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Truth in Conviction offers insights related to politics, religion and social happenings in the US and worldwide. The columns' philosophical base is conservative. Regarding
religion, it is evangelical. Concerning social matters, it is grounded in biblical ethics.
Swank has BA and MDiv degrees with graduate work at Harvard Divinity School. Married for 49 years with 3 adult children. Author of several books and thousands of articles in various Protestant and Catholic magazines, journals, web sites, and newspapers. Writer of weekly religion column for PORTLAND PRESS HERALD newspaper, Portland ME. |
Sun Jan 03, 2010
SALVATION
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN
The most important question known to man is: “How can I find the way to heaven?”
Therefore, the answer given to that question is most important.
The BibleThe Bible, that is the Word of God in contrast to the mere word of man, provides us with the concrete answer of hope and challenge:
(1) COME TO JESUS.
“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matthew l8:ll).
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy man’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56).
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“. . .we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved “ (Acts 15:11).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
(2) CONFESS YOUR SINS TO JESUS.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
(3) CAST YOUR SOUL UPON HIS MERCY.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (Peter 1:3).
(4) COMFORT YOURSELF WITH THE REALITY OF SALVATION AND
HOPE OF HEAVEN.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
“. . .to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-15).
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).
“If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:3l-32).
The most important question known to man is: “How can I find the way to heaven?”
Therefore, the answer given to that question is most important.
The BibleThe Bible, that is the Word of God in contrast to the mere word of man, provides us with the concrete answer of hope and challenge:
(1) COME TO JESUS.
“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matthew l8:ll).
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy man’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56).
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“. . .we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved “ (Acts 15:11).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
(2) CONFESS YOUR SINS TO JESUS.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
(3) CAST YOUR SOUL UPON HIS MERCY.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (Peter 1:3).
(4) COMFORT YOURSELF WITH THE REALITY OF SALVATION AND
HOPE OF HEAVEN.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
“. . .to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-15).
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).
“If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:3l-32).
IRAN WON'T GET THE LAST WORD
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
The globe should have been blown up by now. That’s right.
There’s enough evil in the world and enough nuclear blow up on the planet that by now we should have been blown to smithereens.
However, we are still here. Explain why.
It is because the God of the Bible made this creation and maintains it. One day and hour He will leave the right hand of the Father’s throne in heaven to return to His turf.
Because this is His property, He sees to it that it is still here. That’s the Alpha and Omega of the question: Why is the globe still spinning?
God has deemed it so. God is God. God has decreed that though the human population is wicked and the nuclear pantries are full to overflowing, no mortal will have the say as to what occurs on His property. The deed belongs to Him.
If there is any proof that there is a God it is that the world is still here. That is empirical evidence.
Realists should conclude that with the nuclear presence off the charts, we should have disappeared a long, long time ago. With that, realists should likewise conclude that there must be a reasonable postulate as to how we are still breathing in this sphere.
But often those who claim to be realists take on the titles “agnostic” of “atheist,” boasting on not believing in a God of Creation. How ignorant. How far into denial. How out of touch.
The globe’s very existence points to some overarching Power who keeps it going on no matter what the threat. That Power, for the rational mind, is the God of Creation.
“O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures forever.
“To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: for His mercy endures forever.
“To Him who stretched out the Earth above the waters: for His mercy endures forever.
“To Him who made great lights: for His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:3-7)
The psalmist goes on and on in verse after verse exclaiming what believers already have experienced, that is, that God’s mercy extends into the everlasting.
Part of that divine mercy is that with which He has clothed the globe. It is outlandish mercy that keeps us breathing here. It is the love of God that maintains the lines of creation, keeps the seasons revealed and opens each day to another dawn.
“O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26)
Read IRAN READIES FOR ISLAM MESSIAH at
http://www.michnews.com/J_Grant_Swank_Jr/IRAN_READIES_FOR_ISLAM_MESSIAH.shtml
BRIT HUME TO TIGER WOODS: CHRISTIANITY
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Brit Hume stated that he does not believe that Tiger Woods’ Buddhist beliefs have the resources by which to find full recovery from his wayward lifestyle.
Hume recommended to Woods that he turn to Christianity for its gospel message of forgiveness and redemption.
It is paramount that the baseline of Christianity be broadcast more these confused days. If it were, there are those sincerely searching for divine grace and mercy. They want to know that their sins are wiped clear by God. In that, they desire salvation.
Hume’s public suggestion to Woods is a healthy turn in newsfeeds for it is based on biblical hope. Hume offered the fundamental New Testament “tidings of great joy,” sung in the Christmas carols.
Hume was speaking on FoxNews Sunday. He said that the Christian faith offers “forgiveness and redemption” for Woods’ “total recovery.”
Click video on Politico here: http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1001/hume_to_tiger_choose_christianity_.html
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