FROM THE RADIO PROGRAM

CALL TO WORSHIP

As preached by Pastor Bernard (Bernie) Timmerman

 

 

Greetings to each one of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is only in his name that we can come to you for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Yes each one of us must be saved from our sin and guilt or we will remain forever lost, separate from God, without God and without hope in the world. There is but one way of salvation and that is by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. There are but two kinds of religions in the world. A religion of faith or a religion of works. Either we trust in what we have done or are doing -- which is works, or we are trusting in another -- which is the way of faith.

 

There are many teachers of religion. There have been many prophets, but there is only one Savior. There is only one who could make satisfaction before almighty God for sin. He is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God come down from heaven; taking on himself the form of a man, humbling himself to the death of the cross, then rising again from the dead and has gone back to heaven. He will one day come back to judge the living and the dead. Then all of us will be gathered before that great throne of God's judgment and even though our work will prove our faith, we must know that we are saved through faith in Christ alone. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

In Paul's epistle to the church at Rome, this thought is brought out very clearly and in much detail. In Chapter 3 we saw in the first part up to verse 19 the very plain description of our sin, not only in deed, but in our thoughts and motives. As well as in verse 11 we read these words; "there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." We only go away from God so there is nothing that we do that will ever make us just before God.

 

There must be another way of righteousness than ours. There is such a way! As we read in verse 21 and 22, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Yes, we have all sinned in such a way that we do not glorify or honor God. We do not even understand or want him. Christ Jesus is the revelation of God already spoken of by the prophets. Isaiah wrote seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ that His name would be called Wonderful, Counselor the mighty God the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

 

In Isaiah 53 he spoke of the suffering and death of Christ, but Isaiah also spoke of how we would see him. In verse 4 he stated, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." In verse 6 we read, "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

 

Many religions claim to believe much of what the Old Testament prophets have written but have missed the message of Christ in them. He was to the Jews a stumbling block and a rock of offense. He is foolishness to the rest of the world, but to those who believe and are saved by the preaching of the cross of Christ, the gospel is the power of God. Has it become that power to you?

 

In verse 24 of Romans 3 we read, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This is what every child of God trusts in. This is our only hope. In this we live by faith first of all being justified from our sin and then through Christ being freely given all things. God promises that "all things work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28  All of this blessing begins in Christ. It is through faith in him that we receive this. Even our faith is from him. He is called the "author and finisher of our faith". Hebrews 12:2

 

Paul writes, "the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." I hope and pray that God will give you that same blessed life by faith. Seek it with all your heart. Repent of your sin and ask God to forgive you for Christ's sake and make you his child.

 

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