One Pastor's Perspective: March 2013

Saturday, March 30, 2013

His Is Risen! Alleluia!

Wishing each and every one of you the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding from our Lord Jesus Christ, as we celebrate the most dramatic and important event in history: His glorious resurrection from the dead. Jesus Himself tells us, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live!" (John 11:25)

If you are visiting beautiful Catalina Island, California this weekend, then please join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM, as we read from the Gospel of John and learn why the empty tomb is the personal guarantee of our own resurrection to everlasting life. Many advertised products like the Ginsu Knife Set and others promise a “lifetime guarantee.” But only Jesus promises each and every one of us an “after-lifetime guarantee!” Following Jesus from this life into the next is why we are called “Christians.” His love is all that matters.

God Bless You!

Pastor Jason

For More Information, Please Visit: www.calvarybiblechurch.com

Monday, March 25, 2013

Sunday Teaching • Mar 31, 2013

JESUS HAS RISEN SO YOU MIGHT LIVE!

“I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18) "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live!" (Jesus in John 11:25)

Please join us this Sunday, March 31st at 10:00 am., as Calvary Bible Church hosts its weekly Bible Teaching and Fellowship Service in the front lobby of the U.S. Bank Building, 303 Crescent Avenue (near the corner of Crescent & Metropole), celebrating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead with a Biblical study entitled: “Jesus Has Risen So You Might Live!" taken from the Gospel of John. All are welcome to join us and hear this message of love and truth from God's Life-Changing Word! Please join us!

Just before Jesus was crucified and arose from the dead in His new, glorified body, He toke Peter, James, and John up to the summit of Mt. Tabor and there was "transfigured" before them into His "glorified" heavenly body. The three apostles tell us that they "were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18) For 40 days following His resurrection, Jesus showed all of His disciples this new body, a body made of "flesh and bone," yet heavenly-transformed. (Luke 24:39) This new "glorified" body, as we call it, could disappear from sight (Luke 24:31) and even pass through walls and locked doors! (John 20:19) This is the new body which Paul tells us, we will have when Jesus returns to take us to His heavenly kingdom, and the same everlasting life promised by Jesus Himself. (Colossians 3:4 & John 11:25)

Jesus Himself confirmed that only He had the power to allow Himself to be killed, as well as the power to bring Himself back to life from the dead. (John 10:18) He knew what His purpose here on earth was: to die on the cross for the salvation of each and every one of us. This “appointment with destiny,” as it were, had a very specific timetable, and Jesus knew it. How many times in the Gospels do we hear Jesus tell His disciples, “My time has not yet come?” (John 7:6) Finally, just before His arrest and execution by Pontius Pilate, Jesus announces to His own disciples in a plain and simple language that they would understand, that He MUST die and be resurrected from the dead. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later, He will rise." (Mark 10:33-34) The glorification of Jesus through His unselfish act of love enables all of us now to be glorified like Him. Alleluia!! (John 3:16)

The personal hope of a physical, bodily resurrection from the dead is based on the promise of Jesus Himself, when He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live!" (John 11:25) This promise from the one, true living God, Jesus Christ, is the entire foundation of Christianity. No other man-made religion on planet earth makes such a claim! Nor can they even suggest such a thing, for all of their founders are dead. Our founder, on the other hand, is alive! The Word of God guarantees the believer's resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph, as the Apostle Paul writes, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) This is our Hope. This is our Victory. Our hope and obedience in Jesus Christ makes it possible to triumph over death. So, with this kind of guarantee, shouldn’t you ask yourself, “Don’t I want to live forever?” I know that I do!

His Empty Tomb is Our Guarantee of Our Own Resurrection to Life!

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection in His new, glorified body, He told them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ (the Messiah King) to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations." (Luke 24:46-47) This is the true "gospel," the "good news" that ministers of our Lord are commanded to preach: repentance of your sins with the promise of everlasting life with Him in heaven. Your faith in this promise "comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) There is no other way to eternal life after you die. Please join us this Sunday and learn what God has to say about your future, as written in His inspired Holy Word... the Bible. Become a REAL Christian... a true follower of Jesus Christ. He gave up His life so that we -- each and every one of us -- might have eternal life!

Paul, in his letters to the early Church, tells us that it is our friend, Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin and gives us a resurrected body and eternal life -- we do not save ourselves. Trying to be "a good person" or doing good deeds does not lead to salvation. To both Jews and pagans, Paul preached "repentance of sin toward God and faith commitment toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21) It is only by our repentance of sin (turning away from it) and direct commitment to Jesus Christ -- not belonging to a particular religion, following a church denomination, or doing "good works" -- that changes in our life and our eternal salvation are assured. Peter tells us how easy it is to find salvation: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Are you ready to receive the free gift of eternal life from your new-found friend, Jesus?

Join Us This Sunday On Beautiful Catalina Island!

Each week's study is taught by Pastor Jason Gant, bringing you the loving and living Word of God from the Bible, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse. Everyone is welcomed, and transportation is happily provided. Attendees at this Sunday's service will have the opportunity to ask their Bible questions and take part in a brief discussion period after the teaching. Our "Coffee & Carbs Fellowship" follows immediately afterwards. For more information, please call 310-510-3003 or visit our website at www.calvarybiblechurch.com. If you need prayer. please call our toll-free 24-Hour Prayer Line 1-866-Holy-Word (465-9967). Remember... Read the Book, Learn the Truth!

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sunday Teaching • Mar 24, 2013

WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?

“The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:16-18)

Please join us this Sunday, March 24th at 10:00 am., as Calvary Bible Church hosts its weekly Bible Teaching and Fellowship Service in the front lobby of the U.S. Bank Building, 303 Crescent Avenue (near the corner of Crescent & Metropole), offering a Biblical study entitled: “Why Did Jesus Have To Die?" taken from the Gospel of John. We are so blessed to have the musical praise group Cloud of Hope lead our worship this week. All are welcome to worship with us and hear this message of love and truth from God's Life-Changing Word! Please join us!

Members of Cloud of Hope Will Lead Worship This Sunday

Since the days of Adam and Eve, the prophecy of a Savior has been echoing in the ears of humanity for thousands of years. Among these prophecies, we read a virtual monologue of Jesus Himself in Psalm 22, describing His own crucifixion and death on the cross. But it is the Prophet Isaiah, speaking the Word of God 700 years before Jesus would be born, who tells is WHY Jesus would be tortured and die an excruciating death, nailed to a cross some 2000 years ago: Jesus died for our sins, so that all of us could be saved from our sins!

He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely, He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions (wrong doings), He was bruised for our iniquities (sins); The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity (sins) of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-7)

Jesus Himself confirmed that only He had the power to allow Himself to be killed, as well as the power to bring Himself back to life from the dead. (John 10:18) He knew what His purpose here on earth was: to die on the cross for the salvation of each and every one of us. This “appointment with destiny,” as it were, had a very specific timetable, and Jesus knew it. How many times in the Gospels do we hear Jesus tell His disciples, “My time has not yet come?” (John 7:6)

Finally, just before His arrest and execution by Pontius Pilate, Jesus announces to His own disciples in a plain and simple language that they would understand, that He MUST die and be resurrected from the dead. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later, He will rise." (Mark 10:33-34) The glorification of Jesus through His unselfish act of love enables all of us now to be glorified like Him. Alleluia!! (John 3:16)

As we study the Old Testament together looking forward to the cross of Jesus, we see that despite mankind’s continued failure – beginning with Adam & Eve and continuing with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – our most Benevolent, Loving, and Living Creator demonstrates His unending love for us. Every time man falls on his face in failure, our Loving Father is there to pick him up, dust him off, and send him (and all of us, as well) on his way to begin all over again. To the Prophet Jeremiah, our Heavenly Father said, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) His love is meant to sweep us off our feet and save us from our sinful self.

It couldn’t have been said any clearer than by Jesus Himself: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jesus Speaking in John 3:16) The sacrificial lamb, prophesied by Abraham, reflected in the Passover prior to the Israelites leaving Egypt, and the “Lamb of God” spoken of by John the Baptist is Jesus. His ultimate sacrifice – His death on the cross – made the washing away of our sins possible. By His mercy, our cries for forgiveness are now heard, and our eternal salvation is assured. Have you called upon the name of the Lord and asked for forgiveness of your sins? “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (Jesus in John 16:24)

Join Us This Sunday On Beautiful Catalina Island!

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Saturday, March 2, 2013

Sunday Teaching • Mar 3, 2013

ABRAHAM'S FAITH IS TESTED AGAIN!

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place, which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12)

Please join us this Sunday, March 3rd at 10:00 am., as Calvary Bible Church hosts its weekly Bible Teaching and Communion Fellowship Service in the front lobby of the U.S. Bank Building, 303 Crescent Avenue (near the corner of Crescent & Metropole), offering a Biblical study entitled: “Abraham’s Faith Is Tested Again!" taken from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 20 & 21. All are welcome to join us and hear this message of love and truth from God's Life-Changing Word!

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." (Genesis 17:1-2) A short time later, the LORD visits Abraham, who is resting in the doorway of his tent under the large oak tree at the Oasis of Mamre near the northwest corner of the Dead Sea. He tells the old man once again, that he will have a son, with whom He – the LORD – would make an everlasting covenant, giving his offspring (the Jews) the entire land of Israel. Overhearing this, Abraham’s 89-year old wife Sarah laughs to herself. Knowing Abraham and Sarah’s wavering faith, the Lord tells him, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14) “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” had to be ringing in Abraham’s ears! But, because he was obedient and trusted the LORD, Abraham’s faith grew, and he “believed (trusted) the LORD and it was credited to him to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) A thousand years later, our LORD tells the Prophet Isaiah, “I am the LORD, that is My Name! New things I declare to you. Before they spring into being, I announce them to you.” (Isaiah 42:9) When Isaac was born to his 90 year old wife Sarah, the 100-year old Abraham finally got it! The promises of the LORD are true indeed! Our faith is our trust and obedience to the LORD, that His promises WILL come to pass and in His timing, not ours. Like Abraham, will YOUR faith be accounted to you as righteousness?

As we study the Book of Genesis together, we see that despite mankind’s continued failure – beginning with Adam & Eve and continuing with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – our most Benevolent, Loving, and Living Creator demonstrates His unending love for us. Every time man falls on his face in failure, our Loving Father is there to pick him up, dust him off, and send him (and all of us, as well) on his way to begin all over again. Reading Genesis, you will get some understanding of why God is seeking to have such a close, loving relationship with each and every one of us. To the Prophet Jeremiah, our Heavenly Father said, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) His love is meant to sweep us off our feet and save us from our sinful self. It couldn’t have been said any clearer than by Jesus Himself: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jesus Speaking in John 3:16)

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection in His new, glorified body, He told them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ (the Messiah King) to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations." (Luke 24:46-47) This is the true "gospel," the "good news" that ministers of our Lord are commanded to preach: repentance of your sins with the promise of everlasting life with Him in heaven. Your faith in this promise "comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) There is no other way to eternal life after you die. Please join us this Sunday and learn what God has to say about your future, as written in His inspired Holy Word... the Bible. Become a REAL Christian... a true follower of Jesus Christ. He gave up His life so that we -- each and every one of us -- might have eternal life!

Paul, in his letters to the early Church, tells us that it is our friend, Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin and gives us a resurrected body and eternal life -- we do not save ourselves. Trying to be "a good person" or doing good deeds does not lead to salvation. To both Jews and pagans, Paul preached "repentance of sin toward God and faith commitment toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21) It is only by our repentance of sin (turning away from it) and direct commitment to Jesus Christ -- not belonging to a particular religion, following a church denomination, or doing "good works" -- that changes in our life and our eternal salvation are assured. Peter tells us how easy it is to find salvation: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Are you ready to receive the free gift of eternal life from your new-found friend, Jesus Christ?

Each week's study is taught by Pastor Jason Gant, bringing you the loving and living Word of God from the Bible, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse. Everyone is welcomed, and transportation is happily provided. Attendees at this Sunday's service will have the opportunity to ask their Bible questions and take part in a brief discussion period after the teaching. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper for believers follows, with our "Coffee & Carbs Fellowship" immediately afterwards. For more information, please call 310-510-3003 or visit our website at www.calvarybiblechurch.com. Can't join us this Sunday? Visit Pastor Jason’s new blog for answers to your questions regarding the Christian Life at www.onepastorsperspective.com. In the meantime, if you need prayer. please call our toll-free 24-Hour Prayer Line 1-866-Holy-Word (465-9967). Remember... Read the Book, Learn the Truth!

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