happy resurrection day!

today is easter--the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! i haven't talked a whole lot about what i believe, so i figured this would be the perfect day.


when i was four years old i asked Jesus into my heart and accepted Him as my Savior from sin. i grew up in a Christian home, went to church every sunday, went to a Christian school, and so on. i knew very well what i was taught to believe so 'faith' didn't come very hard to me.

until i started questioning it.

when i was 12 i started to doubt the truths that had been taught to me. i was so scared that i would lose my salvation and afraid that i didn't say 'the prayer' right the first time. i remember going to bed every night and asking Jesus to save me just in case. (i know better now... a prayer doesn't save you, JESUS saves you!)

then i started wondering what if this isn't the way to heaven?! looking back it was an unsettling time. but as i started asking a LOT of questions, and finding out the facts for myself (and not just because that's what i was taught) things became clear to me. when i turned 13 i remember rededicating my life to Jesus Christ and claiming this simple truth: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31


this is what i believe today:

~ i believe that everything God says in the Bible is true. John 17:17

~ everyone has sinned against God and our sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23

~ God's punishment for our sin is death. Romans 6:23

~ Jesus took our death sentence and died on the cross for my sin. your sin. everyone's sin. past, present, and future. His death covered them ALL! Hebrews 10:11-14, 1 Peter 3:18a

~ Jesus did not stay dead--He resurrected to life again! Acts 2:22-24, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. do you know how important this is?! the fact that Jesus rose to life again validates the truth of the entire gospel and my faith. if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. I Corinthians 15:14-17

~ salvation is a free gift. all i have to do is take it - by believing that Jesus died on the cross for my sin and by trusting Him alone to save me from my sin. Romans 3:23-24, John 3:16

~ i can't do anything on my own to get to heaven, nor can i add anything to my salvation. try as i may, the good things i do (going to church, getting baptized, taking communion) won't earn me salvation. thank goodness.... because i would fail big time! it is ONLY through BELIEVING in JESUS that i can be saved from my sin and go to heaven someday! Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, John 3:36, John 14:6


today i celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead! and i am rejoicing in the fact that i KNOW that i am saved and will spend eternity in heaven with Him! 1 John 5:11-13

are you confident of your salvation today? are you believing in Jesus to save you from your sins? are you totally confused after reading what i believe?! i'd love to hear from you. so if you'd rather not leave a comment, email me. benanderinkern@gmail.com

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!!!

GOD and politics

i was so blessed to go to church this morning. it's been so long since i've worshipped at my own church--it felt so good to be back home!

this morning pastor bob had a wonderful message that i wanted to share with you all. in light of the HUGE election coming up this tuesday, his sermon was "what is your responsibility as a christian citizen" taken from Romans 13:1-7.

a little background on the passage.... paul wrote this letter to the christians in rome about 4 years after nero became emperor. he became emperor when he was about 17 years old and he was an evil beyond evil ruler. (he murdered his first wife to marry his misstress, then later murdered her. he murdered his mother. he would dip christians in oil, hang them on a pole and set them on fire for light at night. he was BAD!) more evil than we could ever know.

so after 4 years and in the midst of a horrible ruler paul writes this:

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

no matter what happens this election, GOD IS IN CONTROL and we still need to submit to our government.* God has already appointed our new president, senators, mayors, etc.** and at the end of the day, GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN. if you don't like how our governing authorities rule, let God deal with that (Romans 12:19).*** our country doesn't need the perfect president (not that that will EVER happen!) to fix all our problems, but what our country needs is JESUS. let's not get so wrapped up in the political scheme of things that we forget what really matters--telling others about HIM!

*yes, i know there are instances in which we should not submit to authority--obey God rather than men--and if you listen to the sermon you'll hear that too!

**you still need to get out and VOTE, though!

***and yes... i know we can talk to our congressmen, etc. and voice our opinions.

i can't do this sermon justice. if you have a minute or 30 please listen to it or download it. and don't forget to VOTE on tuesday!!