James S. Lindgren,

Pastor of First Evangelical

Lutheran Church

Iron Mountain

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:25)

Jesus is sent as a promise to us. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world who saves us from sin and death, giving us forgiveness and life. Advent is a time to prepare for celebrating His first coming as we prepare and wait for His coming again.

The law is to convict us of sin and drive us to Jesus as our Savior who forgives our sin. Jesus establishes us in a relationship with the Father through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This relationship is lived through faith in Jesus. Faith is trusting Jesus to forgive our sins and give us life eternal just as He promised.

When faith comes to our life, through the work, presence and influence of the Holy Spirit working through the Word, then we can live in Jesus. We read His Word, our spiritual nourishment in the faith. We pray many times each day, staying in communication with Jesus and with the Father. We are renewed in the faith through repentance, affirming our faith, time spent in prayer, and time spent in the Word and study of the Word.

By His grace and the work and privilege of faith, we may grow in relationship with Jesus and turn our hearts and lives to Jesus as we yield to the Spirits influence in our lives.

Faith brings confidence in Jesus along with His mercy, grace, love, peace, joy and hope. We trust in Jesus to provide, direct, help and guard our lives and keep us in Him.

As I write this we are still in the Christmas season. Remember Jesus birth in a stable in Bethlehem. He was born to redeem us and save us and bring us into relationship with Him. So, let’s put our trust in Him. Let’s live in faith in the light and truth of His Word.