What Do You Think Of The Cross?

”He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” | 2 Kings 18: 4

I am confident that the religious, superstitious Israelites were horrified when King Hezekiah destroyed their sacred symbol (which they worshipped, the serpent of brass Moses had made) calling it “a (worthless) piece of brass.”

Hezekiah declared it to be of no value in the worship of God, but rather a hindrance to the worship.

I can understand a person’s interest in that brazen serpent.

It would be extremely interesting to see it.

It would be interesting to see the rod of Moses, the tables of the law, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and the cross on which our Lord died!

But interesting is all that these things can be certainly not inspirational, nor edifying, nor of any spiritual value, nor of any consequence where our relationship with God is concerned.

These are but types, pictures, and things which the Lord used to point our faith, hope, and trust to CHRIST JESUS!

In the knowledge, love, and worship of God, “CHRIST IS ALL!”

Hezekiah shocked Israel when he called Moses’ serpent “A PIECE OF BRASS.”

We may shock religion today by calling the cross on which Christ died “A PIECE OF WOOD,” or the tomb in which He laid, “A HOLE IN THE GROUND,” or the winding sheet in which He was wrapped, “A PIECE OF CLOTH;” but, having served their purpose, that’s all that they are.

And to make them of any spiritual significance is to be in danger of idolatry!

Idolatry is a subtle tool of Satan and must be avoided.

“God is a spirit, and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.”

True believers have no superstitions regarding days, hallowed places on earth, religious relics, symbols, signs, nor ancestors.

Christ is our sabbath, our altar, our prophet, priest, and king.

To Him and only to Him we come, bow, believe and worship.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Do You Think of the Cross” (32:25 minutes)

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

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

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Dwell In Us

”Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” | Psalm 16: 1-5

Paul exhorts us to a diligent study of God’s word.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15: 7)

This study of the word is not for information and doctrine alone, but that our Lord’s word might become a part of us, such a part of us that it is said to DWELL IN US, as a member of the family lives in a home.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3: 16)

The word of God is loved, respected, obeyed, and delighted in richly in an abundant manner.

We are not to study just one part of the scriptures, but all of it, that we may benefit and grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and that we may teach others His word.

It is not only the duty of ministers and elders to teach and encourage others, but it is the duty of all believers to be ready always to give to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in us, with knowledge, meekness, and fear.

“Lord, give us a love for your word, an understanding of your word, and the wisdom to be a good witness of your gospel.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Show Me Your Glory” (34:42 minutes)

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

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

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Herein Is Love

”Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” | 1 John 4: 10

We rejoice to know that “God is love”.

Love is an attribute of God.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4: 8, 16)

But that does not mean that God loves all men.

Any reasonable person, whose mind is not perverted by the influence of Arminian, free-will religion, must recognize that fact.

Did God love those multitudes whom he swept off the earth in the flood?

Did God love the degenerate Sodomites, upon whom he rained fire from heaven?

Did God love Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers whom he swallowed up into hell?

Anyone who imagines that God loved those multitudes might well pray to be forever hidden and excluded from the love of God!

But the Scriptures nowhere assert, or even imply, that God’s love is universal, that it extends to all men.

The Scriptures say, ”He loved us!”

And the “us” whom he loves are all believers, past, present, and future.

“He loved us,” who are chosen, redeemed, and called by his almighty grace.

John tells us four things about the love of God in this text.

  1. God loves sovereignly — “Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us.”

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31: 3)

There is nothing that compels God to love any of his creatures. But in his infinite goodness, God says, “Jacob have I loved.”

Our God is infinite, immutable, and sovereign, and so is his love.

He loves whom he will, because he will, and he loves them eternally, “with an everlasting love”.

  1. God loves sinners — “He loved us.”

I preach fully, without reservation, unlimited love, unbounded mercy to the vilest of men. We have nothing in us worthy of consideration.

We deserve the utmost extremity of God’s wrath.

But “he loved us!” Who can express the infinite magnitude and fulness of those words?

  1. God loves sacrificially — He “sent his Son.”

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4: 9)

God gave his darling Son to suffer and die upon the cursed tree to save the multitudes of his elect whom he loved with an everlasting love.

  1. God loves savingly — God loved his elect before the world began.

But in order for us to be reconciled to God, justice had to be satisfied.

Therefore, our loving heavenly Father made his Son to be the sin-atoning, justice-satisfying “propitiation for our sins.”

Through the substitutionary death of Christ, all the sins of God’s elect were washed away. — “Herein is love!”

The love of God is more than a helpless passion.

It is his saving commitment and determination toward his elect.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is Elected” (56:24 minutes)

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

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

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

He Laid Down His Life For Us

”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.” | 1 John 3: 16

Children of God, this is the foundation of our faith, the rock of our salvation, and the hope of our souls.

Since Christ has died in the place of his people, they cannot perish.

I know that there are men whose minds are so distorted that they can conceive it possible that Christ died for men who in the end will be lost in hell.

I am sorry to say that there are men in the pulpits of the church today, whose brains have been so addled by religious tradition and false doctrine that they cannot see that the doctrine they hold is both a preposterous lie and a blasphemous error.

Their doctrine is this – Christ dies for a man, and then God punishes that man again; Christ suffers in the sinner’s stead, and then God condemns that sinner after all!

It shocks me to even mention such an error.

Were it not so commonly held, I would pass over it with the contempt that it deserves.

That would be a perversion of justice, a double-cross, and a requirement of double indemnity.

The doctrine of Scripture is this – God is just.

Christ died in the stead of his people, satisfying God’s justice; and now, as God is just, he will never punish one soul for whom the Savior shed his blood.

Justice will not allow a double payment for the same offense, first at the hands of Christ, and then from me.

The idea that Christ was the Substitute and Surety for all men is so inconsistent, both with reason and Holy Scripture, that we are obliged to reject it with abhorrence.

We cannot, for the glory and honor of our dear Savior, let go of the blessed gospel doctrine of particular and effectual redemption.

To deny the efficacy of Christ’s substitutionary atonement would be, for me, a total denial of the gospel.

And it would rob me of my soul’s greatest comfort.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” (57:57 minutes)

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

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

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

God’s Ways And God’s Word

”It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” | Psalm 119: 71

God’s Ways and God’s Word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble.

When our Lord is pleased to lay His hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned.

When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them. “Whom the Lord loveth” He chastens, corrects, and teaches!

When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted? The one God loved!

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains? The one God loved!

Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob?

Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict – but God loved Jacob!

Thank God He has not left us alone!

Thank God He has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us His ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in Him.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12: 8)

A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by His prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake.

He who sends the trial for His glory and my good will supply the Grace sufficient.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Persecutor Turned Preacher” (38:08 minutes)

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

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

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Oh, The Wonder Of It!

”To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” | Ephesians 1: 6-7

When I think of the wonder, majesty, and glory of God, I can hardly believe that such a worm as I am should be called to be an heir of His grace.

Yet, it is just this vast difference that manifests the glory of His grace.

He who is the highest, the holiest, and the greatest has set His affection on the lowest, the most sinful, and weakest.

It is “to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “A Glorious Revelation”

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

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

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Why Christ Came

”The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” | Psalm 12: 3-7

Jesus Christ came into the world not only to reveal the Father, but to redeem the sinner.

He came not as the President of our country would go into a disaster area to look upon the poor, helpless victims, but to redeem victims of depravity whom the Father gave him in the covenant of redemption.

“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;” (1 Peter 1: 18)

Christ came not to redeem by appointed methods, but by Himself.

He came not to stand by and prescribe, but to minister and provide the means of salvation.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Revelation 1: 5)

The Savior came not only to provide salvation, but to be that Salvation.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “The Salvation of a Thief”

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

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

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

God Be Merciful To Me

”Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” | Luke 18: 10-13

Men do all they can to divorce themselves from their own sinfulness.

Some do like the Pharisee in the story referenced above and define sin by mere actions.

Having defined sin by certain actions, they avoid those actions and thus divorce themselves from their sin.

Seeing sin as a matter of what a man does, they seek a salvation that is a matter of what a man does.

To them, sin is a “practical” matter, that is, a matter of what a man practices; therefore, to them, salvation is also a practical matter.

In reaction to such a weak view of what sin is, some take a more theological approach to it and speak of sin in terms of original sin in both its imputed and imparted aspects.

They declare that the sin of Adam is imputed to us so that we are held responsible for the rebellion that took place in Eden.

They also hold that because of that rebellion, Adam passed on to his posterity a nature bent to sin.

Their theology is accurate, yet some have no further knowledge of their sin than a theological understanding of the origin and nature of it.

Thus they divorce themselves from any real responsibility for their sin: it is only a matter of the rules of the game.

Since their sin is, to them, a matter of theology, so is their salvation.

Since their condemnation came to them by a theological construct, they believe that their salvation comes to them by the construction of a proper theology of salvation.

The remedy for a proper theology of sin is a proper theology of salvation.

A theological savior is sufficient for theological sinners.

But I see this tax collector near the temple.

I hear no recitation of evils done, no theological definitions of who and what he was.

I see no evidence that he considers the deeds of others: He does not look back to Adam to find the source of his sin nor look around at others to note that he does not compare favorably with them.

He does not feel that he is a sinner because he is not as good as yonder praying Pharisee.

He simply knows that he is a sinner in need of mercy, and thus he calls on God for it.

Only two sights occupy his heart’s vision: he sees himself as the worthless wretch that he is and he sees with his heart the mercy seat upon which the blood of the sacrifice was poured in behalf of sinners.

He does not care for theological definitions of sin nor would he be satisfied with a theology of salvation.

To him, sin is a very personal thing, and thus the only remedy for it is a personal interest in the blood poured out on the mercy seat.

Real sinners need a real Savior. And thank God, there is one: Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Hath Put Away My Sin”

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

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

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 17 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

No Condemnation And No Separation

”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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: 17-21

Consider this dreadful truth for a moment.

”But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59: 2)

Our sin in fallen Adam charged to us has separated us from God.

In Adam we are ”The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58: 3)

“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)

In Adam death and sin entered into us.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8: 3)

But now consider this glorious truth for a moment.

“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)

Our sin has been separated from us forever.

Our Blessed Saviour came in the flesh apart from sin and in our nature to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “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)

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” (1 John 3: 5)

Now because of His glorious, full and eternal atonement for sin the believer has no sin. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10: 14-17)

Our Lord said, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 12)

He has also assured us that “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10: 17)

“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? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 32-39)

This is the good news of the gospel no condemnation and no separation but rather eternal reconciliation. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “What Does It Mean To Be Justified”

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

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

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Christ Died For Us

”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” | Romans 5: 8

I cannot say if these words are for you, for I do not know whether Christ died for you.

I know that everyone should sincerely hope that he is among those of whom it is written, “Christ died for us.”

And why is this?

Because, if Christ has not died for a person, then that person shall have to die for himself.

The wages of sin is death, and someone must receive those wages: if not Christ, then the man who has actually done the sinning.

Now then, who may rightly say, “Christ has died for me”?

The very Scripture quoted makes it plain, for a fuller version of it is, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

So it is sinners that may claim the words, “Christ died of us”.

Maybe you think, “Then it must apply to me, for I confess that there are some sins in my past. I am not a perfect man, I suppose. I am a fairly decent individual, but, like all other men, I have sometimes failed in my attempts to be a good man.”

If that is your confession, then I fear that Christ has not died for you; for your confession of sin has much of a boast of righteousness in it.

You see, to you, your sins are only blots and blemishes on an otherwise good life.

But an even fuller reading of our text teaches us that Christ died for those who are neither righteous nor good, yet you think there is righteousness and good in you.

Maybe you have some hope in this, that even though your sins are many, they are not very big sins.

After all, you are neither a thief nor a murderer.

You have not bowed down to any stone or wooden idol.

If you boast in the smallness of your sins, then you have no warrant to claim that Christ has died for you.

Do you ask why? It is simple.

God is just, and He always makes the punishment fit the crime.

Your boast in the fewness or smallness of your sins is a boast that it would not take much of a savior nor any great act of salvation to rescue you from them.

But Christ died for those whose condition is so bad that nothing less than His death would remedy it.

He died for sinners whose sins deserve what Christ endured.

Can you look on the scene of the dying Savior and confess that you sins are so wicked that they deserve such punishment and that nothing less than His death could put your sin away?

Are you so bad that Christ must die in order for you to be saved?

Then I have great hope for you that you are among that blessed few who can rightly say, “Christ died for us.”

But there is yet one more test.

Maybe you are among those who lay in a bondage of legal guilt and have an understanding of the greatness of their sin but are blind to the greatness of Christ’s death.

Even though they believe Christ’s death is necessary to put away their sin, they have no confidence that it is sufficient to put away their sin.

They feel something more than Christ is needed.

They look for certain frames of mind or emotions.

They try to add their own works to his great work: morality, Sabbath keeping, church attendance and such.

Is that how you feel?

Then I fear you are in a very sad state, for Christ did not die for those who have no confidence in the power of His sacrifice to take away their sin.

Christ did not die for those who do not need Him.

Nor did He die for those who feel they need something more.

The death of the Lord Jesus is both necessary and sufficient for the removal of guilt.

You absolutely need Christ, and you need nothing more.

Do you honestly believe this?

If so, then Christ died for you.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Strive to Enter by the Narrow Door”

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

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

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 11 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky