August 28, 2022
Greetings and blessings to all of you. Question: Since we all arrive in this world spiritually dead, the only way to be brought to life is to be Born Again. Are you Born Again? Or as one author penned, “Are you a fan or a follower? Jesus had many fans but not many followers. Only 12 Disciples. Jesus said to the crowd, “Truly Truly I say to you; are seeking me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” This crowd was motivated by superficial desires(food) and not the true spiritual significance of knowing Jesus and his mission. His mission is and was “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) He also said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) So again…are you Born Again. Are you Saved? Are you Living the New Life? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new has come” 2 Cor. 5:17. Today in our churches we see a lot of empty professions of faith and rampant carnality similar to the Corinthian church. Paul scolded them about their immaturity. He said, “I gave you milk not solid food for you were not yet ready for it. Even now you are still not ready.” The work of conversion happens because of what Christ did on the cross and his resurrection thereafter. He and He alone opens our hearts, eyes and mind ..it called justification. It is not by works of our righteousness. We do not have any room to boast about what we did to gain or insure us of our salvation. (Eph. Chap. 2). In Romans 8:29-30 the Word says, “for those whom He foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. …and those He predestined He also called and those He called he also justified and those He justified.” He begins the work of sanctification…as we yield and submit to the Holy Spirit that He left with us when ascended into the heavens to be with the Father. (John 14:16) Our salvation (or true conversion) is the result of the supernatural work of God, by which our heart or nature is changed, making us responsive to the will of God. Ask these questions regarding your Salvation: Is you character controlled by the Spirit or your flesh? Are you girded with sound doctrine? Are you passionate about Christ and His calling for you? Do you have an increasing love for one another? Do you have Discernment and Godly wisdom? Do you hate what God hates? Do you have an increasing Holiness in your behavior?
With the Love of Christ First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC