Glenwood Community Church

In the last few weeks we have examined several general and specific signs that Jesus described in the 24th chapter of Matthew which are signs of the end of the age.  In verses 4-8 Jesus listed four general signs of that will increase and intensify as the end of the age approaches.  These four signs are spiritual deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes.  These signs are the beginning of birth pains meaning that Christ's return is nearing.  In verses 9 -14, Jesus described specific signs which will occur during the last half of the time of great distress (The last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period).  Many Christians will be martyred for their faith.  They will be put to death because of their refusal to worship the antichrist.  After the antichrist breaks his peace covenant with Israel, there will also be a marked increase in wickedness.  We will be considering these signs and others during the Message Time this Lord's Day.

A few weeks ago we studied general characteristics of the church age that will increase and intensify as the "end of the age" draws nearer.  Verses 4-8 in the 24th chapter of Matthew described general signs which will characterize the church age (Pentecost to the Rapture).  These general signs include religious deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes.  As they increase and intensify, these signs will confirm that the end is nearing.  Verses 9-14 in the 24th chapter of Matthew describe the events of the tribulation period.  This time of great distress will be a period of terrible suffering for those who become believers in Jesus after the rapture of the church.  We will be examining these signs during the Message Time this Lord's Day.

With the beginning of a New Year this Lord's Day, may we be reminded that in Christ we are New Creations as we read:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17.

In his book Truth on Tough Texts, Dr. J.D. Watson writes, What does it mean to be a new creation? The word "new" is the Greek kainos. While another word for "new" (neos) refers to something new in time, something that recently has come into existence, kainos refers to something new in quality, as it would be distinguished from something that is old and worn out, something that has never existed before. "Creation", then, is ktisis. In Classical Greek it meant the act of creation, the created thing, or the result of the act. It (and the verb ktizo) was often used in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) to translate the Hebrews bara "to create from nothing."

So what does it mean to be a "new creation"? It means that the Christian is not new in the sense of time (neos) – as in the date he received Christ as Savior – rather new in quality (kainos), a creature that has never existed before, a creature with a new character. When Christ comes into a life, that life changes. God's Word everywhere declares, in fact, that a change is automatic when someone truly believes. We will be considering our new identity in Christ during the Message Time on New Year's Day.

Our Christmas Eve Worship will be at 6:00 p.m. Invite your family and friends to join us for this special time of celebration and praise.

We will be meeting at our regular time on Christmas morning for an abbreviated time of Worship. Our Sunday School classes will be dismissed Christmas morning so our congregation may be with family to celebrate Jesus' birth.