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Show Me Thy Faith

”Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” | James 2: 18

Not all faith is true faith.

There is a living faith and a dead faith, the faith of God’s elect and the faith of devils, a faith that saves and a faith that deceives, a true faith and a false faith.

False faith is a faith of words only.

True faith is a faith of works, a “faith that worketh by love.” (James 2: 14-17; 1 John 3: 16-18; Galatians 5: 6)

If a man or woman says, “I have faith in Christ,” James makes a fair and reasonable request. He says, “Show me thy faith.” He is saying, “Convince me that you have faith. Justify your claim. Justify your faith.”

Abraham did. (James 2: 21-24) He proved the reality of his faith in God on Mt. Moriah.

Rahab did too. She demonstrated the reality of her faith by risking her life to protect the servants of God. (James 2: 25)

You may say, “Oh, but I believe in one God, omnipotent, sovereign, eternal, and saving, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” That is very good. But the devils have that kind of faith.

You may be as orthodox in your doctrine as the apostle Paul himself and yet possess nothing but a false faith. The demons of hell are as orthodox in doctrine as any of us! There is more to faith than doctrine! “Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2: 20)

James was directed by the Holy Spirit to repeat that statement three times in ten verses. The Spirit of God means for us to understand that dead, cold, dry letter, doctrinal faith is of no value to our souls.

What kind of faith do we have? Is it a true and living faith, or is it a false, dead faith?

If we will honestly deal with our souls the answer will not be difficult to find.

True faith hears and believes the Word of God. It is submissive and obedient. It grows with experience.

True faith works by love. It is gracious, merciful, and kind. It builds relationships.

True faith glorifies God, rejoices in Christ, and is led by the Spirit.

True faith is lasting, persevering, enduring faith.

Yes, God’s saints have their struggles, difficulties, and failures. But the bent of the believer’s will, the tenor of his life is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, serve his people, and finish his course with joy in faith, whatever the cost.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Devils Also Believe”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Rejoicing In Hope

”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. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” | Romans 5: 6-11

THE Word of God plainly, clearly, and thoroughly teaches that man by nature is contrary and opposed to God in every way.

For example, God by nature is infinitely and immutably holy – man by nature is unchangeably and incurably sin; God is light – man by nature is darkness; God is truth – man’s whole life by nature, without God, is a lie; God is infinitely good – man by nature is inherently and unchangeably bad.

In a word, man is a natural born enemy of God. In fact, the natural man’s mind is enmity against God – not merely at enmity, but enmity itself! (Romans 8: 5-7) Thus men by nature love darkness and deception rather than God’s precious Word. (John 3: 19) Therefore man’s greatest need is to be reconciled to God.

It is a continual burden on my heart that so many preachers of our day, rather than preaching God as He is to sinners as they are, (Sinners in the hands of an angry God) are preaching a god who is palatable, agreeable, suits the taste of fallen, human nature, a god whose chief attribute is love rather than holiness, a god who loves everybody the same, who gave His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, a god who is trying to save all men.

These preachers, for personal advantage and gain, (the good opinion of men, and numbers) are preaching a false god, a false gospel, and thus giving their hearers a false hope. Their disciples have never been brought to bow before the true God as mercy seekers.

How could they?

They have never heard of the true God of the Bible. How can they ever be reconciled to God?

Dear souls, God can only be worshiped by beggars, mercy seekers, before His sovereign throne of glory and grace.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9: 38)

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoicing in Hope”

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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: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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His Will

”Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 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: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” | Ephesians 1: 9-12

To receive Christ as our Lord is to bow to His will.

To walk with Christ is to walk with Him “who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL.”

To plan my day is to say, “If the Lord will, we shall do this.”

To pray is to “ask anything according to HIS WILL.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “All Things 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: 16 February, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Words About Our Faith

”Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.” | Romans 9: 27-29

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 “Truths Concerning Salvation”

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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: 19 March, 2021

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The Necessity Of The Husband’s Glory

”And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” | Isaiah 4: 1

It is improper for the bride to propose to the man.

Merely taking his name does not constitute a marriage. If her reproach will be taken away, Christ the GodMan must draw his bride in cords of love, unite himself to her in a holy, unbreakable union, and provide all her needs.

God created one wife for his beloved Son. She is the church made up of his elect people out of every nation on this earth. God espoused this bride to one husband, even Christ Jesus his own Son. He is her All and she is his all.

First, the full provision Christ bestows upon his bride is found in his name which he gives her.

The maiden name of a sinner is that of our father Adam. Our maiden name is a name of reproach, of disobedience to God, a name which declares we are dead in trespasses and in sins. But Christ gives his bride his name and his name declares her reproach is taken away by him. “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23: 6) “In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33: 16)

Secondly, the name of Righteousness given to his bride declares that Christ has fully met every requirement of a faithful husband.

Concerning the responsibility of the husband the law states, If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

Christ shall never take another bride as sinful men do, for he has everlastingly loved the bride betrothed to him by his Father. Christ is her Food (Life) and thus Christ’s bride shall never be found begging bread. Christ is her raiment of Righteousness thus she is arrayed in the finest garment. Christ the Son of God unites himself intimately with her, which scripture terms the “the duty of marriage”, by making himself one with her nature that he might make her one with his nature.

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5: 30-32)

“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (Hebrews 2: 11)

“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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2: 14-16)

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36: 27)

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1: 3, 4)

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” (Romans 8: 9-12)

The marriage is about much more than the bride’s reproach being taken away, it is about Christ’s glory in being a true and faithful Husband. Christ is that glorious Husband thus the reproach of his bride is forever removed.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Not Bondage But Adoption”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Waiting On The Lord

”And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?” | Judges 14: 15

If our God be Sovereign, then anytime we find ourselves waiting on anything, we are in truth, waiting on the Lord.

Let us always remember that whoever or whatever seems to be holding things up, is a secondary cause. Our God is the first cause of all things and will move those secondary causes in His perfect time.

The king’s heart (and everyone else’s) is in the hand of the Lord. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Proverbs 21: 1)

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37: 7)

While we wait on the coming of the Lord, let us remember that He hath made everything beautiful in His time.

It will all “come to pass” exactly when the Lord purposes it to “come to pass.”

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Salvation is 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: 5 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Only Two Religions

”What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” | Romans 9: 14

The only way a person can be accepted by God is by having a perfect sacrifice.

The sacrifice is of God’s own providing.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that God has provided, and what He provides, He will accept.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “How God Justly Saves Sinners”

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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: 16 February, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Christ Is That Seed Of Abraham

”And in thy seed shall al the nations of the earth be blessed” | Genesis 22: 18

God promised Abraham, saying, “In thy seed shall all the generations of the earth be blessed.”

Christ is that Seed of Abraham, saith Paul the apostle. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3: 6-8)

He hath blessed all the world through the gospel.

For where Christ is not, there remains the curse that fell on Adam as soon as he had sinned, so that they are in bondage, under the condemnation of sin, death, and hell. Against this curse the gospel now blesses all the world, inasmuch as it crieth openly unto all that acknowledge their sins and repent, saying, ‘Whosoever believeth on the Seed of Abraham shall be blessed.’ – that is, he shall be delivered from sin, death, and hell, and shall henceforth continue righteous, and be saved for ever, as Christ Himself saith, in the eleventh of John, ‘He that believeth on Me shall never more die.’

~ William Tyndale

Click here to listen to the message “Put In Christ And Putting On 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: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Trust

”Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” | Hebrews 6: 1-2

“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus”

Trust is a wonderful thing, and Sweet is a good word to describe it.

Whether between husband and wife, parents and children, friends, or whoever… trust is sweet!

The word implies faith, confidence, and reliance, but that is not all.

There is also a wonderful rest and repose in trust; a freedom from doubts, suspicions, anxieties, and fearful apprehensions.

Trust is calm, peaceful and assured. “Tis so sweet” when guilty sinners come to “trust in Jesus.”

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Things That Accompany The Salvation 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 May, 2020 | Previous post date: 18 March, 2021

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Able To Save

”He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” | Romans 4: 20-22

“Able to save” means something more than just delivering men from hell.

“Able to save” is the whole work of salvation from the first conviction of sin to complete glorification.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who repent, but He is able to make men repent.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who believe, but He is able to give a new heart and work faith in men.

Christ is not only “able to save” those who continue in the faith, but He is able to keep us from falling and give us a holy desire to be like Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What God Promised He Is Able to Perform”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey