Grace Baptist Church of Danville

June 24, 2012

That perfect love which “casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18) is “the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Romans 5:5) when he creates faith in his elect, sealing to our hearts all the blessings of his goodness and grace in Christ by the gift of faith in him (Ephesians 1:13-14).

·      Danville Conference — Our conference is scheduled for August 31 – September 2. Services will begin at 7:00 PM Friday, August 31 and conclude with the 11:00 AM message on Sunday, September 2.

·      I am scheduled to preach July 3-4 for the San Diego Sovereign Grace Fellowship, San Diego, CA.

·      Rescue Baptist Church in Rescue, CA will host its summer Bible conference July 6-8. Speakers: Milton Howard, Donnie Bell, and Don Fortner. Bro. Gene Harman is pastor.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Josh Peterson-25^th  Ruth Peterson-25^th  Walter Groover-25^th   Mary Lou Duff-28^th    Stacey Hall-29^th    Dee Dee Raneri-29^th    P.J. Nevels-1^st 

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Alexis Mason (AM) Pam Wood (PM)          Tuesday: Dee Dee Raneri

Perfect in Christ — Don Fortner

(Tune: #33 — Stand Up and Bless the Lord —SM)

1.    All praise to Christ the Lamb,

Whose off ring once for all,

Appointed by the great I AM,

Redeemed us from the fall!

2.    Your efficacious blood,

By pow’r divine applied,

Makes perfect all the Church of God, —

Chosen and sanctified.

3.    No condemnation now,

Against the chosen race,

Perfect, forever, Lord we bow,

And glory in Your grace!

4.    Here is my hope, my rest, —

With Jesus’ blood applied

I’m ever perfect, ever blest,

And ever satisfied!

5.    By God the Holy Ghost

I trust Christ crucified;

And perfect with the heav’nly host,

I shall be glorified,

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The Lord Our Righteousness

“In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:6)

Here is a glorious, distinct character by which our all glorious Christ is revealed in the gospel: — “The Lord our Righteousness.” May God the Holy Spirit give us wisdom and grace always to call our most glorious Savior by this name and find constant, unceasing satisfaction in the fact that he, who alone is righteousness, is made of God unto us righteousness. This One, who is “the Lord our Righteousness,” is himself the Lord Jehovah and the Lord our Mediator. Yet, his righteousness could never be ours were he not the infinite God. It is as our God-man Mediator that he is called, “the Lord Our Righteousness.”

            The righteousness we possess in him is called “the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21), because it is a righteousness required by God, wrought by God, accepted by God, given by God, and rewarded by God. Because it is altogether God’s work and God’s gift, it is a righteousness that can never be lost or taken away.

The prophet says, “This is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.” He shall be, and is called, “The Lord our Righteousness”, by every sinner who is made to know by Holy Spirit conviction that he is a sinner without one shred of righteousness of his own, a wretch who is nothing but sin and can do nothing but sin.

We rejoice to call our Lord Jesus Christ “the Lord our Righteousness” when we speak to God. God is holy, righteous, perfect, and pure. It would be impossible for us ever to approach him, except through the infinite merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness. However, as we enter into the holy place, waving this censer, “The Lord our Righteousness,” we “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).

We delight to call the Son of God “the Lord our Righteousness” when we speak to our own hearts. When Satan assails us and harasses us with our many sins, our lack of faith, our lack of love to Christ, and unfaithfulness, we speak peace to our souls with these sweet words, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength” (Isaiah 45:24). Only a hypocrite finds peace in his own righteousness, for his righteousness is only the imaginary righteousness of a deluded Pharisee. Believers speak peace to their souls by calling Christ “The Lord our Righteousness.”

Saved sinners love to call the Son of God by this name when they speak to one another as well. In baptism, we confess him to be “The Lord our Righteousness.” At the Lord’s Table, we remember him as “The Lord our Righteousness.” In all our songs of praise, in all our public prayers, in all our preaching, all who truly know and worship God call his Son, “The Lord our Righteousness.” We call our blessed Savior by this name with confidence, because God the Father calls his Son “The Lord our Righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Is the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord your Righteousness? May God enable you now to call him such from a heart of true repentance and faith.

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The Lord Our Righteousness

“In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:16)

This is a fact so indescribably glorious that it could not be believed by anyone were it not written upon the pages of Holy Scripture: — The Son of God is “the Lord our Righteousness,” and we who are God’s are “the righteousness of God in him!” We know, by constant, bitter experience, that all our righteousnesses are dross, and dung, and filthy rags. Our most righteous deeds are no more acceptable to the holy Lord God than utter blasphemy. Nothing can be found more precious to sinners who know themselves sinners than the fact that Christ is made of God unto us righteousness. He is so thoroughly made the righteousness of God unto us that we are “the righteousness of God in him.”

            How far can that thought be carried biblically? Is there danger of excess here? Must we be careful, lest someone carry this too far? Oh, no! That is impossible! Believing sinners are so thoroughly made the righteousness of God in Christ that God himself declares of his Church, “This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” Roll that over in your heart until it overwhelms you.

            If Christ is “The Lord our Righteousness,” as the Word of God declares he is, it is only reasonable and right that his Bride be called by his name. A loving, faithful wife always takes her husband’s name. She is not fit to be called a wife who refuses to do so. So, too, a good husband delights to give his wife his name, and he is honored for her to wear it and use it, because all that he is and has is hers. Yet, no earthly marriage comes close to fully portraying the union between Christ and his Church. Married to Christ, we have all that he has as our Mediator. Indeed, as his body and bride, we are “the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). It is written in the Book of God, “He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Ours is a marriage union that transcends all marriage unions. Others shall be dissolved at death. Ours is forever (Hosea 2:19).

            “Christ loved the church and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). The Son of God came into this world in human flesh for us, lived in obedience to God for us, was made sin for us, died for us, arose for us, was exalted for us, intercedes for us, and reigns upon his throne for us. Everything he is as the God-man Mediator, he is for us. Everything he does, he does for us. Everything he possesses, he possesses for us and gives to us (John 17:22; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:3). Among all the things our all glorious Christ has wrought for us and given to us, none is more glorious, delightful, and satisfying than this - “He is made of God unto us Righteousness” and we are made “the righteousness of God in him.” His righteousness is our righteousness, presently and permanently. Therefore, we are, as the Word of God declares, “meet (worthy) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). As in a true marriage, a husband is everything to his wife and a wife everything to her husband, so in this — Christ is everything to his Bride and she is everything to him; and the name of this holy couple is “The Lord our Righteousness!”

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The Grace Bulletin

June 24, 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