Christ Community Church
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Sunday Services In-Person & via YouTube Live @ 10AM
Fairview Christian School
410 S 14th St,
Reading, PA 19602
Contact Us: https://forms.gle/kYdvuXNnHZbGjdHh7 As a result of what God has done for us through the cross, our mission is to glorify God by building a church whose purpose and passion are to know, love, and live for Jesus Christ. At Christ Community Church we are seeking to be:
Train
June 2
The World Is Passing Away, So Do The Will Of God And Abide Forever
From C.B.
1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 120; Acts 12
1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Matthew Henry says, "The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause. The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it."
Many desire to get as close to the world as possible, and yet remain a Christian. But a true Christian does not love the world, but turns away from it, and flees from it like Lot should have fled from S***m. But we often want to turn and look at it as angels are dragging us away from it, and like Lot's wife, many turn to pillars of salt because they need to have another glance due to loving the world. May God give us grace to fight the good fight of the faith, and turn away from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, for these things do indeed decay the soul, and drain it of love for God. May God protect us from that!
May 30
Keeping Christ's Commandments Proves That We Have Truly Come To Know Him!
From C.B.
1 John 2:3-6; Psalm 117; Acts 9
1 John 2:3-6 says, "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Matthew Henry says, "What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going."
Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Here we see that if we say we know Him, but do not keep his commandments, we are liars, and the truth is not in us. May God give us grace to truly repent and believe in Christ, and to abide in His Word, that we might live before Him. If we keep God's Word, then in us the love of God is perfected! We ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Loving our enemies, and praying for those who have persecuted us, and loving those who have slandered and who insult us. We should be emptied of our pride at the foot of the cross, and cling to the cross and die daily to self in order to obey and please God. Thank God that the only one who has ever done that, His Son Jesus, had died for us and his blood and righteousness cover us!
May 29
Christ Our Mediator And Propitiation
1 John 2:1-2; Psalm 116; Acts 8
1 John 2:1-2 says, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Matthew Henry says, "When have an Advocate with the Father; one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf of every one who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his pleading for them. He is Jesus, the Saviour, and Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is the Righteous One, who received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness. All men, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned."
The gospel of Christ when obeyed leads a man away from all sin. It also gives relief and peace to a person who has sinned, and does sin, for it reminds the sinner that Christ died for them, and also pleads for them as their advocate, their one mediator who is able to deliver me as a sinner from death. Christ is not only our ever pleading mediator, but our ever living sacrifice of propitiation, our wrath absorbing sacrifice, who has saved all believers past, present and future from all over the world from the wrath of God their sins deserve. Thank you Jesus!
May 27
John Heard And Touched And Saw Jesus!
From C.B.
1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 114; Acts 6
1 John 1:1-4 says, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Matthew Henry says, "That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness."
John the apostle who wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit touched Jesus, and seen Him with his own eyes, before and after the resurrection of Christ from the dead! How glorious this is! They saw Him and heard the truth come right off of Jesus's lips! Let us remember that what we have received about Christ and the gospel of grace, that Christ died for our sins according the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, was heard and seen by the apostles themselves, who saw Christ live and speak and die and rise and ascend to His throne. Praise God for the truth!
May 25
The Day Of The Lord Will Come Like A Thief
From C.B.
2 Peter 3:8-10; Psalm 112; John 4
2 Peter 3:8-10 says, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,a not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodiesb will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Matthew Henry says, "Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at his threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come, as the truth and the power of God can make it. Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of the Lord. Though, in the account of men, there is a vast difference between one day and a thousand years, yet, in the account of God, there is no difference. All things past, present, and future, are ever before him: the delay of a thousand years cannot be so much to him, as putting off any thing for a day or for an hour is to us. If men have no knowledge or belief of the eternal God, they will be very apt to think him such as themselves. How hard is it to form any thoughts of eternity! What men count slackness, is long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to hisown people, to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God. Settle therefore in your hearts that you shall certainly be called to give an account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil. And let a humble and diligent walking before God, and a frequent judging of yourselves, show a firm belief of the future judgment, though many live as if they were never to give any account at all. This day will come, when men are secure, and have no expectation of the day of the Lord. The stately palaces, and all the desirable things wherein wordly-minded men seek and place their happiness, shall be burned up; all sorts of creatures God has made, and all the works of men, must pass through the fire, which shall be a consuming fire to all that sin has brought into the world, though a refining fire to the works of God's hand. What will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, and make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burned up? Therefore make sure of happiness beyond this visible world."
God is not slow, but patient. He does not desire that any should perish, but that all might come to eternal life in Christ through repentance and faith. A thousand years is like a day to Him. The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. The judgment Day will come when Christ returns! Terrifying news for the unrepentant, but for those of us who have Christ as our Lord and Savior, that day will be a day of great joy, for we will see Christ return in all His glory!
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410 South 14th Street
Reading, PA
19602
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| 10am - 12pm |
