Category: Bulletin Articles

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John v.4)

One of my favorite characteristics of the Apostle John’s writings is the terms of endearment he used towards his children in the faith. John was their spiritual father and much like a physical father loves to see his children happy and prosperous, John loved to see God’s people prospering in all spiritual blessings. A common theme in John’s writings is his emphasis on truth. He is not only concerned that believers know the truth but that truth would always rule their lives.

The feeling John had toward those he ministered to is the same a pastor feels towards those that he shepherds and have been entrusted to his care. John emphasized the keeping of commandments as evidence of true saving faith. As we discussed on many occasions, Jesus said the whole law is comprehended in these two sayings: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” A pastor has nothing else to use as a gauge for the spiritual welfare of the people. He must evaluate their service on the basis of its demonstration of walking in the truth of these two statements.

A pastor becomes very concerned when those that claim salvation are consistently urged to walk in the light of truth and yet they choose activities that are harmful to the cause of Christ. It is one thing to live in a grey area without understanding clearly what you are doing wrong, and quite another to know the error and be convicted of it and then choose to disobey anyway. This is not a characteristic of one that truly knows Christ. Even worse is to be told very clearly you are doing something sinful and not be convicted by the Holy Spirit. The scriptures teach that God convicts and chastises His children. Those that sin without chastisement are not children of God (Hebrews 12:5-11).

There was a time when Christians (to their shame) would keep their sins hidden from the church. The sin could continue perhaps for years and no one would find out about it. All of us at some time or another have probably lived in this type of hypocrisy. But “times are a changing!” Now to their greater shame, I am amazed Christians will parade their sins for the whole world to see as their lives are constantly plugged into social media. Nothing is more defiant of truth than to see filthy language and pictures, and sometimes downright meanness posted on interactive media. Purchasing a billboard on highway 101 to advertise sin would be no less defiant than church members that regularly update and timestamp their ungodly vices on Facebook!

Should we wonder why ministry is sometimes so difficult and ineffective? Sin in the camp is a destroyer of God’s work (Joshua 7:7-13). Thank God there is a remedy! Pastors would be stressed to the max and unable to function if we believed we were responsible to change people. This is God’s work and we trust the Holy Spirit to make the word effectual. When the pastor preaches about sin, it is not to hurt anyone. It is to exhort and correct so God’s blessings will be on your life and you will prosper spiritually. The pastor rejoices when his spiritual children walk in truth.

This article has dealt mostly with obedience to “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” In light of the ever present social media, what about the second statement “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself?” Stop for just a moment and evaluate where you stand with God. Who in the church have you “defriended” rather than forgiven? There is much to think about in these two statements of Jesus. Are you walking in the truth? Do you actually want to?

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)

This evening in our services we begin a new series of messages on evangelism. For the next two months, each message will emphasize some aspect of the gospel including the truth of the message we preach, the necessity of it, the desire to proclaim it, and the church’s role in the propagation of it. Tonight we will briefly speak on each of these issues, but if I were to choose the most important of the different aspects, it has to be the gospel itself. We must have the right gospel or else all the peripherals are useless.

The loss of the true gospel message is the most serious issue of all because without the truth people cannot be saved. John wrote, ”Whosoever…abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” Recently one of our members related a conversation with a pastor of a large congregation nearby. A simple question was asked, “Do you believe salvation is by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone?” The pastor answered affirmatively and enthusiastically. A second question was asked, “Do you believe a Christian can lose his salvation?” It was a great follow-up question because it began to break down this pastor’s understanding of what it means to be saved by grace through faith alone. The pastor replied as if this subject was a secondary issue and that some in the church believed it is possible while others did not. He preferred not to teach either way because it was not really important. This is actually very important because this pastor in effect denied salvation by grace and justification by faith alone. Charles Spurgeon wrote: “That doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints is, I believe, as thoroughly bound up with the standing or falling of the gospel as is the article of justification by faith. Give that up, and I see no gospel left.”

This pastor’s response is not unusual among so-called “evangelistic churches.” They do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and therefore there is no saving gospel in their churches. If there is no gospel, what is their purpose? What does their church actually do? A recent article in Tabletalk magazine summed it up well. The author said:

“Every weekend in churches everywhere, music is performed to the glory of human skill and artistry. Once upon a time, I sat through a little ditty in a church service in which the congregation was led to sing, ‘I can change the world with these two hands,’ and the question struck me like a lightning bolt: ‘Who exactly am I worshipping right now?’”

“Likewise, every weekend men and women file into church buildings in order to exult in the rhetorical skill of their preacher, to admire him and think of their church as his church, not Christ’s church. Many of us file in each week to enjoy the conspicuous spiritual exercises of our brethren. We worship the worship experience; we tithe with expectation of return from heaven’s slot machine; we dress to impress; and we serve and lead to compensate for the inadequacies in our hearts that only Christ can fill. Every weekend, hundreds of preachers extol a therapeutic gospel from the pages of the same Bible where the real gospel lies.” (Tabletalk, June 2012)

This is the pitfall we seek to avoid in Berean Baptist Church. We will hold steadfastly to the doctrine of Christ that teaches we are enemies of God and our greatest need is to be reconciled to Him. This is accomplished by recognition of our sinful depravity, repentance from our vile wickedness, and faith alone in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the only gospel that saves!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)

For those of you that do not keep abreast of news among the various Christian denominations, you may not be aware of the significant occurrence that happened in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recently. For the first time in its history, the SBC elected a black president. This is very significant because the SBC was formed prior to the Civil War due to a split among Baptists over the issue of slavery. The Southern Baptists were in favor of slavery, which as you might expect turned very quickly from a civil issue into a theological one. Baptists in the North could no longer in good conscience remain in fellowship with those in the South because of their dehumanization of this race of people.

As you are aware, the Southern states held on to their prejudices well past the end of the Civil War and in some areas those prejudices still strongly remain. I grew up in the South and am well acquainted with racially segregated churches. Much of this is due to prejudice, but in some cases it is preferred by both blacks and whites as a matter of ministerial prudence. I do not have space to delve into the reasons here, but suffice it to say sometimes ministers have to deal with issues as they are. The most important issue is the condition of the heart, and until people truly understand how the gospel produces an indissoluble union between all the redeemed in Christ we have to deal with people as they are. It is fruitless to attempt a real reformation of attitudes without the Holy Spirit’s regeneration of the mind.

Our church has serious doctrinal issues with the SBC mainstream. More than fifty years ago my church in Kentucky disassociated with the SBC over theological liberalism which has only grown worse since that time. There is a reform movement in the SBC to bring it back to its original theological base (minus the racial prejudice, of course), which we whole heartedly endorse. I have no idea where the new SBC president stands on doctrinal issues. However, I do know where a man stands on the word of God is far more important than his race.

With these thoughts in mind, we turn to the passage before us. 1 John 5:1 teaches the unity of all believers in Christ. If we love Christ, we will love every person that has become a child of God through faith in Him. I have often spoken of the joy of racial diversity in our church. It is comforting to know that God works in the hearts of people of all races and nationalities. The gospel is the same for all and is not confined to one people group. God respects no person because of race. He only sees two people groups in the world. Either they are believers and are in His kingdom or they are unbelievers and are in the kingdom of Satan. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom while Satan’s kingdom will be destroyed.

One of the most important points made by John in this epistle is this defining characteristic of God’s people: Christians love other Christians. The love of Christ for us produces the love of Christ in us. We love Christ supremely which in turn causes us to love every other person that He loves. Regard for this important principle is the backbone for peace, love, and harmony in the church.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

1 John chapter 4 returns us to a theme that was the subject of one of our bulletin articles last month. This is the repeated warning in scripture concerning those that pervert the gospel of Christ. In Galatians, Paul was extremely condemning of those that taught a false gospel telling the Galatian believers that such false teachers are under the curse of God: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9). Peter spoke similarly in 2 Peter chapter 2 saying these teachers “bring upon themselves swift destruction” (v. 1).

I believe these verses are very appropriate in connection with our current study of Matthew chapter 13. In the first parable of the chapter, Jesus speaks of a sower that sows seed in his field. The seed is “the word of the kingdom” (v. 19) which is the same as the “word of God” (Luke 8:11). The sower (farmer) is compared to the gospel witness who sows the word of God in the hearts of lost sinners. Jesus is primarily referring to Himself, but by extension every Christian is responsible to sow the word by being a faithful witness. The parable shows how the Kingdom of God will grow during the current age before Christ returns to earth.

As important as witnessing to others is for the growth of the Kingdom, it is equally important that we sow the right seeds. The next parable speaks of Satan who is busily sowing the wrong seed that develops into tares which are deceptively similar to wheat yet are highly dangerous if ingested. We can compare this to these often repeated warnings of scripture that false teachers are at work preaching dangerous false doctrines. Those deceived by these doctrines will lose their souls in hell. Sadly, the hardest people to reach are those that have believed the wrong gospel and are satisfied they are safe.

The apostle John cautions us to examine every teacher and his doctrine carefully. His particular interest concerned those that denied the incarnation of Christ (4:2-3). The scope of doctrine is broadened, however, in verse 15 in which John says those that confess Christ as the Son of God are true believers. Obviously, this does not mean simple acquiescence to this statement since there are many that affirm this belief and yet teach damnable heresies concerning it. This is why every facet of a teacher’s doctrine must be scrutinized. Each area must be compared to scripture to see if the teacher has altered the precious seed in any way. One type of tare is a person that says he believes in Jesus Christ as Saviour, but has a very different view of the doctrine of His deity. “Jesus is the Son of God” is a declaration of the co-equality of the Father and Son. Anyone that denies this is sowing harmful seeds that will not produce saving faith.

Be on the alert for these kinds of people. Be sure to ask them, “Who is the Jesus you believe?” Examine closely—poisonous seeds are everywhere.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. (1 John 3:18-19)

The apostle John is often called the apostle of love. His close intimate friendship with Jesus caused him to describe himself in the Gospel of John as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Love is a very important issue in John’s writings, and he argues in the epistle of 1 John that one of the proofs that we are truly Christians arises from the demonstration of love that we have for people in general and for our brothers and sisters in Christ in particular. There is much to be said on this subject as love is a foundational building block of Christian doctrine. God loved the world and sent His Son to die for our sins. Jesus loved His Father and in submissive obedience He went to the cross with joy knowing that by His selfless act He would receive God’s elect people as His inheritance.

God’s love in sending His own Son to die for us is a pattern for every Christian. This is especially true when we consider our relationship to God before our salvation. The scriptures teach that all of us are sinners. We defy God by breaking His commandments, which in scriptural terms is a demonstration of hatred. We are born depraved and by nature are the enemies of God. And yet in this vile, rebellious condition, God still loved us and was willing to give us grace and mercy. The marvelous truth of God’s love is that while we were in this state of rebellion and were enemies He gave Christ to show that He truly loved us and desired to reconcile us and bring us into a loving relationship with Him.

This type of love is a pattern for Christians because it is not natural for us to practice sacrificial love. Too often our love is expressed with words but is not followed with actions. The apostle John was an observer of Christ. He saw love in action as He watched Christ humbly and obediently go to the cross. Jesus vividly demonstrated love in front of John’s eyes as the God-man that had power to destroy His enemies simply bowed His head and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Whenever we are willing to forgive others no matter how they have wronged us, we show the love of Christ in our hearts. John said when we love in deed and truth, “hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”

Are you sure of your salvation? This is one of the ways you can evaluate your commitment to Christ to find out if it is real. Are you harboring grudges? Are there people in the church that you will not associate with because you feel you have been wronged? The first step is not for them to come to you. The first step is for you to go to them and tell them that you forgive them. Imagine how our condition would be different if God waited for us to come to Him so He could forgive us. None of us would be forgiven because we would never come. He came to us because we would not go to Him.

Pattern your life after Christ. Assure your heart that you are truly a child of God by love and forgiveness of your brothers and sisters in Christ. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:10)

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law…He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:4,8)

There is scarcely a person living in the United States that has not heard the word “sin.” Those of us in Bible believing churches hear it often; perhaps in our church there is never a service that it is not mentioned. We hear it in Sunday School classes, in congregational singing, in prayers, and of course in sermons. If you were asked to give a definition of sin, could you easily define it? What is sin? These two verses help identify sin and define it. 1 John 3:4 says “sin is the transgression of the law” and verse 8 says that “sin is of the devil.” The first statement links sin to the law of God and the second links it to Satan, the arch enemy of God.

This simple definition tells us that sin is lawlessness. Whenever you break one of God’s commandments, you have sinned against Him. Most of the time we think of breaking the Ten Commandments and when going down the list we think we have done fairly well because we don’t have idols in our houses, we don’t curse (at least not often), we think pretty highly of mom and dad, we don’t shoplift, we haven’t killed anybody, and so on. So all in all, we are pretty good people.

The Bible teaches that sin is much deeper than a list of do’s and don’ts. Sin is a condition inherent in human nature, so that the attitude of our hearts is one of rebellion and lawlessness. To see if this is true, test yourself when you see a friend move into a really nice house or driving a new car. Is there a bit of envy there? Are there people at work that really get under your skin and sometimes you mumble under your breath that you would like to take them down a notch or two? These are expressions of the sinful nature and are just a smidgen of the hundreds of ways we transgress God’s law every day.

Rather than admit we are sinners, we either try to redefine sin or excuse it. It is not uncommon for people to reclassify sin as a simple mistake or to accept it and excuse it as being a part of our personality disorder. Some blame their childhood, some their environment—whatever they can do to avoid being personally responsible. None of this helps with the real problem. We can redefine and reclassify all we want, but it will not change the fact that sin is the transgression of God’s law and there is a penalty incurred because of it. None of us will escape the penalty if we are left alone to deal with it.

Here is the good news about sin and Satan who is the originator of it. Verse 8 says that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. The devil’s work is sin and this means Christ is able to conquer sin and the one that instigates it. When we receive Christ as Saviour, His blood cleanses us from sin and the power of sin and Satan is broken.

The most important action you can take against sin is to stop excusing it and to trust in Jesus the only one that can help you. To do less is to face the penalty of transgression all alone. When this happens, no excuse will satisfy God.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1 John 2:18)

Last week in our Sunday Morning Forum Class we had a discussion about the meaning of the term “last days.” This term is used several times in both Old and New Testaments but is often misunderstood. Sometimes the same concept is expressed in the way the apostle John did in 1 John 2:18 when he says “it is the last time.” Since the Bible was completed two thousand years ago, we might think the writers were referring to a far off time, perhaps to our own or some future date. However, it is clear from John’s present tense usage, “it is the last time,” that the time he was living in was also considered the last days. Hebrews 1:1-2 defines the last days as a time period inaugurated with the first advent of the Messiah. This means for these past two thousand years we have been living in the last days and will be until Christ returns to close out this period of earth’s history.

The last days are characterized as a time of growth in the kingdom of God. We will see this as we study Matthew 13 and the seven parables Jesus taught concerning the kingdom. This is a time for God’s people to witness the gospel, or as Jesus illustrates in the first parable of Matthew 13, it is a time to sow the seeds of the gospel. This is also a time of great opposition. In the second parable, Jesus describes how Satan will sow tares among the wheat. These are poisonous plants that represent the children of darkness who hate the works of Christ. Using the term “antichrists,” which is peculiar to John’s writings, John describes the character of these tares. They are “anti” meaning “against Christ.” They try to destroy the growth of the kingdom by teaching false doctrines.

Antichrists are very dangerous because the most effective work they do is when they are able to infiltrate churches with these false doctrines. These are not people that stand outside throwing stones. Rather they are people with cunning deceit that worm their way into the church and eat away at it from the inside. They represent false Christianity and their main target is Christ Himself. If they can destroy doctrines such as the deity of Christ, the penal substitutionary nature of the atonement, justification by faith alone, the inerrancy of scripture, and other essential doctrines they are successful at destroying the gospel before it can ever take root in the heart.

John and other Bible authors warn us to be on the lookout for any deviation from the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles. The theme of 1 John is the apostle’s systematic criteria for identifying those that are not true believers. If these false teachers are characteristic of the end times, then we are sure that John was not the only one living through the last days. We are in the heat of it at this moment, especially when the people of this country have become dreadfully confused about the definition of true Christianity. When Mormons are considered Christian, you know we are in trouble! We must be very diligent to “contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude v. 3). We are surrounded by antichrists—not my term but John’s—and a very appropriate description it is.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Today in our congregational reading we begin with the first chapter of 1 John. We recently finished this book in our Wednesday night studies so I know the theme is familiar to many of you. This is truly a remarkable little book in which John helps Christians to find assurance of their faith. In order to have assurance, a Christian most know that he is actually in the faith. John uses this letter to to explain how you may know that you are a Christian. He proceeds along three lines of proof. There is a doctrinal test, a moral test, and a social test. The doctrinal test concerns the proper knowledge of the person of Christ. The moral test is obedience to God’s commandments, and then thirdly the social test is our love for other Christians. A true believer will be right in all three areas.

A true believer will also realize what to do when he feels himself failing in any of these areas. Failure is sin which is a problem we all struggle with every day of our lives. It is impossible for us to stop sinning altogether since the sin nature is not eradicated when we become Christians. We will not be entirely sanctified until we reach the immortal state. We also cannot be content in sin else we are not true believers. The question then becomes, “What do we do when we sin?” 1 John 1:9 has the answer for this. We are to come to the Father with confession and repentance. When we do, we have the promise that He will forgive our sins and will keep us in fellowship with Him by the continual cleansing of Christ’s blood (1:7).

Recognition of sin is a critical factor for our happiness. Our desire is not to sin and the desire is fueled by three important factors. We do not want to sin because it violates our conscience. We do not want to sin because it violates God’s commandments, and we do not want to sin because sin has consequences. Our conscience has been renewed in regeneration so that it has a strong aversion to sin. The Holy Spirit convicts through the conscience so that we cannot be happy living in sin. We also know that God has commanded us not to sin. A real Christian will not be happy if he disobeys His heavenly Father. We also cannot be happy when we sin because the consequence of sin is chastisement. While we are never in danger of eternal punishment, there are temporal corrections that for a time can be very unpleasant. Hebrews says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). We do not like chastisement but we are eventually made happy by it because it has the effect of bringing us to our knees in confession which in turn brings the cleansing desired in 1 John 1:9.

As we read through 1 John, pay particular attention to how John emphasizes the factors that help develop assurance. A careful reading of the book will cause you to cautiously evaluate your salvation. We are encouraged to do this because confidence in our faith makes for happy Christians!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

To me, the 2nd epistle of Peter is one of the most interesting books in the Bible. I am impressed with the absolute assurance Peter had of his faith in Christ and in God’s plan for the redemption of His people. I am reminded of the conversation Peter had with Jesus after Jesus told him Satan was hot on his trail or as He put it, ”Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat.” Peter told the Lord, “I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” It was then that Jesus told him in that same night he would deny Him three times.

Peter is the apostle that Jesus prayed for that his faith would not fail, and after that fateful night when Peter did indeed betray the Lord he went out and wept bitterly. I believe it was at this point Peter was strengthened and poised to become a great leader of the faith. Soon he would see the risen Lord and his mission would become crystal clear. We see him in the first chapter of Acts as the “take charge” apostle and then in the second chapter as the fiery preacher that led three thousand souls to the Lord with one sermon.

This book was written shortly before his death and if we could sum up Peter’s desire in the last words that he wrote we can say he wanted to go out with a bang. His confidence in Christ shows up in the first chapter as he describes seeing a glimpse of Christ in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. His fiery temper is apparent in the second chapter as he shows no tolerance for false teachers. And then in the third chapter comes the bang. He describes how Jesus Christ will return in power and glory and how in a great deafening noise the heavens and the earth as we know them will be destroyed. All is not lost however, because the promise of God is sure that a new heaven and new earth will appear and the righteousness of God will reign supreme.

Peter wrote this while knowing his death would soon come. Tradition says that he was crucified on a cross upside down. Whether or not this is true, we do know that Jesus said Peter would be carried by others to his death and his hands would be outstretched (John 21:18). Many believe this is an allusion to his death on a cross. It is clear this information did not shake Peter’s confidence. He was ready to die and he left his readers with a command to live in the light of Christ’s return. He wrote: ”Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (3:14).

Peter’s courage inspires us to wait for the Lord and to endure patiently any hardships we may face. The world is against us and believes we are utterly foolish to expect Christ’s return. The world is doing now as Peter describes; they mockingly ask “Where is the promise of his coming?” By and by, they shall see. God will end this world with a bang and the end will be the exaltation of His people with Him in glory!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1-2)

The second chapter of 2nd Peter begins with a solemn warning for Christians in every generation. In the first century, the seeds of heresy were already beginning to grow as Satan was busily trying to tear down the work of the gospel and blind people’s eyes to the truth. The apostle Paul speaks of Judaizers in Galatians chapter 1 that taught a false gospel that opposed the teaching of pure grace and faith alone as the instrumental cause of justification. The apostle John spoke of antichrists that denied the incarnation and the full deity of Jesus Christ. Jude warns about deceivers that sneak into the church bringing heresies that deny the faith that was given through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. This is a very common theme in the New Testament and one that we should be keenly aware of.

We may be tempted to think that false teachers will boldly announce themselves and it will be very apparent they are not teachers of truth. We might think we can easily identify them and thus protect the church from their harm. The language of scripture gives us a very much different picture. False teachers are subtle in their activity. Peter says they “privily shall bring in damnable heresies.” This means they come secretly and in disguise. Jude says they creep in unawares. The truth is they may be hard to detect. They bring just enough truth with their lies to be believable and if a Christian is not fully armed against them by having a firm foundation to his faith, he can be led down a path to destruction. While it is true that no born again believer can be destroyed in hell, it is just as true that Satan can ruin a Christian’s influence by undermining his ability to clearly articulate the doctrines of the faith. For this reason, we must be diligent students of God’s word. We must not only be able to state the doctrines of the faith, we must know why they are true. I am afraid this is where the vast majority of Christians fail. They know enough and believe enough to be saved but their personal growth is severely stunted because they attend churches that are unconcerned about teaching doctrine, and may not even have the correct doctrine anyway. Also, in the Christian’s personal life, there is very little to no study of the word.

This is the issue for the believer in the pew. How much more is a false teacher a destroyer of souls when he is dealing directly with unbelievers? A false gospel will never save anyone and will ultimately lead the person to the fires of hell. There are many people headed there that are very religious and believe their souls are safe. They have been deceived and have stopped looking for truth because they believe they already have it.

With the advent of Christ, the first century began the widespread revelation of the gospel of grace. It was also the beginning of a great effort to stop the advancement of the gospel and thus the growth of the church. In the ensuing centuries, the opposition has only grown worse. Today there are hundreds of denominations preaching just about any doctrine you care to hear. We cannot afford to be lazy and complacent and permit false teachers to continue without opposition. If you hear me mention a name or oppose a doctrine of a certain church or pastor, please do not think I do so to try and destroy Christian unity. It is my responsibility to identify the false and to teach what is true. If it takes naming names, so be it. This is part of the hedge of protection you receive by being in a church that is very concerned about doctrinal matters. If you pay attention and attend faithfully, God will protect you from destructive heresies. Try every word that is said by your own diligent study. God expects no less and neither do we.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

As we have been reading through 1 Peter over the past few weeks, you should have noticed a common theme that underlies almost every section. After the salutation of the letter and the initial giving of thanks, Peter tells his readers to rejoice even though they are in the midst of terrible trials. The theme that underlies this epistle is suffering and affliction for the cause of Christ. This type of suffering is often addressed by the writers of the New Testament because of the terrible persecution inflicted upon them by an empire that was hostile to Christianity. When Jesus called twelve men to be His disciples, He warned them that following Him and witnessing for Him and remaining true to the faith would not be an easy path to follow. Although the gospel of Christ is the only hope for a world awaiting the wrath of God, people reject this message and they often do it with hatred and sometimes even with violence.

The tone of 1 Peter makes it clear that suffering for Christ is not to be unexpected. Peter says, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” The explanation for these trials comes in 4:13 and is attributed to the sufferings of Christ. To paraphrase Peter, he tells these persecuted Christians, “Don’t be surprised when people hate you and want to kill you. If you desire to follow Christ, you will not receive better treatment than He received.” The reason for this should be easy to discern even if we do not consider the natural negative disposition of men towards the gospel. We can approach the problem from another angle which is simple deductive reasoning in the comparison of our lives to Jesus Christ.

What kind of man was Jesus? He was kind, compassionate, considerate, supremely loving, temperate, patient, self-sacrificing, perfectly righteous, and a dozen other superlatives that could be added. How was Jesus treated? He was abused, accused, told He was from Satan, and run out of town. He was called a glutton and a drunkard; He was accused of sedition and finally cruelly crucified. All of this happened to the perfect God-man, and yet He never struck back at anyone that wanted to harm Him.

Now consider your life. How do you compare to Jesus in any of these areas? I am sure you have some good traits, but each of us even at our best falls far short of Christ’s example. The indignation we feel when treated badly is just one more example of our inability to match His standard. So, how will we be treated being imperfect as opposed to the perfect Son of God? Not for a minute should we expect better treatment.

You may say now, “How depressing! Is it really worth it?” This is when you should remember Peter’s answer to this question. 1 Peter 1:6 says this is a temporary condition. In 4:13, he says Christ will appear in His glory and you will be exalted and honored with Him. The worst trial you face for the cause of Christ will be worth it when you come to the realization of your final salvation. Never fear what anyone can do to you. As Peter says in the last verse of the fourth chapter, you can commit the keeping of your soul to Christ. He is the powerful Creator who speaks the word and vanquishes all enemies!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)

I am sure each of you are familiar with the cartoon of a man with long hair and beard standing on a street corner with a sign reading “THE END IS NEAR!” Usually, the sign flanks both the front and rear and some sort of funny caption is placed beneath. The idea is that anyone that thinks the end of the world is approaching is a fool. Every day we wake up to the same sunrise, we head off to work, put in our shift, and then make the drive back home. At night we watch a little TV, crawl into bed and go to sleep. The next morning it starts all over again and we do this 365 times per year and have done it for every year since we were born. Further, everyone we know has done the same routine with only slight variation and everyone we have ever heard of or read about in the history of the world has done the same. It is no wonder that when someone begins to sound an alarm for the approaching apocalypse he is considered a fool.

It has now been 2000 years since Peter wrote “the end of all things is at hand” and no doubt there were many that read his words and said he was a fool. Peter’s reference is to the Second Coming of Christ when God will destroy this universe and all that is contained therein. In his second letter, Peter spoke of scoffers that said “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4). Are we to consider Peter a fool because Christ has yet to return? Is the Bible’s warning nonsense?

It is helpful to understand that although New Testament Christians believed in the imminent return of Christ, they were not date-setters. Peter did not imply he was certain tomorrow, or next week, or next month, the world would end. He followed the consistent pattern of New Testament teaching, especially that of Jesus, which said the Second Coming would be a sudden event that would occur without warning. The “end” refers to the consummation of the ages. “At hand” means the day is approaching. Every day we live we are one day closer to the time Christ will return. We are encouraged therefore to live in anticipation of the event. This does not mean to stand on street corners with signs, although we should witness of the event in a rational manner. It does not mean to neglect our daily routines in order to stare at the sky. It means to guard our personal lives so that we are a living testimony of faith. The closer we are to the Lord in obeying His commands the more it speaks to the degree of our confidence in the truthfulness of the scriptures.

The prophet Amos said, “Prepare to meet thy God.” Years ago I remember seeing signs along the roadway that said the same. The time of our life is uncertain and at every turn in life’s roadway there is a possible hazard that could end our lives. It is not as crazy as we might think to say, “the end is near.” One way or another we will meet God. It could be at the suddenness of the Second Coming or at our failure to breathe the next breath. No one knows the time of either. Are you prepared? In either event, you can be by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (1 Peter 3:21-22)

Each time you enter our parking lot for services, you will pass our sign which denotes this house of worship as a meeting place for people called Baptists. Unlike many churches that are baptistic in doctrine and polity, we have not chosen to drop the name Baptist from our title. We believe the name identifies us doctrinally so there is no confusion as to the main tenets of faith that are taught to this congregation. We realize that many Baptist churches are not like us although we still hold to the same doctrines as those that were originally given this name. There are many doctrines we believe that have been abandoned by some Baptists, yet there is one doctrine that is common among almost all Baptist congregations. This is our belief concerning the doctrine of baptism. Baptists derive their name from this doctrine so it would hardly be fitting to maintain the name unless you also maintain the doctrine.

There are many that do not know our doctrine and they erroneously assume that since our name is derived from baptism we must believe that baptism is essential for salvation. In my experience, however, the Baptist church is more in danger of teaching that baptism is not essential for anything much less essential for salvation. I believe we need to emphasize strongly that baptism has its place among New Testament doctrines. It is commanded by Christ and is the first duty of believers upon reception of Jesus Christ as Saviour. To refuse baptism is to refuse to be obedient to Christ. If a person willfully rejects this command after having been taught properly concerning it, it is hard to see how that person has really understood what saving faith and real commitment to Christ means.

With this said, there is confusion about the doctrine, and some of it comes from 1 Peter 3:21. Some have used this verse to teach that baptism is a requirement for salvation. After all, Peter does say “even baptism doth also now save us.” If you lift this one phrase out of the context, it is easy to see how an erroneous doctrine can be built. Peter’s point is not that water baptism is a means of salvation. His reference is a comparison to the ark built by Noah, in which God saved Noah and his family from destruction (see vv. 18-20). The ark was a type of Christ and how that a believer comes into Christ for safety from the wrath of God and the destruction of hell.

Peter is also teaching that baptism is a picture (figure) of what actually does save us. We are saved by the gospel which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Baptism profoundly presents the gospel of Christ in a living demonstration. When the believer is immersed in water, this pictures the burial of Christ. When he arises from the water, it pictures the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is also an expression of the change in the person’s heart. We have died to our old way of life and are raised to walk in the new life of Christ. Every believer is commanded to be baptized to show that he has publically identified with Christ in his belief of the gospel.

The Berean Baptist Church stands by this doctrine. We do not believe it is optional for those that have trusted Christ. No one is received into our membership without baptism from this church or another of like faith and order. Above all, we believe membership in the church requires commitment. If the first command given by Christ for believers is not obeyed, it is difficult to see how a person would be consistent in any other command, especially that of church membership.

If you are a believer and you have not been baptized, I hope you now have better understanding of how important it is to obey this command. We are commanded to be baptized and to be a part of the church. One cannot be had without the other. Consider carefully what Christ would have you to do!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands… (1 Peter 3:1a)

Let’s be totally honest with each another. As I sit here preparing to write this article, we both have to wonder why I would ever want to step onto burning coals; why do I want to open a can of worms; why do I want to load the guns for my own firing squad? Choose your metaphor because there are a number that can apply. This is a topic that rarely results in a favorable outcome—that is unless I am talking to godly people that want to honor the Lord more than anything they do with their lives.

Most people believe that a relationship between a husband and wife in marriage that requires the submission of the wife is a totally bizarre, archaic notion. In many homes, even Christian ones, the wife is the person in authority. Everything runs through her and husbands cower in the corner living with the axiom, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” To be as blunt as I can be, this is rebellion against the word of God. We are fond of saying, “The Bible is our rule of faith and practice,” which in practicality is actually, “unless it rules against what we already practice.” In most marriage ceremonies, the vow for the bride which says, “I promise to obey” is often excluded, although it is not one that I allow to be excluded in any marriage ceremony I officiate.

The Bible clearly shows us that the husband is to be the head of the family. This is the divinely instituted order which began with the creation of the man before the creation of the woman. Woman was created to be man’s helper. Adam was given dominion over the earth which is an authority that was not granted to the woman. However, Eve was to support Adam in exercising this authority.

Perhaps the most convincing argument for submission is given by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5. He said, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing (Eph. 5:22-24). The key to understanding these verses is to consider that submission of the wife to the husband is actually submission to the Lord. This is obedience to God’s order of creation. It does not mean the woman is inferior to the man. Submission has nothing to do with inferiority any more than Christ’s submission to God the Father implies that He is not co-equal with the Father. Submission is the willingness to accept the role that God has for each of us whether we are talking about the wife in the family, the children to their parents, or the man to his head which is Christ. We simply do what God has designed us to do.

These designations also hold true in the church. The reason women are not allowed in the pastorate is because it upsets the divine order. When women are made pastors, they are actually destroying God’s structure from the top down. While many people believe women pastors are uplifting and thought provoking, they are actually subliminally or otherwise destroying the church by destroying families that make up the church.

No matter how many centuries go by we are never going to improve on God’s order. The husband is the one in authority over the home. Time and space fail me to explain the use of his authority, but suffice it to say it should be exercised in supreme love (Eph.5:25) and not in insufferable lordship. A husband that loves his wife as he should will have a wife that willingly submits. If you want success in your home, don’t upset God’s order!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; [14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13-14)

In November of this year, Americans will go to the polls to vote for the person that will lead our country for the next four years. For those of you that follow politics, you know the incumbent president Barack Obama is running for his second term while the Republican Party is in the process of narrowing the choices of candidates to find the person that will run against him.

This year, as it has been for quite some time, Christians are faced with a list of candidates that do not reflect what we feel is the most important qualification of any candidate—does this person fear God and is he concerned about what is biblically and morally right for our country? While the economy is certainly a grave concern for all of us, Christians should be more concerned about social issues than economic ones. We do not feel comfortable voting for people that uphold abortion rights and/or support the homosexual agenda. These are very clearly against the teachings of scripture. This year is also somewhat unique in our history since we could have a member of a cult running for president. We simply do not have good choices, but this has been the case for many, many years.

Unfortunately, there are many compromises in politics and since politicians are more concerned about being elected than anything else, they will fudge their convictions for a few more votes. In my opinion, it has been a long, long time since we had someone that we could have full confidence in their honesty and integrity. However, should Bible believing Christians be distraught because of this? Should we overly concern ourselves with what government is doing? I believe it is the duty of Christians to vote with firm biblical convictions, but I am not overly concerned about who will become the next president.

1 Peter has a perspective on this. Consider the conditions of first century Christianity in the Roman Empire. At the time of the writing of 1 Peter, Nero was the emperor. There are few that could rival Nero for his despicable character, cruelty, and hatred of Christians. There was nothing moral or favorable towards the rapidly growing Christian community in his empire. Underneath Nero were many governors scattered throughout the provinces of Rome that imitated his licentious lifestyle. And yet knowing this and living through it, Peter encouraged Christians to submit themselves to their leaders. As long as those leaders did not require them to act against their faith and the commandments of God, Christians were to obey and do so cheerfully.

We do not find diatribes by Paul or Peter or the other apostles against Roman leaders. When Paul appeared before Felix and Festus, he was respectful to them even though he knew the wickedness of their hearts. There are many directions I could go in commenting on this, but I have space to address only one. The most important consideration for any Christian is not what human government does, but what God wants us to do as citizens of His kingdom. If we believe that God is our sovereign ruler, then we know that our government is not going to stop the advance of God’s kingdom. We haven’t even begun to see the wickedness that existed in the Roman Empire; we have never tasted the horrible persecution that Christians lived under in those times. And yet, the gospel thrived in that time; God’s kingdom made greater strides then than it has in any succeeding generation.

The cause of Christ is far better served by Christians demanding holiness and righteousness from the leaders of churches than the leaders of government. We are far better off being living testimonies of Christ rather than rabidly signing people up to picket, protest, and petition what is a godless government anyway. We will change the world with the gospel not government. We will do it the same way first century Christians did. Rome was brought to its knees and finally destroyed by the gospel, not by legislation.

So, remember this while you worry about who the next president will be. He has no effect—zip—nada—on the kingdom of God. Thank God for that!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter 2:7-8)

In the month of May, it will be forty-three years since Pastor Harry Buerer came to Rohnert Park and planted a new church which is now known as the Berean Baptist Church. When this property was purchased, there was no housing development and the church was isolated in a cornfield. Over the years the neighborhood has grown up and now our church sits on the corner of one of the busiest intersections in the city. This makes our property highly visible which attracts visitors that are looking for a church.

We love to have visitors and we hope that each one feels welcome when they attend our services. We are aware, however, that Berean is different from what most people expect. The modern church has gone to an entertainment motif which appeals to the senses and makes the crowd feel comfortable with an atmosphere they are used to. The message of the church is “feel good” and responds to the felt needs of the people. The problem with this approach is that felt needs are rarely if ever congruent with the gospel of Christ. No one “feels” like the description the Bible gives of them. Scripture says that we are dead in trespasses and sins and we are the enemies of God. This message is offensive, and if the church is seeking to make people comfortable, it is best not to give a clear biblical presentation of the gospel which includes a call to believe what the Bible says about our vile condition and to repent of our sins and trust Christ.

It is interesting that the Bible does not call Jesus “the ticket to heaven.” He is not “J.C.” the guy that wants to make all your dreams come true. Rather, as 1 Peter says, He is ”a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.” If you want to know the truth, He came to “rock” your world not to satisfy your desires for good karma and raise your self esteem. This causes people to stumble on Christ. He is the boulder they cannot climb over because He stands in the way of self satisfaction. Christ demands that we give up our natural desires and live lives in dedication to Him. To put it bluntly, He cares nothing at all about the plan you have for your life. Most people think a church that teaches this kind of doctrine deserves to be out in the middle of lonely cornfield. Get that kind of church as far away from us as you can!

After forty-three years, Berean Baptist is still dedicated to the same simple message of the gospel. The community has grown up and times have changed, but people are still the same and their condition before God is still the same. We will not hide the message to make people feel better because we do not want them happily headed towards hell.

Perhaps Berean is not what you thought it would be. We are simple in our approach because the gospel has simple requirements. Why should we obscure it in the smoke of entertainment? Why should we make it harder to hold on to than an image in a mirror? We want you to hear a clear message so that rather than stumbling on Christ you will believe. ”Unto you therefore which believe he is precious…”

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)

Today’s congregational reading takes us to the beginning of the epistle of 1 Peter. I find myself perplexed trying to decide which part of the first chapter to use as the subject of this article. This chapter is jam packed with many different doctrines some of which go to the deepest part of God’s word. Most of you that know me well would expect that I would be drawn to the second verse in which Peter mentions one of my favorite subjects of scripture, the doctrine of election. Proper understanding of this doctrine is what I would call a sea change. It radically alters our view of self. The heart of man is naturally against it. We will not come to it easily and yet when God opens our eyes of understanding it begins to sink into the soul and overwhelms us with His graciousness. It is not popular doctrine because it is designed to take away our bragging rights. It removes any thoughts that in any way we have part in our salvation.

The second verse also contains the doctrine of sanctification. Not only is the sovereign God singularly responsible for His choice of lost sinners, but it is also His work alone to make them fit to enter into fellowship with Him. The scriptures teach that we are vile and wicked while God is perfectly righteous and holy. If I could put it this way, we cannot sit in the same room with God. His holiness cannot allow any sinner to approach Him. For this, we must be changed. We must be made holy in order to come into His presence. This is what the Holy Spirit does in our sanctification.

A third doctrine taught in this verse is the end to which we have been chosen. We are chosen to obedience. We are chosen to follow Christ and produce good works for His kingdom. We are chosen to obey the commandments of Christ which is the evidence of our salvation. The absence of these good works reveals that sanctification has not taken place—that we have not been purged from our sins. All those that are chosen, called, justified, and sanctified will be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29-30).

A fourth doctrine found in this verse is the means by which all of this is accomplished. It is by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is by His sacrifice on the cross that our sin debt to God is satisfied. We are released from the guilt of our sins and justified in the sight of God by this once for all offering that Christ made on the cross. All of the doctrines of God’s word are centered on this all important fact. If not for Christ’s blood, our election could not result in salvation. If not for the cleansing of His blood, we could not be sanctified in order to fellowship with God. If not for the power of His blood to change our wicked hearts, we would never have the desire to obey God.

This brings us to another wonderful doctrine that differentiates the chosen from all others on the planet. We have peace with God and we have the peace of God. Peace with God is achieved because we have been reconciled to Him. The hostility that exists between us has been removed. God’s wrath has been appeased and now we are considered children of God and recipients of His divine favor (grace). We have the peace of God—a calmness and quietness in our souls that tells us as the song says, it is well with my soul.

Isn’t it amazing that all this is found in just one verse? We haven’t even begun to consider the rest of the chapter! It is easy to see why I am perplexed about what to choose for an article since we will read the first twenty-one verses. What does this tell us? You need to do some investigation. Don’t let the congregational reading be your only venture into God’s word in this week. As Jesus said, “Search the scriptures.” There is much to be discovered that will thrill your soul!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

Today we conclude our congregational reading in the epistle of James. You will notice in the beginning of chapter 5, James gives one of the most scathing rebukes of the sins of the rich that can be found in scripture. While the Bible never says it is a sin to be rich, it does give strict warnings about the deceitfulness of riches and what God expects as stewardship of the resources He has given. Most of us in our congregation will never have to concern ourselves with the temptation to horde riches. It is a challenge for many of you to meet your normal everyday household needs. We find ourselves on the other end of the spectrum fretting about making the house payment or the rent for next month. For many Christians, this seems to be upside down. Why do God’s people have to suffer trying to make ends meet when there are unbelievers that are so rich they can’t figure out what to do with all of their money? There are some churches that have developed an entire theology to answer this question. Their conclusion is that Christians that suffer with financial problems and with health problems are living short of God’s intention for them. They suffer because they lack the faith to claim all of God’s promises.

This is where our featured verse brings such comfort. Those that are not wealthy ought not to think that God will right this perceived wrong during our sojourn in this life. James reminds his readers of the holy prophets that suffered affliction (v.10) and patiently endured it. Could we say the prophets suffered because their faith was lacking? He also reminds them of Job (v. 11) who is the Bible’s classic example of patient endurance. Job certainly did not suffer because of lack of faith. It was his great faith that caused God to allow Satan to test him to prove that he would never turn his back on God despite the harshest of circumstances. In the end, Job received the reward of endurance which was more than what he gave up at the beginning.

The point made by James in this example is not that Job received his riches in this life, which he did, but rather there is always faithfulness by God in respect to the reward. Many of the Christians James wrote to would never see riches in the present life because they were slaves. Were they to conclude as modern preaching says that their lack of faith was the cause? This is wild and crazy theology—even demonic theology that arrives at such erroneous conclusions.

So, when is the Christian living in hardships to expect relief? It comes when we meet Christ. Those that live in light of the return of Christ or in the hope of their immediate presence with Christ at death realize they have eternal life in the present. They are going through such a minute period of time in this life that it does not register on the scale of eternity. The hurts of this life are no more than a scab that will be healed and quickly cast aside. If we truly believe in the reward that is coming, we will endure until we reach it.

Another example James gives of this patient endurance is in verse 7. The farmer toils in the field plowing and planting. It is a necessary part of receiving the harvest. The harvest will come but he cannot rush it. At the same time, he is confident the hard work will have a happy result. I don’t think we have any farmers in the church, so think of it another way. How much hard work and schooling does a professional endure before he becomes established and successful? The hardships are first and then the reward. James is simply saying this life is the hardship; it is the proving ground, and then the payoff of faith in Christ will be ours in the eternal home of heaven.

So, be patient. Hold on a little longer and establish your heart in the faith because Jesus is coming!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:7,8,10)

As we have noted in previous articles, the epistle of James is one of the most practical letters on Christian living found in scripture. As usual, James has answers to common problems that plague Christians. He addresses issues such as persecution, poverty, sorrows, and pain by saying in the first chapter, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” He speaks of the equality of the saints in chapter two by telling us we should not unduly favor the rich over the poor which is part of the poor judgment we are prone to exercise. Chapter three is about a foul mouth, and in this culture it hardly goes without saying that evil speech is pervasive.

Chapter four is no different as James addresses the most fundamental of all Christian problems; that is we are in a constant battle with Satan as he tempts us to deny our faith by living in the sins of our old nature. All sin is the result of temptation, and the yielding to temptation is the forgetfulness that Christ has saved us for a life of holiness and righteousness which results in unceasing dedication to His will for our lives. Living in the will of God is to live by His commandments which enable us to reach ultimate fulfillment of our purpose. We are saved to glorify God. Paul says, “Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Since temptation is a daily ongoing problem, we must learn what to do when we are tempted. James provides a practical outline that if followed brings guaranteed success. The Bible does not tell us to try things to see if they work; it commands us to do them because they will work. The first step in overcoming temptation is to submit to God. Put yourself in God’s hands and be pliable enough to listen and act according to His words. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4), so it stands to reason that if you obey God’s commandments you will not enter into sin. When James says to submit to God and to resist the devil, he is speaking in military terms, but he is not talking about hand to hand combat. He means to focus your attention on what God as commander has commanded, and then being energized by God’s Word your mind is able to combat temptation. The Word is called the sword of the Spirit and if you want to defeat Satan you must wield the sword.

The example for this kind of combat is the Lord’s own temptation in the wilderness. In each temptation, Jesus recalled words of scripture and replied to Satan “it is written.” The scriptures were His source of strength. The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11).

Secondly, James says “draw nigh to God.” Isaiah says that sin separates us from God. The way to get close to God is to repent of our sins. We do this by going to God in prayer and asking for His forgiveness. He is always faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness. This is expressed by “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts…” How do we do this? None of us is able to cleanse our own hearts; only God can. However, we can take the action which will lead to its accomplishment. You must “humble yourself in the sight of the Lord,” and then the promise follows: “and he shall lift you up.”

Sometimes we refer to these activities as “the secret to Christian living.” There is nothing secret about it. God’s word is very plain and very practical. Nothing is purposely hidden to those that know Christ. Read it and apply it. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Satan flees at God’s word. These are not God’s covert ops; they are as well known to the devil as they are to you!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6)

In today’s scripture reading, we are reminded once again of the very practical nature of the epistle of James. In the first chapter, James encouraged his readers to be careful to practice the word of God rather than to just hear it. The word of God is a mirror that reveals the blemishes in our character. If we hear and do not practice, we are like a person that looks into a mirror, sees what needs to be adjusted to make him presentable, but then walks away as if he hasn’t seen anything at all. This illustration is very simple and yet it is one that we can easily identify with. It makes sense because each of us has experienced looking into a mirror and primping to make sure we look our best.

Likewise, the third chapter of James rings a familiar tone as James teaches concerning the use of our tongue. Each of us is very experienced in the trouble that is caused by opening our mouths when they are better kept shut. We have the capability with speech to be a great encouragement to people. We have opportunity to bless people with our words especially when we give them the gospel and teach them the truths of the Bible. However, it is not natural for people to speak good things because our speech is the product of a sinful heart.

If you think about what happened to Adam immediately after he ate the forbidden fruit, you will better understand how the fallen heart is prone to speak evil of others. When God spoke to Adam about his sin, the first thought for Adam was to slander Eve: “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I did eat.” Since that time, it has been much easier for us to speak evil of others. Adam could have defended Eve and told God in her moment of weakness she succumbed to the temptation of the serpent. He could have said, “I should have been there to protect her, so you can blame me.” Instead, he threw Eve under the bus in order to deflect the blame.

Adam’s bad reaction came after the first sin. At this point, he was certainly not used to sin, although with his first excuse he committed another one. Now, after all these thousands of years, we have perfected the art of sinning, and our evil speaking naturally flows like a gushing stream from an overflowing reservoir of corruption. Our tongues are a world of iniquity; they are a fire that has the potential to burn and destroy everyone around us. You have experienced it; you know it—James has nailed you just as he has me.

William MacDonald has a humorous illustration of how quickly the fire of evil speaking burns. He writes: “The manner in which the flame of evil-speaking spreads is illustrated by the conversation between two women in Brooklyn. One said, ‘Tillie told me that you told her that secret I told you not to tell her.’ The other replied, ‘She’s a mean thing. I told Tillie not to tell you I told her.’ The first speaker responded, ‘Well, I told Tillie I wouldn’t tell you she told me—so don’t tell her I did.’”

The point of James’ discourse in the third chapter is to show us how diligent we must be to stop what comes so naturally. Those that are washed clean in the blood of Christ have the capability through the Holy Spirit to control their evil impulses that cause them to speak ill of others. They have clean hearts so they can switch the use of their tongues from evil to those blessed, sweet words of the gospel that are uplifting and encouraging.

Before you open your mouth, think carefully about what you are going to say. Stay away from subjects that will demean others and are hurtful. Once those words have left your tongue, there is no way to reverse them and make them unheard. Once you hit the send button, it’s too late!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. (James 2:14, 18)

As good students of the word of God, we must be amazed at the perfect congruity of biblical doctrine. We understand there is nothing written in God’s word that is inconsistent with any other part, and this is true because the Holy Spirit is the author of divine scripture. Though men were used as God’s instruments of recording the Word, yet their words were inspired by God. Therefore, when we arrive at a scripture in which one author seems to be in conflict with another, we must recognize the conflict is because of our lack of understanding.

It is because of misunderstanding that some have imagined that Paul and James were on opposite tracks when they expounded on the doctrine of justification. Paul says that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28) while James asks the question, “Can faith without works save us?” Which of these writers is correct? Are works necessary for salvation or are they not? If this is indeed a conflict between Paul and James, the problem is actually much greater because it also becomes a conflict between Paul and John and Paul and Jesus. Both John and Jesus demand faith that also includes righteous works.

The reality of the matter is that conflict does not exist. John and James wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as well as Paul, and it goes without saying that Jesus could not be incorrect because He is God. Paul looks at the matter of justification in the sense of the initial act. Is there any specific work or a number of works that we can do that will add up to make us righteous in God’s eyes? The answer is “no” because all of our good works fall short of God’s standard. They are all imperfect and all done with selfish motives. James is not speaking of this initial act; he is speaking of the evidentiary proof of justification. Faith alone saves, but as both Calvin and Luther said, a faith that is alone does not save. Faith always produces good works in the Christian.

We can rephrase James’ question in James 2:14 this way: “What is the profit if a man says he has faith and not works? Can that kind of faith save him?” A faith that does not produce works is not the kind of faith that God gives. And this point is critical to our understanding—faith is a gift from God and the faith that God gives could never be a deficient faith that fails to produce what God intends for it to produce. Here we can interject Paul’s teaching on the grace of God in salvation by quoting Ephesians 2:10. Immediately after saying that we are saved by God’s grace through faith and not by works, he says: ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” James stated this exact point only with different wording. True saving faith is one that produces works of righteousness. These works are ordained by God and will not fail to be present. If anyone says he has true saving faith but his faith is not a productive faith, his faith is self-generated not God given.

In their epistles, both James and John include helpful information to differentiate false faith from true faith. The type of faith a person has will determine whether he is truly a child of God. Paul does no less in his epistles as he consistently outlines the kind of conduct that is evident in the lives of true believers. The agreement of these writers is apparent because each conveys the perfect mind of God.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: (James 2:8)

One of most notable features of the epistle of James is the directness of the author’s approach to practical Christian living. In the first chapter, James said, “If you lack wisdom, ask God and He will give it to you.” He said “When you are tempted, don’t blame God because God never tempts anyone.” He said, “Don’t just listen to the word, go and do what the word says.” Those are very straightforward statements without a great deal of exposition to go along with them.

The same is true in the second chapter as James gives practical advice about how Christians should be impartial to others. This chapter begins with an example of how we are often prone to judge the worthiness of people by their prosperity. We show this in the difference we make in the way we treat those that are wealthy as opposed to the poor. These kinds of judgments are purely acts of the flesh and do not reflect the way that God treats us. Imagine if our salvation was dependent upon how much money we have in the bank!

It is the duty of God’s people to imitate the attitudes that Jesus showed in His life. Jesus never dismissed the rich as unworthy candidates for His love but neither did He court them to receive their approval. He spent most of His ministry among poor people and those that were social outcasts. If the rich thought they would receive His attention because they deserved it, He was quick to point out that all are spiritually bankrupt, all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross, and all must come to Him in the same brokenness to receive life from Him.

This is the attitude that is to be reflected in the church. Some believe they should receive more attention because they are able to drop large amounts into the offering plate, and there are many churches that accommodate such people because they trust men to supply the church’s needs rather than God. However, if we are going to imitate Christ, we will accommodate the poor in an equal manner with the rich. This treatment is summed up in James’ characteristically succinct way. The principle is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It seems kind of odd to say it this way, but do you treat yourself better depending on the worth of your investments? We love and take care of ourselves no matter where we stand economically, so to fulfill the command of scripture towards others, neither will we treat them differently depending upon their material worth.

James goes on to show that mistreatment of our fellows because of economic status is a transgression of God’s law (vv.10-11). This is as much sin as if we were to kill someone or to commit adultery. Sadly, we rarely see it this way. If we recognize it as sin at all, we do not weight it in the same way as we do other sins. James’ point is that all sin transgresses the law and all sin must be dealt with accordingly if we are to be Christ like. We can never pat ourselves on the back and say what fine Christians we are especially if we have disobeyed such a crucial law as find in James 2:8. James calls this a “royal law.” Jesus described it as one of the two foundations of God’s entire law (Matt. 22:37-40).

The next time you see a homeless person enter the church; the next time you see someone dressed a little differently and their Sunday best is not equal to yours, check your attitude towards that person. Are you judging their worth by what they wear? Your greeting of them, your fellowship with them, your care for them, your love for them—all of this speaks to whether you are really doing well. “If you fulfill the royal law…ye do well.”

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

Welcome to the first worship service of Berean Baptist Church in the year 2012. We begin the first day of this New Year in a church service, which should be indicative of our intentions to serve God more faithfully in 2012. Although we enjoy coming together for corporate worship, our service to God must not be confined to the few hours of worship we gather together each week. Worship is an ongoing process each day as we live out the faith of Christ in our daily lives.

The epistle of James enjoins us to have an active faith. James writes in 1:22: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Those that claim Christianity because they attend church and listen to preaching have not yet gone far enough to substantiate their claim. If all they do is hear and they believe this enough, they are deceived about the depth of their faith. Real faith causes a Christian to be active in pursuing the good works that God demands from His people.

The example we have from Christ is that of a faithful servant. A servant is not idle; he is always busy about his master’s work; and certainly Jesus was not idle as every day was filled with tasks given by the Heavenly Father. He did not teach simply by His words; He taught by the activity of His life. His disciples listened to His words, but they learned as much from His example as they did from His profound grasp of scripture.

The epistle of James is a great place to study the composition of real faith. James does not teach that we are saved by our works, but he emphatically makes the point that a person without good works cannot be a Christian. If Christ truly lives in the heart of the believer, the evidence of His presence cannot be suppressed. It will make itself known because the desire of every believer is to serve as Christ served. An example of this is given in the 27th verse of the first chapter. ”Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this…” and from there follows the examples of a living faith. Visiting orphans and widows and trying to stay out of sin is not the sum total of our religion, and neither does James intend this to be a full definition of pure, undefiled faith. The point is that saving faith always demonstrates itself. It will do much more than what is mentioned in verse 27, but it will not do less.

Does this mean we must seek out orphans and go find widows or else we cannot have real faith? If this were so, then eternal life would be dependent upon orphans and widows! The gist of the message is that wherever we see those in need we must show our love for them. Your orphan or your widow may be a homeless person or a struggling person in this congregation. If you ignore their need, how have you demonstrated the life of Christ in you?

These are the kinds of considerations we must have to serve the Lord in a better way in this New Year. Take your worship beyond the walls of the Berean Church. We worship God by obedience. He wants this far more than your “sacrifice of praise” if it comes from a falsely pious, cold, unconcerned heart (cp. 1 Sam. 15:22). Do your best to make 2012 a year of active obedience not only in attending church, but in being a beacon of the Saviour’s love in word and deed.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

Today our congregational reading brings us to the book of James which is one of the most practical books of the New Testament concerning the life of a Christian. Often in the New Testament there are various tests that are given to prove the genuineness of people that profess to be Christians. These tests distinguish true believers from false professors and help us to determine if our faith meets the standard of saving faith.

One of these standards, and surely a most important one, is the test of perseverance. Is our faith capable of withstanding the many types of temptations that assail us or does it wither and die under those hardships? Unfortunately, there are many in our Baptist ranks that deny the doctrine of perseverance and say it is not scriptural to teach that a person must persevere in order to be saved. They claim that preservation is taught but that God requires nothing from the believer but faith in the sustaining grace of God.

We would certainly agree that preservation is a definite promise for believers. Once we have believed our salvation is safe and secure because the ground of our justification is not our works of righteousness but is based upon the imputed righteousness of Christ. However, we also believe that true faith in Christ is demonstrated by the perseverance of believers. It is hard to escape this doctrine when we read verses such as James 1:12. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life” is a statement of perseverance. The word endureth is translated from a word that means perseverance and some translations use this word in place of endureth to help clarify the meaning. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, “…he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” This is the same word used by James which means “to persevere.” It is evident that enduring or persevering is connected to our salvation in both of these verses.

An underlying issue that causes certain Baptists to reject perseverance is their failure to grasp the submission of believers to the Lordship of Christ. Inherent in the belief of the gospel is this submission. However, there are those that teach submission is not a part of salvation, which may come later or may not come at all. These types of believers are labeled as true believers but are not truly disciples. Therefore it is possible to be a believer in Christ but not a disciple. This leaves room for the carnal Christian whose faith may not be demonstrated and therefore he may not persevere in the faith. He lives the life of a defeated Christian, but is a Christian nonetheless. Such misinterpretations of scripture are the basis for fantastic soul winning numbers in which professors have never given any evidence of their belief.

We maintain that lack of perseverance is the demonstration of the lack of saving faith. Though a Christian may sin and may backslide, it is impossible that he could be a true believer if his entire life is characterized by sin as his norm. This is clearly taught by John in 1 John 3:2-10. This also accords with the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 10:32-39. Those that do not meet this persevering standard are not truly born of God.

There are temptations that come upon us daily which are the works of Satan. There are trials that come as well which God allows for refining and perfecting our faith. How a person responds to these is the exposure of his faith. Which do you think is the response of true believers? Is it persevering faith or failing faith?

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)

In II Timothy 3:16, the apostle Paul wrote that all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for the Christian’s instruction in righteousness. Everything we learn in scripture helps to outfit us for our lives of service to Christ. Because the place for Christian service has always been in and through the church, there are many scriptures that deal with the behavior of God’s people in relation to their fellowship with other Christians. One of the most important, if not the most important, is the attitude that members of the church have towards their leaders. Good order in the church requires that godly leadership should be respected and followed.

The writer of Hebrews reminds these Christians that leadership must give an account to God for the way they have conducted their ministry. The pastor especially is given the responsibility of watching out for the welfare of the souls that are under his charge. There are various ways this is done. It may be through prayer, through counseling, and even through discipline. However, the most important way the pastor labors for the membership is through the instruction of God’s Word. The Word itself is described as profitable; it is the Word that reveals what God expects, and it is through the Word that we are drawn closer to the cross of Christ.

A very important aspect of the teaching of Hebrews 13:17 is that the membership has its own responsibility towards the pastor. The membership must also labor to make the pastor’s ministry effective. It must strive to make his shepherding less strenuous by responding favorably to the Word that is preached. It is also the duty of members to pray for the pastor and to help by lifting him up with words of encouragement. The scripture says his ministry should be joyous and not one that is filled with grief.

You will notice the writer says that making the ministry hard for the pastor is unprofitable for the membership. You may wonder how this is so. The answer is in the consideration of the ownership of the church and who the work is for. We labor for the cause of Christ and He is the head of the church. If the Christian does not support the pastor, if he or she derides the pastor and complains to others about him, it is an assault upon the headship of Christ. It disrupts the ministry and stunts spiritual growth. There is no profit for the person that engages in such activity.

It is also the duty of others that encounter any kind of slander against the pastor to defend him. If he meets spiritual qualifications and is walking and teaching according the Word, he is to be followed and respected properly for the work. If this is not the case, there is a proper protocol for correcting a pastor. He is a member of the church as well as others and should be approached by the Matthew 18 principle and particularly the instruction of 1 Timothy 5:19. The pastor is not to be tried in the forum of private gossip.

When the membership of the church follows these principles outlined in scripture, the ministry of the pastor becomes a joyful one. There is nothing more satisfying than to see God’s people respond to the Word and grow thereby. Remember that your pastor is a co-laborer for Christ. A good pastor does not seek to be lord over the people. He wants to work beside them in the mutual love and respect for the ministry of Christ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

For the past several weeks, we have had the blessed privilege of taking our congregational readings from the book of Hebrews. Hebrews is a deep theological work and is one of the most challenging books of the Bible. This book, along with Romans, really mines the importance of the New Covenant that has been established through the sacrificial death of Christ. We have now reached the thirteenth chapter in which the writer gives some practical exhortations that are the spiritual responses to the great truths that have been learned. These truths concern the superiority of Christ over all aspects of God’s physical and spiritual creation. It presents Christ as supreme and as the ultimate object of our praise, adoration, love, and respect. Because He is the eternal God, to possess Him as Lord and Saviour is to have all we could ever hope for and all we will ever need.

This possession of Christ as our Sovereign Lord is especially important as we come to verse five of the thirteenth chapter. We remember that the eleventh chapter dealt with great heroes of the faith, some named and others nameless, which were willing to give their lives because they had the hope of Christ within them. This hope was the promise of an eternal home in heaven: “Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels” (12:22). Because the Christian is an heir to this heavenly city, we ought not to think there is anything that we lack which in turn would cause us to become covetous. What does anyone have that is better than what we already possess? Our possession is not only better but immeasurably better. We can live with contentment knowing that we are the present owners of the riches of God’s inheritance. This promise is surer than what we can actually see with our eyes. People are deceived by the lust of the eyes. Earthly possessions do not satisfy, and yet this is the continual pursuit of our materialistic society, which sadly also includes many Christians.

It is becoming increasingly popular in Christian churches to teach that Christians should pursue wealth because it is God’s desire that we have the best of what the world has to offer. We should expect it because God has ordained it for us. This kind of theology belies the entire book of Hebrews. It is Christ Himself that we pursue; the best this world has to offer is worse than junk in God’s kingdom. Paul said he counted all that he had gained in this world as dung in comparison to the riches that he found in Christ (Philippians 3:8).

The great hope of this passage is the concluding statement, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This is God’s infallible promise that once we have placed our faith in Christ, our eternal home is secure. Though we go through hard times; though there are worldly things that would seem to improve our lives, we should trust God’s providence that He has given exactly what we need for this moment of time. We can be content because we see through the eyes of faith what others cannot see. Christian, trust God! You belong to Him and He belongs to you.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)

Our congregational reading today is in the 12th chapter of Hebrews verses 14-29. These verses represent a remarkable dichotomy between facing God on the basis of the law only or facing God in His mercy and grace. The law is presented as physical Mount Sinai where God appeared to Moses to give Him the precepts and commandments that would govern His people. The presence of God on the mountain was demonstrated in fire and smoke and blackness which represented the wrath of God and His vengeance upon guilty sinners. God intended to speak with Moses alone and forbade anyone else to approach the mountain. Even with divine permission, Moses greatly feared knowing that God had power to take his life without provocation. The people likewise sensed the slender thread that held them from falling under God’s vengeance since even an animal accidentally crossing the forbidden zone meant a sentence of death.

The writer of Hebrews explains this scene in order that we might understand what it means to face the holiness of God with nothing to fall back on but our record of keeping God’s commandments. This record is worse than dismal, and since the law is rigid and unforgiving it affords no basis for avoidance of God’s wrath. The law condemns; it does not commend us for obedience. Jesus said, “When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). This leaves us in a hopeless condition unless the sovereign God should grant us mercy.

This is where the next part of the narrative gives great hope. The old covenant was not sufficient to make us righteous. Therefore God gave a new covenant which is based on the sacrificial offering of Christ for our sins. The offering of Christ makes us just with God, and because of this new covenant, we need not fear to come into His presence. There is no prohibition to approach God. Rather, we are invited to come for fellowship which we are able to do at any time because we have divine acceptance and permission. We do not approach Mount Sinai which is the forbidden zone; rather we come to the spiritual heavenly Jerusalem where God’s people gather to enjoy His presence.

The chapter closes by encouraging us to hold on to the doctrine of God’s grace. The only way we can serve God acceptably is by receiving the gospel of grace. Grace changes the believer from the fear of God’s wrath to a different fear—to godly fear. With gratefulness we serve Him, while being reverently cautious lest we should offend Him.

God shook the earth when He appeared at Mount Sinai, and He will come to shake the earth again. This will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. Those that survive the judgment of this world are those that have realized their sinfulness in front of the Holy God, have given up self help, and have received Christ humbly by faith.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111:10)

Today we are happy to have the privilege of celebrating Thanksgiving. This is one of my favorite Sundays of the year as we have the opportunity to think on God’s bountiful blessings and to enjoy the fellowship of God’s people as we gather around a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.

I have chosen Psalm 111 for our scripture reading which reminds us of God’s great works. Verse 2 says, “The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” Verse 4 says that God has made His wonderful works to be remembered. This is what we do when we set aside a day like today. It is the recognition that everything we have comes from God. He deserves our praise and adoration for His salvation and daily provision.

Charles Spurgeon, the great English pastor of the late 19th century wrote a commentary on Psalms entitled, The Treasury of David. He makes the following comment on verse 1: “Holy reverence of God leads us to praise him, and this is the point which the psalm drives at, for it is a wise act on the part of a creature towards his Creator.” Thankfulness and praise is more than just prayers and singing songs and saying that we thank God. Real thankfulness is shown by responding to God’s goodness in obedience.

Spurgeon makes this clear in his comments on verse 10: “Obedience to God proves that our judgment is sound. Why should he not be obeyed? Does not reason itself claim obedience for the Lord of all? Only a man void of understanding will ever justify rebellion against the holy God. Practical godliness is the test of wisdom. Men may know and be very orthodox, they may talk and be very eloquent, they may speculate and be very profound; but the best proof of their intelligence must be found in their actually doing the will of the Lord. The former part of the psalm taught us the doctrine of God’s nature and character, by describing his works: the second part supplies the practical lesson by drawing the inference that to worship and obey him is the dictate of true wisdom. We joyfully own that it is so.”

Spurgeon’s words cause us to reflect on the rejection of God’s principles by our American society. This week the nation will pause for a holiday which we call Thanksgiving, but very few have shown any thankfulness at all by being obedient to God’s call for holiness. The scriptures tell us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). We think we are wise and know what is best for our country when God says, ”a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.”

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, take time to be thankful and to praise God for His bounty, but also remember to take account of your life. Have you shown God how thankful you are by your obedience? We often speak of how we can trust God. A good question for each of us is, “Does God trust our praise when we say we are thankful?” The proof is not what you say with your mouth. The proof is what you do with your life.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Hebrews 12:1 is a summation of the 11th chapter in which the writer speaks of the unwavering faith of many Old Testament saints. They trusted in God’s promise that He would send a Messiah with a truly remarkable ministry, but they never realized the promise in their lifetimes. They lived in a different dispensation under types and shadows that prefigured the coming Messiah, but they were not blessed as we are to live in the fullness of understanding of those same prefigurations. And yet with this limited understanding, they remained faithful to their cause fully trusting God that everything He promised would be fulfilled.

In the 12th chapter, we are encouraged to regard their example. We are in a better position than they, which should cause us to endure even more for the cause of Christ. The Old Testament saints are witnesses for us. They speak through the pages of scripture to encourage us to fight the good fight of faith and to remain steadfast and unmovable in our resolve to serve Christ. We are encouraged to cast aside any sin that hinders our service to God and to patiently endure suffering for the cross of Christ.

This admonition is followed by more encouragement to focus our eyes on Jesus the one who not only gives us faith but also brings that faith to its final fruition. We are never left alone in the trials of life. In the worst moments when it seems there are no more resources, there is a fresh outpouring of His grace to help us endure the trials. The apostle Paul said that every trial is an opportunity for God to give a new display of His power (2 Cor. 12:9).

In the last part of verse 2, we are reminded of the willingness of Christ to sacrifice Himself for us. Jesus did this because He knew the suffering of the cross would bring His greatest exaltation in glory. Jesus is not listed among the heroes of the faith in the 11th chapter because His suffering was the ultimate agony. His suffering was the equivalent of the agony we would endure in hell should we remain unconverted. Jesus endured the wrath of God for sin while dying on the cross, and yet He fully trusted that He would arise from the dead.

With these great examples of faith culminating in the greatest act of faith, that of Christ, we are encouraged not to faint. If we concentrate on our troubles instead of Christ, we are prone to weariness and despair. When we see how faith sustained these great heroes and how Jesus Christ overcame more shame and humiliation than we could ever experience, then we know our faith in Christ is well capable of overcoming our afflictions. No Christian has ever had more trials than faith was able to conquer. Remember this the next time you face a hopeless problem. Focus on Christ and believe He will bring you through.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:30-31)

One of the compelling narratives in the Old Testament is the story of Rahab and the providential way she was brought to salvation in Jehovah God. Her story is found in the book of Joshua chapter 2, which is in the time when Israel was ready to take possession of the Promised Land. There was a formidable obstacle standing in their way which was the fortified city of Jericho. Rahab lived in Jericho. She was one of the Canaanites that was a worshipper of false gods, she was dedicated to the immoral practices of the people which included worship filled with terrible sexual perversion. The scriptures note that Rahab was a harlot, or in our terms she was a prostitute.

Rahab was one of the down and out; she lived in a city that was destined for destruction. For all intents and purposes, it would appear that Rahab would die the death that others in Jericho would experience when Israel came to take possession of the land. This was not to be, however, because she was one of God’s chosen people. One of the most marvelous aspects of this in consideration of God’s grace is this person that God chose to save. If I told you today that God was going to rain down destruction upon San Francisco and only one person in the city would be saved, who would you expect God to save? In God’s kingdom, who would be the most advantageous?

We might say, “Well, surely, God would save the richest person in town.” Or, “God would save the most prominent businessman or the savviest politician. That kind of person would surely make God’s list.” But if I told you that God was going to save a homeless person, or a heroin addicted prostitute, you would say, “That’s crazy. It doesn’t make sense. Why would God save that person?”

Most of us here today are used to singing “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me;” and what we are really thinking is “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like him, or like her.” We don’t think we are all that wretched and it is really not too amazing that God would choose us. The fact is, however, that all of us are undeserving of God’s grace. There is nothing in us that commends us to God, and certainly nothing that prompted God to mark us out as objects of His saving grace.

Rahab is a good case in point that God can save anyone. No matter what you have done or where you have been, God’s grace is powerful enough to save you. The scripture says “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not.” This is the key to the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth. By faith, God saves. Have you trusted Him? Jesus Christ stands ready right now with arms open wide to receive you. Rahab realized the power of Almighty God to rescue her from destruction. The same is true for you today. Destruction is your path if not for the saving grace of God. By faith Rahab was delivered, and by faith you may also receive deliverance from God.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Our scripture reading today brings us to one of the most well known chapters of the Bible. The subject is faith; the kind of faith that urges the believer in Christ to keep on trusting God in the midst of severest trials. It is the faith that perseveres which shows it is anchored solidly in the object of faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those that have real saving faith do not fall back to perdition but believe to the final saving of their souls (10:39).

This faith is one that brings the future promises of God into the present so that they are assured as if they were already realized. It is not an unfounded hope but is implicit trust in God grounded in the revelation of Him through His word. This faith causes us to believe that the blessings of God are actuality and that we will possess them because of God’s own faithfulness and power to make them happen. Arthur Pink wrote concerning this faith: “The confident expectation which faith inspires, gives the objects of the Christian’s hope a present and actual being in his heart. Faith does not look out with cold thoughts about things to come, but imparts life and reality to them. Faith does for us spiritually what fancy does for us naturally. There is a faculty of the understanding which enables us to picture to the mind’s eye things which are yet future. But faith does more: it gives not an imaginary appearance to things, but a real subsistence. Faith is a grace which unites subject and object: there is no need to ascend to Heaven, for faith makes distant things nigh (see Romans 10:6, 7). Faith, then, is the bond of union between the soul and the things God has promised. By believing we ‘receive’; by believing in Christ, He becomes ours (John 1:12). Therefore does faith enable the Christian to praise the Lord for future blessings as though he were already in the full possession of them” (Exposition of Hebrews).

This kind of faith is absolutely essential for the Christian because of the powerful enemies that war against our soul. The scripture says that God’s people are appointed to suffering and that the world is always against us. Without an enduring faith, we would soon succumb to those evil forces and give up our confidence in God. This faith is not conjured up from natural intestinal fortitude because we are incapable in our sinful disposition to believe these things are real. This faith is initiated by God. As the man in Mark 9 cried out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief,” so we must depend on God to grant us this kind of faith by changing our sinful nature to one that is enabled to trust God with all of our heart.

The result of this faith is seen in the following verses of Hebrews 11. Multiple examples are given of those that endured the worst persecutions imaginable without obtaining the promise in this life, yet they never thought that God had abandoned them. Their promise of eternal life with God in heaven was as sure to them as if they had already received it. This is the faith we must ask God for—a substantive faith that has complete confidence in Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Today our congregational scripture reading is the closing verses of Hebrews chapter 10. In verses 32-39, there is encouragement for Christians to bear up under the trials and persecutions of their faith, and to remember the promise of God that when Christ comes all the cares of this life will be over. The writer asks these Christians to look back to the time they received Christ, when their hearts were opened to the gospel and they were enlightened to the glorious truth of salvation. There was a purpose in their commitment to Christ which was the promise of eternal life and a heavenly reward. Contrary to the type of gospel that is preached today, these Christians were not given an easy path to follow, but rather were plunged into terrible persecution. Economic pressure was also very real, but despite these hardships they had remained faithful and had gladly sacrificed their material goods for the increase of the gospel.

It is in these trying times that the real faith of a person is discovered. Those whose hearts have been truly changed will persevere even in the hardest of times. They keep their eye on the promise and realize this life is only a temporary assignment. They look with earnest expectation for the coming of Christ, the promised one, without giving up hope. They continue to live by faith knowing that God is always faithful to His promise.

The opposite of this is the person that professes faith in Christ yet his profession is not strong enough to anchor him to Christ. Instead, at signs of trouble, he withdraws his commitment and falls back into the world. According to scripture, this type of person is a superficial believer; he comes to Christianity for immediate benefits which consistently fall outside the categories of the ways God promises to bless us. This type of follower is of the worst sort and will not only fail to be saved in the end, but also comes under the sorest punishment of God. In verse 29, this is the person that treads under his feet the precious blood of Christ. He does not count the blood of Christ that sanctifies worth the time, effort, and trouble. Once he has heard the truth and rejected it, he betrays Christ to which Jesus replies, “It had been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt. 26:24). The writer of Hebrews says of him, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (10:31).

This article may seem like a poor subject for a Sunday morning bulletin. It is not the usual fare most people hear in their church. They would rather sing happy songs and think good thoughts never considering that at least occasionally we need some fear of God put into our hearts. The writer of Hebrews does this. He leads with some fear, but then finally concludes with, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (10:39). There is horrible danger in false commitment; but a real one trumps the temporariness of our troubles. It keeps us looking for Christ, the one who saves us forever!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

In the past few weeks, we have been specially blessed to have three of our missionaries visit with us. We rejoice that we are able to have some part in these works in different countries of the world and to see the many souls that are won to Christ through our tithes and offerings. As our missionary Wilson Maungo departed after the Sunday evening service, he remarked how grateful he was for the support given by our church. His comment was that our mission dollars enable him to do his work and without it the many different ministries he conducts would not be possible. He labors for the Lord in East Africa where even one dollar can make a difference in a person’s life. The average income for those he ministers to is one dollar per day. The school teachers in his ministry that conduct classes for orphans and others receive a wage between $40 and $60 per month. Most of them cannot afford a study Bible because the cost is about $80. Bro. Wilson cannot afford to buy Bibles for them and neither is he able to afford books and commentaries to help him train teachers and pastors or to aid him in his own studies.

As Pastor Wilson discussed this with me, I was burdened to help him with resources. With the materials I have and with the help of some of the other members, we were able to put about 14,000 electronic books on his laptop computer. I also installed text files that enable him to print copies of the King James Bible. It was truly rewarding to see how excited he was to have these resources. He remarked that God may have brought him to this country just to receive these materials. The church also gave a generous offering to help cover the expenses of his travels to the USA.

I thought about his comment that he could not do his ministry without our support. He is such a humble man that he gave credit for his ministry to churches in this country. From one angle this is certainly true; however, ten times the mission dollars that are sent would do no good unless there is someone on the ground that is willing to do the work. This is something all of us need to remember and take to heart. We cannot give money alone to his ministry or even to ours. We have to be willing to do the work. We need to ask ourselves, “Are we willing to work? Are we willing to give not only money but ourselves to Christ?” This is what it takes to have a healthy, vibrant church. Every member must be a minister. As Pastor Wilson so aptly put it in his Sunday morning message, we are ambassadors for Christ. I pray God that it would be so!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:9-10)

Last week we were privileged to enjoy the preaching and presentation of our Missionary to Brazil, Mike Creiglow. In the coming weeks, two more of our missionaries will be with us to talk about their mission fields and how our mission offerings are at work in other places of the world. I was very much encouraged by Bro. Creiglow’s messages because I thought they were timely for our church and were good reminders that every member of Berean needs to be involved in ministry.

Our ministry, as well as theirs, is to reach people with the gospel of Christ. No matter where we go in the world, the need is the same; the hearts of people are the same, and the eternal destiny of every soul without Christ is the same. The remedy for their dead spiritual condition is nothing different from what we have learned. Salvation is in Jesus Christ and is never dependent in any way on our abilities. Christ’s death on the cross accomplished everything it was intended to do, which leaves nothing for humans to add.

You may wonder what this has to do with the two verses quoted above. This is actually the crucial point of the writer’s intent. The covenant of law given to Moses at Sinai was not kept perfectly by any person at any time. This was a conditional covenant of obedience which would never work for salvation because there are no perfect people. If salvation comes by the keeping of commandments, they would have to be kept perfectly in every detail. Man’s fundamental problem is his imperfection coupled with his insistence that he can be right with God by his own works of righteousness. Since these always fall short of God’s perfect standard, another covenant without this condition must be established. In Christ, we have an unconditional covenant. This is the covenant of grace that does not depend on our perfection, but on Christ’s. He is God and therefore is perfect in all His ways. His covenant will not fail because it is grounded in His perfection not ours.

The tenth verse speaks of the salvation of Israel and how God is the one who alone is active in impressing the heart and mind with the divine truth of the gospel. It has a view towards the coming kingdom in the millennial age when Israel will be restored to prominence. At this point, it is good to recognize verse 11 because Israel is not the only nation included in the gracious unconditional covenant. It also comprehends people from all nations, from all races—people of every kind. The verse says, “All shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

The gospel of Christ is cross-cultural. It is not the “American gospel.” It is the gospel of God’s kingdom. We send missionaries because there are people in all parts of the world that God has determined by His sovereign grace to admit into His kingdom. All of them gain admission one way—belief in the gospel. The missionary is the human instrument that delivers the good news wherever these people are found. This is true for people thousands of miles away, or even those a few steps from your door. You are also God’s missionary and you do not have to get out of town to do His work!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. [15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, [16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:14-16)

In Hebrews chapter 5:6, we are introduced to one of the Bible’s most enigmatic characters. This man is Melchizedek who first appears in the Biblical narrative in Genesis chapter 14. Since Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, they would be familiar with the Old Testament story of Abraham who recognized Melchizedek as the priest of God. When Abraham defeated King Chederlaomer, he was met by Melchizedek who blessed him and gave thanks to God for the defeat of Abraham’s enemies. At this time, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek from the spoils of his victory.

Melchizedek mysteriously appears in Genesis 14 and then nothing else is said about him. He is mentioned once again in Psalm 110 which is a Messianic Psalm, and thus a connection is made between him and Christ. The Psalmist wrote: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” This statement is repeated in Hebrews and it is not until this New Testament book that the connection between Christ and Melchizedek is fully explained.

Genesis 14 refers to Melchizedek as both king and priest. Under the Mosaic Law, priests were from the tribe of Levi and kings were from the tribe of Judah. Thus, there is no one that could be both king and priest. Kings were often severely chastised when unlawfully intruding into the priest’s office. It was very important to the Jews to maintain proper genealogical records, especially of Levi and Judah, so that the tribes were clearly distinguished. Melchizedek is different, however, because he lived prior to the Mosaic Law.

According to Hebrews, this difference is very significant. As we know, Jesus was born in the tribe of Judah which gives Him no right to occupy the office of priesthood. However, if His priesthood descends from Melchizedek rather than from Levi, this problem is solved. Hebrews shows that Melchizedek is a type of Christ. The unusual characteristic of Melchizedek is there is no parental genealogical record that establishes his right to be king or priest, and there is no record of descendants that might claim his same rights. Thus, Christ is claimed to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek because they are the same in kind. Christ did not receive His right to be a priest from natural descent. His right comes because He is the eternal Son of God and has the power of an endless life.

This just barely touches the subject and it may seem to be a minor point of academic interest and not really important for the average reader. If this is the case, we may as well lay Hebrews aside and not bother reading it, because if these points are not understood the significance of Hebrews is severely diminished. The priesthood of Christ must be understood because this is what gives Him the right to make a sacrifice to God and to atone for our sins. This gives Him the right to be our mediator and to bridge the impossible spiritual communication gap between us and God. These important aspects are functions of the priesthood.

Today, we need no other priest than Jesus Christ. We can come to God at any time with no earthly mediator that stands between. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. His priesthood is permanent; it is unchangeable because He is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17). Rejoice for instant access to the great God of heaven through Jesus Christ!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)

The sixth chapter of Hebrews is one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament. Scholars have debated the meaning of the first six verses for centuries and still there is much disagreement. Controversy arises over the first two verses as to whether the writer is telling New Testament Jewish Christians to move beyond the types and shadows of the Old Testament, or whether he is referring to elementary New Testament doctrines that should have already been settled in their minds. The former meaning would teach that Old Testament ceremonies were merely illustrations of the greater work of Christ, while the latter emphasizes New Testament doctrines. Both interpretations encourage Christians to maturity in the deeper doctrines of the faith.

This controversy pales in comparison to the arguments over verses 4 through 6. Without exploring these verses in depth, we are sure that one popular interpretation cannot be right. This is the idea that one that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God and has truly received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, could then totally and finally apostatize from the faith. There are too many other scriptures that convincingly refute this interpretation, and since the Bible never contradicts itself, this interpretation must be wrong.

We understand further that it must be wrong by the very meaning of salvation which is to be made safe, and by the work of the Trinity in securing eternal salvation. This includes the election of God’s people from the foundation of the world, the payment for the debt of their sins by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit through which He effectual calls the sinner to salvation. The intention of this great work is to conform the believer to the image of Christ. If any part of this fails, the Trinity fails and thus God cannot be God. Therefore, we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).

The whole of scripture presents an unshakeable convincing argument for the impossibility of the redeemed ever losing their salvation. However, I do not find it necessary to move beyond this chapter to find such assurance. All we need do is read a little further to verses 13 through 20 in which the writer relies upon the faithfulness of God to always remain true to His promises. If we have fled to God for the refuge of our souls (v. 18), then we have the promise of God that our souls are anchored with Christ in heaven (v.19). This promise is made sure not just by God stating it, which is exceedingly more than enough since God cannot lie, but is also confirmed by God’s oath. He swore upon Himself because there is no higher authority to swear by.

The faith once placed in Christ is a sure faith. If in the beginning it is real, it will never falter because it is anchored in heaven in the holiest place where Jesus Christ has presented His own blood as the surety of our salvation. Today, it is with full confidence that I can say, “Trust Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and you will be as sure for heaven as if you were already there!”

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; [9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:8-9)

In surveying the New Testament, there are many passages that especially draw our attention and are amazing to our eyes as we read them. There are verses that lift us up to the heights of glory; that gladden our hearts and refresh us and remind us that we sit in heavenly places in Christ. The apostle Paul was prone to stop after writing words with Holy Spirit inspiration and offer doxologies of praise. One such place is 1 Timothy 1:17: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews is like reading a continuously long praise song to the mastery of Jesus Christ. We have seen previously in the first four chapters that Christ is superior to angels, to Moses, and to Joshua. In the fifth chapter, the intention is to show His superiority to the priesthood of Aaron. Although Christ was not descended from Aaron and thus not in the line of priesthood, yet He is superior because His appointment was directly from God. Christ did not enter the priesthood as a selfish intruder, but as one ordained by God to a new and better priesthood—a perfect priesthood that is not attainable by a mere mortal (5:5-6). The priesthood of Aaron and those descended from him was temporary by reason of death (7:23), but the priesthood of Christ is eternal because He is the ever living God.

The wonder of verses 8 and 9 is the unfathomable doctrine of the incarnation. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, became man. Verse 8 says “he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” Christ did not have to learn anything as God, but He learned to obey as a man. In His active obedience, He obeyed the Father’s will which included subjecting Himself to God’s law and keeping every part of it perfectly. In His passive obedience, He allowed the humiliation of the cross and willingly offered Himself to die. He surpasses the Aaronic priesthood because He became qualified to be both the priest and the sacrifice. His earthly life allowed Him to be sympathetic to the frailties of humanity as a human priest would be, but His perfect life meant no sacrifice was needed for Him personally. Therefore, He could give up His own life as the sacrifice for our sins. He exchanged His perfect obedience for our miserable imperfection.

Jesus Christ became the author of eternal salvation. He was the author of salvation from the eternal covenant of God, but He became the author by fulfilling all of the requirements to complete our salvation. Jesus Christ is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). He is the superior High Priest because He lives forever to make intercession for us. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).

If you understand and believe what Christ so wondrously did, reading the words “he became the author of eternal salvation,” must surely open the depths of your heart to let out your words of praise. Somewhere there is a doxology in this passage. It must be from those that obey Christ by faith.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

One of the greatest tragedies of the modern church is the failure of both pulpit and people to honor God’s word. There are many that regard the Bible as a stuffy book that was written by ancient men who were overly superstitious and whose opinions are not really applicable to the modern world. If the Bible is read in church, it is a version that has been stripped of its original meaning and paraphrased so that it reads like the newspaper or a cheap novel.

Modern Bible translators are of the opinion that God is incapable of saying what He meant to say. It is therefore their task to put scripture into a more readable form so that anyone is capable of understanding it. In doing so, their eclectic translations interpret scripture rather than translate. Their actions deny a fundamental element of Bible comprehension, which is the power of the Holy Spirit to speak to the heart and mind to reveal truth. The Bible is not man’s book but rather as Hebrews 4:12 describes, it is the word of God.

The Bible has special characteristics that make it more than just an “ancient” book. It is “quick” which means it is alive. It does not die like an ancient language. It is as new and fresh to every generation as if it was spoken this morning. It is also “powerful,” which is a word from which we get “energy.” The Bible is constantly active so that it is able to awaken people that are dead in trespasses and sins and give them spiritual birth (1 Pet. 1:23).

The writer also says it is “sharper than any twoedged sword.” We should pay particular attention to this phrase because this speaks of God’s judgment. Those who do not listen to the word and heed its commands are going to be judged severely by it. It is able to reveal the “thoughts and intents of the heart.” Those that reject the message of the scripture, the way of eternal life through the gospel of Christ, will be held accountable in the Day of Judgment.

It is really not very hard to understand the reason so many churches have abandoned scripture. As churches desire an atmosphere that caters to an unregenerate crowd, the word of God becomes a terrible sore spot because of its exposing and condemning nature. The scripture says that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. The word of God is a glaring spotlight on an evil generation, so trying to draw a worldly crowd by preaching the truth of the word is an exercise in futility.

At Berean, we are committed to reading and preaching the Bible and are content to let the Holy Spirit work on the hearts of the people. The Bible does expose sin, but the Holy Spirit is able to take the preached word and break down the resistance of the sinner. Clever tactics and manipulation are not our method. We depend solely on the work of the Holy Spirit as He uses the “quick” and “powerful” word to draw sinners to Christ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:4)

Today’s congregational reading comes from the 3rd chapter of Hebrews. As I have pointed out in previous articles, it is the writer’s intent to prove the superiority of Jesus. In particular, He is superior to the old dispensation of Judaism and is the fulfillment of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament ceremonial laws. This is especially important as it regards Israel’s greatest prophet, Moses. Moses was revered because it was through him that God gave His holy law.

During the time of His three year ministry, Jesus was often confronted by Jewish accusers that were aghast at His claims to be God. When speaking to the blind man that Jesus healed in John chapter 9, the Jews said, “Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake to Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is” (John 9:28-29). Even some of Jesus’ greatest miracles were challenged on the basis they were not quite up to the level of those done by Moses. How could He be greater than Moses and claim to be God? For example, in John 6 the Jews asked for a sign, some further miracle to be done in order that they might believe in Him (as if He had not given abundant proof!). What was their standard? “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (v. 31). The standard of proof was Moses. Jesus replied that Moses was not the one that gave them bread from heaven. Rather, the bread came from the Father.

These types of exchanges are extremely important as we come to Hebrews. Since the Jews revered Moses, the writer cannot disparage Moses in any way while proving the supremacy of Jesus. Therefore, he points out the faithfulness of Moses in 3:2. Even though Moses failed at times, for the most part he did what God required in the sphere of work he was given. God used Moses as an administrator over the household of Israel but Moses received his wisdom and abilities from God. Moses was not the builder of Israel; he was a steward over the nation. His relationship to God in this respect is that of a servant (3:5).

The point is made that Moses was a part of God’s household. He is not superior to the one who actually built the house. Jesus stands in a superior relationship to God, that of a son, the rightful heir of the household (3:6). But even more remarkable in its impact is that Christ is the one that built the house. Therefore, His equality with God is proven. “He that built all things is God” (3:4) = “Christ [is] a son over his own house” (3:6).

These statements build on the premise established in the first chapter. “[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (1:2). I sincerely hope you feel the excitement of these unfolding irrefutable arguments concerning the deity of Jesus Christ. If you have placed your faith in Him, you are grounded on the solid rock of God Himself.

Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:2-3)

One of the most serious errors of today’s evangelical movement is the construction of a god and of a savior that is very much different than the one presented in scripture. The modern fallacy is to believe the God of the Old Testament was very harsh, unforgiving, and much too demanding. We read the Old Testament laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai and we shudder at the consequences ordered by God to make restitution for breaking those laws. There are many examples that could be given, but one that comes to mind is the sin of adultery. God said, “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10). These laws are difficult for the modern hearer because the god that has been constructed today is one that would never think of punishing evil doers so harshly; and certainly He would never punish anyone in an eternal Hell. And yet in the book of Hebrews, we learn these laws were given to man through the administration of the holy angels of God. God’s holiness demanded such punishment so that scripture says the penalty paid is a “just recompense of reward.”

Churches today offer salvation from a god that is much less demanding. This god loves you and is unconcerned with your petty indiscretions (re: actual crimes against His holiness!). You owe nothing to God, but He owes everything to you. There are no requirements, no real standards—all you need do is acknowledge He has something to offer.

These verses in Hebrews are some of the strongest refutations in scripture about this idea of God and His Christ. Hebrews affirms that God is just in giving a penalty for the transgression of His law. What is more amazing from these scriptures is that the demands of God are not decreased because we have entered the New Testament era, but are rather intensified. In the Old Testament, angels were attendant at the giving of the law (Ps. 68:17), and prophets such as Moses taught it to the people. Obedience was expected even though the law itself could never bring anyone into a personal relationship with God. “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:1).

The better hope is the Lord Jesus Christ and knowledge of Him is through the gospel. The writer makes a simple but profound argument. Christ is God’s own Son, the express image of His person (1:3). He has spoken, not angels and not men, and His gospel is the only way to come into a saving relationship with Him. If the hearers of the Old Testament Law could not escape God’s punishment for disobeying an inferior law given through angels and men, how much less can we expect to escape punishment for disobeying the superior law which actually brings salvation (Rom. 8:2) and was given by the One who sits in majesty on high (1:3)?

Rather than God demanding less today than He did in the Old Testament, He demands incredibly more. Punishment for rejection of God’s message today is far greater than it was then. To put it simply, Hell has become hotter! We will not escape it if we neglect salvation in Christ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: [11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; [12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:10-12)

Our congregational reading today is from the book of Hebrews chapter 1. The entire book of Hebrews is an outstanding, Christ exalting study. In simplest of terms, it is the writer’s intent to show that Christ is superior over everything in the vastness of His creation. God is revealed personally to us in the person of Jesus Christ who is the ”brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (1:3).

The tone for the book is set in verse 4 with the words “Being made so much better…” We learn that He is better than angels, better than Moses, and better than the Levitical priesthood. His personal sacrifice for sins is better than the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, and the mercy seat where He sprinkled His blood is in a better place because it is in a “perfect tabernacle, not made with hands” (9:11). His covenant is a better covenant because through it He “perfected forever them that are sanctified” (10:14). One day He will receive believers into a better place, ”the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…” where we will worship God in the presence of “an innumerable company of angels” (12:22).

Remarkably, chapter one verses 10-12 teach that Jesus Christ is the one who created the heavens and the earth. The 2nd verse says, He ”made the worlds.” Verse 3 tells us He upholds all things ”by the word of his power.” He is addressed as “Lord” which is the Lord God Jehovah and unmistakably identifies Christ as the one and only Supreme God. He laid the foundations of the earth and He made the heavens, which declare His eternal pre-existence. It is also apparent that He transcends the creation for He will cause it to pass out of existence, yet the One who created ex nihilo remains the same forever and His years will not fail.

As we read through Hebrews in these next few weeks, please stop to consider the majesty of the words. Superlative upon superlative is heaped on Christ. Spend some time contemplating the reasoning of the writer in proclaiming Jesus Christ better than all others. We preach Christ, and the reception of Him as Saviour and Lord is the only hope for eternal life. All religions are not equal because there is no equal to Jesus! He is infinitely better! Heed the words of chapter 12:28-29: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Our congregational scripture reading today comes from the little book of Philemon which in our New Testament is placed between the books of Titus and Hebrews. We call all three of these “books” when in fact they are “epistles” or formal letters that were written either to individuals or churches. This letter is the shortest of those written by Paul and was written to a prominent wealthy Christian named Philemon. Paul was in prison when writing this letter and interestingly it is an appeal for the forgiveness of a runaway slave.

Philemon lived in the city of Colossae located in modern day Turkey which is a considerable distance to traverse either by land or sea to reach Rome where Paul was in prison. This is where Paul came in contact with the runaway slave named Onesimus. Philemon was the slave’s owner who was converted under Paul’s ministry, and by the providence of God, after traversing hundreds of miles, this runaway slave came in contact with the one that led his master to the Lord!

After Onesimus’ conversion, he became a very useful servant of Paul, not as a slave, but as a fellow laborer for the cause of Christ. This did not change the circumstances that Onesimus had wronged his master by running away, and now that he had become a Christian, it was his duty to make amends for his criminal act.

As you can see from this description, the desire of Onesimus in seeking freedom from slavery, and the ownership of another human being by Philemon who was a Christian is terribly problematic for our understanding. Paul did not appeal to Philemon to release Onesimus on moral grounds, but asked for Philemon to receive him back without punishment. He asked for forgiveness based on the new bond that existed between them, that of brothers in the Lord.

There is not enough space here to give details about the social order of the first century which made this solution the right one and the best one for a Christian slave that had run away. Although Paul did not attack the institution of slavery directly and did not demand that Philemon give up his slave, he certainly did establish the principle of a new relationship between Christians in this predicament. Receiving Onesimus back as a brother (v. 16) ensured Philemon’s best treatment of Onesimus and Onesimus’ best service to Philemon. As unlikely as it may seem, both were satisfied and both displayed characteristics of the Saviour!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5)

One of the most blessed scriptures written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit were these words written to Titus by the apostle Paul. This statement follows Paul’s instructions about how we should treat our fellow man. We are to be gentle and meek towards them (3:2) because this is how God acted towards us in Christ. Paul reminds Titus that God showed us mercy when we were in a deplorable state, estranged from God and living in the pleasures of the flesh (3:3). In this cursed condition, God sent Christ to die for us. He was not drawn to us for any goodness that He saw in us. He did not choose us because we were diligent towards Him or our fellows.

In this unhappy state, God could have given us justice. He could have left us to suffer the consequences of our crimes and He would have been just in doing so. Instead, God gave us mercy. God showed kindness and love (3:4) and graciously regenerated our hearts in order that we might repent of our sins and place our faith in Him. This has always been God’s way of working with condemned sinners, and yet most are convinced that favor with God is obtained by doing good works that will somehow satisfy God for the sins we have committed.

There are many Bible passages that refute the idea that we are able to perform any type of work that meets the standard God requires. God has only one standard—absolute perfection. He requires us to be sinless not only in the deed but also in the motive for the deed. Every thought and every action must be in perfect harmony with the divine mind. There is neither time nor space to prove the inability of any person to meet this standard, but neither is it required. Our own experience is all the proof we need. If God wants perfection, then God will not get what He wants—at least not from us. However, the impossibility of our perfection does not change the fact that God has the right to demand it. Even though God is merciful as this passage states, there is no obligation upon God to give mercy, and much less to give it at the expense of His justice.

Titus 3:5 contains a key word in scripture. “Righteous” or “righteousness” appears hundreds of times in the Bible. It is a forensic word, which means it relates to the court of law. Man’s covenant relationship with God is maintained on the basis of His law. Since we are incapable of keeping God’s law perfectly, God satisfies the requirement Himself. He gets what He wants, perfect obedience, but not from us. The perfect obedience is Christ’s, and in grace God justifies us from our sins based on the merits of Christ’s perfect obedience (3:6-7).

The next time you read Titus 3:5, thank God from the depths of your heart that ”not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” If not for this, our salvation is impossible!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  [14]  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)

On the July 4th weekend, we were blessed to celebrate two hundred thirty-five years of American independence. One of the greatest freedoms we enjoy is the right to worship God according to the faith of our choosing. One of the vital principles our founding fathers insisted upon was freedom from the state church that so often persecuted dissenters. Even though they were against the establishment of any particular church, they were very much in favor of giving allegiance to the God who is the Creator of heaven and earth. The first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence each contain a reference to God. In the first paragraph, He is “Nature’s God,” and in the second He is the “Creator” who has “endowed” us with “certain unalienable rights.” In the last paragraph, the signatories declared their “reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.”

There is no doubt the founders were in unanimity as to the identity of “Nature’s God,” the “Creator,” and “Divine Providence.” John Quincy Adams said, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” This means the founders were duly bound to the God who promised to one day rule the world with a perfect government. The founders were intent on producing the best government humanly possible. In their minds, combining the principles of Christianity with this government was the only way this could be achieved. Although they were against a state church, they by no means thought their government would survive without obeying the “Creator” any more than they thought they could survive the Revolution without “the protection of Divine Providence.”

It is very clear the men that so desperately wanted to declare independence from the tyranny of the British Crown were eager to declare their dependence upon God. The beginning of the last paragraph also includes an appeal to the “Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.” Compare this to Paul’s statement in Titus 2:13-14. They expected the “glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,” who would come to judge the righteousness of their cause. They truly believed they were “zealous of good works,” which included rightly governing with a godly government. Some may think it wrong to apply these scriptures this way. However, we must remember the mindset of these men. They believed they existed to glorify God. There is no doubt they had various opinions about how to do this, but they were unified in their opinion that God would not excuse them if they did not build their government upon Christian principles.

Two hundred thirty-five years have passed since this courageous decision. So much time has passed, but the years have not dimmed the same basic need of all people no matter what type of government rules them. We will all stand before the “Supreme Judge of the world” to give account of our lives. I hope when you meet Him that you will be judged righteous in your actions. You will be if you have declared your dependence upon the Great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Unto the pure, all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

When reading the first chapter of Titus, we are struck by the caustic language Paul uses when describing false teachers. The first thought is how forceful the apostle is when speaking of those who would teach doctrines that subvert the truths of the gospel. In this passage, he commands Titus to “rebuke them sharply” (v. 13), which is very much uncharacteristic of the way these situations are handled in churches today. Niceties are usually the norm because calling someone out for false doctrine is considered uncharitable or even rude. Much error is tolerated because pastors are afraid of being offensive to those that may not be in agreement.

If Paul and the other apostles were too afraid of being offensive, imagine how the gospel would have been affected. If he had not been very clear about justification by faith alone, how would we understand this indispensable doctrine? If he had allowed subversion of the gospel of grace, how would we come to salvation in Christ? The past two thousand years of church history have seen these doctrines attacked incessantly giving rise to the largest pseudo-Christian church in the world, Roman Catholicism. If heresies concerning these doctrines were not confronted at the inception of the church and then recorded in scripture, there would be no checks on their perversions.

Similarly, the apostle John was blistering in his refutation of teachers that denied the incarnation of Christ. His favorite terms were “liars,” “antichrists,” and “children of the devil.” He taught there are only two spirits operable in the world. Either a teacher is led by the Holy Spirit or he is led by Satan. He leaves no room for other possibilities. Therefore, a preacher or church that says Jesus Christ is not Jehovah God manifested in the flesh, is teaching the doctrine of devils. It is certainly unpopular to say Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and other cults are satanic, but this is exactly what scripture says. In fact, both Paul and John would agree that any group that subverts any part of the gospel is satanic.

Is it too harsh to make such declarations? Consider the alternative. Jesus’ words to the Jews that refused to believe He was Jehovah God are these: “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). “I am he,” are words that refer to the oneness of Jesus with the Father and His full equality in all of the attributes of Almighty God. “Die in your sins” means eternal death in the fires of hell. The alternative to calling out false teachers and exposing their heresies is to allow them to lead people into the pit of hell. Paul said, “Their mouths must be stopped” (Titus 1:11).

The gospel includes the truth of the deity of Christ and the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Paul told the Corinthians it is the gospel by which we are saved. Faith in the true gospel is the only hope for a world of lost and dying sinners. No, Paul was not afraid of being offensive with the truth. He knew the awful consequences if he was not!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)

In the first few verses of Titus chapter 1, the apostle Paul lists some of the qualifications for the office of pastor. As an independent Baptist church, we believe there are only two scriptural offices for the church. These are the offices of pastor and deacon. Men that are chosen for these positions must meet the strict biblical requirements outlined in the epistles of 1st Timothy and Titus.

In the first part of Paul’s letter to Titus, the emphasis is on the pastor. There are requirements concerning his family, his personal character, and also his heart for God’s people. These qualifications are condensed into three verses, and then the rest of letter is an admonition for the teaching of strong doctrine. The disparity between the short amount of space given to this part of his qualifications compared to the bulk of the letter being dedicated to the teaching of doctrine does not diminish this aspect of the office. The personal character of the man chosen to lead God’s people is crucial to his effectiveness as a minister. He must be above reproach or else his message falls on deaf ears. Many men that could have been used greatly by God have failed because their families and/or their morality have disqualified them.

It remains, however, that there is much material in this letter devoted to the teaching of doctrine. The pastor’s main duty is to feed the flock of God. He may be a wonderful man personally and very well liked, but if his knowledge of the word is deficient, he will not be able to feed God’s people spiritually. Neither will he be able to protect them from the constant attacks of heresy that threaten them on a daily basis. There are many wolves that would devour the flock and the pastor must be able to defend his people against these heretics. Several times in the letter, Paul makes this point. The pastor must be able to identify heretics and defend against them.

Another point that should be evident from the letter is that any doctrine of any kind is not automatically acceptable. There is a difference between truth and error. Truth always strengthens the people; error always destroys. Doctrine cannot be dismissed as unimportant. False doctrine and its teachers must be exposed (1:10-16). The pulpit ministry of Berean is never timid about naming names when necessary. The popular saying among many evangelicals is “unity at all costs.” We are opposed to this. We believe “defend the truth at all costs.” We seek accord with other Christians only on the basis of doctrinal unity. Unity on any other basis is dangerous to the gospel and to the health of God’s people.

We believe and whole heartedly practice Paul’s command to Titus. The bishop (pastor) must hold fast to the word, maintaining sound doctrine that will encourage the saints and will convince those that resist the truth. Anything less is blight on the pastoral office.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

2nd Timothy 4:18 is a fitting conclusion to the life of the apostle Paul. This letter is the last that Paul wrote before being martyred for his faith. Earlier in the epistle, he wrote that he knew he was going to die: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (4:6). And yet with this knowledge, Paul wrote that he knew the Lord would deliver him from every evil work. This may seem a little puzzling at first especially if we believe he is referring to his death. Paul did not expect to be delivered from death. Instead, we can view this more towards his statement in the first chapter, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (1:12c). This verse accords perfectly with “…and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.”

This is Paul’s great confidence in the assurance of his salvation. He would be protected from falling; he would be protected from renouncing his faith even in the most trying circumstances. In verse 17, he said that he was “delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” Various interpretations have been put on this phrase. Some think it means Nero who was the Roman emperor at that time. His hatred of Christians is legendary. Others believe it refers to the lions in Roman arenas which Paul may have faced (1 Cor. 15:32). Still others believe it refers to Satan who is known as our great adversary that seeks to devour us as a lion stalks his prey (1 Pet. 5:8). It may be that Paul simply means danger in general. Whichever interpretation is correct, the result is the same. Nothing could move him off the foundation of his faith. He was preserved until he would meet Christ face to face in the heavenly kingdom.

The same is true for every believer. The problem is that many believers lose assurance because they have not been faithful. If you survey 2nd Timothy, you will find Paul referring to the evidence of faith. The evidence for Paul is not different than found in other places in scripture. These are adherence to strong doctrine (1:13, 2:15), obedience to God’s command in removing sin from our lives (2:19-21), and then, of course, love for other believers (1:2). These issues are the bedrock of assurance. These enable the Christian to face uncertain days.

If you have doubts, are you able to trace the source? Do you love the word or ignore it (3:15-17, 4:3)? Is sin weighing you down (3:2-5)? Are you concerned for the welfare of other Christians (4:19-22)? If you guard your heart in these areas, the Lord will also deliver you from every evil work.

Finally, knowing he will soon depart, Paul offers his doxology: “to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” His life and death were for the glory of God. How he died did not matter; when he died did not matter. That God should receive all glory is all that counted. Do you have this commitment? If Christ should come today or wait another thousand years, will you live and die for the glory of God?

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Each of us is now aware of the religious turmoil generated by the recent failed prognostication of Judgment Day. Most of these predictions rarely enter the public consciousness because those who perpetrate them do not have the means to make them widely known. About a year ago, I spoke with a preacher that said he could tell me for sure when Christ would return. I listened for about three seconds before my attention was turned to something else, and so I failed to get the exact date. As you can imagine, I am suffering deep remorse for not listening long enough! I still do not know what date he had in mind and I seriously doubt there are a handful of people who do.

This is not the case with the May 21st date proposed by Harold Camping. He had the means to make his views widely known, and so the prediction reached around the world and stirred quite a bit of interest. It is hard to miss thousands of 288 square feet billboards and over $100 million in advertising. The focus now is on the fallout for countless numbers of people that believed his predictions. Many churches have offered counseling for misguided “Christians” who are left bitterly disappointed.

I believe the counseling is mostly misguided. Anyone that was serious enough to buy into Harold Camping’s predictions must also have bought into his many other heretical teachings. A man who believed the church is dead; that people should abandon all churches (and many do need to be abandoned!); a man that taught salvation is for the elect of God irrespective of their belief in Christ; a man that believes the gospel is now annulled; a man that failed the test of a true prophet (Deut. 18:22), is a rank heretic of the worst sort. To call his program “Christian” or his radio station, “Family Christian Radio,” is the devil’s worst type of deception. People that believe such things do not need to be counseled concerning their disappointment over the rapture—they need to be given the gospel of Christ. If Christ did appear, they weren’t going!

In the opening verses of 2 Timothy 4, Paul encouraged Timothy to preach the truth of the word, which is measured by sound doctrine. He warned that people are prone to turn from truth to wildly imaginative fables. This is the case of those that followed Harold Camping. The crown of righteousness that is won at the coming of Christ is one that is given based upon gospel fidelity. Thus Paul says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Neither Harold Camping nor his followers have kept the faith. If you want to help these people, do not assist in the grief counseling. Pray for their salvation!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15)

The letter of 2nd Timothy is one of three Pastoral Epistles written by Paul to instruct both Timothy and Titus in their duties of leading the church. The term “pastor” means “shepherd.” The chief duty of a pastor is to shepherd the flock of God. When Jesus was speaking to Peter after the resurrection, He asked, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Peter responded, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee,” to which Jesus rejoined, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15). This statement is equivalent to, “If you love me, shepherd my sheep.”

Our King James Version has rendered the first part of 2 Timothy 2:15 as “Study to show thyself approved.” This translation is good if we understand what “study” meant to the translators. Commonly, we take this to mean, study as in hitting the books to prepare for a final. The word actually means “Be diligent.” Paul is instructing Timothy to be diligent about teaching the people of God. He is to use all physical and spiritual means to search the scriptures and impart truth to God’s people. This diligence will cause him to receive God’s approbation.

Superimposing Jesus’ words to Peter upon this text, Paul instructs Timothy to shepherd the sheep with the utmost care and concern for their spiritual welfare. A pastor wears many hats and is charged with many responsibilities, but the most important of these is teaching the Bible. Our spiritual strength comes from God’s word. Even regeneration itself is a product of the Holy Spirit’s work using the scriptures to bring us to repentance and faith. Peter wrote: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23). After salvation, the Bible continues to be the Christian’s strength for daily living. Later in 2 Timothy, Paul writes that scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The result of knowing scripture is that we become mature in the faith and equipped to perform every good work imposed upon us by virtue of our salvation in Christ (2 Timothy 3:17).

With these facts in mind, the meaning of 2 Timothy 2:15 for the pastor, is unmistakably clarified. The pulpit ministry is the most important part of the church. We can do without programs if we must; we can do without socials if we must; we can do without any of the peripherals of ministry, but we cannot do without the Word. The pastor will stand before God and give an account of how faithfully and diligently he fed the people with the Word.

I am concerned that we are very clear about the doctrines of the Bible. We will not abandon the teaching of justification by faith alone; we will not abandon God’s demand for righteous, holy living. We will not abandon the call to complete repentance from sin, nor the wrath of God because of sin, or the punishment of eternal hell for unbelievers. Accompanying these doctrines, this church will do its best to teach the people to know Christ better. Faith is increased by knowledge and knowledge comes from being a diligent student of God’s word.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  (10)  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:  (11)  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  (12)  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.  (13)  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:9-13)

Often when speaking to visitors in our services and to prospective members, I like to tell them that we are historical Baptists. In this day, it is common to find churches that march under no specific banner but are what we sometimes term “generic Christians.” This means they fit in well with just about any group, especially those that have abandoned the teaching of specific Bible doctrines that would define their theological bent.

As historical Baptists, we observe the time honored confessions of faith that our Baptist forefathers have stood for. However, we do not believe creeds and confessions are superior to the Bible, and we observe them only as they agree with true Biblical teachings. Three very important confessions of faith reflect the interpretation of scripture as held by Berean Baptist Church. These are the First London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1644, the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, and the New Hampshire Confession of Faith of 1833. While we are not in agreement with every minute detail, these confessions largely represent the teachings of our church.

If I were to pick one portion of scripture that contains many of our specific teachings, I would choose 2 Timothy 1:9-13. Here are found these important truths: (1) Salvation is not by human effort but only through the grace of God bestowed upon depraved, unworthy sinners (v 9). (2) The means of salvation and those who receive it were determined by God before the world began. This determination was not based upon the condition of any foreseen goodness in man including faith in the gospel, but was based solely upon the grace of God and the good pleasure of His will (v. 9). (3) Salvation is in Christ and Him alone (v. 10). (4) Those that God has chosen are effectually called by the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the preaching of the gospel (vv. 9-11). (4) All those chosen, effectually called, and justified, are forever preserved in the faith so they can never fall away (v. 12). (5) Believers are not only preserved in the faith, they must also persevere in the faith (v. 13). Their continuance in the faith is evidence of their true conversion.

All of these beliefs are expressed in the aforementioned historical confessions of faith. We affirm these as important truths of scripture, and to deny these is not only denial of these historical statements of faith, but more importantly is denial of the Holy Scriptures. Because of 2 Timothy 1:9-13 and many other confirmations of the same truths spoken elsewhere in the Bible, we cannot be “generic Christians.” Paul, the apostle, encouraged Timothy to hold on to the sound truths he was taught (v. 13). These words are recorded and preserved for us that we might also receive the same encouragement as Timothy.

We make no apologies for believing, preaching, and being identified with the same truths our Baptist forefathers taught. If Christ and the apostles taught these doctrines, we want them to be our doctrines too!

Pastor V. Mark Smith