The Family of God

April 30, 2024

“Let love of the brethren continue.” (Hebrews 13:1 NASB95)

This verse teaches us that we are brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We are a family—the family of God.  What is the nature of God’s family and how does one become a part of it?  It is a spiritual family, not a physical one.  By this I mean that we must be born into God’s family through supernatural means.  When we were immersed into Christ, God caused us to be born again, not of human flesh and blood, but of His Spirit (John 3:5-6) We were born again, not of human will, but of the will of God. (John 1:12-13).  We were born into His family, not of perishable seed, but imperishable seed, through the living word of God which we received. (1 Peter 1:23) God’s family consists of all of those who have been reborn in this way and can truly call God their Father.  In other words, God’s family is the church of Jesus Christ.  What a blessing that God has allowed us to be a part of His family!

But being a member of a family comes with family obligations.  Just as we have obligations to our physical family, so too we have obligations to our spiritual family.  The main obligation in any family is to love one another.  And in the family of God, we are to love one another deeply.  We are to love one another sincerely and fervently from our hearts (1 Peter 1:22) This brotherly love is the overarching obligation that fulfills all other obligations.  For example, if we love one another, we will spend time with one another.  If we love one another, we will serve one another.  If we love one another, we will encourage one another.  We will forgive one another when there is a squabble.  When a member of the family is in trouble, we will drop what we are doing and come running to help.  Are you fulfilling your family obligations?  Are you making brotherly love a priority?

It’s not all obligation, you know.  You and I will reap great rewards for continuing in brotherly love.  What better place to find a sense of belonging than with the family of God?  What better place to cultivate deep, lasting friendships than with God’s children?  What better place to find purpose in life than with the church of the Living God?

May God help us to grow in our love for one another!       

—Scott Colvin

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The Discipline of a Father

April 18, 2024

Godly masculinity is becoming a lost art.  Or maybe it is more accurate to say that the principles of godly masculinity are being purposefully obscured by evil forces in our world. Society tells us that men should be weak.  Society says that men are incompetent, bumbling, and unaware.  Society tells us that any useful information a man may have to offer is not “helpful,” but rather “mansplaining.”    Society tells us that masculinity is “toxic.”  Of course, a man may come to have any one of these negative qualities, but I am speaking of those who are striving to be godly men and fathers.

The disparagement of godly masculinity is perhaps most damaging when it comes to fatherhood.  The world sees child raising as primarily the mother’s role.  Mothers have a tremendous role to play, but so do fathers!  God designed men and women to operate and to think differently, and both mother and father need to bring their strengths to the table. 

One of the God-given roles of fathers, in particular, is to bring discipline into the child’s life.  As we read in Ephesians chapter six, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NASB95) To discipline a child is to provide guidance in responsible living.  To instruct a child is to warn them about and discourage improper behavior.  In other words, children need to be trained in the right way and warned about the wrong way.  This can be done through conversation, through appropriate punishment, and through modeling godly behavior for our children.  All of this should be done in a way that does not provoke our children to anger, but rather in a way that encourages them and builds them up (even if it creates sorrow for a time).

What kinds of things can we train and warn our children about?  Fathers, do you have a running list of things that you want to teach your children?  Things like:  Always tell the truth; never compromise what is right; treat your mother with respect; do your work heartily for the Lord without whining or complaining; respect your elders; be generous; be busy for the Lord; always prioritize worship, bible study, and prayer.  What things are on your “need to know” list?  What are you instilling in your children?

Fathers, the Lord expects us to provide discipline and instruction for our children.  Don’t let the world cow you into letting your children run headlong into an unrestrained, undisciplined life!  Do it because you love them. Do it because you are following the example of our heavenly Father who disciplines us out of love.  “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom he receives.  It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:6-7 NASB95)

—Scott Colvin

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The Work of the Holy Spirit: Help in Weakness

April 9, 2024

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NASB95)

It happens to all of us.  We face weakness in life.  Sometimes it is bodily weakness that plagues us. Illness, chronic pain, problems that come with advanced age—all of these physical problems can be a tremendous challenge that can leave us feeling weak.  Sometimes we struggle with spiritual weakness.  Discouragement, fear, worry, temptation, and things like these can get a foothold in our heart and weigh heavily on us. And of course, when we face these things, as Christians, we turn to God in prayer.  But have you ever faced a challenge so heavy that you don’t even know what to say to God or what to ask of Him?

In those moments it is a great comfort to know that the Holy Spirit is there to help. This is one of the reasons why the Holy Spirit dwells within us—to help us when we are weak.  This passage tells us that even when we do not know how to pray as we should, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.  The Spirit goes to God on our behalf with groanings that are too deep for words.  Even when we do not know how to pray, still there is a communication coming up from us to God through the Spirit.  As our Father looks into our hearts, He knows the mind of His Spirit who dwells there.  And since there is perfect oneness between God the Father and God the Spirit, the Father knows exactly what we need even when we don’t know how to ask.

In all of this we see a very important reason for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  The Spirit of God dwells within us to make this inexpressible communication to God possible.  Though some teach that the Holy Spirit is the word of God, or that He works through the word only, here we see a work of the Spirit that is not through the word, but through a profound communication from our heart to God’s.

We should take great encouragement from this passage.  The Holy Spirit helps our weakness.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and because of this our loving Father knows exactly what we need, even when we do not.

—Scott Colvin

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Sharing in the Resurrection of Jesus

April 2, 2024

The resurrection of Jesus Christ means everything to us as Christians.  Our faith is meaningless without it.  As Paul wrote, “… and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NASB95) But Jesus has been raised from the dead, and He is alive forevermore!  And because of His resurrection, amazing things have happened—and will happen—to those who belong to Him.

Because Jesus was raised, you have been raised with Him.  When you were baptized into Christ, you died with Jesus, were buried with Him, and were raised up with Him (Romans 6:3-4).  At the moment of your baptism, through faith, you were made alive with Him!  As we read in Ephesians chapter two, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:4-6 NASB95) Not only were we raised with Jesus, but God seated us with Him in the heavenly places.  This is a current reality for those in Christ—a spiritual reality which must be understood through the eyes of faith.

Because Jesus was raised, we have been raised spiritually, and we will be raised bodily.  There is a glorious day coming when Jesus will return and resurrect our mortal bodies.  Our bodies will be raised in power and in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43).  They will be raised imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:50).  They will be changed in the twinkling of an eye(1 Corinthians 15:52).  Our bodies will be transformed to be like His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21) “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29 NASB95)

May we praise God with all our hearts this day for the resurrection of Jesus Christ—a resurrection which He has graciously allowed us to participate in.    

—Scott Colvin

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The Fury of God’s Fire

April 2, 2024

I am so very thankful that we serve a God who is full of love, mercy, and patience for mankind.  I am very thankful that we have a God who invites us to come near to Him and who has made it possible for us to call Him “Father.”  What joy, what comfort we can take from these truths! 

But in our reflections upon God’s love and mercy, we must never lose sight of the totality of His nature that He has revealed to us.  God is love, and God is also holy.  God is full of mercy, and He is also a God who rains down His judgement and wrath when He sees fit.

We must never forget the fear of God.  Many of the problems that we see in the church collectively, and in the individual lives of Christians are due to the fact that we have forgotten the fear of God.  When we do not have the reverence and awe for Him that He deserves, we can quickly get off track.  A lack of fear of the Lord leads to taking His word lightly and disregarding what He has said.  A lack of the fear of God leads to carelessly fooling around with sin.  It leads to treating our worship assembly as common and unimportant.  Afterall, if we see God as harmless and safe—as sort of a kindly old grandfather—why would we take Him all that seriously?

God is not “harmless.”  He is not “safe.”  He is a terrifying God who takes vengeance on His adversaries.  He is a God of judgment.  He is a God who consumes His enemies with a furious fire.  He will not be trifled with, ignored, scoffed at, or taken lightly.

We must have a healthy fear of God!  As the Hebrews writer states, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 NAS95) And it is said in the same passage, “For we know Him who said, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.’ And again, ‘THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30-31 NAS95)

Let us maintain a healthy fear of God.  And let us forever be thankful for Jesus Christ who saves us from the wrath to come. 

—Scott Colvin

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Encourage One Another

March 21, 2024

The Christian life can be compared to a journey with obstacles and trials. The goal is to finish the journey in faith. The danger is always present that we will stop along the way and maybe even choose a different direction for life – a direction that leads away from God. That means the Christian needs encouragement to persevere and live a life worthy of his calling. It is in the context of our need to persevere that Hebrews gives its command to encourage one another.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV)

Translators attempting to give us a smooth English sentence can on occasion loose an important idea. The above translation of verse 24 is all too common.

 …and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,…Hebrews 10:24, NASB

 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24, NIV

 The problem with the above translations is that the actual object of “let us consider” in Greek is “one another” as in the NKJV.

 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… Hebrews 10:24, NKJV

The command to encourage then has one another as its focus. It is first of all selfless, and it is at this point also countercultural. We live in an age of the consumer mentality: what do I get out of it? We never get the worship assembly right if we begin with ourselves. We must always begin with God and the need of others.

A Korean parable about a visit to heaven and hell gives insight to this difference of perspective.

The visitor peeped in at the door of hell and saw an enormous banquet hall. In it were a number of long tables with bowls of rice and delicacies on them, well-flavored, smelling delicious, and inviting. The guests were sitting hungrily, opposite one another, each with a plate of food.

The guests all had chopsticks to use, but these were so long that, however hard they tried, not a grain of rice could they get into their mouths. This was their torment; this was their hell. “I’ve seen it, that’s more than enough for me,” said the visitor. Departing hell, he entered into heaven.

Inside, he saw the same banquet hall, the same tables, the same food, and the same long chopsticks. But the guests were joyful. All were smiling and laughing. Each one, having put the food onto his chopsticks, held it out to the mouth of his companion opposite, and so they managed to eat their fill. Joy, love, and fulfillment were found in heaven.

Following Jesus often involves paradoxes: losing our life to save it, the last shall be first, and greatness comes by humility. This is but one more. To be encouraged, we must encourage one another.

—Russ Holden

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The Holy Spirit: Power for Your Life

March 12, 2024

I wonder if you realize that there is tremendous power available to you for your life.  God has made His power available to us to overcome sin in our lives, to bear up under difficult situations, to serve and not grow weary, to comprehend the deep things of God, and to grow in wisdom and in love. 

The apostle Paul prays for the church in Ephesus that they would know “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might…” (Ephesians 1:19 NASB95) God has directed his immeasurable, boundless power toward us who believe in Him.  If only we could more fully realize the power that is available!

Paul continues in chapter 3, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” (Ephesians 3:20 NASB95) There is power that works within us! Through that power, God is able to do far more within us than we could ever ask or even comprehend. 

From where does this tremendous power come?  How does God deliver it into our lives?  It comes through the Spirit of God who dwells in our hearts.  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian brethren is “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 NASB95) You see, power flows from God into our inner being through the Holy Spirit.  As you continue reading in Ephesians 3:17 and following, you can see God’s intended purpose for this flow of power:  that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith (verse 17); that we would be rooted and grounded in love (verse 17); that we would be able to comprehend the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge (verse 19); and that we would be filled with all the fullness of God (verse 19)!

All of this power is only available to us through the Holy Spirit.  A “natural man” (one who does not have the Spirit) can read and understand some things about the word of God, such as what Christ did for them, and how to be saved, but it is only when the Spirit comes into the heart at the moment of salvation that the power of God in the inner being is made available.  Thank God for His power that He has directed toward us, and which works within us!

—Scott Colvin

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The Spirit vs. the Law

March 5, 2024

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the old and new covenants?  There are many similarities between the two.  They both came from God, they are both glorious, they both show us how God wants us to live, they both require obedience.  But what are the differences between them? 

Something radically changed when God instituted the new covenant, and in the third chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul highlights the sharp contrast between the two.  He writes, “…our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5b-6 NASB95)   The first difference we see is that the old covenant was “of the letter,” but the new is “of the Spirit.”  This is a major distinction, for the letter of the Law brought death, but the Spirit of God is able to make us alive.

Paul continues, “But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 NASB95) The old covenant was “the ministry of death.”  It was very glorious, but it killed those who were under it.  The old covenant was “the ministry of condemnation.” The people under it were condemned because, under a system of law, only those who keep the letter of the law flawlessly will be deemed righteous by God.  In sharp contrast, the new covenant—the ministry of the Spirit—is much more glorious than the old and is actually able to impart righteousness to those who are under it.

Finally, while the old covenant was written on stone tablets, in the new covenant, God writes His laws in our minds and hearts by His Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:3, Hebrews 8:10) Because of this, under the new covenant there can be a real, inward transformation of our hearts and lives.  It is not simply external obedience to a written code (as was the view of many Israelites under the Law), but obedience from a heart that has been cleansed and renewed by God.  As we see at the end of chapter three, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB95) What a wonderful thought!  What hope this verse gives us!  In the new covenant, you and I are being transformed by the Spirit who dwells within us.  God is working on our hearts to transform us into the image of His Son, as we behold His glory.

Thanks be to God for His new covenant in which we can find true life, righteousness, and inner transformation.

—Scott Colvin

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The Work of the Spirit: Sanctification

February 27, 2024

Why does the Holy Spirit dwell within each one of us who are in Christ?  When you were baptized into Jesus, you received the gift of the Spirit within your heart.  Why is He dwelling there?  What is His function?  Generally speaking, there has been a lack of teaching in the church on the role of the Spirit in our lives.  Because of this, some of our brethren would say, “I don’t know why the Spirit lives within me.”  This is an acceptable answer.  There are many things I myself do not know and we’re all trying to learn.  But sadly, some brethren have become convinced that the answer to this question is, “The Holy Spirit does nothing at all today.”  They would argue that the Spirit gave us the word of God (which is certainly true), but if pressed, they would suggest that the Spirit does nothing in the lives of Christians today.

But the Spirit of God is still at work!  The scriptures are filled with this vital truth, and to not understand this is very detrimental to our spiritual health and growth. 

One of the major functions of the Spirit today is to help us with sanctification.  Sanctification is the idea of holiness, of being set apart for God.  It is about living a life of purity and of dedication to the ways of God and abstaining from sin.  It is very important to God that we live a sanctified life.  God has said, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16b NASB95) God has said, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NASB95) Without sanctification we will not see God! But are we alone in our pursuit of holiness?  Is it by our own strength and ability that we will overcome sin?  Has God left us alone in our struggles?

Thanks be to God that He has given us His Spirit to help us live sanctified lives.  Sanctification is the work of the Spirit!  As Peter wrote, we have been chosen “… by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:2 NASB95) Or as Paul wrote to the saints in Thessalonica, “… God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b NASB95)Sanctification is an ongoing process in our lives, a process that God is empowering in us through His Spirit.  Listen to these words of Paul which carry great encouragement and hope for us in our struggle to live holy lives: “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13 NASB95) Putting sin to death is something we must choose to do continually, but notice carefully that it is by the Spirit that we can put to death the deeds of the body.  It is not by our own power, but by the Spirit’s power.  This should give us great encouragement in our struggle against sin!  God dwells within us to help us!  We are not alone!  May God help us realize the Spirit is at work within us, and may we learn to draw from the Spirit’s power in our pursuit of sanctification.

—Scott Colvin

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What is Faith?

February 27, 2024

Since the wages of sin is death, it is very important to know how to receive the free gift which is eternal life. Paul begins Romans with this great statement of his theme: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV). The gospel is clearly offered to all, but faith is a condition for receiving the gift. If the gospel was not offered to all, Paul could not claim, “For God shows no partiality” (Romans 2:11, ESV).

So what is faith? In English, we speak of belief, faith, and trust. Greek had one word group that covered that range of meaning. Belief or faith includes intellectual assent. Intellectual assent can especially be seen in phrases like “believe that”.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder!” (James 2:19, ESV)

The last quote clearly indicates that intellectual assent is not enough. The Bible also speaks of faith in the sense of trust. This can be seen in phrases that say believing in or on someone (e.g., “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” Romans 3:22, ESV).

Paul is also clear about how we acquire faith. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, ESV). Faith is a response to testimony (see also John 20:30-31). Those who would argue from Ephesians 2:8 that faith is a gift have missed the point. The “this” in the passage points back to the whole process of salvation by grace conditioned by faith as clearly seen in the Greek grammar of the passage.

In Romans, Paul contrasts faith/trust with works/merit. We are either going to earn salvation by perfect law keeping, or we are going to have to trust in the saving work done for us by Christ. But perfect law keeping is only hypothetically possible since we can’t live it perfectly. “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20, ESV). We must trust what Jesus has done for us.

As Paul explains this faith/trust, it does not exclude but includes repentance (Romans 2:4). It does not exclude but includes baptism (Romans 6:3). It does not exclude but includes confession (Romans 10:9). Given the argument of the letter, these things that Paul includes cannot be meritorious works but must be expressions of trust/faith. Finally, also note that for Paul faith/trust leads to obedience (Romans 1:5, 6:17, 16:26). Obedience is produced by faith. The person who trusts God will want to obey God.

—Russ Holden

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