December 29, 2024

     One of the greatest blind spots among those who profess faith in Christ today is the subject of baptism. Consider a couple of examples: While writing about conversion one author specifically quoted Matt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…” Then went on to describe a Bible study in which a man “became a Christian while sitting right there at the table”. He quoted the man’s words as he prayed what the author described as the sinners prayer. Another book after saying those who accept the tenants of the book need to commit to follow the great commission goes on to describe how to become a Christian as follows: “ Admit, Repent, Believe, Receive, tell” (indicating tell a pastor what you’ve done). In a lengthy multiple session Bible study I engaged in for several months a gentlemen argued that clean conscience means forgiven but that appeal does not mean request in I Pet 3:21. This theological schizophrenia is so common in the religious world that even those who recognize that baptism is by immersion and for adults will say that it has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. The prevalence of this position is one of the greatest success Satan has achieved in our time second only to the popular notion that religious truth is unknowable and therefor totally subjective. Rather than a long discussion of the historical and theological reasons for the current state of affairs I will simply list and respond to the most common objections to baptism for forgiveness of sins.

     The most common objection to baptism being necessary to salvation is that salvation is by faith alone and not of works. This objection contains two major misunderstandings. First is an understanding of faith which excludes any and all action. Biblical faith includes action consider Hebrews 11 notice that great faith in every single example included action also see James 2:14-26; Galatians 5:6. The second misunderstanding involves the idea that anything we do in response to God constitutes earning God’s blessings (works). We don’t apply this kind of thinking to anything else. Imagine someone upon receiving money via email saying that because they had to open the email they earned the funds.

     The next major objection to baptism is one that does not openly address the issue but tries to skirt it by suggesting that salvation is not an event but a process. It’s true that there may be a process of growing and learning that takes place before a person commits themselves to God. However in the words of F. LaGard Smith “If the conversion process is a wondrous divine gestation process, baptism is a definitive, womb departing point of birth”. Simply consider any conversion recorded in scripture and the idea that salvation is a process become foolishness, consider: Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 22:16; Col 2:12-13 just to list a few.

     Another objection often raised relates not to any specific scripture or line of reasoning rather to numbers and emotion. The objection is this: “what about all the people who aren’t baptized?” Maybe the questioner has specific people in mind maybe it’s just general. There are two important things to consider first if you have a loved one friend or neighbour who doesn’t know what the Bible says about salvation why haven’t you told them? The second is that what people believe about a thing has no bearing on its truthfulness. A large number of people don’t believe in heaven should we then abandon faith in it as well? Back when most people thought the world was flat did that make it so? The fact that there are people in the world who have been misled misinformed or just haven’t studied means only that we need to get busy sharing the gospel.

Let’s pray that God provides us with the opportunity to share the truth about salvation with all men far and wide especially here in Barrie.

~ Kevin Clearly

December 22, 2024

Truth is the greatest gift if you have opportunity give this list to someone you love

• The World around you is temporary but you are eternal

o I Peter 3:10 “The heavens will pass away”

o Ecclesiastes 12:7 “The spirit will return to God who gave it.”

o II Corinthians 4:18 “For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal”

• God created you to live in relationship with Him

o Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them”

• Because God is perfect and Holy he can’t be in relationship with imperfection, evil or sin. All humans are imperfect and have sin.

o I Peter 1:16 “be Holy for I am Holy”

o Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

• Jesus lived to reveal God to us, He died to reconcile us to God, and He rose to lead the way to God.

o John 1:14-18 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory… No one has ever seen God; the only God who is at the fathers side he has made him known”

o Rom 5:8-10 “while we were still sinners Christ died for us… we were reconciled to God by the death of his son”

o I Corinthians 15:20 “Christ has been raised from the dead the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”

o I Corinthians 15:52 “in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet… the dead will be raised imperishable”

• God will not force you to be with Him, He provided the way through Jesus but you must choose to take it.

o John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the live no one comes to the father except through me”

o Romans 6:17 “But thanks be to God that you who were once slaves to sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.”

o Mark 16:15-16 “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

o Acts 2:37 “What shall we do? Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

• Jesus is coming back to end history, at that time all humanity will face Him and give account.

o John 14:2-3 “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also”

o John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me”

o II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”

• We must all decide how we will respond to God who sent Jesus to restore our relationship with him. He won’t force us but He does urge us and call us to come back to Him through Christ, to live with Him now and for eternity.

~ Kevin Cleary

December 15, 2024

Several years ago, Clarence DeLoach, preached a sermon he called, “The King’s Highway.” The title comes from the book of Numbers, where the writer said, “We will go by the king’s highway we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders” (Num. 20:17)

The lesson was about a different highway. It was about the road mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” From this text, the following observations were made about one’s journey down “The King’s Highway”

A Decision to Face: There are only two possibilities. We can either choose to follow the broad way or the narrow way. We often divide men horizontally. He is an athlete, a successful business man, a parent, a taxpayer, etc…But, God divides man vertically. You are either on the right hand or the left. You are either going to Heaven or you’re not. You have the freedom to choose the direction that you want to go.

A Direction to Follow: That gate is strait and that way is narrow. The terms “strait” and “narrow” describe the direction God wants us to take. These two terms literally mean difficult and rigid. It takes discipline to follow the righteous path. This way takes discipline because it its different than the broad way. It has a different source, follows a different course, and ends with a different conclusion. Though this way is a disciplined way and a different way, it is also a delightful way. Delightful because it is Christ’s way. Delightful because it is the heavenly way.

A Destiny to Find: Every road we travel leads to a destination. The broad way leads to destruction, but the narrow way leads to life. Someone asked this powerful question, “When I get to where I’m heading, where will I be?” Both roads are heading in different directions. If you keep following the way you have chosen, where will you end up? Are you on your way to a destiny of eternal destruction? Or, are you on your way to eternal life?

Today, you’ll be faced with a decision to make. The decision will determine the direction that you follow. The direction you follow will determine the destiny that you find.

Amended from Notes by Neil Richy

~ Kevin Cleary

December 8, 2024

To thousands, Christmas does not mean a mass for Christ, just as Saturday does not mean a day to worship Saturn, and as Thursday does not mean a day dedicated to the war god, Thor. To thousands, Christmas means only a time for families and good friends to get together, to exchange gifts, and to relax. 

All Christians rejoice that the great Father planned that Mary, sitting on a donkey’s back, riding toward Bethlehem, had, in her womb, God in the flesh, being protected by a water bag. This was the super-miracle, for lying in a feeding trough was the creator of the universe (Jn. 1:3), one who would become a brother (Rm. 8:29), a friend (Jn. 15:14), the sin-bearer (2 Cor. 5:21), and the redeemer (1 Pt. 1:18-19). 

On any day at any season of the year it is edifying to sing songs about the birth of the Anointed One, the Christ-child. Songs about the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem continue to make millions happy and draw them closer to one another and to the One who came to live among humans and who wants to take them to heaven. 

G.K. Wallace (GOSPEL ADVOCATE, 12-15-1966) asked “What shall we do this Christmas?” He gives 12 answers: 

1. Seek out a forgotten friend and write a love letter.
2. Dismiss suspicion and learn to trust.
3. Share a treasure and give a soft answer.
4. Manifest loyalty in word, in deed, and encourage youth.
5. Find time to do what needs to be done and keep our promises.
6. Forgive an enemy and forgo a grudge.
7. Listen, understand, and apologize, if you are wrong.
8. Be gentle, be kind, and so act as to deserve confidence.
9. Learn to laugh and take up arms against malice.
10. Do not become complacent. Express your gratitude.
11. Gladden the heart of a child, welcome a stranger, and take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
12. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again and our Holiday will be a happy day.

~ Kevin Cleary

December 1, 2024

A few years ago, I read an article by Hugo McCord. It’s offers some useful history and a good perspective that we might benefit from as we head into the Christmas season. My prayer is that this time of year may provide opportunities for sharing the truth of the gospel. McCord’s article:

 At year’s end for centuries, even before the birth of Christ, people in Europe enjoyed a holiday season. An occasion of rejoicing [for] the fact that at year’s end the northern hemisphere was at its farthest point away from the sun and was about to turn back closer to its light and warmth. Days would begin to lengthen. Gradually the long nights would be shorter. As a symbol of returning life the ancient Teutonic tribes decorated their houses with evergreen and the fireplace burned brightly with the yuletide log. Good luck gifts were freely exchanged. It was a time of joy and good cheer. 

Over three hundred years after Jesus was born the year’s end holiday season was appropriated to make a religious celebration. It was recognized that Jesus was not born in the winter time, for shepherds do not have their flocks out in the open around Bethlehem in December. Nevertheless, the date of December 25 was selected by Liberius, bishop of Rome, in 354 A.D., to coincide with the established year’s end holidays. Since that time, the bishop’s order has been followed by the Roman Catholic Church, and when the Protestant churches were established, they began following Rome’s lead in making December 25 a sacred day. 

God did not make any day of the week or of the year as a holy day for Christians. If anyone does so, it is his own private doing from “his own mind” (Rm. 14:5). And if he does so, he must not push that day on others, for, said Paul, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls (Rm. 14:4). The Christians in Galatia were pushing holy days, and they received a blistering condemnation from Paul: “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you” (Gal. 4:10-11). 

After the Roman Catholic Church had fitted an erroneous birthday of Christ to coincide with the established holiday season, more and more additions became part of the celebration. “St. Nicholas” was a 4th century bishop, who was called “the patron saint of children, sailors, and scholars,” now called “Santa Claus.” In the 11th century someone invented the word “Christmas,” meaning “Christ’s Mass” (Christes Masse). In France the word was “Noel,” meaning pertaining to a birthday. 

The burning of candles and the use of bright lights during the December holidays are believed to have come from the Jewish custom in their celebration of the Feast of Dedication, the Hanukkah, the “Feast of Lights,” December 23-30, mentioned in John 10:22. 

The use of trees as decorations began in German mystery plays as symbolic of the Garden of Eden. The use of mistletoe came from the English belief of its magical powers: If one’s enemy stood under the mistletoe he would disarm himself. 

Manger displays started in Italy, and mincemeat pies began to be baked in oblong shapes to represent the manger. The poinsettia was discovered in Mexico, and came to be called the “Flower of the Holy Night.” The sending of greeting cards originated in England. Today such a custom spreads good cheer the world around. 

~Kevin Cleary