From the Heart of the Pastor

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” 1 John 3: 1.  It is good to pause on occasion and think about the overwhelming grace God has given us in our salvation.  I can say with absolute certainty that I am the worst sinner I know.  I can say that with certainty because I know myself better than I know anyone else.  You should be able to say the same thing about yourself.  It is precisely because I know the depth of my own sin so intimately, that God’s grace is so overwhelming. 

          There is nothing good within me.  There is nothing that makes me more deserving of God’s forgiveness than anyone else.  It is all GRACE.  In fact, Peter even says all of the truths of the gospel are “things into which angels long to look” 1 Peter 1: 12.  Isn’t that a humbling thought, even angles do not enjoy the kind of grace that has been shown us in the death and resurrection of Christ.  Of all the angels that fell, none have the opportunity for redemption.  The sobering thought is that God would have been totally within his perfect right and sovereignty to extend to us the same measure of grace he extends to the angels.  If God had chosen to save none of us, he would have been righteous and just in giving us what we deserved – condemnation.  The glorious truth of the gospel is that he has gone beyond justice (giving us what we deserve), to GRACE (giving us what we don’t deserve, namely forgiveness.)  As one author has reminded us, the angels for all eternity will never be able to sing.

          Redeemed – how I love to proclaim it!

          Redeemed by the blood of the lamb;

          Redeemed through his infinite mercy –

          His child, and forever, I am.

Thank God, those of us found in Christ can sing that forever.

 In Christ,

Blain Craig

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