December 21, 2014
SOVEREIGN
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse,
2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New
Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
Telephone:
615-513-4464
Schedule
of Services
Sunday 10: 15 AM
Bible Class
Sunday 11:00 AM Morning
Service
Thursday 7: 30 PM
Midweek Service
Sermons on Video @
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTMz0BLtC8MXNnhcHi_KXjA
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NURSERY
We have
a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all
services live, for children four and under.
Check the announcements.
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All articles in the bulletin are by the pastor unless
otherwise noted.
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So that everyone can enjoy time with their families no
mid-week services are scheduled for Thursday, December 25th. Our regular mid-week services are scheduled
for New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 7:30pm.
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CHILD BORN, SON GIVEN
Isaiah 9: 6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…
Christ is Man,
the “child born”; Christ is God, the “Son given.” Man cannot obtain eternal
redemption; God cannot die; but the GodMan did both—“by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb 9: 12)
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Hebrews 10: 5: Wherefore when he cometh
into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body
hast thou prepared me: 6: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou
hast had no pleasure. 7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it
is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
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BORN KING
Matthew 2: 2: Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
Christ Jesus was born King. No
sinner makes him Lord. He was born King of the Jews, whom he redeemed out of
every kindred, tongue, people and nation. (Rom 2: 28-29; 9: 6-8; Php 3: 3; Rev
5: 9; Is 9: 6-7) The government of his kingdom rested upon his shoulder from eternity.
(Is 42: 1) He established his kingdom, every member in particular, with equity
and justice by magnifying and making honorable the law of God for his people. (Is
42: 21; Rom 3: 26; Eph 2: 19; Gal 3: 13)
Now, from his throne of grace, our King orders his kingdom with the same
judgment and justice through the preaching of the gospel, ruling in the midst
of his people, as well as over his enemies. (Ps 110: 1-4; Pro 21: 1; Is 11: 4-5;
32: 1-2; Mt 28: 18; Rev 19: 11) When he has
made the last of his servants bow in faith he shall return, gathering all his
people in heaven and in earth together in him. (Eph 1: 10) In the great day of
judgment every knee shall bow, confessing him Lord, to the glory of God the
Father (Php 2: 10-11; Heb 10: 13) There shall be no end of his government. (Dan
7: 27; Ps 145: 13; Mt 6: 13)
Believer, what does this mean for us?
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Heb
12: 28)
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THREE PEOPLE
Matthew 2: 1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to
Jerusalem, 2: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have
seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3: When Herod the king
had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
In these three
verses we have the only three persons that exist. First, there is Christ the King. He is King of
kings and Lord of lords before whom every knee shall bow. Next, there are
would-be-kings. When would-be -kings hear that Christ is King, they are
troubled. Then, there are wise men.
They are wise because they come to Christ “to worship him.” Are you a wise man
or a would-be king? (Ps 2: 1-10)
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THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL GIVE YOU A SIGN
Isaiah 7: 14: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you
a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel.
When Christ walked this earth,
Pharisee’s came to him saying, “Master, we would see a sign from thee.” (Mt 12:
38) But Christ would not give them their request. Why? Years before, through
the prophet Isaiah, the LORD told king Ahaz to ask for a sign. Under pretense of
piety, Ahaz refused. Isaiah declared, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign.”
When the virgin conceived, it was the Lord himself giving you a sign that
he is the Seed of woman which was promised in the garden. (Gen 3: 15; Jer 31: 22; Mt 1: 18-20) His being conceived of the
Holy Ghost, rather than of the corrupt seed of man, was the Lord himself giving
you a sign that he is the only holy Man ever born; thus he was fit to lay down
his life in place of his sinful brethren. (Lu 1: 35; Heb 2: 14) By commanding
his name be called Immanuel, it was the Lord himself giving you a sign that he
is God with us, providing himself a Lamb. (Gen 22: 8; 2 Cor 5: 19) When he
ascended, after three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, it was
the Lord himself giving you a sign that he is both, just and the Justifier of
him which believes in Jesus. (Mt 12: 39-40; Rom 3: 26)
The Lord gave the Pharisee’s no other sign, because Christ is himself
the sign. Ahaz’s refusal of the Sign, as
well as the Pharisee’s request for another, were rejections of Christ himself. Left
to ourselves, every sinner will do the same. Then how shall each of God’s elect
be brought to believe? “The Lord himself shall give you a Sign.”
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Isaiah 7: 14: Behold, a virgin…shall call his name Immanuel.
How and when did the virgin call Jesus, Immanuel? God
chose her by grace, “thou hast found favour with God” (Lu 1: 30); the Holy
Spirit revealed Christ in her, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son
of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end” (Lu 1:32-33); thus God made her magnify and call his
name Immanuel, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Lu 1:46-47)