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A Plan Or A Purpose?

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” | 1 Timothy 3: 14-16

I hear many people talk about God having a plan for our lives.

I hear others speak of God having a plan of salvation.

The nature of the word “plan” subtly destroys the sovereignty of God and the helplessness of man.

God does not “plan” anything.

The sovereign God PURPOSES everything.

A plan (like a blueprint) is something that someone else can carry out and put into being.

Salvation is not God’s plan that man must make effectual by his obedience.

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” (Isaiah 14: 24)

Salvation is what God purposed to do for His people by the obedience and sacrifice of His Son and what Christ the Savior has fully accomplished for His people.

“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” (Romans 1: 13)

A plan also may or may not come to pass. I have planned to do many things that I did not do.

Salvation is not God’s plan.

“For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isaiah 14: 27)

Salvation is the purpose of God for His people.

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1: 11)

A purpose which God SHALL bring to pass.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “The Pillar and Ground of Truth” (44:03 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 17 April, 2021

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Christ Is The Savior Of Sinners

“ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” | 1 Timothy 1: 15

Do you know why God sent His Son into the world to save sinners?

It is because sinners are the only people who need saving.

If you are a sinner come to Christ for Christ is the Savior of sinners.

Click here to listen to the message “A Message For The Entire World” (38:36 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 15 April, 2017

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The True God, True Elect, True Redeemer

“And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.” | 2 Kings 11: 19

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

That portion cut me to the heart, while at the same time it has been my hope.

If I am to stand by myself to give an account, I am lost forever; but it is the judgment seat of Christ.

He is my surety and has paid all demands.

I shall be tried there by a covenant of grace, not a covenant of works.

Blessed be God for His great Salvation.

I bless God that the promises of the gospel met me in all my wants, wounds, and wretchedness.

I wish to die with “God be merciful to me a sinner” upon my lips.

~ John Kent’s Dying Testimony

Click here to listen to the message “The True God, True Elect, True Redeemer”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 12 April, 2022

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Not Far From The Kingdom Of God

“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” | Mark 12: 34

Not far from the kingdom of God is still not in it.

This is a miserable place to be.

It is to have the knowledge of God, Christ, and sin, yet not able to lay hold of Christ by faith as my all in all.

O what misery, to know and not have.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Certainty of the Words of Truth” (43:42 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 8 April, 2022

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The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed God

”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” | 1 Timothy 1: 15-16

Suppose that an ‘accident’ should take away our lives; I smile to think that the worst thing that could happen would be the best thing that could happen.

If we should die, we should but the sooner be “forever with the Lord.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed God” (33:09 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 8 April, 2023

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The Strait Gate And The Narrow Way

“And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed.” | Genesis 27: 27

There is, without a doubt, no clearer picture or type of the blessing of God Almighty to an unworthy rebel than the blessing of Jacob by his father Isaac.

Jacob had exhibited the true nature of a wretched sinner.

In Jacob’s mind, the only way he could get his father’s blessing was to impersonate his brother Esau.

Lying with every breath, Jacob attempted to convince his father that he was someone else.

Not until Isaac smelled the coat of Esau did he bestow the blessing.

The smell of his first born satisfied the aging Isaac.

And just as the smell of Esau’s coat that covered Jacob ushered in the blessing to the younger son… Christ’s royal robe of righteousness, imputed to everyone that believeth in Christ, is the smell of satisfaction, obedience, and truthfulness to God the Father.

In ourselves, we are but “Jacobs,” deceivers, liars and supplanters.

But robed in the glorious robe of Christ’s imputed righteousness… we are accepted and blessed in the Beloved.

Apart from Him, there is no hope, no life, and no blessing from the just and Holy God.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Strait Gate And Narrow Way” (19:19 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 5 April, 2023

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Cleanse Us From All Sin!

”Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” | 2 Corinthians 9: 15

A man is never so fit for believing as when he is most unfit.

It is unfitness, not fitness, that is really required.

What is fitness for being washed? Filth!

What is fitness for receiving pardon? Guilt!

If you are filthy, if you are guilty, you have all the fitness that is required.

So, come and find in Jesus Christ all that meets your greatest need.

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Cleanse Us From All Sin!” (28:14 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 3 April, 2023

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A Powerful Word

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” | Acts 9: 6

Here is a powerful word — “Born”

Salvation is the gift of life, eternal life.

When our Lord declares, “Ye must be born again,” he is saying you must be the object and recipient of Divine power.

Just as God created the world, God must create life in your soul.

Just as God breathed into Adam and made him a living soul, so God must breathe into you the breath of life by his Spirit, or you will perish in your sins.

This is what I am saying: you are spiritually dead, helplessly lost by nature.

Your only hope is that God the Holy Spirit will give you life — “You must be born again!”

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “When Is a Person Saved?” (31:52 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 1 April, 2022

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He Pulled Us Out!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” | Psalm 40: 1-3

I received a note the other day from a person who is going through a very difficult time.

This could be the greatest trial of this person’s life.

But in the note, this person was acknowledging all of the goodness and mercy that the Lord has shown to His people.

And in spite of all the sad news, the note ended with this word of great thankfulness to our savior: “He pulled us out!”

That’s exactly what Christ did for his people!

He reached way down for us, and lifted us out of the deep miry clay!

We were sold into the slavery pit of sin, but God in sovereign love sent His own Son to rescue us!

And when He on the cross of Calvary cried: “It Is Finished!”

God the father cried: “Deliver them!… I have found a Ransom”

In spite of the deep sorrow and tribulation that we must endure in this world because of sin; For the rest of time and eternity, the redeemed of the Lord will never get over the glory of the Gospel; “He pulled us out!”

Click here to listen to the message “One Thing” (27:50 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 29 March, 2017

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My Sins Are Ever Before Me

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” | 1Peter 3: 18

What is to be done about my sins?

It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

It is evident that no man is justified by the law.

The tears of Esau would not restore his birthright.

The water of baptism left Simon Magus in the gall of bitterness.

Judas’ confession that he had betrayed innocent blood only led him to suicide.

The wonderful works professed in Matthew 7 were called “works of iniquity” by Christ.

“How can he be clean that is born of a woman?”

Here is the answer: “HE (the Lord of glory) APPEARED (came to earth in flesh) TO PUT AWAY SIN (all sin–past, present, and future) BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF.“

“My sins are ever before me,” we cry with the fathers.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “From Ichabod To Ebenezer” (38:45 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 27 March, 2021