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TRUE OR COUNTERFEIT FAITH

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” | Hebrews 3: 12)

Here, the Holy Spirit gives us the evidence of that God-given faith of God’s elect, and the evidence of counterfeit faith which the flesh produces.

True faith will take heed to the warnings of scripture, and search the heart for evidences of unbelief and cry out to God for aid. On the other hand, sham faith is full of presumption and looks to something other than Christ for assurance.

True faith will persevere to the end because it is fastened to a living person, Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 2: 4) while imitation faith will end in failure because it is resting on some false grounds of hope. (Isaiah 28: 17)

True faith in time of trial will bring the believer closer to His Lord, knowing the trial is from His hand and for our good. (Romans 8: 28) On the other hand bogus faith in time of trouble will result in the person departing from the gospel and from those who believe. An evil heart of unbelief is always manifested by departing from the living God. John said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (John 2: 19)

Let us not be afraid to examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13: 5)

True faith is willing to submit to the word of God because it is the foundation of faith. (John 6: 66-69)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Heirs According to the Promise”

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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: 31 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Imparted Righteousness

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” | 1 Peter 2: 24-25

The children of God are righteous by the implantation in their bosom of a righteous nature, which, as being born of God, is as pure as God is pure and as holy as he is holy.

For this reason we are said to be “partakers of the divine nature,” (2 Peter 1: 4) and to “put on the new man which after God [that is, after the image of God] is created” – it being a divine and new creation, “in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 24)

This pure and holy nature, John tells us, cannot sin, because it is born of God, (1 John 3: 9) and is “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” which makes the soul free from the law of sin and death, (Romans 8: 2) being that kingdom of God in the heart, which is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14: 17)

This is an imparted righteousness, and its very essence is that sweet spirituality of mind, which is life and peace, and that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. (Romans 8: 6; Hebrews 12: 14)

~ J. C. Philpot

Click here to listen to the message “Christ our rule to live by”

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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: 31 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Exhortation to Faith, Patience, and Godliness

Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. | Hebrews 12: 1-2

Brethren, as we leave one year behind us and enter in to another year ahead of us, let us (now more than we ever have before) press the necessity and importance of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let’s press the necessity and importance of hearing, believing, and gathering together in worship. Let’s press it to ourselves, our children, our parents, our siblings, our friends and our acquaintances. It is truly the one thing that is needful.

With another year gone, it only means that time is running out. Let’s redeem it!

While there is still breath in us, our responsibility in this life on earth is to glorify and praise our Redeemer and King; and to tell all who will listen how great things He has done for us! Our God said that it has pleased Him to use the means of preaching His accomplishment on the cross to call His chosen people from darkness to light. So, while it is still today, let’s witness His glorious victory with all of our ability.

When we feel tired, let’s encourage each other.

When we feel weak, let’s strengthen each other.

When we feel lost, let’s point each other back to Christ.

Let’s not put any stock in last year’s faith or faithfulness.

Today is the day of salvation for ALL of us.

May God, for Christ’s sake, give us more fervency than we had last year. May God give us more heart for Christ and the things concerning Him than we had last year. May God give us a deeper need; a more urgent cry; and may He cause us to see His Word to not only be true, but LIFE!

Lord, show us the Mark! Reveal the Prize! Cause us to reach forth! Press us and we’ll be pressed!

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Thankfulness”

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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 January, 2021 | Previous post date: 26 January, 2021

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Sins Taken Away

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” | Romans 5: 6-8

There is a chorus that we love to sing which says: “Did you hear what the Lord Jesus said to me? They’re all taken away, away! Thy sins are pardoned, and you are free. They’re all taken away!”

With that good news declaration being proclaimed to sinners in the word of God, the apostle Paul said; “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philipians 3: 13, 14)

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “For Whom Did Christ Die?”

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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: 15 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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In The Last Days

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills.” | Isaiah 2: 1

The Lord Jesus Christ alone must establish and exalt his house.

He has and he shall.

This is the word which came from the Lord God of covenant promise delivered by his messenger Isaiah. Christ’s church, made up of the small remnant of his elect in that physical nation Israel as well as his elect from the four corners of the earth, shall be established and raised.

In the last days that the Mosaic system of worship existed the Son of God was 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) Christ bought the remnant of his elect children who were natural descendants of Abraham out from the Mosaic law so that they now are free to approach God through Christ the Lamb rather than an earthly sacrifice by the law of commandments.

At the same time, for both his elect Gentiles and his remnant in national Israel, Christ judicially delivered them from sin and death earned by the first Adam in the garden.

By his holy person and his righteous obedience Christ established an everlasting righteousness which his people could never do for themselves. Being made sin for us, he who knew no sin satisfied God’s justice, reconciled us to God and established us before God.

When he was exalted to God’s right hand in resurrection glory his church was exalted in him. In the first place, this is what the word “established” and “exalted” means. Come back tomorrow and we will see the second thing it means.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The End is at Hand”

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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: 31 July, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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“But Noah found Grace”

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” | Genesis 6: 5-8

Noah found grace, because grace found Noah.

God’s grace chose Noah. God’s grace sought Noah.

God’s grace called Noah.

God’s grace put Noah in the safe haven of God’s ark; and God’s grace covered him from the wrath that came because of his sin.

When Noah received God’s grace, he received God’s mercy, forgiveness, kindness and favor in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To say that Noah found grace, is to say that Noah found Christ.

It is the same for every child of God. To find Christ is to find ALL; and sinners find Christ, when Christ finds the sinner.

“O to grace how great a debtor! daily I’m constrained to be!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Cast Your ALL 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: 15 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Power To Cross Our Path

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” | Acts 8: 26

In absolute power God moves his messenger and his vessel of mercy so that they meet right where God would have them meet.

There were two roads which Philip could have taken. Yet, through the Spirit the Lord commanded Philip to go south on the road which went down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This was the desert road. The phrase “go toward the south” has an alternate meaning in the Greek which means “at midday.” So in power the Holy Spirit of God, literally, moved his messenger to take the road least traveled, at the time of day when it was least likely to be traveled, to meet the most unlikely person, an Ethiopian eunuch.

The Lord’s elect may be wandering lost in the most remote places on this globe but the Lord who saves in power knows exactly where they are. We may have to be led away from the religion of the day out onto old Gaza Road, as was the Ethiopian eunuch, but God is able.

God our Savior, the King of heaven and earth, shall bring the good news of his Son to each of his children in his time in his power.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “From the Country of Moab to the House of Bread”

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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: 4 July, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Just Shall Live By Faith

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” | Genesis 15: 6

While it is true that all for whom Christ died cannot become unsaved, and the Holy Spirit will never leave one who is born of Him; every believer feels the worst thing that could happen to him is to be left to himself.

This is what led David to make this cry, “Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51: 11) David felt as though he deserved to be cast away from God’s presence, but he could not bear the thought. He felt as though he deserved to have the Holy Spirit leave him, but he could not endure the thought of being left alone!

Cain went out from the presence of the Lord because he did not want to be in His presence.

But the believer must have His presence and His Spirit.

There is no life without this. Whether we feel this or do not feel this, we always realize this.

We cannot be left to ourselves!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The Just Shall Live By Faith”

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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: 27 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Comfort in The Sovereign God

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” | Hebrews 1: 8

There is nothing more comforting to believers than God’s sovereignty over all things.

Under the most adverse circumstances and in the most severe trials, we believe that God has ordained our afflictions, that God overrules them, and that God will sanctify them for our good and his glory.

There is nothing for which we ought to contend more earnestly than the truth of God’s rule and reign over all things, all creatures, and all their actions.

The throne of God, his right to sit on that throne, and his right to do with his own what he will is what we believe and what we preach.

Let us be accused of over-emphasizing the majesty and power of the living God, but never let it be said that we underestimate his glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Excellence and Glory of 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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.” (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. (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 Faith of The Son 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia