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The Cross and the Hope of Sinners

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STEVE MORGAN

The message of the cross is not only about what Jesus endured, but about what His death means for every person who has sinned. This includes all of us. Through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we learn that the cross is the center of our salvation and the place where our relationship with God is restored.

Paul wrote that before knowing Christ, people are “dead in their trespasses.” This does not refer to physical death, but to a spiritual separation from God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they did not fall down dead, but their sin cut them off from fellowship with Him. From that moment, all humanity has shared in this broken condition. Sin severs our connection with the source of spiritual life. Without that connection, we are alive in body but dead in spirit.

Through Jesus, that separation is healed. When a person puts faith in Him, it is as if the broken cord between God and the human soul is reattached. Life flows again from God into the heart. This is what it means to be “made alive with Christ.” Salvation is more than forgiveness; it is spiritual renewal. The one who was dead inside is now alive to God.

Paul continues by explaining that through the cross, Christ has forgiven all trespasses. This word all is crucial. No sin is too small or too great to remain outside His forgiveness. The blood of Jesus cleanses completely, not conditionally, but entirely. Every failure, every regret, and every wrong choice is covered by His sacrifice.

When God forgives, He also removes the lasting stain of sin. The inner guilt that clings to us is washed away. As the old hymn says, “Sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” This forgiveness brings peace to the soul because it releases us from trying to fix the past or earn our way back to God.

The Bible describes three stages of salvation that all come through the cross. First is justification, when God declares a believer righteous, freeing them from the penalty of sin. Second is sanctification, the ongoing process by which the Holy Spirit frees us from the power of sin in daily life. Finally, there is glorification, when God will one day free His people from the presence of sin forever. Each stage rests on the power of what Jesus did at Calvary.

The cross also removes every obstacle that once stood between God and humanity. Paul describes it as the cancellation of a certificate of debt. In ancient times, debtors kept lists of what they owed, constant reminders of their obligation. Our sins make up a record of debt to God. It is a debt so large that no one could ever pay it. Yet when Christ died, He took that entire record and nailed it to the cross. Every charge that stood against us was erased.

This means that for those who belong to Christ, there will be no record of sin to face at judgment. Jesus bore that record Himself. The condemnation that was ours fell on Him instead. Because of that, believers stand free and forgiven before God.

Paul also writes that through the cross, Jesus disarmed principalities and powers. This speaks of His victory over Satan and all forces of evil. When Jesus died, it looked like defeat, but it was the moment of triumph. Satan lost his power to accuse or control those who trust in Christ. Though he still tempts and troubles, his authority is broken. His time is limited, and his final end is already determined.

Because Jesus has overcome, His followers also overcome. The book of Revelation says that believers conquer “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” The blood of Christ is the seal of our salvation, the protection against the enemy, and the assurance that we belong to God.

For those who have been saved, the suffering of this world is the worst they will ever experience. Heaven holds no pain, no sorrow, no death. It holds only the fullness of life in the presence of God. All of this is possible because of the cross.

The cross is not simply a symbol of suffering; it is the proof that God is for us. The blood of Jesus declares that every debt has been paid, every barrier removed, and every weapon of the enemy disarmed. Those who trust in Christ stand forgiven, restored, and secure forever.

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who [a]are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

When God Seems Silent He Still Remembers

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ANDY ANDERSON

Life often leads us through times that cause us to look back and remember how God has worked to bring us to where we are. Reflection helps us see His steady hand through both joy and hardship. Even in the darkest times, God remains faithful to His people, though it may not always feel that way in the moment.

The story of Noah reminds us that God’s care never stops. Genesis 8 describes how Noah, his family, and the animals waited in the ark as the flood covered the earth. For months, they were surrounded by water, cut off from everything they had known. The silence must have been heavy, and Noah may have wondered if God had forgotten him. But Scripture begins that chapter with an important truth: “God remembered Noah.” When the time was right, the waters began to fall, the land dried, and life began again.

To say that God “remembered” does not mean He had once forgotten. Instead, it means He acted in faithfulness to His promise. God remembers His people by keeping His word and fulfilling His covenant. This truth appears throughout Scripture. When Rachel was unable to have a child, God “remembered” her and opened her womb. When the people of Israel suffered under slavery in Egypt, God “remembered” His covenant with Abraham and rescued them. God always acts according to His promises, even when His people cannot see how.

The Bible tells of two main covenants that shape all of history. The first, made with Adam, depended on perfect obedience. When Adam broke that covenant, sin and death entered the world. But God revealed another covenant soon after, the covenant of grace. In it, He promised that one of Eve’s descendants would overcome evil and restore what was broken. That descendant is Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived the life of perfect obedience that no one else could. He fulfilled every command of God and then willingly suffered death on the cross to pay for sin. His resurrection proved that His work was complete and that God’s promise was unbreakable. Because of Him, people can be saved not by earning it, but by trusting in what Jesus has already done. Faith, not human effort, brings people into God’s covenant of grace.

Throughout the Bible, we see God’s remembering in action. He remembered His people when they were lost, afraid, or silent before Him. He remembered them through exile, slavery, and hardship. After centuries of waiting, He remembered His promise and sent His Son into the world. Even when people thought He had forgotten them, He was preparing their deliverance.

God still remembers His people today. When believers go through times of suffering, loss, or confusion, He does not turn away. Like Noah waiting in the ark, they may feel forgotten, but God’s promise stands. His faithfulness does not depend on our strength but on His unchanging character.

One day, everything God has promised through Christ will be fully complete. Until then, His people can trust that they are never abandoned. His covenant is sealed by the blood of Jesus, and His love does not fail.

When life feels uncertain and prayers seem unanswered, we can remember that God has engraved His people on the palms of His hands. He cannot forget those He has called His own.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”

Hebrews 13:5

Holding to the True Gospel

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RICHARD CORDER

In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul warns believers not to be led away from the truth of the gospel. In Galatians 5:7–12, he expresses deep concern for Christians who had once walked faithfully but were being influenced by false teachers. These teachers, called Judaizers, were convincing the Galatians that faith in Christ was not enough for salvation. They taught that following the laws of Moses, including circumcision and certain rituals, was also necessary. Paul saw this as a serious threat to the purity of the gospel.

Apostle Paul  Creative Commons George E. Koronaios

Paul reminds the believers that they began their spiritual journey well. They had accepted the message of salvation through faith in Christ alone. Yet someone had come among them and persuaded them to believe a different message. Paul makes it clear that this persuasion did not come from God. To add human works to the message of grace is to change the gospel completely. The message of salvation through Jesus Christ cannot be mixed with rules and rituals. Christ’s death and resurrection are sufficient for forgiveness and eternal life.

I think it’s important to mention here: I am speaking about salvation through works. There are Messianic Christians today who believe that to follow the law is to avoid sin, but not something that leads to salvation. To be clear, avoiding sin doesn’t save. Faith as a gift from God saves. But this doesn’t mean we should go ahead and sin. I don’t want to get off topic, but I want to be very clear what the Messianic Christians believe. Is this what Paul was talking about?

Paul’s concern is not only for the Galatians but for all believers. He knows that small errors can grow into serious problems. He warns that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Just as a small amount of yeast spreads through dough, even a small distortion of the gospel can corrupt the entire message. History shows that this has often happened when people have questioned or altered the truth of God’s word. For that reason, Paul calls for faithfulness to Scripture and careful study so that believers will not be deceived.

Nothing But The Blood – HeartCry Worship

Even though Paul speaks firmly, he does not lose hope. He tells the Galatians that he trusts the Lord will help them return to the truth. His confidence is not based on their strength but on God’s ability to guide those who truly belong to Him. However, Paul also warns that the person leading them astray will face judgment. False teachers, motivated by pride or sin, will one day answer for their actions before God.

Paul also addresses accusations made against him. Some claimed that he preached one message to Jews and another to Gentiles. He denies this, explaining that he never taught that the law could save anyone. For Jewish believers, keeping certain customs was a matter of culture, not salvation. For Gentiles, such practices were never required. Paul’s message was the same for all: salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. The cross is offensive because it tells people they cannot save themselves, but Paul refuses to soften that truth.

Finally, Paul expresses a strong wish against the false teachers who were disturbing the Galatian churches. His words are sharp, showing how seriously he viewed their actions. These men were spreading lies that could destroy the faith of many. Paul’s language may sound severe, but it reflects his passion for the gospel’s purity. He saw that false teaching was not just an error, it was an attack on the truth that saves.

Paul’s warning remains important today. Many still try to add human effort to God’s grace or twist the message of salvation to fit their own ideas. Believers are called to guard the truth carefully and to know Scripture well so they are not easily misled. The gospel of Christ does not need improvement or addition. It stands complete as the good news that brings freedom from sin and peace with God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Ephesians 2:8

Gunmen Abduct more than 150 worshippers in attacks on Nigerian churches Sunday

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MUSA OKONKWO

KURMIN WALI, Nigeria — Armed assailants kidnapped over 150 worshippers in coordinated raids on three churches in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, according to Usman Danlami Stingo, who represents the Kajuru area in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The attacks occurred in Kurmin Wali, a community in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state, while services were underway at an Evangelical Church Winning All congregation, a Cherubim and Seraphim church, and a Catholic church.

Stingo said 177 people were initially reported missing following the attacks. Eleven of those abducted later returned, leaving 168 people still missing as of Monday.

Police in Kaduna state had not commented on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Mass abductions by armed groups have plagued northwest Nigeria in recent years, with gunmen targeting schools, villages and places of worship for ransom.

US Justice department investigates after protesters storm worship service

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(EDITOR NOTE: This article is presented because it is something that affects the church. Its presentation is not intended to ‘take sides’ on a divisive issue. Feel free to leave comments in the comments section. Uncivil comments will not be approved. Be respectful.)

Federal authorities are examining whether civil rights were violated when demonstrators interrupted a Sunday service at a St. Paul church.

The protest targeted pastor David Easterwood, who allegedly oversees local Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Activists chanted demands for accountability following the fatal police shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old who was involved in an incident with ICE agents during an ICE operation in Minneapolis this month. Don Lemon livestreamed a portion of the event from inside the church building on YouTube.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated houses of worship aren’t public forums and are protected by federal law.

Black Lives Matter Minnesota helped organise the demonstration, which protesters livestreamed on social media.