Our   Problem

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and so all are under God’s condemnation for their participation in sin, and upon death and God’s righteous judgement each person will incur the just reward for their sins, which is eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord. It does not matter whether a person calls themself a Christian, attends church, is the church pastor, preaches / teaches the Bible, performs miracles, etc., as all those who continue in sin stand condemned. (Example: Surveys show that approximately 80% of pastors view pornography, and approximately 40% have committed adultery while in ministry; none of which will enter into heaven unless they confess to, and forsake their sins.) All who do not repent (quit) their sin will be disowned by Christ, and thrown into the lake of fire as they are workers of iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 13:24-27).

God's Solution

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. Whosoever earnestly wants to be saved from their sins will repent / quit their sins, and will trust Christ Jesus (through His atoning sacrifice on the cross) to save them from the power of sin, the practice of sin, and the penalty of sin. God requires a life of holiness (via a completed work of sanctification) for entry into heaven (Hebrews 12:14), which is a second instantaneous work of grace (the baptism of the Holy Spirit) that enables the person to live free of internal sin, and thus free from external sin (Matthew 7:17-19). Just as salvation is offered to all sinners (represented by Israel’s deliverance from Egypt), sanctification is offered to all believers such as was given to the first believers at Pentecost (this is represented by Israel’s entry into the promised land of Canaan).

The Result

By means of this completed work (salvation and sanctification), God recreates the person in righteousness and true holiness, having removed the carnal nature and replaced it with the divine nature (a new heart), which enables the person to live a holy life (which they also love), such that henceforth their life is comprised only of Christ living through them. Having repented of sin, the practice of sin is a thing of the past, therefore the Holy Spirit testifies to their heart that they are a child of God (1 John 3:6-9). This is God’s promise fulfilled through Christ Jesus (Luke 1:74-75).

A few saints of old who have believed in and experienced this second instantaneous work of Holy Spirit baptism unto holiness / sanctification include: John Wesley (founder of Methodism that has stretched around the globe), Charles Wesley (wrote hymns sung weekly in 100,000’s of churches worldwide today), William Booth (founder of Salvation Army), Oswald Chambers (author of the world’s most popular devotional book My Utmost For His Highest), and the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Colchester England where Charles H. Spurgeon finally found the salvation that he searched in vain for elsewhere.

Church location: 1733 Route 9, Clifton Park NY 12065