 "In the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (James 2:25-26).It's understandable that James would use Abraham as an illustration of living faith—especially to his predominately Jewish readers. Rahab, however, is a different story. She was a Gentile, a prostitute, a liar, and lived in the pagan city of Jericho. How could such a person illustrate true faith?Rahab knew very little about the true God but what she knew, she believed, and what she believed, she acted on. She believed that God had led His people out of Egypt and defeated the Amorite kings (Josh. 2:9-10). She openly confessed that the Lord "is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (v. 11). Her faith was vindicated when she aided the Hebrew spies who entered Jericho just prior to Joshua's invasion. Both Abraham and Rahab valued their faith in God above all else. Both were willing to sacrifice what mattered most to them: for Abraham it was Isaac; for Rahab it was her own life. Their obedience in the face of such great sacrifice proved the genuineness of their faith. James calls each of us to examine ourselves to be sure we have a living faith. The acid test is whether your faith produces obedience. No matter what you claim, if righteousness doesn't characterize your life, your faith is dead, not living. James likened that kind of faith to hypocrites who offer pious words to the needy but refuse to meet their needs; to demons, who believe the truth about God but are eternally lost; and to a lifeless, useless corpse. Those are strong analogies, but God does not want you to be deceived about the quality of your own faith. I pray that you are rejoicing in the confidence that your faith is genuine. God bless you as you live each day in His wonderful grace. Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God for the grace and courage to face any sacrifice necessary as you live out your faith. For Further Study: Read Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-27; and Matthew 1:1-5.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com. |
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (James 2:21-24).Can you imagine life without friends—those precious people who love you despite your failings and who stand by you through joys and sorrows—those to whom you've committed yourself and whose companionship you treasure? They are without question one of God's greatest gifts, yet there is an even greater gift: friendship with God Himself.Jesus spoke of such a friendship in John 15:13-16, describing it as one of intimacy, mutual love, sacrifice, and commitment. In verse 14 He says, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you." That's the kind of friendship Abraham demonstrated when he obeyed God and prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:3-10). Isaac was the son through whom God's covenant to Abraham would be fulfilled. Killing him would violate that covenant and call into question the character of God, whose Word forbids human sacrifice (Deut. 18:10). It took unquestioning trust for Abraham to obey God's command. When he did, his faith was on display for all to see. The Greek word translated "justified" in James 2:21 has two meanings: "to acquit" (treat as righteous) or "to vindicate" (demonstrate as righteous). James emphasized the second meaning. When Abraham believed God, he was justified by faith and acquitted of sin (Gen. 15:6). When he offered up Isaac, he was justified by works in that his faith was vindicated. Faith is always the sole condition of salvation, but saving faith never stands alone—it is always accompanied by righteous works. That's the test of true salvation and of friendship with God. As a friend of God, treasure that relationship and be careful never to let sin rob you of its fullest joy. Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for the privilege of being His friend. For Further Study: Read Genesis 22:1-19, noting the faith and obedience of Abraham. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com. |
Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 June 29, 2014 Newsletter Number 471
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com |
Our Prayer Request:
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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
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A Thought From Pastor Johnson:
It is better to suffer for the Lord than to profit in this world.“For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” 1 Peter 3:17
This is something a lot of Christians have a problem coping with, suffering is good. Most people and a lot of Christians don’t understand why believers are not always profitable. Well the truth of the matter is that they do, but the rewards are not always in this world. The scriptures are very clear that Christians and even the best of Christians suffer in this world. People fail to remember that Christ suffered in this flesh and not just in His death but His entire earthly life was full of sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Christ was not sent to profit in this world but rather to suffer shame for our shame. Matthew 8:20 "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus Christ came from riches to rags in order to suffer His entire life for us. He never had peace; they were searching for Him even at His birth. Believers, let us not be dismayed when life on this earth seems difficult and hard. God never promised us earthly riches nor did He promise profit at all in this world. It is because our rewards are set up in glory and not this world. Christians are also people of sorrow in this life, but be assured that while we suffer like Christ in this world; we will also glory with Him in eternity. 2 Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him..." We will have only soul and spirit when we die and when the rapture come we shall have a glorified body to be a tri-fold once again. Believer there is only one more thing we will carry into heaven from this earth, and that will be the worthy works we have done for the Lord during our earthy stay. We will carry no other treasures from this earth. Our rewards are built in heaven and in heaven we will receive them. Matthew 6:19 - 21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20.) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21.) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If you are a Christian and it seems like your troubles are as bad as or even worse than that of a lost person, that’s ok God said it would be. Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Now, what if we suffer for righteous sake, why if we suffer for doing right? Well, the Lord said it is better, that’s right it is better to suffer for doing the right thing. Jesus Christ suffered unjustly, that’s right Pilate said of Christ in Luke 23:4 "Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." But He still was crucified. We do not know God’s blessed will for us, unless God manifest it to us; however it is God’s will for us to suffer in this life, even for doing right. God has a purpose for everything, and we would be well served as Christians to worry less about our suffering and more about serving God. God blesses us believers every second of everyday, we just most of the time do not know how his blessing are coming. Beloved, it is better to suffer than to have riches in this world, if it is for the Lord. We all need to be more like John and Peter. Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." They counted it joy that they worthy to suffer for the Lord. I pray to God that I too am worthy to suffer for the Lord.
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A Thought From Former Pastor Oscar Mink:
True Churches And Their Worship Houses
"Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste." Isaiah 64:11
While true churches cannot go the route of extravagance in erecting their meeting places, they should not be guilty of the other extreme either. There is an area between the two extremes wherein adequate and comely church buildings may be built without creating a financial hardship for the members. What true churches need to keep in mind is that no church building be it ever so humble or magnificent can serve as a substitute for the inward beauty which the redeemed soul is to be adorned with. The beauty and physical comforts of the church house serve to make the worshippers feel good, but that in itself is not enough, for many commercial and public buildings provide the same or better. The deception to avoid is, when people feel good they are prone to think they are good. Many a poor deluded soul has pointed toward their palatial church home, and said, “The Lord is really blessing us.” The Lord blesses truth wherever it is preached regardless of The circumstances under which it is preached, but to have the power to have a suitable building to worship in, and not exercise that power may tend to circumscribe the blessing.
A beautiful, comfortable, and adequate building while affording a good feeling for the assembly can only enhance the worship service when it is kept in mind from whence these blessings have come, for what purpose they are granted, and when the heart is filled with gratitude to God for giving them. When this state of worship is achieved the service is lifted up in spirit beyond the beautiful surroundings of the carnal building to the celestial and incomparable grandeur of the palace of the King Eternal. Then too, the church needs to keep in mind that its primary work is not the construction of church buildings, but the building up of the spiritual house of God is the chief work of the Lord’s churches. We are not to build expensive edifices at the expense of missionary work, on the other hand no church should let their building become so dilapidated as to bring a reproach on the church, and thereby impair its effectiveness in its own community.
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These days of sin and temptation, by John Fawcett:
I daily search for Jesus in my retired devotions. There I tell Him all my heart—in secret groans and cries. He knows what my sighs mean, and what are my fears, and my painful sorrows. There I blush before Him—for my secret sins, and pour out the tear of penitential sorrow. There I utter my bitter complaints—of the disorderly passions I daily feel within me. I lament over the vanity of my thoughts, and spread before His eyes—all my soul's sores and diseases. I lay myself low in the dust at His feet, and tell Him with humble confusion of face—how much I have done to dishonor Him, how unworthy I am of His notice, and yet how I long for communion with Him.
O when shall these days of sin and temptation, these tedious seasons of absence and distance from my God and Savior—have an end? I breathe out from time to time, the most earnest desires after Him, and after the endearing sensations of His love.
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"Someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:18- 20).In recent years there has been an alarming rise in the number of professing Christians who believe that there's no necessary relationship between what they believe and what they do. They say you can't judge a person's spiritual condition by what he or she does because salvation is a matter of faith alone—as if requiring works violates the principle of faith.It was that kind of reasoning that prompted James to issue this challenge: "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). The Greek word translated "show" means "to exhibit," "demonstrate," or "put on display." His point is simple: it's impossible to verify true faith apart from holy living because doctrine and deed are inseparable. Can you know if someone is a Christian by watching his behavior? According to James, that's the only way to know! In verse 19 he says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." In other words, affirming orthodox doctrine isn't necessarily proof of saving faith. Demons believe in the oneness of God, and its implications fill them with fear, but they aren't saved. The phrase "you do well" is intentionally sarcastic. The implication is that demonic faith is better than non-responsive faith because at least the demons shudder, which is better than no response at all. You can't be a Christian in creed only—you must be one in conduct as well! James makes that very clear. Don't be confused or deceived by those who teach otherwise. Continually aim your life at bringing glory to God through obedient application of biblical truth. Suggestions for Prayer: Reaffirm to the Lord your commitment to abide by His Word. For Further Study: Read John 8:12-47. Make a list of doctrines and deeds that characterize dead faith and a corresponding list of those that characterize true faith. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com. |
"What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:14- 17).Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Your righteous deeds illuminate the path to God by reflecting His power and grace to others. That brings Him glory and proves your faith is genuine.Your deeds also serve as the basis of divine judgment. If you practice righteousness, you will receive eternal life; if you practice unrighteousness, you will receive "wrath and indignation" (Rom. 2:6-8). God will judge you on the basis of your deeds because what you do reveals who you really are and what you really believe. That's why any so-called faith that doesn't produce good works is dead and utterly useless! James illustrates that point in a practical way. If someone lacks the basic necessities of life and comes to you for help, what good does it do if you simply wish him well and send him away without meeting any of his needs? It does no good at all! Your pious words are hypocritical and without substance. If you really wished him well, you would do what you can to give him what he needs! Your unwillingness to do so betrays your true feelings. Similarly, dead faith is hypocritical, shallow, and useless because it doesn't put its claims into action—indeed, it has no divine capacity to do so. I pray that your life will always manifest true faith and that others will glorify God because of your good works. Suggestions for Prayer: Perhaps you know someone whose claim to Christianity is doubtful because his or her life doesn't evidence the fruit of righteousness. If so, pray for that person regularly and set an example by your own good works. For Further Study: Read John 15:1-8.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com. |
Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 June 15, 2014 Newsletter Number 469
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com | ||
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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
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A Thought From Our Pastor:
Not All Who Say They Are Christian Are. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22.) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23.) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
There are many who believe they are Christians when they are not. He we see (I believe) the Great White Throne judgment of the lost. We see these people calling the Great Judge Jesus Christ “Lord” so therefore we see how they recognize Him. Secondly, they speak of their great works while on the earth. “…have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” But it will all be for nothing. The Lord Jesus will tell them “…I profess unto them, I never knew you…” in other words “I never knew you as mine”. One must make sure that their salvation is real, without doubt, because once one dies it is all over. There are millions who confess to be saved who are only deceiving themselves. There are a lot of folks being told they are saved when it simply is not true. So let’s put away all the church doctrine, all the tradition, and all the misconceptions, and learn the truth. Are you saved? How do you know, has God told you that you are saved? I am saved and the reason I know I am, is because the Bible has told me that I am. God said in John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Don’t ask your Pastor, parents, friend, or anyone else, search the scriptures! What do the scriptures say about how to be saved? John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Now don’t listen to anyone else, God has just told you how to be saved. If you believe in Christ you SHALL have eternal life, period. God never added anything else to this, just believing. Christ is all you need; you will never need anything but Christ for salvation. Now are you going to be one of these in Matt. 7 or are you really known of Christ?
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A Thought For The Week:
The Faithful Pastor
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Church News:
Happy birthday to Sister Nita Mollette on Tuesday June 17th
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Bible Conference News:
We praise the Lord that five of our six invited speakers have confirmed that they intend to speak at our 11th Annual Bible Conference on Friday September 19 and Saturday September 20. Our speakers this year include; Pastor Jerry Dodson, Sr. The Grace Bible Baptist Church - Denham Springs, LA. / Pastor Kelly Hinson The Landmark Sovereign Grace Baptist Church - Ft. Worth, Texas. / Pastor Ronnie Miller The Divide Baptist Church - Divide, Texas / Pastor Larry Wilson Northside Baptist Church – Oakdale, LA. / and Pastor Jimmy Nelson The Landmark Baptist Church - Ft. Worth Texas. Please continue to pray that it is God’s blessed will that all these men are able to attend and speak at the conference. All five speakers will speak twice with two speaking twice on Saturday. Pastor David O’Neal had a prior commitment in California and could not be here.
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Happy Fathers Day to all you Dad’s
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Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 June 22, 2014 Newsletter Number 470
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com |
Our Prayer Request:
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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
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A Thought From Pastor Johnson:
Is God Sovereign? "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14.) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." Romans 9:13– 14
I have asked the question is God sovereign, and I asked it for a reason. I believe that most people say that God is sovereign but in their hearts they refuse to believe that He is. They act as if God can do nothing, cannot think ahead, can not ordain anything, or that He cannot control His own creation. They act as though God’s entire being and will depends on us, mankind. I have heard some “Christians” (and I use the word loosely here) speak of God as though our will overrides His will. Because of man’s free will God must wait on us to make a decision on something before He can proceed forward. I almost regurgitate every time I hear some preacher say “God can’t change your will”, well if God is truly sovereign, then this is a very ignorant statement at best. The very word “sovereign” itself means - One who has supreme power or authority; having supreme rank, and also is preeminent, and indisputable. – This does not sound like one who bends to man’s will. If God is truly sovereign then we must accept the fact that He can do His will without the assistance of others. The day that God’s will depend on what man wills is, is the day God is no longer God. God said in our text verses that He loved Jacob and hated Esau but my question is, why? God said He was not a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 "...Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" Which means God does not accept man on any good in them, race, creed, or nationality, God accepts man because He chooses too. God had no reason to love Jacob more than Esau except that He chose too. Even though Esau tried to make himself acceptable to God, he never changed Gods mind. Election in the bible is God’s choosing and not man’s choosing. We are like Jacob and Esau God chooses one and not the other. Paul quoted and Old Testament scripture when he wrote in Romans 9 "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" verse 21 The question is, does God have the right to make (from one lump of clay) two vessels one that is honorable and the other junk? Sure He does, He is God and He can always do as He chooses without question. Paul went on to say in verse 18 of Romans 9 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." God never has to have mercy on anyone and those that He does He chooses too. Some people act as though God owes them something, but please understand the truth, He has to do nothing except as He chooses. One might ask “then what about one who chooses to follow God? Well if one chooses to follow God then it is God who causes them to repent. Paul went on to say in verse 16 of Romans 9 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Who ever said that man would choose Christ? Who ever said that man would ever choose God over sin? Sinfulness is their nature, it is what they choose, it is their ever desire. If it came to the point when man had to choose Christ or sin they would choose sin every time, God made it very clear that man would never choose Christ over sin. "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:11 No one ever was told in the scriptures to choose Christ or God over sin in a lost state. In Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve..." God is speaking to His people not to unredeemed people. This scripture is very used out of context. Folks the choice is not ours, it is God’s and you had better hope He has chosen you. You may have chosen something but it was not salvation. Jacob did not choose God and neither did we. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." 1 John 5:1 The word “begotten” means – caused to be delivered.
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A Thought From Former Pastor Oscar Mink:
Grace, Faith, And Good Works
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Good works which accord with the Scriptures are evidences of saving faith, and there is always, as we thus judge, a critical need for the manifestation of good works. Grace, faith, and good works wrought by the Holy Spirit, can never clash, but all works manufactured by the flesh are diametrically opposed to every overture of the Spirit. Notwithstanding, the work of the Holy Spirit CANNOT be in any degree deterred, but He will not honor any work that is not in perfect accord with the record that God gave of His Son (I John 5:11). A sermon or a Bible lesson may be spell binding, emotionally uplifting, and challenging, but if it does not magnify the truth of God’s salvational grace, it is not a good work, and will be found at the mercy seat of Christ; as having no light in it (Isaiah 8:20).
The primary heresy in which all religious lies are grounded, is the most ancient, the most successful in deceit, and the greatest devourer of lost souls. The heresy of which I speak, is that devious artifice of the devil, whereby he dupes the unsuspecting, and causes them to believe that salvation of the soul is the product of faith AND good works. This clever ruse of the devil whereby he attempts to destroy the distinction between saving faith and sanctifying faith, merging them, and making them both essential to salvation, is a most dangerous one! The only antidote to this soul damning doctrine is the preaching of the sovereign and all sufficient grace of God. There is NO deficiency in any of God’s works. All of His works are absolutely perfect, and cannot be deprived nor plused with the works of His holy angels, much less that of totally corrupt man.
Regenerative faith is instantaneous, and is experienced by all of God’s elect (Titus 1:1). But sanctifying faith is progressive, and is the instrument whereby the Holy Spirit conforms the believer unto the image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 6:19-20). Generally speaking, where there is saving faith, there is some measure of good works, as with the thief dying by crucifixion on the right hand of Christ. He was saved, and rebuked the thief on the left hand of Christ for his unbelief (Luke 23:39-43). This “thief” will be at the mercy seat of Christ, and will be recognized for his good work. While the good work of the thief is single, it will be rewarded, but there will be multitudes standing there who anticipate great rewards, yet owing to the faulty foundation of all their works none could pass the censorship of God’s infallible word and they will walk away crownless. So it is, some people will go to heaven over and against their utter lack of good works, and their presence in heaven will eternally magnify the sovereign and free grace of God.
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Church News:
Happy Birthday to Brother Larry Mollette on Monday June 23rd
Happy Birthday to Pastor Randy Johnson on Friday June 27th
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