Dean Road church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Beliefs and Practices
    • History of Dean Road
    • Elders & Deacons
    • Ministers
    • How to Become a Christian
    • Ministries >
      • Adult Classes
      • Teens
      • Missions/Benevolence
      • Previous VBSs >
        • Vacation Bible School 2012
        • VBS 2016
      • Gospel Meeting 2019
      • Previous Gospel Meetings >
        • Gospel Meeting 2016
        • Gospel Meeting 2017
        • Gospel Meeting 2018
  • Visitor Info
  • Lessons
    • Lesson of the Hour
    • Previous Lesson Series >
      • Study of the Holy Spirit
      • Confronting Unbelief with Trust in God's Promises
      • Where Is God's Grace
      • Which Church is the True Church
  • Resources
    • Gospel Articles
    • Bulletins
    • Bulletin Articles
    • Christian Websites
    • 40 Day Devotional
  • Contact Us

Put On Christ

7/9/2018

 
By: Undre Griggs, Jr.
I remember when I first heard the phrase, “put on Christ”. It was in reference to putting on the whole armor of God found in Ephesians. The next time I heard the phrase “put on Christ” was during the invitation where nonbelievers are encouraged to put on Christ in baptism. In both instances, there is a reminder that knowing is not the same as doing. We must be willing to take action based on the beliefs that we espouse to hold true.
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
You will know when someone has put on Christ, there is a dramatic transformation that takes place. The apostle Paul encourages Christians to live a life of patience, kindness and meekness to show they are God’s chosen people. Paul also lists the need to show compassion for others, bearing with one another and forgiving each other. You may have noticed that these attributes are not common in everyday life. As God’s chosen people, we are to live a life that is aligned with His values.
Colossians 3:5-10 (ESV): Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
The mistake we sometimes make is we attempt to put on Christ without putting to death our old selves. You will notice in the above passages that Paul starts with the need to put to death your old self before instructing us to put on Christ. The reason is clear; before we put on Christ in baptism, we are walking with the world and participating in feelings of anger, wrath, malice, and slander. Peace and joy are found in the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the only way to be saved is to put on Christ in baptism. Even if we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is the Son of God, we are not saved until we “put to death” our old selves. It is only by putting to death your old self that you have the ability to put on your new self. Similar to the need for us to put on the armor of God for protection. We cannot put on the armor God while wearing the armor of the world. So, I ask you, have you put on Christ… and do your actions demonstrate the same?

When Do I Know Enough to be Baptized?

10/10/2015

 
By: Undre Griggs, Jr
There are many thoughts and considerations that pass through the mind of someone thinking about being baptized.  A person could be wondering if baptism is necessary to be saved.
Mark 16:16 (ESV): Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
A person could be contemplating if they understand enough to commit to being a Christian.
Romans 10:9 (NIV):  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Do you know why God only requires us to understand Jesus is His son and that He was raised from the dead in order for us to be baptized?  It primary has to do with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  You receive the Holy Spirit once you are baptized and it will help you better your understanding of God.
Acts 2:38 (ESV): And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV): Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
Quite simply, you cannot lean on your own understanding when deciding when you know enough to be baptized.  You have to trust in the Lord’s wisdom and understand that you will always be learning.  There will never be a point in your Christian walk when you can confidently say, “I have it all figured out”, so don’t wait another day to be a Christian.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV):  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

    Dean Road
    ​church of Christ

    A posting of articles from our weekly bulletin!

    Categories

    All
    Afterlife
    Angels & Demons
    Baptism
    Beatitudes
    Biblical Traits Of An Effective Leader
    Christ's Church
    Denominationalism
    Evidences Of God
    God & His Attributes
    Grace
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Interpreting The Bible
    Jesus Christ
    Last Days
    Life
    Morality
    Overcoming Worry
    Relationships
    Responsibilities
    Spiritual Beings
    The Christian & Social Issues
    The Gospel
    The Scriptures
    Weddings
    Worship & Assembly

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    RSS Feed

Dean Road church of Christ | 1968 Dean Road, Jacksonville, Florida | p: 904.721.0055