The Christian Life
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Easter, the celebration of  “New Life” !

John 12:24 – “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”. 

   As Easter approaches, Christians look forward to celebrating all that it means to us and what it offers to non Christians. All people are born sinners. All of us are naturally drawn to sin. We can all look at our lives and see areas of rebellion against God. We don’t follow some of God’s commands because of the sacrifice involved. When we read God’s commands they are offensive to us. We don’t want to be told what we can and cannot do. We make excuses to justify sinful thoughts, words and deeds. God does not force obedience but warns that the penalty of our rejecting Him, through disobedience, is eternal death. We need a Savior!

In the verse above Jesus illustrates the miracle of how death brings life. Having lived a perfect life, Jesus could have gone to Heaven without dying and suffering the cross. Without his death, we would all die as payment for our sin. In God’s wisdom, He provided a way for sinful mankind to return to Him in righteousness. It required someone who was without sin to be willing to die in our place. “ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28. In this verse new covenant refers to newly revealed. It was always God’s plan to provide redemption through a Savior. In the Old Testament, God foretold in Isaiah 53: 5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed”. “7 He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And the LORD ]has laid on Him the sins of us all”.
 11 “My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their sins”.

So Jesus’s death provides life to many by believing in Him. This is the reason we celebrate Easter. While Jesus did die and suffered death, God brought him back to life to signify that the payment for sin was accepted. For Christians who have trusted in Christ, death is now only a transition from mortality to immortality. 2 Corinthians 4:14 tells us “knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus” . Christians who have sincerely placed their faith in Jesus are now justified. This means their sins are removed and they are righteous in God’s sight by faith in Jesus and will be raised back to life just as he was. Christians share in Christ’s death in that they are putting their old sinful life to death. They are sharing in His resurrection by living a new life in obedience to Him. This new life is eternal. Yes, He died to bring new life for many, to all who will trust in Him. 

You can have a new life too! Come!
Evangel Church PCA 423 Thompson Rd. Alabaster, Al evangelchurchpca.org
Sunday  - SS 9 am  -  Worship 10:15 am
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The Christian Life
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Free from what?

John 8:36 “if the son sets you free you will be free indeed!
John 8:31-32 “So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you
continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

First, who is qualified to be set free? The answer is given in verse 31.
It is His disciples whom Jesus describes as those who continue in His
word.

Second, how are they set free? Through a relationship with Jesus.
By habitually practicing what Jesus teaches and knowing Him
through obedience to Him.

John 8:33-34 They answered Him, "We descend from Abraham and
have never yet served as slaves to anyone; how do You say, You will
become free?” Jesus answered them, ";Truly, truly, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin has enslaved himself to sin.”

Sin is in all of us such as pride, love of self, envy, greed,
lies, stealing, cheating, adultery and hatred. We condemn
sin in others but justify it in ourselves. Jesus'; teachings,
based on God’s moral laws, identifies our sin and calls us
to turn from it while giving us instructions for leading a
new and righteous life. There is a difference between
hearing a teaching and practicing it. Jesus teaches that
what we practice is evidence of what we serve and if we
serve sin it leads to spiritual death. Yet in John 8:52 Jesus
says “if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death"
Paul writes in Romans 6:17-18  “But thanks be to God that,
though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from
your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your
allegiance. 1 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to
righteousness";. The apostle writes that “we are free indeed”.

After expressing there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus (Roman’s 8:1) he adds that in Christ Jesus we have been set
free from the law of sin and death (Roman’s 8:2). Because of that new
freedom, we are no longer in bondage to sinfulness, and now we can
choose righteousness.

Lastly, who is it that frees us? Jesus, the son of God. Jesus is the
way, the truth and the life. The reason Jesus can free us is because
He gave His life on the cross to pay our sin debt. As we put our faith
in Christ and turn from sin He forgives our sin and gives us His
righteousness. Those that follow Him are said to be in Him and God
now declares you not guilty and freed from the penalty of sin.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
(Matthew 7:24)

We encourage Christians to continue in His word. If you don’t know
Jesus he offers this freedom to you, today! Come – all are welcome!
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Colby Reeves – member
Evangel Church PCA
423 Thompson Road, Alabaster
Sundays SS 9 am, worship 10:15 am
evangelchurchpca.org - livestream

​THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Do I need to join the Church?

The Church was established, on the rock or foundation of faith in Jesus as our
Savior and the Son of God as Peter proclaimed in Matthew 16:16. This is the Rock
upon which the Church is built. The profession described here is not just a
possible truth but a God revealed understanding in our heart by the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 16:17)

Without this foundation, a church is not Christ’s church. This is the main
hinge on which the door of salvation turns. Those who do not hold to this
foundation, though they may call themselves Christians, deceive
themselves, because the Church is a sacred union in Christ. The church is
incorporated upon the certainty and assurance of this great truth. Jesus said
the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. The good work that Jesus
starts he finishes.

This assures us that the enemies of the Church shall not prevail. As long as
the world exists, Christ will have His Church in it. His truths and ordinances
shall be owned and kept up, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of
darkness. The Builder and Maker of the Church is Christ himself. The
materials and workmanship are His. By the working of His Spirit with the
preaching of His word He adds souls to His Church, and so builds it up with
living stones,

Christ assures us His Church will prevail but just as there are false Christians
there are false churches. Unfortunately, many today seek the Church only to
serve their own interests or needs. They look only for what the Church offers
them rather than seeking to work for God’s kingdom and share the gospel. They
honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.

Also there are churches that don’t take seriously the command to make
disciples and fully teach the scriptures to equip the saints. They water down the
scriptures to conform to the world’s standard. Jesus warned of “spitting"
churches that don’t truly love Him calling them “lukewarm". Christians must be
willing to search for a church that takes Jesus seriously, that teaches and practices
the scriptures, a church dedicated to equipping Christians with a firm foundation
of scriptural understanding. Church membership, attendance, and commitment is
not optional for the true Christian. It is their privilege and joy! Church
membership is the visible means by which we join into the family of God. It is our
home base for learning and ministry. Jesus established His Church for Christians
as the primary vehicle for carrying the gospel to the world. To neglect
participation is to deny Christ and to behave as an unbeliever. Jesus said “ if you’ll
not acknowledge me to men I’ll not acknowledge you to my Father". Christians
absolutely need to join the Church.

We welcome you to come visit with us at Evangel and hear the good news of
Jesus. “ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17) Come!

Colby Reeves – member
Worship Sundays 10:15 am - Evangel Church PCA – Thompson Road
evangelchurchpca.org

The Christian Life

What must I do to receive eternal life?
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“And this is the testimony: 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”. (1 John 5:11-15) “We know that we have come to know
him if we keep his commands.    Whoever says, “I know him,” but does
not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that
person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made
complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever
claims to live in him must live as Jesus did”. (1 John:3-6)

As we study scripture, it becomes obvious that to know, believe, obey,
have faith, trust and love of Jesus are all foundational for Christian life.
How can we think that these describe us if we do not study and do
what Jesus tells us? This is hypocrisy. John tells us that these terms are
defined by the effects they have on the way we live?

“If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does
what is right has been born of him”. (1 John 2:29) The ability to live
righteous lives comes from knowing Jesus and having a relationship with
Him. We know Him through the study of His word and, equally important,
through prayer and practice of his word.

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed
remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of
God”. (1 John 3:9) John makes it clear that it is through our desire to obey
that we can know we have eternal life. John does not say that perfect
obedience saves, but rather our desire or struggle to completely obey God is
evidence of our salvation. 
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“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are
not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This
is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John
5:3-5) The world represents evil and all that opposes God. We overcome
evil through obedience. John is not speaking of the kind of burdensome
obedience that fills us with grief and robs us of joy, but a victorious
obedience. You are precious in God’s sight as one in Christ. His
commands are meant as a blessing to you. It is no accident that Jesus
portrays his disciples receiving eternal life because they hear his voice
and follow him. (John 10:27) “I came that they may have life,
and may have [it] abundantly”. (John 10:10)

If the Holy Spirit is drawing you to Jesus stop doubting and believe.
“and whoever comes to me I will not cast". (John 6:37)

You can overcome the world and have eternal life today! All are welcome. Come!

Colby Reeves - member
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In person Sundays 8 am and 10:30 am or livestream 10:30 am.
Evangelchurchpca.org – 425 Thompson Rd. Alabaster 205-664-0889

The Christian Life
High Hopes?

High hopes for 2021! Is this an appealing tune to your ears? No doubt, 2020 has been a peculiar time, and we might well understand those who say, “Surely this new year can’t be as bad as last year.” Perhaps. 

Do you recall what the Lord revealed of Himself as recorded in Isaiah, chapter 55?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (verses 8-9)
How do you receive this truth?

For example, did Satan ever think the execution and death of Jesus (whom even the unclean spirits confessed as holy: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” [Mark 1:24]) would turn out to be pivotal for the gospel of salvation? Also, did anyone involved in the account of the death of Lazarus (whom Jesus loved [John 11:3]) think his illness and demise might turn out to where God is glorified and many of the observers would turn away from skepticism and believe the Christ (John 11:4, 42, 45)?

COVID-19 is no different. Just as God Almighty superintended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and absolutely oversaw the details of what happened to Lazarus, the same God Almighty (who does not change; Hebrews 13:8) is using the worldwide virus as an instrument to bring forth what is pleasing in His sight. COVID-19 is God’s virus and servant.
That’s repulsive and I entirely disagree! I admit this is a possible response at this point. But let’s not stop here; there is more to consider.

A prophet of old, Habakkuk, was greatly repulsed and entirely flabbergasted with the happenings of his own day (not virus-related but something worse). The Lord then taught the distressed prophet…

Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:5) 

It was the Lord Himself governing His flawless plan unfolding before Habakkuk’s very eyes. That man of God then came back to his senses and declared God’s ways were the everlasting ways (Habakkuk 3:6).

I have no idea what may unfold in 2021, but I unashamedly pronounce that whatever comes to pass will be in accordance with the everlasting ways of God.

I humbly pray that 2021 be a season of awakening and conversion of many, as well as a year of song unto the Lord by all His people in the manner of Habakkuk’s eventual tune before and unto God…

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Indeed, there are high hopes for 2021, dear reader.

Paul Moon – member
Evangelchurchpca.org 
425 Thompson Rd Alabaster
Worship live or online Sundays 10:30 am