First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica

Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, March 14th, 2021

At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)

8:30 AM Worship Services Cancelled UFN (In Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall (Masks Required); and via Live Stream Online)
9:30 AM Gathering Grounds Cancelled UFN (In Fellowship Hall —coffee, donuts)

Nursery 10 AM to 12 PM
10 AM Sunday School for all ages
11 AM Worship Services (In Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall masks required until seated, or watch via Live Stream Online)

GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE
“Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.” – Deuteronomy 4:10

PRELUDE
(As we prepare our hearts for worship let us quiet our hearts and our cell phones.)

Online Bulletin

Sermon:  “The True Christian’s Life:
Where Grace-Abounding Reigns!”

Bulletin/Order of Worship

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
INVOCATION

(All Scripture references are from the English Standard Version, ESV, unless otherwise noted.)

Worship through Hymn of Thanksgiving

38. “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

Verse 1
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Verse 2
Unresting, unhasting and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
Verse 3
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render; O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

Worship Through Psalter Reading

Delight My Heart with Your Statutes

 #829. Psalms 119:1-24

(Speaker reads light print, congregation reads the bold print)

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who
walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek
him with all their heart.
They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I
consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn
your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray
from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands.
Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me, your
servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

---

Worship Through Songs of Praise:

How Great Is Our God

Verse 1
The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
And trembles at His voice
Chorus
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God
Verse 2
And age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End
Beginning and the End
The Godhead three in one
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
(Chorus)
Bridge (2x)
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
(Chorus 2x)

Before the Throne of God Above

Verse 1
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
Verse 2
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of my guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Bridge
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Praise the One risen son of God
Verse 3
Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Saviour and my God
With Christ my Saviour and my God
(Bridge 3x)

Children Released to Children’s Church

Pastoral Prayer

Worship through Exposition of God’s Word: Rev. Thomas Myers

Sermon: “The True Christian’s Life:
Where Grace-Abounding Reigns!”

Free Gift of Grace

Titus 2: 7-15

⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Bondservants^[a] are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Read full chapter

Romans 5: 12-6:2

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men^[a] because all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. ¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass^[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness^[c] leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Footnotes

1. Romans 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18
2. Romans 5:18 Or the trespass of one
3. Romans 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one

Read full chapter

Worship through Hymn of Commitment:

587.  Who Is on the Lord’s Side?

Verse 1
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be his helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for him will go?
By thy call of mercy, by thy grace divine,
we are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are thine.
Verse 2
Not for weight of glory, not for crown and palm,
enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
but for Love that claimeth lives for whom he died:
he whom Jesus nameth must be on his side.
By thy love constraining, by thy grace divine,
we are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are thine.
Verse 3
Jesus, thou has bought us, not with gold or gem,
but with thine own life-blood for thy diadem:
with thy blessing filling each who comes to thee,
thou hast made us willing, thou has made us free.
By thy grand redemption, by thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are thine.
Verse 4
Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
but the King’s own army none can overthrow:
round his standard ranging, vict’ry is secure;
for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting by thy grace divine,
we are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are thine.

Benediction

Doxology: Hymn #731

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Worship Through Tithes and Offerings

Click or Scan Me To Give, or place tithe in box at back table in sanctuary.

THIS WEEK AND UPCOMING EVENTS

GATHERING GROUNDS (Cancelled UFA)

Please join us in the fellowship hall Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:00 am for coffee and donuts.

SMALL GROUPS TODAY:

Whittle/Dickinson Group will meet Sunday at 5 PM at the Whittle’s home. Bring a dish to share. Email churchoffice@firstpresbyterianvr.org or Josh Whittle for the link.

Mitchell/Forlaw Group meeting at 5:30 pm at the church in the Fellowship Hall.

HYMN SINGING / CAROLING AFTER CHURCH

Join us after the 11:00 am service to sing hymns to Bonnie Millians (9916 Stockmar Road) and Loretta Linville (702 Magnolia Street).

Postlude
(Please Stand As Able)

This Week in Our Church Life

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Join us via Zoom on Sunday at 3:00 pm for Leadership training taught by Pastor Tom. Look for the Zoom link in your emails.

HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS

Meeting online through zoom on Wednesdays at 7 pm.
Be on the lookout for the email with the link.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY
A 16 week Precept Bible study on the book of Acts
began Wednesday, Feb 3 at 10 am.
Anyone interested may call Debby Morgan at
678-463-7368 for details on how to order a study book.

Other Resources

Kingdom Outreach:  See our Missions and Outreach Page

 What is Happening this Week, this Month?  Visit our This Week page.

A YEAR IN TABLETALK
You are invited to join us in reading through Tabletalk devotions for the year of 2021. January’s edition will be available by the offering box in the Sanctuary. You
can purchase a subscription by calling 1-800-435-4343 or by visiting the Table Talk website. You can also begin a free subscription through the website.

Continue to pray and encourage one another.1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Today’s Additional Resources

Westminster Confession of Faith

CHAPTER XI
Of Justification
II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet
is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith,
but worketh by love.

CHAPTER XV
Of Repentance unto Life
II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of
his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in
Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and
endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.
III. Although repentance be not to be rested in as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,
which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ; yet is it of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect
pardon without it.
IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation
upon those who truly repent.
V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavor to
repent of his particular sins particularly.

CHAPTER XVI
Of Good Works
II. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and
lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren,
adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the

CHAPTER XIX
Of the Law of God
V. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not
only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God, the Creator, who gave it.
Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.

Antinomianism

Antinomianism literally means “anti-lawism.” It denies or downplays the significance of God’s law in the life of the believer. It is the opposite of its twin heresy: legalism.

Antinomians acquire their distaste for the law in a number of ways. Some believe that they no longer are obligated to keep the moral law of God because Jesus has freed them from it. They insist that grace not only frees us from the curse of God’s law, but delivers us from any obligation to obey God’s law. Grace then becomes a license for disobedience.

The astounding thing is that people hold this view despite Paul’s vigorous teaching against it. Paul, more than any other New Testament writer, emphasized the differences between law and grace. He gloried in the new covenant. Nevertheless, he was most explicit in his condemnation of antinomianism. In Rom. 3:31 he writes, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Martin Luther, in expressing the doctrine of justification by faith alone, was charged with antinomianism. Yet he affirmed with James that “faith without works is dead.” Luther contested with his student Johann Agricola on this issue. Agricola denied that the law had any purpose in the life of the believer. He even denied that the law served to prepare the sinner for grace. Luther responded to Agricola with his work Against the Antinomians in 1539. Agricola later recanted his antinomian teachings, but the issue remained.

Subsequent Lutheran theologians affirmed Luther’s view of the law. In the Formula of Concord (1577), the last of the classical Lutheran statements of faith, they outlined three uses for the law: (1) to reveal sin; (2) to establish general decency in the society at large; and (3) to provide a rule of life for those regenerated through faith in Christ.

Antinomianism’s primary error is confusing justification with sanctification. We are justified by faith alone, apart from works. However, all believers grow in faith by keeping God’s holy commands-not to gain God’s favor, but out of loving gratitude for the grace already bestowed on them through the work of Christ.

It is a serious error to assume that the Old Testament was a covenant of law and the New Testament, a covenant of grace. The Old Testament is a monumental testimony to God’s amazing grace toward His people. Likewise, the New Testament is literally filled with commandments. We are not saved by the law, but we demonstrate our love for Christ by obeying His commandments. “If you love Me,” Jesus said, “keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

We frequently hear the statement, “Christianity isn’t a lot of do’s and don’ts; it is not a list of rules.” There is some truth in this deduction, inasmuch as Christianity is far more than a mere list of rules. It is, at its center, a personal relationship with Christ Himself. Yet Christianity is also not less than rules. The New Testament clearly includes some do’s and don’ts. Christianity is not a religion that sanctions the idea that everyone has the right to do what is right in his own eyes. On the contrary, Christianity never gives anyone the “right” to do what is wrong.

Special Announcement

Dear Believers of First Pres. Villa Rica,
Except for the 11AM service, all services are once again cancelled until further advised due to COVID.  Masks are required at the 11 AM service until seated.

 Sunday Schedule:  0830 and 0930 Break CANCELLED UFN 7th DUE TO COVID

0830-0930 Worship 1 (Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall, Masks Required, plus online live-stream)
0930-1000 Break / Fellowship
1000-1045 Sunday School
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship 2 (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall, Mask Required until seated, plus online live-stream)

We thank the Lord for His faithfulness to us and for His hand of protection. Thank you for your support, encouragement and love for each other during these challenging times.

May we continue to labor together in love for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom,
The Session

COVID PROTOCOLS:  In an effort to anticipate the needs as to the activities of the church in these times of uncertainty regarding COVID and the weather, there will be some changes upcoming in Worship location and virus protocols.  We have cooler weather approaching that will necessitate moving the Parking Lot Worship Service indoors, and we have some additional information for sanitation procedures for Worship Services, Sunday Schools, Nursery, and Children’s Church.  The Parking Lot Worship Service will move indoors to the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall starting on Sunday, October 25^th.  This service will utilize strict COVID protocols to protect those with high concerns respecting the virus.  Masks and social distancing will be required at all times for this 8:30 worship.  See below for additional requirements and procedures. The updated schedule is, as follows, cancelled services in light grey:

8:30-9:30            Cancelled UFN: Worship One (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall – Masks Required, also Live-streamed)

9:30-10:00          Cancelled UFN: Gathering Grounds: Break/Fellowship

10:00-10:45       Sunday School (Adult and Children) Nursery Provided

10:45-11:00       Break

11:00-12:00       Worship Two (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall, plus live-stream, Mask Required until seated)

Children’s Church (Large Classroom)

  Nursery Provided

COVID Protocols for Worship One (8:30-9:30):

–Masks are mandatory until seated.  This applies to the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall.  Pastor Tom will not wear a mask while preaching at the pulpit.

–Social distancing will be maintained at all times.

–A sanitizing station with masks will be provided at the lower entrance, at the front door entrance, and the entrance into the Fellowship Hall.  There will also be spray sanitizer and hand sanitizer available at these locations.

–Anyone that does not have a mask will be given one.

–At the conclusion of this service the pews and cushions will be sprayed with sanitizer.  The Fellowship Hall will also be sanitized.

–The CDC recommends masks for children above the age of two years.

COVID Protocols for Break/Fellowship (9:30-10:00):

–Masks are optional and social distance is recommended.  For those that are wearing a mask, know that they are wearing it for a reason, and give them extra respect in regards to distance protocols.

COVID Protocols for Adult Sunday School (10:00-10:45):

-The adult SS will meet in the Fellowship Hall.

-Masks are optional.  Social distancing for seating is mandatory.

-Immediately following SS the tables and chairs will be sanitized.

COVID Protocols for Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Church:

-Masks are optional.

-Children’s masks and hand sanitizers will be available and use encouraged.

-Each child will have their own labeled supply box containing crayons, etc., that will be sanitized after each use.

-Tables and chairs will be cleaned between uses.

COVID Protocols for the Nursery:

-Nursery toys and surfaces will be sanitized with antibacterial wipes and spray and allowed to dry between services.

-At the end of the second service toys will be immersed in food-grade sanitizer and surfaces wiped and sprayed.

 COVID Protocols for Worship Two (11:00-12:00)

-Masks are required until seated.

-Social distancing is required for seating

-Give respect to those choosing to wear a mask.

-Ushers will not be required for seating or exit.

We pray for an end to this virus, but until then, we must make the best of a difficult situation.  We understand that all these different rules may be hard to keep up with, but we endeavor to provide as many options as possible so that most can attend a Worship Service.  The safety of the congregation is paramount, and the ability to have a choice on the level of protocols is necessary.  Those at the upper end of risk from this virus are encouraged to utilize the live stream option in the safety of your homes.  If you or your child have flu-like symptoms or a fever, please stay home.

We thank you for your prayers, for the willingness you have shown to be diligent in worship, and for your support of FPCVR during this unprecedented pandemic.

Prayerfully, The Session

Westminster Confession of Faith in Modern English Chapter 11 – Justification

1. Those whom God effectually calls he also freely justifies. He does not pour righteousness into them but
pardons their sins and looks on them and accepts them as if they were righteous—not because of anything
worked in them or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone. He does not consider their faith itself, the act of
believing, as their righteousness or any other obedient response to the gospel on their part. Rather, he imputes to
them the obedience and judicial satisfaction earned by Christ. For their part, they receive and rest on Christ and
his righteousness by faith (and this faith is not their own but is itself a gift of God).
2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the only means of justification. In the
person justified, however, it is always accompanied by all the other saving graces and is not a dead faith, but
works by love.
3. By his obedience and death Christ completely discharged the debt of all those who are so justified, and he
made the correct, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice on their behalf. Since Christ was voluntarily
given by the Father for them, and since his obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their place and not for
anything in them, their justification is the result only of his free grace—so that both the perfect justice and the
rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects identical with the justification
of believers under the New Testament.
Shorter Catechism Q&A 33
Q: What is justification?
A: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in
his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.