SHREVEPORT GRACE CHURCH
2970 Baird Rd., Shreveport, LA 71118
CHRIST ALONE - SCRIPTURE ALONE - GRACE ALONE
March 9, 2008
SUNDAY
Scripture Reading/Prayer: Psalm 89 (Mike)
Call to Worship: ‘O Lord Most High’
Scripture Reading/Prayer: Colossians 1 (David)
Hymn: # 222- ‘There Is a Fountain’
Message: EXCEPT THE LORD HAD LEFT A REMNANT- Isaiah 1:1-9
Hymn: # 36- ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God’
Hymn: # 20-‘We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer’
Scripture Reading/Prayer: Job 10 (Jim Pennywell)
Hymn: # 300- ‘More Secure Is No One Ever’
Message: THE CITIES OF REFUGE REVISITED - Deuteronomy 4:41-49
Hymn: # 282- ‘Hiding in Thee’
WEDNESDAY
7:00 PM - Mid-week meeting
Nursery care available during 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: #37- How Great Thou Art)
O Lord most high, Thou art our God and Savior,
Thy power and might are more than tongue can tell,
But greater far the love that planned salvation
And saved the lost from sin and death and hell.
Refrain:
O God of Love, O God of Calvary,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
In all the world there is no one like Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Once far from God, an alien and a stranger,
Of hope bereft, a sinner lost and lone,
But Jesus came to rescue from the danger,
To give us life, He sacrificed His own.
Refrain:
In mercy rich, in love and grace abounding,
When we were dead in trespasses and sins,
Thine only Son for us was freely given,
How great Thou art! In Thee our life begins.
Refrain:
LIFE IN HIMSELF
“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” JOHN 5:26
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his does not refer to Jesus in His divine nature, “for in Him was life.” It dwelt in Him as its fountain. But the life which the Father gave Him, was in His mediatorial character, as the Head of His body the Church. In connection with giving Him to have life in Himself, a gift which could not have been bestowed on any creature, for it would have rendered it in a great measure independent of its Creator. The Father commanded Him to lay it down. This He did upon the cross. It was altogether a voluntary act, an act of obedience to Him from whom He had received the gift. Having tasted the vinegar, and knowing that all which had been written of Him was fulfilled, He cried with a loud voice, ‘It is finished!’ proving that life was “yet whole” in Him. He did not take a single step in the great work He had undertaken, without His Father’s authority, but obeyed His commandment, both in laying down and in taking His life again, and thus became the overflowing life to ALL His people.
JAMES HALDANE, 1847
THE FULNESS OF THE TIME
“And when the fullness of THE TIME, was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons,” Galatians 4:4
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t is important when quoting scripture, to cite it word for word, and not merely summarize its contents, because every word of God is inspired, and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16. It is, therefore, vital that we constantly return to the Word itself and make certain that we are saying exactly what the Scriptures say. As a case in point, ‘How many times have you quoted Galatians 4:4, by saying, ‘when the fullness of time was come.’ What’s wrong with that? It says, ‘And when the fullness of THE time was come.’ What is missing is the definite article ‘THE,’ which then adds emphasis to the meaning that when Christ came into the world it was according to the predetermined time set from eternity by God the Father.
Why is this so vital? It tells us not only that Christ was determined, according to God’s purpose, to come into the world, but more specifically, THE TIME of His coming was in exact accord with what the Father determined before hand. And the unfolding of what was predetermined was exactly as God purposed from eternity- being made of a woman (virgin), made under the law (in order to satisfy its precepts and penalty) and thereby to redeem them that were under the law’s requirements, and that they should actually receive (be granted) the adoption of sons, that the Father purposed from eternity.
Any point of view that denies the eternal purpose and will of God in the outworking of salvation in Christ coming, doing and dying, is faulty, and in grave error. The Biblical doctrine of salvation gives no place for a general plan of salvation, or making the outcome in any way conditioned on the sinner. Whether in redemption, justification, or adoption as sons, it is ALL of God, by His grace, in Christ Jesus alone- Romans 8:28-34.
On the other hand, we must be just as careful with any view that would put it all in eternity as having been done there, without the outworking of the work of salvation in time. Some argue that God is eternal and therefore ‘timeless,’ but is that not the mystery of godliness, that God became flesh? 1 Tim. 3:16. It is true that there is no change or shadow of turning with God, and yet He was not always a man. He became flesh! John 1:1,14. His people have not always been redeemed. It took Christ coming, living, and dying to redeem them. Neither have they always been justified. Purposed in eternity, yes! But what God purposed He accomplished through the death of His Son. That death was as necessary to God justifying His elect, as if nothing else mattered. That is why the prophet Isaiah wrote those inspired words, ‘by His knowledge SHALL my righteous servant justify many! Thank God that in the fullness of THE TIME, Christ came and accomplished exactly what the Father purposed from eternity.
KEN WIMER
THE PLUMBLINE
“Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel:
Amos 7:7-9
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plumbline was a string with a weight (usually lead) attached to one end. From an established point, the weight hung to the ground providing a straight line. The plumbline of truth found the nation crooked and perverse. In the next verse he announced judgment. Our plumbline is the word of God. More directly it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, wherein the righteousness of God is revealed (Rom 1:16-18).
The gospel declares that the sovereign God chose a people from before the foundation of the world. He freely, sovereignly, and unconditionally elected them, but this elective decree is not the same as forgiveness, redemption, adoption, or justification (Eph 1:3-4). The gospel declares a just standing before the Almighty resulted from the sin-bearing work of their God-ordained Representative, Jesus Christ. In behalf of the elect, Christ satisfied God’s law and justice, and He earned righteousness, which God accepted and imputed to the account of His people. God the Father was so completely satisfied with Him in life and death that He became at once both just and justifier, or the just justifier (Rom 3:25-26). The gospel declares all those chosen of God before time and justified at the cross will in each generation be freely and spiritually awakened to this glorious message. They hear, understand, believe, and are effectually called to the exclusive gospel of the Savior. They repent of former professions in false religion; they embrace Christ.
DAVID SIMPSON, Powell, TN