A Year of Grace

1 Corinthians 6:12 – You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. ¹³ You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. ¹⁴ And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.

¹⁵ Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” ¹⁷ But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (NLT)

Have you ever known someone who professes to be a Christian, yet their life tells a different story?  Such was the case with a number of the Christians who lived in Corinth.  Some of them claimed that since they were saved through their faith, then they could live as they desired. (Surely, we don’t have Christians like that anymore!)  Their argument was that since they were free in Christ, they could do anything.  Paul responds in verse twelve, and even quotes their argument: “even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.” 

Paul uses the word slave many times in his letters, even calling himself a slave of Jesus (Romans 1:1).  In Romans, Paul makes the argument that everyone is a slave to something, it is our fallen/sinful human nature.  We are either slaves to sin, or a slave of God.  Romans 6:16 – “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” His argument in this passage with the Corinthians was that they had become a slave to sexual sins.

Some Corinthians claimed that since sexual relations were a natural human function, then any sexual relations were justified.  They compared the naturalness of sexual activity to that of the natural act of eating.  If our bodies were made to eat food, then it was justified to eat food, therefore they claimed they were justified to have sexual relations as they desired.  Paul responds with the following: “You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.”

Paul goes on to share that sexual relations were for a higher purpose than procreation, or even recreation.  The Word of God maintains that sexual relations are a gift from God to bring us into a close spiritual relationship with another.  He writes: “Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” ¹⁷ But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.”

Just as we have a spiritual relationship with God through Jesus, sexual relations allow us to nurture a deeper, spiritual relationship with another.  Therefore, we cannot engage in sexual activity casually.  In this passage he mentions ‘with a prostitute’, for that was the argument that the Corinthians were using.  We can substitute ‘anyone other than one’s spouse’ to receive the full meaning of the text.

Sexual relations are not inherently bad, indeed, God commands us to have sexual relations! (Genesis 1:28).  Just as any gift from God can be misused, sexual relations are wrong when engaged in casually.  Paul tells us to run from sexual sin, for no other sin affects us as sexual sin does.

We should celebrate the gifts God has given, but let us use all those gifts in the manner in which God intended them to be used.  We were made to glorify God in all things, today, let us glorify God in all we do and say.

Posted by Ramón Torres

Psalm 136:1 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.

⁴ Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
⁵ Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
⁶ Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
⁷ Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
⁹ and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever. (NLT)

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, a national holiday.  In our country, as in others, the original thanksgiving observances were harvest festivals.  Many pilgrims of Plymouth Colony had already succumbed to disease and starvation.  Indeed, the colony lost 45 of the 102 settlers during their first winter.  Given the circumstance, I imagine that the feeling of thankfulness and gratitude must have been felt deeply by those of Plymouth Colony, for without a harvest many more would most likely have starved.  Very few of us, if any, have or ever will know of extreme hunger, much less starvation.  Living with plenty has a way of moving us away from a spirit of thankfulness, and we begin to take things for granted.

It is good for a nation to pause and give thanks.  Even though our nation experienced rising inflation this year, we still live with plenty.  While it is good for a nation to give thanks, as Christians we should seek to live thankfully every day.  Indeed, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul told them to be careful in how they lived.  He then told them: “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). 

Like those Christians in Ephesus long ago, we should be careful in how we live.  Let us start our days by giving thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)

Today’s passage is part of Jesus’ most famous sermon – his Sermon on the Mount.  When we think of the Sermon on the Mount, we often think of the Beatitudes.  The Sermon on the Mount is much more, and this short passage is quite powerful.  Essentially, this passage is telling us that we should be making difference in the world.  

Jesus tells us something quite profound about ourselves, but first let’s consider what Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world.” I think we can all say Amen to what Jesus says in that verse, but now consider what Jesus tells us in verse fourteen above: “You are the light of the world.”  How can Jesus be the Light of the World and you and I also be the light of the world?  We go back to John 8:12 and look at the entire verse:  “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

We can easily affirm that Jesus is the Light of the world, but as followers of Jesus we have Jesus’ light within us.  We do not receive that light to keep to ourselves, and this is what Jesus shares in the Matthew 5:16.  We have received the Light for the very purpose of letting other people see Jesus in us.  In essence, Jesus is telling us that Christians should be seen and heard.  Our presence should be noticed by the world.  We should be making a difference.  Our good deeds should be seen by all people – not just by a few of the people who know us, but by all!

I find this challenging, and it is a challenge that I know I cannot live up to on my own power.  It is the very presence of Jesus within us that makes this possible.  I often ask church members this question: “How much Jesus do you really want?”

Today, let’s seek the very presence of Jesus in our lives, so that others may know something of Jesus.  You may very well be the only way someone may come to know Jesus.  Challenging?  Of course, but Jesus has called us to be Light, so let’s shine!

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 5:43 – “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT)

Hollywood spends a lot of time and money entertaining millions of people with love stories.  Most of these love stories would teach us that we can only become complete as a human when we find our one true love.  Today’s passage teaches us just the opposite, we can only become complete when we truly love others as God loves all. 

In this passage, Jesus speaks about loving all people, not just those who love us.  Then, in verse forty-eight, Jesus says: “you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Almost every English translation out there has the word ‘perfect.’  I’m not a big fan of translating the Greek into ‘perfect.’  First, it confuses many Christians, for we are taught that no one is perfect but Jesus.  Second, I think we miss the richness of the word. 

The Greek word that we translate as ‘perfect’ is τέλειος,{tel’-i-os}.  The word literally means: 1) brought to its end, finished;  2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness.  Loving others unconditionally completes us.  Perhaps, this is human perfection, but it does not mean we live without sin, for we have plenty of Scripture that teaches us otherwise – and we know all too well from our own experiences!

Today, let us love all others.  We don’t have to approve of everyone, or even enjoy their presence, but let us love.  Let us be complete!

Posted by Ramón Torres

Isaiah 43:1 – But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
² When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
³ For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

⁵ “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.
⁶ I will say to the north and south,
‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.
⁷ Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’ (NLT)

When we understand that ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ were terms used to address the people of God, we should come to realize that they address us today.  With that understanding, what does this passage tell us today?  It tells us that ultimately, we have nothing to fear, for God has ransomed us (verse 1).  We know that the ransom paid for us was the life of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:18 – “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.”

What exactly have we been ransomed from?  We have been ransomed from the power of sin.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:56 – “For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Sin separates us from God, a death far more horrible than the loss of our earthly life.  Sometimes we lose our ‘eternal’ perspective on life.  While we all want a comfortable life here and now, the truth is that we were created for something greater than life here and now.  We were created for eternity, and the price for that privilege has been paid.  An existence of no pain and no suffering is promised – but not in this life. 

This passage encourages us not to fear what this life will confront us with, for this life is fleeting.  The Good News is that God will get us through this life.  Notice verse three – we are told that ‘when we go through’, and ‘when we walk through’ no harm will come to us. God does not promise us that difficult times in this life will disappear, but God does promise to be with us, and to bring us through the difficult times.

The greatest promise of this passage – for me – can be found in verse five: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” This is our promise for this day, for all our days to come, and for all eternity.  That is good stuff! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Acts 9:19 – Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. ²⁰ And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

²¹ All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

²² Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. ²³ After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. ²⁴ They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. ²⁵ So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

²⁶ When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! ²⁷ Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

²⁸ So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. ³⁰ When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.

³¹ The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. (NLT)

In this passage, Saul (Paul) is fresh from his conversion experience on the Damascus road.  Verse twenty tells us that in short time he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God.  There is nothing like new coverts to Christianity, they are so full of energy!  They want everyone to know about the difference that Jesus has made in their life!  Sadly, many churches do their best to curb the enthusiasm of new converts because their methods of evangelism are too radical for the status quo.  A careful study of the New Testament tells us that this may have been the case with the Church and Paul. 

In verse twenty-six we are told that the believers in Jerusalem did not believe that Paul could have changed so radically.  It was Paul, however, who later wrote, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)  This power that so radically changed the life of Paul is the same power that can change things in our own lives.  Paul, an enemy of the cross, became its greatest crusader.  There may be things in our own lives that we hold onto that go against the cross, yet we have the power to change. 

Let us ask ourselves what is it that we hold onto?  Is it anger, a grudge, prejudice?  Is it refusing to forgive, or refusing to become involved in a causes that God has put onto our heart?  Perhaps it is a behavior or an addiction.  Maybe you think that there is no way that you can overcome, but consider Paul.  No one thought that this great Pharisee whose life work was to destroy the Church could ever become the great evangelist that he became, but he did.  We can, indeed, do everything through Christ. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Well my friends, as I write this post, the hour is late!  I just returned home from a mission trip to a small town in the mountains of Mexico, Ixtepec.  Seven of us from Wesley spent a week with a medical team from both Tennessee and Mexico.  Along with doctors, we served in the pharmacy; washing feet; entertaining children; running back and forth for supplies; and leading worship. 

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:12 – The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. (NLT) Paul then goes on to tell us that it takes all kinds of people to make a church – the Body of Christ in the world.  It is interesting to note that the word the New Testament writers used for church was ἐκκλησία.  We get our modern word eclectic from this word. This Greek word literally means: a gathering of people called out from their homes into some public place.  The church is only the church when we get out!

I am proud to serve a church that takes their call to get out and get to work seriously!  Here at Wesley we not only get out to foreign countries, but right here at home!  As I write this there are people from Wesley serving in the food pantry; some are packing supplies for the homeless, and others are preparing sack pack for school children who are facing food scarcity.   

Do all the people who have served with these ministries have the same interests? Do we all have the same gifts?  No, but we all serve the same Lord, and we are all called to serve.  I encourage each of you to serve your church – your ἐκκλησία, in any way that you are able.  The Church is only the Church when we step out of our comfort zones and serve the Lord by serving others.

Today, let’s serve!   

Posted by Ramón Torres

1 Corinthians 4:8 – You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. ⁹ Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. 

¹⁰ Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. ¹¹ Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. ¹² We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. ¹³ We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. 

¹⁴ I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. ¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me. 

¹⁷ That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

¹⁸ Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. ¹⁹ But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. ²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. ²¹ Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit? (NLT) 

In today’s passage, Paul is not holding back!  Indeed, Paul uses what some would call dark sarcasm.  The reason for these words is that some of the Corinthians were acting as if they were already reigning with Christ!  Paul is trying to bring them down a notch or two, or at least ground them in the humility of Christian service. 

Paul was making a distinction between how some in the Corinthian church were acting, and how true Christians should act.  Consider the following: “We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us.” (verses 12-13).  I emphasized the ‘we’ because in the Greek they were in the emphatic form, stressing true Christian behavior.  In light of this passage, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to be a blessing to those who curse us?  How patient are we with others?  Are our responses to criticism gentle or harsh? 

In verse thirteen Paul writes: “Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.” The word that we translate as ‘garbage’ was a Greek word that literally meant ‘that which is wiped off’.  The word was often used for animal refuse that would be wiped off of one’s shoes!  That’s quite a mental picture of what Paul was willing to endure for the sake of Jesus Christ.  What are we willing to endure for Jesus Christ? 

A challenging passage for each of us! Today, let us consider how far we are willing to go for the sake of the Gospel.  Let us be willing to endure just a little more, so that someone might come to know a little more of Jesus.

Posted by Ramón Torres 

1 Corinthians 4:1 – So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. ² Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. ³ As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. ⁴ My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 

⁵ So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 

⁶ Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. ⁷ For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? (NLT)

In this passage Paul is wrapping up his thoughts about the manner in which the Corinthians were dividing themselves according to their preferred church leader.  Paul knew that not everyone in Corinth approved of Paul, indeed, there are few churches, if any, in which every member approves of their leaders!  He writes something quite interesting in verse four, but first let me ask a question.  Does having a clear conscience mean that you are right?  Not at all!  Consider verse four: “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

While Paul is writing about Church leaders, we can apply this spiritually to all Christians.  We must live our lives in such a way that we have a clear conscience, but we must always be open to God’s correction.  We must seek God’s direction daily, so that we will know if we need to make any corrections.  

Let’s look at verse five: “So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time.” Let’s put this into its proper context.  Paul is addressing those who are being critical of their church leaders.  Paul warns them not to judge them too quickly because – it is implied through his remarks on a clear conscience – their leaders are prayerfully leading them.  This is good advice.  We may not always understand the actions of our church leaders, but if they have proven to be godly in their lives, then we must not be quick to criticize.  If they are godly, then they are either correct in what they are doing, or will most likely listen to God’s correction.

Today, let us pray for our church leaders.  Let us pray that they would always seek to be guided by God’s Spirit, and let us not be quick to judge them.  

Posted by Ramón Torres 

1 Corinthians 3:1 – Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. ² I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, ³ for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? ⁴ When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? 

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. ⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 

¹² Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. ¹³ But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. ¹⁴ If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (NLT) 

As we continue in 1 Corinthians, let us note that Paul is addressing members of the local church.  These are men and women who have been baptized, yet notice what he says about them: “you are still controlled by your sinful nature.”  Could the church have people who had been baptized and had become members yet they remained spiritually immature? Of course!  Maturity is a process, and for some people the process is lengthier than for others.  Church membership is not something reserved for the spiritually mature, rather church membership affords us an opportunity to mature spiritually under the guidance of spiritual leaders. 

In verse four we hear again one of the causes of their divisions: “When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?”  We may learn under a number of wise Christian leaders, but we follow only Jesus.  Paul makes this clear in verse eleven: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.”  Remember last weeks reading where Paul said he decided to only preach Jesus and the cross?  Jesus and the cross – this is our foundation, and all Christian teaching must begin there.  

Paul then discusses the work of Christian leaders, those who ‘build upon the foundation using various materials’.  I love this spiritual application of this passage – God did not make Christian leaders all the same.  According to verse twelve, some build using gold, some using silver, some using jewels, but all build.  Paul does, however, mention other materials of cheaper value.  The real test of the Christian leader is whether or not the work remains when testing comes.  No matter what materials a Christian leader uses to build a congregation, no one will withstand testing unless the foundation is Jesus Christ.

Today, let us remember our foundation – sin separates us from God; Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins; because of Jesus we can be made right with God.  Amen!  

Posted by Ramón Torres