Every
newborn baby is a gift of God. Couples
can “contribute” through sexual union, but only God can “create.” Yesterday, God’s grace came in the form of a
baby daughter, born to Joe and Beth Batchelder.
The Batchelder’s serve with AIM Air, the missionary aviation team of
Africa Inland Mission (AIM). And, they are members of our missionary family at West Hill Baptist Church.
The Batchelder’s baby daughter came into the world through the labor of her mommy, and as a special gift for her daddy on Father’s Day. She is also a birthday gift for her brother, Judah, being born on his birthday. Both Judah and his brother, Ivan, will be her loving protectors from the start.
But what was most special to me was the inspiring tribute of praise written by Joe and Beth on this occasion of naming their daughter. They named her Sola Grace, which expresses the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—Sola Gratia, “Grace Alone.”
Joe and Beth have given me permission to share their testimony and photos of Sola Grace. Our prayers are with the Batchelder’s as they nurture her to become a woman whose life will honor Jesus Christ and proclaim that it is His “Grace Alone” that makes possible the salvation for all who believe in Him. Please reflect on God's glorious Grace as you read:
To the Praise of His Glorious Grace
We are very excited to announce the arrival of our long-awaited baby girl, Sola Grace. Sola arrived on June 21st at around 12:30 p.m. She came just in time to share her birthday with her older brother, Judah, not to mention being Daddy’s Father’s Day present. Sola weighs 7 pounds and 3 ounces and is 20 inches long.
We don’t deserve this beautiful gift from God. We hope and pray that Sola Grace
will taste and see that the Lord is good, and enjoy God’s gracious gift of
salvation in Jesus. No gift is more undeserved,
and no gift is more free:
It is the gift of eternal life,
a new covenant,
a blood-bought redemption,
a complete reconciliation,
a living hope,
a preserving faith,
an inexpressible joy,
an incomprehensible peace,
an inseparable love,
a cleansed heart,
a sin-killing Spirit,
a guaranteed victory,
an imperishable inheritance,
an unshakeable kingdom,
a satisfied wrath,
a tender mercy,
a perfect righteousness,
a new name,
a holy calling,
a glorious grace,
and a God who is for us.
All things, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, are ours in Jesus Christ.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). All this, given to hostile enemies of God like us.
Hostile enemies don’t want peace.
Guilty criminals don’t deserve mercy.
Dead men can’t raise themselves to life.
That is why it is not based on anything in us or done by us, but it is only by the glorious grace of God the Father, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We love you Sola Grace.
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” - Romans 11:6
The Batchelder’s baby daughter came into the world through the labor of her mommy, and as a special gift for her daddy on Father’s Day. She is also a birthday gift for her brother, Judah, being born on his birthday. Both Judah and his brother, Ivan, will be her loving protectors from the start.
But what was most special to me was the inspiring tribute of praise written by Joe and Beth on this occasion of naming their daughter. They named her Sola Grace, which expresses the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—Sola Gratia, “Grace Alone.”
Joe and Beth have given me permission to share their testimony and photos of Sola Grace. Our prayers are with the Batchelder’s as they nurture her to become a woman whose life will honor Jesus Christ and proclaim that it is His “Grace Alone” that makes possible the salvation for all who believe in Him. Please reflect on God's glorious Grace as you read:
To the Praise of His Glorious Grace
We are very excited to announce the arrival of our long-awaited baby girl, Sola Grace. Sola arrived on June 21st at around 12:30 p.m. She came just in time to share her birthday with her older brother, Judah, not to mention being Daddy’s Father’s Day present. Sola weighs 7 pounds and 3 ounces and is 20 inches long.
It is the gift of eternal life,
a new covenant,
a blood-bought redemption,
a complete reconciliation,
a living hope,
a preserving faith,
an inexpressible joy,
an incomprehensible peace,
an inseparable love,
a cleansed heart,
a sin-killing Spirit,
a guaranteed victory,
an imperishable inheritance,
an unshakeable kingdom,
a satisfied wrath,
a tender mercy,
a perfect righteousness,
a new name,
a holy calling,
a glorious grace,
and a God who is for us.
All things, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, are ours in Jesus Christ.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). All this, given to hostile enemies of God like us.
Hostile enemies don’t want peace.
Guilty criminals don’t deserve mercy.
Dead men can’t raise themselves to life.
That is why it is not based on anything in us or done by us, but it is only by the glorious grace of God the Father, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We love you Sola Grace.
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” - Romans 11:6
How About
You?
After reading about how impossible it would be to have biological life without God the Creator of all life, have you considered also how impossible it is for you and I as sinners to have a personal relationship with God without His forgiving, redeeming Grace? Maybe you are confused or maybe the message of “Sola Grace,” or “Grace Alone” shared by Joe and Beth Batchelder is totally new to you. Just as a baby is born physically, so Jesus said, “you must be ‘born again’ [spiritually]" in order to know and experience the things of the Spirit of God (John 3: 3-18; 1 Corinthians 2: 12).
If you would like to know more about the Life transformed and filled by God’s Holy Spirit, please check out this booklet online, entitled “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” This helpful booklet explains how you can surrender your life to Christ, gain peace with God through His Life, and begin to see the world and your life from God's perspective through His Holy Spirit dwelling in you. If you have additional questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Just post a “Comment” below or e-mail me at silviusj@gmail.edu
After reading about how impossible it would be to have biological life without God the Creator of all life, have you considered also how impossible it is for you and I as sinners to have a personal relationship with God without His forgiving, redeeming Grace? Maybe you are confused or maybe the message of “Sola Grace,” or “Grace Alone” shared by Joe and Beth Batchelder is totally new to you. Just as a baby is born physically, so Jesus said, “you must be ‘born again’ [spiritually]" in order to know and experience the things of the Spirit of God (John 3: 3-18; 1 Corinthians 2: 12).
If you would like to know more about the Life transformed and filled by God’s Holy Spirit, please check out this booklet online, entitled “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” This helpful booklet explains how you can surrender your life to Christ, gain peace with God through His Life, and begin to see the world and your life from God's perspective through His Holy Spirit dwelling in you. If you have additional questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Just post a “Comment” below or e-mail me at silviusj@gmail.edu
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this John!
You're welcome, Mike. Thank you for reading and responding.
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