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Those Who Hear and Do

”But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” | James 1: 25

Those who are “doers of the Word” look into the perfect law of liberty – they hear the gospel of Christ and behold their old, sinful bodies as dead and buried in Christ.

They see in Christ — their Perfect Liberty – that their acceptance with God is complete in him.

“Doers of the Word” hear their King declare that all who believe on him are no longer under the law of Mt. Sinai but are under his perfect law of freedom.

They go their way continuing in the liberty with which Christ has set them free.

“Doer’s of God’s Word” do not look to what they do — whether good or bad – they look to Christ alone.

The “doer of the Word” is said to be blessed in his deed.

His deed is simply continuing by faith in Christ, the great Liberator.

His blessing is that when every beguiling philosopher, every religious activist, every carnal friend or foe, even the old nature itself, attempts to turn him from Christ back to death, his King will not allow it.

Christ makes him lay down all his carnal weapons, lay aside the old man with his deeds and simply sit down at Christ’s feet where he continues in liberty by faith.

This is being a “doer of the Word and not a hearer only.”

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Preparation For An Ordained Work” (36:16 minutes)

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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: 20 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Return To Thy Rest, O My Soul

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” | Psalm 23: 2-3

Some believers are troubled because they cannot always and at all times feel the joy and comfort set forth in Psalm 23.

We should remember that, though David lived long and wrote much, he wrote only one twenty-third Psalm.

There are other psalms; psalms of conviction, praise, prayer, seeking, and mourning. In fact, even this Psalm closes with our walk through the valley of death.

This valley of death is our entire journey through life.

The fall of Adam put the stamp of death on everything and everyone.

But we are walking through.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23: 4)

It is not our home, and it is a valley of the SHADOW of death.

Christ has removed the substance and sting of death for us.

The shadow of a dog can’t hurt; the shadow of a gun can’t kill.

‘I will fear no evil’

He does not say: ‘there will be no evil’; but, because He is with me, I don’t FEAR the evil.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Take No Thought For Your Life” (33:21 minutes)

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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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 7 Septembner, 2021

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He Laid Down His Life For Us

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | 1 John 3: 16

Children of God, this is the foundation of our faith, the rock of our salvation, and the hope of our souls.

Since Christ has died in the place of his people, they cannot perish.

I know that there are men whose minds are so distorted that they can conceive it possible that Christ died for men who in the end will be lost in hell.

I am sorry to say that there are men in the pulpits of the church today, whose brains have been so addled by religious tradition and false doctrine that they cannot see that the doctrine they hold is both a preposterous lie and a blasphemous error.

Their doctrine is this – Christ dies for a man, and then God punishes that man again; Christ suffers in the sinner’s stead, and then God condemns that sinner after all!

It shocks me to even mention such an error.

Were it not so commonly held, I would pass over it with the contempt that it deserves.

That would be a perversion of justice, a double-cross, and a requirement of double indemnity.

The doctrine of Scripture is this – God is just.

Christ died in the stead of his people, satisfying God’s justice; and now, as God is just, he will never punish one soul for whom the Savior shed his blood.

Justice will not allow a double payment for the same offense, first at the hands of Christ, and then from me.

The idea that Christ was the Substitute and Surety for all men is so inconsistent, both with reason and Holy Scripture, that we are obliged to reject it with abhorrence.

We cannot, for the glory and honor of our dear Savior, let go of the blessed gospel doctrine of particular and effectual redemption.

To deny the efficacy of Christ’s substitutionary atonement would be, for me, a total denial of the gospel.

And it would rob me of my soul’s greatest comfort.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” (57:57 minutes)

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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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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The Declaration Of Dependence

“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” | Psalm 62: 7

Sooner could the ocean prove too little for a small fish or the sky be too small for a swallow than the grace of God prove insufficient for one of God’s people.

Not all their weaknesses, failures or sins can use it up.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Confidence in God’s Gospel” (49:52 minutes)

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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 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 21 August, 2021

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Why Christ Came

”The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” | Psalm 12: 3-7

Jesus Christ came into the world not only to reveal the Father, but to redeem the sinner.

He came not as the President of our country would go into a disaster area to look upon the poor, helpless victims, but to redeem victims of depravity whom the Father gave him in the covenant of redemption.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;” (1 Peter 1: 18)

Christ came not to redeem by appointed methods, but by Himself.

He came not to stand by and prescribe, but to minister and provide the means of salvation.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Revelation 1: 5)

The Savior came not only to provide salvation, but to be that Salvation.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “The Salvation of a Thief”

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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: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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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.

“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63: 1)

We as needy, great and guilty sinners need a mighty and victorious Saviour, who is almighty to save.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7: 25)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only answer and remedy for our sin. He is the Saviour that saves, the Redeemer that delivers and justifies. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1: 21)

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1: 3-5)

What a full and complete revelation God gives of His so great salvation… it is ALL of the Lord! “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Hebrews 2: 3)

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5: 6)

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. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1)

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” (Romans 11: 32-35)

2). Salvation IS; because our great God is the God of salvation.

God is love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 8-10)

God is good. “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.” (Psalm 73: 1)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1: 15)

God is merciful and delights to show it to sinners. “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7: 18-19)

3). Salvation is OF; Not of works, not of merit, not of the law but rather all of grace alone. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8: 9)

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

“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)

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. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6)

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10: 9)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6: 35)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (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. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20: 28)

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

Christ crucified is the only sacrifice for sin. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19: 30)

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.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “So Great 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 27 June, 2021 | Previous post date: 14 August, 2021

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Substitution And Satisfaction

”He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” | Isaiah 53: 11

When Christ cried from Calvary’s cross, “It is finished,” He could have cried, “God is satisfied,” and it would have meant the exact same thing.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Substitution and Satisfaction”

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

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Mechanics of Grace?

”Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 20-24

Where can I go this Lord’s Day and hear the mercy of God, not the mechanics of grace?

Where can I go and hear the love of Christ and not the law of God for saints?

Where can I go and hear of the righteousness of God fulfilled by Christ and not the righteousness of the creature to be rewarded by God?

Let us say, by God’s grace, this will be the place and I will be the preacher.

The message will not be flowery but full of grace; it will not be with enticing words of man’s wisdom but the sovereign mercy of God to helpless sinners in a language all men understand.

Let the scholars, theologians and authors go elsewhere to have their intellects “challenged.”

Lord make me Thy voice to thy people!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “We Preach Christ Crucified”

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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: 2 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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Demand And Supply

”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” | 2 Timothy 4: 2-3

Paul predicted that the time would come when people would not receive the gospel of grace.

Motivated by their carnal desires, they will, therefore, seek out, find and listen to those preachers whose objective is to tell folks exactly what they want to hear. Surely the time about which Paul prophesied has arrived. The philosophy of consumerism has been carried over from the marketplace into the church building.

The rule of the day among false religionists is demand and supply.

Whatever the congregation demands, that’s what lying prophets are ready to supply. The average preacher today may be likened to a clever businessman. He is consumer oriented and motivated by personal success. His job is to find out what religious consumers want and then provide it for them.

That is the secret to success in the business world, and that is the secret to making it big in the religious arena.

There are multitudes of preachers saying virtually anything anybody would want to hear. The demand creates the supply. The hearers determine what their preachers will say and do. As one of the old writers said, “If the people desire a golden calf to worship, a ministerial calf-maker is readily found.”

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4: 2)

Though most preachers are ready to supply the demands of the multitudes, the Lord still has His servants who are faithful to their commission which is summed up in Scripture: “preach the Word.”

God’s men boldly proclaim the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

God’s men seek the approval of God, not the applause of men.

God’s men have no selfish ambitions; they have set no lofty, personal goals.

God’s men seek the glory of God in all things and, as Paul told the Corinthians, they are “determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

God’s men faithfully set forth God as being absolutely sovereign in all that He does.

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2: 9)

God’s men proclaim that “salvation is of the LORD”

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12: 1)

God’s men proclaim man’s total depravity and his utter inability to save himself or make himself acceptable before a holy God.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)

God’s men proclaim the successful, redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8: 6)

God’s men proclaim the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit. Boldly and unashamedly they declare that “Christ is all.” He is all to be known, all to be seen in the Bible and all to be preached from the pulpit.

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 26)

God’s men proclaim how God can be Just and justify the ungodly through the doing and the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When their hearers are amening the sermon, they preach Christ crucified.

When their hearers are ready to stone them to death because of the gospel they proclaim, they just continue preaching the Word of the Lord in obedience to their Master.

The world’s rule of demand and supply means nothing to them.

The message God has supplied and demands them to preach, that is what they proclaim.

~ Pastor Jim Byrd

Click here to listen to the message “A Promise That Ought To Revive”

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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: 1 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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From Death To Life Eternal

”For me to live is Christ; and to die is gain.” | Philippians 1: 21

My Lord Jesus is the giver of life.

He is the sum and substance of life.

He is my hope of life eternal.

My hope is to see Him, to be like Him, and to be with Him forever.

Therefore, for me “TO DIE IS GAIN.”

I will be released from age and pain and gain a perfect body; I will be free from this sinful flesh and gain sinless perfection; I will be free from every trial, every heartache, and live in perfect rest and joy; I will enjoy perfect knowledge, immortality, and everlasting peace.

GAIN is a weak word to describe such glory!

What is it then that makes us so fearful of death and so reluctant to part with this world?

We may give a lot of reasons and feel that we are sincere and our reasons valid; but, to be perfectly honest, our problem is THE WEAKNESS OF OUR FAITH in Him and His Word.

Our Lord said, “O ye of little faith, wherein do you doubt?”

Wherein do we doubt?

His love for sinners?

He gave Himself for us!

The efficacy of His blood?

It cleanseth us from all sin!

The reality of heaven?

“If it were not so, I would have told you!”

The awesome miracle of being changed from the image of the earthy to the image of the heavenly?

Is anything too hard for God?

Here is where Abraham found righteousness.

“He believed God and was persuaded that what God had promised, He was ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM!”

Life eternal in Christ for those who believe is what He has promised, and He will perform!

“Sirs, I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Welcome death, for with death comes LIFE ETERNAL!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Who Did Christ Die For?”

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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 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky