Most Improved Player

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Beloved,

At the end of every athletic season, one of the team members receives the most improved player award.

They receive the award because they demonstrate the greatest athletic improvement on their team. It is healthy to look back at the end of a season to reflect on how far one has come in their sport. Even more so, it is healthy for the believer to consistently reflect on how far one has come in being united with Christ.

Paul writes that we, Christians, who were dead in our trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh. Beloved, we were dead in our trespasses and sin. We were without hope and under the condemnation of God. Let that sink it. We were dead. But God!!! “God made us alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.” We were made alive because we were united with Christ. We were united with his life, his death, and his resurrection. Our union with Christ allows God to forgive ALL of our trespasses because ALL of our trespasses have been paid for in the death of Jesus Christ.

We had a record of debt that stood against us. Our debt cried out for justice and punishment. God would have been right and good to answer that cry with our destruction. But in His Mercy, God answered that cry by canceling our debt through His own Son. We no longer stand condemned because our debt has been canceled by Jesus Christ. He set it aside, nailing it to the cross.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! / My sin, not in part but the whole, / Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, / Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Beloved, we by far have received the most improved player award. We were dead, but are now alive in Christ. We are the most improved, not because of our works done in righteousness, but because we have been identified with the One who is righteous. We have traded all our dirty rags and have been clothed with the righteous robes of Christ. Beloved, rejoice that you are in Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

"In Christ"

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14, ESV)

“In Christ”

All my sin has been set aside,

Nailed forever when my Christ died.

No longer am I dead,

But made alive with Christ my head.

All my wretchedness from me to He

No longer for my God to see.

No longer marked by filthy sin,

For with Christ I’m grafted in.

180 (Another Ray Comfort Film)

Evolution vs. God

CHOSEN

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)

Dear Beloved,

Almost every elementary school student has gone through the horrific and exhilarating experience on the playground of “Captain’s Choice.” Young people stand around in a group while two of their peers decide whether or not they will be “chosen”. Sheer joy comes when you are one of the first selected while fear and rejection accompanies those near the end or not chosen at all. This playground experience often trickles over to the rest of life in which we are always trying to prove ourselves to others so that we may be “chosen.” Have you ever felt the rejected?

Beloved, hear the good news from God’s Word. Paul writes, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.” Do not live for the approval of others, but know that you have already been chosen by God. You know you are chosen when you believe in the good news of Jesus Christ with the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Take a moment to breathe in the sweet aroma of acceptance by the Holy, God of the Universe. We are not accepted because we were one of the best on playground, but rather because of the gracious love of God the Father in the face of Jesus Christ. We have been chosen in Jesus Christ. Beloved, rejoice in God’s gracious and merciful choice in sending His Son to rescue you.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

The Word of the Cross

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Beloved,

When I was 20 years old I was driving across the country from California to Philadelphia. My friends and I stopped in Arches National Park in Moab, UT. It is a popular tourist destination filled with beautiful rock structures. One highlight of the park is this giant rock arch which has a path that wraps around the back. The path enables people to walk to the middle of the arch for a great photo to remember the park. My friends and I walked up the path to get into the middle of this giant rock arch for a photo. After the photo, instead of walking back down the path, we thought it would be better to climb down the front of the cliff. After starting down the cliff, we realized that we could not make it down, but rather had to turn back. As people looked on, we appeared foolish. Our decision made no sense to those people who watched at the park that day; it appeared as pure folly.

Similarly, when we choose to follow the word of the cross it appears as folly to those around us. It makes no sense to the world why someone would chose to humble themselves in the way of the cross. Although people may not understand the word of the cross, it is the power of God for those who are being saved.

“Being saved” is an interesting phrase used by the Apostle Paul. We usually refer to ourselves as saved in the past tense, but our salvation does not end in our conversion. Our salvation must be complete finally in our glorification at the end of life. Salvation has three stages: justification, sanctification, and glorification. The Baptist Faith and Message defines them this way:

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

So our full salvation is brought to us by the word of the cross. The word of victory over sin and death in the cross is the power of God for our salvation. The fuel for our salvation is the word of the cross of Christ. Paul

writes in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for all who believe.” Our power for holiness and change rests in the cross. Beloved never tire of the word of the cross. Our decision to choose the word of the cross may appear as foolishness to our perishing world, but for us, it is the power of God. Rejoice in the power of God that we are being saved as we wait “for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself for a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:13-14).” Through the power of cross, we know that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

In Christ,



Pastor Dave

Contentment in Christ

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13, ESV)

Beloved,

As you look around our nation, there appears to be a sense of discontentment among the people. Discontentment is defined as the state of feeling dissatisfied with what one is or what one has. The world seems to be discontent in their craving after more and more trying to fill the void of their happiness. Unfortunately, discontentment often does not end with the world, but can also be seen in believers in Jesus Christ. Now there should be certain degree of discontentment among every believer. All believers should strive to want more knowledge and wisdom from God. All believers should strive to grow in the love for

God and His people. All believers should strive to see more and more people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But should believers feel dissatisfied with what one is or what one has? No, we should be satisfied, for we have Christ!!

The Apostle Paul writes that he has learned to be content or satisfied in every situation. He has learned, from times of plenty and times of want, the secret of being content. The secret Paul learned that is in Christ he has everything that he needs for life. He can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. The secret for Paul and us is that we can do all things through Christ. If we have Christ, we have all that we need. Listen to how the writer of Hebrews explains this idea in chapter 13:5, “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” We should be content with what we have because God will never leave or forsake those who are in Christ. We are not our own, but have been bought through the blood of Christ.

Beloved, do not feel dissatisfied with what you are or what you have. You are a child of God wrapped in the righteous robes of Christ. In Christ you are: forgiven, blameless, righteous, pure, holy, cleansed, and justified. Christian, when you feel that you do not measure up and are dissatisfied with what you are remember who you are in Christ. We do not boast in ourselves, but in our weakness for God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in my weakness. So together with the Apostle Paul we can say, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9).

Learn the secret of contentment. You can do all things through Christ who strengthen you for Christ can do all things. If you have Christ, you have all that you need!!! Read the words below from a song, “All I have is Christ.” Take time this week to meditate on what we have in Christ. (Click link below to hear song)

All I Have is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night / Yet thought I knew the way. / The sin that promised joy and life / Had led me to the grave. / I had no hope that You would own / A rebel to Your will. / And if You had not loved me first / I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race / Indifferent to the cost / You looked upon my helpless state /And led me to the cross. /And I beheld God’s love displayed /You suffered in my place / You bore the wrath reserved for me / Now all I know is grace. 

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ /Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone / And live so all might see / The strength to follow Your commands /Could never come from me. / Oh Father, use my ransomed life / In any way You choose. / And let my song forever be /My only boast is You

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ /Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

In Christ,



Pastor Dave