July 17, 2005
Because we were justified by Christ’s imputed righteousness at the cross, we are sanctified by his imparted righteousness in the new birth. — “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10).
Daily Readings for the Week of July 17-24
Sunday Isaiah
14-18 Thursday Isaiah 31-34
Monday Isaiah
19-23 Friday
Isaiah 35-38
Tuesday Isaiah 24-27 Saturday Isaiah 39-41
Wednesday Isaiah 28-30 Sunday Isaiah 42-44
Darius M.
Blake
The Lord graciously called our friend, Bro. Darius Blake (Diane Campbell’s father) home to Glory June 14th. We have yet another friend in heaven. I have thought a good bit, these past few weeks, about the salvation that is now being revealed to him. Bro. Blake was a faithful and delightful man.
I first met Bro. Blake in 1972. He and his wife did not know
me, but they invited me to stay in their home in Lexington, KY for four days
while I was attending a Bible conference there. Frankly, the preaching at the
conference was not worth the drive to Lexington; but those four days with Bro.
Blake were worth more than words can describe. In recent years, Bro. Darius was
afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. It has been terribly painful for his family
to watch him rapidly decline.
His decline ended just over a month ago. Since then, he has
been with the ransomed in Glory around the throne of God and the Lamb enjoying
that salvation which, just a few weeks ago, was still for him what it is now
for us, “salvation ready to be revealed.” I think I can almost see his
beaming face and sparkling eyes as he beholds the Savior face to face.
I encourage you to drop his wife a note to
let her know you continue to think of and pray for her. See Shelby or Diane to
get Mrs. Blake’s mailing address.
My Savior Lives! — Don Fortner
(Tune: #497 — When I Can Read My Title Clear —CM )
Exalted and enthroned on high, He lives, he lives to save!
“I died to set this sinner free, see, here, the law’s demands.”
Oh, let me cast on Him all care, who lives grace to impart!
He’ll call me home with Him to reign, — He lives to bring me there!
7
MISSIONARY OFFERING TODAY
The Lord willing, Bro.
Jean-Claude Souillot, from Chalon, France will preach to us Tuesday night. Bro.
Jean-Claude pastors in Chalon and oversees the
Preachers’ School and the mission works in West Africa.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Betty Burge-19th
Absolute Exchange — Pastor Donnie Bell
“For by one man’s disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom.
5:19)
It was by the sin of Adam that sin and death passed
upon us; we not only had his sin imputed to us, but we also inherited his
sinful nature. We then are sinners by birth and sinners by practice. “For
there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Eccl.
7:20). But blessed be the name of the Lord, the same way we became sinners we
become righteous. We did nothing to become sinners; we do nothing to become
righteous.
There
is an absolute exchange made, when our dear Savior went to the cross and died
under the judgment and wrath of His Holy Father; he suffered not for himself
but for those whom he represented. He was suffering the wrath of God because he
was bearing his peoples sin upon his body on that tree. What was the absolute
exchange? He became what I am, that I might become what He is. He took my sin,
that I would have His righteousness; he took my disobedience, I get his
obedience; he suffered my death, (my separation from God) that I would receive
his life. He was made a curse, that I might be blessed. He was separated from
God, that I might be brought nigh to God (Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 3:18).
Just as
we also inherited Adams sinful nature, we also become partakers of Christ’s
nature; his holy nature is given to us in the new birth, and it makes us love
things we once hated and hate things we once loved. Our sinful natures loved
sin, hated righteousness; now we love righteousness and hate sin. Once,
listening to preaching and reading the Bible would be the last things we would
have done, now it is our delight. “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son
into your hearts, crying Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). Thank God not only was
Christ for us at the Cross, and accomplished our complete salvation, but, He is
also in us “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). By his Spirit
in us, He continually works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, and
we are kept in the enjoyment of what he did for us by His sacrificial death on
the cross. It is not only an absolute exchange; it is also an eternal exchange.
“God's people know and believe what God has done in them as well as for them, though they cannot fully comprehend either.” Pastor Paul Mahan
8
Robert Hawker
We have here Christ’s entrance upon his sufferings, in the garden Gethsemane. The whole life of Jesus had
been a life of sorrow, for of him, and him only, by way of emphasis, can it be
said, that he was a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief. But here he is entering more especially upon the
great work of sorrow, for which he became the Surety of his people. And here it
is therefore, that we need most eminently the teaching of God the Holy Ghost. I
am aware how very little a way our discoveries carry us, when following the
steps of Jesus by faith, into the garden of Gethsemane. I would beg the reader
to accompany me, in following by faith, the Lord Jesus to Gethsemane’s garden,
in this dark and gloomy hour; and may the Lord be our Teacher in beholding the
glory of Christ.
As we prosecute this awful
business, every step we take seems to be more solemn and striking. The
Evangelists who have described the state of Jesus, have each used different
words, by way of expressing the feelings of Jesus. Matthew said, (he was in
soul) “exceeding sorrowful, even unto
death.” Mark said Jesus “began to be sore amazed, and to be very
heavy.” The words “Sore amazed” imply such an affright to the mind as when
we say it makes the very hair stand on an end, and induces a trembling and
horror of the whole frame. Luke represents Christ in an agony or combat. The
sweat was as it were, great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.
Before we go further, let us
humbly look up and enquire into the cause! Here is no account of any pains of
body the Redeemer had yet entered upon! The horrors of crucifixion though in
view, were not felt.
And what was the cause for
which this Lamb of God was thus exercised? He who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than
the heavens (Heb 7:26). What can more decidedly confirm the Scriptures of
truth, than that as his Church’s Surety and Representative, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21)? He, as the
Apostle saith, hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Here was the cause.
It pleased Jehovah to put him to grief. The Father’s hand was in the work. And
hence the holy Sufferer expressed himself in such strong words. Save me, O God! for the waters are come in
unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into
deep waters, where the floods overflow me, (Psa 69 &c). I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried:
mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are
more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine
enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O
God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. (See
also Psalm 22.) I am poured out like
water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in
the midst of my bowels. LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in
thy hot displeasure. (Psalm 38 throughout) For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth
me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is
there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over
mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and
are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly;
I go mourning all the day long. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my
tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Oh! ye my poor fellow sinners
who never yet felt sin; behold the exceeding sinfulness in the soul travail of
Christ Jesus! Lord! let the contemplation fire my soul with love!
9
Grace Bulletin
July
17, 2005
GRACE BAPTIST
CHURCH of DANVILLE
2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
Sunday
10:00 A.M. Bible Classes
10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service
6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service
Tuesday
7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service
Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.
Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.
Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.
http://www.donfortner.com
http://www.sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm
http://www.freegrace.net/danville/default.asp