Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                           Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@baptistsonline.org                                       Web Site: www.baptistsonline.org/sgmbc

Last week we looked basically at the Incarnation of Jesus Christ to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed God but not only Deity but also man; Jesus Christ had two natures unlike any other man that ever lived. Some people have an issue looking at the two natures and separating them. If one cannot separate the two natures they cannot reach a proper conclusion about Jesus Christ and His true actions on this earth. For example many will make the same ignorant conclusion that "God died on the cross", this is ignorance because if one knows God then they know He cannot die; not even the Son of God because for the Son to die then the entire Godhead must die. Another ignorant mistake made by this misunderstanding is the quote "Mary is the mother of God", again a proper understanding of God will tell you God is self-existent and eternally-existent therefore God was not ever born not even the Son of God which is God. Since Jesus Christ had two natures it was possible for one to exist without the other and this happened on the cross while death approached for Jesus Christ, Deity had separated from the Son of man therefore leaving Him to die alone on the cross.

His Humanity – This is His human nature, Jesus Christ was in the likeness of man. John told us in John 4:6 "Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour." Jesus was feeling fatigued so He rested at the well but can God get fatigued; no He cannot. The young preacher Timothy call Him a man in 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" There is no doubt Jesus Christ was a man.

While He was a man; He was also Deity. – While He was man and all man He was also God. There are so many things about God we will not totally understand in this flesh and this is one of those things. However while we may not understand it we cannot deny it because it is all clearly proven in the scriptures. He must have been Deity to live the law and be sinless, and He must have been man to have been born, grown-up, having learned, and to die. Matthew told us in Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." And Jesus concluded in John 10:30 "I and my Father are one." No other man can make this conclusion.

His Sinless Life – Jesus Christ is the only man whom never sinned; now some will reach another wrong conclusion and say "He was God that’s why He did not sin" wrong again! Yes He was God very God but during the temptation was Satan tempting the Son of God or the Son of man; it was the Son of man. Satan knew God and knew that He could not tempt God, and how about the hour or so while alone on the cross again just a man. To conclude that He was Deity and that is the reason He did not sin is to take the glory of being our Saviour, High Priest, and suffering death for our sin away from Him. The writer to the Hebrews concluded in Hebrews 2:17 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

His Sacrificial Death – Jesus Christ the Son of man died on that cross not as a martyr but rather as a Saviour. Many martyrs have given their lives for God and the cause of the church and gospel but Jesus Christ died so that we that are saved could have our sins forgiven. Peter concluded in 1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." It was for our sins that He died and for no other reason.

"Thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be for gotten of me" Isa. 44:21

Our Jehovah cannot so forget His servants as to cease to love them. He chose them not for a time, but for ever. He knew what they would be when He called them into the divine family. He blots out their sins like a cloud; and we may be sure that He will not turn them out of doors for iniquities which He has blotted out. It would be blasphemy to imagine such a thing.

He will not forget them so as to cease to think of them. One forgetful moment on the part of our God would be our ruin. Therefore He says: "Thou shalt not be forgotten of me." Men forget us: those whom we have benefited turn against us: we have no abiding place in the fickle hearts of men; but God will never forget one of His true servants. He binds Himself to us not by what we do for Him, but by what He has done for us. We have been loved too long, and bought at too great a price to be now forgotten. Jesus sees in us His soul's travail, and that He never can forget. The Father sees in us the spouse of His Son, and the Spirit sees in us His own effectual work. The Lord thinketh upon us. This day we shall be succored and sustained. Oh, that the Lord may never be forgotten of us!

Happy Anniversary Pastor and Sister Johnson Monday May 14^th (30^th)

The church will hold her business meeting on May 13^th at 3:30 please plan to attend because we have some important discussions upcoming. Since we are going to discuss the building of a new church building the church as agreed to start our meeting early.