Atonement vs Forgiveness!

For Wednesday, August 21, 2024:

1 John 2:2 NLT: “Jesus himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

The barrier between God and mankind is sin. But sin no longer holds that position if we receive the atonement, the payment of the penalty for sin, that God has provided through his Son Jesus. But atonement, paying the penalty, doesn’t equal forgiveness, so we must take the next step.

Jesus is holding the door to heaven open for us, but we have to walk through on our own. The penalty for our sin has been paid, but each of us needs to ask for personal forgiveness. Repent and acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior. Jesus claimed that a place has been prepared in eternity for believers who repent and are forgiven. Does our faith let us trust that every word from Jesus is truth?

With gratitude, accept the free gift offered to you by the Savior. Lock in your salvation today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus Changed Everything!

March 25, 2019 Monday Message

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

Before Jesus, believers were told to keep their distance from God. Moses was told by God-in-the-burning bush, “Do not come any closer.  And take your sandals off your feet – this is Holy ground.” Only authorized Priests could do certain things at the Temple, and only the Highest Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, only once a year, attempting to atone for the sins of all the people.

Jesus changed everything! Instead of advising people to keep their distance, Jesus said, “Come to me!” Jesus is the dividing line on this earth, between God separating himself from sinful mankind, and Jesus welcoming us home with open arms.

For all the good things Jesus did when he walked with us on earth, I believe his PRIMARY mission was the rescue of mankind. Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself, and he was the atonement for everything wrong in the world. That’s why Christians don’t have to do stuff to earn their way into eternity. The work was finished on the cross by Jesus. That’s why we say Christianity isn’t a “have to DO religion”; it’s an “already DONE religion!”

There’s nothing Jesus would rather do than to make our lives better – both our life here on earth, and our life in the next reality.

“Then the savior came, and He took the blame – changed everything!” from “Love Came Down,” Lenny LeBlanc & Lindell Cooley

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. This week, Jesus meets Zacchaeus – find out the whole story! See you at church!