The Law and the Gospel
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all— James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “…sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
“Sincerity means that the appearance and the reality are exactly the same. “
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount – Oswald Chambers
Lord’s Day – December 6, 2015
| 10:00 a.m | Sunday School classes for all ages. |
| 11:00 a.m | Morning Service – Rev. Lee Sterritt – Communion service after morning service |
| 3:30 p.m. | Carolling and Outreach |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evening Service – Pastor Jesse Bartz – Ennerdale Road Baptist Church |
| 6:00 p.m. | Pre-Service Prayer Time |
Weekly Announcements
| Wednesday December 9th | 7:25 p.m. | Prayer Meeting & Bible Study – Mr. Roger Valenziano |
| Thursday December 10th | 7:30 p.m. | Youth Fellowship |
| Friday December 11th | 9:00 a.m. | Women’s Bible Study |
| 7:00 p.m. | Good News Bible Club | |
| Saturday December 12th | 9:45 a.m. | Youth Fellowship Christmas Outing & Lunch |
Advance Announcements
| Sunday December 13th | 11:00 a.m. | Worship Service – Dr. Frank McClelland |
| 6:00 p.m. | Pre-service Prayer Meeting | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evening Service – Dr. Larry Saunders | |
| Wednesday December 16th | 7:25 p.m. | Prayer Meeting |
| Thursday December 17th | 7:00 p.m. | Whitefield Christmas Concert |
| Saturday December 19th | 1:00 p.m. | Wedding Ceremony of Femi Ijaodola & Aszerina Lavinere |
