Baptized for the Dead

Posts

Don’t Forget the Past

In 2019 a survey was done by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation in all 50 states. The survey was conducted on 41,000 people. In the survey Americans were asked the the questions that are found on the citizenship test. The results were abysmal. 49 out of 50 states had less than a majority that could pass this test with Vermont being the only exception. Only 40 percent passed the test nationwide and only 27 percent of those under the age of 45 were able to pass the test. Only 15 percent of Americans knew that the Constitution was written in 1787. It is clear with results like these that Americans don’t know their history and history is important. The writer-philosopher George Santayana is credited with saying: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. If that is the case it seems like our culture is on a fast track to repeating our history. Is the same true for the church? The bible says: My people are d

No Shave November

Following the untimely death of Matthew Hill from cancer in 2007 the Hill family established what has now become known as No-Shave November. This organization seeks to raise funds and awareness for cancer by encouraging men to refrain from shaving during the month of November. To date the organization has raised millions of dollars to help fight cancer. The organization states that their goal: "is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.” No-Shave November is not the only organization to encourage men to put down the razor to help raise awareness for charity. Movember a similar and even earlier organization encourages men to begin November clean shaven and then to grow a mustache to raise awareness for various charities. Both organizations have created a fun, community oriented approach to raising money for charities by telling men to put down the razor in November. But did you know that these organizations were n

Blood and Ink

Nearing the conclusion of the controversy on this war torn and weary world John the Revelator writes about God’s people: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 Salvation it seems is hard won. After all, it cost the life of God’s own dear Son. Blood, sweat and tears were all shed by our Savior, but it is His blood that makes all the difference. For you see: “…without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22 Without the spilled blood of Jesus there would be no forgiveness. The Bible says that the life is in the blood and Jesus gave it all for you and me. The blood of Jesus is emblematic of the sacrifice of Jesus. The rescue of our souls required the purchase of His blood. God had to give so that we might live. But did you know that when Jesus spilled His blood and poured out His life His blood began to take on new characteristics? As Jesus' life ebbed, ours began

The Testimony of the True Witness

Nobody likes to receive criticism. But the Bible says: He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. Proverbs 15:32 As hard as it might be, we need to receive correction. But not just any correction, correction from the word of God. The Bible says: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 It is through a knowledge of the word of God that we come to know the way in which God would have us live. Down through the ages the word of God has given messages of reproof and correction that are designed to discipline God’s people. The Bible says: All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11 NASB If the word o

Who is Wise?

In the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16 Jesus says that: “…the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Luke 16:8 This passage has always somewhat perplexed me as I have perceived that Jesus seems to be commending the shrewdness of the unjust steward. Is this true? What exactly is going on in this story? Well in the story of the unjust steward we see that the steward is told by his lord that he will soon be released from employment.Apparently the lord had heard bad reports of the way that the steward has handled his accounts and he was displeased. When the steward recognizes that he won’t be employed much longer he goes to each of the people that owe his lord money. And then one by one he gives them an opportunity to pay back less than they owed. This of course makes them happy and in turn they are more likely to hire him when he needs employment. The bottom line is t

Citizens of Heaven

In the book of Revelation we read: “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” Revelation 12:15,16 This prophetic passage foretells the time when a new nation would grow up in the fertile soil of the new world. This nation which was built on the principles of religious freedom would provide God’s people a place where they could be free from tyranny but even more importantly a place where religious worshippers could exercise their faith according to the dictates of their conscience. As citizens and inhabitants of the United States we have been granted great freedoms of expression and religious liberty that are a fulfillment of this prophetic passage. But we also know that the window of opportunity will not last forever. Revelation continues saying: “And I behel