Letter from Jon, December 2018
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.. Rom 1:16
Dear Family
Christmas is approaching rapidly and it is a time of year I have always loved, but this year I feel especially excited about it. We even listened to Michael Buble a few days ago!! Ilove all the Christmas ‘stuff’: lights, music, family, food, movies, food – did I mention food! This year though I am more than ever excited by the gospel message and its power to save and to transform lives.
As we have been going through Galatians over the last couple of months I have been struck by the simplicity of the gospel. It is a message of grace in a world where grace is often hard to find. When I preached a few weeks ago on what it is to be a son of God I was struck again by what this gospel has done for me. I am set free from fear and from sin and death and I am invited to sit at the family table with my Father and to enjoy the fullness of everything he has for me, now and forever.
This Christmas I am excited by the opportunities we have to convey that gospel message to those around us, whether it is in the handing over of a CAP hamper, singing carols in Tesco, celebrating together with those we love in our Christmas Celebration or in the joyful setting of our Fireside Carols. The gift of our Saviour, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is more than a nice story, it is the fulfilment of God’s plan to defeat sin and death and to reconcile us with God.
I notice in the shops there are signs and mugs and badges everywhere that say “I believe..” (I guess a reference to Miracle on 34th St). Well I believe in the power of the gospel to save and to go on saving. I have experienced it in my own life, I see it in the lives of the Liberty family, and I believe that we will see many more come to faith as we continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that you would have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and that the message of the gospel would bring freedom and joy to you and those you love.
Love, Peace and Joy
Jon |
Jon Farrimond, 01/12/2018