(Also see our Born Free tract)

“For since by a man came death, by a Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive”  (Corinthians 15:21-22).

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It’s not unusual these days to find Christians continually trying to change their lives. But the Bible tells us that God calls us to experience an exchanged life. Christianity is not a self-improvement program. It isn’t a recycling project. It is resurrection! It is new life! And it is expressed in terms of a total exchange of identity. Jesus Christ identified Himself with us in our spiritual death in order that we might be identified with Him in His resurrection. We give Christ all that we were – spiritually dead, guilty sinners – and Christ gives us all that He is – resurrected life, forgiveness, righteousness, acceptance. (more…)

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1

ALL OF US CARRY SCARS FROM THE PAST. Many of us remember painful childhood experiences only too vividly.

Just think of being kids on a school playground. Remember how it felt to be the last one picked for the team? Or what about the nicknames: Porky, Four-eyes, Pizza-face? Or the ethnic slurs aimed like verbal assaults? Even labels from well-meaning adults: “He’s a slow learner.” Or “What can you expect when you consider her home life?” Or “Pretty good for a girl [boy]!” (more…)

Have you listened to the news lately? When you turn on the television, don’t you get tired of continually hearing alarming news about war, terrorist activities, drugs, killings and violence happening everywhere around the world? And when you think it can’t get any worse, another story breaks that takes the evil and wickedness of mankind one step lower. One can’t help but wonder if the bad news will ever stop. Like the apostle John, we cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

Looking back some years ago, an event occurred that few believed possible. In November of 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down, and, for the first time since World War II, people from East and West Berlin laid down their hostility and embraced each other without fear of persecution. (more…)

Let me begin with this personal experience …

It had been nearly three years since I had talked to Pete. He was an alcoholic whom I had tried to counsel for a while. But Pete wouldn’t take responsibility for his problem and finally stopped seeing me. So I was surprised one night at home to get a phone call from him.

On the phone, he wasn’t very pleasant. He asked a favor from me that I was unable to fulfill, to which he responded with a long string of profanity. “I hate you!” he continued.

“Pete, that’s your choice. But I love you,” was my response. That made him even angrier. It’s no fun to hate someone when that person won’t hate you back. Finally he sputtered, “I’m going to get you!” and hung up. (more…)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Why isn’t the average Christian experiencing freedom in Christ in his or her daily life? I think it’s directly related to a lack of understanding of the riches he or she has in Christ Jesus.

One of the greatest illustrations I know of the importance of spiritual knowledge is the true story of a man name Ira Yates. Orphaned at age 12, Ira worked hard to make a decent living. Like many of us, he struggled to get ahead. (more…)

My son, Bobby, had just graduated from college and was involved in the hard process of finding that first job. I invited him to get together for breakfast to see if I could offer some encouragement and advice. We had a long, profitable discussion about work, the business world, and interviewing. As our conversation was winding down, Bobby said, “Dad, thanks a lot for your time.”

“You know,” he continued, “one thing I’ve always known is that you love me. I’ve never doubted it. You’ve shown me that in all kinds of ways.” I was naturally pleased to hear that, but somehow, it didn’t seem complete. I pondered for a few seconds, and then God seemed to put a new thought in my mind. (more…)

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?
Jesus told Nicodemus what it meant to become a new creature when He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7).

To be made into a new creature means to be born of the Spirit of God. I like to describe it by using the example of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. (more…)

This is an encouraging letter we received from a young man in the Arizona area. Chris had been under control of drugs and homosexuality for years. This is just one of the many letters we receive from those who have realized their identity in Christ and were released from bondage. (more…)