We are approaching Easter, one of the most glorious times for the body of Christ. I know this Sunday is Palm Sunday; I have to ask, "Has the King of Glory come to your Jerusalem, the heart of your world, to the very heart of your soul?" I hope he has. I hope that he has cleansed you, as he has cleansed me, from the sin that keeps us separated from Father God. That is why I can say like Apostle Paul, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (The good news about Christ): It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - Jews first and also Gentiles. This good news tells us how God makes us right in His sight and this is accomplished from start to finish by faith.

As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life," but God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves; for the truth about God is known to them instinctively.

God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature; so they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead, and instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

So, God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies, they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.

When they refused to acknowledge God he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.

They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them too. You may be saying, "What terrible people you have been talking about!" But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things.

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?

We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.

These are not my words, but God's, through the Apostle Paul in Romans, Chapters 1 to 8. I concur, for I once was there, and at times find myself returning to my old nature. "Thank you Jesus for dying for me! Without You where would I be?" I hope you find the peace and love of God our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.