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Grace Baptist Church of Danville December 16, 2012
Christ was born at Bethlehem that he might do all the will of his Father as the incarnate God, our Mediator, thereby bringing in everlasting righteousness for his elect, and accomplish death at Calvary as our covenant Surety, thereby making an end of our transgressions.
Daily Readings for the Week of December 16-23, 2012 Sunday Hebrews 6-8 Thursday James 3-1 Peter 1 Monday Hebrews 9-10 Friday 1 Peter 2-5 Tuesday Hebrews 11-12 Saturday 2 Peter 1-3 Wednesday Hebrews 13-James 2 Sunday 1 John 1-5
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Bro. P. J. Nevels. The Lord Jesus took our friend to Heaven early Friday morning, December 7th.
“Thank you” does not begin to adequately describe our gratitude to our God for you, for the privilege of serving our Redeemer with you, and for the love, kindness, and generosity you have bestowed upon us these many years. Yet, we can say neither more nor less. — Thank you. Don and Shelby
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Celeste Peterson-19th Bettina Criss-22nd Frank Hall-23rd
NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK Today: Vicci Rolley (AM) Debbie Bartley (PM) Tuesday: Mindy Peterson
See the Savior Full of Grace – Don Fortner (Tune: #93 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – 77.77.77)
1. See the Savior full of grace Come to earth, the Prince of Peace. He of whom the prophets spoke Came as Man in flesh and blood. Though the world no beauty sees, Neither form, nor comeliness, There’s a people taught by grace — We know who Immanuel is. God, almighty God is He, God in our humanity!
2. Though the world accounts Him base, We see mercy in His face. Prostrate at His feet we fall, And own Him the Lord of all! Christ’s obedience and His blood Reconciled us to our God. Jesus, Savior, Prince of Peace, Full of truth and full of grace, Reign o’er us by mighty grace `Til in heav’n we see Your face!
Believers and the Law of God Pastor Scott Richardson
I defy anyone to find a solitary text of Scripture in the New Testament that uses the law to motivate, inspire, regulate, or even guide the believer. Believers are motivated by love, inspired by gratitude, regulated by grace, and guided by the Holy Spirit. The whole Word of God, the complete revelation of His will is our law. Our lives are governed by love, not by fear. We walk by faith, not by legislation. We walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Romans 8:9-14; Galatians 3:3).
7 “Call His Name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14
As believers in this gospel age, we do not esteem one day above another. We observe no holy days, new moons, or sabbath days. To us, every day is alike. Yet, as this season of the year suggests thoughts about the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will joyfully remember our blessed Redeemer’s birth. I want us to go down to Bethlehem today, and, in company with the wondering shepherds and adoring wise men of the east, let us see him who is born King of kings and Lord of lords. I hope that you can by faith claim an interest in him, and can sing, “Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
Who is this Babe of Bethlehem?
Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. Let us adore him. His name is Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature. That one who was carried in Mary’s womb for nine months is Mary’s God. That one who came forth from Mary’s womb is Mary’s Creator. It is true that his human body was miraculously conceived in the womb of the virgin by the overshadowing power of God the Holy Spirit.
As to his human nature, our Lord was born as the seed of woman. — “Unto us a child is born.” But do not ever think that Mary is the mother of God. That notion of the papists is blasphemy. As to his Divine nature, the prophet does not say that he was born, but rather, — “Unto us a Son is given”. The Lord Jesus Christ is himself God the eternal Son. In the incarnation God joined himself to and assumed our nature. He is as truly God as though he were not man, and as truly man as though he were not God. Our Redeemer is the God-man Mediator, Immanuel. The sweetest word in all the English language is that golden name, — Immanuel. God has come in human flesh to redeem fallen man!
Why did the Lord Jesus Christ come to this earth?
Our Lord did not assume our nature to establish an earthly kingdom in which the Jewish nation might rule the world. We are expressly told that he came to save his people from their sins, according to the will of God. — “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). — “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). Immanuel is God come to save. The Son of God assumed human nature at Bethlehem for the express purpose of redeeming his people at Calvary, dying in our place under the wrath of God, as our Substitute.
What has the Lord Jesus done?
8 He has done exactly what he came here to do. He has redeemed his people. As a real man, the Son of God lived in this world for thirty-three years, perfectly fulfilling the righteous requirements of God’s holy law. He established a perfect righteousness as the Representative of his people, bringing in an everlasting righteousness, such as God is pleased to accept. Then, at the appointed time, he laid down his life as our Substitute at Calvary, satisfying the wrath and justice of God against his people. By his righteous obedience to the law and his sin-atoning sacrifice, the God-man, Immanuel, has accomplished his Father’s will and redeemed unto himself a people.
Where is Immanuel today?
That very Babe who was born at Bethlehem, lived in the regions of Judea for thirty-three years, and died at Calvary to redeem his people is now seated upon the throne of universal dominion. He is the King of Glory! With sovereign, universal power, he is ruling this world to accomplish the salvation of those very people he has redeemed. God has “given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life unto as many as his Father has given him” (John 17:2). “O come, let us adore him!” Immanuel, the God-man, is our Savior and our King!
The pastor’s work is done in his study, on his knees, alone with God, relentlessly studying Holy Scripture, seeking God’s message for his people, praying for grace and light for himself and for those who hear what he says, read what he writes, and are influenced by his life. Pastoral work is not social work, counseling, or education. Pastoral work is gospel preaching. — If a man would preach the gospel, let him give up all other concerns and devote his entire life to this one thing. — Study, pray, preach! God’s servant must make time for nothing else.
Post-it Note or Real 2 Corinthian 5:21
When the Holy Spirit declares that our great Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, was “made sin for us,” does he mean for us to understand that God put a post-it note on his Son that read “sin” and killed him?
You know better. Such a view of imputation is beyond absurd. It is contrary to everything revealed in Holy Scripture about the character of our God and the sin-atoning suffering and death of our dear Savior.
God’s imputation of sin to his darling Son was a just imputation, because the transfer of sin from chosen sinners to their Surety was real. — “He hath made him to be sin for us!” God’s imputation of righteousness to his elect is also a just imputation, because he has made us “the righteousness of God in him!”
Our sin was not pasted on our Savior; and his righteousness is not pasted on the believer. Christ was “made sin for us,” and we are “made the righteousness of God in him.”
9 The Grace Bulletin
December 16, 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 7:45 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 |
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