Closer to the Fire

There is nothing like a spectacular, enormous, radiant bonfire on a cold fall night. It draws people to its warmth and light; it creates a unique fellowship. However, sometimes we are afraid to get too close, lest we become too warm or catch our clothes on fire.

Our relationship to God can be like that. We may want His presence, but from a safe distance. It is easier to stay where we are, content with a bit of God’s warmth, but not wanting too much of His fire. After all, we could be radically affected!

         In “Three Dollars’ Worth of God,” Wilbur Rees suggested that we want God, but only to a certain degree and in a limited amount, like buying just enough gasoline to go so far. God keeps calling us closer, so that He can fill us full of Himself. He aims to revive us, change us, and light the fire in our hearts.

Exodus 3:1 describes an ordinary day, in which an ordinary man was tending his father-in-law’s ordinary sheep, looking for ordinary pasture in an ordinary place. This man had failed forty years earlier. He had killed a man and then fled from Egypt to Midian. Now he was eighty years old, perhaps resigned to his ordinary life. Not only was the land of Midian dry, parched, and empty; so was he. But after four long decades of this mediocre existence, one day he met God.

Nothing prepared Moses for what would happen that day, the day that God would break His silence. He gathered Jethro’s sheep, and began his work. He led the flock to Horeb, the mountain of God, also known as Mount Sinai. He had no idea that, in the future, God would give water to His freed people there (Ex 17:6) and grant them His commandments and law (Ex 19-20). After the exodus God would transform that ordinary mountain with His presence and light the fire.

But first, perhaps as a prelude to that event, God took an ordinary, dry, thorny, common bush, and He set it on fire. The bush was not the tallest, or the most perfect, or the most deserving. But when God set it on fire, it became extraordinary.

Moses was curious, struck by the fact that the bush did not burn up. What if he had not noticed? What if he had been too busy pursuing his sheep in all directions to turn toward it? What if he had been, as we may be today, watching his favorite TV show, caught up in his retirement, or rushing to meet a pressing deadline? What if he had missed the bush?

He wanted just to take a closer look, but God wanted to set him on fire and send him back to Egypt. He was curious, but not committed. Sound familiar? Moses may have wanted, as we may want today, to be in attendance at the big event, but not to give all his attention to it.

It was only when Moses turned toward the bush that the LORD called to him (Exodus 3:4). What about us? What wonderful things does God want to tell us in the Scriptures? What great mission or plan does He have? But how can He reach us, if we will not turn toward Him? We will never hear Him if we are pointed in the wrong direction.

Revival can come to our lives, our families, our congregations, and our nation, but only when we meet God. We must turn toward the flame and draw closer. Otherwise He can do nothing with us, and He will look for others. When we do personally encounter God, when we hear His voice calling in Scripture, six things will happen.

First, we will bare our feet and bury our faces (Ex 3:5-6). Put yourself in Moses’ position. Feel the heat, hear the voice, and sense the majesty of God. Tremble before Him in your emptiness. Fall before Him in reverence. Know your place because you know His place. Surrender the throne of your heart to the almighty, transcendent, holy God. Wherever you meet Him is a sacred place, so act accordingly. How could we treat worship casually? How could we approach God comfortably, when we have met God at the bush?

Second, we will hear the lost crying through His ears (Ex 3:7-10). God said regarding the captive Israelites, “I am concerned about their suffering (Ex 3:7).” God finds irresistible the cries of humble, penitent, miserable people. Do we? He not only feels our pain; He calls us to feel His pain for others. He sent the Christ when we were helpless and ungodly (Rom. 5:6-11); now He would send us to others in similar circumstances. How can we ignore the lost, the poor, and the homeless, when we have met God at the bush?

Third, we will see our excuses through His eyes. It is hard to imagine an eighty-year-old man arguing with a bush, is it not? Even worse, how could a man challenge the LORD God? Nothing has changed. God still calls. We still resist with our ifs, ands, and buts.

Moses objected, saying, “Who am I (3:11-12)?” It is as if Moses was the one to save Israel! He had failed in his earlier efforts to do so (Ex 2:11-15); he might hesitate to try again. But this was not about Moses; it was about God. “I will be with you.” Surely Moses would agree to go now. But it was not so.

Moses went from asking, “Who am I?” to asking, “Who are You (3:13-15)?” God responded: “I AM WHO I AM.” The names Yahweh and Jehovah are taken from the Hebrew verb used here, hayah (“to be”). Jehovah is also taken from this name. To meet God is to know His nature. He is the eternal, the unchangeable, the ever-faithful, the invincible God. He would rescue Israel because He had promised Abraham that He would (Gen. 15:12-21). How could Moses object further?

Yet he did. He asked, “What if they won’t (4:1-9)?” and, “What if I can’t (4:10-12)?” God insisted that He would work through the staff Moses held in his hand. That staff was as ordinary as the bush, until the presence of God came into it. If God could do that with a staff, what could He do with Moses? If Moses would meet God, he would see the answers to his excuses. So would we. We would bring to God what is in our hands - our possessions, our relationships, our time, and our strength - and God would do the extraordinary.

Moses’ “I can’t!” would become “God can!” when he met the LORD. His lack of eloquence (or possibly his speech impediment) would pose no obstacle for the One who made him. God can use the blind, the deaf, the mute, the young, and the old, but only if we will come close to Him and ask Him to light the fire.

Yet Moses still hesitated. He asked, “Who else is there (4:13)?” Before we become too upset with Moses, let us ask ourselves: “How do we respond to God’s call for more preachers, missionaries, and personal evangelists?” As long as we keep asking, “Who else is there?” we are right there, at the bush, arguing with God.

How did God react to this last resistance? Read Exodus 3:14 and note that His anger burned against Moses. God had been so patient in dealing with one excuse after another. No more. At first it was the bush that was burning; now it was God’s anger. How can we presume upon the mercy of God and refuse His mission? How can we avoid His wrath if we do not obey His will?

Fourth, when we meet God we will infect and excite His people (Ex 3:16-17). Elders, preachers, deacons, and the entire congregation must see the fire, catch the vision, and commit themselves to God’s mission. When there is division in the church, someone is standing too far from the fire.

Fifth, we will confront His enemy (Ex 3:18). How could Moses have imagined, when he first saw the bush, that God would send him before Pharaoh? We, too, must meet God and put on His whole armor; when we do, we will take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph. 6:10-18).

Sixth, only when we meet God will we experience His deliverance (Ex 3:19-20). Ultimately, God would stretch out His hands on a cross at Golgotha to provide us freedom from bondage and death. When we put our faith in Christ and are baptized, we meet God and rise to live a new life. In that new life, we must draw near to God’s flame again and again. Then He will light the fire.

As a country song says, “Life is not tried, it is merely survived, if you’re standing outside the fire.” Wherever you are in your walk with God, take a step closer to the fire. You will never be the same again.

Moore Focused, Moore Thankful, and Moore Faithful

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

Volunteers of all ages from the Keller church of Christ traveled to Moore, Oklahoma, to assist with disaster relief efforts there.

      Some events in life have a way of bringing God's Word and biblical principles into amazing clarity. What we have read, believed, and shared with others, we suddenly see as never before. The F5 tornadoes that hit Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013 - and their aftermath - opened many eyes and hearts, including mine, to important truths.

      Brevity and uncertainty. Sixteen minutes. That's all the time people had, from the warning until the destruction. What would I have done? Whom would I have called? Where would I have gone? What would I have tried to take? Life really is a vapor (James 4). Tomorrow may never come. I may not be here. The city I had planned to visit may not even exist anymore.

      Love and forgiveness. Today is too precious and too short - and people matter too much - for me to withhold love or to hold a grudge. I must express my love, and erase the wrongs of others against me, before the sun goes down (Eph 4:26). It may not rise again. If I am suddenly thrust into eternity, I want to leave this earth with a clean slate, and with the people in my life knowing that I truly cared.

      Good and evil. Bad things don't just happen to the so-called "worst" of sinners or to strangers far away. Tornadoes level the houses in one town but not another. Structures on one side of the street are razed while the other side remains untouched. Instead of asking questions we cannot answer, we should hear Jesus say, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-5). 

      Pain and healing. Jesus talked so much about the homeless, the hurting, and the helpless. His words about the sheep and the goats (Matt 25), and the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), challenge us to go and to serve. When we help with a cause like this, we feel assured that we are showing the compassion and kindness that Jesus taught and that He expects of us.

      Seen and unseen. Visible things are temporary; invisible things are eternal (2 Cor 4:16-18). Yet the visible things appear so permanent, so strong, so worthy of our time and effort. In Moore, OK, all kinds of "stuff" was either gone, displaced, or piled up in heaps. Yet the unseen realities remained: faith, hope, and love.

      Faith and despair. One could not number the religious organizations that sent teams, collected supplies, served meals, and helped the needy. It was easy to count the atheist groups represented; there were none. Some unbelievers claim, "People can be good without God." Really?

      Money and motivation. Because we are made in the image of God, we innately desire to share, to give, and to save. We derive a level of satisfaction from unpaid acts of kindness that financial compensation cannot match. Such a powerful drive, and such fantastic endorphins, cannot be explained by godless evolution and its "survival of the fittest."

      One and many. It's so rewarding to see fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teens and adults, little kids and big kids, married people and singles, all working together in harmony, patience, and joy. In a day when there is such emphasis on the individual, the "army of one," we are reminded that two are better than one and that a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecc 4:9-12).

      Signs and symbols. In the debris in Moore, OK, one could see so many small, displaced items of great - or not so great - significance. There was a string of tickets to who knows what, that would never be used. There was a single jigsaw puzzle piece; perhaps it was the missing one, buried under the couch cushion. There was a stuffed teddy bear, soft but dirty, no longer able to comfort a small child. There was a pepper shaker, in the shape of a maple leaf, without its companion. There was a small Lego piece, and a large Lego piece, that could not fit together. There was a plastic wheel, about eight inches in diameter, detached from anything it may have once rolled. All of it makes one wonder what values we attach to material objects, and why, and what we would do if we lost them.

Because of Moore, Oklahoma, I'm asking God to help me be

Moore focused, Moore thankful, and Moore faithful.

To comment and/or to receive notices of future blog posts, please email confident.faith[AT]gmail[.com]. God bless.

Cory Collins
http://corycollins.net/

Don't Sign That Lease!

… so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs (schemes, devices, and scams!). 2 Cor 2:11

… so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness (deceit, trickery) in deceitful (cunning) schemes (methods, techniques, and strategies). Eph 4:14

     We had just moved into our house in mid-June, 2012. We were unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, and sharing our excitement. It was especially gratifying, because we had previously been living in a 756-square-foot apartment. I was checking something in the front yard of our new house when a young couple drove up and stopped. I did not know them. "How are you?" I asked. "What can we do for you?"

     The woman responded, "We're about to rent this house and move in." 

     My first thoughts were, "Oh no, you're not!" "Wait a minute! Say that again?" However, I just said, "I'm sorry to let you down, but my wife and I have just bought this house." The woman was just as shocked by my announcement as I had been by hers.

     No, we were not being evicted. No, our Realtor had not made a mistake. No, the previous owners were not trying to work a double deal with their house. No, our contract on the house had not fallen through. No, I was not being arrested or charged with being a squatter.

     What had happened, quite simply, was that a crook was trying to pull a scam. He had offered this couple a great deal to rent a house that he did not own. By accessing public records, available online, he had found the name of the owner. He then created an email account in the owner's name and began offering the house – our house! – for rent.

     He never owned it.

     He never entered it.

     He never had a key to it.

     He probably never saw it.

     He may never have even been in the city or state.

     Yet he was quite ready to lease it! Even worse, he claimed to be a Christian - and a "pastor" - to help establish his credibility. 

     “Pastor Kenneth” wrote that he was currently in Florida, working as a volunteer with something called the “Missionary Blogs.” He even included their website! He explained that, because of his ministry, he would not be using a Realtor. He also noted that, because he had previously tried to sell the house, it might still be listed “for sale.” He was covering himself, of course, because the house was actually listed for sale by the genuine owners.

     He was looking for someone who would really take good care of "his" property. He only wanted $700 per month and a security deposit of $500. He would include a washer, dryer, gas, electricity, a dishwasher, an electric stove, and a refrigerator. He would even allow pets in this house he was leasing! How generous, considering the place was not his to begin with!

     When she emphasized putting God first and showing honesty and integrity, he said he believed that God was watching every step they were taking. He wrote, “That is why I made the house so inexpensive, because I believe everybody deserves a home, both the rich and the poor. You don't have to be afraid …” “I'm telling you the truth now – as a dedicated Christian it is against my doctrine to rip people off their money which they labored so hard for.”

     Since “Pastor Kenneth” did not own the house, he had no keys. He had no documents. He explained to the woman that she and her husband would need to complete the application and send him the rent and deposit money first.

She believed him. And she almost sent him $1200.

     It’s easy to say that this woman was naïve and that she should have seen through this rip-off. However, the fact is that this scheme works often enough to make it worthwhile for the crooks. You and I may not fall for this particular scam, but we must not think that we are immune to the devil’s devices and men’s trickery.

● If a deal in life sounds too good to be true, it probably is. An unbelievable bargain, however amazing it seems, is intended primarily to benefit the seller. Read the fine print. Get all the specific details. Read it over, pray it over, and talk it over with someone you trust. If it's suspicious, don't sign that lease!

● The devil is in the business of making sin sound fun, easy, and free of pain. He's lying. Sin never liberates; it always enslaves. Eve and Adam signed the snake's lease and lost. Jesus rejected his offer when He was tempted, and He won. If the old serpent is behind it, don't walk. Run! Don't sign that lease!

● Anyone can call himself a "pastor." There are plenty of self-appointed religious leaders around, with all kinds of sweet-sounding, pleasant doctrines and man-made ideas. They can tickle your ears and flatter your ego. Don't let that happen. Know your Bible. Be on the alert. If it doesn't ring true with the Word, don't sign that lease!

● Someone may tempt you to have sex before or outside of marriage. He or she will offer you love, commitment, or even marriage. It's a trap. Don't sign that lease!

● A boss may offer you a promotion if you will lie, cheat, or fudge on something related to your work. You may think, "Everybody else does it. Besides, I'm just following instructions." Don't sign that lease!

● You may think about buying lottery tickets, thinking you will strike it rich. You may even reason that you'll do all kinds of good if you win. You don't realize you may be gambling, not just with money, but with your future and even your life. Don't sign that lease!

● A group of your worldly peers will try to make you think you need to belong and fit in.  They may challenge your faith, your values, your family, and your self-confidence. They want you to follow them and adopt their ways. Don't sign that lease!

     There's another reason I'm glad we were in the house when this couple drove by. If we had not been, this husband and wife might have sent this crook $1200, which they would never have reclaimed. When I told her we had bought the house, of course she regretted losing the deal. At the same time she could rejoice that she was not scammed, since the deal was never real.

     So be alert. Be on guard. Be sober. Be careful. And if in doubt, don't sign that lease!

To comment and/or to receive notices of future blog posts, please email confident.faith[AT]gmail[.com]. God bless.

Cory Collins
http://corycollins.net/

Jesus, God’s Magnificent Son: a Study of Ephesians 1

               Why is Jesus your hero? Which of His words and deeds continue to amaze you, to bless you, and to challenge you? Think of one parable, one miracle, and one personal encounter in His ministry. What does each reveal about His supreme majesty?  

            In Christ, and in no one else, every good thing worth having is ours. He gave us grace, so we give Him glory. We pray to comprehend more clearly the hope, riches, and power which are ours because God raised Him from death and seated Him at His side.

            Paul’s presentation in Ephesians 1 of Jesus Christ as God’s magnificent Son sets the stage for everything that follows. Only because He raised Christ could God also bring us to life, though we were dead in sin, and seat us with Him (Ephesians 2:1-10). Only because His blood was shed could Jews and Gentiles, both trusting in that blood, be reconciled to God and to each other in one body, the church (Ephesians 2:11-22).

Paul’s ministry, as a steward of God’s grace, reflected God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus for the church (Ephesians 3:1-13). Paul asked in prayer that all might know that which surpasses knowledge, the immeasurable, infinite love of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-21). The seven elements of unity and God’s plan for church growth all result from, and point to, what He has accomplished through His magnificent Son (Ephesians 4:1-16).

            Every practical, ethical, or doctrinal thought in the rest of Ephesians is based on this same premise. We are different from the world. Renewed in mind, we “put off” the traits of the old nature and “put on” the qualities of the exalted Savior. Marriages are transformed. Family and work relationships are re-oriented. Wearing the armor of God we overpower sin, self, and Satan, only because Jesus Christ is risen and exalted.

            REASONS TO PRAISE (Ephesians 1:1-14). Though Paul is in prison he writes to encourage faithful saints to look above. Only the Lord can provide grace and peace, which circumstances cannot destroy (Ephesians 1:1-2). Paul proclaims God as blessed who has first blessed us. As Psalm 103:1-6 indicates, recounting His gifts leads us to gratitude and worship. All God’s gifts now are found only in Christ, God’s magnificent Son.

            What a list! In Christ we are blessed, not with a few small tokens of God’s favor, but with the entire contents of His spiritual warehouse. The things of this world decay, decompose, and die, but God has given us all that pertains to the heavenly realm. He has not been stingy; rather He has lavished upon us in abundance “the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:8-9).We are chosen, selected as God’s people before history began, through our choice to exercise obedient faith. This identity gives us honor and propels us to live out the holiness and blamelessness which that choice implies. We are predestined, because God has designed the ultimate end of those who live in Christ. No threat can take that away if we by faith remain in Christ (Romans 8:31-39).

God has adopted us, giving us all the rights and privileges of natural-born children. His protection, His name, and His inheritance are ours. We are redeemed, bought from slavery off the auction block by the precious blood which Jesus shed. We are forgiven, because He ransomed us, paying the debt for our trespasses. We are sealed in Christ, marked as His own, with the Holy Spirit. For all these reasons, we express “the praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14).

REASONS TO PRAY (Ephesians 1:15-23). Oh that we might know, fully know, “the hope of His calling,” “the riches of the glory of His inheritance,” and “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe!” That is the aim of Paul’s prayer and of ours. God has granted us His Spirit, that the eyes of our heart might grasp what is otherwise incomprehensible. He has raised His magnificent Son from death. He has given Him supremacy over every competing power. His headship over the church, His body, demonstrates His headship over all. Nothing can defeat Him. No one can unseat Him. No power can undo Him. He is, in fact, God’s magnificent Son.

            What peace there is in knowing that every gift of value is already ours in Christ! That fact sets us free from the rat-race maze of selfish ambition, which has people running in all the wrong directions to obtain and keep what will not last. Christ, who satisfied God’s wrath by His sacrifice, also satisfies our yearning for fulfillment and grants us the abundant life. May we recognize and reject whatever temptations threaten our contentment and learn to treasure more than ever what we have in Him.

            “Count your blessings; name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” There is a strong human tendency to accentuate negative factors, though they may comprise only a tiny percentage of one’s life experience. From prison Paul wrote, “Blessed be God!” One who blesses God rather than blaming God will find peace even in adversity.

The phrases “in Christ” and “in Him” (Ephesians 1:3, 4, 7, 10, 13) remind us that one comes “into Christ” at the point of baptism. Romans 6:1-4 and Galatians 3:26-27 note that we are baptized into Christ, into His death and resurrection. We all know people who have not yet taken this essential step and who are therefore outside of Christ, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Because we genuinely value what God has given us in Christ, we seek to teach and influence others to be baptized. Then they too may be blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed, and so forth.

Because we were chosen “that we should be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4),” we seek to carry out that purpose. Each must continually ask, “How can I be more consecrated, set apart for God’s use, and unpolluted by the world?” “For what might I be blamed when I stand before God’s throne?” A repentant, confessing, obedient heart will produce a Christ-like life and example.

“To the praise of His glory” helps us see that we now exist to exalt the Lord because of His majesty. Whatever we do in word or deed, we do it in Jesus’ name, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17). From the greatest to the least among us, no matter our occupation or situation, we share this thrilling purpose. God’s grace motivates, inspires, and even compels us to promote His honor every day and in every way. Do others see His awesome, wondrous majesty when they observe us?

In addition to emphasizing Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Bible also stresses His ascension and inauguration. Yes, God raised Him, but He also seated Him in the highest position of all, at His own right hand (Ephesians 1:20-21). For that reason He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is superior to Satan and his demons. He is invincible, invulnerable, and immovable. In this age of terrorism, threats, and temptations, why should we fear? Because we are sure about the position Christ holds today, we are secure in our position in His hand.

The church is precious and sacred, because it is the body of which Jesus is the head. God’s magnificent Son has made the church magnificent (Ephesians 5:25-27). We ourselves are not perfect, but He removes our wrinkles and blemishes. It is through our submission as the church that we glorify Christ as Lord.

            The biblical teaching of predestination (Ephesians 1:5, 11) gives us confidence that God is in control and that He will lead us to our heavenly home. Human choice is still essential, for we must be willing to listen to the message of truth and believe it (Ephesians 1:13). Predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge of our faith (Romans 8:28-30). It does not force us to act against our will. However, knowing the destiny He has planned for us encourages us to act according to His will.

            From Old Testament times the Israelites considered themselves to be God’s chosen people. In Exodus 19:4-6 God reminded them of His gracious, mighty salvation through the Exodus. Then He called upon them to obey His voice and keep His covenant. As a result they would be His own possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Peter echoed these words and applied them to the church in 1 Peter 2:9-10.

            In Scripture the term “saints” (Ephesians 1:1, 15, 18) does not refer just to those who have died, or to those designated by the church because of their worthy deeds and miraculous accomplishments. Instead it describes all those who are sanctified, separated from the world and consecrated to the worship and service of God. Our goal then is to live up to this high, holy calling which God has given to all Christians.

            Jesus Christ is God’s magnificent Son!  During this week, thumb through one of the four Gospels and list the traits of Christ in it that you find impressive. As you pray thank God for these qualities and ask Him to help you develop them in your own life. Share one or more of these with your family, your fellow Christians, and someone who still needs to be baptized into Christ.

Questions for Further Reflection:

1.      What privileges do we enjoy as God’s chosen people? What responsibilities? For what purpose(s) has God chosen us?

2.      Why do some people, even after having biological children, choose to adopt one or more others? What does it cost them, besides money? How does it benefit the child?

3.      If God has predestined us, how is it that we still have free choice and responsibility for our actions?

4.      Because of Christ we live “to the praise of the glory of His grace.” How can we honor the Lord more effectively in marriage? In work? In ministry?

5.      We have been sealed or marked by the Holy Spirit. What does the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit mean in your life?

6.      Hope is a solid, confident expectation of things not yet experienced. What does your hope in Christ mean to you? On what is it based? What makes it grow?

7.      The church is the body; Christ is the head. What does that mean? How do we express that relationship? How does it affect our lives as the people of God?

To comment and/or to receive notices of future blog posts, please email confident.faith[AT]gmail[.com]. God bless.

Cory Collins

http://corycollins.net/

“FOR” the Forgiveness of Sins?

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

    Salvation is a free gift, purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We cannot purchase it, earn it, or achieve it. But how do we receive it? Acts 2:38 records Simon Peter’s response to those who asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

    Recently several have inquired, “Could the phrase, ‘for the forgiveness of sins,’ actually mean, ‘because of the forgiveness of sins’? Could Acts 2:38 teach, as many teach today, that baptism follows salvation, as a public statement that one has already been forgiven?” 

    The Greek preposition eis, translated “for” in English translations of this verse, typically points to some object. It means “toward, into, to,” etc. Some, however, have claimed that the use of eis in Acts 2:38 is exceptional and means “because of.” They note that in Matt 12:41 Jesus said, “The men of Nineveh … repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonah.” They suggest that here eis means “because of.” This argument has been made often. Is it valid? Please consider the following.

• The Greek text of Acts 2:38 grammatically links baptism and repentance together. So the next phrase (“eis the forgiveness of sins”) must refer to both. Most would agree that repentance precedes the forgiveness of sins and is prerequisite to it. Would anyone say that the lost are to repent because they have already been forgiven? 
• In Matt 26:28 Jesus said, “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for (eis) the forgiveness of sins.” No one has suggested “because of” for this verse, even though the Greek text in the last phrase is letter-for-letter identical to that of Acts 2:38. See also Mark 1:4.
• Rom 10:10 notes that with the heart one believes eis (unto, to, toward) righteousness and that with the mouth one confesses eis (unto, to, toward) salvation. No one has suggested “because of” in either clause. Faith and confession precede and seek salvation from sin. The Greek phrase parallels that of Acts 2:38.
• The immediate response of some 3000 people in Acts 2:41 implies that they sensed an urgency connected to repentance and baptism. They were baptized that very day because they apparently understood the necessity of acting without delay. They wanted to receive God’s forgiveness.
• Matt 12:41 is not an exception after all. The people of Nineveh repented “toward,” “in order to,” or even “into” Jonah’s message. Once again eis points toward an object or purpose. Their repentance was their response toward the message they heard.
• No English translation (to my knowledge) ever translates eis as “because of” in Acts 2:38, in Matt 12:41, or anywhere else in the entire New Testament. This includes even the Holman Christian Standard Bible, published by the Southern Baptists at Lifeway. http://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/2-38-compare.html. In fact, the 1973 (original) New International Version (NIV) read: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven."
• For 1500 years it was accepted among those who believed in Christ that baptism was “for” the forgiveness of sins. It was the Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) who first argued that, because salvation is a free gift, God could not require anything from man in order to receive it. Zwingli influenced John Calvin (1509-1564), who spread this new belief throughout the world. However, Scripture does not support Zwingli or Calvin in this matter. For example, Jesus required the man born blind (in John 9) to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash and receive healing. The healing was still a free gift of grace.
• For many people the “Sinner’s Prayer” serves as an expression of faith which precedes and seeks forgiveness of sins. Those who promote this prayer (which is not found in Scripture) do not believe that it contradicts the fact that salvation is a free gift. What they say about the “Sinner’s Prayer” is what the New Testament teaches about baptism. It is an expression of faith which precedes and seeks forgiveness of sins. It does not achieve; it receives. 
• While teaching the importance of baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the New Testament clearly distinguishes baptism from human works of merit. Note Tit 3:5, which says, “ … he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit …”
• Other New Testament passages reinforce the connection between baptism and receiving the forgiveness of sins. Ananias told Saul of Tarsus in Acts 22:16, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

    Repentance and baptism do not earn or achieve salvation. Jesus paid that price in full with His blood. Salvation is by grace through faith. Repentance and baptism, however, by faith receive God’s free gift. Acts 2 exhorts those pricked in the heart to repent and be baptized, not to earn or purchase, but to accept and claim forgiveness. That’s how some 3,000 souls called on the name of the Lord that very day. They were saved, forgiven, and added to their number because they accepted God’s free gift.

    And now … why do you wait?

Cory Collins

Don't Mess with "Text-Us"

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Ex 3:5

Texas has some tough laws. Some may even consider them unreasonable. Why, just think of the drastic steps that have been taken to protect children. Of all things! For example, cell phone use – of any kind – is prohibited in local Texas school zones. A driver can be fined up to $200, not just for texting, but even just for talking, while passing through these areas. Can you believe that? Don’t the police and the courts understand how urgent that message to a friend may be? It could involve sports … or shopping … or even dinner plans!

You know I’m speaking facetiously. Children are worth more than all the text messages in the world. No one would knowingly maim or kill an innocent boy or girl for the sake of a phone call or text. Those who have been responsible for such tragedies are overwhelmed with guilt and regret. If they only had it to do over again, they would not do it at all.

Though people supposedly have common sense, laws are still necessary. Why? People think that they won’t cause an accident, because they are smart, safe, and careful. So tough Texas laws protect everyone, threatening “only” a $200 fine, in an effort to prevent the greater cost of a child’s life.

Here’s a shocker. Survey results released in April, 2013, indicate that more adults are texting while driving than teenagers. Nearly half of all adults surveyed by AT&T say that they're using their smartphones to send text messages or check their emails while they're behind the wheel of a car, even though almost all of them agree that the practice is unsafe. By comparison, about 43 percent of teenagers cited in an earlier USA Today survey admitted that they text and drive. And as National Safety Council representative John Ulczycki pointed out to the newspaper, "[You're] looking at around 10 million teen drivers, but about 180 million other adult drivers." Source: http://www.leftlanenews.com/study-adults-more-likely-to-fess-up-to-texting-while-driving-than-teens.html.

There are also rules about cell phone use at many local movie theaters, though much less is at stake than a human life. Our family saw a movie a couple of weeks ago. Among the announcements about popcorn and restrooms, there was a dire public warning and prohibition against cell phone use during the film. If you had an emergency message, you had to step out of the theater so as not to distract other patrons. If you insisted on talking or texting inside the theater, with the movie playing, officials would identify you and evict you! Why? People think that their message is so important that, even if it does distract others, it’s worth it.

On a recent flight from Dallas to Nashville, I was seated next to a young, sharp executive who worked with Bausch and Lomb, the optical company. Believe it or not, after hearing repeated instructions to disable all cell phones for take-off, he carefully hid his phone from the attendant with his neck, shoulder, and hand. He kept on talking in a low voice. He apparently decided that his business call was more important than any possible interference with the airplane’s microwave-based take-off equipment.

So cell phones can distract drivers, movie-goers, and airline passengers. What about Christians who are determined to seek things above and worship God without distraction? I’m not referring to those cool apps that let people read the Bible on their phones. I’m asking about the temptation to text, tweet, or check Facebook while trying to connect with a holy God.

If people won’t mess with Texas, because they don’t want to pay a $200 fine, why would Christians mess with God? If a cell phone keeps me from drawing close to God, what does it cost me? What does it cost others around me who are also distracted? Is it worth it?

If God is jealous, and He will not tolerate other things that rival Him for my attention, what does he think about cell phones in worship?

The Lord told Moses at the burning bush to remove his sandals, because His presence made that ground holy. What might He have said if Moses had pulled out a cell phone to retrieve a text from someone else, or to send one?

I’m not going to let my phone distract me or anyone else from drawing near to God. It’s just not worth what it costs. Help me, Lord, to seek and to serve You with all my heart!

Marriage Success Strategies: 4. Reboot

This post is the fourth in a series.

Can you remember how happy you were when you first married? You began a thrilling new adventure, filled with excitement, eagerness, and anticipation. You were madly in love. Every day – every moment – was special. There were no angry words, violent deeds, or episodes of selfish pouting. There were no arguments about money, material possessions, annoying personal habits, or anything else. It was, after all, the honeymoon.

However, the word “honeymoon” originally referred to the initial sweetness of wedded bliss (“honey”), that was typically expected to last only a month (“moon”)! Well, whether a week, a month, or even a couple of years, that first sense of euphoria can give way over time to complacency, laziness, and indifference. It can even turn into resentment, hostility, and divorce.

For some fun and truth mixed together, see the “Seven Stages of the Married Cold.” http://www.skywriting.net/inspirational/humor/the_married_cold.html

When a computer or network becomes sluggish or is infected with a virus, the “System Restore” function makes it lean, clean, and new once more. The same kind of step may work to revitalize and rejuvenate your marriage. Don’t give it the boot; give it the reboot!

Today is the first day of the rest – and potentially the best – of your married life. Decide to start over – right now. Whatever the past, there is hope for the future, depending on the choices you make in the present. The Bible is all about rebooting. When Noah and his family left the ark, they restarted their lives in a clean, fresh world. When the Israelites were oppressed in Egypt, God gave them an “extreme makeover,” a new beginning in the Promised Land. After the seventy-year exile in Babylon, God brought the people of Judah home – again.

After Simon Peter’s denials the resurrected Lord met him near where the disciples were fishing. He asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Peter could answer afresh, leaving the past behind and starting over. And so he did.

Researches agree that marriages tend to go through seven stages. They are:

Excitement: enjoying the honeymoon.

Realization: becoming aware of imperfection.

Rebellion: fighting to get some independence back.

Cooperation: working together to raise the kids and pay the bills.

Reunion: drawing closer after the nest becomes empty.

Explosion: dealing with crises, such as loss of job or health.

Completion: reaching the end of this life, with peace and accomplishment.

For details see: http://www.paklinks.com/gs/life-and-relationships/578832-7-stages-of-marriage.html.

How do you reboot your marriage?

● Seek first the kingdom. Matt 6:33

The strongest glue between any two people is the unity of spirit they can share in the Lord. It will sustain them through the toughest times and strongest storms. Over time, though, struggling couples stop praying, worshiping, and studying the Bible together. Solution? Get in the Word, on your knees, and in the church. The closer you are to Jesus, the closer your spouse will want to be to you. As you follow Him, your wife or husband will naturally receive a better mate as a result.

● Revisit your happy, early days. Gen 29:20

The seven years that Jacob worked to get Rachel seemed to him but a few days, because of the love he had for her. You likely remember that feeling as well. What happened to it? How, when, and why? What would it take to get it back?

● Open your heart. 2 Cor 6:11-13

Paul recognized that the Corinthians had become strained in their affections toward him. They withheld their love, their warmth, and their attention. The same thing happens in marriages. Couples allow misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and past words and deeds to shut down the openness they once shared. They drift apart because they no longer talk and listen. If they would clear the debris and remove the blockage, their spirits could be one again.

● Build and strengthen trust every day. 1 Cor 4:2

          As a steward Paul sought first to be faithful or trustworthy. Trust can take only a moment to be destroyed but a lifetime to try to rebuild. For a marriage to reboot each spouse must determine, “Starting today, and every day, I will earn and maintain your trust regarding where I am, what I am doing, and who I am with. I will never give you reason to doubt my inetgrity and fidelity.”

● Ask. Don’t assume. Eph 4:29

When a marriage is in a rut, spouses take each other for granted. Each assumes that the other knows his or her thoughts, feelings, and needs. Pride keeps them from seeking each other’s help and counsel. To reboot your marriage, learn what your spouse feels and needs. Listen more than you talk. Admit what you don’t know. Follow Eph 4:29, speaking only words that encourage, offer grace, and build up.

● Honor her or him above yourself. 1 Pet 3:7-8

Prov 31:10 notes that an excellent wife is worth than rubies. A marriage can start fresh when spouses recognize each other’s value. Starting today, they express both publicly and privately, “You mean more to me than any other person on earth.” Do you want to reboot your marriage? Make your mate feel appreciated, affirmed, and esteemed.

● Do not expect perfection. Ps 103:8-9, 14

Since the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, should we not be the same? Since he does not keep his anger forever, how can we? Since he knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust, shall we not treat our spouses likewise?

● Give more than you take. Give whatever it takes. Matt 5:41

Unhappy marriages involve spouses who are scorekeepers; they are out to be sure they get the most points. Renewed marriages focus on giving instead. Unhappy marriages fail due to lack of commitment. People decide in advance what they are willing to give, and then they quit. Rebooted marriages thrive on sacrifice, patience, and kindness. They flourish with thoughtfulness, tenderness, and unselfishness.

● Model Christ and the church. Eph 5:22-33

Marriages disintegrate because men will not take the spiritual lead and  / or women will not follow their lead. When the husband parallels Christ as the loving head, and the wife reflects the church as the submitted bride, their marriage can start fresh and stay that way.

● Make the most of every day. Heb 3:13

Live so that, at the end of every day, your spouse will say, “I’m so glad God gave you to me. I’d say, ‘I do,’ all over again!” As Clint Back wrote: “When I said I do, I meant that I will 'til the end of all time, Be faithful and true, devoted to you. That's what I had in mind when I said I do.” I also love these words from the Forester Sisters: “I'd choose you again. I'd choose you again. If God gave me the chance to do it all again, oh, I'd carefully consider every choice and then, out of all the boys in the world, I'd choose you again.”

Cory Collins

http://corycollins.net/