Berlin Immanuel Church concluded the summer retreat on Sunday, August 27, with a message on salvation. The message discussed the great worth of our salvation, challenging unbelievers to consider Christ and believers to thankfulness. Looking the drama of salvation depicted in the Bible leaves us with amazement and conviction of God’s love for us. Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:32, was convicted of the future glory we have in Christ because just as God did not spare his own Son for us all, we know that his grace has no end and he will accomplish his goal for humanity covering the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

We must understand what we need to be saved from to see the value of salvation. 1 Peter 2:24 and 3:18 teaches us that we need to know how serious our sickness of sin is so we can be healed, we need to know what the separation from God caused in us personally and in society. 1 Peter 4:17 also teaches us there is judgment and that because we have a creator it matters how we live, since it’s from God that we have the purpose of our life and ignoring it brings just judgment in the end. Apostle Peter also teaches us what we are saved for in 1 Peter 5:4 and 10. We are created for eternal glory which doesn’t fade away, we are meant for something much greater than we can imagine and create for ourselves, our true home is with God.

Apostle Peter expresses his amazement of the great gift of salvation in his own way in 1 Peter 1:10-12 explaining how the prophets of the Old Testament saw visions and word (Isaiah 53:5-6) from the Spirit of Christ and longing to know who it is and when he will come to save the world. Verse 11 says that God has been working a very long time, ever since Adam and Eve sinned, on the plan of our salvation – we have been loved for a very long time. Even angels, in verse 12, wish they were in the place we are in, being the subject of such amazing grace and love as we are, longing to see God’s love as we can see it.

Berlin church prays that this retreat helped deepen the knowledge of God’s love in the members, producing thankfulness for Christ’s work knowing how precious our salvation is. One newcomer, a non-Christian student, expressed interest in joining Bible studies and Sunday services to learn more about God. The members pray for revival to lead many souls to Christ and expand God’s Kingdom in the city.