The Antidote to Pride

When we feel justified and accepted in Christ, we also feel ourselves to be sinful beggars. Yes! The MORE we see of His grace, the LESS we feel ourselves to be. As He increases, we decrease (John 3:3).

The big letter “I” is so large with human nature; pride is such a part of us that it remains with us to the grave. But if there is anything that can kill pride, it is a better view of His grace to us in Christ. “O, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be.” O where would I be? What would I be? What would be my eternal lot without my dear Redeemer?

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired word of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). There are people who believe that and would argue for it yet have no saving benefit from that knowledge. Why? They are ignorant of the one message of this book…. Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This is not the central theme of this book. Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only theme (John 5:39). Without a heart understanding of that, there is no understanding of the Scriptures, even though you believe them to be inspired! Pastor Todd Nibert

“I CAN’T MESS IT UP!”

A dear friend was talking about how blessed the gospel of Christ’s grace was. I can’t remember all the details we talked about. I suppose we talked about electing love and redeeming grace and how the Lord in tender mercy called us out of darkness with a call we could not resist, and has kept us till that very day, and refused to let us go. When saints get to talking about spiritual things they often talk about such subjects as these. When our discussion was almost over, my dear friend put the icing on the cake, as it were. “And one of the best things about this gospel, “he said, “I can’t mess it up!”

Jesus has finished the work, it is already done, so, “I can’t mess it up.” My sins have already been punished and atoned for, so, “I can’t mess it up.” I am in Christ accepted and complete, and sealed unto the day of redemption; in Christ now and in Christ forever so, “I can’t mess it up.” I feel like I have messed up everything else but, thanks be unto God I can’t mess this up. I can’t mess this up. It is un-messed-up-able.

Pastor Bruce Crabtree

The Work of Grace

Isaiah 6:5

The work of self-righteous religion cries, “Woe is men. The work of grace cries, “Woe is me! I am undone…” The work of self-righteous religion cries, Isa. 65:5 “…stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.” The work of grace cries, Luke 18:13 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Lord, do a work of grace in me.

Pastor John Chapman

Salvation By Grace Alone

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” Acts 15:11.

When that first Bible Conference at Jerusalem was assembled and the vital question about salvation was discussed Peter stood up and declared that salvation is by the grace of God alone not by the deeds of the law (Gal. 2:21; 1Peter 5:10).

There are at least four things we know the scriptures plainly declare about the grace of God.

1). Grace is eternal. Grace was planned and purposed in Christ before it was imparted and applied to our heart (2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 13:20; Rev. 13:8).

2). Grace is free. No man ever purchased the grace of God. He bought us with His own blood and justified us with His grace alone (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18; Rom. 3:24).

3). Grace is sovereign. God gives grace to whom He pleases. Grace is the free and sovereign favor of God freely given to underserving, ill-deserving and hell deserving sinners (Rom. 5:19-21; Rom. 9:12-16)

4). Grace is always because of and in Christ. We only believe through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17; Acts 18:27; Eph. 1:3-7; 2 Cor. 8:9).