October 23, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Mark the Ascetic

October 22, 2021

DEAD TO SIN

Romans 6:11-12

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Encouraging Words

Since Jesus has put to death death itself and we have been baptized into His death and raised up with and through Him into eternal life, we can be confident that by His grace we are dead to sin and alive to God. Through Him and the Holy Spirit, whom we received through Him, we can choose to not let sin reign in our mortal body. This is part of the work that we are called to do in our love for Christ. It is not easy but we do have a Helper. We can say, "No", to the temptations that come our way. And when we fail to do this we can run to Christ, repenting and seeking His forgiveness and cleansing. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

October 21, 2021

BAPTIZED INTO DEATH

Romans 6:3-4

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Encouraging Words

Some have asked me why baptism is important. It is through the act of baptism that we are brought into the death of our Christ and subsequently raised with Him into our newness of life. It is a sacrament that brings us closer to our living Lord. Our salvation is in Christ alone, but our acts that follow that salvation, such as baptism, both draw us closer to Him and demonstrates to those around us that we belong to Him. We are baptized into His death so that we can receive life through Him. Glory be to God!

October 20, 2021

GRACE ABOUNDS

Romans 5:20-21

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Encouraging Words

So, sin and death entered into our world through Adam and Eve affecting us all. And, through Christ and His works, that death has been destroyed. How does that affect us? We still live in a fallen and sinful world. We still choose to sin, to defy God, and do things our own way apart from Him. Because of Christ we have the grace of God abounding in our lives. Through Christ our sins are forgiven and righteousness is given to us providing eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

October 19, 2021

DEATH THROUGH SIN

Romans 5:12-13

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.)

Encouraging Words

Why do we need Jesus? When Adam and Eve sinned they took it upon themselves to be separate from God. They determined that they did not need God. By doing this they brought death upon all humans in order to keep us from sinning forever. We need Jesus because, as the incarnate Son of God, He was able to lived a sinless human life and put to death, death itself, by His willingness to go to the cross and His ability to resurrect on the third day. He broke the bonds of death that sin had on us so that we too can be resurrected from death. Glory be to God!

October 18, 2021

DEMONSTRATED LOVE

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Encouraging Words

No matter how bad we are, no matter how sinful, God loves us. He loves us before we recognize our need for Him and start loving Him. This also means that when we mess up in our Christian walk and fall away from Him, He still loves us. Thank You, God!

September 28, 2021

PEACE, ACCESS, AND HOPE

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Encouraging Words

When we live lives of faith in our God, He makes righteousness a reality in our lives. Through Jesus Christ and His works of incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection, we who put our faith in Him are justified in the eyes of God. We can live our lives in peace with God. Through Jesus Christ we have access into the grace of God and can rejoice in the hope of His glory. We can also take glory in the tribulations of this earthly life knowing that the tribulations produce within us perseverance, then character, then hope. This a hope that does not disappoint but gives us God's love poured out upon us. Glory be to God!