Pastor's Points

     A young boy built a small sailboat, placed it in a pond to sail for the first time.   The wind quickly carried it out of his reach to the other side of the pond.   He hurried to retrieve it but when he arrived another boy had picked it up and held it.   Knowing who the boy was, the finder quickly declared “Finder keepers, Losers weepers!”   The little boat builder was sad and then asked “How much will you sell it to me for?”   They agreed on a price and the exchange was made.      The young builder looked at his boat and said “You are twice mine, I created you and today I have redeemed you.”   We were made by God; we became lost to Him because of our sin.   Today, He wants to redeem you.   Will you surrender to Him today and let Jesus pay the price of your redemption?    18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver    ...

The victory of the church, your individual victory is due to Jesus’ death and resurrection!  In dying he took our sin and in rising again he gave us victory over death.  Through Jesus we have LIFE and LIFE Eternal.  We are to live and work in life.  Allow me to draw your attention to verse 6 and ask this same question.  If you are of life, why do you seek to live among the dead works?  Seek Jesus, choose life today.  If Jesus is not where we live, where we work, where we play or even where we worship it is because we have chosen to exclude Him from our existence.  We will not find Life among the Dead things of this world. 1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher,       bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of t...

“I have decided to follow Jesus,” so goes the first verse of an old hymn but the same title.  It’s a declarative statement of a decision made to take a particular path in life.  This is then followed by an affirmative statement in the chorus; “No turning back, no turning back!”  True believers are those who’ve made such decisions in their live.  We made a conscious decision to follow the path of righteousness in Christ and we’ve resolved that regardless of what may come, we will not be deterred, we will not turn back!  The Apostle Paul put it this way;   “38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.   Heb 10:38-39 (KJV)

It is good for those of us, privileged by the new birth, to consider that we were shaped in sin. While this may cause us sadness, it should also lift our hearts to know we were saved by God’s Grace! Let’s rejoice and be comforted that through grace we are now capable of serving almighty God. Let us then strive toward holiness. The holiest men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have. It is good to seriously reflect on our guilt for it will keep our hearts humble and your conscience alert and tender. Such contemplation will make Christ more precious to our souls, strengthen our prayers and attempts to serve others. 1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are diggers.  Isaiah 51:1 (KJV)

Like your own body the Church is a living organism.  It is comprised of many members working together to support and promote growth and life.  Like our own bodies, if the church is not nourished, it weakens. If it is cultivated, it languishes. If it is not watered, it wilts. If it is not educated and trained, it fails.  If it has no vision, it dies.  Care for your physical body and then tend and care for the body of believers that is Primera Iglesia Bautista. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.   13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.   14  the body is not one member, but many.  1 Cor. 12:12-14 (KJV)

11 And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers;  12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:  Eph. 4:11-13 (KJV) You and I, my brother and sister, are members of the redeemed Church of Jesus Christ!  We’re also members of Primera Iglesia Bautista, a family of believers united to serve God by sharing the Gospel of Salvation, discipline new believers and equipping the saints.  We each have specific tasks to perform strategically that we may make a significant difference in our world through Christ.  Let’s work together at keeping the unity of the Spirit in Faith.     “Churchgoers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the ...

Coming to Jesus brings forgiveness of sin, the indwelling by the Holy Spirit and Eternal life.  The redeemed of God have literally nothing to fear except not being faithful. We need not hide or shrink from the world or our purpose and calling.  God is on our side. Following the advice in these verses will simplify the process.  Take heed, take heart, take courage, take consolation, take faith, take aim and now, take action. You’re not alone!  1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.   2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.   3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.   4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.   Col 3:1-4 (KJV)