Rooted in Jesus Grace

  The Result of God’s Work The church is not a human idea. It is the result of God’s work. What began with the death and resurrection of Christ, and was set in motion through the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, now takes visible form in a gathered people. The church is not simply a collection of individuals who share similar beliefs. It is a people called, formed, and sustained by God Himself. This means that the church cannot be understood rightly apart from the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It exists because God is actively gathering a people for Himself. Called Out and Brought In The word “church” refers to those who are called out. This calling is not merely an invitation, but an act of God. Throughout Scripture, we see that God brings people to Himself, not because of their initiative, but because of His grace. The church is made up of those who have been brought from darkness into light, from spiritual death into life. This is not a surface-level change, but a deep t...

  The Promise Fulfilled Pentecost is the moment where promise becomes reality. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait. He did not send them out immediately, even though the work of salvation had been accomplished. Instead, He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high.” This waiting was not uncertainty, but preparation. In Acts 2, that promise is fulfilled. The Spirit comes suddenly, with the sound of a rushing wind and tongues of fire, and the disciples begin to speak in languages they had not learned. This is not a random display of power. It is a decisive moment in the unfolding plan of God. The Work of Christ Applied The coming of the Spirit shows us that the work of Christ is not only accomplished, but applied. The cross secures redemption, and the resurrection confirms it, but Pentecost is where that redemption begins to be carried into the lives of people. The Spirit does not act independently of Christ. He bring...

Today is Ascension Day!   The Overlooked Moment The ascension of Jesus is one of the most overlooked events in the Christian faith. It often receives far less attention than the cross or the resurrection, yet it is essential to understanding who Christ is and what He is doing now. In Acts 1, Jesus is taken up before His disciples, and a cloud hides Him from their sight. At first glance, this can seem like a quiet conclusion, a final departure after the work has been completed. But the ascension is not the end of Christ’s work. It is the beginning of His reign in a new and powerful way.  The Exaltation of Christ The ascension is not simply Jesus leaving earth; it is His exaltation. Ephesians 1 tells us that Christ has been raised and seated at the right hand of God, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. This is the language of kingship. The One who was rejected, mocked, and crucified is now enthroned. The ascension reveals that Jesus is not merely alive—He is...