God will protect those He has redeemed, the church, and all that belong to it. This sermon series in Isaiah is now 10 sermons strong as we approach chapter 4 this Lord’s Day (October 15).
Gather with us on October 15 for the next sermon; “The Glory of the Church” at 10:30 a.m. in Twin Falls, Idaho. If unable to gather with us in person consider live streaming HERE:
Isaiah has established a strong case for the Gospel with the first two messages in chapters 1-3. In chapter 4 he “Swings for the fence” and does not disappoint.
He identifies the Messiah as the “Branch of the LORD. He lays the ground work for a fruitful gospel harvest, the “fruit of the earth”. Here he makes it clear that those in danger are the ones who look for a refuge, those who are hungry look for food, those who are weary seek rest, those who know of a coming storm seek for shelter.
This is part 2 of a 5 part series on the “5 Solas”, being published in the Twin Falls Times News. If you would be willing, visit the full column HEREand share the link from the Times News. This helps communicate to the Times News that a column like this is read.
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Grace Alone
Last month I examined the first of what is known in church history as the five “solas”; Scripture Alone.
Any church not holding to the Holy Bible is not presenting a true truth about God. There are obviously other religions but if they are not holding to Scripture alone then they are not a biblical church. This is not hateful speech as some want to claim. It is an honest expression from an historical vantage point. There may be other religions, but there is only one church of the Holy Bible.
This month, let’s examine what the Bible says about salvation.
Salvation is by grace alone. This is another marker of the great reformation.
First we have to give meaning to what we mean when we say that “salvation is by grace alone.” It is useless to talk about salvation unless there is reason to be saved. There is no need to talk about salvation at all unless it is understood that mankind needs to be saved from the wrath of God. If we need to be saved from the wrath of God it is necessary to see that God alone is good and that there is no good in mankind.
We are taught in our culture that we can do anything. It is quite amazing the things humanity can do. But if man is to be saved from the wrath of God we must see that only a loving and just God can save man and that man needs God to do this on his behalf.
If man is basically good or can become good enough to be saved from the wrath of God we have no need for a savior and no need for a God. This is what other religions teach. But not what the bible teaches.
There is a need today for honesty among the various religions in the valley.
As for me, I have already stated my case for Scripture alone; by Scripture, I mean the 66 books of the Holy Bible.
Scripture is clear on the natural order of humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve. We are sinners. We are born this way (Job 14, Jeremiah 13, Psalm 51, 1 Kings 8). This is a clear teaching in Scripture. All men everywhere are sinners from conception. We are born enemies of God, sinners.
Because we are sinners, the Holy Bible teaches that we can do nothing to save ourselves or even to do anything to prepare ourselves to be saved. The bible says we must be “born again” (John 3).
Think about it with me… we had no say in our birth. We didn’t have a say in who our parents would be, we didn’t choose our skin tone, we didn’t choose our hair color, we didn’t determine our sex. All things were ordered by God. If we are to be born again as Jesus says then what do we have to do with our salvation? This is a work of God that He does and He does alone by grace. If there was something we could do to save ourselves we would boast about our own goodness, but we don’t have any goodness.
Either God saves sinners who are spiritually dead and incapable of saving themselves or sinners have something good within them to have influence upon their well being and thus have a say in their salvation. Salvation by any other means than grace is an inadequate salvation.
Salvation is by grace alone.
Any other salvation is not the salvation of the bible. Mormonism and Islam needs to be publicly honest in that their religions are religions that put man in charge of his own salvation. There’s no need for God to do anything to save humanity if man can contribute to his salvation. It would be a completely absurd act for God to send His only begotten Son to die for anyone if there is another means for men to be saved.
No, the Holy Bible is clear, the sinless Son of God died upon a Roman cross for the sins of men while we were dead in our trespasses. Salvation is by the means of God’s goodness, His grace.
Last October I had the privilege to participate in another devotional project that is now available. Daily you can visit this website for thoughts on repentance. Visit daily to spark your spiritual attention upon the word of God and be encouraged by the many faithful men of God in our day reflecting on a most significant day in church history 500 years ago, now simply known at the Reformation. This work of the Holy Spirit to do a work of repentance among God’s people is a longing hope of mine in our day too.
When I think about reformations in years past I find that people were asking better questions than I usually would ask. If the starting point is not aimed in the right direction then the end result may be anything but reformation. Today, are we asking the right questions? Do our questions cause us to search Scripture for the answer? Are we pleased when God gives us clarity in Scripture to our questions?
Today’s devotional is focused upon Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Apostle Paul speaks of the peace of God and the aid that it is to the believer’s life. One of the great problems is that most want to define peace with God on by their own definition.
In this sermon excerpt from the past Lord’s Day dealing with Philippians 4:4-7, I give warning to all of the danger of not wanting to be at peace with God
Every Lord’s Day I gather at 204 Eastland Drive North to preach or hear preaching. Here are links to the past Lord’s day preaching.
I’m currently preaching through Philippians (in the mornings) and 9 men (in the evenings) from the church body are preaching through the book of Ephesians. Both services are streamed live and archived for future referencing and or listening to the local teaching of Eastside Baptist Church.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.” (Philippians 3:1)
There is a popular thought in the world that hearing the instructions of Scripture are out dated or not needed so much. But the principles of Scripture says otherwise.
The Apostle Paul is clear that it is no trouble for him, and that implies it is not to much for the hearer, to hear this news again.
My sermon from Lord’s Day, March 12, 2017 entitle A Safeguard for You addresses this for the corporate church body, the household and the individual.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time, Zach Hunter, pastor at Jackpot Baptist Church in Jackpot, NV will we preaching in our series through the book of Ephesians. Don’t miss out on this. May it be a blessing to you that you would gather with us in person tonight at 204 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls.
If unable to gather with us in person join us via streaming here. Be sure to sign our guestbook that you are watching online HERE. Thank you.
This past weekend at the church house (Eastside Baptist Church) in Twin Falls, Idaho. Video and audio of all gathers are archived HERE.
Right now, there is a renewed interest in two primary gatherings of Eastside Baptist Church.
The Mid-week Prayer Gathering is a time devoted solely to corporate prayer. The past month several months have seen increased participation in person and online. As many as 25 people of all ages gathering together for prayer and an average of 4 households from out of town logging in online to pray (log-in for this is password protected, contact Paul Thompson for instruction and password).
The other gathering steadily growing is the Sunday evening gathering. For the past three weeks 9 men in the congregation are doing the teaching. Attendance has been in a steady increase as this progresses on. Before beginning the book of Ephesians an average of about 12 people would normally return on Sunday evening. Last night, we reached an all time high for a regular Sunday evening gathering of more than 50 people and 9 households logged in online from all over the region.
Lord’s Day Morning
Speaker: Paul Thompson
Text: Philippians 2:12-13
Sermon Title: Salvation; the Sweet Word
Lord’s Day Evening
Speaker: Chuck Kastl
Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
Sermon Title: Wisdom and Power
