Psalm 7:9-11

Next Sunday we plan to observe the Lord’s Table and enjoy lunch together.

Humility

“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).

We are not desirous of honor, esteem, and applause from men for we are what we are; “by the grace of God.” God can take away what we have as easily as He gave it. We do not despise and provoke one another with our piety; nor do we want to appear to be wiser, richer in grace, nor more gifted than others; for we are less than the least of the saints. Neither do we envy the gifts, abilities, or grace of another. God will enlighten us, equip us, and bless us as He sees fit to use us.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1991)

A Glorious Paradox

Believers on the one hand are nothing but sin, and on the other hand they have no sin. This is one of the great mysteries of the gospel that keeps God’s people humble, yet hopeful. It causes them to cast all their care on the One that cares for them. It leads them to have no confidence in the flesh, yet to come boldly before the throne of grace. It is the reason they can mourn and rejoice at the same time. It shows them their inability to satisfy any part of God’s law, and it frees them from the condemnation of the law. It causes them to bow in humble worship as mercy beggars, yet they hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. They are nothing, yet have everything. They are hell deserving, yet heaven bound. They are in abject poverty, and they are infinitely and eternally rich. To the natural man, these things are a contradiction. To the child of God... they are his life. Pastor Greg Elmquist

FAITH, NOT A FEELING

Salvation is not a question of feeling, as so many would make it. It is entirely a matter of faith in a person, in an accomplished fact faith wrought in the soul of a sinner by the power of the Holy Ghost. This faith is something quite different from a mere feeling of the person or an assent of the intellect. Mere feeling and sentimentality (or emotion) can never rise above the source from whence they come and that source is self; but faith has to do with God and His eternal Word, and is a living link, connecting the heart that possesses it with God who gives it. Feelings and sentiments can never connect with the soul of God. No doubt, faith will produce feeling and sentiments (spiritual feelings and truthful sentiments)—but the fruits of faith must never be confounded with faith itself. He can only be known by His own revelation and by the faith which He Himself imparts.

Pastor Scott Richardson

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN CHRIST

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).

Paul encourages all believers to stand fast in the liberty and freedom we enjoy in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal. 5:1).

Consider these brief thoughts on the believer's freedom in Christ:

1). Where Christ in the gospel is, the Spirit of illumination in our heart, there is freedom from darkness. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12). "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13).

2). Where Christ in the gospel is, the Spirit of regeneration in our heart, there is freedom from the bondage of sin. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:32, 36).

3). Where Christ in the gospel is, the Spirit of redemption in our heart; there is freedom from the curse and penalty of sin. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Gal. 3:13).

4). Where Christ in the gospel is, the Spirit of comfort in our heart, there is freedom from fear and wrath; "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine" (Isa. 43:1).

5). Where Christ in the gospel is, the Spirit of adoption in our heart, there is the freedom of a child to come unto his loving Father. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).