SHREVEPORT GRACE CHURCH

2970 Baird Rd., Shreveport, LA 71118

CHRIST ALONE-SCRIPTURE ALONE-GRACE ALONE

October 23, 2005

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

6:30 PM- Mid-week Service

Nursery care available for all services for ages 4 and younger.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ken Wimer, Pastor- ( (318) 687-4943

PO Box 5028, Shreveport, LA 71135

E-MAIL: pastor@shrevegrace.org

WEB SITE: http://www.shrevegrace.org Updated weekly with audio messages now available on-line.

CALL TO WORSHIP 

(Tune – “Crown Him With Many Crowns’- # 62) 

1.  Righteous are you, O Lord,

    And right your judgments are;

    You rightly want us to obey

    You in all faithfulness.

    My zeal consumes me, for

    My foes forget your words.

    Your promise is both tried and true,

    And it your servant loves.

 

2.  Though I'm small and put down,

    I don't forget your laws.

    Your justice is forever just,

    Your law is always true.

    Trouble and pain I know,

    But your law is my joy.

    Your testimonies are e'er just;

    Give insight, let me live.

THE WORK OF CHRIST IN JUSTIFYING SINNERS

 

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he work of Christ in the justification of sinners is a vital aspect of salvation, and it is a completed work.  Christ is said to be “the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus,” Romans 3:26.   When one considers that the scripture says “as many as were ordained to eternal life” are the same ones that are given faith to believe, Acts 13:48, then it is clear that Christ has already successfully finished the work of justifying them “by His blood,” Romans 5:9 and Romans 3:24, through His redemption.  It is to such as are “justified by His blood” and “redemption,” and only to such is justifying faith given.  And remember, this faith is the gift of God which is not given to all men alike.  Those that are justified by His blood are those who are “justified by the faith of Christ.”  Please do not read over that without reflection!  This text says they are justified by the “faith of Christ,” not the faith of the believer.  “IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH,” Romans 8:33.

STANLEY PHILLIPS, Quitman, MS

EVEN AS HE IS PURE

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”   I John 3:3

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ome seem to believe that by their efforts at sanctification, they can make themselves as pure as the Lord Jesus.  That certainly is a delusion and not at all the meaning of this text.  The way to purify ourselves, EVEN AS HE IS PURE, is by seeing all of our righteousness and holiness as being IN HIM as our representative.  So long as we are looking within for any righteousness, we are not purifying ourselves, but rather being deceived, if we find anything but sin in us- I John 1:10.   

Now the question is, what does it mean, EVEN AS HE IS PURE? It is not talking about Christ's inherent purity because it is the same root word as how we are to purify ourselves.  It does however relate to Christ sanctifying Himself unto God as the Passover Lamb (being set apart for the payment of sin of His people, and their justification before God by His imputed righteousness)- John 17:19.  He sanctified Himself for our sin in His death, and we are sanctified (set apart) unto His death and the forgiveness of sins He procured, by the revelation of the truth in our hearts.  It is that Spirit given HOPE that Christ indeed did put away all our sin by His sacrificial death that causes us to continue to look to Him for our cleansing.  It is the BLOOD OF CHRIST that cleanses from all sin (I John 1:9) and it is this HOPE by which I am continually cleansed by His righteousness imputed to me.  Those who commit sin (I John 3:4) are those for whom the law has not been satisfied, and therefore they continue under condemnation for eternity.  However, those who are called the sons of God- I John 3:1 are those on whom the Father has set His eternal love, and for whom Christ came and put away their sin (I John 3:5).  Whoever abides in Christ does not sin, because the Law has been satisfied, and sin put away once for all- v. 6.  However, those who are sinners still are those who have no ransom, no redemption, and therefore no reconciliation with God.  They stand condemned on the ground of being sinners still accountable to the law of God, vs. those for whom Christ satisfied the law. 

                 Our purifying ourselves must then be with regard to our standing before God in Christ- continually pleading His blood and righteousness as our only hope, as did the thief on the cross and the publican in the temple.  My cleansing in Christ by His justifying righteousness is the entire motive necessary for a character and conduct of holiness, i.e. endeavoring to be like our Lord in walk and conversation.  However, it is not my attempts at walking in a manner pleasing to Him that make me pure, it is ever and always His blood and righteousness alone.                                KEN WIMER

GROWING OLD IN GOD’S GRACE

et us correct our attitude toward getting older.  Believers must not allow the carnal thinking of this world to form our opinions and attitudes.  The reason so much emphasis is place on youth, physical strength and beauty, riches and possessions is because this is all that the worldling has, and when these are gone all is gone!  Actually age, while it mars outward beauty, should bring us REAL lasting beauty- which is inward grace, mercy, and peace.  Age will decrease our physical strength but should increase our spiritual strength.  We grow in faith, love, and patience.  Age may make our arms weak and trembly, but it should establish us more firmly on the Everlasting Arm.  Age may make the present less sure but it gives assurance of the certainty of the future.     I’ll always be young in Christ!  My steps may be slower but I walk with the King.  My eyes may be dimmer but as I see more of the Lord I see less of the world.  My ears may be dull but I hear His voice more clearly.  My body may be weak but I am stronger in faith.  I may not know the latest story, but I know the OLD, OLD STORY a little better.  I may not be surrounded by as many human admirers but I am surrounded by a heavenly host which waits to take me home.          AUTHOR UNKNOWN

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n the kingdom of Christ, the advancement of doctrines which obscure the glory of imputed righteousness, and exalt human merit, is an offence of the most malignant kind, because it tends directly to abase the Lord Jesus, and to destroy the unity and brotherly love among His people.