Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

July 2, 2023

 Weekly Schedule of Services

We are thankful to have brother Aaron Greenleaf from Todd’s Road Grace Church to preach the gospel here this morning. I am preaching in Rescue and San Diego California.  No service Thursday. Friday we will have pizza at 5:45 pm; services begin at 7:00 pm with pastors Bruce Crabtree and Marvin Stalnaker serving us the true Bread.

?-----------------------------?

Proverbs 20:17: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

?-----------------------------?

“...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3)

There was no chair in the holy of holies because the priest nor the blood of animals ever put away sin.  But our Lord Jesus Christ arose to the true holiest of holies and sat down because our Savior finished the work.  He finished the work of establishing the law in righteousness for his people. Our Redeemer finished the work of purging our sins and redeeming God’s elect from the curse of the law. He finished the work of declaring God just and the Justifier of all who believe on Christ.

    Therefore, when the Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe on the Lord Jesus, we rest from all our works for salvation.  “For we which have believed do enter into rest” (Heb 4:3). All who continue in faith unto the end shall one day lay aside these sinful bodies and enter into glorious rest when Christ raises us wholly sanctified in body, soul and spirit.  What a Savior! 

?-----------------------------?

2 Corinthians 5:12: For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13: For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

?-----------------------------?

Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions. –Matthew Henry

?-----------------------------?

The law cannot be the believer’s rule of life because “the just shall live by faith and the law is not of faith.” (Gal 3:11-12).  The law is “the letter that killeth,” “the ministration of death,” “the ministration of condemnation.” God gave the law “that every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God”, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (2 Cor 3:6, 7, 9; Rom 5:20; 3:19-20) The law is not against the promises of God.  But we can never have life by the law because we can never obtain righteousness by the law.  Life and righteousness are one and the same the same as sin and death.  Christ is Life to the believer because Christ is our Righteousness. The law had to be fulfilled and Christ filled it full.  “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Gal 3:21-22).

?-----------------------------?

“Perfect Peace”

Isaiah 26:3

This promise of God’s Word is made to every believer in Christ, for all the promises of God in him are yea and amen. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Peace is God’s gift to faith. Peace was made for us by Christ when he reconciled us to God by his blood. And this peace is bestowed upon us as we trust him.

The peace that is promised to us is “perfect peace.” Do not let those words throw you. Isaiah is not telling us that unless we have peace perfectly at all times, we do not have faith and are lost. God gives us perfect peace. But we do not always enjoy that peace perfectly. In fact, we never enjoy that peace perfectly in this world. We are kept by grace in the blessed perfect peace of salvation accomplished by Christ. But that peace is not perfectly manifest, felt, and enjoyed in this life. There is a vast difference between being kept in perfect peace and having peace perfectly.

The word “perfect” also means “true”. The peace which God gives to faith is real and true, not false and imaginary. And the word “perfect” has the idea of “completeness” and “abundance”. We have peace now. But, oh, what an abundant, complete, blessed peace our God will give us in heaven! There it will be perfectly enjoyed forever (Psalm 72:7; Isaiah 9:6).

This peace is promised to those whose minds are stayed upon the Lord. This is the promise of grace – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” To have your mind stayed upon Christ is to have your heart fixed on him with confident faith, being persuaded of your interest in him. To be stayed upon Christ is to trust his blood for forgiveness, his righteousness for justification, his intercession for preservation, his providence for daily care, and his power for protection.

“Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding as He promised

Perfect peace and rest.”

–Don Fortner