Jo Bower's Blog

I believe from the beginning
God’s plan to redeem all men and things to Himself
Has been His purpose since the beginning.
And through the power of Jesus Christ this is being accomplished.

I believe through Christ, who died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven,
And now sits at God’s right hand, all God’s blessings are ours.
I believe through the power God gave Christ,
He holds – not only our hope, salvation and blessings – but power over all forces.

How can I help but believe?
As the Jews were the first chosen people, you have selected us –
Those who believe in Christ also are chosen to become your chosen people,
Holy, blameless, before you with all the blessings of the adopted sons of God.

How can I not believe and rejoice in your redemptive plan?
As men of old ransomed valuables that had been lost to them
Christ ransomed, by his sacrifice of life and blood on the cross,
The child-parent status we lost through sin.

I believe when I first believe in Christ, confess and seek forgiveness,
My heart is changed, and I am returned to that relationship as an adopted son.
All that I am: all I become; how I perceive, treat, and love people around me,
Through Christ’s power, with God’s Spirit’s direction, are brought into harmony with God.

Ephesians 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight….