GOD’S AMAZING GRACE! The following article comes from many different sources:  International Bible Society (Committee on Bible Translation), Easton’s Bible Dictionary, World Methodist Council, Strong’s Greek Dictionary, the KJV, the NIV and Billy Graham.  Grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God, made known through Jesus Christ, and expressed supremely in the redemption and full forgiveness of sinners through faith in Jesus Christ.  -  NIV Thematic Reference Bible, International Bible Society.

 There is evidence of the reality of God’s grace throughout the Bible - in the Old Testament and New Testament.  Some of these Scriptures are:  Old Testament - Ps. 86:15; Isaiah 55:7; and Malachi 3:17.  Some in the New Testament are: John 3:16-17; Luke 5:27-32; and Galatians 2:21

I encourage you to become familiar with God’s Word and experience the grace of God in a personal way.  If you do not have access to a Bible, please let me know and I will be happy to assist you.

 

A Statement of World Methodist Belief and Practice - (God’s Saving Grace)

Central to Wesley's work was the proclamation of salvation and out of this emerged what is distinctive in Methodism:

God's Grace
Grace is behind the whole of God's works. God's grace is active in creation and providence. By grace we possess conscience which enables us to discern good and evil. Human beings reject the will of God, are estranged from the divine life and themselves, and are entangled in the evil which corrupts the world around them. Thus human beings are in need of salvation, and God's grace gives them the capacity to respond to salvation offered us through Jesus Christ.

God's Saving Love
The grace of God is, in its essence, God's saving love, rooted in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. God forgives our sin, removes estrangement and fear and conquers evil in and around us, as an anticipation of the full victory to be realized in the eternal world to come.

Christ's Atonement – For All
The benefits of Christ's atonement must be appropriated by each and every person. Though God's saving grace is intended for everyone, it is not irresistible. God created human beings with freedom of choice. He will not violate their nature, even to save them.

A Gift to be Received
Salvation is neither inevitable or self-achieved. People cannot save themselves, but neither can they be saved without themselves. God alone is the giver of salvation, but a person may refuse to accept the gift when it is offered.

Transformed Lives
God not only works for us in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our redemption, but also works in us by transforming our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Divine Life Within
Sanctification. As we live with God, the divine life is shaped within us. The goal is perfect love which is attainable in this life. The Christian life is one of growing maturity in grace.

A Society of Saints
Holiness is social as well as personal. It involves the transformation not only of the individual, but transformation of the world of which he or she is a part. It envisages a society of saints. All people are called to be saints. The expression of holiness in its social context entails the physical and material well-being of all people.

The Witness of God's Spirit
The feature of Methodist thought which brings joy, comfort and strength to people is the assurance of the work that God has done and is doing in them. "His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16) The believer knows that the abode of the Holy Spirit is human hearts and communities.

What Methodists Share in Common With Other Christians

    Methodists along with all other major Christian bodies accept the Apostles' Creed and the first four ecumenical councils of the Church, the teachings of which are set out in the Nicene Creed and the Chalcedonian formula. These embody the doctrine of the Trinity; the Person of Christ, the divine Word made flesh, fully God and fully human; and the doctrine of redemption.

We share with all Christians belief that:

Salvation is the work of the Triune God.

Scriptures reveal God's plan of salvation.

All people need salvation since all are sinners and cannot save themselves.

Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the Saviour of the world.

The Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world for its salvation.

The Church is the body of Christ; the community that bears the message of salvation and incorporates those who are in the way of salvation into its own body.

The Church is the community of those who are being saved by grace through faith in Christ, living under God’s rule, and are sent out as instruments of God's eternal purpose

The Church is a fellowship of worship and praise in which the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are celebrated.

The Victory of God's love. Christ came preaching the kingly rule of God for all life. Salvation, under God's rule, is available now but looks forward to its consummation when every form of evil will be destroyed and the last enemy, which is death, will be no more. The victory of God’s love will gloriously triumph in the 'resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.’

 

This statement was drafted in Jerusalem and adopted by the World Methodist Council in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

Because of the truth of God’s Word and His amazing grace, we respond with joy and gratitude by participating in the Sacraments.  The following is about the important Sacrament of Baptism. 

 

Q: My parents never had anything to do with God, and I've always been the same way. But a few months ago, I accepted Jesus into my life through a Christian friend, and now I'm getting involved in his church. They want me to be baptized before I join, but I don't understand why I need to do this. -- A.G.

A: I'm sure your pastor would be happy to explain why it is important for you to be baptized -- not just as a requirement for church membership, but because of its spiritual significance.

While churches differ in their understanding of some aspects of baptism, all take seriously Jesus' command for His people to be baptized. Just before His ascension into heaven, He declared, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). The New Testament frequently tells of men and women who committed their lives to Christ, and then as a sign of their commitment were baptized (e.g., Acts 8:36-38).
Baptism is an outward and public sign of our inward commitment to Christ. It also is a sign of what Christ has done for us; just as water washes dirt from our bodies, so Jesus Christ has washed away the "dirt" of our sins by His blood, which He shed for us on the cross. Baptism reminds us too of what God already has done in our hearts by His Spirit: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
Thank God that He has now made you part of God's family through faith in Christ. Now make your commitment public by participating in the sacrament of baptism.     By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services

 

The following is from Strong’s Greek Dictionary

Strong's Number: 908

Transliterated: baptisma

Phonetic: bap'-tis-mah

Text:  from 907; immersion, baptism (technically or figuratively): --baptism.

 

The following is from Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Text:  an ordinance immediately instituted by Christ (Matt. 28: 19, 20), and designed to be observed in the church, like that of the Supper, "till he come." The words "baptize" and "baptism" are simply Greek words transferred into English. This was necessarily done by the translators of the Scriptures, for no literal translation could properly express all that is implied in them. The mode of baptism can in no way be determined

From the Greek word rendered "baptize." Some say that it means "to dip," and nothing else. That is an incorrect view of the meaning of the word. It means both

(1.) to dip a thing into an element or liquid, and

(2.) to put an element or liquid over or on it. Nothing therefore as to the mode of baptism can be concluded from the mere word used. The word has a wide latitude of meaning, not only in the New Testament, but also in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament, where it is used of the ablutions and baptisms required by the Mosaic law. These were effected by immersion, and by effusion and sprinkling; and the same word, "washings" (Heb. 9:10, 13, 19, 21) or "baptisms," designates them all.

In the New Testament there cannot be found a single well-authenticated instance of the occurrence of the word where it necessarily means immersion. Moreover, none of the instances of baptism recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (2:38-41; 8:26-39; 9:17, 18; 22:12-16; 10:44-48; 16:32-34) favors the idea that it was by dipping the person baptized, or by immersion, while in some of them such a mode was highly improbable.

 The gospel and its ordinances are designed for the whole world, and it cannot be supposed that a form for the administration of baptism would have been prescribed which would in any place (as in a tropical country or in polar regions) or under any circumstances be inapplicable or injurious or impossible.

 Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two symbolical ordinances of the New Testament. The Supper represents the work of Christ, and Baptism the work of the Spirit. As in the Supper a small amount of bread and wine used in this ordinance exhibits in symbol the great work of Christ, so in Baptism the work of the Holy Spirit is fully seen in the water poured or sprinkled on the person in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. That which is essential in baptism is only "washing with water," no mode being specified and none being necessary or essential to the symbolism of the ordinance.

 The apostles of our Lord were baptized with the Holy Ghost (Matt. 3:11) by his coming upon them (Acts 1:8). The fire also with which they were baptized sat upon them. The extraordinary event of Pentecost was explained by Peter as a fulfillment of the ancient promise that the Spirit would be poured out in the last days (2:17). He uses also with the same reference the expression shed forth as descriptive of the baptism of the Spirit

(33). In the Pentecostal baptism "the apostles were not dipped into the Spirit, nor

plunged into the Spirit; but the Spirit was shed forth, poured out, fell on them (11:15), came upon them, sat on them." That was a real and true baptism.

 

We are warranted from such language to conclude that in like manner when water is poured out, falls, comes upon or rests upon a person when this ordinance is administered, that person is baptized. Baptism is therefore, in view of all these arguments "rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person."

 

Acts 15:8-11 (NIV)  God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?  No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

 

Ephesians 2:4-9 (KJV)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

It is all about what is within our hearts.  In everything we do, say, and think; in every way that we communicate; may we bring all honor and glory to God and give Him all the praise.  Accept God’s saving grace, make your confession public through baptism, and experience the fullness of Jesus Christ and His love.

 

God’s Grace and Peace to you, 

Rev. Vera Walton