This was a special day for the church. To show the church’s appreciation to the former pastor, Rev. Walter Statzer we invited him to share with us a day to say thanks. As part of the service the Free Will Trio sang. The Chestnut Grove Quartet, relatives of Preacher Statzer, joined us as well. They were a real blessing.
The message
It’s not a coincidence that Romans is the first book of Paul’s writing. It is the most doctrinal book. In the first 11 verses of chapter 5, there are three things I want to mention that we can have.
Romans 5: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
The greatest peace we’ll ever know, the only real peace, is with the Lord. Before I was saved I was afraid to go to sleep. I wasn’t afraid of the dark. I was afraid I wouldn’t wake up and die and go to hell. This is not the thinking of folks today. There is a “so what?” attitude. The night I gave my heart to the Lord, I went home and slept like a baby.
I had tried to pray. Nothing seemed right until my aunt told me all I had to do was trust the Lord for salvation. I couldn’t do it; it is a gift. Since then I’ve never been the same. The fear of sleep never happened again. At that time I didn’t know it, but that was assurance.
God showed us his love while we were dirty rotten sinners, as low as low could be. He showed his love by dying for us while we were still sinners. The night I was saved, I started inviting my friends to the revival. I couldn’t get them saved, but I could get them to the revival. It’s like this. You buy a new car and look up the street and your neighbor has one like it. It makes you so mad. But with this old time religion you want everyone to have it.
We have atonement. The word is not used much, but it means to be reconciled to God. I heard about a woman who opened a checking account. She wrote check after check. The bank called her to come in so they could talk about her account. They told her she was overdrawn and needed to get money in there. She said “I’ll still have checks.” She didn’t know about reconciliation. We needed to be atoned and reconciled to God.
All you have to do is repent and ask the Lord to come into your heart. If you believe and trust him, you will be saved. Some say that’s too simple. Everything Jesus does it simple. Atonement brought us to peace with God. He took our sins away and brought us peace in the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 