Good News
Our great need is to be reconciled with God. We were created by God and are
responsible to Him (Romans 1:20). However, we have rebelled against God,
both through Adam's sin and through our own sins (Romans 3:22,23). Therefore,
we face judgment from God and eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9).
We can do nothing on our own to change this ultimate reality; neither good works
or religion will satisfy God (Isaiah 64:6 and Ephesians 2:9). All is not lost,
however, because God has provided a way of escape. As Jesus Himself said in
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus came into
this world to take the punishment for the sins of His people on the cross.
Forgiveness for sin and freedom from guilt can be obtained by repentance of
our sins and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Paul and Silas answered the
Philippian jailer when he asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" with the
following: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Once we have truly
repented and have real faith in Jesus Christ, we are given the gift of eternal life
(Romans 6:23) and peace with God (Romans 5:1).
As Dr. B. B. Warfield put it:
"I believe that God has redeemed his people unto himself through Jesus
Christ our Lord; who, though he was and ever continues to be the eternal
Son of God, yet was born of a woman, born under the law, that he might
redeem them that are under the law: I believe that he bore the penalty due
to my sins in his own body on the tree, and fulfilled in his own person the
obedience I owe to the righteousness of God, and now presents me to his
Father as his purchased possession, to the praise of the glory of his
grace forever: wherefore renouncing all merit of my own, I put all my trust
only in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ my redeemer."
Once we have been saved by the grace of God, we must respond by serving
Him (Deuteronomy 10:12,13). We should start by praying, reading His Word-the
Bible-(Psalm 119:105), and worshipping Him with a body of faithful believers
(Hebrews 10:25). Grace Church is a body of believers who are trying to be
faithful to God. All are encouraged to join with us in worshipping God and
serving Him.
Grace Orthodox
Presbyterian Church
