Church website up and running...again

Hi everyone, I'd like you to know that our church's website is up and running again. Currently, it's all in Portuguese. We hope to have the English version online soon. We started posted our current series through 1 John, called "Reality". Check it out. Our web address is www.calvarycuritiba.com. God bless you all.

Igreja Terceira Presbiteriana da Belo Horizonte

I was invited to speak 4 times at Igreja Terceira Presbiteriana da Belo Horizonte from August 14-15 by Pastor Mario Freitas. I had a great time worshipping and fellowshipping with the sweet congregation there. My trip reminded me how special it is to be a part of God's family. While serving people God's word, I was blessed by their service towards me. My hosts, Charles and Valeria, are amazing people. They demonstrated real Christian hospitality. I also am thankful for Brad Hobbs. He attends our church, and traveled with me to assist me in whatever ways. I look forward to more opportunities to visit with this Christ-centered churc in Belo Horizonte.

Calvary Chapel San Diego | July 2010

During the month of July, I'll be speaking at Calvary Chapel San Diego on Sunday mornings and evenings. In the mornings, I'll be teaching a series from 1 John called "Reality". In the evenings, a series from Colossians called "The Supremacy of Christ". If you're in the area, I'd love to invite you to come and study the Bible with Calvary Chapel San Diego. For more information, visit the Calvary Chapel San Diego website: www.calvarysandiego.com

Church Members Meeting

On Saturday, our church met for the first of two membership meetings. God is doing a good work in Calvary in Curitiba, and it's exciting to see Him forming a core fellowship of Christians that call this church "home". Our meetings give me time to revisit our core beliefs and goals as a church. We want to be solid in five areas:

1. First, and foremost is CHRIST. 2 John 1:7-11 tells us that it is impossible to be a Christian while denying the essential Biblical doctrines about Jesus. For this reason, we reaffirmed our beliefs in Him as God, Man, Sacrifice, Savior, and King. We also embrace Him as the builder, foundation, head, and shepherd of the church.

2. Second, CREED. We believe the Bible to be God's inspired and inerrant word. We believe in one God, and he is triune. We believe in Jesus Christ to be God Incarnate. We believe in the deity and personality of Holy Spirit. We believe that all humanity is guilty of sin and in need of a Savior. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. We believe in heaven and hell as being real places.

3. Third, CHURCH. The "universal" Church refers to all Christians in all places in all times. The "local" church refers to a local gathering of Christians to worship God and serve each other. Within the local church, God has established leaders called "elders; overseers; pastors" to teach people about Him, and to serve them, pointing them to Jesus. He also established "deacons" to serve people.

4. Fourth, COMMUNITY. We enter God's community through faith in Christ. Being Jesus' disciples, we esteem the importance of water baptism. This is an outward symbol of an inward reality--our union with Christ. As a community, we demonstrate our love for Jesus by our love and service towards each other through the power of the Spirit. Our desire is to be a fellowship of Christians that is practically showing off God's glory in our relationships with one another.

5. Fifth, COMMISSION. Jesus commanded His followers to preach the Gospel and make disciples. We believe that this responsibility is for all Christians. Therefore, we encourage all members in Calvary to participate in fulfilling "Christ's Great Commission". This includes evangelism and missions.

Calvary exists because of Jesus. Calvary exists to worship Jesus. Calvary is all about Jesus.

What is a Christian? | Romans 8:5-9

Romans 8:5-9 (ESV) |  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."

These verses set forth a clear distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian. This understanding is supported by Paul's words in verse 9. Non-Christians are those who live according to the flesh and Christians are those who live according to the Spirit.

In this case, here in verses 5-9, the "flesh" refers to the "sinful nature". A Non-Christian aspires to satisfy the appetites of his sinful nature. His mind is set on this. This person is  hostile to God. In Colossians 1:21 Paul states it this way, "You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds". In short, a Non-Christian is an enemy of God.

Next, a Non-Christian does not submit to God's law. 1 John 3:4 states, "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness." To break God's law is a crime against God, therefore a Non-Christian is a guilty, condemned sinner before God. No matter how hard he tries, he can never obey God's holy law and satisfy His perfect standards.

Finally, Paul tells us that a Non-Christian cannot please God. In Isaiah 64:6, God tells us that He views all the "righteous" deeds of a Non-Christian as a polluted garment. Because his heart is not pleasing to God, his thoughts and actions can never please God. Romans 3:10 says, "None is righteous, no, not one."

This is the spiritual condition of all Non-Christians before God. They are (1) sinners by nature, (2) enemies of God, (3) law breakers of God's law, and (4) incapable of pleasing God. The desires of the flesh hate the desires of the Spirit, and is at war against it (see Galatians 5:17).  In this state, all sinners are the "recipients of God's wrath" (see John 3:36 and Ephesians 2:1-3).

For this reason, we need God's Gospel. It teaches us that the moment we start trusting in Christ as our one and only Savior, God transforms us from "living according to the flesh" to "living according to the Spirit". This transformation is called "conversion". This is "regeneration". We are regenerated the moment the Holy Spirit indwells us. At this point we begin living according to the Spirit. This means that (1) we possess a new nature; (2) we are God's children; (3) we are justified and righteous; (4) we are able to please God.

Is the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? Without His indwelling presence in your life, you cannot be a Christian. Start trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, and you too can "live according to the Spirit".

The Work of Christ | Romans 8:3-4

Romans 8:3-4 (ESV)| "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." 

These words explain how God set us free from the law of sin and death. He accomplished something that His law could never do. God's law cannot deliver us from the law of sin and death; it can only condemn us. The problem is not with the law; it's with us. The Bible tells us that God's law is holy and perfect. We, however, are unholy and imperfect. It is impossible, therefore, for sinners to obey God's law and fulfill all its righteous requirements. For this reason, everyone stands guilty and condemned before the one, true, eternal, holy, righteous, and impartial God. The Bible says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

God, however, saved us from sin and death by the sending of His Son into the world as "the Savior of the world". His divine, eternal, all-glorious Son became fully human and lived a sinless life, fulfilling all the righteous requirements of God's law. He also suffered and died on a cross as God's perfect sacrifice for our sins. It was there that Christ became our sin, and absorbed God's wrath against it. The sacrificial work of Christ on the cross satisfied God's justice and makes salvation from sin and death possible for everyone who believes in Him.


God punished Jesus at Calvary as if He lived our sinful lives, so that He can treat us as if we are living His sinless life. Christ's righteousness was imputed to us the moment we started trusting in Him as our Savior. Having His righteousness means that all the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled in us. He took all our sins, and we received all His righteousness. John Calvin called this "the great exchange". 

Being in Christ, we are free from the law of sin and death. Through the miraculous work of regeneration, God made us spiritually alive and capable of living according to the law of the Spirit of life.


"To God be the glory; great things He has done!"

No Condemnation | Romans 8:1-2

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV) | "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." 

If we are living by the Spirit then we are subject to the Law of the Spirit. Before God regenerated us, we were slaves to the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death told us, "you must sin; you will die". In Christ, however, we are free from this law due to a greater law - "the law of the Spirit of life". The same way that the law of aerodynamics supersedes the law of gravity, the law of the Spirit of life supersedes the law of sin and death. This means that sin no longer has the right to control us and death no longer has the final word over us. For this reason, Romans 8:1 declares, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."


The word "condemnation" means "accusation". Thayer's Greek dictionary defines "condemnation" as "a damnatory sentence" against us. God does not, and will not, condemn us. This glorious truth is applied only to those who are "in Christ Jesus". This refers to all Christians. Being in full union with Jesus, God's wrath passed over us, and His righteousness has been imputed to us. For this reason, we are free and clear from all "damnatory sentences" against us. God does not condemn His Son, therefore God does not condemn us because we are in Him.


The truth of Romans 8:1-2 must be apprehended and applied by every Christian. Too often Christians live as if they're still bound to the law of sin and death. This, however, is not the right way to live in Christ. The Christian life is one of freedom - freedom from sin's control; from the fear of death; from condemnation. By daily reminding ourselves and believing the fact that we are no longer subject to the law of sin and death, we can move forward in the Christian life in real victory and liberty, living under the Law of the Spirit of life. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."