CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: # 66- ‘Jesus Thou Joy of Loving Hearts)

Words based on Psalm 142 by Richard Mant, 1824

Behold me unprotected stand,

No friendly guardian at my hand;

No place of flight, no refuge near,

And none to whom my soul is dear.

 

But, Lord to Thee I pour my vow,

My hope, my place of refuge Thou:

And whilst the light of life I see,

I still my portion find in Thee.

 

Then hear and heed my fervent cry,

For low, oppressed with grief, I lie;

Against my foes Thy arm display,

For I am weak, and powerful they.

 

Come loose my prison-bands, set free

My soul, that I may sing to Thee;

Then shall the righteous round me press,

And join Thy bounteous love to bless.

 

THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION

J

esus Christ is the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets.  Throughout all the ages of the Church there has only been one saving truth, which is Jesus:  one only way of salvation, which is Jesus.  To Him give all the Prophets witness.  From the day when God gave the first promise of redemption, all who have been taught and commissioned of the Father have uniformly delivered the same message.  They have proclaimed remission of sins ONLY by the blood of the Lamb of God, and righteousness ONLY through the faith OF HIM.  He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and the Lamb preached from the day when sin entered it.  The Prophets appear one after the other, and they all point to the same sacrifice, and cry, ‘BEHOLD the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!’  The Prophets are succeeded by the Apostles, and they point to the same Savior, and reiterate the same truth.  Thus Jesus is the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Ephesians 2:20.

HENRY LAW-1884

 

OUR STARTING POINT

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,”            Luke 24:27 

M

any start with Moses and the prophets to preach Bible history, morality, end-time prophecies, personal obedience to the law, and other such topics.  However, our Lord beginning at Moses and all the prophets gave us the TRUE starting point of ALL of Scripture, and that is HIMSELF.

1. In creation He is ALL-  “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  and he is before all things, and by him all things consist,” Colossians 1:16

2. In providence He is ALL- He ‘upholdeth all things by the Word of His power, ‘Hebrews 1:3.

3. In salvation He is ALL- ‘Neither is their salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,’ Acts 4:12.

4. In judgment He is ALL- ‘For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,’ John 5:22.

Works religion sets men to doing, believing, and striving to find forgiveness of sins, or a right standing with God as an end.  However, the Gospel begins with Christ and His blood and righteousness and declares that He has already obtained redemption (Hebrews 9:12), already put away the sin of helpless, lost sinners (Hebrews 1:3), and already justified them (Romans 5:9).  It is the starting point in declaring Christ to sinners, and not something to be attained if they will just accept, believe, or appropriate it.  Faith appropriates nothing!  It bows to Christ and His righteousness that He has already established, the Father accepted and imputed, and the Spirit reveals, Rom. 10:3.

 All that pertains to the sinner’s salvation was already accomplished at the cross when God discharged the sin of His elect to Christ, and imputed (charged) to their spiritual account the full obedience of Christ,  which is called in Scripture- God’s righteousness.  It is the Spirit’s work to give life to every one for whom Christ died, because their justification demands their life, Romans 5:18. 

Any who do not start with Christ and His finished work fully accomplished are guilty of a false start, and must be called back to the starting line!  Just as in a race, the starting line is also the finish line and so it is with Christ.  He is the END (accomplishment) of the law, to all them that believe, Romans 10:4. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                KEN WIMER

 

GRACE ABOUNDING BY CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!" Romans 5:20

h, indeed! I felt there never was such a wretch, such a living mass of putrefying sores and corruption! Others might be worse outside--but I felt the sin was not less polluting, because it worked chiefly within. And I thought if the Lord ever saved me, I would be the greatest wonder in heaven, and that there never could be such another trophy of redeeming love! Nothing less than sovereign power and irresistible grace could ever be sufficient for such a hell-deserving one as I. Thus it was with me. It seemed too good to be true--that I, who deserved the lowest hell, and had felt so long as though I were hanging over it--should be delivered forever from it! "Deliver her from going down to the pit--I have found a Ransom!" The blood of Jesus is the only way by which a poor sinner can enter into heaven itself. Coming in that precious blood, the vilest shall not be shut out, for it "cleanses from all sin."

·        Secret sin

·        Open sin

·        Old sin

·        Long-continued sin

·        Sins against light and knowledge

·        Sins against judgment and mercy

·        Known sin

·        Unknown sin

Every kind and manner of sin which a poor trembling, Spirit-convinced sinner feels--does has powerful blood taken away! My sins were as scarlet, my guilt of crimson dye; but blood of a richer hue which flowed out from the veins of my precious Savior has made me white as snow! None need despair, since He has saved such a worthless, hell-deserving one as myself! "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!"                           

                                                                                                                                                        From The letters of Ruth Bryan, (1805-1860)