FROM THE PASTOR
Salvation is by grace
First of all, salvation is by grace ALONE. Or the famous historical expression “Sola Gracia”. This Biblical truth is the strongest and greatest encouragement for all sinners who despair of saving themselves.
Before we go any further, we need to ask, “saved from what?” – every person (Christian believers and non-Christian) at one time or another in their lifetime will ask, “What do I need saving from?”, and “Why do I need to be saved?”. Saved from sin and evil in this life. Saved from an eternity which will follow and bring separated from the eternal love of God.
Saved how? By our own efforts? Or by God favoring what we do? Or by GOD’S ACTIVITY ALONE? (in big capital letters to make an obvious point).
Or another way of putting it: who is responsible for salvation? The sinner or God?
Don’t be fooled into thinking as many people do, saying that well it’s both, “God” enabling “me” to do what God wants, so someday I can live with him forever. But that’s not what the New Testament says, there we read, “by grace you have been saved through faith, not by works”. Grace is the opposite of works.
Grace is God in action, not us. Grace is God’s love at Christ’s expense (I’ll talk about ‘works’ later).
We Pray For:
† The church, that it may readily serve those in need of physical healing.
† All those who work in the medical profession.
† Those whose illness isolates them or renders them powerless.
† Wisdom for our nation's leaders, as they consider how to heal the problems of our community.