Grace Baptist Church of Danville

May 18, 2008

Adversities introduce us to ourselves. Usually, it is a very disappointing introduction.

Daily Readings for the Week of May 18-25

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Taylor Hellar-21^st Cecil Roundtree-22^nd Pam Wood-22^nd Billy McCormack-25^th

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Laura Peterson (AM) Debbie Bartley (PM)       Tuesday: Celeste Peterson

Compassed with Trouble, in Distress — Don Fortner

(Tune: #52 — Majestic Sweetness — CM)

1.    Compassed with trouble, in distress,

What fears possess my mind!

Savior, I long to see Your face,

For grace and peace divine!

2.    With broken heart, and waiting long,

Beneath this crushing load,

I own my sin, confess my wrong,

And stretch my hands to God.

3.    My wretched heart, my God, I mourn;

And for my sin I weep!

With every lust obscene I burn,

And sink into the deep!

4.    As Satan raises Moses up

And roars against my soul,

Lord Jesus, my poor cause take up

And make Your servant whole!

5.    Arise, O Lord! Shine forth in grace!

Your precious blood apply!

Embrace my soul, dear Prince of Peace,

Blest Rock higher than I!

6.    Speak, Savior, let me hear Your voice,

Show me, again, Your face!

Oh! Hear my inmost groans and cries. —

Revive my soul with grace!

Missions Offering Today

7

Two Great Questions

Genesis 3:13 and John 18:35

      Here are two great questions I want you to consider. As you consider these two great questions found in the Word of God, I pray that God the Holy Spirit will cause you to know your sin and that he will reveal Christ to you, granting you faith in him.

God’s Question to a Sinner

Here is a question from the holy Lord God addressed to a sinner: — "What is this that thou hast done?" (Genesis 3:13). There was Eve after the fall. She had taken the fruit of the tree, which God had forbidden. She willfully rebelled against God's authority, being deceived by the serpent. And when she saw that she was naked before the Lord, she attempted to hide her sin and her nakedness from God by the works of her own hands.

      That is exactly what we have done! Our sin, all our sin, is rebellion against God. It arises from a heart of rebellion. Like Eve, because you are a sinner, you are justly condemned by the law of God. Your sin must be punished. Your own conscience tells you that these things are so. But instead of seeking mercy, you have been trying to hide your sin by your own good works. Is that not true? Answer honestly.

      You have been trying to make up for your sin by doing good. As God stripped Eve of her fig leaves, so you must be stripped of every confidence in yourself. As the Lord killed an innocent animal for Eve and made clothing for her, so you must have a sacrifice and a righteous clothing that only God can provide. That sacrifice and clothing is the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Sinner’s Question to God

Here is another question, a question from a sinner addressed to the Lord Jesus Christ: — "What hast thou done?” (John 18:35). Though our Lord refused to answer Pilate, he has answered this question for us in the gospel.

      This is what Christ has done for sinners. — For the disobedient he rendered perfect obedience to the law of God, establishing perfect righteousness for all who trust him. — For the guilty he died, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. — As the sinner's Substitute, Christ died upon the cross, satisfying the law and justice of God for the sins of all who believe on him.

      Today, the Son of God sits as King in heaven, Lord over all things. As the great High Priest over the house of God, this great Savior sovereignly rules all things for the salvation of his people. Yonder in heaven, at the Father’s right hand, he makes intercession by the merits of his blood for the salvation of sinners.

      Trust him, and in spite of what you have done, he will save you forever by what he has done. God help you to trust him.

8

“He Delighteth In Mercy”

Micah 7:18

In Christ and for his sake, the God of glory delights in mercy. It is his glory and pleasure to be merciful. Mercy is never a mere wish or dormant desire in God to do something for miserable sinners. Oh, no! God’s mercy in Christ is ever active, operative and effectual, gloriously effectual. Look at what Micah says God will do for sinners, because “he delighteth in mercy.”

Iniquity Pardoned

He will pardon iniquity, because “he delighteth in mercy.” He who is our God is the holy Lord God “that pardoneth iniquity.” The word “pardoneth” means that he lifts up sin and takes it away. He lifts sin up off of us and lays it upon Christ, the true scapegoat, who takes it away. That is exactly what happened at Calvary (Isaiah 53:6). This is the good news of the gospel. God says to every believing sinner, — “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass away from thee” (Zechariah 3:4).

Transgression Passed By

The Lord God passes by the transgression of his remnant, because “he delighteth in mercy.” There is an elect remnant among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, chosen of God unto eternal life, whose sins were put away by the sacrifice of Christ, “a remnant according to the election of grace.” Having put away their transgression by the sacrifice of his Son, God passes by it, taking no notice of it, as if he did not see it, because he does not see it (Numbers 23:21). Therefore, he will never impute sin to his people, nor call them into account for it (Romans 4:8). Through the blood of Christ, it is covered, atoned, blotted out and washed away.

As C. H. Spurgeon put it, “Our sins are so effectually removed that we shall not ultimately suffer any loss or damage through having sinned.”

He who is our God forgives sin. His very name is forgiveness (Exodus 34:5-7). God forgives sin completely, absolutely, irreversibly and forever, because he forgives it justly! God forgives sin upon the basis of justice satisfied. He forgives the sins of those for whom Christ died, because justice satisfied demands it (Romans 3:24-26).

Anger Not Retained

God will not retain his just anger against his people, because “he delighteth in mercy” (Isaiah 12:1-2). God’s anger, wrath and justice, being fully satisfied in the sufferings and death of Christ, are turned away from his people. Where there is no offense, there is no cause for anger. Since God has put away our sins by the sacrifice of his dear Son, he has no reason to be angry with his people; and he never is!

9

Grace Bulletin

May 18, 2008

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

Schedule of Regular Services

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

Television Broadcasts in Danville

Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

http://www.freegraceradio.com

http://www.sovereign-grace.com/gracechurch.htm

Don Fortner

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com