Welcome
We are a family striving to be relevant, connected people, radically changed by the love of Jesus, impacting our neighbors, near and far with transforming truth and dynamic compassion. It's good to be together.

Tension
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

How can I be right with God?

Law
Justification

Justified by Faith
“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 2:15-17

We all use “law” to make ourselves acceptable to God.

Works of the Law – Taking anything other than Jesus and saying, “God, accept me because of this.”
What is your Law?
The law isn’t bad but we misuse it.

Justification is when the rightness of Jesus is reckoned to us as sinners so that our standing before God is as if we possess the same standing of Christ which allows the Father to say of us, as he said of Christ, this is my beloved in whom I am well pleased.

Your sins are forgiven
Past, Present and Future

Justification
Just as if I’ve never sinned

Heidelberg Catechism
Q&A 60
Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's commandments, have never kept any of them, and am still inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of my own, out of mere grace, imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these to me as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me, if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.

Justification is not just a legal declaration. It is a relational invitation.

What are you using to be acceptable to God?
Do you sense God’s pleasure over your life?
Am I obeying God “for” or “from” my acceptance?

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

Benediction
Not only are you completely incapable of making God love you more, you are equally incapable of making him love you less. He sees you as you are. Loves you as we are, and accepts you as you are. But by His grace, he does not leave you as you are. You have been crucified with Christ. Your ego is no longer central. Christ lives in you. The life you are living is not ‘yours,’ but it’s lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you. No going back. Galatians 2:20-21
This is the Word of the LORD