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Things Above

”Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” | Colossians 3: 2

One of the old writers once said: “Do not look for that in the law which can only be found in the gospel; do not look for that in ourselves which is only to be found in Christ; do not look for that in the creature (world) which can only be found in the Creator; and do not look for that on earth which can only be found in Heaven.”

~ William Jay

Click here to listen to the message “Why Do We Preach Christ?”

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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: 13 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Perfect Priest With The Perfect Sacrifice

”The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” | Psalm 19: 7-14

In Leviticus 21 and Leviticus 22 the Lord instructed Moses and Aaron with the most vital and fundamental information on how to approach and worship Him.

The high priest could not have any defect, deformity or blemish. (Leviticus 21: 16-21)

Likewise, the sacrifice could not have any blemish at all. (Leviticus 22: 17-24)

If the priest had no defect, yet brought a sacrifice with blemishes it would not be accepted, for it “must be perfect to be accepted.” Likewise, if the sacrifice had no blemish, but the priest that offered it had any blemish, the sacrifice would not be accepted at all, for it “must be perfect to be accepted.” (Leviticus 21: 16-21)

All of this declares the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is the perfect and great High Priest without blemish, spot, defect, deformity or sin

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4: 14-15)

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Hebrews 7: 26)

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” (Hebrews 8: 1)

Not only is that true, but He is also the perfect sacrifice.

He is the Lamb without blemish or spot

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1: 29)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1: 18-20)

It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious sacrifice, that we can be justified from all sin

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13: 38-39)

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 12)

In the Lord Jesus Christ every believer is a priest with no blemish, no sin

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1: 5-6)

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” (Revelation 5: 9-10)

Likewise, in Christ’s precious blood atonement we can approach the throne of grace with boldness, because we have a perfect sacrifice that fully, eternally satisfies the holy justice of God .

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 16)

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 24-26)

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1: 19-22)

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1: 24-25)

Through Christ, we meet God’s standard, “It must be perfect to be accepted,” all of this, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1: 6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Word Of The Lord Is Perfect”

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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: 20 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Whosoever Will, Take It Freely

”He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.” | Psalm 62: 6

Have you any other rock but Christ?

I do not ask you whether you have a feeling of enjoyment of it. I know you will rejoice in Jesus when the Holy Spirit enables you. But have you any other refuge?

Can you go out into eternity resting upon any other rock but the Lord Jesus Christ?

Have you any other righteousness but His?

Can you lean upon, desire, or want any other than Christ’s righteousness?

“No,” says the soul, “None but Christ! None but Christ!”

Bless your poor heart, then, you shall have it as sure as God has wrought the desire in your conscience and brought you to trust alone in Jesus for refuge, for righteousness, for salvation, by stripping you of all false props and dependencies.

Such a soul as this will trust in the Lord, overcome all opposition, and be more than a conqueror through Him that hath loved him.

~ John Warburton

Click here to listen to the message “Whosoever Will, Take It Freely”

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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 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Fallen Saint

“Peter went out and wept bitterly.” | Luke 22: 62

Peter had sat in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

He had walked on the water to go to Him. He had lived in the full assurance that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. “We believe and are sure,” he said, “That thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the words of blood redemption had gone to Peter’s heart from the very lips of Jesus Christ Himself. (John 6: 68) Peter had seen the power of the Lord when he spoke to the raging waves of the sea and stilled them – the Lord Jesus saved Peter’s life that day, and Peter knew it too.

Now this same Peter has denied the Lord he loved and believed – even cursed and swore he never knew him. Look at him now as he goes off in the darkness sobbing as he goes. Imagine the guilt and fear that weighed upon his afflicted conscience? Imagine the suggestions from Satan, the prince of darkness, saying to him, “There is no hope for you now.” Only those who have experienced such a thing know how Satan can work with a guilty conscience to drive it to despair.

I am sure Peter thought, as many have since, “There is no way out of this dilemma I find myself in.” A poor soul like this can despair of ever being recovered. He sank in deep mire where there was no standing. I will tell you this, if Jesus Christ does not make intercession for such a person and strengthen his faith, and send some light into his darkness, Satan will sift him. Those who dream they are a match for Satan’s accusations are ignorant of his devices.

Does our Lord Jesus know all this? Of course he knows. His intercession had already secured Peter, not from falling but from falling away. Not from bitter weeping but from final despair. Peter had a sad and fearful fall, but he had a fearless and faithful Advocate with the Father. Peter fell, but just about the time the enemy began to rejoice over him, he rose up again – forgiven and restored.

Dear fallen saint, don’t despair. Maybe you see no way in your present darkness to be restored, but Jesus Christ can see for you, He is the way. Look out of your wet eyes to him. Your heart is aching but the Lord Jesus feels it. Trust him. Wait upon Him. Your weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning.

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Who killed Jesus, I want to know”

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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: 8 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Christ Receives Sinners

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him. What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. (Acts 10: 33)

His words are words of life. (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. (Romans 1: 16; Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear. It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. (Romans 3: 19-20)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. (John 5: 21; Ephesians 2: 1; 1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace. (2 Timothy 1: 9)

“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)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus Christ Came To Save Sinners”

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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: 25 October, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Debt of Love

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” | Romans 13: 8-10

The law can and does require that you respect and treat your neighbor according to that which is right. The law can demand a penalty for disobedience in this. But the law cannot cause you to love your neighbor.

The civil law of our land does not really care if you love your neighbor or not as long as you do not harm him or his property. God’s spiritual law is different. Though I obey the letter of the law outwardly, yet do not love, it is worthless. Even though I go beyond just refraining from offense against any, and sell all I have and give it to the poor, without love, it is worthless. (1 Corinthians 13)

This love is the fruit of the Spirit in God’s people and restrains the evil in our heart toward our fellow man, but before God, His spiritual law requires that we keep the letter of the law perfectly, and love perfectly. You see the law of God scrutinizes uncompromisingly not only what we do, but why.

No man has ever kept the letter of the law, nor loved perfectly, but the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why God’s law condemns us and also why Christ is our only righteousness. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4: 4-5)

Love is clearly the fulfilling of the law, as revealed here, because if we truly could love perfectly then we would never hurt or defraud the objects of our love, neither God nor man.

Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the law perfectly in that He is love, and having loved us perfectly, He not only could never harm or wrong us, but He gave Himself for us. And because of His perfect, infinite love for His Father and us, He not only fulfilled the law perfectly as our Representative but paid the penalty for our lawlessness, washing us from our sins in His own precious blood. Upon this basis we are exhorted to love, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3: 18)

~ Pastor Chris Cunningham

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Came to Save”

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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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 15 May, 2012 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentucky

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Our Hope is a Person

“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” | Malachi 1: 2-3

What is our great desire and hope?

It is a two-fold hope, the same as that of Paul: 1) to “gain Christ” and be found in Him, not relying on anything we may have done in obedience to the law but relying entirely on the righteousness freely given to every believer and 2) to know Christ. (Philippians 3: 7-11) So our hope is both salvational (to be found in Him) and personal (to know Him).

The believer hopes for nothing more and will be satisfied with nothing less.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Was Not Esau Jacob’s 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: 9 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Unworthy of Mercy; No Hope in the Law

You say you are unworthy of the least of God’s mercies.

Aren’t you glad Christ is worthy and that the redemption He accomplished was for the unworthy?

You say you have no goodness or merits to claim.

Aren’t you thankful God accepts sinners based upon the goodness and merits of His Son?

You say the law affords you no hope.

Right you are, but the gospel declares that the mercy and grace of God is freely given to sinners because of the doing and the dying of His dear Son! This is the only salvation worth having and the only one worthy to be proclaimed.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

~ Pastor Jack Shanks

Click here to listen to the message “Is It Wrong For A Man To Enjoy This Life?”

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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: 13 September, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a