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A Backward Proposal

”And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” | Isaiah 4: 1

The proposal of these seven women represents the backwardness of the sin-depraved heart. This is the way all sinner’s think they can be accepted of God prior to Christ dethroning sin in the heart.

First, they are backwards in that it is the woman proposing to the man. Christ the Husband of his bride takes hold of her and not the other way around.

Secondly, their proposal of eating their own bread and wearing their own apparel has to do with the law concerning the responsibility of a husband to his first bride. “If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.” (Exodus 21: 10) (This is regarding his first wife.)

These seven women propose that the husband does not have to fulfill the law on their behalf but that they will fulfill it themselves. Christ the Husband is the end of the law for all who believe for he has fully honored the law’s requirement in providing for his bride. He is her Life-Food; he is her Righteousness; and he has united himself to her in Spirit fulfilling the whole duty of marriage so that she delights to be his.

Thirdly, when these seven women say, “Only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach”, they are saying what multitudes think. Multitudes think that all they need to remove the reproach of sin is to be called by Christ’s name.

Unless Christ is our Husband — unless Christ has taken hold of us – then the sinner will go on in this polluted idea that they are married to Christ when they are married to one who is anything but the GodMan – Christ Jesus the Lord – the husband of the Church.

Unless Christ is the perfect fulfillment of God’s holy law on the sinner’s behalf then the husband to whom we say we are married is no husband at all.

Unless Christ is our Bread (our life) we have no life.

Unless Christ is our garment of Righteousness we are naked in our sin.

Unless Christ has united himself in the duty of marriage with our spirit, we may call ourselves by his name yet it is nothing more than taking his name in vain. We still have the maiden-name of our father Adam and the reproach of sin remains.

These seven women illustrate the most popular idol of man’s imagination.

So how does the Lord declare he shall bring his bride into this marriage union? Listen and find out.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Rejoicing Over His Bride”

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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: 10 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Abide Here Fast By My Maidens

“Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:” | Ruth 2: 8

Sheep are social creatures.

They need the flock. If a sheep is found alone it is because it is sick or wounded.

Ruth wanted the flock. She said to Naomi, “thy people shall be my people.” Believers need the church.

I am suspicious of folk who talk about joining a church because they feel like they can help it out.

The church is a hospital for sinners. It is a well for the thirsty. It is a breadbox for the hungry. It is sought out, entered, and resided in because of need.

Believers don’t attend to help, they come to get help.

If providence has made you hungry, providence will guide you to the place where the bread is. What of those who believe grace but cannot seem to be part of an assembly? I have no answer, but I’ve never known one who has the joy of true and lasting fellowship who is not in the house of God, with the people of God worshipping the true and living God. There is where the sheep gather in one fold with one shepherd.

The church is not an organization; it is an organism. It is not a business; it is a family. It is not a building; it is a body. Nothing is more detrimental to the heart and spirit of a believer than neglect of God’s house. (Haggai 1: 4-6)

Two things are found to be true concerning the members of the churches of God: Every member is a believer, and every member has confessed Christ in baptism.

~ Pastor Tim James

Click here to listen to the message “The Desire of All Nations”

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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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Church Belongs to Christ

While the church is in this world she is with Christ and Christ is with her, and she is safe. All is well!

Sometimes our doubting hearts become fearful about the welfare and safety of the Lord’s church. But our fears are ill-founded. The church belongs to Christ. He loved her, chose her, and redeemed her. She is in His hands. He will defend her, protect her, and perfect her.

The church of Christ and the cause of Christ are safe.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Christ is the Head of the Church”

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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: 3 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a