December 18^th , 2016

9:30 am -----------------------------------------------------Christ, The True Bread – John 6:30-51

10:00 am ----------------------Christ, The Sovereign Successful Servant – Isaiah 42/Matthew 12

Wednesday: 7:30 pm -------------------- True Grace, Part 5 – Adorning Grace – 1 Peter 3:1-14

SIN: A MOST WICKED PLAGUE

A number of things probably come to mind concerning the subject of sin. Murder, rape, incest, sexual perversion, etc.; but these things are merely the symptoms of the disease. Sin is the most wicked thing in the world. Sin is as wicked as its author Satan. Sin has the devilish spirit of Satan for its nature. Sin is meaner than hell itself.

We often equate sin with those heinous and most terrible things named above, and attribute it to those who commit such things. Sin, my readers, is a principle; and like an untamed beast it lurks in the darkness of our being. Sin is not only found in the pervert, the rapist, the murderer, and the person that commits incest, it is found in principle in the heart of the best Christian. The most ardent and faithful follower of Christ is hindered and plagued by this beast called sin. The most blinding force that shields the mind from a personal understanding of sin in the heart is self-righteousness. A self-righteous person only sees sin in others. Remember the parable that Christ spoke in Luke 18? He directed it toward those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

A man will never be justified in his sin; he may be justified from it but not in it. Experimental justification comes by embracing Christ; when by faith we lay hold on Him, trusting Him for all our righteousness, and all our hope and peace before God, He becomes our justification with God. Along with embracing Christ by faith comes also a turning loose of sin as our idol. Sin may, and will continue with the believer throughout life, but no longer as his bosom pal, rather as a dreaded enemy.

Sin can manifest itself in believers in some of the grossest forms, such as murder, adultery, and etc.; but usually it shows up in more subtle forms such as envy, jealousy, resentment, unkindness, pride, and selfishness. If these things go unchecked and unconfessed they will be the death of communion with God, and can be a great hindrance to the corporate worship of the Church. Therefore we must be always on the watch for this beast called sin; and by the power of grace put it’s every form out of our lives. – Terry Worthan, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Winston, Georgia

Let Every Man Be Swift To Hear – James 1:19

The more a man or woman becomes like Christ, the more ready they will be to hear others, listening with compassion and interest. True love is interested in the loved one, what they have to say; while self-love is more interested in what self has to say. The more a man grows in grace the more he will hate himself, and deny self. Part of denying self is being tired of hearing your own voice. We deny self by denying that we have any self-importance, knowledge, or wisdom that others need to hear from us. If we truly esteem other better than ourselves we would rather hear from them, than they hear from us.

A GOSPEL TO BELIEVE