Providence Baptist Chapel

The cross of Christ offends many people because it declares that sin is so serious Christ had to die. Christ Himself also offends because He exposes our pride, calls us to repent, and claims authority over all of our lives. Yet the message of the cross is not defeat or foolishness: it is God's wisdom and power to save all who trust in Christ.

True love comes from God. He showed it by sending His Son to atone for our sins. Christ's love was compassionate, consistent and costly. As the source and model of love, Christ calls all believers to love sacrificially, with a practical response that reflects God's character. This will evidence genuine faith, and show that Jesus Christ lives and dwells within us.

God, in His great mercy, saves sinners. He gives us new birth through His living Word. But He does not leave us isolated. Instead, He brings us into His royal family. There as brothers and sisters in the household of God, the local church, as living stones we are being built together into a spiritual house. A people among whom God delights to dwell. Adopted into His royal family, we are called to live as a holy community, reflecting and proclaiming Jesus Christ to the world around us and being sanctified by His Word.

Is my case hopeless? Some reach that tragic conclusion and position. For 12 years a woman Christ met had suffered. She had tried every remedy available, spending all she had. Yet instead of getting better, grew worse. Her experience is a striking parallel to our spiritual condition until we meet Christ: sin is a problem we can't cure ourselves. But everything changed. What no one else could do, Christ did for her when she came to Him. There is hope for the helpless and forgiveness for the guilty. Jesus is able to save. The question is: "Will I come to Christ and trust Him?"

John urges believers not to accept every spiritual claim. We must first test the spirits by whether they confess Jesus Christ truly came in the flesh. False teachers reject apostolic truth about Christ. Those who belong to God listen to the apostles' teaching. We consider 5 tests that John gives to help Christians discern truth from error. We are assured the Spirit of God is greater than the spirit of error, and truth can be recognized when hearing God's Word.