THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY

”Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, 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: 20-21

When God had sent Job severe trials he fell down upon the ground and worshipped. (Job 1: 20)

In his worship he magnified his Lord as the absolute sovereign in all things. (Romans 11: 36)

Some people would only recognize that the Lord gives, which He abundantly does. (Psalm 40: 5; John 3: 16) However, the believer also rejoices that the Lord gives and that the Lord does take away.

The Lord Jesus Christ does abundantly give His people all things in salvation. “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?” (Romans 8: 32; 1 Corinthians 2: 12) The believer can also rejoice that the Lord does also take away.

He has taken away all our sin. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29) “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Believers, like Job, bow before the Lord and worship Him. We do rejoice that our great God does all things well.

As David said, “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22: 31)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “This Is The Lord’s Doing”

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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: 9 January, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Jesus Christ Is The Alpha and Omega

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” | Revelation 1: 8

What glorious, powerful and true statement this scripture proclaims.

The Lord Jesus Christ is sum and substance, the beginning and the ending of all the Holy Scriptures. The whole message of the Bible is all about the person and work of Christ from Genesis to the Revelation. (Luke 24: 27; Luke 24: 44; John 5: 39; Acts 10: 43)

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all the law of God. He is the law giver and the very one who fulfilled every demand of the law for His people. (Isaiah 42: 21; Matthew 5: 17; Romans 10: 4; Galatians 3: 13)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all creation. He is the one that created all things by the word of His power and sustains all things. (Colossians 1: 16) He is the one that will end this world and create a new heaven and earth wherein dwells righteousness. (John 1: 1-3; 2 Peter 3: 10-13)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending of all our salvation. (Colossians 3: 11) It starts with Him from eternity past (Revelation 13: 8) and is carried out to its full completion in eternal glory. (Romans 8: 29-30; Philippians 1: 6)

What a glorious Lord we serve.

He is the Lord God Almighty who was, who is and who is to come; there is no other. (Revelation 4: 8; Revelation 4: 11-17; Isaiah 45: 5-7)

Our Lord Jesus Christ never changes in His character, purpose and glory. (Malachi 3: 6; Hebrews 13: 8)

He is the only Just God and Saviour. (Isaiah 45: 21-22; Romans 3: 24-26)

He is the very Saviour and Redeemer that we urgently need and must have and the only one the God has provided for us. (Genesis 22: 14; Acts 4: 12; Philippians 4: 19)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is Accounted Worthy?”

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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: 31 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky =mahan

CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

”Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” | 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

Those who are chosen by God’s grace, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and quickened and made alive by the Holy Spirit have no reason to boast of any personal achievement.

The apostle Paul uses this powerful phrase, “no man” two times in one verse to exclude any from exalting the deeds of the flesh. We were ignorant Gentiles, carried away unto dumb and dead idols, until the grace of God set us free in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Ephesians 2: 11-13)

Consider these three statements:

All that every believer knows; God, in His mercy taught us! The gospel of God’s grace and glory is not something that the natural and carnal mind reasons out. The gospel must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is not by education, but rather by revelation. The world by wisdom does not know God. (1 Corinthians 1: 21) God, the Holy Spirit must take the things concerning Jesus Christ and shew them unto us, or we will never understand the true gospel. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2: 9-10)

All that every believer has; God, in His love gave us! There is not a single spiritual blessing that the believer enjoys that has not been freely given to us. (1 Corinthians 1: 30) We are justified freely by His grace. (Romans 3: 24) God has loved His people freely in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. (Hosea 14: 4) Although all the spiritual blessings are freely given to us, they came at a great price to our Lord. He fully paid our sin debt with a great price, His own blood. (Acts 20: 28) “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?” (Romans 8: 32)

All that we are; God, in His grace made us! By nature we are born in sin and shapen in iniquity. (Psalm 51: 5) By His grace we have been made trophies of His love and mercy. (Ephesians 2: 4-8) Every believer can truly say with the apostle Paul, “by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15: 10) We are saved from our sin by His grace. (Romans 4: 16) We are redeemed from the curse of the Law through Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 13)

Therefore every believer can rightly boast of what God has done for us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Salvation is all of God’s grace, all in Christ Jesus and all for His glory.

We say with the apostle, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6: 14)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Salvation Is Of The Lord”

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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: 3 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

NO CONDEMNATION AND NO SEPARATION

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” | Isaiah 40: 6-8

Consider this dreadful truth for a moment.

Our sin in fallen Adam charged to us has separated us from God, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” (Isaiah 59: 2)

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

In Adam death and sin entered into us, “By one-man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.” (Romans 5: 12)

But now consider this glorious truth for a moment.

Our sin has been separated from us forever.

Our Blessed Saviour came in the flesh apart from sin (Romans 8: 3) and in our nature to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9: 26; Galatians 4: 4-6; 1 John 3: 5) Now because of His glorious, full and eternal atonement for sin the believer has no sin. (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 He remembers our sin no more: “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10: 17)

This is the good news of the gospel: no condemnation and no separation, but rather eternal reconciliation. (Romans 8: 1, 32-39; 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “What Shall We Preach?”

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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: 31 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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 “Who, What, When, Where and Why of 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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

PERSERVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” | Ephesians 1: 4-5

According to the Word of God, all true believers shall continue in the grace of God until they reach their heavenly inheritance.

Not one of God’s elect shall ever perish. The purpose of God in election will not allow it. The purpose of Christ in redemption will not allow it. The grace of the Holy Spirit in regeneration will not allow it. And the Word of God, which has plainly spoken, will not allow one of the Lord’s sheep to be lost in the end.

God Himself declares, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never persih, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10: 27-28)

These five basic gospel truths give great comfort and joy to all true believers. We rejoice to declare to all men that we believe the Bible doctrines of Total Depravitiy, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonment, and the Perserverance of the Saints.

Only those who are opposed to the grace of God are opposed to these things.

In stating plainly what the BIble teaches about these things, the people of God are simply declaring what we know to be true, “Salvation is of the Lord!”
“By grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Bible Doctrine Of Election”

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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

IRRESISTIBLE GRACE

“Blessed is the man whom thou choostest and causest to approach unto thee” | Psalm 65: 4

God the Holy Spirit comes to the sinners who were chosen by God in election and redeemed by Christ at Calvery and effectually applies the blood of Christ to their hearts, creating faith in them.

He sovereignly comes to men who are spiritually dead and gives them life.

Through the peaching of the gospel he regenerates all the elect and draws them to Christ with irresistible power.

The Holy Spirit does not try to get men to believe and come to Christ. With the effectual and irresistible power of his grace, the Holy Spirit brings sinners to Christ in true faith.

This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power”; (Psalm 110: 3) “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and hath learned of the Father, cometh to me” (John 6: 33)

In regeneration, as in election and redemption, “Salvation is of the Lord”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Why Men Don’t Come 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 27 October, 2006 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” | John 6: 37-40

Before the World began God chose to save some men in eternal, electing love and predestinated them to be his sons by adoption.

God’s loving choice of his people was in Christ his son, whom he had appointed to be the Mediator, Substitute, and Representative of his people. Election was a sovereign and unconditional act of Divine grace. God did not choose his elect because he foresaw something good and meritorious in them. He chose his own elect simply because he will be gracious, and he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy.

God’s election of his people guarantees and secures their eternal salvation in Christ. All who were chosen by God in election and given to Christ shall be saved.

Not one of God’s elect shall ever perish. This is clearly the doctrine of the Bible.

All of God’s people rejoice in and give thanks to God for his electing love. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him: in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

The Bible doctrine of election simply says that all who are saved were chosen by God to be saved, because he loved them with an everlasting love in the very beginning, before the foundations of the earth were laid, “Salvation is of the Lord”.

“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)
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” (Psalm 65: 4)


“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15: 16)


“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Matthew 11: 25-26)
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2: 13)


“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1: 9)

This blessed gospel doctrine of Divine election, which so greatly rejoices the hearts of God’s people, is taught throughout the volume of inspiration.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “How Is Salvation Received?”

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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

LIMITED ATONEMENT

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” | Ephesians 1: 4-6

The Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood at Calvery for God’s elect.

Christ died to redeem God’s elect alone, The Son of God did not shed his blood in vain, which would not be true if any of those for whom he died perish in hell. It was never our Lord’s intention to redeem and save all men. He even redused to pray for all men! (John 17: 9, 20)

It would be absurd to think that Christ died for men for whom he would not say a prayer!

The sin atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ is limited to those who are actually saved by his blood.

In order for God to save his people, justice had to be satisfied, sin had to be punished, the sinner had to be slain.

Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world as the Substitute and Representative of God’s elect people.

Christ established perfect righteousness for us.

Dying under the penalty of sin as our Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the claims of Divine justice against us.

Because the justice of God has been satisfied for God’s elect, by death of his son, God will never charge his own elect with sin. He imputes the righteousness of Christ to every believer, and rewards us for righteousness.

The doctrine of Bible is just this: when Christ died as the Substitute of his people, he effectually accomplished the eternal redemption of all God’s elect, those people for whom he died, all who believe in him.

This is what God says about the death of his son –

  • “For the transgression of my people was he stricken.” (Isaiah 53: 8)
  • “It pleased God to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53: 10)
  • “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righeous servant justify many: for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53: 11)
  • “He hath made him sin for us; who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
  • “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3: 13)

No one who knows Christ can tolerate the notion that he failed in his work, that he tries to save men whom he cannot save, and that he died to redeem some who are not redeemed.

Such doctrine robs Christ of his glory in redemption and destroys all hope for sinners. All of God’s people rejoice to know that Christ died particularly for them and effectually accomplished their redemption in his death.

“By his own blood he entered in once inot the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 12)

We rejoice to declare that “Salvation is of the Lord”.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Who Are The Elect?”

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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

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