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Christ Is Precious To Those Who Believe

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. (Act 10: 33)

His words are words of life. (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. (Romans 1: 16; Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear. It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. (Romans 3: 19-20) It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. (John 5: 21; Ephesians 2: 1; 1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace. (2 Timothy 1: 9)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is Precious To Those Who 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Difference Between True Faith And False Faith

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” | 2 Corinthians 13: 5

Four points on what false faith can never produce:

1). False faith can never produce a broken heart over sin against God. David, when he sinned said, “Against thee and thee only have I sinned.” (Psalm 51: 4) True faith will readily confess sin unto the Lord and beg for mercy. (Luke 18: 13)

2). False faith will never produce a heart that hungers and thirsts for righteousness in Christ Jesus alone. False faith is always going about to establish a righteousness of their own making. (Romans 10: 1-4) True faith will find all the righteousness God has for a sinner is in Christ alone. (Romans 4: 6-8; Philippians 3: 7-9)

3). False faith will never own its total inability to please God. Where true faith is found in the heart of a sinner there is a confession of total dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone (2 Timothy 1: 12) Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13: 1-5)

4). False faith will never own the absolute Lordship of Christ and willingly bow to His will in all things. (Psalm 110: 3) True faith, the faith of God’s elect, will own and bow to His Lordship. (Titus 1: 1) As Job said in true faith, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1: 21)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Examine Yourselves”

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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: 2 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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How Do We Get to God?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: | 1 Peter 3: 15-18

One wise preacher friend of mine would always say, “Men die as they live.”

I have found that to be true over the years of observing people live and die, those who live to themselves, for themselves, who trust and look to themselves for righteousness shall die in their sin of unbelief and self-reliance. Our blessed Redeemer said, “If you believe not that I am, you shall die in your sins.” (John 8: 24)

Those sinners who by the grace of God, who are quickened together with Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-6) and live by God-given faith looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for all salvation, for all righteousness shall also lay down this robe of sinful flesh.　

But believers not only live by faith, “the just shall live by faith” but they also shall die in faith resting in Christ. (Hebrews 11: 13)　

It is no wonder that the death of a believer is called precious; “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116: 15)　

It is no wonder that the death of a believer is called a blessing from the Lord, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours.” (Revelation 14: 13)

Yes, it is true “men die as they live.”

Now consider this! How are you living?

Are you only concerned about the flesh? (Matthew 6: 33)

Do you have any thoughts about salvation and meeting the Lord in eternal judgment? (Hebrews 9: 27)

May the Lord be pleased to grant us faith in Christ, to look to Him, live in Him and to die in Him.

Won’t that be a blessing! (2 Corinthians 5: 8; Philippians 1: 21)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “How Do We Get to 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.

Lantana Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 2 September, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Crossville, Tennessee

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Christ Receives Sinners

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. (Acts 10: 33)

His words are words of life. (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. (Romans 1: 16; Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear. It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. (Romans 3: 19-20)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. (John 5: 21; Ephesians 2: 1; 1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “How Excellent Is Thy Name”

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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: 26 January, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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This Man Recieveth Sinners, and Eateth With Them

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. (Acts 10: 33)

His words are words of life. (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. (Romans 1: 16; Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear.

It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. (Romans 3: 19-20)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. (John 5: 21; Ephesians 2: 1; 1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace. (2 Timothy 1: 9)

-Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Some Believed and Some Believed Not”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Salvation By Grace Alone

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” | Acts 15: 11

When that first Bible Conference at Jerusalem was assembled and the vital question about salvation was discussed, Peter stood up and declared that salvation is by the grace of God alone, not by the deeds of the law. (Galatians 2: 21; 1 Peter 5: 10) There are at least four things we know the scriptures plainly declare about the grace of God.

1). Grace is eternal. Grace was planned and purposed in Christ before it was imparted and applied to our heart. (2 Timothy 1: 9; Hebrews 13: 20; Revelation 13: 8)

2). Grace is free. No man ever purchased the grace of God. He bought us with His own blood and justified us with His grace alone. (Acts 20: 28; 1 Peter 1: 18; Romans 3: 24)

3). Grace is sovereign. God gives grace to whom He pleases. Grace is the free and sovereign favor of God freely given to undeserving, ill-deserving and hell-deserving sinners. (Romans 5: 19-21; Romans 9: 12-16)

4). Grace is always because of and in Christ. We only believe through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1: 16-17; Acts 18: 27; Ephesians 1: 3-7; 2 Corinthians 8: 9)

Thank God for His grace. Every believer can say with Paul, “I am what I am by His grace.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Bring Me To You”

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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: 14 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Rejoice In The Lord

REJOICE IN THE LORD” | Philippians 3: 1

Throughout the epistle to the believers at Philippi, Paul is always making reference to rejoicing in the Lord; “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4: 4). I can truthfully say there have been times in my life when I rejoiced in everything but the Lord, in religious service, office, ceremony, heritage. But there was a time when our God taught me the saving and the true gospel and convinced me that all was vanity and dung, and that Jesus Christ is All and in All, that every believer is complete in Christ (Colossians 2: 9). Once this was revealed to me, now I find that there are always abundant reasons to rejoice in Him no matter how difficult the day may be. Let me remind you of a few.

1). We rejoice in His glorious person. Totally and fully God and yet identified with our flesh ( John 1: 14; 1 Timothy 3: 16)

2). We rejoice in His perfect righteousness which He worked out for His people as our Mediator and Redeemer, He is the Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23: 6; Romans 4: 6)

3). We rejoice in His glorious sacrifice which eternally puts away all our sin (Hebrews 9: 12; Hebrews 9: 26; Hebrews 10: 17)

4). We rejoice in His powerful grace that can transform us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1: 13)

5). We rejoice in His good and wise providence that works all things for our eternal good (Romans 8: 28)

6). We rejoice in His glorious resurrection by which we are justified (Romans 4: 25)

7). We rejoice in His eternal intercession for us as the Surety of the covenant of grace (Hebrews 7: 25; 1 John 2: 1-2)

8). We rejoice in His second coming, although we do not know the hour or the time, we do know that He will appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 10: 28)

So, my friend, if you are a believer, you always have reasons to rejoice in the Lord! (Philippians 4: 4)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Wrath Of Man Shall Praise Thee”

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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 September, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Only Two Religions in the World

There are, really, only two religions in the world.

One of Cain and the other of Abel.
One is Ishmael and the other is Isaac.
One of Esau and the other of Jacob.
One of law and the other of promise.
One of Mount Sinai and the other of Mount Calvary.

One condemns, the other finds no fault.
One leads to bondage, the other to freedom.
One tendeth to death, the other to life.
One of weakness, the other of power.
One of merit, the other of mercy.
One of the weakness of the letter, the other of the power of the Spirit.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ! Christ! and 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 17 January, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Saints of God

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” | Romans 1: 7

Who are these saints to whom Paul is writing? Every believer who is saved by the grace of God is a saint.

We are totally sanctified in the Lord Jesus Christ, by His effectual blood sacrifice for us. (Hebrews 10: 14; 1 Peter 1: 18-20) The Lord Jesus Christ is made to the believer sanctification; He is our total sanctification before God the Father. (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

There is no such thing as progressive sanctification. We grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3: 18) but our wicked flesh is never sanctified in our salvation. (Romans 7: 18-24) Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit making us new creatures in Christ, giving unto us a new holy nature in the new birth. (2 Corinthians 5: 17, 2 Peter 1: 4)

That which is of the flesh is just that flesh but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3: 6; Ephesians 4: 24)

Thank God salvation is all of grace! (1 Peter 5: 10)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Repentance?”

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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: 11 October, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Being Justified Freely

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” | Romans 3: 24

What does it mean to be justified? I am sure that there have been many definitions given and I by no means can fully expound all that is involved in sinners being justified before God. However, I am sure that it means to be eternally pardoned from all sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1: 18) It means to be acquitted and vindicated of all charges before the holy justice of God. (Jude 24) It means to be made and regarded righteous in God’s sight. (Colossians 1: 21-22)

How are sinners justified? By God as the source, “It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8: 33). By grace as the spring and fountain, “Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3: 24). By Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and blood atonement as the ground, “Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5: 9). By His resurrection as the proof and evidence, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4: 25). By faith as the means to receive this salvation in Christ, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Romans 5: 1).

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Be Of Good Cheer”

Article date: 3 January, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a