Thank God for Our Church

Berean Baptist on October 29, 2018

(This article was written two years ago before the presidential election. I believe it is as timely today with upcoming elections as it was then.)

At times, it seems we hope against hope for our survival as each year presents new challenges to our faith. The gruesome presidential election is over, which for the first time presented us with no good options, or at least none we felt we could make without violating every decency of a sanctified conscience. Never have Christian Americans had to vote for such unqualified evil. We were torn between our patriotic duty of voting, and a feeling if we did vote we might in fact conflict with our duty as citizens of the heavenly country. How do you vote when evil wins either way? You can decide how you feel about the outcome. I am thankful that Bereans can sit together in church today, and that despite different political opinions, we rejoice as one in the word of God.

How are we able to do this? It is because our political divisions pale in comparison to our spiritual agreements. We are not divided about the gospel. We have firm unchanging conviction in the saving power of Jesus Christ. No campaign for a different salvation will shake us from our belief in justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

We are not divided on the Bible. We believe it is the inerrant, inspired word of God that is our constitution of faith and practice. We are not divided on its proper translation. We believe the King James Version is the best translation for English speaking people.

We are not divided on Christ. There is no other way to the Father but through Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We believe salvation is exclusively in Him as the author and finisher of our faith. We are not divided on His cross, believing it is the only place for our sins to be forgiven. We are not divided on His death as the atonement for our sins and that Christ died as a penal substitute to redeem us from all iniquity.

We are not divided about our standing in Christ. We are held safely and securely in the Father’s hand and no power of hell can separate us from the His love. Our perseverance in the faith is assured because He is the defender of His people.

We are not divided on the work of the Holy Spirit. He regenerated us when we were dead in trespasses and sin and brought us to life to hear and believe the gospel. His work precedes our repentance and faith in a secret operation upon the soul. We realize it only by the fruits it produces. We are not divided on His sanctification of believers which is sealed to us upon our belief. We receive Him in His fullness as an abiding presence when we place our faith in Christ.

We are not divided concerning the Father’s work of choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world. All benefits of salvation flow out of this sovereign choice founded only in the good pleasure of His will. No blessings are secured to us based on any act of foreseen faith.

And lastly, we are not divided about the body of Christ, the church of the living God. We are a visible body complete in Him—vessels of mercy made to glorify Him through the preaching of the gospel. Our duty is to bring more of His chosen ones to the throne of His grace.

We are thankful that human government rules temporally for the good of our society. We have no trust in it beyond God’s stated purpose to be His instrument to restrain evil. Though it often disappoints and causes temporary dissent, it will not dampen our enthusiasm or ruin our faith that God always does all things well. Rejoice with us in our Thanksgiving holiday. God’s kingdom and His church are great no matter who our elected representatives may be.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Chosen!

Berean Baptist on October 31, 2016

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psalms 65:4)

Psalm 65 is another of David’s psalms of praise. The first part of the psalm has always been one of my favorites because it declares one of the most crucial doctrines of God’s word. This is the doctrine of God’s sovereign choice of unworthy sinners for salvation. The psalm describes the person that God chooses and causes to approach Him. Actually, in this is found two great doctrines. The first is the doctrine of election and the second is the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit. God chooses the sinner for salvation and ensures He will receive it by the Spirit’s work of regeneration. Even though God chooses, we would not come by ourselves because our hearts are depraved and turned against Him. The scripture describes men as the enemies of God and hostile to every righteous intention (Rom. 8:7; James 4:4). In this condition, we will neither choose God nor come to Him. It is therefore the work of God that sinners believe (John 6:29) and also His work that we come (John 6:44).

The result of this election and effectual calling is the blessing upon the one who is chosen and called. What greater favor could any person be shown than to be chosen to enter the courts of the Lord? The court is His presence; it is the place He abides; it is to be near Him and enjoy Him for eternity. This verse clearly shows none of this is owed to anything we have done. God chose us and called us without considering anything He foresaw in us. Since this election was made before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), we know it cannot be based on good works that God foresaw we would do (Rom. 9:10-13).

God’s choice of certain individuals is not a doctrine barely noticed because it is well concealed in scripture. There are many places such as this that put the doctrine on open display, so that it cannot be disputed. Amazingly, as prominent as it is, there are those that hate it. Preachers will either skip over the many glaring instances of it, or else try to explain it away.

Once you understand these doctrines and accept them, you will never open your Bible again and spend very much time without seeing them. The Christian who gladly embraces this teaching has a completely new world view opened before his eyes. He sees Christ magnified and God glorified because he understands he had no part in his salvation. “Salvation is of the Lord” is the cry that continues to ring in his ears. He will never attribute any part of what happened to him to his own contributions (Titus 3:4; John 1:12-13). Even his will is overcome and changed in regeneration, so that he sees Christ and gladly comes to Him (John 3:8).

Many Christians have come to me joyfully proclaiming their new found understanding. They appreciate that Berean Baptist has opened their eyes to these truths. The theological black holes that many fall into and the brick walls they run up against are filled in and torn down, so that the word of God seems fresher and livelier than ever before.

It is no wonder we love these doctrines. Like David, it brings us to our knees in praise. Who are we that we should come into the courts of the Lord? We are His—He has chosen us—He clothed us with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We come because He caused it. If you find a greater reason to glorify God, please tell me. This is enough to put me at the door of heaven. Anything more and surely I must be there!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Be Exalted, O God, Above the Heavens

Berean Baptist on September 19, 2016

Psalm 57:11

Many of the David’s psalms were born out of his pleadings to God for relief from oppression. I can imagine that when David was first anointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel there must have been at least a small swelling of pride that he was God’s choice. This meant in due time he would enjoy the privileges of royalty. However, it wasn’t long before he discovered God’s favor would cause him to be the scorn of his enemies. Certainly, Saul was none too pleased to learn his family would never become a dynasty, which made David the target of Saul’s wrath. Thus we have this psalm as David plead with God to deliver him from Saul’s intense anger.

David, God’s choice for king, did not write these words from a gilded room in a palace. Rather, he was in a dark, dirty cave where he was hiding while fleeing for his life. David had climbed the rocky cliffs of En Gedi many times in fear for his safety, but though the situation seemed bleak, he knew God had chosen him and he knew his heart was right. Because of this, he fully expected protection from his Lord until he should be brought to his time to occupy the throne.

As I read this psalm, I am reminded of two very special objects of God’s divine choice and protection. The first is the Lord Jesus Christ who was ordained by the Father to bear the reproach of the cross in order to make atonement for our sins. He too was specifically chosen, and yet His path to glory took the same turn as David’s. The exaltation of the throne was to come later until He was made perfect through suffering (Heb. 2:10). In the meantime, the enemy was everywhere trying to take His life before the time. The difficulty of the cross was never a deterrent to Him. He knew what the Father promised. As He prayed in John 17, He knew the Father would restore Him to the glory He had before stepping down to come in human flesh (John 17:5). For this reason, Hebrews says He went to the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2). With His death, He would bring millions to worship the Father before the throne.

The second object of God’s divine choice is me. If you are a believer, you can substitute your name for what I am about to say next. Before I was born, God chose me to a crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4), and to sit in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3-4; 2:6). However, there is a meantime just as there was with David and Christ. The meantime is this life in which God’s people often find themselves at odds with a God rejecting world. Because the world hated Christ, it also hates us which often leaves us the objects of ridicule (John 15:18).

As neither David nor Jesus were greatly discouraged, so we should not be discouraged. We have the same promise given to them. We shall not be left to the destruction of Satan, but as David wrote in verse 3, “He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.”

God’s choice is the same as God’s salvation. The first infallibly leads to the second. I hope you can relate this great truth to the message today as I speak on the eternal election of God. Those whom God chooses He does not fail to bring to glory (Rom. 8:29-30). So, take heart in times of trouble. You were always in the eternal purpose of God. He is able to see you through. “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.”

Pastor V. Mark Smith