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Not Far From the Kingdom of God

“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” | Mark 12: 34

Not far from the kingdom of God is still not in it.

This is a miserable place to be.

It is to have the knowledge of God, Christ, and sin, yet not able to lay hold of Christ by faith as my all in all.

O what misery, to know and not have.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Certainty of the Words of Truth”

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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: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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TOTAL DEPRAVITY

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” | Ephesians 2: 1-3

All men, by nature, since the sin and fall of our first father Adam are guilty and helpless sinners before God.

By God’s own arrangement Adam was the representative of all mankind before God, so that when Adam sinned, we all sinned in him. When Adam suffered the penalty of sin, death, we all died.

This is clearly the doctrine of Holy Scripture. “By one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5: 12)

The guilt of Adam’s sin was imputed to all men without exception. “By the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation” (Romans 5: 18)

All men were in Adam as our representative before God. All men sinned in Adam. All men were condemned in Adam. All men are born in spiritual death.

We do not become sinners when we reach a certain age and commit certain evil deads.

We were all born sinners.

Being sons and daughters of Adam, we inherited our father’s nature – sin.

We are all born with a decided bais and tendency toward evil. Every member of the human race is born with a corrupt, sinful heart, which is capable of every evil thing, were it not restrained by the hand of God in providence.

This is what the Son of God says about the natural human heart, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15: 19) Because our hearts are evil, everything we do is marred by the pride and selfishness and evil of our hearts. We do not have the ability, the will, or the potential to do a single thing that is truly and perfectly good and righteous. “There is none righteous… There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3: 10,12)

Because all men are spiritually dead in trespasses and in sins, all men are utterly helpless by nature. We do not have the ability to obey the law of God.

Salvation comes by believing on Christ, but dead sinners cannot believe.

The Bible doctrine of toal depravitly is just this: All men by nature are sinful, guilty, and helpless.

Unless God intervenes and does for man what man cannot do for himself, all men will perish. “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2: 9)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Died For The Ungodly”

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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: 27 October, 2006 | 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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The Man Must Be Altered

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new… 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

Over the years I have bought a few suits, and had to have them altered to fit me.

Not so in salvation.

In salvation the man is altered to fit the suit – the righteousness of Christ.

God must make me a new creature in Christ.

I must be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

Christ’s righteousness is never altered to fit me, I am the one that must be altered, created a new man in Christ.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “All Things Are Of God”

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

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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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Be Not Ashamed

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony (gospel) of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.” | 2 Timothy 1: 8

I am confident that all who know and love the Lord Jesus are determined in their heart that they shall never be ashamed of Christ or His gospel.

Peter was.

When the Lord Jesus told them that all would be offended in Him that very night, Peter proclaimed that though others might, he never would, adding that he would die before denying the Lord, yet, he did both that very night. (Matthew 26: 31-35; Matthew 26: 69-75) Sadly, this was not the only occurrence. Years later he did it again at Antioch, compelling Paul to publicly rebuke and correct him. (Galatians 2: 11-18)

Oh, how frail we are, the best of men are but men at best. We must continually come to the throne of grace seeking mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Paul, knowing the danger, instructs and exhorts Timothy against this evil. The old Serpent is very subtle and crafty. When the gospel of God’s sovereign, free grace in Christ is preached according to the word and in the power of the Holy Spirit, It cannot be made in-effectual. However, Satan knows that the weak link is not the gospel of Christ and Him crucified, but those who preach it. For, the best of preachers (our Lord excepted) are compassed about with frailty, faults, and infirmity.

We are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. His strategy is to divide and conquer. He uses men of the world (in religion or not) to draw attention to the preacher’s shortcomings or personality traits and thereby drive a wedge between the people and the preacher. Having gained an opening, it is now a simple matter to introduce error and corrupt the gospel of God’s grace.

Study the Scriptures and see if this is not played out over and over. Paul himself was accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, a heretic, a mad man, a false apostle, of being weak in bodily presence and a terrible speaker. (2 Corinthians 10: 10) He was now in prison, (for preaching the gospel) if he were an apostle of Christ would this be happening to him?

God’s preachers have been accused of all these and more. Their personality, manner of preaching, the doctrine of the gospel, their direction and leadership of the church have all been brought into the fray. In my experience, most all who have been ashamed of their pastor/preacher, soon became ashamed of the gospel and have left the assembly of God’s people.

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel and don’t be ashamed of gospel preachers.

~ Pastor Charles Pennington

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

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

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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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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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Dead to This World

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” | Isaiah 28: 16

A young student asked his Bible teacher this question: “How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in the world?”

The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dead friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess.

Upon his return, the teacher asked, “What did your friend say when you criticized him?”

“Nothing.”

“How did he react when you praised him?”

“It made no difference to him; he is dead!”

“That is what it means to be dead to this world,” said the teacher.

Its APPLAUSE means nothing and its HATRED means nothing. We neither ADMIRE the people of this world nor do we FEAR them. The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling.

The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when CHRIST IS ALL!

That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord.

This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ- A Sure Foundation”

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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: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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