Is the Church Important? - Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Salvation is not an Event

 

Salvation is not a singular event, so we shouldn't treat it as such. It is an ongoing process that began at the cross and continues throughout our earthly lives, involving faith, repentance, and transformation. Lent plays an important role along the way.

Phil Ashey, pastor of South Riding Church in Virginia, observed, "Our culture is so focused on an event rather than a process. Even as evangelicals, I think we've been trapped by the idea that salvation is a one-time event, like a sale that we've got to close. But often, it's a process in which people ask questions again and again and approach God repeatedly to consider faith. I see Lent as a door—an entryway—for people to connect or reconnect with Jesus."

Engaging in this process means approaching God, understanding His will and power, and reflecting on our faith in Him. Lent offers a unique opportunity to dedicate time toward this reflection. Over these 40 days, we examine our lives, confront our baggage and sinfulness, and commit to change. It is a time for corrective actions that lead to spiritual regeneration, for salvation itself hinges on being reborn or transformed. This journey doesn't happen in an instant or even in a single season—it unfolds in steps. Lent provides the space to take these steps, whether by shedding harmful habits or cultivating new ones, while spending meaningful time with God.

For some, Lent may extend beyond the traditional 40 days and span an entire year, as they continually evaluate and strive to deepen their spiritual lives. For others, the concentrated period of Lent is vital. Regardless of timing, the effort and outcome matter most.

Above all, we must remember that Jesus sacrificed Himself for the salvation we seek. This process calls for sincerity, earnestness, and a wholehearted commitment to change.

A Life Turned Upside Down: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

                                                                  

Since we are talking about Covid days this week, and you think Covid turned our lives upside down, well, think of this scenario:

A strange person appears before you, someone whom you have never seen before, stands before you in your room, and starts talking to you about your future - pretty freaky!! isn’t it?

Today I want us to wind back 2025 years and look at the life of a 16 year old Jewish teenager in Israel. This teenager had her life turned completely upside down by the visit of a stranger, in circumstances similar to what we mentioned.

We are first introduced to her by name in Matthew’s gospel but we are told of her by Isaiah in his prophecy ‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel’ - Isaiah 7:14

So here we have Mary a 16 year old teenager living the normal life of a 16 year old. The Bible does not specify anything about her life prior to Gabriel’s visit but I am sure we can picture the life of a 16 year old village girl living in those times.

She would be helping her mother in the kitchen, maybe taking care of younger siblings, if she had any, helping with the household chores and of course playing with other village girls her own age.

And, to complicate matters, she was pledged in marriage to Joseph the village carpenter, which seemed to be a normal practice in Jewish families. And now, into this ‘normal’ scenario enters the angel Gabriel, and turns Mary’s world upside down completely.

Not only that, the message that was given her must completely baffled her: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Imagine the enormity of that message and it’s effect on her: (And you thought Covid had turned you upside down?)

In her confused and fearful state of mind she was only able to manage the one question which was at the top of her mind. The passage says “how will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Mary’s question would have arisen from the social and legal norms of that time. If she was found to be with child out of wedlock she would be branded an adulteress she could be stoned to death as per Jewish law

And what would Joseph her fiancée think?

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God - Vs 35

Mary’s question was not a question of doubt but a question of faith. Because asking in faith is very different to asking in doubt. Gabriel’s message puzzled her but she did not dismiss it in unbelief.

Mary’s response at the end of the passage is a demonstration of her faith, her obedience and her complete submission to God’s will.

Mary’s response is what should be the response of every believer to God’s calling even though His calling will usually turn your world upside down, making life inconvenient and maybe even dangerous, as it did hers and as it did the apostles.

Mary’s calling was not an easy task that she had been called for as we read along the gospels and even beyond when we see Mary’s suffering and hardship which finally culminated in seeing her son dying a gruesome death on a Roman cross.

Mary demonstrated to us how we should respond when God calls us to do His work, in any circumstance. Think of all the health workers during Covid – who bravely took up their calling to help people. Like Mary they did not shirk or make excuses out of fear - But through it all, put aside all doubts and all questions and all insecurities and responded to the calling with faith.

Today it will be well for each of us to think: how will I respond to God’s calling? How will I react to my world being turned upside down? I may lose friends and family, or wealth or time etc. But what will my response be? Will we, like Mary, look on it in faith? Or look at it in doubt?