A Little-Known Fact About Baptism
   
Many people that attend various religious groups are taught erroneous ideas about baptism. One of the most common errors is that baptism is wholly unconnected with salvation. But what does the Bible say?  
   
Galatians 3:27 states, "For as many of you as were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ." (See also Romans 6:3) The preposition “into” indicates a change of position or relationship. In other words, we get "into Christ" by the act of baptism. (You likely won’t hear THAT stressed in some churches.) Moreover, search your Bible for any other action that will get you or me into Christ.  
   
Is it really that important to get "into Christ"? Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in heavenly places IN CHRIST."  Did you catch that? Paul declared us that every spiritual blessing is found IN CHRIST. (Just try searching the New Testament for spiritual blessings found OUTSIDE of Jesus Christ.)  
   
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION: old things have passed away; behold, all things have BECOME NEW."  Not only does describe the new life we experience IN CHRIST, what sincere believer would want to pass up the new life and retain the old one?  
   
Paul also declares in 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the SALVATION which is IN CHRIST JESUS..."  Paul could not make it any plainer - salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Which means that we must be IN CHRIST in order to be saved.  
   
And in 1 John 5:11 we read, "And this is the testimony, that God has given us ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is IN HIS SON."  
   
Based on these inspired scriptures, I want to be IN CHRIST! Don’t you? And if we believe God's word, we get into Christ by being baptized. (I find nothing optional about that.)  
   
It is tragic that millions of sincere people are misled concerning the act of baptism. Sincere as they may be, they need to believe the words of Jesus, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis

WISE WORDS FROM AN UNDERTAKER     
“…if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matt. 5:23-24  
   
A funeral director in Michigan that was involved in over five thousand funerals was interviewed by a reporter. During the interview, the funeral director was asked if he had learned any notable lessons from his interactions with people dealing with the deaths of loved ones. Among his answers was this, “(I have learned) to resolve conflicts… quicker, because I’ve seen people go off to work who didn’t come home.”  
   
Wise advice. How many times have you or I huffed out of the house in the morning or went to bed with unresolved anger smoldering inside? How often have we put off resolving a conflict by thinking, “I'll take care of it later” or “Let the other person stew awhile.”  
   
But what if we never have the opportunity to make things right? Every day in the U.S. alone hundreds of people leave home, never to return. Hundreds of others go to bed but never awaken. If we truly realized how uncertain this life is, we might never allow anger to fester or a conflict to go unresolved.  
   
The apostle Paul warned, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil…” (Eph. 4:26-27). He then added, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).  
   
The best time to apologize or resolve a conflict is TODAY, not “When I get around to it”. Restoring a relationship NOW will not only add to our happiness, it may even save us years of regret.  
   
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Mt. 5:9).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis
​

One Thing that WD-40 Can’t Do
   
Although not marketed as a cleaner, WD-40 reportedly removes stickers and adhesives from glass, plastic, countertops and containers. It removes chewing gum, tar and syrup from many surfaces. It cleans the tracks in sliding windows or drawers, and removes scuff marks from shoes. It also eliminates sticky build-up on scissors and stubborn grime from barbecue grills. WD-40 removes lipstick from practically anything, Kool-Aid and tomato stains from carpet and fabric, and scum from fiberglass showers. It even pulls hair dye out of towels, and makes piano keys gleam. WD-40 also cleans brass and silver, and keeps them from tarnishing.  
   
As amazing as WD-40 may be as a cleaner, there is one “stain” that it cannot touch - SIN. Neither can any other cleanser formulated by man. Nor can any amount of crying, remorse, good deeds or heartfelt confessions.  
   
There is only one effective and permanent cleanser for sin. “In Him we have redemption through His BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” (Eph. 1:7) In the words of Robert Lowry,  
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!  
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!  
Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;  
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus!  
   
Sin is a filthy blight that dooms our souls to hell – Rev. 21:8. Only the blood of Christ can save us. Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).   
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis

Luck or the Lord?  


As some of you are aware, I enjoy playing tennis. During nearly every match I hear an opponent (or someone on an adjoining court) exclaim, “I was lucky on that shot!" In fact, many people tend to describe fortunate occurrences as "lucky".
 
I often said the same thing until a mature Christian corrected me years ago. He said, "When you attribute something to luck, ‘fate’ receives the credit. But when you say that you are ‘blessed', God gets the glory." I have tried to remember that. Christians should attribute every fortunate occurrence to God, not "luck".
 
The story is told of a town that had a large whiskey distillery that was owned by an atheist. The churches in town were openly critical of the distillery and it’s products. The churches eventually combined for a special prayer meeting, beseeching God to do something about the distillery. During the meeting, a violent thunderstorm approached the town, lightning struck the distillery, and it quickly burned to the ground, alcohol and all.
 
The unhappy owner, learning that a prayer meeting had occurred the night his distillery burned down, decided to sue the churches. He claimed that they had conspired with God to put him out of business. During the trial, representatives from the churches denied being guilty in connection with the lightening and subsequent fire. They essentially attributed the lightning to a "stroke of unfortunate luck".


Although the presiding judge purportedly found the churches innocent of the "divine conspiracy" charge, he concluded the trial with the following remarks. "I find it ironic that the plaintiff, an admitted atheist, has professed faith in the power of prayer. Conversely, the Christians, who claim faith in God, assert that bad luck was responsible for the fire. It leaves me wondering who really believes in God."
 
I do not believe in luck, but I know that God blesses me constantly and abundantly. I’m sure that you feel the same. May God be praised forever!
 
“Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Phil 4:20)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!  


Dennis

​

 Saving the Worms
   
A converted Indian was asked by members of his tribe what Jesus Christ had done for him. The Indian gathered dry leaves and arranged them into a circle. He then dug into the soil until he located a small worm. He placed it in the center of the circle, and then set fire to the leaves. Within moments the flames came within inches of the terrified worm. At that point, the Indian reached down, picked up the worm, and held it safely in his hand. “That”, said the Indian to his friends, “Is what Jesus Christ did for me.”  
   
It is hard to imagine a better depiction of man’s deliverance from the fire of hell through Jesus our Lord. After all, compared to God we are no better than “worms”. “How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,  How much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a WORM?" (Job 25:4-6)  
   
A modification to the above illustration, however, would make it even more fitting. What if the Indian had replaced the filthy worm with a rare, beautiful butterfly, and then allowed the lovely creature to perish in the flames. Although insect lovers might object, there’s no debating that the modified illustration would more accurately portray what Jesus did for us.
   
That said, King David depicted the future Messiah as becoming a lowly "worm" in our place. “But I am a WORM, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.  All those who see Me ridicule me...” (Psa. 22:6-7)  
   
Praise God that Jesus was willing to become a “worm" in our place and die for our sins. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8)  
   
May we gratefully serve and praise our Savior forever.  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis
​

PURE MILK
   
In 2008 a health crisis erupted in China when it was discovered that several milk producers had been adulterating cow's milk by adding a chemical called Melamine. Melamine artificially boosts protein readings in milk, thus making such milk more appealing to consumers. Unfortunately, the chemical can produce detrimental effects on humans. Consequently, by November 2008 China reported an estimated 300,000 victims, including numerous infant deaths and an estimated 54,000 babies being hospitalized.  
   
******************************************************************  
   
A far more injurious form of adulteration occurs when translators, publishers, preachers and teachers adulterate the "pure milk of the Word" (1 Pet. 2:2) by adding to it. Attempts to do so actually occurred in first century. Peter warned, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet. 2:1). John also cautioned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  
   
Countless additional attempts to add to God’s word have occurred through the centuries. When Martin Luther translated the Bible into German, he ADDED the word "only" to Romans 3:28, making it say, “…a man is justified by faith (only) apart from the works of the law.”  Tragically, millions have been duped into believing just that. Others continue their efforts to adulterate God’s word by teaching and promoting such unscriptural practices as woman preachers, same-sex marriage, many roads to heaven, etc.  
   
It would behoove us to carefully examine any teaching that endorses practices or doctrines different than what the Bible authorizes. To do otherwise could prove fatal to our souls.  
   
The Lord has given man His Word, His will He has made known;  
Let [no] man try to change [God’s] Word with words that are his own. - D. DeHaan  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis