Today my message is “What a Celebration!”
Paul wrote in Romans that salvation through Jesus Christ was the only way to God. He spent lots of verses in teaching us how that is true. Now I want to look at two verses from Paul that give us cause to celebrate on this day of celebrating our God-given nation’s birth.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Douglas J. Moo, in his book, The Epistle to the Romans, states:
“Paul stands completely convinced that nothing at all will be able to separate believers from the love of God in Christ.” 1
Do we believe like Paul? Can we celebrate today the love that God has for us, which nothing can take away from us? I believe we can and should celebrate God’s love for us all!
Halley’s Bible Handbook gives us this view of these verses.
“The Inviolable Love of Christ. He died for us. Has forgiven us. Has given Himself to us in the person of His Spirit. If we are His, no power on earth or in heaven or in hell can prevent His bringing us to Himself in the Eternal Bosom of God. This is one of the most magnificent passages in all the Bible.” 2
It is Canada Day today! All over the land there is celebration to commemorate the birth of our great nation. Some of our congregation are right now riding in the rain at the Pouce Coupe Canada Day Parade to be a part of that celebration and to let the people know that First Baptist Church celebrates the God who created all this world.
Did you know that on the Canadian Coat of Arms there is a verse from God’s Word? It was put there to honor God as a Christian Nation. It is from the book of Psalms.
Psalm 72:8 NKJ
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River (Euphrates) to the ends of the earth.
Rev. Dr. Rupen Das, National Director of Canadian Bible Society, in his letter to supporters in June this year states:
“In 1867, when our new nation was christened “Dominion of Canada,” the Word of God was sown into our very foundation.” 3
Psalm 22:27-28 NIV
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations.
Psalm 33:12-14 NIV
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
14 from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth.
So remember when you are celebrating Canada Day, you are celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ who made us and watches over us too.
I received a newsletter from Josiah Barton of Youth for Christ and I want to read a quote from it. This is a young person’s comment in a letter to Josiah.
“God is real. I wanted to tell you this but didn’t get the chance. A few weeks ago I was in a bad place. I was thinking about how much I hate my life. All I’ve known is a crappy life and all I have is a crappy life. I hate my life. I was thinking of ending it I was just so tired of it. And then I remembered what you said ‘I’m gonna try what Josiah said. Josiah said Jesus wants to give me new life. He wants to take my old life away and give me knew life. I’m going to try it.’ So I did. I said, ‘Jesus, if your real, I want a new life. I want the new life you want for me. Take my old life away and give me knew life.’ And He answered me. He heard me and He showed up. God’s real man. It’s true. All of it’s true. Everything you’ve been saying is true. God is real and He wants to give us new life.” 4
Is this not a reason to celebrate? Can you imagine the celebration going on in heaven when this young person joined the family of God?
Galatians 2:20 NIV
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
This is why we all need to tell others about Jesus Christ and what Jesus can do for them.
Eph 3:14-19 NIV
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
So, as you celebrate Canada Day today, remember that God made all this possible because He loves us so much! We need to celebrate our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ, who died to give us a new life with Him.
Let us pray!
Communion today!!
Benediction
Eph. 3:20-21 NIV
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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