First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica
Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, April 3rd, 2022, 11 AM
At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)
Nursery 10 AM to 12 PM
10 AM Bible Study for all ages
11 AM Worship Services
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 WORSHIP
(As we prepare our hearts for worship let us quiet our hearts and our cell phones.)
Prelude Worship Song
Worship Live Stream
Sermon: by Reverend Thomas Myers
“But How?!”
Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:1-8; 6:37, 44; Ephesians 2:1-9; Romans 10:13-21
View Live Service: 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
“All Creatures of Our God and King”
Verse 1
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
Verse 2
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along
O praise him alleluia
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise him O praise him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
Verse 3
Thou flowing water pure and clear
Make music for thy Lord to hear
Alleluia alleluia
Thou fire so masterful and bright
That givest man both warmth and light
O praise him O praise him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
Verse 4
And all ye men of tender heart
Forgiving others take your part
O sing ye alleluia
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear
Praise God and on him cast your care
O praise him O praise him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
Verse 5
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him alleluia
Praise praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in One
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
Worship through Unison Reading of Confession of Faith
Chapter 10 of effectual calling
Paragraph 1 and 2
- At the right time, appointed by him, God effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.1 He enlightens their minds spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills and by his almighty power leads them to what is good. And so he effectually draws them to Jesus Christ. But they come to Jesus voluntarily, having been made willing by God’s grace.
- This effectual call is freely made by God and is entirely an act of his special grace. It does not depend on anything God foreknew or foresaw about the person called, who is completely passive. God himself gives life and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He thereby enables each person to answer his call and to accept the grace he offers and actually gives.
Chapter 14 of Saving Faith
Paragraph 1
- The gift of faith makes it possible for the souls of the elect to be saved by believing in Jesus Christ. This gift is the work of the Spirit of Christ in the hearts of the elect and is ordinarily accomplished by the ministry of the word. It is also increased and strengthened by the word, by prayer, and by the administration of the sacraments
Worship Through Songs of Praise:
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)“
Verse 1
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see
Verse 2
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus
My chains are gone I’ve been set free
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love amazing grace
Verse 3
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
(Chorus – 2x)
Verse 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
“Days Of Elijah“
Verse 1
These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the Word of the Lord
And these are the days
Of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored
And though these are days
Of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice
In the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord
Chorus
Behold He comes
Riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call
Lift your voice
It’s the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill
Salvation comes
Verse 2
These are the days of Ezekiel
The dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days
Of Your servant David
Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest
The fields are as white in the world
And we are the laborers
In Your vineyard
Declaring the Word of the Lord
(Chorus)
Bridge
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
(Chorus 2x)
PASTORAL PRAYER
….Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
WORSHIP THROUGH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offertory Worship Music:
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
Verse 1
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.
Verse 2
Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Verse 3
Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight,
And all the twinkling, starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heav’n can boast.
Verse 4
Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and for evermore be thine.
Verse of the Week:
2nd PETER 1:8 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
Children Released to Children’s Church
Exposition of God’s Word
Sermon: by Reverend Thomas Myers
“But How?!”
Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:1-8; 6:37, 44; Ephesians 2:1-9; Romans 10:13-21
Scripture Text
Ezekiel 36:25-27
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules
John 3:1-8: 6:37, 44
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
Ephesians 2:1-9
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 10:13-21
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
(for further study info: scroll down)
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Communion
Worship through Hymn of Commitment:
“Christ for the World We Sing”
Verse 1
Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With loving zeal;
The poor and them that mourn,
The faint and overborne,
Sin-sick and sorrow-worn,
Whom Christ doth heal.
Verse 2
Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With fervent pray’r;
The wayward and the lost,
By restless passions tossed,
Redeemed at countless cost
From dark despair.
Verse 3
Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With one accord;
With us the work to share,
With us reproach to dare,
With us the cross to bear,
For Christ our Lord.
Verse 4
Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With joyful song;
The newborn souls whose days,
Reclaimed from error’s ways,
Inspired with hope and praise
To Christ belong.
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
SMALL GROUPS TODAY:
Whittle/Dickinson Group: Meeting today at the Dickinson’s.
Mitchell/Forlaw Group: Meeting Today.
PRAYER CARDS
Please complete the prayer request form in the right margin of this page (bottom of page on your phone or tablet). There are also index cards next to the bulletins on the tables in the back. Pastor Tom would like to know how he can pray for you. You may enter your request in the form on this page, put them in the offering box, or hand them to Pastor Tom.
MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH
Please be in prayer for our missionary of the month.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
EASTER SUNDAY
Biscuits and Gravy
We will have breakfast and fellowship in lieu of Sunday school on Easter Sunday.
PRAYER TIME
Pastor Tom will be leading a time of prayer at the new office (303 Main Street Villa Rica) every Monday from 12 till 12:30. The Wednesday Zoom prayer meeting continues.
COMMUNION
We will be sharing in the Lord’s supper the first Sunday of each month and on Easter Sunday, April 17th.
SINGING TO OUR AT HOME MEMBERS :
Please join us as we sing to our at home members next Sunday after church.
WIC
The ladies will start meeting the 4th Friday of every month for lunch and fellowship. Please contact Donna with any questions.
VBS
Vacation Bible School is happening this summer! July 11-15 from 6-8 pm. Please put these dates on your calendar and pray on how you can help. Contact Jeannie with any questions.
PRESBYTERY HERE!
FPVR will be hosting our Presbytery meeting on April 5th at 2pm.
CHURCH LUNCH/Breakfast:
We normally have church lunch and fellowship following the morning service on the third Sunday of each month. However, on April 17th, Easter Sunday, the men of the church will be serving breakfast during the Sunday School hour.
SERVING SCHEDULE
Children’s Church
April-Jeannie Forlaw
May- Jessica Davis
Nursery Helpers
April 3nd– Tiffany Campbell
April 17th– Katherine Whittle
This Week in Our Church Life
HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Prayer Group now meets Wednesdays via Zoom at 7 PM.
Call the church office for info.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY
Debbie is leading a study on the gospel of John. Please contact Debby for more info. If childcare is needed contact Jeannie.
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 2022. Monthly editions 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.
Philippians 2:3-4
(ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The Elders and Deacons of First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica.
Secondary Resources for Further Study
(The Bible itself being the only Living, Infallible, Sufficient, and Authoritative rule of faith and practice.)
Canons or Dort of divine predestination
Article 1
Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God
would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the
curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: “The whole world is liable to the
condemnation of God” (Rom. 3:19)“All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God”(Rom 3:23) and “The
wadges of sin is death” (Rom.6:23)
Article 7
Election [or choosing] is God’s unchangeable purpose by which he did the following:
Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the free good pleasure of his will, he chose in
Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its
own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving
than the others, but lay with them in the common misery. He did this in Christ, whom he also appointed from
eternity to be the mediator, the head of all those chosen, and the foundation of their salvation.
And so he decided to give the chosen ones to Christ to be saved, and to call and draw them effectively into
Christ’s fellowship through his Word and Spirit. In other words, he decided to grant them true faith in Christ, to
justify them, to sanctify them, and finally, after powerfully preserving them in the fellowship of his Son, to
glorify them.
God did all this in order to demonstrate his mercy, to the praise of the riches of his glorious grace. As Scripture
says, “God chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, so that we should be holy and blameless
before him with love; he predestined us whom he adopted as his children through Jesus Christ, in himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, by which he freely made us
pleasing to himself in his beloved” (Eph. 1:4–6) And elsewhere, “Those whom he predestined, he also called;
and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30)
W.C.F
Chapter 10 of effectual calling. Paragraph 1
1. At the right time, appointed by him, God effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He
calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.1
He enlightens their minds spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God.2 He takes away their heart of stone
and gives them a heart of flesh.3 He renews their wills and by his almighty power leads them to what is good.4 And so he
effectually draws them to Jesus Christ.5 But they come to Jesus voluntarily, having been made willing by God’s grace.6
1. Rom 8.28,30, 11.7, Eph 1.5,10-11, 2 Thes 2.13-14, 2 Cor 3.3,6, Rom 8.2, 2 Tm 1.9-10, Jn 15.16, Acts 13.48, 1 Thes
5.9, Jas 1.18, 1 Cor 2.12, Eph 2.1-10. 2. Acts 26.18, 1 Cor 2.10,12, Eph 1.17-18, 2 Cor 4.6. 3. Ez 36.26. 4. Ez 11.19, Phil
2.13, Dt 30.6, Ez 36.27, Phil 4.13, Jn 3.5, Gal 6.15, Ti 3.5, 1 Pt 1.23. 5. Eph 1.19, Jn 6.44-45. 6. Sg 1.4, Ps 110.3, Jn 6.37,
Rom 6.16-18, Mt 11.28, Rv 22.17; see under figure 5 above.
W.C.F
Chapter 14 of saving faith. Paragraph 2
2. By this faith a Christian believes whatever is revealed in the word to be the true, authentic, authoritative statement of
God himself.4 By this faith the believer also acts according to what particular passages in the word say. By faith the
believer humbly submits to and obeys God’s various commands.5 He trembles at God’s awesome threats,6 and eagerly
embraces his promises about this life and the life to come.7 But the chief actions of saving faith are accepting, receiving,
and resting on Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, in the power of the covenant of grace.8
4. Jn 4.42, 1 Thes 2.13, 1 Jn 5.10, Acts 24.14. 5. Rom 16.26, Mt 22.37-40. 6. Is 66.2. 7. Heb 11.13, 1 Tm 4.8. 8. Jn 1.12,
Acts 16.31, Gal 2.20, Acts 15.11.
W.C.F Chapter 11 of Justification
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.
W.C.F Chapter 16 of Good Works
2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith. By them believers show their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance of salvation, edify their brothers in the Lord, and become ornaments of all those who profess the gospel. Good works in believers silence the criticism of the enemies of the gospel. They also glorify God by showing that believers are the workmanship and creation of Jesus Christ, because their aim is that holiness of living which leads to eternal life
W.C.F Chapter 18 of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
2. This certainty is not based on the fallible hope of guesswork or probabilities. Rather, it is the infallible assurance of faith, established on the divine truth of the promises of salvation. There is also the inner evidence of spiritual insight, given to us by God, to which these promises are directed. And there is the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God. This Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance. By him we are sealed until the day of redemption.
The Canons of Dort of divine predestination – Article 1
God’s right to condemn all people
Since all people have sinned in Adam and have some under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it has been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them to account of their sin. As the apostle says: “ The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God.”(Romans 3:19) “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) And “The wages of sin is death.”(Romans 6:23)
W.C.F Chapter 3 of God’s eternal decree: Paragraph 3-7
- In order to manifest his glory God has ordered that some men and angels should be predestined to everlasting life and that others should be foreordained to everlasting death.
- This predestination and foreordination of angels and men are precise and unchangeable. The number and identity of angels and men in each group are certain, definite, and unalterable
- Before the creation of the world, according to his eternal, unchangeable plan and the hidden purpose and good pleasure of his will, God has chosen in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life and to everlasting glory. He has done this solely out of his own mercy and love and completely to the praise of his wonderful grace. This choice was completely independent of his foreknowledge of how his created beings would be or act. Neither their faith nor good works nor perseverance had any part in influencing his selection
- Just as God has determined that the elect shall be glorified, so, too, in the eternal and completely free purpose of his will he has foreordained all the means by which that election is accomplished. And so, those who are chosen, having fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ. They are effectually called to faith in Christ by his Spirit working in them at the right time, and they are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation. Only the elect, and no others, are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved.
- According to the hidden purpose of his own will, by which he offers or withholds mercy at his pleasure, and for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, it pleased God not to call the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin to the praise of his glorious justice.
W.C.F Chapter 1, Of the Holy Scripture, Paragraph 1, 4 -7, 9-10
1.Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased. 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work. of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. 10. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.
Canons Of Dort
The first main point of doctrine, divine election and reprobation
Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People
Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: “The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God” (Rom. 3:19), “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
Article 2: The Manifestation of God’s Love
But this is how God showed his love: he sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (1 John 4:9; John 3:16).
Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel
In order that people may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends messengers of this very joyful message to the people and at the time he wills. By this ministry people are called to repentance and faith in Christ crucified. For “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching? And how shall they preach unless they have been sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15).
Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel
God’s wrath remains on those who do not believe this gospel. But those who do accept it and embrace Jesus the Savior with a true and living faith are delivered through him from God’s wrath and from destruction, and receive the gift of eternal life.
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 10 of Effectual calling
1.All those whom God has predestined to life, and only those, he is pleased to effectually call at his appointed and accepted time, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to come to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. In this call, he enlightens their minds spiritually, in a way effective to salvation, so that they understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives to them a heart of flesh; he renews their wills; and by his almighty power he makes them determined to do what is good. This effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet in such a way that they come completely freely, being made willing by his grace.
2. This effectual call comes entirely from God’s free and special grace, not from anything at all foreseen in the person, who is completely passive in it until, being made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is enabled by it to answer the call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.
Shorter Catechism Q&A 31
Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Sunday Schedule:
Nursery Provided 1000-1200 AM
1000-1045 Bible Study for all Ages
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall), , 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
10:00-10:45 Adult Bible Study in the Fellowship Hall, other ages in various classrooms. (Nursery Provided)
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Worship (Sanctuary, plus live-stream). Fellowship Hall live stream available for overflow and physical distancing.
Children’s Church (Large Classroom)
Nursery Provided 1000 to 1200 AM
If you or your child have flu-like symptoms or a fever, please stay home and enjoy the Online Bulletin and Live-Stream.
We thank you for your prayers, for the willingness you have shown to be diligent in worship, and for your support of FPCVR.
Prayerfully, The Session
