Grace Baptist Church of Danville

January 27, 2008

 

Man’s inability is not his misfortune. It is his sin. Therefore it is written, “He that believeth not shall be damned!

 

Daily Readings for the Week of January 27-February 3

            Sunday                      Exodus 28-29                                                           Thursday                   Exodus 38-40

            Monday                     Exodus 30-32                                                           Friday             Leviticus 1-4

            Tuesday                    Exodus 33-34                                                           Saturday                    Leviticus 5-7

            Wednesday  Exodus 35-37                                                           Sunday                      Leviticus 8-11

 

·      Bro. Larry Criss is preaching today for Lantana Grace Church in Crossville, TN, where Bro. Donnie Bell is pastor.

·      We are delighted and honored to have Pastor Henry Mahan and his wife, Doris with us today. Bro. Mahan will preach in both services today. Bro. Larry Criss will bring the message Tuesday. I am preaching today for Rescue Baptist Church in Rescue, CA, where Bro. Gene Harmon is pastor.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Teresa Coleman-29th Merle Hart-1st

 

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Jenny Bartley (AM) Regina Henson (PM) Tuesday: Anne Peterson

 

Here Wisdom Shines and Justice Too

(Tune: #414 — Am I A Soldier of the Cross? — CM)

 

1.    O love, eternal love, how great,

That formed salvation’s plan!

            In Christ God’s great perfections meet

To rescue fallen man.

 

2.    Here wisdom shines and justice too,

While angels stoop to see,

            How mercy o’er the guilty reigns,

As Christ for sinners bleeds!

 

3.    Behold God’s mercy and His truth

As they at Calv’ry meet,

            When Christ paid justice all its due,

And filled the mercy-seat!

 

4.    Yes, righteousness and peace have kissed

To purge iniquity,

            That God, the just, might justify

Sinners like you and me!

 

5.    Such is the wisdom of our God,

(Amazing depths of grace!)

            By which from wrath’s vindictive rod

He saves His chosen race!

 

10

Justification Romans 5:1-2

Pastor Henry Mahan — Written in December 1952

 

Justification is the act of God by which a poor, lost sinner, hitherto condemned on account of his sins, is for the sake of Christ, whom he trusts for salvation, forgiven, counted as righteous, and received into God’s favor. The righteousness of Christ is bestowed upon an undeserving sinner: — Once guilty, now not guilty! — Once bound, now free! —Once lost, now found!

 

            Who is the Justifier? — “It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:30-33). Justification is not the scheme of men, angels, or the creation; but justification came out of the counsel of God, and “it is God that justifieth” (2 Corinthians 5:19). God is the author of justification, the executor of justification, and the righteous One to whom man is justified.

 

            Who can be justified? — The ungodly (Romans 4:5). Have you got any righteousness, any goodness, any merit? God justifieth the ungodly, not the self-righteous (1 Corinthians 6:11). Who can be justified? “He that heareth God’s Word and believeth” (John 5:24; Acts 13:39). There can be no faith without the gospel.

 

            How we are not justified. — We are not justified by the works of the flesh (Romans 4:5), nor by the deeds of the law, ceremonial or moral (Galatians 2:16). But you say, “If a man kept the whole law, would he not then be justified?” Yes, for justification is a legal term, and he would be justified, if it were possible for him to keep the law.

 

            We are not justified by ordinances and church duties (Colossians 2:13-14). The ceremonial law, the handwriting of ordinances, the ceremonial institutions of the law of Moses, which was a yoke to the Jew and a partition wall to the Gentiles, were all nailed to the cross. Shall we replace these ceremonies with more: for instance, the Lord’s Supper and baptism?

 

            How are we justified? — By His grace (Romans 3:24), not by what we deserve, but by his mercy. Grace saved us. Grace sent Christ. Grace called us. Grace keeps us. We are justified by His blood (Romans 5:9), by our being in Him ((Romans 8:1), by Him being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and by His righteousness (Philippians 3:9).

 

            What does it mean to be justified? — Pardon forgives sin; justification declares not guilty, as though sin had not been committed. Pardon takes away sin, but does not give righteousness; justification gives righteousness and clothes in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Pardon frees from punishment; but justification gives eternal life and makes one God’s child. The blood of Christ can pardon; but the perfect life of Christ, His death and resurrection are necessary for justification. You can’t pardon a man that is not guilty; but justification can pardon and forgive the guiltiest.

 

11

What About Small Things? Zechariah 4:10

Pastor Henry Mahan

Sometimes, while looking for great things to do, great crowds to impress, and great trials to endure for God’s glory, we overlook the sling and stones God uses. We send our Davids out to tend sheep; we dismiss the loaves and fishes as too little to be useful and unworthy of our notice. When will we learn that it is the foolish things that God uses to confound the wise? It is the base things, the things which are despised, yea, and the things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence. Have we been taken in by the world’s philosophy of numbers, riches, greatness, talent, popularity, and wisdom? Have we discarded the very instruments, vessels and weapons God uses to accomplish His glory?

I hear preachers talking about going to a certain seminary or school to secure their doctorates. I ask, “Do they teach the Word of God? Are the professors true to Christ and the Scriptures?” “No, but I need the credentials to open doors for me to preach!” All the credentials one needs is a Divine call to the ministry; and it is not your honorary titles, but the Holy Trinity who opens effectual doors for the gospel! The disciples “went forth and preached.” It is not said that they went forth and argued, or that they went forth and wrote apologies for the Christian faith, or that they went forth and structured, organized and rehearsed doctrine before groups of dead theologians. No! They went forth and preached Christ crucified in the language of the people, demanding that men believe on and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and left them, if they would not believe, with the distinct understanding that they would perish in their unbelief!

Most of the intellectual Calvinism preached today is understood by few, experienced by still fewer, and enjoyed by none! The hearers know what they believe but very little of whom they believe. We’ve straightened out their heads and neglected their hearts. They are as straight as a gun barrel morally and just as empty!

Dismiss this word as just so much rhetoric if you will; but before you do, take a good look at your ministry, your message, your worship services, and your gospel. Record the whole service, sit out in a pew some night and listen to it. Imagine that you are a total stranger who has dropped in, hungry to know God.—What is there for you? Imagine that you are a heart patient who will die tomorrow and face God in judgment.—What is there for you? Imagine that you are a wayward boy or girl who is all mixed up in your thinking, your morals, and your home life.—What is there for you? Imagine that you are a lonely widow or an old couple forgotten by children and family.—What is there for you? Imagine that you are a believer plagued by doubts of your interest in Christ, fears of death, and great temptation to sin.—What is there for you? Imagine that you are going through an emotional crisis, a broken home, sorrow over the death of a friend or loved one.—What is there for you?

These are the people to whom we preach; these are the sheep we are commanded to feed; these are the people we are told to comfort! The people starve and perish, the lost go away doomed and the Pharisees wallow deeper in their refuges of lies, while we make sure that the church is properly organized and structured; while we fight liberalism and fundamentalism; while we denounce Christmas, Easter and pagan holidays; while we straighten out our fellow preachers on the millennium; while we busy ourselves in the old puritans and try to sound smarter than we are, ignoring the only source of life — the preaching of Christ!

 

12

 

Grace Bulletin

 

January 28, 2008

 

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com

 

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

 

Schedule of Regular Services

 

Sunday

10:00 A.M. Bible Classes

10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service

6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service

 

Tuesday

7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service

 

 

Television Broadcasts in Danville

 

Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

 

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

http://www.freegraceradio.com

http://www.sovereign-grace.com/gracechurch.htm

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com