Friday, April 20, 2012

God's Justification - Christ's Redemption


Romans 3:21–26 (NKJV)
21But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Paul had addresses the idea of the righteousness of God being revealed back in chapter 1:17, when he introduced the theme of the book.  However, the rest of chapter one through chapter three dealt with God’s wrath being revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

But now Paul explains that God’s righteousness is revealed not through the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.  For everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ receives God’s righteousness.   For God justifies that is he declares righteous those who put their faith in Christ Jesus for salvation.  Not only does God justify, but he justifies freely.  There is nothing that man can do in and of himself to deserve this justification.  He simply must respond in faith to the gospel realizing that Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty of sin through his death.  Though this justification is free to those who respond in faith, it did have a cost.  This cost was paid through Jesus Christ, therefore He is our redeemer. He paid our redemption!

This redemption is necessary for justification and is only available through faith.  This was the testimony of the Old Testament writers.  There is no advantage of the Jew or gentile and there is no other way of salvation because all are sinners and not capable of salvation in any other way.

Our prayer is that you too will respond to Jesus Christ in faith believing that he is alone the only redemption from sin that you might be justified by God and have eternal fellowship with Him.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

The Unfailing Plan of a Sovereign God


Sunday the majority of people in our area celebrate Easter.  To some it will simply be a time for family.  For others it will be a time for chocolate bunnies and Reese’s eggs.  Others will reflecte upon a historical event: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

My hope is that all will recognize that the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to suffer and die to pay for the sins of man was not an afterthought but rather a plan from before the “foundation of the earth.”  (Eph. 1)  God in His omniscience (all-knowing) knew that man would rebel. God in His holiness knew that he could not fellowship with sinful man.  God in His justice required a penalty for sin. God in His love and mercy chose to put a plan in action to provide redemption for all who would believe.

Through time God gradually revealed his plan. This started with his response to Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden when he promised a “Seed that would bruise Satan’s head.”(Gen. 3)  Many, many passages speak of God’s plan throughout the Old Testament, but not many are any clearer than Isa. 53:2b-6 “He has no form or comeliness and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we desire Him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet, we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

This passage though recognized by most as referring to Jesus Christ was written several hundred years before Christ came to earth.

As Jesus ministered publicly for three years he again and again presented Himself as the Messiah.  This required individuals either to bow the knee in worship or to punish Him as a blasphemer.   Despite the fact that through His miracles and wondrous acts He revealed that He indeed was the promised Messiah, the pious religious leaders were not willing or able to accept Him.  They manipulated a Pilate, the people pleasing Roman ruler of the territory, and incited an emotional crowd to bring about Christ’s death.

To many observers this seemed like the end of Jesus Christ.  Perhaps God’s plan had failed?  What these observers did not realize is that God had used Pilate, the Pious religious leaders, and the crowd to fulfill His plan.  They acted through their own personalities and desires to accomplish what God had promised would happen.  They crucified the Messiah as promised.

In trying to pre-empt any possible fake resurrection they helped to prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection.  The governor’s seal and the soldier’s stance could not stop the Son of God from being victorious over sin and death.

God had indeed kept His promise, His plan was fulfilled.  He had provided a way for man’s redemption from sin.   “But as many as received Him to them gave He the power to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.”  (John 1:12) 

I hope that as each of you reflect upon Christ’s resurrection that you will turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of your sin.  “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  (Eph. 2:8-9)

Sparks Highlights 4-11-12


****Sparks Highlights****    We have been learning over the last few weeks why Jesus can be trusted as our Savior.  Now, when we put our faith in Him as our Savior – what comes next?    We are told in John 3:16 that if we believe in Jesus as our Savior we will have everlasting life.  But Jesus also claims that unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  The belief is more than just accepting that Jesus is who He says He is – it is about surrendering your life to Him.  When we truly put our faith in Him and understand to truly take to heart why Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, that belief is confessing our sin, turning our life to Him to let Him lead us and change us.  That is the being Born Again that Jesus is talking about in John 3 where we were studying tonight.  Your Sparkle’s caterpillar and butterfly are just an example of that change.  Caterpillars are a living being that changes itself into a butterfly – it metamorphoses in the cocoon to become a butterfly.  It is still the same living creature – it just looks different and acts different as a butterfly – it is born again in a sense as new appearance.  That is just like us when we let Jesus change us – we are still the same living creature, but when we are born again by our surrender and His changing us – we are the same living creature, but we act different – and look different to others when they see that change.  What a great time to make a change in your life, if you haven’t already – be spiritually born again this spring season – when the physical world around us is sprouting new life, so can you in Christ Jesus.   
You are welcome to join us anytime at Sparks!    You can also check out the AWANA program at           www.fbc.littletonil.org.    
Mrs. Jennifer Schroeder, Mr. Roger Fox, Mrs. Barb Stein.