{"id":6964,"date":"2025-12-04T21:14:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6964"},"modified":"2025-12-04T21:14:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:14:46","slug":"bulletin-edition-november-2025-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6964","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The\nWarning  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\nPeter 2:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As there were many false\nprophets among the children of Israel in the Old Testament, so there\nshall be many false teachers rising up in\nthe church of Christ until he comes again. Though they\nprofess to be redeemed by Christ and claim to love him and trust him, though\nthey seem to be most amiable and kind, the poison of asps is under their lips.\nTheir doctrine is damning! Their doctrine is a denial of Christ, not of his\ncoming, but of his accomplishments, not of his Being, but of his character, not\nof his death, or atonement by it, but of the efficacy of it! To deny Christ the\nLord is not a mere denial of the title Lord, but a denial of his character as\nLord, rightful Master and absolute Sovereign! “Beware of false\nprophets!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\nFortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The Unstoppable Force of\nGod\u2019s Grace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace is not merely doctrine, but\nan unstoppable force of God. It is never without e\ufb00ect! We\nare chosen by grace with the undeniable e\ufb00ect that\nwe are His. We are redeemed by grace with the certain e\ufb00ect that we are free. We are called by grace with the\ninescapable e\ufb00ect that\nwe come to Him. We are preserved by grace with the inevitable e\ufb00ect that we shall be with Him forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Terrell (1955-2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God hates high looks and never\nfails to bring them down. All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts.\nAre you glorying in your graces or in your talents? Are you glorying in\nriches and your increases of goods? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know for sure that God is not\nimpressed with you in yourself. He will pull these human flowers of\nself-deceit up by their roots. \u201cHe that glorieth, let him glory in the\nLord.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scott Richardson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gospel of God\u2019s grace in\nChrist Jesus is not a thing to be proved, but Truth to be believed. It is\nnot submitted to our reasoning powers as a subject for critical\nexamination. But the Gospel is a MESSAGE FROM GOD, addressed to the conscience,\nfeelings, and affections. For this reason, men fond of argument and\nproving everything by strictly logical deduction generally make VERY POOR\nPREACHERS. In Scriptures, God does not argue, HE PROCLAIMS! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

J. C. Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lay before me a code of spiritual\nlaws – and I shall break them; a string of rules – and I shall scatter\nthem; a round of duties – and I shall evade them; directions for my daily\nwalk – and I am sure to wander from them; point to the precepts – and they\nwill prove me perverse time and time again. Men do not need rules to\nregulate their behaviour- they need grace to save,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Bradburry <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The gospel of\nGod’s grace.”<\/strong> Acts 20:24<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>(Don Fortner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no grace <\/strong>but\nfree and sovereign grace.
\n
\nThere is no election <\/strong>but eternal and\nunconditional election.
\n
\nThere is no redemption <\/strong>but particular and\neffectual redemption.
\n
\nThere is no salvation <\/strong>but by the irresistible\ngrace
\nand omnipotent power of God the Holy Spirit.
\n
\nThere is no security <\/strong>but by the absolute\npreservation
\nof God’s immutable goodness.
\n
\nAnd any pretended gospel <\/strong>that does not proclaim
\nthese things is, as Paul says, “another gospel’
\nthat is damning to the souls of men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In love<\/strong>
\n(Law, “Gleanings from the Book of Life”)<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>Behold the overflowing riches of the grace
\nand love of Jesus. Every page of the Gospel
\nstory teaches the feelings of His heart.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He receives His people as\nHis own.
\nBefore the world was framed, He inscribed
\nthem on the tablets of His heart.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He undertakes their\ncause, and
\nespouses them as His bride.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He works out for them a
\nrighteousness so bright, so perfect, so
\nglorious, that Jehovah’s eye can find no
\nflaw, no spot, no blemish in it.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He beautifies them with\nHis
\nshining robe, and fits them for the
\nbanquet in the heaven of heavens.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He guards them from every\nfoe,
\nand makes them more than conquerors
\nover all the hosts of darkness.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He makes all things to\nwork
\ntogether for their good.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He leads them to lie down\nin the
\nrich pastures of Bible truth, and instructs
\nthem in the Word which is “able to make
\nthem wise unto salvation.”
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He will come again to\nreceive
\nthem to Himself.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He will present them pure\nand
\nblameless to His Father with exceeding joy.
\n
\nIn love<\/strong> He will dwell among them\nthrough
\nthe ages of eternity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world is . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(by Horatius Bonar)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nworld is . . .<\/strong>
\n   blind<\/strong>, and knows it not;
\n   poor<\/strong>, and thinks itself rich;
\n   foolish<\/strong>, and thinks itself wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not aware of the extent\nof its
\nruin<\/strong>, alienation<\/strong>, and depravity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not alive to its danger<\/strong>,\nits
\nhopeless prospects<\/strong>; nor its doom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If ye were of\nthe world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world,\nbut I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”\n\u2013John 15:19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you walk in the fear of\nGod, and follow in the footsteps of a persecuted and despised Jesus, the world\nwill hate and despise you as it hated and despised him, as he himself declares,\n“If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated\nyou.” God himself has put enmity between the seed of the woman and the\nseed of the serpent (Gen. 3:15); and nothing will secure you from the\nmanifestation of this enmity if you are on Christ’s side. Neither rank, nor\nproperty, nor learning, nor education, nor amiability, nor the profusest deeds\nof liberality, nor the greatest uprightness of conduct, will stave off the\nscorn of men, if you are a sincere follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, and carry\nout in practice what you hold in principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not conformed to\nJesus here in his suffering image, you will most certainly not be conformed to\nJesus hereafter in his glorified likeness. But if by living for and unto Jesus\nand his cross, your name be cast out as evil, wear it as your distinguishing\nbadge, as adorning the breast of a Christian warrior. If men misrepresent your\nmotives or actions, and seek to hunt you down with every calumny that the\nbasest malignity can invent, do not heed it as long as you are innocent. They\ncannot find you a better or more honourable crown, if indeed your godly life\nprovoke the cruel lie. It is a crown that your Master bore before you, when\nthey crowned his head with thorns. If you feel as I have felt, you will at\ntimes count yourself even unworthy to suffer persecution for his name’s sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why\nis it there is so much<\/strong>
\nerror in the Church of God?<\/strong>
\n
\nFrom Winslow’s, “Learning of Jesus”<\/em>
\n
\nThe only authoritative Teacher in the Church of
\nGod, the only true Prophet, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
\n
\nWhy is it there is so much darkness and crudeness
\nin the books we read, and in the sermons we hear?
\n
\nWhy is it that we see so much ignorance and
\nobscurity in setting forth the truth of God?
\n
\nWhy is it there is so much
\nerror in the Church of God?
\n<\/strong>
\nIt is because men will not sit at the feet of
\nJesus and learn of Him. Men would rather learn
\nof their fellow men than of the ‘God man’.
\n
\nThey prefer human writings to the Divine.
\n
\nThey prefer the school of man, to the school of God.
\n
\nAnd this is one reason why there is so much
\nfalse doctrine, the teaching that causes to err,
\nboth from the pulpit and from the press.
\n
\nWe may be carried away by great learning, brilliant
\ngenius, and apparently profound piety; but if we
\nplace ourselves at the feet of Jesus as a lowly
\ndisciple, and there receive our views of truth, we
\nshall then understand those profound mysteries
\nof God’s revealed Word, which are hidden from
\nthe worldly wise and prudent, but revealed to
\nthose who become learners of Christ.
\n
\n“Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
\nand ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 9:29<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their\nreligion is hollow, unsubstantial, and unreal<\/strong>
\n(Winslow, “Christ’s Intercession for Tried Faith”)
\n
\nThe most beautiful ritual,
\nthe most accurate creed,
\nthe most costly religion,
\nthe most splendid profession,
\nwithout Christ in the heart,
\nis but as fuel preparing for the
\nfinal and eternal conflagration.
\n
\nWhat, my reader, if your religion
\nshould prove to be nothing but chaff?
\nDoes the bare probability startle you?
\n
\nAh! there are multitudes whom it might well
\nstartle; for multitudes are thus deceived.
\n
\nNot a grain of saving grace is found in their souls.
\n
\nThere is….
\n  no vitality in their faith,
\n  no solidity in their profession,
\n  no substance in their religion.
\n
\nBefore every wind of false doctrine they bend, and
\nby each blast of temptation they are carried away.
\n
\nThe stubble of the field, and the chaff of the
\nthreshing floor (fit emblems of their profession),
\nare not more unsubstantial and fleeting than it.
\n
\nAll is woeful deception!
\n
\nThey have substituted….
\n  a form of godliness for its power;
\n  union to the church for union to Christ;
\n  the baptism of water for the regeneration of the Spirit;
\n  gospel ordinances for sanctifying grace;
\n  works of benevolence for faith in the Lord Jesus.
\n
\nAnd thus their religion is hollow, unsubstantial, and
\nunreal; possessing a “name to live, they are dead.”
\n
\nAnd what will be the end of such?
\n
\nDeparting into eternity in this state of soul deception;
\nbuilding their hope of heaven upon this false foundation;
\nin their sad experience must be realised the awful
\ndescription which the evangelist gives of the judgment
\npower of Christ; “whose fan is in his hand, and he will
\nthoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his
\nbarn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable\nfire.”
\n
\nThus will perish….
\n  all human religions,
\n  all false hopes,
\n  all hollow professions,
\n  all soul destroying doctrines;
\nthe ‘wood, the hay, the stubble,’ of a
\nform of godliness, destitute of the power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An honest scientist will admit\nthat with every new discovery comes a multitude of new questions. So as\nknowledge increases the mystery of the universe deepens. The more we learn, the\nmore we realise we don\u2019t know. Is this not infinitely more true concerning our\nknowledge of God? Truly, he is past finding out. The more the Lord reveals of\nhimself to us, the more unsearchable he becomes. \u201cScratching the surface\u201c does\nnot begin to describe our knowledge of the Almighty. So that every child of God\nwill say with David; \u201csuch knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I\ncannot attain unto it.\u201c Ps 139:6. Yes, we have words to define the precious\ntruths we believe. Words like imputation, sovereignty, holiness, eternal, just\nto name a few. But what do these words really mean? \u201cIf any man think that he\nknoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.\u201d 1 Cor.\n8:2.  Thank God for saving us through faith. Faith simply believes what it\ncannot begin to fully understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greg Elmquist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of a sinner working his\nway to Heaven or earning God\u2019s favour is not only obnoxious to the\nHoliness of God and repugnant to His grace but is also a repudiation of\nthe work of Jesus Christ and an insult to human intelligence! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maurice Montgomery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How little we understand of God\u2019s\ndealings with us! If we suffer the slightest set-back in this world\u2019s\ngoods or pleasures, we take it as a sign of God\u2019s judgment and disfavour.\nIf we prosper in this world, we believe <\/p>\n\n\n\n

that it is evidence of God\u2019s\npleasure with us. But it is likely the opposite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When God would visit a man with\njudgment aimed at his destruction, He withholds not the goods, but the\nspiritual ones; and the one He truly loves is often deprived of worldly\ngoods so that he will more readily seek<\/p>\n\n\n\n

spiritual goods. Which would you\nrather suffer, blindness of eyes or blindness of heart? Which would you\nrather have, riches in gold or riches in grace? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, let each of us learn to not\njudge God\u2019s ETERNAL dealings with us by His TEMPORAL dealings with us. I\nknow that this is hard to do; but it is the essence of living faith to\njudge, not by what is seen, but by what is not seen, to live by faith in\nGod\u2019s promises, not by sight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Terrell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God hates high looks and never\nfails to bring them down. All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts.\nAre you glorying in your graces or in your talents? Are you glorying in\nriches and your increases of goods? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know for sure that God is not\nimpressed with you in yourself. He will pull these human flowers of\nself-deceit up by their roots. \u201cHe that glorieth, let him glory in the\nLord.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scott Richardson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gospel of God\u2019s grace in\nChrist Jesus is not a thing to be proved, but Truth to be believed. It is\nnot submitted to our reasoning powers as a subject for critical\nexamination. But the Gospel is a MESSAGE FROM GOD, addressed to the conscience,\nfeelings, and affections. For this reason, men fond of argument and\nproving everything by strictly logical deduction generally make VERY POOR\nPREACHERS. In Scriptures, God does not argue, HE PROCLAIMS! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

J. C. Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lay before me a code of spiritual\nlaws-and I shall break them; a string of rules-and I shall scatter them; a\nround of duties – and I shall evade them; directions for my daily walk –\nand I am sure to wander from them; point to the precepts – and they will\nprove me perverse time and time again. Men do not need rules to regulate\ntheir behaviour – they need grace to save,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Bradbury <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Warning   2 Peter 2:1 As there were many false prophets among the children of Israel in the Old Testament, so there shall be many false teachers rising up in the church of Christ until he comes again. Though they profess to be redeemed by Christ and claim to love him and trust him, though they seem to be most amiable […]<\/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-6964","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\/6964","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=6964"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6965,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964\/revisions\/6965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}