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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: Salvation By Works Destroys Faith and
Grace.
In Ephesians 2:8 - 9 we read “For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9.) Not of works, lest
any man should boast.” Both grace and faith are involved in salvation and
both are a gift from God. If grace is an unmerited favor then it is a gift
and not earned and faith is a gift from Christ Jesus. With this all being
said God said “For by grace are ye saved through faith...” and the fact that
Paul spoke of in Romans chapter 4 is that both grace and faith are destroyed
by the very thought of salvation by works. First let us look at grace Paul
said in Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” In other words, if salvation is
by works, including circumcision or works of the law then grace is dead or a
non-factor in salvation. How can anything be given
as an unmerited favor if it is earned by any kind of work or effort on our
part. The two simply make no sense together. Works for salvation not only
destroys grace but the entire writings of Paul and the rest of the bible.
Second let us look at faith, in Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law
be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” Not only
is grace made of non-effect but so is faith. Faith is dead because if you
believe in salvation by works than where is faith and what is faith? Faith is believing that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all
sin and how is that possible if we do not believe it. Faith is also believing that the payment Jesus made on Calvary’s
cross was sufficient payment of our debt and by it God would count us as just
and righteous people. Works for salvation also destroys Ephesians 2:8 - 9 and
makes it worthless at best and a total lie at worse. How can God tell us
works is not a part of salvation and then command us
to earn it by works and how can God tell us salvation is of His unmerited
favor and then command us to earn it? Is God that confused or is His word so confusing
that man cannot understand the reality of salvation? How about the promise
God made to Abraham? Isn’t it also destroyed? Paul said it was “…and the
promise made of none effect:” verse 14. God promised Abraham that his faith
was sufficient to be righteous and to all of them that would believe after
him so isn’t that also destroyed? If
Abraham was justified by his works then where was the law, and where was his
circumcision? Neither was a reality until long after his salvation. Salvation
is no more of works than it is of money because if you can earn it then why
can’t it be purchased? |
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“If God should damn you for all
eternity” By John Flave "Who delivered us
from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver us." 2 Cor. 1:10 If God should damn you for all eternity, your eternal sufferings could
not pay for the evil that is in one vain thought! Perhaps you think that this
is harsh and severe—that God should hold His creatures under everlasting
sufferings for sin. But when you have well considered, that the One against
whom you sin, is the infinite blessed God; and that sin is an infinite evil
committed against Him; and when you consider how God dealt with the angels
that fell, for one sin—you will alter your minds about it. O the depth of the evil of sin! If ever you will see how dreadful and
horrid an evil, sin is, you must measure it either by the infinite holiness
and excellency of God, who is wronged by it; or by
the infinite sufferings of Christ, who died to pay its penalty; and then you
will have deeper apprehensions of the evil of sin. |
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Know How to Wait By C. H. Spurgeon "He that believeth shall not make haste" Isaiah 28:16. He shall make haste to keep the
LORD's commandments; but he shall not make haste in
any impatient or improper sense. |