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)”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Baptism and Coming to God (1)
1. Baptism is the immersion in water of a penitent believer. Acts 8:36-39 says: As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the waterContinue reading “Baptism and Coming to God (1)”
Back to School
There are a couple of significant things have taken place recently: the Olympic Games concluded and school started. The Games have been great—from the spectacular pageantry of the opening ceremony to Michael Phelps’ extraordinary achievements. Whether you’re drawn to women’s gymnastics, basketball, track and field, tennis, softball, or any of the other events, there is something forContinue reading “Back to School”
Animals. Accountants, Athletes and Thank-You
Charlie Kleinman had a heart transplant years ago. The donor was a seventeen year old boy who had drowned. Kleinman was struggling as to how he could and should express his gratitude to the young man’s parents. He finally settled on writing them a note, but when it reached eighty-eight pages it dawned on himContinue reading “Animals. Accountants, Athletes and Thank-You”
And What Gets You Out of Bed?
The Sabbath had been anything but a day of rest for Him who was its Lord! He had taught in the synagogue, casting an evil spirit out of one of the people there. Then He retreated to the home of Peter and Andrew where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. After darkness set in there was a knock at the door—”theContinue reading “And What Gets You Out of Bed?”
Amazed and Alive
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think according to the power that is at work among us . . .” (Ephesians 3:20). What are we supposed to do with passages like this one? Texts like this are found throughout Ephesians. There’s 5:1 where we’re told toContinue reading “Amazed and Alive”
The Ever Given and the Forgiven
Well, that was interesting, wasn’t it? On Tuesday morning, March 23, 2021, the nearly ¼ mile long, 200,000-ton Japanese container vessel, Ever Given, was making its way through the Suez Canal when a blinding sandstorm struck. The ship was turned sideways, and it ended up getting wedged into opposite banks in a narrow portion ofContinue reading “The Ever Given and the Forgiven”
When the Church tries to be Cool (3)
Paul agrees with the Corinthians that his message is lacking in cool rhetorical flourishes that the Greeks esteemed. He is proud that it centers upon the cross–even though the Corinthian culture deems it fit for the fool rather than the cool (v. 18, 22). Paul will accept such a conclusion—but only when the terms areContinue reading “When the Church tries to be Cool (3)”
When the Church tries to be Cool (2)
But there’s another layer to what was going on at Corinth. From what Paul says in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 1, it’s clear that their divisiveness wasn’t solely a matter of trying to best their brother (or sister). They wanted their man to carry the day because they thought his style would beContinue reading “When the Church tries to be Cool (2)”
When the Church Tries to be Cool (1)
That Jesus was crucified is a brute fact of history acknowledged by non-biblical sources (Tacitus, Mara Bar Sarapion, Lucian, etc.), as well as the writers of Scripture. But we recognize that history is only in a small sense about dates, names, and places. These things are better thought of as the starting point for itsContinue reading “When the Church Tries to be Cool (1)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 