God has given me a new life.

A life where I say goodbye to religious duty and try my best not to judge others. A life where I know that Jesus died for my pride and all my other sins. A life where I know I am the least in the kingdom of God and strive to love the other least in the kingdom of God. A life of purpose.

A good life, truly.

So how did I come to this place in my life? By the grace of God. Through suffering and hardship. Through the discipline of the Lord in my life. Through my repeating the truth of the Gospel as it applies to me personally.

Sunday’s sermon, on April 13, 2025, entitled, “The Power to Stand Firm,” helped me to see how holding fast to the Gospel continues to establish this new life that God has given me.

The sermon served to remind me of the creed in I Corinthians, chapter 15, namely verses three through six, which state the facts that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the grave, appeared to the disciples, and then to over 500 witnesses. Over five hundred!

How can anyone question the resurrection of Jesus Christ when there is so much proof and evidence and witnesses to the fact?

He is the only God who is still alive.

And Paul says in I Corinthians 15, verses one and two, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (ESV)

Hold fast. Hold fast to the truth of the Gospel. That is what I must continue to do. Remind myself of what Jesus has done for me. And hold fast to it.

For I was a Pharisee. I expected others to live up to standards I couldn’t keep myself. I was dead in my trespasses and God resurrected me to a new life in Him. It is a miracle for me and for anyone who trusts in Jesus.

Ephesians two, verses four to five state, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved.—” (ESV)

Because of His great love. He rose from the dead. And saved me. Hold fast to the truth.

–-Ann Elizabeth Yeager