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Do All the Good You Can

In Matthew’s Gospel some of the “greatly astounded” disciples heard Jesus talking about how difficult it would be for a rich person to get into heaven. When Jesus pulled out the image of “a camel” going “through the eye of a needle” these disciples ask Jesus, “Then who can be saved” (Matthew 19:25, see also Mark 10:26 and Luke 18:26)? In some senses this could be the Christian question. The short answer is that everyone CAN be saved if only because salvation is a gift from God and God gives as God will. At the same time, in Christian theology there are human layers and layers of requirements and pre-conditions laid on this gift of God’s. Therefore, it behooves us to simply remember that God can and perhaps will save anyone whom God decides to save.
 
On 24 May 1738, John Wesley’s Journal narrates that he “felt” his “heart strangely warmed.” Wesley then continues by writing, “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He [Christ] had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” What this means, in part, is that salvation concerns God’s assurance to us that our mis-steps (trespasses/sins) have been blotted out by God’s grace (the unmerited favor from God to people).
 
My friend, Rev. Karen Siegfriedt, an Episcopal priest in California writes, and helpfully I might add: “Salvation is the healing of the human race; the process by which God transforms us into the likeness of Christ. Salvation comes from a Latin word which we translate “salve,” which has the meaning of healing.” So, in a way, salvation is a spiritually healthy way to save our lives not only by faith, but also in physical fact. God offers us a path to abundant life—and wants us on it—and all we have to do is make the healthy choice.
 
We United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation. We also believe that salvation is ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. Living in a covenant of grace under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we participate in the first fruits of God’s coming reign and pray in hope for its full realization on earth as in heaven.
 
Our salvation is a gift of God’s unmerited favor—nothing more, nothing less. When we look condescendingly at the spiritual estate of another person, we do ourselves little service. Rich or poor, none of us get to heaven by our own merit. We only arrive in God’s realm by God’s grace. To fail making this connection or to look at other people’s salvation with suspicion is to fall into the sin of spiritual pride.

Your friend,
David Mosser

Come, Worship
Stay, Learn
Go, Serve
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Church Family
Phyllis Holder, Elaine Ory, Wes Pershall, Marc Scheel, Elizabeth Willborn,
Arthur Wade Capps, JL Alley, Bea & Bob Stewart, John Garcia, Jack Oliver,
Don Engleking, Jim Sewell, Patsy Wilson
 
Family & Friends
Summer Nunn, Walker Family, Pat Meek, Levi Derton, Steve & Laurie Hill,
Brittany Summerour, Gerry Snelson, Patsy Whitton, Gerald Turner, Charles McMorty, Megan, Janet Lyon, Jan Goode, Pat Goode, Pat Jones, Julia Garrett, Andy Taylor,
Edna Weiss, Steve Green, Betty Shafer, Debbie Knight, Marci Pitts, Brently Beaty, Georgia Turner, Carol Light, Jonathan Scott, Danny Agee, Allan Cloud, Crawford Family,
Mike & Audra Brewer, Gwen Fischer, Robert Lynn West, Mary Irene, Mary Ann Fender,
Tom & Michelle Kyle, C.A. Smith, Brett Johnson, Cynthia Merritt, Erma Bounds,
Matt Boehm, Ron & Jan Boehm, Steve Qualls, Charlotte Beeler, Mary Spradlin,
Charles King, G'Anne Weaver, Bill Elliot, Jeremy Colby,
Andrew and Ashley Stock & twin daughters, Musa, SUMC Committees
 
Military
Pete Alderman, Jeffery Barnes, Amy Cook, Gerald Montanona, Daniel Collins,
George Robey, Oscar Fernandez, Jacob Nelson, Aaron Baker, Kaden Baker,
Taylor Wood, J.J. Kelly, Ryan McDonald, Keary O’Connor, Michael Gordon,
Jason Lowerey, Jake Bradshaw, Devan Patterson, Ben Smith, John Schook,
MK2 Benjamin Perrin, Patrick Reinbold, Chris King, Dylan Dexter, John Hawkins,
Katie Kyle, Seaman Hall, Oscar Little, John Little, Clint Tracy

Sympathy
We extend our deepest condolences to Mary Ann Fender on the recent loss of her son, Mike, and to the family of Nancy Preston on the passing of her mother,
Nancy Ellen (Greenup) Preston.
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Salado UMC
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