Saved!

For Wednesday, October 4, 2023:

Romans 10:9 NLT: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Being saved by faith was a new concept for many people, and it still is nowadays. Most expect that good works or obeying the law would justify a person before God. And since salvation is so valuable, Jesus offering it as a free gift is unexpected.

As Paul writes to the Christians in Rome, he states the way to salvation over and over again. He doesn’t want any confusion over the path to eternity in the presence of our Father. Jesus said he would go ahead a prepare a place in his Father’s house for all who believe.

"For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (Romans 10:10)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Trust in Jesus!

For Sunday, October 2, 2022:

Romans 3:20 NLT: “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

God grades on a pass/fail system. Get everything right, you pass. Get one thing wrong, you fail. God doesn’t grade on a curve.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious goals. ALL! But God desire was that none would perish, so he instituted a New Covenant. God’s Son Jesus would take the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus would have their record of sin blotted out! They are forgiven! They receive salvation! They get to see heaven from the inside!

 "Works” salvation – trying to earn your way into heaven – never works. But trusting in Jesus works every time!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

No More Works!

For Friday, May 13, 2022:

Romans 10:4 NLT: “Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.”

As a child, I was brought up with 10 Commandments. I know there are more, but we were mainly concerned with the big 10. The thinking was that if we could stick with these 10 things, we’d get to heaven. This couldn’t be more incorrect!

Salvation is never based on ‘works.’ None of us can be good enough long enough to ‘earn’ a ticket to heaven. Rather, we are redeemed by the mission Christ completed on the cross. It’s a free gift to all who believe that Jesus, the Son of God, is our Savior.

Jesus did all the work so we don’t have to!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Faith = Hope!

For Wednesday, May 4, 2022:

Romans 3:28 NLT: “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

It’s easy to get these two concepts reversed. Almost daily I meet good people trying to do good things so that they can get into heaven.

But according to the Bible, our faith in Jesus – who he was and what he can do – is what gains us a reservation in the heavenly hereafter. Jesus gave us eternal hope! Then, having that matter settled, we try to do good works out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us.

Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?,” and then do that!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Grace & Mercy!

For Friday, March 26, 2021

Titus 3:7 CEV: “Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.”

‘Grace’ is defined as ‘undeserved favor,’ and that’s certainly what God and his Son Jesus brought to mankind. God is always the initiator, making us the offer of eternal life. We need to accept God’s offer, the most important decision we’ll ever make!

While God wants you in his corner, no amount of ‘works’ can ever assure your salvation. Response to an altar call does not save. Saying the sinner’s prayer does not save. Baptism does not save. Church attendance does not save. Giving does not save. Reading the Bible does not save. But accepting Jesus’ free gift of salvation sets us up to see the inside of heaven!

It’s his mercy that gives us hope!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

To Serve or Not to Serve?

September 24, 2012 Monday Message:

Jesus: “Follow me and be my disciple.” So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Luke 5:27b-28

Do you appreciate the oxymoron? You know, those common sayings with funny twists of language that make them appear to contradict themselves. “Jumbo shrimp” is the one everybody knows. “A fine mess” and “military intelligence” come to mind. Oftentimes people use the oxymoron for humor: “Adult male,” “almost exactly,” and “fairly obvious.”

How about this one: “Non-serving Christian.” Pastor Rick Warren teaches that a non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms – an oxymoron.

Remember that our good works can’t get us into heaven. Humans have been compromised by the devil, but redeemed by Jesus. His sacrifice is the full price – sola Christus – and even talk of you doing something to ensure your own redemption is blasphemy. Jesus did it all.

Having been saved, we then serve – we work - out of gratitude for what Jesus has done. When Jesus called each disciple, they dropped what they were doing and went to work with the Son of man. Jesus forgave them, redeemed them, called them, and they immediately went to work for the kingdom.

What can you do for the Messiah, out of gratitude for all He has done for you?

Norton Lawellin

Mark your calendar – October 7, 2012

Jesus in the City Fellowship and Familia de Fe (Spanish language) will be worshiping together, in the main sanctuary of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla teaching, Pastor Walter Chuquimia translating. Potluck follows in the gym – bring something to share!

I’ll be on the road for a couple of weeks, so John will lead worship until I return. Join JICF at 10:30am Sunday as Pastor Michael continues our journey through Luke.