250 Years
This July 4th, and throughout the year, our nation celebrates 250 years of independence and freedom. Even though we are not a perfect nation, we have a great reason to celebrate. God has bestowed upon us, and the world, great blessings. America and our freedoms that we hold to be true are quite unique in the pages of history. How God has abundantly blessed us, who we are as a free people, and the many blessings we have been able to enjoy ought to be celebrated, shared, and taught. It is something that ought to be proclaimed far and wide. Our forefathers were not shy in doing this very thing.
In fact, if you are familiar with the history of the Liberty Bell, you know that there is a Bible verse inscribed on it. It is Leviticus 25:10, “...Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof...” That verse in its original context refers to the year of Jubilee where every 50 years those who were in debt or had been sold into slavery were to be set free and their debts canceled. It was a joy filled time of celebration for ancient Israel.
As Christians who know Jesus, we have found an even greater freedom to celebrate. In John 8:36 Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” In the context of John 8 Jesus is speaking of being set free from sin.
Being set free from sin is very important for sin enslaves us. “Everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34), Jesus said. But Jesus came to set us free. Jesus came to bring to us liberty. Our Lord went to the cross and offered His life for our enslavement to sin. He broke the shackles of death by His resurrection. Christ enters into our lives to set us free. When our faith is in Him, we are set free from our enslavement to our sinful nature and our weak efforts to keep the law. As Christians we can now walk in the freedom of Christ. We are now free to strive to live lives to please God. We do so not out of fear of a tyrant, but out of joy to the One who has set us free. We are now free to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. We are now free to follow and serve the Lord out of joy and gladness with a free and willing spirit. We are now free even from the bonds of death for we know that in the resurrection of Christ death no longer will be able to hold us down. We too will rise and spend eternity in true freedom where we will be free from all worries, sickness, disease, depression, addiction, fears, distress, and every sin. We will be free from the devil, the sinful world, and our old sinful nature. We will be free in Christ Jesus for all eternity. Such a true and lasting freedom comes to all who trust in Jesus. This is something that we ought to celebrate. This is something that we ought to share with others and teach to those who come after us. This freedom is unique and greater than anything the world offers. It will endure not only for 250 years but it will endure for eternity.
Rejoice Oh Christian, for in our country we are doubly blessed. We are blessed in our nation on account of the freedoms we have been able to experience over the years. May they be preserved in the years to come. Secondly, we are blessed in Christ Jesus and the freedom He brings to us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Indeed, “Proclaim Liberty through all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)
Pastor Schoenfeld
Jesus, Our Perfect Redeemer
“And he (Jesus) came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
Those were the words which Jesus spoke to His disciples on the night He was arrested. Jesus had eaten the Passover meal with His disciples, and He had instituted the Lord's Supper for us. These disciples left the upper room with Jesus and walked outside the city of Jerusalem to a grove of olive trees known as the Garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus went off by Himself to pray to the heavenly Father. Jesus knew the pain and torment He was about to go through on account of our sins. Our Perfect Redeemer was so distressed that His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). But when Jesus returned to His disciples He found them sound asleep and said to them, “could you not watch with me one hour?” Jesus was about to suffer for their sins and the sins of the whole world and yet they could not stay awake for one hour to support their Savior in His time of agony.
It may be easy for us to judge those disciples of Jesus. But are we any different today? Jesus has come and endured the torments of hell in our place upon the cross. Jesus was willing to undergo such tortures because of His love for us - yet at times we have trouble to keep watch with Him for one hour. Some may find it difficult to bring themselves to worship, not only on Sundays, but also for the special Wednesday Lenten services. We may fail to spend time in serious prayer with the Lord as Jesus did in Gethsemane. We may fail to always gladly hear and learn the Word of God and hold His name sacred. We may be unable to keep watch with Jesus and study His Word in our own homes and ponder the suffering He endured for us. We may find it difficult to keep watch with others during their times of tribulation and be comforting to them. Yes, like the disciples we too neglect our Savior and sin against Him.
But take heart dear Christians, for Jesus is our Perfect Redeemer. He suffered for those sins and for all others that we have committed in our lives. I therefore invite you to join us not only on Sunday mornings for worship and Bible Study, but also to join us in our Wednesday Lenten services. Come and behold Jesus our Perfect Redeemer. Come and see how Jesus perfectly submitted Himself to death. Come and see the One who is innocent suffer for us. Observe Jesus as He perfectly bears the curse of sin for us upon the cross. See the Lord Jesus perfectly love us even in the midst of His agonizing suffering. Come and behold your Perfect Redeemer. Then at the conclusion of Lent join us again as we celebrate with great joy our Savior’s perfect resurrection and salvation which He has accomplished for us.
Our Wednesday worship time is 7:00 pm. The themes and Scripture text for each week are listed in this newsletter. Invite someone to attend with you. I look forward to seeing you there as we come and behold Jesus our Perfect Redeemer.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Schoenfeld
Something Everyone Needs to Know
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) every human being has come into this world as a sinful being. Our sin separates us from God. Left to ourselves we would perish for eternity in hell (John 3:36 & Hebrews 10:26-27).
“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God loves you so much that He came into this world as a human being (Luke 2:1-20). Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life for you (Hebrews 4:14-16), suffered and died upon a cross for you (John 19), and rose from the dead for you (Luke 24). Now our risen Lord will forgive your sin (1 John 1:8-9) and grant eternal salvation to you if you believe in Him.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31
When God blesses you with a living faith in Jesus you will have a place in heaven. Such salvation comes not by our works but by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-10).
“And He died for all, that those who live, should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
Now as those who have been given the gift of heaven we live no longer just for ourselves but to serve God and our fellow human beings. (Ephesians 2:10)
Pastor Schoenfeld