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Christ’s Atonement

”These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” | John 17: 1-3

Some people love the doctrine of universal atonement because, they say, “It is so beautiful. It is a lovely idea that Christ should die for all people on the earth.”

They say, “Universal atonement commends itself to the instincts of human nature; there is something in it that is beautiful.”

I admit there are some times when beauty may be associated with error; but while natural men admire the doctrine of universal atonement, I will show you what such a supposition involves.

  1. If Christ on the cross intended to save every person by His death, then He intended to save people who were already dead and in eternal condemnation; for there were myriads already cast away because of their sins for which (you say) He died.
  2. If it were our Lord’s intention to save all people, how deplorably has He been disappointed; for we have His own testimony, “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THERE AT.”
  3. To imagine for a moment that our Lord was the substitute for the sins of all men and that God, the Father, having poured out His wrath on their substitute, afterwards will punish the sinners themselves for the same sins for which Christ died, seems to conflict with ideas of divine justice. In fact, to hold that Christ offered an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that some of those people will be condemned for those same sins, appears to be monstrous inequity! God forbid that we should attribute such conduct to our just and wise God!

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Christ’s Prayer and Work” (15:30 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Righteousness Of God

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” | Revelation 19: 5-6

“The righteousness of God,” i.e., a righteousness of God’s completing, a righteousness of God’s bestowing, a righteousness that God gives unto and puts upon all them that believe, a righteousness that stands in the works of Christ and that is imputed both by the grace and justice of God.

This righteousness by which we stand just before God, from the curse, was performed long ago by the person of Christ.

~ John Bunyan

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth” (27:46 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: 12 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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But By Me And Except The Father

“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” | Psalm 85: 10-11

“Salvation is of the Lord.”

Many in religion today preach often from the passage found in John chapter fourteen, verse six, where our Lord Jesus proclaimed that He alone is salvation. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” however many who preach stop there without finishing the rest of the verse.

I certainly understand why they do that, and I believe that they feel as though they have a good reason as to why. Those who believe that sinners are saved by man’s will, man’s work, and man’s worth, know and understand that our Lord’s words, “But by me,” destroy their theology and belief of “Salvation by works.”

Dear reader, Christ said, “No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” That means that sinners are saved only by the work of righteousness that Christ provides for God’s elect. That is why our Lord also said in John chapter six, verse forty-four that, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”

That means the same thing. I love those little words like “but” and “except,” don’t you?

There is no salvation for me, “But,” by Christ.

There is no hope of me ever coming to Christ, “Except,” God the Father which sent God the Son draw me to Him by the cords of love, mercy and grace.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “For The Scripture Saith” (39:48 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: 13 December, 2024 | Previous post date: 28 September, 2021

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Faith, A Gift Of God

”Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” | Romans 4: 16-17

Before any sinner can or will come to Christ, he must be born again.

Faith is the result, not the cause of the new birth.

That faith by which we receive God’s salvation in Christ is the gift of God.

“Salvation is of the Lord,” in its entirety!

It is not of works at any time in a believer’s life, God will never be brought into debt by the works of any man, He will never owe a blessing, all is of grace.

Faith in Christ is as much the gift and work of God’s free grace as election, redemption, and regeneration.

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” (Philippians 1: 29)

If you believe, it is because God has given you faith.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,” (Ephesians 1: 19)

You “believe according to the working of his mighty power.”

Faith is not the work of the sinner’s imaginary “free will.”

Faith is the gift of God’s sovereign grace, the result of God’s operation upon the heart.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Foundation’s of Faith” (38:42 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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God So Loved The World

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | John 3: 16

We warn you against those who say that “God loved the world” means “God loved every one alike.”

They tell people indiscriminately that “John 3: 16 means that God loved you. You may substitute your name for the word world in John 3: 16.”

They know this is not true!

“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)

For example, they know that God Himself declared, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”.

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9: 13)

Despite knowing this, we can imagine them saying to Esau, as they say to all others, “Smile, God loves you – for God loves everyone! When you read John 3:16, change the word world to your name, so that it reads ‘For God so loved Esau ….’”

Hear me well!

Neither Esau nor all the other unrepentant and unbelieving wicked people whom God declares that He hates are in the world loved by God, and to which He gave His only begotten Son for their salvation.

Furthermore, there is more than one world on this earth.

And the world loved by God is distinguished from another world in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ to His Father recorded in John chapter seventeen.

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (John 17: 6-9)

That other world is the world for which Jesus Christ refused to pray, and the world from which God removed His people and gave to Christ in order that He might save them: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me… they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” “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: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6: 16-19)

They who misrepresent God’s love to His world should remember that among the people God hates and abominates is “a false witness who speaks lies”.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him; We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4: 9, 16, 19)

All who are in this world loved by God will confess: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. … We love Him because He first loved us”.

Is this your confession?

~ Pastor Daniel Parks

Click here to listen to the message “Even So, Amen” (35:28 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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We Preach Christ Jesus the Lord

”For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” | 2 Corinthians 4: 5

The apostle describes in this verse the ministry of every true preacher; we preach Christ, not ourselves!

We point you to Christ and not to us, our wisdom, or our organization.

With that in mind, when can it be said of us that we are preaching ourselves and not Christ?

1.) When we preach what we think instead of preaching what God says.

2.) When we preach what men want to hear instead of what men ought to hear.

3.) When we seek to please men by taking the offense out of the cross and glory in the flesh.

4.) When we set ourselves up as spiritual authorities over the consciences of our hearers, judging their salvation by their relationship with us and our requirements.

5.) When we try to impress men with our wisdom, knowledge, or piety.

6.) When we become ambitious for personal recognition and begin to boast of numbers and converts and attach our names to buildings, organizations, monuments, and movements.

7.) When we fear public opinion and court the friendship and approval of carnal men at the expense of truth.

8.) When we allow our hearers to entertain any hope of salvation except by the sovereign grace of God through the merits of Jesus Christ.

9.) When we preach for any other reason than the glory of Jesus Christ and the eternal good of our hearers.

We preach Christ, not ourselves!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord” (29:28 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: 1 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Salvation Is Of The Lord

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD” | Psalm 37: 39

We have all heard of putting the cart before the horse.

That summarizes man’s religion.

It inverts the divine order.

It makes forgiveness the end rather than the beginning of salvation.

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3: 2-3)

Man’s religion says you must believe before you can have life, rather than you believe because you live.

It says God will if you will, rather than God will and you shall.

It makes man the deciding factor rather than God.

Anything that has man as the deciding factor is doomed for failure.

Thank God, salvation is of the Lord!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “Christ The Only Foundation”

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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: 6 June, 2021 | Previous post date: 7 June, 2021

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Contemporary Religion

”Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.” | Song Of Solomon 1: 4

NEVER in the history of the world has there been so much religious activity.

Religious men and women, young and old, are actively involved in political, social, and moral issues in the name of God (and for the good they do, I am truly thankful).

In the matter of “soul-winning,” evangelists, missionaries, pastors and personal witnesses “compass sea and land” (Matthew 23: 15) in their efforts to “win” sinners to Jesus (and for the success they have, generally speaking, I am truly sorry!).

The true “soul-winners” are those evangelists, missionaries, pastors and witnesses whose chief endeavor is to set forth the Lord Jesus Christ and him crucified before sinners as He is revealed in the Word of God, leaving the results to God the Spirit.

”O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3: 1)

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, is not standing by someplace waiting for “soul-winners” to bring sinners to Himself.

”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

The Christ of God comes to the sinners He saves.

Where they are, as they are, through the preached Word, opening their hearts and taking up residence there by the Holy Spirit.

Sinners cannot come to the Lord Jesus, nor can they be “won” to the Lord Jesus by the wiles of some alleged “soul-winner.”

”Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Psalm 110: 3)

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to SAVE sinners, and He is doing just that!

He pursues, subdues and renews whom He wills. ”For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (John 5: 21)

“Salvation is of the Lord.”

”No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6: 44,45)

“Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Come to your saints here today. Come to lost sinners here today. “Draw us and we will run after Thee”

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “The Words of The Preacher”

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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: 27 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Worthy Is The Lamb

”And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” | Revelation 5: 11-12

Let us arm ourselves, above all, with clear, sound views of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the salvation that is in Him.

He is “the image of the invisible God,” “the express image of His person,” and the true preservative against all idolatry, when truly known. Let us build ourselves deep down on the strong foundation of His finished work upon the cross. Let us settle it firmly in our minds that Christ Jesus has done everything necessary in order to present us without spot before the throne of God, and that simple, child like faith on our part is the only thing required to give us an entire interest in the work of Christ. Let us not doubt that, having this faith, we are completely justified in the sight of God; that we shall never be more justified than we are now if we live to the age of Methuselah and do the works of the Apostle Paul; and that we CAN ADD NOTHING to that complete justification by any acts, deeds, words, performances, fasting, prayers, giving to those in need, attendance on ordinances, nor anything else of our own.

Above all, let us keep up continual communion with the person of the Lord Jesus! Let us abide in Him daily, feed on Him daily, look to Him daily, lean on Him daily, live upon Him daily, draw from His fullness daily. Let us realize this, and the idea of other mediators, other comforters, other intercessors will seem utterly absurd. “What need is there?” we shall reply. “I have Christ, and in Him I have all. What have I to do with idols? I have Christ Jesus in my heart, Christ Jesus in the Bible, and Christ Jesus in heaven; and I want nothing more!” — J.C. Ryle (1816-1900, English Preacher)

Martin Luther said in effect that if a man was ashamed of the one truth that was under attack in his own day, then he was ashamed of the truth period. It seems that one truth under attack today is God’s right to determine what is morally right and what is morally wrong, what is sin and what is not. A teen ager just told me this week that there was no such thing as filthy language; it’s only filthy to you if you deem it to be filthy. Yet God says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.”

God has determined what is filthy and what is not. Many in our day want unfettered liberty to live in open and profane sin and they are offended when they are told that God gives no such liberty. This is a truth we must not be ashamed of in our day.

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Worthy is the Lamb”

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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: 27 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Because He Loves – We Love

”Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” | 2 Corinthians 9: 15

By the grace of God, I do believe that I love Christ.

I know that I don’t love Him like I should.

I know that I don’t love Him as I desire to.

Yet, I do know that I love Him.

The beloved disciple John tells us in our text a great truth that very few know. He tells us that “We love Him, (Christ) BECAUSE He first loved us!”

Salvation is of the Lord!

This is the theme of redemption throughout the Bible.

There is a reason that I love Christ, and it is BECAUSE He first loved me.

His love for His people is the cause of their love for Him.

He loves – we love.

That is the order of our salvation.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Unspeakable Gift”

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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: 20 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a