July Bulletin Page 3

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American soldier

Updated Prayer Lists are available in the front foyer.
Please take a copy and join us on Wednesday nights for Prayer Meeting.

A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many people want in . . . and how many want out.

TRUE FREEDOM IS NOT IN HAVING OUR OWN WAY,
but in yielding to God's ways. || COURAGE IS THE PRICE LIFE EXACTS FOR GRANTING PEACE.
Amelia Earhart || ONE MAN WITH COURAGE MAKES A MAJORITY.
Andrew Jackson

WE FIND FREEDOM WHEN WE FIND GOD
THE FREEDOM OF GRACE - In Touch 7/08 Do you judge yourself harshly when you do not live up to impossibly high expectations? Do you feel close to the Lord when you are doing something religious and distant when you are not? Many people today live in this manner. They lack the assurance that they have pleased God and strive to earn His fellowship. But the Bible says that we are accepted entirely by His grace, without consideration of any merit on our part. In the Old Testament, only the high priest could be in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized God’s presence. Think about all the thousands of people on the outside, unable to get any- where close to Him personally. Their whole concept of relating to God involved living up to rigorous laws and achieving acceptance on the basis of performance. Forgiveness of sin was attained only through animal sacrifice. Thankfully, Jesus came in order to die for our sins as a permanent, sub- stitutionary sacrifice. In so doing, He initiated an entirely different life style than the one that God’s people had been experiencing. On the day of His crucifixion, the veil hiding the Ark was split from top to bottom, symbolizing God’s opening of the door to an intimate relationship with Him. Now, animal sacrifices are no longer required. The Lord has made it possible for us to talk directly to Him and know we are being heard. That relationship is the difference between grace and law. Jesus’ death settled the basis of our acceptance once and for all. Though our conduct sometimes is not what it ought to be, we are nonetheless embraced as children of God. To enjoy the Christian life, we must accept the gift of freedom procured by Christ on our behalf. People trying to live up to an impossible standard in their own strength never know when they have pleased God. But pleasing Him isn’t the point. We are called instead to receive Christ, to follow Him, to belong to Him. In short, to fellowship with Him. The life of grace is free and eternal and its available to everyone who will call upon God.