This coming evening, we come to not only a known and well-loved text, the announcement to the young virgin who would be the mother of the Messiah, Mary. The announcement begins with these words - "rejoice highly favored one." Mary was chosen even before the foundations of the world were laid to be the one who would carry the Messiah, the miracle Son who came in the flesh to deliver His people from their sins. Such news laid heavy upon her heart, for it was not only grand but weighty new for Mary would play a key role not only in carrying and giving birth to the Messiah, but she would be His mother. Despite her essential and important role, it would be Jesus who would ultimately redeem not only His own mother, but as the future King and Head of the Church, He would bear the Name that indicated His role of Kingly and Priestly Savior of the World. Mary's Son would be her King, Mary's Son is our King, and His rule shall never end.Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Paul continues to build upon the idea already put forth in the preceding verses and even chapters that the governing decree of election is paramount in the revealing of who does and who does not belong to the family of God, whether they be by right of public or previous association either Jew or Gentile. What matters is not former covenant relationship status, but rather that you believe that Jesus is the Messiah. What matters is not external membership, but to receive the Messiah by faith. With regard to this principle of election by grace, we find that there are members of the family of God who are both Jew and Gentiles by birth, and are rightly called "Christian" by right of their being born again of the Holy Spirit, and baptized into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is what we mean by "one baptism for the remission of sins" - only Christ can wash us, and the Father has within the number of the elect those whom He has yet to call out of every tribe, tongue, and nation. The door then remains open for the Gentile as well as the Jew, but that door is uniquely and exclusively Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Come and welcome then to the fellowship of the Godhead, through Jesus the Messiah.Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Romans 11:1-10 NKJV - I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?" 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:"God has given them a spirit of stupor,Eyes that they should not seeAnd ears that they should not hear,To this very day."9 And David says:"Let their table become a snare and a trap,A stumbling block and a recompense to them.10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,And bow down their back alwaysWorship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Elder Ben Stahl brings a message continuing the topic of the AM service, which you can find here linked at the end of the video. This message is centered on the false gospels we deal with today and the true Supernatural Gospel of Jesus Christ. The contrast is urgent.Galatians 6:11-18 NKJV - See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.Blessing and a Plea16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Elder Ben Stahl's sermon powerfully displays the real, true, and supernatural Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many counterfeits, but there is only one truth. Galatians 1:1-12 NKJV - Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,To the churches of Galatia:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.Only One Gospel6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.Call to Apostleship11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

"Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter!" This Boaz exclaims in relationship to Ruth's offer of marriage as the one who has taken it upon herself to provide for Naomi was lacking in the loss of her husband and sons. Elimelech's house was in ruins, broken under the just hand of God who compromised and left the Land of Promise to sojourn in Moab, a cursed and barren land with nothing to offer the chosen people of God. Once God had visited judgment upon the family of Elimelech, Naomi returned, embittered to the providence of God, such that she sought to push her daughters-in-law back to Moab. Naomi, despite her bitterness to warranted judgment, was shown kindness from Ruth, and through Ruth God restored not only one who had been brought back empty and embittered, but Israel as God was leading Israel closer to the True King promised them through Judah. Ruth, the blessed one of the Lord, would be the means, and through Boaz a faithful man, to bring life from death.Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

All who have ever lived are judged by one infallible and ever-present standard, who do you say that Christ is, and though the law condemns all men, only Christ can save, only His blood can make the foulest sinner clean, and whether one is Jew or Gentile, God reckons us not by our blood but by the blood of Christ. Whether or not we are in union with Christ, baptized into His death and resurrection, this is what matters, this is the primary division between men - Christ and His work rejected or received. The condition of Israel, was at the time of Paul's writing, a people who had stumbled over Christ the Stone, despite being zealous for righteousness. In contrast, the Gentiles, who had not sought for the righteousness of God, found it. Why? Because that was God's plan. From our perspective, God's plan is carried out through the means of grace, through the pattern of men sent out with Word, preaching, calling sinners to salvation, believing and resting upon Christ, clinging to Him as their righteousness before the Father. God has sent out His Word to the nations, that men might hear and believe, but woe unto those who having heard do not believe. The way in which men contend with Christ, the way men are reckoned unto the Father is by what they do with Christ preached, the living Cornerstone, and whether or not they build upon Him or are crushed by Him. We invite you to join us every Lord's Day at Reformation OPC203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28054See more here!refopc.net

Despite the bitterness of Naomi, God is, as a testimony of His extraordinary patience, weaving through His sovereign hand a means whereby a king will come to the family of Elimelech and to Israel. In fact Naomi's spirits are lifted by the end of Chapter 2 after hearing of the kindness of Boaz to her and her family. God would indeed restore the fortunes of Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, and to the whole nation of Israel as God was, through His own law kept, bring redemption and life to the tribe that had been cursed due to the sin of Onan several generations prior. God would bring life from death, righteousness from wickedness, hope where there was no hope. Through the "younger son" God would restore the line of the righteous. Worship with us at Reformation OPC Gastonia!Each Lord's Day9:30am & 5:30pm203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28098(704) [email protected]

Christ and the preaching of Christ is Stone and the message of the Stone that causes men either to stumble or to be saved. Either a man trips over the Stone or he builds a life upon the Stone. Israel failed to attain the righteousness of God because they sought it through the striving of the flesh, by the sweat of their brows, and by failing to come to terms with the reality that if any man seeks to be righteous in the sight of God apart from being justified through Christ, then that man seeks righteousness in vain. Whatever else the Church is called to do, what it must do first is preach Christ, and by that I mean that the message that through Christ and only in union with Christ can a man stand before God and be counted righteous.The matter at hand is this: How do you respond to the Stone and how do you receive the Gospel of the Stone, the Rock who is Christ Jesus? There are only two options: Either a man will seek to build a system of righteousness apart from the Stone and so stumble even as the Stone brings judgment, or a man will build upon that Stone, seeking the righteousness of Christ that is embraced by faith. Either we are judged apart from or united to the Stone of stumbling or the Stone that is a strong and sure foundation. What so say you? To fall or to build. The Bible has made it so abundantly plain, that the only explanation for why one can read and not hope in Christ is that he is already hoping in something or someone else, for the Gentile it was and is some vain idol that is the product of vain imaginatioWe invite you to join us every Lord's Day at Reformation OPC203 Rhyne Oakland Road, Gastonia, NC, 28054See more here!refopc.net