CENTRAL BULLETIN October 30, 2016

Central Grace Church

3596 Franklin Street . Rocky Mount, Virginia

October 30^th , 2016

9:30 am -------------------------------------The Man Believed The Word – John 4:43-54

10:00 am --------------------------------------------- What Isaiah Saw & Heard – Isaiah 6

Nursery Today: Second Service – Margaret T. , Alt. -- Mary P.

Cleaning: This Week: Mike & Karen, Next Week: Dan & Jill

Birthdays: November 8^th – Dan Ogle & Kevin Berry, 13^th – Aimee Poff, 14^th – Elizabeth Torrence, 15^th – Debra Huff

All services may be listened to live on mixlr.com. Type in CentralGraceChurch and follow us.

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." -- Matthew 5:20

There are three kinds of righteousness, or at least three kinds of righteousness which bear that name. There is inherent righteousness, of which we have none. There is imputed righteousness, which is all our justification. And there is imparted righteousness, when God the Spirit makes us new creatures, and raises up in the heart that "new man, which after God" (that is, "after the image of God") "is created in righteousness and true holiness." When the Lord, therefore, said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven," he did not mean only an external righteousness wrought out by his obedience to the law for them, but an internal righteousness wrought out by the Holy Spirit in them. Thus we read of the inward as well as the outward apparel of the Church, "The King's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold." Two kinds of righteousness belong to the Queen; her imputed righteousness is her outward robe, "the clothing of wrought gold;" but imparted righteousness is her inward adorning, which makes her "all-glorious within." This inward glory is the new man in the heart, with all his gifts and graces, what Peter calls "the divine nature," "Christ in the heart, the hope of glory.” – J.C. Philpot

Why Do We Preach From The Old Testament?

Most people today probably think the old testament is irrelevant to our day; calling it ‘the old bible’ of old Jewish laws, traditions and ceremonies. But God’s people know differently. God’s people know that the old and new testament make up one bible, one book, the Word of God. Here are just a few reasons why we preach from the old testament as well as the new.

It is God’s Word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable . . .” (2 Tim.3:16).

It is the Bible the prophets, apostles, and the Lord preached from. And so does every true preacher sent by God.

It all testifies of Christ. “They are they which testify of me” Christ said, is speaking of the old testament. “To Him give all the prophets witness.” “In the volume of the Book it is written of me (Christ).”

It proves Him to be the true Christ. Exact details concerning the coming Christ are written in the old testament prophecies, so that we would know Him when He came. Exact details of His birth, His life, His words, His work, His death, His resurrection and His return. The Lord Jesus Christ perfectly fulfills all the prophecies concerning the coming Christ, Son of God, Redeemer, Messiah, Covenant Head, Emmanuel! There is no mistake. Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the living God!

The old testament is hid from most but revealed to God’s people. The disciples asked the Lord, “Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?” He answered, “Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Most people read or hear the stories of Noah and the ark, of Moses, of Joseph, of Ruth, of David, of Daniel and other familiar old stories and see them as moral stories of man’s faithfulness and inspiring stories for us to try and emulate. But God’s people see Christ is all and in al the law of Moses, the prophets, the Psalms; yea every book, chapter, and verse clearly shows a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Person and work. The old testament is a sealed book to most, it’s true meaning hidden from the wise and prudent, like the parables, but revealed unto God’s children.

Because God hasn’t changed. His Word hasn’t changed. And really, man hasn’t changed. And the Truth of Who God is, what man is, Who Christ is, and how a sinner is saved is clearly contained in the old testament as in the new. And when God reveals Christ to us through the preaching of the old testament, He not only proves Him to be the Christ, but proves us to be His people (read Isaiah 29:9-24).