February
3, 2013
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
Telephone: 615-513-4464
Schedule of Services
Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class
Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service
Order of service, announcements, nursery schedule, etc., are in
attachment. All articles in the bulletin
are by the pastor unless otherwise noted.
LOVE OF THE FATHER
1 John 2: 12-17
The apostle John addresses the three kinds of believers found in a local
church. Fathers are those who have been
longest in the faith, young men are those who have been in the faith the next
longest behind the fathers (usually middle-aged believers) and little children are
newly born-again believers, babes in Christ.
Here is important instruction for
the good of each believer now, as well as for the good of those younger believers
among us who are the future of this church.
Love Not the World, Neither the Things in It
Believers
have no reason to love this world. We are
born of the Spirit of God from above; we are not of this world. (Jn 17:
14-16) God the Father chose us unto
salvation in Christ before ever even making this world. Christ Jesus has redeemed us out of this world. Our citizenship is in the kingdom of God, not
of this world. (Col 3: 20-21; 4: 1; Jn 8: 23; 18: 36) But in this world we face difficulties.
With every phase of life comes a new challenge. The fathers have looked forward to enjoying
their golden years and are apt to indulge in things of this world. Likewise,
the middle-aged believer is coming into more of this world than he has ever had
or is on the downhill side of middle age wanting to kick up his heels while he
can.
Yet, we must remember that Christ our everlasting Father laid up for his
children, perfect righteousness, by laying down his life for us. Likewise, it
is up to the fathers and the young men in the faith to lay up for the little
children in Christ, rather than loving this world.
If Any Man Love the World, the Love of the Father is not in Him
The love
of the Father considered the spiritual welfare of his children more important than
the world. (Mt 4: 8-10) So too, the spiritual
welfare of babes in Christ is more important for the faithful fathers and young
men than anything else in this life. If our attendance on spiritual things is only
for our immediate needs, or our own personal family till we get them out of the
house, then we leave the church, no longer giving ourselves for these believers
coming up behind us, then how can we say the love of the Father is in us? Is
the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life what we love
or do we love these children for whom Christ died? (1 Jn 2: 18-19)
To you young in the faith planning to go to college, you would be wise to
stay close or to go only where you can continue to hear the gospel preached in
truth consistently. And attend every
service. Hearing of Christ Jesus through
the gospel is preeminently more important than a degree of any kind from any
institution in this world. Also, as you
think of a career, let this be first in your thoughts, what can I do to promote
the good of Christ’s kingdom without being consumed away from Christ by a
career. One day you will be the one
looking out for those younger in the faith than you. So make Christ and the furtherance of his
name the chief thing in all you do in this life. No man can serve two masters.
(Mt 6: 24) The deceitfulness of riches
choke the word so that while it may appear outwardly you have profited, in
reality you will have become unprofitable. (Mt 13: 22) That is the word and
example that we fathers and young men are to teach these who are younger in the
faith. If our actions teach them
otherwise, how can we say the love of the Father is in us?
All that is in the World is not of the Father but of the World
Is Satan
whispering in your ear saying, “Has God said? Oh, that is not what he means.” Satan got Eve to look at the fruit—lust of
the eyes. He told her it was good for
food—lust of the flesh. He told her it
would make her wise—pride of life. As soon
as Adam ate, he experienced the lust of the eye—I am naked!; Lust of the
flesh—I need a cover for me!; Pride of life—I can cover myself!; And they
blamed others for it all. Did God teach
these lusts? No, all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Believer, we only overcome the wicked one, by
abiding in Christ. Will we heed his word
or our own lusts? Instead of going after
the world, go after the Father! Everything
in this world that appears most precious, important and valuable to our flesh
is marked for destruction. Do not take my word take God’s word, “And the world
passeth away, and the lust thereof.”
But He That Does the Will of God Abides
Forever
Christ
has done the will of God for his people so that the law is fulfilled for us,
our sins are put away, and we have been made the righteousness of God in him.
Our victorious Savior is risen and abides forever. By the grace of God we have done the will of
God by believing on Christ who is our Life eternal. Now continue abiding in him and we shall
abide forever. (1 Jn 2: 24-28) And remember, the new commandment to love, which
Christ gave us, is not to love the world, but to love one another as Christ has
loved us. (Jn 13: 34) We love one
another when we lay down our life, providing for our brethren so that they can
continue hearing the gospel of our Redeemer; we love these young believers
coming up behind us by laying down our lives, providing for them so they can have
the gospel of Christ in truth; we love by laying aside vain wisdom, teaching them
that nothing else is more important in this life than continuing in Christ together
with brethren; we love by the example of our own consistent continuance in Christ
and the hearing of the gospel, rather than exhibiting a love for this world and
the things in it.
He that does the will of God abideth forever. This is the will of God that we believe on
Christ and love one another. (1 Jn 3: 23) Remember Moses? “By faith Moses, when
he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as
seeing him who is invisible.” (He 11: 24-26) Moses is one of those faithful
fathers whose example is still teaching us babes today. But we don’t even know Pharaoh’s name. And Moses has been with the Lord in eternal
glory over five thousand years as new as the first day.
Brethren, the will of God is that we love not the world, but abide in
Christ and love one another. He that
does so shall do so forever!