Pastor Andy Keltner

In the movie "A Few Good Men" Colonel Jessep (Jack Nicholson) responds to a question posed by Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise) "Truth, you can't handle the truth..." Jesus talking to his hearers "and you will know the truth and truth will set you free."   (John 8:32) Can you handle the truth?

The truth is that we are all sinners. We are in Jesus words "slaves to sin".   There is a popular notion that within all of us there is a spark of goodness.   The truth is we are rotten to the core. Our very being is corrupted by sin. Our reason is colored by sin. We cannot by our own reason or strength come to faith. We must subject our reason to the Word of God.   This truth, that we are sinful and deserve nothing from God but death and eternal damnation, is a truth which many find hard to handle. Can you handle the truth?

Because we are sinful we can do nothing to earn merit or deserve our salvation. In fact all of our efforts to earn and merit our salvation by works lead us away from Christ. Self-righteousness is an offense which blinds us to the truth that we are saved by grace. Where there is no sin there is no need for a Savior. We all sin. We cannot work out our own salvation. Can you handle the truth?

The truth is Jesus, true God and true man, lived a life of obedience. He was sinless. He was killed in our stead. He died on the cross because this was our punishment. God demands payment for sin. He is a just God. Justice demands absolute righteousness or death and damnation. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us. His righteousness was placed upon us. He bore our sins. We are covered by his bloody sacrifice. Christ Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation. There are still those who are trying to work out their own salvation as if what Christ did was not enough. They cannot handle the truth. We are the redeemed and chosen children of God by God's grace alone. Can you handle the truth?

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) God's word is truth. God's word contains the law that shows us our sin. We are confronted with our hopeless fallen condition. We can do nothing but surrender before the righteous judge. God's word contains the gospel which shows us our savior. Christ Jesus the righteous judge comes to us. He reaches down and snatches us from our bondage to sin. He pays the price for our sin. He claims us as his own. We are sinners saved by grace. Can you handle the truth?

The great teachings of the Reformation are still taught in our churches today. We are saved by faith alone. We have this faith by grace alone. We learn these truths from scripture alone. This is a truth which will set us free, we will be free indeed. Can you handle the truth?

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Sunday School music begins at 9:15 every Sunday. Please come and participate.  We would love to have your children come. We are learning songs now for the Christmas program.

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