Sturgis Church of Christ

One of the great threads that runs through the Bible relates to the promises that GOD made to Abraham. We find these promises in Genesis chapters 12, 15, & 22. Three promises are made to Abraham; his descendants will become a great nation, they will inherit the land of Canaan, and in his seed all families of the earth will be blessed. The first promise was realized during their bondage in Egypt. The second promise began to be fulfilled at the end of the exodus and was finally fully realized under David and Solomon. The historical content of the Old Testament further describes this nation of Abraham’s descendants and how they handled their inheritance in the land. Those blessing were conditional relative to their faithfulness to GOD. Their failure to be faithful is why their status as a nation and their possession of the land changed from time to time.

These two threads were explored fully in the Old Testament. As a nation, they had their own law given by GOD through Moses. They had their own boundaries defended by their own armies. They had their own kings. Their identity was separate from the nations around them. These characteristics show the limited scope of the physical nation of Israel.

However, the third promise, the third thread, is only tangentially a part of the history of the nation of Israel, but it is richly represented in the prophecies given to them.  This third promise is the blessing of Abraham. It would only be fully consummated after the coming of Christ in the New Testament. GOD’s promises to Abraham for the physical nation of Israel were primarily material in nature. As such they were temporary and limited to that one nation. But this third promise would be spiritual and eternal and be for people of all nations.

That third thread actually began before Abraham all the way back in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned there were grave consequences, but there was also a great promise. Consider the words of GOD to the serpent in Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; HE shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Here we are told about a descendant of Eve who will oppose the serpent. Although Satan will bruise his heel (a minor wound), He, Jesus, will bruise the head of the serpent (a death blow). Scholars almost unanimously understand this to be the first promise in the Bible of the coming of Christ. This is consistent with the promises and prophecies below.

The third promise of GOD to Abraham goes far beyond the nation of Israel to encompass a blessing on all Families of the earth. Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” When GOD repeats this promise in Genesis 22:18 HE makes it clear this refers to Abraham’s seed. His descendant will be the instrument of this blessing. “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Paul makes it absolutely clear that this seed is Jesus Christ in Galatians 3:16. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.” Peter also referenced this promise in Acts 3:25 to persuade the Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah. To have the blessedness of Abraham, we all must accept Jesus.

So, what is the blessedness of Abraham. It is nothing short of salvation from sin. It is being in a covenant relationship with GOD. In that relationship, our sins are not counted against us, just like Abraham. Paul describes this blessing in Romans 4:5-8. “… his faith is accounted for righteousness, ⁶just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ⁷“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” This is accomplished by faith! That means we don’t have to be perfect to be saved.

This also means that all people of true faith in Jesus can be saved. Salvation is not reserved just for the nation of Israel. It is not limited to any one people, color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc. It is a choice. When we choose to believe, we can enter into a state of forgiveness, because GOD will cover our sins with the blood of Jesus.

Christ died so “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). Anyone can choose this.

This is a total change of life. It begins with faith and obedience in baptism. Paul describes how this totally changes us in Romans 6:2-7. “… How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷For he who has died has been freed from sin.” This is how faith acts to free us from sin.

Having died to sin in baptism, we now have the blessedness of Abraham, the forgiveness of sins.

Dr. J. L. Edwards

Have you ever considered this question, “Where did they place their membership?” When people were first saved, what was their denomination? Human traditions would lead us to believe that many denominations had their origins in the first century. However, the Bible mentions the names of none of them. Some groups have adopted names from the descriptive phrases used of the church in the Bible. But these were never used as names, but merely as explanations of some fact about the church.

Peter, James, and John, etc., were just Christians. Like all Christians in the first century, they wore no divisive names and espoused no sectarian creeds. They were simply members of CHRIST’s spiritual body. They were simply part of the ‘church’. Likewise, we are told it was HIS church in the following phrases (not names); the church of GOD (Acts 20:28) and the church of Christ (Romans 16:16). The only divine name we are given is the name ‘Christian’ (Acts 11:26).

The multitude of names and the popularity of the concept of many churches or denominations was born much later. It really began to flourish during the protestant reformation in the 16th century. It was a reaction to earlier departures from the pure and original Christianity of the apostles of CHRIST (1 Timothy 4:1-6; 2 Timothy 4:1-6).

Many tried to go back to the Bible at least in some areas with varying results. Their differences led them to divide from each other. Each one became a different church, a new denomination. However, as these groups grew in number, so too did the concept that each was merely a different ‘brand’ of Christianity. They were considered by many to be a division in the body of CHRIST, but still part of HIS church. This eventually led to the widely held belief that we can simply go to the ‘church of our choice’. In this scenario specific doctrines tended to become a matter of personal preference or interpretation. Many began to think it was okay to be different than what the Bible taught as revealed by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. This is quite different than what Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:19-21 “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, … 20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Ignoring the inspiration and authority of GOD’s Word is what has led to having thousands of denominations in our world today.

Why can’t men and women be ‘just Christians’ today without any denominational affiliation? They can! There are thousands of believers in CHRIST who have given up divisive names and divisive human doctrines. They are turning their backs on human organizations and sectarian restrictions. They are trying to rely on the Bible alone as their source of authority in their religious practice. They see the Bible as the seed of New Testament Christianity (Matthew 13:23). If we accept this divine truth, we can be simply Christians without human divisions separating us. That is what GOD wants!

GOD never authorized denominations. JESUS only promised to build one church (Matthew 16:18). These truths are powerfully illustrated by the Lord’s prayer in John 17. Listen to the heart of JESUS HIMSELF as he prays to the FATHER in verses 20-21. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” JESUS wants us united and not divided. Notice how HE prays for the unity of ‘those who believe on ME through their word’. HE was praying for the apostles and for all who believed their teaching.

JESUS prayed for unity, and we can have it only when we trust in HIS Word as our sole authority. This is the Bible. HE inspired the apostles to write the Bible (John16:13) and that is what they preached. This is how the church began in Acts 2:37-42. “Those who gladly received his word were baptized.” “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” We must preach the same thing today to have the unity JESUS desired.

The refusal to accept HIS doctrine as preached by the apostles is what separates us today. By gladly continuing in the apostle’s doctrine, we can all have a part in HIS one fellowship. Obeying HIM unites us (2 Thessalonians 3:14) in HIS church. Obeying HIM saves us (Hebrews 5:9). When we were first saved GOD put us where HE wanted us to be. Acts 2:47 “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

I pray that we can all be just HIS church.

Dr. J. L. Edwards

Trials and Faith

One of the momentous events in our lives is when we get our driver’s license. It represents freedom and maturity. It says to the world I am licensed to drive and control an automobile. We can easily conclude that we control the vehicle, however that control is not complete. It can be taken away in an instant by another car swerving into our path, a flat tire, a really bad pothole, a puddle of water, the failure of our brakes or steering, etc. We can lose control in an instant. Recognizing our lack of power is part of the humility that we should all have as Christians (James 4:6, 10).

Our control of things in this world is illusory. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is called the prince of the power of the air and following him is called ‘walking according to the course of this world’. Satan controls much of what happens in worldly terms. In like manner, GOD controls heaven, salvation, and what Hebrews 6:5 calls ‘the powers of the age to come’. Consider the nature of our struggle in this world. Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We do well to remember the powers that surround us.

It is easy to forget that other powers have great impact in our lives. When things are going well, we may have an illusion of control. We may think that we are the masters of our circumstances. We are not. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, or riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.” We can choose our eternal destiny, but we cannot choose every circumstance that comes to us in life. We do not know or control what trials enter our lives.

When trials come, they remind us that we are not in control of so many things. Howevr, we can and should have self-control. But we can only control how we respond to conditions in the world around us. We can’t control those conditions consistently and sometimes not at all. We can always choose to strive to have self-control.

The more I try to control things, the more I try to make it work by my own strength alone, then the worse it gets. I don’t have the power to control all things and by my own strength, I swill struggle even to maintain self-control. I think this is Paul’s point in Romans 7:19 “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” My friends, it is hard to do right and we need GOD’s help.

The best thing we can do, as an act of faith, is to truly let go, stop striving in your own strength, and give control to the Lord, and trust. This is the basis of self-control, relying on GOD’s help. Romans 8:8-10 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” With HIS help we can face and endure any trial. This is a fundamental aspect of our faith in GOD. We trust that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).

It seems so simple, but in practicality I find it a hard thing to do. Therefore, I pray for the grace and the wisdom to let go and to stop depending on myself.

A true and strong faith teaches us how to redefine earthly trials as heavenly opportunities. They can be blessings in our lives since: they test our faith (James 1:3), they produce steadfastness in our lives (1 Peter 5:9), and they enable us to become mature persons (James 1:4). There is nothing pleasant about trials and one of our most common requests in prayer is to avoid and overcome such hardships. Yet every trial becomes an opportunity for growth in faith and steadfastness.

How should we respond to our trials. The attitude of the apostles is instructive here in Acts 5:41. “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” The Bible explicitly tells us to follow that example in James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” It may be hard to do, but we should not resent them. Many with challenged faith find this a time to blame GOD for trials. It may take them some time to overcome that resentment and trust GOD again. Some may never come back GOD unless or until HE removes all hardships. However, these attitudes are destructive to our faith. We should not blame GOD for the trials that Satan places in our lives (2 Corinthians 12:7).

One Christian response to trials is to pray for GOD to remove them. If HE leaves us in our trials, we should next ask GOD for the grace to accept them and reveal to us what HE wants us to learn from them. This may necessitate a difficult road. I often pray to GOD to teach me the lessons I need. But I am quick to add, “LORD, let me learn them the easy way.”

Unfortunately, we often fail to learn what we need to know the easy way. That only leaves a harder path. Remember the messages of the book of Ecclesiastes. There it seems even Solomon in all his wisdom had learn most lessons the hard way. Maybe this is why we need the reminder of James 1:2. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

You’re not in control, but count it all joy, knowing that the testing of faith produces patience.

Dr. J. L. Edwards

After riding through the west African plantation, we came to a creek fed lagoon at the end of the road. As we got out of the car, a number of dugout canoes began racing toward us across the lagoon. The boatmen were out of their dugouts before they even touched the shore. They smilingly yelled their fee for ferrying us across the lagoon. The loud bargaining took a few minutes to complete. Once seated in our canoes, we raced across the lagoon to the village on the other side. We watched with fascination as hundreds of huts on stilts came into clear view.

We landed quickly as we absorbed the sights and sounds of the village. People were working all around us uninterrupted by our arrival. Soon the smells of salty sea air, fish, and also grain engulfed us. The smell of grain was strong as the young girls were milling it in stone bowls all around us. They used long blunt ended sticks to grind the grain. With dance-like movements they alternated hands as they rhythmically pounded the grain in their bowls. The stick went down in the left hand, then tossed up and to the right hand and down again. Over and over they repeated this task, singing and smiling as they worked. They were as exuberant in their work as the young boatmen had been in theirs.

While we were watching the varied life of the village about us, our guide had been searching for the village chief. As we moved further into the village, we noticed a tall man standing under a hut holding it up. As others braced its support legs, he stood there doing nothing but providing the muscle. Others attended to the more intricate work of attaching the legs and bracing. Our guide stopped nearby so we could watch, although there wasn’t much to see.

We were there to see the chief, who they called the headman. As we grew bored watching the simple repetitive work, our guide noticed our impatience. He simply looked at us and said, “Wait”. We waited , but we could see no one who looked like a chief to us. We could only see the workers. Soon they finished shoring up the hut. We continued to wait as they checked their work. Finally, the guide smiled and said,”This is the head man of the village.” He was pointing at the tall muscular man who had been lifting the hut. When he noticed our surprise, he explained, “No one else is tall enough to hold it so high but the headman. No one else is strong enough to hold up the huts safely.” You see, even though he was the chief, he humbled himself. He did that menial task simply because he was the best choice for the job that needed to be done.

My friends, that is just like Christ. Philippians 2:5-8 ” Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ( And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Let this same mind be in us to do what needs to be done.

Dr. J. L. EDWARDS

I just read a post that provoked a lot of thought. That’s a good thing. However, many of the comments went sideways. I dare not speak to the motives of any of these individuals, however, the Bible tells us that “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” This means we can sometimes see into a person’s heart by listening to or reading what they say.

With no individual in mind, let me speak to general human tendency. We all see things from our own perspectives. We hear and read through the filter of past history and experiences. Many of those things have great emotional impact in our lives. Our hearts are full of the emotions elicited by past experiences. Those emotions may often arise from anything that touches on a related topic. As such, any of us may associate a current conversation with what happened with someone else long ago. Old angers can resurface because of this. Our response may be more heated than needed as a result. Some believe the best response is to attack. In the parlance of the old adage. We were mad at the cat, so we kicked the dog. My friends, that is not fair to the dog.

If we are not very careful we may make false assumptions. It is natural to be reminded of previous conversations and experiences. It can be easy to assume that the person currently speaking is just like someone from our memory who influenced us (positively or negatively) on the same subject. Then we may be ‘kicking the dog’ unfairly. A good goal would be to take each person’s comments on their own merits. Don’t read anything in to it. That takes real effort and time.

This may be one reason why GOD inspired the following words in James 1:19-20. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (20) for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Taking a step back can be helpful. Sometimes we must realize we have a ‘chip on our shoulder’ about a particular issue. We need to know our own ‘hot buttons’ and exercise extra caution on those issues. It is easy to have a ‘pet peeve’ and it is tempting to make it a ‘hobby horse’ that we ride at every opportunity.

When issues are stormy, we protect ourselves. We throw on a coat of defensiveness or even pull out our sword to attack. That is natural. However, when we come in out of the storm, we need no longer need those things. We check our hat and coat at the door. We don’t wear our sword when we feel safe.

In like manner, in any current conversation, it is good to check our emotions at the door; put away our preconceived notions, take the chip off of our shoulders and focus only on what is currently before us. We must not let our emotions destract us from what is actually. It is good for us to apply any teaching to our own lives, but if our emotions get involved, things can get skewed. Remember the wise words of Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Our emotions can be a confusing jumble and difficult to understand. In counseling we were taught that a person in a highly emotional state is much like a drunk. They are not thinking clearly. Before we can have a rational conversation the drunk must get sober. In the same way, we must deal with our emotions before we tackle the intricacies of logical thinking.

That brings us right back to James 1:19. “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Dr. J. L. Edwards

In many versions, the word atonement is translated ‘reconciliation’. The basic idea is that we are brought back into harmony with someone else. The only way reconciliation can occur is if the one who has been offended is willing to forgive. GOD is willing, but our debt of sin must be paid to bring us back to HIM. This is the debt that JESUS paid on the cross.

Consider the following verses. Romans 5:11 “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

However, two obstacles stop many people from being reconciled to GOD. 1) Some people don’t realize their own sinfulness. They don’t understand that their sin has separated them from GOD. 2) Some people seek to be reconciled by following human doctrines/opinions. My friends, common sense dictates that to be reconciled you must please the offended party. In this case that is GOD. We must please GOD and HE tells us how. All true believers will trust GOD’s word in this and in all matters.

So, we can only be reconciled to GOD by doing it HIS way. In 2 Corinthians 5, (above), HE says Christians are a new creation because they are in CHRIST. Interestingly, the Bible only teaches one way to get into CHRIST and that is by being baptized in water. Romans 6:3-4 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This is when we begin to walk in a new life. This is when the old man of sin is crucified (Romans 6:6), i.e., we are born again and become a new creature.

We can all be reconciled to GOD if we simply obey HIS commands related to this subject.

Consider these verses related to aspects of being reconciled to GOD by having our sins washed away:

Leviticus 6:1-19 (The atonement CHRIST offers is typified in the Old Testament sacrifices)

Isaiah 52:1-12 (HIS sacrificial atonement is foretold in this passage and others.)

HIS atonement was necessary. Hebrews 9:22-24 “According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. ²³Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

At the point of baptism our sins are washed away. This is how we call on the name of the LORD. Acts 22:16 “Now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

HIS atonement for us was made on the cross. John 19:30, 34 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. …³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

HIS sacrifice was accepted in heaven as the atonement for our sins. Hebrews 10:12-14 “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. ¹⁴For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

HIS atonement was attested by HIS resurrection and HIS righteousness credited to us. Romans 4:24-25 “It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”

The HOLY SPIRIT was witness to the atonement of those who obey HIM. Acts 5:32 “We are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

HIS atonement was preached in the Gospel. Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.”

HIS atonement was symbolized by our obedience in baptism. Romans 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Colossians 2:12-13 (You were) “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,”

HIS atonement was commemorated in the LORD’s supper. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

HIS atoning blood purchased HIS church. Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

HIS atonement brings us to Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

HIS atonement reconciles us to GOD. Romans 5:10-11 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

HIS Atonement justifies us. Romans 3:23-24 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

HIS atonement allows access, i.e., entrance into the presence of GOD. Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”

HIS atonement sanctifies us. It makes us saints. Hebrews 10:10 “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 13:12 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”

HIS atonement cleanses us. 1 John 1:7-9 “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Revelation 1:5 “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

HIS atonement brings us peace. Ephesians 2:13-17 “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.”

HIS atonement brings us all spiritual blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. ⁷In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

HIS atonement allows and enables us to live for CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

HIS atonement brings victory and glory. Revelation 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Revelation 7:13-17 “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” ¹⁴And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. ¹⁶They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; ¹⁷for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

From these scriptures we can see that atonement is a marvelous gift of GOD. 2 Peter 1:10 “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.”

Dr. J. L. Edwards

___WELCOME___

Sturgis CHURCH of CHRIST

We are a loving group of Christians striving to help one another be close to Jesus and one day go to heaven. We do this by following HIS example and by following the New Testament as our only source of authority

801 N. Monroe St., STURGIS, KY 42459

Services: Sunday Classes 10:00 AM

Sunday Worship 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM

Wednesday Classes 6:00 PM