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I Will Love Them Freely

”I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” | Hosea 14: 4

Do you understand “freely’?”

This is the message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Love flows from heaven in this way.

If God did not love us “freely” then He would not love us at all.

We did not deserve His love, we did not purchase His love, and we did not even seek after His love.

What does “freely” mean?

We use it for that which is given without money and without price.

There is no bargaining in it.

A man gives “freely” when he gives hoping for nothing in return.

This is how God gave.

He said, “I will not accept their works in exchange for my love; I will not receive their love as recompense for mine; I will love them all unworthy and sinful though they be.”

Men give, but no man ever gives freely.

There is always some return or honor or recognition attached to men’s giving.

But God gives to those who can confer no honor and have no position to cause the giving.

They are destitute paupers with nothing in their pockets and no pockets to put anything in.

The Lord gives that which is unsought.

He does not give grace to those who seek it, because none ever seek grace until grace has already come.

Sovereign grace does not wait for man.

Religion says that man is running after God.

We say that man is running after all manner of sin and evil, and they do not seek God until His love comes upon them.

As the effect of God’s love, men begin to seek Him.

We do not entreat the Lord, because we hate Him.

His love comes “freely.”

Have you ever asked the sun to shine?

No, the sun shines its rays on the earth “freely.”

It comes on the blasphemer as well as the child of God.

It falls on the farm of the wicked as well as the righteous.

The rain falls upon the rock as well as upon the field.

Such is the grace of God.

It does not come because we ask it, much less because we deserve it.

His love is always first.

He does not love because Christ died, but Christ died because the Father loved.

It comes from His own infinite heart of goodness, simply because He chose to do so.

Thank God, He loves me FREELY. I can live with that.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Judgement” (69:42 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: 18 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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He First Loved Us

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” | 1 John 4: 19

Because He first loved us, there are some things that we, God’s people, love about Him:

We love His sovereignty. We love the fact that He has the power, ability, and right to do as He pleases. We especially love that truth because He said, in Christ, it pleased Him to make us His people.

“For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” (1 Samuel 12: 22)

We love His election. We love who He elected to save. He said He chose to save sinners, and that is what we are.

“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)

We love His predestination. It is the means that He said He would use to conform us to the image of Christ, and that is our greatest desire and need.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8: 29)

We love His grace, because it is what gave Christ to us.

We love His mercy, because it is what gave Christ to the cross of our punishment. It is what shed His blood for the payment of our sin.

We love His redemption, because it is finished. We are washed clean, made pure, and accepted in Him.

We love His righteousness, because it has covered everything that we are in our flesh with His perfection.

We love His glory, because it magnifies Him.

We love His word, because it reveals Him.

We love His message, because it points us and calls us to Him.

We love His people, because there is no greater pleasure on earth than being with those who love Him and desire to worship and praise Him together.

The glorious gospel of Christ is in the fact that He loved us, even when there was nothing about us to love.

For that, we love Him.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Calling Upon His Name?”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 4 June, 2021

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Knowing Brethren Your Election Of God

”Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” | 1 Thessalonians 1: 3-5

Your election is known by your calling!

“You hath He quickened who were dead.” Have you been quickened, made alive to the things of God in Christ?

Do you have an interest in the Gospel of God’s grace and mercy to sinners? “The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Have you been convinced of your sin or unbelief?

Have you been convinced that you have no righteousness and need Christ’s righteousness?

Have you been convinced that there is no judgment only to those in Christ?

If God has been pleased to do these things for you and in you, then you are elected!

“Our Gospel came to you not in word only but in power.” Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ only facts and history to you, or has that Gospel entered your heart and brought you to seek a saving interest in Christ?

“It is given unto you not only to believe on Him but to suffer for His sake.” Do you believe on Him? Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption and that He, of God, is made unto you all you need?

“We love Him because He first loved us.” Do you love Christ the Lord? “No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Spirit.” Is Christ your Lord? Have you truly bowed to Him in your heart of hearts?

“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Do you really love the brethren? There is no problem here.

If we are God’s elect, there are evidences enough, so “give diligence to make your calling sure!”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “How a Sinner Deals With Election”

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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: 9 February, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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LOVING ONE ANOTHER

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” | 1 John 4: 11

How did God love us?

He loved us while we were yet sinners.

He reconciled us while we were yet sinners.

He loved us unconditionally.

“Herein is love, NOT that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

God’s love for us was eternal, unchangeable, and effectual. What is it then that keeps me from loving others? Can it be that such an object of undeserving grace and mercy now requires a worthiness in others? Can it be that such a one who was saved by sovereign mercy, alone, now refuses to show mercy? God forbid!

Let us first contemplate his love for us and we will have no problem loving others.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Astonishing Doctrine”

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

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I Will Love Them Freely

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” | Hosea 14: 4

We ARE nothing, we HAVE nothing, and we can DO nothing that would cause God to love us. If God loves me, it will have to be FREELY.

One might ask,
“You love Jesus don’t you?”
“Your love for God counts for something doesn’t it?”
“Your love for Christ must prove something?”

Yes it does!

It proves that,
“He first loved me.”
“I love Him because He first loved me.” (1 John 4: 19)
“If God ever loved me, he loved me FREELY.”

If He ever loved me FREELY, He still loves me FREELY for His free love is eternal, without beginning and without end.

What comfort that is to this sinner who still is nothing, still has nothing, and still can do nothing that would enable me to barter and bargain with God.

Truly, if God would ever love us, it would have to be freely.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “You Got To Be Perfect To Be Accepted”

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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: 21 January, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a