Articles

IS THE GOSPEL FAIR?

Our God delights in showing mercy. Micah 7:18. At the same time He is of immutable holiness that demands judgment against all sin. He will by no means clear the guilty. Ex. 34.7. Christ suffered the full wrath of the judgment of God to satisfy Divine justice for His people. There can be no mercy without justice. When the unbeliever responds to the message of the gospel (as they often do), with “that’s not fair”, we know that in the truest sense of the word “fair”, it is the only message of salvation that is equitable to God and man. -Greg Elmquist, pastor

“Behold Me”

We come into this world crying for attention, literally. As we

grow older and more independent, our desire for the eyes of men

only gets worse. We have perfected the art of calling attention to

ourselves with modern day social media. It all goes back to our

perverted desire to be like God. (Gen. 3:5). For God says,

“Behold me. Behold me.” Is. 65:1. What is the difference when

God says, “look at me” and when we say it? For us it is a

desperate attempt to shore up our feelings of insecurity with the

approval of men. It is filled with pride and self-righteousness.

When God says, “Behold me”, it is a gracious call for sinners to

be saved. -Greg Elmquist, pastor

Condemned Or Justified

There are just two kinds of people in this world; those who

justify themselves before God and those who are justified by God

in Christ. Those who justify themselves are always condemned

before God. Those who condemned themselves are always

justified before the Lord by His grace (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7).

In Luke 18 the Pharisee justified himself and was condemned.

The publican condemned himself and was justified (Luke

18:13-14). Which one are you! Grace is for the guilty! -TomHarding, pastor

You Must Know the Disease to Find the Cure

We won’t make much headway in finding a solution if we do not

understand the problem. A cure is not likely to be found if we

have no knowledge of the disease. In the matter of salvation, the

problem is man’s sin; the solution is God’s grace. The disease is

moral depravity and spiritual inability; the remedy is God’s

mercy in Christ. If a man is nearsighted, he only needs corrective

glasses; but, if he is blind, he needs the miracle of sight! If a man

is sick, he only needs medicinal aid; but, if he is DEAD, he needs

the miracle of life! If man has only strayed from the way, he only

needs directions; but, if he is COMPLETELY LOST, he needs to

be found! Here is the question to be settled by preachers and

people; “What happened in the garden?” When one feels obliged

to come to some conclusions on the subjects of election,

irresistible grace, and particular redemption, it would be wise for

him to first determine the CONDITION of the sinner who is to be

saved. If man was only wounded by the fall, he needs assistance;

if he is dead in sins, he needs to be resurrected and that by the

purpose and power of the God of life.

If fallen man still has his moral ability and power of choice, then

let us wait for him to choose and seek God; but, if he loves

darkness and will not come to Christ, then Christ must love and

come to him. -Henry Mahan

MUST ELECTION BE PREACHED?

If the Bible teaches it the short answer is yes. And the Bible does

teach election and that cannot be denied. Election is a

declaration of the character of God. Election speaks of His

sovereignty, independence, immutability, eternality, and love just

to name a few of His attributes. Election is a declaration of man -

dead in sins, unable to be saved apart from election. Election is a

declaration of the intent and success of the cross. There is no

understanding of the cross of Christ without understanding all He

died for must be saved. There is no understanding of the work of

the Spirit of God in regeneration apart from seeing He gives life

to those God elected and Christ died for. It is impossible to

believe salvation is all of grace and not preach election. Election

is what the sinner needs to hear. It states emphatically that we

cannot be saved by our works. It is only when we see we cannot

be saved by our works that we will call for mercy.

Must election be preached? Absolutely! It is impossible to

preach the Gospel and leave out this holy truth. -Todd Nibert, pastor

THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE

"Thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 18:42). We know that strictly speaking, it is not our faith that saved us. Faith did not keep the law for me. Christ did! Faith did not die on the cross for my sins. Christ did! Faith was not raised from the dead, Christ was! Yet the Lord says, "Thy faith hath saved thee." Why does the Saviour put this high honor on our faith"? Because faith looks to Christ alone! It rests in Him only, and looks nowhere else! It gives all the honor of salvation to Christ! A faith that does not do that is not saving faith to begin with. Christ puts such honor on faith because true faith puts all honor on HIM! -Todd Nibert, pastor

Lack of Understanding or Unbelief?

What we are quick to excuse as a lack of understanding when it comes to trusting the scriptures is really just unbelief.

Believing God by what He has said is not one in the same with having an academic knowledge of his word. Understanding is not faith. Faith is understanding. But in a cleverly disguised attempt to avoid believing God at his Word, we substitute faith with knowledge and hide ourselves in the confidence of the flesh using our knowledge, or lack thereof, as Adam and Eve did in the garden. Gospel truth is not complicated. It's simple to understand from a knowledge standpoint. Yet many do not believe it on the grounds that it "doesn't make any sense", "there's more to it than that", or they just "don't get it". The reality is that they simply do not believe God when confronted with the truth. In contrast, the true believer believes God at his Word enough to know that believing God is the issue so that what concerns him is his unbelief. "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mk.9:24. You see, it's not that we don't understand that's the source of our problems. It's that we don't believe what God has said. "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb.11:6

A Tragedy Made Worse

The confusing and heartbreaking tragedy of a mass murder is only made worse by the explanation the “religious experts” give. The question people ask is always the same. “How can an all-powerful, all loving God, allow so many innocent people to suffer?” There are three assumptions in this question: 1) God is all powerful; 2) God is all loving (by that they mean that He loves everyone); and 3) People, or least some people, are innocent. As stated, this question is impossible to answer. The assumptions are clear contradictions. They cannot be reconciled. To answer the question, one or more of these presuppositions must be changed. It ought not surprise us that the false prophets would change the only assumption that is true. They always answer the question by denying the fact that God is all powerful. They try to comfort people by saying that God has abdicated His throne to the free will of evil men or to Satan. The unbelieving public swallows this lie hook, line, and sinker. In man’s desperate attempt to have a god they can control, they would never consider the possibility that God doesn’t love everybody, or that no one is innocent in His presence. These “hard sayings” are just too offensive Jn. 6:60-61. A God who is absolutely sovereign and men that are totally sinful, turns their world upside down. “Our God is in the heavens, He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” Ps 115:3-4. Faith does not question God. Faith bows to Him and says with the Psalmist, “Not unto us, Oh Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake” Ps 115:1 -Greg Elmquist, pastor

How can I know if Christ died for me?

To some that is a moot point because they believe He died for all men without exception. But according to the Bible, He only died for His sheep (John 10:16). Not everybody is a sheep. There are also goats. So how can I know that I am one for whom He died? Am I simply to have faith that He died for me? No. You can believe that He died for you and that does not mean He did. Faith is not believing He died for you. Faith is not believing you are saved. Those things have to do with assurance. When the Ethiopian eunuch asked Phillip, what hinders me from being baptized? Phillip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” Notice what the eunuch did not reply. He did not say, “I believe that Christ died for me personally,” or “I believe that I am saved.” He said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” It is believing the Gospel, believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God: it is believing that He is the only successful Savior and that he is able to save you. Do you believe the Gospel? It you answer no, that is no assurance that Christ died for you. But if you believe the Gospel, yes, Christ most assuredly died for you. “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). -Todd Nibert, pastor

Believing the Message

Many proclaim what the Bible teaches with doctrines they say must be believed and practiced for God to be pleased with us. In so doing, they dismiss the most obvious of Bible teaching: God is holy. He is not like us. God in his perfection is without sin and therefore He cannot accept us on any terms but perfection.

Job said this: " How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?" Job25:4

And he goes on to say, "Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm (maggot)? and the son of man, which is a worm?" From the womb, the very best we can think or do, God must count as iniquity, that which never measures up to acceptance with Him. But there is one, but one, with whom God is well pleased, perfect in every way. One who satisfied all the demands of God's holy law. One who never sinned in thought, word, or deed. Whatever he did pleased the Father. How could a Holy God reveal any other message for acceptance with Him but that which He could be pleased with; that which he would have us to believe for acceptance with Him? "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mat.3:17) And again,"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles (Mat.12:18)." The scriptures are very clear that our righteousness must be found in Christ if we are to be accepted before God. And to be accepted before Him, we must be accepted in Him: "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph.ch.1). This is the message of the Bible: the One with whom God is alone well pleased. In Him alone we find acceptance with God. To the end of his ministry the apostle Paul's heart desire was to be found in Him:"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith " (Philip.3:8,9). Might it be so with us for there is no message in the Bible we must believe for acceptance with God but that of the person and accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Public Worship

Public worship is the public assembly of God's saints, meeting together to worship God publicly through the preaching of the Word, public, prayer, and public praise. Public worship is just as important as private worship. It is so important that Christ Himself gives the promise of His special presence and blessing only to public worship, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst Of them" (Matt. 18:20). One who says, "I don't need to worship God publicly, I can worship just as well on my own," is nothing more than a religious hypocrite.

One who does not worship God publicly in reality does not worship God privately either. Public worship, the coming together as a church to hear the Gospel preached, is of utmost importance to the child of God. If a person can willingly and habitually absent himself from public worship, one of two things is true:

(1) He is in a serious, spiritually sick condition. When one is physically sick he loses his appetite for food. When one is spiritually sick he loses his appetite for the Word preached. (2) He is lost.

The true child of God delights in public worship, because true worship does something for him. True worship will draw us closer to Christ in communion, faith, love and obedience. It shows us Christ, it shuts us up to Christ, and it leaves us looking to Christ. If that is not the cause, we have not truly worshipped. God uses public worship to cause us to grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ. It always inspires, increases, and enlarges the faith, submission, and consecration of the believer to Christ. We cannot do without public worship, anymore than we can go without food.

ALL UNDER SIN

It is the indisputable testimony of God, in the holy scriptures, that all

men and women are under sin. Paul, the apostle, raises this question

in Romans 3: 9, “what then, are we better than they?” (Looking at the

Jew with all of his advantages and comparing him to the heathen who

had only conscience and creation as a witness.) No, in now wise: for we

have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.”

How are they under sin? They are under sin by way of a fallen

nature which they have inherited through the fall and judgment of God

on their father Adam. Ephesians 2 accurately describes our walk and

tells us that it is “according to the course of this world, and according to

the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the

children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our

conversation (walk of life) leaving us by nature the children of wrath

even as others.” (Ephesians 2: 1-3)

We are under sin as a reigning force. Romans 5: 21 tells us that sin

reigns unto death unless there is an intervention of grace. It pollutes

our whole being and therefore all that we think and do.

We are under sin as a willful servant to it. Romans 6: 16 tells us,

“know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his

servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of

obedience unto righteousness.” Men and women do not sin by

mistake, but by their own volition and preference. They love darkness

rather than light because their deeds are evil. (see John 3: 19)

We are all under sin, by the presence and influence of it in this

present wicked world. The working of Satan, in antichrist religion, with

all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of

unrighteousness in them who are perishing; because they received not

the love of the truth that they might be saved

Because we are sinners by nature and by practice, sin seems natural

and not shocking to us. Satan uses our casual view of sin to make it

seem not as ugly and ungodly as it is.

Oh, may the Lord see fit to send to us His Spirit and convict and

convince us of our sins that we might lay down at the foot of our Lord

and beg for mercy. -Darvin Pruitt, pastor

SERMONIZING OR GOSPEL PREACHING?

Sermonizing makes the sermon the focus of attention. This type of message resembles a performance because the preacher puts most of his effort into preparing the message with little regard for the hearts of those who will hear it. The expectation is that his hearers will measure the success of that message by how well it is packaged and delivered. By contrast, the aim of Gospel preaching is not on the construct of the message but to reveal Christ and Him crucified to the hearts of the hearers. It’s not the eloquence of the message that is primary but the determination to elicit a genuine response from the heart to the person and work of Christ alone. This type of preaching doesn’t leave the hearer apathetic but responsive to Christ himself as He’s preached from the scriptures. It does so either by affecting the hearer to trust Him in faith or oppose Him in unbelief (I.e. Acts 17:4,5). Preaching that does not go to the heart of a man is not preaching at all. It is preaching without any genuine effect. As the apostle Paul said, “For I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1Cor.2:2. -Copied

GRACE ALONE: Every aspect of salvation from the beginning (election) to the end, (glorification) is all of God's grace. Salvation is not what you do for God, but what He does for you. No part of salvation can be ascribed to man. To ascribe any part of salvation to the religious efforts, good works, or free will of man is to deny salvation by grace, "Salvation is of the Lord" Jonah 2:9. "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.

-Milton Howard, pastor

SATISFACTION

When God raised Christ from the dead it was because He was completely satisfied with what He did, and He was completely satisfied with all whom Christ died for. He could ask for no more and accept no less. His justice: satisfied! The requirements of the law: satisfied! His purpose of the salvation of the elect: satisfied! Christ was satisfied with what He did. “He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” No failure or discouragement. Everything He intended to do, He did do. He completely glorified His Father and completely saved His bride. And every believer finds complete satisfaction in the same thing the Father, Son, and Spirit does. While we are not satisfied with ourselves and will not be until we awake in His likeness, we are satisfied with His salvation. Being complete in Him, we are not looking for anything else. What a blessing! Satisfaction.

-Todd Nibert, pastor

WHEN I SEE...

God does not say, “When I see your faith”, or “When I see your believing”, or “When I see your experience”, or “When I see your baptism”, or “When I see your graces”, but…. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

- Milton Howard, pastor

SEEING CHRIST IN HIS SACRIFICE

There is no doubt that an awareness of our sins and iniquities compels us to flee to Christ for mercy and to believe on Him for forgiveness. It was inability and need that drove the woman with the issue of blood to Christ, that brought the harlot to His feet, and that drove the leper to worship Him. But I believe that a true mourning for sin and lasting repentance come from SEEING CHRIST in His holiness, power, and sacrifice. “They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him” (Zech. 12:10).

Was this not the case with Isaiah, Job, and even Saul of Tarsus? The more we see His holiness, the more we are made aware of our defilement; the more we behold His love, the more we are conscious of our lack of love; the more time we spend at His cross of submission, the more we detect our selfishness. It is difficult to say which comes first – repentance or faith. But I’m sure of this: more genuine repentance is produced by faith than faith produced by repentance. Someone once said, “Christ is worthy of adoration and worship even from those who have never sinned (as the elect angels). When we praise and worship Him only because He saves us from sin, we do not properly understand His Lordship!” David said, “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy hand; what is man that Thou art mindful of him?” (Ps. 8: 3, 4).This is the sight that really breaks the heart and humbles the proud spirit – to see our sovereign Lord in His redemptive glory. No man can ever be the same after a Spirit-led trip to Calvary. - Henry T. Mahan

CHRIST IS ALL

I have observed many who profess to know Christ and believe the Gospel of grace, and yet they are unhappy and, generally speaking, miserable people. How can this be? I believe I know why. These people walk around with a dark cloud over their head because they are so taken up with the things of this world. They are always in a strait between Christ and the world, and feel bad because they fear they are not giving Christ their first priority. That is the problem. If Christ is merely "first priority," you have missed Him altogether. He is ALL to those who know Him, not merely "first priority." I once heard someone say, "Most people have just enough religion to make them miserable." That is the problem! Most people have religion but they do not have Christ! Todd Nibert, pastor

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

John 14:1

These are words of love and concern. They are the gentle words of our Faithful Friend. But they are words of reproof. Our Lord is telling us that believing hearts ought never be anxious, fearful, and worried. He would have us cast our care upon him and trust him to provide for us and protect us in all things (I Pet. 5:6-7). When our hearts are troubled, there is trouble in our hearts. I know that whenever my heart is troubled with worry, anxiety, and fear my trouble can be traced to some evil thing in my heart.

PRIDE is a terrible source of heart trouble. It is pride that causes us to rebel against God's providence. Most of our sorrows arise from within. "When self is conquered, sorrow is to a great extent banished from the human heart" (Spurgeon). We will find no comfort for our hearts until our pride is broken and our hearts are subdued (Job 1:20-22; 2:9-10).

UNBELIEF is the root of all heart trouble. Worry, anxiety, and fear are the fruits of unbelief. If I believe God there is nothing I can reasonably fear, worry about, or anxiously consider (Matt. 6:25-34). One old preacher said, "I dare not fret any more than I dare curse and swear."

COVETOUSNESS is a real, though unacknowledged, cause of heart trouble. Our hearts are troubled because we want God to do what he has not done or give what he has not given. That is covetousness (Phil. 4:11).

ENVY, the desire of another person's ease, wealth, or position causes a believer's heart great trouble (Ps. 73:1-3). Envy is the most loathsome, vicious child pride ever sired. As a moth eats cloth, so envy eats a man. It is the most cruel, destructive passion of the human heart.

SELF-PITY is the sum of all these evils. Usually troubled hearts are peevish, self-willed, self-pitying hearts. The Spirit of Christ is humility, not pride; faith, not unbelief; contentment, not covetous; peace, not envy; self-denial, not self-pity. If you would be free of heart trouble, believe Christ and walk in the Spirit of Christ.

– Pastor Don Fortner

IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

Romans 4: 5-6

Righteousness by another and reckoned to us as our own is called, in the scriptures, imputed righteousness. (Psalms 32: 2; II Corinthians 5: 19) It is of this transaction that Paul speaks of saying; "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." (see Romans 13: 14; Galatians 3: 26-29" Thus, Christ represents us, and God deals with us as represented in Him. The work of the Holy Spirit, in the believer, is not to make him holy so God will pardon him, but to reveal to him the crucified Christ, where pardon can be found by the unholy.

Sinners can only come to Christ with their sins, because sins are all they have and sin is all they are. The leper came in his leprosy, the woman with the issue of blood in her uncleanness, and the sick with their diseases. The whole need not the physician, but the sick.

I hear preachers talking to men about preparing themselves to come to Christ and taking the first step. A half of a sinner only needs a half Savior. A pretending sinner only needs a pretending savior. But, a real sinner needs a real Savior and Christ is such a Savior. -Darvin Pruitt, pastor

Hear the Right

“Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips” (Psalms 17:1).

“Hear the right” means “hear the righteous.” Christ is the Righteousness of every believer. We come to God asking him to hear Christ our Righteousness. We ask God to hear Christ that God might, “Attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer.” Though all who are born of the Holy Spirit are not praying with hypocritical lips, yet even our prayers are mixed with sin. But when Christ presents our petitions to the Father, he is able to say of himself on our behalf, “Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.”– Pastor Clay Curtis

Health

Health is an invaluable mercy; it is never properly valued till lost. But John puts soul-prosperity side by side with it. Man has two parts; the one corporeal and earthy, the other immaterial and spiritual. How foolish is the man who thinks of his body and forgets his soul, neglects the tenant and repairs the house, prizes the earthen vessel and yet despises the treasure! C.H. Spurgeon

If a portrait were taken of a person in strong, vigorous health, and another was taken of the same man after a severe illness, or when he had been almost starved to death, or weakened by confinement, we should scarcely recognize them as the likeness of the same man, the dear old friend we loved! Still greater would be the change could we draw the spiritual portrait of many a once hearty, vigorous saint of God, whose soul has been starved for want of the proper spiritual nourishment, or by feeding upon "ashes" instead of bread. G. S. Bowes

DEAD TO THIS WORLD

A young student asked his Bible teacher this question, “How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in the world?” The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dear friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess. Upon his return, the teacher asked, “What did your friend say when you criticized him?” “Nothing.” “How did he react when you praised him?” “It made no difference to him; he is dead!” “That is what it means to be dead to this world,” said the teacher. Its APPLAUSE means nothing and its HATRED means nothing. We neither ADMIRE the people of this world nor do we FEAR them. The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling. The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when CHRIST IS ALL! That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord. This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced.

– Henry Mahan

Must We Be Taught?

I introduced a Sunday morning sermon with an excellent question asked by a friend, “If a person is truly saved by the grace of God in Christ, will he love, rejoice, give, share, forgive, and endeavor to glorify Christ in his life or MUST HE BE TAUGHT THESE THINGS?” My answer: “Yes, he will and yes, he must.” The principles of grace and truth are in the heart by regeneration, as is the love of Christ and love for others; but children must be taught, reminded, corrected and even chastised. “Go ye and make disciples TEACHING THEM to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew28:20). The very fact that our Lord gave us the Lord’s Table to “Do in remembrance of Me” is proof enough that we need to be taught and reminded of spiritual truth. – Henry Mahan

THE MEANS OF GRACE

God is a God of means. And unless God saves the man, man will make a savior of the means rather than the Saviour Himself. God sends His Son through a woman and men worship that woman. Christ was born in a stable and men worship the nativity scene. Christ was nailed to a cross to put away sin and men make an idol of the cross. Justification was accomplished by the faithfulness of Christ and men make the act of faith the cause of justification. We are not saved apart from the knowledge of the Gospel and men make the knowledge itself salvation. We are told to be zealous of good works and we turn that into evidences of salvation rather than looking to Christ only. We turn the means of grace into acts necessary for the obtaining of spiritual life, and thus make the means works necessary to obtain grace. But when we are given spiritual life, the means are seen for what they are and the Saviour is seen for Who He is and what He did. -Todd Nibert, pastor

Never Trifle

Never trifle with God’s Gospel! By it God shall judge all who have ever lived in this world (Acts 17:30-32, Ro.2:16). And the many who come under the sound of it, not only rejecting it, but treating it as an unholy, common thing (Heb.10:29) shall wish they never heard it come that certain judgment day (Lk.10:13-16). Some, like king Agrippa and Pilate, deliberate long over it at the expense of God's servants. All the while they delude themselves into thinking that they are above the truth, having the authority and power to judge the truth for themselves. Or, like certain early Greek philosophers they reduce gospel preaching to mere oratory, and with itching ears they seek after a form of wisdom (1Cor.1:22) but only to tickle their ears and that to their own condemnation (Acts, 2Tim.4:3). Critical of the message they criticize the messenger to their own destruction (1Thess.5:3, 2Pet.3:16). How do you receive the preaching of Christ and Him crucified? How do I? “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James1:21 And take heed how you hear. Luke 8:18 -copied

Confessing Christ

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father. which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)

Are men correct in thinking that because they made a profession of faith some years back, were baptized, joined a local church and adopted a sound system of theology, they are confessing Christ before men? We are going to find out someday, to our eternal woe, that confessing Christ before men involves a great deal more than an isolated decision. Confessing Christ before men is a constant identification with Christ in a world that does not know or love Christ. To be identified with Christ is to be so closely associated with Him that His interests are your interests; His friends are your friends; His enemies are your enemies; His glory is your glory; His will is your will; and His Word is your rule of life. "Where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). Where is Christ? Those confessing Him and identified with Him will be there also! We are crucified with Christ, buried with Him in baptism, walking with Him in the light of the Scripture, righteousness and truth, at His feet in humility, assembled with His people in worship and praise, bearing His reproach, forgiving as He forgave, loving as He loved, and waiting for His return. In other words confessing Christ before men is to be so closely associated with Christ that one is called in truth by others - A CHRISTIAN! -Henry Mahan

Indifference

If I love someone I want them to be pleased with me. If I am indifferent about pleasing them I am indifferent toward them. Love wants to please. I know the only way God can be pleased with me is if I am in Christ, in whom God is well pleased. And I want Him to be pleased with His work of grace in my heart which will come out in my conduct and conversation, attitude, relationship with others, and so on. It is also true that a believer can do things that are displeasing to the Lord. “The thing that David did displeased the Lord.” May we desirous of pleasing Him and fear doing that which displeases Him. Indifference about this speaks of indifference toward Him. By His grace may that never be! -Copied

Worldliness

Worldliness is not easily observed. It is not measured by our style of our clothes, the means of innocent relaxation and entertainment, or the place of our residence. Worldliness is the love of the world, the atmosphere of greed, the spirit of ambition, and the passion for pleasure and self-gratification which consumes the hearts, lives, thoughts, and deeds of the lost souls. - Don Fortner, pastor

THE TEACHING OF GRACE

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” - Titus 2:11-12

There are many things God’s grace teaches us. In Titus 2:11-12, God’s grace is said to teach us how to live in this present world. The implication is that if we are not living like this we obviously have not been taught by His grace, and we are living in rebellion.

And what does it teach us regarding living in this present world? That we are to deny (denounce)…ungodliness (the opposite of devotion to God), and worldly lusts (the desire of fallen human nature), and to live soberly (self-controlled, self-restraint, not controlled by the passions of the flesh), righteously (upright), and godly (well devout, a Godward attitude) in this present world. Our prayer is that God by His grace will teach us how to live in this present world in a way that adorns the Gospel of His Son! -Todd Nibert, pastor

Toleration

The spirit of tolerance is looked upon by many as a great virtue. Indeed there are times when it is! But this is the spirit for which He condemned the churches at Pergamos. They had in their midst those who espoused the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. That which the Lord said He hated, they tolerated. Lack of love is behind this attitude. Lack of love to the Person of Christ makes one tolerant of that which is contrary to Him. Love to Him makes one intolerant of that which robs Him of His glory. Remember, he that does not hate the false, does not love the Truth. -Todd Nibert, pastor

"Works do follow them"

It is said of the blessed dead who die in the Lord that their “Works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13). They are not in front of them as the meritorious cause, nor are they beside them as working along with grace to make it effectual. They are behind them as evidence that their faith was real. While we are so thankful that salvation is not according to our works, that does not take away from their critical importance. “Faith without works is dead, being alone.” The first thing the Lord said to each of the seven churches was, “I know thy works.” What proved Rahab the harlot believed God? She received the spies. Her works proved the reality of her faith. Here are two men who say they believe grace. One goes to a church where grace is believed and preached. The other goes where works and free will are preached. What do the works of those men say about them? You can be sure that on judgment day all the people who are saved by grace will have works following them that proved they really were saved by grace. -Todd Nibert, pastor

THE WORLD – THE GOSPEL

The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the religious wisdom of the world. Jealous for its own religious views, the world in turn charges the Gospel with being a subversive and licentious doctrine, offensive to God and man, a doctrine to be persecuted as the worst plague on earth. As a result we have this paradoxical situation: The Gospel supplies the world with the salvation of Jesus Christ, peace of conscience, and every blessing. Just for that the world abhors the Gospel. - Martin Luther

DEAD TO THIS WORLD

A young student asked his Bible teacher this question, “How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in this world?” The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dear friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess. Upon his return, the teacher asked, “How did he react when you praised him?” “It made no difference to him; he is dead!” “That is what it means to be dead to this world,” said the teacher. Its APPLAUSE means nothing and its HATRED means nothing. We neither ADMIRE the people of this world nor do we FEAR them. The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling. The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when CHRIST IS ALL! That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord. This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced. – Henry Mahan

BELIEVERS DO NOT SIT UNDER A FALSE GOSPEL

It is a compromise of the Gospel and a belittling of the power of the Lord’s hand for a man to say that there are believers among those who sit under a false gospel. Not one place in Scripture do we find the Lord saving a person and leaving them under the power and influence of lies. The fact is Scripture declares that Christ brings his sheep out from among the unclean when He calls them by name; they hear His voice and follow Him. On the other hand, it is Satan’s mode of operation to sow tares among the wheat; it is wolves who creep in among the sheep unawares; never the other way around. - Clay Curtis

BY THE PROPHETS

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in the time past unto the fathers by the prophets….” – Hebrews 1:1

The word prophet in the Old Testament means “spokesman” and is from a root word which means “to speak under divine influence.” Interesting that this root word would come to be used for God’s spokesmen and it is because if a sinner is going to speak for God, God must bless that sinner and specially enable him to do so. “For the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). In Hebrews 1:1 the prophets are mentioned, but it is God who spoke. We see this same wording in Luke 1:68-70 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.”

No man has ever truly spoken for God, then or now, that has not had a message directly from God, and it has always been the same message. Everyone who is not preaching Christ and Him crucified is just pretending to speak for God. If the Holy Ghost has anything to do with it, it will be Christ alone. Let religious zealots speak of ‘a message for our day’ all they want. There has never been but one message for any day, and that is Christ Jesus, the sovereign, effectual Redeemer of sinners. While others are ‘sharing’ sensationalism under the misnomer of ‘end time prophecy’, and rambling about what sinners need to do for God, His spokesmen will be doing what our Lord Himself did while He was here, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). - Chris Cunningham

ARE YOU A LIAR?

Ask that question to most people, and they would confess to a couple of small white lies, but overall they don’t consider themselves liars. But what does the Word of God have to say concerning this matter? “The wicked (me and you) are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies” (Ps. 58:3). How can that be? A newborn baby can’t even talk, much less lie. Ok, so who are you going to believe, your vain thoughts or God’s Truth? Remember, God always looks at the source of the matter, the heart. And since we are all born sinners (Ps. 51:5), with a sinful nature and a sinful heart, that first scream out of your mouth when you were born was a sinful scream, a lie. No words needed, it came from a lying heart, therefore we all go forth from the womb speaking lies, and we are liars until the day we die. How can that be? And once again I ask, are you going to rely on your selfish way of thinking, or God’s Word? Here is what He says – “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom 3:4). If it was only me who was calling you a liar, you could laugh it off, call me a hypocrite, and go your merry way. But I am not the one calling you a liar, God is – and I wouldn’t laugh it off or not take it seriously. I would confess I am nothing but a lying sinner, and I would ask Almighty God to have mercy on me for Christ’s sake! And those would be the first true words you’ve ever uttered, for only the new holy man inside a dead sinner would ever utter these words. - Brian DuFour

MEN DIE AS THEY LIVE

One wise preacher friend of mine would always say, “Men die as they live.” I have found that to be true over the years of observing people live and die, those who live to themselves, for themselves, who trust and look to themselves for righteousness shall die in their sin of unbelief and self-reliance. Our blessed Redeemer said, “If you believe not that I am, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).Those sinners who by the grace of God, who are quickened together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-6) and live by God-given faith looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for all salvation, for all righteousness shall also lay down this robe of sinful flesh. But believers not only live by faith, “the just shall live by faith” but they also shall die in faith resting in Christ (Heb. 11:13). It is no wonder that the death of a believer is called precious; “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). It is no wonder that the death of a believer is called a blessing from the Lord, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours” (Rev. 14:13).Yes, it is true “men die as they live.” Now consider this! How are you living? Are you only concerned about the flesh (Matt. 6:33)? Do you have any thoughts about salvation and meeting the Lord in eternal judgment (Heb. 9:27)? May the Lord be pleased to grant us faith in Christ, to look to Him, live in Him and to die in Him. Won’t that be a blessing (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21)! -Tom Harding, pastor

SELF DENIAL

“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” – Matthew 16:24 Without question, the person who gives me the most problems is self. Self-absorbed, self-admiring, self-assertive, self-centered, self-complacent, self-centered, self-confidence, self-conscious, self-deception, self-delusion, self-esteem, self-glorifying, self-gratification, self-importance, self-indulgent, self-interest, self-love, self-regard, self-reliance, self-righteous, self-sufficient, self-willed. Self is to be denied, mortified, and crucified. A religion without self denial is a meaningless religion. Meaningless to the one who possesses it and even more meaningless to God! –Todd Nibert

THE CHRISTIAN PARADOX

The believer believes things his reason cannot comprehend, and hopes for things neither he nor any man alive has ever seen.

• He believes three to be one and one to be three.

• He believes the Father not to be older than the Son, and the Son to be equal with the Father.

• He believes the Child to be the Father of the mother.

• He believes himself to be precious in God’s sight, yet loathes himself in his own.

• He dare not justify himself even in those things wherein he can find no fault in himself; yet believes God accepts him in those services wherein he is able to find many faults.

• He is so ashamed that he dare not open his mouth before the Lord, yet comes with boldness to God and asks Him anything he needs.

• He has within him both flesh and spirit, yet he is not a double minded man.

• He is often led captive by the law of sin, yet it never gets dominion over him.

• He cannot sin, yet cannot do anything without sin.

• He is so humble as to acknowledge himself to deserve nothing but evil, yet believes God means him nothing but good.

- Francis L. Bacon

Special Meetings

Whenever God's people are gathered together to hear a man sent of God with a gospel message for that particular people their meeting is special. While the world around them is shrouded in darkness without the light of the gospel in the face of Jesus Christ, God shines the light of His countenance, showers all of his grace, and all of His spiritual blessing as it is in His Beloved Son upon that people so that they love to respond to the message with worship, adoration, and rejoicing. 2Cor.4:5-7, Phi.3:3 -copied

ALTOGETHER VANITY

Psalms 39: 5

It is the assumption of most that sin is something that comes into their lives at moments of weakness. Anger, jealousy, and pride, finding an occasion, cause their feet to slip and sin enters the door. If they could somehow get rid of these things that have ruined their reputations, their lives would stand as a testimony to God. The truth about sin is that the part of our lives that we are the proudest of gives the greatest evidence against us. Sin is what we are; it is the leprosy into which we are born and infects the whole of our nature. While we may attain a good name and high honor in this world, we are like Naaman of old, still a leper and forbidden to come into the camp of Israel. (II Kings 5: 1) - DLP

Only the Sinner

Only the sinner did Christ come into the world to save. 1Tim.1:15

Only the sinner did Christ die for. Ro.5:8

Only the sinner did Christ call to repentance. Mat.9:13

Only the sinner is received by Christ. Lk. 15:2

Only the sinner worships God acceptably. Lk. 18:13,14

Only the sinner hates his sin for what it is. Ro. 7:15

Has God the Holy Spirit made you a sinner? Ro.5:19 If He has then you are the worst of sinners in your own eyes. You see nothing good in and of yourself before God. Lk18:13 If you are a sinner, only the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on your behalf will do for the perfect righteousness you need.

If you are a sinner your only hope is that God sees you in his beloved Son and therefore loves you with the same love and is satisfied with you even as He is fully satisfied with the merits of His Son. Does this describe you and your experience? This is the only true sinner before God. Sinners by any other measure are no more than self-righteous hypocrites. While admitting to sinful behavior, they find in themselves something good enough not to look to Christ for everything they need from Him to be justified before God. They find one thing or another in themselves that keeps them from going to Him by faith, and trusting his merits alone in their place as their substitute for all that God requires.

Not the righteous. Only the sinner. -Copied

All?

Everyone has something that's "all" to them. But no one understands Holy Scripture who does not know the meaning of these three words — “Christ is all.” In all the eternal purposes of God, “Christ is all” (Romans 8:29-20; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:9). In all the Volume of Inspiration, “Christ is all” (Luke 24:27, 44-47; John 1:45). In all the works of God, “Christ is all.” In creation (John 1:1-3), in providence (Romans 8:28), in redemption, grace and salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3-14), even in judgment (Acts 17:31), “Christ is all.” In an absolute, unlimited, universal sense, “Christ is all!” The Bible in its entirety is a Book about Jesus Christ. No doctrine and no precept can be rightly understood apart from Christ. Christ is the key that unlocks the treasure chest of Holy Scripture. (Don Fortner) “He is the treasure in that field, the marrow in that bone, the manna in that dew, the diamond in that ring, the milk in that breast (John 5:39).” (Philip Henry). But what about me? Is Christ Jesus the Lord "all" to me?

Come join us Friday, July 22nd, 7:00pm at the Silicon Valley Business Center and hear what the book of God has to say concerning Christ and him crucified for sinners!

CAN A MAN'S HEART BE RIGHT EVEN IF HIS HEAD IS WRONG?

One of the prevailing errors of our day is that your heart can be right, even though your head is wrong. Or, you can believe in your heart what you do not believe in your head. This thinking is used for so many different reasons. But the naked truth about this is that it is man's attempt to excuse his own refusal to bow to what God says in His Word. "My heart can be right, even if my head is wrong." You cannot believe in your heart what you do not believe in your head any more than you can come back from a place you have never been. Remember unbelief and false doctrine are not intellectual problems. They are born from sin and rebellion.

-Todd Nibert, Pastor

The faith of Jesus Christ, Galatians 2:16

If I have faith, Christ Jesus is the author of it, He is the substance of it, the subject of it, the object of it, the ground of it, and He is the finisher of it. If I have faith it is because my faith is by Him! -Todd Nibert, pastor

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

I have no doubt that self-righteousness is the greatest problem we have. It is not our sin that keeps us from Christ. It is our righteousness. This is the most deceptive of all sins! The deceit of this sin is so subtle, that we can even commit a sin, and comfort ourselves by thinking, "At least that is not as bad as self-righteousness," thus making our sin a ground of righteousness! The sin of self-righteousness will attack us from every angle. -Todd Nibert, pastor

THREE THAT BEAR RECORD, Gen.3:22/1Jn.5:7

Of what is God bearing record?

The LORD God is bearing record to Himself of the covenant of grace in

the Lord Jesus Christ. God said, “Behold!” Be amazed and astounded at this

wonder of grace! – “The man is become as one of us!” In Christ Jesus, by the

marvelous grace of our God, the man is become as one with the triune God.

The word ‘one’ in our text means united or joined together. In Christ God has

united Himself to man, in the totality of His being, as Father, Son and Holy

Ghost, for the salvation of sinners by His grace. For in Christ “dwelleth all the

fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head

of all principality and power” (Col 2:9-10). -Eric Richards

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH

Romans 10: 8

There is much speculation and controversy concerning the believers confession of faith. What does the faith of Gods elect confess? Romans 10: 8 says, "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in my mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach."

What did the apostles preach?

They preached that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. (II Corinthians 5: 19)

They preached that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose aging the third day according to the scriptures. (I Corinthians 15: 3-4)

They preached a full free justification by grace through the redemption accomplished by Christ Jesus which shows the glory of Gods righteousness in the remission of sins to all who believe on him. (Romans 3: 24-26)

They preached salvation altogether in Christ, our federal head and representative. (Romans 5: 18)

They preached that in Christ, the believer has everything God has purposed to give him. (Colossians 2: 9-10)

They preached that Christ is all and in all that believe. (Colossians 3: 11)

What does your faith confess? -Darvin Pruitt, pastor

Be Ye Thankful

And be ye thankful. —Colossians 3:15

This is a command: “Be ye thankful”. In another place Paul said, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Being thankful is not being thankful because things could be worse. Being thankful is being thankful because things could not be better! If God really is sovereign, then that means whatever happens is best because he is in control of it. It may bring joy or it may bring sorrow. But whatever it brings is best. Whether our hearts are bubbling over with joy or breaking in sorrow we are thankful because whatever God does is best! We may not understand how it is best, but we do believe that it is best. Therefore we are thankful! —Pastor Todd Nibert

Spoiled Appetites

I remember my father saying to us children at home when we did not like our food, that he had been to the Union House, and the boys and girls always like their breakfast there because they were hungry, and, said he, “If you had to go without it would do you good.” Sometimes, children of God get worldly, and then they have no appetite for God’s Word. They say, “We do not profit under Mr. So-and-so.” The truth is, we do not profit under the Bible itself, and should not profit under the apostle Paul or under the Lord Jesus Christ, for we have spoiled our appetites. But when our appetite is healthy we can come to the Scripture, and not care much how it is carved. —C. H. Spurgeon

Just One Thing

Do we not live in a time when the things of this world bombard us relentlessly

day-in and day-out demanding our attention? Such things as climate change,

jobs, civil rights, education, immigration, health care, community service, not to

mention friends, family, marriage, politics and reIigion . And whatever cause we

give way to, it saps our very life, consuming our thoughts, time, energy, and

money. So then, to what will you give yourself? And when all is said and done,

and your life comes to a close, what will the things you gave yourself for

accomplish? What will all these things really matter to you then? To put this in

perspective consider what our Lord said in Matthew 16:26, " For what is a man

profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a

man give in exchange for his soul?". Soon, this life will end. Perhaps suddenly.

Unexpectedly. And it will all come down to just one thing: What shall be the

state of your immortal soul? There will always be crisis and causes to fight for in

this world but when the silver cord is loosed (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8)

and your soul is separated from this world what will your accomplishments amount

to before your Creator, the God who requires all men to give an account? How shall you

stand before the Holy God on that certain day? God has spoken and answered

these questions already in the book of God, the Bible, through his son the Lord

Jesus Christ, by the gospel. Will you hear Him? Please join us Saturday and

Sunday, June 11th, and 12th as the book of God is opened up to answer these

crucial questions with plainness, simplicity, and truth. Answers that are of

eternal importance to your soul and mine.

For more details please contact us at: freegracefellowship@gmail.com

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have

peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have

overcome the world.”

Hiding or Hidden? Which one are you?

The Bible says that Adam and his wife Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord and ever since then every person in Adam’s race, without exception, has “hid from the presence of the Lord”-Genesis 3:8. But why? Because when Adam disobeyed God in eating the forbidden fruit he could no longer face God and at the same time hold fast to his determination to decide for himself both good and evil. At that point man’s nature changed. No longer able to commune with God, we became slaves of unrighteousness. We became unable to do anything but choose for ourselves both right and wrong according to the dictates of a corrupted nature now at enmity with our Creator (Romans 8:7). We attempt to hide our sinfulness from the presence of the Lord through the fig leaf of self -righteousness and a canopy amounting to a refuge of all sorts of lies (Isaiah 28:15). Like Cain, we take refuge behind hard work, the labor of our hands believing that somehow God is obligated to receive such a sacrifice. We may even be found hiding in the care and sacrifice for others as our righteousness. Our righteousness might also be found in religious zeal or the pursuit of a just cause. Perhaps even to death! We might even take refuge behind sound doctrine. Like believing in the right medicine, but never ingesting it to the cure of our own soul! On the other hand, our hiding place may be found in the excusing of our sin in an effort to justify it or blame it on others. But what does the Scripture say? All of man’s righteousness’ are as filthy rags!(Isaiah 64:6). They have no life in them! They are a stench in the nostril of God! Detestable! Unacceptable! Believe as you may comparing yourself to others and to your own contrived standard of righteousness before God, this is your hiding place, a false refuge, a covering you tenaciously cling to in an attempt to justify yourself on terms of your own choosing! You will never get away from the presence of the Lord under the guise of acceptable righteousness! Just as with Adam and Eve, God knows your nakedness. He knows that you are utterly destitute of the perfect righteousness which His nature and character demands (Revelation 3:17,18). He knows just exactly how you are hiding from Him in your heart. And shortly, He will bring to light the hidden things and make manifest the counsels of the heart despite your persistent suppression of the truth! (Matthew 10:26, Romans 1:18, Corinthians 4:5, Hebrews 4:13).

And yet, the Scripture speaks of another hiding place of refuge. One that meets all the requirements necessary to be restored and reconciled to God. A place already secured, sure, and eternal. A place where all those who believe are already hidden!(Isaiah 32:2,Psalm 27:5, 31:20, 83:3, 119:14, ). That refuge and place is in the person and work of God’s son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1, Revelation 21, Hebrews 6:18ff). Flee to Him by trusting Him alone as your refuge, hidden before time and now revealed to everyone who believes….without exception! ( Psalm 143:9, Proverbs 22:3, 27:12, John 6:37, 1John4:15).

Faith . . . is not life giving, but proof of life. Faith is not a work for salvation, but a work of salvation. Faith is not what saves us, but is certain proof God has saved us. Faith is not a condition we meet, but the condition God’s Spirit puts in us to “make us meet” (Col.1:12). Is all this important? Do we split theological hairs here? NO! NO! For the Glory of God is at stake! That other (false) gospel says faith is man’s work, man’s will. But no, faith is “not of yourselves, but the gift of God” (Eph.2:8). Faith is “according to the working of His mighty power” (Eph.1:19). Therefore, it is “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph.1:6) . . . and not rather “to the praise of our faith.” -copied