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In The Last Days

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills.” | Isaiah 2: 1

The Lord Jesus Christ alone must establish and exalt his house.

He has and he shall.

This is the word which came from the Lord God of covenant promise delivered by his messenger Isaiah. Christ’s church, made up of the small remnant of his elect in that physical nation Israel as well as his elect from the four corners of the earth, shall be established and raised.

In the last days that the Mosaic system of worship existed the Son of God was made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4: 4, 5) Christ bought the remnant of his elect children who were natural descendants of Abraham out from the Mosaic law so that they now are free to approach God through Christ the Lamb rather than an earthly sacrifice by the law of commandments.

At the same time, for both his elect Gentiles and his remnant in national Israel, Christ judicially delivered them from sin and death earned by the first Adam in the garden.

By his holy person and his righteous obedience Christ established an everlasting righteousness which his people could never do for themselves. Being made sin for us, he who knew no sin satisfied God’s justice, reconciled us to God and established us before God.

When he was exalted to God’s right hand in resurrection glory his church was exalted in him. In the first place, this is what the word “established” and “exalted” means. Come back tomorrow and we will see the second thing it means.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The End is at Hand”

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

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Man Can Only Look Upon the Outward

“The Lord sees not as a man sees for man looks upon the outward appearance but the Lord looks upon the heart.” | 1 Samuel 16: 7

Preachers and other believers do not have such a spirit of discerning that they can determine who is a believer and who is not.

We know experimentally what true faith in Christ is in the internal exercises of it. Yet these graces we can neither feel nor see in the heart of someone else. Outward manifestations and appearances we can readily see, but the Word of God plainly states that this way of judging what is in a person is uncertain and liable to deceive, “He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his ears.” (Isaiah 11: 3)

Eyes and ears are poor judges and dangerous counselors in soul cases.

People who are quick in determining another person’s state before God betray one of three things:
1) they have little experience;
2) they are persons of weak understanding, or
3) they have great pride, self-confidence, and ignorance of themselves.

Wise and experienced believers will proceed with great caution in these matters.

~ Jonathan Edwards

Click here to listen to the message “Our Strong Tower”

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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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Straight Gate, Wide Gate

“Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” | Matthew 7: 24

The Rock, of course, is Christ; the sand is self.

But the test, the mark, the evidence, the proof of the two builders and the two buildings is the hearing of Christ’s sayings and doing them, or the hearing of Christ’s saying and doing them not.

We may twist and wriggle under such a text, and try all manner of explanations to parry off its keen, cutting edge; we may fly to arguments and deductions drawn from the doctrines of grace to shelter ourselves from its heavy stroke, and seek to prove that the Lord was there preaching the law and not the gospel, and that we are saved by Christ’s blood and righteousness, and not by our own obedience or our good works, either before or after calling, all such tests and all such texts are inapplicable to our state as believers.

But after all our questionings and cavilings, our nice subtle arguments to quiet conscience and patch up a false peace, there the words of the Lord stand, and what is more, will stand forever, backed as they are by that solemn declaration from the same Lips of Eternal Truth: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7: 19-21)

~ J.C. Philpot

Click here to listen to the message “Straight Gate, Wide Gate”

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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: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Abide Here Fast By My Maidens

“Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:” | Ruth 2: 8

Sheep are social creatures.

They need the flock. If a sheep is found alone it is because it is sick or wounded.

Ruth wanted the flock. She said to Naomi, “thy people shall be my people.” Believers need the church.

I am suspicious of folk who talk about joining a church because they feel like they can help it out.

The church is a hospital for sinners. It is a well for the thirsty. It is a breadbox for the hungry. It is sought out, entered, and resided in because of need.

Believers don’t attend to help, they come to get help.

If providence has made you hungry, providence will guide you to the place where the bread is. What of those who believe grace but cannot seem to be part of an assembly? I have no answer, but I’ve never known one who has the joy of true and lasting fellowship who is not in the house of God, with the people of God worshipping the true and living God. There is where the sheep gather in one fold with one shepherd.

The church is not an organization; it is an organism. It is not a business; it is a family. It is not a building; it is a body. Nothing is more detrimental to the heart and spirit of a believer than neglect of God’s house. (Haggai 1: 4-6)

Two things are found to be true concerning the members of the churches of God: Every member is a believer, and every member has confessed Christ in baptism.

~ Pastor Tim James

Click here to listen to the message “The Desire of All Nations”

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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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The World Judged At The Cross

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” | Mark 15: 31-32

A wonderful, prayerful resolve would be; Lord, let me look into the glorious glass of Thy Word and see the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and let me conformed to His blessed image in all things.

Let me see Christ in all Thy Word.

Let me look to Him and look like Him.

Deliver me from this present evil world, deliver me from the god of this world, deliver me from my sinful self, and receive me into Thy Kingdom forever.

Let me be resolved to seek Thy will and do Thy will always.

~ Unknown

Click here to listen to the message “The World Judged At The Cross”

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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: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Comfort in The Sovereign God

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” | Hebrews 1: 8

There is nothing more comforting to believers than God’s sovereignty over all things.

Under the most adverse circumstances and in the most severe trials, we believe that God has ordained our afflictions, that God overrules them, and that God will sanctify them for our good and his glory.

There is nothing for which we ought to contend more earnestly than the truth of God’s rule and reign over all things, all creatures, and all their actions.

The throne of God, his right to sit on that throne, and his right to do with his own what he will is what we believe and what we preach.

Let us be accused of over-emphasizing the majesty and power of the living God, but never let it be said that we underestimate his glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Excellence and Glory of 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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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What Is Grace?

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

Paul tells us repeatedly that we are saved and justified, called and sanctified, preserved and glorified by the grace of God, without our works; but what is grace?

Almost all professing christians say they believe that salvation is by grace. The Word of God lays such heavy emphasis upon the fact that salvation is by grace that it is very difficult for anyone to claim to believe the Bible and yet openly deny that salvation is by grace. Papists, pentecostals, and fundamentalists, all claim to believe in salvation by grace. But most people think and speak about grace in such a way that they frustrate the grace of God.

That is the reason Paul declared, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!” The grace that most people talk about is not grace at all. It is so mixed with human merit and human works that it is “no more grace.” (Romans 11: 6)

Grace that looks to the worth of man, waits upon the will of man, or depends upon the work of man is frustrated grace; and frustrated grace is not the grace of God!

Grace is the unmerited favor of God.

Grace is free!

Grace is unconditional!

Anything earned, merited, or deserved by you is not grace.

The man who thinks he deserves God’s salvation does not believe in grace. The person who imagines that his acceptance with God depends upon his will, his works, or his worth, does not believe in grace, as the Bible speaks of grace. He has fallen from grace. (Galatians 5: 2, 4) Such people may talk about grace, but grace does not mean to them what it does to poor, helpless, guilty, bankrupt, self-condemned sinners, whose only hope is Christ.

No one will ever honor and extol the grace of God until he has experienced it.

It was only after he had experienced it that Paul declared, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Before that, though he was religious, he was a blasphemer who hoped for salvation by something he did.

Paul took no credit for his conversion.

He ascribed the whole of his salvation to God’s free grace alone.

He knew he did not make himself to differ from others.

A great change had taken place in his heart. His opinions, affections, ambitions, desires, hopes, and motives had been radically changed; and he attributed the change to the grace of God alone.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Faith of The Son 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: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Behold The King Cometh

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” |Zechariah 9: 9-11

God gave to His prophet the very exact description of our Lord Jesus Christ as He entered into Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation, 550 years before it actually happened, (Luke 19: 28-40) what He would accomplish.

Notice these vital things!

1). Jesus Christ is the King of our salvation. “Behold thy King cometh unto thee.” The wise men ask, where is He that is born King? (Matthew 2: 2) Our Lord as God incarnate, is King of Kings. (Revelation 19: 9-16; Psalm 2: 6; Acts 2: 36) As King He is sovereign in salvation. (John 17: 2; Romans 9: 12-16)

2). Jesus Christ is the Just God, “He is just.” That means He is righteous in all His ways and Holy in His character. Stephen and Peter called Him, “the Just One.” (Acts 3: 12-15; Acts 7: 52)

3). Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, “having salvation.” He is not only a Just God but also our righteous Saviour. (Isaiah 45: 21) Paul often calls Christ God our Saviour. (Titus 1: 3; Luke 2: 30) He came to give His life as a ransom to purchase His covenant people. (Matthew 20: 28; Acts 20: 28)

4). Jesus Christ is also identified with our humanity, “lowly, and riding upon an ass.” Totally, fully God Almighty, yet also a real man. (John 1: 14; 1 Timothy 3: 16; Philipians 2: 5-9) As the Godman He honored the law and perfected righteousness for us. (Isaiah 42: 21; 2 Corinthians 5: 21; Hebrews 9: 12; 1 Peter 3: 18)

5). Jesus Christ is our Peace with God, “he shall speak peace unto the heathen.” (Zechariah 9: 10) Surely, no one else has the authority to speak peace unto the sinner, but Jesus Christ Himself. (Ephesians 2: 12-17; Romans 5: 1) He made peace with God for His people through the blood of His sacrifice. (Colossians 1: 19-22)

6). Jesus Christ is our Deliverer, “by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” (Zechariah 9: 11) Our blessed Lord came to set His people free (Luke 4: 18); from the curse of the law, (Galatians 3: 10-13) from the bondage of sin, (Romans 6: 14) from the terror of death, (Revelation 1:18) from the grip of the devil. (Hebrews 2: 14)

What a great Deliverer we have in the Lord Jesus Christ! (Romans 11: 26)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Behold The King Cometh”

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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: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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“Plucked Out of the Burning”

“I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” | Amos 4: 11

And here I am plucked as a brand out of the burning, sought out by the Lord, a monument of mercy permitted and privileged to proclaim the glorious gospel of the grace of God!

Surely there must be a cause!

The cause, I tell you, was not in me, for I hated God and religion, but in the Sovereign choice of Jehovah, Who will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. (Romans 9: 15)

~ Abraham Booth

Click here to listen to the message “The Truth From Romans 9”

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

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Is Our Message Offensive?

“I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” | Galatians 5: 10-12

Paul called his message “the offence of the cross.” Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God’s grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness.” “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.”

Our Lord said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” He also said in John 16, “They will cast you out of organized religion, and whosover killeth you will think that he serves God in doing so.” If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1). GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence, and redemption offends man’s claim to a freewill! “WE WILL NOT have this man REIGN over us.”

2). The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY and INABILITY offends man’s dignity and claim to personal righteousness. “We be not born of fornication”, that is, “we be not (they say) born in sin.” “We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God’s sight.”

3). The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION and this offends man’s natural wisdom. The college professor knows as much about the mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4). EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute and sin-offering, offends man’s pride. Men would have God do all that He wants to do or can do; but, there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that we might share somewhat in the glory.

5). The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man’s desire for recognition here and the hereafter. “Grant, Lord, that we may sit at Thy right and left hand.” “Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar.” We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Offense of the Cross”

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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: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky