September 23, 2025
In John chapter five, Jesus healed a lame man who was lying by the pool of Bethesda. This man had been ill for 38 years and Jesus healed him by simply telling him to get up, pick up his pallet and walk. (John 5:8) While one might expect that this great miracle and blessing bestowed on this man would induce great rejoicing in those who heard of it, quite the opposite occurred. Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath day, and because of that, the Jewish leaders persecuted Him. They even sought to kill Him. Why? Because Jesus said these words: “… ‘My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.’” (John 5:17 NASB95)
Why did this statement so enrage the Jews? The next verse explains: “…because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18 NASB95) They were not wrong. Jesus was indeed claiming equality with God, and in His teaching in the following verses, He reinforced this claim very clearly in multiple ways. But how is Jesus’ claim to be working on the Sabbath a claim of equality with God?
The creation account in Genesis tells us that on the seventh day (the Sabbath) God rested from His work which He had done (Genesis 2:2-3). God made the Sabbath for man as a day of rest, but does God work on the Sabbath? He certainly does. People are born and people die on the Sabbath. The sun shines, the rain falls, and the crops grow on the Sabbath day. People can be healed from disease on the Sabbath. We could multiply examples. Aren’t all of these things the work of God? In fact, if God stopped working on the Sabbath day, the entire universe and everything in it would cease to exist!
So, when Jesus said that He works on the Sabbath just as God does, He was clearly claiming to be more than a mere human. Man was to rest on the Sabbath, as commanded. But just as God has the divine prerogative to continue His work on the Sabbath, Jesus, too has that divine prerogative! Thus, He made Himself equal to God!
What is the takeaway for us? If Jesus is God (and He is!) we had better listen very carefully to His word! Because Jesus is God, He also has the right and the ability to judge, to raise the dead and to give eternal life to whomever He wishes (see John 5:19-29). Jesus said to the Jews of that day, and His words remain true today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24 NASB95). Are you listening to the words of Jesus and believing in Him? Jesus is God the Son! Let us listen to His almighty voice!
—Scott Colvin
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following Jesus Christ, Jesus called God, John 5:17-18, John 5:24, Sabbath | Tagged: Bible, Breaking the Sabbath, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, Jesus' claims to be God, John 5, Sabbath, The Deity of Jesus, The Divinity of Jesus, Was Jesus God? | 
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Posted by Scott Colvin
August 12, 2025
In John chapter 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NASB95) What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit?
First, let us notice the absolute need to be born again—from above. No one will be able to enter God’s kingdom without this radical change, this complete transformation from above. But how can a person be born again? That was exactly the question that Nicodemus asked. Jesus’ answer: One is born again of water and the Spirit. But what does that mean?
To understand Jesus’ words, we need to consider the historical context. What would have come to Nicodemus’ mind when he heard “water and the Spirit”? At that time, John the Baptist was going around the region baptizing multitudes of people in water—an event that would have been the talk of all of Israel. Jesus Himself was baptized by John. When He came up out of the water, the heavens were torn open, and the Spirit of God came down upon Jesus as God announced to all that Jesus is His beloved Son. These things created quite a stir among the religious leaders and all of the people. Water and Spirit would have been on the minds of everyone, including Nicodemus.
Furthermore, we have other scriptures that show us what being born of water and the Spirit means. Water and Spirit show up together in other passages. For example, think of Acts 2:38, which says, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38 NASB95) Baptism and the Spirit appear together here. Or how about Paul’s words to Titus: “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5 NASB95) Here we have washing and the Holy Spirit appearing together. Or what about these words, where the Spirit and baptism occur together again: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95)
So, what do we learn? One is born again of water and the Spirit when they are baptized into Christ. That is the time at which the new birth happens, by the power and working of God. We come up out of the water as a new person, born again from above. Fundamentally changed by God. Of course, all of this is made possible by Jesus, the One who was lifted up on the cross for all to look to in faith for salvation. Baptism is an expression of that faith in Jesus, and the time at which, by God’s grace, we are made new by the Holy Spirit. Have you been born again? If so, are you still walking in the new life God has granted you?
—Scott Colvin
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Posted by Scott Colvin
August 7, 2025
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 NASB95)
These opening words of the gospel of John have been thought of by many as an overture that beautifully introduces the coming symphony. These words frame how we are to see and understand the rest of John’s gospel. With the phrase, “In the beginning,” John calls to mind the opening words of Genesis which tells us about God’s creation of the universe. Here in John’s gospel, we will be told of a new creation which God is bringing about through the Word. “In the beginning was the Word.” The Word already existed in the beginning. John wants us to know that the Word is not a created being but existed from all eternity.
“The Word was with God.” Not only did the word exist from the beginning, but He existed in the closest possible fellowship with God, so much so that it can be said, “The Word was God.” John is not saying that the Word had some divine qualities, but that the Word “is fully God.” (NET) The Word, in His essence, was fully deity, just as God the Father is. Or we might say, what God is, the Word is.
Who is the Word that John speaks of? We find that answer in verse fourteen which says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NASB95) As this sentence indicates, and the rest of the gospel shows us, the Word is Jesus Christ. And so, we learn this profound truth: Jesus is God. He is God the Son. Everything that God is, Jesus is. As the author of Hebrews says of Jesus, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…” (Hebrews 1:3 NASB95)
God has expressed Himself to mankind through the Word. God has revealed to us who He is by sending His Son Jesus to “tabernacle” among us. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. When we look at the glory of Jesus, we see the glory of God. And Jesus, as I write, is upholding all things by the word of His power.
Given all of this, what an amazing thought it is that God in the flesh came down to die for us. Through the death of God the Son, those of us who have received Him have received eternal life. We have become children of God. We have been born again as a new creation. Let us praise God for this amazing truth.
—Scott Colvin
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Posted by Scott Colvin
May 9, 2025
Everyone wants to live “the good life,” but what does that mean? Many think the good life is being wealthy, living in comfort, or retiring early. Some think the good life is one of partying and fun. Some may think it is found in a very successful career. How would you define the good life? And how can you obtain it?
Listen to these inspired words of David:
“Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?
Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech.
Turn away from evil and do what is right. Strive for peace and promote it.” (Psalm 34:12-14 NET)
So, how can we really live? First, we must control our speech. We need to choose to not speak evil. Evil words include things like gossip and slander. It would include words that are spoken in a fit of anger that wound another person. Things like these can make our lives miserable (by our own doing) and rob us of the good life. We must also choose to not speak words that are deceitful. Lying or misleading people with our words brings much trouble and sorrow. On the other hand, using words that are filled with love, with truth, and encouragement will not only bless those around us, but will bring God’s blessings into our lives.
Second, to really live, we must turn away from evil. We live in a world that is full of evil. You and I must choose not to participate in deeds of darkness, and we must strive to not let it influence us or our families. But it is not enough to turn away from evil. We need to also do what is right. We face the choice to do right or wrong on a daily basis. If you want to really live, choose what is right! Then the rich blessings of God will flow into your life.
Finally, to really live, we need to strive for peace and promote it. How does one promote peace? By being humble toward others, by speaking with gentleness and grace, by being patient with others, and by forgiving those who have wronged us—just as the Lord forgave us. We promote peace by refusing to keep a record of wrongs and by choosing to not harbor resentment and bitterness toward others. When we fail to pursue peace, we will bring a lot of sorrow into our own lives. But if we will follow the way of peace, we will be richly blessed. Those who sow peace will reap its beautiful fruit.
How might we summarize these instructions? Live like Christ. Reflect His love. Those who do will find true life!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | evil, good, peace, Psalm 34:12-14, the tongue | Tagged: Advice for a good life, Bible, Christianity, faith, God, How to have a good life, Jesus, Living the good life, Psalm 34 | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
April 17, 2025
Do you know God? I don’t mean do you know about God. Knowing about Him is certainly important, but I am asking, do you know God in a personal way? Do you have a relationship with Him?
One might wonder whether it is even possible to know God personally, but the scriptures assure us that yes, we can know Him. Not only that, but the scriptures tell us that God wants us to know Him in this way. A personal knowledge of God is the greatest thing any of us can pursue.
How do we know that we know God? Is it merely a feeling or a wish that we have, or is there more to it? Thankfully, the scriptures are very clear on this question. Listen to these indicators about who knows God from the letter of 1 John.
The one who knows God is the one who keeps His commandments. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” (1 John 2:3-4 NASB95) When we walk in God’s ways, according to His commandments, we come to know Him in greater ways.
The one who knows God does not walk in sin. “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” (1 John 3:6 NASB95). We cannot say we know God if we are practicing sin in our lives. Ongoing sin will destroy our relationship with Him.
The one who knows God is the one who walks in love. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NASB95) If we want to truly know God, we have to walk in His nature and character. God is love, and so if we want to know Him, we must live a life of love. Those who practice the love of God will truly come to know Him in a profound and personal way.
May God help each one of us to come to know Him in greater ways. Let’s keep His commandments. Let’s not practice sin. Let’s walk in His love.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 3:6, 1 John 4:7-8, knowledge of God, love, obedience | Tagged: Bible, faith, God is love, How can I know God?, Knowing God | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
December 3, 2024
Why did Jesus speak in parables? This is a good question and one that the disciples of Jesus also pondered. “The disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10 NASB95) Jesus’ answer is very interesting. “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’” (Matthew 13:11-12 NASB95) Luke reports Jesus’ answer in this way: “…To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10 NASB95)
Most people think that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things clearer for the listeners. This is only part of the reason. It is true that the parables help us, as disciples of Jesus, to more clearly understand and retain His teaching. When we think about the parable of the sower, or the parable of the talents, or the parable of the prodigal son, we immediately remember the deep spiritual meaning that lies beneath the simple stories.
But there is another important reason that Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. It wasn’t so that the message would be clarified but obscured! Read the passages above again. Jesus said that some have been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, and some have not. Therefore, He spoke in parables so that while seeing and hearing, they will not be able to understand. This leads us to another important question: To whom does God grant understanding, and from whom does He withhold it? And why?
There is a warning here from Jesus that we all need to heed today. Jesus goes on in Luke 8 to say this: “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away.” (Luke 8:18 NASB95) Take care how you listen! Some will encounter the word of God and care little about it. They will hear the words of God, but they do not care to really listen carefully. These will not progress any farther in their spiritual journey. In fact, it is these who will go backwards spiritually, for whatever he thinks he has shall be taken away. But to those who love the word of God, who want to know more, who want to apply it to their lives—to them God will grant more spiritual understanding. They will move forward with God because they take care how they listen! May each of us approach God today with a heart to hear His word.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Luke 8:10, Luke 8:18, Matthew 13:10-12, parable, Parable of the Sower | Tagged: Bible, faith, Hearing the word, Jesus, parable, Parable of the Soils, Parable of the Sower, parables, Why did Jesus speak in parables? | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 26, 2024
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB95)
Are you able to give thanks in everything? I’m sure this is something we can all grow in. We need to learn to be thankful in all circumstances—whether life is good or life is hard, because this is God’s will for us. The truth is, no matter what is going on in our lives there are always many reasons to be thankful.
I suppose it is easier to give thanks when times are good, but we need to be intentional about it. When life is rolling along gently and easily, we can tend to take our blessings for granted. We somehow still find reasons to complain. We sometimes lose perspective on how easy our lives are compared to what so many others face in this world. And sometimes, when God brings a tremendous blessing into our lives or graciously answers our prayers, we forget to thank Him. We can so easily become like the nine leppers who forgot (or didn’t care to) thank Jesus for healing them.
What about when life is hard? Are there still reasons to give thanks to God? When we face difficulties, we tend to focus on our problems and forget that there are still blessings abounding in our lives. We forget that there are still many things going right. There are even reasons to be thankful for the trials themselves because God has promised, if we will keep looking to Him in trusting faith, that the trials will turn out for our benefit. The trials of life purify and refine us. They help us to grow in perseverance, character, and hope. And so, even when things are very hard, we can give thanks to God.
And it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, we can always give thanks to God for our salvation in Jesus Christ. We can always give thanks for our eternal home reserved for us in heaven. We can always give thanks that we can call God our Father and that He loves us as His children. We can always give thanks that our sins are forgiven. We can always give thanks that the Father and His Son dwell in our hearts through the Spirit who was given to us.
Let’s give thanks in everything. This is God’s will for us.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 Thessalonians 5:18, gratitude, thanks, thanksgiving | Tagged: Bible, faith, gratitude, In Everything Give Thanks, thankfulness, thanksgiving | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 19, 2024
Repentance is an extremely important concept all throughout the scriptures. To repent is to turn away from sin. There can be no salvation without it. Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18). Our God is rich in kindness, and His kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God does not wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Because God is rich in mercy and kindness, He gives all people, everywhere, time to repent.
But that time is not unlimited. God has proven again and again that He is very longsuffering, but He has also proven again and again that eventually He will bring judgment on the unrepentant, even among His own people. God punished His own people many times in the Old Testament because of their hardened, unrepentant hearts. God punished people within the church in New Testament times as well. The self-proclaimed prophetess in the church at Thyatira, Jezebel, comes to mind. Jezebel was teaching and leading the servants of Christ into immorality and idolatry, and therefore Jesus says of her, “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.” (Revelation 2:21-22 NASB95) Jesus gave her time! But time was up. She made it clear that she did not want to repent, and so the judgment of Christ was coming. Judgment was also imminent for those who joined her in sin, but Jesus, in His great patience and mercy, gave them a little more time for repentance.
You and I need to take the lesson to heart. Let us never think lightly of God’s kindness, patience, and tolerance. Let us not test God, nor harden our hearts and stiffen our necks toward His word. Rather, let us be thankful for His mercy, listen to His word, and turn away from sin. God desires for all people to come to repentance. Thanks be to God for providing the way to complete forgiveness and abundant life through His beloved Son. Let us not delay in coming to Him!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | grace, Jezebel, mercy of God, repentance, Revelation 2:21-22, Thyatira | Tagged: Bible, faith, God's grace, God's kindness, God's mercy, Jesus, judgment, repentance | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 12, 2024
In his sermon in Acts chapter 17, Paul reveals some magnificent things about the true God of heaven to a group of Athenian philosophers who did not know God. Paul tells them that God made the world and all things in it. He tells them that God does not need to be served by humans as if He needed anything. No, God is the one who serves mankind by giving us everything we need—life and breath and all things. He tells them that it is God who made all mankind and determined where they would live.
But why has God been so kind and generous to all people in these ways? This brings Paul to his central point. He said it was so “that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27 NASB95) God has poured out His blessings on all so that we would seek Him! What a profound truth it is that God wants all to search for Him, and He wants all to find Him!
And what a profound truth it is that God does require that we search, that we grope for Him, feeling our way toward Him to discover who He is. God does not reveal the wonders of Himself to just anyone. He only reveals Himself to those who will seek Him. God has been very clear about this throughout scripture. Take this verse, for example: “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:2 NASB95) Or take the words of Jesus as another example: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NASB95) Or consider this verse, where Paul explains that in Jesus “… are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3 NASB95) You see, the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge are not available to just anyone. They are hidden in Christ. God desires that we do some digging before He will allow access to these blessings.
But the beautiful thing is that God will allow us to find Him. He wants to be found. He wants a relationship with you and me. The question for us is, are we still searching for Him? Even if we have already found Him, there is still more to be found. We must continue to dig deeper to explore even more of the beauty and the delight that is found in God and in His beloved Son. May God lead us ever deeper into Himself!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 17:27, Colossians 2:3, Matthew 7:7 | Tagged: Bible, Christianity, faith, Finding God, God, Groping for the Lord, Jesus, Paul in Athens, Seeking God | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
October 22, 2024
There was a massive controversy in the first century church over this question: Do the gentiles who have come to faith in Christ need to be circumcised? There was a faction within the church that said, yes, they must be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1) and it is easy to see why they believed this. Circumcision had been around since the time of Abraham. It was a sign and seal of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:11-12, Romans 4:11). Circumcision was also required under the law of Moses. Whether under the Abrahamic covenant or the Mosaic covenant, anyone who was not circumcised would be cut off from the people (Genesis 17:14). So, wouldn’t the same apply to the people of the new covenant, the church?
The answer given throughout the New Testament is, no, gentiles do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved. In fact, Paul wrote to the church in Galatia that, “if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you,” and every man that receives circumcision “is under obligation to keep the whole Law.” Paul continues to explain that those who were being circumcised were seeking to be justified by law, and therefore “have been severed from Christ.” (Galatians 5:2-4 NASB95) So not only is circumcision unnecessary, but it is also spiritually deadly (if it is received in order to be saved). Anyone who does so will cut themselves off from salvation in Jesus!
And yet, all of us in Christ have undergone circumcision. We have been circumcised in our spirit, through the Spirit of God, by the hand of Jesus Himself. As Paul says, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter…” (Romans 2:28-29 NASB95). When were you and I circumcised in heart? “And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12 NASB95) When we were baptized into Christ, Jesus circumcised (cut away) our fleshly nature. He circumcised our hearts by His Spirit at that moment.
All of this is extremely important for our daily lives. Because of God’s spiritual surgery, we have hope of overcoming our flesh and living lives of obedience from the heart. Thanks be to God for operating on our hearts in this way!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 15:1, Colossians 2:11-12, Galatians 5:2-4, heart, Holy Spirit, Romans 2:28-29 | Tagged: circumcision, circumcision of the heart, faith, grace vs. law, Jerusalem Council, justification, spiritual circumcision | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
while today 