by Phil Sanders

When you are down, discouraged, disappointed and depressed, remember who you are!

Since I am in Christ, by the grace of God…

I am God's child (Galatians 3:26,27). I am a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2). I am a disciple (Matthew 28:19). I am a Christian (1 Peter 4:16). I have been justified by faith, completely forgiven and made righteous (Romans 5:1). I have died with Christ and died to the power of sin's rule over my life (Romans 6:1-6). I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1). I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). I have been given the Holy Spirit as an earnest of my inheritance (Romans 1:13,14). I no longer live for myself but for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). I am crucified with Christ, and I no longer live. I live by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Romans 1:3). I will be raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Romans 2:6). I have access through Him in one Spirit to the Father (Romans 2:18). I can access the Father through Him with boldness and confidence (Romans 3:12). I have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Colossians 1:13,14). I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:13,14). I have Christ Himself in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built in Him (Colossians 2:7). I am made complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). My life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life (Colossians 3:1-4). I do not have to be afraid, since God has given me a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). I am sanctified by the suffering of Christ, and Jesus is not ashamed to call me brother (Hebrews 2:9-11). I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to find mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). I am part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. I have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). I have been granted everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).

By the grace of God, we are what we are. Perhaps it would help us all to remember who we are when down or tempted or challenged.

You think about it, and it's pretty amazing what God has called us to.

by Phil Sanders

Jesus walked more than 75 miles from Nazareth to the Jordan River, so that he could "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-17). If Jesus believed baptism to be that important, certainly we should.

Jesus told Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Every early Christian understood this to refer to baptism. If Jesus demanded baptism to enter the kingdom of God, how can we excuse ourselves or anyone else from what Jesus requires?

At the beginning of the church in the very first sermon, Peter responded to convicted hearts who wanted to know what to do. He said, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). That day 3,000 people understood him and gladly responded; the Lord added them to His church (Acts 2:41,47).

When guilty, blind Saul of Tarsus learned that Jesus was Lord, he prayed and fasted for three days (Acts 9:9,11). He did not find salvation, however, until Ananias came to him and told him what he must do (Acts 9:6). Ananias said, "And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16).

When the careless Romans began to take the grace of God for granted, Paul reminded them that they were not to live in sin any longer. He told them, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3,4).

You should be baptized for the same reasons they were: to fulfill righteousness, to enter the kingdom, to have forgiveness of sins, to wash away sin, and to walk in newness of life. What a great God we have.

by Phil Sanders

On May 14 at 8:04 am, at the age of 92, Hugo McCord, a beloved teacher and preacher of the gospel passed from this life to be with the Lord. Though he had a doctorate degree, he never allowed his students to call him doctor, because he believed the principles taught in Matthew 23:7-10.

I remember in chapel one day, brother McCord quoted John 6 in its entirety - all 70 verses from no known English version. He was quoting from his knowledge of the Greek text, translating as he went. The Bible he held in his hand was actually upside down and opened to the wrong place. Quietly, confidently, deliberately, and reverently he quoted every verse.

Brother McCord will perhaps best be known for his translation of the New Testament, "The Everlasting Gospel" (the FHV, named after Freed-Hardeman University, his alma mater and publisher). In addition to the New Testament, this fourth edition includes Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs. The translation notes at the end of the volume are exceptional, a treasure in their own right.

Students learned best from brother McCord by asking him questions and listening to his answers. He was a master at word studies. His mind was exceptionally sharp, molded by hours and hours of study. He arose each morning at four to linger over the text and pray. Brother McCord was a highly disciplined student. He bought the truth at great price.

When he was young a bee stung him in the throat; this gave him an unusual voice. Coupled with his thick Mississippi accent, Hugo McCord was one of a kind in voice and often imitated. He knew how to put words together in expressive yet precise ways to say just what he wished.

His thorough knowledge did not lift his heart with pride. He was humble and contemplative. He gave great reverence to God and his word. Though usually the most knowledgeable man in the room, brother McCord never let his knowledge go to his head. He did not berate others or browbeat them for ignorance. He gently, as a man of God, corrected (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Hugo McCord had the purest soul of any living man I ever knew. No one could doubt his devotion to truth or righteousness. He took much heat over his translation of John 3:16 ("his unique Son" for his only begotten Son). But brother McCord did not give an inch for a moment. He would be true to his God rather than yield to the pressure of well-meaning brethren. He was honest with the text, whatever the cost. His loyalty was first, last, and always to God and to Scripture. He swore to his own hurt and would not take it back (Psalm 15).

I thank God for his memory and for the many lessons I learned from him. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

God gives us others, and they are great gifts! By brethren our lives are shaped and molded for service. How poor we should be without them.

Say thanks to a friend who has influenced you; you may not have him long.

with kind thoughts and love, Phil Sanders.

by Phil Sanders

When the dark storm clouds gather, And the rain keeps pouring down, Life can get awfully dreary. All your hopes may seem to drown. But one thing I still remember-- This one thing I'm still allowed-- No matter how wet and weary The sun still shines above the clouds.

The sun still shines above the clouds; The love of God remains today. You can look at all the sorrow, But you can't take that love away.

When the pain floods over me, And I am left all alone, Life can get mighty empty. All my hopes seem past and gone; But one thing I still remember-- This one thing I'm still allowed, No matter how dark the sorrow, The sun still shines above the clouds.

The sun still shines above the clouds; The love of God remains today. You can look at all the sorrow, But you can't take that love away.

Rom. 8:35-39

by Phil Sanders

The seven churches of Asia faced incredible persecution in the days of the power and wicked emperor of Rome, Domitian. Domitian followed the example of some of the former emperors and designated himself a god.

In order to solidify his power, Domitian sanctioned his deputies to enforce emperor worship. Every citizen throughout the empire must offer a pinch of incense in his honor or be regarded as disloyal to the State. They had to say, "Lord Caesar". Christians, of course, could not do that; their confession was "Lord Christ".

Support for emperor worship was quite strong in Asia Minor, and Christianity was quite strong in Asia Minor. The conflict between those who demanded emperor worship and those who refused it was inevitable.

To refuse worship to the emperor meant that one could be killed, could be cast into prison, could lose all his possessions, could be exiled, or a combination of the last three.

In military might, the passive Christians were no match for Rome. It might seem from a worldly point of view, that the Christians had no hope.

And that's the problem. We too often see things from a worldly point of view.

In a vision, Jesus opened John's eyes to the power, majesty, and glory of heaven. When one reads through chapters four and five of Revelation, not only do we see the beautiful throne with all God's power, but we see myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands of angels. God rules, and His power is not asleep. God help us to open our eyes.