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What Is Grace?

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” | Galatians 2: 21

Paul tells us repeatedly that we are saved and justified, called and sanctified, preserved and glorified by the grace of God, without our works; but what is grace?

Almost all professing christians say they believe that salvation is by grace.

The Word of God lays such heavy emphasis upon the fact that salvation is by grace that it is very difficult for anyone to claim to believe the Bible and yet openly deny that salvation is by grace.

Papists, pentecostals, and fundamentalists, all claim to believe in salvation by grace.

But most people think and speak about grace in such a way that they frustrate the grace of God.

That is the reason Paul declared, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!”

The grace that most people talk about is not grace at all.

It is so mixed with human merit and human works that it is ‘no more grace’.

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11: 6)

Grace that looks to the worth of man, waits upon the will of man, or depends upon the work of man is frustrated grace; and frustrated grace is not the grace of God!

Grace is the unmerited favor of God.

Grace is free!

Grace is unconditional!

Anything earned, merited, or deserved by you is not grace.

The man who thinks he deserves God’s salvation does not believe in grace.

The person who imagines that his acceptance with God depends upon his will, his works, or his worth, does not believe in grace, as the Bible speaks of grace.

He has fallen from grace.

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5: 2-4)

Such people may talk about grace, but grace does not mean to them what it does to poor, helpless, guilty, bankrupt, self-condemned sinners, whose only hope is Christ.

No one will ever honor and extol the grace of God until he has experienced it.

It was only after he had experienced it that Paul declared, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

Before that, though he was religious, he was a blasphemer who hoped for salvation by something he did.

Paul took no credit for his conversion.

He ascribed the whole of his salvation to God’s free grace alone.

He knew he did not make himself to differ from others.

A great change had taken place in his heart.

His opinions, affections, ambitions, desires, hopes, and motives had been radically changed; and he attributed the change to the grace of God alone.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The World Judged At The Cross” (27:14 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: 15 August, 2021 | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Gracious, Righteous And Merciful

“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

If salvation depends upon our being or doing anything, we shall inevitably be lost.

Thank God, it does not; for the great fundamental principle of the gospel is that Christ is all: man is nothing.

It is not a mixture of Christ and man – it is all of Christ.

The peace of the gospel does not rest in part on Christ’s work and in part on man’s work; it rests wholly on Christ’s work, because that work is perfect, perfect forever; and it renders all who put their trust in Him as perfect as Himself!

Christ must either be a whole Savior or no Savior at all.

The moment a man says, “Except you be this or that, you cannot be saved,” he totally subverts the gospel; for in the gospel I find Christ coming down to me, just as I am – a lost, guilty, self-destroyed sinner; and coming, moreover, with a full remission of all my sins, and a full salvation from my lost estate, all perfectly wrought by Himself on the cross.

~ C. H. Mackintosh

Click here to listen to the message “Gracious, Righteous & Merciful” (25:58 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: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Grace Given To Unworthy Sinners

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” | Ephesians 3: 8-9

The first link between my soul and Christ is not my goodness, but my badness; not my merit, but my misery; not my standing, but my falling; not my riches, but my need.

He comes to visit His people, yet not to admire their beauties, but to remove their deformities; not to reward their virtues, but to forgive their sins.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Grace Given To Unworthy Sinners” (35:15 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: 12 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Gospel Rejected & Its Consequences

”If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” | Psalm 130: 3-4

There is no greater news to a sinner saved by grace than to hear that there is forgiveness with the LORD.

What a sweet melody it is.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel Rejected & It’s Consequences” (34:27 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: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Oh! Sweet Grace, Blessed Grace!

”And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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: 6-9

We are saved by grace, free grace, rich grace, sovereign grace, distinguishing grace without one atom of works, without one grain of creature merit, without anything of the flesh.

Oh! Sweet grace, blessed grace!

Oh! what a help, what a strength, what a rest for a poor toiling, striving, laboring soul to find that grace has done all the work, to feel that grace has triumphed in the cross of Christ, to find that nothing is required, nothing is needed, nothing is to be done!

~ J.C. Philpot

Click here to listen to the message “Seeing The Grace 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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Hallowed Be Your Name

”After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” | Matthew 6: 9

God’s name is highly regarded and greatly respected by Himself and His people.

His law commanded, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20: 7)

His people pray “hallowed be Your name,” (Matthew 6: 9) expressing their desire that His name be sanctified and made holy.

Holy Scriptures speak of His “holy name” many times.

He rebukes those who profane (the English verb profane is from the Latin profanare = “to desecrate, render unholy, violate”) His holy name.

“And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36: 20-23)

The world is notorious for profaning God’s name, especially in its euphemisms and minced oaths.

The name “God” is profaned with: egad; gawd; golly; gosh.

The name “Lord” is profaned with: lordy; lawzy.

The name “Jesus Christ” is profaned with: cheese and rice; crikey; cripes; gee; gee whiz; Jeebus; jeepers; jeez; Jiminy Christmas; Jesus H. Christ; Judas Priest.

We also hear them speaking profane terms such as: begorra; (by God) bejabbers; (by Jesus) dadgum / dagnammit / goldern; (God damn) drat; (God rot it) gadzooks; (God’s hooks – the nails of Christ’s crucifixion) omigosh / omigod / omg (O my God); suffering succotash; (suffering Savior) zounds. (God’s wounds)

May He find His people never profaning His name, and ever among those who pray and practice “hallowed be Your name”!

~ Pastor Daniel E. Parks

Click here to listen to the message “What Jesus Christ Is To Me”

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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: 20 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Divine Paradoxes

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them | Ephesians 2: 4-10

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3: 18)

The wiser we get, the greater fools we become.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The stronger we grow, the weaker we are.

“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6: 10)

The more we possess, the less we have.

“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” (Luke 7: 42)

The more completely bankrupt, the more freely forgiven.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)

The more utterly lost, the more perfectly saved.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 4)

And the more like a child, the greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Click here to listen to the message “Orthodox Paradoxes”

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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 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Made Holy

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” | Romans 14: 4

Every believer has been made holy in Christ.

This does not mean that a believer does not commit sin.

A believer constantly sins but the scripture says that the Lord does not impute sin to the believer because He imputed that sin to Christ at Calvary and Christ put that sin away by the blood of His sacrifice.

That is what David said in Psalm 32: 1-2. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Don’t Judge Your Brother”

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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: 4 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Made Holy

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” | Romans 14: 4

Every believer has been made holy in Christ.

This does not mean that a believer does not commit sin.

A believer constantly sins but the scripture says that the Lord does not impute sin to the believer because He imputed that sin to Christ at Calvary and Christ put that sin away by the blood of His sacrifice.

That is what David said in Psalm 32:1-2. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Don’t Judge Your Brother”

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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: 4 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Divine Paradoxes

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” | Ephesians 2: 4-10

The wiser we get, the greater fools we become. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3: 18)

The stronger we grow, the weaker we are. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The more we possess, the less we have. “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6: 10)

The more completely bankrupt, the more freely forgiven. “Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.” (Luke 7: 42)

The more utterly lost, the more perfectly saved. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)

And the more like a child, the greater in the kingdom of heaven. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 4)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Orthodox Paradoxes”

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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 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a