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The Country Baptist Church Newsletter “The
Voice Of The Country Church” |
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You Were Asked To
Pray For:
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A
Thought From C. H. Surgeon: Mark Of Covenant Grace Here we read of
the true circumcision. Note the author
of it: "The Lord thy God." He alone can deal effectually with our
heart, and take away its carnality and pollution. To make us love God with
all our heart and soul is a miracle of grace which only the Holy Ghost can
work. We must look to the Lord alone for this and never be satisfied with
anything short of it. Note where this
circumcision is wrought. It is not of the flesh, but of the spirit. It is the
essential mark of the covenant of grace. Love to God is the indelible token
of the chosen seed; by this secret seal the election of grace is certified to
the believer. We must see to it that we trust in no outward ritual, but are
sealed in heart by the operation of the Holy Ghost. Note what the
result is -- "that thou mayest live." To
be carnally minded is death. In the overcoming of the flesh we find life and
peace. If we mind the things of the Spirit, we shall live. Oh, that Jehovah,
our God, may complete His gracious work upon our inner natures, that in the
fullest and highest sense we may live unto the Lord.." |
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A Thought For The
Week: Solemn and heart
searching questions! Do you think you are converted? What reason have you for thinking so? Upon what grounds do you base this
belief? Can you give a reason, with meekness
and fear, of this supposed hope that is in you? Where is the evidence of the mighty,
spiritual, internal change? Has that heart of yours ever been
broken, softened, humbled? Has it ever mourned over sin before
God? Have you ever sought and found a
secret place for repentance, confession, and prayer? Have your views of sin essentially
altered? Do you hate, abhor, and loathe sin;
and is it the chief cause of your daily sorrow? Are your views of yourself materially
changed? How does your own righteousness appear
to you? Are you humble, meek, gentle? Are you living as a converted,
regenerated man? Are you living as a child of God? Are you living as an heir of glory? Is your life that of a cross bearing
disciple of the Lord Jesus? Are you living as one who is a
stranger and a pilgrim here? Is your whole life, your daily walk,
your pursuits and the governing principles of your conduct, those of an
individual acquainted with the experimental power of the gospel? Are you a lover of the world, grasping
for its honors and its wealth? Are you living the
humble, self denying life of one professing to "love not the world nor
the things of the world?" Be honest with your soul and with God!
These are solemn and heart searching
questions! From Octavius Winslow's, "The Impenitent Sinner
Warned" |
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Happy Birthday: Velma Hammond – October 12th
– Birthday |
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The Gospel is
offensive In what way is the biblical gospel
offensive? It tells me that I have sinned against a Holy God who must punish
me for my sin. It tells me I am powerless to correct my own evil nature. I
cannot make amends for my sins; my good intentions are worthless. Left to
myself I will suffer eternally the wrath of God which I justly deserve. In a
word, it tells me that I am the problem rather than the solution. This
offends me in my natural state, with my natural pride. But there is more. The Bible tells me
that God has taken upon Himself the work of saving the sinner, pardoning the
guilty, justifying the ungodly, reconciling the enemy. And He was under no
obligation whatsoever to do any of this! Therefore it is called grace. He has done this in a way that upholds
His holy standards of justice. He has sent His Only-begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, a unique person, to live a sinlessly holy
life as my substitute, so that I might have a righteousness which pleases
God. Christ has also died as my substitute, a unique work of atonement, so that
my sin is fully paid for. Now I stand acceptable to the Holy God, only
because He Himself has done for me that which I could never have done for
myself. Only in this resurrected Savior can I enjoy fellowship with my
Creator. Here then is the offense –
Christianity does not simply claim to be a way of salvation, but rather to be
the only way! To proud, self-righteous man this message of inability and
total dependency on Another, is the height of
offense. It is an attack against my independency and self-sufficiency. But to
those who, by His enabling grace, turn from their sin, and trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ, this is the best news we could ever hear. It is music to our
ears! To the one it is rubbish, to the other it is most precious. By: Daniel Chamberlin form his article “Politically
Correct Religion” |