Pastor and Staff

“In all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39, NRSVUE)

For me, this verse from Paul’s letter to the Romans encapsulates the Gospel. Nothing about who you are. Or who you aren’t. Or who you will be. Or what happens in your life. Or the mistakes we’ve made. None of it can separate you from the love of God in Jesus. You are loved. Period. Nothing can change that. We can’t earn it. And we can’t lose it. This is a free gift that is yours to keep, forever. 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:9-13, NRSVUE)

Faith is technically a noun, but we ought to think of it as a verb. Loving God means loving our neighbors. And loving our neighbors means serving them as we are able. We have been freed from sin, death, and the devil for the sake of our neighbors. We have been freed from and freed for! Responding to the call of the Holy Spirit means taking action for the sake of the people around us, no matter who they are!