Message from the Pastor's Desk

Read Romans 5: 6-8

We hear the cry often these days; people demanding justice against a perpetrator of a crime that was committed against someone they know and love. They demand that the perpetrator be punished, that justice is served and the criminal pay for the crime they committed. We can hear the agony they're feeling inside as their anger and sorrow pours forth from their wounded hearts. They are demanding justice.

If, however, the punishment fitting the crime is withheld, the victim, for example, refuses to "press charges" or speaks up for their assailant and pleads with the court to withhold penalty and the court does, this is mercy. Mercy is withholding the punishment a wrongdoer deserves.

And, there is something else, a third response that's unusual and truly astonishing when given. It's something that extends far beyond showing mercy. It's called grace and grace is showing favor, pouring love upon one who doesn't deserve it. Grace is unconditional, it is offered with no strings attached. Grace is a gift and provides forgiveness to the one deserving punishment, judgment, and death.

While the response of grace is often rare, when grace is in operation it's amazing to see and a marvel to behold. That's how the Amish community, you may remember, responded to Charles Carl Roberts back in 2006 after he entered an Amish elementary school with a gun and opened fire, killing 5 children and injuring 5 others before killing himself. While grieving the loss of their children, the Amish community reached out in grace to forgive the killer and minister to Roberts' family. Theirs, was an amazing response of grace; an example of love we should all remember and emulate whenever someone harms or mistreats us.

Grace, of course, is how God responds to you and me in Christ. We were spiritually powerless. We are sinners. Because of our sin we deserve death, (Romans 6: 23). But God didn't simply withhold from us the punishment our sins deserve. He didn't simply offer mercy, no! He imparts His grace to us in Christ. He gave us what we didn't deserve, His love and the assurance of eternal life. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We deserved spiritual death but God provides us with forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come, 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home". John Newton, 1779.

Join us each and every Sunday for worship at Old Brick Church as together, we marvel and celebrate the wondrous grace of God given to us through Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor George Kaden