Grace Baptist Church of Danville

January 15, 2012

 

ŇThe Lord caused to meet in him, as the passage might have been rendered, the iniquities of us all. Isaiah 53:6. Jesus was made as the common receiver, the drain, the sink, into which all the sins, and every minute and particular sin, was emptied.Ó                  — Robert Hawker

 

Daily Readings for the Week of January 15-22

Sunday                Genesis 43-44                                                         Thursday                   Exodus 4-6

            Monday                      Genesis 45-47                                                         Friday             Exodus 7-9

            Tuesday                    Genesis 48-50                                                         Saturday                    Exodus 10-12

            Wednesday  Exodus 1-3                                                   Sunday                      Exodus 13-14

 

á      I am scheduled to preach Wednesday night for Todds Road Grace Church in Lexington, where Bro. Todd Nibert is pastor. Service begins at 7:00 PM.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Molly McCormack-17th   Cody Groover-18th 

 

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: ShanteŐ Birchum (AM) Laura Peterson (PM)  Tuesday: Mindy Peterson

 

Why not for Me? — Don Fortner

(Tune: The Doxology  LM)

 

1.    Grace from the gospel trumpet sounds!

Free grace in Jesus Christ abounds!

Is grace in Christ to sinners free?

Then why, my soul, why not for me?

 

2.    Christ Jesus died; and by His blood

Sinners are reconciled to God!

He died to set the captive free:

Then why, my soul, why not for me?

 

3.    Redeeming blood, (How sweet it sounds!)

To cleanse my guilt and heal my wounds!

This fountainŐs full of grace most free

For sinners. So, why not for me?

 

4.    Christ came the naked, poor to bless,

To clothe them with His righteousness.

His blood, His robe, His grace, — ALL FREE!

Then why, my soul, why not for me?

 

5.    Eternal life by Christ obtained

Is for all who believe on Him.

I trust Him for GodŐs grace so free;

And say, ŇMy soul, itŐs all for me!Ó

 

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Christ died for GodŐs Elect — For All GodŐs Elect

Only for GodŐs Elect

 

Recently I saw two young men standing on a Danville street corner wearing large placards over their coats, that read, ŇNo matter who you are Jesus died for you.Ó I am sure those young men are very sincere; but they are horribly deluded. The Scriptures teach nothing of the kind; and those who declare such an absurdity are really saying to all who pay attention to them, — ŇThe fact that Jesus died on the cross is totally meaningless. His death is of no benefit to anyone.Ó

 

The Scriptures teach otherwise. The Lord Jesus declares that he laid down his life for his sheep, not for goats (John 10:15, 26). If he hated Esau, as the Book of God asserts (Romans 9:13) and Judas was already in hell, why would he have died for them? The Word of God teaches us that the objects of election and redemption are the same. It is written, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is Christ that died" (Romans 8:33-34). That bold challenge of faith makes sense only if you understand that Christ died for GodŐs elect, for all GodŐs elect, and only for GodŐs elect, and infallibly secured their salvation by his death.

 

The Ňus allÓ for whom God delivered up his Son are the same as those whom he foreknew and predestinated, whose calling, justification and glorification were accomplished from eternity by GodŐs sovereign purpose of grace toward them. Paul teaches this same thing in Ephesians 1:4 and 7. The ŇusÓ who are there said to be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world are the same as those who have redemption in him through his blood and the forgiveness of sins. Those for whom Christ died, those who are redeemed by his precious blood are those for whom he makes intercession (John 17:9, 20).

 

Yes, the objects of election and redemption are the same. No more were redeemed by Christ at Calvary than were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, and no less. GodŐs elect are special to him above all people in the world. Special things belong to them which belong to no one else. Yet, we see that everything which is said to be true of the elect is also true of the redeemed. Therefore, we must conclude, according to the Scriptures, that the elect and the redeemed are the very same people.

 

Are the elect the beloved of the Lord? Does the act of election spring from love? Election presupposes love. So the redeemed are the beloved of the triune God. And our redemption by ChristŐs precious blood flows from GodŐs everlasting love toward us in him.

 

Are the elect a people whom God has chosen for his peculiar treasure? The redeemed are purified by Christ to be a peculiar people to himself.

 

Do the vessels of mercy, afore prepared for glory, consist of Jews and Gentiles alike? So Christ is the propitiation, not for the sins of the Jews only, or the Redeemer of the Jews only, but for the sins of the Gentile world also, the Redeemer of his people among the Gentiles (1 John 2:1-2).

 

Are GodŐs elect a great number,  a multitude  which no man  can number out

 

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of all nations, kindred, peoples and tongues? So ChristŐs redeemed ones are those he has redeemed unto God, out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation.

 

Is it true of the elect that they shall never perish, that they cannot be totally and finally deceived and perish? So, too, it is true of the ransomed of the Lord. They shall come to Zion with everlasting joy. Christ will never lose any part of the purchase of his blood.

 

            It is ludicrous to imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of any whom he did not come to save. He came into this world to save his people (They were his people by Divine election long before he came to save them!) from their sins by the sacrifice of himself as their Substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, chose his people and them alone. He redeemed his people and them alone. He prays for his people and them alone. And he will save his people, all of them, and only them.

 

 

Divine Sovereignty — A. W. Pink

 

The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His own Word expressly declares: ŇMy counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasureÓ (Isaiah 46:10); ŇHe doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His handÓ (Daniel 4:35). Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things Ňafter the counsel of His own willÓ (Ephesians 1:11).

 

 

Choosing a Text for a Sermon — J. C. Philpot

 

I found upon the vestry table this morning a letter requesting me to preach from a certain text, "Jesus wept." The writer of that letter must know very little of the perplexities and exercises that I and every minister of truth have with respect to the texts that we preach from. I cannot take a text, and speak from it in the mere exercise of my judgment. Before I can take a text, and preach from it, I must have three things. First, I must see a vein of experience in it; in other words, I must have light upon it: secondly, I must find a measure of sweetness and savor in it; I must know something personally of the experience contained in it, and feel a measure of dew and unction to rest upon it; in other words, I must have life from it: and thirdly, I must find in it sufficient matter to form a tolerably full and connected discourse. I cannot run here, there, and everywhere all through the scriptures, nor deal in vague, loose generalities: but as far as the Lord gives me wisdom, strength, and ability, my path is to unfold the mind of the Spirit in such portions of the scripture as are commended with some savor to my conscience. In making these remarks, I wish not to condemn other gracious men who are led differently. Each has his own path and his own work: and God will bless each according to that line in which he leads him.

 

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The Grace Bulletin

 

January 15, 2012

 

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.

 

Television Broadcasts in Harrodsburg

Channel 6 - Sunday Afternoon 3:00 P.M.

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

 

Web Pages

http://www.DonFortner.com

http://www.FreegraceRadio.com

http://www.Grace-eBooks.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com