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www.bible.com/72/rom.10.9.hcsb

In no uncertain terms, Paul states that salvation from sin comes from confession that Jesus is Lord and belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Paul clarifies in the next verse that belief in the heart brings justification while confession with the mouth brings salvation. For he says in vs 13, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul commends “godly sorrow” in repentance which leads to “salvation”, which is line with Acts 11:18’s “repentance unto life”. In this text, Paul is saying that repentance is part of this salvation process. No mention of it is Romans 10, but still a part of this process we call salvation from sin.

In Romans 6:3-4, Paul speaks of baptism as a burial to the old life and a raising to a new life. The old life dies to sin and is buried, but the new life is raised to righteousness. While not stating the essential nature of baptism here, he does say this: vs 7 “anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Seems to point to the fact that if you do not die in baptism (immersion), you cannot be free from sin. This act appropriately follows faith, repentance and confession. Baptism is a saving action, because it frees you from sin. It is no mere act of obedience. It is not the water that saves you, but submitting to the act itself. Jesus does the saving work. As Peter later on says in 1 Pet 3:21, the water saves you, but only because you pledge your good conscience to God, and the resurrection power of Jesus does he heavy lifting.

What must I do to be saved? It seems that the New Testament has several pieces that need to be put together: Faith, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism. Faith to change the heart, Repentance to bring Godly sorrow for sin, confession to speak the truth, and baptism to bury the sinner and raise the new Christian. Peter also offers in Acts 2:38 repentance and baptism bring forgiveness of sin and the gift of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit if God helps us “understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Cor 2:12).

What I don’t understand is that if all of these pieces are essential to salvation, which I believe they are, then why are they not all listed in the same place? Why not put in some conventions place a list saying, “do this to be saved”? I believe when the message was first being preached, these things were included, but as it was recorded, details were recorded as they were deemed significant. Faith is usually recorded as shorthand for the whole. “And they all believed”!

Jesus comes as close any to laying out a plan of salvation in Matthew 28:18-20. He first instructs the apostles to make disciples (so that they believe, change their understanding of sin and who Jesus is), then baptize in the Name of the Triune Lord, and then to continue to teach them the way of obedience. Baptism here is not included as part of the pattern of obedience, but a necessary point of entry into the community of faith. Very telling that.

That’s all for now. Have a good day and God bless!

www.bible.com/72/rom.12.12.hcsb

In just s few short words, Romans 12:12 manages to put out a strong definition of the Christian life. We are a people of hope, long-suffering in tribulation, and constant in prayer. Knock us down, overrun us and try to destroy us through persecution, and we keep coming back for more. Every other faith demands results, proofs, sometimes even by sword. Still other faiths are content to do nothing but be contemplative, meditative, and insular. Christianity calls for both evangelism and interaction with the world, but also contemplation and joy while within it. Christianity manages to satisfy all the pious urges without being destructive (when done right) and offers fantastic grace without forcing back-breaking labors upon its subjects.

I challenge you as a Christian to practice the above. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Pray constantly.

God bless!

www.bible.com/72/jhn.10.11.hcsb

Does this idea resonate with you? We have romanticized the idea of the shepherd without really understanding the term. We look at shepherd as leader and mentor. Not necessarily as defender. But shepherds are often called to defend their sheep, from thieves, predators, and natural dangers. The idea that Jesus communicates here is that as a good shepherd, He is willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of his sheep. That is dedication.

Shepherds often got close to their charges, often recognizing them among the flock. The sheep know the shepherd so well they identify his voice in a crowd. Knowing this relationship, Jesus elevated it to the relationship between himself and his people.

So the question becomes for us, do we let Jesus be the Shepherd? “All we like sheep have gone astray.” However, “my sheep know my voice.” I encourage you today to follow the good Shepherd.

God bless!

www.bible.com/72/col.3.17.hcsb

“Whatever you do or say” covers a lot of territory. The term “representative” is literally “name” so that whatever we do or say, we do in the name of Jesus. The Name is an important part of this conversation. I’m surprised HCSB made this choice. For we are called by the Name, baptized into the Name, and believe in the Name. What we are called and called to are extremely important. We are more than representatives. We hear His Name.

When a woman marries, traditionally she bears his name as part of of her marriage agreement. That means when she leaves the house and goes out into the community, she bears the name of her husband’s family (for good or ill). If her husband’s family has a good reputation, she will likely be treated accordingly. If not, even if she is a good person herself, she will be judged because of her married name.

The Lord’s Name precedes us. People we meet will already have made a judgment of who we are based on what they know of the Name. We have the opportunity to change minds if we live up to the Name. If we don’t, we may do more harm than good. I’ve met many who don’t like Christianity based on a few people they’ve met. Don’t be a bad witness to the Name.

Whatever we do affects how people view the Name. Is it a saving Name, a Holy Name, and a Name that causes real change in us, for the better? Are you living up to the Name today? I encourage you to do so. People are watching.

God bless!

www.bible.com/72/jhn.6.35.hcsb

We live in an age where food is king. In our culture, food exists on every corner. Our question isn’t “can we eat today?” But “where do you want to eat today?” Our options are almost limitless. Even the poor have “food stamps” to make sure they don’t go hungry. We emphasize how and where we eat. We also put priority on the kinds of food we eat. Are we getting enough fiber? Are there enough greens? What about protein? Are there too many carbs or sugars? Is it gluten-free?

When Jesus speaks to the crowds in rural Galilee, the people He speaks to don’t have any of those options. They can’t just “go out” to get something to eat. Their food was earned by the sweat of their brow and the tool of heir hands. As Paul says later, “a man who does not work does not eat.” We have surely disconnected the two. For Jesus to offer Himself as bread and water to this crowd was saying to them, “I offer you the essentials of your daily life. I want you to receive me as such.” He is bread and water they do not have to labor to receive. He is as basic and essential to life as these, and He offers Himself freely to them, so that they could really live. He offers them life beyond the borders of daily struggle to life abundant, life everlasting.

Something we overlook in our daily regimen is vitamin J. Maybe it’s time we included Him.

God bless you today!

www.bible.com/72/psa.46.10.hcsb

Almost always rendered “be still and know that I am God” I think HCSB nails the original context here. “Be still” can be understood so many ways, and even applied to situation to which it was not intended, like Christian Meditation (which isn’t Christian if you were wondering).

“Stop fighting” drags this verse right back into context. The passage is about the peace God gives when He puts an end to fighting by His mighty power and protection. While God is a man of war (Exodus 15:3) He also puts an end to war. God’s demand here is cease this pointless rebellion against His and His people. He will win. There is no point in your struggle against Him.

We talked this week in Small Group about rebellion. We have this rebellion we acquire through our teen years (or even when we are 2) of resisting what anyone tells us to do. I have two teenage girls in the house. We have our moments. We hate being told by others, want to be captain of our own ship and so on. We only rarely acknowledge our need for a parent until we are out of our depth. At the same time, we deeply desire the approval of our parents, showing that we can do it on our own. It is hard to manage this conflict.

God appeals to our deep need for a parent, a father’s love. It goes much deeper than we are willing to admit and is satisfied only in worship. I challenge you this morning to “stop fighting” and surrender to the One who made you.

Love you all. God bless.

www.bible.com/72/mat.18.3-5.hcsb

Recently I have been plagued with this concept of the Kingdom of Heaven, what it is, what it means and it’s relationship to the Church and so on. I have always thought that the Kingdom of Heaven is the Church, at least in its ideal sense. There is only one Church, just as there is one Kingdom, for there is only one King.

When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, He was the ideal herald, as He is the King. Thus He decides who is allowed to be a part of His Kingdom. As the above text illustrates, Jesus accepts faith as a little child as entry into His Kingdom. Now this includes the fine print, as the text says above, whoever converts and becomes like children. Conversion is a messy and complicated business, putting aside old beliefs and adopting new ones, disengaging old gods and encountering the new One. But this is the port of entry into the Kingdom. Jesus died and rise again so that others could enter His Kingdom, by faith, and this become His disciples, His ambassadors to the world.

We preach a coming Kingdom, but in part it is already present. We are it’s outward visible manifestation. If we are not doing our job and promoting it as a desirable alternative to the world’s lusts and trouble, then what are we doing?

Please consider your role today in the Kingdom. God bless you on this Monday.

www.bible.com/72/psa.24.1.hcsb

Found one! Talk to the Owner. Worried about changing climate and weather problems? Worried about the world getting too hot or too cold? Talk to the Owner. In other words, though there are many things we can do to be good stewards of the environment, only God has the power to effect real change.

One to chew on today. God bless you on this glorious Lord’s Day!