BDCMINISTRIES
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
4008 University Ave., Ste 1
Waterloo, IA 50701-5651
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
Bruce and Geneva
Meet me There!
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15 KJV)
I have been preaching the Gospel for many years and have run into many hindrances with regard to simply believing or trusting in the Lord Jesus for salvation. I want to deal with one of those hindrances in this meditation.
What About Good People Who Do Not Believe?
One of the greatest hindrances to believing the Gospel is that many people have friends or spouses or children that they know do not believe what the Bible says. In some cases, the spouses or friends have died. In other cases the children were raised to be Christians in churches that do not preach the truth about how to be saved, even though those churches teach the stories of the Gospel. Many churches are "Christian-like" in their good works, but neglect the idea that true Christians have to be saved or born again before their good works are considered good by God.
The Value of Good Works
Good works are not our Savior, only Christ can save. When we believe that by "doing good" we will get to heaven, we set aside the need for a sacrifice for our sins that satisfies God.
But how do we help those who know that they have loved ones (who are good people as far as we are concerned) and who claim to be Christians, but who have never been taught the truth of the new birth? John 3:3 says, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (NKJV)." Nor have they been taught that having been born sinners, they need to be "saved." See also, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17 NKJV). Neither have they been taught that good works are the result of the new birth or salvation and not the cause as explained below:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we (who are saved) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV).
We Really Do Not Know What Others Believe!
The first thing that I try to emphasize when people are struggling with the idea that friends or loved ones might not be saved is that we really don't know what our friends or loved ones really believe. While I understand that those who are saved need to publicly confess that to others, not everyone does–at least not right away. The thief on the cross that went to paradise did not have the opportunity to tell others about his faith in the Lord. Nicodemus didn't publicly confess Christ until after the crucifixion when he helped bury the Lord. I believe that it is possible that loved ones who have died without leaving a clear profession of faith may very well be in heaven while Satan uses their lack of a public confession to deceive friends and loved ones into believing that they do not need to heed the need to "repent and believe."
Is There Really Only One Way?
Some that I talk to simply do not want to believe that there is only one way of salvation since they have close friends who do not believe in the Bible. I have friends that are studying the way in which major religious groups explain salvation. In nearly every case, good works as defined by that particular religion is the way to heaven. Of course some groups add ceremonial requirements that are not in the Bible such as confession to a priest, infant baptism, communion, etc.
Since no one wants to believe that they have friends or loved ones who are condemned eternally, the easy way out is to assume that the Bible is in error. Many will claim that the Lord was a good teacher, but they will not believe that He is THE Son of God and that He died as the sinner's substitute. However, if the Lord was not The Son of God, if He didn't fulfill old testament prophecy, then He is a liar like everyone else in this world. He simply cannot be a good teacher if what He taught was not true. Obviously, those who believe that He is a good teacher, but not the savior that He claimed to be, have not thought this through.
We Can All be Wrong but We Can't All Be Right!
One thing I try to emphasize is that we can all be wrong about the way to heaven but we can't all be right when our views are contradictory. Some would argue with that statement because they believe that many roads lead to the celestial city. I wish that were true but my Bible says there is only one way to be saved. If there are many roads or paths to heaven then we cannot depend on what the Lord taught. Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)." The Bible does not allow for many ways to heaven. If the above statement is not true, then I know of no other communication by God that gives us instructions as to how to be right with Him.
The Bible has archaeological and historical evidence of its accuracy. It has many old testament prophecies written hundreds of years before the Lord's birth that were fulfilled when the Lord was born into this world. It is the only TRUTH that can be depended upon. Yet, Satan, the great liar, will try to convince people through various means that the Bible is not true.
Deception is Satan's Game
Please don't be deceived. If you have friends and loved ones that you know are not saved, make sure that they hear the truth and don't let their faith or lack of it affect yours.
Yes, we all need to repent and believe. Please don't allow the hindrance of not knowing whether loved ones and friends believe the Bible keep you from repenting and believing. I want to meet all of you in that celestial city.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of July 21, 2024
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PROGRAMS
- July 28, 2024, The Logos
- July 21, 2024, The Lion
- July 14, 2024, The Lamb
- July 7, 2024, Cross
- June 30, 2024, Blood
- June 23, 2024, Redemption
- June 16, 2024, Sin, Father's Day
- June 9, 2024, Sorrow
- June 2, 2024, Door
- May 26, 2024, Paradise, Memorial Day
- May 19, 2024, Eternity
- May 12, 2024, Trust, Mother's day
- May 5, 2024, Come
- April 28, 2024, Look
- April 21, 2024, Blood
- April 14, 2024, Joy
- April 7, 2024, Repent
- March 31, 2024, Unbelievable, Easter Sunday
- March 24, 2024, Prophecy, Palm Sunday
- March 17, 2024, New
- March 10, 2024, Mercy
- March 3, 2024, Grace, the Free Gift Continued
- February 25, 2024, Grace, the Free Gift
- February 18, 2024, Saved from What, For What
- February 11, 2024, Lost, Perishing, Useless
- February 4, 2024, Faith in the Truth
- January 28, 2024, Hope vs No Hope
- January 21, 2024, Trusting and not Worrying
- January 14, 2024, Heeding the Warnings
- January 7, 2024, Once Upon a Time
- December 31, 2023, God Gives Each of us a Gift for Service
- December 24, 2023, God Gives Eternal Life
- December 17, 2023, God Gave Living Water
- December 10, 2023, God Gave His Son
- December 3, 2023, Pleasing God
- November 26, 2023, Repeat of 11/27/22
- November 19, 2023, God Speaking
- November 12, 2023, Recap:Law vs Grace
- November 5, 2023, Don't Covet
- October 29, 2023, Don’t Bear False Witness
- October 22, 2023, Don’t Steal
- October 15, 2023, Don’t Commit Adultery
- October 8, 2023, Don’t Murder
- October 1, 2023, Honor Father and Mother
- September 24, 2023, The Day of Rest
- September 17, 2023, No Irreverence
- September 10, 2023, No Idols
- September 3, 2023, No Other Gods
- August 27, 2023, Law
- August 20, 2023, Fruit of the Spirit
- August 13, 2023, Prince of Peace
- August 6, 2023, Everlasting Father
- July 30, 2023, Almighty
- July 23, 2023, Counselor
- July 16, 2023, Morning Star
- July 9, 2023, Beloved
- July 2, 2023, Birthdays
- June 25, 2023, Worm
- June 18, 2023, Branch and Vine
- June 11, 2023, King
- June 4, 2023, Priest
- May 28, 2023, Prophet
- May 21, 2023, Replay 060219
- May 14, 2023, Replay 051219
- May 7, 2023, Replay 052619
- April 30, 2023, Replay 051919
- April 23, 2023, Replay050519
- April 16, 2023, Replay042619
- April 9, 2023, Resurrection Sunday (replay)
- April 2, 2023, Friend
- March 26, 2023, Servant
- March 19, 2023, Redeemer
- March 12, 2023, King
- March 5, 2023, Man
- February 26, 2023, Light
- February 19, 2023, Love
- February 12, 2023, Christ
- February 5, 2023, Savior
- January 29, 2023, Lord Lord
- January 22, 2023, Holy
- January 15, 2023, Meek
- January 8, 2023, Ready and Suddenly
- January 1, 2023, New, New Years
- December 25, 2022, Peace, Christmas
- December 18, 2022, Sin and Sinners
- December 11, 2022, Glory
- December 4, 2022, Truth
- November 27, 2022, My Thanksgiving Story
- November 20, 2022, Be Anxious for Nothing
- November 13, 2022, The Lord as the Altogether Lovely One
- November 6, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord Encamps around Believers
- October 30, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Joshua the High Priest)
- October 23, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (King David)
- October 16, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Elijah)
- October 9, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Gideon)
- October 2, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Balaam)
- September 25, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Moses)
- September 18, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Abraham)
- September 11, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Hagar)
- September 4, 2022, The Lord as the Vine, Labor Day
- August 28, 2022, The Lord as the Resurrection and the Life
- August 21, 2022, The Lord as the Door
- August 14, 2022, The Lord as the Way the Truth the Life
- August 7, 2022, The Lord as the Shepherd
- July 31, 2022, The Lord as the Man of Sorrows
- July 24, 2022, The Lord as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- July 17, 2022, The Lord as the Everexisting One
- July 10, 2022, The Lord as the Rock
- July 3, 2022, The Lord as Captain of our Salvation, Independence Day
- June 26, 2022, The Lord as a Marvelous Counselor
- June 19, 2022, The Lord as a Good Son to a Pleased Fathers, Father's day
- June 12, 2022, The Lord as Immanuel
- June 5, 2022, The Lord as Living Water
- May 29, 2022, The Lord as Bread and Wine
- May 22, 2022, The Lord as Bread from Heaven
- May 15, 2022, The Lord as the LIght
- May 8, 2022, The Lord’s Mother, Mother's Day
- May 1, 2022, The Lord as a Lamb (Our Sacrifice)
- April 24, 2022, The Lord, He Comes to Judge
- April 17, 2022, The Lord, Hearburn, Easter
- April 10, 2022, The Lord, High and Lifted Up
- April 3, 2022, The Lord, Some of His Titles
- March 27, 2022, The Lord, Fulfilled Prophecy
- March 20, 2022, The Lord, The Expression of God
- March 13, 2022, Dorcas and Lydia, Showed their faith by their works
- March 6, 2022, Phoebe and Priscilla, Key Helpers
- February 27, 2022, Martha, a True Servant
- February 20, 2022, Mary of Bethany, Anointed the Lord for His Burial
- February 13, 2022, Mary Magdalene, A Devoted Worshiper
- February 6, 2022, Bathsheba, A Picture of God’s Grace
- January 30, 2022, Hannah, a Woman of Prayer
- January 23, 2022, Deborah, the Judge
- January 16, 2022, Miriam, the Prophetess
- January 9, 2022, Sarah, Noble Woman
- January 2, 2022, Eve, First Mother
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)