October 15, 2021 — Romans 6:1–23

“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:1-11

The words of Romans 6 are often read at the funeral service — “…we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

Nothing brings us comfort more than knowing that “if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with Christ in a resurrection like his”. This is a love that is just impossible to comprehend. And when we know this love, then we are moved to live into that love.

We should not wait until a funeral to probe the understanding of what Jesus does for all people – the death he died and the resurrection in which he was raised is a foretaste of eternal life offered for all. Paul asks: “What then are we to say?” What we are to say is to share this reality with everyone who will listen.

Let Us Pray,

Lord Jesus, help us to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we encounter. There are many people who lack real hope in their lives. Help us to give hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved, and the news of the Grace of Jesus to those aching for such grace. Amen.

Pastor Dave

October 14, 2021 — Romans 5:1–21

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:12-21

Regardless of what you’ve done it is not too late to come to the Lord for his love, mercy and grace. Regardless of how far you’ve fallen, it is not too late to be saved. It doesn’t matter how low the mistakes you made, or the depths of depravity, now is the time to pull out the thorn, change your path, let it go – and be free.

My friends, there is never a time we should give up on ourselves, on our family, or to give up on others. G-d never gives up on us. What makes a Christian a Christian? It is not perfection — it is forgiveness from G-d measured on the cross of Jesus. — which forms our forgiveness for others.

Let Us Pray,

Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to die for our sins. The depths of your love is something we will never be able to completely understand, but we can live within every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave