We cannot save ourselves! If we could be good enough to be good enough, there would be no need for a savior. But we can’t—we’ve all sinned and “fallen short” (Romans 3:23). We need someone to do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. Having said that, it’s just as wrong toContinue reading “Faith and Coming to God (1)”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Exploring Spirituality
Everyone, it seems, is interested in being spiritual (even many who don’t believe in God). Understanding what is meant by this isn’t always easy. Spirituality can be quite a fuzzy term. It’s not so fuzzy when it is used to indicate a deeper dimension that what is commonly associated with formal religious practice. Much ofContinue reading “Exploring Spirituality”
Dying to See
Paul will tell the disciples in Rome they are to count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (6:11). He has previously spoken of baptism as being the place where they “died to sin” (v. 2) and were “baptized into His death” (v. 3)—that is, the death of Jesus. How so? Jesus’ death (andContinue reading “Dying to See”
Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason
John is a new disciple who struggles with prayer. He understands his need for it but he’s a little overwhelmed by his inability—it’s difficult for him to overcome a lifetime of not praying. He shared his struggle with another believer who told him that the commands of God aren’t of great significance—they’re just externals, whatContinue reading “Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason”
Divorced from his Father
It was the first week of school. The teacher mentioned something about the students taking some class work home to show their parents. A little boy spoke up and said he couldn’t do that because he was divorced from his father. The teacher knew his situation and did her best to explain to the young boy thatContinue reading “Divorced from his Father”
Dependence and Obedience
God is more interested in your dependence upon Him than your obedience to Him! This was tweeted out not too long ago. Like much of what bubbles up in the twitterverse, there was no context to nuance or qualify it—just a bare bones proclamation about what our Father is truly concerned with. And it’s my perceptionContinue reading “Dependence and Obedience”
Centering Ourselves
For much of history, man believed earth to be the center of the universe. Then Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and others came along and told us that we weren’t. “Fine,” we said, “If we can’t be the center of the universe, then at least we’re the center of our galaxy.” (If we can’t be the biggest kid inContinue reading “Centering Ourselves”
Broken Bread and Crushed Grapes
One of the more interesting historical possibilities concerns how the Nobel Prize came into existence. Many people know that the prize is named after Alfred Nobel, a Swedish man who lived in the last half of the nineteenth century. He was a prolific inventor who earned over 350 patents. He had an element (Nobelium) named after him. And, thereContinue reading “Broken Bread and Crushed Grapes”
Blind Spots and Open Eyes
I was in my truck at a stop sign, waiting to cross a somewhat busy street. Everything looked clear. I started to pull out but when I looked back to my right there was a car not twenty feet away. I immediately stopped about a quarter of the way into the street and the carContinue reading “Blind Spots and Open Eyes”
Baptism and Coming to God (2)
4. Baptism is part of the response of faith in coming to God. Galatians 3:26-27 says this: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Note the interchange of faith and baptism and how Paul calls on baptism toContinue reading “Baptism and Coming to God (2)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 