SHREVEPORT GRACE CHURCH
2970 Baird Rd., Shreveport, LA 71118
CHRIST ALONE - SCRIPTURE ALONE - GRACE ALONE
January 20, 2008
SUNDAY
Scripture Reading/Prayer: Psalm 82
Call to Worship: ‘Jesus Thou Art Our Only Rest’
Scripture Reading/Prayer: Ephesians 4 (David)
Hymn: # 351- “Near the Cross”
Message: THE HEAVENLY CITY- Rev. 21:9-27
Hymn: # 509- ‘The Sands of Time are Sinking’
Hymn: # 16- ‘The Lord Is King!’
Scripture Reading: Job 6 (Jim)
Hymn: # 449- ‘To God Be the Glory’
Message: BOWING TO GOD’S WILL- Deuteronomy 3:21-29
Hymn: # 290- ‘Be Still, My Soul’
WEDNESDAY
7:00 PM- Mid-week Service
Nursery care available for all services for ages 4 and younger.
Ken Wimer, Pastor- ( (318) 687-4943
E-Mail: pastor@shrevegrace.org
Web Site: http://www.shrevegrace.org
Audio Messages Available On-Line; Updated weekly
Radio Broadcast: 9:00 AM (CST) Sunday on KWKH;
AM Radio 1130, Shreveport, LA area or LIVE streaming at http://www.kwkhonline.com/common/gap_streamer.php
CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune: #46-‘O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing’)
1- Jesus, Thou art our only rest
From sin, and guilt, and fears;
We love to lean upon Thy breast,
And on Thee cast our cares.
2- With anxious care and painful thought,
We toiled and toiled again;
True holiness was what we sought,
But this we sought in vain.
3-Stripped naked, and exposed to shame,
We loud for mercy cried;
The Lord gave faith to eye the Lamb,
And see His pierced side.
4-The works of nature, bad or good,
Availed us nothing here;
Faith viewed the Savior’s precious blood,
And banished guilt and fear.
5- O what a rest is Christ to me!
How precious and how true!
From guilt and sin He set me free,
And gives me glory too.
6- I have, I want no rest beside;
Here’s all that God will give;
Here would I constantly abide,
And every moment live.
HOPE IN THE LORD
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD,” Psalm 31:24
JUDGING RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment,” John 7:24
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here is a feeling today that we ought not to call in question another man’s teaching and doctrine, and particularly not allow others to call our own beliefs and persuasions in question. The question is, ‘’Should any of us who claim to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in the preaching of the Gospel ever be exempt from scrutiny and examination? “This is the very reason that the Scriptures state, ‘My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we SHALL receive the greater condemnation, for in many things we offend all…’ James 3:1, 2. Just because a man has been preaching for so many years is no warrant that he has not or will not stray into error. Just because a man is morally upright, and by all appearances kind and gentle to his hearers is no evidence that he is preaching the truth.
We ARE commanded to judge RIGHTEOUS judgment, and not according to appearance. What does that mean?
1. Appearance would have us say, ‘We like the way he looks, sounds, and carries himself, and he seems to have a good pulpit manner and personal presence. Righteous judgment would ask, ‘Yes, but does He declare the truth?’ Does He declare men to be sinners, without help, hope, or God apart from the electing grace of the Father, the redeeming and justifying blood shed and righteousness imputed of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the effectual calling and drawing to Christ by the Holy Spirit? Is this not the ONE righteous standard by which GOD HIMSELF judges, Acts 17:31?
2. Appearance would say, ‘Yes, he is in error, but we should respect his position as our pastor, and therefore, not speak out. We should tolerate the error out of love and respect.’ Righteous judgment would ask, ‘Can there be a double standard?’ ‘Can there be true love where there is hypocrisy and dissimulation? ‘ ‘Can you have respect of persons and still give Christ all the glory?’ ‘Was Paul wrong for withstanding Peter to His face for walking contrary to the truth in his dissimulation,’ Galatians 2:14?
Beloved, we MUST judge righteous judgment, holding our own minds and hearts in subjection to the truth as it is in Christ, with the same standard whereby we must lovingly judge others. Nothing is more vital to love and truth than RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.
KEN WIMER
CHRIST THE END OF THE LAW
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” Romans 10:4
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ow important is this Scripture to your mind and heart? It is the one vital article of faith of the Lord’s people. How so? First, if Christ did not fulfill the law and satisfy justice by His righteous obedience unto death, then there is no hope for any guilty sinners such as we are. If there is even one iota of the law left for us as a condition to fulfill, either for gaining or maintaining our salvation, then none shall be saved. Secondly, CHRIST is the end (fulfillment) of the law to every one that believes. It is not your believing that brings an end of the condemnation of the law on your behalf. That would be to make your believing the saving grace, and not the gracious Savior. NO! To all who believe, they have been made to see and embrace the Lord Jesus as the end of the law (having fulfilled it, satisfied it, removed its condemnation, and it’s approval imputed to the God’s elect at one time, upon satisfactory completion of His work at the cross) Colossians 1:14,15.
There was once a pastor of a church in the early colonies of New England by the name of Samuel Osborn (circ. 1680), who was very likeable and industrious, and yet preaching error, for which a church council was convened and the pastor dismissed. You say, ‘What could have been so serious as to dismiss a minister? Did he kill someone, steal something, or perhaps fall into adultery?’ No! His error was three-fold:
1. He taught that what Christ did and suffered did nothing to abate or diminish our obligation to obey the law of God, and that Christ's suffering and obedience were rather for himself.
2. He taught that there are no promises in the Bible but what are conditional on man doing something first.
3. He taught that obedience is a considerable cause of a person's justification.
How many today are duped by the same error? Most preachers are permitted to continue preaching a conditional message of salvation, so long as they stay out of trouble in other areas, and not declaring CHRIST as ALL in salvation (election, redemption, justification, regeneration, conversion and final glorification). May that not be our case! May God grant repentance to see Christ alone as ALL your salvation!
KEN WIMER