Oh, Dem Bones!

A few days ago, before leaving on vacation, I read an interesting article about the discovery of human fossils in Morocco. Scientists claim these bones are about 300,00 years old and I think they might have preferred they stay buried. Aside from the evolutionary bent of the article and the claim humans are this old, was the claim that this discovery, “rewrites the story of mankind’s origins and suggests that our species evolved in multiple locations across the African continent.” As Bible believers, we are thankful we do need not rewrite the story of human origins every time somebody digs up a bone. Our story has been the same since creation!

            I was fascinated by the dilemma this poses for evolutionary scientists which they somehow failed to acknowledge with their discovery. There is a glaring problem in their hypothesis. These fossils are supposedly dated to more than 150,000 years before the previous oldest ones discovered. Secondly, they are in a different place, and there are in fact multiple sites where these types of fossils were found. Formerly, scientists said homo sapiens evolved in one place—what they termed “the proverbial Garden of Eden.”

            The thing that puzzles me is that evolution of the species depends on genetic mutations. A mutation is an anomaly. In an article on genetic mutations from Cal Berkeley, this statement is made: “Mutations are essential to evolution; they are the raw material of genetic variations. Without mutation, evolution could not occur.”

            Now, in my ignorance, my question is how do the exact same genetic mutations occur in populations of apes scattered over multiple areas? How does the same anomaly occur in various places and times separated by thousands of years? How did humans in every place develop to be the same species? I would expect to see three eyes on some that evolved independently of the others!

            I am by no stretch a geneticist, a biologist, an anthropologist, and certainly not an evolutionist. Apparently, I am just a dumb old Bible believer who interprets the evidence in a way that keeps pointing back to the Bible’s narrative. My interpretation does not change each time somebody digs up a bone. I remember reading how scientists dated bones of Neanderthals (?) to be prehistoric only to find out later they were a hoax. How can they date bones to 200,000 years ago to find out they were recent and stained to look old? Carbon dating was supposed to fix this, but revisions in carbon dating are not uncommon.

            One reason for their willful blindness is that their predetermined narrative must be fulfilled. Do we believe fake news is a recent phenomenon? No, I believe it has been in our public schools for about 75 years. I still remember a book I ordered for school in the 3rd grade that explained the age of dinosaurs. My dad wrote scriptures and arguments on almost every page. He was good at spotting fake news!

            Every time a scientist digs up a new bone (sic), rather an old bone, his narrative changes. It seems he discovers much except the futility of disputing the Bible’s narrative. He seeks to verify his latest hypothesis (Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 2 Timothy 3:7). It is interesting archaeologists discovered this problem long ago. They have never disproved the Scriptures—but not for lack of trying. Evolutionary science is yet to learn it is useless to dispute Moses. 

            All of this reminds me of what God said to Job: “Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth?”The answer for the evolutionist: still uncreated and thinking, how many steps from a slug to a bug?

                                                                                    Pastor V. Mark Smith

Seeking the Saviour in the Sacrifices

The Old Testament is often ignored in many churches without people realizing it holds the key to many New Testament references. At first, the only Bible New Testament preachers could use was the Old Testament. This meant they were continually seeking Jesus in Old Testament texts. Even Jesus referenced the Old Testament testimony of Him. He taught two disciples on the road to Emmaus immediately after He arose from the tomb. He explained the Old Testament text beginning at Moses and the prophets to show them He was the true promised Messiah.

In the New Testament era, God speaks through the living word, Jesus Christ, as revealed in the written word, the Bible. We have no other way of knowing Him in the fullness of His splendor except as we understand Him through scripture. We need not expect any other revelation because scripture testifies to its sufficiency. It tells us everything God wants us to know in this present day. Yet, God spoke in various ways in times past. Sometimes He gave dreams and visions. Sometimes He appeared in theophanies. These were manifestations of His presence through other forms. For example, He spoke to Moses in a burning bush or appeared as a stranger conversing with Abraham. Joshua saw Him as an angel and Jacob wrestled with Him at Peniel. Those were unusual occurrences even for Old Testament times. The more common way of God teaching about Himself was through the pictures of worship.

God gave Moses the plan for the tabernacle, a tent-like structure, made from a pattern of the divine in heaven. Each part of the building, the materials, the articles of furniture, the superstructure, the surroundings, and the priests who served were types of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were also many sacrifices classified as either sweet savour or non-sweet savor.

I am convinced there is no better way to learn the person and work of Christ than to study Old Testament worship. If Jesus used the Old Testament to teach His work to confused people, and if the apostles had nothing but what they learned from the Old Testament to guide them at first, surely an examination of Old Testament worship is time well spent. As the authors wrote the New Testament, it gave life to the types the Old Testament portrayed. The Israelites could not see it as well as we do today. The recognition of a type requires the unveiling of the antitype. We more recognize the types/antitypes because we have a completed Bible. But what good does it do to have the antitype if we do not recognize the type? You see, the dilemma is the same. If you do not know the Old Testament, the antitype is largely unrecognized.

There are many of these in the scriptures. We miss much meaning if we do not take time to study and learn them. As the Old Testament and New Testaments complement each other, so does Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon at Berean. Sunday afternoons are usually the deeper of the two services and affords the opportunity to increase your understanding of scripture. How much you grow in the Lord depends on how much you know about scripture. If you don’t know about the sacrifices of the Old Testament, you are missing important information you really need to know.

Christ taught Himself and the apostles taught Him by using the Old Testament. If the New Testament is all you know about Christ, you haven’t learned enough. Be sure to study the Old to find Him in more ways than you can imagine.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

The Perfect Name of God

Exodus 20:7

The third of the Ten Commandments speaks of the glory and majesty of God’s name. The commandment says we are not to take the Lord’s name in vain. Many times, I have commented on the spelling of LORD in all caps which in this part of the scriptures represents the Hebrew name of God transliterated into the letters YHWH known as the tetragrammaton. The true pronunciation of this name is not known, although in English we say Jehovah or Yahweh. This is the name by which God was known to Moses revealed in the supernatural appearance of the burning bush.

            The Jews held the name of God in such reverence that what was written in the transcription of His word they would not speak when it was read aloud. Since they would not speak the name, this leads to confusion over how the ancients would have pronounced it. As they read, they would substitute another of the many names used throughout scripture. Commonly, this would be the name Adonai.The seriousness over speaking the name aloud may have gone beyond the pale of reasonableness, but it nevertheless strongly insisted that God’s name should never be used in light hearted frivolous ways and certainly never with profanity.

            I am reminded of the many ways this command can be broken. Thomas Watson identified twelve ways it can be broken and in most of those ways he posited many sub-points. Ezekiel Hopkins gave five ways but those five were equally as verbose as Watson. This tells us most Christians do not know how many times they have broken the command without realizing it.

            One of the most intriguing ways to me is the misinterpretation and misapplication of scripture. Whenever we interpret by insisting God said something He did not say, we attach the authority of His name to a falsehood. I believe many preachers would do this without intent, but I believe many others are malicious or otherwise very careless in their study. They shake the foundations of truth and utterly blaspheme God. The worst offenders are the priests of Roman Catholicism and the preachers of the charismatic movement. These are opposite extremes although the gap between them is rapidly closing. In the gap between these two, are many Christians who know enough to be saved but are taught multiple false doctrines.

            The danger of breaking the commandment in this way lays great responsibility on preachers to be very diligent in their studies. Every text must be approached carefully. The word of God is the expression of God Himself. Jesus is the living word as John 1 shows, which means any misinterpretation of it is a misunderstanding of Christ. We do not often consider these misunderstandings seriously, and as I said they are often unintentional.

            Thankfully, the Lord knows our human frailties. He knows this commandment will not be kept perfectly until we reach glorification in heaven. Then, we will know God face to face in all His perfections. Our service to Him will be perfect and all misunderstandings will fade away in the face of Christ. I cannot wait until that day comes. Until then, we will do our best to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

                                                                        Pastor V. Mark Smith

Terrifying Fear vs. Respectful Fear


            After our year-long study of the Ten Commandments, many comments were made about the value of the study. Perhaps the best is in this vein— “this has been convicting.” One person told me, and I paraphrase, “I was doing well until the tenth commandment. One through nine, I felt I was okay, but the tenth was very convicting.” I was pleased with this comment because it demonstrated what I tried to prove in the exposition of the last. None of us do very well at all because the tenth exposes the root of all sin—the heart. None of the commandments mention the heart, but the last has everything do with it. Covetousness is not seen. It is the attitude of the heart exposed in the act. It is not the act, but the exposure of evil desire.

            In the final message, the intent was to elicit the same reaction as the Israelites had after hearing God speak in a thunderous voice from the mountain. The sights and sounds were stunning. The voice of God was accompanied by earthquakes and thunder and lightning. Fear was the expected result. Fear of God who judges and will not clear the one who violates His law. God got what He wanted. The people were so afraid they retreated and asked Moses to stand in for them. They asked him to speak with God because they were too terrified to hear His voice.

            God expects the same from us when we approach Him. If we come based on the law, we should be terrified because we are offenders. We will experience His wrath if our violations are still upon us. The happy news of this story is the temperance of wrath because of mediation. In like manner of the mediation of Moses for the people, we have a mediator who will speak to God for us. We need not be terrified if our confidence is in Him. We do not need to fear the judgment of God in the same respect as without Him. Our fear of judgment is turned to the fear of respect, and the awesome wonder of the God who will forgive our horrible transgressions because of the untiring, unfailing work of the mediator.

            The mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ. We dare not approach God to touch His holy mountain without His intercession. If we sidestep, if we slip around, if we circumvent His work, we approach God bare naked with the thoughts and intents of the heart exposed. The scriptures teach God is satisfied for our sins in only one way—it must be the work of Christ for us. When satisfaction is made, the terror of judgment is taken away. Justification by the merits of Christ’s righteousness is the only way God’s wrath is turned from us.

            The Ten Commandments leave no doubt as to our guilt. Perhaps we believe we do well, but we will not reach the last and announce our good spiritual health. The heart, the beginning place of all evil, will catch us. Our transgression of this commandment is enough. One violation is the heart fully exposed before the commission of the act. It is enough to condemn us forever.

            The epilogue of the law is to point us back to the first. The acts of God played out in the laws of chapter 20 must take us back to the prologue of the law in chapter 19. The prologue is grace— “Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians.” Look back to Calvary to see what God did to sin. You didn’t do it. You could not do it. Only God can. Respond to Him in faith and it is sure you understand the purpose of the law.

                                                                                                Pastor V. Mark Smith

The Perfect Name of God

Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 20:7 is the text of the third commandment which speaks of the glory and majesty of God’s name. The commandment says we are not to take the Lord’s name in vain. Many times, I have commented on the spelling of LORD in all caps which in this part of the scriptures represents the Hebrew name of God transliterated into the letters YHWH known as the tetragrammaton. The true pronunciation of this name is not known, although in English we say Jehovah or Yahweh. This is the name by which God was known to Moses revealed in the supernatural appearance of the burning bush.

The Jews held the name of God in such reverence that what they wrote in the transcription of His word they would not speak when it was read aloud. Since they would not speak the name, this leads to the confusion over how the ancients would have pronounced it. Instead as they read, they would substitute another of the many names used throughout scripture. Most commonly, this would be the name Adonai. This seriousness over speaking the name aloud may have gone beyond the pale of reasonableness, but it nevertheless strongly insisted that God’s name should never be used in light-hearted frivolous ways and certainly never with profanity.

I am reminded of the many ways this command can be broken. Thomas Watson identified twelve ways it can be broken and in most of those ways he posited many sub-points. Ezekiel Hopkins gave five ways but those five were equally as verbose as Watson. This tells us most Christians do not know how many times they have broken the command without realizing it.

One of the most intriguing ways to me is the misinterpretation and misapplication of scripture. Whenever we interpret that God said something He did not say, we attach the authority of His name to a falsehood. I believe many preachers would do this without intent, but I believe many others are malicious or otherwise very careless in their study. They shake the foundations of truth and utterly blaspheme God. The worst offenders are the priests of Roman Catholicism and the preachers of the charismatic movement. These are opposite extremes although the gap between them is rapidly closing. In the gap between these two, are many Christians who know enough to be saved but are taught multiple false doctrines.

The danger of breaking the commandment in this way lays great responsibility on preachers to be very diligent in their studies. Every text must be approached carefully. The word of God is the expression of God Himself. Jesus is the living word as John 1 shows, which means any misinterpretation of it is a misunderstanding of Christ. We do not often consider these misunderstandings seriously, and as I said they are often unintentional.

Thankfully, the Lord knows our human frailties. He knows this commandment will not be kept perfectly until we reach the glorification of heaven. Then, we will know God face to face in all His perfections. Our service to Him will be perfect and all misunderstandings will fade away in the face of Christ. I cannot wait until that day comes. Until then, we will do our best to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith

If Not for God…

Psalm 124

This article was posted in our bulletin in January 2016. The occasion was the death of Tom Dewitt’s father, Clif.

Clif was one of those brave men from the World War II generation that served his country well facing the dangers of the enemy while flying bombing missions out of North Africa. On November 10, 1943, he flew a mission headed to destroy a freight supply line to Germany from the town of Bolzano, Italy. There were problems with the mission that caused them to abort, and with complications Clif’s plane was low on fuel. The plan was to return to an emergency base on the island of Corsica, but before they could make it, they were attacked by German aircraft. Clif’s plane was hit and the crew was forced to bail out. Clif was wounded in the process and later captured and spent 17 months in a German prisoner of war camp.

These kinds of stories have been told over and over as brave soldiers stood to fight for our country. Unlike Clif, thousands did not come home. We are left to wonder what if those men did not make the sacrifice and what would it be like in America today if we had lost the war? Surely America would be a much different place if God had not intervened to preserve our freedom.

As we look at Psalm 124, a great question looms. What if the Lord had not been on the side of Israel? Israel became a nation at Mount Sinai when Moses was given the Law. Only months before, a rag tag group of Jews stood at the Red Sea with a body of water too deep to cross. Behind them was the Egyptian army bearing down to either destroy them or force them back into slavery. What if God had not parted the sea? Later, the multitude came to the waters of Mara. They were hot, thirsty, tired and ready to die. The waters were poison and they were unable to drink. What if God had not made them sweet?

When they reached the Promised Land, the swelling of Jordan was before them. Beyond Jordan was the city of Jericho, fortified against invaders with walls too high to breach. What if God had not made the walls fall? Fast forward to the time David wrote this Psalm. No specific trouble is mentioned but there were surely countless times David faced enemies too big to conquer. What if God had not been on their side? And so, the history of Israel goes. From Elijah at Mount Carmel to Hezekiah facing the invincible Assyrian army that had never lost a battle, each time Israel was preserved because God was on her side.

The question comes down to this: if God had not continually taken sides with Israel, she would have been destroyed. Along with her destruction, would have been the ruin of redemption. Israel survived because the Redeemer must come from them. They had to survive because God promised it as far back as a few days into the creation. If God had not been on her side, you and I would have no hope of salvation. We praise Him now because every believer knows He is on our side too. “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalms 118:6). “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

There is always a big “what if” in nearly every situation. What if God had allowed Clif to be shot down and killed? He never would have made it to the age of 92 when he received Christ as Saviour. The “what if” is hell instead of heaven. We are helpless without Christ. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. I am thankful He is on my side and nothing can separate me from Him.

Do you have the same assurance? Are you worried about the “what if’s?” Rest at ease IF you know Christ. There is no worry if the Lord is on your side.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith

How Will You Enter the Kingdom?

Psalm 90

This psalm begins the fourth division of the Psalter and runs through Psalm 106. Each of the five divisions corresponds to one of the books of the Pentateuch and this one is linked to the book of Numbers. The theme is the same as Numbers with key topics of unrest and wandering.

Psalm 90 is a song of Moses which feels in places like a funeral dirge because of the despair of forty years meandering around the desert with no definite timetable for receiving the inheritance God promised. Verses 9 and 10 have the ring of a man who thought he would die before seeing the promise fulfilled: “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

We remember from the Pentateuch the carnage of the wilderness wanderings. Before it was through, all of the males that left Egypt above the age of twenty years had died. The cause was the sin of not trusting God even after they saw the amazing plagues brought on Egypt that enabled their freedom from slavery. There were further examples of God’s power such as the parting of the Red Sea. Time after time God showed what He was able to do, but still when they came to the borders of Canaan they were too frightened to enter. They supposed walled cities and giants were too much for God.

From there, it was mostly downhill as time after time Moses’ leadership was challenged. Following God’s way was a reluctant enterprise which angered God. Paul alluded to their faithlessness in 1 Corinthians 10:5-11. Particularly verse 5 gives God’s mood because of their transgression: “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” Notice how Moses said the same in verse 7 of the psalm: “For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.”

There isn’t much hope expressed in this psalm. It is mostly the pleadings of Moses who often played the role of intercessor for constantly sinful, complaining people. This psalm is a reminder of how our lives can become fruitless and wasted when we are disobedient to God. Why should Christians live in defeat when every resource is available for triumph? God intends we should have a glorious entrance into His kingdom, not one in which we say we barely made it by the skin of the teeth.

This section ends at 106 with a repetition of wilderness sins, but it also mentions God’s faithfulness to never abandon His people. I believe this teaches that it is never too late to experience revival. We desperately need it when holiness is in short supply. Ask God to help this church and all His chosen people not to take His commands lightly. There is a great difference in the success of the Christian life depending on how you serve Christ. I do not want to enter heaven moaning and groaning, but with glorious expectation. May God help us to make it so?

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Failing but Not Forgotten

Psalm 78

Psalm 78 is a record of Israel’s history from their deliverance from Egypt to the reign of David. This psalm describes Israel’s often rebellion but also records how God would never let them go too far away to the point He would forsake them forever. The reading of this psalm might have been a little more appropriate in conjunction with next week’s study in Matthew, so you might catalog these comments in your mind and use them as an introduction to the disciples’ denial of Christ in Matthew chapter 26.

The Bible is an amazing book for many reasons, not the least of which is God’s way of exalting Himself from what seems to be an upside down position. If we were trying to convince people to follow a God they never desired, and if we wanted to preach His ability to change lives for the better, we would surely pick examples of His followers’ successes and leave the rest untold. Moses parting the Red Sea would be enough without telling how God kept him out of the Promised Land because he disobeyed by twice striking the rock. Joshua’s great victory over Jericho is enough without telling the story of Achan’s sin and the defeat at Ai. Samson carrying the gates of a Philistine city to the top of a hill is enough without telling of his terrible weakness of lust in falling prey to a conniving woman. And of course, David’s victory over the giant Goliath is enough without telling how he betrayed a trusted friend by committing adultery with his wife and then having him murdered in the cover-up.

The complete details of these fallible men’s lives would have been better left untold if we wanted to preach the marvelous virtues of our great God. However, God seeks glory in uncommon ways. The revelation of all the details shows how exceedingly gracious and merciful He truly is. How much love is needed to love someone who loves you? Jesus said if you love those that love you what thanks do you have? Even sinners love those that love them.

It would be enough to tell of God’s salvation of sinners who did not love Him if we wanted people to see how superior God’s love is. But what if God should add more details? What if after sending His Son to die for them and saving them those He loves are terribly ungrateful? How much more love does it take not to obliterate them in anger? It takes even greater resolve to love those that multiple times turn their backs on Him after receiving His rich benefits. God’s love is magnified as He promises to preserve His people despite their constant failures. This is the way God works. This is the way He wrote His book. Tell the whole story and God will be glorified in most uncommon ways.

After many verses of Israel’s obstinacy, the psalm ends on a note of peace. God gave Israel her greatest king. David, the shepherd king, brought Israel to prominence as he led them with a gentle hand. David symbolizes the last king of Israel. He is also a shepherd that feeds His flock and gently cares for those that are with young (Isa. 40:11). Christ is the great King. He loves us with unconditional love. He will never leave us or forsake us. Tell the whole world the story of Him and they will never find failure in Him. He came to make up for failures. God accepts us because of Him.

Thank God for His book. We see ourselves reflected in stories like Psalm 78. All too often they are tales of failures, yet we can still claim His promise that He will bring us home to glory.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith