The message behind Christmas

This is that time of year when the world is reminded - should it hear above the noise of its general celebrations - that Christ, the Son of God, came into this world.

But who is He? And why did He come? And where is He now?

Listen to “In Him should all fulness dwell” Colossians 1:19 for some answers.

Free Grace Meetings in USA

Regular visitors to http://www.freegraceradio.com/ may wonder where the various churches listed are actually located. Indeed, if they have been given a hunger and thirst after righteousness, and a love for the truth of the gospel as preached on there, they may well wonder whether there is a meeting within travelling distance of them.

Well, I recently wondered whether anyone had plotted the various meetings on a map... and in the end I decided to produce one. I hope the following may prove helpful to many:

Map of 'Free Grace' meetings in the USA

Honiton Sovereign Grace Church

Having met for nine years to worship God through hearing the preaching of the gospel in Honiton, on 21st September 2008 we commenced public meetings in Awliscombe village hall on Sunday mornings.

We extend a warm welcome to all in the area who wish to gather to worship God and hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Full details of these meetings can be read here.


At the first Sunday morning meeting of Honiton Sovereign Grace Church on 21st September we heard the following message preached.
“I was glad” Psalm 122:1 21-9-08 (Ian Potts)

A summary of the message on Lamentations 3:21 (Sunday 28th September) "The Lord will not cast off for ever" can be read here.

And the message delivered on Sunday 5th October was:
"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" Lamentations 1:12

Christ - The Sun of Righteousness

The book, 'Christ, the Sun of Righteousness', now has its own website. Similar in design to The Gospel of God this new website presents each chapter of the book in an easily accessible and readable format online, grouped under various categories, along with search facilities.

See: Christ - The Sun of Righteousness

Why do the heathen rage?

We live in days of great social change. Rapid change. Hardly a month seems to pass when some new law isn’t passed, or some movement appears to triumph in a further attempt to overthrow God’s order. In the last 50 years we’ve seen great changes in the fickle populace’s thinking regarding social and class order, the roles of the sexes, the place of marriage and the family in society, among many other things.

The world hails such changes as a ‘social revolution’. It delights in its supposedly new-found freedom and liberty. It prides itself in seemingly having overthrown the shackles of traditional, ‘fundamentalist’ values. With glee a ‘new order’, full of tolerance and freedom is greeted whilst discrimination of any kind is decried. Yet, in bemused puzzlement, the same champions of freedom scratch their heads wondering why homes break up, crime increases, companies collapse, discontent reigns, and misery mounts and children on the streets take up knives to murder one another.

Yet, undeterred, the wise leaders of our day, with increasing abandon, march on in their relentless attempts to break down every hurdle which stands in their way to social Utopia. And what really stands in their way? What hurdle proves the most irritating, the most vexing? Why, religion of course. And the Christian religion in general. And true Biblical Christianity in particular. With its clear declaration of Truth, and its absolute definitions of right and wrong, such a message is not only irritating, but an increasing source of rage and enmity to those who would seek to break its bands asunder. We live in days where opposition to the Truth has rarely been sounded louder. Those who despise the word and the truth of God seem to be playing a very loud tune all around us. And as their leaders play their pipes, millions of happy ‘children’, like bemused lemmings, gladly follow in their trail.

Set against such a tidal wave of thinking, of ever-changing public opinion, is the apparent decline in numbers of those attending professing Christian places of worship. Those who do are either in the minority, gathered with but a few, or they are among those who would continue to meet in larger congregations but in order to maintain their numbers have set aside the truth of the Bible and constantly modify their message in order to adapt to the liberal thinking of the world around them. We read of so-called churches and denominations debating the un-debatable. They pose questions which should never have been asked, based upon premises which should never have been set. They ponder the question of women ‘priests’ and of homosexual ‘clergy’. They set ‘modernists’ against ‘traditonalists’. And they seek each and every way to finding a unity with other ‘faiths’…. But having set aside the word of God, and ceased to take its message seriously, the leaders of such churches then wonder why the world has long-ceased to take them seriously.

Of course observing such changes can bring much grief to the hearts of those who love God and His word. To those who have been delivered from the darkness of this world, and the blindness of unbelief, from the depravity of the fallen heart of man, and the bondage of sin, to walk in a new and living way. Those who have been born again of God, having heard the Gospel of their salvation by Jesus Christ, knowing the forgiveness of sins, the hope of everlasting life and peace with God, those who now hate the evil in which they once indulged and love the righteousness of God as revealed in the Gospel. These will often grieve over the state of the professing church around them, and the folly of the nations in our day. For what foolishness is done in the name of Christ in the ‘churches’! And what little effect the testimony of such apostate churches seems to have in turning the tide of the times.

Yet, whilst it may well appear that the wicked prosper on every side and the righteous man faileth…. The truth is anything but! God has an answer and His answer has never changed. Having granted the people freedom to turn aside to their own ways, having given them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28), God patiently sits upon His throne and watches as the world moves according to His eternal decrees and purposes. As time rolls incessantly towards that great day of the Lord when He will judge the world in righteousness, towards that day “when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel” Romans 2:16. That day, when, without respect to persons God will…

“Render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil” Romans 2:6-9

Perhaps that day is not far off, perhaps it is many years away. But whether near, or whether far off, and whether the people continue to rage against the truth, or whether they receive the truth, the fact remains that nothing occurs in heaven or on earth which is outside of God’s will, not one of his purposes is thwarted, and not one of those for whom He gave His own Son as a sacrifice for sin in order to save them from death, and the deceits and delusions of this present world, will ever be lost. For God continues to declare the same glorious message of Salvation which He has done from the beginning of time. The message of Christ Crucified, the Gospel of God. The message of His grace towards sinners – the power of God unto salvation.

So, is there really a cause for the Christian to be discouraged or dismayed? Not at all – his victory is assured – assured – in Christ. For God reigns in righteousness by Jesus Christ over all His creation. May God give His people grace to rest in Him and His salvation. As we look upon our changing times and hear the empty cries and celebrations of those who vainly set their wills against God, rightly may we ask, with the words of the 2nd Psalm:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

Free Books!

We are pleased to announce that our three publications (produced as printed books through "Grace and Truth Online Publications") are now available for free online as eBooks, courtesy of Grace-eBooks who have added them to their online collection.

The full details of each book (as sent out by Grace-eBooks) is shown below.

Of course, all three books are still also available in print for those who would prefer to read 'off-line'. They are priced 'at-cost' to make them as widely obtainabled as possible.... alas paper and ink doesn't come free! For more details see Grace and Truth Online Publications
...........

The Following Books/Authors

Have Been Added or Updated

The Fountain of Life
Collected Writings of William Huntington S.S.

Produced, and Published by
Grace and Truth Online Publications
Honiton, Devon, England

This work largely comprises six addresses taken from the works of William Huntington.


Sovereign Grace
PAST AND PRESENT
Collected Sermons and Writings
Edited by Ian Potts
Produced and Published by
Grace and Truth Online Publications
Honiton, Devon, England

This work comprises sermons and articles by preachers of God's Gospel of Free and Sovereign Grace.

Some of these writers lived and preached several hundred years ago. Some are here today, faithfully proclaiming the message which God has given them to preach - of God's grace towards sinners. The message preached hasn't changed, for the Gospel - and the One it concerns - hasn't changed. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Authors of the works contained in this volume:
Sovereign Grace – From The Past
William Tiptaft
Tobias Crisp
William Huntington S.S.
J.C. Philpot
John Kershaw
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
James Bourne
Eli Ashdown
Francis Covell
John Vinall
John Warburton

Sovereign Grace – From The Present

Benjamin A. Ramsbottom
Don Fortner
Henry Mahan
Don Bell
Gary Shepard
Todd Nibert
Peter L. Meney
Tom Harding


Christ, the Sun of Righteousness
By Ian Potts
Produced and Published by
Grace and Truth Online Publications
Honiton, Devon, England

This work largely comprises chapters based upon a number of articles which were originally published on the website “Grace and Truth Online.” A couple of the articles have also appeared in print in the pages of “New Focus” magazine.

My intention in this volume is to set forth some pictures of Christ as He is revealed throughout the scriptures. The whole message of the Bible regards the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. He is to be found on every page of Holy Writ. He is the sum and substance of God’s message to lost mankind, He is the One through whom God reconciles sinners to Himself, He is the One through whom God reveals Himself to man, He is the One in whom all the blessings of God to His people are revealed. The Gospel of God concerns His Son, Jesus Christ, and the message of the Bible is one of the Salvation of sinners through Christ, by Free and Sovereign Grace. Yes, Christ is God’s message to man, so when we read the scriptures we look for Him.
Ian Potts

Thanks go to
Grace and Truth Online Publications for their gracious permission to post these eBook volumes.

....

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What Is An eBook?

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With an Ebook, you can read books on your computer screen and zoom in on the text to make the words as big as you would like them to be to read comfortably! You can also go to any page or chapter in the book with just a few mouse clicks, even if the book has thousands of pages! You can also print out any or all pages you like at your convenience. All of the eBooks on this site allow you to copy and paste the text of the book into another computer file, instead of retyping by hand. These are just a few of the features and conveniences of having a book in electronic format.

The Body of Moses

At our last Monday meeting in Honiton we heard a message by Don Fortner on the error of Balaam, from the book of Jude.

In reading Jude, a question was asked at the meeting about the meaning of 'the body of Moses' in verse 9. How encouraging then to come across the following message preached by Don Fortner on the Friday following, at the conference in Lantana. God's timing is always perfect.

For the answer to the question, have a listen to 'Michael, Satan and the body of Moses' (Jude 9) by Don Fortner.

Liverpool, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Egglesburn, Northampton, Welywn, Knebworth, Honiton, South London...

What do these places have in common? Liverpool, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Egglesburn, Northampton, Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth, Honiton, South London...?

Well, like much of our country today they are full of churches of one form of another. Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Catholics, Evangelicals, and Charismatics. Much religion, but little of the Gospel.

Yet these places have something else far more encouraging in common. There are those in the area who have a love for the truth, a love for free grace, a love for that Gospel preached in the beginning, the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints" Jude 1:3.

Do you?

Do you love the preaching of Christ in the Gospel? Do you love the fellowship of God's people in one company?

If you do, drop me a line at ianpotts@graceandtruthonline.com. Perhaps there are those in your area who love the same Gospel you do.

But whether we gather in a large company, or are but one or two, we thank God for that food which He grants His people - that Bread of Life given to us in His Gospel. Have a listen to that Gospel in the messages on Where is Truth? and Free Grace Radio, or have a listen to this message by Chris Cunningham:

'Children of the Free' Galatians 4:21-31

The Lord's Supper

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

At last night's meeting in Honiton we remembered the death of our Lord Jesus Christ by partaking of the bread and the wine in the Lord's Supper.

Before so doing we listened to the following message by Don Fortner which is highly recommended because of the truth it sets forth regarding what is pictured by the Lord's Supper: What's The Meaning of This?

Paul instructs the Corinthian church on the correct approach to the Lord's Supper in chapter 11 of First Corinthians, the same chapter in which he also sets before us the glorious truth of the Headship of Christ over His church. Peter Ditzel has written a couple of very helpful articles on both subjects which he has on his website. They are:-

The Elements of the Lord's Supper

The Headcovering

"O GIVE thanks unto the LORD: for he is good"

Having returned home briefly, only to have to re-enter hospital again last week, we rejoiced to hear that Pastor Don Fortner of Danville, Kentucky, has now returned home again, feeling much better than he has done for the last six weeks, since first being diagnosed with heart trouble.

Following his return home, Pastor Fortner was even enabled to preach again both last Sunday and on Tuesday. We praise God for His goodness in bringing him through this recent set-back, and pray that he may now be back on the proper road to recovery.

May the LORD be pleased to use our Brother in the coming days to once again, boldly “declare the works of the LORD” (Psalm 118:16) for the good of His people, for “blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD”.


Repeated below is the content of a message sent out by Don Fortner as an update on his recent situation.


Dear Friends,

Thank you for your notes. Please forgive my brevity and forgive me for sending this to you as a group, rather than writing personally to each of you, but after almost six weeks in the hospital I have several hundred pieces of correspondence that must be answered. Here is a brief, mater-of-fact synopsis of my recent illness. Please pass it along to any who are interested.

April 6 (2:00 A.M.) checked into hospital.
April 9 discovered that I had a defective aorta valve from birth.
The defect had caused such calcification that I was getting less than 25 % blood flow through my heart. -- No other heart disease or damage except for slight blockage in one artery and damage to electrical impulses caused by the birth defect.
Received a pace-maker to get my heart's rhythm in control.
Came home and preached April 13, 15 and 20.
April 21 received a valve replacement.
April 23 reaction to medication shut down liver and kidneys, causing 5 days of horror.
May 9 returned home.
Attended services here May 11.
May 13 (6:30 A.M.) taken back to hospital by ambulance after loosing blood throughout the night.
After receiving 6 units of blood, it was discovered that the shock to my system from surgery caused me to develop ulcers. The coumadin caused one ulcer to bleed profusely.
Returned home Friday May 16, preached here on Sunday and plan to preach tonight.
Gaining strength daily.

It appears that the Lord may yet have a work for me to do. Thank you, my friends, for your love and care, and for your continual intercessions before our Father's throne on my behalf. Shelby and I cannot adequately express our hearts' gratitude to our God for you.

Don

Whereas I was blind, now I see

To the natural man reading the Bible, it can sometimes seem to be a mysterious and a confusing book, which to his mind appears to contain certain conflicts and contradictions. Such criticism is often made against the scriptures by those who approach it with simply their own, natural, intellect and understanding. Why, some may ask, are there two accounts of the creation in Genesis, and why are there differences between the accounts? Why also, do the four Gospels in the New Testament differ from one another? Why do some contain genealogies and others don’t? Why are events recorded in different orders? Why does one Gospel writer include things which the others omit?

Having once been blind to the truth in God’s word, stumbling about around in it, confused by what I read, I can understand how such questions may be asked and how some passages can appear to be conflicting…. But when God opened my eyes and the Spirit of God became my teacher, what was once confused and contradictory to me began to make sense and become clear, and what I once may have considered to be merely historical accounts, I came to understand were actually presenting truth and were worded and arranged in such a manner as to specifically set forth that truth, and the One who is truth – Jesus Christ.The whole Bible is a book about Christ. It presents the truth about Christ, and for that reason it simply doesn’t fit into our ‘ideas’ of how things should be written. For example, we read the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and think that here are simply four different records by four writers of the same narratives. We treat them as four historical accounts, and as such can’t understand why there are differences between them, in terms of chronology etc. Any conflicts appear to be evidence of a lack of unity between the writers or perhaps failed memory on their part…… but when we come to see that the PURPOSE of these four Gospels, and the reason why God included four different Gospels in the Bible, is not to simply provide four historical accounts of the same things, with four accounts providing extra weight of evidence, but is in fact to present four different views of the same Person, to present Christ in four different aspects, THEN all the apparent differences begin to make sense. John’s Gospel for example is entirely different to the other three, in form, structure, content and presentation….. why? Because John presents Christ clearly as being the Son of God, and the whole Gospel is arranged and worded to present selected historical narrative in such a manner as to show Christ in that light. Likewise Matthew’s purpose is to present Christ as the Messiah, and is thus arranged to that end, beginning with a genealogy and so on (which John lacks). The genealogy in Luke differs from Matthew’s because of the very different presentation of Christ in Luke …. And so on, and so forth.

Now… I state all this because we’ll never understand the Bible until we recognise these things – that it is essentially presenting truth, the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and is worded and arranged to that end. All the apparent differences we may discern between, for example, the four Gospels, are because of this purpose. The Bible is not a history book (but it does contain history). The Bible is not an ‘ethics’ book (but it does contain ethics). The Bible is not a ‘guide book’ (but it does contain guidance). No…. the Bible is a book about Christ, about truth. It is a spiritual book, and it is spiritually discerned. Its message, is essentially a ‘secret’, a ‘mystery’ which must be revealed. This is plainly stated in various places in the Bible. For example 1 Corinthians states:

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

And…

“…My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-16

So the Bible itself makes it clear that we can’t understand its message unless the Spirit of God teaches us it, and that its message is ‘hidden wisdom’ in a mystery. It was hidden from me once, and a complete mystery to me… but when the Spirit of God opened it up I saw its meaning in Christ.

Even Jesus Himself stated that He spoke in parables, not in order to make the truth simple to understand, but to keep the truth from those whom God was not pleased to show it unto. We read elsewhere, that “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” – so unless God reveals these things to us, they will simply remain as confused, contradictory, mysteries. It is interesting that Jesus does not only say that these truths must be revealed but he actually thanks God that He has not revealed them unto the wise and prudent. God actively hides the truth from some and reveals it to others. Some have their eyes opened, and some remain blind.

We can’t expect to convince anyone of the truth of the scriptures through natural reason. It can’t be done. We are born blind to the truth, and the Bible remains an incomprehensible jumble of words to us until someone takes our blindness away. Why? Because “the world by wisdom knew not God”, as quoted above. Some may reject the word of God, and cite the apparent mystery and confusion as their reason for unbelief, seeking to follow, perhaps the evidence of science, in which they vainly seek for truth. But the reality is that it isn’t their confusion which leads them to unbelief – the fact is they began in unbelief! It is man’s unbelief and spiritual blindness which prevents him from understanding the Bible aright. Man starts off not seeing the truth, being blind to it, and the more he studies the Bible, in his wisdom, the less it makes sense and the more he rejects it. We’re all the same – we just can’t comprehend it by our own wisdom – the Bible makes that very point! I was no different.

We all begin blind….. but I thank God that he took my blindness away, and for that reason I am compelled, at the very least, to declare plainly to others that the Bible IS TRUE, that what it says of Christ is TRUE, and that the things it speaks of are realities. How do I know? Because God took my blindness away and made me see!

Now, my reader, I can’t take your blindness away. I can’t. I could try to answer any objection you might raise against the scriptures, but even if I presented rock-tight, sound, convincing arguments and reasons for the apparent ‘conflicts’ or mysteries which you may list, it wouldn't convince you or anyone else of the truth, unless God the Spirit took the truth and opened your eyes to see it. Just like talking to a blind man about the colours of the trees… you can talk all you like, but nothing makes sense. But give him sight and show him the trees however…. And he knows in an instant.

However… I expect some reading this may well have heard all these things before, all this about blindness and the need of the Spirit to reveal truth….. and you probably will find it very frustrating and annoying, because it leaves us entirely dependant upon God taking our blindness away. If naturally we are blind to the truth, and we just can’t see it…. Then what can we do?

Well… nothing. Nothing but ask God to give us sight! To give us understanding.But what if He doesn’t? What if God leaves us like Esau who sought for repentance but never found it? Repentance, metanoia, is really to do with a change of thinking, or understanding of the truth. Esau sought it but never found it. He was “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” 2 Timothy 3:7. What if God leaves us like that? Blind…. Always studying, reading the Bible, reading books about religion…. But never seeing it as anything but confused, conflicting history, or fables?Is that fair…? Well… why not? What does God owe us? Why should he open our eyes? What have we ever done for Him? He gives us health, food, water… life itself, and what do we do with it? Indulge it upon our own desires, lusts, greed, ambition and selfish gain. At times we ask a few questions, at times we wonder if there is a God (as if creation itself doesn’t tell us that fact every day! Romans 1:20), and at times we wonder about religion…. But what is that in return to a God who has given us everything? We give Him nothing, yet seem to expect Him to give us everything.

But thank God that He DOES give sight to the blind. Despite their rebellion and selfishness. Despite their pride in their own intellect and ability to search out the truth….. nevertheless…. Despite that He DOES heal the blind and give them sight. He did it for me… and all I can say, is like the blind man in John 9….

“Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

Will any of this convince others who are blind? No… not unless God the Spirit takes the truth of what is said and opens the eyes to see. But He has, and He does….

Now consider a question we raised at the start. Why are the two accounts of Creation in Genesis different? Well, they are intentionally different. One is entirely figurative of Christ, the Second Man, the Last Adam, and as such contains no record of the fall of man. The second is the narrative in which man’s fall into sin is described. The differences are quite intentional and bring out many deep truths regarding Jesus Christ and His salvation of sinners. Given time one could expand much further, but would the answer alone convince a blind man? Only if the Spirit opened the eyes to see... For ultimately only the Spirit can open the eyes, and He does that through the preaching of the Gospel.

What Gospel is that? ... Have a listen to How shall man be just with God?

“Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 2 Peter 1:15-17

The Gospel of God - In Portuguese (O Evangelho de Deus)

Recently our friend and brother Luis Gomes has begun to translate articles from The Gospel of God website into Portuguese. You may view the fruits of his labour at O Evangelho de Deus.

We are very thankful to Luis for his help in producing this Portuguese version of The Gospel of God and pray that the Lord will use this greatly in the proclamation of the Gospel amongst Portuguese speaking people throughout the world (not just Portugal, but Brazil also, amongst other places).

The website and the translations are still in the early stages but are being steadily developed as time allows.

The Baptisms of Luis Gomes and Ian Potts

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:35-37

On the evening of 1st April 2008 our friend and brother, Luis Gomes, and myself, both confessed faith in our Lord Jesus Christ in baptism. Pastor Don Fortner of Danville, Kentucky, kindly conducted the baptisms following a powerful and Christ-exalting message in which Freewill was contrasted with Freegrace.

We thank the Lord for an open door to confess His Name in baptism, without hinderance, in this manner and for His wonderful grace and mercy in redeeming lost sinners. The text from which Don Fortner preached on the occasion was Psalm 115:1, the truth of which we can only echo:

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

The baptismal service is available as an Audio (Mp3) Message and also now in Video.

Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Messages and Report

The Sidholme Hotel in the coastal town of Sidmouth, Devon, was the venue for our recent 2008 Sovereign Grace Conference. Following his visit to the UK in April 2007 Pastor Don Fortner of Grace Baptist Church, Danville, Kentucky, was welcomed back as our speaker. Like last year the meetings were a great encouragement with the Gospel being boldly proclaimed. We thank God for sending His word in such power and for blessing these meetings to the good of His people and the glory of His precious Name.

The messages are now available in both audio and video formats online.

Tuesday April 1st
Audio Freewill or Freegrace (Don Fortner)

Or click here to play video

Wednesday April 2nd
Audio: A Parable of Every Believer's Life (Don Fortner)

Or click here to play video

The video messages can also be listened to on the Video Page of graceandtruthonline.com or on the Grace and Truth Online Video Chanel on Veoh. When played online they provide a 5 minute preview but they can also be downloaded for playback on your computer.

The Music Room at the Hotel where the meetings were held...

The Gate outside...

(Sadly since returning home to the USA Don Fortner has been suffering from some heart trouble which has required surgery. We were very sorry to hear of this and pray that the Lord will be pleased to grant a good recovery and restore His servant to good health soon. An update on his condition is available in the post below ).

Don Fortner Update

As you may know Pastor Don Fortner has been suffering from heart trouble recently and was diagnosed as having a hereditary condition known as 'aortic stenosis'. This led to his having a pace-maker fitted to control the heartbeat, and he was then scheduled to have surgery on Monday 21st April in order to replace an aortic valve.

The surgery went ahead as expected and we are very thankful to our Lord that all went well and the surgeons are very pleased with our Brother’s progress. He was soon taken off heart/lung support and transferred to intensive care, and by yesterday morning (Tuesday 22nd April) the nurses had him sat up in a chair and even eating a popsicle! His family tell us that he is looking well and should be out of intensive care soon.

Please continue to remember Don Fortner and his family in prayer. We thank the Lord for His goodness to our Brother these past few days and look to Him to watch over His servant in the coming weeks.

(We hope to keep this post updated with any further news as and when we hear it).

UPDATE 24th April:

Yesterday (the 23rd) we heard that Don hadn't had such a good day. He was still in intensive care and the doctors were monitoring his kidney functions due to elevated creatins. The urologist explained that apparently this is not unusual in diabetic patients and can be a result of the anasthesia used during the operation. Brother Fortner was also in much pain, partly because of the doctors seeking to discontinue the pain-killers he was initially on.

...

However, by the evening of the 23rd Don was feeling much better. Having had medication for the elevated kidney creatins, the chest drainage tube removed, and more rest, he was looking much better and was quite alert. The family are hopeful that he should soon be moved out of Intensive care.

Update 25th April:

Yesterday Don Fortner was transferred from Intensive Care into his own room. However he has been very weak and having to sleep a lot. Until he gains some more strength he is not yet up to having visitors.

Update 28th April

Don has been quite poorly the past few days, but we thank the Lord to hear that he has now begun to eat a little, and that the doctors seem happy with the functioning of his heart, kidneys, etc.

Update 21st May 2008

The latest news can be read in this post .

Please continue to remember our friend and brother in prayer.

Justified Without The Law

Have a listen to this excellent message on Romans 3:20-21 which was preached recently by Gary Shepard of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, Jacksonville, NC.

Justified Without The Law (Romans 3:20-21) Gary Shepard

Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Audio Messages

The messages from the South West Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 are now available online to listen to.

Tuesday April 1st:
Freewill or Freegrace (Don Fortner)

(The Baptisms of Luis Gomes and Ian Potts - April 1st 2008)

Wednesday April 2nd:
A Parable of Every Believer's Life (Don Fortner)

Our thanks to all those who attended the conference and helped make it such an encouragment and blessing as fellowship was shared with many of God's people. But above all, we give thanks to our Sovereign God for His great goodness in blessing the conference held in Sidmouth and attending the preaching of His word with such power.

Sovereign Grace Conference 2008

The Sovereign Grace Conference in Sidmouth is now less than a month away, so if you are travelling from afar now is the time to book your hotel room. Further details are provided in the post below, or...

Why not download the PDF Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Flyer here and print it out for display on your noticeboard?

The Inward Work

"(The work of God) is inward. Multitudes deceive themselves with a so-called objective 'faith' as they call it. They mistake the fact that whilst the object of faith is external, the nature of faith itself is not, it is inward and spiritual. If our 'faith' be not spiritual it is not the faith of God's elect, it is not wrought by the Holy Ghost, it does not exalt the grace of God: it is false. And about false faith the Bible has much to say. False-faith cries, God sees the blood, brother! And so God does, but does he? Oh yes, he says, so full of blithe confidence, Yes, there is the blood on the refuge! Yes, false-faith, but where is it on your heart? Do you see it on your heart? Mark it well, if it is of grace, the kaphar will be seen within."
From 'Noah and the Flood' by John Metcalfe

Where is Truth? - New Audio Messages Website

There is now a new website dedicated to hosting Mp3 Audio messages which set forth the Gospel of Christ. Called 'Where is Truth?' it is hoped that this site will not only provide spiritual food for believers but also serve to present the Truth as it is found in Jesus Christ to many who browse the Web and are full of questions.

See: 'Where is Truth?'

Is Christ Divided? 1 Corinthians 1:13

“Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:12-13


This passage in 1 Corinthians 1, oft quoted, is I feel often taken out of context. Some would say we shouldn’t follow a man, based on these verses, yet can one only speak of following Christ? Or is that to be amongst those listed here as saying 'I of Christ'?

It is clear elsewhere in the scriptures that Paul did teach others to follow him, as he followed Christ - and it clearly isn’t wrong to follow Christ.

So what is being taught here? The primary cause of Paul’s admonition here is to counter division in the church. To counter some following one preacher, but not others, with others following another preacher, but not the former. Others yet, wary of following any man, say they only follow Christ.

Paul counters this attitude by emphasising the preaching of the cross, the preaching of ‘Christ crucified’, in order to bring in unity. Only Christ and His Gospel unites God’s people. Paul is not saying ‘don’t follow me’, neither is he saying ‘don’t follow Cephas’. He is exhorting not to follow any one of God’s servants at the exclusion of another - don’t cause division or schism amongst God’s people. Instead hear, and follow, all those whom God sends with His word, all those who preach the message of the cross – ‘Christ crucified’.

That is the ground of unity – Christ and His Gospel. And all who confess that Gospel should gladly receive those who preach it. Not one preacher at the exclusion of another, and not Christ at the exclusion of all preachers! For some, fearing to be accused of following any man, would rather piously say ‘I only follow Christ’…. But in reality if we follow Christ, we follow those whom He sends to preach His Gospel, in whom He dwells, and by whom He speaks, for “how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15)

Yes that is the ground of unity, and the only ground of unity in God’s church. The Gospel. The message of the cross. It is that message which brings in the church, which gathers it, which unites it, which feeds it, builds it up, strengthens it. Only the preaching of this message will heal the wounds of division, and only the preaching of this message will prevent division. Sadly, wherever the flesh is present, and it is present in all of us, there is that which wars against the Spirit, that which causes strife, that which promotes pride, that which causes some to follow one man, others to follow another; some to find fault with one, others to find fault with another. This must be guarded against. We should be slow to find fault, longsuffering with our brethren, quick to esteem others better than ourselves. Only God’s grace will bring about such a spirit in the midst of His people, and it is by the preaching of the cross, the preaching of ‘Christ crucified’ in the message of the Gospel that that grace is bestowed upon God’s people. Oh how thankful we should be then when God gives preachers after His own heart to His church. How we should receive them and hear them for Christ’s sake, and not just one, but all who are sent our way in Christ’s name, as His servants, His gifts to the church, the One Body of Christ - yet at the same time having that wisdom needed to keep from those who would bring another message, and another gospel, which can never unite but only divide.

May God be pleased to unite His people as one in Christ, in His Gospel, as one people who are in and ‘of Christ’, yet also ‘of’ all whom He sends to them to preach His everlasting Gospel for their good, and His glory.

Amen.

South West Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 (Don Fortner)

On Tuesday April 1st and Wednesday April 2nd we hope, in the will of the Lord, to host GraceAndTruthOnline.com’s 2008 Sovereign Grace Conference in Sidmouth, Devon.

Following his visit to this area last year we are delighted to welcome back Pastor Don Fortner as our speaker and would like to invite all those who are able to come along and hear him on this special occasion.

Don Fortner's ministry has been a great blessing to us over the years, a ministry in which the Lord Jesus Christ is always exalted. We trust that others too will find encouragement in hearing this ministry in Devon. May Christ be glorified in the preaching of His Gospel.

Our venue for this year’s conference is the excellent Sidholme Hotel in Sidmouth Devon. This is situated about 30 minutes south of Honiton on the beautiful East Devon coastline. Not only will visitors be able to attend the meetings at the Conference, but for those who are travelling from afar and wish to make a break of it rooms are available at excellent rates at the hotel – this will also provide opportunity for fellowship with others staying at the hotel. Bookings can be made through the hotel website (http://www.sidholme.co.uk/ ) or by telephone - 01395 515104 (Mention the Sovereign Grace Conference when booking). Alternatively there are of course a number of other good hotels and B+Bs throughout the East Devon area (a quick search on the internet should find some).

Tuesday 1st April 2008 at 8.00pm D.V.
Venue: Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8UJ

Wednesday 2nd April 2008 at 8.00pm D.V.
Venue: Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8UJ

Tea and coffee will be provided following the meetings and there will be a good selection of books, tapes and free material available on the bookstall.

Please be sure to mark the dates in your diary!

For further details see www.graceandtruthonline.com or email Ian Potts at ianpotts@graceandtruthonline.com See also Honiton Sovereign Grace Meetings

(Why not download the PDF Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Flyer here and print it out for display on your noticeboard?)

About Don Fortner

Don Fortner has pastored and faithfully declared the gospel of God's free grace in Christ at Grace Baptist Church of Danville Kentucky for over twenty-five years. Only incidentally is he a widely published author, and conference speaker. Books and commentaries he has written include Basic Bible Doctrine; Grace for Today; Discovering Christ in Revelation; Discovering Christ in Genesis; Discovering Christ in the Song of Solomon; Discovering Christ in Ruth; Discovering Christ in all the Scriptures; Life After Pentecost; and The Church of God. His prolific and endless labour to comfort and feed the people of Christ has resulted in a copious amount of unpublished materials now available and updated routinely at http://www.donfortner.com.

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

The Gospel of God - Galatians 1

Here is a good message I heard by Allan Jellett of Knebworth Grace Church:

http://www.knebworthgracefellowship.org.uk/messages/2008/Jan/KGF0020_AJ_200108_Gal_1_11_24_The%20Gospel_of_God.MP3

Recommended!