Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 5-15-2015
Bible TextEphesians 3:1
Date14-May-2016
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
 

May 15, 2016

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

 

Services Broadcast Live @ www.FreeGraceMedia.com/live

 

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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.  

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All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted. As you read the bulletin at home with your children be sure to look up the scripture references.

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OH! WHAT A CONTRAST!

 

1 Corinthians 9: 15: But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me:

 

     The imagination cannot furnish to itself a more beautiful picture of disinterestedness than is here set forth of the Apostle Paul. He was not arguing for himself, for he would rather have died, than that it should have been said, he preached for filthy lucre sake. But he was contending for others. He felt distress that any of GOD’S faithful ministers should lack the bread that perisheth while dispensing the bread that endureth to everlasting life. But, as to himself, he sought not profit, but usefulness to souls. Oh! what a contrast to those who receive, but not give; who mind earthly things, and not heavenly. Paul knew that he served a bountiful Master, and that his LORD would not suffer him to want, while giving out to his people. But he that looks at the profit, and regards not the fold, will have a woeful account to render in, when the Chief Shepherd appears! Robert Hawker

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LEST I MYSELF BE REJECTED

 

1 Corinthians 9: 26…so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

    The word “castaway” means rejected or reprobate. Of course, Paul wanted never to be found a reprobate. If a professing believer is found so he only proves that he was never really born of God. But in the context, Paul has been showing why he laid aside his liberty, was temperate and fought against the lusts of his fleshly nature. It was because Paul did not want something about himself to be the reason that his hearers rejected him and therefore rejected his gospel.

   This should be the heart of all who are Christ’s. Our life is not our own but Christ’s.  Always remember that the focus must be on Christ, not us. Younger believers are watching to follow you as you follow Christ. Avoid even the appearance of evil so that you do not cause them to err by your own sins. God give us grace to set our affection on Christ that through the Spirit we might be willing to lay aside our liberty in things indifferent and mortify the sinful lusts of our flesh.

 

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REASONS FOR REJECTION

 

Ephesians 3: 1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,… 13: Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

 

    The last time the older believers at Ephesus saw Paul he was going to Jerusalem. Imagine their heartbreak when they heard Paul was in prison. Paul was accused of teaching “all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.” (Acts 21: 28)

 

AGAINST THE PEOPLE

The Jews were sons of Abraham, their parents circumcised them as infants and they thought they kept the law of Moses. For these reasons they thought they were the elect of God. But the gospel declares God’s elect are chosen by God’s grace and born, not due to blood relations, not by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but of God. (Jn 1: 13) By Christ’s blood through the Holy Spirit we have access to the Father. (Eph 2: 17-18)

 

AGAINST THE LAW

They accused Paul of preaching against the law of Moses. The gospel is not against the law of Moses but Moses bore witness in the law that Christ is the Righteousness of God for his people. He is the end of the law for all who believe because Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf.  (Jn 5: 46; Eph 2: 13-15; Rom 10: 4) The gospel declares we are sanctified by God the Father in divine election, by Christ’s one offering and by regeneration of the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1: 1; Heb 2: 11; 10: 10, 14; 1 Cor 6: 11) The law was given only to be a ministration of death to declare us guilty sinners. (2 Cor 3: 7; Rom 3: 19-20) The believer’s rule of life is Christ our Life who leads us by the Spirit. We are commanded to look only to Christ who teaches us how we are to walk. (Gal 5: 16-17; Heb 12: 1-3)

 

AGAINST THIS PLACE

They accused Paul of preaching against their earthly city and temple. Unregenerate religious sinners love only what they can see: their so-called holy land, buildings, churches, priests, and denominations. (Rom 8: 5) The gospel declares Christ is our High Priest. We are fellow citizens of heavenly Jerusalem with a temple made by God our Savior. (Heb 8: 1-2; 11: 9-10) The LORD God Almighty and the Lamb is our temple and believers are his holy temple who God inhabits through the Spirit. (Rev 21: 22; Eph 2: 19-21) Christ made his people a kingly priesthood and our sacrifices are spiritual in Christ. (1 Pet 2: 5)

 

BROUGHT IN GREEKS AND POLLUTED

They were offended that Paul fellowshipped with those vile Gentile dogs. Yet, those Gentiles were circumcised in heart, washed in Christ’s blood and accepted of God. Carnally religious men judge unjustly by outward appearance rejecting those who do not measure up to their standard of holiness.  Christ said, “Ye judge after the flesh.” (Jn 8: 15) Paul said, “henceforth know we no man after the flesh:...Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God,…” (2 Cor 5: 16-18) We are to no longer judge our brethren after the flesh using old covenant law, old confidences, old prejudices or old man-made standards. “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Php 3: 3)

 

  Paul wrote this letter assuring his brethren and us that though men put him in prison, he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us. In spite of the persecution this was reason to rejoice. It was for the good of believers and Christ’s glory.   Brethren, stand fast and rejoice when we are blessed to suffer for his sake. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” (Php 1: 29) Paul said, “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”

 

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We know Christ died for all who justice demands must and shall be called to faith by what Christ accomplished by his death—“now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9: 26)