Psalm 139:11-12, ‘¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” ¹² even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You.’

                 Sometimes, the paths we’re on and the scenery that accompanies them are dark. In the darkness there are bumps, potholes, and ditches that we can’t see. This is the early 21st Century– a post Christian society and it is a dark time. The Bible states that we live in the midst of a culture that is burning, confused, chaotic, and hopeless. We, (those that belong to King Jesus), were also like all others now who are apart from God: born in sin, deceiving ourselves by depending upon ourselves instead of Christ, and without hope. As the Bible states about those who now know Christ in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ‘⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.’. In deed, and such were some of us.
But even though we’re set apart by the Lord and set apart to obey the gracious commandment, ‘think about the things that are good, lovely, and pure (Philippians 4:8)’, we get discouraged and even despondent; ‘surely the darkness covers us’. As the psalmist says, “the darkness covers us and even the things that are light appear to be night.”. The darkness, while needing to be acknowledged, DOES NOT need to be the overarching theme of our thoughts and/or conversation. That space is reserved for our God Who is good. But in the midst of a dark time, what do we do?

The darkness may be imposing their morality, their judgements, and/or their illogical philosophies on us, but we Press in. We press in to God. Not a cliché value to live by, but a reality that states, “Where else are we going to go but to the One Who is fully equipped to take on the darkness?”

WE LOOK TO WHERE OUR HELP COMES FROM

Many times we’re guilty of looking to the circumstance, then looking back to the circumstance, then looking back to the circumstance yet once again; as if we’re going to somehow find help in the very thing that gives us trouble. Psalm 121:1-2 entreats us, ‘ ¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? ² My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth.’. That’s what we do… we look to God Who, as the psalmist emphatically states in the rest of Psalm 121 that, “God will not let your foot be moved; Who keeps you and He will not slumber; Who is your Lord and your Keeper; He is your shade on your right hand and ensures that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil;  He will keep your life as well as your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”. Beloved, there is not one thing that will happen to you as a child of God that will be out of God’s sovereign and loving control. Knowing this, we look to Him. Go to where the Truth is written: the Bible. Look to Christ.

PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

 There are times when the Church needs to come alive again to what God is wanting. There is usually no awakening to God in the community until there is a person and a church that has been revived by His Spirit, (Jonah, Nehemiah). Revival is a time of deep, heart cleansing repentance for the Christian. Revival is a time where we dig deeper than ever before into God. Revival is an event that cleanses the systematic and habitual sin that seemed impossible to delete. Revival is a time of confession of sin and removing it . Revival is a time to take an introspective look as we’re also looking to God. Here’s how this works: As the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:23-24, ‘ ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! ²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’... We see that God searches us, let’s us know what He finds that is sinful needs to be repented of, and so we repent and submit to Him. We find life in Him again. In other words, He reveals the need for revival and we cooperate with His Spirit. In having God search the heart, surgery is done. We are revived to do God’s will. We are reminded of Who God is, who we are, and what God’s will is for us. But, ask Him. Don’t leave the altar of prayer until you get that assurance that He’s working in you. Ask that He fill you with His Spirit. Go back to the altar of prayer and press in for your church. This is not a journey for legalistic perfection... no. This is a killing of sin, crucifying of the flesh, realization that God loves us without measure and changes us by the gracious inward working of His Holy Spirit. Press in to God through prayer and become revived to God!

PRAY FOR AN AWAKENING

Many times, again, we look at this culture, that society, this government, or that group of people to change. This desire for change (a change for a more moral society) is sometimes born out of frustration, and born out of the understanding that society just doesn’t function the way it used to function. Maybe, through mandates and laws the society will change for the better, and maybe they won’t. And when we look for evil agendas to change, apart from a miracle, usually they don’t. But a revived Christian, a revived church, those who are revived by God, doesn’t pray for there to be convenience for themselves or the Church with whom they serve. They don’t pray for society to be more moralistic. No. The Church, and God Himself, desires that a dead person come to life. That a person becomes born again. The Church’s prayer will be for their society to awaken to the reality of God. They’ll see that the small destructive choices the people within their society are making are actually moving themselves away from Christ and into an eternal Hell. A prayer for awakening will be mostly based on an eternal perspective. They will see the need for their society, who is lost and apart from God, to get saved from sin and just punishment. Do we want people to live the abundant life in Christ that the Bible describes (living unto God)? Absolutely. But there is an eternal perspective we have when we pray for the souls of people. Jesus spoke of Heaven to be sure. But Jesus also warned of Hell more than anyone in the Bible (Luke 16:23, Mark 9:43, Mark 9:48, Matt. 13:42, Luke 16:19–31, Matt. 25:30, Matt. 10:28); there’s a reason for that. As we pray for an awakening for our community, we need to pray for the mercy of God to be fallen upon, to be apprehended by those who are apart from Christ. We the Church need to pray that the reality of the cross of Christ, the blood of Jesus, the resurrection of our Lord, and repentance to Him to be a reality in their lives. Church, pray for an awakening of your lost friends, family, and neighbors to God, His glory and the love He has for them. Storm the gates of Heaven for those who are in your community who are apart from Jesus so that road to Hell is simultaneously closed down for them. Plead for their souls. Beg for the grace of God to manifest in their lives.

USE WHAT GOD GAVE US
As God’s children, we are called to be discerners of the times (unlike the Pharisees of Jesus’ day: Matthew 16:1-4) and people who pray… but most of all, we’re called to be people who trust God. At the end of the day, our trust is in God. We trust that His will is best, that His timing is impeccable, and that His purpose is unfolding just as it should. But here’s an amazing thing about pressing into God: we are able to partner with Him. Yes, as we trust Him we’re able to cooperate with His Spirit and in doing so, there are some very interesting and redemptive tools at our disposal.

 Prayer

God gave us the opportunity to talk with Him, to read & listen to His word, to seek Him.. and find Him and the answers He provides. No matter the darkness, when we’re in prayer to God, we’re able to see that in fact, the darkness is truly light to Him as the psalmist says. God is able to pierce through the darkness because of Who He is. And when you press into God, the questions that were tainted with darkness are answered with the brightness of God’s wisdom. Remember: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, ‘³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.’.

 Discernment

God gave us discernment. HE gave us discernment to discern the times and the spirits. We, by the power of the Holy Spirit are able to figure out what is truly going on in the world (Spiritual warfare- Ephesians 6:10-20 & Deceitful philosophies- Colossians 2:8). We have the wisdom of God when we ask (James 1:5  & Proverbs 4:6-7) and we as Christians have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) to know what needs to be done.

In the days we’re living in, now is the time to be proactive with the tools we have.

The end of the story and the journey to get there is not ruled by the darkness, despite what we see and feel. Even though darkness surrounds us, Jesus Who not only brings light into the world but is also THE light of the world, proclaims that those who belong to Him are lights of the world. The need for revival within the Church and within ourselves is great. The need for us who name the Name of Christ  need to take our lights from under the basket and put it on a stand so that God may be glorified, His rule will be known in the world, and that others may be awakened (become born again). This is a work God will do, but we are called to cooperate with Him in this vital ministry. Now  is the time to Press in to God. He is faithful.

Praise God for the work He’s doing.

Pastor Scott Welch

be free

A lot Christians really struggle with living a life free from shame. Did I do enough for God? Does sin have to be this prevalent in my life? The good news is that God provides a different way… a more freeing way. And once we understand God’s way, it will revolutionize the rest of our life. God wants us to be free.

Romans 6:1-14, ‘¹ What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.’

In the above verses out of Romans 6, the apostle Paul gives us real news and good news about the reality of how to deal with sin and the wonderful prize we receive as the result of what Christ has done for us.

Verses. 1-2 give us the perspective that there’s no reason for us to continue to live in sin and the impossibility to live for sin if we’re dead to sin.

Verses. 3-4 reminds us that at the point of our salvation that we were immersed into Christ and we were immersed into His death. Why? So that we might live in the new life, the life Christ purchased for us.

Verses. 5-8 shows us a more in depth look as to why we can now live in newness of life. We’ll have a resurrection like Jesus’, our old self that loved only sin was killed so that we wouldn’t be slaves to sin- so that we will live with Christ.

Verses. 9-10 let’s us know that the One we follow, Jesus Christ, has done what no one else could… He has conquered death. We are recipients of Christ’s work on the cross.

Verse. 11 gives us the best way to live in showing us to continue to follow Christ. Because Jesus did what He did, we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Sin appealing flavor and look no longer has the dominion over us that it once had and God’s way for us is what we now desire.

Verses. 12-13 gives us commands of grace. Because of all that has happened in vs. 1-11, we follow the commands that before salvation, we neither wanted to follow nor did we have the power to follow. We follow these commands willingly, joyfully. Why? we are no longer slaves to sin… which brings death on so many levels.

Verse. 14 caps off the obvious. It shows us a fact. Because the undeniable and unbeatable work that Christ has done for us, we will not be under the dark dominion of sin. Verse. 14 also gives us a very encouraging reminder, too… We no longer have to be under the *deception that if we work hard enough to keep the law of God, that God will be pleased enough with us to not only allow us to continue to live but also to gain entrance into Heaven. No. We’re no longer under *that satanic deception. Rather, because of the unspeakable gift of eternal life that Jesus purchased for us, we now live in the unbreakable boundaries of grace. The work to get to Heaven was done by Jesus Christ. And when we do sin, we live in a constant state of forgiveness. Sin can’t have dominion over us because Jesus legally cancelled our sin debt; a work we could not accomplish.

We are now the beneficiaries of eternal life, victorious living, and finally freedom to choose God and the newness of life that belongs to us. It is God’s desire for you to be free from sin and free in Him.

Praise God that He’s provided that way for us.

Christ’s Blessings to you,

Pastor Scott Welch

Luke 10:25-37, ‘²⁵ And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” ²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”’

A rewritten narrative...

There are some cultures in America, (and we find this particularly with Christians in the west as well), where Luke 10:25-37 is not lived out as God intended. There is a pervasive attitude that says, “No. I’ve got it. I don’t need help.”. If this current attitude were to be written into the Luke 10:25-37 narrative, the story starting in vs 34 would go something like this, ‘The Samaritan meaning to help the man by tending to his wounds, giving him a ride, giving him a place to stay to rest & recover from the traumatic experience, and then pay for everything it would take for the hurt man to recover, WAS TOLD “NO.” BY THE HURT MAN. The Samaritan was not able to be a blessing to the hurt man and went on his way. But God knew the Samaritan’s heart and would bless him for his intention.’. The end. Sounds sad doesn’t it? In the story, we want to see someone get the help they need. In reality shows we see people who are in dire straits who need new clothes or repaired homes. And these folks are given exactly what they need; and we love those shows! Why? Because we know it’s right to help and to be helped. And, we love to help and get the help we need. But, when it comes down to where we live, when it’s just us, we state proudly, “I’ve got it under control”.

Pride, our downfall...

 The Gospel is all about helping those, you and I, that are absolutely and unequivocally helpless to help themselves. Jesus died for the sins of the world (we could not), took the wrath of God on Himself for the punishment of the world’s sins (we could not), was buried for three days and rose from the grave (we could not), ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Father interceding for His people (we could not). The Gospel says, “People could not, only Jesus could.”. And from there, the Gospel is lived out in the lives of those who belong to God by helping others as we can– to give the Gospel and to meet physical needs.

But what gets in the way of being helped? Pride. The Bible says in Proverbs 6:16-17, “¹⁶ There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes,…’. The Lord hates a proud look, which comes from pride. The Bible also communicates Proverbs 16:18, ‘Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’. In fact, pride is the reason for people rejecting Jesus Christ, the reason for cults & false religions, and the reason for the downfall of satan. So, how does pride work out in our lives in the area of needing help?

When we need help and then reject help, we:

- deny and rob the other person, (or people), of their blessing to help.

- are telling God that we know better than Him.

- are denying God His desirous will to act through His people to help someone in their time of need.

- are telling God that we are totally self sufficient... when the Bible, however, rightly communicates (both spiritually & physically) that apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing. We need God and His people.

- are telling God that our cultural traditions are more important than God’s holy Word. May I say it like this? It can be a form of idolatry… especially if our values are based on our cultural traditions rather than on God’s truth.

Pride will keep us from:

- people speaking truth and encouragement into our lives.

- knowing and growing in God (from rejecting the Gospel to refusing to read the Bible, pray, & worship consistently).

- opportunities and blessings that God has for you… and others.

- When we’re prideful we believe we’re in control. But what a prideful attitude really shows is that we’re out of fellowship God and are resisting the healthy way He desires for us.

But we think, “We don’t want to be a bother, it’s not that big of a deal, I’m ok.”. Truthfully, God desires to meet us no matter we’re at.

A cure for pride...

 Heed the wisdom of Proverbs 16:19, ‘It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.’.

A lowly spirit:

- realizes that because of sin, he/she deserves nothing... so that when we get anything we are happy to receive it. The Gospel shows this principle clearly.

- is one who receives, but in turn not only gives but gives readily and lavishly.

- is gentle in their dealings.

- according to Luke 10:36, is a neighbor to others in the sight of God.

- according to Luke 10:37, is one who is merciful in the sight of God.

God can rewrite your narrative...

Today is a new day and the Bible proclaims that His mercies are new every morning! If you’re one who is in the lifestyle of not allowing help, here are a few points that can help.

 repent. turn away from, “I’ve got it.” and turn to “There are sometimes I actually do need help.”.

 look to the Bible. If nothing else the Bible is full of commands, narratives, and principles that scream, “We need Help!!!”.

 put it into practice. When someone asks you, “Can I pray for you?”, you say, “Yes.”. When you are sick or in need, obey the Bible as it says in James 5:14, ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.’. There are people that God will use in a powerful way to bless not only you, but them as well.

You are important to God and He is ever ready to help. Catch the next life preserver He throws to you, even if you don’t think you need it.

Christ’s Blessings to you,

Pastor Scott Welch

        As most of you know, I annually go to a conference of my choosing to get refreshed and equipped as a pastor. This year I went to the 2021 Ligonier National Conference. Ligonier Ministries was started by R.C. Sproul who has since passed on to be with the Lord. The name of this conference was RIGHT NOW COUNTS FOREVER which was taken from the sermon series and book of the same name. As is stated from the Ligonier website, “RIGHT NOW COUNTS FOREVER is designed to focus attention on the relevancy of our present lives to the eternal destinies we all face.”- R. C. Sproul. Think about that… focus on our present life in light of eternity. And that thought is echoed in the light of Scripture, especially when God’s holy Word says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’. Right now really does count forever.

Consider this, we pay bills, raise kids, go to work, go to school, have birthdays, get married, etc. Granted, we all don’t do these things but all of us do some of those things. The point is, we all enjoy God’s common grace that’s poured out to each of us no matter who we are… and then we die. So in all those things, (whatever things we did), for whose glory and satisfaction did we do those things? The Bible’s very clear that each decision we make counts for eternity, whether some will pay the consequences for their decisions in Hell or for others– reaping the benefits for those choices in Heaven. Right now really does count forever.

     What choices are we making? And to go deeper, what's the motive for those choices? And even deeper than that, who’s the motive for our choices? Some of us are dedicated to what pleases Christ while others are focused totally on what benefits us only. To a certain degree, what benefits us is a necessity. For example, if God has given us a family we need to ensure that we’re taking care of ourselves so that we can take care of those whom God has given us. Another example, If God has given us material blessings, (maybe a car or a scholarship), we need to ensure that we’re taking care of ourselves so that we’re good stewards of those God-given blessings. And God loves to pour out His common grace on all humanity. But in both of those examples, the understanding is that God comes first and as a result of Him being first place, we’ve chosen to position ourselves to function as He wants us to function. The problem comes when our focus turns inward, when our motivations and what we do is totally about us. Then it becomes about what suits us now instead of what’s eternal. The Bible calls this idolatry– putting something or someone ahead of God. Idolatry is consumer based– which means the person who’s devoted to consuming is simultaneously devoted to self over God, while a person who’s in relationship with Christ receives and contributes. The consumer’s motivation is purely for the fulfillment of self. Unfortunately, Christians can slip into the consumerism trap. Right now really does count forever.

     On the other hand, when we look at the choices we’re making from a godly perspective, that include our motives, we have a whole different template for life that’s used. What does this look like practically? We make the small choices of life– who are friends are, how we act towards others, what financial decisions we make, what we post on social media, and so on all motivated by Scripture. We submit our minds to Christ, we submit ourselves to God’s Lordship, and we seek His glory. In other words, we do what we were created to do– we live out 1 Corinthians 10:31, ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’. These life choices are for God on a personal level and within the relational bounds of the local church. In other words, we grow in grace in our relationship to Christ while naturally belonging to a local church and therefore our entire life is affected. We’re being the receiver of Christ’s grace, a conduit of the Holy Spirit’s power, and a contributor of what God desires… and commands. The person whose life is Christ centric is motivated by bringing glory to God. Our ‘right now’ choices count. Right now really does count forever.

     Our lives count for others, as well. Jesus said to love others as ourselves. As we make choices that are Christ centric, we are in actuality, discipling the nations and people within those nations. We are teaching Christ to others by word and deed. For most of us, the people that we disciple and impact are those that are within our little corner of the world. But, as we live unto the Lord, discipleship is nevertheless happening. We are showing that right now counts forever. What about you? How open are you to submitting to Jesus’ gracious rule as the King of your life? What obstacles would you need to remove to follow Christ to make right now count for God? What inside work is God commanding to happen so that you realize that the throne of God is rightfully placed on your heart? When the inside work is done, and constantly maintained with repentance, confession of & the killing of sin, and constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit, then the world– others— will know that right now really does count forever. For God, for others, and for you, right now counts forever.

Christ’s Blessings to you,

Pastor Scott Welch

It’s truly a miracle that God saves anyone. The Bible says the following about the human race apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ: our father is the devil- John 8:44, we love darkness & our works are evil- John 3:19, our minds are blinded by satan to the truth– 2 Corinthians 4:4, our sin separates us from God– Isaiah 59:2, our deeds are like filthy rags– Isaiah 64:6, we're enemies of God– Romans 5:10, our heart is deceitful & desperately wicked– Jeremiah 17:9, and so on. That’s quite the bleak picture that God paints of unredeemed mankind (you & I before being born again)… and our sinful state keeps us from God’s holy presence. That describes everyone outside of Christ. We need an eternal rescue and thankfully, God does provide that rescue. But again, knowing our total unworthiness and the fact that God is perfectly holy, why does God save anyone?

God saves people because He LOVES them

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God saves people for His NAME’S SAKE

1 Samuel 12:22, ‘For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great Name's Sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself.’

God saves people because He DESIRES FOR US TO TURN TO HIM AND NOT DIE ETERNALLY

2 Peter 3:9, ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’

God saves people because of His MERCY towards them

1 Peter 1:3, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…’

Titus 3:5, ‘He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,…’

God saves people because of His PURPOSE & GRACE towards them

2 Timothy 1:9, ‘Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,...’

God saves people because of His GIFT OF GRACE towards them

Ephesians 2:8-10, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.’

God saves people to be GLORIFIED BY HIS PEOPLE

John 15:8, ‘By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.’

God saves people because of His MERCY & GREAT LOVE

Ephesians 2:4-5, ‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—’

Why does God save people? He desires to give His saving love, mercy, grace. Those who are God’s people are the recipients of, and the personal objects of, His giving and saving nature. God saves people because by virtue of His own nature, He is the Savior. He has given a promise to His people, and His promise is unbreakably linked to His Name. Anything that has to do with His Name is kept in His perfect will and it is God’s will to save people. With each reason that comes with God saving His people, He does so ultimately because it’s His desire and joy to save people. Beloved, God saves people for various reasons but none of them have anything to do with the false notion that we can gain His favor. Salvation is a work of God, and His desire for us is to receive. We see God’s great mercy & love for us and we are compelled to forsake our sinful desires and live for Him. What a great God He is and what an amazing, unspeakable gift His people have received!

Christ’s Blessings to you,

pastor Scott Welch