‘If You Be Circumcised’
\nJoe Terrell
\nBehold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall
\nprofit you nothing. (Galatians 5:2)
\nIt is a man\u2019s guilt that makes Christ necessary for Him; but it is a
\nman\u2019s righteousness that will render Christ ineffective for him. The
\nblood of Christ is the remedy for a man\u2019s sin, but what shall avail for
\na remedy for a man\u2019s righteousness? Only the sovereign work of the Holy
\nSpirit of God is able to overcome a man\u2019s resistance to the grace of the
\nblood and to make him despair of even his righteousness. But, to refine
\nthe point even more, it is the Holy Spirit\u2019s work in revealing the
\ntestimony of the blood of Christ that breaks the self-righteous will of
\nman and makes him submit to Christ as his only righteousness before God.
\nSo it is the blood poured out by Christ that remedies the sin of a man,
\nand it is that same blood revealed by the Holy Spirit that remedies the
\nrighteousness of man.<\/p>\n
LAW AND GRACE
\nHenry Mahan
\nLaw manifests what is in men–sin!
\nGrace manifests what is in God–love!
\nLaw demands righteousness from men!
\nGrace brings righteousness to men!
\nLaw sentences men to death!
\nGrace brings dead men to life!
\nLaw speaks of what I must do!
\nGrace tells what Christ has done!
\nLaw gives a knowledge of sin!
\nGrace puts away sin!
\n“Oh, to grace how great a debtor
\nDaily I’m constrained to be.”<\/p>\n
FREE TO COMMIT MURDER
\nWe believe the word of God which declares that Christ established the
\nlaw for his people so that every believer called to faith in Christ is
\nnot under law but under grace. Therefore, we are accused of being
\nantinomians. One of the common arguments involves picking out one of the
\nten commandments and saying something absurd like, \u201cSo are you free to
\ncommit murder?\u201d It is telling that they always speak of breaking the law
\noutwardly but never inwardly. The Pharisees of old thought that way. But
\nour Master said that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause
\nhas broken the law (Mt 5: 21-22; Mr 7: 20-21). Men who think outward
\nmorality is holiness are men that the Lord likened to whited sepulchers
\nwhich are beautiful outwardly but within full of dead mens\u2019 bones, and
\nall uncleaness (Mt 23:27).<\/p>\n
No child of God in whom Christ dwells desires to abuse our liberty by
\nbreaking any commandment of God outwardly. In fact, my brethren in
\nChrist encourage me by their honorable conduct. But though the Spirit of
\nGod has made us \u201cput off concerning the former conversation the old man,
\nwhich is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts\u201d, and has made us \u201cput
\non on the new man, which after God, is created in righteousness and true
\nholiness\u201d, still, we know that in our \u201cflesh dwelleth no good thing.\u201d
\n(Eph 5: 22-24; Rom 7: 18) The thing we mourn continually is \u201cO wretched
\nman that I AM.\u201d By continually crying unto God to deliver us through
\nChrist Jesus our Lord, God keeps us from the mirage of progressive
\nsanctification with its progressive sinlessness (Rom 7: 24).<\/p>\n
Of course we are not free to commit murder! But make no mistake, we are
\nfree! If we were to commit murder we would be forgiven as was David. It
\nis because our old man is crucified with Christ, our body of sin is
\ndestroyed and we are no longer the servants of sin \u201cfor he that is dead
\nis freed [justified] from sin\u201d (Rom 6: 6-7). We have \u201cbecome dead to the
\nlaw by the body of Christ\u201d so that we are free from the law. Now we are
\n\u201cmarried to another, even to Christ who is raised from the dead, that we
\nshould bring forth fruit unto God\u201d (Rom 7: 3-4). By the faithfulness of
\nChrist living in us, we have \u201cbecome servants unto God\u201d that we might
\nfreely live unto our Father (Rom 6: 22) When our Redeemer returns for
\nhis purchased possession and raises our bodies in incorruption we shall
\nbe free from \u201cthe body of this death\u201d (Eph 1:14; 1 Cor 15: 42). Until
\nthen\u2014as our accusers live in the deception that legal fear and torment
\nis freedom\u2014we will live under our Savior\u2019s light and easy yoke of \u201cfaith
\nwhich worketh by love.\u201d We give God all the glory that \u201cthe law of the
\nSpirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made [us] free from the law of sin
\nand death\u201d (Rom 8: 2; Jn 8: 32; Gal 5:6).
\nClay Curtis.<\/p>\n
God A Beggar?
\nFalse preachers today have made a beggar of the Lord of Lords. No, my
\nproud religionist, you are the beggar. God is not obligated to do
\nanything but damn you to the eternal praise of His justice. If you keep
\nlistening to the wrong voices, your end shall be with those before you
\nof whom Christ said, \u201cI am come in my Father’s name and ye receive me
\nnot, let another come in his own name and him ye will receive.\u201d (John
\n5:43). ~Scott Richardson<\/p>\n
Regeneration makes no alteration on the flesh, but the Spirit. There is
\nnothing in the flesh made holy. And there is nothing in the Spirit left
\nunholy. ~Robert Hawker<\/p>\n
He Hath Made Him to be Sin<\/p>\n
2 Corinthians 5:21
\nA most amazing statement \u2013 The sinless one was made to be sin. God made
\nthe perfectly innocent One to be sin for us. I bless His holy name and
\nadore Him that He is not unjust in order to be merciful; that He does
\nnot spare the guilty in order to indulge His gentleness. Every
\ntransgression and disobedience has its just recompense of reward. I
\nbless His holy name that to vindicate His justice. He determined that,
\nwhile a free pardon should be provided for all believers, it should be
\ngrounded upon an atonement which satisfied all the requirements of His
\nholy law.<\/p>\n
~Scott Richardson<\/p>\n
What Is A Sovereign Grace Bible Conference?
\nActs 15:1-35<\/p>\n
The first sovereign grace Bible conference was held at Jerusalem during
\nthe apostolic era. The reason for that conference and the things that
\ntranspired at it are recorded in Acts 15. A matter of gospel doctrine
\nneeded to be clearly settled and publicly declared in unison by the
\nservants of God.
\nThere were some among the Pharisees who professed to believe the gospel
\nof the grace of God in Christ. But these men sought to mix law and
\ngrace. They wanted to compel believers to be circumcised and “to keep
\nthe law of Moses.” They were saying, “A man cannot be saved unless he is
\ncircumcised and he cannot live right as a christian if he does not live
\nby the rule of the ten commandments” (vv. 1, 5).
\nNeedless to say, this caused quite a stir. Paul and Barnabas would not
\nstand by quietly while these Pharisees attempted to put the yoke of
\nbondage upon God’s children, who had been freed from the law. Therefore,
\nthe churches got funds together to send Paul, Barnabas and other
\npreachers to Jerusalem, to take counsel with the apostles and elders
\nconcerning this matter (vv. 2-6). After much disputing with the
\nPharisees, Peter preached. Then Paul preached. Then James preached. And
\nwhen they got done, they wrote a letter to all the churches (vv. 7-29).
\nThey spoke with one voice, declaring to all the world that salvation is
\nby grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
\nWhen the conference was over Paul, Barnabas and the other preachers went
\nhome, gathered the brethren, and read the Epistle. When God’s saints
\nread that letter, they rejoiced in the consolation of the gospel ( vv.
\n30-31). Then other brethren confirmed the message (v. 32). Not only did
\nthese brethren continue preaching the Word of grace, but many others
\nwere inspired to do so too (v. 35).
\nThis is a sovereign grace Bible conference.We have come together to
\nclearly, publicly declare in unison to all the world the singular
\nmessage of Holy Scripture: That salvation is the work of God’s free and
\nsovereign grace through our all glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
\nand to encourage all who will to join us in proclaiming this message.
\nMay it please our great God to bless this conference to that end for
\nChrist’s sake.
\nDon Fortner<\/p>\n
God is My Judge
\n\u201cDon\u2019t judge me. God is my judge\u201d. I fear that those who make such
\nstatements have no idea of the standard by which the Judge of all the
\nearth measures His judgments. \u201cThou shalt judge the people righteously.\u201d
\nPs. 67.4. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the Judge (Acts 10:42), but
\nHe Himself is the standard by which all men shall be measured. God\u2019s
\nHoly nature demands all sin to be punished. \u201cHe will by no means clear
\nthe guilty.\u201d Ex. 34:7. If He finds one infraction to His law, even in
\nthe secret recesses of man\u2019s heart, He must condemn that person to
\neternal separation from Him. \u201cIf thou, Lord shouldest make iniquities,
\nOh Lord, who shall stand\u201d? Ps. 130:3.<\/p>\n
Oh, child of God, let us say with the Apostle Paul; \u201cwith me it is a
\nvery small thing that I should be judged of you (man)\u2026\u201d I Cor. 4:3. We
\ndelight in knowing that God is our Judge. \u201cNot by works of righteousness
\nwhich we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
\nwashing of regeneration of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us
\nabundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his
\ngrace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.\u201d
\nTitus 3:5-7. ~Greg<\/p>\n
DO YOU TRUST CHRIST?
\n2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward<\/p>\n
The Apostle Paul was so confident in Christ that he preached Jesus
\nChrist and him crucified (1 Cor 1:23). He determined not to preach
\nanything but \u201cJesus Christ, and him crucified\u201d (1 Cor 2:2). A faithful
\nservant of Christ will commit the salvation of his hearers to Jesus
\nChrist alone. His trust in Christ is witnessed by his continued and
\nfaithful preaching of Jesus Christ only. A man who turns to the Law of
\nMoses for the sinner\u2019s sanctification has lost confidence in Christ. A
\nman who turns himself or his hearers to something more than Christ to
\npresent him perfect to Holy God does not have trust in Christ. He does
\nnot think Christ alone is sufficient to save. Believers who trust Christ
\nare an epistle of Christ\u2019s work. \u201cForasmuch as ye are manifestly
\ndeclared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with
\nink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but
\nin fleshy tables of the heart\u201d (2 Cor 3:3). Because our hearers reflect
\nwhat we teach many think we must preach law to keep the flesh in check.
\nBut if we are led by the Spirit of Christ then we will trust Christ to
\ninstruct his children and save them to the uttermost through his gospel.
\nDo you trust Christ to make you perfect to stand before Holy God? Pastor
\nEric Lutter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
‘If You Be Circumcised’ Joe Terrell Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (Galatians 5:2) It is a man\u2019s guilt that makes Christ necessary for Him; but it is a man\u2019s righteousness that will render Christ ineffective for him. The blood of Christ is the remedy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5174"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5176,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174\/revisions\/5176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}