True North News 1-9-15

Greetings Church Family,
 
“WON NOT DONE!”
 
That was supposed to be a great logo and statement on a shirt for two college football teams advancing to the first ever College Football National Championship Playoff Game.  BUT, to me it’s what I’ve been trying to preach this January!
 
Jesus Christ came to this earth, God in the flesh to redeem us, to purchase our freedom on the cross, to resurrect from the dead, and to bring us victory.
 
Colossians 2:14-15, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
 
When we surrender our lives, and place our faith in Jesus Christ we too taste victory over death and sin! We won!  
 
I John 5:15 says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.  We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.  Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
 
We won but we are not done!
 
Placing your faith in Jesus Christ is just the first victory. Living out your faith is the next step! We won, but we are not done!
 
Remember last week we established the following truths:
 
When I place my faith in Jesus Christ, He now lives in me! Galatians 2:20 -“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
 
I have a new identity – a child of God! John 1:12 – “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Through faith, through my confession of sins, I am God’s child, I am these things and so much more. When you come to realize who you are – your life changes.
 
As John the Baptist preached repentance of sins and turning to God, he helped us see the first victory in seeking forgiveness of our sins and new life in Jesus Christ.  He then challenged his listeners to go live it out!  That is the next victory!
 
Brother and sisters in Christ, we are in the journey, that process now of living out our faith!  Let’s encourage one another, pray for one another that we will stand victoriously.  We have won…but we are not done!
 
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday!  
 
Pastor Rex