J. Loren Russell

By Reverend J. Loren Russell Source: Black Press USA Wire Scripture Reference: Ephesians 2:1–10 CEV If it were not for the love of God, none of us would be worth anything. In fact, we would be walking dead, looking for a grave to lay down in. These are not my words. Paul tells the Ephesian church that we were all dead because of our sins. But God brought us to life through His undeserved grace. In other words, we did not then, and we do not now, deserve His grace.

Photo by Maximilian Orlowsky on Pexels.com Ephesians 2:1-10 (CEV): “In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

By: Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 (NKJV) “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.