Deuteronomy 6:6-7 KJV; Teach your children who God is and what He's done for them.

 

Condemnation And Justification

 

1st Sunday in Lent; Romans 5:12-19 KJV; Through Adam came sin and death. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have received justification.

God chose Us

 Ephesians 1:3-14 KJV; 2nd Sunday after Christmas; God loves us so much that in spite of our sinfulness He still chose us.

We Will Live With Him

2 Timothy 2:1-13 KJV; 18th Sunday after Pentecost; "If we be dead in him, we shall also live with him."

Speak The Truth In Christ WIth Mercy and Grace

James 3:12-18 KJV; If only all Christians would heed the call to speak the truth in Christ with mercy and grace as Charlie Kirk did. 

Faith; A Gift From God

Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV; Faith comes as a gift from God and is not something we conjure up on our own.

Be Not Conformed To The World

Romans 12:2-3 KJV; Do not think so highly of yourself that you consider yourself above others.

Preaching To The Dead

Vigil of Easter; 1 Peter 3:18-20 KJV; The tomb could not hold him. He continued to preach first to the those in the place of the dead and now as we have also been quickened by the Spirit he proclaims the Good News through those who love him.

Saved By Grace Through Faith

"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 KJV)

We often cling to sins that we committed years ago. That's not to say that we have continued to repeat them. But, sometimes, no matter how hard we try to forget them, we do not. The devil keeps reminding us of our past acts against God and against humanity. And... we continue to live in our guilt.

Sometimes, we are able to make amends to those we have harmed. But, that will not wipe out our guilt for having sinned in the first place. There is nothing that we can do to wipe away our sins. We cannot "fix" them with the works of our hands. Our sins cannot be cancelled out by anything good we might think we do. Just about when we might think we're balancing the scales the devil will rear his ugly head and remind us of yet another sin that we need to atone for. It's a never ending cycle. Do not fall for the devil's tricks. You have been saved by God's grace through faith.

Your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. There is only one way that you can be saved from your past or your present sins. By the grace of God you are saved through faith. Salvation is not something that you can earn. Salvation is a gift from God. Have faith that this gift is for you. Receive it! Live in this truth and tell the devil to depart in the name of Jesus Christ for your sins are forgiven.

God's Peace - Pr.

What God Does For You

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph 3:20-21 KJV)

It is absolutely amazing what God can do and has done for us! The most amazing of all is that though we were lost in sin and continue to sin our Father continues to love and care for us. He loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to give himself as a sacrifice for our sins that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven. How amazing is that!? No matter what you may have done, Jesus died for the forgiveness of your sins that you might be saved. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

That loving God is with you today and tomorrow and everyday looking out for you. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Swift To Hear

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

                                                                                  (James 1:18-22 KJV)

We hear the word; but, do we follow through with the doing of the word? Or, maybe, you sit in worship every Sunday and neglect to hear the word as your mind wanders on what you want or have to do that afternoon. Maybe, your mind is wandering around the place you'd rather be than in the sanctuary listening to the word.

Way too many "Christians" don't bother to hear the word even while they claim that they are "good" people, implying that they do the word. They are deceiving themselves. Unless we hear it; unless we read it, we can't actually know it.

The word of God imparts not just what we are or aren't to do; it imparts much more.  It imparts forgiveness. It imparts grace; unconditional grace and mercy to all who hear and believe.

May God help us all to be hearers and doers of the word. Let us be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Grace Filled And Salty Speech

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col 4:6 KJV)

When my granddaughter was young, she could be a bit salty. Okay, she could be a lot salty. She can still be a bit over the top when she is aggravated.

Salt is a good thing in the appropriate amounts for the specific occasion. A lot of salt is needed to move a pesky ant hill. Not so much salt is needed to flavor food. Salt poured on a wound might sting; but, it helps in the healing process. It does no hurt to be a bit salty at times. Salt is necessary for life.

Grace is also necessary for life. But, "grace and only grace is no grace at all," as my former mentor and teacher, Dr. Karl Keljo, often reminded me. Being a bit salty is a good thing. But, just as only grace without a bit of salt can do damage; so can being overly salty. 

May God grant us the wisdom to know how much salt we should or should not use to season our conversations with others.

God's Peace - Pr. J