The question of the origins of the Christian tradition called Baptist has been, and to some extent still is, a much-debated issue.
PASTOR's PONDERINGS APRIL 2025
Pastor’s Ponderings –
“Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are”.
Easter is coming up later this month. It’s kinda late this year, April 20th. But it is a great time of rejoicing as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Everybody is happy because it usually means spring is coming. But the celebration of Easter is all because of Good Friday. The willingness of Christ to go to the cross on our behalf. To step in and take our place and pay a price that we could never pay. He suffered and died and shed His blood, thus paying the price for our sins.
“And when before the throne I stand in Him complete.
Jesus died my soul to save, My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow.”
Drawing from the message of a couple old hymns and the Word of God, the message is clear. If I am saved today, then I have a Redeemer. If I have a Redeemer, then I have an owner. If I have an owner, then I don’t own me.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It’s not a bad thing to be owned by another. As long as your owner is your Redeemer, and your Redeemer is Jesus. The One who gave His all, to pay it all, in order to be your all in all.
And it is in this that we celebrate Easter.
Pastor Steve
