Hello FBC!
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
“The gospel message calls believers to humble defiance of sin’s claim to ‘reign’ in our physical bodies and everyday lives (Rom. 6:12). Because believers ‘have been brought from death to life’ (6:13), we can ‘present’ ourselves and every part of our bodies to God. Eyes, ears, hands, feet, voices, minds – our entire bodies, once ravaged by sin (3:13-18), become tools ‘for righteousness.’ Sin’s ‘dominion’ is broken. The law’s tyranny ended in Jesus’ death. We do not groan under law, leading to sin; we are ‘under grace,’ which ushers us into God’s ‘dominion’ (6:14) – His own goodness and fullness. We become fully human again as intended at creation, before the effects of Adam’s fall dimished us.” (Gospel Transformation Bible)
This Sunday we will continue our short series, PHILEMON: Reconciled! We will be looking at verses 8-16 of Philemon in a message entitled, “Once a Slave, Now a Brother.” This is a powerful letter, full of important truths for our Christian lives! Please read Philemon again before Sunday, and pray for the Lord to be speaking to us through His awesome Word.
Recommended Reading: A couple great books I’ve read this month, which I highly recommend. (You are welcome to borrow my copies or order your own!)
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson. “Do you feel like your desire for God is waning? Are you numb to the routine of church? What does it mean to be awakened to the wonder of the gospel? Jared Wilson contends that we must be regularly engaged and engaging others with the good news of the sacrificing, dying, rising, exalted person of Jesus Christ. Wilson reminds us of the death-proof, fail-proof King of kings who is before all things and in all things and holding all things together, and of the Spirit’s power to quicken our hearts and captivate our imaginations. The message of Gospel Wakefulness will make numbness the exception (rather than the norm) and reawaken us to the multifaceted brilliance of the gospel.”
The Life God Blesses by Gordon MacDonald. “The Bible is a compendium – a virtual ancient Who’s Who – of lives God has blessed. Different – very different – kinds of people: men and women, older and younger, calm and retiring or feisty and aggressive. In The Life God Blesses, author and pastor Gordon MacDonald asks if you are prepared to weather the storms of life, or if you are more concerned with outward appearances than with what lies beneath the surface in your soul. The Life God Blesses steers you toward the disciplines, convictions, silence, beauty, and spirit that feed and prepare the soul to recognize and receive God’s blessings. MacDonald reaches into the Bible and into the experiences of godly men and women of history to discover what can be done to lead a blessed life, then leads you through the steps that are necessary to develop a mature soul.”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael