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The Warfare

”Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” | Psalm 73: 21-25

How beastly we are by nature! How often God’s saints in this world are compelled, like Newton of old, to sigh…

“If I love, why am I thus?
Why this dull and lifeless frame?
Hardly sure can they be worse,
Who have never heard His name.”

Many of the doubts and fears God’s people experience in this world, regarding their saving interest in Christ, arise from a failure to realize that every heaven-born soul lives in this world with two natures. In Scripture these two natures are referred to as “the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” and “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” (Ephesians 4: 22-24) “flesh” and “spirit.” (Galatians 5: 16-17) These two natures are constantly at war, the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.

Re-generation not Re-formation

It is commonly assumed that in the new birth man (the natural, carnal man) is changed. That the old man is sanctified, that he who once loved sin is made to love holiness, that the enmity of the heart is slain, and that the old man renewed by grace grows more and more holy in progressive sanctification, until he is ripe for Glory and the Lord takes him home.

That fanciful dream deludes multitudes, until, after being born again, they suddenly discover that the old lusts are still there. The discovery is sometimes shocking, simply because we have been taught that they would not be. How many there are who live in constant turmoil, knowing the abiding evil of their nature, but never daring to acknowledge it, lest they be scorned by others who pretend to be holy?

The new birth is not a re-formation, but a re-generation. The new birth is not reforming the old nature of fallen man, but a re-creation of life in man by the Spirit of God. The new birth is not transforming that which is sinful into that which is righteous, but the imparting of a new, righteous nature. In the new birth Christ is formed in us, and we are made new in him. (Colossians 1: 27; 2 Corinthians 5: 17)

Two Natures

In every believer there are two natures (sin and righteousness), two men (the old man Adam and the new man Christ), two principles (sin and holiness); and these two constantly oppose one another. This fact is plainly declared in Scripture. (Romans 7: 14-24; Galatians 5: 16-22; Colossians 3: 9-10; Ephesians 4: 22-24) The old man, Adam, can never be sanctified; and the new man created in righteousness and true holiness, “Christ in you the hope of glory,” cannot sin. (1 John 3: 9)

Adam lives in us by birth. By natural generation we are made partakers of Adam’s nature. Christ lives in us by the new birth. By regeneration we are made “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1: 4)

Creation and New Creation

God created man in his own image and after his own likeness. (Genesis 1: 26-27) When the Lord God had formed a body for Adam from the dust of the ground, he then “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2: 7) Genesis 5: 2 tells us that all men were created at one time in the creation of Adam. That is to say, every living soul descends by natural generation from Adam, partaking of his nature. All his sons and daughters are begotten in the image of their father, generation after generation. (Genesis 5: 3; Psalm 51: 5; Psalm 58: 3; Romans 5: 12)

Every living soul was created in and simultaneously with “the first man Adam.” Being born of Adam, we are all partakers of his nature; and we are called by his name, “Adam.” (Genesis 5: 1-2) As it was in the original creation, so it is in the new creation.

As “the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15: 45) All “quickened spirits” were created in and simultaneously with the “last Adam” — Christ. All, being born of him, “born of God,” are made partakers of his nature, as the Holy Spirit declares. (2 Peter 1: 4) The children of the “first Adam” are born of the flesh and are earthy in all their feelings and affections. The children of the “last Adam” are born of the Spirit and are heavenly, or spiritual, in their feelings and affections. The children of the first are born for the earth. The children of the last Adam are born for heaven. Those of the first are born of corruptible seed. Those of the last are born of incorruptible seed.

In the original creation we were made partakers of Adam’s nature, humanity. In the new creation of grace we are made partakers of the last Adam’s nature, “the divine nature.” That is the cause of the warfare within! These two are contrary the one to the other. We wear our Savior’s name. He has given it to us in free justification; and we have his nature. He gives that to us in free sanctification, regeneration.

Christ is the Lord our Righteousness in justification, (Jeremiah 23: 6; Jeremiah 33: 16) and the Lord our Holiness in sanctification. (Hebrews 12: 14)

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Predestination”

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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: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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“That’s Dangerous Doctrine!”

”Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” | Hebrews 10: 29

How often I have heard those words from preachers who are trying to excuse their compromise of the gospel and persuade others to be less dogmatic in their assertions of gospel truth.

When we preach the believer’s absolute security in Christ “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10: 28) the Arminian cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

If we assert God’s sovereign election “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” (Ephesians 1: 4) the free-willer cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

As soon as we affirm the believer’s freedom from the law “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6: 14) the legalist cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

When we declare the eternal justification of God’s elect in Christ “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8: 30) the works monger cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

Understand this: – No truth of God is dangerous!

All truth is blessed, delightful, and encouraging to the faith and holiness of God’s elect.

In over 40 years of pastoring I have heard many excuses for the ungodly acts of men. But I have never heard even one believer attempt to justify any evil thing by the doctrine of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ!

Those who suggest that free grace is dangerous or will promote licentiousness, simply know nothing of the grace of God.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Most Hideous Doctrine In The World”

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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: 31 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Determined to Preach Christ Alone

“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” | Numbers 21: 7-8

Anything other than the plain declaration of the gospel of Christ and him crucified is not preaching.

Every preacher should have Paul’s mind, determined to preach Christ alone.

Preachers are like the pole to which the brazen serpent was fastened.

We are useful only as long as we lift up and exalt the Son of God before the eyes of perishing men!

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Numbers – Our Failure and God’s Faithfulness”

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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: 24 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Faith Is Essential, But Not Meritorious

“Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” | Hebrews 11:6

Faith in Christ is essential to salvation.

No man will ever be saved, accepted with God, apart from true faith in Christ. You must believe on Christ, or you will perish.

But do not ever think that your faith is meritorious with God.

Faith is the instrument by which we receive God’s blessings, but it is not the meritorious cause of those blessings.

The blood of Christ alone merits God’s favor toward us.

We are never said to be saved and justified because of faith, but through faith.
– Faith receives Christ, but it does not merit Christ.
– Faith receives salvation, but it does not merit salvation.
– Faith receives grace, but it does not merit grace.
– Faith receives justification, but it does not merit justification.
– Faith receives forgiveness and righteousness from God, but it does not merit anything from God.

Faith is essential. Without it you will never be saved. But faith is not meritorious.

Faith, too, is the gift of God’s grace.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is Your Evidence?”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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A Profound Word

“And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” | Acts 27: 44

Here is a profound word — “Again”

The new birth is a mystery of grace.

It cannot be explained; neither can it be fully understood. It is a work of God beyond our comprehension. When our Lord says, “Ye must be born again,” his meaning is twofold. The word again has two meanings.

First, it means, “You must be born from above.”

James tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Then he tells us what he is teaching in the next verse. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.” (James 1: 17-18)

Second, it means, “You must be born a second time.”

Your first birth was of sinful parents, and you were born in their image.

The second birth is of God, and we are born in his image.
— The first birth was of corruptible seed. The second birth is of incorruptible seed.
— Our first birth is in sin. Our second birth is in righteousness.
— By our first birth we were polluted and unclean. By our second birth we become holy.
— Our first birth was fleshly and carnal. Our second birth is spiritual and makes us spiritual.
— By the first birth all men are foolish and ignorant. By our second birth we become wise unto salvation.
— By our first birth we were slaves to sin and the lusts of the flesh. By our second birth we are made free from the dominion of sin.
— By our first birth we are all children of wrath. By our second birth we are children of promise.

Our Lord says, “Ye must be born again,” because we were all born wrong the first time.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Broken Pieces”

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

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

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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?”

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

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

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A Passive Word

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” | Titus 3: 4-6

Here is a passive word — “Be”

The new birth is not something you do.

It is something done to you, something God does for you and in you.

A man has no more to do with his spiritual birth than he does with his natural birth.

In this matter of regeneration man is passive. He has nothing to do with it. (John 1: 12-13)

You cannot save yourself.

You cannot give yourself life.

You cannot be born again by something you do.

The new birth is not accomplished by moral reformation, baptism, religious fervor, zealous works and devotion, or even by faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ is not the cause of the new birth. Faith is the result of the new birth.

We believe according to the working of God’s mighty power, by the operation of his grace. (Ephesians 1: 19; Ephesians 2: 8; Colossians 2: 11-12)

The new birth is something done to you, for you, and in you by God’s sovereign, irresistible grace. It is not something you do.

“You must BE born again!”

Martin Luther correctly asserted, “If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly.”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message
“Don’t Ever Forget Who You Are, and Whose You Are”

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

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

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GOOD NEWS FOR PILGRIMS!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” | John 14: 1-3

Here is good news for weary, heavy-hearted pilgrims from our homeland in Heaven.

Do you have heartaches and troubles too numerous to count?

It will do you good to receive some good news from home.

The Lord our God is still on His throne. Our Savior is still in Heaven, preparing a place for you, representing you, interceding for you.

There are many in Heaven just like you and me already.

There is . . .
a fallen David there,
a doubting Thomas there,
an angry Moses there,
a feeble Philip there,
an impetuous Peter there,
and a righteous Lot there.

All are there by grace alone, through the merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness.

And, soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to take you there!

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Relief For Troubled Hearts”

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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: 20 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Pressing Word

“But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!” | 2 Chronicles 6: 18

Here is a pressing word — “Must.”
— “Time is short.”
— “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

This is not a good recommendation.

This is not wholesome advice.

This is imperative.

This is vital.

This is a necessity.

“You must be born again!”

Otherwise, you will perish in your sins.

You will die under the wrath of God! Hell will be your portion forever!

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Will God Dwell with Men on the Earth?”

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

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

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A Personal Word

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” | John 4: 14

Here is a personal word — “Ye.” This message is for you.

I know you are moral.

I know you are religious.

I know that you are well instructed in doctrinal truth.

So was Nicodemus. He was a well respected religious leader, a Pharisee and a ruler among the Jews. Nicodemus was a teacher who taught the teachers. He was a preacher, but more. Nicodemus was a preacher who taught preachers. He was a theologian. This was a man of highest rank in the Jewish church.

But he was dead.

He was without life before God.

He was totally ignorant of all things spiritual.

He was a lost man.

If you are yet without life toward God, my message is to you.

I have this word from God for you: “You must be born again.”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “What Will It Take To Bring You To 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: 10 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky