First Baptist Church of El Dorado - Sermons

We explore the profound benefits of justification by faith through Christ as outlined in Romans 5:1-5. Pastor Taylor Guerin unpacks how our position in Christ provides us with peace, access, and hope that transform our daily lives. • For believers, justification is not a process but a point in time when we are counted righteous because of Christ's finished work • Before Christ, we were weak, sinners, enemies of God, and deserving of wrath – now we have peace with God • Through Christ, we've received unprecedented access to God's throne room – more valuable than any exclusive membership • The prayer room represents the true power center of the church, where believers exercise their access to approach God • Suffering produces endurance, which builds character, which creates a hope that never disappoints • The Holy Spirit within us serves as a guarantee that God will fulfill all His promises • Paul wrote about rejoicing in suffering from personal experience, having endured arrests, beatings, and persecution • Jesus himself demonstrated that suffering can lead to hope through His death and resurrection How will you respond to these gifts? Will you live differently because of your peace with God? Will you fully utilize your access to Him in prayer? Will you find purpose in your suffering?

Grace operates not through our works or understanding, but through faith in Christ who justifies the ungodly and transforms us into spiritual children of Abraham. • Abraham's justification came through faith, not works—setting a pattern for all believers • If salvation could be earned through work, it would be wages owed, not grace freely given • God's methods often defy human logic, creating circumstances where only He gets glory • Faith's power lies not in its strength but in its object—Jesus Christ • Our spiritual ancestry connects us to Abraham when we believe as he did • Being counted righteous happens through faith in Christ's death and resurrection • When adopted into God's family, biblical history becomes our family history Come join our faith family as we explore how God's grace transforms our identity and gives us a place in His ongoing story.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ represents a pivotal moment that transformed both history and our personal relationship with God. When Jesus calls us by name, our sorrows are silenced, our standing secure, and our stories forever shaped by His triumph over the grave. • Some days change the world – Gutenberg's printing press (1440), American Independence (1776), Pearl Harbor (1941), 9/11 (2001) • Other days change our personal world – weddings, births, hard news • Mary Magdalene stood between two world-changing days – Jesus' crucifixion and His unexpected resurrection • The resurrection silences our sorrow – when Jesus simply spoke Mary's name, her weeping turned to joy • Our sorrows have an expiration date because of the resurrection (Revelation 21:4) • The resurrection secures our standing – Jesus now calls disciples "brothers" and speaks of "my Father and your Father" • In John's Gospel, Jesus mentions "Father" 120 times, but only after resurrection does He say "your Father" • The resurrection shapes our story – Mary's testimony became simply "I have seen the Lord" • All believers share this core testimony regardless of how they came to faith • We are resurrection people not just on Easter but every day If you don't yet have this story as your own, today can be the day the resurrection changes everything for you. Come talk to a pastor about how you can know Jesus personally.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus demonstrates his divine authority by identifying himself as "I AM" to the soldiers who came to arrest him, causing them to fall to the ground with just his words. Though possessing all power, Jesus chooses to surrender himself willingly, requesting his disciples be allowed to go free and fulfilling his mission to bear our sins. • Contrast between Adam hiding in Eden versus Jesus stepping forward in Gethsemane • The arrival of Judas with 200-600 soldiers demonstrates the perceived threat Jesus posed • Jesus' declaration "I am" (ego eimi) reveals his divine identity and power • Peter's misguided sword-drawing compared to Jesus' willing surrender • Jesus exercises his supreme authority paradoxically through submission • The "cup" Jesus drinks represents God's judgment for our sins • Like CS Lewis observed in "A Grief Observed," Jesus could and dared take our suffering upon himself Join us this Good Friday and Easter Sunday as we celebrate the One who laid down his life to take our sins to the grave but rose without them, offering redemption to all who come to him.

The good news of the gospel was announced just 111 words after humanity's fall into sin. God immediately provides hope with the promise that one from the seed of woman will crush the serpent's head. • Adam's attempt to shift blame for his sin demonstrates our natural inclination to avoid responsibility • When we honestly acknowledge our sin, God faithfully provides forgiveness and pardon • The "proto-evangelion" in Genesis 3:15 is the first gospel announcement in scripture • Jesus is the promised descendant who defeated Satan through his death and resurrection • We aren't just returning to Eden; we're advancing to the better "garden city" described in Revelation 22 • Because of Christ's victory, believers will live eternally in perfect communion with God If you want to know this victorious Savior, our pastors would love to introduce you to him. Join our church family as we celebrate Christ's triumph over sin and death.