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Faith Is Essential, But Not Meritorious

“Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” | Hebrews 11:6

Faith in Christ is essential to salvation.

No man will ever be saved, accepted with God, apart from true faith in Christ. You must believe on Christ, or you will perish.

But do not ever think that your faith is meritorious with God.

Faith is the instrument by which we receive God’s blessings, but it is not the meritorious cause of those blessings.

The blood of Christ alone merits God’s favor toward us.

We are never said to be saved and justified because of faith, but through faith.
– Faith receives Christ, but it does not merit Christ.
– Faith receives salvation, but it does not merit salvation.
– Faith receives grace, but it does not merit grace.
– Faith receives justification, but it does not merit justification.
– Faith receives forgiveness and righteousness from God, but it does not merit anything from God.

Faith is essential. Without it you will never be saved. But faith is not meritorious.

Faith, too, is the gift of God’s grace.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is Your Evidence?”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Who Are These That Have Great Need?

They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. | Matthew 9: 12

Who are these that have no need?

They are those who are said to be whole. Many times in the scriptures the word “whole” is used to show the believer’s completeness and perfect soundness in the Lord Jesus Christ. But here in Matthew chapter 9, verse 12, the word “whole” means, “to be able, or one who can do.”

Who are they that have “no need?”

Who are these that are said to be whole?

They are those that “are able” and “can do” something for themselves.

Those that be whole (or think themselves to be) need not a physician.

Who are these that have great need? They are those that are sick.

Like the man at the pool of Bethesda, we are lame and cannot walk. Like the poor woman who was bowed over, we can in no wise lift ourselves up. Like the unclean leper, sin is eating us away. Like the man with the withered hand, we cannot pick ourselves up by the bootstraps. Like the demoniac, we lived among the tombs of the dead. Like Lazarus, we were dead.

If I had a terminal disease that only one doctor had the cure for, I would give anything and everything to find and receive treatment from that specialist.

Dear reader, we have such a disease and it is called “sin.”

There is such a Great Physician and He found me.

His name is Jesus Christ and only He can save His people from their sin. (Matthew 1: 21)

When do we go to the doctor?

When we are sick.

May God be pleased to continue to show us our sickness and need of Christ, the Great Physician.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Need”

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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 October, 2020 | Previous post date: 12 February, 2021

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Perfection in Christ!

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” | Colossians 1: 28-29

Perfect, complete, without blemish, holy, blameless, spotless; these are just a few of the words the Scriptures use to describe Gods saints.

We do not feel that we are any of these things in ourselves, but this is what God says about us.

Do we believe what we see in ourselves or what God says about us?

God describes us with these glorious words because of what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for us by His holy sinless life and His sacrificial death for us on the cross.

God’s word describes us as what we are in Christ.

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Perfection in 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: 15 March, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Saints of God

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” | Romans 1: 7

Who are these saints to whom Paul is writing?

Every believer who is saved by the grace of God is a saint.

We are totally sanctified in the Lord Jesus Christ, by His effectual blood sacrifice for us. (Hebrews 10: 14; 1 Peter 1: 18-20)

The Lord Jesus Christ is made to the believer sanctification; He is our total sanctification before God the Father. (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

There is no such thing as progressive sanctification.

We grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3: 18) but our wicked flesh is never sanctified in our salvation. (Romans 7: 18-24) Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit making us new creatures in Christ, giving unto us a new holy nature in the new birth. (2 Corinthians 5: 17, 2 Peter 1: 4)

That which is of the flesh is just that flesh but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3: 6; Ephesians 4: 24)

Thank God salvation is all of grace! (1 Peter 5: 10)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Repentance?”

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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 October, 2020 | Previous post date: 8 February, 2021

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A Passive Word

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” | Titus 3: 4-6

Here is a passive word — “Be”

The new birth is not something you do.

It is something done to you, something God does for you and in you.

A man has no more to do with his spiritual birth than he does with his natural birth.

In this matter of regeneration man is passive. He has nothing to do with it. (John 1: 12-13)

You cannot save yourself.

You cannot give yourself life.

You cannot be born again by something you do.

The new birth is not accomplished by moral reformation, baptism, religious fervor, zealous works and devotion, or even by faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ is not the cause of the new birth. Faith is the result of the new birth.

We believe according to the working of God’s mighty power, by the operation of his grace. (Ephesians 1: 19; Ephesians 2: 8; Colossians 2: 11-12)

The new birth is something done to you, for you, and in you by God’s sovereign, irresistible grace. It is not something you do.

“You must BE born again!”

Martin Luther correctly asserted, “If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly.”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message
“Don’t Ever Forget Who You Are, and Whose You Are”

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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: 10 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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A Personal Word

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” | John 4: 14

Here is a personal word — “Ye.” This message is for you.

I know you are moral.

I know you are religious.

I know that you are well instructed in doctrinal truth.

So was Nicodemus. He was a well respected religious leader, a Pharisee and a ruler among the Jews. Nicodemus was a teacher who taught the teachers. He was a preacher, but more. Nicodemus was a preacher who taught preachers. He was a theologian. This was a man of highest rank in the Jewish church.

But he was dead.

He was without life before God.

He was totally ignorant of all things spiritual.

He was a lost man.

If you are yet without life toward God, my message is to you.

I have this word from God for you: “You must be born again.”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “What Will It Take To Bring You To 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 10 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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Two Questions: Two Religions

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” | Romans 10: 3-4

Sooner could the ocean prove too little for a small fish or the sky be too small for a swallow than the grace of God prove insufficient for one of God’s people.

Not all their weaknesses, failures or sins can use it up.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Whosoever Believeth On Him”

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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 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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OUR PORTION AND INHERITANCE

“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.” | I Timothy 1: 15

One who is born of God has the Lord as his portion and inheritance.

He is thankful for who he is and what he has; for in Christ he has “all things” that are worth having. Having food and clothing and believing friends, he is content. He brought nothing into this world and will carry nothing out.

Earthly possessions, honors, and property have no value after death; but to be forgiven of sin and alive in Christ is the highest prize and glory.

As soon as a person really learns, believes, and embraces the grace of Christ, like Moses, “he esteems even the reproach of Christ greater than the riches of this world.”

But they that seek after riches and worldly honor fall into many temptations, which drown men in destruction and misery.

This craving for the world’s wealth and approval has caused many to depart from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6: 6-10)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation”

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

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CHRIST IS FAITHFUL

“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” | II Samuel 23: 5

Jeremiah wrote, “Great is THY faithfulness.”

We preach and exhort our hearers to be faithful stewards of the grace of God, faithful givers to help others, faithful in worship, prayer, and holiness. And we will be faithful by His grace and because He has given us a new heart which desires to walk with Him.

But even when we fail, fall, and make a mess of things, HE IS FAITHFUL: and our hope of life and glory is not in OUR faithfulness but in HIS faithfulness.

God is faithful to His Son, to His covenant, and to His Word. And this was David’s comfort when he lay dying – not in his works, service, nor even his faith, but in God’s faithfulness to His covenant.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Righteous Shall Hold His Way”

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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 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Church

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.” | Luke 21: 1

“The church shall survive the world, and be in bliss when the world is in ruins.” – Matthew Henry

“We may with the greatest assurance depend upon God for the safety of His church.” – Matthew Henry

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it is full of many faults.” – John Calvin

“The church is in Christ as Eve was in Adam.” – Richard Hooker

Click here to listen to the message “When You See These Things, Look Up”

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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: 5 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia