Effects Of Belief In Election

”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

When we truly realize that the Lord of heaven and earth CHOSE US in Christ to salvation, REDEEMED US by His blood, and CALLED US by His gospel, it will have a seven-fold effect on us.

  1. It will cause us to REJOICE! “O blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causeth to approach unto Thee.” Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
  2. It will promote HUMILITY! “Who maketh thee to differ?” Grace and pride are incompatible, impossible to exist together. We rejoice in Christ and have no confidence in this flesh.
  3. It will COMFORT us in hard trials! “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” Even these work together for our good and His glory. When we trust Him, we don’t have to understand.
  4. It will SUPRESS self and sin! “We are not our own”; we are bought with so great a price. Therefore, we desire to glorify our Lord in our souls and in our bodies.
  5. It gives us ASSURANCE! If God foreknew us, predestinated us to be like Christ, justified us, called us by His Spirit, if Christ redeemed us, interceded for us and is for us, who can be against us?
  6. It makes DYING easier! The eternal covenant of grace in Christ was David’s pillow of rest and peace when he lay dying. (2 Samuel 23: 1-5) He sought no other source of comfort and hope than the sovereign love of God in Christ.
  7. It will assure us that our PREACHING IS NEVER IN VAIN! “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55: 11)

This cannot be applied to all preaching, ONLY TO THE PREACHING OF HIS WORD!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Working Out What God Worked Within”

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

Who is Your God?

”His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” | Revelation 19: 12

Concerning the character of God, what gross mistakes men make!

I believe it is a mistake about the person of God Himself which is at the root and foundation of all the mistakes in theology. My conviction is that the free-will theology of today makes God to be less than He is. The professors of that system have come to receive its doctrines because they have no clear understanding of the omnipotence, the immutability, or the sovereignty of God.

God has an absolute RIGHT to do what He will, with whom He will, when He will. He has the POWER also to accomplish His will and the RANSOM which enables Him to be true to His character in the carrying out of that will. When Almighty God comes to the soul of a man in grace, none can stay His hand. The enemy’s power is broken and the sinner is made willing. Satan cannot stay the conquering hand of Jehovah and the sinner wants to be conquered.

When one truly sees the holiness, mercy, righteousness, grace, justice, and love of God in Christ, rising like a mighty sun, it cannot but put an end to the darkness of will-worship and modern fundamentalism.

What will your God do?

How will your God do what He does?

Tell me who He is!

If your God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient and dwells in the heavens, He will do what He pleases. If He is any less than this, then He must wait to see what you will do. But the subdued king in Daniel 4: 35 declared, “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, what doest thou?”

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “We Preach The Gospel 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Knowing Brethren Your Election Of God

”Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” | 1 Thessalonians 1: 3-5

Your election is known by your calling!

“You hath He quickened who were dead.” Have you been quickened, made alive to the things of God in Christ?

Do you have an interest in the Gospel of God’s grace and mercy to sinners? “The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Have you been convinced of your sin or unbelief?

Have you been convinced that you have no righteousness and need Christ’s righteousness?

Have you been convinced that there is no judgment only to those in Christ?

If God has been pleased to do these things for you and in you, then you are elected!

“Our Gospel came to you not in word only but in power.” Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ only facts and history to you, or has that Gospel entered your heart and brought you to seek a saving interest in Christ?

“It is given unto you not only to believe on Him but to suffer for His sake.” Do you believe on Him? Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption and that He, of God, is made unto you all you need?

“We love Him because He first loved us.” Do you love Christ the Lord? “No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Spirit.” Is Christ your Lord? Have you truly bowed to Him in your heart of hearts?

“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Do you really love the brethren? There is no problem here.

If we are God’s elect, there are evidences enough, so “give diligence to make your calling sure!”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “How a Sinner Deals With Election”

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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: n/a

An Election Of Grace

”Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” | Romans 9: 6-13

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 “An Election of Grace”

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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: n/a

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.

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 “What Does It Mean To Come To 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: 13 September, 2020 | Previous post date: 9 March, 2021

Beware Of Another Gospel!

”Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.” | Psalm 35: 26-28

There is no grace but free and sovereign grace, no election but eternal and unconditional election, no redemption but particular and effectual redemption, no salvation but by the irresistible grace and omnipotent power of God the Holy Spirit, and no security but by the absolute preservation of God’s immutable goodness.

And any pretended gospel that does not proclaim these things is, as Paul says, “another gospel” that is damning to the souls of men!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “Sudden Grace”

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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: 2 September, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

“That’s Dangerous Doctrine!”

”Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” | Hebrews 10: 29

How often I have heard those words from preachers who are trying to excuse their compromise of the gospel and persuade others to be less dogmatic in their assertions of gospel truth.

When we preach the believer’s absolute security in Christ “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10: 28) the Arminian cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

If we assert God’s sovereign election “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: 4) the free-willer cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

As soon as we affirm the believer’s freedom from the law “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6: 14) the legalist cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

When we declare the eternal justification of God’s elect in Christ “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: 30) the works monger cries, “That’s dangerous doctrine!”

Understand this: – No truth of God is dangerous!

All truth is blessed, delightful, and encouraging to the faith and holiness of God’s elect.

In over 40 years of pastoring I have heard many excuses for the ungodly acts of men. But I have never heard even one believer attempt to justify any evil thing by the doctrine of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ!

Those who suggest that free grace is dangerous or will promote licentiousness, simply know nothing of the grace of God.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Most Hideous Doctrine In The World”

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

IN CHRIST 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:” | Ephesians 1: 10-11

The Holy Spirit does not reach after something novel, new, nor spectacular in order to glorify Christ or to preach Christ to men.

He does not need tongues, fleshly emotion, bodily healings, and creature fame and importance in order to bring glory to Christ and call out His sheep.

He finds Christ’s glory IN CHRIST HIMSELF!

If we want to honor Christ, glorify Christ, and preach Christ, we must not look for something outside of Christ; but we must honor Him by preaching that which is His already – His deity, His person, His man-hood, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession, His return!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Collected Ones!”

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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: 7 September, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

LIMITED ATONEMENT

“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: 4-6

The Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood at Calvery for God’s elect.

Christ died to redeem God’s elect alone, The Son of God did not shed his blood in vain, which would not be true if any of those for whom he died perish in hell. It was never our Lord’s intention to redeem and save all men. He even redused to pray for all men! (John 17: 9, 20)

It would be absurd to think that Christ died for men for whom he would not say a prayer!

The sin atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ is limited to those who are actually saved by his blood.

In order for God to save his people, justice had to be satisfied, sin had to be punished, the sinner had to be slain.

Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world as the Substitute and Representative of God’s elect people.

Christ established perfect righteousness for us.

Dying under the penalty of sin as our Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the claims of Divine justice against us.

Because the justice of God has been satisfied for God’s elect, by death of his son, God will never charge his own elect with sin. He imputes the righteousness of Christ to every believer, and rewards us for righteousness.

The doctrine of Bible is just this: when Christ died as the Substitute of his people, he effectually accomplished the eternal redemption of all God’s elect, those people for whom he died, all who believe in him.

This is what God says about the death of his son –

  • “For the transgression of my people was he stricken.” (Isaiah 53: 8)
  • “It pleased God to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53: 10)
  • “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righeous servant justify many: for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53: 11)
  • “He hath made him sin for us; who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
  • “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: 13)

No one who knows Christ can tolerate the notion that he failed in his work, that he tries to save men whom he cannot save, and that he died to redeem some who are not redeemed.

Such doctrine robs Christ of his glory in redemption and destroys all hope for sinners. All of God’s people rejoice to know that Christ died particularly for them and effectually accomplished their redemption in his death.

“By his own blood he entered in once inot the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 12)

We rejoice to declare that “Salvation is of the Lord”.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Who Are The Elect?”

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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: 27 October, 2006 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

The Man Must Be Altered

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new… 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: 17, 21

Over the years I have bought a few suits, and had to have them altered to fit me.

Not so in salvation.

In salvation the man is altered to fit the suit – the righteousness of Christ.

God must make me a new creature in Christ.

I must be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

Christ’s righteousness is never altered to fit me, I am the one that must be altered, created a new man in Christ.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “All Things Are 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: 10 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia