Looking Ahead
I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.[1]
Joy marked the life of the Apostle Paul. This man would not be denied victory. He was virtually indestructible. Beat him with rods until he slumps to the ground, and he rises from the dust with greater determination to complete his task than he had before. Imprison him and bind him with heavy chains so as to immobilise him, and he writes books which inspire multitudes of Christians to even greater tasks throughout millennia. Stir up bitter hatred toward him, and he rejoices that he is counted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ. How can you defeat a man such as this?
I long to become such an inexorable Christian as was the Apostle. I long to develop such indefatigable Christians within this fellowship of believers. I long for this congregation to become a church which is invincible before the world. I eagerly desire for us to discover the power of living in the presence of the Risen Christ. I want us to exhibit the glory of the Living God in our midst. I pray that soon the day will dawn when we witness here powerful Christians and glory in the church so that the world about us is compelled to take cognisance of us that we are the people of God.
In order to accomplish this glorious task, I recognise that as a congregation we must labour together. In days to come, each of us will be called to accept a part in the great labour facing us in these waning days of the Church Age. Each of us will be called to work, shunning the temptation to be at ease in Zion. There is no place for drones in this great undertaking before us. Each of us has a job, and each of us must find a place of service both as agents of the Kingdom of God and as members of this congregation. We will require a vision of what is to be accomplished and that is the purpose of the message this day. I propose, by the grace of the Lord Jesus, to present a vision for what I hope we shall accomplish in the coming year. Join me in these considerations.
My Goals as a Christian — If I will lead the congregation, I must not think that I can direct the people where I myself have not been. I must have worthy goals for myself, and I do. I have set a high standard for myself, and I will make every effort to achieve that standard. I will toil and labour as though the growth and continuation of this congregation were totally dependent upon my efforts, yet always being aware that it is Christ who gives us victory. These are my goals for the year ahead.
I propose to live a life marked by joy—infectious, unquenchable joy! I will rejoice. The source of joy is the presence of Christ the Lord. Those who live without His presence are those who seek happiness. I have stated this distinction on several occasions, but it merits comment again. Happiness is the condition which arises when I am pleased with my hap (or my lot) in life. Consequently, happiness is ephemeral, transient, fleeting. We have reached the place where most of our fellow citizens are convinced that happiness is guaranteed, and they are angered when they are unhappy.
One of the worst documents ever foisted on the Canadian peoples was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I say that because it betrays its diseased philosophical roots and because it is an evolutionary document, subject to constant change according to the whims of a fickle populace. Many Canadians have assumed that they have a “right” to happiness. We imagine that we are better than those foolish Americans, and a popular view among Canadians is that anything the Americans can do, we can do better. The American Declaration of Independence speaks of unalienable rights endowed by the Creator of all mankind. Among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In the preamble to this nation-building document, the founding fathers of the American Republic demonstrated exceptional wisdom. The American experiment recognised that no individual had a right to happiness, for that condition is utterly dependent upon the individual and upon conditions which cannot be legislated. Nevertheless, each individual is endowed by the Creator with the right to pursue happiness. That is, each individual is encouraged to better himself if he can, seeking a life which will provide greater security or greater satisfaction or greater opportunity.
On the other hand, joy is the natural product of a life submitted to the Creator. Joy is the inevitable expression of the fruit of the Spirit. The child of God, walking in the Spirit and submitted to the reign of Christ, cannot help but be joyful. The Kingdom of God is characterised by peace and joy in the Holy Spirit [Romans 14:17]. Where the Spirit of the Lord reigns, there is joy. That church which is a joyful church is a church whose members are at peace with one another and which abounds in hope [Romans 15:13]. It is my prayer that we will become such a church, and I intend to pray and to labour to ensure that as a Christian I will be such an individual
I therefore propose to live in the presence of the Spirit. I will make every effort to express the joy of the Spirit, and to rejoice in the knowledge that the people of God are prospering in every spiritual pursuit and enjoying every spiritual blessing. I propose to banish from my life those elements which threaten joy. I will be content with that which God has provided me. I will rejoice in the knowledge that He guides me and that He has directed me to this place. I will rejoice in the hope of glory which shall be revealed at His coming. I will exult in the lives which are transformed as we win others to Christ. Whatever I may do, I propose to live a life bounded by joy and peace, and I invite you to determine that you, also, will live a life marked by joy.
I propose to so live that I am in no way ashamed of my conduct. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Christ is coming again. I want to so live that I need not be ashamed at His coming. The requirement to fulfil this proposal demands that I abide in Him.
John writes, And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him [1 John 2:28, 29]. Abiding in the Saviour, we have hope. Holding such hope, we purify our conduct. Christians cannot help but be pure when they walk with the Saviour.
I observe too many of the professed children of the Lord who hate one another. Few among us have ever knowingly won a soul to Christ the Lord. As His child, I will make every effort to win others to faith in Him to the praise of His Name, instead of being without fruit. The cure for this is to abide in the Son of God. Listen to His Word.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another [John 15:1-17].
Our fruitless lives may well testify to our failure to abide in Him. Our loveless attitudes may well testify to our failure to abide in Him. Our lack of answered prayer may well testify to our failure to abide in Him. By His grace and for His glory, I propose to so live that I need not be ashamed of my conduct at His coming. By His grace and for His glory I will not permit myself to fill my mind with trivia or that which dishonours Him. No salacious or lascivious thoughts will I entertain. Instead, I will seek to spend time in His presence. I will make every effort to love His people more openly and more fervently. I will endeavour to win as many to the Faith as God gives me ability.
I propose to live for Christ and not for my own desires. Paul speaks of living in such a manner that Christ was honoured in his body [verse 20]. That is my earnest desire. I want Christ to be honoured in my life. With the Apostle, I want to be able to call you to be imitators of me, as I am of Christ [1 Corinthians 11:1].
Graham Hicks wrote in a recent column of the Edmonton Sun, a story which merits repeating in this context. Hicks tells the tale of a little boy about 10 years old was in front of the shoe store, bare foot, intently peering through the window and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the boy. “Young man, why are you looking so hard at that window?”
“I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store.
She asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy.
She took the lad to the washroom, washed his little feet. The clerk having brought the socks, she placed a pair on the boy's feet and then purchased him a pair of shoes.
She packaged the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him.
The lad caught her by the hand.
Looking up at her with tears in his eyes, he asked, “Are you God's wife?”[2]
Ladies, don’t you long to so live that children wonder if you are God’s wife? Men, isn’t it time that we began to so live that we could encourage our children to follow in our steps. I still recall the time I was compelled to park my car at the top of our street when we lived in Coquitlam. We had a heavy snowfall, and I knew that the snowplough would not visit our street for several days, and the incline leading to the main road precluded driving a car up the street. Therefore, I parked at the top of the hill.
The following morning I left the house to walk to the car and then go to the office. As I walked, I heard a little voice behind me. It was Rochelle, shouting out behind me. “Daddy, I’m following in your steps.” That was sobering then, and it is sobering now. Like it or not, our children are following in our steps. Newer Christians are following in the steps of those of us who are older in the Faith. Our children desperately need some heroes and the younger Christians desperately need some role models to follow. Let me be that hero. Let me be that role model.
My Goals as Pastor — Certainly, I have personal aspirations. Those aspirations are not isolated from my role as pastor of this congregation. Indeed, I am endeavouring to set goals for myself as the overseer of this church. It is my prayer and my aim to accomplish some great thing in the days I am privileged to be Christ’s fellow worker in this, the field He assigned to me.
I propose to serve this congregation with all the energies of Christ at work in me. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Paul struggles with his own desires. He has reached that stage of life where, having walked with the Saviour, enjoying intimacy with Him, he longs to see Him. It is much as Enoch’s walk with God. Genesis 5:24 reads, Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took Him.
A little boy returned home from Sunday School. As mothers are wont to do, the little lad was questioned about the lesson. The boy related the story in novel fashion. He said that Enoch and God walked together each day. “One day,” said the little boy, “Enoch said it was getting near dinner time and he needed to get home, but God said, ‘It’s closer to my house than to yours. Why don’t you just come home with me.’”
There may be some truth in this account! Paul yearned to be with Christ, which, he says, is far better. His conclusion is, however, that he will remain and continue with the Philippians in order to assure their progress and joy in the faith. Serving with the energy Christ provides means that we seek His will and the good of others.
I want to so live that I am energised by the presence of Christ. I want to expend my energies on behalf of this great congregation, building up the people and winning the lost to the glory to the Son of God. I want to so labour that we witness the creation of a joyful congregation where Christ dwells among His people in grace and glory. I want to invest myself in prayer and study of the Word for your benefit and for His glory.
I have set a heavy agenda for myself in this coming year. It precludes some of what you might imagine as necessary. I will have less time for casual visits, but I trust that I shall be labouring diligently on behalf of the congregation. I will be teaching more small groups and focusing more intently on teaching and preaching the Word of God.
I propose to equip the saints to continue serving after my eventual departure. I believe in the imminent return of the Son of God, but I must prepare the congregation to live as though His return were yet in the far distant future. I must prepare leadership for the future. Paul struggled with conflicting desires, ultimately concluding that it was necessary for him to remain on account of the Philippians [verses 24, 25].
I have but few days to labour. I want to lay a solid foundation, which is Christ the Lord, so that future generations can build on this foundation. I want to equip leaders to provide wise direction and counsel for the congregation. I want to teach the Word of God so that each individual who has attended will have been confronted with the claims of Christ and will know the will of God. I want to prepare the people to act with courage to maintain the purity of the saints and the unity of the Faith. I want to instruct the people so they will live together in harmony, enjoying peace with one another.
I am seeking to equip individuals for leadership in the church. I have already begun an arduous schedule of training for the future through small groups, equipping chosen individuals for future leadership. I will be seeking to multiply these efforts in days to come. I pray that by the time God removes me from active service to this congregation that we will enjoy a strong body of leaders, each working together for the glory of God and maintaining the unity of the Spirit within the congregation.
I propose to prepare you for the coming of Christ the Lord. I do want to look to the future, but whenever I do look forward, I see the coming of the Son of God. Jesus warned those who are His disciples to stay awake [see Mark 13:37]. Those Christians who will honour the Lord are those who live in anticipation of the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ [Titus 2:13].
Throughout the coming year, it is my intention to invest more time in looking up in anticipation of the coming of the Master. Living in the light of His return, we will become a pure and a holy people. There is sin which stains us now. That sin must be addressed and expunged. The surest way in which it can be dealt with is through leading us each to look up in anticipation of His return.
Our Goals as a Church — I have spoken of my personal aspirations for the future, and I have spoken of my pastoral aspirations. What would I seek for the church? Where would I have the people of God be in years to come? I consider these following considerations a concise vision of what I would have our church become.
We must make every effort to be a pure and holy church. Paul pleads with the people concerning their manner of life. I cannot doubt, reading the remainder of the letter, that he is concerned with holiness of life. Certainly, I am concerned with developing a pure and holy people. Paul spoke pointedly of his desire for the Corinthians. I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ [2 Corinthians 11:2]. I share that deep desire.
I am grieved to note that as we receive individuals, not all are of the same moral standard. The world has taught us that sex is free and there is nothing wrong in gratifying ourselves however we might wish. Dear people, may I say that there is nothing casual about sex. It is an expression of love which is reserved for the marriage relationship, and we who name the Name of Christ are responsible to control our own desires.
No doubt, this is the meaning of the words which are found in the Hebrew letter. Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous [Hebrews 13:4]. Surely, each of us would desire to so live that God did not need to intervene to judge us for immorality and adultery? Likewise, each of us must hold one another accountable for righteousness, and we must do this with a spirit of love.
I will be compelled to deal pointedly with such evil among us as unmarried individuals living together. Your relationship may be as pure as the driven snow, but it has the appearance of evil and dishonours the Lord. You cannot sleep in the same bed together and have people think that you are a godly individual. It simply won’t happen. Certainly, I want to be gentle and wise in dealing with people, but there is a time for growing up and there is a time for holding one another accountable. We must not think that we can permit sexual immorality to infect the Body of Christ without severe consequences. Listen to the warnings of the Word.
Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them
[Ephesians 5:3-7].
This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you [1 Thessalonians 4:3-8].
There is a perception that it is nobody’s business whom one sleeps with. It is very much my business as overseer of the congregation when any individual’s actions threaten the spiritual health and vitality of this congregation. As a member of this congregation, your actions are not carried out in isolation from the remainder of the congregation. Just as the covetous action of Achan brought disaster upon the Israelites [see Joshua 7:10-26], so the sin of one individual—unchallenged and unconfronted—will bring disaster upon the congregation of the Lord.
The church must not only believe such morality is right and honouring to the Lord, but the congregation must stand firm on this truth. The congregation must strengthen the hands of the pastor—even when compelled to resist the desires of our own children. The people of God must gently, though firmly, admonish those who are walking in a manner which dishonours the Lord. Always, the congregation of Christ must support the leaders so that they will be strengthened in their efforts to hold the membership accountable for godliness in all things. Together, we must hold a standard for righteousness and purity, insisting upon it for all who name the Name of Christ.
We must make every effort to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by our opponents. This world is an unfriendly place. It is hostile to the Faith of Christ the Lord. The child of God, attempting to stand alone and without the support of the congregation is destined to extreme loneliness and to grave danger. Paul longed to hear that the Philippians were standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. His yearning was not unlike that which he detailed in the Ephesian letter.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all [Ephesians 4:1-6].
Have you ever noticed the emphasis upon peace and unity in the Word of God? I am under no illusion that we will like everybody who is a Christian. Otherwise, there would be no admonition to maintain the unity of the Spirit. We are not called to create unity, but we are commanded to keep the unity of the Spirit. We now enjoy the peace of God, but we are responsible to keep peace with one another.
As a congregation, we have a lot of work ahead of us. I suggest that we need to become firm in refusing to listen to any complaints registered against any other member. We do not need to be drawn into every conflict which arises, but we do need to hold one another accountable to keep the unity of the Spirit. We have yet to see biblical discipline in action, because we do not believe it will work. We are more willing to take our grievances against one another to the courts, depending upon the same people who have brought us pornography as literature, acceptance of sodomite and lesbian marriage, and banishment of reason to settle our differences. When we are unable to achieve unity, take it to the church! The people of God can be trusted to speak the truth in love and to do what is right. Perhaps we need to again hear the Word of the Lord on this issue.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers [1 Corinthians 6:1-8]!
Do you recall Matthew 18:15-20? If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them [Matthew 18:15-20].
I am convinced that Matthew 18:15-20 works, but as a congregation, we are presently unable to demonstrate the veracity of this teaching. It is my goal to transform the thinking of the congregation, so that when we are angered or offended with a fellow Christian we will do what is right. Instead of “consulting” with a small group of six or seven people about “what we should do,” we will go privately to the offending party in an effort to make matters right. Thus, we will preserve the unity of the Spirit and stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
We must make every effort to extend the cause of Christ. Standing together, we will strive for the faith of the Gospel. It must become our goal to extend the Kingdom of God through winning as many people as possible to the Faith of Christ the Lord. We must come expecting souls to be saved in each service. We will with compassion warn sinners of their impending doom and show all the path of righteousness. We will gain a reputation as a church which wins the lost to faith in the Risen Son of God.
I still remember with joy an incident which occurred in a former congregation. A young woman, herself a member of another congregation, recommended that her brother attend the church I was pastoring. I asked her why she sent her brother to us instead of taking him with her to her own congregation. “Doctor Stark,” she stated seriously, “you specialise in salvation.”
That is the type of church I want us to be. I want people attending our services to know that we specialise in salvation. I want sinners to know that they can find life here. I want the lost to realise that they can find hope here. United in Christ, I want us to seek His presence so that He will draw sinners to Himself. That is the promise which He has given us when He said, I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself [John 12:32].
As Paul wrote the Corinthians, he wrote of a church which conducted its service in an orderly fashion and where the people were united in honouring God and where the Word of God was proclaimed. Sinners coming into those services will be convicted by all and called to account by all. Thus convicted and called to account, they will worship God and declare that God is really present with that people [1 Corinthians 14:24, 25]. That is a noble goal for the church which should grip our hearts.
Some of you have never won a soul to Christ. What is more tragic still is that some of you have never tried to win a soul to Christ. I say this, not to shame you, but to challenge you to set a goal for yourself. Make it your goal to bring some someone to faith this coming year. If you don’t know a sinner, shame on you! Don’t assume that everyone around you is a Christian. I tell you that our town is full of sinners! As a congregation, we should see people saved—confessing Christ and following His command to be baptised—on a weekly basis.
Speak to the sinner. Ask that one if he has ever considered Christ. Pray for that one. Above all else, love that sinner to Christ. Perhaps the one you should bring to Christ is a spouse, a parent or a child. Don’t tell me that you don’t want to risk your relationship. If you are fearful of risking that relationship, you don’t love that individual. A relationship which is so fragile that it will not withstand a sincere and loving inquiry concerning the individual’s relationship to Christ is already in serious trouble. Perhaps the individual you will seek to win to faith in Christ is a colleague at work, or perhaps it is a dear friend or neighbour. Pray for them. Plead with them. Tell them of Christ. Seek out that individual and tell them of Jesus. Bring them to faith to the glory of God. If you cannot invite the sinner to Christ, invite them to share in a church service where all the people are praying that sinners will be converted and Christ glorified.
This is my goal for this church. That we will be a pure a holy people, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, bringing many to faith in the Living Son of God. This should become the vision of the entire church, each of us reminding one another that this is our goal as a congregation. Each of us should memorise this twenty-seventh verse and recite it often as a reminder of what we are working for.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one sprit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel.
If you share our service and you have yet to unite with this church, what keeps you from presenting yourself for membership? There is a place of service for you. The opportunity before you is to join with fellow Christians who are endeavouring to build the Kingdom of God, working together to change the way things have been, making it what it should be. Come now, the doors of the church are open and the people of God will welcome you.
If you share this service and you have never been baptised as the Word of God teaches, why do you delay? Christ has taught you and He calls you to obedience. Take the step of obedience today and openly confess your faith in Him. He calls us to identify with Him in His death, burial and resurrection, even as He identified with us in our weakness. Now is the time for obedience.
All who are outside the Faith, you who have never been born into the Family of God, our invitation to you is to believe the message of life. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, He was buried, He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and He appeared to people chosen by God as witnesses [see 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 and Acts 10:40, 41].
This, then, is the message of life which we declare to you. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].
Believe this message and be saved. Come, confessing Christ. Come, obeying His call. Come, seeking a place in His Family. Come, and angels attend you as you come. Amen.
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[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Ó 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Graham Hicks, “Yes, Virginia, There are Many ‘Wives of God,’” Edmonton Sun, December 24, 2002