Month: September 2023

This week and last, we are in a study of Jesus’ selection of His twelve disciples. Most of them we know extraordinarily little about but understanding the religious and political climates of their day, surely shows anyone who stayed with Jesus must have had a unique call and gifting to endure what He promised was coming. Mostly, He dealt with the trials and tribulations fostered by the world’s hatred of them. Treated as outcasts, and targets of the same hostilities against Him (Matt. 10:22; 24:9), their lives were nothing less than tumultuous. We are not privy to the many conversations that happened over the course of three years. The gospels are brief concerning the few we have, but we know there must have been many more when they asked hundreds of questions—some answered, some not.

               The key to hanging in with Jesus through the tough discussions must have been many more hopeful ones with promises that convinced them that staying was more profitable than leaving. The salvation of their souls was the beginning of their confidence. Salvation changes our heart, and the mind sets its affection on the heavenly rather than the earthly (Col. 3:2). This kept the disciples from placing too much value on temporal gains of which Jesus promised little to none. This does not mean there was nothing significant in their salvation to look forward to in this present life. There is peace that envelopes our souls, a peace the world does not understand. There is contentment even though we may have little of what the world offers. There is sweetness and calmness in life’s troubles that might otherwise depress and make us think life is not worth living.

               Amongst all Jesus’ warnings of what would befall them by staying faithful to Him, was an occasional glimpse of the glory they would share with Him. None could be greater than what He said about the regeneration. They would sit on thrones as judges of the tribes of Israel. Jesus spoke of His millennial kingdom when the entire world focuses on Jerusalem and the tiny nation of Israel. Tiny no more, Israel will dominate across the entire globe with King Jesus on the throne. Righteousness will reign and prosperity will abound.

               Overlooking and aiding will be the apostles of the King. They are the chief princes of His kingdom. Their faithfulness is the foundation of the church, the bride, built upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. When Jesus showed them this, still being human and still with their sinful nature, the news began to dominate their thinking. “When is it coming? When is it coming?” was their constant repetitious question. Even when ascending back to His Father, they could not resist and let Him go without asking one more time (Acts 1:6).

               What a great promise to know in the millennium, their earthly poverty would turn to earthly prestige—prestige without sinful influences but with a fully regenerated mind. At the time of Jesus’ ascension, there was another promise yet unknown to them. Only the apostle John would learn this before his death. The unveiling of this promise comes at the end of the Revelation. As the Bible records the names of the foundational men of the church, so the dazzling city walls of the New Jerusalem has foundations that record the names of the apostles of Heaven’s Lamb of Glory.

               Is it worth it to stay with Jesus? Is it worth it to devote your life to Him? Is it worth it to be a pariah because of your faith in Him? Trust Him, believe Him, stay with Him, and one day you can ask the apostles, “Is it worth it?” You will not need to ask. Your faith will end in sight.Pastor V. Mark Smith

               Today, and for the next several weeks, the theme of the messages is Jesus’ choice of twelve men who would assist Him in gospel ministry and would continue His work after His death, resurrection, and ascension back to His Heavenly Father. They were remarkable men, although not recognized by anyone in their time as such. At least not until God demonstrated His power in them, they had nothing to claim in education, wealth, or worldly wisdom.

               The apostle Paul would later write, “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.” (1 Corinthians 1:26b) These twelve fit the description exactly with one of them being a traitorous, selfish, and contemptuous individual. What the Lord did with the others was not this one’s character. Jesus made the others wise, mighty, and noble in the only way these traits count—in the service of the Lord of lords and King of kings. After Jesus left them to continue His ministry, their opposition recognized them as all the above, as men who had been with Jesus. There was no explanation for their courage and abilities except that from Him they inherited the power to do as He did (John 14:12).

               From these gospel accounts, the New Testament goes on to reveal a specialized calling of others to continue the works of Christ. The period of supernatural acts is over—at least in a physical sense. We do not need them today and must concentrate on the knowledge of the word and its power to accomplish everything God desires. If we miss the truth that the word is all sufficient, it will lead us into mistakes made by many who ignore the scriptures while they look for the next miracle. The scriptures are clear that they alone are sufficient to make us fit, completely equipped for any work God calls us to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Each week as we explain the scriptures verse by verse, we obey the Bible’s command to put on the whole armor of God. Each piece finds its foundation in the knowledge of scripture. It is the fool who does not hide the word of God in his heart and remains unprepared for the spiritual battles we face each day.

               My point is that we do not need the formal calling of apostleship to accomplish the same end of the work as they did. We only need to be faithful to read the word, know the word, and apply the word. God does mighty works through it, and only through it. It is His method for the current world and shall preserve His people for eternity. I find it remarkable that heaven will apply God’s word continuously for the peace, safety, and eternal preservation of God’s people. Are you not amazed that God left us with such an incredibly powerful otherworldly tool to use for our aid and comfort, and yet for most, it lies gathering dust throughout the week?

               Should we expect to experience the power of these apostles without their source? Their wisdom did nothing for them. It was not their natural abilities that caused their selection. It was what Jesus would speak into them as He taught them His words. This much, we still have. The necessary words—all the necessary words—preserved in the book we preach each week. As the Lord’s church, we are each chosen to be messengers of the truth and of the power it miraculously speaks. Use it and see the difference it will make in your life.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

We are just a few short years away from celebrating 250 years of democratic government in these United States. While we are a standout among the world’s democracies, we are hardly the oldest. San Marino, a tiny nation of 23 ½ square miles surrounded by Italy, claims this title. They date their constitutional republic to the beginning of the 4^th century. There must be something going on in their government that keeps people satisfied and overwhelmingly reluctant to choose another form. A government this stable would surely be the model of perfect governance. It may seem so, but it is not the type of government that God will choose for this world when He delivers it from the curse of sin and remakes it in perfection.

            What is this government? Most Americans and a good part of the world would reject the biblical description of God’s ruling authority. In Acts 4:24, we gain understanding of the type of rule God exercises over the world and will be the final government for eternity: “…Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is…” In this verse, Lord is the Greek word despotes which can be translated “despot,” or “absolute ruler.” In this case, God is a totalitarian despot. God is sovereign which means He reigns over all, and He also rules over all. King Charles III reigns over Great Britain but he does not rule. We have no sense that this kind of control could be good for us. We have all heard Lord Acton’s quote: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This is true of all human rulers that obtain all authority over their subjects. This would be true of God if He were not perfectly righteous, kind, and good.

              Romans 8:28 reflects God’s goodness which says He works all things for our good. The strength of this promise is that God Himself is good. He rules with the authority to exclude all evil that is against us. Those things we do not understand are good for us are included in all contingencies that He also controls. We must understand the good God works is ultimately only for His own. The redeemed are His interest. For this reason, the world hates all the good God does, and all the power used to do it. C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

              “There is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth, and we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love.”

              My final thought is that God’s sovereign rule is not relegated to the past nor expected only in the future. He rules here and now. He does His will now in the heavens above and in the earth beneath. No one stays His hand or dare ask, “What are you doing?” We are content for God to be our absolute Monarch. King of kings and Lord of lords is the perfect description of our God. I would say, “May He reign forever.” No need. He will.

                                                                        Pastor V. Mark Smith

            As a preacher of the gospel, I make many comments about the blessed privilege of having God’s word as the instruction manual for our lives. Though many dispute the value of the Bible for the modern world, few want to dispense with it entirely especially considering the teachings of Jesus. No one legitimately finds fault in Him. At least this view of scripture has been the case for American history for over four hundred years going back to the establishment of the first permanent colony in this country.

            Despite revisionist history, the purpose of the first settlers was to make a place where they could worship God according to their conscience. Lest we are historically inaccurate, theirs was not an open religious system but kept the goal of making their views of scripture the only view. Thankfully, they were mostly right, but were not interested in diversity of opinion. You may ask, “What were the main tenets of their religion?” They were theonomists meaning it was proper to establish a government that made laws according to scripture and enforced their obedience to righteous living. This tied to their practice of infant baptism and their misinformed interpretation of the church. They were unlike Roman Catholics who believe baptism regenerates by washing away original sin. Rather, this baptism is an expression of God’s covenant with His people. The inclusion of infants in the church thereby also seals them as citizens of the state. I will not take you into the long history of what this did to other societies in Europe that interpreted the same. Suffice it to say the ultimate result is governmental persecution.

            The practice of church/state relationships was present in all the colonies (with exceptions such as Rhode Island founded by Baptists) until and for a brief time after America won its independence from Britain. There is no denying the Christian religious part in the establishment of this country even though they wrongly enforced a church/state government. Those who lobbied intensely for a change to religious freedom were the Baptists who were the objects of much persecution. Our objection to infant baptism and belief in soul liberty was incompatible with church/state combination. In other words, to reject infant baptism was to be an anarchist.

            If you read Christian news, you are aware the issue of theonomy experiences a revival in current Christian thought. It is beyond the Christian right as it would make it our duty to elect officials who are only Christian and will make laws only as they are consistent with scripture. This may sound good, but giving more thought, you should quickly see a problem as the next consideration is the character of the enforcers and the interpretation of what they enforce. This is a return to the principles our Baptist forefathers fought against. We uphold the right to interpret scripture by our conscience, understanding that conscience is right only when directed by the Holy Spirit.

            Baptists cannot be theonomists and remain consistently Baptist in conviction. There is value in the debates and conclusions of our forefathers in adding the first amendment to the Constitution. We should recognize and appreciate the underpinnings of Christian influence in the establishment of our government. Do not reject it or the Bible. The outstanding issue today is the resulting licentiousness of rejecting our foundation. The lack of respect for Jesus’ teachings plagues our society. The answer is not theonomy. It is conversion. Theonomy will return in the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Until we have a perfect Ruler and Judge, the gospel sufficiently sustains us. Rely on the gospel for conversion of those who disagree with Christ and His word.

Pastor V. Mark Smith