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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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THE FAMILY OF GOD

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” | Isaiah 43: 1

All those adopted into God’s family should cultivate a continual care and concern for each family member.

How can we do this?

Look at what the Scriptures say:
“Care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12: 25)
“Love one another.” (John 13: 34)
“Pray for one another.” (James 5: 16)
“Comfort one another.” (I Thessalonians 4: 18)
“Admonish one another.” (Romans 15: 14)
“Edify one another.” (I Thessalonians 5: 11)
“Be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9: 50)
“Forgive one another.” (Ephesians 4: 32)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Precious Promises Of The Gospel”

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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 September, 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: 8 February, 2021

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Salvation Is Of The Lord

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.” | Psalm 37: 39

What glorious and blessed truth that shines on every page of Holy Scripture.

We as needy, great and guilty sinners need a mighty and victorious Saviour, who is almighty to save. (Isaiah 63: 1; Hebrews 7: 25) The Lord Jesus Christ is the only answer and remedy for our sin. He is the Saviour that saves, (Matthew 1: 21) the Redeemer that delivers and justifies. (Galatians 1: 3-5; Romans 5: 6)

What a full and complete revelation God gives of His, so great salvation it is ALL of the Lord. (Hebrews 2: 3)

Notice each of these five words:

1). Salvation; is the total and complete deliverance from all our sin. From the penalty, guilt and power of sin to condemn us. (Romans 8: 1; Romans 8: 32-35)

2). Salvation IS; because our great God is the God of salvation. God is love. (1 John 4: 8-10) God is good. (Psalm 73: 1) God is merciful and delights to show it to sinners. (Micah 7: 18-19; 1 Timothy 1: 15)

3). Salvation is OF …Not of works, not of merit, not of the law but rather all of grace alone. (2 Corinthians 8: 9; Acts 15: 11; 2 Timothy 1: 9)

4). Salvation is of THE Lord, there is just one way of salvation. Our Lord plainly said that He is The Way, The Truth, The Life, The Door, The Light, The Bread of life, The Good Shepherd, and The Resurrection. (John 14: 6; John 10: 9; John 8: 12; John 6: 35; John 11: 25)

5). Salvation is of the LORD; the Lord Jesus Christ. It is who He is that gives infinite power to what He accomplished for us upon the cross. (Acts 20: 28) Christ crucified is the only sacrifice for sin. (1 Corinthians 2: 2) The Lord did not die to make an effort to put away sin but rather to make complete atonement for sin of His people that God might be the just God and Saviour. (1 John 4: 10; John 19: 30)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Is Not This The 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: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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I Commend You To God

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” | Acts 20: 32

As Paul departs from the elders from Ephesus he gives them this good and true word by inspiration of God. (2 Timothy 3: 16) It was not only good for those to hear in that day but also for us today. (Romans 10: 17)

What blessing to be given over to the total care and keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ; the good, great and chief Shepherd of the sheep. (Psalm 23: 1-4) We are truly and fully in His almighty hands, (John 10: 27-30) kept by His power, (1 Peter 1: 5) justified by His grace, (Romans 3: 24) redeemed by His blood (1 Peter 1: 18) and blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians 1: 3)

But the apostle Paul also adds to that recommendation, “To the word of His grace;” this is the same as the gospel of His grace that is the power of God unto salvation, (Acts 20: 24; Romans 1: 16) who is also the God of all grace and glory. (1 Peter 5: 10)

And then Paul tells us what the word of His grace will do for the believer in Christ, “Which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance;” not puff us up with religious pride but rather build us up in faith, grace and love in Christ. Our Lord said, “Upon this rock, (foundation) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Isaiah 28: 16; Matthew 16: 18)

The Lord Jesus Christ is our total and complete inheritance. (Romans 8: 17; Ephesians 1: 11; 1 Peter 1: 3)

These blessings of the gospel are sovereignly and exclusively given only to those that are sanctified in Christ; (1 Corinthians 1: 30) “Among all them which are sanctified.”

How are sinners sanctified?

Not by anything we do!

But rather upon the sacrifice of Christ for us, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10: 14)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Jesus Christ Cannot Fail”

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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: 22 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. | 1 Corinthians 12: 27

All of God’s elect make up the body of Christ, His church. (Matthew 16: 18; Ephesians 1: 3-6)

All who Christ Jesus redeemed with His precious blood, make up the body of Christ. (Acts 20: 28; 1 Peter 1: 18; Revelation 5: 9-12) All who are regenerated by God the Holy Spirit, make up the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12: 13; Ephesians 2: 1-4; 1 Peter 1: 23) All who are made to believe the true gospel, make up the body of Christ. (John 5: 24; Galatians 3: 26)

Therefore, any earthly organization or religious cult that sets itself as the “body of christ” proclaiming they have authority to put sinners into Christ or remove them at their own discretion and power to wash away sin, is truly an abomination to Almighty God, a discredit to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and totally contrary to the whole testimony of God.

Salvation, as it is taught from Genesis to Revelation is of the Lord; from election, to justification, to sanctification, to reconciliation, to regeneration and to glorification. (Romans 8: 28-30; 1 Corinthians 1: 30-31; 2 Timothy 1: 9: Titus 3: 5-7)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “What God Does Is Forever”

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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 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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TRUE OR COUNTERFEIT FAITH

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” | Hebrews 3: 12)

Here, the Holy Spirit gives us the evidence of that God-given faith of God’s elect, and the evidence of counterfeit faith which the flesh produces.

True faith will take heed to the warnings of scripture, and search the heart for evidences of unbelief and cry out to God for aid. On the other hand, sham faith is full of presumption and looks to something other than Christ for assurance.

True faith will persevere to the end because it is fastened to a living person, Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 2: 4) while imitation faith will end in failure because it is resting on some false grounds of hope. (Isaiah 28: 17)

True faith in time of trial will bring the believer closer to His Lord, knowing the trial is from His hand and for our good. (Romans 8: 28) On the other hand bogus faith in time of trouble will result in the person departing from the gospel and from those who believe. An evil heart of unbelief is always manifested by departing from the living God. John said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (John 2: 19)

Let us not be afraid to examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13: 5)

True faith is willing to submit to the word of God because it is the foundation of faith. (John 6: 66-69)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Heirs According to the Promise”

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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 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Faith, Hope And Love

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” | 1 Corinthians 13: 13

What great blessings the Lord has freely and eternally given unto His church. (Romans 8: 32)

Indeed, Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1: 3) The apostle Paul makes mention of these three great and spiritual blessings that abide in every believer; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Why would Paul say that? Because it is true!

Every believer lives by faith, (Romans 1: 17) walks by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7) and will die in faith, (Hebrews 13: 5) always looking and trusting Christ. (Hebrews 12: 2) But one day faith will end in perfect and complete sight, when we behold the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. (1 John 3: 2)

Likewise, every believer lives with a fervent hope, a living hope and a blessed hope; (Titus 2: 13) because it is a good hope through grace. (2 Thessalonians 2: 16) Hope springs from faith in Christ, (Hebrews 11: 1) for He is our hope. (Colossians 1: 27; 1 Timothy 1: 1) But the good hope we have in Christ, that too will one day come to an end in the certain expectation of the reality of that hope being predestinated to be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29-30)

But the greatest of these gifts is love; the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5) will never end. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8: 38) Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ had a beginning but it will never have an end. We only love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19) When did the Lord start loving His own? From eternity in the covenant of grace! (Jeremiah 31: 3) The Lord’s love for His church is a sacrificial love. (Ephesians 5: 25; 1 John 4: 10) He laid down His life for His church. (John 13: 1) Oh how precious is that love for us.

May God grant us to be always thankful for this gift of His love unto us and may He cause it to grow in such a way as to glorify Him now and forever. One day soon every believer will sing forever; “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 1: 5-6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Jesus Came To Save Sinners”

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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: 15 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Our Steps Are Ordered Of The Lord

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” | Philipians 1: 6

What will happen in the days to come?

Everything the Lord has wisely decreed in His eternal purpose for us to experience. (Romans 11: 36; Ephesians 1: 11) The Lord gave David these words in Psalm 37: 23; “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples in their day; “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)


The apostle Paul declares that every believer has won the victory of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ forever; “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57) We can be assured by the word of our blessed God and Saviour; that every promise of God will be fulfilled; (Joshua 23: 14; 2 Peter 1: 3-4) that our gracious Lord will provide for our every need; (Philipians 4: 19) that He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13: 5-6)

As the old writers used to express it; “The Lord will give us all grace now and glory forever. We don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds the future.” (Psalm 31: 15)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “God Will Begin And Finish The Work of Salvation In 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” | 1 Corinthians 13: 13

What great blessings the Lord has freely and eternally given unto His church! (Romans 8: 32)

Indeed, Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1: 3) The apostle Paul makes mention of these three great and spiritual blessings that abide in every believer; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Why would Paul say that? Because it is true!

Every believer lives by faith, (Romans 1: 17) walks by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7) and will die in faith, (Hebrews 13: 5), always looking to and trusting in Christ. (Hebrews 12: 2) But one day faith will end in perfect and complete sight, when we behold the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. (1 John 3: 2)

Likewise, every believer lives with a fervent hope, a living hope and a blessed hope; (Titus 2: 13) because it is a good hope through grace. (2 Thessalonians 2: 16) Hope springs from faith in Christ, (Hebrews 11: 1) for He is our hope. (Colossians 1: 27; 1 Timothy 1: 1) But the good hope we have in Christ, that too will one day come to an end in the certain expectation of the reality of that hope being predestinated to be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8: 29-30)

But the greatest of these gifts is love; the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5) will never end. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8: 38)

Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ had a beginning but it will never have an end. We only love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19)

When did the Lord start loving His own? From eternity in the covenant of grace! (Jeremiah 31: 3) The Lord’s love for His church is a sacrificial love. (Ephesians 5: 25; 1 John 4: 10) He laid down His life for His church. (John 13: 1) Oh how precious is that love for us!

May God grant us to be always thankful for this gift of His love unto us and may He cause it to grow in such a way as to glorify Him now and forever.

One day soon every believer will sing forever; “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1: 5-6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Preach The Word 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a