because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.-Romans 10:9-10 (ASV)

I’ve missed the time to sit down, write and publish to this blog. It is good to be back! For those who are from the United States, I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July holiday. I know I certainly did and am grateful to God for that!

Last night for me was Monday and I attended my usual Bible study at an old country church in Canterbury, Connecticut with brothers and sisters I regard as close as family. I love the Bible study we have there, as it can often present perspectives I don’t usually get at my ‘home’ church. My home church is probably more closely related to fundamental Baptist — if I needed to label it. Holding Scripture in high regard as the infallible Word of God, they are dispensational in their teaching and quite literal in the way Scripture is interpreted. The Reformed church I wrote of a moment ago is also one which regards Scripture highly, but takes a Calvinist or Reformed approach to biblical interpretation and theology.

I tend to be able to move back and forth between both groups of people because they are all brothers and sisters in the faith. On the critical issue of salvation and how it is achieved, we are in full agreement. Important for me to remember are the words of the Apostle Paul: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. -1 Corinthians 2:2 (KJV)

I feel strongly that we need to get back to the roots of Christianity and remember what it is that Christ came and did for us. Let us shed the labels that we use to separate ourselves from each other (and sometimes from God) and get back to what really matters: Jesus Christ.

For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God’s gift: not on the principle of works, that no one might boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9 (DARBY)