May 15, 2022
Greetings and blessings to all of you. In Eph. 2:8-9 For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works -so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The church is “sanctified in Christ” being composed of the “called saints” who have been called out of the satanic world. The church is related with all the saints who call upon the name of the Lord in every place around the globe. We are united by Grace. God’s Riches At Christ Expense as some would say. In John 1:16 it says, “Of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” Every storm brings another “wave” of grace. His grace issues in peace. We are living in His Grace. In I Cor. 15:10 Paul does not tell us that by the grace of God he has what he has or even that by the grace of God he does what he does. IT IS NOT a matter of doing, having or working it is absolutely a matter of being. Throughout the centuries all the living servants of the Lord have had the resurrected Christ living in them. The Grace of God lives in us enabling us to do what we could never do in ourselves. We may be persecuted and opposed and we may suffer very much however, we can lean on the Lord. I Cor. 15:10 says, “by the Grace of God I am what I am and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain but I labored more abundantly than all of them yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.” Grace is not to be confused with works. If we could obtain salvation by doing good works, then salvation would simply be his wages. God does not owe anything to man (us). Salvation is a free gift…it is all of Grace. In Titus 2:11-14 “for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say, “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Paul was a converted legalist. He learned good works do nothing to help us obtain God’s favor… however they follow naturally as we experience the love of Christ.
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC