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Divine Paradoxes

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” | Ephesians 2: 4-10

The wiser we get, the greater fools we become. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3: 18)

The stronger we grow, the weaker we are. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The more we possess, the less we have. “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6: 10)

The more completely bankrupt, the more freely forgiven. “Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.” (Luke 7: 42)

The more utterly lost, the more perfectly saved. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)

And the more like a child, the greater in the kingdom of heaven. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 4)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Orthodox Paradoxes”

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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 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Religious But Lost

“Whosoever believeth that JESUS IS THE CHRIST is born of God.” | 1 John 5: 1

All who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ.

The title THE CHRIST signifies anointed and includes all the offices of the Son of God.

To believe Him to be THE CHRIST is to believe Him to be that Prophet which Moses said should come, who has declared the whole mind and will of the Father.

It is to believe He is that Priest which should arise after the order of Melchizedek and make full atonement for sin and effectual intercession for transgressors.

It is to believe He is King of kings and Lord of lords, whom God hath set over all things from all ages and for all time.

“And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.” (Luke 4: 41)

This faith in Christ is not a mere assent to the fact nor merely acknowledging it as the demons have done.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10: 9-10)

It is to believe with the heart.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2: 5)

It is to bow the knee in repentance and to look to Christ, trust in Him, receive Him as our righteousness, to rest in His blood for cleansing, and to lay hold of Him as our Savior, Redeemer, and Mediator.

“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)

Such faith is far above and beyond the reach of the human mind. It is the gift of God.

It is the result of regeneration and a new birth, for we must be drawn to Christ and taught of God.

-Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Religious But Lost”

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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.

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You Can Do Nothing

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” | John 15: 5

You Can do Nothing — Bad News or Good News?

For God’s elect to profess that in and of themselves they can do nothing to please God is not a mere excuse for them to do nothing for the cause of Christ in this world.

Their inability is a “daily burden.”

The apostle Paul wrote, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7: 18)

Certainly that is why the Gospel message is “good news” for the “true sinner.” That perfection which God requires of me, He provides for me in my glorious Substitute and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I can now say with Paul, “For WHEN I am weak, THEN I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 10)

With Christ as my Substitute, Mediator, and Advocate before God I see that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4: 13)

That surely makes the Divine revelation of my “inability” to sound like “good news” to me!

How about you?

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

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

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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: 4 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Be Not Afraid, Only Beleive

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” | Luke 8: 49-50

These are the words our Lord spoke to Jairus, when his friends came telling him of his daughters death and of the lack of necessity for him to trouble the master any further.

Natural men always set limits on the ability and willingness of Christ to save sinners.

While she hung on by a thread, they had hope. But as soon as the thread was gone, so was their hope.

Because of their unbelief and doubt, they were neither permitted to follow or enter in to see His glory.

God give us the quiet submissive faith of Jairus, who patiently waited on the Lord and was permitted, by the Master to see the glory of life in His touch.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Comfort For Withered Grass”

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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 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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If It Weren’t For Grace, I’d Be A Goner

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.” | Romans 4: 16

A friend of mine was fond of saying, “If it weren’t for grace I’d be a goner.”

Then aren’t we thankful that salvation is all of grace!

If any part of salvation depends upon the creature doing anything we are all goners because man is dead in sin and unable to decide to do anything much less actually do anything righteous.

So salvation must be by grace, and every sinner is glad that it is so.

Grace gives a helpless dead sinner a sure expectation of eternal life.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “There is None Righteous, No Not One”

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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 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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In Christ

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8: 33-34

Often someone asks what “position” you hold on a particular doctrine, such as particular redemption, or the depravity of man.

But the word of God never tells us to come to a position, but to a person, to Christ Jesus the Lord.

He himself said, “Come unto me.”

Again, “All that the Father gives me shall come unto me, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

The scriptures speak of believers being “in Christ” in several places. This is the place I want to be found – In Christ.

This is the only place where a sinner can have a secure position from sin, death, hell, and the judgment and wrath of God.

When a sinner comes to Christ, trusts Christ and learns that he was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, then he has the most blessed position a poor sinner can have.

Justified!

Accepted!

Righteous!

Where?

Before God, who is holy and inhabits eternity.

Before Him who knows our thoughts afar off.

Before Him who knows the heart.

“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

How?

“It is Christ that died, yea rather is risen again, who sitteth at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Freely gives us all things”

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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: 17 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Plan Or A Purpose?

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” | Ephesians 1: 11

I hear many people talk about God having a plan for our lives.

I hear others speak of God having a plan of salvation.

The nature of the word “plan” subtly destroys the sovereignty of God and the helplessness of man.

God does not “plan” anything.

The sovereign God PURPOSES everything.

A plan (like a blueprint) is something that someone else can carry out and put into being.

Salvation is not God’s plan that man must make effectual by his obedience.

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” (Isaiah 14: 24)

Salvation is what God purposed to do for His people by the obedience and sacrifice of His Son and what Christ the Savior has fully accomplished for His people.

“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” (Romans 1: 13)

A plan also may or may not come to pass. I have planned to do many things that I did not do.

Salvation is not God’s plan.

Salvation is the purpose of God for His people.

“For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isaiah 14: 27)

A purpose which God SHALL bring to pass.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”

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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: 17 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Words About Our Faith

“O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.” | Psalm 25: 20

Strange to say, the faith of Christians is a PERSON.

You may ask all other religions wherein their faith lieth, and they cannot answer on this wise.

Our faith is a PERSON; the gospel that we have to preach is a PERSON, and go wherever you may, we have something solid and tangible to preach.

If you had asked the twelve apostles, in their day, “What do you believe in?” They would not have needed to go round about with a long reply, but they would have pointed to their Master and they would have said, “We believe in HIM.”

“But what are your doctrines?”

“There they stand INCARNATE.”

“But what is your practice?”

“HE is our example.”

“What, then, do you believe?”

Hear ye the glorious answer of the apostle Paul, “We preach Christ crucified.”

Our creed, our body of divinity, our whole theology is summed up in the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

The apostle preached doctrine, but the doctrine was Christ.

He preached practice but the practice was all in Christ.

There is no summary of the faith of a Christian that can compass all he believes, except that word – CHRIST; and that is the Alpha and Omega of our creed, that is the first and last rule of our practice – Christ, and Him crucified.

To spread the faith, then, is to spread the knowledge of Christ crucified; it is in fact, to bring men, through the agency of God’s Spirit, to feel their need of Christ, to seek Christ, to believe in Christ, to love Christ, and then to live for Christ.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “O Keep My Soul!”

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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 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” | John 14: 1

The Master had just finished telling His disciples that some very troubling things were soon coming to pass.

  • He told them that one of them would betray Him.
  • He told them that He was going away and they could not come with Him.
  • He told Peter that he would deny the Lord three times that very night.
  • I would imagine the disciples were shocked and dismayed.
  • They probably felt defeated just like we often do.

Then the Lord gave us these comforting words. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

O what comfort faith in Christ gives to the hearts of His elect.

When you are shocked at the pain and suffering you endure, let not your heart be troubled or uncertain, because you believe in Christ who has sacrificed Himself for your soul.

Your body will suffer but your soul will never suffer if Christ died for you.

When you are disappointed in your failure, let not your heart be troubled, because you believe in Christ the Savior.

Thankfully, your salvation and acceptance with God depends on who Christ is and what Christ has accomplished, not who you are or what you have done or what you have failed to do.

When you don’t understand what is happening, let not your heart be troubled or uncertain.

Our God rules every event so that every event works together to bring to pass the salvation of His people.

Our God is working even this together to accomplish His eternal will.

Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ never have reason for real despair because everything that God is doing is best for me, best for His people and best for His Kingdom.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Knowing 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Confidence In The Flesh

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” | Philippians 3: 3

All false religionists, even though they might profess Jesus Christ to be their Savior, put their trust in something they have done; something they believe enables God to accept them.

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4: 10)

In doing so, they are saying that what Jesus Christ did was not enough.

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 26-31)

They openly and publicly declare that they saved themselves, blatantly denying that Jesus Christ is their Savior.

Brethren, “God has made us accepted in the Beloved.” (In Christ) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Unmerited favor) (Ephesians 1: 6-7)

When God gives His gift of faith to a hell-deserving sinner, we not only enter into His rest, we also cease from our own works as God did from His; giving our Great Triune God all the glory for His unspeakable gift.

~ Pastor Gene Harmon

Click here to listen to the message “Rooted and Grounded In God’s Love”

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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: 28 January, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a