{"id":456,"date":"2008-12-18T03:44:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-18T03:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heavenslight.org\/?p=456"},"modified":"2008-12-18T03:44:00","modified_gmt":"2008-12-18T03:44:00","slug":"heavens-light-12-16-08-the-gospel-the-message-of-jesus-christ-two-great-benefits-the-death-and-life-of-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2008\/12\/18\/heavens-light-12-16-08-the-gospel-the-message-of-jesus-christ-two-great-benefits-the-death-and-life-of-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavens Light 12-16-08  The Gospel &#8211; The MESSAGE of Jesus Christ &#8211; Two Great Benefits &#8211; The Death and Life of Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=ltr align=center><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 20pt\">The Gospel &#8211; <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 18pt\">The<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"> Message  <\/b>of Jesus Christ<\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 20pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center\"  align=center><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Two Great Benefits &#8211; <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">The Death and Life of Christ<b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center\"  align=center><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\">Romans 4:5-6<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center\"  align=center>But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies  the ungodly, <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center\"  align=center>his faith is reckoned as righteousness, NASB<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Two Terrors of the Law<o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Mankind is guilty of treason  against the highest authority that exists, God Himself. The Bible describes this  treason as sin. Sin was first committed by our father Adam and subsequently  passed to all his succeeding generations (Romans 5:12-21), having become part of  our nature.<span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Here is a brief and helpful <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>definition of sin <\/u><\/b>from Nelson&#8217;s  Bible Dictionary&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">SIN  <\/i><\/b><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8211; Lawlessness (1 John 3:4) or  transgression of God&#8217;s will, either by omitting to do what God&#8217;s law requires or  by doing what it forbids. The transgression can occur in thought (1 John 3:15),  word (Matt 5:22), or deed (Rom 1:32)&#8230;&#8230; Sin is not represented in the Bible as  the absence of good, or as an illusion that stems from our human limitations.  Sin is portrayed as a real and positive evil. Sin is more than unwise,  inexpedient, calamitous behavior that produces sorrow and distress. It is  rebellion against God&#8217;s law-the standard of righteousness (Ps 119:160)&#8230;&#8230; Since  God demands righteousness, sin must be defined in terms of mankind&#8217;s relation to  God. Sin is thus the faithless rebellion of the creature against the just  authority of his Creator. For this reason, breaking God&#8217;s law at any point  involves transgression at every point (James 2:10). <\/i><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 8pt\">(from Nelson&#8217;s  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright &copy; 1986, Thomas Nelson  Publishers)<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Now in regard to how we have  sinned against God by transgressing His holy Law, there are basically two  categories of sin that we are guilty of. There are sins of <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">omission<\/i>, where we fail to do what God  has required of us and sins of <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">commission<\/i>, where we do something God  has forbidden us to do. This is because God&#8217;s Law has both <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>preceptive requirements<\/u><\/i> and <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>penal sanctions.<\/u><\/i> <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center\"  align=center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"183\" src=\"cid:078144103@18122008-2640\" width=\"423\" v:shapes=\"_x0000_i1025\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Judicially speaking therefore, we  are in guilty in both aspects of transgression against the Law, and we have need  to be justified before God on both accounts. Even if our sin debt was paid in  regard to the penal sanctions, we still would not have fulfilled what God has  required of us and therefore our righteousness before God is found lacking. For  this great treason against God then, the whole world is accountable to God,  having sinned and fallen short of His glory.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans  3:19-20, 23<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 19 Now we know that  whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">every mouth may be closed, and  all the world may become accountable to God<\/span><\/b>; 20 because by the works  of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">through the Law comes the  knowledge of sin<\/span><\/b>&#8230;. 23 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">for all have sinned and fall  short of the glory of God<\/span><\/b>, NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">We have transgressed God&#8217;s holy  Law in every point so that we are subject to the wrath of God (Eph 2:1-3) and  the curses of the Law, and the ultimate penalty for sin which is death. It is in  this dreadful state that all mankind abide naturally, and this explains the  great need for salvation. Mankind needs to be <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>saved<\/u><\/b> from sin and death. It is  from this state of sin and death that Jesus Christ saves, to all who call upon  Him for salvation, and this salvation is the good news held out in the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>Gospel<\/u><\/b>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans  6:23<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 23 For <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the wages of sin is  death<\/span><\/b>, but <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the free gift of God is  eternal life in Christ Jesus<\/span><\/b> our Lord. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">When someone places faith in  Christ, they enter into a state of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">&#8220;<i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">justification&#8221;<\/i><\/b> before God, which is  wholly complete in both aspects of the Law. Through faith in Christ people can  be declared just or righteous in the sight of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Substitutionary Atonement and Imputed  Righteousness<o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Now this is the great good news  that is the substance of the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>Gospel<\/u><\/b> in its most basic form.  That is, that all who believe in Christ, can be justified before God, not by any  merit of their own (or works of the Law), but by faith in Jesus Christ ONLY.  <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Galatians  2:16<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 16 nevertheless knowing that <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">a man is not justified by the  works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus<\/span><\/b>, even we have  believed in Christ Jesus, that we may <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">be justified by faith in  Christ, and not by the works of the Law<\/span><\/b>; since by the works of the  Law shall no flesh be justified. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">This is called <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;justification by faith.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> This <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;justification&#8221; <\/i><\/b>is a <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">declarative act<\/i> on God&#8217;s part toward us  on the basis of what Jesus Christ has accomplished in His life and death. When  we trust in Christ, we are declared righteous by God because of Christ&#8217;s merit.  Christ&#8217;s merit is wholly complete before God because He paid the <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>penal sanctions<\/u><\/i> of the Law in His  death, and He fulfilled the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>preceptive  requirements<\/u><\/i> of the Law in His life, having perfectly carried out all of  God&#8217;s precepts in His lifetime. He never omitted to do what God had required and  He never did anything that was forbidden by God. Therefore, on this basis, God&#8217;s  Law has been fulfilled in Christ, and God offers this <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;justification&#8221;<\/i><\/b> to all who have  faith in Christ.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans  3:21-24<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 21 But now apart from the Law  the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the  Prophets, 22 even <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the righteousness of God  through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe<\/span><\/b>; for there is  no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24  being <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">justified as a<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\"> <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">gift by His grace<\/b><\/span> through the  redemption which is in Christ Jesus; NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Jesus Christ paid the penalty of  sins by dying as a sacrifice in our place. This is called <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;substitutionary atonement,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> as  discussed earlier in our lesson <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">pages  39-50<\/i>.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This atonement was  pictured in the Old Testament <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sacrifice.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Therefore, Christ is  our <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sacrifice,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> our Passover lamb that  died <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;vicariously&#8221;<\/i><\/b> (for us) and as a <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;substitute&#8221;<\/i><\/b> (in our place), <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">ref pg 45<\/i>. Therefore Christ died as a <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;substitute,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> a <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sacrifice&#8221;<\/i><\/b> to pay the debt of death  which was owing to God because of our sins. God reckons Christ&#8217;s payment of  death to us through faith and on this basis cancels the debt we owed because of  the Law&#8217;s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>penal sanctions<\/u><\/i>.  <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Colossians  2:13-14 &#8211; <\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">13 And when you were dead in  your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive  together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">having canceled out the  certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us<\/span><\/b> and which was  hostile to us; and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">He has taken it out of the  way<\/span><\/b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">,<\/span>  having nailed it to the cross. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Colossians  1:21-22<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211;<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>22 But now he has <span  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">reconciled you by Christ&#8217;s physical body  through death<\/span> to <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">present you holy in his sight,  without blemish and free from accusation-<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span style=\"COLOR: black\">In the  same way,<\/span> God reckons to us the perfectly righteous life of Christ  through faith, so that in Christ God sees us as having fulfilled all the <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><u>preceptive requirements<\/u><\/i> of the  Law as well. This is called <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;imputation.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Christ&#8217;s perfect life  is credited to those who have faith in Him. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Philippians  3:9-10<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 9 and may be found in Him, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">not having a righteousness of  my own<\/span><\/b> derived from the Law, but that which is <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">through faith in Christ, the  righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans  4:5-6<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 5 But to the one who does not  work, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">but believes in Him who  justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness<\/span><\/b>,  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">These then are the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>two great benefits of the  Gospel<\/u><\/b>. Both the life and the death of Christ are reckoned to us by  faith, fulfilling God&#8217;s righteousness wholly and completely for us! <span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>In the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>Gospel<\/u><\/b> therefore we not only  proclaim that Christ died for us, but that He also lived for us!<\/p>\n<div dir=ltr style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span>This teaching is a part of a&nbsp;<span>18<\/span> month series called <strong>&#8220;The Savior, The  Cross, and The Gospel&#8221;<\/strong> &#8230;.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span>See the Outline here&#8230;.. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/lessons\/08-09\/handouts\/abc\/Brochure-08-09.pdf\">http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/lessons\/08-09\/handouts\/abc\/Brochure-08-09.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><\/span>This&nbsp;<span>teaching&nbsp;<\/span>can be heard on  <strong>audio<\/strong> here:<span>&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/08-09\/abc\/11-02-2008_SundaySchool.mp3\">http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/08-09\/abc\/11-02-2008_SundaySchool.mp3<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"> <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>If you would like to know how to  know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and receive eternal  life&#8230;..click here<span> to find out  how&#8230;..<\/span>&nbsp;<o:P><\/o:P><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><\/o:P><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><a title=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\">http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/o:P><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><\/o:P><\/span><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><strong>If you have comments or  questions, please do respond to <\/strong><a title=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\" href=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\"><strong  title=mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org>shaan@heavenslight.org<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<div align=left>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><strong>If you would like to be added or add someone to this  email list, just reply with &#8220;sign me up&#8221; and  the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep  you!<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><strong>Shaan  Sloan<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>Heritage Christian  Fellowship &#8211; ABQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>505-<span>348<\/span>&#8211;<span>509<\/span>2<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>The Lord is the Strength of  My Life<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/o:P><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Gospel &#8211; The Message of Jesus Christ Two Great Benefits &#8211; The Death and Life of Christ &nbsp; Romans 4:5-6 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, NASB &nbsp; Two Terrors of the Law Mankind is guilty of treason &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2008\/12\/18\/heavens-light-12-16-08-the-gospel-the-message-of-jesus-christ-two-great-benefits-the-death-and-life-of-christ\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Heavens Light 12-16-08  The Gospel &#8211; The MESSAGE of Jesus Christ &#8211; Two Great Benefits &#8211; The Death and Life of Christ<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}