Galatians 3:26-29

Dear Brethren:

In order for a person lost in sin to become a Christian, he must believe and be baptized. This fact of salvation was taught by Jesus in Mark 16:15-16. Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

When a person believes and is baptized, he becomes a child of God. In Galatians 3:26-29, the apostle Paul taught that all Christians are "sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Paul then wrote, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." A person does not become a child of God without believing in Jesus. A person cannot be in Christ and put on Christ without being baptized. Both belief and baptism are necessary to becoming children of God and putting on Jesus Christ. A person cannot be a child of God without putting on Christ and a person cannot put on Christ without being a child of God. Therefore just as Jesus taught the need to believe and be baptized in order to be saved, so too did Paul teach belief and baptism in order to become a child of God and to put on Jesus Christ.

Here is Galatians 3:26-29 presented for your consideration.

Galatians 3:26-29

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In Love,

John Duvall

Romans 3:21-26

Dear Brethren:

Truly God is no respector of persons. The heavenly Father desires that everyone be saved. A person's ethnic background has no bearing upon their salvation. Anyone can be saved! Paul wrote in Romans 3, ". . . even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe."

Every person who is guilty of sin is in need of the righteousness of God. When a person sins, he falls short of the glory of God. This person, being guilty of sin, needs to be "justified freely" by God's grace "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This is the very reason salvation was made available to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Both the Jews and the Gentiles had sinned and had fallen "short of the glory of God."

God demonstrated His righteousness when He sent Jesus Christ as a "propitiation" for the sins of man. Any person who is guilty of sin can be "justified freely" by the grace of God "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Let all who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb rejoice and sing praises to God.

Here is Romans 3:21-26 presented for your consideration.

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

In Love,

John Duvall

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Dear Brethren:

A personal conviction is very personal. In order for a person to be convicted and turn to Jesus Christ, he must personally accept and believe the teachings of Jesus Christ. Within this person's mind, the facts of the scriptures must come together to form a picture which he will understand and comprehend. Once this person recognizes the truth of salvation, he obeys the truth and follows Jesus Christ.

The fact that this conviction is personal means that the peers of the one who is convicted may not understand his conviction and obedience. Consider your own life and conviction. After you obeyed the words of Jesus and were baptized into Jesus Christ, did you find that other people within your life did not understand your personal conviction and service unto God? Maybe your family members, your friends, or your co-workers felt that you were being too religious or too strict in the changes in your life.

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, taught that not every person will understand and accept the "message of the cross." The concept of Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of man may seem like foolishness to some people. They may reject Jesus's teaching, thinking themselves to be much "wiser." In answer to these people Paul wrote, ". . . the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." Let us not be swayed by those who reject the "message of the cross." Instead, let us do our part to teach them the truth of God's word in hopes that they too will be personally convicted and follow Jesus Christ.

Here is 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 presented for your consideration.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written: “ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

In Love,

John Duvall

Romans 1:14-17

Dear Brethren:

The apostle Paul was a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He went from town to town preaching the good news about Jesus Christ. From his actions, we can easily see that Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Paul's letter to the church in Rome, Paul stated in no uncertain terms that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The reason for Paul's unashamed willingness to preach the Gospel was the very nature of the Gospel. Paul said that the Gospel is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." Paul knew the importance of teaching the Gospel to as many people as possible. Like the Lord, Paul wanted all men to be saved. He was willing to do what was necessary to accomplish that goal.

Let us look in a mirror. Do we possess the same urgent desire to teach those lost in sin? Are we taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the "power of God to salvation" to our friends, our neighbors, our families, and even strangers? Let us be like the apostle Paul. Let us determine not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us take the life saving Gospel to those lost in sin.

Here is Romans 1:14-17 presented for your consideration.

Romans 1:14-17

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

In Love,

John Duvall

Psalms 7:9-14 : Bible Reading Only

Psalms 7:9-14

9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.

10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.

13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 7:1-8 : Bible Reading Only

Psalms 7:1-8

A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

1 O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me,

2 Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands,

4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause,

5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah

6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!

7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high.

8 The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.