Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

— Romans 6:1-2

We have been saved by grace and not by works. But does that mean we do not have to do good? The answer is clear and decisive. Grace and good works are not competitors. They go hand in hand in the lives of God’s children (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

When we come to faith in Christ, our old sinful nature dies. The old nature is crucified and buried with Christ, and we rise to new life in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Being raised with Christ means living a life in which good works (or “good fruit” in the words of Jesus—John 15) become natural to us. Bearing good fruit is a sign that our faith and conversion are true and genuine. Good works are a natural expression of thankfulness.

While doing good becomes “second” nature to all who have new life in Christ, we still need to work at it. Though the old nature has been crucified, it still rises up from time to time to try to reassert itself. It is no longer the driving force in our life, but it remains a force to fight against. Wanting to produce good fruit assures us that we are indeed saved, and that is a powerful witness to people who do not yet know Jesus.

Jesus, thank you for dying for us to purchase our salvation. We commit our lives to thanking you by striving to live for your honor and glory. Amen.

“Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. . . .”

— Hebrews 12:5-6

Jesus teaches that there is a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). And because God wants us to experience full life rather than destruction, he disciplines his children who are taking the wrong road.

How does God discipline the ones he loves? Sometimes God causes a godly fear to fall on his people. For example, this could be a fear that reminds us, “If I do not mend my ways, I will separate myself from God.” Sometimes God uses our fellow believers to call us back to the right road. Sometimes God uses the church to call us back to faithful living. Sometimes God uses challenging situations in life to discipline his people.

Discipline never seems pleasant at the time, and it can be painful. However, God designs discipline to produce a harvest of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

When it comes to Christian discipline, we do well to pray that God will give us the grace to receive his discipline—and that he will give us wisdom, humility, and compassion when we are called to speak a word of correction to others.

Loving God, we thank you that you discipline the ones you love rather than simply letting us stray down pathways that lead to destruction. Grant us grace and mercy in the face of discipline so that we may grow to love you more and more. Amen.

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

— 1 Corinthians 10:16

It has been said that the Lord’s Supper, or holy communion, is a “visible sermon.” It is hard to imagine a better one!

The bread that is broken reminds us of the body of Christ, which was broken for us—not only on the cross but also in the hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The wine (or juice) reminds us of the blood of Christ, shed for the payment and forgiveness of our sins. Holding the broken bread, holding the cup, and hearing Jesus say, “This is my body. . . . This is my blood. . . .” has the power to evoke deep, godly sorrow and to awaken a love and sense of gratitude that goes beyond words.

And there is more. As surely as we eat the bread and drink the cup, and as surely as we are nourished by those calories and vitamins, we receive the crucified Christ in the depths of our souls—to nourish us spiritually for this life and the life to come. While the sacraments do not save us, God works his grace through them to grant us joy and peace as we grow in faith.

The sacraments bring us into deeper communion with God and with the body of Christ. We celebrate the sacraments as a community destined for eternal life in God’s glorious kingdom.

Lord, thank you for the Lord’s Supper. May it always strengthen our faith in you, testifying of your sacrifice for us. Amen.

In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

— Galatians 3:26-27

In the church we have two sacraments given to us by Christ: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (holy communion).

Baptism symbolizes the dying of our old sinful nature and its being buried with Christ, as well as our rising to new life in Christ. Just as we use water to wash our bodies, the waters of baptism represent the washing away of our sin by the blood of Jesus. And just as water is necessary for life, the water of baptism represents the new life we have in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

In addition to these beautiful pictures, baptism stands as a sign and seal of God’s faithfulness to his promises that salvation comes to all who repent and believe in Jesus. Though people are prone to break promises, God is not. Baptism assures us that we belong to the faithful God, who has adopted us in Christ to be his children forever.

Does baptism save us or guarantee our salvation? No, baptism does not nullify the need for faith. But God guarantees us that if we trust in him, we will never be put to shame. And baptism is a glorious reminder and guarantor of that promise.

In baptism God declares that we belong to him and are part of his church and kingdom. His command is clear and simple: trust me and live with me forever!

Lord, thank you for the gift of baptism. Thank you for using baptism to signify that you claim us as your own. Help us to live with you in joy and faithfulness. Amen.

“For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”

— Malachi 4:2

On the dairy farm where I grew up, it was always fun to watch young calves when they were first released into the pasture. For a few seconds the freedom seemed to paralyze them. Taking in the bright sun and the unfamiliar sights and smells, they stood motionless. Then suddenly they would leap into the air and race around! Soon exhausted, they would stop to rest—and then do it all over again and again.

About four centuries before Jesus came, Malachi prophesied about God’s people living joyfully, even frolicking “like well-fed calves.” Today the kingdom grows under the watchful eye of the reigning King Jesus, and when he returns, it will be established permanently and perfectly. With “no more death or mourning or crying or pain,” we will have life to the full, and we may even frolic like young calves! With paradise regained, we will reign with Jesus in resurrected bodies for eternity.

But life is often hard for us now. And growing old, as people say, is not for the faint of heart! But one day we will be released from the struggles of this life and freed to live with the Lord forever. In Christ, death has become like a doorway to eternal life with God and the promise of the new creation. Whether we are dead or alive when Jesus returns, the new creation awaits us!

Father, we long for the day when we are released from our present struggles to enjoy life with you and in the new creation forever. Strengthen our faith as we begin to experience eternal joy even now, in Jesus. Amen.

God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body. . . .

— Ephesians 1:22-23

Maybe you have heard someone say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” This is true. Many Christians have been jailed for their faith and have been prevented from going to or attending church worship services.

But the church is not a place where we “go.” The church is the body of Christ. Wherever God’s people meet for worship and fellowship, the church is present. The church is found not only in buildings that we call churches but also in prisons, on college campuses, on remote mission fields, in homes within countries that have outlawed Christianity, and more.

The Bible likens the church to a human body and says that we are each a part of the body (1 Corinthians 12). Being a Christian and being part of the church are synonymous. Every part of the body is important, and every part contributes to the overall well-being of the entire body.

While it may be true that we don’t need to “go to church” to be a Christian, the parts of the body can die if they are disconnected from the whole. A foot, finger, eye, or kidney, for example, cannot live if it is not connected to the body. Only when we minister to others, and are ministered to, can we grow in our faith and flourish!

Lord, thank you for the church, your body, in its many different shapes and forms throughout the world. Thank you for joining me to the church. Help me to serve and to be served as a part of it! Amen.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”

— John 14:15-17

One Friday each month, the college where I serve as campus minister celebrates “Spirit Day.” On Spirit Day students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to wear black and gold, the college colors, and to attend the college sports games.

In our culture we often emphasize having a strong school, work, and team spirit. Many of us develop a strong national spirit as well. As a result, we can tend to view the Holy Spirit more as a power than as a person. But there is much to gain when we realize that the Holy Spirit is God himself living in us (2 Timothy 1:14), along with God’s power being present in our lives.

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Advocate,” or “Counselor” (John 14:26), and he tells us that the Spirit will convict us of sin and guide us into all truth (16:7-15). The Spirit will make known to us what belongs to the Father and the Son. There is comfort and joy in knowing that God himself lives within us to lead and guide us.

Paul tells us that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in [us]” (1 Corinthians 6:19). What an amazing blessing it is to have God living in us! When we ask God to lead and guide us, and when we actively follow him, a whole new life of comfort and joy opens up for us. The Holy Spirit living in us changes our lives and the lives of the people around us.

Spirit of God, we are honored to have you living in us. Lead us into the truth each day! In Jesus, Amen.

Jesus Christ . . . has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

— 1 Peter 3:21-22

Years ago, I attended an air show. A military jet flew low over the runway and then turned its nose skyward and flew straight up until the clouds hid it from sight! The sound of its engines faded when we could no longer see the jet. But we all knew it would come back! And it did.

The disciples were gathered with Jesus when suddenly he rose up from the ground, and “a cloud hid him from their sight.” While the disciples were staring up intently, two angels assured them—and us—that this same Jesus would one day return in the same way.

Where is Jesus now? He is seated at God’s right hand, reigning over all creation.

Before he left, Jesus promised his followers that he would send his Holy Spirit to be with them. In the power of the Spirit they would bring the good news of Jesus to the nations and teach people what it means to live as followers of the Lord. And one day he will return, and we will live with the Lord forever in a renewed creation!

Right now, Jesus, in his resurrected human body, is in heaven, and in his divinity he fills the entire universe. As the King of kings and Lord of lords, he is building his kingdom, preparing for the day when he will return.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the joy, peace, and comfort we have in knowing that your Son, our Lord, is reigning over all creation. Help us to carry out the work you give us as loyal followers of Jesus. Amen.

Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

— Matthew 28:9

Can an event that took place two thousand years ago benefit humanity today? When Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, his body lay in a stone-sealed tomb. And then . . . he took a breath; his body stirred; God raised him from the dead. And before some of his followers came to visit the tomb, an angel rolled away the stone so that they could see Jesus had risen.

What difference does that make for us today? Well, whatever I am doing today, I know that my Lord and Father will see me as his child clothed in the righteousness of the risen Christ. The Bible teaches us that, as God’s children, we have been crucified and have died with Christ, and we have been buried with him and have risen to new life with him. And we experience this new life in amazing ways as we grow in faith, serve the Lord, and meet with others in Jesus’ name—in our churches, neighborhoods, college campuses, workplaces, and more.

We are also assured that when Jesus returns, the bodies of all who have died believing in him will be raised to live with him. Just as Jesus left the tomb in his resurrected body, I will rise from the grave with mine!

Yes, an event that took place two thousand years ago offers us a world of comfort and joy!

Lord, even as we begin to enjoy new life in you today, we look forward to our own resurrection, when we can live, body and soul, with you! Amen.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

— Matthew 7:21

It takes me just a second to say “Jesus is Lord.” Lord means “owner” or “master.” I also believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Does this mean I am saved? The answer is “Yes . . . if”: “Yes, I am saved, if I truly mean and believe what I say.”

If you declare or confess that Jesus is Lord, that he is your owner and master, and that God raised him from the dead because he died to pay the price for your sin, to bear your guilt and shame, and to take your punishment—then, yes, you will be saved.

Well, almost.

There is only one way to know if we truly mean it when we say, “Jesus is my Lord!” Jesus teaches us, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). And in 1 John 2:4 we read, “Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”

As Lord, Jesus has the right to instruct us how to live our lives, and all who are saved are happy to live out his instructions.

Jesus, our sinful nature died and was buried with you when you paid for our sin. And we have risen with you to a new life. You bought us with your blood. You are our Lord, and we love you. By your Spirit, guide us each day to follow you and honor you. Amen.