crucified Archives - NCC Cartersville

The Lord is Risen Indeed!

March 30, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed…”
Luke 24: 33-34 KJV

What a day it had been! There was the shock and horror of the brutal crucifixion and death of Jesus just three days before. Then the burial and the sealing of the tomb. And now, on this day, just three days after all of these events there were reports that Jesus was alive! That He had risen from the dead!

Most who heard these reports were skeptical. Why wouldn’t they be? No one who had ever been crucified and buried had ever risen from the dead! Everyone knew that when a man was dead that was the end! There was no coming back from that! After all, the only man who had ever, in their lifetime, raised anyone from the dead was now dead himself!

But as these two men journeyed home from Jerusalem to Emmaus (a small village 7 1/2 miles from Jerusalem) they were joined by a stranger. They had been discussing the confusing events of the past few days and were amazed to hear this stranger’s thoughts about those events (Luke 24: 25-27). They were so intrigued by his insight they insisted he stay overnight in their home.

As they began to share the evening meal together, this stranger took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and passed it unto them. Suddenly, at that moment, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him! It was Jesus! Jesus was seated with them at their table! And as soon as they recognized Him, He vanished from their sight!
They were startled! They were amazed! They were filled with awe and wonder! Their heart overflowed with excitement and joy! Jesus was alive! They immediately forgot their meal and rushed back to Jerusalem, at 2-hour journey on foot. They burst into the room where the disciples and others were still gathered and joyfully declared: The Lord is risen indeed!

The realization that Jesus is alive, that He is risen from the dead, changes everything! It changed everything for them. And it changes everything for us. The truth that Jesus is alive comes by revelation. That revelation may come to us in different ways, but the outcome is the same. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! That changes everything! And we are never be the same again!

Rev. James W. Black

The Power of the New Covenant

November 4, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance —now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Heb. 9:15 NIV 1984 Edition).

The Old Covenant which gave us the Law of God (revealed in the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20) was weak in that it could not make anyone righteous in the sight of God (Heb. 7:19). It is not that the Law is bad. No, it is very good. The Law reveals the Holy, just, and righteous nature of God. The problem was the weakness of our humanity. Because of our sinful nature, we were unable to keep the Law consistently and continually. In other words, the Law was unable to deliver us from the power of sin. No matter how hard one tries, everyone inevitably fails in their effort to keep the Law. (Rom. 3:23). Thus, the weakness of the Old Covenant was not in the Law itself but in us.

In Christ, God gave us a “better covenant”. In this Covenant, the Law was not done away with, but was fully kept by Christ (Heb. 10:10). He was sinless in every possible way. When He became our substitute on the cross, our sin was vicariously placed upon Him! At that moment He became our substitute and was subject unto death because death is the result of sin (Rom. 6:23). It is not that He sinned, but the fact that He took our sin upon Himself. And there God the Father judged Him just as if He were judging us! (Col. 2:13).

After His resurrection, His blood that was offered once and for all for our sin was placed upon the Mercy Seat before the Throne of God (Heb. 10: 16-18). And now all who put their trust in that Blood and personally accept the sacrifice that He made by surrendering their life to Jesus are made absolutely holy and righteous in the sight of God (2 Cor. 5:21)! It is no longer the keeping of the Law that makes one acceptable in the sight of God. It is the surrender to the finished work of Christ and receiving from Him what was impossible for us to do ourselves! (Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9).

Our life afterward is simply a daily acknowledgment and surrendering to the Power of the cross (Gal. 2:20). What follows is a heart full of gratitude and love which motivates us to follow Him. Our service for Him is now born out of love and gratitude rather than obligation! And the best part of this New Covenant is that He gives us the Holy Spirit to live within us Who empowers us to do what we could never do on our own (John 14:20, 25; John 15:26; John 16:13)! This New Covenant is truly better than the old!

James W. Black

Not Guilty

April 9, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins (1 Cor.15:17 NLT).

The essence of our faith rests completely upon the resurrection. If the literal, physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not true, then our faith is useless. If the resurrection is not a reality then our faith in Christ is meaningless. The unbelieving world knows this and that is why the resurrection is the one thing that is constantly denied and assaulted. It was from the very beginning (Mathew 28:11-15). It will continue until He returns.

But Christ is risen from the dead! He is alive! The resurrection of Jesus is the most historically authenticated event in all of ancient history. Through His death and His resurrection Christ conquered the power of sin and death and has stripped our adversary, Satan, of all his authority and power over our lives. All the demons of hell tremble at the Name of Jesus (James 2:19). They, more than anyone else, understand the power and the authority of that Name! The only power the adversary has now is what we give him (Rom. 6: 7-14).

Through the resurrection, Jesus single handedly defeated all the host of darkness and defeated them completely (Col. 2:15)! Satan and his demons were totally conquered once and for all! No one anywhere can rightfully or successfully challenge the Power and the Authority of Jesus!

Because of the resurrection our sin debt has been paid in full. And we are declared before the Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25) to be “Not Guilty!” In order for that to become a reality we must fully repent of our sin, surrender to Him and accept by faith what He has accomplished for us (Acts 2:38). Christ Himself declares that we have been made righteous in His sight (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore because of His resurrection, no one can stand against us (Rom. 8:31). Because of the resurrection we have been made more than conquerors in Christ (Rom. 8:37). And because of the resurrection, no matter how dark our sin has been, we (the redeemed) have been declared Not Guilty!
Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!

James W. Black

Who Do You Serve?

May 22, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“…choose you this day whom ye will serve; …but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

Everybody serves somebody, whether they are atheist or agnostic. The atheist serves at the altar of his own intellect and reason. To the atheist there is no God. He believes that through his intellect alone he can understand and explain everything. In essence the atheist is a god unto himself.

The agnostic neither knows nor cares if God exists. He is content to live a life that is completely indifferent and void of God. He and the atheist make good companions. For in their pride and arrogance they often attack and ridicule those who do know the Lord. They consider themselves to be intellectually superior.

The religious fall into two categories; those who simply engage in dead religious activity and those who truly know and follow the One True and living God!
In whatever camp a person aligns themselves with, they do so by choice.

Joshua had seen and followed the Living God from the time he was in Egypt to the time that he and the nation entered into the land that God had promised them some 40 years before. He had experienced hardship and difficulty but through it all he had also witnessed the Mighty Hand of God! To him, there was no other choice. He knew the reality of God. He knew the power and the promises of God. He knew the faithfulness of God. So as he came to the close of his life, he challenged the people of Israel to choose who they would serve. Would they serve the God who had revealed Himself to them in a multitude of ways, or would they choose the dead and powerless gods of the nations whose land they had entered. The God of Israel offered life. The gods of the nations offered death. For Joshua, the choice was clear. He would choose the One True and living God!

The others, like Joshua also had a choice. They could serve the One True and living God, or they could serve a god of their own making. Both life and death rested upon their choice. We too are offered the same choice today. We can choose to follow and serve the only True and living God (the only God who gives eternal life) or we can choose to follow the gods of this world (selfishness, pride, greed, lust, power and entertainment). Both then and now the decision has eternal consequences. Who do you choose to serve?

James W. Black

Gods Way is Perfect

May 15, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalm 18:30 KJV).

The word perfect is a rich word. It means “being entirely without fault or defect; flawless, absolutely pure, and complete.” (Webster). That is how the Word of God describes God’s way. His way is flawless, absolutely pure and complete. There is nothing than can be added to what He says or what He does to make it better.

God’s way is perfect because God Himself is perfect. There is nothing that can be added to Him! He is not outdated. He does not need revising. He is the complete embodiment of the ultimate perfection. He has always been and will always be. He has always been the same and will forever be the same. (Heb. 13:8). Therefore because God is perfect, His Word is perfect, His Salvation is perfect and His Way is perfect! Whatever He says or does is not only flawless, but it is also complete!

That should bring us great comfort because The Holy One is doing a great work in each of our lives as His redeemed! Paul the Apostle reaffirmed this when he said: “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it (or complete it)” [parenthesis mine] until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6). So, while none of us are perfect, we are all in the process of being perfected.

The Lord will use a multitude of tools and circumstances to accomplish this task. He knows the “best way” to do it. But make no mistake about it. The Lord always completes whatever He starts. And when He is finished it will be perfect!

That work that He has begun in us will be completed when we see Him in glory; not before. So relax and let God do His work. He is doing a good job in you. And when He is finished, it will be perfect because His way is alway perfect.

James W. Black

The Lord Does Not Fret Over The Wicked

May 7, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner / Uncategorized

“The wicked plots against the just and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. (Psalm 37: 12-13 NKJV).

When we hear and observe the things that are happening in our culture and the world, if we are not careful, we can allow ourselves to get caught up in them. We can allow ourselves to become so disturbed and angered by them that we are robbed of our joy! This is a tool of the adversary. That is why it is vitally important that we keep the right perspective.

It is important to remember that although it may appear, at least for the present, that those who engage in evil and wicked acts often seem to get away with what they do, the truth is that no one who does such things will escape the judgment and the wrath of a Holy God (John 3:36). Nothing is hidden from Him! He sees everything (Psalm 139: 11-12). The wicked in their arrogance and pride wrongly interpret God’s perceived delay as God’s indifference. Even worse, they interpret God’s delay as impotence! They believe that He either doesn’t care or is unable to intervene in what they do. But God does see! God does care! And God does know all the evil plans of the wicked and He laughs!

The Sovereign God knows the end of the wicked. He knows how many days they have left. (Psalm 139:16). They do not know that their very next heartbeat is in the Lord’s hands! In their arrogance and pride, they think that they are in control of their ultimate destiny. But the day will come when all of the wicked will stand before a Holy God and on that day they will tremble in His Presence (Rev. 20: 12-15). The Judge of all the earth will one day hold court and the judgment He renders will be final! For the unredeemed, it will be a fearful and dreadful day! The Word of God declares that it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31).

So while it is important to be aware of what is going on in our world, there is no need to fret. God doesn’t. He knows the ultimate outcome! He is coming! And the kingdoms of this world will surrender to the Kingdom of Our God! (Rev. 11:15). Until then, let us rest in Him, trust in Him, and continue to be His light in this world. (Matthew 5:14-16).

James W. Black

Following Jesus

April 24, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner / Uncategorized

“…Jesus said unto his disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 KJV).

Following Jesus is costly. Jesus made that abundantly clear from the very beginning. He told those who wanted to follow Him, to make sure that they first counted the cost (Luke 14:28-33). He wanted them to know that following Him not only required the “denying of ourselves” but it also required the “death of ourselves” (Romans 6:6). Our lives must be “nailed to the cross (Gal. 2:20). Only then can we be resurrected to a “new life” (Rom. 6:5). Jesus exemplified this with His own life (John 12: 24-26). It was only after His death on the cross that Jesus would be a resurrected! Many who express a desire to follow Jesus want the resurrection, (the new life), but they do not want the cross. But we cannot have one without the other.

But once that happens everything changes (2 Cor. 5:17). Our lives are transformed from being self centered to being Christ centered. We care more about what please Him than what pleases us. Our greatest pleasure in life is found in seeking Him, knowing Him and experiencing Him. Following Jesus is not centered upon us. It is centered upon Him. And yet though that we find the greatest joy and satisfaction in life!
It is there that we discover the joy of His Presence. It is there that we discover the wonder of His Grace and His love. It is there that we experience the Peace of His forgiveness! It is there that we finally discover the life that we always wanted. A life filled will meaning, purpose and hope! It is there that we discover our reason for living!
The English writer G. K. Chesterton said it well: “The Christian life has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” I would encourage you to follow Jesus! It is worth everything it costs!

James W. Black

The Power Of The Blood

April 17, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner / Uncategorized

“…ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ…(1 Peter 1: 18-19 KJV).

The value of the Blood of Christ cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. To the unbelieving world it means nothing. To the unbelieving world it is foolishness. But its value is not determined by the world. Its value is determined by God the Father! And the Father places a very high value upon the Blood of His Son!

The Blood of Jesus Christ is the most powerful element in the universe. It is the Blood of Christ shed for us on Calvary that purchased our redemption (Rev. 5:9). The Blood of Christ is so powerful that it paid in full EVERY CLAIM that sin and the kingdom of darkness had (or ever will have) upon us (Col. 2: 13-15). It is the Blood of Christ that gives us access to the peace of God (Col. 1:20). It is the Blood of Christ that enables us to be declared righteous (Rom. 5: 8-9). It is the Blood of Christ that enables us to have fellowship with God the Father and enables us to become a part of His family (Eph. 2:13).

It is the Blood of Christ that causes the demons to flee (James 2:19). It is the Blood of Christ that brings healing (Isaiah 53:5). It is the Blood of Christ that destroys EVERY stronghold (2 Cor. 10:4). The Blood of Christ contains the very Life of God Himself (Lev. 17:11). And that Life is eternal! It is the Blood of Christ that give US eternal life (John 10: 28). May we be ever thankful to God for the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Rev. James W. Black

The Crucified Life

April 10, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner / Uncategorized

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 KJV).

The one thing that marks the true followers of Christ is the cross! It was on the Cross that Jesus paid for our sin in full! He became the sacrificial Lamb of God, chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). It was on the cross that sin was judged and judgment was carried out. And it was there on the cross that the greatest message of love and forgiveness in the universe was displayed. Both events were open and visible for all to see.

The cross is the dividing line of human history. And the cross is the dividing line of our personal history. For the followers of Christ, it is there on the cross that our old life and our old person died. And it is there on the cross, that our new life in Christ begins. It is there on the cross that we were delivered from the power of sin. It is there on the cross where we are empowered to live a new life in Christ. It is there on the cross that all of Satan’s claims against us are cancelled. And it is there on the cross that we are empowered to overcome all the powers of darkness.

The crucified life is the paradox of the Christian life. Both death and life, judgment and freedom, hell and heaven all meet together at the cross. Mercy and grace are wrapped in unbelievable love. Death is swallowed up in victory and eternal life is the ultimate outcome (1 Cor. 15:54). It is the mighty resurrection of Jesus that gives the cross its power. And the revelation of that reality causes us to bow before Him! Until the cross and the resurrection becomes a reality to us, all we have is religion. But when it becomes a reality, we will be forever changed and transformed. We will never be the same again. And we will willingly spend our lives for Him! For there is no genuine life in Christ apart from the cross (Mark 8:34).

Rev. James W. Black

Tag: crucified