Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 July 04, 2010 Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor Bro. Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@baptistsonline.org Web Site: www.baptistsonline.org/sgmbc "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Are Still Taught"

You Were Asked To Pray For: All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Virgil & Alice Hoskins, Grandchildren, and his daughters Liz Janis and Debbie Gray, Derrick & Alecia and sons Coty & Carson Clements, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Kevin Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr., Vickie Sims, Debbie Farmer, Morgan Murchison, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don & Neil Hammond, Charles Hammond, Eric Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, Kathy Rosinbaum, Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother David & Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel Seymour & Family, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Roger Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Betty, Janie Capps, Scott and Gina Sillivan, Katie Norton, Sadie a child, Imajo Tracy, Sister Jean Dodson and Family, Helen Rowe, Linda Hughes, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson: Our God Is Sovereign! “The Called of God” Romans 8:30 “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.” This week we want to look at the word “called”, who exactly are the called of God. Please let us start by putting this word in context, those that God foreknew He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son and those that He did predestinate, He also called and them He called He also justified. So in context we know for sure that those that God called God did justify them. So the only people who are justified were foreknown, predestinated, and called of God. Therefore this is a fact; all called are saved or will be saved, therefore the thinking of the religionist that all are called of God and it is up to their choosing to accept or reject Christ is mythical. If it is God who justifies then all that are justified have been made accepted by the power of God and through the blood of Christ Jesus. The thought that we somehow choose Christ is mythical because it is a man made fact and not a fact of God or the bible, the fact of God is that all called of God are saved. This better explains so many scriptures in the bible. Let us look at this fact, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 this does not say “For all are called and all are chosen” it says for many are called (by the gospel) but few are chosen by God to be His justified. This explains two calls, one by man or by the preaching of His word, and the other by God to salvation which also explains Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” If the Holy Spirit and the Church say come then come and he may accept Christ Jesus as his Saviour. By the Spirit calling also explains Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” For all that are called of God (or led by the Spirit) are saved because God does not fail to accomplish what He chooses to accomplish. This also explains John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Being born of water is the natural birth as explained in verse 6 of John 3, but to be born of the Spirit is to be foreknew, predestinated, called, and justified by the power of God. Now with all this in mind we find an explanation of Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” we are saved by Gods grace through faith or believing in Christ as our sufficient Saviour because it (or salvation) is of God and a glorious gift of God. Now lets look at 1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” We find here that we were chosen (or elected) “…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” So those God foreknew He also chose to be saved and those He chose to be saved He pre-determined them to be called and them He called by His Holy Spirit He also justified by “…conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29. With all of this being said we find that salvation is only accomplished by the power and work of God, it is not the decision of man at all. However many will preach this morning in their pulpits and request that those present make a choice for Christ which is not scriptural nor truth. It is all a myth made up by men of the past because they were unhappy with the progress God was making in saving sinners. I once heard this quote and I have used it many times over “if salvation is mans decision then why do we pray to God for them to be saved, why don’t we pray to the sinner instead, because it is only within the sinners power” So true! So true! Just give it some thought.

Happy Independence Day: Samuel Adams - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the American Revolution "And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again; that wars may cease in all the earth, and that the confusions that are and have been among nations may be overruled by promoting and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace." --As Governor of Massachusetts, Proclamation of a Day of Fast, March 20, 1797. Roger Sherman - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution "I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance equal in power and glory. That the scriptures of the old and new testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. That God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, so as thereby he is not the author or approver of sin. That he creates all things, and preserves and governs all creatures and all their actions, in a manner perfectly consistent with the freedom of will in moral agents, and the usefulness of means. That he made man at first perfectly holy, that the first man sinned, and as he was the public head of his posterity, they all became sinners in consequence of his first transgression, are wholly indisposed to that which is good and inclined to evil, and on account of sin are liable to all the miseries of this life, to death, and to the pains of hell forever. I believe that God having elected some of mankind to eternal life, did send his own Son to become man, die in the room and stead of sinners and thus to lay a foundation for the offer of pardon and salvation to all mankind, so as all may be saved who are willing to accept the gospel offer: also by his special grace and spirit, to regenerate, sanctify and enable to persevere in holiness, all who shall be saved; and to procure in consequence of their repentance and faith in himself their justification by virtue of his atonement as the only meritorious cause. I believe a visible church to be a congregation of those who make a credible profession of their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, joined by the bond of the covenant.” --The Life of Roger Sherman, pp. 272-273. Happy Independence Day - from the membership of the Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas