If We are In Christ

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NASB1995)

It is a very popular teaching today that we can be “in Christ” by a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ, no dying to sin and no obeying God required. For they call that “works salvation.” Therefore, they can continue living in deliberate and habitual sin with no requirements for obedience to our Lord’s commands in holy living. So, when they sin habitually, if they begin to feel guilty about their sin, many of them are being taught to just “claim who you are in Christ,” and they are given a list of things to claim.

But we are not “in Christ” via lip service only. We are “in Christ” when by biblical faith in Christ, which comes from God, and not from ourselves, we deny self, die to sin daily, and we walk in conduct in obedience to our Lord and to his commands – all in the power of God living within us. For to be reconciled to God means that, by faith in Jesus Christ, we exchanged our old lives of living in sin for our new lives in Christ in obedience to his commands so that sin is no longer our practice, but we now obey our God in practice.

For God not counting our sins against us is not accomplished by us giving our Lord lip service only. While it is true that we do nothing in ourselves to earn or to deserve our own salvation, it is not true that we are saved from our sin and on our way to heaven if we do not change, and if we continue living in deliberate and habitual sin against our Lord, and not in walks of surrender to his will in obedience to his commands. For Jesus taught that we must deny self, die to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience to be “in Christ.”

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

To My Beloved  

Based off I Peter 5:6-9; Ephesians 6:10-20; James 4:4-10

An Original Work / November 14, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be strong in the grace of Christ, and

Put on His full armor in your fight

Against the enemy of your souls,

And resist him with all your might.

Take up the shield of your faith within you.

Salvation’s helmet – you put it on.

Put on the belt of truth, 

And walk in the Spirit,

And you’ll not be ashamed.

Love your Lord Jesus; call His Name. 

Call on your Lord and Savior, Jesus, and

Make Him Lord and King of your hearts.

Obey all of His teachings He has given

To you to follow in all His ways. 

Repent of your sins. Return to your God.

Follow Him where’er He leads you now.

Humble yourselves in full

Surrender to His will

For your lives today.

Bow before Him, and humbly pray. 

Be strong in the grace of Christ, and

Obey your Lord in ev’rything, always

Keeping His teachings in your hearts near you.

Walk with Christ in ev’ry way.

Resist the devil. He will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and He’ll be near you.

Wash your hands you sinners

And double minded.

Weep and wail o’er sin.

With Christ, your new lives begin.

https://vimeo.com/125863190

If We are In Christ

An Original Work / March 29, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be Reconciled to God

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB1995)

What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? It means to be his representative, i.e. a trustworthy, loyal, respected, knowledgeable individual who represents the Lord and the truth of the Scriptures according to the truth taught in the Scriptures. And it means to preach (to proclaim the word of God; to prophesy), but according to the truth of the Scriptures as taught in the correct biblical context, and as authorized to speak by God, so as called of God to proclaim his Word to the people, as led by the Holy Spirit.

And we who are his representatives, who are ambassadors for Christ, are to be those who are making God’s appeal to the people to be reconciled to God. And to be reconciled to God means that we change so that we are not the same people we were before, living like we did before, but we are now new creations in Christ Jesus created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. For by faith in Jesus Christ we exchanged our old lives of living in sin for our new lives in Christ in obedience to our Lord and to his commands.

It means we change from being God’s enemies to now being united with him in friendship, fellowship, and partnership with God, united in heart, mind, and purpose with God, no longer to make sin our practice, but to now live for the will of God in doing and in being what and who God desires that we do and be for his praise, honor, and glory. For we have, by faith in Jesus, exchanged the old life of sin for the new life in Christ so that sin is no longer our practice but obedience to God and to his commands is how we now live.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB1995)

Jesus Christ was born to a virgin mother, but conceived of the Holy Spirit, so he was not born with a sin nature as we were, and he never sinned once, although the Scriptures teach he was tempted in all things as we are (see Hebrews 4:15). While on the earth he was fully God and fully man. And Jesus’ ultimate purpose in coming down from heaven to the earth to be born into this world as a baby, and to grow to manhood, and then to preach the truth to the people, was that he would then die on a cross for our sins. 

And in Jesus’ death on that cross he took upon himself the sins of the entire world, putting our sins to death with him, so that by God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, which comes from God and is not of our own doing, we would now die to sin and live for God in walks of purity of devotion to our Lord in holy living, in surrender to the will of God, in walks of obedience to his commands. For he died and rose from the dead that we might die to sin and live for God from the time we believe until we breathe our last breath.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22] 

Your Word  

Based off Psalms 119

An Original Work / December 27, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Praise You with an upright heart as

I learn of Your righteousness.

I seek You with all my heart;

Do not let me stray from Your law.

I have hidd’n Your word in my heart

That I might not sin against You.

Open my eyes that I may see

Wonderful things in Your word.

I am a stranger on earth.

I have chosen the way of truth;

My heart is set on Your word.

I will walk about in freedom,

For I have sought out Your truth.

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, 

For I believe in Your law.

Your hands made me, and they formed me;

Give me understanding, Lord.

I put my hope in Your word.

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light unto my path.

You are my shield and my refuge;

In Your word I put my hope.

My heart trembles at Your word, Lord.

May my lips o’erflow with praise.

May my tongue sing of Your truth, Lord.

Your salvation, Lord, long I.

Your word, Lord, is my delight. 

https://vimeo.com/125862410 

Be Reconciled to God

An Original Work / March 29, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Women in Ministry

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NASB1995)

I believe this is one of the most difficult passages of Scripture to interpret in the Bible (including verses 11-15), or else it is one of the most controversial, and is thus often avoided. First of all, I believe the instruction here on how women are to dress is cultural, to some extent, yet we can learn from what is taught here in principle. 

We are to dress ourselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly. We should not purposefully draw anyone’s attention to parts of our bodies, which are sensual in nature, by revealing too much, or by wearing extremely tight-fitting clothing, which then just accentuates our female forms, and which might tempt men to lust after us. Instead, we should adorn ourselves with godliness, holiness, goodness, kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, love, mercy, joy, and faithfulness, etc.

"A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” (1 Timothy 2:11-15 NASB1995)

Women, of which I am one, should follow the instructions in Scripture on the subject of authority and submission. God is over man (and woman), and man is over woman. Women should not be in positions of authority over men, nor should they be in positions as teachers (instructors) over men within the church as regards authoritative instruction, such as we have received from Jesus and from the apostles. But there may be exceptions to this rule if there is a shortage of biblically qualified men to do the job.

We should receive instruction quietly and with entire submissiveness. But we are not to submit to false teachings or to abuse. We do not have to subject ourselves to abuse or to lies and deceptions. We do not have to join in with the crowd and unite ourselves with what is against God and is against the teachings of the Scriptures. If we are partnered with the ungodly and with the world via the church’s partnership with the government and with the world, we are to come out from among them and to be separate.

[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5] 

This Greek word for “quiet” is the same as was in verse 2, where we read that we (all believers) are to pray for all people, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. For this word “quiet” means peaceful, restful, and calm. It is the opposite of boisterous, clamorous or raucous. In other words, we women are not to cause a disturbance in the church by being loud and unruly or by usurping authority over men, but we should be submissive, reverent, and calm. 

And for all of us, by praying for all people and for those in authority over us, i.e. by taking these matters of concern to God in prayer, it helps us to remain calm and dignified, to not become raucous or clamorous, and to lead godly lives, because we are bringing our burdens to God. This, however, does not mean us women are restricted from all teaching or from using our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. There is just a proper order and place for things, and we must follow that order. 

Women can teach women, and they can teach children, and they can post their quiet times with God on the internet where anyone can read them (male and female), but where they have no authority over any man, but are subject to the authorities that exist on the internet itself and on various websites. After all, the gifts of teaching and prophecy were given to women, too (Acts 2:16-18). And to prophesy is to proclaim (to preach). So women can prophesy (preach). They are just not to be in authority over men.

For Jesus used the woman at the well to spread the gospel to men, and God used the women at the tomb to take the good news of the resurrection to men (Christ’s disciples), and it was ok for Priscilla and Aquila to approach Apollos and to take him aside and to quietly instruct him in some matters of the gospel on which he was not yet well versed. And women prophesied (preached, proclaimed God’s Word) alongside men on the day of Pentecost as empowered by the Holy Spirit in a mixed gathering of men and women.

And in the case of the women at the tomb, they were acting under the authority of God. In the case of Priscilla and Aquila, she was acting under the authority of her husband and God. The woman at the well merely responded in excitement to what Jesus told her about himself, and she wanted to tell others, but this was God’s plan, which is why Jesus spoke with her. Jesus essentially led the woman to take the gospel to the people.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit gifts women just as he does men, and he has a place for each of us in the body of Christ so that we may encourage and strengthen one another in the faith. So, we need to pray, and we need to be in submission to proper biblical authority (not to those spreading lies; not to those who abuse), and we need to act under the authority of God, and not be raucous and unruly, but to obey and honor God in all ways. And God will make a way for us where there seems to be no way, to fulfill his purpose.

[Matthew 26:6-13; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 5:25-34; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:36-38; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 24:1-12; John 2:1-11; John 4:1-42; John 8:1-11; John 20:1-18; Acts 2:17-18; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5]

Fear Not, Little Flock 

 

Based off Luke 12  

An Original Work / February 10, 2016

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Fear not, little flock, your Lord’s always near.

Jesus will come and wipe every tear.

Trust in His mercy, rest in His love.

He’ll give you comfort from heaven above.

Our precious Redeemer, Jesus, our friend,

He will be with us, true to the end.

He will not leave you, faithful He’ll be.

Believe His promises, rest on His knee.

Our God, and provider, He knows our need.

He’ll not forsake you. Follow His lead.

He’ll love and comfort you to the end.

Know, on His Word, you can always depend.

https://vimeo.com/154896384

Women in Ministry

An Original Work / March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Foot Washing

By Sue Love

Saturday, October 13, 2007

I spent the day today in VA/WV. My husband Rick’s employer, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, sponsors regular mission trips to Bradshaw, WV. This was their big annual mission trip and it was my first mission trip ever, I think. So, I had no expectations. I just wanted to serve the Lord. 

We arrived last night and enjoyed dinner and fellowship with a group of about 50 volunteers who came here just because they love Jesus. The Lord worked it out that we invited a married couple from NC to ride to dinner with us – a couple we had not met previously, and we ended up eating dinner with them and fellowshipping with them and with a man from Ohio. Their excitement for the Lord was very apparent. 

We all met for devotions this morning before traveling to the mission site. The options for ministry were listed. There was one that was planned evangelism - where I would have the opportunity to share the gospel with people one on one. There was only one catch – I had to wash people’s feet. It just so happened that this is the ministry group of which this couple was a part. 

Now, I am not a foot person. I don’t generally touch people with my feet, and I don’t like to have anyone touch my feet, and I don’t touch other people’s feet, except for maybe my grandchildren’s. So, this was going to stretch me, but I figured I could use the dose of humility – can’t we all?

This ministry group, who was washing people’s feet, was also supplying them with new socks and shoes, so the first thing we did was to unbox the shoes, remove papers from inside them, etc. so they were ready to be placed on people’s feet. They asked for the first four volunteers to wash people’s feet, but since I had never done anything like that before, I wanted to watch first. So, I went and observed. I listened to see what kinds of things they said, how they approached the gospel, and just in general how they did the service of foot washing. 

The man in charge walked in and asked me if I was ready to begin washing feet, but I told him I would just serve as prayer support for right now. I just wasn’t ready to get my feet wet. Then, I talked with the Lord about it. I said, “Lord, you talk with me all the time. Let me know what you want me to do.”

The Lord immediately gave me this verse:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). 

Immediately the Lord plugged into my mind that washing people’s feet and giving them new shoes to wear symbolized the truth of this passage of scripture. Then, I knew I was ready. 

So, I sat down on the stool to wash the first person’s feet. It was a man. I imagined that this was going to be difficult for me, but the Lord just took over and it was amazing because when I was talking about Jesus to people and washing their feet, it really felt how I had imagined many times over in my mind that I was Mary washing Jesus’ feet with my tears and my hair. Now, I was his hands and his feet and his voice, too, to these people who came to get a new pair of shoes. And I really did not even think twice about washing their feet. It was as though I had always done it, like the Lord just took over my hands. 

I found this a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with people. First off, I don’t do something just because everyone else is doing it or because it is the thing to do. So, I asked myself, “Why are we doing this? What is its purpose? What does it mean?” Since I wondered that myself, I figured other people might have the same question, so I began by asking them if they knew why we were doing this. 

Some people knew it was an act of humility and servanthood and that Jesus had set an example for us when he washed the feet of his disciples. I knew that, too. Others didn’t know and still others saw it as a religious ritual that they did at communion but really didn’t know why they did it. But, the Lord gave me a picture, not only of servanthood and humility, but of the gospel message.

He helped me to see that just as people came in there with dirty feet and needed to have their feet cleansed, many of them also came in there with dirty hearts. We are all born with dirty hearts (born into sin) and we need to have our hearts cleansed just like we were washing their feet. Also, just as they removed their old shoes (or we removed them for them) and we put new shoes on them after we washed their feet, the Lord has provided the way that we can have our old dirty hearts removed and we can leave there not only with new shoes, but with new hearts. 

I saw the symbolism of new shoes to be really interesting from another viewpoint, too, and that is that shoes are made for walking, so when the Lord cleanses our hearts and gives us new hearts, they are like new shoes – they are made for walking. In other words, He gives us a new walk. He doesn’t save us just so we can go to heaven one day, though that is certainly a wonderful promise, but he saves us to give us a new walk, i.e. a new direction in life; a new life period. 

Also, another thing stood out to me. No one could have clean feet or new shoes just by standing there and believing that they had clean feet or new shoes. They had to humble themselves, sit down, remove their old shoes (or we removed them), put their feet in the water and allow us to put new shoes on their feet. So, this was faith in action. It showed them that faith is action, not just words or a state of mind, but we have to come to the Lord and we have to humble ourselves and bow before him and allow him to remove our old hearts, to cleanse us and to give us new hearts. That, to me, is awesome!! But it all begins with the Father drawing them first. They also could not have clean feet and new shoes if we had not showed up and we had not invited them to come in and to receive this cleansing and these new shoes. 

I could see in the looks of some of the people that the Holy Spirit was drawing them to himself, but at least three of the ones I spoke with have said they are not ready. One young lady said she knows God is calling her and is drawing her to himself and I could see it in her eyes, yet she still would not give her heart to Jesus. It broke my heart. Jesus is calling so many to himself, but they just aren’t ready, like I wasn’t ready to wash their feet until the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “the old has gone and the new has come,” and then I knew I was ready. But, I still had to say “yes.” I pray that the people whose feet we washed today will say “yes” to Jesus because they got to see Jesus in action today through the lives of these ministers of HIS. 

Sunday, October 14, 2007 – Rick and I were on our way home from WV/VA and we were listening to my Avalon CD when the song New Day played. Rick said, “That sounds like your foot washing,” and I agreed. Here is the chorus:

It's a new day

Oh, it's a new time

And there's a new way

I'm gonna live my life

All the old has, passed away

And the new has come

Thank God, It's a brand new day

The Lord gave me one more illustration from my foot washing experience which is based upon this statement that I made above:

They asked for the first four volunteers to wash people’s feet, but since I had never done anything like that before, I wanted to watch first. So, I went and observed. I listened to see what kinds of things they said, how they approached the gospel, and just in general how they did the service of foot washing. 

Just as I observed the washers to make sure they were the real thing, that they were presenting the real gospel of Jesus Christ, and that they weren’t just going through a religious ritual before I would join them, unbelievers are also watching our lives to see if we are the real thing or if we are just going through the motions before they will make that decision to say “yes” to Jesus. So, it is really important that they see that Jesus is everything to us (Everything to Me / Avalon):

We're living in uncertain times

And more and more I find that I'm aware

Of just how fragile life can be

I want to tell the world I found 

A love that turned my life around

They need to know that they can taste and see

Now everyday I'm praying 

Just to give my heart away

I want live for Jesus

So that someone else might see that he is...

Everything to me

He's more than a story

more than words on a page of history

He's the air that I breathe

The water I thirst for

And the ground beneath my feet

He's everything, everything to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAKfTRlnA0I

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Foot Washing

An Original Work / October 13, 2007

Reposted March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be Discerning What You Pray

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NASB1995)

What kinds of prayers should we be praying for all people and for those in positions of authority over us? The context tells us. Well, the purpose is so we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity, and it is because God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, definitely we should be praying for the salvation of all who make no professions of faith in Jesus Christ as well as for all who profess him as Lord but who do not worship him as Lord, for they are still living in sin, going their own way, doing their own thing, regardless of God.

We should not assume that everyone who professes the name of Jesus has come into genuine relationship with him as Lord (Owner-Master) of their lives. For many give lip service to the Lord who are still making sin their practice, and not obedience to God and to his commands. And many of them who have authority over us are “crooked as a dog’s hind leg,” i.e. they are extremely dishonest, untrustworthy, corrupt, wicked, and devious. So even if they claim Jesus Christ with their lips, they are like the Pharisees who were filled with all sorts of evil and sinful practices, some of which were hidden.

And the Scriptures teach us that we are to test the spirits to see which ones are of God. So we shouldn’t believe people just because they give lip service to the Lord, but we should test all their actions, behaviors, life choices, etc., to see if they align with God’s Word, and if they are truly those who practice what they preach. And I am not saying that all of us must be living in absolute perfection with no missteps at all ever, but we should not be those who make sin our practice and whose character reveals the devil and not God in his righteousness and holiness. We must be true servants of God.

The point of what I am sharing here is that we should not just pray for people arbitrarily without thought as to what we should be praying or how we should be praying for them. For we might end up praying for the success of the devil in defeating the godly without realizing that is what we are doing. For there are indeed many who profess faith in Jesus Christ who are praying for the success of those in authority who profess faith in Jesus but who are wicked to the core, and who are against God, if truth be told, for they are really of Satan, and they are the ones doing his bidding, instead.

So, please be aware that Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God.

[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Romans 6:1-23; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22] 

When in The Stillness  

An Original Work / September 26, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When in the stillness of this moment,

Speak to me, Lord, I humbly pray.

Be my desire, set me on fire,

Teach me to love always.

Help me to walk in fellowship with You,

Listening to You; sit at Your feet.

Whisper Your words to me, 

Oh, how gently, guiding me in Your truth. 

While we are waiting for Your blessing,

Lord, in our hearts be King today.

Help us to live for you ev’ry moment,

List’ning to what You say.

May we not stray from your word within us,

Help us obey You, Lord, in all things,

Walking each moment, Lord, in Your presence,

Our offerings to You bring.

Help us to love You, Lord, our master;

Be an example of Your love,

Helping the hurting, lift up the fallen,

Showing them Your great love.

Teach them to love You, follow You always,

Bearing their cross and turning from sin;

Walking in daily fellowship with You,

Making You Lord and King.

https://vimeo.com/126984144

Be Discerning What You Pray

An Original Work / March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

According to Our Works

“Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work.” (Psalm 62:11-12 NASB1995)

This is taken from the Old Testament, but the New Testament also teaches the power and the lovingkindness of God, and that God recompenses us humans according to our works. And this is not works based salvation, for not one of us can come to faith in Jesus Christ unless God draws us to faith in our Lord. Even the faith to believe in Jesus comes from God and is gifted to us by God, and is persuaded of God, and is not of our own flesh. But “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Yet there are the works God had planned for us to walk in them, empowered and led by God, and then there are the works of the flesh and of the devil which we are not to engage in. And then the Scriptures teach us that God is going to judge us according to our works. And he will reward us according to our works. And not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one doing (obeying) the will of God. So, if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess (see Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26).

Works: [John 15:1-11; Romans 2:1-11; Romans 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Galatians 5:6,16-24; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 5:3-6; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:8; James 2:17; 1 Peter 1:17-21; 1 Peter 2:24]

So, faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, is not absent of all works, but they are the works God prepared in advance that we should walk in them, as directed by God, and as led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and not of our own human flesh. All throughout the New Testament books we are taught what we are to do and what we are not to do as followers of Jesus Christ. We are instructed in the ways of the Lord and that we are to walk in them. And we are taught what we are to put off, and what we are to put on, and that we are to be living pure and holy lives, pleasing to our Lord.

Put Offs and Put Ons: [Matthew 5:27-30; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 3:5-11; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-17; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]  

So, if someone tries to convince you that faith in Jesus Christ is absent of all works, please do not believe them. For Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross to put our sins to death with him, so that by faith in him we will now die to sin and live for God in walks of obedience to his commands. And if they try to convince you that God will not judge you according to your works if you profess faith in Jesus Christ, don’t listen to them. Read the Scriptures referenced above, because works are required of us, and all of us will be judged according to our works. And some will hear, “I never knew you.”

Teach Them  

Based off various scriptures

An Original Work / May 24, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Open up the blinded eyes of

Those who walk in sin’s darkness.

Turn them to the light of Christ

And to His righteousness.

Turn them from the pow’r of Satan.

Turn them to the peace of Christ,

So they may receive forgiveness

And eternal life. 

Teach them to put off their old selves

And their former way of life,

And to put on their new self,

Reborn to be like Christ;

To not copy worldly customs;

Be transformed in life and mind;

Obey freely His word in them,

Pleasing unto God.

Teach them how to love their neighbors

Truly as they love themselves;

Be a witness; share the gospel;

Satan’s lies dispel;

Comfort all who mourn in sadness;

Share Christ’s love and joy today.

Do this through your life and witness

For your Lord always. 

https://vimeo.com/125485489 

According to Our Works

An Original Work / March 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

The Rock of My Strength

“On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:7-8 NASB1995)

Whatever we are going through in life, if God is the one who we serve, if Jesus Christ is our Lord (Owner-Master), and if we are following our Lord in surrender to his will, in obedience to his commands, he will carry us through it all. This doesn’t mean he will always rescue us from our difficulties. Look at the life of Jesus and the lives of his New Testament apostles, for example. They all went through some pretty rough stuff. And many of them were put to death for the things they did and said. But God was with them always.

God may sometimes remove us from difficult circumstances, and other times he may just ask us to trust him with our circumstances. For him being our salvation (deliverer) doesn’t always mean physical deliverance. Sometimes it just means that he rescues us from hate, revenge, bitterness, and/or a tendency to just want to escape reality and to drown in our sorrows. He may just rescue us from wrong responses to what we are having to endure while he teaches us to put our hope and trust in him for all things and in all ways.

“How long will you assail a man,

That you may murder him, all of you,

Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;

They delight in falsehood;

They bless with their mouth,

But inwardly they curse. Selah.” (Psalm 62:3-4 NASB1995)

Presently we live in a day and time when lies and deception abound just about everywhere you look, even within the gatherings of many of what are called “churches.” We cannot put our trust in other humans to tell us the truth, for so many of them speak lies as a matter of life practice. Even ones we might (or might have) regarded as truth tellers could be lying to us. For pastors speak lies, as do government heads, as does the news media. This is why the Scriptures teach us to test everything we hear, for many speak lies.

And those who speak lies, as a matter of life practice, are not those who are following Jesus with their lives. For if they are liars who willfully deceive the masses, they are antichrist. They are against God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. And so they will lie to you about what the Bible teaches, and they will twist it to the advantage of the willfully defiant and the habitual sinners. And they will come against those of us who are holding to the truths of the Scriptures, for their goal is to destroy us and our testimonies. But…

“My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2 NASB1995)

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 5:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

You Loved Me

A song based off the poem by the same name @ Original Works

Music and lyrics by Sue Love @ Original Works & Tosin Iyawo Ogaga

Vocals by Tosin Iyawo Ogaga & Sue Love

An Original Work / December 3, 2019

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When I was lonely and afflicted,

You were there to pick me up.

You took me in Your arms,

And You held me tenderly.

Your love embraced me.

Your grace sustained me.

When my heart cried out to You

In my fear and my despair,

You never turned away,

But You let me know You loved me.

Your grace forgave me.

You did not shame me.

Then, when I answered the call,

“Here, Lord, send me.”

You sent me to where I must be.

Your mercy held me, did not fail me.

All this, You had planned, to use me.

And, when all trials and scorn

Came to test me.

You gave me all that I would need.

You strengthened me so I’d not fail You.

Your kindness blessed me, it touched me.

And, when I needed the church to lift up me,

To hearten me so I’d not fail,

You blessed me with folks who would love me.

Their presence with me, Your praise hailed!

And, when I walked through the valley

Of the shadow of the death,

And tears flowed from my eyes,

Still Your kindness was there for me.

Your touch, it healed me.

For I believed You.

When now I think about the ways,

Of the many, many ways

That You in Your great love

Show me that You’ll always care for me,

My heart, it thanks You,

And gladness fills me, fills me.

https://vimeo.com/377807796

The Rock of My Strength

An Original Work / March 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love