Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Rule We Are Under

”For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” | Galatians 5: 13-15

How did Noah get the animals in the ark?

He simply said, “Here is the ark.”

”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6: 1)

The LORD drew the animals into the ark, not Noah.

Noah simply displayed the ark.

This is the chief motive of the law of love written on the believer’s heart.

I know that Christ is in his throne; my heart is not to vainly attempt to do the work only Christ has the right and the power to perform.

I simply point them to Christ the Ark.

Christ will effectually work in our hearts to draw us in to him.

The law of Christ always remembers who is able to make us stand and who does not have that power.

”Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. ” (Galatians 6: 2-5)

The direct, effectual rule of Christ who works in the heart he has made new is the rule the believer is under.

Before Christ came in power I was only flesh attempting to obey God and appear righteous before men with only the Ten Commandments as my rule.

I could not even hear what the law said of me.

”Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6: 6-10)

Now I have something better than the flesh and the letter of of Ten Commandments.

I am one with Christ in spirit.

The Holy Spirit leads me in spirit and in truth.

I walk after the Spirit of Christ as a little child is led by a father who will not allow that child to turn out of the way they should go.

”For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8: 20-22)

The law was not made for a righteous man.

Believers are perfectly righteous in Christ Jesus our Lord.

His correction, his establishing, his building-up comes through the preaching of his glorious person and work, not through the Law of Moses.

His power and grace is so sovereign and so effectual that either you are under his grace, righteous in him, led of him and rejoice to say Amen; or you are yet in your sins and under the law.

”Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.” (Luke 11: 45)

The law of love makes us aware, and behaves thus in a manner consistent with the understanding that only Christ has the rightful power to chasten and correct.

We may, at times, have to rebuke and correct.

But the authority by which we do so is not in ourselves but the word of God.

The Authority who alone is able to work it effectually in the heart is Christ Jesus our Lord.

The best way to rebuke and chasten is by setting Christ before the erring brother or sister.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Establishing The Law” (48:54 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: 5 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

And The Ark Rested

“The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.” | Genesis 8: 2-12

When the apostle Paul, along with some Roman soldiers, was providentially found to be in the midst of a storm called “Euroclydon,” he gave this word of assurance to all those who were fearing for their lives… “sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27: 25)

The Lord had promised Paul that he must stand before Caesar (Acts 27: 24) and the apostle, by the grace of God, rested in the Lord’s word.

There was no way that God’s word would fail.

Brethren, we’re all promised that our faith shall be tried, (James 1:3) but may the Lord bring back to our minds His promise to each of His own… “I’ll never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

And by the grace of God, the Lord’s people believe that shall be as it was told them.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “And The Ark Rested”

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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: 23 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a