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Show Me Thy Faith

”Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” | James 2: 18

Not all faith is true faith.

There is a living faith and a dead faith, the faith of God’s elect and the faith of devils, a faith that saves and a faith that deceives, a true faith and a false faith.

False faith is a faith of words only.

True faith is a faith of works, a “faith that worketh by love.” (James 2: 14-17; 1 John 3: 16-18; Galatians 5: 6)

If a man or woman says, “I have faith in Christ,” James makes a fair and reasonable request. He says, “Show me thy faith.” He is saying, “Convince me that you have faith. Justify your claim. Justify your faith.”

Abraham did. (James 2: 21-24) He proved the reality of his faith in God on Mt. Moriah.

Rahab did too. She demonstrated the reality of her faith by risking her life to protect the servants of God. (James 2: 25)

You may say, “Oh, but I believe in one God, omnipotent, sovereign, eternal, and saving, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” That is very good. But the devils have that kind of faith.

You may be as orthodox in your doctrine as the apostle Paul himself and yet possess nothing but a false faith. The demons of hell are as orthodox in doctrine as any of us! There is more to faith than doctrine! “Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2: 20)

James was directed by the Holy Spirit to repeat that statement three times in ten verses. The Spirit of God means for us to understand that dead, cold, dry letter, doctrinal faith is of no value to our souls.

What kind of faith do we have? Is it a true and living faith, or is it a false, dead faith?

If we will honestly deal with our souls the answer will not be difficult to find.

True faith hears and believes the Word of God. It is submissive and obedient. It grows with experience.

True faith works by love. It is gracious, merciful, and kind. It builds relationships.

True faith glorifies God, rejoices in Christ, and is led by the Spirit.

True faith is lasting, persevering, enduring faith.

Yes, God’s saints have their struggles, difficulties, and failures. But the bent of the believer’s will, the tenor of his life is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, serve his people, and finish his course with joy in faith, whatever the cost.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Devils Also Believe”

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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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Rejoicing In Hope

”For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” | Romans 5: 6-11

THE Word of God plainly, clearly, and thoroughly teaches that man by nature is contrary and opposed to God in every way.

For example, God by nature is infinitely and immutably holy – man by nature is unchangeably and incurably sin; God is light – man by nature is darkness; God is truth – man’s whole life by nature, without God, is a lie; God is infinitely good – man by nature is inherently and unchangeably bad.

In a word, man is a natural born enemy of God. In fact, the natural man’s mind is enmity against God – not merely at enmity, but enmity itself! (Romans 8: 5-7) Thus men by nature love darkness and deception rather than God’s precious Word. (John 3: 19) Therefore man’s greatest need is to be reconciled to God.

It is a continual burden on my heart that so many preachers of our day, rather than preaching God as He is to sinners as they are, (Sinners in the hands of an angry God) are preaching a god who is palatable, agreeable, suits the taste of fallen, human nature, a god whose chief attribute is love rather than holiness, a god who loves everybody the same, who gave His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, a god who is trying to save all men.

These preachers, for personal advantage and gain, (the good opinion of men, and numbers) are preaching a false god, a false gospel, and thus giving their hearers a false hope. Their disciples have never been brought to bow before the true God as mercy seekers.

How could they?

They have never heard of the true God of the Bible. How can they ever be reconciled to God?

Dear souls, God can only be worshiped by beggars, mercy seekers, before His sovereign throne of glory and grace.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9: 38)

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoicing in Hope”

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

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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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Christ Is That Seed Of Abraham

”And in thy seed shall al the nations of the earth be blessed” | Genesis 22: 18

God promised Abraham, saying, “In thy seed shall all the generations of the earth be blessed.”

Christ is that Seed of Abraham, saith Paul the apostle. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3: 6-8)

He hath blessed all the world through the gospel.

For where Christ is not, there remains the curse that fell on Adam as soon as he had sinned, so that they are in bondage, under the condemnation of sin, death, and hell. Against this curse the gospel now blesses all the world, inasmuch as it crieth openly unto all that acknowledge their sins and repent, saying, ‘Whosoever believeth on the Seed of Abraham shall be blessed.’ – that is, he shall be delivered from sin, death, and hell, and shall henceforth continue righteous, and be saved for ever, as Christ Himself saith, in the eleventh of John, ‘He that believeth on Me shall never more die.’

~ William Tyndale

Click here to listen to the message “Put In Christ And Putting On 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Able To Save

”He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” | Romans 4: 20-22

“Able to save” means something more than just delivering men from hell.

“Able to save” is the whole work of salvation from the first conviction of sin to complete glorification.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who repent, but He is able to make men repent.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who believe, but He is able to give a new heart and work faith in men.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who continue in the faith, but He is able to keep us from falling and give us a holy desire to be like Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What God Promised He Is Able to Perform”

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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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The Salvation Of God

”Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” | Genesis 27: 29

God’s salvation is infinitely immense.

Usually when we think of being saved, we think of the punishment we are saved from. And that certainly is a blessing of infinite value. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”

We also think of the state of blamelessness we have before the law of God because of our justification. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect: it is God that justifieth.” That is another blessing of infinite value. But the immenseness of this salvation goes farther.

It is said in Hebrews 13: 10 that we are “partakers of His holiness” and 2 Peter 1: 4 says we are “partakers of the divine nature.” This is a breathtaking concept.

What a salvation!

Not only will I not be punished for my sins, but I am not in a state of guilt before God.

Not only am I not in a state of guilt before God, the word of God declares that I am a partaker of His holiness and very nature!

God’s salvation is infinitely immense.

Perhaps we will get a glimpse when we stand before God perfectly conformed to the image of His Son.

Until then, we just believe!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “How Can a Sinner Approach 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.

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

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Business As Usual

”But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” | Matthew 24: 37-39

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of His second coming in Matthew 24: 37-39 informs us that men and women will be found just like they were in the days of Noah.

Before God sent His flood of wrath and judgment people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. In other words, they were conducting business as usual. Men and women gave no thought to the Eternal One, nor to eternity “until the flood came and took them ALL away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Lost sinner, it will be no different when Christ comes to earth again.

Men and women will be conducting business as usual, giving no thought or consideration to their eternal souls. However, by the grace of God, there will be (as it was in the days of the flood) a remnant of chosen sinners saved.

All who were in God’s Ark in Noah’s day, found secure refuge.

All today who are found in God’s Ark, the Lord Jesus Christ, will also be saved from the eternal wrath of God to come. “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 10)

Who does God shut up in the Ark of Safety? Like Noah, only those who have found grace in the eyes of the Lord! “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6: 8)

Has this amazing grace found you, or is it business as usual with you?

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Magnified and Glorified”

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

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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All Of Grace

“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

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace. (Acts 18: 27)

Apollos greatly assisted such who were already believers; and who became so, not of themselves, but through the grace of God; for faith is not of nature, nor the produce of man’s free will, but is the gift of God’s grace; it is a fruit of electing grace, an instance of distinguishing grace, it is owing to efficacious grace, and comes along with effectual calling grace, through the word preached, the means of grace; and is supported and maintained by the grace of God!

~ John Gill

Click here to listen to the message “Apollos Helped Them Much Who Believed Through Grace”

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

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

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A Prayer To Be Little, Low, and Nothing

“And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” | Luke 23: 38

O Lord, I humbly crave that Thou wilt let me be little in this world, that I may be great in another world; and low here, that I may be high for ever hereafter.

Let me be low, and feed low, and live low, so I may live with Thee for ever; let me now be clothed with rags, so Thou wilt clothe me at last with Thy robes; let me now be set upon a dunghill, so I may at last sit with Thee upon Thy throne.

Lord, make me rather gracious than great, inwardly holy than outwardly happy, and rather turn me into nothing, yea make me worse than nothing, rather than set me up for a time, that Thou mayest bring me low forever.

~ Thomas Watson

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

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

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Faith’s Companion: Trial

”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience’… “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” | James 1: 2, 3; 1 Peter 1: 6,7

Every Child of grace knows for certain that these things are true, we have but to look at that great chapter of faith in Hebrews 11 to see that faith has a companion and her name is ‘trial.’

So my dear weak one what are we to do when a drop of His sweet honey blessing comes our way for to follow it is surely a trial?

What are we to do my dear lowly brother, sister as our God shines upon us this day for we know that tomorrow a cloud could possibly draw near?

Well, David tells us this for sure: “Wait upon the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27: 14)

“I have done so preacher and I am still frightened that I will fall anyway, I have no peace concerning my waiting and my looking.” Oh, my companion in the faith and in this trial, do not look to yourself or even your waiting.

Hear another word which will close the issue at least on this side of glory, “but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not,” this settles it does it not.

Our Saviour says these words to every one of His sheep, though they be tried and cumbered about with much difficulty!

Rest in Him, Rest in His words, Rest I say and do nothing else.

Look to Him who is the object, the cause and the reason for our faith.

~ Pastor Drew Dietz

Click here to listen to the message “How Free Is Salvation”

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

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