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Sunday, March 22, 2009

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Fourth Sunday of Lent


2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Ephesians 2:4-10
Psalm 137
John 3:14-21

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saved

"God is rich in mercy; because of His great love for us He brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin. By this favor you were saved." —Ephesians 2:4-5

We are saved from sin, death, Satan, hell, fear, slavery, self-hatred, etc. We are saved for a personal relationship with the Lord, a life of holiness, and the abundant life with the Lord here on earth and forever in heaven.

We are saved by Jesus. "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (Jn 3:17).

We are saved by grace. "I repeat, it is owing to His favor that salvation is yours through faith. This is not your own doing, it is God's gift" (Eph 2:8).

We are saved by faith. "Salvation is yours through faith" (Eph 2:8). "Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life" (Jn 3:16).

We are saved by faith expressed in works, for "faith without works is as dead as a body without breath" (Jas 2:26). "A person is justified by his works and not by faith alone" (Jas 2:24). "We are truly His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance" (Eph 2:10).

We are saved! Thank You, Jesus!

Prayer:  Father, this Lent may I accept Jesus as my Savior and rejoice in His salvation.

Promise:  "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that all who believe may have eternal life in Him." —Jn 3:14-15

Praise:  Praise the risen Jesus Who is our Savior, now and at the end of time!

Reference:  (The annual Forty Hours Devotion and family campout takes place this year on May 14th through the 16th. Call 937-587-5464 or 513-373-2397 for information or to register.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 11, 2008

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