{"id":6890,"date":"2025-09-07T09:50:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T09:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6890"},"modified":"2025-09-07T09:50:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T09:50:27","slug":"bulletin-edition-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6890","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The absolute necessity of experimental religion!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Octavius Winslow)
\n 
\n\u201dFor our gospel came\nnot unto you in word only, but also in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance\u201d.\n1 Thessalonians 1:5
\n 
\nThe religion of the Lord Jesus is valuable only as its power is experienced\nin the heart. <\/em>In this respect, and in this only, it may be\ncompared to the physical sciences, which, however ingenious in structure, or\nbeautiful in theory\u2014yet, if not reduced or reducible to purposes of practical<\/em> use,\nare of little worth.
\n 
\nIt is so with the truth of Jesus.
\nThe man of mere taste<\/em> may applaud its external beauty,
\nthe philosopher <\/em>may admire its ethics,
\nthe orator <\/em>may admire its eloquence, and
\nthe poet<\/em> may admire its sublimity\u2014
\nbut if the Spirit of God does not take His own truth, and impress it upon the\nheart, as to the great design of its revelation\u2014it avails nothing!
\n 
\nWhat numbers there are who rest in the mere ‘theory’ of Christianity!
\nBut as a practical principle<\/em>\u2014they know nothing of it.
\nAs a thing  experienced <\/em>in the heart\u2014it is a hidden\nmystery to them.
\n 
\nThey speak well of Christianity as a religious system; they believe its\nDivinity, and even defend its doctrines and extol its precepts\u2014yet make no\napproaches towards a personal and practical obedience<\/em> to its\nclaims. In a word, they know nothing of repentance<\/em> towards\nGod, and faith <\/em>towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
\n 
\nIt will surely appear to a spiritually-enlightened mind, a subject of vast and\nsolemn importance that this delusion should be exposed\u2014that this foundation\nof sand <\/em>should be undermined; and that the absolute necessity of experimental\nreligion<\/strong>, as necessary to an\nadmission within the kingdom of glory, be strenuously and Scripturally\nenforced!
\n 
\n“Them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that\nthey might be saved!” 2 Thessalonians 2:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nThe religionists of the day<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>(J. C. Philpot, 1862)
\n
\n“And ye shall be hated of all men for My name sake.” Luke 21:17
\n
\n<\/strong>Professors of religion<\/strong> have always been the
\ndeadliest enemies of the children of God.
\n
\nWho were so opposed to the blessed Lord as the
\nScribes and Pharisees? It was the religious teachers
\nand leaders who crucified the Lord of glory!
\n
\nAnd so in every age the religionists of the day<\/strong>
\nhave been the hottest and bitterest persecutors
\nof the Church of Christ.
\n
\nNor is the case altered now. The more the children
\nof God are firm in the truth, the more they enjoy its
\npower, the more they live under its influence, and
\nthe more tenderly and conscientiously they walk in
\ngodly fear, the more will the professing generation
\nof the day hate them with a deadly hatred.
\n
\nLet us not think that we can disarm it by a godly life;
\nfor the more that we walk in the sweet enjoyment of
\nheavenly truth and let our light shine before men as
\nhaving been with Jesus, the more will this draw down
\ntheir hatred and contempt.
\n
\n“And the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as\nI am not of the world.” John 17:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo Ye Not Hear The Law?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galatians 4:21<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            <\/em><\/strong>The law of God is that which we\nought to dread above all things, for the sting of death is sin and the strength\nof sin is the law. The law condemns us and demands our execution. In solemn\nterms, it appoints for us a place among the damned. \u201cFor it is written,\nCursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the\nbook of the law to do them\u201d <\/em>(Gal. 3:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, man has a strange\ninfatuation with the law. Like the gnat that is drawn to the candle that will\ndestroy it, man by nature is drawn to the law for salvation, when all the law\ncan give is destruction. The law can do nothing else but reveal sin and pronounce\ncondemnation on the sinner (Rom. 3:19-20). It has no other purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, we cannot get men to flee\nfrom the law. Foolish men are so enamored with their own self- righteousness\nand their own self-worth that they will cling to the law with a death-grip,\nthough there is nothing to cling to. They prefer Sinai to Calvary, though\nSinai offers them nothing but death. Listen to the Word of God. If the opinions\nof men, or your own opinions contradict the Word of God, \u201cLet God be\ntrue and every man a liar.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are four facts stated so\nplainly in Holy Scripture that error regarding them is utterly inexcusable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.      The law was never given to save\nsinners; and it can never serve that purpose (Gal. 2:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.      The law was never given to\nmotivate the people of God to holiness and service; and it cannot serve that\npurpose. The one thing that God requires is a willing heart (2 Cor. 8:12; 1\nCor. 6:19-20; Rom. 12:1-2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.      The law was never given as a\nrule of life, or standard of conduct for the believer; and it cannot serve that\npurpose (Rom. 3:28, 31; 1 John 3:23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.      The law was not given to produce\nsanctification in the believer; or even to be a measure of sanctification, and\nit cannot serve such purposes (Gal. 3:1-3). Christ is our sanctification!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nlaw was given to point men to Christ for salvation. The law was given to show\nman his guilt, his sin, and his need of a Substitute. This is the law\u2019s only\npurpose; and it serves that purpose very well (Rom. 3:19-22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nthunders of Sinai drive us away from the mountain of darkness and death and\npoint us with its lightening bolts to Calvary and to Christ who is\nthe end of the law. In the language of Inspiration, \u201cThe law was our\nschoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But\nafter that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster\u201d <\/em>(Gal. 5:24-25).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do We Fulfill The Law By Faith In Christ? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rom. 8:4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Paul\ndeclares that we fulfill the law’s righteousness, who walk not after\nthe flesh, but after the Spirit. He is not saying that the Holy Spirit of God\nenables the believer to personally fulfill the law. To suggest such a thing is\nto suggest that believers are enabled by the Spirit to attain sinless\nperfection in this world, for nothing short of perfection can fulfill the law\nof God. Paul is simply declaring that we do not nullify,or make void,the\nlaw through faith in Christ. Rather, “we establish the law”(Rom. 3:31).\nHow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. THE LAW REQUIRES\nCOMPLETE SATISFACTION FOR SIN. “The soul that sinneth it shall\ndie.” We fulfill this requirement of satisfaction by offering to God the\nprecious blood of Christ’s atonement. He is the propitiation, the satisfaction,\nfor our sins. When the law looks upon the blood of Christ, it is silent. It\ncannot require more. That blood is our death insofar as God’s law is concerned.\nBecause we died in Christ, we are dead to the law (Rom.7:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. THE LAW REQUIRES\nCOMPLETE LOVE TO GOD. It requires the total consecration of our lives and\nhearts to the will, worship, and glory of God. We fulfill this requirement by\noffering the consecrated love of Christ to God in his life upon the earth as\nour Representative. And with that, only with that, God is well pleased (Matt.\n17:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. THE LAW DEMANDS\nPERFECT LOVE AND DEVOTION TO OUR NEIGHBOR. And we fulfill this requirement by\noffering to God the perfect love and devotion of Christ to his people, even\nunto death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     As\nour sins became his, Christ’s righteousness is ours by imputation. His death is\nour death. His obedience is our obedience. And his life is our life\n(Rom. 5:19). By trusting Christ, offering him back to God as our only\ngrounds of hope and life, we fulfill the law and do all that God\nrequires of us. In Christ we pay what we owe, restore what we took away, and\nperfectly obey God (Read Ezek. 33:14-15). None of our sins which we have\ncommitted shall be mentioned to us. We have done that which is lawful and\nright. We shall surely live (Read Ezek. 33:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every man is born a Pharisee?
\n<\/strong>
\nThe following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
\n“Grace- the One Way of Salvation” No. 765.<\/em>
\n
\n” But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus\nChrist we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts 15:11.
\n
\nThe creed of the world is, “Do your best,
\nand it will be all right with you.” To question
\nthis is treason against the pride of human
\nnature, which evermore clings to salvation
\nby its own merits.
\n
\nEvery man is born a Pharisee!<\/strong>
\n“What,” says a man, “do you not believe that
\nif a man does his best, he will fare well in the
\nnext world? Why, you know, we must all live
\nas well as we can, every man according to his
\nown light; and if every man follows out his own
\nconscience, as near as may be, surely it will be
\nwell with us.”
\n
\nThe apostle did not believe in self-righteousness.
\n“We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we\nshall be saved” Acts 15:11.
\n
\nSalvation is not through our good works, not
\nthrough anything that we do, not by the merit
\nof anything which we feel or perform, but by
\ngrace, that is to say, by the free favor of God.
\n
\nWe believe that if we are ever saved at all, we
\nmust be saved ‘gratis’ -saved as the gratuitous
\nact of a bountiful God- saved by a gift, not by
\nwages- saved by God’s love, not by our own
\ndoings or merits.
\n
\nThis is the apostle’s creed- salvation is all of
\ngrace from first to last, and the channel of that
\ngrace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved, and
\nlived, and died, and rose again for our salvation.
\nHe takes the crown from off the head of man in
\nall respects, and gives all glory to the grace of
\nGod. He extols God, the gracious sovereign, who
\nwill have mercy upon whom he will have mercy,
\nand who will have compassion upon whom he
\nwill have compassion.
\n
\nNot by ritualism, not by good works, not by our
\nown unaided free will are we saved, but by the
\ngrace of God alone!
\n
\nThose who preach mere morality, or set up any
\nway except that of trusting in the grace of God
\nthrough Christ Jesus, preach another gospel,
\nand they shall be accursed, even though they
\npreach it with an angel’s eloquence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A proud\nsinner fighting against a holy God!
\n<\/strong> 
\n(Letters of William Romaine, 1714-1795)
\n
\n“Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I\nhate!” Proverbs 8:13
\n 
\nNothing stops the current of His blessings so much as pride. He resists the\nproud-He is at war with them. A futile war! A proud\nsinner fighting against a holy God!<\/strong> Who do you think will\nconquer?
\n
\nOh, beware of all high thoughts of yourself and your doings. Take heed of\nadmiring your own greatness or goodness. Self-delight is a very pleasing sin,\nbut more odious to a jealous God than the gross sins of the flesh.
\n
\nI am sure that the more we love Him, the less we shall admire ourselves.
\n
\nThe Pharisee, full of self-delight, remained in his guilt.
\nThe poor publican, who loathed himself, went home justified.
\n
\nThere is no perfect humility but in Heaven. Until we get there, we should be\nlearning, and every day seeking for more grace to humble us-learning from our\nMaster to be meek and lowly of heart. May God make us better scholars.
\n
\n“If God,” says Augustine, “did not spare the angels when they\ngrew proud; will He spare you-who are but dust <\/em>and sin<\/em>?”
\n
\n“<\/strong>Every one that is<\/em> proud in\nheart is<\/em> an abomination to the <\/strong>Lord<\/strong>: though<\/em> hand join<\/em> in hand, he\nshall not be unpunished.<\/strong>“<\/strong> Proverbs\n16:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a creature of many lives!<\/strong>
\n
\n(J.C.Philpot, “The Lost Sought and Saved” 1851)
\n
\nMan is a strange compound. <\/strong>A sinner, and
\nthe worst of sinners, and yet a Pharisee!
\n
\nA wretch, and the vilest of wretches, and
\nyet pluming himself on his good works!
\n
\nDid not experience convince us to the contrary,
\nwe would scarcely believe that a monster like man,
\na creature, as someone has justly said, “half beast
\nand half devil,”<\/strong> should dream of pleasing God by his
\nobedience, or of climbing up to heaven by a ladder
\nof his own righteousness.
\n
\nPharisaism<\/strong> is firmly fixed in the human heart.
\nDeep is the root,
\nbroad the stem,
\nwide the branches,
\nbut poisonous the fruit,
\nof this gigantic tree, planted by pride
\nand unbelief in the soil of human nature.
\n
\nSelf-righteousness<\/strong> is not peculiar to only certain
\nindividuals. It is interwoven with our very being.
\nIt is the only religion that human nature . . .understands,
\n  relishes, or
\n  admires.
\n
\nAgain and again must the heart be ploughed up,
\nand its corruptions laid bare, to keep down the
\ngrowth of this pharisaic spirit.
\n
\nIt is a creature of many lives!<\/strong> It is\nnot one blow,
\nnor ten, nor a hundred that can kill<\/strong> it. Stunned<\/strong> it
\nmay be for a while, but it revives again and again!
\n
\nPharisaism can live and thrive under any profession.
\nCalvinism or Arminianism is the same to it. It is not
\nthe garb he wears, nor the mask he carries, that
\nconstitutes the man.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The absolute necessity of experimental religion! (Octavius Winslow)   \u201dFor our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance\u201d. 1 Thessalonians 1:5   The religion of the Lord Jesus is valuable only as its power is experienced in the heart. In this respect, and in this […]<\/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-6890","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\/6890","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=6890"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6891,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6890\/revisions\/6891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}