This blog is designed to encourage you to read through the New Testament in 2009 by providing insights, encouragement, and accountability. I or a guest blogger will recored each day (Monday through Friday) something that God spoke to us through the day's selection from the New Testament. You are invited to read our journal entry and respond to what we have written or share a highlight from your own reading of the passage. In this way we will have an online accountability group to help us stay with the journey and we will benefit from one another's insights into God's Word.

Look for regular entries beginning January 5, 2009. In preparation for that time go ahead and use the tools to the right to subscribe to the blog so that you will receive entries when they are made.

I am excited about the journey we are about to undertake together and look forward to what God will do through it in our lives and our church.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark Kemp

THE GLORIOUS GIFT

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5

In this verse are the great truths of the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is eternal. He appeared at a point in time but he has existed from eternity past (see John 1:1). He is sinless. He entered fully into the frailty of our humanity, faced all our temptation, but never committed sin. Therefore He is uniquely (the only one) qualified to save sinners. He is Savior. He came to "take away our sins" which He did by "bearing them in His body on the cross" (see 1 Peter 2:24). Eternal Son of God! Sinless man! Savior of sinners! What a glorious gift!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank you for the glorious gift of Jesus and pray that I may fully live the salvation life You have given me through Him.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark