May 22, 2016
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
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NURSERY
We have a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all services live, for children four and under.
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All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted. As you read the bulletin at home with your children be sure to look up the scripture references.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
· Thursday—Brother Scott Keller is scheduled to preach here this week in the mid-week service. Sunday—Brothers Keller and Eric Lutter are scheduled to preach here for you.
· I am scheduled to preach in the New Focus Conference Saturday and Sunday in Knebworth, England where Allan Jellett is pastor.
· Be sure to mark your calendars: we are scheduled to have a baptism service for Abby Lutter July 3rd at the DeRitters.
· Our annual summer meeting is scheduled for July 22-24, Friday-Sunday. Pastors Don Fortner and Frank Tate are scheduled to preach.
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Christ Our Life and Rule
It is as clear as the noonday sun that the law is neither the ground of life to the sinner nor the rule of life to the Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ is both the one and the other; He is our life and our rule of life. The law can only curse and kill, Christ is our life and righteousness. He became our curse by hanging on a tree. He went down into the place of death and judgment and by His death completely discharged all that was or could be against us.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;!” (Psalm 103:1-4).—Pastor Scott Richardson
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HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE – John3:30
The key to a right relationship with God is found in this statement: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). It is only right that Christ increase and I decrease because He is the Creator and I am the creature; He is the Savior and I am the sinner. If I am to be saved, I must decrease in my own righteousness until I have none and Christ must increase until Christ becomes all my righteousness. I must decrease in my own ability and Christ must increase in ability until I am totally dependent on Christ. I must decrease in value and Christ must increase in value until Christ becomes my all in all. I can never have a proper view of God until Christ increases until He is everything and I decrease until I am nothing.—Pastor Frank Tate
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AM I HEARING THE TRUTH?
When a person is looking for a church to attend and worship God, that person should never assume that he or she is hearing the truth. Our Lord said in Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets!” They are everywhere, telling every lie known to man! So how can I know whether I'm hearing the truth or a lie? We all must ask ourselves two questions: Am I hearing God's word? and Who is getting the glory in salvation? Is salvation up to me or did Christ finish it alone?
THE TRUTH is: Christ did it all! (Hebrews 1:3). Christ has already finished it all! (John 19:30). And Christ gets all the glory for salvation! (1 Corinthians 1:31). If a man is not preaching THAT, he's not preaching the word of God. And if he's not preaching the word of God, he's a false prophet!
It's not: THIS is what we believe... and THAT is what they believe... THE TRUTH is not dependent on what any of us believe! The only thing that matters is: What has God Almighty said in His word? THE TRUTH is not an opinion about the word... THE TRUTH is THE WORD ITSELF! "let God be true, but every man a liar!" (Romans 3:4)
—Pastor Gabe Stalnaker
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SATISFACTION
Psalm 17: 15: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Has anything in this world ever satisfied you? There are some whose satisfaction is in this life. David describes them as “men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:” who leave all behind (v14) David said, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” The same is true for every child saved by grace.
The object of our satisfaction will be Christ, “I will behold thy face…” Right now, every true believer beholds Christ through faith. “But then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor 13: 12; Job 19: 26-27) Believer, imagine how satisfied you will be to finally behold that one who redeemed you.
The state of our satisfaction shall be in “righteousness.” When we stand before God’s throne we will be completely free from sin made the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21) Christ will present us “to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but…holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5: 27) We will praise Christ forever for the glory of his grace.
The time of our satisfaction shall be “when I awake with thy likeness.” For the believer, death is only sleep. Immediately, our soul shall awake in the presence of the Lord. The Lord Jesus told the repentant thief “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Lu 23: 43; 2 Cor 5: 8) Right now, the Spirit has created believers in his image in the inner man. (2 Cor 3: 18; Eph 4: 24; Col 3: 10) Immediately when we take our last breath, we shall be perfectly conformed to Christ within and without “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8: 29; 1 Jn 3: 2; 1 Cor 15: 50-57)
The measure of our satisfaction shall be full—“I shall be satisfied.” God our Father shall be satisfied because Christ his Son shall deliver up every elect child whom the Father entrusted to him. The Son of God shall be satisfied when he sees in glory all for whom he travailed. (Is 53: 11) Every child of glory shall be fully satisfied with our triune God in Christ.
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Pet 3: 14)