FOUND IN HIM

When a parent watches a child perform in a sporting event or play, he or she really only watches one child - theirs - because parents love their children. When God the Father looks on His elect people, He only sees one - His Son - because the Father loves the Son. He only loves and accepts His people because they are in His Son. Oh that I may “be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:9)

Pastor

A True Minister of the Gospel

A true minister of the gospel is a creation of God. It is not in the power of the church or any man to make a minister. God alone ordains ministers and all that the church can do is recognize them (Acts 13:2-3).

We can encourage them, support them, pray for them, and advise them as God gives us wisdom, but God must call them, anoint them, and equip them for his divine service!

Pastor Henry Mahan

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?” (Isaiah 1:11). Our Lord asked the people of Judah and Jerusalem this question by the prophet Isaiah. It’s a question that reveals what’s in our hearts by nature. Religious people look to their service to God as a sign that they are children of God. They take pride in their church membership, the strength of the heritage of that church and the education of the man they call their Pastor or even Priest. They trust in their confessions, their attendance, their participation, their bible reading, their prayers and their witness to others about Jesus. These are among the many sacrifices they make for God, and if they are being honest, they put a lot of confidence in their sacrifices. Without doubt, most are very sincere, but our Lord called them “your sacrifices” (Isaiah 1:11). He did not own them as his own, which they were bringing to him.

Our God has a single eye to one sacrifice. His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ is the one sacrifice his people rest in. For the Father said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). All our service, hope and life springs forth from the sacrifice Christ made of himself to the Father, as his people’s substitute. Christ is the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. Our Lord and Savior alone “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Orderly public worship is important, but do not put your trust and confidence in that. Religious people put confidence in the outward form and even sneer and mock others as a sign of their own faithfulness. But for many, it is carnal and fleshly religion and nothing more. Look to Christ alone for your righteousness. Concerning Christ we are told “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true” (John 3:33). God the Father delights in his Son. Coming to the Father in Christ, the Lamb of God, we shall never be ashamed. For the Father will always receive and delight in that sacrifice.

Pastor Eric Lutter

Living for God is living for the benefit of others, and serving God is serving others. — We can serve others without serving God; but we cannot serve God without serving others.