Sin and Grace

I have been praying about a particular subject. The subject has been both the sin in my life and the daily everlasting grace of Jesus."...But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21 Have you ever fully acknowledged the depths of your sin, only then to allow yourself to experience the unconditional grace of Jesus, so powerfully that it humbles you and brings you to your knees in repentance and in gratitude? A most marvelous thing that only God can give us!

After 10 years of walking with the Lord, God has never stopped showing me the depths of my many sins. From smaller sins like stretching the truth, to larger sins like pride, greed, jealousy, lust, worry, fear and doubt; God reminds me of why Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. "For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all." Romans 11:32 God has placed the "LAW" into our conscious, convicting us through His Holy Spirit, and leading us to surrender before His throne of grace in repentance, so we can then truly appreciate His grace!

Because of my faith in God, I can repent of my sins through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. I can approach His throne of grace with full confidence, knowing that I am in good hands and that He will help me no matter what, even though I do not deserve it! "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

After years of striving to improve and yet stumbling often, I can praise Jesus boldly because there is no condemnation for those who believe in Him. "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.... What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!... Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,..." Romans 7:21-8:2 I am thankful that my status with God is not based on my performance, but based on my faith and trust in Jesus!

If I have learned anything from the power of sin and the power of His grace, it is that His grace is greater than all of my sins and this is to His glory! "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21 When was the last time you really thanked Jesus for His grace in your life? Can you ask Him now?

While the grace of Jesus is greater than all of our sins, I am also reminded that this does not give me a license to sin. Why? Because when we sin, we sadden the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30 The danger of continually sinning is that we get to a point in which we no longer hear the voice of God. And don't we want to hear God? If God has compassion for us in our times of need, can we also then have compassion for Him as well? God actually gives us the opportunity to bless Him when we stop sinning and when we wait upon Him to help us in our times of need.

If we choose to do wrong because we have a particular need or desire within us that we want filled, we are then choosing a substitute or a fix called sin. Why do we choose to sin when God can provide us with a way out? If we ask Him to replace our desire to sin with His Word and His Holy Spirit’s power, He is faithful and will always helps us. When we wait upon the Lord and trust Him to replace our sinful desires, we can then witness, experience and see God provide for our needs. And as a result we really get to know Him! "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

The next time you need to get your way (sin), resist the enemy and ask God to help you as you wait upon Him! There is nothing better than to witness and experience God's hand of grace answering your prayers in your time of need. And if you have just messed up again, simply go to God's throne of grace, and He will meet you there with open arms of mercy and grace. Why? Because as believers, we are His children forever!

So, when was the last time you truly thanked Jesus for His sacrifice on the cross? "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Psalms 32:1 When did you last savor His grace in your life? Can you openly thank Him right now, in front of others? Can you praise Him out loud, and share His grace with the world!

C28 Store Now Open in Richmond, VA!

We have great news! Through God's grace and your support, God has led us to open our 12th store in Richmond! The store opened Thursday, May 8th.

The Lord has guided Paul Tiller, Keith Griffith and Josh Tiller to open their first C28 franchise store in the Short Pump Town Center located at 11800 W. Broad Street. And by faith, these men are committed to carrying out the mission of C28 stores, "To glorify God by sharing the life changing gospel message of grace, truth and love found only in Jesus Christ.“

It is our prayer that thousands would come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through the new C28 store! We ask that you please join us to pray for these men, the store employees and for the store’s success.

You can help reach new people for Christ in the Richmond area today! You can help by shopping at the new C28 and by telling your family, friends and unsaved acquaintances to visit the store.

"...And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:14-17

For more information, please visit the C28 Store locations page.

In Christ,

Aurelio F. Barreto, C28 Founder & CEO

Youth for Christ Event

Thank you so much for your prayers!!! By God's grace I spoke at a "Youth For Christ" event in El Centro, California. Over 350 kids attended, and well over 70 responded to Christ!

A teenaged boy approached me frozen and gripped in hopelessness. He told me he was already a believer, but had thoughts of suicide. We prayed together for a total surrender to God's will and to not believe the lies of Satan. Please pray for Ernesto.

Pain & hopelessness is common to both believers and non believers. Hope only comes when we completely surrender to Jesus, daily. What can anyone do without Jesus?

In His Grace,

Aurelio F. Barreto III
C28/NOTW Founder & CEO

Update from the Founder + Salvation Stories!

I want to thank you for your valuable prayers in the past month! The Lord kept me busy with California Baptist University Business students, Valley Christian School, Gospel Music Awards and Truett McConnell Christian College in Georgia. Over 1,000 people were challenged to either make a choice for Jesus, or challenged to preach the gospel like there is no tomorrow. By God's grace there were over 70 salvations!!! To our God be all the glory!

While flying home last night from Truett McConnell Christian College a lady sat by me on the plane and noticed my "Not Of This World" shoes and jacket. She asked what that meant. I explained what NOTW meant and shared the gospel with her. I told her the bad news about sin and hell, and the good news about Jesus and salvation. I asked her "God forbid we crashed right now and died, will you go to heaven or hell? She told me "I hope I have done good". I then told her good people go to hell as easy as bad people. That you can't earn your way into heaven; that salvation comes through faith in Jesus. I then told her that God loved her dearly and wants to see her in Heaven someday, and that through believing in Jesus she would be saved. This lady began to weep huge tears. I then read her some scriptures and we prayed together! She now believes! Please pray for her!

Then just today, you will not believe what happened. Peggy and I are changing banks and the new bankers came to visit us in my office at work. By God's leading and will, I was able to share the gospel with the three of them, and the two women received Jesus in my office! The gentleman with them said he needed more time to think about such a decision. Please pray for him. Peggy, my assistant Annabelle and I were blown away with God's wonderful grace! They came for our business and received Jesus! Please pray for these ladies, our two new sisters in the Lord!!!

The Power of Your Prayers

I was recently blessed to be the speaker at a men’s outreach breakfast at the Calvary Chapel in Camarillo, CA. They had anticipated 125 men to be in attendance and over 200 showed up! The CCC men did a great job of inviting their friends!

Rob Van Ouwerkerk, who invited me to speak at CCC, led the worship with a powerful and awesome Spirit filled time of praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

When I presented the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, 40-50 men raised their hand and prayed the sinner’s prayer!! After the service, an older gentleman came up to me with an encouragement from the Lord.

The man told me he has been walking with the Lord for years, "… what I saw today was supernatural. During your prayer, and right before you asked the men to raise their hands, I opened my eyes and I clearly saw angels throughout the room. I quickly closed my eyes, but then opened them up again as each man raised their hand. I was blown away by what I saw again, I saw an angel behind every man that raised his hand to accept Jesus Christ! I have never in my life seen angels before!”

I share this with you because this has only happened twice in my life. Once was 10 years ago just after I had given my life to the Lord. I was involved in a terrible auto accident and I saw an angel smiling at me and protecting me. Saturday was very similar, it was 100% Holy Spirit Filled! Your prayers were so effective!

With all this said, praise God, be encouraged and believe! "O unbelieving generation,“Jesus replied, "How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?..."Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:19-24

As I shared this experience with my pastor (Milton Vincent), he reminded me of the spiritual warfare that clearly exists in our lives. He said, "Just as there were angels protecting each new convert, picture the frightful sight of seeing demons seeking to destroy our souls. Praise God He protects us and keeps us from the horror & sight of such a war".

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:11-12

I totally appreciate and value your prayers! They are effective! If you want to join our C28 Outreach Prayer Support Group, please check my speaking engagement schedule under the ‘Founder’ section of the C28 website.

C28 Easter Message from the Founder

As Easter approaches, I am reminded of my blessed trip to Israel last year where I visited the garden tomb of Jesus. I was moved with joy when I saw His empty tomb. “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee...” Matthew 28:5-7

My joy came from the reality that Jesus was not at the tomb; that Jesus actually lives in the hearts of all believers! “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

As we celebrate His resurrection, I am thankful for the majesty and power of His grace that covers our sins. I am grateful that Jesus rose from the grave to give us life, and that it would be full. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Yet I am also reminded of how the daily distractions of this world can steal the joy of Jesus and so easily rob us from our daily fellowship with Him.

Let us remember how the power of Jesus’ name alone is great enough to make us right with Him through our repentance; and of how wonderful and everlasting His grace is for those who believe in Him. I am reminded of the two criminals who were crucified along with Jesus: “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

My prayer for you is that everyday will be a resurrection Sunday! That everyday we will preach the gospel to ourselves; that we would not forget to cherish and value the power of the cross to wash our sins away. His grace is greater than all of our sins! Be humble in our need for Him, be grateful for His grace!

In closing, Easter also reminds me to share the gospel with everyone, in season and out of season. The penalty of any sin in our lives is hell and yet through believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God forgives us and gives us eternal life with Him in heaven! This Easter share the grace & truth of Jesus with someone.”...And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:14-17

A Trip to the Holy Land

I trust you are doing well. My wife Peggy and I went to Israel in October and we wanted to thank everyone for their prayers. If I were to sum up our trip in one word, it would be "confirmation". Everything we already believed in was affirmed and came alive while we were in Israel. I just want to share the incredible things we got to witness and enjoy while in Israel.

The tension in Israel was so apparent. Whether it was between the Jews and Arabs, or the Muslims and Christians, Israel is clearly a battle ground, a divided country. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 The Bible tells of Abraham and Sarah’s disobedience to God when they took matters into their own hands when Sarah couldn’t conceive. Abraham had a son, Ishmael, with his servant Hagar. Sarah eventually gave birth to Isaac but the end result was a divided family. We saw how the sin of one generation carries over multiple generations as evidenced by the tension between Jews and Palestinians.

We spent a couple of days at the Sea of Galilee where Jesus spent the majority of His ministry and performed many miracles: Jesus chose His disciples, walked on water, calmed the storm, made breakfast for His disciples following His resurrection, and preached the Sermon on the Mount while at the Sea of Galilee just to name a few. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...." Matthew 5:3-12

From the Sea of Galilee, we drove north to the premier pagan ancient ruins of the city Ceasarea-Philippi, known for its human sacrifices made to the god, Pan. Interestingly enough, a few feet away from this ancient demonic site which Jesus called "The Gates of Hades", is the Jordan River also called the river of life. "...and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" Matthew 16:18

Traveling south we stopped at the Dead Sea which happens to be 8 times saltier than the ocean. Peggy and I floated on the water like floating in space. It was surreal. The Dead Sea is where the cities of Sodom and Gommorah were located and where Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.

We finished the week at the city of Jerusalem where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac and where Jesus was crucified. The Mount of Olives was especially moving. From this mountain, Jesus had looked over the city of Jerusalem and wept because of the people's disbelief. A short walking distance from the Mount of Olives’ lookout point, we walked through the Garden of Gesthemane where Jesus prayed before being crucified.

A high note of our trip was the opportunity to share the gospel. Our Temecula store manager Denise Colletti arranged for me to speak at Cavalry Chapel Jerusalem to a group of Russian and South American immigrants. My heart went out to them as I too was an immigrant years ago when I came to the U.S. By God's grace, over 20 came to Christ when I shared the grace, truth and love of Jesus with them!

"Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35

In spite of much opposition and many attacks from the enemy while on our trip, it was a blessing for Peggy and me to visit the Holy land and work while we were there!

The Lord is so good to us!