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November 25, 2012
When a preacher denies limited atonement (denies that all for whom Christ died shall be saved), he announces that he is a lost, unbelieving false prophet, for he has denied that Christ is God, making the Son of God a failure!
Daily Readings for the Week of November 25-December 2, 2012 Sunday Romans 16-1 Cor. 3 Thursday 1 Corinthians 14-15 Monday 1 Corinthians 4-7 Friday 1 Cor. 16-2 Cor. 3 Tuesday 1 Corinthians 8-10 Saturday 2 Corinthians 4-7 Wednesday 1 Corinthians 11-13 Sunday 2 Corinthians 8-11
· Bro. Frank Hall is preaching today for Millsite Baptist Church in Cottageville, WV. · I hope you can stay with us today for our Thanksgiving/Christmas Holiday Fellowship Dinner. — There will be no service here tonight. · Boonville Sovereign Grace Fellowship, Boonville, NC, will host a Sovereign Grace Bible Conference Monday-Wednesday. — Speakers: Don Fortner and Bruce Crabtree. — Contact Pastor Linwood Campbell — 336-468-4339 — lincampbell@rocketmail.com · Todds RD Grace Church, Lexington, KY will host a Sovereign Grace Bible Conference Friday-Sunday. — Speakers: Don Fortner, John Chapman, and Tim James. — Contact Pastor Todd Nibert — 859-263-4150 — Nibert@aol.com · Pastor Todd Nibert, pastor of Todds RD Grace Church in Lexington, will bring the message in our worship service Tuesday night.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Curtis Hall-2nd HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Skip & Sandy Gladfelter-1st Mark & Regina Henson-29th NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK Today: Jayalita McCormack (AM) Tuesday: Ruth Wall
In Heaven’s Highest Court — Don Fortner (Tune: #187 — Blest be the Tie — SM)
1. In heaven’s highest court, Where justice reigns and shines, Truth makes a constant, strict report Of every sinner’s crimes.
2. But there’s an Advocate Whom God’s elect employ He pleads our cause, secures our state, And floods our souls with joy.
3. The law its sentence reads, And conscience owns it true, — (Our Advocate His merit pleads!) And says we’re holy too!
10 Irresistible Grace
“Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.” (Psalms 65:4)
There are some sinners in this world from whom God will not take “No” for an answer. Those sons and daughters of Adam who were chosen to salvation before the world began and redeemed by the blood of Christ at Calvary must be saved. The purpose of God, which cannot be changed or overturned, demands it. The justice of God that was satisfied for his elect by the blood of Christ demands it. Every ransomed soul shall be saved.
Bible Doctrine
The Scriptures plainly and universally declare this doctrine. Yes, irresistible grace is a Bible doctrine. It was promised to Christ, as he took his seat upon the throne of glory, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power” (Psalm 110:3). David considered this a matter for great thanksgiving and praise. He said, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest,” (That is God’s election.), “and causest to approach unto thee.” (That is the Spirit’s effectual call, or irresistible grace - Psalm 65:4) The Lord Jesus said, with regard to his elect, redeemed sheep, “Them also I must bring” (John 10:16). He does not say he might bring them if they would consent to being brought, or if their will is not too strong in rebellion against his will. No! The Son of God must bring all God’s elect to glory, because he is the Good Shepherd responsible for their salvation.
Made Willing
Without question, God’s saving grace, the work of God the Holy Spirit in the new birth, in regeneration, calling, and conversion is irresistible. All who have experienced grace know the irresistible power of grace. It is not suggested that chosen sinners repent and trust Christ the first time they hear the gospel, or that they do not resist the Spirit’s call. All men resist this call.
But there is a personal, particular, effectual call of the Spirit given to chosen sinners at the appointed time of love (Ezekiel 16:6-8) that cannot be resisted. As the Lord Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb and he that was dead came forth; so when the Spirit of God calls the elect to repentance and faith in Christ, spiritually dead sinners are raised to life and come to Christ. This is the first resurrection (John 5:25; Revelation 20:6). No, God does not save anyone against his will. Rather, he makes chosen sinners willing in the day of his power.
Those who would not (John 5:40) and could not (John 6:44) come to Christ by their freewill or good works are brought to Christ by the sovereign power and effectual, irresistible grace of God the Holy Spirit. — “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). Aren’t you glad God would not take “No” for an answer from you?
9 Perseverance in Grace
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:26-28)
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (Eccles. 3:14). If salvation is, as the Scriptures declare, the work of God alone, it is an everlasting work, a work that cannot be destroyed or overturned by anything in heaven, earth, or hell. It must be granted that if salvation is in any measure the work of man, it is subject to failure. If salvation is attributed to the will of man or the works of man, eternal security and sure perseverance is a vain delusion. But that is not the case. “Salvation is of the Lord.” It is God’s work alone. Therefore, it is eternal. And God’s work never fails!
“Never Perish”
This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture: All who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, all who are born of God, shall continue to believe on Christ and continue in the grace of God until they enter glory. — “They shall never perish” (John 10:28). We sin; but God will not charge us with sin (Romans 4:8). We fall; but the Lord raises us up (Psalm 37:24). We are weak; but our Savior is strong. We meet with enemies everywhere, trials at every turn, temptations from every quarter; but his grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Salvation is the gift of God (Romans 6:23), and “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). We are kept by the power of God.
“Not of Us”
Many do fall from grace, from the doctrine of salvation by grace alone (Galatians 5:4), but they never were truly in the grace of God. Many do depart from Christ (John 6:66). Many who profess to be his disciples cease to follow him, when the cost of following him becomes evident. But those who do, never really knew him. They were disciples in name only. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19).
“Assurance of Hope”
Our immutable God is a God of immutable grace. Once bestowed, the grace of God is never retracted! Because God changes not, the sons of his grace shall never perish (Malachi 3:6). Sin shall never be charged to them (Romans 4:8). Temptations shall not destroy them (1 Corinthians 10:13). Satan shall not devour them (Romans 16:20). Grace is our assurance and our security (2 Timothy 1:9-12). Every chosen sinner was redeemed. Every redeemed sinner shall be born again, saved by the grace of God. And every saved sinner is saved forever and “shall never perish!”
11 The Grace Bulletin
November 25, 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 7:45 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 |
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