BDCMINISTRIES

BDCMinistries--The Website of Bruce and Geneva Collins Blog

Greetings dear friends,

I’m Bruce Collins. I am an evangelist and teacher of the Bible. I became a child of God by faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on November 24, 1963 and have tried to serve the Lord in various capacities since then. I am presently a self-employed minister of the Gospel. I do not work for an organization but I try to serve the Lord in the best way that I can wherever He leads. That means that my wife and I have our financial needs met by the Lord as we do not have a salary from any church or organization.  We believe that the Gospel is free so we have never made a charge for our services.

I am available for Bible studies, conferences, Gospel meetings, children’s meetings and camp work. I have traveled throughout much of the United States and Canada in my service for the Lord. My wife helps me, and we attend the Bethany Bible Chapel in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have encouraged us by commending us for this work.

My wife, Geneva and I live in Waterloo, Iowa. We have four children. One of them is married and has provided us with two grandchildren.

This web site has a weekly meditation that I hope will encourage you. It has links to literature and organizations that I think are helpful. You can also listen to my weekly radio program here.

Yours because of Calvary,

Bruce Collins
3828 Memory Lane
Waterloo, IA 50701-9351

319.230.9140
collinsbd@hotmail.com

INDEX:

If you would like to read a classic Gospel Tract called GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION go here

For another classic Gospel Tract called God is Satisfied! Are You go here

For Important Personal Scriptures go here

For an open letter to my friends and neighbors go here

For the story of how I was saved go here

For the story of how my wife was saved go here

For the story of Merlyn VandeKrol–You Have About a Year to live! (a friend who died from cancer) go here

For the Rest of the Story–Merlyn’s Wife Karen go here

For answers to questions that I have been asked go here

For a women’s perspective on head coverings go here

For a manual on how to preach the Gospel that has been used with camp counselors go here

For an OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE AND SOME PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION go here

For a PROPHETIC CHART go here

For a published article on FAITh, What is it? go here

For the story of the George Street Evangelist go to George Street

For links to other helpful websites go here

For the On-Line Blue Letter Bible go here

For the On-Line Bible Studies Tool go here

Do we Believe What we say we Believe?
 
And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24 NKJV)
 
Are we putting on the New Man?
Christians are not sinless, but they should have a conscience about sin.  They should sin less than they did before they were “born again” as it says in John 3.  They have been brought into a new state called the new man. However, Christians must be admonished at times to act like the “new man” and not like the “old man.”  Putting off the “old man” must not be automatic or Paul wouldn’t have to admonish the Christian believers in Ephesus about this.  
 
What is the Characteristics of the “Old Man?”
The old man doesn’t tell the truth.  The old man gets angry and in getting angry, he gives Satan opportunity to destroy relationships.  The old man steals, that is he takes from others what is not lawfully his.  The old man uses language that is coarse and that tears down rather than building up or encouraging the hearer.  The language doesn’t have a graciousness to it but is critical and contentious and involves bullying.  
 
What should a Christian be Like?
Obviously, a Christian should strive to be like Christ.  The Lord’s most critical language was reserved for the religious people of his day that he called scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites.  See Matthew 23.  When he started His public earthly ministry, they marveled at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.  When he met publicans and sinners, he showed grace to them.  When he met a woman who had committed adultery, he forgave her and charged her to “go and sin no more.”  He didn’t belittle people. He didn’t lie.  He met needs by healing people and by feeding people.  He forgave the soldiers that crucified Him.  He has offered forgiveness to every person who has been born into this world and who realizes that they have a sin problem.  He has been reconciled to those who have received His forgiveness by faith.
 
Paul’s Conclusion
Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” I realize that these verses were written to the Ephesians believers.  The argument could be made that believers are only obligated to show these graces to other Christians and not to the unsaved, but that is not the example of the Lord.  I think the context of the new testament would show that we should be showing these graces to all, saved and unsaved alike.  I can’t believe that lying and stealing and belittling others is ever right.  This is how the Devil, the great deceiver acts. 
 
I personally want people to believe that I believe what I say I believe.  The only way that I am going to accomplish that is by showing that believing on the Lord Jesus Christ makes a difference in the way I think and act.  It also makes a big difference for eternity.  When people tell me that they are believers in Christ and show by the way that they act and speak, that they are not kind, or tenderhearted or forgiving, I think I have a right to question the reality of that person’s “so-called” conversion.  And yes, salvation does involve a conversion.  There is a putting off and a putting on.  Let us be concerned about this in our own lives and be careful in our associations with those without a conscience.  
 
Bruce Collins
 
Meditation for the week of February 16, 2020
 
Archived Meditations

RADIO PROGRAMS:

For Archived Radio Programs go here

For Archived Meditations go here

 

THREE MUSTS:

Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:7 NKJV)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 
(Acts 4:12 NKJV)