Grace Baptist Church of Danville

April 22, 2012

To believe that Jesus is the Christ is to believe that the man Jesus actually did all that the Old Testament Scriptures said the Christ would do, that he made an end of sin, brought in everlasting righteousness, fulfilled all the law, and saved his people from their sins. — “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).

·      I am preaching today for the New Focus Conference hosted by Knebworth Grace Church in Knebworth, England. Bro. Allan Jellett is pastor. — Monday and Tuesday I am scheduled to preach for the Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Ballymony, North Ireland.

·      Bros. Ron Wood and Frank Hall will preach the gospel to you today (Isaiah 52:7).

·      Bro. Larry Criss will be here to preach the gospel to you Tuesday night. Larry is pastor of Fairmont Grace Church in Sylacauga, Alabama.

·      We will have our Quarterly Fellowship next Sunday. There will be no service here next Sunday night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Joyce Montgomery-25^th

CHURCH CLEANING IN MAY: Lindsay & Diane Campbell

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Pam Wood (AM) Laura Peterson (PM)          Tuesday: Dee Dee Raneri

O Sing unto the Lord — Don Fortner

(Tune: This is My Father’s World — #39 — SMD)

1.    O sing unto the Lord! His glory tell abroad!

Proclaim to all who hear your voice the honors of our God.

God reigns upon His throne, the sovereign Lord of all.

All things in heaven, earth, and hell, yield to His firm control.

2.    Sinners redeemed by blood and saved by sovereign grace,

Extol the name of our great God and give the Lord His praise.

Give glory to the Lord for mercy, love, and grace,

Give God the glory due His name, all sinners saved by grace.

            In the beginning of what is now called by many, “The Sovereign Grace Movement,” men who believed the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ (T.U.L.I.P.) came together, worshipped together, and preached together as brethren in Christ. Landmarkers, Dispensationalists, Amillennialists, Postmillennialists, those who believed the law is our rule of life, and those who asserted that believer’s are free from the law, even paedobaptists and Baptists labored together to promote the gospel of God’s grace and glory in Christ. — Imagine that! Today, we are more theologically sophisticated and precise. Instead of assaulting the gates of hell, we assault each other!

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When should we break fellowship with a brother in Christ?

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

There are a good many people who are more interested in breaking fellowship than in cultivating it. I am fearful of such men. I have often had men to “break fellowship” with me. Some have broken fellowship with me because I am not a Landmark Baptist. Others break fellowship with me because I am not a legalist, denouncing me as a base antinomian. Some have broken fellowship with me because they say I preach too much grace and others because I do not preach their brand of eschatology. A preacher I have known for years decided to break all fellowship with me because I differ with him about the number of elders a church with ten men must have!

      When should we break fellowship with a brother in Christ? I answer, — Never! True fellowship in Christ can never be broken, anymore than true love can become hatred. If my brother falls, I am not to trample on him, but lift him up. If he strays, I am not to cut him off, but embrace him. If he errs, I am not to kick him out of the way, but lead him in it.

      I have had some experience in this matter. Once, a group of preachers got together and prayed for God’s judgment to fall upon me. What they rejoiced in as God’s curse upon me was truly his greatest possible blessing. I pity such malicious men. Their doctrine is so weak that it must maintain its adherents by fear of a curse. I never have broken, nor do I ever intend to break fellowship with a brother in Christ. Find me a man who truly believes the gospel of God’s grace, and you have found me a companion. Find me a man who loves Christ, and you have found a man whom I shall love. Find me a man who preaches the gospel of God’s free, sovereign grace in Christ, seeks the glory of my God, and labors for the interest of Christ’s kingdom, and you will have found a soldier by whose side I shall gladly serve my Master.

      I am not interested in breaking fellowship. I am interested in building fellowship. The boundary of my fellowship with men is as broad as the gospel of Christ and as limited as the gospel. I have many friends around the world who, though they clearly believe the gospel of Christ, differ with me on various points of doctrine. We are fully aware of our differences. They, as I, are passionate about the things they believe. Yet, we are friends, walking in sweet fellowship in the kingdom of God.

      If our friendship ceases, if our fellowship is broken, it will be because they have chosen to break it. I will not do so. How can I refuse fellowship with one who is my brother in Christ? Arminian, freewill, works religion of every form I denounce as heresy. There is no common ground of fellowship between worshippers of God and will-worshippers! But those who embrace the Christ of God I delight to embrace as my brethren. If the triune, sovereign God is your God, if you rejoice in God’s free electing love, Christ’s effectual blood atonement, the Holy Spirit’s omnipotent mercy and irresistible grace, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, give me your hand. We are brethren!

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Candlestick Removed

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5)

The Apostle Paul came to Ephesus, a city of more than 225,000 people, on his third missionary journey. He preached the gospel in that place for over three years (Acts 18-20). Multitudes were converted by the grace of God. A gospel church was established, which quickly became a lighthouse for truth, from which the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ went forth into all the world. The church at Ephesus was devoted to Christ. It was known throughout the Christian world for its devotion to and zeal for Christ.

      But that local church, like so many since, is no more. Though it was, for many years, a faithful congregation, the Lord Jesus Christ discovered a very sad fault in the church at Ephesus. The pastor, the angel of the church, did not discern the fault. The people were unaware of it. But Christ saw it. Therefore, he sent a letter to the church (Revelation 2) to be read publicly in the assembly of the saints. How their hearts must have sunk when they read these words from the Savior — “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” — “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

      Because the Ephesian church left its first love, because they found something more important to them than Christ, his gospel, and his glory, he removed the candlestick out of its place (Revelation 2:5). That great lighthouse became a den of darkness and withered away. What a loud word of warning that should be to us!

      The Church of God must and will stand until time shall be no more. But the candlestick is a piece of furniture in the house that may be removed without the least injury to the house. In other words, local churches, that includes you and me, are expendable. The only purpose for the existence of any local church is that it might be a pillar and ground of truth, holding forth the light of the gospel in this dark world for the glory of Christ. If it ceases to do that, the candlestick should and shall be removed out of its place.

      Let every local church and every believer be warned and take heed. Cling tenaciously, uncompromisingly to the “old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). Beware of any who would turn your heart from Christ and his gospel. Beware of any who would undermine the ministry of that man by whom God taught you the gospel and turn your affections away from him (Galatians 1:6; 4:15).

      Let no one move you away “from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached” to you by God’s faithful messenger to your soul. As those who followed Absalom to hell turned their backs upon faithful king David, who had given his life to Israel, I have seen many turn their backs upon men of proven faithfulness to their souls, men who devoted their lives to preaching the gospel to them, to follow a false prophet condescending from his high place, because he knew how to pipe and harp to itching ears.

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The Grace Bulletin

April 22, 2012

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.

Television Broadcasts in Harrodsburg

Channel 6 - Sunday Afternoon 3:00 P.M.

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

Web Pages

http://www.DonFortner.com

http://www.FreegraceRadio.com

http://www.Grace-eBooks.com

Don Fortner

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com