Worship at Mercy Baptist Church

Under normal circumstances we would gather for Christmas Eve Service tonight, however, these past few weeks have been anything but normal. It is easy to be distracted from the awe of this season; the coming of God as man because of His great love for us. Tonight we remember and celebrate the love of the Father, obedience of the Son, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we need a rest. A rest from the trials and burdens of this life. A rest after spending all we have in serving others. Jesus calls us to rest..."come to me". "I will give you rest". "I am gentle and lowly." For the Believer, rest and comfort now in the battle. To one who does not believe, rest from doing wrong...given new life.

Being made righteous and justified by faith alone Jesus Christ, we now belong to His body. As a Believer we have a place, a purpose and we belong.

Over the past few weeks we have unpacked a critically important passage to the Believer. Man can be made righteous and justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Let's take a little time and breathe that in, or smell the roses, or just take time to contemplate what this means.

Paul argues that one is made righteous and justified not by works, but by faith alone in Christ alone. Today we unpack the meaning of this faith Paul writes about. Faith; the gift from God of our absolute assurance and conviction that Christ is who He says He is, has done what He said He would do, and is coming again for His very own.

This liberating and life giving truth; righteousness and justification comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Paul is concluding his argument that one cannot keep the Law, none merits salvation. Salvation: righteousness and justification, is in Jesus alone.

Justification by grace alone in Christ alone. His righteousness imputed to the one who will believe. He is the propitiation to the one who will believe. Salvation is ALL about Jesus, but one must believe.

Paul now gives the only hope for justification; faith in Jesus Christ alone. We cannot merit justification, it is by the complete work of Jesus on man's behalf, by the grace of God alone. Two misconception about justification..I can merit it, or by it I am free to do whatever I want. We let the Scriptures answer each of these misconceptions