David s Dance. Being Conformed. Christ Is All In All. Slavery to Public Opinion. He Must Increase

Transcription

1 Being Conformed By Todd Bryant of Nortport, Alabama And be not conformed to tis world (Rom. 12:2). For wom e did foreknow, e also did predestinate to be conformed to te image of is Son (Rom. 8:29). Sadly, te two preceding verses tend to be almost avoided, especially in sovereign grace circles. We ave pounded te doctrines of eternal security (Continued on page 2) Slavery to Public Opinion By Francis Wayland ( ) But tey, measuring temselves by temselves, and comparing temselves among temselves, are not wise (II Cor. 10:12). It is too obvious to need illustration, tat upon our social nature a large part of our appiness essentially depends. We become members of civil society as soon as we enter upon our existence, and our rigt to its protection and care is universally acknowledged. We into te eads of our people and ave left out te importance of good works. Altoug we know we are not saved by wat we do, we affirm tat works are important. Te doctrine of te preservation of te saints is not a license to sin and sould instinctively concede to all born of woman te privileges wic belong to umanity, and guarantee even to a elpless infant te free enjoyment of tem all. Tis is evidently one of te noblest impulses of our common nature, and tat eart must be morally diseased in wic it does not beat wit te power of an irresistible (Continued on page 6) By Curtis Pug of Poteau, Oklaoma It never ceases to amaze me te lengts to wic people will go to justify teir actions. Te Lord said it so well! For Jon came neiter eating nor drinking, and tey say, e at a devil. Te Son of man came eating and drinking, and tey say, Beold a man glut- By Milburn R. Cockrell ( ) David s Dance Crist Is All In All Were tere is neiter Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scytian, bond nor free: but Crist is all, and in all (Col. 3:11). Cristianity is simply Crist. All good is summed up in im. By Paul Stepp of Indore, West Virginia All tings wort aving and wort being are to be found in im. Witout is person tere is noting left tat is distinctively Cristian. Oter religions (Continued on page 15) e Must Increase My text comes from Jon 3:30, e must increase, but I must decrease. Tese are te words of Jon te Baptist as e speaks of te Saviour, Jesus Crist. Wen you read te context, you find tat te Jews came to Jon questioning im about te Lord Jesus. Tey tougt tat tonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of er cildren (Matt. 11:18-19). Te uman eart is so (Continued on page 4) Jon migt be offended because many folks were be-coming fol-lowers of Jesus. In fact, many of Jon s disciples were leaving Jon, and fol-lowing Jesus te Crist te One tat (Continued on page 18)

2 Page 2 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Marc 5, 2017 Volume XXXVII, Number 3 Wole Number 452 Editor: Cristoper Cockrell Staff: Seron Cockrell, Marsa Kiser, Virginia Cockrell TE BEREA BAPTIST BANNER (UPS ) is publised montly for $6.00 per year by te autority of te Berea Baptist Curc, 3881 igway 363, Mantacie, Mississippi Periodical Publication postage paid at Mantacie, Mississippi. POSTMASTER: Send address canges to TE BEREA BAPTIST BANNER, P. O. Box 39, Mantacie, Mississippi PUBLICATION POLICIES: All matter for publication sould be sent to te editor. All manuscripts are to be typed and double spaced. All suc material becomes te property of BBB and will not be returned unless requested by te writer. We reserve te rigt to edit and condense all materials sent to us for publication. Te publication of an article does not necessarily mean te editor is in complete agreement wit te writer, nor does it mean e endorses all tis person may ave written on oter subjects. 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Te post office will only forward periodical mail for 90 days. Tey carge us $.70 for eac cange of address tey ave to send us. Please save us tis expense and te post office time. BUNDLES TO ONE ADDRESS: Tese are sent for $4 per paper for a year. An example: 10 papers for one year at $40 or 20 papers for one year at $ LOCATION OF PUBLISING CURC: Our curc is located on state igway 363 about one mile sout of Mantacie, Mississippi. Readers are always welcome to visit our services. CURC PONE: A PAPER WITOUT SUBSCRIPTION: Some times people write to us and say tat tey did not subscribe for te BBB. Tey are receiving our paper because someone else as paid for teir subscription. We trust te BBB will be received as an outstretced and to you. Take wat you find elpful and discard wat you cannot use. If you do not want to receive suc a gift subscription, please write to us. We are appy to cancel suc a subscription. We do not want to go were we are not wanted. DISCLAIMER: Te Editor assumes tat te articles submitted for publication in te BBB are written by te person wose name tey bear, unless oterwise indicated by a quote from anoter writer. owever, te Editor cannot personally guarantee tat tis is te case in all articles wic appear in te BBB. Te purpose of te Berea Baptist Banner is as follows: 1.To onor God and to exalt te Lord Jesus Crist. 2. To preac te gospel to lost sinners. 3. To spread te wole counsel of God s Word. 4. To encourage God s preacers and to strengt-en is curces in te most oly fait. 5. To motivate God s cildren to a closer fellow-sip around is Word. 6. To inform people of world events in ligt of Bible propecy. 7. To condemn and expose error werever it may rear its ugly ead. 8. To stimulate Cristian growt in grace. 9. To make te Devil and is demons as mad as possible. Tune in to te Berea Baptist Broadcast STATION TIME DIAL WATTS WCNA, Myrtle, MS...Sunday 9:30-10:00 a.m ,000 FM WCTT, Corbin, KY...Sunday 9:00-9:30 a.m ,000 AM WFTA, Tupelo, MS...Sunday 9:00-9:30 a.m ,000 FM KARI, Blaine, WA...Saturday 10:30-11:00 a.m ,000 AM KPRV, eavener, OK... Sunday 8:30-9:00 a.m ,000 FM WQRL, Benton, IL...Sunday 9:00-9:30 a.m ,500 FM WPWT, Bristol, TN...Sunday 1:00-1:30 p.m ,000 AM WPWT, Colonial eigts, TN...Sunday 1:00-1:30 p.m FM WPWT, Kingsport, TN...Sunday 1:00-1:30 p.m FM GONE TO SLEEP WAITING ON TE MAIL? Look at your mailing label on te front page of tis mont s paper. If you see above your name Expires 3/2017 ten tis will be your last issue. So don t fall asleep waiting for te mailman! Renew now so you won t miss next mont s Banner. Being Conformed (Continued from page 1) not be treated as suc. It is unfortunate, owever, tat te time as come were you can ardly tell te saint from te sinner, and in many cases, te sinner is te most saintly, or at least is fruits seem to be. Jesus declares in Jon 15:18: If te world ate you, ye know tat it ated me before it ated you. And, in te 20t verse: If tey ave persecuted me, tey will also persecute you. Te minor problems tat we face today, as Cristians, can ardly be called persecution. Tey can scarcely be compared to te sufferings of Crist or any of te apostles. Even many of te laymen of te New Testament suffered martyrdom. Te question ten sould be posed, Wy are we not persecuted today? Te laws of te land are not olding back sinful men from ating us, for tey ated Crist witout a cause (Jon 15:25). Te Jews broke many of teir own laws in order to crucify Crist. Tey did not ate im because of is breaking any laws, but rater te contrary. Tey ated im because of is perfect oliness. Peraps tis is te reason we are so liked. We are not able, wile in our present condition, to reac a state of perfect oliness. owever, we are to strive to tat end. Tat is were we are falling sort today. We are more concerned wit blending in wit our present surroundings tan we are working for te cause of Crist. Tis is called being conformed to tis world and tis is wrong, according to our text. Just to pose a question, wen we go on vacation, are we concerned wit settling in and making a life for ourselves tere, or, do we realize we are only tere for a few days? Do we concern ourselves wit te necessary tings of life, or, do we just enjoy te gleanings of our vacation spot? Tis migt sound silly on te outset, but, I can assure you, it is not. According to Pilippians 3:20, our conversation, or citizensip, is in eaven. Terefore, tis world is just a place we are in for less tan a second in te scope of eternity. We do not need to worry ourselves wit te tings of tis world. We sould, as servants of God, remember were we are from and work to better our eternal abode. In Mattew 16:26, Jesus poses te question: For wat is a man profited, if e sall gain te wole world, and lose is own soul? or wat sall a man give in excange for is soul? Tis is a question asked by Crist- --te Savior of men. I believe it is worty to be considered. Most tings in tis world only do arm to our relationsip wit Crist and our soul. Just because we are eternally secure in te blood of Crist does not mean our spiritual life can not be armed by our life ere upon Eart. We are so worried about gaining rices and elping our family members to do te same tat we generally forget God and rarely concern ourselves wit te salvation of our own family. Wat can you elp a family member to gain tat would be more valuable tan salvation? Wat can you give tem in tis world tat would be wort te price of eternity in te lake of fire? Te Lord as blessed us wit salvation and fait in is Son. We need to daily sare tat blessing wit oters in opes tat God will empower it and (Continued on page 3)

3 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 3 Being Conformed (Continued from page 2) bring salvation to tem. In Mattew 6:19-24, Crist instructs us to lay up for yourselves treasures in eaven, were neiter mot nor rust dot corrupt, and were tieves do not break troug nor steal: For were your treasure is, tere will your eart be also. Are we laying up treasures in eaven? I would ave to say tat te majority of people are concerned wit laying up treasures ere. We rarely even tink of working for treasures in te life to come. We sould, owever, remember tat our time ere is but a breat. Our time in eaven is eternal. I would rater go troug life in tis world as a beggar and be ric in te world to come tan to ave all of my works burned up at te judgment seat of Crist. All of te possessions you ave ere will be left ere wen you die. I tink of te prase, e wo dies wit te most toys, still dies. Does te world see us as being different? I sould ope tey would. Te term Cristian is a name tat was given to te saints because of teir Cristlike appearance. Tat is wat we need to be striving towards. We need to be different tan te people in tis world. We need to be conformed to te image of Crist. We will be at te resurrection, but, troug sanctification, we need to strive to conform to is image today. According to Mattew 6:24, we cannot serve God and mammon. We can not serve God and tis world, too. Te more we fit in to tis world, te more we are conformed to it. Te more we strive to be like Crist, te more we appear just to be sojourners in a foreign land. In II Corintians 6:14-18, we are given instructions about not being unequally yoked togeter wit unbelievers. Paul goes on to ask wat fellowsip we, as followers of te Lord Jesus Crist, ave wit unbelievers. Tis, no doubt, is one of te reasons for Cristians today being conformed to tis world. Tis is wy our curces are looking for ways to let sinners in. ow can we be in te midst of sin and not take part? Ultimately, we can t. For a wile we migt be able to ward off evil. But, we will fail te test if we do not stay away from tese worldly situations. Te crowd you ang around influences te way you act. You will do wat your friends do, for te most part. We are commanded to be separate-- -a peculiar people. as God ever allowed is people to remain in idolatry? Is not te worsip of te tings of tis world idolatry? Look at te castening and of God upon te nation of Israel today. Tey broke is commandments. Tey went after oter gods. God as scattered tem over te face of te Eart today. Tey are an example for us to learn from. Tey will be saved in te days to come as will a saint tat falls under te castening of God. owever, as it is wit te Jews, castening is toug-love. God deals wit is people correctly. e brings is cildren back in a way tat works. Deuteronomy 4:24 states: For te LORD ty God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. Remember tis as you build up wealt in tis world and leave God out of your daily life. In our text verse (Rom. 8:29), we are told tat we were predestined to be conformed to te image of Jesus Crist. Little ills By Nataniel ille of Plant City, Florida... and te little ills rejoice on every side (Psalms 65:12). Te New Birt #12 Evidences of aving Been Born Again Part 5 Wosoever believet tat Jesus is te Crist is born of God... (I Jon 5:1). Te apostle Jon writes tat belief tat Jesus is te Crist is evidence one is born-again. Believe literally means to place confidence in; to entrust to. Many people ave a ead-knowledge of te istorical events surrounding Jesus, but tey fail to ave saving-fait in im and to be born again. Jon Gill stated, True fait in Jesus Crist is believing wit te eart unto rigteousness (Rom. 10:10), or a looking to, and trusting in te rigteousness of Crist for justification; is blood for pardon and cleansing; We need to strive to tis end. We, as Cristians, need to do te work tat God as given us. We need to try our best to conform ourselves to Crist s image. ow do we do tis? First, we get into te Word as muc as possible. For years, troug te Dark Ages, te printed Word was kept from te people. Today, we ave it at our disposal. We need to learn as muc as we can to better serve God. Secondly, we need to pray witout ceasing. We need to stay in prayer to God tat e would cause us to be more like Crist---tat e would lead, guide and direct our every step and tat we would follow as we sould. Tirdly, we need to keep company wit Cristians. Weter we do tis in omes, under a sense of guilt and filt; and a laying old on is atoning sacrifice for te atoning of our sins and peace wit God. Fait is a reception of im as te only Savior and redeemer, or a dependence on im for life and salvation wic is followed by love to im, a subjection to is gospel and ceerful submission to is commands. ave you tis kind of fait? Or a mere ead-knowledge of istorical events tat took place nearly 2,000 years ago? Do you believe tat Jesus is te Crist, te anointed of God to bear te sins of is elect people at Calvary s cross? Tat e is te Son of God, cosen of God to suffer te wrat of God in your place at Calvary? Do you ave saving-fait? curc, or revival meetings, it needs to be done. Tere is no option to attending curc. If you are concerned wit your treasures in eaven, tere is no option to te oters eiter. Take tis article as an attempt to motivate God s cildren to forsake tis world and take up te cross and follow Crist. It is my desire tat Crist s curces would be filled wit mature Cristians wo ave a concern for teir fellow man---curces wo are not afraid to carry te gospel fort as we ave been commanded to do, and members wo desire to ear te words: Well done, tou good and faitful servant (Matt. 25:21).

4 Page 4 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 David s Dance (Continued from page 1) deceptive as to be able to say one ting is rigt in one instance and te direct opposite is rigt in anoter. Truly, Te eart is deceitful above all tings, and desperately wicked: wo can know it (Jer. 17:9)? Te multitudes of Jews in Jesus day certainly proved tat, and noting as canged about te deceitful desperately wicked earts of men everywere. Every sot on skid row knows te Scripture, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for ty stomac s sake and tine often infirmities (I Tim. 5:23). Many of tem can preac a pretty decent sermon on wat te Bible says about wine, and often do so in order to justify teir beavior. But tey omit oter Scriptures tat bear on te subject of substance abuse, suc as: A ll tings are lawful unto me, but all tings are not expedient: all tings are lawful for me, but I will not be brougt under te power of any (I Cor. 6:12) and: It is good neiter to eat fles, nor to drink wine, nor any ting wereby ty broter stumblet, or is offended, or is made weak (Rom. 14:21). Once, after I preaced on scriptural baptism in te Yukon Territory, an Anglican woman wo ad eard te message came to me and said, Te word sprinkling is in te Bible. Yes it is! It is in te Bible four times: all in te Book of ebrews. Two verses tere ave to do wit te Old Testament Jewis sprinkling of te blood of bulls and goats and two verses refer to te blood of Crist. But tis poor woman tougt se could justify and peraps did justify in er own mind tat sprinkling was acceptable to God in te place of dipping or plunging. er deceitful eart loved sprinkling and so se attempted to justify te eretical practice of infant sprinkling just because te word is in te Bible, even toug it is used of tings totally unrelated to sprinkling in place of baptism. You and I must exercise great care to insure tat our own personal prejudices do not enter in and affect our interpretation of wat te Bible says! We must study torougly and onestly wit a determination to let te Bible say wat it says. We must adjust our tinking, teology and actions so tat tey are in accord wit God s oly Book! May God give is people grace to do tat very ting! And in connection wit dancing, we must not let our deceitful earts tat may love dancing, or tat may love crowds and tink dancing is a way to win folks to Jesus seek to justify dancing by saying, David danced. So we come to te subject of King David s dance. is action is used by professing Cristians even by some called Baptists to justify ballroom dancing, sensual gyrations bot in time and out of time wit modern rock music, country dancing of all sorts including square dancing, motions of wild sexual abandon, (called by one preacer vertical foreplay and even to coreograped interpretive dances in religious meetings in so called ouses of worsip. (Pardon my plain speec, but people speak plainly today too plainly, I tink so I will exercise myself in tat direction just a little. Frankly, I am socked to ear conversations in wic subjects are discussed, statements made, and words used tat in my yout were never discussed in mixed company even among te ungodly. And if you do not know wat mixed company is, tat just sows ow far downward as been te descent of American society during my seventy-two years!) Now te Bible says: And David danced before te LORD wit all is migt; and David was girded wit a linen epod (II Sam. 6:14). May I asten to add tat tis preacer does not believe tat it is an accident tat in te same verse were we are told of David s unseemly beavior we are also told wat e was wearing. e was uncovered only in te sense tat e ad laid aside is kingly garments and was attired as a priest going about is work, (see II Samuel 6:20 for is wife s false accusation). We are given additional information as to David s attire on tis occasion in I Cronicles 15:27: And David was cloted wit a robe of fine linen... David also ad upon im an epod of linen. Now if anyone knows about linen tey know it is not see troug nor clinging. Besides is robe of linen, e wore te vestment of te priests, called an epod. No doubt David also wore a tunic, or under-robe, but over all is cloting e wore tis epod wic was also linen and ung around is neck and covered bot is front and back muc like a long apron. Tus David sowed is awareness tat e was about oly work in bringing te Ark of te Covenant ome. Remember e ad been afraid to bring te Ark of God ome prior to tis so e was being very careful to sow tat e was umbly, and as a servant of God, doing wat e was doing. Now for a brief consideration of te context in wic our text concerning David s dance appears. Te Pilistines ad captured te Ark of te Covenant: tat wooden, gold-covered cest wit te two beaten-work gold angels tat overed over its lid wic was te mercy seat: tat oly ting tat belonged in te oly of olies in te Tabernacle and wic would later be placed in te Temple. David went to war wit te Pilistines and won back te Ark. Now David was like a lot of Baptists. Tey are all in favor of pagan worldly ways if tey seem to impress folk and migt win tem all to te glory of God, of course! I tink tat ad David lived in te days of te conquest of Canaan, e would ave been first in line to ew te stones of te altar were e worsipped. ewn stones were muc more impressive, beautiful and in keeping wit te worsip of te pagans of tat era. But God said: And if tou wilt make me an altar of stone, tou salt not build it of ewn stone: for if tou lift up ty tool upon it, tou ast polluted it (Ex. 20:25). If you understand te principle involved in te matter of not ewing te stones for God s altar you will no doubt admit tat many Baptists today are guilty of disobeying te spirit and intent of tis ancient command to Israel all in order to appear more socially acceptable and to get a crowd. But tat is anoter subject. So David and is fellows knowing full well tat God ad ordained tat priests sould carry te Ark by means of long poles tat fit troug rings on te sides of te Ark neverteless adopted te world s way. It was more impressive, dignified and appealing to do it te new-fangled way. So ere is wat tey did and wat appened as a result:...tey set te ark of God upon a new cart, and brougt it out of te ouse of Abinadab tat (Continued on page 5)

5 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 5 David s Dance (Continued from page 4) was in Gibea: and Uzza and Aio, te sons of Abinadab, drave te new cart. And tey brougt it out of te ouse of Abinadab wic was at Gibea, accompanying te ark of God: and Aio went before te ark. And David and all te ouse of Israel played before te LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on arps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. And wen tey came to Nacon s tresingfloor, Uzza put fort is and to te ark of God, and took old of it; for te oxen sook it. And te anger of te LORD was kindled against Uzza; and God smote im tere for is error; and tere e died by te ark of God. And David was displeased, because te LORD ad made a breac upon Uzza: and e called te name of te place Perezuzza to tis day. And David was afraid of te LORD tat day, and said, ow sall te ark of te LORD come to me? So David would not remove te ark of te LORD unto im into te city of David: but David carried it aside into te ouse of Obededom te Gittite. And te ark of te LORD continued in te ouse of Obededom te Gittite tree monts: and te LORD blessed Obededom, and all is ouseold. And it was told king David, saying, Te LORD at blessed te ouse of Obededom, and all tat pertainet unto im, because of te ark of God. So David went and brougt up te ark of God from te ouse of Obededom into te city of David wit gladness (II Sam. 6:3-12). Tis last long passage tells us of God s judgment upon Uzza for doing wat any one of us would ave done. Now it sould be noted tat te Pilistines ad returned te Ark to Israel an earlier time by putting it on a new cart (cf 1 Samuel 6:7 ff). Peraps tis is were David got te idea of putting te Ark of God on a cart. If so, e was imitating te pagans in wat e did. And e probably was doing tat very ting, for te idea came from somewere. But back to our text: wen te oxen tat were pulling te cart on wic te Ark rode stumbled and sook te Ark, Uzza did not want to see tat oly ting fall to te ground. So e did te natural ting: e did te rigt ting: e put out is and to steady te Ark. As a result of is wellintentioned act, God killed Uzza tat day. But, someone objects, e was only doing wat e tougt was a good and necessary ting! ear tis: wen it comes to bot te worsip and service of God, doing te rigt ting is accursed of God wen you are going about te worsip and service of God in te wrong way in te first place. Now tat last may be a bit of a convoluted sentence so peraps you sould read it again! If wat you are doing is unautorized by God in te first place, noting rigt tat you may do is acceptable to God! Your rigt actions are wrong if wat you are doing is wrong in te first place. I do not know ow to make tat principle any plainer. Te deat of Uzza proves tat! God killed im! Te actions described in te last long text were unautorized by God. No doubt David and is coorts tougt putting te Ark of God on a new cart was perfectly acceptable, more modern tan te old way, and more dignified tan aving it carried by a bunc of sweating struggling priests. But te wole metod was wrong and so wat Uzza did was wrong even toug it was rigt to keep te Ark from falling to te ground. Because of tis rigt act in doing a wrong ting God killed Uzza tat day. As a result we are told tat David was afraid of te LORD tat day and would not remove te ark of te LORD to Jerusalem. After leaving te Ark tree monts in te ouse of Obededom, David was told ow tat God blessed tat man and is ouseold. So David umbled imself and went back and did tings God s way tis time. We read: And it was so, tat wen tey tat bare te ark of te LORD ad gone six paces, e sacrificed oxen and fatlings (II Sam. 6:13). Note: tey bare te ark! Te priests carried te ark as God ad ordained in te first place! David did God s work God s way tis time and God blessed im and Israel for is obedience. And so it was tat after te priests took six steps tey stopped and offered sacrifices to God. At tis time we are told: And David danced before te LORD wit all is migt; and David was girded wit a linen epod (II Sam. 6:14). Now let us examine David s dance. Te ebrew word translated danced is found ere and only one oter place and tat is verse 16 were we read: And as te ark of te LORD came into te city of David, Mical Saul s daugter looked troug a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before te LORD; and se despised im in er eart. So tis ebrew word is only used of wat David did tis one time. It is not used of te dances of anyone else in te Bible. Do you reckon God knew wat e was doing in aving tis word cosen and used rater tan anoter word wic means anoter kind of dancing? James Strong, a Metodist, gives te first meaning of te ebrew word translated danced as to wirl. Jon Gill, te old Baptist commentator, says,...not a set dance, or along wit oters; but e leaped and skipped as car [sic], a lamb, does... [brackets added]. is was not a coreograped dance. It was not a sexual or sensual dance and cannot rigtfully be used to justify eiter interpretive dancing or social dancing. Te ebrews, like oter peoples, ad teir set dances, most often it seems, performed by te women, but te ebrew word transliterated karar (kawrar ) is never used in te Bible of suc dancing as tey did. David s wirling around and leaping for joy were merely te expressions of is great joyful excitement at God s acceptance of is bringing te Ark ome. e was not in any kind of ouse of worsip, but rater in te open air and sowed tat e cared more tat God was pleased tan e cared for is dignity as king. Wo among us as not seen a young cild overcome wit joy wo cannot remain still, but dances about not able to contain imself? Tat was te dancing of David! Mical, Saul s daugter and wife of David, criticized im for aving laid aside is kingly garments and for beaving in an undignified manner before te ordinary people. Tat David s action was one of self-abasement and umiliation of imself as king was te issue is made clear by is words to is wife: And I will yet be more vile tan tus, and will be base in mine own sigt: and of te maidservants (Continued on page 6)

6 Page 6 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 David s Dance (Continued from page 5) wic tou ast spoken of, of tem sall I be ad in onour (II Sam. 6:22). So wat David did was not a beautiful stylized dance at all. Nor was e dancing wit someone else. Nor was e immodest or naked. e umbled imself as an expression of is joy because of God s acceptance of is act of bringing ome te Ark of God. As bad as tings were in te curc in Corint, Paul never dealt wit tem dancing in curc services toug tere was muc else wrong tere. And tere is not te sligtest int in te New Testament tat anyone anywere performed interpretive dances in tat era. And interestingly enoug, in te most joyful of places, eaven itself, tere is no mention in te Bible of anyone ever dancing tere now or in te future. It seems to me tat if dancing is rigt for curces today, it would be found in te worsip of God in eaven, but it is not! Tere is no basis in David s dance for any kind of modern dancing in curc services or on social occasions, but of course tose wo want to justify temselves and teir carnal actions will no doubt not be swayed at all by te facts. But wisdom is justified of er cildren (Matt. 11:19), Jesus said and of course tis true. Tat Mical displeased God for criticizing er usband is clear for we read: Terefore Mical te daugter of Saul ad no cild unto te day of er deat (II Sam. 6:23). But tat is not an argument in favor of dancing, rater a lesson on pride. Slavery to Public (Continued from page 1) passion. On our instinctive social and moral elements rest te wole fabric of government and law. Remove tese, and toug we migt be gregarious we could never form a commonwealt, and te pysical force of te individual would confer te only autority known among men. Allied to te social element of our nature are various accessory impulses of acknowledged power. Among tese may be reckoned te simple love of companionsip. A sane uman being instinctively srinks from being alone. Solitary confinement for life is deemed by many more terrible tan deat. So aborrent is tis condition to our nature tat it frequently terminates in insanity. Te conception of an intelligent being condemned to eternal banisment from every living ting is one of te most terrible tat te imagination can create. Intimately associated wit te love of companionsip is te desire for te esteem and affection of our fellowmen. We all desire our companions to adopt our practices and coincide wit our sentiments. Te more distinctly we observe in oters tis moral parallelism wit ourselves, te more readily do we form acquaintances, and te more rapidly does acquaintance ripen into intimacy. It is, on te oter and, painful to find ourselves segregated in feelings, sentiments, and action from our fellows; and wen, in fact, a dissimilarity exists, our first impulse is to conceal it, lest, by cance, we sould forfeit somewat of teir good opinion. Our Saviour alludes to tis as te cause of muc of te pain wic would attend upon a profession of is religion: tey sall separate you from teir company, and reproac you, and cast out your name as evil (Luke 6:22). e, on various occasions, takes special care to strengten tem against tis form of persecution as one wic it would be ard to bear and difficult to witstand. It is, owever, evident tat tis accessory of our social nature is wisely implanted witin us. From tis universal impulse arise many of te coicest amenities of daily intercourse. We are tus reciprocally guarded against te infliction of unnecessary pain; and ence an incalculable amount of mental disquietude is banised from te eart. e wo disregards tis impulse of is nature, and derives pleasure from collision wit te opinions and practices of is neigbors, soon finds imself in a condition in wic collision is impossible. Men gradually witdraw from im, and leave im in te undisturbed enjoyment of is cerised opinions. From tis love of esteem, and te unwillingness to forfeit it, flow all te courtesies of refined society, te laws of universal good breeding, and tat studiousness to avoid giving unnecessary offense, wic sould ever regulate our intercourse wit our fellow-men of every rank, of ever position, of every degree of refinement, and every grade of social cultivation. But wile all tis is acknowledged, it is apparent tat tis excellent tendency of our nature may easily be carried to excess. Its foundations are laid in te relations wic men sustain to eac oter, as beings endowed wit te same sensibilities, and invested wit te same inalienable rigts. Our relations to te Creator depend upon very different principles, and it is essential to te perfection of our moral caracter tat every impulse sould be subject to te love and obedience wic we owe to our Fater wo is in eaven. If tis love of companionsip, tis longing for te good opinion of oters, is permitted to stifle te monitions of conscience, and paralyze our love of rectitude; if it lead us to say wat we know to be false, or do wat we know to be wrong; if it cause us to ignore te government of God, and tus, in practice, exclude te Most ig from te government of is universe, ten I tink we all must allow tat te love of uman approbation as carried us somewat too far. Tis conflict between impulse and obligation did not escape te notice of te Saviour. ow can ye believe, said e, wo receive onor one of anoter, and not te onor wic comet from God only? Tat an antagonism between our moral principles and our love of uman esteem is likely to arise in a world lying in wickedness, is sufficiently apparent. Te fool at said in is eart, Tere is no God (Ps. 14:1); and we are everywere surrounded by men wo are practically guilty of tis precise folly. Te most compreensive carity must admit tat men are, in general, lovers of pleasure, of power, of wealt, of social position, rater tan lovers of God. From te principle of companionsip to wic we ave alluded, tey desire all men to bow down to teir idols, and worsip te images wic tey ave set up. Nor is tis quite all. Conscience, toug stupefied by sin, is painfully aroused by a living testimony to te frivolity and wickedness of a life witout God. We naturally turn away from tat wic gives us pain, and ence e wo resolutely obeys God will frequently find imself in a small minority; it will be well (Continued on page 7)

7 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 7 Slavery to Public (Continued from page 6) if e is not, like te propet of old, apparently alone. In addition to tis negative distress, e will frequently be called upon to suffer from te malice aroused by is determined opposition to te practices prevalent around im. It is tus tat every step in our probation on eart becomes a test of moral caracter. Te question is arising every day, and many times in te day, sall we obey God rater tan man (Acts 5:29)? Te autority of te Creator and of te creature are tus set over one against te oter. We must decide wic of te two we will obey, and is servants we are wom we obey, weter of sin unto deat, or of obedience unto rigteousness. It is tus tat te love of companionsip tempts us to disobey God. But it frequently goes muc furter. We even plead companionsip in evil as a justification of evil itself. If our moral convictions are at variance wit our conduct, we silence te voice of conscience by te reflection tat we are no worse tan oters. If God forbids te deed wic we are about to do, we do it neverteless, replying to our Maker, tat all te world does it also. Tus, wat we would confess to be wrong if we did it alone, we claim to be rigt if we do it in company and by concert. We seem to suppose tat toug it would be madness for one man to contend wit Omnipotence, a multitude of men may do it wit impunity. At last, aving silenced te monitions of conscience, we yield ourselves up to te current of public opinion, and witout a moral struggle float onward towards tat eternity in wic we and all born of woman will sortly be engulfed. It may peraps surprise us to observe ow universal and all pervading is tis soul-destructive tendency. It meets us everywere, and meet us at all times during our progress troug life. It spreads its snare for us as we leave te cradle, and follows closely on our track until we step into te grave. Te little cild is no sooner capable of olding intercourse wit te intelligent beings around im tan e finds imself enveloped in tis unealty moral atmospere. e ears, in te nursery, as te justification for wrong doing, tat some one else did it also. e quickly learns te lesson, and, wen conscious of fault, enters te same plea in exculpation. Wen convicted of misconduct, e as only to sow tat broters and sisters ave been equally guilty, and it seems as toug is innocence were establised, and tat te parents wose precepts e as violated can accuse im of no wrong. Tus was it at te beginning. Te Lord God said, ast tou eaten of te tree, wereof I commanded tee tat tou souldest not eat? And te man said, te woman wom tou gavest me to be wit me, se gave me of te tree, and I did eat (Gen. 3:11-12). Te instructions of parents may in some measure ave corrected tese evil tendencies, and te young immortal may ave learned to make some accurate moral distinctions, wen a new world opens upon im, te world of te scool room. e soon finds tat te cildren around im ave very different notions of rigt and wrong from tose wic e learned at ome. Words reac is ear wic e as been taugt to consider wicked and degrading. In te sports in wic e engages, treacery and deceit may form a part of te amusement. Tyranny over te weak and defenseless is te rule rater tan te exception. All tis, owever, must be kept secret from parents and instructors, and if tis can be done only by prevarication and falseood, it matters not; every scolar is bound, rigt or wrong, to sield te rest from punisment. If te boy questions te rigt of all tis, e is told tat te rules of te family and te rules of te scool are very different tings; tat tere is no wrong in te acts wic e as considered wicked, for all te boys do tem; and, in a word, unless e conform to te manners of te society in wic e lives, e will be treated as a traitor, fit only to be te butt of boyis ridicule and te object of daily annoyance. Te young immortal esitates. Tere is placed before im, on te one and, te teacing of parents and te sanctions of te Bible, and, on te oter, te maxims of Satan enforced by all te power of boyis public opinion. Tis is a critical moment in te istory of a cild. e may wit noble eroism stand firmly for trut, and onesty and God, and tus from te first build up is caracter in rigteousness. Too frequently, association wit wickedness inflicts a stain ardly ever erased. is mind is divided in its affection between trut and error. e is capable of being moved in eiter direction by te force of te public opinion around im. is caracter at ome and at scool are strangely at variance. is future, encefort, depends not on imself, but upon te accidental associations into wic e may be trown. Tis is almost te best tat can be oped for. It is well if e as not by degrees become partaker in every form of evil, ready to inculcate defiance of principles upon te innocent stranger, and proud of being a ringleader in every form of boyis depravity. Tus is it, tat so early in life te love of companionsip and fear of public opinion ave planted witin is soul te seeds of treacery, violence, selfisness, and toroug dissoluteness of principle. Te yout tus instructed enters upon anoter stage of is career. is is removed from ome to a more advanced institution of learning. Under te discipline wic e as left, te evil tendencies wic surrounded im were cecked and frequently arrested by te eye of te instructor in te scool room, and te precept and example of parents by te fireside. Domestic religion may daily ave recalled to is recollection and teacings of te Bible, and conscience tus quickened may ave eld im back from te grosser forms of sin. e was continually receiving from is parents affecting proofs of self-sacrificing love. Broters and sisters were watcing is progress wit trembling anxiety, and e could not be unaware tat tey all were looking forward to is success, as one of te brigtest spots in teir anticipations of te future. Tese redeeming influences ave not been witout teir effect. Toug is eart, under te discipline of te scool room, as in many places grown callous, tere remain some fibers witin it, wic still palpitate wit generous emotion. Te word ome still exerts its magical power over is affections, and e would srink from giving pain to tose wo love im so tenderly. But now is condition is, in many respects, dissimilar. Te ome of is cildood, allowed by so many deligtful associations, is excanged for a residence in a college. e is to be separated for (Continued on page 8)

8 Page 8 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Slavery to Public (Continued from page 7) monts, it may be for years, from all wo love im best. e is no longer a witness to teir self-denials. e no more ears teir words of encouragement and affection. Left to is own guidance, wit te means provided by parental love, e is to work out is own destiny in te new world upon wic e as just entered. At first, a distressing feeling of loneliness settles eavily upon im. e instinctively craves society of some sort, and soon finds tat tis craving can easily be satisfied. is acquaintance is quickly sougt by older students, wo soon initiate im into all te mysteries of te new society. It is not long before e finds tat many lessons are to be learned, besides tose specified in te publised course of study. Tere exists ere an unwritten code of laws, in many respects quite unlike tat wit wic e as been previously acquainted. e learns tat one law governs is intercourse wit students, and anoter is intercourse wit instructors. To lie to a student is mean, to lie to an officer is innocent, it may even be onorable. Te principles wic regulate is conduct to students are very different from tose wic regulate is conduct to te rest of te world. is associates form a society by temselves, governed by suc laws as its public opinion may enact, and rigt or wrong tey are bound to stand by eac oter. Deceit, disonesty and malice are only disreputable in our intercourse wit te protected class. Te grosser crimes affect unfavorably no man s standing provided tey are committed in comparative secrecy, and to conceal tem from te uninitiated every man olds imself unreservedly committed. Te young man, if e be not torougly corrupt, is for a time bewildered. e can not compreend tese distinctions of moral obligation. e as been taugt tat rigt acknowledged no modification of circumstances, but was pure and uncangeable as te trone of God. e ad always believed tat duplicity was mean, tat deceit was contemptible, tat te very suspicion of falseood inflicted on te caracter a stain like a wound, tat vicious pleasure was a sin against God, and tat to abuse te self-denying love of parents was a crime of wic none but te most abandoned could be guilty. If e remonstrates against some act of meanness or wickedness, e finds to is surprise, tat is remonstrance is seconded by no one. e is told tat suc tings can not be wrong, for all te fellows do it; and e learns tat tis announcement is cloted wit a power wic e can scarcely compreend. Tose antiquated notions belong to a state of society quite unlike tat into wic e as now entered. onorable men ere acknowledge no laws but tose enacted by te public opinion of te little world around tem. e observes te men by wom tis public opinion is created, and e finds tem in general to be te idle, te ignorant, te dissolute, and te profane. e, owever, soon learns tat tis public opinion is a fixed fact, and tat its origin is not to be too closely investigated. e is moreover assured tat everybody submits to it, tat it punises wit isolation and multiplied annoyance te rebel against its autority, and tat e ad better be careful ow e sets its mandates at defiance. e begins to reflect seriously upon is position. ere is te very crisis of is destiny. If strong in manly virtue e resolves to old fast to is integrity, and acknowledge no iger law tan te law of God; if rising to te dignity of a disciple of Crist e scorns te enticements of sin and despises te treatenings of sinners; if looking calmly at all tat may come upon im e determines on no occasion, be it great or small, to swerve from is allegiance to trut and onor and te fear of God, e as determined is caracter for life. No severer trial in te future, probably, awaits im. No temptation will encefort take im at a disadvantage. is pat is onward and upward. Wit te blessing of God, is success is as certain as is life. e can not fail, for e olds in is own ands te power of being victorious. e as vanquised te vanquiser of millions, by defying public opinion wen it is a defier of te Most ig God. Let im pursue tis pat to te end of life and e may, by te blessing of God, leave an ineritance for umanity wic tey will not readily consign to oblivion. But if e take te opposite course, if yielding to te love of companionsip, and quailing before te frown of a vicious public opinion e first temporizes, ten surrenders principle in tings tat seem ambiguous, ten associates wit te vicious and depraved, and, at last, silencing te voice of conscience, acknowledges no law but tat imposed upon im by te men wom e despises; every manly and generous sentiment will soon be clearly scooped out of is eart. Friends on eart and angels in eaven will weep over te cange tat as passed upon te lost soul. e left is fater s ouse a worsipper of God, pure in principle, virtuous in conduct; looking forward to te future buoyant in ope and confident of success. e returns titer sipwrecked in fait, beggared in ope, conscious of te degradation wic is written on is flused foreead and in is treacerous eye, te fawning and impious worsiper of a public opinion wic toug e servilely obeys e can not but torougly despise. If leaving te snares wic beset te pat of te young, we observe te pursuits of maturer life, we may not unlikely fall upon similar experiences. Were we invisibly to pass troug te marts of trade, we migt probably meet wit muc tat would deeply interest a tougtful mind. We migt peraps learn tat ligt weigt and sort measure were in many cases indispensable to profitable business, tat to tell a lie to te customer is no untrut, for e need not believe it unless e cooses, tat welling a vicious adulteration at te price and in te place of a genuine article is not disonest if people are willing to buy it, tat to defraud te revenue is no wrong, if it be not discovered, tat a false oat at te custom ouse involves us in no guilt, if a clerk is willing to perjure imself for us, tat to monopolize te necessaries of life in order to fleece te community and double te price of te poor man s loaf is one of te legitimate uses of capital, and tat to dupe te unfledged in te stock market is noting more tan a pleasing divertisement. We migt wonder at all tis, and be surprised to beold engaged in it men wo would grieve to be suspected of disonor. Were we, owever, in a moment of calm reflection to ask tem weter suc tings are rigt, te answer would probably be, wy, not exactly rigt, but wat is te use of talking, for every body does it? Tus men seem to tink tat wat every one would acknowledge to be wrong if it were (Continued on page 9)

9 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 9 Slavery to Public (Continued from page 8) done by a single individual, every one believes to be innocent if it only be done by te multitude. Sould we turn now to public life, one migt possibly tere also find some rare examples of tis power of sin. Could we listen to te private discourse or te more private tougts of te men wo devote temselves to te service of teir country, we migt possibly learn tat discourse about political principles was designed only for te uninitiated, tat patriotism was a word useful only for a political canvass, tat a man liable to be troubled wit conscientious scruples, was a very useless, or as it is said, a very impracticable member of a party, tat on questions involving te dearest interests of umanity, a man may, witout te least offence, take any side tat promises im a majority, tat e may cange is opinions as often as necessity requires, provided always tat it is not done clumsily, tat e can never expect to rise to power unless e loves party better tan principle, or even personal onor, and, in a word, tat religion, trut, morality are one ting, and politics quite anoter. We sould tus learn tat tere is a large class of actions, actions affecting te igest interests not only of ourselves, our cildren, our fellow-citizens, but te interests, social, moral and religious, of te wole uman race, in wic it is innocent for us to ignore every principle derived eiter from te love of God or te love of our neigbor. If we press tis consideration upon men, wat reply sall we probably elicit? Tey will tell us, not tat it is rigt, but tat it as been so always and every were, and tat now especially suc is te universal practice. It would not be surprising if tey sould turn upon us and ask, wo would be suc a fool as to be in a minority for te sake of an idea, or sacrifice is political prospects for a barren aderence to impracticable rectitude. But if leaving te men of te world, we turn to te curc of Crist, sall we find tat even ere te fear of God as triumped over te fear of man? By observing te communicants at te sacramental table, we find tose wo profess te name of Jesus intermingled wit oter men in all te departments of active life. Tey are to be seen among students, professional men, mercants, mecanics, manufacturers, brokers, and politicians of every grade and every political party. Sould we ask tem weter in teir several relations tey make it teir first concern to obey te Master, tey would probably inquire wit some astonisment weter we suppose tat te precepts of Jesus Crist are to be understood literally. Sould we modestly intimate tat Crist spoke very plainly, tey would inform us tat to obey te law of Crist strictly, would separate tem from all men, tat te course wic tey pursue can not be wrong, for every body pursues it, and tat, upon te wole, it is certainly better to do a little wrong, tan by sutting ourselves out from te world, lose all our influence over it. But let us open our eyes upon te men around us wo claim to be, by way of eminence, te world. Wat are te gods wic tese immortal beings worsip? Tey are worsipers of pleasure more tan lovers of God. Tey bow down before te lusts of te fles, and lust of te eye, and te pride of life. Te objects for wic tey live are te various forms of sensual enjoyment, political power, social position, and luxurious display. Tey congregate by tousands in tose resorts were vanity may be satisfied, if satiated it can be, were te senses are stimulated to intense excitement, and were fasion scoffs at te prudery wic suns te appearance of evil. Every one knows tat tis ceaseless pursuit of sensual pleasure banises from te soul every tougt of eternity, benumbs our moral sensibilities, and renders us powerless to resist te temptations wic it spreads everywere around us. Noting can be more at variance wit a eavenly mind tan a life of tougtless worldliness. But are te men and women wo avow tat tey are living for tis world te only worsipers at te srine of fasionable sensuality? Alas! too often sall we see in te midst of tis giddy trong, enjoying its pleasures to te uttermost, many of te professed disciples of te lowly, cross-bearing, crucified Jesus of Nazaret. You ask, Can suc tings deligt a soul tat as been transformed into te image of Crist? Can tese cildis vanities satisfy affections tat are placed on te eternal God? Do te followers of te Messia find te print of is footsteps ere, and did we not see tem in te garden wit im? Wen we press tese questions on suc disciples as tese, we are told tat tey would lose caste unless tey followed te examples of tose wo old te social position after wic tey aspire, and beside tis, it is all perfectly innocent, for tey find associated wit tem Cristians of every denomination; and yet more, conformity to te world is necessary in order to render te religion of Crist attractive to te giddy and tougtless. We urge upon men of te world te saying of Jesus, Except a man be born again, e can not see te kingdom of God (Jon 3:3), and tey tell us tey can not see te necessity of any moral cange, for tese regenerated men are in no respect different from temselves. Tus Cristians disobey Crist because men of te world do it; and te men of te world disobey im because Cristians set tem te example. But let us pause for a moment, and ask were do we now find ourselves? We ave only to generalize tis principle, and wereunto will it lead us? Te voice of conscience is silenced, te distinction between onor and meanness, between virtue and vice, between rigt and wrong is abolised; te law of God is trampled in te dust; te Judge of te wole eart as no longer any jurisdiction; and all tis is accomplised by te simplest possible process. Noting else is needed tan tat you and I, te creatures of yesterday, declare tat toug we defy God and crucify is Son afres, we ave noting to fear, for we do it by companies and we do it in concert. But amidst all tis flimsy folly and audacious wickedness, God as not left imself witout a witness. e as taken special means to caution us against tis wide-spreading delusion. If tere be a single cild of Adam beguiled by tis miserable sopistry, it will not be on account of ignorance tat could not be dispelled, but because e as loved darkness rater tan ligt, because is deeds are evil. In te first place, reason and conscience abundantly teac us tat no relation watever exists between many and few, and innocence and guilt. Rigt and wrong, innocence and guilt, depend on te moral relations of te parties, and not upon (Continued on page 10)

10 Page 10 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Slavery to Public (Continued from page 9) te number of te actors. If ten men lie, eac one of tem is an individual liar; nor is te matter altered if tey agree to te same lie, and all unite in affirming it to be te trut. If twenty men agree togeter to do a mean ting, every one of tem is individually despicable. If a undred men are false to teir country, every one of tem is a traitor, and as an individual must e answer for it. I do not deny tat companionsip and concert may, in some respects, modify te caracter of a moral action. If a man act alone e may act tougtlessly, and from sudden and ungovernable impulse; but if a number of men agree togeter to do an act, tey must do it deliberately. If tey organize temselves into an association to do it, tey manifest a still more settled determination. Tus piracy is always eld to be more atrocious tan murder; and an organized banditti deserves more condign punisment tan an individual tief. But lest tis sould not be enoug, God, in te revelation wic e as given us, as made known is moral attributes, and te relations wic we sustain to im. e is te Creator and Preserver of all, te Legislator, and rigtful Governor, and Proprietor of te universe. e justly claims of all is intelligent creatures universal obedience, and obedience wic springs from boundless gratitude and illimitable love....tou salt love te Lord ty God wit all ty eart, and wit all ty soul, and wit all ty mind, and wit all ty strengt... (Mark 12:30). All oter tings are created, God alone is te Creator, oly, just, true, all compassionate and all merciful. Te greatest crime of wic it is possible for us to conceive, is for a creature on any account, or for any reason, or under any inducement, to disobey God. Wat ten must be te guilt of setting aside te autority of God by deliberate consent, and installing in its place te opinions and example of men, nay of men even weaker and more wicked tan ourselves. It is excanging te true God for a lie, and worsipping and serving te creature rater tan te Creator Wo is blessed forevermore. In is written Word God as left us some impressive lessons on te subject wic we are now considering. In te early istory of our race, te worsipers of te Most ig ad followed te examples of te ungodly, until all fles ad corrupted its way, and te eart was filled wit violence. Century after century ad te infection spread, until only one family remained wic eld fast to its integrity. It was ten tat Jeova interfered, and, saving only eigt persons, overwelmed wit a flood te world of te ungodly. Toug te wole race was united in companionsip in evil, te judgment of God slumbered not, but brougt upon every individual sinner unexpected and remediless destruction. At a later period, te cities of te plain ad sunk down in loatsome sensuality. A preacer was sent to reprove tem for teir wickedness and warn tem of teir danger. To all is remonstrances every individual was able to plead tat tere could be noting very wrong in teir conduct, for no man was in particular more corrupt tan is neigbor. One family alone was exempt from tis general pollution; te rest ad become so preeminent in wickedness, tat teir name as become a by-word to te ages. At last teir cry came up to eaven, and no intercession could save tem. A deluge of wrat swept tem away, and, wit te exception of tis single family, tey all sunk into te burning abyss, and are set fort as an example suffering te vengeance of eternal fire. Nor are te Scriptures wanting in examples of tose wo, in te face of contumely and persecution unto deat, ave scorned companionsip wit sinners, and boldly avowed teir allegiance to God. We read of Moses, wo cose...rater to suffer affliction wit te people of God, tan to enjoy te pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming te reproac of Crist greater rices tan te treasures in Egypt... (eb. 11:25-26). We are told of te tree noble ebrews, wo, in sigt of te furnace eated sevenfold, calmly replied to an Oriental despot,...be it known unto tee, O king, tat we will not serve ty gods, nor worsip te golden image wic tou ast set up (Dan. 3:17-18). We ave te example of Daniel, wo, wen te decree was signed forbidding te worsip of any God under pain of a dreadful deat, and wen a wole realm was bowing submissively to te blaspemous enactment,...went into is ouse; and is windows being open in is camber toward Jerusalem, e kneeled upon is knees tree times a day, and prayed, and gave tanks before is God, as e did aforetime (Dan. 6:10). Te oly Spirit as set before us suc instances for te imitation of all te sons of God. Nay more, tey reac us tat wen we refuse at all azards to become partakers in sin, we are ten te objects of te special care of our Fater in eaven. We may, it is true, be surrounded wit osts of te ungodly, but more are tey tat are wit us tan tose tat be wit our enemies; for te mountain of wic we stand is encompassed wit cariots of fire and orses of fire, sent from on ig to be our invisible but migty protectors. Noting can arm us if we be followers of tat wic is good. But all uman examples pale in te presence of tat illustrious example wic came down to us from eaven. Te Messia visited our eart not only to make an atonement for our transgressions, but to teac us ow we sould live in te midst of a world in rebellion against God. Observe te position wic e cose for te accomplisment of is object. Was e surrounded by millions bowing before im in lowly adoration? Did e by conforming to te manners of Jew or Gentile, ally imself to te wealty, te powerful, te intellectual, or te refined? Did e by pandering to te vices of te multitude gain over te masses to is cause? Did e by pandering to te vices of te multitude gain over te masses to is cause? Did te fear of standing alone ever move im to adopt te principles or conform to te practices of sinners? Did e ever quail before te tyranny of public opinion in rebellion against God? You know is istory. e stood up alone, and resisted unto deat te wole power of a world lying in wickedness. No temptation could allure, no danger could alarm im. Neiter te opinions nor examples of eart s teeming millions ever moved im an air s breadt from te line of perfect love to God, and perfect carity to man. No association eiter wit te lofty or te lowly ever palsied is tongue wen te cause of trut, or piety, or carity required im to speak. Te prince of tis (Continued on page 11)

11 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 11 Slavery to Public (Continued from page 10) world came, and ad noting in im. Amidst a world of faitless, Faitful only e, Amidst innumerable false, unmoved, is loyalty e kept, is love and zeal, Nor numbers nor example wit im wrougt, To swerve from trut, nor cange is constant mind, Toug single. If suc were te Master, wat must be te disciples? And tose is disciples wo walk not in is footsteps? A few Galilean fisermen imbibed is spirit, separated temselves from te world, and became is cosen and inseparable companions. Wit tem e traversed te mountains of Galilee and treaded te streets of Jerusalem. Wit tem e sared is scanty meals, and spread is omely couc. e knew no distinction among men, but tat wic is made by moral caracter. For wosoever sall do te will of my Fater wic is in eaven, te same is my broter, and sister, and moter (Matt. 12:50). Day by day e enligtened teir understanding, invigorated teir principles, enlarged teir conceptions, and tus prepared tem to engage in te conflict wit a sensual, frivolous and ungodly world. By te Spirit wic descended upon im from on ig, tey were enabled to follow in is footsteps. Few and feeble, poor and illiterate, tey went fort boldly to subdue rebellious nations unto God. Every people, every political party, every religion, every priestood, all te usages of society, all te maxims of trade, all te investments of capital, all te reverence for antiquity, all te seductions of te arts, all te blandisments of poetry, and all te magic of eloquence were arrayed in deadly ostility against tem. Tey met it all and came off from te conflict victorious. But in wat manner was tat victory acieved? Was it by yielding temselves up to te seductions of a sensual age, by submitting teir consciences to te dictation of rulers, or conforming teir lives to te maxims of te world around tem? You all know ow tey lived and ow tey died. In every place and in every company, tey fearlessly avowed teir principles in te presence of persecution unto deat. Tey ad but one question to ask, is it rigt in te sigt of God to obey God rater tan man? and by te answer to tat question, te course of teir conduct was decided. Everywere tey proclaimed te teacings of teir Master, and exemplified is precepts by a oly life and blameless conversation. It was tus tat tey ave exerted a power over umanity to wic te istory of our race presents no parallel. Tus tey commenced tat moral movement wic is so perceptibly canging te destinies of mankind, and wic can never be arrested until te kingdoms of tis world become te kingdoms of our Lord and of is Crist. Tus did Crist and is apostles acieve teir victories. Tis ten is te model of a Cristian life, and we are disciples of Crist, in just so far as we are individually conformed to it. If tis be so, te principles wic govern a Cristian s life must place im in direct opposition to te opinions and maxims of impenitent men. e acknowledges te supreme autority of te eternal God, tey bow down and worsip te public opinion of a world lying in wickedness. Te one looks to te present, te oter to te future. Te one acts for time, te oter for eternity. Te one follows in te footsteps of Crist, te oter in te footsteps of is enemies. Lives so diametrically opposite can never coincide, for we can not serve God and Mammon. Let eac man inquire for imself, wic manner of life e was cosen, for on te coice wic e as made depends is eternal destiny. Would it not be well for every one of us to pause for a moment and consider well our prospects for eternity? Te objects wic now interest us so deeply will soon ave passed away forever. Every one of us will soon ave laid aside tis eartly tabernacle, and uncovered spirits stand in te presence of our Omniscient Judge. Companionsip in sin will avail us noting, for every one of us must give account for imself unto God. Public opinion will yield us no protection, for tere every mout will be stopped, and te wole world be guilty before God. Wat will it profit us to ave sinned in company and defied te Almigty in concert? Our plea will only seal our tenfold condemnation, and our dwelling place forever must be wit te devil and is angels. Some among us ope tat we ave taken selter under te cover of te atonement, and are trusting in te merits of Crist for salvation. But wat are te conditions on wic we are permitted to rely on te great sacrifice for sin? Te Saviour imself as told us. Unless a man...deny imself, and take up is cross, and follow me (Matt. 16:24), e can not be my disciple. Wat evidence ave we tat we are resting under te sadow of te atonement, if we ave neiter denied ourselves, nor taken up te cross, nor followed Crist? In vain do ye call me Lord! Lord! and do not te tings tat I say. Wat will it avail us, at te last day, to aver tat multitudes wit us made te same profession of disciplesip, tat we denied Crist in masses, and put im to open same in company? We tus wit our own mouts pronounce our own condemnation. Wen te question was asked, Lord are tere few tat be saved? te answer returned was, Strive to enter into te strait gate, for many sall seek to enter in and sall not be able. Are tere any among us wo are tus striving, wo old temselves aloof from all companionsip wit fasionable sin, wose standard of duty is te Word of God, and wose pattern of life is te example of Crist? Are tere any among us in wose daily conversation Crist is set fort, and wo joyfully suffer ignominy for te name of Jesus? Are tere not some among us wo esteem te reproac of Crist greater rices tan all te companionsip of te ungodly? God be wit you and strengten you, ye saints of te Most ig. Men may cast out your names as evil, but be of good ceer, your names are written in te Lamb s book of life. Te pat tat you tread may be roug and wearisome, but it leads directly to te city of te living God. Tere is not a reproac tat you bear for Crist, wic sall not work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weigt of glory. Trials may await you, for in te world ye sall ave tribulation, but Fear not, little flock; it is your Fater s good pleasure to give you te kingdom (Luke 12:32). Your eternity will be wit te Forerunner in wose footsteps you ave trodden, and wit te general assembly and curc of te first-born, wose names are written in eaven. And one of te elders answered, saying (Continued on page 14)

12 Page 12 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Forum Submit your questions on any Bible topic. 1. Did Jesus preac a different Gospel to te Jews suc as accept me as king rater tan Paul s Gospel? Tennessee Mattew Stepp 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Pastor Big Creek Baptist Curc 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Gospel in te New Testament is te Greek word, euangellion as a noun, and euangelizo as a verb form and as one can see from te Englis letters, is were we get te words evangel(ist/ism) from. Te simple meaning of tese Greek words is a good message or as we commonly ear: te good news. Sela! Tink about it! I marvel tat ye are so soon removed from im tat called you into te grace of Crist unto anoter gospel: Wic is not anoter; but tere be some tat trouble you, and would pervert te gospel of Crist. But toug we, or an angel from eaven, preac any oter gospel unto you tan tat wic we ave preaced unto you, let im be accursed (Gal. 1:6-8). Now, obviously, tere are many good messages out tere, from te news of a son coming ome from war, to my daugter getting an A on er report card. But in te Bible, as te apostle declares, tere is only one good message worty of being called te Gospel. Te one referred to by Paul as te gospel of Crist. Sela! Tink about it! Certainly, no gospel message preaced by Jesus Crist is accursed, so it cannot be different from Paul s. And likewise, te Gospel as not canged in tese modern times, eiter. Te Gospel succinctly defined by te Bible is: Te beginning of te gospel of Jesus Crist, te Son of God (Mark 1:1). Jesus, imself reveals wat te good news of te Gospel is later in te capter: vs.14-15, Jesus came into Galilee, preacing te gospel of te kingdom of God, And saying, Te time is fulfilled, and te kingdom of God is at and: repent ye, and believe te gospel. If you are still scratcing your ead and wondering wat te good news is, read tat first verse again! Te gospel of Jesus Crist is defined as te good news of Jesus Crist. Te fact tat Jesus exists, and as come to fulfill te Kingdom of God. No mere news of a pysical kingdom for te Jews is worty of te title, Gospel, in te New Testament. Jesus message never was of a kingdom to te Jews alone, or even te twelve tribes of Israel. e is te One speaking to a Samaritan woman at te well (Jon 4), marveling at te fait of a Roman centurion (Matt. 8:10), and granting te petitions of a Syro-Poenician woman (Mark 7:26). Te gospel of te kingdom tat Jesus preaced (and Jon te Baptist before im) was a spiritual kingdom entered into by saved sinners tat believed te good news of Jesus Crist. Tey believed tat e was te Son of God! Compare te gospel of Crist and te Apostle Paul: First, Crist to Nicodemus in Jon 3:16-18, For God so loved te world, tat e gave is only begotten Son, tat wosoever believet in im sould not peris, but ave everlasting life. For God sent not is Son into te world to condemn te world; but tat te world troug im migt be saved. e tat believet on im is not condemned: but e tat believet not is condemned already, because e at not believed in te name of te only begotten Son of God. Next, te Apostle Paul: Acts 16:31, And tey said, Believe on te Lord Jesus Crist, and tou salt be saved, and ty ouse. Again in I Timoty 1:15, Tis is a faitful saying, and worty of all acceptation, tat Crist Jesus came into te world to save sinners; of wom I am cief. For te kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but rigteousness, and peace, and joy in te oly Gost (Rom. 14:17). Te Gospel points sinners to Crist! Repent and believe! Repentance and fait! ave sewed you, and ave taugt you publickly, and from ouse to ouse, Testifying bot to te Jews, and also to te Greeks, repentance toward God, and fait toward our Lord Jesus Crist (Acts 20:20-21). Tere is no modern evangelistic plan of salvation- tat of do tis and tat, and you will be saved. Tere is a PERSON of salvation- tat is te God-Man Jesus Crist! Repent (cange) and believe in IM! Turn or burn! Jesus eard tat tey ad cast im out; and wen e ad found im, e said unto im, Dost tou believe on te Son of God? e answered and said, Wo is e, Lord, tat I migt believe on im? And Jesus said unto im, Tou ast bot seen im, and it is e tat talket wit tee. And e said, Lord, I believe. And e worsipped im ( Jon 9:35-38). Tat is te Gospel! Bot te gospel of Crist and te gospel te Apostle Paul preaced. It sure is good news! Do you believe? Sela! Tink about it! MATTEW STEPP Tom Ross 6339 County Rd. 15 Sout Point, O Pastor Mt. Pleasant Baptist Curc 6939 County Rd. 15 Cesapeake, O Te question seems to imply tat tere were conflicting gospels preaced by Jesus and Paul. Noting could be farter from te trut. No, Jesus did not preac a different Gospel to te Jews. Tere is only one Gospel tat qualifies as te good news and it is clearly revealed in I Corintians 15:1-4: Moreover, bretren, I declare unto you te gospel wic I preaced unto you, wic also ye ave received, and werein ye stand; By wic also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wat I preaced unto you, unless ye ave believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all tat wic I also received, ow tat Crist died for our sins according to te scriptures; And tat e was buried, and tat e rose again te tird day according to te scriptures. Te scriptures Paul was referring to were te Old Testament promises, propesies, types, and sadows tat ad reference to te deat, burial, and resurrection of te Lord Jesus Crist, te Messia. Crist crucified, buried, and risen again as te only way of salvation for God s elect is te focal point of Scripture wic prompted Paul to proclaim: For I determined not to know any ting among (Continued on page 14)

13 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page Are all te books of te Bible for Gentiles or only Paul s epistles? Tennessee Te Berea Baptist Banner Forum Submit your questions on any Bible topic. Tom Ross 6339 County Rd. 15 Sout Point, O Pastor Mt. Pleasant Baptist Curc 6939 County Rd. 15 Cesapeake, O All te books of te Bible are meant to be profitable for all men weter tey are Jews or Gentiles in ligt of II Timoty 3:14-17: But continue tou in te tings wic tou ast learned and ast been assured of, knowing of wom tou ast learned tem; And tat from a cild tou ast known te oly scriptures, wic are able to make tee wise unto salvation troug fait wic is in Crist Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in rigteousness: Tat te man of God may be perfect, trougly furnised unto all good works. Certainly te all scripture Paul is referring to would include te Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures. Romans 15:4 declares: For watsoever tings were written aforetime were written for our learning, tat we troug patience and comfort of te scriptures migt ave ope. All Scripture is profitable for Jews and Gentiles, but not all apply specifically or equally to te Gentiles. For example, te civil and ceremonial laws tat governed Israel were specifically designed for tem as a nation. Gentiles may profit from te principles contained in tose laws, but tey are not applicable to tem. Jews are forbidden to eat te fles of swine, wereas tere is no suc restriction for Gentiles. Altoug some would argue tat we would be ealtier if we refrained from eating pork. I am so glad tat God allows us to eat anyting we can give tanks for (I Tim. 4:4-5)! It may be better for my body not to eat bacon, but it would wreak avoc on my emotional and mental ealt wic would ultimately affect my spiritual ealt, so I am forced to eat bacon and oter delicious porcine delicacies. I would urge every reader to earnestly study te wole of Scripture, praying tat God would sow you wondrous tings out of is law. May God give us all te grace to obey te admonition found in II Timoty 2:15-16: Study to sew tyself approved unto God, a workman tat needet not to be asamed, rigtly dividing te word of trut. But sun profane and vain babbling: for tey will increase unto more ungodliness. TOM ROSS Mattew Stepp 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Pastor Big Creek Baptist Curc 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV In tis New Testament age tat we live in (2017 A.D.), tere really is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. For tere is no difference between te Jew and te Greek: for te same Lord over all is ric unto all tat call upon im. For wosoever sall call upon te name of te Lord sall be saved (Rom. 10:12-13). Te nation of Israel is te veicle tat te LORD Jeova dealt wit fairly exclusively before te first coming of te Messia, Jesus Crist, but after e personally instituted is curc (Matt.16:18, Luke 6:12), te distinction pretty muc vanised, as Crist fulfilled te Old Testament propesies. After te ord raptures out is New Testament age saints wit te Baptist curces, e will again turn to te nation of Israel, but until ten consider tis te Age of Grace. Sela! Tink about it! If one is looking for a distinction between te Apostle Paul s epistles and te remainder of te Bible, it is missing from te pages of God s Word! Te Word of God, Itself identifies its purpose in many ways: 1. It is written for our salvation! And tat from a cild tou ast known te oly scriptures, wic are able to make tee wise unto salvation troug fait wic is in Crist Jesus (II Tim. 3:15). If tat is Paul s perspective, it is also Jon s and Ezekiel s: But tese are written, tat ye migt believe tat Jesus is te Crist, te Son of God; and tat believing ye migt ave life troug is name (Jon 20:31). Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity sall not be your ruin. for wy will ye die, O ouse of Israel? For I ave no pleasure in te deat of im tat diet, sait te Lord GOD: werefore turn yourselves, and live ye (Ez. 18:30-32). 2. It is written for our admonition and example! Now all tese tings appened unto tem for ensamples: and tey are written for our admonition, upon wom te ends of te world are come (I Cor. 10:11). Just as te Apostle Paul speaks of te relevance of te Old Testament, so to does every New Testament writer tat quotes from te ancient Word of God! Nebucadnezzar te king, unto all people, nations, and languages, tat dwell in all te eart; Peace be multiplied unto you. I tougt it good to sew te signs and wonders tat te ig God at wrougt toward me (Dan. 4:1-2). King Nebucadnezzar writes te fourt capter in te first person! e wanted EVERYBODY to know all te inabitants of te eart are reputed as noting: and e doet according to is will in te army of eaven, and among te inabitants of te eart: and none can stay is and, or say unto im, Wat doest tou? 3. It is written to reveal propesy! And now I ave told you before it come to pass, tat, wen it is come to pass, ye migt believe (Jon 14:29). Declaring te end from te beginning, and from ancient times te tings tat are not yet done, saying, My counsel sall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isa. 46:10). Te Bible will be relevant even in tose days of great tribulation in Daniel s 70 t Week! And ten if any man sall say to you, Lo, ere is Crist; or, lo, e is tere; believe im not: But take ye eed: beold, I ave foretold you all tings (Mark 13:21-23). Is te Old Testament outdated? replaced by te New? Te answer is a definitive: NO!! Wy ten would te Old Testament be quoted in te New Testament (Continued on page 14)

14 Page 14 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Forum #1 (Continued from page 12) you, save Jesus Crist, and im crucified (I Cor. 2:2). Te trut tat tere is only one Gospel, and tat God allows for none oter, is forcefully declared in Galatians 1:6-9: I marvel tat ye are so soon removed from im tat called you into te grace of Crist unto anoter gospel: Wic is not anoter; but tere be some tat trouble you, and would pervert te gospel of Crist. But toug we, or an angel from eaven, preac any oter gospel unto you tan tat wic we ave preaced unto you, let im be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preac any oter gospel unto you tan tat ye ave received, let im be accursed. Te fact tat Paul, under te inspiration of te oly Spirit, identifies te Gospel wic e preaced as te Gospel of Crist sould forever settle te issue. In addition to tat, te apostle makes it clear tat anyone wo deviates from te gold standard of te Gospel of Crist is not only a eretic, but tat e is one tat will be accursed, condemned, and consigned to te Lake of Fire to be punised wit te eternal and infinite wrat of God. Tis question also implies tat some falsely assume tat tere is a different way of salvation for Jews tan tere is for Gentiles, or tat tere are dispensational canges in salvation. Again, I cannot say tis strongly enoug, tere is only one way of salvation as revealed in Scripture from Genesis troug Revelation for Jews and Gentiles alike, regardless of te color of teir skin or te culture in wic tey live. It is only troug Jesus Crist wo declared tis trut wit suc force tere sould be no misunderstanding at all: I am te way, te trut, and te life: no man comet unto te Fater, but by me (Jon 14:6). I would urge every reader to carefully read te four Gospels and see ow often our Lord explained to te disciples is purpose in coming was to die, be buried, and raise again from te dead according to te Scriptures! I would argue tat te very first time te mission of Crist is set fort in te New Testament is stated in Mattew 1:21-23: And se sall bring fort a son, and tou salt call is name JESUS: for e sall save is people from teir sins. Now all tis was done, tat it migt be fulfilled wic was spoken of te Lord by te propet, saying, Beold a virgin sall be wit cild, and sall bring fort a son, and tey sall call is name Emmanuel, wic being interpreted is, God wit us. Jon te Baptist clearly understood te spiritual significance of te incarnation and te mission of Crist wen e proclaimed Beold te Lamb of God wic taket away te sin of te world (Jon 1:29, 36). Jon was clearly intimating tat te vicarious sacrifice of Crist extends beyond elect Jews to include elect Gentiles trougout te wole world. Jon te beloved apostle would later confirm tis trut wen te Spirit prompted im to write: And tey sung a new song, saying, Tou art worty to take te book, and to open te seals tereof: for tou wast slain, and ast redeemed us to God by ty blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Te only folks found singing te praises of God in eaven are tose redeemed by te precious blood of Jesus Crist. TOM TOSS Forum #2 (Continued from page 13) as autoritative? 68 times i t is written occurs in te New Testament referring back to te Old! 29 times in te gospels by our Lord, 32 times by te Apostle Paul in is epistles, and 7 more times in Acts and te oter epistles! It is as sure as te Old Testament refrain of tus sait te LORD!! Tink not tat I am come to destroy te law, or te propets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matt. 5:17). Jesus Crist assures us tat te new does not replace te old, but only FULFILLS te promises, propecies and types all wit various repercussions, but never anniilation! (Acts 20:21-29). Te ceremonial law may ave been fulfilled and perfected, but te moral law is eternal and applicable to every generation! If tere is imputed sin, tere of necessity is present te culpable law of God! (Rom. 2:11-16, 26-29, 5:13-14; Gen. 9:4-7, 18:19-23, 19:13, 19:24-25, etc ) God as covenants, not only wit Israel and te curces in teir various ages, but also wit ALL of mankind, found in bot Old and New (Gen. 9:8-17, 17:20; Ps. 103:17-18; Isa. 42:5-12; Acts 2:39; Rev. 5:9, 14:6, etc ) Read ALL of God s Word and make application in our lives every day from bot te Old and New Testaments! Our lives will not be complete witout tem bot! Sela! Tink about it! MATTEW STEPP Slavery to Public (Continued from page 11) unto me, Wat are tese wic are arrayed in wite robes? and wence came tey? And I said unto im, Sir, tou knowest. And e said to me, Tese are tey wic came out of great tribulation, and ave wased teir robes, and made tem wite in te blood of te Lamb. Terefore are tey before te trone of God, and serve im day and nigt in is temple... (Rev. 7:13-15). For te Lamb wic is in te midst of te trone sall feed tem, and sall lead tem unto living fountains of waters: and God sall wipe away all tears from teir eyes (Rev. 7:17). Te Son of God goes fort to war, A kingly crown to gain; is blood-red banner streams afar; Wo follows in is train? Wo best can drink is cup of woe, Triumpant over pain, Wo patient bears is cross below: e follows in is train. Te martyr first wose eagle eye Could pierce beyond te grave; Wo saw is Master in te sky, And called on im to save. Like im, wit pardon on is tongue In midst of mortal pain, e prayed for tem tat did te wrong: Wo follows in is train? A glorious band, te cosen few On wom te Spirit came; Twelve valiant saints, teir ope tey knew, And mocked te cross and same. Tey met te tyrant s brandised steel, Te lion s gory mane; Tey bowed teir necks te deat to feel: Wo follows in teir train? A noble army, men and boys, Te matron and te maid, Around te Saviour s trone rejoice, In robes of ligt arrayed. Tey climbed te steep ascent to eaven, Troug peril, toil and pain. O God! to us may grace be given, To follow in teir train?

15 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 15 Crist Is All In All (Continued from page 1) may be separated from teir founders. But separate any trut of Cristianity from Crist, and it as lost its peculiar caracter. Crist is all in all. ALL IN ELECTION You cannot separate te doctrine of election from Crist. e was te first One te Fater elected: Beold my servant, wom I upold; mine elect, in wom my soul deligtet... (Isa. 42:1). I Peter 2:6 tells us Crist is elect and precious. God te Fater said of Crist: I ave exalted one cosen out of te people (Ps. 89:19). Te Fater cose us in Crist: According as e at cosen us in im before te foundation of te world... (Ep. 1:4). Grace was given us in Crist Jesus before te world began (II Tim. 1:9). Election did not find us in Crist, but it put us tere. Te elect were cosen to be saved by Crist: For God at not appointed us to wrat, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Crist (I Tess. 5:9). Tose cosen to be saved by Crist are created in Crist Jesus (Ep. 2:10), and tey all come to Crist (Jon 6:35, 37). All of tose to sare in te benefits of Crist s atonement will be finally conformed to is image (Rom. 8:29). Out of Crist no one was elected to be saved, and no one out of im will be saved. Wenever you tink of sovereign election, you sould always tink of Crist as te covenant ead of te elect. Crist is all in all in election. ALL IN CREATION Creation was in a very special sense effected by te eternal Word: All tings were made by im; and witout im was not any ting made tat was made...te world was made by im... (Jon 1:3, 10). For by im were all tings created, tat are in eaven, and tat are in eart, visible and invisible, weter tey be trones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all tings were created by im, and for im (Col. 1:16). Witout Crist s agency, is motion, is exertion of power, noting was created. All te planets, te stars and moons; all te rivers, seas, and lakes; all te mountains, ills, and valleys; all beasts and birds, all te plants and creeping tings were made by Crist. Witout im te world would ave never been; yea, we would ave never been! Wenever we tink of te glories of creation may we always tink of Crist as te beginning of te creation of God (Rev. 3:14). By tat expression we are not to understand tat Crist was te first creature God made, as eretics and cultists claim. Rater, we are to see in Crist te first cause of creation. Te word for beginning (arce) must be taken in te active sense, meaning source or origin. It could be translated te beginner of creation, te One from wom all created tings originated. Crist as te eternal Creator stands outside of time. In creation Crist is all in all. ALL IN TE SCRIPTURE Crist is te treasure id in te field of revelation. is glory fills te sacred pages of te Bible. Jesus Crist said: Searc te scriptures; for in tem ye tink ye ave eternal life: and tey are tey wic testify of me (Jon 5:39). In one of is post-resurrection appearances to Cleopas and anoter disciple it is said of im: And beginning at Moses and all te propets, e expounded unto tem in all te scriptures te tings concerning imself (Luke 24:27). Pilip findet Natanael, and sait unto im, We ave found im, of wom Moses in te law, and te propets, did write, Jesus of Nazaret, te son of Josep (Jon 1:45). Crist is te teme of te wole Bible. e is seen upon every page of it. In Genesis e is te Seed of te Woman. In Exodus e is te Passover Lamb. In Leviticus e is te atoning Sacrifice. In Numbers e is te smitten Rock. In Deuteronomy e is te Propet like Moses. In Josua e is te Captain of te Lord s ost. In Judges e is te Great Deliverer. In Rut e is te eavenly Kinsman. In te six books of Kings e is te promised King. In Ezra e is te Restorer of te Temple. In Neemia e is te Restorer of te nation. In Ester e is te Advocate of God s people. In Job e is my Redeemer. In Psalms e is my all in all. In Proverbs e is my Pattern. In Ecclesiastes e is my Creator. In te Song of Solomon e is te Bridegroom. In te propets e is te coming Prince of Peace. In te four Gospels e is Crist coming to seek and to save. In Acts e is Crist risen from among te dead. In te epistles e is Crist at te Fater s rigt and. In Revelation e is King of kings and Lord of lords. It was to Crist to wom Abel looked wen e offered a better sacrifice tan Cain (eb. 11:4). It was of Crist Enoc propesied before te flood (Jude 15). It was to Crist Abraam looked on Mount Moria (Jon 8:56). It was Crist of wom dying Jacob spoke to is sons (Gen. 49:10). It was to Crist to wom Israel was directed in te wilderness (I Cor. 10:4; Jon 3:14). It was to Crist of wom all te propets from Samuel to Malaci spoke (Acts 10:43; I Pet. 1:11). Wen it comes to te Scriptures Crist is all in all. ALL IN REDEMPTION Crist alone is te Redeemer, and witout te sedding of is blood, tere is no redemption from sin. Redemption was laid up in Crist: In wom we ave redemption troug is blood, te forgiveness of sins, according to te rices of is grace (Ep. 1:7; cf. Col. 1:14). Tere is no remission of sins witout redemption, and tere is no redemption witout Crist. Being justified freely by is grace troug te redemption tat is in Crist Jesus (Rom. 3:24). Crist as our Surety paid te redemption price: Ye are bougt wit a price; be not ye te servants of men (I Cor. 7:23; cf. I Pet. 1:18-19). Tere were no joint purcasers wit Crist for te satisfying of God s justice. Crist by imself purged our sins (eb. 1:3). Only in Crist do we ave redemption (I Cor. 1:30). ow wonderful to know we ave a Redeemer (Job 19:25). Tose wo ave Crist ave plenteous redemption (Ps. 130:7), for in redemption Crist is all in all. ALL IN RIGTEOUSNESS According to I Corintians 1:30, God as made Crist rigteousness unto us. Adam made is seed sinners (Rom. 5:12). Jesus Crist made is seed rigteous: For as by one man s disobedience many were made sinners, so by te obedience of one sall many be made rigteous (Rom. 5:19). Jesus Crist is Jeovatsidkenu, TE LORD OUR RIGTOUSNESS (Jer. 23:6). In te eyes of a oly God: Tere (Continued on page 16)

16 Page 16 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Crist Is All In All (Continued from page 15) is none rigteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10). Te best rigteous acts of men are filty rages in te sigt of God (Isa. 64:6). Te law is oly, rigteous, and good, but it cannot make a sinner suc. And be found in im, not aving mine own rigteousness, wic is of te law, but tat wic is troug te fait of Crist, te rigteousness wic is of God by fait (Pil. 3:9; cf. Rom. 3:21-22). God counts our fait in Crist as rigteousness: But to im tat worket not, but believet on im tat justifiet te ungodly, is fait is counted for rigteousness (Rom. 4:5). Some expect to make temselves acceptable to God by teir prayers, alms, morality, and curc going. Tese tings cannot make us rigteous in te sigt of God. Crist s rigteousness is te only robe to cover us (Rom. 3:22). Wen it comes to being rigteous in te sigt of God, Crist is all in all. ALL IN SALVATION Spiritual and eternal salvation is te great concern of te quickened sinner. e wants a salvation wic culminates in eternal life. e desires to be rescued from te wrat of God and te curse of te law. e seeks restoration to God s favor. Suc a person comes to see tat tere is salvation only in Crist: Neiter is tere salvation in any oter: for tere is none oter name under eaven given among men, wereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Out of Crist tere is no salvation. It is blaspemous as well as foolis to suggest any oter savior. Crist is not some guru or great teacer. e is man s only Savior. Te salvation of man is entrusted into te and of Jesus te Messia. Tere is no one wo can save but Crist. Salvation is in te person and work of Crist, is blood and rigteousness. It is Crist or ell. Wen it comes to salvation Crist is all in all. ALL IN SANCTIFICATION God as made Crist our sanctification (I Cor. 1:30). As our Sanctifier, e sends fort is Spirit into our earts to burn up te dross and to make our graces sparkle like gold in a furnace (Rom. 15:16). By nature we are not oly, for before we came to know Crist we walked in wickedness. Conversion made a great cange in us. Wen Paul addressed te Corintian curc e wrote:... tem tat are sanctified in Crist Jesus, called to be saints... (I Cor. 1:1-2). as Jesus Crist been made of God your sanctification? Are you walking in all oly obedience to te will of God? Wen Crist is made our sanctification e is owned and acknowledged as our all in all. Te crown is set on is ead. Wen it comes to sanctification Crist is all in all. ALL IN TE CURC Jesus Crist is te Founder and Foundation of is curc: And I say also unto tee, Tat tou art Peter (Petros, masculine, a large piece of rock), and upon tis rock (petra, feminine, a uge rock like Gibraltar) I will build my curc; and te gates of ell sall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). In te Bible te curc is called te ouse of Crist (Mark 13:34; eb. 3:6). Crist is te ead of te curc, and te curc is is body: And at put all tings under is feet, and gave im to be te ead over all tings to te curc, Wic is is body, te fulness of im tat fillet all in all (Ep. 1:22-23). Te only sovereign and supreme ead of te curc is Crist. e as te pre-eminence in te body. e is te intelligent Director of all curc affairs. Crist purcased te curc of God wit is own blood (Acts 20:28). It is te only bloodbougt institution on eart. It is te place were Crist receives is glory in tis age: Unto im be glory in te curc by Crist Jesus trougout all ages, world witout end. Amen (Ep. 3:21; cf. II Cor. 8:23). It is te only body wic as Crist as its Savior:...and e is te savior of te body (Ep. 5:23). Te curc is te institution in wic Crist works in tis age (Rev. 2:1). Te curc is not greater tan Crist. Of wat wort are splendid buildings, gorgeous ceremonies, and legions of ordained men, if Crist is not magnified? Of wat wort is te Cristian ministry, if it does not lift up Crist? Of wat benefit is a robed coir and special singers, if tey do not exalt Crist? All te curc does sould onor Crist. In all curc affairs te members sould be governed by wat Crist wants---not wat te clique or te convention wants! Witout Crist te curc could not exist, for it would ave no ead or Savior. Wen it comes to te curc Crist is all in all. ALL IN TE ORDINANCES Te example, autority, and mode of administration of baptism all goes back to Crist. Wen we are baptized we are baptized into Crist: Know ye not, tat so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Crist were baptized into is deat? (Rom. 6:3). In baptism we put on Crist: For as many of you as ave been baptized into Crist ave put on Crist (Gal. 3:27). In baptism we picture te deat, burial, and resurrection of Crist. Of wat wort is te proper aim, te proper mode, te proper autority, or te proper subject unless we see Crist? It is a wortless ceremony---a sadow witout a substance---a sell witout a kernel---a type witout an antitype! Wen it comes to baptism Crist is all in all. Te elements in te Lord s Supper are symbolic of Crist s fles and blood. Tis is wy it is called te Lord s supper (I Cor. 11:20), te Lord s table, and te cup of te Lord (I Cor. 10:21). Of te memorial supper our Lord said: Tis do in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19). Wat is te Lord s Supper witout Crist? A table of bread and wine at wic we may drink damnation to ourselves. A scriptural Lord s Supper must sow fort te Lord s deat, for wen it comes to te Lord s Table Crist is all in all. ALL IN LIFE Te purpose of uman life is tat we may come to know Crist and enjoy im forever. Tat is te most important ting: Yea doubtless, and I count all tings but loss for te excellency of te knowledge of Crist Jesus my Lord: for wom I ave suffered te loss of all tings, and do count tem but dung, tat I migt win Crist (Pil. 3:8; cf. Jon 17:3). Wat are national, ceremonial, and social distinctions, witout a saving knowledge of Crist? Tey are no more tan sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Serving Crist is all tat really matters in tis present life. One as said: Only one life and it will soon be past; only wat is done for Crist will last! Te song writer as said: Living for Jesus a life tat is true, Striving to please im in all tat I do, (Continued on page 17)

17 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 17 Crist Is All In All (Continued from page 16) Yielding allegiance, glad-earted and free, Tis is te patway of blessing for me. Living for Jesus wo died in my place, Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace, Suc love constrains me to answer is call, Follow is leading and give im my all. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to tee; For Tou, in Ty atonement, Didst give Tyself for me; I own no oter Master, My eart sall be Ty trone, My life I give, encefort to live, O Crist, for Tee alone. Te Cristian life is wat Crist was, wat e said, wat e did, and wat e promised. It is a life of constant dependence upon Crist as bread to te body (Jon 6:35, 48-51, 53-58). Crist must live in us (Gal. 2:20; II Cor. 4:10-11). Wit Paul, I can say: For to me to live is Crist (Pil. 1:21). Wen it comes to te Cristian life Crist is all in all. ALL IN DEAT Blessed are tose wo die in fait and union wit Crist (Rev. 14:13), and cursed are tose wo die witout Crist. Our Savior can give us victory over deat and take away its sting: Deat is swallowed up in victory. O deat, were is ty sting? O grave, were is ty victory?....but tanks be to God, wic givet us te victory troug our Lord Jesus Crist (I Cor. 15:54-55, 57). Deat does not separate te true believer from Crist. Rater it brings im into Crist s immediate presence: We are confident, I say, and willing rater to be absent from te body, and to be present wit te Lord (II Cor. 5:8). Tere is no dying safely witout Crist. Tose wo know Crist need not fear deat. Crist will be spiritually present wit us as we draw near te river of deat tat leads to te promised land. We will not ave to cross Jordan alone: Yea, toug I walk troug te valley of te sadow of deat, I will fear no evil: for tou art wit me.... (Ps. 23:4). Jesus Crist as turned te King of Terrors into te Prince of Peace. Wen it comes to dying Crist is all in all. ALL IN TE SECOND ADVENT Te second advent is te return of te same Jesus wo went away over 1900 years ago. Te first time e came veiled in uman fles; te second time e will come in all is glory and wit te oly angels. We look for te Savior, te Lord Jesus Crist (Pil. 3:20). We are waiting for te coming of our Lord Jesus Crist (I Cor. 1:7). Tat is our blessed ope (I Tim. 1:1; Titus 2:13), for all oter opes ave failed. Te dead saints are to be raised at is coming and te living saints translated: For te Lord imself sall descend from eaven wit a sout, wit te voice of te arcangel, and wit te trump of God: and te dead in Crist sall rise first: Ten we wic are alive and remain sall be caugt up togeter wit tem in te clouds, to meet te Lord in te air: and so sall we ever be wit te Lord (I Tess. 4:16-17). We sall ear te voice of te Son of God (Jon 5:28-29) and be made like im (I Jon 3:2). Wen it comes to te second advent Crist is all in all. ALL IN TE JUDGMENT Because e at appointed a day, in te wic e will judge te world in rigteousness by tat man wom e at ordained; wereof e at given assurance unto all men, in tat e at raised im from te dead (Acts 17:31; cf. Eccl. 12:14). Te wicked must stand before God (Rev. 20:12), and of te rigteous it is written: We must all appear before te judgment seat of Crist (II Cor. 5:10). ow solemn te tougt of standing before Crist, te Judge of all te eart, and of aving to give an account of ourselves to God (Rom. 14:12)! For te Fater judget no man, but at committed all judgment unto te Son ( Jon 5:22). As te Judge of all te eart, Crist is te only one wo can give absolution. Tose wo know Crist as Savior ave little to fear at te judgment bar. Te Judge is our Advocate and ig Priest. e will say to te Fater: Tese are some of tose for wom I sed my blood and rose again for teir justification. Wen it comes to te judgment Crist is all in all. ALL IN ETERNITY Wat would eaven be witout Crist? Well did te psalmist ask: Wom ave I in eaven but tee? (Ps. 73:25). eaven would be ell witout Crist. Te glory of eaven is to see te vision of Crist: Fater, I will tat tey also, wom tou ast given me, be wit me were I am; tat tey may beold my glory, wic tou ast given me... (Jon 17:24). Crist is te center of attraction in te eavenly land. Te redeemed cast teir crowns at is feet and cant to im te praise of ceaseless antems. Te appiness of eaven is to be forever wit te Lord (I Tess. 4:17). O, to see im, live in is presence, and enjoy im for eternity! Never again will we be separated from im after te rapture. Wen we enter eternity, more so tan ever before, we sall realize Crist is all in all. CONCLUSION 1. A Cristless religion is wortless. It is folly to join anyting wit Crist in te matter of salvation. Some put togeter Crist and Mary, or Crist and te curc, or Crist and te preacer, etc. Angels are guardians and guides, but not saviors. Tere is no salvation in te most illustrious patriarcs, te oliest priests, te greatest propets, te noblest apostles, or even te most courageous martyrs. If you want to be saved go directly to Crist. 2. Crist is not enoug for some professed Cristians. Tey must ave Crist and Cristian entertainment. Tey must ave Crist and someting for te young people. Tey must ave Crist joined wit fun and frolic. Suc people do not really know Crist, for if a man as te Sun of Rigteousness e as no need of a flasligt. Te believer is complete in Crist and content in Crist. 3. Crist is te supreme good. Put wat you will in te balance wit Crist, e will outweig tem all. e wo as Crist needs no more. Te man wo as te Fountain of te Water of Life as no need of a broken cistern tat can old no water. Te best good is not good witout Crist, nor te worst bad wit im. Let us make Crist our all in all. 4. If Crist is all, no seeking sinner sould despair. You need noting since Crist is your all in all. It is great folly and misery to keep at a distance from Crist (Jon 5:40; Ep. 2:12). Is Crist your all in all? If not, you ave noting at all!

18 Page 18 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 e Must Increase (Continued from page 1) Jon pointed tem unto. Well, despite wat te world migt ave tougt, Jon te Baptist was not in it for te money, or for te fame, or for te power. e was doing wat e was doing in order tat God migt be glorified. In fact, it seems tat Jon te Baptist was willing even to encourage men to follow Jesus instead of following imself. Tis was te reason tat e said, e must increase, but I must decreases. It seems tat our text verse makes it plain tat Jon te Baptist ad a sincere desire to put Jesus Crist first. In fact, it was is desire and is calling to put Jesus Crist before imself, even in te sigt of men. Now, I want us to use our text verse as a starting point for a brief study of te caracter and service of Jon te Baptist. UMILITY As we ave seen from our text verse, it is very evident tat Jon te Baptist was a umble man indeed a umble servant of God. Let us read some of te words of Jon te Baptist in our text verse and surrounding verses: Jon answered and said, A man can receive noting, except it be given im from eaven. Ye yourselves bear be witness, tat I said, I am not te Crist, but tat I am sent before im. e tat at te bride is te bridegroom: but te friend of te bridegroom, wic standet and earet im, rejoicet greatly because of te bridegroom s voice: tis my joy terefore is fulfilled. e must increase, but I must decrease. e tat comet from above is above all: e tat is of te eart is eartly, and speaket of te eart: e tat comet from eaven is above all ( Jon 3:27-31). Jon te Baptist was certainly a umble man, and a umble servant of Jesus Crist. Elsewere, wen questioned about Jon te Baptist, Jesus Crist ad tis to say about Jon: Verily I say unto you, Among tem tat are born of women tere at not risen a greater tan Jon te Baptist: notwitstanding e tat is least in te kingdom of eaven is greater tan e (Matt. 11:11). So, ere we ave Jesus Crist referring to Jon te Baptist as one of te greatest of men tat are born of women. And yet, Jon would umbly say, And preaced, saying, Tere comet one migtier tan I after me, te latcet of wose soes I am not worty to stoop down and unloose (Mark 1:7). Jon knew of te migt and greatness and glory of te One tat would follow im. Terefore e said, e tat comet from eaven is above all (Jon 3:31). I believe tis is wat Jesus referred to wen e said, notwitstanding e tat is least in te kingdom of eaven is greater tan e. Because, toug Jesus Crist was ligtly esteemed wile ere on tis eart; and toug e ad left eaven to take up te lowly position of a servant; still, e was from eaven, and was God, and was terefore above all. I tink it is easy to see tat even te man wo was declared to be among te greatest of te propets (Jon te Baptist see Luke 7:28), knew umility, and set imself below te Crist, and in is service. Certainly, every cild of God tat would seek to serve God ougt to ave an attitude tat expresses umility. Te Apostle Paul said, For I say, troug te grace given unto me, to every man tat is among you, not to tink of imself more igly tan e ougt to tink; but to tink soberly, according as God at dealt to every man te measure of fait (Rom. 12:3). Wen any man tinks tat e is someting, ten e becomes noting. Tis is a very appropriate proverb; and, indeed, it is backed up by Scripture: Werefore let im tat tinket e standet take eed lest e fall (I Cor. 10:12). Te servant of God ougt to always consider tat if Jon te Baptist and te Apostle Paul expressed umility, and knew tat tey could only stand as God gave tem grace, ten, we sould also demonstrate umility, and make it plain tat our strengt or fait or service does not come from ourselves, but from above. BOLDNESS Toug Jon was a umble man, still, e was bold in is service unto God, and in is preacing of te kingdom of God. We find tat te beginning of is ministry is recorded tis way: In tose days came Jon te Baptist, preacing in te wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for te kingdom of eaven is at and (Matt 3:1-2.) Jon went everywere, warning men about teir own sinfulness, and about teir need to repent. e pointed men to Jesus Crist as teir Saviour, and e did not fear to loudly proclaim te Word of God. e was not afraid of te men and te powers tat be; e sougt only to do tose tings tat pleased God, even if it meant tat is own life migt be in danger. Tis sould be someting tat we endeavor to do as well. We, all of us, ougt to seek to boldly proclaim te Word of God, and te gospel of salvation. Do not be afraid to tell men tat tey are sinners! If we do not tell tem, ow will te gospel ave any effect? Te gospel is not meant to save te rigteous (or tose tat we migt give false comfort to, in tat we allow tem to believe tat tey are good and rigteous); but, te gospel is meant to save sinners. Terefore, let us boldly proclaim te sinfulness of man and te rigteousness of Jesus Crist. umility and boldness are mutually exclusive; but, rater, umility and boldness are complementary as long as we are bold in Crist. Paul talks about tis earnest desire tat e ad to be bold in is service to te Lord: According to my earnest expectation and my ope, tat in noting I sall be asamed, but tat wit all boldness, as always, so now also Crist sall be magnified in my body, weter it be by life, or by deat (Pil. 1:20). And, we find tat te same boldness tat Jon te Baptist ad was sared also by te Apostles of Jesus Crist, and te first curc in Jerusalem: And wen tey ad prayed, te place was saken were tey were assembled togeter; and tey were all filled wit te oly Gost, and tey spake te word of God wit boldness (Acts 4:31). O, tat we would be willing to speak te word of God wit boldness! Tis is te same Word tat as been used by God, for centuries, to save te souls of is people. Tis is te same Word tat as been used by God, for centuries, to edify te earts and minds of is people. Tis is te same Word, tat, for 2000 years, as been kept pure by te curces of Jesus Crist, and for wic tese curces ave lived and died, as tey proclaimed it. (Continued on page 19)

19 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 19 e Must Increase (Continued from page 18) Wy, ten, sould we ever be asamed of tat Word or of te Saviour tat is proclaimed in tat Word? CLARITY We read about Jon te Baptist, and is ministry, in Luke 3:3-6: And e came into all te country about Jordan, preacing te baptism of repentance for te remission of sins; As it is written in te book of te words of Esaias, te propet, saying, Te voice of one crying in te wilderness, Prepare ye te way of te Lord, make is pats straigt. Every valley sall be filled, and every mountain and ill sall be brougt low; and te crooked sall be made straigt, and te roug ways sall be made smoot; And all fles sall see te salvation of God. It was a part of Jon s ministry unto te Lord, to make is pats straigt. And, e also was sent to make te crooked to be made straigt, and te roug ways to be made smoot. In te book of Isaia, tis portion of te verse is as follows: and te crooked sall be made straigt, and te roug places plain. I suppose tat wat is primarily meant ere, is tat te persons tat would be brougt unto te Lord Jesus Crist, would be made straigt and made smoot (or plain ). And tis was Jon s ministry, to make ready a people prepared for te Lord (Luke 1:17). But, I tink tat we could also say tat Jon te Baptist came to make te way of te Lord to be clear unto all tat would ear im. In oter words, it was a part of is ministry to make te words and will and ways of God, to be straigt and to be smoot (or plain ). e came to clearly declare te gospel tat God gave unto im. e came to make known and plain te Word of God. I believe tat tis is our responsibility also. We are ere on tis eart as ambassadors from God. And, we are ere on tis eart as te ministers and proclaimers of te Word of God. Terefore, let us be about te business of making te Word of God to be known and to be clearly understood, in te ears and in te earts and in te minds of tose tat would ear us. We read in II Corintians 3:12, Seeing ten tat we ave suc ope, we use great plainness of speec. Let us not seek to complicate te word of God, or our manner of service unto im. But, let us preac and teac wit clarity, so tat tere can be no doubt as to wat we believe and wat we stand for. Paul told te Corintians, I tank my God, I speak wit tongues more tan ye all: Yet in te curc I ad rater speak five words wit my understanding, tat by my voice I migt teac oters also, tan ten tousand words in an unknown tongue (I Cor. 14:18-19). Of course, te Apostle Paul is saying ere tat e would rater speak words tat te curc could understand, tan words in anoter language tat tey could not understand at all even toug, in a smaller way, Crist would be glorified by te fact tat Paul ad te ability to speak in tongues at all. So, I tink tat you and I could also apply tis passage in tis way: It is better for us to use plain speec and to seek to edify te saints and preac to te lost; ten it would be for us to use difficult and deep words and meanings, and seek to edify any of te saints or to preac to te lost. Or, it is better for us to use plain speec, and deliver a simple and clear and plain message, ten it is to ave a wondrous and beautiful worsip service, tat would only serve as an attraction or an appeasement unto te fles and te world. Certainly Jon te Baptist did not mince words wit te people tat e called unto repentance. And, certainly Jon did not mince words wit te Parisees and oters tat called into question is metods or motives (as we will see next). INDIGNATION During te course of Jon te Baptist s ministry, e ad to deal wit many tat did not believe, and wo sougt to obstruct is ministry. In tese cases e was bold (an attitude we ave already noticed tat e possessed), but e was also indignant against te offences of te Parisees and oters tat resisted te Word of God. We read te words tat Jon ad for tese folks in Luke 3:7-9: Ten said e to te multitude tat came fort to be baptized of im, O generation of vipers, wo at warned you to flee from te wrat to come? Bring fort terefore fruits worty of repentance, and begin not to say witin yourselves, We ave Abraam to our fater: for I say unto you, Tat God is able of tese stones to raise up cildren unto Abraam. And now also te axe is laid unto te root of te trees: every tree terefore wic bringet not fort good fruit is ewn down, and cast into te fire. We can also read about Jon te Baptist s rigteous anger (wic led, eventually, to is own deat) in te case of erod. You see, erod ad taken is broter s wife, and Jon te Baptist did not esitate to tell im of is sin. We read in Mark 6:18, For Jon ad said unto erod, It is not lawful for tee to ave ty broter s wife. Later, erodias, erod s wife, would connive to ave Jon beeaded. (See Mark 6:19-28). But, no matter ow great te danger, and no matter ow powerful te sinner, Jon was always ready to stand up against sin and sinners! I pray tat God would give you and me tat same indignation against sin, and tose tat commit tose sins. David referred to tis rigteous indignation in Psalm 139:19-24: Surely tou wilt slay te wicked, O God: depart from me terefore, ye bloody men. For tey speak against tee wickedly, and tine enemies take ty name in vain. Do not I ate tem, O LORD, tat ate tee? and am not I grieved wit tose tat rise up against tee? I ate tem wit perfect atred: I count tem mine enemies. Searc me, O God, and know my eart: try me, and know my tougts: And see if tere be any wicked way in me, and lead me in te way everlasting. It seems tat one reason David wanted te wicked to depart from im, was tat e knew God would, one day, slay te wicked. If noting else, we ougt to dissociate ourselves from sin and sinners, in order tat we migt be preserved and kept from te judgment of God tat may, at any time, slay te wicked. But, I believe David was also indignant against te sinners because e just loved te Lord, and e was offended by te sins of wicked men. e wanted te Lord to see a difference between im and te wicked. I wonder ow many of us could say, wit King David, Searc (Continued on page 20)

20 Page 20 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 e Must Increase (Continued from page 19) me, O God, and know my eart: try me, and know my tougts: And see if tere be any wicked way in me, and lead me in te way everlasting? Te Apostle Paul recommended te curc at Corint to tis same indignation and rigteous anger in II Corintians 7:9-11: Now I rejoice, not tat ye were made sorry, but tat ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, tat ye migt receive damage by us in noting. For godly sorrow worket repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but te sorrow of te world worket deat. For beold tis selfsame ting, tat ye sorrowed after a godly sort, wat carefulness it wrougt in you, yea, wat clearing of yourselves, yea, wat indignation, yea, wat fear, yea, wat veement desire, yea, wat zeal, yea wat revenge! In all tings ye ave approved yourselves to be clear in tis matter. COMPASSION Anoter caracteristic tat Jon te Baptist expressed in is service unto God was compassion compassion unto oters as e sougt to fulfill is ministry. Everywere e went, e preaced about te kingdom of eaven. And, everywere e went, e baptized te people all of tose tat brougt fort fruits meet for repentance. Certainly, as we study te Scriptures, we find tat Jon te Baptist s ministry was a ministry unto te people, especially te poor and sinners. We read about tose tat came to ear Jon te Baptist in Mattew 3:5-6: Ten went out to im Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all te region round about Jordan, And were baptized of im in Jordan, confessing teir sins. Over in te book of Luke, we find tat Jon ministered to te common people (Luke 3:10); to te publicans (Luke 3:12); and to te soldiers (Luke 3:14). Werever te people of te Lord were to be found, Jon te Baptist was tere, preacing te gospel of te kingdom. e ad a great compassion for te lost even tose amongst te poor and te sinners and te publicans and te soldiers. We, too, ougt to ave compassion for te lost. We, too, ougt to ave a desire to take te gospel of te kingdom werever it is tat te Lord would ave us go. We sould not just pick and coose wo it is tat we want to preac unto. But, we sould give te Gospel, freely, to all. Te Lord will determine wo it is tat will be saved, and e is te One tat will build up and edify te earts and minds of is people. Sometimes I tink tat instead of exibiting compassion (as Jon te Baptist did), we tend to exibit selfisness. We seek to keep te Word of God to ourselves or at least we determine to keep it from certain oters. ow do we do tis? Well, sometimes timidity is to blame. And, more often, laziness is to blame. But, in eiter case, our actions are selfis any time tat we do not sare te glorious Gospel of Jesus Crist to all of tose tat we come in contact wit. Te psalmist David said, I was dumb wit silence, I eld my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My eart was ot witin me, wile I was musing te fire burned: ten spake I wit my tongue (Ps. 39:2-3). O, tat my eart would be ot witin me wit a desire to sare te Gospel, and to speak wit my tongue unto tose tat ave suc a desperate need of Jesus Crist! WISDOM Wat wisdom and understanding te first Baptist possessed! I would to God, tat we could demonstrate suc wisdom as e demonstrated. e understood tat te Lord Jesus must increase, wile e imself would decrease. Tis very simple verse tat is our text, summarizes te wisdom of Jon te Baptist, as e went about fulfilling is service to Jesus Crist. e understood tat e came to prepare te way and te people for te Lord. And, as a part of tat preparation e exibited te very wisdom of God in is preacing and teacing. I believe tat we, too, ougt to demonstrate te wisdom of God in our interaction wit te world around us, and in our relationsips wit te people of God. Wen te man Stepen preaced before te people of Israel, it is said of im, And tey were not able to resist te wisdom and te spirit by wic e spake (Acts 6:10). I pray to God, tat wen we ave opportunity to speak before men, tat we, too, would speak wit wisdom. I am so asamed, sometimes, as I consider te lack of wisdom tat is demonstrated in my day to day speec and my day to day interactions wit men. So often I look back, and I wonder wy I said wat I did to a particular person; or I will look back and I will ave a desire tat I would ave said someting else or someting more to a particular person. I am asamed as I consider te many foolis words tat I ave spoken, and te many wise words tat I ave left unsaid! Well, if we will seek te wisdom of God, and if we will demonstrate is wisdom (just as te Baptist did), ten we will not ave so many lost opportunities as we speak to tose around us. I pray to God tat you and I would ave wisdom as we need it in our relationsips wit men. James said, If any of you lack wisdom, let im ask of God, tat givet to all men liberally, and upbraidet not; and it sall be given im ( James 1:5). Tere is wisdom available to us to elp us to serve God, but, we need to ask te Lord for tat wisdom. Paul mentions tis wisdom, tat e, too, possessed in is ministry in te cause of Crist: Wom we preac, warning every man, and teacing every man in all wisdom; tat we may present every man perfect in Crist Jesus (Col. 1:28). If we want to present ourselves, and oters, perfect in Crist Jesus, ten we need to call upon te wisdom tat comes from above. CONCLUSION Tere is a lot tat we could notice in te life and ministry of Jon te Baptist wic would be good for us to consider, and ten to emulate in our own lives and ministries. owever, if we could just exibit Jon s umility, boldness, clarity, indignation, compassion, and wisdom, ten we would be muc more useful servants in te service of Jesus Crist.

21 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 21 Readers of te BBB are urged to submit religious news items wic tey may read in teir local paper or some oter publication. In sending tese please give te name of te publication as well as te date it was printed. We will not be able to print all wic are submitted, but we welcome any item you may feel we sould read. Send tem to Te Berea Baptist Banner, PO Box 39, Mantacie, MS Kentucky adopts 20- week abortion ban, ultrasound bill (WNS)--Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed two pro-life bills on Jan. 9 after tey rocketed troug te Republican-controlled ouse and Senate on Jan. 7. Te state Senate approved te measure requiring an ultrasound before an abortion in a 32-5 vote, and te ouse voted in favor of a 20-week abortion ban. Wile te bills passed overwelmingly in te legislature, te American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) already ad a legal callenge prepared, immediately filing suit against te ultrasound requirement. World Watc List: At least 1,207 Cristians martyred in 2016 (WNS)--Persecution against Cristians worsened again in 2016, wit an estimated 215,000 experiencing ig, very ig, or extreme persecution in 50 nations around te world, according to te 2017 World Watc List. Open Doors, an international organization tat monitors and supports persecuted Cristians, compiled te list and released it on Jan. 11 in Wasington, D.C., calling it a wake up call for Cristians to advocate on bealf of teir persecuted broters and sisters and a call to world leaders to take action. Altoug reliable figures were not available for all nations, Open Doors estimated at least 1,207 Cristians were killed because of teir fait, and rougly 1,329 curces were attacked or damaged in Pysicists measure antimatter but still can t fill Big Bang teory oles (WNS)--European scientists ave figured out a way to measure te energy level of antimatter, a discovery tey ope will elp solve some of te mysteries surrounding te beginning of te universe. Until now, it as been incredibly difficult to create antimatter and retain it for any extended period of time because antimatter and matter anniilate eac oter wen tey come into contact. According to te Big Bang teory, only energy existed in te first fraction of a second after te explosion. As te universe cooled and expanded, it produced bot matter and antimatter particles. According to te laws of pysics, matter and antimatter particles ad to be created in pairs so te quantity of matter and antimatter would be te same. But tat isn t possible because te matter and antimatter, wic attract one anoter because tey ave opposite electrical carges, would ave destroyed eac oter and te universe would not exist. Prayers for te president (WNS)--Te newly inaugurated president and vice president and teir families gatered January 21 for te traditional post-inaugural National Prayer Service at Wasington National Catedral. Considering te diversity of faits represented, owever, it was often difficult for tose in attendance to determine to wom te prayers were directed. Te interfait service, wit President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in te front pew, included readings and prayers from Protestant (evangelical, prosperity gospel, Greek Ortodox, Pentecostal, and Episcopal), Jewis, Sik, Mormon, Buddist, Roman Catolic, Baá í, indu, and Native American religious leaders. But conservative evangelicals were well represented and did not sy away from proclaiming te name of Jesus. Religious freedom tops Trump s National Prayer Breakfast address (WNS)--In a wide-ranging address at te 65t annual National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump promised to defend religious freedom in te United States. America will flouris as long as our liberty, and, in particular, our religious liberty is allowed to flouris, Trump said at te Wasington ilton otel on Feb. 2. Freedom of religion is a sacred rigt but it is also a rigt under treat all around us. Since 1953, every U.S. president as attended and spoken at te breakfast. Tis year brougt togeter a crowd of more tan 3,000, representing all 50 states and 140 countries from around te world. Trump s speec came amid worldwide protests over is recent order suspending te U.S. refugee resettlement program and limiting immigration and travel from some Middle Eastern countries. National study finds little proof of pot s medical benefits (WNS)--Marijuana advocates tout te drug and its compounds as terapeutic for everyting from treating glaucoma to stopping nigtmares. But a new systematic review of more tan 10,700 scientific studies conducted by te National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found verifiable benefits for only two disorders cronic pain and te nausea and vomiting caused by cemoterapy. Despite growing support for legalization efforts, te review found numerous and serious ealt and social consequences for marijuana use. Tis report simply adds to te mountain of evidence tat marijuana use is a serious danger to public ealt and safety, said Scott Cipman, founder of Citizens Against te Legalization of Marijuana. Pro-life tsunami floods state legislatures (WNS)--Pro-life leaders say a nationwide surge in optimism is driving te wave of pro-life bills already introduced in te first few weeks of tis year s state legislative sessions. Te nearly 50 new bills include bans on dismemberment abortions and any procedure after 20 weeks gestation, fetal burial requirements, and bills tat would defund Planned Parentood. Wit te election of a pro-life president, wit all of te gains tat we made across te different states wit last year s election, I tink we are very optimistic in passing laws tat protect te unborn baby and teir moms, said National Rigt to Life Committee s Ingrid Duran. Trump reinstates prolife Mexico City Policy (WNS)--President Donald Trump followed in former President George W. Bus s footsteps on Jan. 23 by reinstating a law blocking foreign aid to abortion providers. In Mexico City at a United Nations conference in 1984, te Reagan Administration introduced wat became known as te Mexico City Policy, wic required nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving (Continued on page 22)

22 Page 22 Te Berea Baptist Banner Marc 5, 2017 Bible & te Newspaper (Continued from page 21) U.S. aid to sign agreements tat tey would not perform abortions. Just as former President Bill Clinton blocked te law wen e took office in 1993, former President Barack Obama again overturned it in Te repeal of funding to abortionproviding NGOs aderes lockstep to te pro-life platform on wic Trump campaigned. Pro-abortion advocates ave decried Monday s order, but pro-lifers are ceering it. One-tird of Colorado ospitals opt out of assisted suicide (WNS)--Nearly one-tird of Colorado ospitals say tey will not allow doctors at teir facilities to kill patients under te state s new pysician-assisted suicide law. Recently, two of te state s largest ospital systems, bot fait-based, released statements saying tey plan to opt out of a state law approved by voters in November legalizing te prescription of lifeending medication to terminally ill patients. Now tat tey ve taken a stand, te ospitals likely will be forced to defend it in court. Te two systems, Centura ealt and SCL ealt, bot associated wit Catolic ealt Initiatives, say te new Colorado statute contains conscience provisions tat protect teir rigt to opt out. But assistedsuicide advocates are pusing back, saying a legal callenge is a distinct possibility. At issue is weter a system of ospitals can dictate for all its facilities and staff ow to andle pysician-assisted suicide. Trump s stance on LGBT order stuns religious liberty advocates (WNS)--Te Wite ouse confirmed on Jan. 31 President Donald Trump will not overturn te Obama administration s 2014 LGBT executive order for federal contractors tat limits ow religious groups tat do not approve of omosexuality can work in government. Te president is proud to ave been te first ever GOP nominee to mention te LGBTQ community in is nomination acceptance speec, pledging ten to protect te community from violence and oppression, according to a Wite ouse statement released early tis morning. Te executive order signed in 2014, wic protects employees from anti-lgbtq workplace discrimination wile working for federal contractors, will remain intact at te direction of President Donald J. Trump. New Planned Parentood videos get lawmakers attention (WNS)--Lawmakers gatered in front of te U.S. Capitol on Feb. 2 to spotligt new undercover pro-life videos and to reiterate teir commitments to defunding Planned Parentood. Te videos, made by pro-life activist Lila Rose s organization Live Action, sow Planned Parentood employees telling women seeking prenatal care to go somewere else for teir ultrasounds. O, we won t be able to tell you if it s ealty or te gender, an unnamed Planned Parentood worker in Farmington, N.M., told an undercover activist. We specialize in abortions. You know, tat s wat our ultrasounds are for, to see ow far along te, um, patient is. Live Action said it reaced out to 97 separate Planned Parentood facilities across te country, and only found five willing to ceck on te ealt of te cild. All te oters required te women to scedule an abortion. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Swedis midwife still figting employer s abortion mandate (WNS)--A tird court in late January eard te case of a Cristian Swedis midwife denied employment because of er pro-life convictions. Despite te support of international laws granting medical professionals in Europe te rigt to freedom of conscience, te midwife, Ellinor Grimmark, as faced an upill battle defending er rigts. As a midwife, I want to exercise a profession wic defends life and saves lives at all cost, Grimmark told Catolic News Agency. Somebody as to take te little cildren s side. Somebody as to figt for teir rigt to life. In 2014 Grimmark filed a religious discrimination complaint after a women s center in Jönköping, Sweden, witdrew a job offer because se said se could not perform abortions. Two oter medical clinics denied er employment on te same grounds. A court ruled in favor of te women s center, saying te job offer was rescinded not because of er religion, but because se was not prepared to perform duties tat were part of te job description. Te Sort Pews Brief Articles by Curtis Pug WEREFORE, MY DEARLY BELOVED, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY, (1 Corintians 10:14). It will be evident to te candid observer tat Mardi Gras, As Wednesday, Lent, and Easter are all tied togeter in te religious world. One follows after te oter and are connected in te liturgical calendar. Te various pagan days and even liturgical colors wic are used in decorating crosses and buildings along wit te liturgical calendar ave been adopted by te Catolic ierarcy. So te observance of suc paganism on te days decided by tese prelates is obedience to tem. We sould asten to add tat tere is noting in te Bible instructing anyone to observe any of tese days nor ow suc observance sould be carried out. In spite of tis, some Baptist curces ave begun to drape crosses wit te liturgical colors, and already most observe te pagan feast of Istar (Easter). Mardi Gras actually means Fat Tuesday and is te eigt of te carnival season. Tis day got its name as being te last day on wic meat could be eaten before te observance of Lent. Lent, not counting te six Sundays involved, lasts for forty days leading up to Easter. Te celebration or observance of Easter actually includes Good Friday, oly Saturday and Easter Sunday altoug in some countries different names are used. For instance in some countries wat is called Good Friday in te U.S. is called Black Friday because it is erroneously believed tat Crist was crucified on Friday wic is an impossibility, of course. Mardi Gras is given over to carnival. Te word carni/val comes from two words: carne means fles as in cili con carne wic is literally cilies wit meat. Val is connected wit our Englis word valedictorian - te good bye speec common at graduations. So te meaning of carnival is good bye to meat. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday and immediately precedes As Wednesday commonly called because in te beginning of Lent comes te practice of going to (Continued on page 23)

23 Marc 5, 2017 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 23 Te Sort Pews (Continued from page 22) curc and getting te sign of te cross made on te foreead by te priest using ases. So Mardi Gras is carnival a time of immorality, debaucery, drunkenness, over indulgence in feasting in sort: a time of base carnality and wickedness before settling down to te time of penance and self denial before Easter. In oter words it is one last super-big fling before trying to be good for forty days so tat te individual can observe Easter. Doing one s Easter Duty means tat te Catolic curc requires every person wo as received teir first communion take te Eucarist (mass) during te time around Easter. To make it easy, te time period called Easter season runs for fifty days from Easter to Pentecost. Sometime during tis time, in order to stay in te good graces of te Catolic curc, every Catolic must attend mass and eat te sun-saped wafer wic as been turned into te body and blood of Crist by te priest s ocus pocus. TE LORD DOESN T KNOCK Tere is a popular but erroneous idea going about in some religious circles. It is tat te Lord Jesus is standing outside knocking on te door of te sinner s eart, obviously wanting to come in. e is waiting on te sinner to open is eart s door. Te idea comes from a misunderstanding of a part of one Bible verse: Revelation 3:20 wic says: Beold, I stand at te door, and knock: if any man ear my voice, and open te door, I will come in to im, and will sup wit im, and e wit me. Tese words were not addressed to a sinner, but to te angel or messenger of a congregation. Te context proves tis. Verse 14 of tat capter says, And unto te angel of te curc of te Laodiceans write... Te door at wic te Lord Jesus is said to be standing is te door of te curc or congregation in te ancient city of Laodicea. Tat curc was in suc a sorry spiritual condition tat Crist was on te outside! Furter proof of tis is seen in te Lord s promise. e said, I will come in to im. e did not say I will come into im. Anyone wo understands te Englis language will know te difference between coming in to a person and coming into a person. To come in to a person is to come in to were tey are. To come into a person is to enter witin tat person or to indwell a person. Tere is absolutely no Bible basis for telling sinners tat Jesus is standing at teir eart s door patiently knocking waiting on tem to open te door so e can come into tem! Tat is a man-made teacing based upon te idea tat God cannot save wom e wants to save wen e wants to save tem! It makes God a powerless failure to accomplis wat e wants to do. Te fact is, God as te ability to open te eart. We read about im doing tat very ting in Acts 16:14 were te Bible says, And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of te city of Tyatira, wic worsipped God, eard us: wose eart te Lord opened... Wat! Te Lord opened Lydia s eart? Se did not open it! Wy would te Lord stand knocking at te imaginary door of a sinner s eart wen e as te power to open te eart? Wy would a omeowner stand knocking at te door of is ouse wile olding te key to tat door in is and? Do not try to make an excuse saying tat te Lord is waiting on te sinner to exercise is free will. Te Bible says, For it is God wic worket in you bot to will and to do of is good pleasure (Pil. 2:13). God causes men to to will and to do. e causes sinners to want to and to do. as te Fater drawn you to Crist? (see Jon 6:44). BUT WE DO KNOW Often we ear it said regarding te birt date of te Lord Jesus, Well, nobody knows te exact day wen e was born. Tis is true, but te general attitude seems to be tat since we do not know te precise date of is birt ten we can celebrate just any day of te year. Weter or not it is idolatry to observe Cristmas is not our subject and so we will not enter upon tat area ere and now. But te trut is tat wile we cannot know te precise date of te Lord s birt, we most certainly do know te season of te year wen e was born. Let me explain. Take, for example, a man wo dies precisely on te same date tat e was born. Regardless of is age, we may assuredly say tat if e died in te Spring, e was born in te Spring also: given tat e died te exact same date as e was born. Take anoter man, for example. Tis man we will say lived to be about seventy-and-a-alf years old, give or take a few days. If e died in te Spring, tat alf year of is life tells us tat e lived about six-monts past is last birtday. So we may be assured tat suc a man wo died in te Spring and wo lived six monts past is last birt day was born in te Fall. e was born six monts (and owever many years e lived) (Continued on page 24) BEREA BAPTIST BANNER Financial Report to Beginning Balance... $2, RECEIPTS: Amazing Grace B. C., Stockdale, TX B. C. of Brimfield, Brimfield, IL Berea B. C., Mantacie, MS Berea B. 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