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IWM Statement of Faith
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A Man’s Encounter with GOD
A man named Job, who lived around 2200 BC, had a most astonishing encounter with God. One that seems inexplicable, and cruel, but that offers insights into the relationship between man, and his Creator.
Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?
’Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
Can anyone of us do otherwise?
Job 42:1-6
“Truly, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Philippians 2:10-11
By Paster David Hall
IN HIS GRACE, WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE LAW
Why I stand so firmly in my Christian faith.
I believe that on that day, when our Savior declared, “It is finished,” breathed His last breath, and gave up His life for us all; and as the Holy Spirit ripped the Temple veil in two from top to bottom, that this amazing event marked and signified two eternal truths:
An end to the separation of God from man through His Son, Yeshua
And an end to the requirements of the law.
It is NOT that I do not want to be obedient, or participate in feasts and other traditions. Not at all. It is simply that I want to live in His grace more. His grace sets the captives free, of whom I once was. The grace of God is His unmerited favor toward those who have not earned it.
The Apostle Paul admitted that he was a servant of God by His grace and it was by that grace that he labored effectively for the cause of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:10).
As Christians we, too, benefit from God’s grace. “For by grace are you saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). Our very salvation and position in Christ is due to His grace through the faith that He gives us (Hebrews 12:2).
Even those who hate God receive His grace in every breath He allows them to take and through His common grace to all creation: “For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
Even the atheist enjoys the effects of God’s grace through His beautiful creation and His provision of the resources necessary for food, clothing and housing. God doesn’t owe these things to us, but He provides them to exhibit His grace.
The sovereign grace of God is noted most often by theologians in the matter of election.
We see it best explained in Ephesians 1:5-6: “he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” God sovereignly chose those He would save through His gracious act of sending His Son to die on the cross for their salvation. They were unable to save themselves or – like Mary – to merit God’s favor because of their transgression of His Law. “But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
Therefore, Christians are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
God in His sovereign grace has chosen to save those on whom He has set His love (His Elect). (Romans 9:8-13)
They are picked out of the stream of helpless men and women cascading into hell. That is a humbling truth and should result in immense gratitude on our part.
The sovereign grace of God is noted most often by theologians in the matter of election.
We see it best explained in Ephesians 1:5-6: “he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” God sovereignly chose those He would save through His gracious act of sending His Son to die on the cross for their salvation. They were unable to save themselves or – like Mary – to merit God’s favor because of their transgression of His Law. “But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
Why did God bestow His sovereign grace on believers? Not because we deserve salvation but to demonstrate “the riches of His glory” (Romans 9:14-23). Therefore, our only proper response is “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” (Ephesians 1:3).
IN CONCLUSION: We are brothers and sisters, rescued by the God who created us in His image from eternal death. I observe His commandments, but do not believe I am bound by the Law. I have been set free in Christ. We are not set free to continue in sin. No! I am set free from the bondage of the Law, and established in the loving Grace of our King, The Lord, Jesus Christ. In this loving relationship, I desire to learn to die to flesh, that I might live in Christ.
God bless each of you.
Paster David P Hall
Founder & Sr. Pastor
Immanuel World Ministries
Founded July 17, 2011
