The choice of a church name matters only in so far as we believe Colossians 1:18b, “…that in everything he [Jesus Christ] might be preeminent.” In the Bible, the various names of God are a revelation of His essential nature and character. Each name reveals what God is to the core and always corresponds perfectly with His actions. read more »
Making disciples of Jesus Christ is the goal of the Great Commission. Christ commands us to go into all of the world and make disciples of all nations and then goes on to declare that making disciples includes water baptism and teaching them to obey whatever Jesus says! Most of us understand the importance of obeying Christ, but what is the big deal about water baptism as a part of making a disciple? read more »
2 Corinthians 5:17a, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation….” “In Christ” is one of Paul’s favorite ways of understanding the New Creation and describing what it is to be a Christian. The best way to understand what it means to be in Christ is by comparing it to the phrase in Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Paul teaches that there really are two kinds of human beings on the earth now: the old people who are in Adam—and we all are born to this world in Adam—and the New Creation people who are in Christ. Those who are born again of the Holy Spirit are now no longer in Adam, they are in Christ! When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you are now “in” Christ. read more »
iTunes