CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – Doxology)

(Words written by Pastor Gary Shepard)

Upon the high and sovereign throne,

Sits One who by Himself alone,

Has purged our sins and gone on high,

That those in Him should never die.

There at the right hand ever nigh,

Of that great Majesty on high

Amidst the creatures crying loud,

Almighty God in flesh there crowned.

Is this the One who just before,

Our sins in His own body bore,

There justly dying in our place,

For all the chosen of His grace?

Yes, it is He, the King of kings,

A full salvation now He brings;

The Victor, He now sits at rest

Forever all our Righteousness.

And only those He makes to see,

Salvation by His cross made free;

Can see in Him by all expressed,

God’s grace that reigns through righteousness.

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

Righteousness by Faith of Jesus Christ – Romans 3:19-23

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – 1 Timothy 3:15-16

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – The Church’s One Foundation – p. 186

• READING – Ephesians 2

• MESSAGE – The Body is Of Christ – Colossians 2:14-17

• CLOSING HYMN – Hallelujah, What a Savior – p. 127

Birthdays: Frank Jones – July 21^st

NEXT LORD’S SUPPER SERVICE WILL BE SUNDAY, JULY 29. We will serve lunch here following the worship services that Sunday.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

The “carnal mind” is the mind and heart of the natural, unregenerate man. It is mind and heart that is an enemy of God and under the dominion of sin. It is bound by the deception of pride and self-righteousness. How can a person know that he has a “carnal mind”? The “carnal mind” is not in submission to “the law of God.” To be submitted to “law of God” is to be submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ as “the end [finishing, perfection, completion] of the law for righteousness” (Rom. 10:4). This is “to every one that believeth” in Him. Are you working hard to establish your own righteousness by which earn God’s favor and qualify yourself for salvation? Are you trying to keep God’s law for righteousness? These are the works of a “carnal mind.” May God give us a spiritual mind in showing us our sins and driving us to Christ for all righteousness. —Copied

If you wish to know if the gospel you are hearing preached is the gospel of God, ask yourself this question, "Who gets the glory?" If you wish to know whether your religious experience is of the flesh or of the Lord, ask yourself the same thing, "Who gets the glory?" Also, examine all your gifts, works, and missionary efforts by the same rule, "Who gets the glory?" God will not share His glory! That which is of God, from God, and for God's glory will be blessed with His presence and power..."that no flesh should glory in His presence...that, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Cor. 1:29,30).

—Henry Mahan

IN CHRIST AND IN OURSELVES

For sinners saved by the grace of God in and by the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a vast difference between what we are IN CHRIST and what we are IN OURSELVES while on this earth.

IN CHRIST we are righteous and cannot be charged with or condemned for sin. We are truly righteous in Christ – “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:33-34). IN OURSELVES, having been born again by the Holy Spirit, we have new hearts, new spirits, new minds with new motivations, desires, goals, all to glorify God in Christ. But we are still sinful and can do nothing perfectly righteous because of the remaining presence of sin still contaminating all that we think, say, and do – “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Rom. 7:22-23).

IN CHRIST, based on HIS blood and righteousness imputed, God has removed us as far from our sins as the east is from the west – “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). But in ourselves we cannot get away from the presence, influence, and contamination of our sins – “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Rom. 7:21).

What then is our hope and peace? It is not to be found in ourselves. It can only be found IN CHRIST – “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Rom. 7:24-25).

Saints of God, be of good cheer. Christ has overcome Satan, the world, and Christ has overcome our sins. Legally, we are perfect IN CHRIST right now. And this is the basis upon which God saves, receives, and blesses us. This is the ground upon which God gives us spiritual life and faith. And this is the guarantee that we will one day be made perfectly like our Lord and Savior, perfectly conformed to Him IN OURSELVES, when are finally delivered to Him and glorified IN CHRIST.