Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:9-10
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At the point that we were enemies – then we were reconciled – justified By the death of Jesus his son. By his blood Now we are reconciled – we will be saved By the life of Jesus his son. From the wrath of God
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Song and Sung By Kevin Shull – Guitar by Phil Carlson
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
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If you ever wanted an anti-works save-yourself passage this is it.
How many different ways could Paul say the same thing?
Hmmmm, someone might think, how will I be saved?
“By grace” – getting a good that I don’t deserve “And this is not your own doing” – it’s not what you did “it is the gift of God” – Salvation is given to you, not bought by you. “not a result of works” – it’s not what you do “so that no one may boast” – if it was something I did, I could brag, but it’s not. “For we are his workmanship” – God did the work that created us “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” – all the good that we do, it is because God chose for us to do them.
God made a way for us. We don’t have to do it ourselves. Hallelujah!
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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]
-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:6-7
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Do you want to be seated with God in the coming ages? Do you want to be part of the proof that God’s grace and kindness is immeasurably rich? Do you want to raised up with Jesus?
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved
Ephesians 2:4-5
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Here is really good news.
And it’s another reminder of a part in the Gospel.
It was God (and his Son) who’s love and mercy and grace (while we were dead) Made us alive and saved us
We should remember how little we did to make ourselves right with this loving God.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
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This is a dark verse
Dead Tresspasses and sins Following the wrong prince Passions of our flesh Children of Wrath
So why is it a happy verse for Christians?
Because of one word: “were”
None of these things are true any more.
We are following God. We are alive. We are sons of obedience We are children of God.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
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Why should we thank and praise God?
He is good. His love is steadfast and lasts forever His faithfulness to all generations lasts forever.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:1-3
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We, as Christians, often don’t like noise. But what we have hear is joyful noise. Singing praise.
And why? Because we can be in his presence. Because He is God. Because he made us – we are his, we are his people.
There is quite a lot in the Word of God about how we should respect and obey human authorities (Parents, Elders, Bosses, Kings) that God has put in our lives. But here is at least one exception – if obeying these human agents would go against obeying God, then we must not do it.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27-30
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This is what Jesus said – Jesus, the Son of God: No one can take you out of my hand.
If you are in Jesus, you are with Him forever. Isn’t that comforting? The one who is one with the Father will protect you always.
The Scripture songs are a wonderful resource. My son likes what he calls “the boy song” (salt and light). My daughter loves “Do not give dogs…”. They both love “No one can serve two masters.” I encourage everyone to give it a listen. The biggest thing is that my children love singing God’s word to the music. May it be forever in their hearts, directing them to Jesus! - Gil McConnell, Pastor for Child and Youth Discipleship