What is the Gospel!

Cecil Spivey

Believing Christ died, that’s HISTORY.

Believing Christ died for YOUR sins and rose again, that’s SALVATION.

1. Corinthians 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 Posted By- Cecil Spivey

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Salvation is so simple but to a lot of people it is hard to understand, so they can’t believe salvation is free for them! They don’t realize that they can be saved, just by believing. They feel like they should do something to save themselves. In other words pride always believes that everyone has something good in him or her. But John 5:24 says Verily, Verily, I say unto you, he that hearth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life. That verse says to us we cannot do anything to help save ourselves! Isaiah 64:6, but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our inequities, like the wind have taken us away. I am not comparing us with monkeys at all, just making an illustration. I understand the way they capture monkeys in Africa; they put something that the monkey likes to eat in a jar that is large enough at the top so they can put their hand into the jar. But it will not come back through the top of the jar! So the monkey will not let go of the food, so he holds on to it! That way, they are trapped and all they have to do is let go of it and pull out their hand. But the jars are fastened down so they capture them and they loose their freedom. That is the way a lot of people are, they will not let go of their own works and so they are trapped by the Devil, and hang on to their works instead of being set free. They can trust the Lord for their free Salvation by accepting the work that Christ did on the Cross-when He died for their sins. He paid the sin debt and it cost God His son, but it is free and did not cost us anything!

Connie Spivey, 79, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Mount Olivet Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Connie was born July 7, 1931, in Valliant, Okla., and moved to Texas when she was 17 years old. Connie was an active member of Grace Bible Church of Fort Worth. Survivors: Husband of 57 years, Cecil Spivey; son, Alvin Spivey and wife, Brenda; daughter, Brenda Salem and husband, Guy; grandchildren, Angie, Eric, Courtney and John; great-grandchildren, Cody, Kyle, Taylor and Scarlett; brothers, Richard, Gerald, James and Vernon; sister, Jean; several nieces and nephews, including Lana Pettit; and beloved sister-in-law, Sue Ashlock.

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=connie-spivey&pid=144082527#ixzz0uo1L55Y1

Posted By - Cecil Spivey

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     “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

The above Scripture is from the Book of Romans, chapter 3. Special emphasis is given to verse 24 which states:

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

I would like to bring to your attention, that the grace of God has been acclaimed, or announced, in the Word. Now grace simply is God doing something for us that we cannot do for our selves. Some have spoken of it as the “unmerited favor” of God to fallen mankind. But we cannot define it, because it is of God, and God cannot be defined. We can only express it in our own words, our own hearts, and our own feelings.

However, we sincerely do believe that God’s grace has allowed us to be saved. Therefore, we could never have become Christians apart from the grace of God. (None of us are worthy to be saved.) Because God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, He has acclaimed through Him His grace. We are saved by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. If it were not for the grace of God, there would not be a person go to heaven. We must emphasize again, no one from Adam to this present time, except the Lord himself, is worthy or good enough to go to heaven. Too many times people try to justify themselves by their good works or by their own intelligence. But we must understand that all are of fallen Adam and apart from the grace of God could never be saved from sin and enter into heaven’s glory. Now that grace has been acclaimed in Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 1:17: “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” The Lord Jesus Christ is full of the grace of God, and He manifested that grace to its fullness when He laid down His life on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the whole world. “Christ died for our sins, according to the scripture. He was buried and he arose again the third day, according to the scripture.” He has ascended back into the glory and through Him redemption is offered to all who will trust His grace. So we can speak of grace being acclaimed in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

In the Book of Romans, Chapter 5, we read in verses 20 and 21 these statements:

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

You can easily see that the Apostle Paul is emphasizing the abounding grace of God. Not only has God has grace been acclaimed in Jesus Christ, but God’s grace abounds in Jesus Christ. Now we are sinners by nature and practice, but the grace of God overabounds our sins. In other words, though our lives might be sinful, yet the grace of God overflows or overabounds all sin. Now this must be attributed to the grace of God. How else can we account for the fact that the vilest, poorest, most miserable sinner can be saved from the degradation of sin and raised into the highest life of God’s creation. This is what God can do for anyone who trusts Him.

So anyone can be saved by grace, but no one will be saved apart from the grace of God. No one can say “I have done it myself,” “I am good enough,” “I have given enough,” or “I’ve labored enough to enter heaven.”

It should be known that everyone has access to God’s grace because in the Book of Romans, chapter 5 and verse 1 and 2 it is stated:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Not only has this grace been acclaimed, not only is it an abounding grace, but it is an accessible grace. That is, it is open to all. And you know even after we have been saved by grace we need to be taught by the grace of God. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly and righteously in this present world.” As we continuously need this grace, it is open, accessible to all who will come to Christ.

And it should be said that God’s grace is an applied grace. “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of God and not of works, lest any, man should boast. This grace of God can be applied to anyone’s heart when they simply give up of their own effort, and say, “Yes, Jesus, come into my heart, I need to be saved by Thy grace.” You see, there are a lot of people today who are trusting in their religion, whatever kind it might be. It might be the mystical kind of the East, it might be the new kinds of the West, it might be the old traditional kind of Western Europe. It doesn’t make any difference what kind, religion will not save. Religion might satisfy the flesh and give a false peace of mind or lulling of mind by Satan, but not salvation. It will not bring forgiveness of sins, nor a new life. This wonderful complete salvation only comes through the finished work of Jesus Christ and as His work is applied to the heart by God’s grace. Yes, for by grace are you saved, and it is this grace that keeps us, even until the day of redemption.

It should be understood also, that in God’s great plan for the age, that we live in the “dispensation of the grace of God.” As We study the Bible, we realize that in the Old Testament there was a strict adherence to the law of Moses. God gave the law of Moses to the people of Israel in order for them to be governed properly. It governed their social life, their religious life, and their governmental or political life. When Jesus Christ came he said “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”, yet, today many people are still struggling under the Old Testament economy. Many religions today are based partly or wholly upon an Old Testament concept of the law. But you see, Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law, and He did. And now, through His grace, we are saved apart from the law of Moses. We must also understand that we do not live under the Old Testament economy, but live in a new age, the dispensation of the grace of God. The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians, chapter 3:

“For this cause, I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages (or past dispensations) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

Later on the Word reveals that today God is calling out His church, the Body of Christ. Those who receive Jesus Christ as personal Saviour are baptized by the Holy Spirit, (I Corinthians 12); raised into a newness of life, (Romans 6); and added to the Church which is the Body of Christ, (Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1). We are sealed until the day of redemption and waiting for God to come for His purchased possession (I Thessalonians 4). This dispensation of the grace of God will culminate when Christ comes in the air to catch His church into glory. This is the hope of every believer. Yes, we are living today, not under the law, not under innocence, promise, or human government; we are living under the dispensation of the grace of God. This is the age in which Christ is saving men by grace apart from their works, adding them by the baptism of the Holy Spirit into the Church which is the Body of Christ, and thereto wait until the redemption of the Body of Christ into glory. This is the truth of the Scripture given through the Apostle Paul to the Church of this age. This is the mystery spoken of in the Book of Ephesians, chapter 3. Therefore, we are now saved by grace, we are kept by grace, we are taught by grace, and we will be taken into glory by the grace of God.

We can always be sure that God loves us, and that His grace is always available and sufficient. We have seen that this grace has been acclaimed, that it abounds that it is accessible, and that it can be applied to the heart and life of anyone who will trust Christ. The Scripture says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

“Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?”

Grace Bible Church!

1450 Oak Hill Road

 Fort Worth, TX 76112-3017

 (817) 451-0937

 Email: gbcfw@sbcglobal.net

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New series on “The Crises of the Christ

 Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

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It is not only difficult, but really impossible for anyone to fully grasp the meaning of eternity. No one really knows when time began and when time will end. No man saw the beginning, nor can any man see the end. The only thing we can say with certainty about eternity is that it never stands still. We just have to trust God that He knows because He was there when time began and He will be in existence forever. Habakkuk exclaimed in Habakkuk 1:12, “Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One?”The Scriptures teach that God’s power is eternal (Rom. 1:20), His purposes are eternal (Eph. 3:11); and His wonderful Person is eternal (I Tim. 1:17).

In the wonderful prayer of our Lord recorded in John 17, Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (vs. 3). In other words, everlasting life is to know God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. But how do we get to “know” God and Jesus Christ?

We get to “know” God by believing what He has said. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, He gives us His life, which is eternal. He said in John 14:19, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” God led Paul to write in Colossians 3:3-4, “For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

One of the most familiar truths in the Scripture is that which Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:7, “Ye must be born again.” Jesus knew the natural man would die. Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Only the life that God gives when we believe on the Lord Jesus is eternal. What do we believe concerning the Lord Jesus ? The gospel that saves is simply stated: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Cor. 15:3-4)

Eternal not only refers to the duration of the life that God gives, but also to its quality. It not only speaks of a future position but also of a very present reality. And wonder of wonders, it cannot be lost or taken from us! Jesus said in John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Our eternal life is in God’s hand, not ours. Our assurance depends on God’s faithfulness, not on our weakness. Paul was led to write, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Tim. 1: 12).

Yes, the eternal life God gives is as eternal as God is. And, yes, the eternal life He gives is the eternal life we should live. If you have not as yet trusted Jesus Christ for eternal life, remember the Scripture says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

Grace Bible Church!

1450 Oak Hill Road

 Fort Worth, TX 76112-3017

 (817) 451-0937

 Email: gbcfw@sbcglobal.net

 Sermons Online

Listen to Bible messages online.
New series on “The Crises of the Christ

 Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

 E-mail this Bible message to all your friends.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

Grace is simply God’s willingness to do something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. It is often said that God helps them that help themselves, however, the important thing is that God helps them that cannot help themselves! This is where God’s grace really is evident.

If there should be one area in which man proves his helplessness, it is in trying to save himself from sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Also, that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). Therefore all men are subject to death because of sin. What can sin- ful man do about it? The answer is — nothing! WhatcanGoddo about it? lie can cleanse us from all sin!

The scripture says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose the third day according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3-4).

God’s grace is so bountiful that it overabounds all our sin. Romans 5:20 tells us, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Yes, God saves us by His grace, keeps us by His grace, teaches us by His grace, and by His grace we shall appear with Him in the glory. (Titus 2:11-14).

Dear Friend, and reader of this, please keep in mind that, doing the best you can, changing your ways, joining a church, becoming religious, or whatever, will never save your soul. However, if you will simply trust His grace to save you from your helpless, hopeless condition, He will.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:4-5)

Someday the silver cord will break
And I no more as now shall sing:
But oh, the joy when I shall wake,
Within the palace of the King!
And I shall see Him face to face
And tell the story, saved by grace

 Grace Bible Church!

1450 Oak Hill Road

 Fort Worth, TX 76112-3017

 (817) 451-0937

 Email: gbcfw@sbcglobal.net

 Sermons Online

Listen to Bible messages online.
New series on “The Crises of the Christ

 Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

 E-mail this Bible message to all your friends.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:33-39

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1 Cor. 15:1-5

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

Some say that the expression eternal security is unbiblical and should not be used. If that is true, so also are the expressions, The Trinity or the Triune God, the Vicarious (or Substitutionary) Death, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and others that are freely used. These identical words are not in the Bible, but the meaning is there. The Bible teaches that the believer is included in the “eternal purpose” of God (Eph. 3:10, 11); he has “eternal life” (1 John 5:13); his salvation is called “eternal salvation” (Heb.5:9); he has been redeemed by an “eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12); and he is assured an “eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15); and he is called “to eternal glory” (1 Pet. 5:10). In view of these expressions, it is surely correct to speak of the “eternal security” of the believer for each and every one of these conditions does make him eternally secure.

The saved person has been redeemed from under the law (Gal. 4:5), and the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13), by an eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). He is dead to the law (Rom. 7:4), and shall not come into condemnation (John 5:24, Rom. 8:1). He is reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18), and is at peace with him (Col. 1:20). He is justified (Rom. 5:1), and all sins have been forgiven (Col. 2:13). He has been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son of God (Col. 1:13). He has been born again of imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23); is a son of God (John 1:12); and has eternal life (John 5:24). He is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). He is perfected forever (Heb. 10:14); is complete in Christ (Col. 2:10); and has been accepted by God (Eph. 1:6). He has been born of the Spirit (John 3:6); baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13); is lived in by the Spirit forever (John 14:16, 17); and has been sealed (or security marked) with the Spirit for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). He has become the object of God’s love (Eph. 2:4), of his grace (Rom. 6:14), of his power (Eph. 1:19), and of his faithfulness (1 Cor. 1:9). He is a citizen of heaven (Eph. 2:19 and Phil. 3:20); is seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6); and is already glorified (Rom. 8:30).

ONLY ONE CROSS FOR ALL DISPENSATIONS

Now it is quite true that God has different ages and dispensations and different programs with people but none of the dispensational or racial differences in any way affect the “gospel of Christ” that was foreordained for the salvation of any member of Adam’s family that would “call upon the name of the Lord”. Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; Acts 10:43; 15:10-11; 13:38-39. (Please honestly read these.) Though all penitent believers in Christ have His death baptism and His burial and resurrection put to their credit.

P. S.

If all the above Scriptures does not teach that the True Believer has Eternal life now and can not lose it. God’s word has no meaning. If you could loose Salvation, you could not be saved again no more than you can be born into the human family two times. You are born into the human family only once and you are born into God’s family only once.

Posted By – Cecil and Connie Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

                                   E-mail this Bible study to all your friends.

“Shall Never Perish”
By J. F. Strombeck

This book has 33 chapters on the truth of our Eternal Secture
in Christ you can read the entire book at:

http://paulsgracemessage.org/shall-never-perish.htm

Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

E-mail this message to all your friends.

“Shall Never Perish”

By J. F. Strombeck

This book has 33 chapters on the truth of our Eternal Security
in Christ you can read the entire book at:

http://paulsgracemessage.org/shall-never-perish.htm

Posted - Cecil and Connie Spivey

E-mail this message to all your friends.