t                   oPastor John and wife Kathy  
 

 
 

Preaching God's Sovereign, Electing Grace   

RESCUE BAPTIST CHURCH

July 7th, 2019

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

                              2Ti 4:2 & 3  

“Made righteous” (Romans 5:10).

   “The only righteous person in this world is that person who has been made righteous by God himself.  Only God can produce righteousness suitable to God and only God can make men righteous in his sight. How does God make sinners righteous?

     God has made all of his elect righteous by imputing the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ to us. This imputed righteousness is an act of God's grace in redemption.  Because the Lord Jesus Christ lived in righteousness upon the earth as our Representative and died under the penalty of God's law as our Substitute, the law and justice of God declare that we are righteous. The very righteousness of Christ, his perfect obedience to God as a man, has been imputed to us.  That is to say, righteousness has been laid to our account.  In exactly the same manner as our sins were imputed to Christ, his righteousness has been imputed to us.  When God made Christ to be sin for us, he charged him with our sin.  The Son of God became responsible to the law for the sins of his elect people.  And the penalty of sin was exacted from him.  He died under the wrath of God because of our sin.  Even so, God having imputed the righteousness of Christ to us who believe, we have become responsible for righteousness in the sight of God's law.  And we shall receive the just reward of the law for righteousness: eternal life and everlasting glory.  As our works of sin were made to be our Lord's, so his works of righteousness have been made ours.  As he received the reward of our sin, we must receive the reward of his righteousness. That is substitution.

     Our righteousness before God is an unalterable fact of divine justice.  It is perfect righteousness and it never varies in degree.  In Christ we are righteous!  Our righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, our Substitute.  Child of God, can you realize this?  Your standing, your acceptance with God never changes, God is always well pleased with you in his Son!  If you are truly one with Christ by faith, you are a righteous person.”

                                                                               Pastor Don Fortner

“Everything about our Lord Jesus is wonderful. Here the prophet says; ‘His name shall be called wonderful’.  We sing that chorus; ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is just something about that name’.  ‘There is “no other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.’ (Acts 4:12)

     His birth is wonderful.  Angels came to proclaim it: ‘Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is BORN A SAVIOR, which is Christ the Lord’ (Lu. 2:10-11). What made His birth so wonderful? It was the Eternal God coming down and assuming flesh, uniting Himself to man through the womb of a Virgin.  Once he assumed flesh, and became a Man, He would always be a Man. Oh, yes He is Wonderful.

     His Life and Works were wonderful. His life was one lived in perfection, lived without sin before God and Man.  His was a life lived not for Himself, but for His people.  To bare their sin in His own body on the tree, to work out for them an everlasting righteousness for them.  He did this by His Holy unblameable life lived in this sinful world yet being without sin Himself.  His works of Mercy and compassion, how wonderful were they? Listen to what was said of them: ‘But the men marveled, saying, What manner of Man is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him!’  Men marveled at his words, at his deeds, at his compassion, his miracles.  Oh, Yes He is wonderful in His life and works!

     His Grace and Mercy are wonderful.  Everyone who has ‘tasted that the Lord is Gracious’, know how wonderful his grace is. Consider the people to whom he has shown his grace and mercy. It is to Sinners, the ungodly, our Lord said; ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father for it seemed good in thy sight.’ (Matt.11: 25-26).  If any one of us received from the Lord God what we deserved, we would be utterly and eternally lost. But Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who hath saved us, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began’ (2Tim.1: 9).”

                                                                     Pastor Donnie Bell

A sincere “THANK YOU” to each and every one who contributed to this year’s summer conference.  Your presence, your prayers, your generous love offerings, your labors of love is a manifestation of God’s amazing grace working through you for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Sovereign Lord and Savior.  To our visiting preachers, I believe I speak for all who were honored to hear your messages when I say, “THANK YOU” for your labor of love in the study of God’s Word, and for preaching His Gospel during these special meetings.  We do pray that our God will be pleased to make His Word effectual in the hearts of His children for the glory of His Darling Son, and for the good of His people.  May our Lord continue to bless the ministry He has called you to.  We thank our God upon every remembrance of you.                      

          Pastor John Reeves


 “And the rest were blinded” (Rom. 11:7)

Dear reader, may God be pleased to give you sight! Here in Romans, the writer is declaring Sovereign Grace in Election. (Romans 11:5).  There is no confusion here.  The words are as clear as a bell ring.  You are either blind or not!  The Truths of God’s Words are as simple and clear as the miracles Christ performed while walking this earth.  In the end, there was no question as to who had given the blind man sight in John chapter 9. Yet those religious Jews still did not believe, because they were not God’s sheep (John 10:26).  In truth, they were the ones still blinded. We come into this world blinded by our own pride and self-righteousness.  Blinded by our own works, our nature is to make ourselves out to be more than we are.  Dear reader!  My words are inadequate in describing how thankful I am in the knowledge that ‘Once I was blind, but now I see.’  I see that God supplied a substitute in His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, for my sins.  I see that CHRIST has fulfilled all that I need to be reconciled to GOD.  I see that, for CHRIST SAKE, I was not left with the rest who were blinded.  Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound!      

                                                                         Pastor John Reeves

The Great Contrast

“If through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”

(Rom. 5:15).

A contrast is made here between the offense by which all men in Adam died, and the grace of God in His gift of righteousness by Jesus Christ that has abounded to many, even all those in Christ by eternal election.

Justice ruled against us. Grace rose up for us. God’s eternal love and grace would not rest until He found a way to satisfy His justice, to clear the way for lavishing the greatest of all possible blessings upon us: the forgiveness of our sins, a perfect righteousness before Him, the Spirit of Christ in us by that righteousness, eternal sonship with eternal inheritance, eternal glory with Christ as joint-heirs with Him, and all spiritual blessings given to us by God’s free grace in Christ before the world began, all grounded on the foundation of Christ’s obedience and satisfaction to God for our sins

 (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 1:3-7; Rom. 3:24-25).

                                                                Pastor Rick Warta

   “To think that God might not keep His word brings great dishonor on His name.  God is too pure and holy, and too honorable ever to turn back from the word that He has given. I may feel my feet almost gone, but I know that He will not allow me to perish, or it would be a blemish on His honor. He said, ‘They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.’       

                                                   Pastor Milton Howard

 
   “Am I to bring no works, no faith (not even faith)?  NO – your faith brings you.  Faith leaves all works behind.  It relies on God’s gracious promises. It pleads God’s rich mercy in Christ, to poor perishing sinners.”

                                                                                                                                       William Mason

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious”

                                                                                              1 Peter 2:7--

BELIEVERS are the only people in this world who love and worship Jesus Christ, the true and living God.  “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7).  All of us, in our unregenerate state, hated God, hated the Christ of God, hated the Gospel of God‘s amazing grace, and hated true followers of Jesus Christ.  But when we experience the miracle of the new birth, when God sends the Spirit of His Son into the new heart, He creates in us, we are filled with love for the One who loved us, and gave Himself for us.  Speaking of our Lord Jesus, the Apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, said: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).  Even though it is recorded in the Holy Scriptures that “His name shall be called Wonderful” (Isa. 9:6), no one has to tell that to God’s enlightened children.  Jesus Christ is precious to every believer.  Everything about Christ our Blessed Redeemer IS WONDERFUL!  His eternal love for us, manifested in choosing us to be His people in the eternal covenant of grace IS WONDERFUL!  Condescending to come to this earth to clothe Himself in a human body so that He could establish a perfect righteousness that makes His people acceptable in God’s sight IS WONDERFUL!  Redeeming His chosen people with His own precious blood and satisfying the Holy Justice of God by laying down His life for them IS WONDERFUL!  His patience and longsuffering for us as we were running from Him, loving the spiritual darkness we were in, IS WONDERFUL!  His Divine Providence in bringing us under the preaching of His Glorious Gospel and giving us faith to believe Him IS WONDERFUL!  His presence with us throughout our pilgrimage journey through this world of sinful darkness IS WONDERFUL!  Filling us with that joyful expectation of His eminent return IS WONDERFUL!  Knowing that He will present us FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory, where we will forever be in the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior IS WONDERFUL!  Jesus Christ IS WONDERFUL!  But only to those who believe Him.  

                                                                           Gene Harmon

July 14th, 2019

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

                                       John 15:4-5

Message

“This Salvation”

 “Salvation is the work of God for man; it is not the work of man for God.  Salvation is the bestowal and actual impartation of eternal life; it is not the beauties and artificial imitation of ethical living.  Salvation is the imputed righteousness of God; it is not the imperfect righteousness of man.  Salvation is according to the faithful calling of God; it is not according to the fitful carefulness of man.  Salvation is a divine reconciliation; it is not a human regulation.  Salvation is the canceling of all sin; it is not the cessation from some sin. Salvation is being delivered from, and becoming dead to, the Law; it is not delighting in, or doing, the Law. Salvation is divine regeneration; it is not human reformation.  Salvation is being acceptable to God; it is not being exceptionally good.  Salvation is completeness in Christ; it is not competency in character. Salvation is possessing every spiritual blessing; it not professing any special betterment.  Salvation is always and only of God.  It is never of man.  It is the unsearchable riches of Christ.   It is to good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

                                                                       L. S. Chafer

  “The church of God has many critics, but no rivals.  This is the Family of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Temple of the Holy One, the place where Christ manifests forth His glory, spreads His table, and meets with His people.  Blessed beyond description are those people who are privileged to be a part of this family!  Truly, as Paul puts it, this is ‘a habitation of God through the Spirit’!”

                                                        Pastor Don Fortner

July 21st, 2019

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

                                                   Romans 4-5-8

Message

“Ordained Of God ”

FIND OUT who these people are!

If you don’t care, then it is UNBELIEF that keeps you from caring! The good news (the Gospel) is only good news to them that believe! The scriptures tell us to “COME”, too SEEK, to BELIEVE! The promise of God to all those that do are set forth within the text (Romans 4: 5-8) and all throughout the Word of God! Do YOU care???


WOULD YOU be free of all condemnation?? (Romans 8: 1)
“There IS NOW (right now) no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus the Lord”. SEEK HIM!


Do YOU care?? You would if you believed! And wild horses and all the demons in hell (even Satan himself) couldn’t keep you from coming to Him. From seeking to know Him! But you just WILL NOT believe and LIVE! You will instead go to hell (unless God Himself intervenes) living with your fist in the face of God! God’s command to you is to TRUST His Son! To take Him at His word and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ AND therefore LIVE! What about YOU?

                                                            Elder Mike Loveless

 
“We are not desirous of honor, esteem and applause from men, for ‘we are what we are by the grace of God’.  God can take away what we have as easily as He gave it.  We do not despise and provoke one another with our piety, nor do we want to appear to be wiser, richer in grace, nor more gifted than others; for we are less than the least of the saints.  Nor do we envy the gifts, abilities, or grace of another.  God will enlighten us, equip us, and bless us as He sees fit to use us.” 

                                                                                                                                  Pastor Henry Mahan

July 28th, 2019

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

                        John 16:33

Message

“Written That Ye Might Believe”

All Spiritual Blessings Eph. 1:3

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places

 IN CHRIST.”

   “The Holy Spirit uses this phrase over and over again - IN CHRIST.  The whole of the word of God is to reveal to us the Lord Jesus and his accomplished salvation.  The whole of God’s word is to teach us what we have IN CHRIST.

     When Our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘Come unto me, and you shall find rest for your souls’ He is telling us there is no other place, other than in Him, to find rest for our soul - rest from the guilt and power of sin.

     When Christ said, ‘Come unto me’, He didn’t say come to a particular position on doctrine, come to election, or come to imputed righteousness.  He didn’t say come to total depravity, or to God’s Sovereignty. He told sinners to COME UNTO ME! Why? Because when a sinner comes to Christ they receive all that he did in his work, all that he is in His person.  We were chosen in HIM, and accepted in HIM.  Redemption is through HIS blood, we obtained an inheritance in HIM, and we were quickened together with HIM, raised up to sit together in heavenly places in HIM.  The long and the short of it beloved is that if we have Christ we have ALL WE NEED, and we have it where it counts, before God Almighty who demands perfection.  Blessed be his name for he has provided us perfection IN CHRIST.  ‘And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power’.

     We need righteousness - Christ is our righteousness.  We need wisdom - Christ is our wisdom.  We need sanctification - Christ is our sanctification. We need redemption and Christ is our redemption. God made Him so unto us (1Cor. 1:30).

     Christ said: COME UNTO ME, in coming to Him you will have all that is IN HIM and you will spend the rest of your life learning about all you have IN HIM!”                             

                                                 Pastor Don Bell