Thursday Evening

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last day here in Denver. I’m sad to leave. It has been an incredible week of connecting with the Youth Group, growing in our faith, and sharing our faith with others. I’m really proud of how the Area 51 Youth Group has owned their faith and how they have stepped up to the challenge of sharing their faith with others. I’m proud of how they have cared for each other, encouraged one another, and challenged one another to go #AllIn for THE Cause of Christ.

Tonight in the evening session we were reminded of the matchless grace of God. We have been saved by grace alone. Salvation is not about what we have done, but about what Christ has done for us. He is extending His free gift of grace to everyone, and everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

We could never earn our way to Jesus, but he payed the price for our sin by dying on the cross. By simply trusting in Him for salvation, we are saved!

There is no list of “Do this” or “Don’t do that” for salvation.

There is, however, a list of “Do this” or “Don’t do that” for becoming more like Christ. That is the process of sanctification, which doesn’t actually make you more acceptable to God, or more loved by God, or more saved… it just makes you more like Christ and more like how you were actually created to live to begin with.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

We don’t have to do good works. We get to do good works. How cool is that?!