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God’s Gift

”And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” | Luke 2: 15

As we give our gifts to one another over the next few days, remember that God’s gift of eternal life is like our gift giving in at least three ways.

First, when we give a gift we give it to whomsoever we will.

Likewise, God gives eternal life to whomsoever he will.

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (John 17: 1-2)

“Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I know not.” John 17: 9)

“For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.” John 17: 24)

Suppose you gave a gift to someone you love and strangers began to accuse you of being unjust because you did not give them the same gift. You would think they were absurd. They have no right to question you or accuse you. Neither does any sinner have a right to question God.

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Romans 9: 14-21)

Secondly, when we give a gift we purchase it ourselves.

Likewise, God sent his Son who paid the purchase price of his precious blood to give his people eternal life in him.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17: 11)

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9: 22)

“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)

“Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” (Job 33: 24)

Lastly, when we give a gift we give it to the one for whom we purchased it. Likewise, God irresistibly creates his people anew and gives the gift of eternal life to us through faith in Christ.

We do not purchase a gift then set it on a shelf and hope someone will come claim it as their own. We take the gift to the one for whom we bought it and make sure they get it. So does God. But here is a difference. When we give a gift the person to whom we give it has the ability to receive our gift. But each sinner to whom God shall give this free gift of eternal life does not even have the ability to receive it until God even gives faith and repentance to receive this gift in his Son.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3: 5)

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (John 6: 53)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2: 8)

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4: 4-6)

Believers glory in the LORD, giving all the praise only to God, telling everyone we can about the great gift Giver and the gift of his Son.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9: 8-15)

“Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” (1 Chronicles 16: 8)

-Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Triumph Of Lowliness”

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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: 22 December, 2019 | Previous post date: n/a

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Work Of The Triune God

”And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” | Acts 11: 1-3

In Acts 11: 1-3 we see how they that were of the circumcision contended with Peter because he went in to uncircumcised Gentiles and ate meat forbidden in the law of God.

The Holy Spirit will not allow sin to have dominion over the believer because we are now under the gracious dominion of Christ. By God’s grace, through the truth of the gospel, he effectually causes us to rejoice in Christ and his perfect work on our behalf.

First, Peter Tells His Brethren What God the Holy Spirit Did In His Heart.

“But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.” (Acts 11: 4-12)

Notice, Peter does not defend himself; that would have only caused more strife between him and his brethren. Nor does Peter argue with his brethren that he had not broken the law because that would have only continued to point his brethren to the law and aroused more contention. Peter declares before his brethren the work of God the Holy Spirit: the Voice of divine revelation from heaven, God’s command in his heart, the work of the Spirit of the LORD.

Secondly, Peter Declares That The Holy Spirit Prepared The Heart Of Cornelius And His Household The Same Way.

“And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (Acts 11: 13-14)

Peter declares that not only did the Lord prepare him to preach to the Gentiles but the Spirit also prepared Cornelius to gather his house and his friends to hear the gospel of Christ. See how Peter continues to point his brethren to the work of the Lord, away from their works of obdeience to the law.

Thirdly, Peter Declares How The Lord Baptized the Gentiles In the Holy Ghost. “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 11: 15-16)

So when the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius’ and his household, Peter realized this pointed back to what happened on the day of Pentecost. Thus Peter realized it meant God truly had an elect people scattered in the Gentile nations. These elect Gentiles were baptized into one Spirit because they too were bought with the blood of Christ.

All barriers were now taken away.

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2: 18)

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3: 11)

So Peter declares that God did this. “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11: 17)

Fourthly, As Peter Rehearsed This Matter To Those Who Contended With Him, He Was In Fact Proclaiming The Gospel And The Spirit Wrought His Work In The Brethren To Whom Peter Spoke As Well. “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” (Acts 11: 18)

This work of God the Holy Spirit in turning Peter’s brethren from the captivity of sin in their flesh back to Christ. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Roman 6: 14)

Concerning this verse John Gill wrote: “This is not a precept, exhortation, or admonition, as before, though some read it as such, “let not sin have dominion over you”; nor does it express merely what ought not to be, but what cannot, and shall not be; it is an absolute promise, that sin shall not have the dominion over believers; and respects not acts of sin, but the principle of sin; and means not its damning power, though that is took away, but its tyrannical, governing power: “it shall not lord it over you”, as the words may be rendered; for in regeneration, sin is dethroned; Christ enters as Lord, and continues to be so; saints are in another kingdom, the kingdom of Christ and grace.”

When Christ dwells in you by faith he fills your heart completely full with all the fullness of God. He makes you comprehend his love for you, (which surpasses anything you and I think we know about love) and thereby the Spirit of Christ strengthens your inner man, roots you and grounds you in Christ’s love for you. “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: 16-19)

This revelation is in beholding what you are in Christ. This word “filled” in Ephesians 3: 19 is the same word as “complete” in Colossians 2: 10.

See what the believer is in Christ. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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. 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: 6-10)

When Christ enters your inner man, filling you with the fullness of God then you comprehend that Christ is the fullness of God, and in Christ before God, you are complete, as full with all the fullness of God as Christ is. That is why sin shall not have dominion over you. The Spirit reigns, Christ reigns, God reigns in the heart of the believer and will not let sin have dominion over you. The Spirit of Christ will not let you forget that you are not under the law, but under grace and complete in Christ.

In this text we see plainly how you and I will deal with one another if we turn from Christ to the law, we will lift ourselves in pride to such a height that we will sit in judgment over God, his saints, and his work; we will attempt to remove a twig from our brother’s eye when there is a whole tree in our own eye. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4: 1-3)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “God Keeps Judgment & Righteousness”

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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: 9 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Walking Uprightly?

”And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” | Acts 11: 1-3

What happens when men turn from Christ to the law?

It causes men to divide themselves from others based on some work they have performed in their flesh.

Peter is the one being contended with in our text, but on a different occasion it was Peter who turned to the law. “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Galatians 2: 12-14)

When James separated himself, look what effect it had on others; leading to Paul’s own travelling companion being carried away.

In Galatians 2: 14 Paul said that the group: “…walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” The table where Jew and Gentile ate together is a good symbol of the table of freedom in Christ who has freed the believer from the law so that we are one in Christ, we walk in his Spirit, under his grace, Christ governing the believer in the inner man in the spirit. Though these were Jewish believers come from James, yet in this example, the Jews table represents the works of the law. By moving to that table, Peter turned many of the Jewish brethren and even Barnabas from liberty at Christ’s Table to go sit at the table of the Law.

Why does Paul say, this is “not according to the truth of the gospel?’ As you read the following Scripture, pause and praying over each one as you go.

Mixing the law with grace:

“For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” (Galatians 2: 18) | Makes one a transgressor against God.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2: 21) | Counts Christ death vanity.

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 3) | Makes one think they are made perfect by the work of their flesh.

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3: 10) | Puts one under the curse of the law.

“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3: 18) | Claims God’s salvation to be by law instead of by promise.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3: 24) | Claims justification to be by law instead of faith.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3: 28) | Divides men, making men think their works make the difference between them and other men.

“I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Galatians 4: 11) | Counts the work of God’s true messenger’s vanity.

“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” (Galatians 4: 22-25) | Makes one the son of the bondwoman, serving Mt. Sinai.

“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” (Galatians 4: 29) | Makes one a persecutor against believers who walk in the Spirit, not the law.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5: 4) | Makes Christ of no effect unto men.

“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” (Galatians 5: 11) | Makes the offense of the cross to cease before men.

“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (Galatians 5: 15) | Makes church’s bite and devour one another.

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5: 18) | Makes one to be led by the law instead of the Holy Spirit.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5: 24-25) | Makes one unable to crucify the flesh, to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.

“For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.” (Galatians 6: 13) | Causes self-righteousness which forces their misery on others so as to glory in the flesh instead of in Christ.

If the message preached, and the message you delight in, does not declare Christ to be the end of the law for righteousness, to be your Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, if the choice, the work, the wisdom, is left open-ended for you to perform without declaring that Christ alone works in the believer producing our fruit, then your delight is not Christ but in your choice, your work, and your wisdom.

Thus Paul said that turning from Christ to the flesh is to walk not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.

The truth of the gospel is that Christ is the believer’s complete standing and acceptance with God both now and forever: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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. 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: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2: 6-12.)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Our King Priest”

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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: 8 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Cause Of Contention

”And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” | Acts 11: 1-3

When God saves sinners it is a time of great rejoicing.

Yet, here the apostle Peter stands before his own brethren who contended with him because he went in to uncircumcised Gentiles and ate meat which had been forbidden in God’s law, “they that were of the circumcision contended with him”. They had the Lord’s word that God has an elect people among the Gentiles. The prophets clearly declared it.

The Lord told Abraham: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22: 18)

The Lord gave his word concerning Christ’s salvation of his elect among the Gentiles: “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49: 6)

Again we find the word of the Lord saying: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” (Psalm 22: 27)

Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ had, in person, given clear instruction to the saints to preach to the Gentiles: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28: 18-19) Before his ascension the Lord told his disciples: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”. (Acts 1: 8)

Still, they contended with Peter for going in to uncircumcised Gentiles and eating meat which had been forbidden in the law which God gave.

This is the sad result of what happens if we turn from Christ to the law.

They ceased to hear the Lord and looked back to the law he gave to shut sinners up to him.

As a result they made no mention of the fact that Cornelius and his household received Christ, the word of God. They did not rejoice in God’s grace; they did not rejoice in the fact that Christ was exalted; they did not rejoice in the fact that sinners were saved; they could find no joy in God and his grace because their minds were fixed in another direction. Their minds were consumed with Peter and the fact that he ate unclean animals forbidden by the law.

All they could see was Peter and the Law.

This is a good example of what the apostle Paul meant when he declared why he refused for Titus to be circumcised. “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” (Galatians 2: 5)

Every law of God, yes, every word of God is given to turn his elect people to his Son whom he has chosen to have the preeminence in all things.

God’s law declares man’s utter inability to keep it and Christ the Righteousness of God.

The law of the clean and unclean animals declares plainly that it is the LORD who is the sinner’s holiness who makes him the very cleanness of God.

Every word of reproof and exhortation the Holy Spirit moved the apostles to write, which the Spirit has preserved through the ages for the believer, is to shut our mouths from boasting of our walk and to point us to the faithfulness of Christ in whom believers are complete.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

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 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Spirit of Judgment and Burning

”In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” | Isaiah 4: 2-4

How does Christ provide for his bride?

When there is no comliness in him for the carnal eye, how does he make the church fruitful to behold him as excellent and comely? “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53: 2-4)

It is by creating a new spirit within every chosen, redeemed sinner so that we behold all that Christ is and that he has done.

First, this spirit is called the spirit of judgment because it has to do with the law of God written on the newly created heart. The law of God commands righteous judgment. For example:

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” (Leviticus 19: 15)

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.” (Leviticus 19: 35)

Yet, in our sin, without him giving us this spirit of judgment we think it is righteousness to take Christ’s name and attempt to provide our own life and righteousness. “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (Isaiah 4: 1)

Therefore, this filth must be washed from the daughters of Zion. This polluted blood must be purged from Jerusalem, both at the cross and in the heart.

The Lord declares through Isaiah a great calamity, a stripping away of every false way and of all those things men looked to for their provision. We have seen prophesied here that by Christ’s work the land shall be left desolate and barren. And so when Christ sends forth the Holy Spirit, in power and grace he makes the personal land of the sinner desolate and barren.

We behold that when on the cross he cried out, “It is finished!” the veil in the temple rent into two pieces from top to bottom, declaring that Christ has satisfied God’s broken law in the place of his Bride. Christ has fulfilled the righteousness of God’s holy law on behalf of particular sinners. As Paul said to the Colossians: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2: 14-15)

There is now, no provision to be found in the “rudiments of the earth” — that is, in touch not, taste not, handle not – let us behold that the thought of providing any aspect of our standing with God is eating our own bread and clothing ourselves in our own raiment, it is the unrighteous judgment of looking to this barren land of our flesh for provisions. But the spirit of judgment is created within us when the Lord writes his law on the heart, then as the Psalmist said: “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (Psalm 25: 9)

Christ is that Way.

Secondly, the spirit of burning has to do with the newly created zeal which the Spirit gives for Christ. When the Lord shall have stripped his people so that their land is barren, when he shall have washed away the filth and the corruption of blood, he gives them not only the spirit of judgment written on their hearts but also the spirit of burning or zeal for Christ and in that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:” (Isaiah 4: 2-3)

Once the Lord has begun this work he never allows his bride to turn back to the barren land of the flesh and the corruption of this world. That is what the rest of the chapter declares.

“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” (Isaiah 4: 5-6)

Once the spirit of judgment and burning has been created within, the Lord promises Christ the Cloud and flame of Fire which guided Israel in the wilderness.

He promises Christ shall guide every dwelling place – each individual saint in whom he dwells.

Also, he promises to guide her assemblies – every place where he has raised up a pastor after his own heart.

Yes, upon all his people THE GLORY OF CHRIST JESUS – shall be a defense.

He is our Tabernacle for a shadow from the heat; Christ is our Refuge.

What a blessing to his bride made up of every individual saint when Christ makes himself excellent and glorious before our eyes.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The True Vine & The Husbandman”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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A Backward Proposal

”And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” | Isaiah 4: 1

The proposal of these seven women represents the backwardness of the sin-depraved heart. This is the way all sinner’s think they can be accepted of God prior to Christ dethroning sin in the heart.

First, they are backwards in that it is the woman proposing to the man. Christ the Husband of his bride takes hold of her and not the other way around.

Secondly, their proposal of eating their own bread and wearing their own apparel has to do with the law concerning the responsibility of a husband to his first bride. “If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.” (Exodus 21: 10) (This is regarding his first wife.)

These seven women propose that the husband does not have to fulfill the law on their behalf but that they will fulfill it themselves. Christ the Husband is the end of the law for all who believe for he has fully honored the law’s requirement in providing for his bride. He is her Life-Food; he is her Righteousness; and he has united himself to her in Spirit fulfilling the whole duty of marriage so that she delights to be his.

Thirdly, when these seven women say, “Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach”, they are saying what multitudes think. Multitudes think that all they need to remove the reproach of sin is to be called by Christ’s name.

Unless Christ is our Husband — unless Christ has taken hold of us – then the sinner will go on in this polluted idea that they are married to Christ when they are married to one who is anything but the GodMan – Christ Jesus the Lord – the husband of the Church.

Unless Christ is the perfect fulfillment of God’s holy law on the sinner’s behalf then the husband to whom we say we are married is no husband at all.

Unless Christ is our Bread (our life) we have no life.

Unless Christ is our garment of Righteousness we are naked in our sin.

Unless Christ has united himself in the duty of marriage with our spirit, we may call ourselves by his name yet it is nothing more than taking his name in vain. We still have the maiden-name of our father Adam and the reproach of sin remains.

These seven women illustrate the most popular idol of man’s imagination.

So how does the Lord declare he shall bring his bride into this marriage union? Listen and find out.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Rejoicing Over His Bride”

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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: 10 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Necessity Of The Husband’s Glory

”And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” | Isaiah 4: 1

It is improper for the bride to propose to the man.

Merely taking his name does not constitute a marriage. If her reproach will be taken away, Christ the GodMan must draw his bride in cords of love, unite himself to her in a holy, unbreakable union, and provide all her needs.

God created one wife for his beloved Son. She is the church made up of his elect people out of every nation on this earth. God espoused this bride to one husband, even Christ Jesus his own Son. He is her All and she is his all.

First, the full provision Christ bestows upon his bride is found in his name which he gives her.

The maiden name of a sinner is that of our father Adam. Our maiden name is a name of reproach, of disobedience to God, a name which declares we are dead in trespasses and in sins. But Christ gives his bride his name and his name declares her reproach is taken away by him. “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23: 6) “In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33: 16)

Secondly, the name of Righteousness given to his bride declares that Christ has fully met every requirement of a faithful husband.

Concerning the responsibility of the husband the law states, If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

Christ shall never take another bride as sinful men do, for he has everlastingly loved the bride betrothed to him by his Father. Christ is her Food (Life) and thus Christ’s bride shall never be found begging bread. Christ is her raiment of Righteousness thus she is arrayed in the finest garment. Christ the Son of God unites himself intimately with her, which scripture terms the “the duty of marriage”, by making himself one with her nature that he might make her one with his nature.

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5: 30-32)

“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (Hebrews 2: 11)

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2: 14-16)

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36: 27)

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1: 3, 4)

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” (Romans 8: 9-12)

The marriage is about much more than the bride’s reproach being taken away, it is about Christ’s glory in being a true and faithful Husband. Christ is that glorious Husband thus the reproach of his bride is forever removed.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Not Bondage But Adoption”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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My Grace

”O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” | Matthew 26: 42

Christ asked this three times.

God did not remove the cup.

But God sent an angel from heaven which strengthened him.

So now when we are like Paul, praying three times for God to remove our thorn in the flesh, Christ, having fully experienced both the weakness of our flesh and the sufficiency of God’s grace, speaks into our hearts, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “O Wretched 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: 16 February, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Lord Of The Storm

“So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.” | John 6: 19-20

The exclusion and/or diminishing of the necessary work of God the Father and/or God the Spirit in the message of salvation for fear of not exalting the glory of Christ on the cross (or for any other reason) denies the very Deity of Christ our Lord.

For since Christ is truly one with the Father and the Holy Spirit then the omission of the work of one in salvation is the omission of the work of all in salvation.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Lord Of The Storm”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Scarlet Line

“And she [Rahab the harlot] said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.” | Joshua 2: 21

God’s true messengers can not preach the gospel without preaching the blood of Christ Jesus the Lord because a gospel with no blood is no gospel.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God; …and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1: 18; 23)

God chose a people and promised to save them in covenant with his Son and Spirit. Then that people became totally ruined and guilty in sin. God’s holy character demands he must make good on his promise or his word is worthless. At the same time, the soul that sinneth it must die, or God’s holy justice means nothing.

The power and wisdom of God in Christ on the cross is manifest in Christ offering his fleshly body through the eternal Spirit and thereby perfecting a people forever. God’s Christ is eternal in his Godhead and thus able to obtain eternal satisfaction, one as Man with his people and thus able to die in their place. He who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. So there, covered in flesh, covered in the marks inflicted on him by man’s depravity and hatred for Holy God and bearing the wrath of Holy Justice is not a helpless Jesus, but the Power and Wisdom of God! He suffered eternal wrath for each chosen child of God; he died the eternal death of each chosen child of God, but he rose and is the eternal Resurrection of each chosen child of God.

Now, he sits enthroned in majesty at God’s right hand with power over heaven and earth. He is sending forth the Holy Spirit to each one for whom he died; recreating an inward man in righteousness and holiness; gifting them with repentance toward God and faith in Christ; protecting each one as the apple of his eye. The God Man is both able to know the infirmity of the flesh and thus provide the comfort his people need while at the same time dwell as their Advocate with God.

Therefore all the glory in their justification is God the Savior’s; all the glory in their being made holy is God the Savior’s; all the glory in their being made a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit is God the Savior’s; all the glory in their persevering belongs to God the Savior; and after the Lord Jesus has raised all to be with him ALL SHALL KNOW THAT ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

So as surely as that scarlet thread hanging there between Rahab and the spies bound them to one another in covenant mercy, so Christ’s blood binds — it is the New Testament in his blood – his blood is the scarlet thread which binds everyone one of his blood-bought children to him and not one shall be lost.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Power & Wisdom 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.

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