Bulletin October 25, 2020

The SIN Pandemic

Just as Adam’s sin introduced sin and judgment into the world, so Christ’s death introduced righteousness and justification. In neither case is the first act imputed to others. Adam’s sin is not considered to be my sin, nor is Christ’s righteous life and sacrificial death considered to be my righteous life or death. In both cases – whether one sins and comes into condemnation or believes in Christ and is freed from sin and made righteous –depends on the individual and his actions.

 If one sins, his own sin and its guilt is imputed to himself. If one believes and obeys, he is forgiven and righteousness is imputed to him; being free from sin, he is counted as righteous. In the case of Adam and sin, death spread to all men because all sinned. In the case of Christ and grace, salvation was made available to all men; but only a few will enjoy it because only a “remnant” believe and obey (Rom 9:27,30-33; 10:1-4).

Sin is like a pandemic. It “entered the world” and ‘spread to all men.’” Not simply because sin was in the world or because one man had contracted the sin “disease” – but “because all sinned.” This is what caused others to be “infected.” Unlike a pandemic, however, everyone who contracted this disease “died” – “and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.”

Also, whereas a pandemic may pass away with time, sin did not. By the time of the flood, all in the entire world had become infected (Gen 6:5-8). Also, in a pandemic, men may develop a medicine or surgery that rids one of the disease; but men cannot do anything of their own to rid themselves of the guilt of sin  only “remedy” is “the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, that can provide “justification.” This remedy without fail provides “life.” Whereas this sin pandemic made people “sinners,” the cure in Christ triumphed over sin and made people “righteous.”

If we have been healed, should we then throw caution to the wind and flirt with this disease? Absolutely not! “what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be!” We must never forget, “The wages of sin is death!” (Rom 3:23).

News/Notes/Quotes

THE SICK …This bulletin was prepared in advance so there is no up-to-date news. Be sure to catch the announcements today for the latest.

Shutins: Charles Bradsher is at St. Elizabeth’s Place…Beverly Allen is confined at home… Editha Kern is at Liberty Park Assisted Living and so are Bob and Jean Evans…Shirley Coots is confined at Walnut Ridge Nursing Home… Norma Carr at Randolph County Nursing Home in Pocahontas…Fran Ramsey is confined at home.

GOSPEL MEETINGS

April 4-9, 2021 – StoneRidge! – Mickey Galloway

TIME CHANGE! We will go back on central standard time next Sunday. What will you do with that extra hour?

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS. 2nd – Adam Bodeker; 6th – Karen Livesay; 10th – MaDonna Vines; 11th – Nola Christenberry; 12th – Emily Pierce; 15th – Stephanie Camp, Zeke Moody; 19th – Jonathan Stubblefield; 26th – Brandi McGregor; 30th – Debbie Bearden, Phyllis Harris

*To be content with little is difficult, to be content with much is impossible.

*We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough.

*He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

*Fortune does not change men. It only unmasks them.

*He who strikes the first blow confesses he has run out of ideas.

*If you don’t scale the mountain, you can’t see the view.

*The greatest calamity is not to have failed; but to have failed to try.

*A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job.

*We cannot do everything at once. But we can do something at once.

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