Church of the King

Today's Challenge

At Church of the King, we have many things in common with other evangelical churches. We believe in justification by faith alone, original sin, the Virgin birth and the substitutionary blood atonement of Jesus Christ. We believe that God's word is infallible and inerrant in its original manuscripts. We strongly abhor sins such as the murder of pre-born infants (abortion) and sodomy (homosexual acts). We believe in the Trinity, and joyfully concur with the orthodox creeds and confessions of the early church. We believe in the importance of evangelism and world missions.

However, we believe that to effect a true Biblical reformation in our day, the church in America must face the challenge to reexamine its positions on God's law and eschatology: the standard by which we are to live our lives (law), and our expectations for the future (eschatology).

A Deep Love For ALL 66 Books of God's Word

The Old Testament is disparaged and looked down on as inferior by many today. Some even go so far as to say that none of the Old Testament applies to Christians today. However, the Scriptures make clear that the Old Testament (i.e., "the Law") is "holy, righteous and good" (Rom 7:12 ) and "that the law is spiritual" (Rom 7:14 ). The Apostle Paul said he "joyfully agreed with the Law of God through his inner man" (Rom 7:22 ). Our Lord Himself admonished the disciples on the road to Emmaus when they did not understand His death and resurrection saying, " "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And the next verse tells how Jesus, "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, expounded to them in all the Scriptures [Old Testament] the things concerning Himself. [Luke 24:25-27]

An Appreciation of Historical Progress From Old to New Testament

Surely God's Word is one consistent Word from Genesis to Revelation. But just as clearly, the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ meant a real and dramatic transition in covenant history. What do the Scriptures teach about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?

Many churches today teach an essential discontinuity, or difference, between Old and New Covenant ethics, and essential continuity, or similarity, between Old and New Covenant eschatology. They say that, unlike Old Covenant believers, New Covenant Christians are not to live with the law of God as their standard. But like Old Covenant times, New Covenant times will end in the earthly failure of the church. We believe the Bible teaches just the reverse. The ethical standards for God's people are essentially the same under the New Covenant as under the Old. But Christ's victorious resurrection and ascension signals a change from earthly defeat to earthly victory for God's people who preach the Gospel as workers sent into a field "white unto harvest."

A Love for God's Law

Christ declared that He did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets (i.e., the whole Old Testament). In fact, He goes on to say, "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:19). The Apostle John says "This is love; that we walk according to His commandments" (2 John 6) and "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments" (1 John 5:2).

Let it be made clear that we do not think that observance of God's commands is a way to salvation. There is only one way of salvation: through faith in Christ Jesus. The Law is not to be kept as a means of salvation; it is to be kept as a result of salvation. Obedience to God's commands is an evidence of salvation; it is the love in action growing from the root of salvation.

We believe, as did the Reformers, that the law is a standard for the believer's conduct, the source of true liberty for the believer, and yields joy and delight for the believer.

First, God's law is a standard for our participation in the kingdom (Matt. 5:19 ), for evidencing our elect status (Rev. 12:17), for our patience (Rev. 14:12), and for our confidence in approaching the throne of God in prayer (Prov. 15:8,29; 28:7; John 9:31 ; 1 Jo. 3:21 ; 1 Pet. 3:12 ). 1 John 3:21 and following seems to be a New Testament restatement of Proverbs 28:9. The wisdom of Solomon tells us that a life characterized by a failure to attend to God's law results in unanswered prayers, and the Apostle of Love repeats this wise saying.

The Old Covenant promises of the blessedness of the New Covenant tells us that it is the standard of God that is written on our hearts in the new covenant era. And it specifically identifies this standard as the same law of God (Jer. 31:33, 34; Eze. 11:19 ; 36:25)! Indeed, In Ezekiel 36 we are told that the law is the standard of a spirit-filled walk . We read in verse 27 "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

But second, the law is also a source of true liberty for the believer. James in his epistle twice links law with liberty. James identifies the law of which he speaks by both the summation statement of the second tablet of the law ("thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" James 2:8), and by citing two specific laws from the Decalogue ("Do not commit adultery . . . Do not kill" James 2:11 ). Now surely James knew Psalm 119, and the designation of the law of God as a law of liberty is fully in accord with that lovely Psalm. In Psalms 119:44 and 45 we read, "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." Both by internal evidence, then, and by using the analogy of Scripture, we reach the conclusion that it is the law of God which James identifies as being a law of liberty.

So the law is a standard for the believer, and it is also the means of liberty for the believer. And finally, it is a source of delight for the believer.

In God's Way of Holiness by Horatio Bonar, published by Moody Press, we read "the relation of the law to Him [that is, Christ] is its relation to us who believe in His name. His feelings toward the law ought to be our feelings. The law looks on us as it looks on Him; we look on the law as He looks on it. And does not He say, `I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea Thy law is within my heart' (Ps. 40:8)?"

Our Savior affirmed the commandments, the law, as a source of love, joy and delight for the believer. In John 15:10-12, we read "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." Surely this is as plain a statement as we should require. Our Savior loved us by obeying the law's requirements toward us.

The Savior's heart is found in the Psalter, and His attitude towards the law found therein is now to characterize those that are in Christ. In Psalm 119 we read of our Savior's attitude to the law:

"I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches." v. 14
"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." v. 16
"Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight." v. 35
"And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved." v. 47

The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with the question "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We believe that this is not possible without reference to the Law of God as the standard by which we learn how to glorify God, wherein we find true liberty and resultant great joy and delight. The law is the revelation of God's will and character.

Good Christians may well disagree on what specifically God's law may require of us in certain areas. The history of redemption, the movement from the typological sacrificial systems of the Old Covenant to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ two thousand years ago, obviously must be kept in mind as we seek to understand how to make current application of God's Law. But the basic ethical question the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ must ask is not "Should I obey God's Law or live by Grace," but "What does God's Law, graciously given to us in all 66 books of the Bible, require of me today?"

While an oversimplification, it can be said that there is substantial continuity between the standard of conduct in both Old and New Covenants, that standard being revealed in God's law which is a reflection of His character. The major movement from Old Covenant to New Covenant is not seen in the Bible as a change in the ethical standard by which the believer lives his life. Rather, that change has to do with eschatology.

A Bright Future

The Old Testament is characterized as a time of remnants, of cultural failure, of an anticipation of the coming of the One who would proclaim the true time of Jubilee, resulting in an outpouring of blessings on the whole world. No longer is the church to be cloistered, hedged in on one piece of real estate. She now moves out, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to disciple the world through evangelism and instruction in the commands of Christ, (Matthew 28), praying and working to the end that God's will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ has come and completed His long-anticipated and stupendous work. The gospel, the good news, is that Jesus Christ, the Savior King, has ascended to the throne, from whence He reigns until all enemies are made His footstool (Acts 2). In the words of that great Christmas song "Joy to the world, the Savior reigns." He has asked of the Father, and received the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession (see psalm 2 and Rev. 10:1,2). We are told in Romans 1 that the gospel is the power, the "dynamite" of God. The Scriptures tell us that Christ does not conquer the world through either His or the church's physical might, but rather through His preached Word, accompanied by the Spirit.

Since God's covenant includes "all nations," we look for the spread and triumph of true Biblical religion in all countries before the visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then will come to fullest fruition those wonderful predictions: "All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, Lord; and they shall glorify Thy name." (Ps 86:9) and "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah; and all the families of the nations shall worship before Thee." (Ps. 22:27).

Our Sponsoring Church Our Denominational Affiliation Our Mission Work Contact Us
Today's Challenge
Welcome Our Confessions Our Standards Our Worship Our Culture Our Member Covenant Our Children Today's Challenge Church Leadership Church Constitution Sermon Library Suggested Reading Golden Rule Helpful Links Church in the News Contact Us Members Page Location	Today's Challenge At Church of the King, we have many things in common with other evangelical churches. We believe in justification by faith alone, original sin, the Virgin birth and the substitutionary blood atonement of Jesus Christ. We believe that God's word is infallible and inerrant in its original manuscripts. We strongly abhor sins such as the murder of pre-born infants (abortion) and sodomy (homosexual acts). We believe in the Trinity, and joyfully concur with the orthodox creeds and confessions of the early church. We believe in the importance of evangelism and world missions. However, we believe that to effect a true Biblical reformation in our day, the church in America must face the challenge to reexamine its positions on God's law and eschatology: the standard by which we are to live our lives (law), and our expectations for the future (eschatology). A Deep Love For ALL 66 Books of God's Word The Old Testament is disparaged and looked down on as inferior by many today. Some even go so far as to say that none of the Old Testament applies to Christians today. However, the Scriptures make clear that the Old Testament (i.e., "the Law") is "holy, righteous and good" (Rom 7:12 ) and "that the law is spiritual" (Rom 7:14 ). The Apostle Paul said he "joyfully agreed with the Law of God through his inner man" (Rom 7:22 ). Our Lord Himself admonished the disciples on the road to Emmaus when they did not understand His death and resurrection saying, " "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And the next verse tells how Jesus, "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, expounded to them in all the Scriptures [Old Testament] the things concerning Himself. [Luke 24:25-27] An Appreciation of Historical Progress From Old to New Testament Surely God's Word is one consistent Word from Genesis to Revelation. But just as clearly, the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ meant a real and dramatic transition in covenant history. What do the Scriptures teach about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments? Many churches today teach an essential discontinuity, or difference, between Old and New Covenant ethics, and essential continuity, or similarity, between Old and New Covenant eschatology. They say that, unlike Old Covenant believers, New Covenant Christians are not to live with the law of God as their standard. But like Old Covenant times, New Covenant times will end in the earthly failure of the church. We believe the Bible teaches just the reverse. The ethical standards for God's people are essentially the same under the New Covenant as under the Old. But Christ's victorious resurrection and ascension signals a change from earthly defeat to earthly victory for God's people who preach the Gospel as workers sent into a field "white unto harvest." A Love for God's Law Christ declared that He did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets (i.e., the whole Old Testament). In fact, He goes on to say, "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:19). The Apostle John says "This is love; that we walk according to His commandments" (2 John 6) and "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments" (1 John 5:2). Let it be made clear that we do not think that observance of God's commands is a way to salvation. There is only one way of salvation: through faith in Christ Jesus. The Law is not to be kept as a means of salvation; it is to be kept as a result of salvation. Obedience to God's commands is an evidence of salvation; it is the love in action growing from the root of salvation. We believe, as did the Reformers, that the law is a standard for the believer's conduct, the source of true liberty for the believer, and yields joy and delight for the believer. First, God's law is a standard for our participation in the kingdom (Matt. 5:19 ), for evidencing our elect status (Rev. 12:17), for our patience (Rev. 14:12), and for our confidence in approaching the throne of God in prayer (Prov. 15:8,29; 28:7; John 9:31 ; 1 Jo. 3:21 ; 1 Pet. 3:12 ). 1 John 3:21 and following seems to be a New Testament restatement of Proverbs 28:9. The wisdom of Solomon tells us that a life characterized by a failure to attend to God's law results in unanswered prayers, and the Apostle of Love repeats this wise saying. The Old Covenant promises of the blessedness of the New Covenant tells us that it is the standard of God that is written on our hearts in the new covenant era. And it specifically identifies this standard as the same law of God (Jer. 31:33, 34; Eze. 11:19 ; 36:25)! Indeed, In Ezekiel 36 we are told that the law is the standard of a spirit-filled walk . We read in verse 27 "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." But second, the law is also a source of true liberty for the believer. James in his epistle twice links law with liberty. James identifies the law of which he speaks by both the summation statement of the second tablet of the law ("thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" James 2:8), and by citing two specific laws from the Decalogue ("Do not commit adultery . . . Do not kill" James 2:11 ). Now surely James knew Psalm 119, and the designation of the law of God as a law of liberty is fully in accord with that lovely Psalm. In Psalms 119:44 and 45 we read, "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." Both by internal evidence, then, and by using the analogy of Scripture, we reach the conclusion that it is the law of God which James identifies as being a law of liberty. So the law is a standard for the believer, and it is also the means of liberty for the believer. And finally, it is a source of delight for the believer. In God's Way of Holiness by Horatio Bonar, published by Moody Press, we read "the relation of the law to Him [that is, Christ] is its relation to us who believe in His name. His feelings toward the law ought to be our feelings. The law looks on us as it looks on Him; we look on the law as He looks on it. And does not He say, `I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea Thy law is within my heart' (Ps. 40:8)?" Our Savior affirmed the commandments, the law, as a source of love, joy and delight for the believer. In John 15:10-12, we read "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." Surely this is as plain a statement as we should require. Our Savior loved us by obeying the law's requirements toward us. The Savior's heart is found in the Psalter, and His attitude towards the law found therein is now to characterize those that are in Christ. In Psalm 119 we read of our Savior's attitude to the law: "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches." v. 14 "I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." v. 16 "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight." v. 35 "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved." v. 47 The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with the question "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We believe that this is not possible without reference to the Law of God as the standard by which we learn how to glorify God, wherein we find true liberty and resultant great joy and delight. The law is the revelation of God's will and character. Good Christians may well disagree on what specifically God's law may require of us in certain areas. The history of redemption, the movement from the typological sacrificial systems of the Old Covenant to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ two thousand years ago, obviously must be kept in mind as we seek to understand how to make current application of God's Law. But the basic ethical question the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ must ask is not "Should I obey God's Law or live by Grace," but "What does God's Law, graciously given to us in all 66 books of the Bible, require of me today?" While an oversimplification, it can be said that there is substantial continuity between the standard of conduct in both Old and New Covenants, that standard being revealed in God's law which is a reflection of His character. The major movement from Old Covenant to New Covenant is not seen in the Bible as a change in the ethical standard by which the believer lives his life. Rather, that change has to do with eschatology. A Bright Future The Old Testament is characterized as a time of remnants, of cultural failure, of an anticipation of the coming of the One who would proclaim the true time of Jubilee, resulting in an outpouring of blessings on the whole world. No longer is the church to be cloistered, hedged in on one piece of real estate. She now moves out, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to disciple the world through evangelism and instruction in the commands of Christ, (Matthew 28), praying and working to the end that God's will might be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ has come and completed His long-anticipated and stupendous work. The gospel, the good news, is that Jesus Christ, the Savior King, has ascended to the throne, from whence He reigns until all enemies are made His footstool (Acts 2). In the words of that great Christmas song "Joy to the world, the Savior reigns." He has asked of the Father, and received the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession (see psalm 2 and Rev. 10:1,2). We are told in Romans 1 that the gospel is the power, the "dynamite" of God. The Scriptures tell us that Christ does not conquer the world through either His or the church's physical might, but rather through His preached Word, accompanied by the Spirit. Since God's covenant includes "all nations," we look for the spread and triumph of true Biblical religion in all countries before the visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then will come to fullest fruition those wonderful predictions: "All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, Lord; and they shall glorify Thy name." (Ps 86:9) and "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah; and all the families of the nations shall worship before Thee." (Ps. 22:27).	Worship The Worship Service at Church of the King begins promptly at 11:00 am each Sunday. Pulpit supply is provided by Pastor John E. Stoos. We are currently worshipping at Eagles Hall in downtown Roseville at 204 Lincoln Street at the corner of Vernon Street. Driving Directions Worshippers are encouraged to gather at 10:30am for a brief time of music practice and instruction as we strive to better glorify God in our worship. Our Church fellowship feast follows immediately after the service each week and all are invited to attend and enjoy this meal and time of fellowship as our guests. Announcements Church of the King held our first Family Camp in September. To hear the messages on the Visionary Church - click here- Click here for our December Scripture readings & Prayer Calendar Lord's Day Sermons Sunday November 30th 4th Sunday of Avent 2008 "The Government of Jesus" Elder Theron Johnson Based on Isaiah 9:1-7 On January 28, 2007 Pastor Stoos began a series of sermons on the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Previous sermons in this series are available at Sermon Audio Christmas Sunday December 28th "The Coming of Jesus " from Pastor John E. Stoos Based on Luke 19:28-44 Epiphany Sunday January 4th "Jesus in the Temple " from Pastor John E. Stoos Based on Luke 19:45-48 Sunday January 11th "Challenging the Authority of Jesus" from Pastor John E. Stoos Based on Luke 20:1-8 Sunday January 18th "Wickedness in the Land " from Pastor John E. Stoos Based on Luke 20:9-18 Sunday January 25th "Paying Taxes to Caesar" from Pastor John E. Stoos Based on Luke 20:19-26 Weekly Studies Men's Wednesday morning bible study meets at the Pancake Circus 6:30am. Driving Directions The Sacramento area ladies' bible study meets at the Stoos home every Friday at 1:00 p.m. There is a Friday night bible study at the Pettyjohn home. 1st & 3rd Fridays meet at 5:30 p.m. for a "pot providence" prior to the study. Other Fridays, the starting time is 7:00 p.m. Contact the Pettyjohns for info. Thursday night Bible study on the Book of Revelation continues at 7:00 p.m. at the Johnson home. Ladies' bible study in the Grass Valley area meets on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Echols' home. Call Rita for info. Prayer ~For boldness in proclaiming the gospel to those friends and family members who are not saved. ~For our government leaders, that they may seek the wisdom that is found only in God's Word. ~For Church of the King, that our Lord's precious name would be glorified in all we do. ~For our elders, that they may have strength, wisdom and discernment as they carry out their duties. ~For Repentance as a nation for the sin of abortion. ~For Blake Purcell and his family and co-laborers as they do the Lord's work in Russia. St. Petersburg Field Report ~For Chief Justice John Roberts, that he use godly wisdom in the execution of his duties.
\| Contact Us \| ©2004 Church of the King