Special Day Saturday October 23rd:
Our annual church family picnic will be held
at Tugaloo State
Park on
the Georgia, South Carolina border, starting at 11:00am.
The state park is located on Lake Hartwell. The Grace Bible Church of Anderson is organizing the
event. There will be plenty of Activities for all:
Music will be provided by The
Cleveland family. The Anderson church is providing the following: Hamburgers, Hot
Dogs, Bread & the Condiments. Please provide the drinks for your family and
a covered dish (optional) if you desire. Since some will be there most of the
day you might want to bring some snacks. We are looking forward to seeing you
there.
See link for directions and Park
information:
http://gastateparks.org/info/tugaloo/
Note: The alternative location for bad weather
is at Hart EMC (Hart Electric Membership
Corporation), Hartwell, GA. The directions are as follows: From I-85, get
off at Exit 177 turn south on Hwy 77 to Hartwell, follow it to its end. At stop
sign turn left onto Hwy 51 into Hartwell,
Go to fifth traffic light and turn right onto
Hwy 77 (Benson
St.), go to
shopping center on right with Quality Foods. EMC Building will be to the left,
just past the 2nd driveway.
Ministry Update:
We are thankful for
the positive response we are getting from the folks in our Auburn,
AL bible study. And we are thankful to see
the spiritual growth there.
The Assisted
Living ministry at Eastside Gardens
continues to bear fruit through the teaching of God’s Word. We see many come to the understanding of the hope that
each believer possesses through faith in the finished work of Christ.
People are
beginning to show interest in our Wednesday bible study and we are thankful to
those who attend. We are also thankful to you who have given your time,
talents, and finances, enabling our assembly to continue the work. GBCoA
It’s
About Time:
The desire and goal of any local assembly should be to see
the community reached with the Gospel of Grace, saints edified, and the
ministry duplicated based on II Tim. 2:2. We
have been fortunate enough to have saints in the Atlanta
area who understand the importance of
the local assembly I Tim. 3:15, 16, which help keep the assembly on
track with invaluable feedback. We know that the substance of what is being
taught must follow the process, which our Apostle “Paul” laid out from Romans -
Philemon. However as Paul received progressive revelation from the Lord Jesus
Christ we must also understand everything can’t be taught or learned in a
day. Our desire is to see the saints
come together for the study of God’s Word,
and have a time of fellowship with one another. Therefore we have made a
positive change to adhere to the posted times of our Sunday schedule. By adhering
to a schedule of starting on time and ending
on time, we hope this positive change will help with the growth and the
interest in our assembly. The responsibility to reach the Atlanta
area, with the gospel
of the grace of God, and the word
rightly divided depends on all our
faithfulness as a local assembly to accomplish the work of the ministry. GBCoA
Sunday Schedule:
Fellowship 9:30 - 10:00
Bible
Studies 10:00 - 10:45
11:00 - 12:00
Children’s
Study 11:00 - 12:00
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Lee Bonner 404-643-5378
Clay Madsen 770-464-1381
Jerry
Wooldridge 770-427-3608
May all that we do or accomplish be for the Glory and Honour of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
E-Mail: Gracechurchatlanta@mail.com
www.gracebibleatlanta.org
Believe On the
Lord Jesus Christ
What a joy it is to approach
Gods Holy Word by faith- To be able to rest (not wrest) in appreciation of
every word contained in a book that we hold in our hand; our sword of the
Spirit; the only offensive piece of armor that we are equipped with. Thanks be
to those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, who have sustained a belief
in an inerrant bible in our own English language.
I have found a fundamental truth,
that when I have a certain perception about a word or doctrine in scripture,
and my understanding of that issue comes into question, either in my own study
or through others, I can always find the answer in God's word rightly divided and
believed. Sometimes
the answer does not come immediately, and may require more study, patience, and
understanding, but I know, God's word can always be depended upon to deliver the
answer. Because, '…God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit'. So, the problem in the
understanding is with me and my intellect, and not with my bible. When one takes the
other approach to so-called spiritual understanding by doubting and questioning
the authority of the bible, then turning to scholarship, human viewpoint and
different translations for the answer, God's formula for study is lost, thus
lessening one's ability to spiritually find the correct answer to the
scriptural problem. Note: Its always right to ask your bible questions,
but never right to question the bibles ability to give you the answer. After
all, it is the only link that has been given to the believer today to find God's wisdom and
will for ministry. And that’s the KJV bible I'm referring to!
We, as an assembly, in the last few
months, have been enlightened unto some fascinating insight into Gods Word. It
is amazing how much doctrine is crammed into prepositions, e.g. into, onto,
unto, in, by, through, etc. Did you know that we have not been made ‘Near’ to
God by the blood of Christ? The word near demonstrates a closing of the
distance, a change of proximity between God and man; but it cannot change our
‘Status’. But, if we say, “Ye are made ‘Nigh’ by the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13), this now denotes not our location
being changed in distance, but our Status [Relationship] has changed. Notice
what qualifies those that have been made ‘Nigh’ in verse 13, ‘those that are In Christ!’ for they are In
Him!
Another interesting preposition to consider
is in a verse that had puzzled me for quite some time. Paul tells the
Philippian jailor to “Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. Why
did Paul not say to Believe IN the
Lord Jesus Christ? Well, that is what many Bible versions have done - it does
sound smooth to the modern ear, does it not? However, let us look at the
context of the phrase: To Believe On
the Lord Jesus Christ. As you study this issue for yourself, notice this
phraseology is normally used when talking about righteousness being imputed to
someone; e.g. Rom 4:24; Rom 9:33; 1 Tim 1:16; 1 Jn
5:13. Someone who has exercised their Trust in God, in whatever His
message to man happens to be at the time. - Now, let us look at the phrase: ‘To
Believe In the
Lord Jesus Christ’. This is
used mostly of someone knowing who Christ was, his credibility to be trusted,
leaving him without excuse; as with Israel in Romans chapter 10.
The argument is- ‘did not Israel know? Had they not heard?’ Yes! Is the reply given by
Paul. They did hear, they did know. That is why he says, “The word is nigh
(again, not near thee, but nigh = within you) thee; in their mouth and in their heart.”
They know what it is they need to do, confess the Lord Jesus Christ, admit who
he is, and trust him. Notice the whole thought of calling upon the name of the
Lord. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And
how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” This person in context, is spoken of as
though he has never heard of Jesus Christ, he doesn’t know WHO he is, and his
ability to save him. Therefore he cannot believe
IN him, if he has not heard of him. This belief is used as we would say,
“Do you believe IN gravity?” Of
course, it can be proven, and you can be convinced by facts of its power and
existence. Gravity has always existed, even before man knew how to explain it.
How about the Easter bunny; Do you believe IN
him? No, for he does not exist. He cannot be proven to be real. Now, Paul
says that all of Israel had heard, and knew who Christ
was; but now Paul begs of them to Trust him, To Believe ON Christ. A comparison in regards to Jesus’ being the
Christ is John 20:31: “But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name.” Israel possessed all the information they needed to know to
be saved; however, they choose to deny the one that was willing, and able to
save them. John 3:16, a much quoted verse even
demonstrates clearly, that to believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ, is not the point at which eternal life is imputed.
Notice the verse carefully – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” This
Jew, to whom this is written to and about, possesses everything he needs to
know about the Lord Jesus Christ, and he therefore SHOULD not perish. But, from a comparison of scriptures, the man
may still perish, for he has not yet believed
ON the Lord Jesus Christ, because of the pride of his heart. Notice verse 18: “He that believeth
on him is not condemned: but
he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Does this not sound like Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned.”? If he did not believe IN him, he was already damned, for they had turned their ears from
the truth, taking the answer out of the equation. But, if he had believed ON him, he was not condemned,
for he had exercised Trust in Gods message.
In reading John
chapter 9, notice the attitude of the leaders concerning the blind man
being healed by Christ. They denied Christ being whom he demonstrated himself to
be. He was doing the works of his Father; and they heard (as Romans 10 states), but did not have ears to hear;
their motive was wrong. John 9:16:“Therefore
said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth
not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such
miracles? And there was a division among them.”
This was taking place in the synagogue, and notice the fear the
leaders were instilling upon the people who believed this man’s message: vs. 22 -“These words spake his parents, because they
feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess
that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” Now, Christ
approaches the man, whom he had just healed; and notice, the man does not even
know WHO Christ is; he knew his name to be Jesus, but what of his credentials? vs.
35 - “Jesus heard that they had cast him
out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the
Son of God?” Notice what the man’s answer was: “Who is he, Lord,
that I might believe on him? And
Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with
thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. Jesus
the preacher is demonstrating some truth to this man; who hears [how shall they
hear without a preacher]; the man believes he is WHO he has been demonstrated
to be [believes in him]; then, what
is his response? He is believing on
the Lord, calling on him, and confessing
him. Believing on Him is the
principal of Trust.
How many people do you know that say they believe
IN the Lord Jesus Christ, yet have
no scriptural idea of eternal life through him. Does not practically every
single denomination of Christianity claim to believe that Jesus Christ was God
in human flesh; he bore our sins upon a cross; he was buried; and rose again on
the third day; then ascended up to heaven to sit on the right hand of the
Father? Most everyone believes in these facts. But, listen carefully, what is
the single element missing in this equation? TRUST! What is the person trusting
in? Their own righteousness is usually the answer they give. Hoping that God
will accept their service for him as entrance into Heaven. If you don’t know
for sure that you possess eternal life as a present possession, perhaps you may
need to reconsider WHOM you are trusting. Do not let your flesh fool you into
thinking you can save yourself by simply believing
In Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God.” This verse explains the unbelievers problem.
Romans 4:23, 24 “Now it was not written
for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom
it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead;” Believing ON
the Lord Jesus Christ, means that you are Trusting In Jesus Christ and His
finished work on the cross as a complete and total payment for your sin. Dear
friend please be sure that you have not only Believed In the Lord
Jesus Christ but have Believed On Him for the salvation of
your soul. Romans 4:5; “But to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you all. Amen.
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