Community Church of Ephrata

Sermon Series: Transformed By Truth

“From Grace to Glory”

Barry McGilvray

May 28, 2023

Romans 8:10-28

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We are committed to clear Biblical teaching and preaching..."All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We are committed to living in community "....so that they may be one as we are one." John 17:11 "All the believers were together and had every thing in common...meet together ... broke bread and ate together in their homes with glad and sincere hearts, praising God..." Acts 2:43-47

Purposeful care for our community… "Only, they asked to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10

As a church in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, we hold to the “Seven Essentials of the Faith” : We believe in one God, existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. All are welcome to join us for worship, whether they affirm these seven essentials or not.