Superheroes

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine made an interesting comparison to superheroes. I thought I would use the opportunity to present his analysis; so what does it take to be a superhero?

First, it takes an alter-ego (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus, the glorious Son of God, took on the form of a servant and revealed Himself to us in the flesh. Second, it takes an arch enemy (cf. Matthew 4:1-10; 2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and fights against the forces of righteousness. Third, it takes superpowers (John 1:1-3). Christ has ultimate power in everything. Fourth, it takes a sidekick (cf. Philippians 2:13). We can be used to spread the gospel. Finally, in the end of the movie, there is guaranteed success (cf. John 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 20:1-4). The devil will be defeated and his power over us in death will be destroyed.

Who is the ultimate superhero? Jesus Christ! Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Jesus is the only one who is real (not a “make believe” character), and He is alive! He can save you from eternal torment if you will only obey Him!

Kyle Campbell

The death, burial, and resurrection of baptism

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). In this passage, we notice three facts about what happens to us when we are baptized.

First, we are buried with Christ in the waters of baptism. In this burial, we take the old man of sin and bury him, becoming submissive and obedient to the authority of Christ.

        

Secondly, we become dead to sin. This means that when the old man of sin is buried in the waters of baptism, he is destroyed and we become dead to sin. Therefore all of our sins no longer live in us; our slate is wiped clean.

Finally, we are resurrected, arising out of the waters of baptism, having become a new person. The old man of sin is completely gone and in his place is the new man. At this point the person who is baptized has a new beginning.

Sadly, too many people choose to put the old man of sin right back on again and live as though nothing had happened. The significance of becoming a new person is that you have a new purpose or a new goal in life. That goal is not to put the old man back on after you have been made anew, but to start over and live a godly life so that it can truly be said that you were born again (John 3:3, 5).

Jonathan Glaesemann

Go to the ant, you sluggard!

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep, so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11).

Have you ever taken the time to sit down and watch a line of ants, hard at work? Sure, you have swatted them off your leg or arm from time to time, but have you ever considered what an amazing creature the ant really is? Consider how ants are always hard at work, trying to gather food for themselves and the queen. Proverbs 6 describes ants as very hard workers that provide their supplies in the summer and gather their food in the harvest, even though they have no overseer to tell them what to do. Even though ants do have a queen, they still do not have someone sitting over their shoulders, telling them what to do. They simply do what they were made to do -- and that is work.

Proverbs 6 is a call to the sluggard to wake up out of sleep, to consider the ant’s ways, and learn to imitate them so that he can be a strong worker for the Lord. The Christian also needs to consider the ant and its ways so that he can be the best worker that he can be in God’s kingdom. There will come a day when we will no longer be able to work. The point is, don’t get caught taking a nap! Be the worker you need to be so that should Jesus return, He will find you a faithful servant laboring diligently in His service.

Jonathan Glaesemann

Your spiritual service: conclusion

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

As we conclude our series on Romans 12:1-2, we need to remember that sacrifices must cost something (2 Samuel 24:24). Simon the sorcerer gave up his livelihood (Acts 8:5-24). Saul gave up his way of life (Philippians 3:3-11). A transformed mind produces a transformed will, by which we become eager and able to lay aside our own plans and accept God’s, no matter what the cost.

Out of gratitude for God’s mercies, we no longer love the world and what is contained therein. We must hate the world and the garments spotted by the flesh (1 John 2:15; Jude 23). Christ’s inner divine nature and glory were, for a brief time and to a limited degree, manifested outwardly, but in our daily living, that nature should be manifested as completely and continually as possible (2 Corinthians 3:18). Are you striving to do what the apostle has told you to do?

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: the mind

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Christians have been delivered from this present evil world, which has Satan for its god (Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Our heavenly calling includes residence in this world, among sinful people, where we must show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

“Conformed” refers to an outward expression that does not reflect what is within.

The word is used of masquerading, or putting on an act, specifically by following a prescribed pattern or scheme. It also carries the idea of being transitory and unstable.

This phrase has been translated as, “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” We are to stop allowing ourselves to be fashioned after the present evil world in which we live.

Regrettably, it is not uncommon for Christians to wear the world’s masks. They want to enjoy the world’s entertainment, the world’s fashions, the world’s vocabulary and many of the world’s attitudes -- even when those clearly do not conform to the standards of God’s word. The Greek word translated “transformed” is translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2-3. The Christian is solely responsible for this transformation, and it can be brought about only by renewing the mind, the inward man, day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).

“Renewing” means “the adjustment of our thinking to the mind of God.” The outward transformation is effected by an inner change in the mind, and the Spirit’s means of accomplishing this is the word (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 1:28). This word teaches us how to live and glorify God (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Ephesians 4:17-32; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 2:1-5).

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: the will

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The next element of our spiritual service is the will. The construction of the original language teaches that, when a Christian’s mind is transformed, his thinking ability, moral reasoning, and spiritual understanding are able to properly assess (prove, discern) everything and accept only what conforms to the will of God. A heart in love with the world is ill-fitted to appreciate the benefits of living according to the gospel. The reason why the heart is renewed is so we can do the will of God; it is best fitted to appreciate and understand His will (John 7:17).

Three terms are used to describe the will of God. “Good” is what is pleasant in its character or constitution and beneficial in its effect (cf. Luke 10:42; 2 Corinthians 5:10). “Acceptable” again borrows from Old Testament sacrificial language to describe the kind of holy living that God approves, a “living sacrifice” that is morally and spiritually spotless and without blemish (Leviticus 22:20). “Perfect” has the idea of being complete or mature; of something’s being everything it should be.

Our will should desire only what God desires and lead us to do only what He wants us to do in the way He wants us to do it (Isaiah 55:7-8). Our imperfect will must always be subject to His perfect will (Matthew 26:39, 42). Dedication leads to discernment and discernment leads to delight in God’s will. An intimate connection between discerning the will of God and making oneself a living sacrifice is shown by the use of “acceptable” in each case (cf. Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16).

Kyle Campbell