This is an excerpt from the third chapter of By Water and the Word: God’s Gift of Baptism for You by Brian Thomas (1517 Publishing, 2026), pgs 52-60.
Even when the bitter places sink down deep into our bones, the Restorer never relinquishes his grip on you.
To Live Well is therefore not a general advice book, but a message suffused with the gospel.

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All our sin and shame is answered for in the death and resurrection of our Lord.
For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of him who works.
It all starts with God; and it all ends with God. He is the alpha and omega of giving and generosity.
We live again, not so that we will now pay our debt, but to proclaim that we live because our debt was paid!
You are a child of God. You’re blameless, holy, perfect, and righteous. Don’t feel that way? Too bad. God is greater than your heart.
The epistle text from Colossians 1 declares how the great drama of redemption and human history ends.
You’re not new because of what you do. You’re new and so you do new things, even in spite of yourself, because of your sinful nature.
Weak faith in a strong Christ is still saving faith.
From the beginning to the end of his letter, John really wants one thing: for us to be in Jesus.
We don’t start with behavior and work toward Christ. We start with Christ and everything works out from there.
The name of God invites us on a journey to see how God will remain present with his people, listen to their cries for salvation, know their sufferings in such an intimate way so as to incarnate them in Christ.
There is no true life and meaningful community apart from forgiveness.