When the rich young ruler approached Jesus with the question, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17), he was met with a response that went beyond the surface. Jesus addressed not just his question but the heart condition underlying it: his attachment to wealth, which hindered his ability to fully trust God.

Now imagine Jesus encountering a modern-day skeptic, an atheist who asks, “If there is a God, what would it take for me to believe in Him and have eternal life?” Unlike the rich young ruler, this person questions not just what must be done but whether God even exists. How might Jesus respond?

A few months ago, I found myself in a situation that pushed me beyond my limits. After a two-week vacation, I returned home only to fall ill with COVID-19. Though I recovered and was no longer contagious, I was left utterly exhausted—physically weak and mentally drained. Yet, due to the already overwhelming schedule at work, I couldn’t take additional time off. Clients needed care, and rescheduling appointments would only cause more strain on everyone. The thought of facing a full day of clients felt impossible.

It’s not uncommon to encounter believers who feel strongly that the Bible alone should be the source of all our spiritual learning and growth. While it’s undeniable that Scripture is the ultimate and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), the question arises: Can biblically related books by Christian authors also play a valuable role in a believer’s life?

To answer this question, we must turn to Scripture itself and examine what it says about the role of teachers, the use of wisdom, and the broader Christian community.

As I’ve walked alongside others on their spiritual journeys, I’ve observed an intriguing pattern. Much like what David Kuykendall noted in his writings, the majority of prayer requests in church settings tend to center on physical ailments and bodily healing. Similarly, many of the people I guide struggle with an intense focus on their physical bodies—be it an ailment, a health concern, or even the looming fear of death. This preoccupation with the body often borders on the obsessive, leading them to scour the internet for answers or rely heavily on alternative medicine, but rarely to seek definitive, professional help.

This phenomenon raises an important question: Why are we so focused on our bodies, sometimes to the point of neglecting the deeper issues of the soul and spirit? The answer may trace back to a profound moment in history—the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden.

Have you ever found yourself struggling to serve someone you love because the task felt mundane, frustrating, or downright unappealing? Maybe it’s doing the dishes, folding laundry, or sitting through a conversation you don’t feel equipped for. It’s not that you don’t love the person, but the effort required feels like too much. What if those everyday moments were precisely where God wanted to show you how to live in His strength, not yours?

For over 20 years, I battled anxiety and depression. They were constant companions, shaping how I viewed myself, my relationships, and even my faith. But everything changed when I encountered the truth of the exchanged life—a truth rooted in Romans 6:1-14 and illuminated through the writings of many faithful teachers.. This journey led me from merely understanding the principles of freedom in Christ to living them, and it’s a story I feel compelled to share.

Welcome to Rooted in Christ: A Blog on Identity, Transformation, and Wholeness. If you’ve ever wondered why this title was chosen, it’s because it captures the heart of what this blog is about—a journey of discovering who we are in Christ, being transformed by His life within us, and experiencing the wholeness that only He can provide.

This post is an opportunity to share the vision behind the title, the truths it reflects, and the hope it offers to every believer seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.

The Christian life is a journey of continual growth. While we may treasure the knowledge and understanding we’ve gained through years of study, sermons, and personal experience, there is always more to learn about God’s truth and how to apply it to our lives. Yet, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’ve “arrived” or that the resources and methods we currently rely on are all we’ll ever need.stu

The darkness that covered the land during Jesus’ crucifixion is one of the most striking and mysterious events in the Gospel accounts. In Matthew 27:45, we read, “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”This phenomenon, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, occurred at a climactic moment in Jesus’ final hours. But what did this supernatural darkness signify?

In John 14:9, Jesus tells Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” This profound statement emphasizes that Jesus is the perfect and complete revelation of God. Hebrews 1:3 further declares, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.”

For many, this truth brings comfort and clarity—God is like Jesus. Yet, it also raises a challenging question: How do we reconcile the God revealed in Jesus with the God of the Old Testament, who is sometimes depicted as commanding judgment, destruction, and even death?

In Mark 10:17-22, we encounter the story of the rich young ruler, a man who approached Jesus seeking eternal life. He believed he had kept all the commandments from his youth and was eager to know what he lacked. Yet, when Jesus asked him to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Him, the young man walked away sorrowful, unable to part with his wealth.

When the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), they likely expected a structured, formulaic response—something akin to the prayers they were used to hearing in the synagogue or temple. What Jesus gave them, however, was profoundly different. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is not just a framework for prayer but an invitation to relate to God as a loving Father.

“If you want to get along with God, stay out of His chair.” – Jack Taylor

This quote by Jack Taylor holds deep wisdom, especially for those of us who wrestle with the need for control. Staying out of God’s chair means recognizing that ultimate authority belongs to God alone. But for many, this is easier said than done. What happens when our need for control turns into compulsive actions or anxious thoughts we can’t seem to shake? How do we find freedom when our own methods for “staying in control” begin to control us?

The mystery of Jesus’ incarnation—God becoming fully human while remaining fully divine—is central to the Christian faith. One of the most intriguing aspects of this mystery is what theologians call the kenosis of Christ, or His “emptying Himself.” This concept comes from Philippians 2:7, where Paul writes that Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” But what does it mean that Jesus “emptied Himself”? Did He give up His divinity? Or does this “emptying” mean something else entirely?

Many of us have heard it said that, in Jesus’ darkest moment on the cross, God the Father “turned away” from His Son. We picture Jesus, burdened with the world’s sin, abandoned and alone. This interpretation is often based on Jesus’ anguished cry: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). But does this mean that the Father literally turned away or abandoned the Son?

In exploring the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice, we encounter a deep mystery: How could Jesus’ death on the cross truly be a sacrifice if He was raised from the dead and lives eternally as part of the Trinity? This question unveils layers of truth that go beyond human understanding, touching on His sovereignty, His eternal love, and the immeasurable grace that He extended to us.

According to Scripture, every believer receives the Holy Spirit at the moment they trust in Jesus. In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul explains that we were 'sealed with the promised Holy Spirit' when we believed. This sealing is a one-time event that happens as soon as we accept Christ.

I believe the Scriptures make it clear that brokenness and total surrender are necessary for a Christian who desires to walk in consistent victory. However, I believe there is a preliminary step that must be taken in order for the believer to live the victorious Christian life. Specifically, the believer must be convicted of his fleshly living patterns.

At this particular stage in my education at Luther Rice, I find myself to be in agreement with both the Keswickian and Exchanged life views of sanctification. For the purposes of this discussion question, given the limited nature of this assignment, I will address my alignment with the Keswickian viewpoint and save my opinions regarding the Exchanged Life viewpoint until the end of my response.