September 18^th, 2016

9:30 am

10:00 am ----------------------------------------------------------------Messages by brother Walter Pendleton

Nursery Today: Second Service -- Irene, Alt. -- Margaret

Lawn Mowing: This week: Stan A., Next Week: Wesley H.

Birthdays: September: 25^th -- Janine Kess,

GOD’S GIFT

God’s gift of eternal life is like our gift giving in at least three ways.

First, when we give a gift we give it to whomsoever we will. Likewise, God gives eternal life to whomsoever he will. (Jn 17: 1-2; 9, 24) Suppose you gave a gift to someone you love and strangers began to accuse you of being unjust because you did not give them the same gift. You would think they were absurd. They have no right to question you or accuse you. Neither does any sinner have a right to question God. (Rom 9: 14-21)

Secondly, when we give a gift we purchase it ourselves. Likewise, God sent his Son who paid the purchase price of his precious blood to give his people eternal life in him. (Lev 17:11; Heb 9: 22; Acts 20: 28) “Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” (Job 33: 24)

Lastly, when we give a gift we give it to the one for whom we purchased it. Likewise, God irresistibly creates his people anew and gives the gift of eternal life to us through faith in Christ. We do not purchase a gift then sit on a shelf and hope someone will come claim it as their own. We take the gift to the one for whom we bought it and make sure they get it. So does God. But here is a difference. When we give a gift the person to whom we give it has the ability to receive our gift. But each sinner to whom God shall give this free gift of eternal life does not even have the ability to receive it until God even gives faith and repentance to receive this gift in his Son. (Jn 3: 5; Jn 6:53; Eph 2:8; Gal 4: 4-6)

When we receive a gift we are thankful and express our gratitude to the giver. So we do to Christ. What would we think of someone who received a gift from us which we paid a great sum to purchase, which we gave freely to them, only to have them go about telling everyone that they earned that gift or deserved that gift or worked for that gift or that we are unjust not to give the same gift to everyone? Believers glory in the LORD, giving all the praise only to God, telling everyone we can about the great gift Giver and the gift of his Son. (2 Cor 9:11, 8-15) “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” (1 Chr 16: 8) – Clay Curtis

Not Excellency of Speech

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. – 1 Corinthians 2:1

A gospel sermon is not a work of art, or a display of human knowledge. It is a plain and simple declaration of the truth of God. It will be quite boring to those who have no interest in Christ. The reading of a will would be mind-numbing legalese unless you are a beneficiary. So the gospel message is of no consequence save to those who are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

There is a tendency toward making the gospel interesting or novel, and this is why Paul highlights this specific determination not to. But fleshly displays of human wisdom or art only make the message interesting to the self-righteous. A real sinner finds nothing of more interest than the simple truth of God being merciful to sinners in Christ.