Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching on the theme “The Power of the Gospel”. Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” … being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 1:16, 17; 3:24; 5:18-21; NKJ)

She said that the Book of Romans was written by the great Apostle Paul. It is the most important Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of ‘literature’ human beings have ever written. This is because, for the past two thousand years, the Book of Romans has influenced, converted, and radically changed the greatest number of people all over the world. The greatest revivals in the history of humanity started with people who have been influenced by the Book of Romans. Apostle Paul’s intent is to make the believers mature in the faith, for them to have the joy and the assurance of their salvation. The doctrine of justification by faith alone, by God’s grace, and not by man’s works, is the greatest doctrine revealed to man. It is foundational for saving faith. To be saved you need to put your total trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, to believe that He died for you, so that you live. You need to believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for your sins. This is the Gospel of Christ Crucified, the ‘good news’ from heaven. It is the only way to be saved and have eternal life. Jesus did not come to earth just to announce the Gospel. He is the Gospel! Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life! Give your life to Christ! Be born again!       

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh said that one of the reasons why the Gospel has power it is because it tells us of our ‘permanent address’. It is not earth, not even heaven, but Christ!!! Let me say it again: Our permanent address and eternal location as believers, is Christ!!!! Because Christ is the King of heaven, of course, we shall go to heaven. But our eternal position and location, even right now, is Christ! Our salvation, the blessings and benefits we have in Christ, are ours because of our location! This spiritual ‘location’ was the decision God made before the foundation of the world. This is called ‘the simplicity of Christ’. Salvation and all other benefits are in the same place, in Christ. You do not need to go away (to waka-waka) and look for any good thing outside Christ! Every evil spirit of the flesh, of impatience, restlessness, and backsliding, we reject in Jesus name! “All I need is You, Lord!”  

THERE ARE TWO MEN: ADAM AND CHRIST

Salvation is personal and positional. You are either in Adam or in Christ! For example: There are two planes going in different directions! We were all in the plane called Adam. But some of the passengers were transferred from the plane of death to the plane of eternal life. This plane is called Christ. Once I entered this plane, I can never ‘lose my salvation’. I may fall inside the plane, but I cannot fall out of the plane. Jesus is the pilot. Like God shut the only door of Noah’s ark, so God the Father has shut the door of the plane called salvation. I must stay inside until I reach heaven. I am saved forever! Not only that, I am enjoying ‘the ride’. It is the work of Grace. Amazing grace!  

*Adam was innocent, sinless, but on probation. He was created by God. In the natural, all humanity is in Adam.   

*Christ too was a Man, but He is also the eternal uncreated God. Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and begotten by God. He was not created. He is God. He was never on probation. He obeyed the law of God until His death. Therefore, He fulfilled the law. In the natural, all men are in Adam. But some of the children in Adam, were justified by God and placed in Christ. These are the elect and are called by God before the foundation of the world. This placement was done thru the will of God and by His grace. These are adopted by God and are His children. Once justified freely by God’s grace, as a child of God, you too are not on probation. Our salvation is sure and eternal. ‘The saints in heaven are more glorious but not more secure!’

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia leigh said that Adam and Christ are the heads (fathers) and representatives (ambassadors) of their descendants. God is a God of covenant! He deals with the head when He makes covenants with their descendants. With Adam, there was probation and when he sinned, we all fell with him. We then shared in the consequences and punishments of sin: increasing bondage to sin and death. These two are universal, common to all men. There is no explanation for their existence except what the Bible says. We are born sinners and with time, we become worse. At last, we all die! This is the common portion to all Adam’s seed. But now, in Christ, we all share in His Life, victory of obedience and eternal glory! We all are saved eternally and become members of God’s family! Our soul is saved once the Holy Spirit comes in and does His peculiar work of conversion. We have been translated from Adam to Christ. This move is once and for all time. It is irreversible. Salvation is God’s irreversible gift.  “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable… God doesn’t take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen” (Romans 11:29; NKJ; CEV). Let us praise the King of glory! Worship the Lord!