Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Four Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 February 07, 2016            Newsletter Number 554 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                    Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Director Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com          Web Site: www.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,  Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family,  Wendell Henderson, 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, Donna Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, James and Lynn Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Brandy Sullivan, Ryan & Gina Peel and his mother, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, Brother Jerry Dodson and family, Dewayne Sewell, The Harris Family, Teresa Bookout, LittleTitan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James - Diane and Brooke Thomas, Steve Sparks, Brother Harold & Ann McSwain, 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.

A Thought From our Pastor:   There Shall Be No Boasting Of Believers. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9.) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10.) 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   The word "boast" in verse 9 means - to vaunt or to glory - if we would read verses 8 and 10 we could clearly see what we are not to boast of, and that would be our salvation and anything connected to it. As believers in Jesus Christ we actually have nothing to boast about because we were saved by God's grace and not because of anything of ourselves. This passage of scripture is probably the most read and studied three scriptures among the people who believe in the Sovereign Grace of God. There is a reason for that and that is it defines salvation to the fullest of God's grace. Paul said in Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." It must be clearly understood that anything in salvation on our part would be an act of works. It is clearly evident that most of the religion side of Christianity believe that works are necessary in some way for a person to be saved, however, it is clearly seen here that true Christians understand that any works on our part is a violation of God's word. If a Christian did one simple thing, played one simple part in their salvation then their salvation is void. It is clearly evident that God saves sinners and God alone. God said through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Roman church that "... there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Romans 11:5. This remnant was chosen out of God's love and not out of merit. People will say that "God loves everyone in the world" but this is a untrue statement. People also will say that the election of God is for Israel only, this is also not true. While it is true that God elected the nation of Israel to be His chosen nation on earth, the choosing to salvation expands beyond the nation of Israel to the Gentile nations. In John 3:16 God said "For God so loved the world" however, this is not the entire population of the world because the scriptures also conclude that God did hate people, He hated Esau, the Psalmist also said that God hates the WORKERS of iniquity "...thou hatest all workers of iniquity." and that is all who are not in the remnant of the election of God. Let's look at 2 Timothy 1:9 where God said "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," remember if works are involved in the slightest then that work voids grace. God made clear in our text scripture that we are saved by grace and through faith (faith given of God and not our faith) and therefore we have nothing to boast of. God also went on to say "that not of yourselves" in any sort of way. Then the Lord goes on to say in verse 10 "For we are his workmanship" We are His creation because we are what we are by God's work and not ours. God also said in Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world..." This also is not Israel but those elected in Christ before the world began. "... which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," as Paul wrote to Timothy. People can dispute and fight God's word all they want, they can laugh at it, they can mock it, they can also use it out of context, but that is not going to change the truth. It is hard for a lot of people to accept that salvation does not include works of some sorts, but it does not. Real believers in Jesus Christ have nothing to boast of because their salvation was entirely of God's grace and works. We are thankful and not boastful, we are a very gracious people in understanding God's gift of love. God had promised to Jesus Christ before the world began and in time He has delivered. Thank God you were part of that promise of election. Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

A Thought For Your Week: "Two Filthy Rooms!" "And when the Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of  God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment." John 16:8   One of the principle things which distinguishes a regenerate person from an unregenerate one, may be likened unto two filthy rooms. In one room, the blinds are raised and the sunlight streams in, exposing the filth all around. In the other room, the blinds are lowered, and one walking through the room would be unable to discern its real condition. Thus it is in the case of one who has been renewed by the Spirit: his eyes have been opened to see the awful filth which lurks in every corner of his heart.   But in the case of the unregenerate, though they have occasional twinges of conscience when they act wrongfully, they are very largely ignorant of the awful fact that they are a complete mass of corruption in the pure eyes of the thrice holy God.   Abraham acknowledged,  "I am dust and ashes!" Genesis 18:27 Job said of himself, "I am vile!" Job 40:4 David admitted,  "I am a worm!" Psalm 22:6 Isaiah confessed,  "Woe is me! I am ruined!" Isaiah 6:5 Peter affirmed,  "I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  Luke 5:8 Paul considered himself, "The chief of sinners!"  1 Timothy 1:15   By Arthur Pink

Happy Birthday:    Brother Timothy Fails Friday February 12th

If Jehovah is your God Then He will consider nothing too great to do for you — and nothing too glorious to give to you! All the treasures of time, and all the  resources of eternity — will, if necessary, be employed for your spiritual and eternal benefit! You can lack nothing which is really for your good. - By James Smith