The world divides human history as B.C. and A.D.  B.C. meaning before Christ, A.D. meaning Anno Domini, the year of the Lord.   But from God’s point of view the cross of Christ is the great divide of human history.  As one Italian author put it, B.C. means “before da cross” and A.D. means “after da cross.”

Please come to understand that the New Testament does not begin in Mathew Chapter 1 at the birth of Christ, but the New Testament begins at the cross, at the death of Christ.  Let’s look at Hebrews 9:16-18 for proof.  “In the case of a covenant, (will or testament) it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a covenant is in force when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.  This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.”

Therefore, it is the death of Christ not His birth that initiates the new covenant.  Galatians 4:4-5 tells us:  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Well, there it is.  Our Lord Jesus was born under the law, He lived under the law, He taught under the law, He fulfilled the law (the only one who ever did and ever will) and He also died under the law to usher in the new testament (covenant).

Sadly, too many Christians think the New Testament begins with Mathew Chapter 1 at the birth of Christ, and that is where all the confusion begins–Christian brothers and sisters religiously trying to live by the teachings of Christ which are all teachings still under the law.  Remember He had not died yet, and the new testament/covenant was not in force yet. 

Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s life under the law when he was known as Saul of Taurus.  As far as obeying outwardly the demands of the law, Paul was a success; but he did not stop to consider the inward sins he was committing.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus makes it clear that there are sinful attitudes and appetites of the mind (our thought life) as well as sinful actions.  

In His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord added a whole new dimension of sin (thought life) with these words:  “You have heard that it was said to people long ago, ‘do not commit murder’, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment, but I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment (Matt 5:21-22)…You have heard that it was said ‘do not commit adultery, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:27-28)  Then in Matthew 5:48 Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Notice here that the standard is perfection.

Well, good luck!  There is not a man alive who can live like this successfully, and Jesus knew that.  That’s why Jesus came, to redeem us, to be our Savior, our Lord, our Master, and our very life.  He died for us, to give His life to us, to live His life through us.  He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

Remember, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:4

In John 6:28-29 the disciples asked Jesus “what must we do to do the works God requires?  Jesus answered ‘the work that God requires is this:  to believe in the One He has sent’.”  That’s why we are called believers not achievers!

He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. 

His death on the cross ushered in the New Testament (Covenant) and that is THE GREAT DIVIDE.  I hope this helps you put it all together.

We truly appreciate you and thank you for standing with us.  We need both your prayers and continued support.  Your partnership in this ministry is very important.  Please consider putting Growing in Grace Ministries in your giving plans.  

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.  And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”  II Cor 1:20

As Christians we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ…”Christ has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written:  “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  Ephesians 1:3, I Cor 1:30-31.

Righteousness and holiness are not something that Jesus puts in you; it’s Himself in you.  In other words, He has become your very life.  He is your righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  In Christ you can do all things – Yes, Amen!

We must never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by and based on the promises and blessings of God.   Philippians 2:13 tells us “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”  Our English word “energy” comes from the word translated “works” in this verse.  It is God’s divine energy at work in you and through you.  The same Holy Spirit who empowered Christ when He was ministering on earth can and will empower you as well.  In Christ you can do all things – Yes, Amen!

Meditate on this quote from Major Ian Thomas (1914-2007) “If you will but trust Christ, not only for the death He died in order to redeem you, but also for the life that He lives and waits to live through you, the very next step you take will be a step taken in the very energy of God Himself.”  Yes, Amen!  Major Ian Thomas is also quoted for saying “Jesus died for us to give His life to us to live His life through us.”  Please receive this truth.  It will truly set you free.  Remember, you have freedom in Christ.  Jesus doesn’t make you better, Jesus is your better.

Let me close with this question and answer…How do you live the Christian life?  Answer:  “Teaching that lands at your feet and tells what you must do is not the truth; however teaching that lands at the feet of Jesus and explains what He does for us, in us, and through us is the Truth because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

In Christ you can do all things, and all God’s people said Yes, Amen! 

We truly appreciate you and thank you for standing with us.  We need both your prayers and continued support.  Your partnership in this ministry has never been more important during these difficult times.  Please consider putting Growing in Grace Ministries in your giving plans. 

Growing in His Grace,

Len Baker 

“Your attitude should be the same as that as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:5-11 

This section of scripture is almost universally called the Philippian Hymn.  This hymn refers to Jesus in the most exalted position possible, “God”.  It then contrasts this with the lowest position possible, “servant”.   Jesus did not consider His exalted position of God as something to be held onto, but emptied Himself of His rights and privileges as God (He humbled Himself). 

While it is indeed sad that many people will never acknowledge that Jesus is “Lord” in this life, this passage assures us that there will come a day when everyone, even those in hell will realize who He is and bow to Him.  This Philippian Hymn has taken our Lord from exaltation (verse 6) to humiliation (verses 7-8) and back to exaltation (verses 9-11). 

I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is, Jesus laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”  Now that takes humility on our part, and we know it’s hard to be humble.

Remember Mack Davis, the country western song writer, singer and T.V. star?  He wrote the song “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble”.  Here are the words: 

                                    Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble

                                    When you’re perfect in every way.

                                    I can’t stop looking in the mirror

                                    ‘Cause I get better looking each day.

                                    To know me is to love me,

                                    I must be a heck of a man.

                                    Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble,

                                    But I’m doing the best that I can.

The Word of God tells us to humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will lift us up.  True humility is when you esteem others above yourselves, and our Lord was willing to humble Himself.  He is our good example of true humility.  Remember the words of Mark Twain who wrote:  “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”  Perhaps the thing most annoying about a good example is its inability to accomplish the same achievements in our lives.  Admiration for a good example (person) can inspire us, but it cannot enable us.  Now unless the person we admire can enter in our lives and share his skills, we cannot attain to his heights of accomplishment.  It takes more than a good example on the outside; it takes power on the inside.

Well there it is.  It takes power on the inside which ties into our text just after the Philippian Hymn,  Philippians 2:12-13 with special emphasis on Verse 13.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear

and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purposes.”

Verse 13 magnifies the mystery of our faith, “Christ in us the hope of glory”.  Colossians 1:27.

Today’s prayer:  Jesus, come and be my humility, come and be in me everything I am not, for apart from You, I can do nothing.  I put my faith in You and You alone.  Thank you, Lord.

Without faith it’s impossible to please God.  Christianity is not a self-improvement, it’s a self-replacement.  He does it all and gets all the glory.  As one author wrote in the book entitled “The Naked Gospel” by Andrew Farley:  “If we get life from the Spirit, then we’re not designed to live by the Jewish law, religious rules, a moral code, or even Christian “principles”.  Receiving and transmitting Christ’s life is superior to them all.”

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6 

And we truly appreciate you and thank you for standing with us.  We need both your prayers and continued support.  Your partnership in this ministry has never been more important during these difficult financial times.  Please consider putting Growing in Grace Ministries in your giving plans.  

If someone asked me years ago what is the significance of the cross in my life, I would have answered something like this. “Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins, so there will be a place in heaven for me.” Most Christians will answer that question pretty much the same, i.e. Jesus died for the forgiveness of my sins. But ask them what is the significance of the resurrection in your life and you will usually get dead silence or a blank stare.

Now someone might say His resurrection demonstrated Jesus’ power over death and proved Him to be the Son of God. And this is true, but ask them how the resurrection applies to their everyday lives, and you find few people seem to know.

Brothers and sisters, salvation is not just forgiveness of sin and Jesus dying for us. Salvation is life. We receive a new life. How is it that we have missed the obvious implication of the resurrection…the restoration of life!

We are not saved by the death of Jesus; we are saved by the life of Jesus. Romans 6:23 reads “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Many equate eternal life with everlasting life, but the two are very different. Eternal life is a life that had no beginning and has no ending. Who is the only person you know whose life had no beginning and has no ending. Jesus! Well, amen!

So, if we have the gift of eternal life, whose life do we possess. Clearly our new spiritual life is actually His life. We realize the importance of Jesus’ blood shed for the forgiveness of our sin, but His death on the cross does not provide the life we need. It is the resurrection that saves us and provides us with this new life, eternal life, the resurrected life of Christ. Everyone has everlasting life; the question is where will they spend it, in Christ (eternal life) or in hell?

Let these scripture verses come alive to you. In John’s gospel Chapter 5, verse 39 and 40, Jesus speaking to the self-righteous Pharisees said, “you diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” In I John, Chapter 5, verses 11-13, John writes “…God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Jesus is eternal life. As born again believers we have been given eternal life. We are no longer in Adam. We are now new creations in Christ. The old is gone, the new has come. Romans 5 verse 10 describes it best, “For if when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through His life?”

Well, there it is, His death on the cross frees us from the penalty of sin. His resurrection frees us from the power of sin. That’s the mystery of our faith, Christ in us our only hope of glory. Jesus died for us on the cross to give His life to us, to live His life through us. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

Happy resurrection Sunday! We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. We need both to meet the ministry obligations. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Every generation of people has tried to do what Christ has already done. They struggle, worry, fight, work, pray, strive, and compete instead of resting in the truth of God’s Word.

If you know in your heart that you are struggling and not experiencing the fullness of the divine nature, not allowing Christ to fully live His life in and through you and you want Him to, then this letter is for you.

Let the truth in God’s Word put an end to your trying, and turn it to trusting. Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” Please believe Him! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Learning to experience this truth of “Christ as your source of life” is what Growing in Grace and Knowledge is all about. The last words given to the church by the Apostle Peter were to: “Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” II Peter 3:18

We’ve been saved by grace, set free by grace, but we must also learn how to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the mission of our ministry to help people get better in their daily walk as they grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord. And the nice thing about it is we don’t have to be sick to get better. The biggest room in the world today is the room for improvement. And we all can improve at becoming less and less as He becomes more and more in our lives. Remember Christianity is not a self-improvement, but a self-replacement. Jesus doesn’t make us better, He is our better.

The Word of God is the key to learning. One goes from the known to the unknown through spirit-fed information. Here’s a question: how many of you know everything there is to know? Well, all right then, what if what you don’t know could radically enhance your life here on earth, would you want to know?

There are two ways of learning, education from teachers and revelation from God. Education informs; revelation transforms. The Word of God tells us to be transformed through the renewing of our mind. Some teach by the letter (law), some teach by the spirit (grace). II Corinthians 3:6 reads: “He has made us competent ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.”

Galatians 5:4 says: “All who are trying to be justified by the law have alienated themselves from Christ and have fallen from grace.” Growing in Grace is all about the truth that sets us free from trying to live the Christian life in our own strength to trusting in the only one who can, Christ Jesus living His life in and through us. That’s grace, He does it all and the Word teaches us that once we know the truth, the truth will set us free.

Paul tells us the mystery of Christianity is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Growing in grace is best realized in Galatians 2:20 where Paul writes: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I live in the body, I now live by faith…”

Titus 2:11 reads: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It (grace) teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in this present age…”

I Thessalonians 5:24 tells us: “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” Well, there it is. My last words to you today are to keep Growing in Grace and Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever more. Amen!

Almost everything that is manufactured comes with a manual.  There’s usually a warning in the manual that states “do not operate before reading instructions”, otherwise you are operating at your own risk.   Are you ever guilty of this? 

Most never read the manual that is in the glove box of our automobile until the red light comes on.  My VCR blinked every day for years, which tells you something…I didn’t read the manual.

Here’s the point in all of this.  God manufactured us, and He gave us a manual called the Bible.  The acronym for BIBLE is Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.  And without God’s information about how to live life on this earth, we are operating at our own risk.

God’s Word says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”  John 1: 1, 14. 

You could write “Jesus” in place of  “Word” in the scripture above because Jesus and the Word are synonymous.  i.e. “In the beginning was Jesus and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.  Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”  Well, Amen!

When my friend Charles “Tremendous” Jones used to come to town, he would pull out his Bible and ask you to read for him, whether he was driving in his car or sitting in a restaurant.  When you would ask him, “Where do you want me to begin?”  He replied, “It doesn’t matter, Jesus is on every page.”

Some people prefer the red letter edition of the Bible because they think these are the only pages where Jesus spoke.  Ann Graham Lutz, Billy Graham’s daughter was asked what she thought of the red letter edition of the Bible.  She said, “I prefer the non-red letter edition of the Bible because He is on every page.”

“For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

My friend Michael Wells who does a lot of Christian counseling was told by a woman who came to him for counseling that she had an IQ of 145 and therefore, he wouldn’t be able to pull anything over on her.  Michael’s response was, “Wow, that’s very high.  I understand the average IQ is only around 105, and Einstein’s IQ was 165, and he was a genius.   But I’m not going to use my IQ with you, I’m going to use an IQ of greater than 1 Zillion plus.”  At that point he holds up the Bible representing God’s IQ and says, “How does your 145 compare to this?”  The Bible says, “My Word shall not return to me void”…Isaiah 55:11  Great counseling advice!  Thank you, Michael.

God’s Manual reads, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever.”  I Peter 1:24, 25

The Word of God is our daily bread, the bread of life.  What are we feeding ourselves?  Jeremiah 15:16 reads “I ate your words and they brought me great joy.”  Psalms 119:103 says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” 

Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich said “The mind is like a garden. When you plant positive seeds, it grows flowers.  When you plant negative seeds, it grows weeds.  It doesn’t know the difference between positive or negative, it just takes whatever you give it and grows and grows.”  What are we feeding ourselves?

There was a man who complained adamantly every day about his lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  One day his fellow workers asked him why he didn’t tell his wife that he doesn’t like peanut butter and jelly.  His response was “Leave my wife out of this, I make my own lunch.”  Well, there you have it.  It was Pogo who said “We have met the enemy and the enemy is us.” 

Someone once asked “how do you get air out of an empty glass?”  The best answer was “fill it with water.”  Well, how do we get the world out of us?  Fill it with the water of the Word, God’s Manual!  It is called Living Water,  and it will not return void.  Otherwise you are operating at your own risk.  Thank you, Jesus for your Word.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need both to meet the ministry obligations.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

Growing in His Grace,

Len Baker

P.S.  Our website is working.  Below read one of the letters we recently received.   Tell others about our website @ gigm.org and check it out yourself.  Kyle Aulerich does a wonderful job each month.

December 19, 2010

Dear Mr. Baker,

I came across your website searching for words of wisdom to help guide me through my walk with Christ, since I have been faltering quite a bit lately.  I enjoyed reading a past devotional from February 15.  The part about condemnation coming from us trying to reach God on our merits is very on point and something we all need to remember.  The true statement that Christianity is not about self-improvement but self-replacement made me realize that I have been working too much on self-improvement and not enough on maintaining an actual relationship with my savior.  There is no improvement without Him.  He can only take up residence in our hearts when we allow Him to replace our egos and desires.

I also noticed your offer of a free copy of Oswald Chamber’s “My utmost for His Highest.”If you have any copies left, could I please have one?

Thank you for your words of encouragement and for your generous offer.  Keep up the good work in Christ.

Warmly,

Rhonda

Leonardtown, Md.

Recently I was talking with a dear brother who was struggling with his thought life, and I said to myself it’s time to revisit the “holy but”.

Proverbs 23:7 says:  “For as a man thinks within himself, so he is.”

Did you know that people can say one thing but really be thinking another?  Just listen to them talk.  People actually live according to what they say after the word “but”.  I don’t care what they say first before this conjunction; it’s what comes after that you hear what they are really thinking and believing in their heart.

Example: “So and so is a good man, we are lucky to have him for a pastor; “but”…now we are going to hear what they really think about the pastor.  “But he talks too much.”  “But his sermons are a bit dry.”  “But…But…But.”

Sadly, most Christians typically say the wrong things before and after the but.  We put God’s truth before the but and our situations or feelings after.  We say things like, “I know Jesus loves me, but it doesn’t feel like it,” or “I know God is my sufficiency, but I don’t really have what I need,” or “I know I can do all things through Christ, but that’s easier said than done,” or “but I’m only human”, etc.

Now, when we do this to ourselves, where are we living?  We are living in the negative thinking within.  Remember, “for as a man thinks within himself, so he is.”

We need to learn to live out of God’s truth, to live out of the life of Christ within us.  Our enemy the devil doesn’t care how much God talk we use in our lives as long as we put it before the “but”.  God’s truth belongs after the “but”.  I pray you are grasping this.

A name for putting God-talk after the “but” where it belongs is The Holy But.  Our Lord used it in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He said, “Father, take this cup from me, yet not my will be done, but yours.”

The Holy But is a bridge.  It moves us from our negative thinking to faith in Christ Jesus.  We don’t deny our circumstances because they are real, but they should prompt us to move through faith into living in the truth of the life within.

The Apostle Paul understood The Holy But, too.  Let’s look at II Corinthians 4:7-10:  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

Paul also penned Galatians 2:20 which reads:  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God…”  To operate The Holy But, we have to speak or think our circumstances first and  God’s truth last.  This will move us from our circumstances to the solution—a person within, Christ in us, the hope of glory.

“I feel awfully weak, but Christ is my strength.”

“I am in pain, but Christ is my sufficiency.”

Bottom line, “we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.”  Praise be to Christ…our Lord, our Savior, our very life within.  Amen!

Revisiting the holy but helped my friend get his thinking straight.  I pray it will help you, too.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need both to meet the ministry obligations.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

God loves to work through regular ordinary people.  In fact, ordinary people seem to be most often singled out by God for the most extra-ordinary purposes.

And that’s what I love so much about the saga of Christ’s advent and birth.  All the major players are so very ordinary.  Who would you have picked for Jesus’ earthly father?  How about Joseph, a carpenter from a small rural village?

And where would you send the greatest birth announcement in all of human history?  Well, God has it “air-mailed” by way of angels to shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem.  Brothers and sisters, you won’t find a more lowly, “under the social radar” group than shepherds.

And then there’s Mary, young, most likely a young teenager.  She possessed no previous mothering experience.  She had received no formal training or schooling.  Her resume’ and list of credentials were noticeably blank, that is, she had none.  All except for one critical factor…  she was willing.

Did you know that Mary was not the only one impregnated by the Holy Spirit?  All New Testament believers are impregnated by the Holy Spirit!  That’s right.  And just as Christ grew in Mary, the mother of God, until He had to come out on Christmas day, Christ will grow in you and I until the same thing occurs, until He comes out.

He will come out in our words, in our deeds, and in our actions.  Every day we live can be a Christmas.  You and I, ordinary people, just like Mary can deliver Christ into the world.

Oswald Chambers writes, “What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint.  God’s Son is born into us through the direct act of the Holy Spirit.”

Now please hear this, God was with Abraham, God was with David, and God was with Peter and the Apostles while He was here on earth.  However, God is not just with us today, He is in us to live His life through us.  Christianity is not a self-improvement it is a self-replacement.  Christ in us, the hope of glory!

How about ordinary people like you and me?  Are we willing to be used by God as His body, temple, and instruments of His righteousness?  As we celebrate the birth of Christ this December, remember why He came.  He came to bring salvation to all men.  Jesus died for us, to give His life to us, to live His life through us.  Are we willing to be used by God by offering Him our bodies as ORDINARY PEOPLE – IMPREGNATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT for His purpose and glory?  That’s God’s plan.  Well Amen!

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If you haven’t already, please consider a year-end gift.  This ministry fails to exist without the love and support of our partners in ministry, like you.  I echo Paul’s thoughts in Philippians 1:3-5, “I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”

On behalf of Growing in Grace Ministries, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Here is some wonderful Thanksgiving food for thought, even after the election, regardless of who won.  These top ten came from Len Fleming from Bethany Bible Church.

1. The greatest agent of change is still the Gospel – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
2. Christian responsibility does not change – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
3. Jesus is still the King – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
4. Our citizenship is still in Heaven – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
5. The tomb is still empty – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
6. The cross is still the victor – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
7. Our family is still our #1 responsibility – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
8. The greatest truth in the Universe is that Christ is Lord – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
9. God is still in control – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
10. Don’t fret, trust and wait patiently on the Lord – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION and in the meantime we are to pray for our nation and elected authorities.

Thank you, Dr. Fleming.

The Apostle Paul instructs us further in I Timothy 2:1-3.  He writes “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior…”

You know we truly live in the greatest nation here on earth – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.  And November is when we celebrate this time of Thanksgiving in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

In the United States of America we can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, torture, or death, and because of that we are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

Here’s something else to ponder.  If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep, then you are richer than 75% of this world.  If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.  And if you can read this letter, then you are more blessed than 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.  Wow!  We truly do have a lot to be thankful for – EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.

And we truly appreciate you and thank you for standing with us.  We need both your prayers and continued support.  Your partnership in this ministry has never been more important during these difficult financial times.  Please consider putting Growing in Grace Ministries in your year end giving plans. 

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Growing in Grace.

Many, if not most Christians have heard of the Roman Road, a term used for three references found in the book of Romans.  They are often used in evangelism tracts to witness to unbelievers about their salvation.  The first reference is Romans 3:23 which reads, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

The key focus in this verse is the word “all”…all have sinned.  By the way, in the Greek language, all means all, and that’s all all means. 

Having established the fact that all have sinned, we move to the second reference in the Roman Road, Romans 6:23 which reads, “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Now, as the unbeliever looks at this verse with you, the question arises, “How does one get this gift of eternal life?” 

This leads to the third reference, Romans 10: 9, 10 which reads, “… if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” 

Now, when an unbeliever prays a similar prayer with a sincere heart, they are born again.  They become a child of God, a new creation in Christ.  Hallelujah, praise be to God!

Once one is a new creation in Christ, what’s the next step?  You guessed it.  Discipleship!  Here’s where the Galatian Road comes in.

Many years ago the spirit of the Lord led me to three references found in the book of Galatians to help the new believer in Christ (and others as well) understand how one is to live out this new life.  In Galatians, Paul’s first letter, he establishes the foundation for living the Christian life. 

In Galatians 1:15, 16 we read, “but when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man…”  The key word found in verse 16 is the word “in” when God was pleased to reveal his son in me…

Paul did not consult others to see if this was true (Christ living in him).  Why?  Because God revealed it to him, and there is no higher authority.  Hello!

Galatians 2:20 is the second reference in the Galatian Road.  Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Paul is now revealing to us what God revealed to him.  All born again believers at salvation receive a new life, the life of Christ to live in and through them by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Well, amen! 

Now the third reference in the Galatian Road is Galatians 6:15 which states, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”  Paul is saying whether you’re a Jew, circumcised and under the law or a Gentile, uncircumcised under grace, you must be born again/made anew. 

II Corinthians 5:17 reads, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  That’s the mystery of Christianity, Christ in you the hope of glory!

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:10, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  Jesus is our foundation, Jesus is our rock, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  Jesus died for us, to give his life to us, to live his life through us.  That’s the Christian life, and it is to be lived by faith in the finished work of Christ our Lord. 

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of God (Romans 10:17). 

Use the Roman Road for leading unbelievers to salvation through the cross of Christ.  Use the Galatian Road to disciple believers through the life of Christ. 

Christianity is not a self-improvement, it is a self-replacement.