2 Corinthians – Salisbury Baptist Church

Ruth

A Worthy Life

25th May 2025

The Old Testament concept of worthiness, seen in Ruth and Boaz, is updated and clarified in the New Covenant. To find God's will, especially in relationships, requires three things. First, we must be equally yoked with fellow believers, as true worthiness is found in Christ. Second, we must offer a total commitment to the Lord, a full surrender like that of Ruth to Naomi. Finally, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, learning to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading from within rather than conforming to the pressures of the world.

The Old is gone and the New Creation has come!

6th April 2025

Becoming a Christian is not about repairing the old, fallen self, but about being made part of God's new creation in Christ. "The Old has passed away; behold, the New has come!" The "old" is the humanity in Adam which fell. The "new" is Christ and the humanity based on Him. This is possible because the Godhead was bodily totally in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our trespasses against us. Through this divine exchange, He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, so that we in Him might become the very righteousness of God. When you truly rest in this finished work, you can live without fear of the past with its guilt but find the Christian life as a wonderful growing adventure.

Judgment in the Now and Judgment in the Future

27th October 2024

God's judgment operates in two distinct ways: His interventions in present history and His final Judgment at the end of time. While He sometimes brings immediate judgment upon nations and churches in this life, as seen in the Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah, He also has a formal Judgment moment! At the end of the age. Christians will face the Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ where their works will be tested by fire and non-Christians similarly face final Judgment in the Lake of Fire of the Book of Revelation. Those who reject God's free offer of righteousness given through the Gospel face an eternal judgment, precisely because they have left themselves "in their sins". Christ's forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice offers complete cleansing from all unrighteousness for those who come by faith to Christ, confessing their sins. The severity of both God's judgment and His forgiveness are both the outworking of His perfect righteousness and justice.

The Awakening of the Soul

15th September 2024

Christian conversion is more than a change of religion or joining a church; it is a spiritual awakening brought about by the Holy Spirit. This awakening involves a conviction of sin, a turning to Christ as Saviour, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. The process of conversion is often contested by Satan, but Christ intercedes on our behalf. True conversion results in a transformed life, described in Scripture as being 'snatched from the burning'. The need for genuine conversion applies not only to individuals but also to entire communities and nations.

The Love That Holds Us Fast: Awakening to Christ’s Constraining Grace

11th August 2024

God's love for us precedes our love for Him. This truth is central to understanding spiritual awakening and growth in the Christian life. Many believers struggle to live out their faith fully, but there is a deeper work of the Holy Spirit available—an awakening that leads to spiritual vitality. This awakening often begins with prayer and a renewed awareness of Christ's constraining love. His love holds us fast, like a safety cord for mountain climbers, allowing us to persevere in our spiritual journey despite our weaknesses and failures. The Western Church is in great need of such an awakening to rekindle its love for Christ and experience His transformative power.

The heart of an enthusiast

31st December 2023

"I don't know about you, but wanting to think of yourself as able to maintain an enthusiasm for Christ across all the differences in the times and the changes in seasons and all the difficulties that come to us is a very good way to know from the scriptures that can be done. The heart of an enthusiast."