“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 ESV)
Despite our best efforts, none of us can ever fully meet God's impeccable standards. However, as sinners, we are not beyond the reach of God's all-encompassing grace. Our ultimate hope of salvation does not rest on our own merits, but on God's mercy. While believers in Christ are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1), we must not take God's grace for granted and ignore His commandments. Instead, God desires that we continually grow in godliness during our earthly lives, in preparation for our eventual glorification when Christ returns. Drawing on his extensive experience in the faith, Br Cheng Eng Hwa emphasized in today's Divine Service the importance of holding both God's mercy and His expectations for our spiritual sanctification in balance. As Christians, we must not withdraw from God's presence, but instead, confess our sins and seek forgiveness even in our flawed and sinful state.
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