To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John

To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John

To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John

To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John

To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John

To All Who Call Upon Jesus as Lord,

As Christians, our focus is to always be on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What images do we hold onto regarding our understanding ofJesus? How do we see him, and how do we understand the manner in which he sees us?

The writer of Colossians is most helpful in presenting an image of Jesus that captures his divinity and humanity, his life and his purpose, his relationship with God and with us. In Colossians 1, we read this about Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him" (1:15-16). The writer of Colossians would have us know that in the person of Christ Jesus we are truly able to see God at work, a God of creative wisdom and majesty, reaching into the heavens and upon all the earth; extending a creative power and authority throughout the world, sometimes visible in those called to lead in offices ordained for the good order of God's creation, and sometimes by the invisible hand of God that directs power and authority apart from human influence and projection.

The writer of Colossians continues: "He himself is before things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything" (1;17-18). To say that Jesus is "before" all things represents two notions. First, Jesus, from the Colossian writer's perspective, is "before" time and the stuff of creation; Jesus is "before" anything else that existed. Second, in his role as Lord, Jesus stands "before" all things with true authority and power. All things are subjected to his authority, and this includes death itself, for Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. The risen Jesus is able to understand the full perspective of the gift of life, life that is eternal and that has broken free from the chain of death, and his authority fully resists all that seeks to bring an end to this gift of life.

We read further: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (1:19-20). The writer of Colossians insists that beyond the creative function of Jesus, the full pleasure of God dwells within him to also establish the way of reconciliation and restoration of all in heaven and on earth, to make possible the way of peace, a peace pronounced by God at the very beginning of creation. Our hope, our way into God's promised future rests upon the authority granted upon Jesus, and the totality of life lived under his Lordship. For in Christ, and now also with and for us, there is present the full wisdom and knowledge of God.

Blessings and peace.   Pastor John

July 30th:

To all, blessed in the presence of our living God,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today, as in all days, we stand before God acknowledging that our relationship with God is one established, restored, and equipped by God's grace in, through, and by Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is only by God's grace that we can speak of a good and proper relationship with God, for without the power of God's grace, our relationship with God would continue to be broken by the presence of sin and idolatry. But the grace of God shown in the living presence of Christ Jesus who gave his life for all of us is a power that brings reconciliation, strength, and hope. By the grace of God, we are able to stand before God redeemed and sanctified, and empowered by that same grace to live lives of faithfulness and love.

In the Apostle Paul's letter to his good friend titus, he writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2:11-13).

Paul rightly understands that God's grace in our lives through Christ Jesus serves several functions. First, grace is the power and the movement of God that brings us back to a right and proper relationship with God. Second, this grace of God becomes the power within us to renounce the ways that run contrary to God's eternal vision for us and enables us to live lives that are upright and godly. And third, grace provides for us a vision of hope, of becoming able to see where and how God leads us into God's promised future. And in this grace-filled hope, we become capable of doing good through the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, as Paul states, "He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (2:14).

The goodness that we are to become and be is a product received in and through God's grace, and not as a result of our pursuits of righteousness, for historically, those pursuits have missed their target, even with the aid of God's instruction, the law. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, "When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (3:4-7). By the grace of God active in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are made new, a newness expressed through the waters of baptism which raises us to new possibility and hope, into lives capable of goodness and loving kindness.

By grace, we are able to glance into God's good future.     Pastor John