The Simple Truth

There's a good chance that at some point in your life, you have prepared for some kind of major event. It may have been a storm coming through or maybe a big change in your life. In today's message, Pastor Dion tells us that in the same way we prepare for those kinds of things, we also need to be prepared for the return of the Lord. We do not know when it will happen; therefore, each and every day we must live in such a way that we are spiritually ready for when Jesus comes back.

All of us have a legal record. Depending on some of the choices we've made in life some of us have clean records, and some of us have records that aren't so clean. But what about God's record of us? In today's message, Pastor Dion will be talking about how Jesus keeps no records of wrongs. In fact, He tells us that if we repent of our sins and ask Him to forgive us that our mistakes and failures are COMPLETELY wiped away and unseen in the eyes of Jesus.

Salvation from Jesus is easily the best and most rewarding gift that one could possibly receive on earth, but where do we go after we receive our salvation? In today's message, Pastor Dion is going to be talking about how things don't just stop after we are saved. Moving forward, we are called to grow and mature as Christians into the faith, and in doing so we become more Christ-like. This is done through community, reading into His word, and deliberate prayer.

Before sending Jesus to the cross, Pontius Pilate offered to release a Hebrew prisoner. The Jewish leaders, set on killing Jesus, called for the release of a murderous insurrectionist named Barabbas instead of the innocent Jesus. In effect, Jesus died in place of Barabbas. But Pastor Dion explains today that Jesus also died in our place. The story of Barabbas mirrors our story. Though we are the ones who earned condemnation through our sins, Jesus took the punishment on Himself so we don’t have to.

Today, Pastor Dion walks us through God’s grace for sinners throughout the story of Scripture. From the beginning – when Adam and Eve first sinned – God provided a substitute for their punishment. God showed mercy on Adam and Eve and killed an animal in their place, even though they were the ones who deserved death. This theme is repeated throughout the Bible, as God constantly rescues and forgives His people. And the ultimate sacrifice took place when Jesus gave His life for us.

Jesus, being God, chose to live as a human and to suffer firsthand the tragedy of living in a world broken by sin. It can be easy to forget the humanity of Jesus, that He really did experience life the same as all of us do. Pastor Dion reminds us today that Jesus faced the same hardships, challenges, and emotions that we face. Yes, He is fully God. But that doesn’t mean His life on earth was any easier. He chose to live like any other human, and as a result, we have confidence that He can relate to us.

At first glance, the New Testament may seem to have very little to do with the Old Testament. But upon further study, it becomes clear that the whole story is about Jesus. This is what Pastor Dion points out today – God has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ. As He taught His disciples, Jesus made it clear that the Law and the Prophets spoke of Him, and that He was with the Father since the beginning. If we want to know the true God, the Creator of all things, we must look to Jesus.

The Bible describes many attributes of God – we know that He is loving and merciful, and good. But today, Pastor Dion points out the attribute of God that is mentioned more than any other in the Bible – His holiness. And holiness has a couple of meanings; for one, it speaks of God’s separateness – that He is set apart from all others, and is higher. But the word “holy” also speaks to God’s sinlessness. Our God is totally unique in the universe that He created. And unlike us, He is absolutely good and does no sin.

God is the author of all life. Pastor Dion reminds us today of God’s amazing creation of the world. But not only does God create new life, but He also resurrects what was dead. For example, in the Old Testament, God resurrected Sarah’s barren womb and Moses’ lifeless staff. In the New Testament, God demonstrated His resurrection power by raising Jesus back to life! And with Jesus’ resurrection comes the promise that we, too, will one day experience bodily resurrection in a world without sin and death!

As Pastor Dion discusses what God is like today, he reminds us how good and powerful God is. But this raises the question: if God is in control, why do bad things still happen? Pastor Dion acknowledges that we live in a broken world stained by the sin of humans. But he also reminds us that God is with us through all our suffering. While bad things are inevitable on this side of eternity, God will not leave or forsake His children! Furthermore, He will actually take all of those bad things that happen and work them for good!