Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

Understanding the firstborn of all creation

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JEFF TURNER

You may have had someone come to your door dressed neatly and ready to debate. They may argue that Jesus is not God. Often, they turn to a verse in Colossians 1 to support their claim. In that passage, Paul writes that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Some say this wording proves that Jesus is a created being and not the Creator.

It is true that single verses can be taken out of their setting and misunderstood. When a line of Scripture is separated from its full meaning, confusion can follow. That is why it is important to look closely at the words Paul used.

When Paul calls Jesus the image of the invisible God, he is saying far more than that Jesus reflects God in a small way. The term means an exact likeness. It carries the idea of a perfect copy or full expression. Since God is unseen, Jesus makes Him known. This description points to deity, not to a created being. God is not created, and if Jesus is the exact representation of God, then this speaks of His divine nature.

The phrase “firstborn of all creation” also needs careful thought. The Greek word translated “firstborn” is prototokos. In this context, it does not refer to being born first in time. The word does not focus on order of birth. Instead, it speaks of rank and status. It refers to the one who holds the highest place, the chief or premier one.

So when Paul uses this term, he is not saying that Jesus was the first thing God made. Rather, he is declaring that Jesus holds authority over all creation. He stands above it in position and honour.

At the same time, Jesus did enter the created world. He was born in human form. In that sense, He became part of creation through His incarnation. Yet this does not cancel His divine identity. The passage presents both truths together. He is the full and exact expression of God, and He also took on human flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Living out the salvation God has given

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JEFF TURNER

Every Christian understands that salvation is a gift from God. It is not gained by effort, good deeds, or personal merit. We are saved by grace. Yet in Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” At first glance, these words may seem to suggest that salvation depends on human effort. They may even sound as if fear plays a part in earning eternal life. But that is not what Paul means.

The key is to read the verse carefully. Paul does not say to work for salvation. He says to work it out. In other words, believers are to express outwardly what God has already done within them. Salvation is already theirs. It has been received. Now it must be shown in daily life.

This command is a call to live in a way that matches the change God has made in the heart. It is about obedience, worship, and honour toward God. A Christian should take sin seriously and should respect the Lord with a humble spirit.

The words “fear and trembling” speak of deep reverence. They describe a heart that understands who God is and responds with respect. In Book of Isaiah, the Lord says He looks to the one who is humble, who has a broken spirit, and who trembles at His word. This kind of attitude shows true faith.

The next verse in Philippians explains that God is already at work within the believer. He is the One who gives both the desire and the strength to do what pleases Him. Because God has acted within, the Christian now responds in faithful obedience.

Salvation is not earned through effort. It is revealed through a life that reflects the grace already given. As James writes, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17

Lauren Talley releases “Mercy” from Elevation Worship’s Grammy-winning album

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Lauren Talley has released a new single, “Mercy,” taken from Elevation Worship’s GRAMMY- and Dove Award-winning album Old Church Basement. The release follows last month’s “Walls,” her first new music for Horizon Records since A Lauren Talley Christmas in 2024.

The recording was produced by Jason Webb. Talley’s version keeps the keyboard-driven feel of the original but pulls back on its larger sound, holding instead to the quieter, confessional tone of the song’s opening. Even as Webb brings in a supporting vocal chorus, the arrangement keeps the listener close to the words, a lyric that speaks plainly about personal redemption and the grace of God.

Talley has said the song became personal to her long after she first heard it. She recalls being asked by a young woman at her church to play piano while the woman sang it. “I loved the song then,” Talley said, “but I didn’t live it until later.” Now, she says, the song belongs to her in a different way. “When you live a song, you have to sing it. It’s my story; it’s everyone’s story of redemption.”

Talley is no newcomer to Gospel music. Born into a musical family, she sang her first solo at age two, stepping onto the stage during a family concert. She went on to become a member of the family group The Talleys, contributing lead vocals to eleven number one hits. In 2015, The Talleys received a Dove Award for their song “Hidden Heroes.”

Her solo career has been equally productive. She has recorded seven solo albums, including a 2019 release of two albums at the same time — Glorious God: Songs of Worship and Wonder and Loudest Praise: Hymns of Mercy, Love and Grace. Her 2017 album The Gospel reached number one on Billboard’s Southern Gospel chart. She is also the author of Songs in the Night, a devotional book connected to her 2010 album of the same name. In 2014, she received an honorary doctorate in Worship Arts from John Wesley University.

Beyond her own recording work, Talley is well known to audiences through her appearances on Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, RFD-TV’s The Music City Show, and In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. She also performs at women’s conferences and events across the country, both as a singer and a speaker.

When the church must Act in discipline

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JEFF TURNER

The Bible gives clear steps for dealing with a believer who falls into sin. We are told to love that person and to pray for them. We are also called to correct and guide them. These actions seem natural to many Christians. But there is another instruction that may sound severe.

In First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 5, Paul writes that when someone who claims to be a believer refuses to turn from sin, the church must hand that person over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. These words can seem hard to accept, yet they are written plainly in Scripture.

I believe Paul is speaking about removing that person from the fellowship of the church. To be part of the church is to live within its care, teaching, and protection. When someone is put outside of that circle, they are no longer sheltered in the same way. Paul explains this by saying that a little leaven spreads through the whole batch of dough. In simple terms, one sinful influence can affect many others. Like a spoiled apple left in a box, the damage does not stay in one place.

There are times when people argue that such a person should remain in the church so they can be shown patience and kindness. Love and patience do matter. The church should correct gently at first. However, when a person’s sin begins to spread and harm others, and when that person will not repent, stronger action is required. If the behaviour continues without change, the church must remove the person from fellowship.

Church discipline is not meant to be cruel. It serves two purposes. First, it guards the church from harmful influence. Second, it may lead the sinner to face the weight of their actions and turn back to God. The goal is both protection and restoration.

Scripture also teaches, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” Epistle to the Galatians 6:1

A few words about the foundation of the church

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JEFF TURNER

When Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:18, he made a statement that has been understood in different ways. He said that upon a certain rock, he would build his church, and the gates of Hades would not be able to overcome it. The question is what did Jesus mean by this rock.

The Roman Catholic Church has long taught that Peter himself was the rock Jesus mentioned. According to this view, Peter traveled to Rome and became the first leader in what would become the papacy. The church, they say, was built on Peter as a person. However, I believe this understanding faces problems when we look at what the Bible shows us about Peter.

Right after Jesus made this statement about building his church, he had to rebuke Peter harshly. Jesus told him to get behind him and called him Satan. This happened because Peter was trying to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. It would seem strange for Jesus to say he would build his church on someone he had to correct so strongly just moments later.

Peter also showed weakness at other times. When Jesus was arrested and taken away, Peter denied even knowing him. He did this not just once but three separate times. These actions show that Peter was not a stable foundation on which to build anything lasting. He struggled and failed like any other person.

The actual meaning becomes clearer when we look at what happened just before Jesus made his statement. Peter had declared that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus praised Peter for this confession because God the Father had revealed this truth to him. It was not something Peter figured out on his own.

When Jesus said he would build his church on the rock, he used different Greek words. For Peter’s name, he used the word that means a small stone or pebble. But for the rock on which he would build his church, he used a different word that means a large rock formation or bedrock. I believe Jesus was making a clear distinction between Peter the person and the truth Peter had just spoken.

Was the rock Jesus spoke about the confession itself? The truth that Jesus is the Christ and the son of the living God. He is the foundation of the church. This truth came from God through Peter’s mouth, but it is the truth itself that matters, not the man who spoke it. The church stands on who Jesus is, not on any human leader.

Our faith is not in any human being, no matter how devoted they are. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and the truth of who he is.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 3:11