Antonin Scalia (1936-2016) served twenty-nine years as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Scalia became distinguished as a man of strong character and unwavering devotion to both God and Country! In an article titled "Supreme Confidence: The Jurisprudence of Justice Antonin Scalia" (The New Yorker, March 28, 2005), Margaret Talbot wrote, "Scalia considers himself an interloper in the sophisticated world - a blunt-spoken, rules-are-rules jurist and traditional Catholic in a secular world made wobbly by moral relativism." This was illustrated time and again in his writings, his rulings from the bench, and in his speeches. A good example of this can be seen in his address to the Knights of Columbus Council 969 at the Holiday Inn in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in January 2005. To a gathering of his fellow Catholics, Scalia said, "God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools ... and He has not been disappointed. ... If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world." I can't help but think of the words of Paul to the Corinthians: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.' Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:18-20). "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (vs. 25). Jesus declared, "Let not your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

As Adolf Hitler noted in the quote at the top of this article, one of the best weapons employed by the forces of evil in their effort to overcome all that is good and wholesome and reasonable is great terror in association with great force. And yes, many disciples of Christ have fallen victim to that terror and have perished as a result. Winston Churchill, in response to the terror befalling his nation from the forces of evil led by Hitler, declared in his first statement as Prime Minister before the House of Commons on May 13, 1940, "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." The English novelist Robert Smith Surtees (1805-1864) summed it up this way: "Better to be killed than frightened to death." To die while bravely fighting the good fight is far nobler than dying while fleeing in fright from the forces arrayed against us! The Scriptures repeatedly urge the people of God to "fear not," for after all, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Like the Lord's disciples who found themselves in the midst of a raging storm at sea, and who were terrified at the prospect of perishing due to the powerful forces pounding down upon them, we too, as His faithful disciples, quite often find ourselves facing a monstrous storm sent forth by the world about us which seeks to destroy us, and we, like those early disciples, too often find ourselves in the depths of despair over the mighty terrors that surround us. The words of Jesus to them that day are equally applicable to us: "O you of little faith; why are you afraid?!" (Matthew 8:26). We should begin each new day with a powerful promise on our hearts and in our minds: "Fear not, for I am with you!"

As the apostle Paul penned the last of his four "Prison Epistles" to the brethren in the city of Philippi, he sought to comfort them and encourage them in their daily walk with the Lord. He did not want them to be discouraged by his own circumstances, nor by the various trials they faced as a result of their commitment to Jesus and His cause. He wanted their hearts to be filled with joy rather than fear, and for them to live and serve courageously, rather than cowering in the face of the worldly forces arrayed against them. He also urged them to remain united in the Faith and in their love for one another and the Lord, for a body of believers at odds with one another is easy prey for our enemy. Thus, Paul wrote to them saying that he hoped to receive word "that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents - which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God" (Philippians 1:27b-28, NASB). Paul always sought in his teachings to stress the importance of our unity and harmony in One Body, and to warn of the dire consequences of allowing natural diversity within the body to distract and divide us. If we stand together against the forces of evil, we can endure; if we strive against one another, we will not long survive the storm that will come upon us. A people divided will fall. History teaches us this, if we will listen, and so do the Scriptures ... and we must listen!

Verse 28 in the above statement by Paul to the church in Philippi is an interesting one in many ways, and also a surprising one, for Paul uses some unusual language in the original. He begins by pointing out that as Christians, as disciples of Jesus and ambassadors of His gospel message, we will naturally have "opponents." No surprise here, for the Lord made it clear time and again that if we choose to follow Him, we will experience trials and tribulation, and we will share in the sufferings He Himself faced. The Greek word Paul uses is "antikeimai," which means "to oppose, be adverse or averse to, to stand against; to occupy an opposite position." In our text it appears as a present participle. "In addition to its legal sense it signifies 'to withstand'; the present participle of the verb with the article (Philippians 1:28), which is equivalent to a noun, signifies 'an adversary'" [Dr. James Strong, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, p. 963]. Paul uses the same word when he wrote to the church in Corinth, saying, "A wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9). Whenever and wherever we seek to faithfully serve our Lord, we will be opposed; the enemy is always near and ready to pounce. We must expect it, and we must be ready and fearless.

At this point, the question naturally arises: Who are these "opponents" and "adversaries" the brethren in Philippi face, and what exactly is the nature of their opposition? "Various forms of 'antikeimai' ('to oppose') are used in the NT to denote opposers of the Christian faith, including opponents of Jesus, as well as adversaries of the church, both Jewish and Gentile" [The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 11, p. 120]. "Who were these opponents? Some have insisted that the reference could not have been to Jews because the Jewish population of Philippi was too small. This ignores the fact that hostile Jews often dogged Paul's steps and caused trouble in the churches he founded. Such was the case in other Macedonian churches (i.e., Thessalonica and Berea). In light of Paul's discussion in Philippians 3:2-6, it seems clear that Jewish hostility was present. But there is nothing in Philippians 1:28 that restricts the reference to Jewish opponents. What is virtually certain is that these were external foes, not false teachers within the church. It is most likely that Paul was speaking generally of adversaries of the church of whatever kind. Whether Jewish or pagan, they usually employed the same tactics, and thus the need for unity and courage among believers was crucial" [ibid, p. 119]. Dr. W. Robertson Nicoll, the noted NT Greek scholar, concurs: "Paul probably thinks chiefly of their heathen antagonists ... who would struggle hard against a faith which condemned all idol worship. ... At the same time, we cannot exclude the possibility that he had non-Christian Jews in his mind as well" [The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. 3, p. 431]. "By virtue of their having embraced Christianity, they were looked upon by their neighbors as aliens, as followers after strange gods, and they were hated accordingly" [Dr. Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible - the NT, vol. 2, p. 300].

"It was a foregone certainty that Satan would use every device to induce Christians to waver or defect. The world at that time, as it always has been, was a hostile environment for Christianity. The Christian life could be lived successfully only by those who were determined to fight with all of their strength in order to maintain their integrity. It is clear here that Paul expected the Philippians to do just that" [Dr. James Burton Coffman, Commentary on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, p. 273]. Although the nature of the "issues" that constitute challenges and oppositions to the Faith and our devotion to the Lord today may be different than those faced in ancient Philippi, they are no less real and no less dangerous! Our adversaries today are just as determined as the adversaries the early saints faced, and they are just as committed to destroying both us and the cause of Christ. Thus, we must be just as courageous! "What are the social and political issues to which the church must speak if she is faithful to her Lord which may bring forth adversaries? - rights of women and children; violence in the home; the cheapening of human life by easy abortion; inattention to the elderly, the poor, the homeless; outrage against the rising crime rate that makes us calloused to persons caught in a cycle of living outside the law; etc. It may be that the church can measure the effectiveness of her prophetic ministry by the adversaries who emerge to question and challenge her gospel" [Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam, The Communicator's Commentary: Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, p. 273].

Fellow-believers (and fellow-Americans ... as well as fellow-citizens of this planet), we need to open our eyes to some very harsh realities that face us right now!! As we begin this new year (2024), the forces of evil and tyranny are gaining ground in their opposition to goodness, righteousness, and sanity. Satan is unleashed and he is wreaking havoc across our nation and around the globe. I am witnessing things that, quite frankly, I never would have believed I would ever see in my beloved country. Good is called evil, and evil is called good; our leaders have not only abandoned all common sense and decency, they have also abandoned us! I personally have no doubt whatsoever that we are in the last days of which the Bible speaks: that time of ghastly, godless chaos that will reign until our Lord returns to bring it all to an end. Those days (these days) are going to be intense for the people of God. We have GOT to set aside our sectarian squabbles and unite as ONE BODY in Christ Jesus, for the battle being waged against us is intense. We have "played church" much too long; it is now time to BE the church and to stand together as ONE as we experience this last great engagement with EVIL that is occurring all around us. It is going to get uglier and uglier as the months go by, and we will witness and experience things that are unimaginable!! We must be ready to fight the good fight ... even to the point of death. The ultimate victory is assured for His people, as is the ultimate destruction of those who oppose our God, but the battle is going to be brutal, and it will test our resolve and our faith. We must not waver!! As Winston Churchill urged the British, so we need to urge one another, to fight on "at all costs, in spite of all terror, however long and hard the road may be."

The apostle Paul stated it this way to the brethren in Philippi, "Do not be frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God" (Philippians 1:28, NIV). Our salvation, as well as the final destruction of all that and all those opposing God, is assured. It is coming, and it will be accomplished by Him. Our challenge is to remain faithful to the point of death, and to stand in brave opposition to all the insanity around us, and to stay united in love with all other believers, as that day draws ever closer. Although the end is certain for all, the present battle is going to be unimaginable in nature, for EVIL knows few limitations when it is unleased in its fullness. And we are seeing and experiencing this right now!! If you are a believer who takes seriously the call to "walk in a manner worthy" of that calling in your daily life, you are going to be opposed ... and it is going to get more and more brutal. Thus, Paul warned the disciples then, and he warns us now: "Do not be frightened in any way by those who oppose you." That Greek word he uses here in this verse is found nowhere else in the NT writings! It is the word "pturo," which some Greek scholars believe is derived from the word "ptuo" (meaning "to spit" ... the word for "saliva" being "ptusma"). Others, however, feel there is no real connection between the two words, other than similarity of spelling and sound. The word used by Paul in verse 28 means "to frighten, startle, scare; to be terrified." Other translations of the text (in different versions of the Bible) are: affrighted, alarmed, intimidated, afraid, terrified, paralyzed. It is easy to see how one could be intimidated and paralyzed with fear; that is a rather common human response to something so evil that it staggers the mind. However, it must not be the response of those in whom the Spirit of God dwells and in Whom we have unwavering trust! He will prevail, therefore we will not despair.

There are many words Paul could have chosen to convey the idea of not being "frightened." So why did he select this one? After all, it appears nowhere else in his writings, and nowhere else in the NT writings. The word is unique in that it has reference primarily to horses. It speaks of the reaction of a horse to being "spooked" or "startled unexpectedly" (taken by surprise). It is also unique in that "it is almost always passive" voice in the Greek [Drs. Arndt & Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the NT and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 727] - that is: one "lets oneself be intimidated" or terrified [ibid]. Horses can be trained and conditioned NOT to bolt in fear at the unexpected, and warhorses especially undergo extensive training to prepare them to remain bold and confident and focused during battle. Were they to become startled, rear up, and flee in fright during conflict, the result could be disastrous for the rider, and it could affect the outcome of the battle. "The original word used by Paul is strong - literally, 'scared,' - flinching like a frightened horse" [The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 20 - Philippians, p. 7, 49]. "Literally - said of horses or other animals startled or suddenly scared; so, of sudden consternation in general" [Drs. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, Commentary Practical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, p. 1304]. "From a word used of the terror of a startled horse" [Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, vol. 2, p. 53]. "Only here in the New Testament; properly of the terror of a startled horse" [Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3, p. 427]. Plutarch, a Greek philosopher who lived during the same time as the apostle Paul, and a number of years after, spoke of the need for horses to "accept mastery," so that they would not become "scared by sight or sound, like a shy and fickle animal." Diodorus Siculus, an ancient Greek historian who lived during the first century B.C., when writing about the chariot-horses of King Darius at the Battle of Issus, wrote (using the same Greek word as Paul), "Frightened by reason of the multitude of the dead heaped round them, they shook off their reins." You and I, equipped with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11f), must "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of HIS might" (vs. 10), and thus NOT flinch or falter or flee in fear before the enemy!

Paul also points out another great benefit of this unflinching faith - it is evidentiary in nature, both to the lost (our enemies) as well as to the saved (ourselves and our fellow believers). "The courage of God's saints in the midst of dangers is a proof of His presence and favor; a token of final victory" [The Pulpit Commentary, vol. 20 - Philippians, p. 7]. Paul makes this connection in 2 Thessalonians 1 also. Speaking of the "steadfastness and faith" of the brethren there "in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring" (vs. 4), he states that "THIS is evidence of the righteous judgment of God" (vs. 5). Specifically, that God would avenge the afflicted and destroy those who were afflicting them, thus manifesting to all concerned those who were worthy of LIFE and those who were worthy of DEATH (vs. 5-10). This fearlessness in the face of unimaginable evil speaks volumes to both sides. We fear no evil, for THOU art with us!! "The courage and heroism of God's witnesses was a sign of coming victory and salvation. It was also a sign of defeat and doom to their adversaries. A triumphant spirit often carries the day against fearful odds. God seems to give His people assurance of victory, and then to make that assurance a most powerful element in the issue. The dauntless are carried through discouragement to triumph" [The Pulpit Commentary, vol. 20 - Philippians, p. 25]. "Failure of the church to be intimidated by enemies was a token of the ultimate failure of the enemies of God. The adversaries may not have recognized this, but it was nonetheless a sign that their attacks were futile and that the church would prevail" [The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 11, p. 119]. David Lipscomb (1831-1917), a leader in the early American Restoration Movement, wrote, "The undaunted bearing of the Philippian Christians in the face of opposition and persecution was a token of destruction to their adversaries. It showed that their persecutors were powerless to thwart God's work, and that their resistance to it was working their own spiritual ruin; that they were fighting against God, which could mean only their destruction" [A Commentary on the NT Epistles, vol. 4, p. 174].

I want to close with the following thoughts penned by Dr. Paul E. Kretzmann (1883-1965), an American Lutheran pastor and seminary president, who issues this powerful plea to the people of God in light of Paul's words to the brethren in Philippi: "That is the spirit which is needed in our days also: the feeling of solidarity, the consciousness of being one with all believers in Christ, ... the spirit which makes for true unity and union and stands firmly against all attacks for the faith once delivered to the saints. ... Not in a single point of their faith, not in a single principle upheld by the Bible, should the Christians be overcome by terror and thus give way. Though the adversaries are strong and full of guile, they cannot and should not be able to strike terror into the hearts of the Christians. And the fact that the believers battle so valiantly and are not terrified is to their adversaries a token, an indication, of perdition, indicating that the victory must finally be on the side of the Christians. The latter, a poor small crew, standing up valiantly against a world of unbelievers without the sign of a tremor, is a token of their eventual victory over their many enemies. They will receive salvation in the fullest and deepest sense, the last great healing, the final glory. And all this from God, who alone is the Author and Finisher of our salvation" [Popular Commentary of the Bible - the NT, vol. 2, p. 301]. To this I say, AMEN!! Come, Lord Jesus!!

• ADDENDUM: For those interested in horses, and lessons learned from them in the Scriptures, may I suggest my following two studies: "Seeking War-Horse Salvation: The Deadly Folly of a Misplaced Trust" (Reflections #783) and "Did Jesus Snort Like A Horse? Reflecting on a Powerful Greek Word as it Relates to the Attitude of Jesus in Two Synoptic Healing Accounts" (Reflections #611). I hope you find these both enlightening and encouraging.

From a Reader in Kentucky:

Al, I purchased a few copies of your book "Down, But Not Out: A Study of Divorce and Remarriage in Light of God's Healing Grace" directly from you a few years ago, and have since provided all of those copies to others as the need arose. My elders here have just asked me to teach a "deep dive" into this topic, beginning in January, and have authorized me to secure copies of your book for each member of the class as the primary resource for class reading. Thus, if you have a good supply of the book on hand, and are agreeable to letting us use it for this class, please let me know and the church will send you a check. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and may God continue to bless your work and your family.

• Naturally, I was more than agreeable to send this congregation the requested number of copies of my book, and I'm thrilled that they will be using it as the primary resource for the study of this important topic. A couple of weeks after sending the box of books to them, I got a call from the minister of that congregation. Apparently, there are more members interested in the class than previously expected, so he ordered additional copies! My thanks to these brethren for their order, and for their desire to do "deep dive" studies into various topics within the Scriptures. May God bless them in their upcoming study. -- Al Maxey

From a Minister in Kansas:

Al, I am preparing to teach a class here on the book of Revelation and would like to order your thumb drive - "The Book of Revelation: An In-Depth Reflective Study" - as I believe these written materials and audio recordings of your class will help me in preparing for my own class. I appreciate your scholarship and your willingness to share it so freely in your studies and writings. Thank you, brother.

From a Reader in Texas:

Al, I would like to order a signed copy of your book "From Ruin to Resurrection." I have enjoyed your Reflections for several years. I'm enclosing my check for your book, and hope that the amount is correct and that the book is still available. I'm really looking forward to reading it.

From a Reader in Texas:

Al, I have just sent you funds through PayPal for your thumb drive "Reflections: The Complete Collection." I'm eager to begin going through these hundreds of articles you have written! Thank you.

From a Minister in Tennessee:

Al, I was just now reading your article titled "Male Chauvinism's Proof-Text: A Reflective Study of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35" (Reflections #499). I have been looking at 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12, and I am convinced that perhaps we have been overly influenced by past uninspired views and customs, rather than by the inspired writings. I believe the church needs to reexamine those two passages!! I know you yourself have done this, but more need to do so. Al, I appreciate your Reflections articles, and I learn from them!

• I completely agree with this fellow gospel minister. We (within that segment of the Stone-Campbell Movement known as Churches of Christ) have been far too guilty of a sexism that is contrary to the spirit of the mission and ministry of the Lord's One Body. We have too frequently surrendered to the biases and prejudices of various cultural and sectarian traditions handed down to us by our religious forefathers. Frankly, I'm glad to see this much needed change occurring in our own denomination. In addition to the above mentioned article, I would also strongly encourage a reading of my study titled "Challenging A Corinthian Quotation: Paul's Powerful Refutation of Church Sexism" (Reflections #592). -- Al Maxey

From a Reader in Ohio:

Al, I surely am enjoying reading your books (Books by Al Maxey). Thank you for sending them to me! Could you share with me any information you have on whether the Holy Spirit is still speaking to us today?

• With regard to the leading and working of the Spirit within us, and whether the Spirit speaks to us today, and even through us today, consider my following three studies: "Indwelling and Empowering: Reflecting on Questions Relating to the Holy Spirit's Interaction with Our Lives" (Reflections #204) ... "From Biblicism to Bibliolatry: Have We Made the Bible an Idol?" (Reflections #829) ... "A Sanctuary of the Spirit: A Study of the Individual/Corporate Naos of the Indwelling Holy Spirit" (Reflections #332). -- Al Maxey

From a Reader in Australia:

Al, we have attached a small greeting (a Christmas card) with this email. As we say in the card, we may not write as often as we should, but please be assured we often think of you both and how much you and your friendship continues to mean to us. You and Shelly both remain much loved special friends of ours! Al, your Reflections continue to challenge us and are highly valued by us. Thank you for them! We continue to pray for you daily. May you have a special time with all the family over the holidays! Love you!

From a Minister in New Zealand:

Al, I was just reading over your last article titled "Sin Verse vs Sin Verse: Does Hebrews 10:26 Refute Ephesians 1:7?" (Reflections #875). Great article! Thank you! While reading it, I was made mindful of Leviticus 4, which is about unintentional sin under the old covenant. There are about four groups of people identified there, from leaders to the community at large, and what they needed to do. Very interesting. There is certainly a lot of food for thought from Leviticus 4, and I thought this could be an interesting corollary to your article. God bless, brother.

From a Reader in Florida:

Al, your article "Sin Verse vs Sin Verse" is an excellent study, and this very unique and wise insight is one I would have missed completely when reading the texts. I have a question: How would the two verses you shared fit into the narrative of 1 John 3:6 & 9, which read (in the NIV), "No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him," and "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God"?

• The two passages this reader mentioned are speaking of one who chooses to "continue" sinning ("keep on" sinning), and the word employed for "sin" is "hamartia" (that "state/condition" of sin), thus pointing to a chosen lifestyle given over by choice to those attitudes and actions contrary to the nature and will of God, a choice in which one intends to persist. It is a condition/state well beyond the fact that those who are by choice IN HIM will still stumble and fall daily in their walk with Him ... that is just the reality of our human nature while we still dwell in the flesh. Yet, as 1 John 1 points out: if we make the determination to walk in the light, these sins, both known and unknown (and even at times willful - Ephesians 1:7), are continuously covered by the blood of our Advocate, from whom we experience "propitiation" = "covering" (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus "took away the sin of the world" (John 1:29; cf. 1 John 2:2), which is that state/condition of sin under which ALL find themselves outside of Him. Jesus paid that price "once for all." Yet, it is a gift of grace received by faith ... and, sadly for those who do so, also a gift one CAN choose to reject AFTER having received it, if they later choose to reject His best offer and return to that state/condition of sin that is seen in habitual, continual dwelling in darkness (like a dog to vomit and pig to mud). This therefore is a rejection of His blood, a trampling of Him underfoot, a grieving of and deadly insult to the Spirit of grace. For such, who reject the only sacrifice that removes the "wages of sin," NO further sacrifice remains, and they face the fearful consequence of that choice (Hebrews 6 & 10). I dealt with the two passages mentioned by this brother more fully in the following two Reflections articles, which I hope will prove helpful: "Sin That Leads Unto Death: Reflecting on John's Distinction Between Deadly and Non-Deadly Sin" (Reflections #293) and "Fighting the Battle Within: Romans 7:14-25 - Is Paul Presenting Pre- or Post-Redemption Reality?" (Reflections #143). -- Al Maxey

From a Minister in Oklahoma:

Al, Thanks again for all of your time and patience in writing these truths you present in your Reflections.

From a Minister in Texas:

Thanks, brother, for your well-timed article "Sin Verse vs Sin Verse," as we will be studying that in our Wednesday night class. I have also forwarded it on to our elders and Bible class teachers.

From a Reader in Georgia:

Al, very well-done! "Sin Verse vs Sin Verse" is an excellent presentation of context and application. I hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying the holiday season!

From a Reader in Unknown:

Al, I enjoy your writings quite a bit, and I am excited to find someone who attempts to answer some of the questions that I have been hacking away at for over 40 years. Without the Internet, I wonder where my understandings of Scripture would be. Anyway, here's a challenge to the view you take of Acts 22:16 - if sins are washed away when one calls on the Lord, would Paul have not already done that long before Ananias showed up? Excited to hear your response.

• A couple of thoughts come to mind regarding this question. Yes, Ananias was assigned the task of going to where Saul of Tarsus was and informing him of what the Lord required of him. One of those requirements was for Saul to call upon the Lord. Had Saul (later known as Paul) already done this to some extent prior to the arrival of Ananias? That's certainly possible; in fact, quite probable. But did Ananias know this prior to his arrival? Not likely. He simply went, as instructed, and told Saul what was expected of him. He performed the task given to him. I think it is probably a mistake to assume from Acts 22:16 that Saul had therefore not yet called upon the Lord, and perhaps a number of times. Second, and of far greater significance, we must determine the purpose of both the act of calling on the name of the Lord and of immersion in water. Was the latter, for example, a sacrament or a symbol? Was it redemptive or reflective? In other words, did/does baptism in water "wash away sins," or does it in some way reflect and represent and even reenact the reality of the washing away of our sins? If it is the former, then it is sacramental in nature and purpose; if the latter, then it is symbolic and representative in nature and purpose, rather than redemptive in and of itself. Yes, both baptism in water and calling upon the Lord are acts expected of us. But do they remove sin? Are they salvific? I firmly believe that the Scriptures teach us that salvation (and the removal of sin) is a gift of God, by grace through faith, and is NOT acquired by any action we may perform. It is a free gift that we receive by faith, and a reality that we then evidence and manifest and proclaim from then on in a number of ways (some of which are indeed expected of us - immersion in water being one of those faith-responses). I do not believe baptism, or even calling on the Lord, are redemptive in nature or purpose, but rather responsive (and motived by a sincere faith in Him and what He has done for us). I would urge a reading of my book on this topic titled "Immersed by One Spirit: Rethinking the Purpose and Place of Baptism in NT Theology and Practice," and also the 65 Reflections articles I have done on this subject which may be found on my Topical Index page under the heading "Baptism." -- Al Maxey

********************
If you would like to be added to or removed from this
mailing list, Contact Me and I'll immediately comply.
If you are challenged by these Reflections, feel free to
send them on to others and encourage them to write for
a free subscription. These studies are also offered on a
special thumb drive. Check the link below for the
details, and for all past issues of these Reflections:
https://www.zianet.com/maxey/Reflect2.htm