept of God’s holy law is that we believe on his precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Righteousness of Faith”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Spiritual Plenty in Temporal Famine

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” | John 6: 32

The error of the Jews here should be a warning to us.

They thought Moses gave them the manna. But it was God and not Moses. He was only the humble instrument. They ought to have looked through the instrument to God. But the eye rested, where it is ever so prone to rest–on the human medium.

The Lord here leads them to look beyond the human instrument to God–“Moses gave you not that bread… but my Father,”

O what creatures of sense we are.

We live so much in the outward and visible, as almost to forget there is anything beyond. All that we gaze upon here is but the avenue to what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard…

Thus should we ever look through nature, to nature’s God.

Thus shall we enjoy God’s gifts, when they lead us up to Him; and then shall we not make idols of them, and so run the risk of their removal.

Everything in nature and providence is but the “Moses” between us and God. Let us not be like the Jews of old, so taken up with Moses as to forget the “greater than Moses,” from whence they all proceed.

~ A.W. Pink

Click here to listen to the message “Spiritual Plenty in Temporal Famine”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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IS THE LAW SIN?

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” | Romans 6: 14-15

If I measure a crooked wall with a perfect plumb line, it reveals the crookedness of the wall, but does not remove it.

If I take out a bright light on a dark night, it reveals to me all the pitfalls and hindrances, but it does not remove them.

Now the plumb line and the lamp do not create the evils which they point out. They neither create nor remove, but simply reveal.

So it is with the law.

It does not create the evil in man’s heart; neither does it remove it. But with unerring accuracy, it reveals it.

What shall we say then?

Is the law sin? God forbid!

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Reckon Yourselves To Be Dead To Sin”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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THE WORK OF GOD

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” | John 6: 28-29

Notice that they asked about the “works of God.”

The depraved sinner thinks God requires many and great “works” to be done on the part of the sinner.

The taller the works, the wider the works, the more demanding the works, and the sinner will go after them with both hands.

But when told that God is not looking to the sinner’s many wonderful works, but that this is “the work of God” — to believe on him whom he hath sent – the sinner finds that to believe on Christ, and part with his own self-righteousness, is entirely beyond his ability to perform.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “What Works Should We Do?”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Spiritual Growth By The Word

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” | 1 Peter 2: 2

One certain evidence of spiritual life is growth.

The grace of God that brings salvation causes one to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Spiritual life is the life of faith, and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” And it is not just ‘reading the bible’ but feeding on Christ. He said, “except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no part in me.” That is faith in Christ. And that faith cometh by the hearing and reading of God’s Word.

The Word of God (gospel) is the seed that is sown in the heart and soul, bringing forth new and spiritual life. The Word of God is the food of that new soul, causing it to grow and bring forth fruit. God’s Word is called milk (for babes), meat (for strong men and women), bread, butter, honey… FOOD for the nourishment and growth of our spiritual bodies.

Just as poor diet, bad food and vices can stunt physical growth, leaving one weak and sickly; a poor diet of God’s Word, lack of hearing the preached Word, lack of fellowship, and the things of this world can stunt the growth of a believer.

Would it not be well to start the day with God’s Word?

Would it not be a good thing to supply our minds, hearts and souls with good food to go on? (Rather than fill them with junk.)

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” And even more important than the reading of the Word is the hearing of the Word preached. It is like a double portion of food; a many course meal of good food for the soul, already prepared for you. You need only come with hunger and dine. The soul who comes to the gospel table often will be fat and prospering; while the one who stays away will have leanness of soul.

“Desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.”

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Peculiar People of 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 August, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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A Good Opinion of Self???

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” | Colossians 3: 5

The first thing the Holy Spirit does when He comes into a person’s heart is this: He finds that person with A VERY GOOD OPINION OF HIMSELF. And there is NOTHING which prevents a person coming to Christ like a good opinion of himself.

The Holy Spirit must lay bare that heart and let him see the loathsome disease of sin; uncover to him all the evil and defilement of the human heart.

“The heart is deceitful above all and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17: 9)

But IT MUST BE KNOWN before the sinner will fall at the feet of Christ and cry, “Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner.”

Actually, the Spirit of God not only reveals the corruptions of our EVIL deeds, but the corruptions of our BEST deeds, until the convicted sinner weeps with Wesley and says, “Depths of mercy, can there be / Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear? / Me, the chief of sinners, spare?”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Why Men Hate 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 August, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Preparing Ourselves For Worship

“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” | Ecclesiastes 5: 1

We couldn’t imagine the preacher stepping into the pulpit NOT being ready to preach!

We couldn’t imagine him NOT praying to God, begging God for His message of the hour. We couldn’t imagine him NOT earnestly asking for His blessing, and His Spirit in the delivery of His Word!

But have we ever stopped to realize that it is just as vital for us to be “ready to hear,” as it is for the preacher to be ready to preach?

How often do we come to worship assuming that our God will bless His message to our hearts? Our Lord said: “I WILL DO all these things for my people,” but in Ezekiel 36: 37 He said: “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.”

Our Lord plainly told us: “Ask, and it shall be given you!”

Do you desire a blessing from His Word today? Ask Him for it! Enquire of Him for it!

Ask Him to bring you to the house of God PREPARED for worship! Ask Him to make you “ready to hear,” beg Him for His message of the hour.

Earnestly ask Him for His blessing and His Spirit in the hearing of His Word!

Lord, make your servant ready to declare! …and make us your servants “ready to hear!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “We Ought To Obey 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 August, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia