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Sovereign
Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor Bro.
Ronnie Henderson, Song Director "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Are Still
Taught" |
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You
Were Asked To Pray For: All
of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle
East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter
Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry,
Virgil & Alice Hoskins, Grandchildren, and his daughters Liz Janis and
Debbie Gray, Alecia Clements, Bryndon
Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston,
Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II
& Family, Linda Mollette, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn,
Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr,
Donnie Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Ricky Henderson, Rosalie Graves, Terry
Hanson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don
Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Larry Platt, Bro.
& Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, Kathy Rosinbaum,
Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna
Johnson, Fay Johnson, Bobby Walker, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis
Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother
David & Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel
Seymour & Family, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Leacho
Tittle, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson, Brother
& Sister Frank James, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Pastor G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Betty, Gina, Janie Capps, Kathy
Johnson, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches
in Russia. |
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A Though From Pastor Johnson: The Biggest Lie in Religion Last Wednesday night we looked into this passage of scripture (as we
are going through the book of Romans on Wednesday nights). As I prepared for
my lesson last week I was wondering how Paul, but much more God could be so
pacific in the scripture on salvation and how it could be such a stumbling
block to mankind in the world of religion. Most and almost all other
denominations outside of Baptist teach some sort of works for salvation and
after reading this passage of scripture one must wonder why. Why must their
salvation include a work on their part, isn’t it possible that the blood of
Jesus is enough to cover our sins? If you compare this passage of scripture
to Ephesians 1 – 2, and Acts 16 among so many more God makes it certainly
clear how one is saved and He never includes works on our part. I find it
very necessary to say this even though it may unset so many, to believe that
salvation is anything outside of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe
a lie. It is too important to miss on this point; it means eternal damnation
in the eternal lake of fire. I do not say “lie” in order to boast of the gift
that God has given to me and neither do I say it to insult anyone else, but
rather to call a spade a spade and to call works for salvation what it is, a
lie. Many people will stand before Jesus Christ at the great white throne and
wonder what went wrong Matthew 7:21 - 23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22.)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23.) And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.” I would to God that person is not you. Paul in Romans goes to great lengths and repeatedly confirms that works
is absolute not a part of salvation. He has argued almost ever argument that
the Jews cast his way, step by step he has proven his point to them. The Jews
just could not understand how wrong they were on the law and salvation. Paul
used there great leader Abraham and how as great as he was, he was not saved
by his works or his greatness for God
but rather his faith was counted for his righteousness before God. Paul said
in verse 2 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory;
but not before God.” Since our works are accounted to our goodness and
sometimes even our greatness they belong to us; but salvation is by the grace
of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which is the gift of God
Ephesians 2:8 – 9. Paul went on in verse 4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt.” The word “reckoned” means – concluded – meaning if salvation is of
works it is not of grace but rather of a debt which is earned, as a paycheck
is earned. Now my question is; is my paycheck I receive on Friday given to me
from my boss because I earned it or because of his grace to me? Grace here
means unmerited favor so if I earned my paycheck then it cannot be given as a
gift because my boss gave me what I earned instead of an unmerited favor. 1 +
1 no more equals three than grace + works equal unmerited favor. The word
“unmerited” means – undeserved or unearned – how could salvation be the gift
from God if it is earned through works?
You may ask could it not include works and faith. Paul gives you an
answer in verse 5 “But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.” But to him who worketh NOT but has faith; it is that faith and not his
works that is counted as rightiousness before God.
And as Paul said this is “reckoned” or “concluded”. |
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Happy Birthday: Ronnie & Sarah Henderson November 19th
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Fight For Them!!! It is written: “...remember the
Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons,
and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Neh. 4:14) When the enemies of Israel conspired to stop the rebuilding of the
walls of Jerusalem, Israel was faced with a crossroads. They could either give in to the
opposition, or they could stand and fight.
Nehemiah said: “...we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
against them day and night.” Israel
made the choice to trust the sovereign power of the Eternal God. As faithful servant they were determined to
obey God, stand and fight. Nehemiah’s
exhortation to “remember the Lord” was made to re-focus their eyes upon the
greatness and awesomeness of the Almighty.
The Apostle Paul instructs us: “If God be for us, who can be against
us?” (Rom. 8:31) This is exactly what
Nehemiah was relaying to the rebuilders of Jerusalem. God not only rules the heavens; He also
rules all the earth beneath the heavens.
God is sovereign over all His creation. The saints must ever remember who is the God of their salvation. Then, Nehemiah lays before them more reasons to stand and to fight:
“...your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your
houses.” In other words, stand and fight
for the people of your nation, your families, and the land of God’s
promise. It is as if he is saying,
“Here are the reasons God expects you to stand and
fight in full obedience and in steadfast faithfulness.” It became more than just an abstract thought. Here is the raw reality of the matter. If you will not stand and fight against the
enemies of God, then you will lose all that you hold dear to the claws and
jaws of the Wicked One. The truth that prevailed 2500 years ago is still the truth that prevails
in this generation. The enemies of God
still seek to hinder and destroy the work of the LORD. It has never changed and will never change. It is crucial for every believer to
remember who is the God of our holy calling and who
is the Captain of our great salvation.
If, for some reason, this isn’t enough to get us into the battle,
maybe we should consider the fate of our parents, our siblings, our sons, our
daughters, and our spouses. Are they
worthy of our commitment to the cause of Christ Jesus? FIGHT FOR THEM!! SATAN WILL! By: Dr. M.
J. Seymour, Sr. |