A Child of God...

Can you become the child of someone else by simply moving in with them? Can you become the child of someone else by keeping all their rules? No.  In the same way, we cannot become children of God through the keeping of the Law. God gave us the law to help us understand what is right and wrong and to show us our need for him. But it is not through the law that we are saved. God's plan was always salvation through faith. So, we become children of God through faith in Jesus. And how blessed we are to be called children of God! Listen in for the full teaching on being a child of God, continuing in the series from Galatians: "Life in the Spirit".

Do you have justification before the Father - are you made righteous before him?

Do you salvation - are you saved and delivered into life?

Do you redemption - are you bought back from the power of sin?

We will stand before God in the future - He who knows everything and sees all. He has the whole world in his hands - just imagine that! John says in Revelation that he fell like a dead man when he was before the throne of God. We praise God that he has provided Jesus - who lived, died and rose again to justify us. He makes it "just as if I"' never sinned. Through him we can come before the throne of God and be seen as righteous. All religions require doing, they require that we try to justify ourselves - but it can't be done. Only in following Jesus do we do nothing for justification - we put our hope, faith and trust in Jesus and He has provided the way to the Father.

Some day we will stand before the Judge. Only Jesus can bring justification, salvation and redemption.

Courage... do you have it?

Guest Pastor Steve McMichael shared with the CIPC community last week from Acts 27 and Romans 12:2 encouraging us all to stay courageous in our faith. In the midst of the storm that tore apart the boat that Paul and his companions were travelilng in, Paul had courage in the Lord. We were encouraged to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; it is only through a change in our minds through the Sprirt that we can have courage. Conforming happens from the outside, being a part of the world. But, transforming is on the inside - it happens as the Spirit works and the truth of God's word takes root. Be transformed then, and have courage in the Lord.

God wants us to be full of the Spirit and sensitive to the Spirit's movement. Pastor Chris started a new series this week on Life in Spirit - join us in the coming weeks as he outlines Galatian's themes. One of the first themes in Galatians is Paul's warning about false teachings. We must be careful not to listen to or condone false teaching. This is very applicable even today - many false teachers are adding to the gospel of Jesus. Being sensitive to the Spirit will allow us to discern when we hear false teaching.

Join us at CIPC to learn more about the false gospel, the true gospel, the law, grace and living by the Spirit - the major themes of Galatians. You are welcome at CIPC! Or, listen online anytime.