Christ United Fellowship

10/12/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God gives each of us the same 24 hours in a day. We all walk with our own circles of people. We all move through daily routines that often feel small, predictable, and unremarkable.

But here’s the truth we Christians sometimes forget. There’s no such thing as an “ordinary” day for a child of God. And there’s no such thing as an “ordinary” moment when Jesus Christ lives inside us.

Every day is a mission field, every conversation a potential seed of Christ’s salvation, and every interaction is an opportunity for our Messiah to shine.

Sometimes we overcomplicate what sharing our faith looks like. We think we need a stage, a microphone, or a perfect script, but we don’t.

God delights in working through the small, quiet, unnoticed, and humble moments. He loves to give His grace in the overlooked moments of our everyday lives. Like a patient smile in the grocery line, a kind word to a stranger, a gentle text message to someone who’s hurting, or a conversation at a neighborhood gathering.

These are not small things. These are seeds, holy seeds, placed in the soil of someone’s heart.

Recently, James and Tina invited Kristin and me, along with many of you, to Tina’s birthday celebration. It was a wonderful gathering of people from many walks of life. Some were from our church family. Others we had never met before. And many, no doubt, don’t yet know and love the Lord.

In settings like that, it’s easy to just blend in. To just stay quiet. To keep our faith tucked away so nothing feels awkward. But Tina and James didn’t do that. They made sure our Savior was seen. Not loudly or forcefully, but gently, intentionally, and beautifully.

They paid attention to the smallest details. Even in the restroom, they placed napkins with Scripture verses printed on them, quiet invitations for anyone who happened to notice and read them.

There wasn’t any pressure. Just Jesus Christ. Quietly present. Quietly offered. Quietly honored.

It reminded us all that no space is too ordinary. No detail is too small. No moment is too simple for God to use.

James and Tina didn’t force their faith on anyone. They didn’t beat anyone over the head with the Bible. They simply made sure Jesus was invited to her party.

Sometimes planting a seed isn’t about what we say. It’s about how we live. For example:

Our brother Dave recently shared a powerful story. He said that not long ago he was with a small group of men when one of them repeatedly blasphemed our Father’s name, as if it were natural.

In response, Dave didn’t preach a sermon to him, start an argument, or make a scene. But his genuine reaction, his reverence for God, and the look on his face made it unmistakably clear that God’s name matters immensely to him.

That moment planted a seed, not with words, but with a heart that treasures Christ.

Dave wasn’t loud, dramatic, or confrontational. But because he cared, honored the Father, and held the line, someone else walked away knowing exactly where he stands and who he puts first in his life.

That kind of seed sticks with a person. It makes them think. It softens the soil. It may even lead that person to seek the Savior of Dave's soul.

As you and I scatter seeds of Christ in the world, let’s remember that we are not responsible for the soil. We are responsible for the sowing.

Some of our seeds will fall on hard sidewalks. Some will get choked out by the weeds of busyness. Some will sit quietly for years before they begin to germinate. And some will take root in ways we may never see.

We might never know the impact of the text we sent, the kindness we showed, the Scripture verses someone read on a napkin, the quiet boundary we held with friends and strangers, the smile we offered, or the prayer we whispered. But nothing done out of love for our Christ is ever wasted.

Our calling is simple. Be faithful to the Lord with the 24 hours He has given us. Scatter His truth and love wherever we go. And trust Him with the growth.

God has placed you and me where we are, with the people we see, for reasons far bigger than we realize.

The grocery line. The text message. The neighborhood gathering. The quiet reaction when someone dishonors God. The Scripture verses on a napkin. None of it is accidental or incidental. None of it is small. None of it is wasted.

Every day is a mission field disguised as ordinary life. Every moment is a chance to scatter His truth and grace. Every interaction is an opportunity to plant a seed of salvation in someone’s heart.

And the beautiful part is this… God never asks us to be impressive. Only faithful.

Faithful in the small things, the unnoticed things, and the quiet things. Because the God who moves mountains also moves in grocery lines, at birthday parties, and at neighborhood gatherings.

So, let’s step into our God-given 24 hours with purpose, courage, and faithfulness. Let’s keep our eyes open to the God-given opportunities He places before us.

The world is full of fertile soil, and God has placed His seeds in our hands. May we all scatter them wherever He places us and with everyone He brings along our path.

Your brother in Christ,
Austin


Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for entrusting us with Your seeds of salvation. Please grant us the faithfulness and courage to plant Your seeds wherever we are and with everyone You place in our path. Please help us recognize opportunities to share Jesus everywhere, whether in the grocery store, in our text messages, in our neighborhoods, at birthday parties, or in our conversations with friends and strangers. Make us faithful sowers of the gospel, unashamed and unwavering, until every seed You entrust to us becomes a soul awakened to the saving love of Jesus Christ.

In His name we pray, Amen.

10/05/2026

Have you ever wondered why Jesus died on a cross instead of by some other ancient method? The Roman world had plenty of brutal ways to execute people. In this message, Dr. Brinkerhoff takes us back in time to look at those methods and reveals why the cross was the specific, divine choice from the very beginning.

Why a Wooden Cross, of All Things? October 4, 2026Scripture R...

10/04/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙒𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙚?

At one time or another, every one of us has wondered what happens the moment a true believer closes his or her eyes in death. Scripture does not leave us in the dark. It gives us a clear, joy-filled picture centered entirely on Jesus Christ. And when we understand what happened to Him, we understand what will happen to us.

Sheol/Hades: The Realm of the Dead

In the Old Testament, the word Sheol simply means the place of the dead. In the New Testament, the Greek word Hades carries the same meaning. Scripture describes Sheol/Hades as having two distinct “sides” or experiences:

1. The comfort side — called Paradise or Abraham’s bosom.

2. The torment side — a place of pain, suffering, and anguish for the wicked and rebellious against God.

Before Jesus’ resurrection, every person — righteous or unrighteous — went to Sheol/Hades. The righteous were comforted on the Paradise side. The unrighteous were in torment on the condemned side. Jesus clearly described this in His account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31).

For the unbelievers and the unrepentant, the torment side of Sheol/Hades is a place of suffering. It is not the final Lake of Fire, but the temporary place of torment until the Great White Throne judgment.

So, the question naturally arises: if every soul went to Sheol before Christ’s resurrection, where did Jesus go when He died?

When Jesus died, He experienced death fully and completely just like you and me. Scripture describes His inner life in two ways:

His spirit — the God‑breathed part of His human nature.
His soul — His fully human self, His life, His identity as Messiah.
His spirit — the God‑breathed part of His human nature — went to the Father. His soul — His fully human self — descended into Sheol/Hades.

Here’s what happened:

Jesus’ spirit went to the Father in Heaven.

That’s why He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46)

Jesus’ soul descended into Sheol/Hades.

Acts 2:27 quotes Psalm 16:10: “For You will not abandon My soul to Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.”

Jesus’ soul entered Sheol/Hades — the realm of the dead — and specifically the blessed, comfort side (Paradise/Abraham’s bosom), where the righteous who died before His resurrection were waiting for the Messiah.

He did not go to the abyss (the prison of demons). He went to Sheol/Hades — the realm of human souls.

How Could Jesus Be with the Father and in Sheol at the Same Time?

This mystery becomes beautiful once we see it clearly.

Jesus is one Person with two natures. He is fully God and fully human.

In His divine nature, He is always with the Father.
In His human spirit, He went to the Father at death.
In His human soul, He descended into Sheol/Hades.
He was not divided. He was not scattered. He was acting as the God‑Man, accomplishing salvation in both realms.

What Was Jesus Doing in Sheol?

Scripture gives us two clear actions:

1. He proclaimed victory to the spirits in prison.

1 Peter 3:19 makes this clear. He was not preaching repentance — that opportunity was over. He was proclaiming triumph… announcing His victory over sin, death, and Hades itself.

2. He liberated the righteous dead and brought Paradise into heaven.

Three days later, on resurrection morning, Jesus emptied the Paradise side of Sheol and brought the righteous into heaven.

So, after His resurrection, believers no longer go to Sheol. The comfort side is empty. Paradise is now — and forever — “with Christ,” not “below.”

Jesus entered Sheol as the conquering King, not as a condemned soul.

What Happens to Believers When We Die?

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, everything has changed.

1. We do not go to Sheol/Hades.

Paradise has been relocated. The comfort side is empty. The torment side remains only for the wicked until the final judgment.

2. We go directly into Christ’s eternal presence.

Paul says:

“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
“My desire is to depart and be with Christ.” (Philippians 1:23)
There is no waiting room. No holding place. No Sheol for the true believer.

3. We are immediately in heaven, awaiting Jesus’ return to earth.

In other words, our souls and spirits are with Christ in conscious peace, joy, worship, rest, and fellowship. And when Christ returns in His perfect timing, He will bring us from heaven with Him, reunite us with new and glorified bodies, and we will enter the Millennium restored, resurrected, and reigning with Him in His glorious kingdom.

The Simple, Beautiful Truth

Because Jesus entered death and conquered it, believers who die now go immediately into His heavenly presence — fully alive, fully conscious, fully comforted — awaiting His Second Coming into this world.

Then our physical bodies will be resurrected into new, glorified creations as we enter the millennium with Him together.

Death is no longer a dark hallway. Not anymore. It is now a doorway into the presence of the One who loves us more than we can comprehend or imagine.

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, we who are true believers do not fear death. We face it with confidence and joy! Why? Because Christ Jesus has gone before us, conquered death, and transformed it eternally.

For every true believer, the moment we breathe our last on earth is the moment we open our eyes in heaven, forever in the glorious presence of our Shepherd, our Savior, and our King.

All praise and glory to our awesome God, who through Jesus Christ has given us the victory forever and evermore!

Grace and Peace,
Austin

09/29/2026

Most of us know the story of David and Goliath, but do we understand its true depth? In this powerful message, Dr. Brinkerhoff dives into the historical context of biblical slingers, shedding new light on an event most of us have heard about since childhood. Listen in to discover the profound truth behind this classic battle.

Most of us know the story of David and Goliath, but do we understan...

09/26/2026

𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘆 – 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

When I was a little boy, just 9 years old, I had a friend named Marc. Marc lived a block away, and we did everything together. We rode our bikes through the neighborhood. We took our BB guns into the woods down the street. And for years, he was one of my closest friends.

One Friday afternoon, Marc asked if I wanted to spend the night at his house and watch some movies. I said, “Sure.” So, we walked to his house to ask his parents for permission. But things didn’t turn out the way I hoped.

Some of you know that I was born with what’s called Grand Mal Epilepsy. It’s the harshest kind. It involves seizures that take away consciousness and shake the body with violent muscle contractions. As a child, I dealt with it all. The twitching. The jerking. The biting of my tongue. The waking up in a pool of sweat. The loss of bladder control, and even turning blue.

Several times when I woke up from unconscious convulsions, my mom would have her fingers down my throat because, at the time, they thought a person with Grand Mal Epilepsy could swallow one’s tongue.

From my earliest years, the doctors put me on Phenobarbital and Dilantin just to help me cope. Those were hard, frightening years that I will never forget.

So, what does that have to do with watching what we say?

Well, when Marc and I went inside to ask his parents if I could stay the night, they told me to sit in the living room while his mom and sister stepped into the bedroom to talk it over.

The door closed. And through that thin hallway, I heard Marc’s dad shout: “I don’t want that epileptic over here for that long! What if he freaks out? What then? It’s not going to happen! Get him out of here!”

Those words cut straight through me. So, I didn’t wait. I didn’t say goodbye. I just walked out their front door on my way home. One slow step after another, tears filling my eyes the whole way.

Words can wound. Words can brand a child’s heart. Words can make even us adults feel less than human.

But thank God, words can also heal. Because Jesus speaks a better word over each of us, especially those who’ve been labeled, shamed, dismissed, or pushed aside. He calls us beloved. He calls us precious. He calls us His own.

And today, like me, if you carry wounds from harsh words spoken over you, may the gentle voice of Christ meet you where you hurt, lift your heart, and remind you that you are seen, valued, and held by a love that will never let you go.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

When I was 12, God miraculously healed me of epilepsy in an instant. It happened while I was sitting next to my dad on the bleachers at a Little League baseball game, of all places. It was a physical and spiritual experience I will never forget. When I told my dad that something strange had just happened, that my mind felt different and much better, and that I thought God had done something to my brain, I don’t think he believed me.

But he and my mother both believed me after my next electroencephalogram at Halifax Hospital showed that my brain waves were now 100% normal. The doctor was astonished as well. He said he had never seen anything like it.

I haven’t taken Phenobarbital or Dilantin since then, and I haven’t had a single seizure in all those years. Fifty years straight – completely seizure-free! Praise be to God!

I’ll share more at another time. But all this is to say, God has been faithful to me in my weakness, in my wounds, in my fears, in my doubts, in my depression, in my shame, and in my healing. I know firsthand that God is good all the time and that His promise is true: He will carry you and me through whatever we face today, tomorrow, and always. (Psalm 46:4)

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. And you are not defined by the words that hurt you or the moments that broke your spirit.

May the same God who comforted and healed a frightened little boy with a damaged mind speak His gentle, restorative word over you today, as He has for me.

And may you feel, deep in your spirit, the truth that has sustained me all my life: You are loved more than you can imagine, and you are held by a grace that will never, ever, let you go.

Blessings and Peace,
Austin

09/21/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬, “𝐆𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞,” 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞.

09/21/2026

Religion vs. Relationship and Why It Matters

Growing up in the Brinkerhoff household meant meeting certain expectations. I was expected to respect my elders, do my homework, tuck in my shirt, put my napkin on my lap, look people in the eyes, never say “Huh” or “Yeah,” do my best in school, always say “Yes, sir,” “Yes, ma’am,” “No, sir,” and “No, ma’am,” always be on time, be polite, obey the rules, chew with my mouth shut, stay out of trouble, treat others as I wanted to be treated, work hard, do more than what was required, go to church, go to college, and live an honorable life. These, and many more “Do’s and Don’ts,” were not mere suggestions. They were expectations.

In many ways, those expectations shaped me. They taught me discipline, responsibility, and respect. But they also taught me something else, something I didn’t fully understand until much later in life. Expectations can form us, but they can also weigh us down. They can make us feel that our value depends on our performance, that love must be earned, and that acceptance is conditional. Which brings me to this message.

Few words in the Christian vocabulary get tangled more easily than religion. Religion, for some, sounds noble, as something we should follow. It implies structure and rich history. For others, it feels heavy, like rules, regulations, pressure, and performance. But when we open the pages of Scripture, we discover something stunning.

Religion is not God-made. It’s man‑made. But a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is God‑ordained.

And the difference between the two is not small. It’s the difference between exhaustion and rest. Between checking boxes and walking personally with the living Savior.

Religion Is What We Build. Relationship Is What God Gives.

Religion is humanity’s attempt to reach up to God. Relationship is God reaching down to us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Religion says, “Do more.” Relationship says, “It is finished.”

Religion creates ladders we must climb. Relationship creates grace we can rest in.

Religion is built on human effort, such as rituals, routines, and attempts to earn what we could never deserve. A relationship is built on divine love. It’s God’s pursuit of you and me. It’s God’s forgiveness offered to us, and His Spirit living within us.

Under the New Covenant, Scripture no longer demands we follow a system. It invites us into a personal relationship with the Savior. Messiah Himself said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus didn’t say, “Come to a religion.” He said, “Come to Me.”

Religion Focuses on the Outside. Jesus focuses on the heart.

Religion tries to change people from the outside in. Jesus changes people from the inside out.

Religion says, “Behave, then you can belong.” Jesus says, “Belong to Me, and watch your heart begin to change.”

Religion measures. Jesus restores.

Religion keeps score. Jesus cancels the score.

When Jesus met the woman at the well, He didn’t hand her a list of religious duties. He offered her living water. When He met the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t shame her. He set her free. When He met the disciples, He didn’t give them a rulebook. He gave them Himself.

Religion Is About Performance. Relationship Is About Presence.

Religion asks, “Are you good enough?” Relationship answers, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Religion says, “Try harder.” Relationship says, “Abide in Me.”

Religion says, “Earn God’s love.” Relationship says, “You already have it.”

The gospel is not a ladder we climb. It’s a gift we receive. The Christian life is not powered by human initiative or personal strength, but by the Holy Spirit who fuels it.

Religion Can’t Save Us. Jesus Can.

This is the heart of it all. Religion can make us busy. Jesus makes us new. Religion can make us proud or discouraged. Jesus makes us whole. Religion can change our schedule. Jesus changes our soul.

The cross is the clearest proof that God never intended for us to earn our way to Him. If we could save ourselves, Jesus would never have had to die. But He did! Why? Because relationship was always the plan.

He Himself said it: “I stand at the door and knock.” (Revelation 3:20)

Not a system of rules or regulations knocking. Not a ritual knocking. Not a religion knocking. A Savior knocking.

So, What Do We Choose?

As true believers, we choose relationship over religion. We choose grace over guilt. We choose Christ’s presence over performance. We choose the freedom He died to give us.

We choose to walk with Jesus. Talk with Jesus. Listen to Jesus. Learn from Jesus. Follow Jesus. And we do it daily, personally, honestly, and joyfully. Why?

Because the Christian faith is not about what we can do for God… It’s about what God has already done for us in Christ…

It’s not about climbing up to God… It’s about God coming down to us…

It’s not about religion… It’s about a personal, Jesus-loving relationship…

One Final Word

May we always be a people who live like we are truly forgiven. May we always be a church where God’s grace speaks louder than our guilt. May we always walk with Jesus, not out of duty but out of love. And may our faith in Jesus Christ always be alive, personal, and overflowing with the joy of the One who calls us His own.

Praise be to God for His amazing love, and for the Savior who makes broken people whole.

Grace and Peace,
Austin

09/18/2026

Are you plugged into the world—or the Word?
The world we live in is not confused about the Truth; it is at war with the Truth. Remember: Truth is a Person. Listen as Dr. Brinkerhoff unpacks this powerful message.

**Due to a technical glitch with our video recording this week, the sermon is available in audio format only.

Are you plugged into the world—or the Word?The world we live in is...

09/15/2026

What’s The Difference?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last Tuesday afternoon, I was asked, “In terms of eternity, what’s the difference between someone who rejects Christ and someone who never had the chance to know Him? Do those who’ve never even heard His name suffer the same fate as those who deny Him?” Many people ponder these questions.

The Bible offers a clear, consistent answer rooted in God’s justice, mercy, and holiness.

#1. The Person Who Rejects Christ

The Bible is clear about those who reject Christ. A person who hears the gospel and rejects Christ is accountable for that rejection.

· In John 3:36, Jesus says: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever rejects the Son will not see life” (John 3:36).

· In John 12:48, Christ says, “The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the word which I spoke. That will judge him on the last day.”

· In Matthew 10:33, Jesus says, “But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."

This is not ignorance. It’s pure, unadulterated refusal. It’s intentionally turning away from the only One who can save.

The apostle Peter offers us a similar warning. In 2nd Peter 2:20-22, he says, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

In other words, greater revelation brings greater responsibility, and turning away from known truth carries a heavier judgment. This is one of the strongest warnings in all Scripture.

#2. The Person Who Never Heard of Christ

The Bible also addresses those who never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. And this is where the following two truths stand together:

Truth #1 — God is perfectly just. He does not condemn people for rejecting a message they never received.

Truth #2 — All people are accountable for the light they do have.

In Romans 1:18-20, Paul writes: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

Here, Paul is saying that creation, conscience, and the moral law within the human heart testify to God’s reality. So, every person on the face of the earth is responsible for responding to the truth God has given them, even if they’ve never heard the name of Jesus.

God judges each person according to the light they were given, and He is never unjust in His judgment.

The Apostle James affirms this principle, saying that accountability increases with knowledge. In James 4:17, he writes, “To him who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” He also says in James 3:1, “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”

So, James teaches:

The more truth we know, the more accountable we are. Greater knowledge brings greater responsibility. Rejection of known truth carries greater judgment than ignorance of unknown truth.

So, knowledge increases accountability. Revelation increases responsibility. Rejection increases the severity of judgment.

#3 The Bible is clear that Christ alone saves.

Acts 4:12, John 14:6, 1st Timothy 2:5-6 emphatically state that all salvation, even for those who never heard His name, comes through Jesus Christ alone.

The bottom line is this:

Those who knowingly reject Christ are judged harshly for rejecting the truth they received. Knowing Christ and turning away from Him is worse than never knowing Him at all. Those who never heard of Christ are judged according to the light God gave them (i.e., Creation, Conscience, and Moral awareness. Accountability increases with knowledge. The more truth a person knows, the more responsible they are before God. Christ alone saves, and God judges every person with perfect justice and perfect mercy.

May our hearts rest in the confidence that the one true, living God, who sees every soul, knows every story, and weighs every heart, will always do what is right. And may we, as His children, live and love in ways that reflect that holy truth.

Grace and Peace,
Austin

09/10/2026

Have you ever wondered how 12 everyday, ordinary men literally changed the entire world? Listen as Dr. Brinkerhoff shares a memorable message about the power of God's presence in the lives of His chosen few.

Have you ever wondered how 12 everyday, ordinary men literally chan...