Grace

Our worship service this morning was really moving. The Affirmation of Faith we read aloud as a congregation was meaningful to me, so I wanted to share it:

I am made right with God only by true faith in Jesus Christ.
Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments and of never having kept any of them,

and even though I am still inclined toward all evil,

nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace,

God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,

as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner,

as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.
All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.

When I say that by faith alone I am right with God;

It is not because of any value my faith has that God is pleased with me.

Only Christ's satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness make me right with God.

And I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.

-from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&As 60-61

Scriptures referenced include Rom. 3:21-28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil 3:8-11; Rom. 3:9-10; Rom. 7:23; Tit. 3:4-5; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 4:3-5 (Gen. 15:6); 2 Cor. 5:17-19; 1 John 2:1-2; Rom. 4:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:18; Acts 16:30-31; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Rom. 10:10; 1 John 5:10-12

How's that for a beautiful representation of the grace offered to us as believers? Wow!

If that wasn't enough to get you fired up, listen to this.

Happy Sunday.