Baptized!

For Tuesday, April 14, 2026:

Luke 3:21-22 NLT: One day, when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

This happened over 2k years ago. I’m amazed that with no telephones or texts, no radio or TV, no internet or Twitter, that somehow a crowd of people would hear that John the Baptist was once again in the Jordan River, advising people to repent and return. The crowd assembled, and John shouted, “The kingdom of God is at hand!” Oh, to have been in the crowd that day!

Jesus was present, and he stepped forward to be baptized. In a semi-private conversation, John said that Jesus should be baptizing him! After all, God’s Son didn’t need his sins washed away! He was sinless! But this was a lesson in obedience, honoring God the Father as Lord of your life. Jesus is said to be fully God and fully human, and the human side of him submitted to the Father as he walked on this Earth.

I wish I could have seen the dove descending upon Jesus and heard the voice of the Father. I imagine God’s voice to be big, booming and bold, but that’s just conjecture, not in the Bible.

Christians are to be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. It matters little who leads the ceremony. This is a case where Jesus said, “Use my name!” That’s what’s important. Baptism is part of making disciples of all nations, Jesus’ final instructions before ascending into heaven.

He went on ahead to prepare a place for believers! Is your name on his “Things to do” list?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Sinless!

For Thursday, January 15, 2026:

Romans 6:10b-11 NLT: “Now that Christ lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus was crucified, died, and buried with the sins of the world. He was resurrected, leaving the sins behind. Believers stick with Jesus throughout all that happened, now following a Savior who has totally overcome sin. We want to look straight ahead, focusing on the sinless one, rather than wandering eyes searching for possible sin opportunities. Sin can’t get close to us if we’re close to Jesus!

Conflict in my home city of Minneapolis has been the lead story in the news recently, so I ask you to pray with me for peace. Thank you!!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Satan: God's Pawn!

For Thursday, November 6, 2025:

John 14:30b-31a NLT, Jesus speaking: “The ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.”

Jesus knows his time on earth is drawing to a close. It’s nearly time for him to return to the Father. He calls Satan the “ruler of this world,” which seems odd. We all know that ultimately, God is in charge of everything. Therefore, God will allow Satan to rule the world only as long as it meets his purpose. Satan will poison the heart of Judas Iscariot as he betrays Jesus, thereby setting God’s plan in motion.

Here’s what God had Judas instigate. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. On the cross, the sins of the world were heaped upon sinless Jesus. He was to take those sins to the place of the dead and leave them there. That way, mankind, forgiven and now appearing sinless, could join believers in the life after this life. God’s eternal Kingdom, Heaven, could be the forever home for all who call Jesus “Lord.”

God knew that mankind would succumb to Satan’s temptations. But God’s desire is that none would perish, that all would repent and return. So in advance, he planned for mankind’s rescue. He did for us what we are not able to do for ourselves.

God is good to us, far better than we deserve!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

High Priest!

For Wednesday, July 2, 2025:

Hebrews 5:1 NLT: “Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.”

The high priest stood between God and the Hebrew people. Since God called him, Jews believed their priest possessed holy authority. They could confess sins to their priest and present gifts of atonement. The gifts were actually for God.

On the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the priest would symbolically place the sins of the people onto the back of a goat, and shoo the goat into the wilderness, thereby separating the populace from their sins. That’s where we get the term “scapegoat.”

Jesus was endowed with that “high priest authority” by God. “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” But Jesus was eventually crucified and ascended back to the Father. So, where does that leave us?

When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, destroying the separation between God and mankind. God did the tearing. Believers no longer need or desire a high priest. If we need to pray to the Lord, we can pray directly to him. If we need to confess and repent, we can speak with the Almighty. We pray to God “in Jesus’ name,” since Jesus is now our intercessor, the one who opened the gateway, clearing the path between God and mankind.

Unlike his predecessors, our high priest was perfect!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus vs Sin!

For Thursday, August 22, 2024:

1 John 2:6 AMP: “Whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.”

The person who truly knows God will increasingly live a righteous life. None of us is perfect, but sincere believers endeavor to walk the path of Jesus, the one who was without sin. If a person does not do this, if that person is not increasingly dissatisfied with and distressed by sin, that person is not God’s child. While perfection is unattainable, much progress is possible, and those who love the Lord do better with each passing day.

Jesus is without sin while the devil is full of sin, and each of us is allowed to choose one or the other. God gave us free will with the expectation that we would choose wisely. Jesus walking on our planet affords us that prudent choice.

Spurgeon writes, “Sin may enter the heart, and fight for dominion, but it cannot sit upon the throne.” The throne in your heart is reserved for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

So don’t just avoid sin; detest sin! Hate sin with all your heart. That’s Jesus’ position!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Sinless!

April 8, 2024 Monday Message:

Colossians 1:22 NLT: “Now God has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”

Through Jesus, God is doing for us what we could not accomplish by ourselves. Remember that God’s desire is that all would repent and return to him, both here and in the hereafter, and Jesus makes it all possible.

When we die and then seek entrance to heaven, we may be questioned. What kind of life did you live? Were you generous and kind? Did you remember the widows and orphans? Those questioning you may ask where you lived. On planet Earth amongst the sinners. But when they check the book of life – surprise – your name will be right there! And the column marked “sin” will be vacant, filled with white space, as if you had never sinned. You won’t see any erasure marks, and no scratch-outs – just blank white space. Jesus will have arranged that for you because of your faith in him! And that’s a fulfillment of the Father’s plan for believers – for eternity!

As humans, it’s difficult for us to understand eternity. It’s forever! It’s like you look in the mirror every morning, but you don’t seem to age – for centuries, for millenniums! Or pretend your refrigerator is filled with food, and you eat three meals every day for a week, but when you check your refrigerator is still full! It will sustain you forever because God is in charge!

We need to praise God for all the good things he is giving us, but it can never be enough. Just do your best!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

People of God!

For Sunday, August 27, 2023:

Romans 6:15 NLT: “Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!”

Paul answers a stupid question. I call it that because thinking that people of God could live in constant sin is ludicrous. Those who believe should emulate Jesus’ way of living. He was sinless and had an abundance of love!

Our motivation has also shifted. When living under the law, we were trying to obey God’s commands. But when living under the new covenant, we live like Godly people out of gratitude for Jesus’ gift to us. Jesus took away the sin of the world leaving us suitable to take up residence in the Kingdom, and for that we’re very grateful!

Heaven awaits those who believe in the Son!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Messiah?

Feb. 10, 2020 Monday Message:

John-the-Baptist speaking: “Jesus, are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Matt. 11:3

Jesus proved that He was heaven-sent by remaining sinless throughout his entire life. Numerous Bible-authors testify to this claim: 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:22. And Jesus asked this question of those trying to execute him: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” Of course no one responded. John 8:46

The Gospels are full of examples of Jesus healing any diseases that afflicted those he encountered, both physical and mental ailments. And I’m always amazed by the number of people in-dwelt by demons. Jesus simply commands the evil spirit to leave the person, and out they come, shouting, “Jesus – we know who you are!” Only someone heaven-sent would have authority over both disease and Satan’s evil spirits.

Don’t forget that Jesus commanded the high waves and winds to settle down. There are days I’d like to be able to control the weather! “Enough snow, already!”

Jesus demonstrated power over life and death, telling the Roman officer, “Your son will live.” And his personal resurrection says it all; He’s the consummate authority over life and death.

But the best gift of all is when Jesus told the afflicted ones, “Your sins are forgiven.” He offers that same gift to all who repent and claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

Blessings,

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Van Dickerson will continue our study in Luke as we welcome guests from the New Hope tour.

A Son is Given!

Dec. 23, 2013 Monday Message:

“For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6a)

Prophecies foretell by divine inspiration. God used Isaiah as his voice to disclose future events.

Prophecies are not just for filling up chapters in the Bible; they are real guidance intended for specific people. How fortunate we are that this information is for “us!” Unto US a Child is born; unto US a Son is given.”

Isaiah uses the Hebrew literary tool of repetition to stress the importance of this message. God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – had existed from the beginning of time. But the humanity of God had a starting point – the baby in a manger! Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus coming to be with us, to rescue us.

Jesus was a perfect human, like Adam before he sinned, and therefore the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.

Jesus brings hope to a lost planet. Welcome to our world!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Dec. 29, baby Jesus grows up – Pastor Daisy explains! Luke 2:21-38

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