Encountering God Equipping People Extending the Gospel... Salem Monthly Newsletter of Salem Covenant Church March 2016 Issue bridge The High Cost of a Free Gift It (righteousness before God) will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:24-25) Later in this month of March, Christians worldwide will commemorate Holy Week. The most significant of these events, of course, are the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We rightly look to these important events in the life of Jesus because as the Scripture above tells us Jesus our Lord was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. In This Issue P. 1-2 A Word from Pastor Dave P. 3 CPB Camp P. 4-5 Announcements P. 6-8 Parent Connect P. 9 Calendar As Christians of evangelical faith, we do NOT count on our own good works for salvation but rather put our hope and trust in what Christ has done on our behalf. We understand that the benefits of that work are obtained by faith in Christ alone. We further recognize that in Him alone can we have righteous standing before a holy God. We stand in awe of the redemptive work accomplished by Christ and received by grace through faith as a FREE GIFT (Romans 6:23). We rightly acknowledge and celebrate this gracious bestowment. Article continued on page 2
The Salem Bridge Page 2 Article continued from page 1 The High Cost of a Free Gift Yet in our rejoicing, it is important to remember some important truths about this free gift of righteousness given to us in Christ. First, the fact that salvation is free to us does not mean it was not paid for. We should not think of our new favor before God as an amenity thrown in by the goodness of His heart. Our righteous standing before God was paid for by the perfect life, painful death and victorious resurrection of Jesus. The apostle Peter writes, you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word redeem means to recover from the power of another by payment of a price, to ransom. That purchase price, that ransom given to save you from sin, Satan and hell was the blood of Jesus. His physical, emotional and spiritual suffering was the acquisition cost for our salvation. So we rightly say the gift was free for us. Yet this ransom price for our freedom was agonizingly deep and profoundly costly for our Lord. There is an accompanying concept that speaks to the high cost of this free gift. Many years ago, I heard this thought-provoking quote: Salvation in Christ is a free gift but it will cost you everything. When Jesus called His early followers He spoke these challenging words, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:27). Was does this mean that we have a cross to carry? I thought the Christian life was only about the cross that Jesus carried for us. It is important to understand that the cross Jesus carried can alone lead to redemption from our sins. Yet there is also a cross for us that is similar to Jesus cross because by this cross we lay down our lives for His kingdom. That is how we can say that salvation in Christ is a free gift but it will cost you everything. The understanding of the breadth of Scripture confirms that those who are truly redeemed and born again into His kingdom will desire to lay down our lives for Him. Those belonging to Christ will know that the residuals of our own self-centered lives must be dealt with and, in the midst of the struggle between our flesh and God s Spirit, let Christ take control of our lives. A very high price was paid for you to be able to be called both a child of God and a disciple of Jesus. The call to be a disciple of Jesus includes bountiful blessings for those who yield to His Lordship. Yet Jesus is clear that this is not just an enhancement of our old life, but the replacement of our old life by His life. It is my sincere hope as you celebrate His resurrection this month that you also have come to experience being raised to a new life through His grace and power. Happy Easter! Pastor Dave Peterson
The Salem Bridge Page 3 Junior/Senior High Camp June 19-24 Cost: $205 Trailblazer 1 June 26-30 Cost: $185 Adventure Camp 1 June 27-29 Cost: $110 Mini Camp July 6-8 Cost: Before March 1 $140 Before May 1 $150 After May 1 $160 Kiddie Camp July 7 & 8 Cost: $40/day Trailblazer 2 July 10-14 Cost: Before March 1 $240 Before May 1 $265 After May 1 $290 Adventure Camp 2 July 11-13 Cost: $110 MAD (music, art, drama) July 17-22 Cost: Before March 1 $240 Before May 1 $265 After May 1 $290 BWCA Trip July 18-21 Cost:$175 Junior High July 24-29 Cost: Before March 1 $240 Before May 1 $265 After May 1 $290 Senior High July 31-August 5 Cost: Before March 1 $240 Before May 1 $265 After May 1 $290 Community Day Camp August 8-12 Cost: $130 or $33/day
The Salem Bridge Page 4 Every 2nd & 4th Sunday s of the month See Angie Smith Proceeds benefit the South African Mission Trip
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The Salem Bridge Page 9 Visit our website at www.salemcovenant.org for the most up to date calendar of events.
Salem Covenant Church 339 N. 59 TH Ave. W. Duluth, MN 55807-1966 Salem Covenant Church Bringing Hope to the Heart of Spirit Valley 218-624-4859 salem@salemcovenant.org www.salemcovenant.org Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 1 pm Check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/salemcovenant