Sermon Recap
We concluded our sermon series last Sunday morning, "Contending for the Faith in Faithless Times," as we made our way through the book of Jude. Concluding our series, we examined the two bookends of Jude's book which provide wonderful assurance, "blessed assurance" to believers in a crippling culture. Jude’s book, as we have faithfully studied the last several weeks, is not the brightest and happiest book in the Bible. It really paints a dark picture—a revelation of the reality around us and, for some, within us. But, in the last two verses, Jude gives us a shining, bursting ray of hope. In thinking of this, we considered the monumental question of our faith: "Can I lose my salvation?" The answer is simply no. If it belongs to you, you can lose it. If it belongs to God, He can never lose it. Why is that? Three reasons:
First, the sovereignty of the Savior. Every theology of salvation will start either theocentric or anthropocentric. Meaning, will either start with God or with man. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is the author and finisher of faith (Heb 12:2). Jude began his epistles telling us we are “kept for Jesus Christ” (v. 1). Now he closes by telling us we are kept from stumbling and falling prey to false teaching by “him who is able.” Looking in v.24: “Now unto him that is able”—“Now unto him that is able”—now, he’s talking about our Savior. He’s the One who is able. He calls Him, in v.25—“the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” The underlining theme of these two verses, salvation, hinges on one principle found in the verse, and that is God’s sovereignty. All of these words are just ways of talking about His sovereignty. The reason that you’re going to make it to eternity is not because you are able, but because He’s able. You see, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are secured by His power, not our own. It is not primarily your responsibility. It is your response to His ability. After all, the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:20,“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
Second, the security of the saint. The Apostle Paul penned in Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The ten strongest opponents in existence are unable to separate us from the sovereign power and divine love of God.
There is a chain of salvation, and it is not easily broken. In fact, it is impossible to break it. The reason God is able to "keep" us, as Jude implied in the opening verse, is because of His fathomless love, infinite power, and his eternal purpose. “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling”—not because you hold onto Him, but because He holds on to you (Jude 1:24). You say, “Well, does that mean I’ll never sin again or make any mistakes?” Oh, you’ll make a carload of them. But not a’ one of them can separate you from God’s love. Adrian Rogers painted a vivid Old Testament picture of this truth:
"Old Noah may have fallen around many times in that ark, but He never fell out of it, folks—because, when God put him in there, God shut the door, and God sealed it. "
The Bible says that, after we have believed, “the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30). The Father saves us, the Son secures us, and the Spirit seals us. God did not save me to lose me. He saved me to keep me. That is the kind of God he is.
Third, the sufficiency of the salvation. God doesn't want to make us happy, or even healthy... God wants to make us holy. He wants us to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. And, as Jude says, one day we will be presented "faultless," meaning without one blemish or imperfection, before the presence of the glory of God. Because of his promise to bring our salvation to completion, we will see his glory. We will know his glory. We will enjoy his glory forever. This will be our joy.
Church Events
Tuesday Night Men's Bible Study is TONIGHT @ 6pm. Join us in the fellowship hall for food, fellowship, and a conversational study.
We are preparing to have two revival Sundays at the end of July. Michael Mason will be with us in both services on July 21st, and Johnny Tucker will be preaching in both services on July 28th. Pray for a time of renewal. Invite someone. Make plans to attend.
We have cancelled this week's Wednesday Bible study due to the proximity to Independence Day. See you Sunday!
We resumed our normal Sunday evening schedule this past Sunday night, so make plans to join us at 6pm as we continue our sermon series through First Corinthians, "Timeless Truths for a Troubled Church."
Very thankful for one salvation last Sunday night. We had a marvelous, spirit-filled service.
Prayer Needs
Jim Bowers' funeral is today. Visitation is from 10am - 12pm at Peck Funeral Home, with a graveside service at 3:00pm at Forest Hills Cemetery in Birmingham. Pray for Kay, Brian, Katrina, Austin, Connor, and the family. His obituary can be viewed here: https://www.peckfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jim-Bowers/#!/Obituary.
Continue to pray for Deb Ornburn and her continued chemotherapy treatments.
Continue to pray for Bobby and Karen Tapscott's daughter, Amy Harvel and her Mastocytosis.
Pray for Chrissa Hall's mother, Jane Knight, as she is now in late stage congestive heart failure.
Pray for cancer-free scans for Susan Garner in August.
Remember those on our prayer list this week.
Church Information
Contact: (256) 773-8997 / office@mzbchartselle.org
Address: 250 Mt. Zion Road, Hartselle, AL 35640
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30
Staff
Senior Pastor - Rev. Spencer Bell
Minister of Music - Randall Key
Minister of Students - Gavin Lee
Pianist - Allison Keenum
Deacons
Myron Tapscott
Tim Sivley
Charles Lott
Kenneth Clark
Trustees
Gary Mote
Frank Thompson
Gerry Holmes
Jim Boyer
Tyde Tapscott
Audio/Visual Technicians
Kenny Scarborough
Gary Mote
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