Salvation is a gift Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck October 3, 2020

Blog death, Death is Defeated, Gods Law, Law, salvation, Salvation is a gift

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Victory!!

“‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57

What is the greatest comeback you have ever seen?

I was watching the Chicago Bears play the Atlanta Falcons in football this past week. Through the whole game Atlanta had the lead. In fact, with only 5 minutes left in the game, Atlanta was winning by 10 points and they had the ball. All seemed lost for the Bears. Then everything changed. The Bears stopped Atlanta and then scored a touchdown. Atlanta got the ball back, but the Bears stopped them again and scored another touchdown. The bears won the game! (Sorry ATL fans)

No Hope for Mankind
When mankind fell into sin, death entered the world and the condemnation of hell became the future of every human being. This is the result of rebelling against God.

What can we do?

Some would say that we should just try to live good lives and be nice to people. If we are good people, God will let us unto heaven. However, that’s not what God says.

God gave us His Law in the 10 Commandments and other places. He didn’t say, “Do your best,” or “Try to get close.” He told us how well we have to do in Matthew 5:48.

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

How do you do against that standard? If you are like me, not very good. Against the standard of perfection, we see that the Law does not provide a way to be good enough to get into heaven. The Law only condemns us, each sin building a case against us. If that’s all we had, there would be no hope. Thankfully, God provides another way.

Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!!

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the grave death was swallowed up in victory. Jesus has defeated death and hell.

Through faith in Jesus, His victory becomes our victory. Jesus washes away our sins. The sting of death is sin, but since we have no sin, death has no victory or sting. No longer does death have any power over us, but we have eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Praise the Lord!!

Dear Jesus,

I confess that I have sinned. If You kept a record of my sins, I could never stand before You. Thank You for dying for me. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for saving me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck August 29, 2020

Blog Faith, Salvation is a gift, saved by grace, Works Righteousness

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The Work God Requires

“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’” – John 6:28-29

What does God require of us to be saved?

This is the question Jesus was asked by a group of Jews one day. His answer is crucially important, informative, liberating, and…puzzling.

Jesus tells the Jews,

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.“

The “one [God] has sent” is Jesus. Jesus was very clear throughout the Gospel that He came from the Father, was sent by the Father, and did the work of the Father. So, the work of God is to believe in Jesus.

The Work That Isn’t Work
The strange part about that answer is that the work Jesus describes as work isn’t really work at all.

I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to offer me a job with a great salary and benefits which has the simple job description, “Believe you have the job.” You don’t have to do anything, just believe you have the job and will get paid and you will get paid. If you ever find that job, please let me know.

Why did Jesus phrase it that way?

Speaking the Language of the People
The people who were asking Jesus this question firmly believed that their works were what made them right before God. They had great trouble with the concept that salvation is a gift apart from works. Just look at the way they phrased the question.

“What must we do to do the works God requires?”

They are just assuming God requires works. So, their question is what are those works. Jesus starts to move them away from that mindset by phrasing the answer in the way they were used to speaking but telling them the only thing they need to do is believe.

It would be like if I was trying to give someone a free car and they couldn’t accept the idea that someone would just give them a car. “Surely the car costs something. What do I need to pay you?” they may say. I could respond, “The cost of the car is accepting the gift.”

Still Speaking Our Language
The truth is a lot of us still think like the Jews, maybe all of us. So, this passage is still very helpful for us, today.

When you start wondering what you need to do to be saved or if you’ve done what you need to do or if you’ve done enough, etc…When you question whether salvation can really just be a gift, remember this passage. The work God requires is to believe in Jesus. That’s it. Salvation really is a gift.

So, get to work. 😉

Dear Jesus,

So often I fall back into the belief that I must earn my salvation somehow. This always ends up with me discouraged or prideful. Help me to remember salvation is a gift. You have already done the work. Help me to rest in that gift.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck April 25, 2020

Blog Jesus Blood, Purchased by Jesus Blood, Ransomed, salvation, Salvation is a gift, Works

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Ransomed At A Price

“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19

Have you ever been held hostage?

Okay, you probably haven’t been held by bad guys for a literal ransom, but you have been held hostage.

“By what?” you ask.

Take your pick…

Sin
Lies
Your past
Fear
The Law

I could probably add more, but you see what I mean. In 1 Peter, it’s that last one on the list that Peter is referring to. The Jews had been held hostage by the Law. It’s not that the Law is bad, certainly not. It’s that they thought the way to be right with God was by keeping the Law.

A Surveillance State
There are many people, today, who talk about concerns of a surveillance state. With all the cameras (every cell phone, computer, even many doorbells) and all the microphones (phone, Alexa, smart TVs, etc.), if they wanted to, the government could watch your every move and listen to your every word. The book, 1984, examined through a novel how terrifying this could be. Anything you said or did that was against the law or against the state was known and punished.

Sadly, this is how many of the Jews lived and how many Christians, today, still live. God is watching all the time. They think,

“He sees and hears everything. He even knows your thoughts. If you do anything against the Law or against Him, He knows and will punish you.”

They are held hostage by the Law.

Jesus frees us by paying our ransom.

The Gospel is freeing. We no longer have to constantly look over our shoulder. We know we are sinners, but also know we are forgiven, not by what we do, but by what Jesus has done.

We are free because Jesus paid our ransom with His blood. His very life in exchange for our own.

Live in the Freedom of the Gospel
As Christians we need to constantly be reminded by each other through God’s Word that we have been freed. Our sinful self is always seeking to put us back under sin or the Law. Christ has freed you from both.

And, if Christ has freed you, you are free indeed!!

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for purchasing my freedom with Your blood. Keep me from sin and self-righteousness. Help me to rest in the gracious promise of Your Gospel.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 28, 2020

Blog salvation, Salvation is a gift, Work

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On God Rests My Salvation

“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” – Psalm 62:7

Are you going to heaven?

This is a helpful question because the answer reveals what we are trusting in for our salvation. Many people answer,

“I hope so,” or
“I think so, I’m a pretty good person.”

These answers are common but unfortunate. They demonstrate that the person is looking to their works, the good they do and the bad they avoid, for their assurance. There’s no assurance of salvation in that. In fact, if we think we can earn eternal life, we can be sure we won’t.

I hope your answer is,

“Yes, by the grace of God!”

This answer looks solely to God through the work of Jesus Christ. We’re saved by God’s love and Jesus’ work, not ours. You don’t need to “hope” it’s true or think about how good or bad you are. That’s irrelevant because salvation is only by grace through faith apart from our works.

So, are you going to heaven? “Yes, by the grace of God!!”

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for saving me by Your grace. If it depended on my works, I would have no hope. When doubt enters my mind, remind me of Your promise and remind me that my salvation rests on You alone.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 10, 2020

Blog holy, Holy Living, salvation, Salvation is a gift

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Are You Holy Enough?

are you holy enough

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” – 2 Timothy 1:9

Are you holy enough for God to let you into heaven?

This is a question many people wonder and struggle with. 2 Timothy gives us some important insight into this question.

God saved you and He didn’t do it because you were good enough. He did it for His own purposes and because He is gracious. In fact, He planned your salvation from the beginning of time.

This passage also says that we are called to a holy life, but notice the order. We are saved first, by God’s will, then we are called to a holy life as one who is already saved. In fact, Hebrews 10:10 says we are holy because God makes us holy.

“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:10

So, the holy life we are called to is a matter of God telling us to live like the holy people we are through Christ. So, yes, if you believe in Jesus, you are holy enough to get into heaven. You are holy enough because God has made you holy apart from anything you have done or avoided doing.

You can also live in that holiness as well!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for saving me and making me holy. Help me to trust in Your work making me holy rather than my works which do nothing for my salvation. Thank you also for the blessing of being able to live as one who is holy. Help me to live as Your called and chosen child to Your glory.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck February 13, 2020

Blog jesus, Jesus Loves You, love, salvation, Salvation is a gift

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Jesus Loves You

jesus loves you

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17

Why did Jesus die for you?

Is it because you are so awesome at stuff? Is it because you are better than other people?

Nope.

It’s because He loves you. It’s that simple. John 3 16-17 is Jesus speaking. He’s explaining to Nicodemus who He was and why He came. He later, by His Spirit, inspired John to write this for us. Jesus wants you to know why He came. It was to save you and everyone else. He wanted you to know why He saved you. It is because He loves you. It’s a simple truth, but one that changes everything.

What do you need to do to be saved?

Do you need to do awesome stuff? Do you need to stop doing so many bad things?

Nope.

Just believe in Jesus. It’s that simple. Jesus saves you because He wants to…because He loves you. You can’t earn it.

What you can do, however, is rest in His love. You can rest from striving to earn His love by your good deeds. He already loves you and loves you regardless. You can rest from wondering if your good enough. He loves you. You can rest is His words of love, grace, and truth.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for giving me rest.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kimberly October 30, 2019

Sermons grace, LCMS, lutheran, mercy, Peace, reformation, reformation sunday, Salvation is a gift, saved by grace, Wesley Chapel

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Grace, Mercy, and Peace to You – Reformation Sunday

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL
Sermon for October 27, 2019
Pastor Kurt Steinbrueck
Visit us at https://faithwesleychapel.com/
Follow us at facebook.com/FaithWesleyChapel/

Join us for worship this Sunday at 4pm

We use the dance studio at Song and Dance to hold worship services.

Song and Dance, Inc.
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

See you Sunday and God bless!

For more sermon videos please visit our Service Archive.

Salvation is a gift

Victory!!

Victory!!

The Work God Requires

The Work God Requires

Ransomed At A Price

Ransomed At A Price

On God Rests My Salvation

On God Rests My Salvation

Are You Holy Enough?

are you holy enough

Jesus Loves You

jesus loves you

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to You – Reformation Sunday

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to You – Reformation Sunday

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL