Sin and Grace

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:9-11

Authority, Responsibility, Identity

Through God's grace we became aware of sin. In God's grace we are redeemed and reconciled with God. With God's grace we grow in our love for God and others.

For the Christian disciple, God is the author of our faith. Predestined to free will, we have "a say" in how we respond to God's grace as well as the negativity that exists in the world. In Christ, we became new creations.

Holy God, your grace is sufficient. Crucify in each of us the hidden desires to hold fast to any sense of authority in our destiny and your will for our lives. In your Spirit, lead us this day in our every response. And in your amazing grace O Lord, as you lead, others may see and know you in us. Apart from you we can do no good thing, but in you, Lord Jesus, all things are made possible. All praise, honor, and glory is yours - Father, Son, Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.