Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we worshipped our great God and learned from Hebrews 8 that we are under a new and better covenant through Jesus Christ. The old covenant revealed to us that we could never achieve God’s favor through performance. The old covenant revealed we could not keep God’s law because of our innate sinful nature. The old covenant revealed that the animal sacrifices of the old covenant could not provide for complete forgiveness. The old covenant revealed those imperfect priests of the old covenant could not bring Holy God and sinful men together. However, there is a new and perfect covenant! The new covenant reveals what we could not do for ourselves, Jesus does for us! The death of Jesus in our place on the cross provides complete, total, and forever forgiveness. As our risen and perfect forever High Priest, Jesus completely bridges the gap between sinful man and Holy God. Some people see Christianity like the Pharisees and scribes saw Judaism in the time of Jesus. They see it as toilsome, burdensome, and joyless. They see it as a list of rules for you to keep to hopefully make you right with God. But that kind of Christianity is not real and will never work. All our rule-keeping will not make you or me right with God. God’s Spirit and Jesus’ church do not invite you to toilsome and burdensome religion. Today, God’s Spirit and God’ church are not inviting people to follow Christ to do something for Him. God’s Spirit and God’s church invite you to come to Christ because Jesus has done everything for you!
If you are interested in either a short-term small group Bible study at the church building with appropriate social distancing and masking, or a short-term virtual Bible study, send me an email with your interest and preference.
We are receiving during September the State Missions Offering. I believe in the work we do to advance God’s Kingdom in Wisconsin and Minnesota through this offering. If you want to learn more about this, go to https://www.mwbc.org/state-missions-offering/ and watch the video on that page. Offering envelopes are available at our worship gatherings or you can write a check and designate it to “State Missions.”
Please join me in praying for our city, state, and nation during these difficult days. God’s people need to intensely seek His help, His justice, His mercy, and His peace in these times.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church