Victory in Jesus

By Boyd Hurst

As we prepare our hearts to take the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s day, we should reflect on a powerful truth that brings us both peace and purpose: we have Victory in Jesus.

At first glance, the cross might not look like a victory.  It looked like defeat.  Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified like a common criminal.  The crowd jeered.  His disciples fled.  Darkness fell.

The mood of defeat among the disciples was perhaps best illustrated by Luke’s account of two men traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Lk 24:13-32, on the third day following Jesus’ crucifixion.  Jesus joins them without revealing Himself and inquires why they are so sad.  They recount the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, and in v. 21 state “We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”  They were devastated and defeated.

But what looked like a loss was actually the greatest triumph the world has ever seen.  In Colossians 2:13–15, Paul writes: “When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins… He took it (the old Law) away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Victory came through the very act of sacrifice.  At the cross, Jesus defeated sin.  At the empty tomb, He conquered death.  And in doing so, He opened the way for us to have eternal life.

So when we eat the bread and drink the cup, we’re not only remembering His suffering—we are celebrating His victory.  A victory that we now share in.  1 Corinthians 15:57 says: “But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This memorial reminds us that our hope is secure.  Sin doesn’t get the last word.  Death doesn’t win.  Jesus does.

And because He won, we can face life with courage.  We can battle temptation with strength.  We can approach God’s throne with confidence, knowing that the blood of Jesus covers us.

The emblems we partake of are more than bread and juice.  They are a symbol of triumph—won not by power or might, but by love and sacrifice.

So when we take the bread, let’s remember the body that was broken yet raised in victory.  When we drink the cup, let’s remember the blood that sealed our freedom.  And as we partake, let’s silently thank God that because of Jesus, we don’t fight for victory—we fight from victory.

WATCH Your Words, Actions, Thoughts, Company and Heart

By Boyd Hurst

The Power of Words

Words hold immense power.  As James 3:8 warns, the tongue is difficult to control.  It can build up or tear down, bring life or destruction.  Similarly, Colossians 4:6 encourages us to let our speech be full of grace and seasoned with wisdom.  The words we choose reflect our hearts and can either edify others or lead them astray.

The Weight of Actions

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that we will all stand before Christ’s judgment seat to give an account of our actions.  Everything we do has consequences—whether good or bad.  Our actions should reflect our faith and values, as they are a testimony to those around us.

The Influence of Thoughts

Philippians 4:8 calls us to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.  Our thoughts shape our attitudes and behaviors, influencing how we respond to challenges and opportunities.  If we dwell on negativity, fear, or sin, our actions will reflect that.  But if we meditate on what is good, our hearts and lives will be aligned with God’s will.

The Company We Keep

The people we surround ourselves with have a significant impact on our character and choices.  1 Corinthians 15:33 warns, "Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits."  Also in the words of wise Solomon, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil." Prov. 4:14.

The Heart as the Source

Proverbs 4:23 further emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."  Jesus teaches in Matthew 15:18-19 that our words, actions, and thoughts come from the heart.  If our hearts are pure, what flows out will also be pure.  But if our hearts are filled with sin, our lives will reflect that.  Keeping our hearts aligned with God’s truth is essential for living a righteous life.

A Call to Watchfulness

2 Timothy 4:5 urges us to "be watchful in all things."  This means being vigilant about our Words, Actions, Thoughts, Company and Heart.  As we strive to live righteously, we must also remember that others are watching us.  Our lives serve as an example, influencing those around us for good or bad.  May we be a light to others, reflecting God’s love and truth in everything we do.

Psalm 107: A Celebration of God’s Steadfast Love

By Boyd Hurst

Psalm 107 beautifully captures the unchanging love and mercy of God through vivid stories of deliverance.  It begins with a universal call to gratitude: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1).  The psalm then highlights four scenarios where individuals cried out to God and were rescued, illustrating His faithfulness.

The Four Stories of Redemption:

1. Wanderers in the Desert (Psalm 107:4-9):  Lost and desperate, they found no city to dwell in, hungering and thirsting until they cried out, "Lord, help!" God led them to safety and satisfied their longing souls with goodness.

2. Rebels in Chains (Psalm 107:10-16):  Those who rejected God’s counsel suffered affliction, they were chained and overwhelmed.  When they cried for help, God shattered their chains, delivering them from the shadow of death.

3. The Foolish and Sick (Psalm 107:17-22):  Stricken by their own sins and near death, they cried out to the Lord.  He sent His word to heal and rescue them, calling them to rejoice and offer thanksgiving.

4. Seafarers in the Storm (Psalm 107:23-32):  Sailors facing a storm's fury were at their wits' end.  They too cried out, and God calmed the sea, guiding them to a safe harbor.

A Call to Reflect:

Psalm 107 emphasizes the power of crying out to God in times of trouble.  Each rescued group was called to give thanks for His goodness and wondrous works.  The psalm also emphasizes how God blesses the righteous and condemns the wicked.  It ends with a profound challenge: "Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43).

This psalm reminds us that no matter the situation, God's mercy is always near, ready to restore and renew those who turn to Him.  Let us give thanks for His enduring love!

Redemption

By Boyd Hurst

“Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.”  We often sing of this thing called redemption, but I wonder if we give it serious thought as to its meaning and significance for the Christian.  I would like for us to consider the meaning of this term as used in scripture in the hope that it will draw us closer to the Lord, especially as we partake of the memorial feast each first day of the week.

The New Testament uses the idea of redemption in at least 3 ways:

• There is a Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a sacrifice for sin.
• We are able to have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins
• The faithful believers will have eternal redemption in heaven, freed from the presence and power of sin and the corruption of the body at His second coming.

There are two words translated “redeem” in the New Testament.  One refers to the price paid for our redemption with a view to the actual redemption.  We see this in Gal. 3:13: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us…”  Also, in Gal. 4:5 speaking of Christ, He came ”to redeem those who were under the Law.”  Of course, that occurred when Jesus, our Redeemer, was crucified.  The second word translated “redeem” refers to the actual redemption.  An example is Titus 2:14 where speaking of Christ, it says “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people.”

The blessing of redemption in Christ cannot be minimized, and it should be uppermost in our minds.  We see this idea strengthened in the following verses:

• Heb. 9:12 teaches that redemption brings deliverance through His death from the guilt and power of sin.
• Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 teaches that it provides forgiveness of sins including both a liberation from the doom of sin and the introduction to a life of liberty, a newness of life as mentioned in Rom. 6:4.
• Heb. 10:10-14 explains that we have redemption not just from the consequences of sin, as under the Law, but from the sins themselves.

Eternal redemption through Christ provides deliverance from the presence and power of sin as well as bondage of the body to corruption, Rom. 8:23.

What a wonderful blessing of redemption we have through the sacrifice of Jesus that was manifested by His love for us.  We should never cease to lift Him up in praise and honor and glory.

“Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it.  Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  Redeemed thru His infinite mercy.  His child and forever I am.”

What Is Truth? - Part 2

By Boyd Hurst

In Part 1 of this article, we began to discuss how one should answer Pilate’s question “What is truth?”  We discussed how Jesus is full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14) and is thus the purveyor of truth and we should listen to Him.  However, the devil is doing everything within his power to confuse and destroy the truth just as he did in the garden at the beginning of time.  We need to be mature enough to discern good from evil as we face the challenges of our increasingly ungodly environment.

Everyone surely realizes there are fundamental truths that do not change.  In the morning the sun is seen first in the east, 2+2=4, water at sea level freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F, etc.  God is like that according to Mal. 3:6 which states, “I am the Lord, I do not change.”  Daniel prophesied that the Roman empire would “speak pompous words against the Most High, persecute the saints of the Most High and intend to change times and law” (Dan. 7:24).  However, he goes on to say that this kingdom will be destroyed and the kingdom of the Most High will arise as an everlasting kingdom that all dominions shall serve and obey.  Not even the powerful Roman empire could change God’s law nor can any other.  It is not up to a nation or individual to determine what is truth.  God’s truth is always victorious and is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway” (Psa. 119:105).  Jesus told His apostles that He would send them the Spirit of truth (Jn. 15:26) who will “guide them into all truth” (Jn. 16:13) and Jesus prayed for them to be sanctified by the truth of God’s word (Jn. 17:17).

Even though we may think we understand the principles stated previously, the Scripture teaches that the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8) and false prophets appear as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mt. 7:15).  Just like Satan manipulated the language in Genesis 3 to entice Eve to sin, we see the same thing happening today.  Society has given the right for biological males to declare they are female and vice versa.  The medical world has assisted by creating drugs and surgical procedures that cause women to appear more masculine and men to appear more feminine.  As members of this society, we are called upon to address these “changed” individuals by specific pronouns, either the opposite gender or neutral to not offend them.  It is clear that these superficial changes have not rendered a fundamental change since DNA is still the same.   Also, male athletes who were only mediocre competing against males have risen to the top of women’s sports by declaring they are female even though they have obviously not lost their maleness.  Just as Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem when it fell into sin, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No!  They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush” (Jer. 6:15). 

When asked to define “woman”, the latest supreme court justice, Ketanji Jackson, refused to answer thereby underscoring the confusion that is being perpetrated by an ungodly society.  In fact, articles and even books have been written to try to define a woman according to the latest academic ideologies.  It used to be very simple (and still is), but it has been made very complicated in order to satisfy a current narrative/agenda.  It makes one wonder what the next redefinition of terms will be to contradict the clear and obvious meaning of a descriptive term.

This redefining of terms would be laughable if it was not so serious and detrimental to a belief in God.  The very fact that this is being embraced in our culture reveals the depravity that now exists.  When we condemn the practice of homosexuality and same-sex marriages, we are called homophobes because society has changed the definition of marriage such that it can be between a man and a woman or between two people of the same sex.  When we say only women can give birth, we are called transphobes.

At the creation, God created everything to serve His purpose and He proclaimed them good.  All things created were holy and distinct and perfect.  Male and female were created to complement one another and to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.  It is incredible that feeble men have the audacity to even consider the alteration of God’s plan.  Paul, in the Colossian letter, warned of this very thing: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”, Col. 2:8.  Just as the cucumber can be turned into a pickle by vinegar, we can be changed by this world if we allow ourselves to be immersed in it.  As Paul states in Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

It is time that we realize and proclaim that “truth” is not subjective.  In religion, there is not your truth and my truth or our truth and their truth, there is simply truth.  God’s truth is universal and absolute since He is the originator and purveyor of truth.  In answer to Pilate’s question “What is Truth?”, we can surely and confidently answer that God’s word is truth.  Let us all seek, find and courageously follow the truth of God’s word.