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This week is our Celebration Sunday - the last week in our vision series and the morning on which we celebrate the transformation that only the risen Christ can bring, but baptising and confirming church members.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to come together in great joy and thankfulness for all that God has done amongst our St John’s family. As we gather in this way, we’re joining in with a celebration that has already begun in the heavenly places. Jesus is quite clear that there’s one thing that gets heaven particularly excited:

 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. - Luke 15:7

That’s where the joy is! Nothing seems to get heaven more excited than when people become Christians. The Apostle John gives us another view of exactly this celebration:

 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” - Rev. 7:9-10

 The great heavenly song of praise is about the salvation that God brings through the Lamb, Jesus.

Every one of our almost 40 candidates this Sunday morning represents this transforming work of the risen Christ. Each person is someone that God has:

  • Moved from darkness to light (Acts 26:18, Eph. 5:8, Col. 1:13, 1Peter 2:9, John 8:12)
  • Raised from death to life (Eph. 2:1-5, Col. 2:13, John 5:24, Rom. 6:13)
  • Caused to be born again (John 3:3-7, 1Peter 1:3, 23, James 1:18, Titus 3:5)
  • Made into a New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal 6:15, Eph. 2:10)
  • Redeemed from slavery into freedom (John 8:34-36, Rom 6:6-18, Gal. 4:7)
  • Changed from an enemy to an adopted son (Rom. 5:10, Gal 4:4-7, Rom. 8:15, Eph. 2:19)
  • Opened blind eyes (John 9:25, 2Cor. 4:4-6)
  • Found when they were lost (Luke 15, 19:10)
  • Thoroughly cleansed (1Cor. 6:11, Tit. 3:5, Ezek. 36:25-27)
  • Given brand new clean clothing (Isa. 61:10, Gal. 3:27, Rev. 3:18, 19:8)

 If that’s not worth celebrating, then nothing is. Will you join us this Sunday morning as we gather together with heaven itself, singing the praises of God the Father and the Lamb to whom salvation belongs and to whom all praise and glory are due!

David Ould
Senior Associate Minister