As Irene and I draw to the close of
our pastoral ministry here at First
B, once again we want to extend
heartfelt thanks to each friend and
member of our church family for
the gracious love and acceptance
you have extended to us. The past
five years have been blessed ones
for us, and we trust for you.
We often reflect on our church’s
vision statement: ”With all we are,
loving God and loving people
through Christ.” It remains a valid
focus for the life of First Baptist
Church in our valley, and for other
places around the world where we
touch through our missionaries.
Indeed, it is God’s love—
evidenced through our hearts, hands
and feet—that first appeals to
others and warms them to the
things of God.
Through such love is birthed a
practical unity that binds us
together. This is God’s plan. His
exhortation includes being “eager
to maintain the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace” Eph. 4:3.
In my mind, the importance of such
thinking is emphasized by tracing
its roots. Christ’s words
concerning the Father’s gift to Him
in eternity past are astonishing. In
the Lord’s sermon in John 6 He
declared,
37 All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and whoever
comes to Me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from
heaven, not to do My own will
39 And this is the will of Him
Who sent Me, that I should lose
nothing of all that He has given
Me, but raise it up on the last
day.
40 For this is the will of My
Father, that everyone who looks
on the Son and believes in Him
should have eternal life, and I
will raise Him up on the last
day. John 6:37-40
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In verses 37 and 39 Jesus speaks
all-inclusively by using a
collective singular—“The whole
thing” that the Father gives to
Me…. But He also personalizes
the message by saying, “…the
one coming to Me I will never
cast out.” Then, in verse 40,
Jesus explains and individualizes
the group referenced in verse 39.
He identifies “the one coming”
as “each one who beholds the
Son and believes into Him.”
Before the world began, the
Father presented His Son with
one special gift—a gift which
included many individuals. This
passage reveals Christ’s
determination to rescue and
ransom each one. In the
language of Ephesians 1:4, “…
He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and blameless
before Him…..”
During the evening before the
Cross the Lord focused His heart
on us again. Before leaving the
Upper Room, He prayed for
us—the Church—the gift of
people whom the Father had
given His Son. Referring to us
as “the ones given” He noted we
would possess eternal life (vs.
2). He committed us to the
Father for safe-keeping (vs. 11).
He prayed for our sanctification
through the truth (vs. 17). And,
He prayed that we would be one
(vs. 20-21).
The Holy Spirit created the unity
for which Christ prayed through
Spirit baptism—“For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into
one body—Jews or Greeks,
slaves or free…” I Cor. 12:13. |
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However, as I noted earlier, on
the practical side of things, we
are called “…to maintain the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace” Eph. 4:3. It is no
surprise that, before talking
about peace, Paul exhorted us to
“walk worthy of our calling,”
and “with all humility,
gentleness and patience, to bear
with one another in love.”
(Eph. 4:1-2).
For the continuance of such
expressions of God’s grace at
First B., for personal and
corporate growth in holiness, for
glory to be brought to the Lord
through each life, Irene and I
shall be pleased to pray. We are
confident that God will bless
First B. with a new pastor who
deeply loves God, loves His
Scriptures, and loves His people.
It will be a joy to hear of your
continuing walk of faith and
peace under his leadership.
Pastor Rich
But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To Him
be the glory both now and to
the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18
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