Notes of Faith April 4, 2026

Notes of Faith April 4, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans Chapter 8

March 24, 2002

“A VERSE BY WHICH TO LIVE AND DIE”

Romans 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

What a verse! It begins a chapter of supreme blessing for the believer. And what a chapter - as Romans Eight begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation and in-between is the promise that God causes all things to work together for good!

This fantastic chapter begins with “therefore” which reaches way back in the book of Romans. It incorporates all that God has accomplished for the believer in Christ Jesus. Verse 3:24 says:

Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus:

To be justified is to be declared righteous. You and I have been declared righteous! Redemption means to be purchased out of the slave market – in this case, the slave market of sin.

Then we’ve been propitiated through His blood. (3:25). Propitiation means satisfaction. God is totally satisfied with Christ’s work in our life.

It gets even better as we read in Romans 5:1 that we’ve been justified by faith and have peace with God! Peace with God! Many would give millions for that peace and it is free to all who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It gets better and better as we see in 5:10 that we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Our relationship to God has changed completely. And going on – we have eternal life through grace (5:21).

Chapter Six shows us that we are joined to Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Can you see now why there is “therefore now” – right now, this minute – not one condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus? What a blessing for the Christian.

But watch out! How the devil would love to fill our thoughts with condemnation. (How can God possibly love me after what I’ve done?)

Beloved, you can go through your life resting on this blessed truth of no condemnation because you are in Christ Jesus! And when your earthy life comes to an end you can rest upon the truth that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus because of what He has accomplished in our behalf – justification, redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, peace with God, joined together with the ever-living Christ!

What a verse! What a chapter! God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles

Romans chapter 8 is one that should be read often for encouragement, to strengthen faith, to fortify against the schemes of the devil, to remember again and again what we have been given through faith in Christ! Later verses in this same chapter of Romans tell us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus! Nothing! Not even you. This makes clear that if you ever truly come to Jesus, there is nothing that will ever take you away from His love and eternal provision for you! Let us worship Him, give thanks for Him and to Him, and serve Him in everything that we do!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 3, 2026

Notes of Faith April 3, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans Chapter 7

March 17, 2002

“BREAKING OUT OF SIN’S CONTROL”

Romans 7:21 – 8:1

Looking back through the preceding verses of chapter seven, Paul comes to a conclusion in verse 21:

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.

The struggle he constantly faced was a result of evil present within himself although in reality he wanted to do good and please God. In his heart of hearts Paul joyfully

concurred with the law of God – that it was good:

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man (v. 22).

Then he receives a revelation:

But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me (v. 23 NLT).

Paul sorrowfully detected another law at work in the members of his body – constantly waging war with his mind (for you see it was in his mind that he wanted to serve God). This law was making him a prisoner of sin, which was hard at work in his body, and so he cries out:

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Do you know anything about this experience? Of course you do! We all do if we are truly Christians. But then the marvelous truth comes to Paul:

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Then, contrary to his experience, this comforting surety comes to Paul:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

What a glorious position in which to be! While this terrible conflict is raging in Paul’s life, he realizes he is free from God’s judgment because he is in Christ! The same is true of each one of us. We may feel defeated and condemned – but that is not true. It is what our enemy wants us to think. Remember that we are on the winning team! Keep looking to Jesus. You are breaking out of sin’s control! Next week we will talk about why this is true.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Those who hear the “good news” of Jesus and respond to the drawing of the Holy Spirit, rejoice to know that although they are condemned because of sin, they are set free through faith in Jesus and His work on the cross and redeemed from the curse of death by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

True believers in Jesus have the Holy Spirit living within them and when we sin the Spirit within is grieved. We feel the Spirit and know His claim on our life. We must repent even though we are already forgiven eternally, our hearts and minds must respond to the ongoing sin nature. However, we should never let the battle we fight with sin means that we are not victorious in Jesus! By His grace, through faith, that victory is sealed forever! “Let not your heart be troubled…I have overcome the world.” We will be with Jesus soon enough…keep fighting the battle daily for righteousness and holiness, asking God to continue His promise to make you like Jesus more and more each passing day. Press on…

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 2, 2026

Notes of Faith April 2, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans Chapter 7

March 10, 2002

“THE BELIEVER’S CIVIL WAR”

Romans 7:13-20

I’ve read a lot of very interesting accounts and events of the Civil War in America – the war that set American against American. It wasn’t a very pretty war. Many say the Civil War between the states was more devastating than World War I.

While we live some 147 years beyond the end of that war, Christians face an internal civil war every day and it’s fierce! What’s more, there isn’t a true believer anywhere who is exempt from that war. You see, it’s like this - - - .

For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate (v. 15).

In the fifth chapter of Romans Paul tells us that when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Hard to believe that we were once enemies of God, isn’t it? Our civil war began when we were reconciled to God for our old nature is still very active within. It fights God every bit as fiercely as it ever did – maybe even more so because we now have a new nature and the Holy Spirit to enable us to do God’s bidding. Our sinful nature fights hard against that.

In Romans 7 we have been seeing the relation of sin to the Law. The Law becomes a base of operation for sin to do its worst, to fight its toughest battle. Paul shows that in verse 13:

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commandment for its own evil purposes (NLT).

The law, which stirred up sin, was not a cause of death in the believer. It simply illuminated the power of sin. In verses 14-20 we see the two natures in mortal combat for control of the believer’s life. Paul says the things he wanted to do as a believer he found he couldn’t do because of the opposition of the old nature – the flesh. The things that he did not want to do as a Christian he found himself doing! He acknowledged that the culprit was sin in his life (v. 17). He further recognized that nothing good dwelt in his flesh (v. 18).

We’re going to finish chapter 7 (certainly not a feel good - warm and fuzzy chapter) in our next Pen Pulpit. Let me suggest a plan of action that can make you victorious! That plan is outlined in Galatians 5:16:

Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

We are coming to that glorious chapter 8 of Romans so hang in there! God bless!

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

These are some of the words to a song that have stuck in my head for years…

“That which I would not, that do I do. I wish I wouldn’t do it, but I’m already through!”

We will not be released from our old sinful nature until we are taken to be with Christ, through death, or rapture of the church…come quickly, Lord Jesus!

As we endure this conflict, our spiritual disciplines must constantly fight, to not only endure the battle, but be victorious in the battle.

Pray, know the word of God, memorize Scriptures that will help you to stand strong against the deceit and schemes of the devil. As we grow toward maturity in Christ, our foundation and daily practice will prove effective, if we stay alert and aware of the deadly forces that take us away from the glory of God. Let us stay focused and work hard to bring glory to God who loves His children and rewards those who follow and obey the commands of Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 1, 2026

Notes of Faith April 1, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

February 24, 2002

“BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION”

I Corinthians 3:11-15

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

In I Corinthians 3:9 Paul tells us we Christians are God’s building. In verse 11 we are told that the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of that building and no man can lay any other foundation. Verse 12 states that we can build upon that existing foundation with one of two types of material (1) gold, silver, precious stones or (2) wood, hay, straw.

These works will undergo a test of fire. The purpose of that test is to reveal the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work remains after the fire he will receive a reward (verse 14). On the other hand if any man’s work is burned up he will suffer loss of reward, yet he himself will be saved. How do we interpret all of this?

It seems to me that the gold, silver and precious stones are works in our lives that bring glory to God. On the other hand wood, hay and straw are works that we do that tend to bring glory and recognition to ourselves. This is talking about Christian men and women.

The question is - is it possible for any one person to show only gold, silver, and precious stones at the judgment seat? Is it possible for any one person to have only wood, hay and straw? Frankly, I don’t believe so. I believe, in light of the believer’s makeup, each person will have some of both. The New Testament makes it very clear that all Christians will be rewarded to some extent.

The question is – what are we working on in our lives? Are we working on making God look good or are we seeking to bring ourselves into the spotlight? This is something we have to evaluate and deal with.

You will note in verse 15 that although a man may have some works burned up, yet the man himself will be saved. Every Christian is a work of God, though some of his works may not be! Every believer will pass through God’s fire. What an incentive to keep going for the gold.

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last!

Let’s work on our rewards. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

There are way too many people that call themselves Christians that do not “repent” of their sin, and do not truly follow Jesus! Much of this life is a life of sacrifice, a sacrifice of self and the wicked sinful desires must be rejected to pursue the holy life to which we have been called. If there is no remorse, regret, no hate for the sin that rages within us, then we need to consider whether we really belong to God or are still separated from Him. We will continue to sin in some fashion until we are taken to be with God forever, but our striving must be toward righteousness and holiness. Consider the reward you are forfeiting when you sin and could be doing work for God that brings eternal reward… Because of what Jesus has done, providing forgiveness of sin, eternal salvation, and a relationship renewed with God, let us fervently seek Him, to know Him, love Him, worship Him, serve Him, until we are with Him, face to face!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 31, 2026

Notes of Faith March 31, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

February 17, 2002

“GOING FOR THE GOLD”

Hebrews 12:1-2

I am sure many of us have been watching the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City the past few days. Lots of athletes have been going for the gold medal. How thrilling to see an American sweep in the Men’s Half Pipe event! We watched with anticipation the Pair’s Figure Skating. Would Russia be dethroned after 40 years of winning the gold? The Canadian team performed flawlessly following the Russian’s performance that, although lovely, had several mistakes. The audience gave a standing ovation to the Canadians and the announcers shouted, “They’ve done it! The Canadians have won the gold!” And then came the scores and the judges had placed Canada second.

Heartbreak was evident for the Canadian pair whose flawless performance, from where we were sitting, should have put them on top. Many felt that politics had entered that phase of the Olympics.

Thank God there will be no politics in Heaven. We Christians are in a race. Unlike the secular races it is possible for all of God’s people to win the gold – the prize set before us, because God, Who sees perfectly, judges accurately. In Hebrews 12:1 we read:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us - - -

A great crowd of witnesses has already run the race and all gained the prize.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Just as the Olympic contenders have to abide by the rules set down by the racing commission so we, too, have rules in the Christian race we must carefully follow if we hope to win the gold.

1. “Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us.”

2. “Run with endurance the race set before us.”

What is our incentive to run well? Rather, Who is our incentive?

- - - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus, the greatest runner of all time, endured the ultimate discipline to gain the honor of position at the right hand of the Father. The gold was His. He earned it legitimately.

So, in going for the gold we must enter into the discipline of the Lord. We lay aside anything that holds us back and accept the fallout of the cross. We hang in there in His power, always keeping our focus on Jesus. With His help you can do that! So can I.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Any of you who have had a job of any kind…I was assigned taking out the kitchen trash bag at age three by great parents, that were teaching me that work will always need to be done, sometimes causing pain and much physical suffering. But there are rewards: doing a job to the best of your ability, receiving payment for your hard work, learning to do even better. But the best work will not get you into heaven! That is a free gift of God through believing faith in Jesus Christ. The work that follows faith builds treasures in heaven to be revealed when we get there. If we continue in sin we lose opportunity to be building those treasures. What could we be doing instead of sinning? Let us follow as closely to Jesus as possible, through the power of the Holy Spirit within and reach out to take the hand of others and help them in this race where distractions abound to keep us from winning. The crown of righteousness is waiting for you to cross the finish line!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 30, 2026

Notes of Faith March 30, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans Chapter 7

February 10, 2002

“LIFE IN CHRIST – NOT LIFE UNDER THE LAW”

Romans 7:1-6

In Romans 6 Paul pointed out that before we came to Christ we were dead in our sins, a virtual slave to sin under the Law, but once we have embraced Christ as our Saviour, we are now no longer under the Law but alive to God in Christ Jesus and a servant of His.

Now in chapter 7, to further emphasize our life in Christ and the hopelessness of life under the Law, Paul brings in a brilliant illustration or example. He reminds us that the Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as that person is alive. He further states that a married woman is automatically bound by law to her husband while he is living. But, if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.

Or do you not know brethren,(for I am speaking to those who know the law, that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man.

Paul now makes the application.

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

We were in the flesh through Adam and sin was steadily at work in us – aroused by the Law (for don’t we naturally want to do the things we are told we can’t do?) And the result of that sin is death!

A wise man once said that the best way to know God’s estimate of sin is to realize the tremendous price it took to atone for sin, the death of His Son.

Verse 6 is the clincher:

But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

The interpretation: Adam was our first husband. Through Adam we were bound by the Law of the flesh it do its bidding. We could not serve God. But on the cross Adam was crucified in Christ. We were in Adam, so we died in Adam on the cross - - - BUT we were raised up with Christ, so we share our life in Him and under His law to serve God in newness of life.

Beloved, let this sink in. We are no longer required to serve under the old law of our first husband. We are free to serve under the new law of our second husband, Jesus Christ. Again I say, “Praise, hallelujah!”

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Rom 6:14

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

The desires of the flesh are strong but the power and authority of our Master and Savior are infinitely stronger. We are free in Christ to NOT serve the authority of sin, Satan and death! Remember the One who died that you might have this freedom and redemption from death to life every time you are tempted, every time an impure thought comes into your mind. Do not act on those thoughts and temptations. You are free to do the good things that God has prepared for you and will reward you for doing in His name! Praise be to God for a life free from the shackles of sin!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 29, 2026

Notes of Faith March 29, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

February 3, 2002

Series: Romans Chapter 6

“THE GIFT OF GOD”

Romans 6:19-23

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul has just presented the fact that believers are no longer slaves to sin. By faith in Jesus Christ we are now slaves to God.

He now assures them that he is speaking in simple human terms for their understanding and ours. He reminds us that in our unsaved state we presented the members of our bodies as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness! Now in our new servanthood we are to present our members as slaves to righteousness resulting in a life set apart to God.

When we served sin, we had no part with righteousness. He now asks a very logical question. Were we deriving any benefit from those things of which we are now ashamed – for those things lead to death?

He follows up with another logical statement. Since we have been liberated from sin and are now enslaved to God, we derive blessed benefits that lead to a life set apart to God with the outcome eternal life! Sin has wages which separate us from God but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise Him, hallelujah!

But one question! How do we plug into eternal life today? Paul tells us it is through sanctification. Let’s break this down a little. Colossians 3:1-3 clarifies this for us. Since we have been raised with Christ and seated with Him at the right hand of God, we are to keep on seeking the things above. We are to actively set our minds on things above and not on earthly pleasures. The reason takes us back to Romans 6. We have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

Beloved, where are we setting our minds these days? Are we tangled up in the lure of the world or are we actively seeking the things that please our Lord? Let’s work on that aspect.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Rom 12:1-2

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

True love is sacrificial. It is a giving up of one’s desires for the desires of another. This could not be more true than in our relationship with God. He loved us when we were His enemy and gave His Son who became a sacrifice for us. He gave His sinless life yet taking on all the sin of mankind, to pay the price for our redemption to God, a debt we could not pay. We were condemned and could only expect the wrath of God were it not for the sacrifice of Jesus! Believe in Him, love Him, worship Him!

John 14:15

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:10-11

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Let us take up our cross daily, follow Jesus, sacrifice ourselves in obedience to God’s commandments that we might grow spiritually, sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, that they might know Christ and grow in Him to maturity, sacrifice ourselves, forsaking the temptations and lusts of this world that we might be rewarded with an eternal inheritance from God that is beyond our imagination!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 28, 2026

Notes of Faith March 28, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

January 20, 2002

Series: Romans Chapter 6

“GETTING OUT OF THE BOAT”

in Romans 6:12-14

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

In Romans 6:11 the fact was established that we are connected with the crucified and risen Christ which allows us to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

So what responsibilities do we have as a result of that wonderful fact? We are to “walk on water!” “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you may obey its lusts.” We are to take vital action (and get out of the boat) based upon what our Lord has done. We are to exercise our wills and give sin no place in our mortal bodies.

Sin is still present in our bodies but we are not to let it call the shots for us. The way we do this is to remember that sin has its outlet and expression in and through our body members. At the first hint of yielding to temptation we need to ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to resist. We are no longer to yield or present the members of our body to sin’s demands as instruments of unrighteousness, but present or yield our members to God “as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Our eyes are to focus upon that which pleases God. Our minds are to concentrate and dwell on material that is oriented to our God. The same is true with the rest of our bodies. Why? “For sin shall not be master over us” as in the past. “For we are no longer under law but under grace!”

Grace is the ruling factor in our lives now. What a glorious reality! That should put gas in our tank and give us spizerinctum!! But how do we do this, beloved? We do it by faith. We get out of the boat (not easy but oh, so rewarding!) and do a water walk.

God bless you and happy water walking!

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

When you awake in the morning, put on the full armor of God…

Eph 6:10-17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I pray for all true followers of Jesus that we might be prepared each day for the battle(s) that await us. Those of you that God has blessed me with during my years on earth are prayed for every time He brings you to my mind. I pray that God has used me to bless you as you have blessed me. May we walk together with Christ, now and forevermore!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 27, 2026

Notes of Faith March 27, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

December 9, 2001

“WHEN GLORY APPEARS”

Titus 2:13, 14

Looking for that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

In our last Pen Pulpit we talked about when Grace appeared (Titus 2:11, 12). This, of course, referred to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to provide salvation to the human race and for that salvation to run it’s course in this phase of God’s plan in which we are living – the Age of Grace.

It has been 2,000 years since His birth. Every day, through missionary effort throughout the world, thousands of people are plugging into that plan. However, one day that part of His plan will be completed. The last person will come to Christ through faith. The body will be complete and will be caught up to glory (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Shortly following that event will come the appearance of His Glory (Revelation 19:11-16).

We Christians live in the hope of that event every day of our lives. So did Christians before us. Living in constant expectation of the appearing of His glory does something for us:

1. It instills in us true expectation (verse 13). We run into hope all over the New Testament. Hope is everywhere. God will not let us avoid it nor should we want to (cf. John 14:3, Matthew 24, Colossians 3:1-3, Romans 8:18-25, I John 3:3). The grace of God instills the expectation of the return of Jesus Christ in the hearts of Christians.

2. It provides emancipation (verse 14a). Emancipation/redemption touches all areas of life “redeem us from every lawless deed”. Sin is like quicksand. The harder people struggle to free themselves from the hard core of life - the deeper into its deadly mire they sink e.g. drugs, alcohol, sex. Jesus Christ is the only true emancipation.

3. It produces true sanctification (verse 14b). How does God purify us? He uses two sanctifying agents: The Holy Spirit (II Cor. 3:18); The Holy Scriptures (Eph. 5:25-30), however the Christian is to participate in this purification (I John 3:3).

4. It promotes true representation (verse 14c). Good works emanate from a life that is pure before God. Good works are the issue of sanctification - not an aid to sanctification. Good works are a true representation of God in a hostile world (Matt. 5:14-16; Eph. 2:8; Titus 3:8).

Beloved, in light of the above, let us re-evaluate our reason for being here. What an impact on the world we will have if we, as truly emancipated people, live godly lives in the expectation of the appearance of His Glory. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

I can’t remember a time after being saved that I did not want to be with Jesus. Those that daydream about living in a different time in history cannot beat being here during the last three years of Jesus’ life on earth. How could we, at this time in history, not want to be alive when Jesus calls for His bride, (the church), to be with Him forever?

1 Thess 4:13-18

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Cor 15:50-58

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

We comfort one another with the fact that Jesus is coming again. Our hope is in the person of Jesus! Therefore our hope is not a wish or want or even strong desire. Jesus, Himself said that He would return to take those who believe in Him to be with Him forever. We pray (sincerest hope) that the day will be soon! But, until then, we have work to do, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, that His death, burial, and resurrection, make it possible for a person to be forgiven of his/her sin, be saved from the wrath of God, and be taken from death (the earnings of sin) and receive eternal life!

Maybe you will be the one to lead the last one to believe in Jesus during the church age…and as my wife says, “He’s gonna toot and we’re gonna scoot!” The trumpet will sound and the church, dead first, then those who are alive, will meet Him in the clouds and be taken to heaven, to return with Him to earth at His second coming! Be faithful in the work God has given you, to speak truth in love, bringing as many as possible to the throne of grace, to receive salvation, to grow toward the image of Jesus, and finally to be made new, without sin, in the glory of what God has prepared for those who love Him.

Pray for yourself and what God has planned for your life and His work for you. Pray for those that will hear the good news of Jesus Christ through you relationship with them. Pray for it to be the will of the Lord Jesus to come quickly!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 26, 2026

Notes of Faith March 26, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

December 2, 2001

“WHEN GRACE APPEARED”

Titus 2:11, 12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.

Titus 2:11-14 puts the Christmas message in shoe leather. In this passage there are two appearings: the appearing of His Grace (v.11), and the appearing of His Glory (v.13). The appearing of His grace extends from the incarnation (Christ’s birth) throughout the Church Age or the Age of Grace. The appearing of His glory (His second coming) terminates the Age of Grace. This morning we will look at the appearing of His grace.

1. The Manifestation of the Grace of God in History [v.11]

The manner in which the grace of God appeared – The definition of appear is “to bring to light - to uncover - to fully make known.” The appearance of grace is personified in Jesus Christ. God uses a variety of expressions to declare this historic event. (Gal 4:5; John 1:14; Luke 2:11) Perhaps the most significant is “the grace of God”, for this defined man’s greatest need which is seen in the motive of the appearing of the Grace of God:

For the Law was given through Moses, grace, and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

The motive in the appearing of the Grace of God

II Timothy 1:9-10 tells us that Christ brought salvation to all men. Salvation is not universally applied to all men - but universally available: salvation sufficient to save any and all - but efficient only to those who come in faith (Isaiah 55:1).

2. The Manifestation of the Grace of God in Human Lives [v. 12]

As children of God we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly and sensibly, with soundness of mind. A mind that is set in proper balance. A mind that has gained mastery over self through the salvation that frees from the shackles of sin.

A believer should have control of himself (Proverbs 16:32, 25:28). When the Holy Spirit has control of you, you have control of yourself. To live righteously means that our outward conduct compliments the righteous character of God which evokes God’s approval.

Christians should be godly (reverent) as they are the closest view of God that the ungodly sees. Are you a showcase for the world to see God? Am I?

Christians should live godly in this present evil age. This world is our playing field, our battleground, our arena. This is where living takes place. This is where testimonies are accepted or rejected.

Have you been active on the battlefield, in the arena this week? Let’s take a fresh look at the Grace of God and let our lives reflect that Grace.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Having a love for sports, I enjoy biblical references that teach principles of truth through sports illustrations. There are stretching exercises and various tests of strength and speed to prepare for the game. We are living in the game of “life” and we need to be prepared to win! God has given us, in His Word, disciplines of preparation, that when practiced effectively, we are guaranteed to win! May we all desire to get in the game, run as though to win, with all of the preparation that God has given, in order to be welcomed into the joy of our Master when we finish the race of life!

Pastor Dale