What does it really mean to be "in Christ"?

In this message from 1 Corinthians 15:22, Pastor Blade explores one of the most foundational questions in Christianity: How is a sinner actually saved?

Many believers can explain that they are saved, but struggle to explain what God actually does to transform someone from being "in Adam"—dead in sin—to being "in Christ"—made alive through His righteousness.

This episode examines the Bible's teaching on baptism, distinguishing between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You'll discover why Scripture speaks of multiple baptisms, why rightly dividing God's Word matters, and how the Spirit of God unites every believer to Christ through faith alone.

Whether you've wondered about baptism, salvation, or your identity in Christ, this study will strengthen your confidence in the gospel and the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

What does it mean to be “in Christ”? In this message, Pastor Blade teaches from 1 Corinthians 15:22 and Romans 8:8–9 that without a new identity in Christ, no one can please God.

All humanity is either in Adam (unrighteous) or in Christ (righteousness). Being “in Christ” is a complete change of identity from unrighteousness to righteousness before God.

This is seen in three major components of salvation:

• Justification – Forgiven of all sins, imputed with Christ’s righteousness, and permanently reconciled to God (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:20–26; Rom. 5:1).
• Sanctification – Dead to sin, alive unto God, and made sons of God (Rom. 6:2, 11; Rom. 8:14–15).
• Glorification – The one new man in Christ, citizens of His heavenly kingdom, and a heavenly vocation and impact (Eph. 2:15; Phil. 3:20; Eph. 4:1).

Salvation through the gospel of the grace of God is complete: justification in a moment, sanctification in the present life, and glorification in the future, all grounded in our identity in Christ.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

Guest Speaker: Pastor Hunter Sbisa

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

In this episode, we walk through the sobering reality of what it means to be “in Adam” a biblical identity marked by unrighteousness, condemnation, and separation from God.

From Genesis to Romans, Scripture shows that Adam’s fall didn’t just affect him it defined all of humanity by nature. Through one man, sin entered the world, and death passed upon all. In this message, we unpack three major dimensions of that fallen condition: condemnation, abomination, and alienation.

We trace how Scripture describes humanity as under sin, without perfect righteousness, and even as enemies of God. We look at what it means to be servants of sin, dead to righteousness, and walking according to the course of this world. And we examine the sobering truth of spiritual alienation separated from life, hope, and God, belonging by nature to the kingdom of darkness.

But the story does not end in Adam.

The final movement of this message turns to the hope of the gospel: “But now in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:13). What was once condemnation becomes justification. What was abomination becomes sanctification. What was alienation becomes reconciliation. In Christ, there is a new identity new life, new citizenship, and a new standing before God.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

In this message, the focus is the cost and calling of true discipleship as seen through four areas of the Christian life: worship, the Word of God, the work of ministry, and world missions.

The central emphasis is the mission of God and how it shapes every part of a believer’s life. True discipleship is not partial or compartmentalized—it touches everything.

Drawing from passages like John 3:16–17, Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, Luke 14, and others, the message highlights four key realities of the mission of Christ:

• It is for WHOEVER—every person, regardless of background.
• It is for WHEREVER—all nations and every place in the world.
• It is for WHENEVER—present in the everyday rhythms of life.
• It is for WHATEVER—pervading every detail of a believer’s activity.

The sermon challenges listeners to evaluate whether they truly follow Christ by loving what He loves and embracing the cost of discipleship. It warns against building personal kingdoms and instead calls believers to participate in God’s global mission: seeing every moment, relationship, and opportunity as part of the work of the gospel.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

This teaching walks through the reality that biblical ministry is not casual or accidental; It requires intentionality, sacrifice, and a clear understanding of what we are being called to accomplish for the Lord. Each movement of the WORK of the ministry comes with a cost that must be counted faithfully as we follow Christ.

1. Equipping ourselves in the word of God for the work

Key Point 1: Biblical ministry will require us to count the cost of preparation as we look ahead to the work before us.

Before any public ministry or visible fruit, there is the hidden work of being rooted in Scripture. Preparation is not optional, it is the foundation that sustains every act of service that follows.

2. Engaging in the work of the ministry

Key Point 2: The work will require us to count the cost of our participation as we look among ourselves for our unique role in the body of Christ.

Ministry becomes real when we step into active participation. Each believer has a role within the body, and engaging that role requires humility, availability, and commitment to serve alongside others.

3. Edifying the body unto perfection

Key Point 3: The work will require us to count the cost of perfection as we look above to Christ Jesus.

Spiritual growth and maturity in the church is directed upward—toward Christ. Edification is not self-improvement alone, but Christ-centered transformation that shapes the entire body toward maturity

4. Extending & exemplifying the word of God to others

Key Point 4: The work will require us to count the cost of our propagation as we look around & across cultural barriers to sow the word of God into the souls of men.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

What does it really mean to follow Jesus as a disciple? It means more than belief. It means counting the cost of walking in the wisdom of God found in the Word of God.

In this sermon we explore the connection between wisdom and Scripture, and why true disciples must be rooted in the Word like a tree planted by rivers of water. Jesus said that abiding in Him includes letting His Word abide in us, and Psalm 1 shows us the picture of a life shaped by daily meditation on God’s truth.

But this kind of wisdom is not free. It will cost us what money cannot buy, our natural desires toward sin, our personal pursuits, and even our comfort. Yet what we gain is far greater, the wisdom of God, the fear of the Lord, and a life that bears lasting fruit.

Key Thought: The disciple must count the cost of obtaining the wisdom found in the Word of God.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.

In this sermon, we continue our series on discipleship by looking at the first aspect of counting the cost: worship.

Worship is more than music, it is recognizing and responding to the worth of God above all else. From Luke 14, David’s sacrifice, and Mary’s offering in Bethany, we see that true worship always involves cost, surrender, and priority. Jesus teaches that following Him means placing Him above possessions, relationships, and personal plans.

This message challenges us to consider what it truly means to follow Christ, and how discipleship is rooted in a life fully established in worship.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
For more information, visit the LFSTL website.