Weekly Newsletter

Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
      Many people today believe or feel they are “too sinful” for God to forgive.  I have personally spoken to people who knew they were sinners but would not receive Christ as their Lord and Savior because they believed that they had sinned beyond the reach of God’s love and grace.  This belief is as dangerous as it is erroneous.

      Again, we can look to the three crosses at Calvary for an illustration of God’s truth.  The criminal who asked Jesus for mercy when he said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” was without question an infamous and malicious sinner.  He very well may have been associated with Barabbas’ gang who were political insurrectionists, notorious thieves, and murderous criminals (see Lk.23:19; Mk.15:7).

      Clearly, he was no saint and he certainly would not have been in the running for any “Humanitarian of the Year” award.  Here it is important to remember that he too began reviling and blaspheming Christ while he himself was being crucified (Matt.27:44).  This criminal was completely deserving of God’s eternal judgment and wrath, but instead he undeservingly received God’s infinite mercy and grace.  “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Lk.23:42-43)

      Once again, the thief on the cross provides us with an incredibly accurate picture of our sinful lives apart from Christ.  For the thief on the cross did not go to heaven because of all his good works, ethical behavior, generous acts of kindness or all-around nice guy status.  Clearly, he had nothing to offer God in the way of his own personal goodness or righteousness.  His life had merited him nothing but God’s wrath, and all he could do was turn to Christ and hope that He would be willing to save Him.  In Jesus Christ, God has graciously made a way for us to be completely forgiven and eternally saved.


      Other than Jesus Christ, everyone who has ever lived, or will ever live, has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom.3:23).  Everyone deserves God’s wrath and stands in need of His saving love and grace.  And we only receive His saving love and grace by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Just as all of us have sinned before God, so too all of us can receive forgiveness from God.

Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David

Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #36):
Numbers 13-16; 1 Chronicles 20-24; Psalm 105-107; Proverbs 22; Joel; John 13-15; 2 Timothy 3-4
Recommended Reading:
“The Gospel for Real Life” and “The Discipline of Grace” by Jerry Bridges