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The Lord Jesus Christ Set His Love On Sinners

“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

Do you know who will love to hear that Christ came to save sinners?

Sinners will!

Do you know who will love to hear that Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners?

Sinners will!

Do you know who will love to hear that Christ died on purpose, for a particular people, whom the word of God calls ungodly sinners?

Ungodly (in the flesh) sinners will love to hear that!

The blood of Christ was not shed for the self righteous world, but it was shed for sinners.

Christ did not set His love on the self righteous world, but He set His love on sinners.

Christ will not receive the self righteous world, but He said He would receive sinners!

So, let me ask you this question: Are you a sinner?

If you are, like I am, this is the greatest news we will ever hear in our lives… “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.”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “That’s Who The Savior Is” (27:31 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, our livestream (when available) and previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 20 January, 2021
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Perfect To Be Accepted

“And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.” | Leviticus 22: 21

The voice from the cross did not summon men to do, but to be satisfied with what was done, “It is finished.”

The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect thing which has ever been presented to God on man’s behalf.

“It shall be perfect to be accepted, there shall be no blemish therein.”

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “My Salvation Shall Be Forever” (38:18 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: Special | Previous post date: 18 January, 2023
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By Grace Alone

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” | Ephesians 2: 8-9

“By grace are ye saved.”

There is no present salvation except that which begins and ends with grace!

No man can preach or possess a present salvation except those who preach and believe that we are saved by grace alone!

The work is finished!

Any other way of salvation is dependent on the sinner and it will fail.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus – Friend of Sinners” (33:16 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, our livestream (when available) and previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 17 January, 2021
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Complete In Thee

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

~ Colossians 2: 6-10

The death of our Lord Jesus Christ was more than a judicial rendering of the demands of God’s holy law for the punishment of our sins.

Indeed and in truth it was that.

However, the reason or cause of our Redeemer giving His life a ransom for His sheep I feel is equally important and much too often passed over in our haste to be doctrinally correct. The Divine motive of this incomprehensible transaction was the everlasting love of the Triune God for His children – “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.” (1 John 4: 9) Had there been no love for us there would have been no Redeemer provided.

The glory of God is most perfectly and completely revealed in the Son of His love giving His life for those whom He loved.

Oh what love, wondrous love, for me was shown!

When we by faith see our Saviour dying we must not only see justice satisfied, we must see God’s love fulfilled, magnified, and glorified! – “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine.” (Ezekiel 16: 8)

God is satisfied as He rests in His love!

Not only did Christ die to satisfy the Justice of God legally, He died to express His love in deed that we might live and forever be with Him in glory. The love of God and the death of Christ is so much in harmony that Justice smiles, closes the book, strikes the desk with It’s gavel and declares from the courts of heaven and echoes throughout eternity, “Case closed. All charges against the accused are dismissed”.

Now if that is not good news for a wretch such as the likes of me, I don’t know what is!

“I’m redeemed by love Divine! Glory, Glory, Christ is mine!”

~ Pastor Tommy Robbins

Click here to listen to the message “We Are Complete In Him” (26:19 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: Special | Previous post date: n/a
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The Glorious Death of the Lord Jesus Christ

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” | Romans 8: 35

And what if He did not die?

  • Cain would be condemned, and so would Abel.
  • Esau would be cut off, but so would Jacob.
  • Pharaoh would be damned, but so would Moses.
  • Judas would be cast into the lake of fire, but so would Peter, James, and John.
  • Agrippa would perish, but so would Paul.

The point is, our sole and only reason for being saved is His death.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5: 10)

God was completely satisfied by the death of His Son.

His justice was honored, sin was punished, paid for, and put away.

God can ask for nothing more!

And however satisfied He is with the death of His Son is how satisfied He is with those He died for.

Oh how glorious is the death of Christ.

It is the subject of the eternities!

It is the sure and only ground of the salvation of the believer.

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel” (40:52 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 4 January, 2021 | Pikeville, Kentucky
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Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” | Revelation 21: 4

TRUST is a wonderful thing, and SWEET is a good word to describe it.

Whether between husband and wife, parents and children, friends, or whomever… trust is sweet!

The word implies faith, confidence, and reliance, but that is not all.

There is also a wonderful rest and repose in trust; a freedom from doubts, suspicions, anxieties, and fearful apprehensions.

Trust is calm, peaceful and assured.

“Tis so sweet” when guilty sinners come to “trust in Jesus”.

~ Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “All Liars Go To Hell” (47:06 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: Special | Previous post date: 2 January, 2021
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The Husbandman And His Fruitful Vine

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” | Isaiah 10: 33, 34

The LORD created all things to glorify his name.

Husbandry is one such thing.

”And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” (Isaiah 11: 01)

The LORD’s church is compared to a garden of God’s planting.

”I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3: 6)

Often the metaphor of trees, of a fruitful field, is used to describe the Lord’s people, the church of God.

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” (Isaiah 10: 33)

We see this metaphor of a garden, of trees, of the LORD planting and uprooting throughout the book of Isaiah.

Whenever the elect of God had become overrun with false prophets, the strangers from outside Israel had been allowed in – though Judah appeared to prosper materialistically the LORD said of his elect:

”And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1: 8-9)

By God’s grace, his garden is well-watered, ever-green.

On the other hand, false religion only appears green.

Idolaters worshipped under groves — under green trees where it was shady and attractive to the flesh – thus called “pleasant places.”

But God said they were dry because the grace of God was not there to water them.

Thus the LORD says that the false husbandmen — the maker of their falsehood shall be the spark and the people shall be the tow, or tinder – for the fire.

”Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.” (Isaiah 1: 27-31)

God hates a proud look.

Throughout Isaiah’s prophecy he spoke of those who refused to submit themselves to God’s way of salvation in a Substitute, in the Lamb of sacrifice which he provides, as being proud and lofty.

He describes them like they saw themselves – cedars of Lebannon and oaks of Bashan.

”Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15: 2)

But the LORD promised to cut those trees down.

”The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,” (Isaiah 2: 11-13)

There is a song (Isaiah 5: 1-7) which again speaks of God and his vineyard: “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.”

”What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” (Isaiah 5: 4-6)

So when the LORD withheld the rain they found that they had nothing good in themselves wherein to produce fruit.

”Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5: 24)

The LORD sent Isaiah to declare that he is burning off the garden, chopping down all the mighty oaks, taking the hedge down from around the vineyard, he is consuming the chaff, but as he does so he speaks of his sovereign, electing grace in saving a remnant.

”And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.” (Isaiah 6: 9-13)

So how would the LORD our Husbandman burn off his vineyard and clear this forest of haughty, proud, lofty trees?

”And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.” (Ezekiel 34: 29)

He did a great deal by taking down the hedge and allowing the wild beasts to come in and eat it up.

”And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.” (Isaiah 10: 17-19)

But as for the mighty trees, the LORD used an ax to cut down the mighty cedars and the tall oaks in his garden — the ax as you remember was the king of Assyria because he turns the kings heart whitersoever he will – but then he cut down the forest of the king of Assyria as well:

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” (Isaiah 10: 33-34)

Now concerning all the haughty, lofty, cedars of Lebanon as well as the mighty oaks of Bashan, both in Israel and Judah, all his land, the LORD says:

”But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15: 13)

Get the picture of this land.

It is all cleared off, the chaff which grew up from the bad seed has been burned, the haughty, proud cedars of Lebannon, the mighty oaks of Bashan, the LORD cut it back, chopped it down to the roots, so that all that is left of the nation is a stem – a stump.

”For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” (Job 14: 7)

But remember He said there was a Holy Seed — Substance, Life – yet in this stump of a tree.

”And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” (Isaiah 11: 1)

The LORD promised: a plant of renown!

The LORD promised: No more hunger!

The LORD promised: No more shame!

That must be some beautiful plant!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Salt of the Earth” (31:33 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: 22 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Holding Forth The Word Of Life

”Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” | Philippians 2: 16

How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t read the Bible because I don’t understand it, and since I don’t understand it, very quickly I lose interest in it.”

There was once a young lady that began reading a novel and after a chapter or two, she found the book dull, and losing interest, she placed the book upon her shelf.

Later she met a young man, and when the relationship became more serious, she discovered that he was an author.

The title of one of his novels sounded very familiar, and sure enough, it was the same book in which she had lost interest.

She immediately began reading the book again, and this time she couldn’t put the book down.

She didn’t stop reading the book until she had finished.

What made the difference in this young lady’s attitude toward the same book?

She now was fascinated in the book because she had affection for and interest in the author.

”In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1: 2)

To some, the Word of God, the Bible, may be nothing but fables, dull and confusing.

But to the one who personally knows the Author, the Book of life becomes fascinating to them, and they rejoice in the words of the One who wrote it.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Promised Before The World Began” (23:05 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: 29 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Good News For Pilgrims!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” | John 14: 1-3

Here is good news for weary, heavy-hearted pilgrims from our homeland in Heaven.

Do you have heartaches and troubles too numerous to count?

It will do you good to receive some good news from home.

The Lord our God is still on His throne. Our Savior is still in Heaven, preparing a place for you, representing you, interceding for you.

There are many in Heaven just like you and me already.

There is . . .
… a fallen David there,
… a doubting Thomas there,
… an angry Moses there,
… a feeble Philip there,
… an impetuous Peter there,
… and a righteous Lot there.

All are there by grace alone, through the merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness.

And, soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to take you there!

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Relief For Troubled Hearts”

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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: 20 June, 2021 | Previous post date: 28 August, 2021

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A Good Hope Through Grace

”Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 16

I have a hope of eternal life and eternal glory.

It is a “living hope” because my Lord Jesus lives!

As my surety and substitute “He lives, and was dead, and behold He is alive forevermore.”

“He EVER LIVETH to make intercession for us.”

My hope is a “good hope” because the Lord Jesus and the Father gave it to me through grace.

I did not earn it nor deserve it by my works.

It is the free gift of His love and mercy in Christ.

If my merit or works enter in at any point, it would not be a good hope.

Therefore, if I am asked a reason for my hope, I would ground my reply in the three foundations of the Great Reformation.

1.) THE SCRIPTURES ALONE. I believe the Word of God! I cannot trust my feelings, my thoughts, nor my experiences; but, I can rest my soul on His Word.

2.) GRACE ALONE. Salvation is by God’s free and sovereign grace from its origination to its consummation. All that I am, have, know, or shall ever be is the gift of God to me. “A beggar poor, at mercy’s door, lies such a wretch as I.”

3.) CHRIST ALONE. “I know WHOM I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to HIM against that day.” If I have believed and trusted Christ alone, then I am sure that the Father will put forth all His power to preserve me, that His Son be not dishonored.

This is indeed A GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “How Is Salvation Received?” (14:47 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky