{"id":7157,"date":"2026-07-12T07:02:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T07:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=7157"},"modified":"2026-07-12T07:02:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T07:02:26","slug":"bulletin-edition-july-2026-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=7157","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Absolutes of the Gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norm Day and I were discussing the character of God and His salvation and Norm used a word which so clearly expresses the gospel we preach and believe and love – \u201cabsolute.\u201d Let\u2019s look at some absolutes of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scriptures are absolutely <\/strong>the holy, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. They are absolutely the only rule of faith and practice. They absolutely<\/strong> point to Christ crucified, now glorified, reigning, coming Saviour. 1 Tim.3:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Almighty is absolutely<\/strong> sovereign over all the working of all things even the free and uncorked actions and thoughts of man. Daniel 4:35, Psalm 135<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man is absolutely<\/strong> dead in trespasses and sins, living but spiritually dead. He cannot see, enter, seek God or know his state. Fallen man is absolutely<\/strong> sin full and absolutely<\/strong> responsible for his sins. Ephesians 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The triune God Almighty absolutely <\/strong>chose to save by grace an innumerable company of Adam\u2019s fallen race before the world began. They were absolutely <\/strong>elected there the Elect One – the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the cross Jesus of Nazareth absolutely<\/strong> saved all the Father gave into His hands to redeem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary\u2019s tree was absolutely<\/strong> the act by which they are saved sovereignly, by complete substitution, to the absolute<\/strong> satisfaction of God\u2019s holy law and justice. Matthew 1:21, John 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will be absolutely<\/strong> born again and called to life and faith by the absolutely i<\/strong>rresistible power and omnipotent grace of God the Holy Spirit to a completed salvation revealed by the preaching of the gospel of this Christ. 1 Peter 1:23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all the elect they have absolutely <\/strong>fulfilled all of God\u2019s holy, good and spiritual law and establish this law by faith in Christ. Colossians 2:10, Romans 10:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of their absolute <\/strong>union with the Lord Jesus Christ they will be kept from falling from Christ\u2019s and the Father\u2019s hands. They will absolutely <\/strong>persevere by God\u2019s promises purpose, purchase, and power. John 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their union with Christ Jesus our Lord they are absolutely<\/strong> sanctified by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Their growth is in grace and the knowledge of God – growing absolutely<\/strong> more dependent and coming up our of the wilderness leaning on the Beloved. Song 8 Jude 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God given and exercised faith is absolutely<\/strong> the evidence of their salvation. They look to the Lord Jesus the author and finisher of faith. Hebrews 11:1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dictionary defines \u2018absolute\u2019<\/strong> as \u201cfree from imperfection, complete, perfect\u201d or as the Lord Jesus Christ declared from the cross \u201cIt is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all unbelief there are these two things:
a good opinion of one’s self,
and a bad opinion of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horatius Bonar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We journey onward through<\/strong>
a waste howling wilderness<\/strong>

(Henry Law, “Family Devotion” 1884)

As God’s children, we receive in this present time all
that our Heavenly Father knows to be good for us.

His eye of love <\/strong>always watches over us.

His hand of power<\/strong> always guides and protects us.

We journey onward through a waste howling<\/strong>
wilderness<\/strong>\u2014amid snares and temptations on the
right hand and on the left\u2014but we are never left
\u2014we are never forsaken.

“<\/strong>But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob,<\/strong>
<\/strong>and he that formed thee, O Israel,<\/strong>
<\/strong>Fear not: for I have redeemed thee,<\/strong>
<\/strong>I have called thee<\/em> by thy name; thou art<\/em> mine.<\/strong>
<\/strong>2 <\/sup><\/strong>When thou passest through the waters, I will be<\/em> with thee;<\/strong>
<\/strong>and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:<\/strong>
<\/strong>when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;<\/strong>
<\/strong>neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.<\/strong>
<\/strong>3 <\/sup><\/strong>For I am<\/em> the Lord thy God,<\/strong>
<\/strong>the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:<\/strong>
<\/strong>I gave Egypt for<\/em> thy ransom,<\/strong>
<\/strong>Ethiopia and Seba for thee.<\/strong>” Isaiah 43:1-3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God’s dealings with a sin slain race!<\/strong>

(Henry Law, “Numbers” 1858)<\/em>

“Buds will sprout on the rod belonging to<\/strong> <\/strong>the man I choose <\/strong>. . . When he went into the
Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, Moses found that Aaron’s rod<\/strong>, representing the tribe of
Levi, had<\/strong> budded, blossomed, and produced<\/strong> <\/strong>almonds!<\/strong>” (see Numbers 17:1-8)

The twelve rods<\/strong> at first seem all alike. They are all sapless twigs. The same grove saw their birth. Man\u2019s eye sees but one likeness in their dry forms. But suddenly one<\/strong> puts forth loveliness; while the others<\/strong> <\/strong>still remain worthless and withered. Here is a picture<\/strong> <\/strong>of <\/strong>God’s dealings with a sin slain race!<\/strong>

Since Adam’s fall, all are born lifeless branches of a withered stock. Many abide so, and thus pass as
fuel to the quenchless fire.

But in a chosen remnant, a new birth occurs.

The grave sprouts into life<\/strong>.

The sapless put forth buds<\/strong>.

Blossoms<\/strong> appear.

Fruit<\/strong> ripens.

Whence is the difference? <\/strong>It is not nature’s work. No dry stick can restore itself. No ‘withered helplessness’ can deck itself with verdure. This cannot be.

When any man arises from the death of sin, and blooms in grace<\/strong>, God has arisen with divine almightiness.

Free, sovereign love decrees rebirth.

Boundless power achieves it.

What is its voice of the Budded Rod <\/strong>to unregenerate worldlings? Alas! these are a forest of sticks, wholly dry. The curse, which fell on Eden’s garden, blasted their nature to the core. Thus withered they were born.
Thus withered they continue.

What will their end be?<\/strong>

That end draws near. What then awaits them? Can they be beams and rafters in the palace of
heaven’s King! Oh, no!

The decree is sure. Faithfulness has warned. Almighty power will execute. “But that, which beareth
thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Heb. 6:8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paying for admittance into heaven<\/strong>

(Horatius Bonar, “Bible Thoughts and Themes”)

“<\/strong>not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;\u201d<\/strong> Titus 3:5<\/strong>
<\/strong>
Ritualism, or externalism, or traditionalism<\/strong> <\/strong>are all different forms of self-righteousness; man’s
self-invented ways of pleasing or appeasing God, or paying for admittance into heaven<\/strong>. These
forms of self-righteousness are a human apparatus for procuring God’s pardon. They are the means by which the performer of them hopes to win God\u2019s favour–perhaps, also, man’s praise–most certainly, his own esteem.

Every act, or performance, or ceremony, which honours self, exalts self, or gives prominence to self–is an accursed thing. It is an abomination in the sight of God–however religious, or sacred, or solemn, or devout, it may seem to man.

It is to self-righteousness in some form or other, that man is always tending. Man attempts to make up for this badness, or to cover it over, by works, and devotions, and ceremonies.
All this is pure self-righteousness.

The religion of self-righteousness in our day consists of works, feelings, fancies, music, rites, festivals, fasts, gestures, postures, garments. It is something which gratifies self; which pleases the natural man; which makes a man think well of himself; which gives a man something to do <\/strong>or to feel <\/strong>in order to earn pardon and merit heaven. Pride, religious pride, is at the root. Ritualism is man’s expression of rejection of Christ. It was self-righteous religion which crucified the Son of God. All human rites and ceremonies are man’s ways of getting rid of Christ. What can all these things do? Can they save?
Can religious postures save?
Can religious garments save?
Can religious candles save?
Can religious music save?
Can religious architecture save?
Can religious cathedrals save?
No! They lead away from Jesus! They make void
the cross, and trample on His blood!

“<\/strong>not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;<\/strong>” Titus 3:5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

From One Preacher to Another<\/strong>
<\/strong>\u201cHe that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise<\/em>.\u201d (Proverbs 12:15<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


In another place the Spirit of God admonishes us to \u201cHear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end<\/em>\u201d (Pro. 19:20). More than thirty years ago Pastor Henry Mahan and I were preaching together in a Bible conference in Appomattox, VA. I was a very young man, preaching with him and several other men of much age and experience. Each day we were there, Bro. Mahan came by my room for a visit. Each time, he gave me a word of wise counsel about preaching. I can almost recall his exact words. I have rehearsed them countless times over the years. They have, I hope, shaped my preaching.

            Bro. Mahan\u2019s first word of wisdom to me was \u201cPreach the Gospel.\u201d He urged me to preach like Richard Baxter, \u201cas a dying man to dying men.\u201d From that day to this, it has been my determination every time I preach to do so with the conscious awareness that I am preaching to eternity bound sinners, who must soon stand before God in judgment. \u2014 Let no sermon ever be preached that does not clearly show sinners how God saves sinners by his grace, urging them to seek his mercy in Christ<\/strong>.

            Next, my wise counsellor urged me, \u201cDon\u2019t try to preach to preachers. Find a man in the congregation who looks like he may have been digging ditches his whole life, who looks like his heart is broken and heavy, who needs comfort and encouragement.\u201d That is exactly what God himself demands of those who speak for him (Isa. 40:1-2). \u2014 Every gospel sermon is a message of consolation to God\u2019s elect, urging them to look away from themselves and their woes to Christ and his fulness of grace<\/strong>.

            The third wise word of counsel Bro. Mahan gave me that week was, \u201cBro. Fortner, find something in that Book that speaks to you, that you need. If you need it and it speaks to you, chances are somebody else will need it and it will speak to them. If you don\u2019t need it, nobody else does.\u201d In other words, it is utter vanity to stand in the pulpit answering questions no one is asking. \u2014 Gospel preaching is not defending points of doctrine, but declaring the boundless mercy and grace of God in Christ<\/strong>.

            I pray that God will never allow me to forget these words of wise counsel. I think hell must roar with laughter when preachers stand in the pulpit and try to untie theological knots no one is aware of and argue debates no one cares about. Until I find a message more glorious than Christ crucified, more needful than free grace, more delightful than infinite mercy, more comforting than absolute forgiveness, more assuring than perfect righteousness, more compelling than redeeming blood, more hopeful than heavenly glory, and more joyful than the infinite, immutable love of God in Christ, I am determined to preach nothing else, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. \u2014 \u201cGod forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

He cannot see, nor know, nor feel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we take the Scriptures as our authority, in what a fearful state is mankind at large! O, how awfully fallen\u2014O, how deeply sunk, man is! And yet one feature of man’s ruined state is his complete ignorance of the depths of the fall.<\/em> Though the sinful child of a sinful parent\u2014though under the curse of an avenging law\u2014though an enemy to God and godliness\u2014though passing rapidly down the broad road that leads to eternal destruction\u2014he knows it not! The veil of ignorance and blindness is upon his heart, and he is, as the Scripture speaks, “alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in him.” God has poured upon him the spirit of slumber\u2014therefore, he cannot see, nor know, nor feel <\/strong>who<\/em> he is\u2014nor what<\/em> he is\u2014nor where<\/em> he is going! Language cannot describe the awful state in which man is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, through mercy, infinite mercy\u2014there is “a remnant according to the election of grace,” who are made deeply and sensibly to see, to know, and to feel their ruined and lost condition\u2014into whose hearts the blessed Spirit puts a sigh and cry that they may know God’s great salvation\u2014and whom the same blessed Spirit, who first convinced them of their ruined state and implanted that cry in their souls, eventually brings to a happy enjoyment of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit, and He alone\u2014who makes us feel our guilty, lost, and undone condition.<\/em> It is He, and He alone\u2014who wounds and pierces our heart with conviction\u2014who opens up the depths of the fall\u2014brings to light the evils of our nature\u2014and makes us sigh and lament beneath the load of guilt upon the conscience\u2014and gives us not only to feel the burden of sin, but puts into our hearts a groan and a cry after God’s salvation to be made manifest to our heart. It is He, and He alone\u2014who unfolds to our eyes who the Lord is\u2014who reveals Christ in the heart, who sprinkles His blood upon the conscience\u2014who manifests His justifying righteousness\u2014who gives us eyes to see His glorious Person\u2014and sheds abroad His dying love in the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Absolutes of the Gospel Norm Day and I were discussing the character of God and His salvation and Norm used a word which so clearly expresses the gospel we preach and believe and love – \u201cabsolute.\u201d Let\u2019s look at some absolutes of God. The scriptures are absolutely the holy, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. […]<\/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-7157","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\/7157","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=7157"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7158,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7157\/revisions\/7158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}