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The Purpose Of God

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 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. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” | Romans 8: 28-30

We believe, according to the scriptures, that the Lord our God is a God of purpose, absolute and unalterable purpose.

“According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (Ephesians 3: 11)

Before the world began, Almighty God sovereignly purposed all that ever comes to pass in time.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1: 3-4)

Nothing in this world is left to chance.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11: 33-36)

Everything is moving toward the predetermined end of God’s eternal purpose with absolute, precise accuracy.

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9: 16)

Even a casual reader of Holy Scripture has to face this fact: The God of the Bible is a God of purpose.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1: 9)

These passages plainly state that the Triune Jehovah is a God of purpose, and clearly teach several things about the purpose of God:

  • The purpose of God is eternal.
  • The purpose of God includes all things.
  • The purpose of God has for its peculiar design the everlasting benefit of God’s elect. Everything that God has purposed is for the ultimate, spiritual, and eternal benefit of his covenant people.
  • The purpose of God is immutable and sure. The Lord himself says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46: 10)

And in its ultimate end, God’s purpose will accomplish the eternal salvation of his chosen people and the glory of his own great name.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Simplicity That Is In Christ” (47:07 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, our livestream (when available) and previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 14 January, 2021
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Sin And Forgiveness

”Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” | 1 John 4: 9

We love to hear the gospel that tells us of sin forgiven, of being washed from our sin in His precious blood.

Sin is too familiar with us.

We have committed it, we are affected by it daily, and it is our daily trial.

Sin of our past, sin is our burden today, sin as it is, is our own affliction until we enter into our eternal rest.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 7)

It is a battle we have entered into that is a war without and within… but, thank God His word says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin”.

How?

“According to the riches of his grace!”

Forgiveness of sin, what a joy, what greater news can a sinner hear?

God’s free grace gave us His son to redeem us by His own blood.

God’s free grace came and effectually applied that blood to our souls!

”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 20)

It was free grace that forgave us all our sin; “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Herein Is Love” (28:11 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Let The Righteous Smite Me

”Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.” | Psalm 141: 3-4

To me the end of all controversy is “Thus saith the Lord.”

Only let me know that the Lord hath said this or that, and though the revelation should seem impossible to believe, and though it should come into conflict with all my previous notions, I will bow before it without a question.

“The Lord hath said it,” stands to us instead of all reason, and argument, and evidence; yea, we believe God in the teeth of supposed evidence and reason, saying, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Who Controls The Coronavirus?” (31:17 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: 9 February, 2020 | Previous post date: 9 May, 2022

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Behold The King Cometh

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” |Zechariah 9: 9-11

God gave to His prophet the very exact description of our Lord Jesus Christ as He entered into Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation, 550 years before it actually happened, what He would accomplish.

“Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him.” (Luke 19: 30-34)

Notice these vital things!

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2: 2)

1). Jesus Christ is the King of our salvation. “Behold thy King cometh unto thee.”

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3: 10-13)

The wise men ask, where is He that is born King?

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19: 13-16)

Our Lord as God incarnate, is King of Kings.

“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2: 6)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5: 1)

As King He is sovereign in salvation.

“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17: 2)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2: 36)

2). Jesus Christ is the Just God, “He is just.”

“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” (Acts 3: 12-15)

That means He is righteous in all His ways and Holy in His character.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philipians 2: 5-9)

Stephen and Peter called Him, “the Just One.”

3). Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, “having salvation.”

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” (Isaiah 45: 21)

He is not only a Just God but also our righteous Saviour.

“The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.” (Isaiah 42: 21)

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2: 14)

Paul often calls Christ God our Saviour.

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 28)

He came to give His life as a ransom to purchase His covenant people.

“It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9: 12-16)

“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:” (Acts 7: 52)

4). Jesus Christ is also identified with our humanity, “lowly, and riding upon an ass.”

“But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” (Titus 1: 3)

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20: 28)

Totally, fully God Almighty, yet also a real man.

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,” (Luke 2: 30)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1: 14)

As the Godman He honored the law and perfected righteousness for us.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3: 16)

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” (Ephesians 2: 16-17)

5). Jesus Christ is our Peace with God, “he shall speak peace unto the heathen.”

“And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” (Zechariah 9: 10)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Surely, no one else has the authority to speak peace unto the sinner, but Jesus Christ Himself.

“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)

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3: 18)

He made peace with God for His people through the blood of His sacrifice.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (Luke 4: 18)

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6: 14)

6). Jesus Christ is our Deliverer, “by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.”

“As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” (Zechariah 9: 11)

“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)

Our blessed Lord came to set His people free; from the curse of the law, from the bondage of sin, from the terror of death, from the grip of the devil.

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1: 18)

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” (Romans 11: 26)

What a great Deliverer we have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord God Of Israel Was Their Inheritance” (41:43 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: 14 August, 2021 | Pikeville, Kentucky

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This I Confess

”But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” | Acts 24: 14

When was the last time you looked at a beautiful painting and thought anything about the brush the artist used?

Or, when was the last time you read some inspiring words and had any thought of the pen the author used?

That’s absurd.

Never.

No, all the glory from the enjoyment of these works goes to the Artist and the Author.

The instruments they use are insignificant.

One brush or pen would be pretty much as good as the next.

”And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” (Acts 14: 27)

When Paul and Barnabas came back to Antioch after their first missionary journey; “they rehearsed all that GOD HAD DONE with them and how that HE had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles”.

Yes, God uses His church to plant and water the seeds of the gospel.

Might we be found faithful in so doing.

But, let us never forget, except The Lord give the increase there will be no fruit.

”So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17: 10)

We are but, “unprofitable servants”; indistinguishable brushes and pens in the hand of the Master who Himself gets all the glory.

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “This I Confess” (57:25 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: 29 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Thou Knowest

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” | John 21: 15

On the night before His crucifixion the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night.” (Matthew 26: 21)

Peter with pride and arrogance spoke up and said, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” (Matthew 26: 23)

Before the rooster crowed the next morning, Peter had denied the Lord three times. Now we fast-forward to the shores of Tiberias, after the Lord’s resurrection, and the Lord asks Peter this solemn, soul-searching question. “Lovest thou me more than these?” (Meaning more than the other disciples that were there also.) In lieu of Peter’s past failure and fall, this time he is not so quick to arrogantly answer.

The enlightened sinner that trusts alone in Christ has been taught not trust in their own heart, but to simply trust in the Searcher of all hearts to decide.

Peter now rested his love and faithfulness upon the omniscience of His Savior and said, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.”

Oftentimes, we, the sinners that we are, feel the need to boast of our love and faithfulness to Christ, when the only thing we have to boast in is Christ’s love and faithfulness to us.

If we ever feel that our love for Christ is in question, by ourselves or others, may we resist the selfish need to defend ourselves and learn to answer as Peter did and claim, “My Lord, knows all things; He knows that I love Him.”

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “For The Labored & Heavy Laden” (27:36 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: 26 September, 2021 | Previous post date: 11 April, 2022

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Oh, To Grace!

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” | Psalm 37: 1-7

In the 1700’s, Robert Robinson wrote these words, “He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.”

Interposed means go between; an intercession purposely applied.

The salvation of the Lord’s people is the same no matter the century.

We were in danger, He looked upon those He chose, without asking anyone’s permission He interposed the precious blood of Christ in a gracious, unearned act of love, rescuing us from danger!

If that blood has been interposed on you, the response will be, “Oh to Grace, how great a debtor daily I am constrained to be.”

~ Pastor Kevin Thacker

Click here to listen to the message “The Remedy For Fretting” (32:15 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: 14 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Miracle Of Salvation

”Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” | John 1: 22-23

The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles while upon this earth.

He cast out devils, healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf; He raised the dead.

While these miracles certainly proved him to be the Christ, they are also illustrations of how the Lord saves sinners.

Every sinner the Lord saves, is all these things… possessed by a devil, a sinful leper, deaf, dumb, blind, and dead in sin.

Salvation is a miracle of God’s sovereign grace and power.

Nothing more or less can save a sinner but the power of Christ; the Word, the Truth and the Gospel.

May the Lord be pleased to perform a miracle today!

~ Pastor Paul E. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Behold The Lamb Of God” (44:29 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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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 “Behold My Glorious Servant” (33:45 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: 11 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 13 March, 2022

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Growing In Grace

“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: 8-9

In this blessed verse Paul gives us six things concerning God’s grace in Christ that we must consider in order to begin to understand it.

  1. GRACE has been defined as “unmerited favor.”
  2. If grace is unmerited, then none can claim it as a right.
  3. If GRACE is “unearned and undeserved,” then none are entitled to it.
  4. If GRACE is a “gift,” then none can demand it.
  5. If GRACE is a “free gift” then, God has the right to bestow it upon whom He will. (Don’t you give gifts to whom you want?)
  6. If salvation is by GRACE then, the very chief of sinners, the worst of the worst, is not beyond the reach of Divine mercy.
  7. Because salvation is by GRACE, boasting is excluded and God gets all the glory.

    “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

    ~ Pastor David Eddmenson

    Click here to listen to the message “Growing In Grace” (31:26 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: 30 June, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a