How People Should Pray. The Bible on Polygamy. Works of the Flesh. The Resurrection. Look to your own failings before you look at my faults.

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1 Te Bible on Polygamy By Mattew Stepp of Wayne, West Virginia Yet ye say, Werefore? Because te LORD at been witness between tee and te wife of ty yout, against wom tou ast dealt treacerously: yet is se ty companion, and te wife of ty covenant. And did not e make one? Yet ad e te residue of te spirit. And werefore one? Tat e migt seek a godly seed. Terefore take eed to your spirit, and let none deal treacerously against By Milburn R. Cockrell ( ) te wife of is yout (Malaci 2:14-15). Te order of marriage is set by precept, principle, as well as pattern in Scripture. Marriage is onourable in all, and te bed undefiled: but woremongers and adulterers God will judge (eb. 13:4). Polygamy causes disorder, wic by definition is (Continued on page 2) Te Resurrection And many of tem tat sleep in te dust of te eart sall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to same and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:2). In tese words of te Propet Daniel e introduces us to te doctrine of te resurrection of te dead. Tese words were spoken for te comfort of is suffering people during te Great Tribulation (Dan. 12:1). Crist also ecoed te words of te old propet in Jon 5:28-29: Marvel not at tis: for te our is coming, in te wic all tat are in te graves sall ear is voice, And sall come fort; (Continued on page 10) ow People Sould Pray By Paul Stepp of Indore, West Virginia I will terefore tat men pray every were, lifting up oly ands, witout wrat and doubting (I Tim. 2:8). Paul often times exorted te curces and te people of God unto prayer. e knew tat it was a vital element in te life of an individual and in te prosperity of every curc of Crist. Successful Cristians and successful curces are always prayerful Works of te Fles By Tom Ross of Sout Point, Oio In verse 16 troug 18 of Galatians 5 Paul described te spiritual conflict tat exists between te believer s old nature and is new nature. e states tat te fles and te Spirit are totally contrary to one anoter. e enlarges upon tat statement by sowing te contrast between te works of te fles and te fruit of te Spirit in te remainder of people. To always be ready to converse wit our God to always be seeking is favor and is blessings, and always seeking to know and do is will tese are essential in te life of every Cristian. Prayer brings us closer to God, and prayer makes is will and is purpose known and (Continued on page 7) capter 5. In te passage before us Paul gives a list of te works of te fles. Tey are called te works of te fles because tey are te natural by-products of fallen uman nature. Unregenerate man is morally depraved and capable (Continued on page 20) Look to your own failings before you look at my faults. In oter men we faults can spy, And blame te mote tat dims te eye: Eac little speck and error find; To our own strongest errors blind. And wy beoldest tou te mote tat is in ty broter s eye, but considerest not te beam tat is in tine own eye (Mattew 7:3)?

2 Page 2 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 August 5, 2016 Volume XXXVI, Number 8 Wole Number 445 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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Sunday 8:30-9:00 a.m ,000 FM WQRL, Benton, IL...Sunday 9:00-9:30 a.m ,500 FM Berea Baptist Banner PO Box 39 Mantacie, Mississippi (662) request@bereabaptistcurc.org bbcurc@nexband.com Planning a move? Please let us know your new address. Te post office carges us $.59 for eac returned wrong address. PLANNING TO MOVE? Notify us tree weeks in advance. 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. PAPER GONE OUT TO SEA WIT TE TIDE? Look at your mailing label on te front page of tis mont s paper. If you see above your name Expires 8/2016 ten tis will be your last issue. So don t tink your paper as gone out wit te tide! Renew now so you won t miss next mont s Banner. Bible on Polygamy (Continued from page 1) sin. And e answered and said unto tem, ave ye not read, tat e wic made tem at te beginning made tem male and female, And said, For tis cause sall a man leave fater and moter, and sall cleave to is wife: and tey twain sall be one fles? Werefore tey are no more twain, but one fles. Wat terefore God at joined togeter, let not man put asunder (Matt. 19:4-6). Polygamy is ruled out by exclusion ere twain sall be one Tere is no room for tree to be one. It is an abomination to te ordinance of marriage. Going after more tan one woman (or man) is called eiter fornication (one-nigt stands) or adultery (aving affairs wit married folk) in Scripture. Divided love is not love at all, but idolatry. I am te LORD ty God, wic ave brougt tee out of te land of Egypt, out of te ouse of bondage. Tou salt ave no oter gods before me. For tou salt worsip no oter god: for te LORD, wose name is Jealous, is a jealous God ( Ex. 20:2-3, 34:14). For I am jealous over you wit godly jealousy: for I ave espoused you to one usband, tat I may present you as a caste virgin to Crist (II Cor. 11:2). For te usband is te ead of te wife, even as Crist is te ead of te curc: and e is te saviour of te body....for tis cause sall a man leave is fater and moter, and sall be joined unto is wife, and tey two sall be one fles. Tis is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Crist and te curc. Neverteless let every one of you in particular so love is wife even as imself; and te wife see tat se reverence er usband (Ep. 5:23, 31-33), (wife singular; usband singular, trougout). Te picture of marriage can never be fulfilled, unless tere is a oneness, a dedication; a unilateral commitment to te singular unity of te miraculously-joined twosome, become one. Tat is wat marriage is. But wat is te difference between polygamy and oter sins of marriage and sexuality? Many folk struggle wit tese subjects, but if we study te PURPOSE for tese laws witin God s order, I ope tat it becomes more clear and te reasons more relevant. In Old Testament law, adultery can be punisable by deat. If a man be found lying wit a woman married to an usband, ten tey sall bot of tem die, bot te man tat lay wit te woman, and te woman (Deut. 22:22). Wy would polygamy not be treated te same as adultery? Any oter sexual misconduct was dealt wit rater arsly. Polygamy, owever, is regulated rater tan criminalized. If a man ave two wives, one beloved, and anoter ated, and tey ave born im cildren, bot te beloved and te ated; and if te firstborn son be ers tat was ated: Ten it sall be, wen e maket is sons to inerit tat wic e at, tat e may not make te son of te beloved firstborn before te son of te ated, wic is indeed te firstborn: But e sall acknowledge te son of te ated for te firstborn, by giving im a double portion of all tat e at: for e is te beginning of is strengt; te rigt of te firstborn is is (Deu. 21:15-17) (See also Ex. 21:7-11). (Continued on page 3)

3 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 3 Bible on Polygamy (Continued from page 2) In Deuteronomy 17:17, polygamy is expressly forbidden for kings, Neiter sall e multiply wives to imself, tat is eart turn not away. But tis admonition is given FOR A QUOTED REASON, is it not? Tat is eart turn not away. From wat? From te Lord and te Giver of blessings. In te context, te king is not to multiply to imself orses, silver, or gold, as well. All of tese tings may be good in moderation, BUT NOT IN EXCESS. ow many orses do you need? ow many automobiles do we need? ow muc money in te bank? Tese may vary according to our jobs, family size, obligations at work, etc., but one constant in all of our lives is tat we only need one wife or usband. Even in II Samuel 12:8 God tells David (te King) tat e ad multiplied blessings unto im, and tat te king s sin was tat David was not satisfied wit just God- e wanted more (Batseba, Uria s wife, in particular). And I gave tee ty master s ouse, and ty master s wives into ty bosom, and gave tee te ouse of Israel and of Juda; and if tat ad been too little, I would moreover ave given unto tee suc and suc tings (II Sam. 12:8). Wy, ten, in tis context, does it seem tat God treats polygamy so differently from adultery? David is reproved, convicted, and punised because of te adultery, but not (specifically) for te polygamy. (Altoug, as we consider tis, peraps te polygamy avenue tat David took, was te first departure from God s order tat led to te rest of te debacle of tis capter). Adultery and polygamy, despite te fact tat tey migt be lumped in togeter as sexual sins, tey really are at te root, vastly different sins. And bot te penalties and te regulations will terefore be different. Te abomination of adultery breaks someone s sacred union of marriage. Many times more tan one person s sacred vows are violated. It is treason of te igest order. If you ceat on your spouse, you are breaking te most sacred bond ere on eart, outside of our relationsip wit God. It is Spiritual rape and it destroys te love and trust of a marriage, tat can only be restored by grace and mercy. It also destroys te very nature of te family. Wat cild tat as witnessed and suffered troug suc a destruction of sacred vows and te divorce tat follows will ever be able to trust a future spouse wit teir love, fait and opes? In my umble opinion, adultery and sexual promiscuity is te primary cause of te destruction of America. Satan knows tat if e can destroy te family unit, te government of te people (composed of tose broken families) will not be able to perpetuate justice and wisdom. If te foundations be destroyed, wat can te rigteous do (Ps. 11:3)? Natural Order Considerations Polygamy is also an abomination, but of a different order. If a man as two wives, e is not destroying someone s relationsip of love and trust. A woman wit two usbands is breaking God s law and order, but it is rebellion as te root sin, not treason or oat-breaking. Bot are rigtly condemned in Scripture, but even fornication is not equated te abomination tat adultery is, nor does te Bible call for deat in tose circumstances. Little ills By Nataniel ille of Caldwell, Kansas... and te little ills rejoice on every side (Psalms 65:12). Te New Birt #5 Te OW of te New Birt? Nicodemus asked Jesus ow can a man be born wen e is old (Jon 3:4), to wic te Lord gave answer, Except a man be born of water and of te Spirit, e cannot enter into te kingdom of God (Jon 3:5). We are taugt tat two tings are necessary for spiritual life: 1) must be born of water, 2) must be born of te Spirit of God. Water: Many people tink water speaks of baptism. False teacers teac tat baptism wases away sins. Tis is not scriptural! Baptism does not put away te filt of te fles (I Peter 3:21). Wen we compare Scripture-wit-Scripture we find tat water is emblematic Depending on te circumstances surrounding fornication among single folk, it calls for marriage or remunerations. Like in most teacings, our modern society as everyting backwards. Adultery and one-nigt-stands ave become commonplace, mostly due to ollywood s vile influence on our families. Te broken families and earts are rarely sown, anymore tan te beer-bellies, DUI s, and sattered lives are sown on te beer commercials. In America, it is all about fun and games, until somebody gets urt, and tere is no remedy for te pain, agony, and desperation tat finally comes ome to roost and never vacate te premises of our increasingly carnal lives. I mentioned at te outset tat of te Word of God. Note: Psalm 119:50 For ty word at quickened (made alive) me; I Corintians 4:15 I ave begotten you troug te gospel; James 1:18 of is own will begat e us wit te word of trut; I Peter 1:23 Being born again...by te word of God. We migt read Jon 3:5, Except a man be born of water (te word of God) and of te Spirit, e cannot enter into te kingdom of God (emp. N). It is by te Word of God tat fait comes. So ten fait comet by earing, and earing by te word of God (Rom. 10:17). ave you been born of God s Word; if not you cannot enter God s kingdom. AMEN! God s order is sown troug eiter precept, principle, or pattern. Admittedly, tere are singularly few outrigt precepts tat condemn polygamy. But tere are enoug, as te ones previously quoted in te article (Deut. 17, Matt. 19, Ep. 5, etc.). Wile te rest of te religious world migt cavil tat tere is insufficient evidence of te evil of polygamy, all a Baptist would need is ONE Scripture! Sela! Tink about it! But, te principle of te ordinance of marriage is sufficient irregardless of te precepts notated, to sow tat polygamy is an abomination. Tere is an ownersip inerent in marriage, wic requires a one-on-one relationsip. It is really as simple (Continued on page 4)

4 Page 4 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Bible on Polygamy (Continued from page 3) as if God ad wanted Adam to ave two wives; e would ave given im two. If God wanted us (as te Bride of Crist) to sow fidelity to IM ALONE, no more perfect picture could be made. Sometimes we mistakenly tink tat te Bride of Crist is patterned off our uman marriages. Noting could be furter from te trut. Our marriages are patterned from God and is Bride God and is Order. ere is te principle. Neverteless, to avoid fornication, let every man ave is own wife, and let every woman ave er own usband. Let te usband render unto te wife due benevolence: and likewise also te wife unto te usband. Te wife at not power of er own body, but te usband: and likewise also te usband at not power of is own body, but te wife. Defraud ye not one te oter, except it be wit consent for a time, tat ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come togeter again, tat Satan tempt you not for your incontinency (I Cor. 7:2-5). My wife OWNS me. I belong to er. I am forever in te category of being ER usband, and Becky is MY wife. Tis intimate picture is given trougout te Bible, but clearly in Romans 7:1-4, Know ye not, bretren, (for I speak to tem tat know te law,) ow tat te law at dominion over a man as long as e livet? For te woman wic at an usband is bound by te law to er usband so long as e livet; but if te usband be dead, se is loosed from te law of er usband. So ten if, wile er usband livet, se be married to anoter man, se sall be called an adulteress: but if er usband be dead, se is free from tat law; so tat se is no adulteress, toug se be married to anoter man. Werefore, my bretren, ye also are become dead to te law by te body of Crist; tat ye sould be married to anoter, even to im wo is raised from te dead, tat we sould bring fort fruit unto God. Only ONE marriage to ONE man/woman at a time is recognized by God s laws. To te point tat te Apostle Paul uses it ere in Romans 7 as a irrefutable law to make is point concerning te utter difference between te law and grace. Only ONE can we be married unto. If polygamy were acceptable, marriage could never ave been used to picture te unity of te one and diversity of te oter. Biblical Time and Culture Considerations Some ave suggested tat polygamy once served a purpose in populating te eart, but tat now it is no longer necessary. Let me just say tat tis suggestion is entirely witout Scriptural merit. It implies tat God did not know wat e was doing wen e created marriage as e did and in te manner in wic e did. It implies tat God s timetable required a better metod tan te monogamous relationsip e gave Adam and Eve. If polygamy was better (even for te first few generations), ten God was not perfect in is design for te Genesis couple. And te LORD God said, It is not good tat te man sould be alone; I will make im an elp meet for im....and te LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and e slept: and e took one of is ribs, and closed up te fles instead tereof; And te rib, wic te LORD God ad taken from man, made e a woman, and brougt er unto te man....terefore sall a man leave is fater and is moter, and sall cleave unto is wife: and tey sall be one fles. And God saw every ting tat e ad made, and, beold, it was very good. And te evening and te morning were te sixt day (Gen. 2:18-24, 1:31). As we can see from Scripture monogamy is te plan, purpose and propagation from God. Very good wit God equals perfection. Sela! Tink about it! Tis is te principle of marriage and te pattern is seen trougout Scripture, tat wenever polygamy is practiced, it brings disarmony and fractured love into te family. But wat about tis teory tat polygamy was okay for a wile after creation, but it is now abominable? Some migt suggest tat a comparable example of suc an idea is in Leviticus 18:6-18, were we see specific laws against wat today we call incest. None of you sall approac to any tat is near of kin to im, to uncover teir nakedness: I am te LORD (Lev. 18:6). Yet, God started te uman race wit just two people, were of necessity, Cain and Set would ave ad to marry teir sisters for te wives and families to perpetuate te uman race according to God s command. Could polygamy ave been a similar instance? Te two are not so comparable, wen we follow troug wit our studying of tese subjects. Te ting wrong wit incest is uncleanness. Because of te infiltration and continued saturation of Adam s depraved fall into our genetic code, near relationsip marriages now cause mutations/defects to be made prominent, but tey did not, at te first. Tese laws were added later, because tey became manifest later. Rigt on God s perfect scedule, we migt add. If it were necessary earlier (say in Noa s time, or even te time of te Tower of Babel and te dispersion of te nations), ten God would ave given te law against incest ten. And is purposes would ave been reflected, in tat e would ave saved a more numerous and unrelated segment of te population. But, te (lost canopy?) environment in te centuries following te flood evidently accelerated te effects of genetic mutation/disorder and so eventually te marriages of close relatives in bot te creation and great flood aftermats, wic ad been allowed/ordained by a prescient God, was disallowed by God in te time of Moses. God s order never canges, but e is very aware of our condition at all times, as is very evident in is creation and judgment metods. Follow tat tougt up, a little. It was still not necessary to ave a diverse gene pool on te Ark, or at te Tower of Babel. We often stop to marvel tat of te eigt on te Ark, God could ave elected a person from ere, one from tere, anoter from tis far country, etc., but e did not. e cose Noa and by is marvelous grace, elected Noa s wife and family. A proof of God s sovereign grace, but also a proof for us ere, tat te genetic disorder ad not permeated Noa s family enoug yet for it to cause problems for te yet unborn (post-flood) cildren. And wen we tink of te practical ramifications of te Tower of Babel, were God PURPOSELY flings lonely (Continued on page 5)

5 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 5 Bible on Polygamy (Continued from page 4) families to te uttermost part of te eart, it was fulfilling God s purposes of forming te different family groups of te uman race, by te necessary acts of marrying witin te same family and same gene pool for several generations to come. Only by te time of Moses, as it become necessary for God to let te cildren of Israel know tat NOW it was time for tem to separate temselves from tis practice of incest. Unlike limited gene pools, polygamy was never necessitated by God s actions and never will be. Te only time polygamy occurs is wen men (and women) are sinning. No Scripture validates it, and every concurrent Scripture condemns it by exclusively confirming te one man/one woman element of God s order. Let us fear te Lord and is precepts, principles and patterns (not man s). Sela! Tink about it! 25 Ways to Raise A Rebel! Any one of tese metods is bound to affect your cild/cildren for life and eternity. A combination of two or tree of tese is sure to ave a marked effect toward te production of a rebellious, disobedient, know-it-all son or daugter. Te more of tese metods you can By Curtis Pug of Poteau, Oklaoma incorporate into your ome life and relationsip wit your cild, te more effect will be observed. You will notice tat tese tings are all easily accomplised. In fact, tese 25 WAYS TO RAISE A REBEL are te natural inclination of every parent, for all of us are depraved and tend towards te pat of least resistance. It is easy, ten, to raise a rebel. Many ave done it successfully in te past and many are presently involved in tis easy program. You, too, can succeed in raising disrespectful, lazy, wortless, disobedient, law breaking sons and daugters! Just follow tese 25 suggested steps. 1. Do not reverence God and te tings of God. Do not take your cildren to a Bible preacing curc. Tell tem you can worsip God in nature or at ome. Do not take tem to te Sunday Bible Scool and oter training sessions. Do not sit wit your cildren in te meetings of God s people. Do not let tem see you onor God in is appointed ways. If you must inculcate some religion in tem make sure it is just tradition so tat tey understand tat te trut does not really matter. Tell tem all religions are good and tat it does not matter wat you believe as long as you are in earnest. If you do take tem to New Testament Curc meetings, allow tem to wander in and out of te meeting as tey coose. Allow tem to put teir feet on te pews and to mistreat ymn books, Bibles, etc. Allow tem to play and distract oters so tat no concentrated attention is given to te preacing of te Word of God. Tis way your cild will grow up aving no respect for God, God s law, God s people, te ouse of God, God s Word, and God s autority! 2. Always upold your cild and take is side against adults. Never admit tat your cild is wrong and never make im admit is wrong and make tings rigt. Tell im tat all is teacers, as well as all tose in autority, especially law enforcement officers, are against im. Never believe te word of an adult against your cild. Tis way your cild will learn e is always rigt even wen e is wrong. e will ten learn to lie and maintain is cause even wen e knows e is wrong. Tis teaces im basic disonesty! 3. Be critical of oters. Be especially critical of scool officials, governmental leaders, curc leaders, te police, and oter true Cristians. (Forget about Miriam!) Talk about tem beind teir back. Tis way cildren will grow up aving no confidence in God s appointed civil and religious leaders! 4. Pretend to be a good Cristian. Putting up a ypocritical front in front of te curc and er leaders, but indulging in carnal wickedness at ome (profanity, dirty TV, pornograpy, filty jokes, etc.) is one of te best ways to let your cildren know tat God does not really matter to you. Tis is especially elpful in teacing your cild tat tere really is no suc ting as a genuine, devoted Cristian. Tis way e will grow up despising religion or will learn to be just as big a ypocrite as you are! 5. Maintain a double standard. Set one standard of morals and rules for your boys and anoter for your girls. (Girls get into trouble wile boys are only sowing wild oats. ) Do not teac your cildren tat God requires bot girls and boys (and men and women) to live clean and godly lives. Tis way your girls come to tink God is unfair, and boys come to tink tey can get away wit sin! 6. Do not teac your cildren te dignity of onest labor. Make ligt of ard working individuals in your community. Do not assign cores and responsibilities around te ouse to your cildren. Do not make tem complete wat tey start, weter scool or work projects. Allow tem to goof off wile oters work. Tis way your cild will learn ow to be a slacker and upon entering te world s work force, will soon build an employment record wic will get im nowere. More importantly, your cild will not learn te absolute necessity of being faitful (dependable)---te requirement for eternal rewards! 7. Do not submit to rules. Make sure your cild sees you breaking te rules of men and of organizations as well as te laws of God. Let your cild see faters dressing in an effeminate manner and moters immodestly attired. Never mind wat te Bible says: do as you please, after all, you do not want to be out of fasion. It would be terrible for someone in your family or community to criticize te way you beave and dress. Sow im ow to argue against te Word of God preaced by te faitful pastor. Let im see you ceat on traffic laws, automobile safety inspections, licensing of automobiles, games and sports rules. Teac your cild to win at any cost! Tis way your cild will learn it is ok to be a lawbreaker-- -ok to break bot God s laws and man s laws! 8. Prefer one of your cildren above te oters. Pick a favorite among your offspring and treat im or er differently tan you do te oters. Make it obvious to all around you tat you love one cild more (Continued on page 6)

6 Page 6 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, Ways to Raise (Continued from page 5) tan te oters. Lavis gifts and attention on te preferred one. Tis way te one preferred learns e or se is better tan oters and terefore can dominate tem. Tis teaces te one(s) discriminated against tat e or se is wortless and unlovely as well as unloved. 9. Prefer your cild/cildren above your mate. Let your cildren know tey are loved more tan your usband or your wife, as te case may be. Take teir part against your mate and defend tem wen your mate says tey ave misbeaved. Tell your cild/cildren tat you love tem more tan anyone else in te world. Keep secrets between yourself and your cild and from your mate. Tis way your cild learns early on wic parent e can despise and ow to work one parent against anoter in order to get is own way! 10. Do not tell your cildren wat to do. Let im or er do just as tey please. (Teac tem---but do not train tem---tere is a difference!) Let tem coose teir own music, TV programs, and friends. Let tem make important decisions in matters of scool attendance, cores, foods, dress styles, etc. Let tem make all tese coices early on in life so tey get used to making teir own decisions witout regard to te will of God or te benefit of guidance from you as a parent. By not telling your cild wat to do, e will soon tink tat watever e tinks is rigt and watever e wants to do must be done. Tis way e quickly learns tat te rigts and wises of oters (including parents and God) are unimportant! 11. Beg your cildren to obey. Entreat tem, but never command tem. Always try and talk tem into doing wat you know tey sould do. Forget tat God commended faitfulness in parents wo would command teir cildren after tem. Promise your cildren rewards (bribes) for doing wat tey ougt to do. Money and gifts will cause tem to obey wen respect will not. Tis way cildren learn to expect bribes, payoffs, etc. and come to understand tat teir wises are supreme and tat obedience for mere rigt s sake is wortless. Tis way tey learn tat standing for trut and principles is unimportant. Tey will soon learn to obey only wen tey get someting tat tey want. (As tey get older, te bribes will become costlier!) 12. Do not ever spank your cildren. Forget wat te Word of God says. Modern educators and psycologists know more tan God! If you will just leave your cild alone, e/se will grow up just fine. Tis teaces cildren tere is no payment for sin and no castening for unfaitfulness. Tey soon learn to do as tey please and all respect for autority is gone. 13. Always buy your cild watever e wants. Always buy im or er an expensive toy every time you go to te store or to town. Soon junior will learn ow to trow tantrums rigt in public if you refuse to buy im wat e wants. Give in to is every wim. Tis teaces your cild to gratify every desire and to spend is money foolisly! Girls grow up expecting usbands to buy tem everyting tey take a fancy to and boys grow up expecting to gratify every desire! 14. Allow your cild to be destructive. Toys, furniture, clotes, books, etc., are all good targets for te youngster left to imself and is inborn destructive tendencies. Let im alone and e will destroy valuable antiques, precious keepsakes, and oter expensive possessions. Climbing on, stomping on, jumping on, trowing and slamming are all witin te destructive capabilities of junior. Tis teaces your cild to get pleasure out of being destructive (mental imbalance) instead of out of being constructive and creative. e will soon be costing you good money as is wastefulness increases! 15. Allow your cild to mistreat te property of oters. Regardless of te value of te oter person s property, always allow your cild to do as e pleases wit it. Sould e destroy te property of oters, do not ever force im to make restitution. Do noting to inculcate in your cild respect for te rigts and property of oters. Tis way e learns to respect te rigts of no one oter tan imself! Watc is selfisness and greed grow! 16. Teac your cild to always get even. Teac im or er to figt and someow always get even wen wronged by anoter. Teac im tat forgiveness is wrong and forbearance is foolis. Do not tell your cild tat God says tat vengeance is is. Tis way e will learn no self control, patience, or gentleness and can go troug life constantly making enemies and generally being a social misfit. 17. Allow your cild to talk back to you. Talking back (answering again) and arguing wit parents, teacers and oter adults in autority sould be allowed and even encouraged as being beneficial to te development of assertiveness in cildren. Treaten your cild repeatedly, but never discipline your cild as you promised. Laug at im wen e sows smart Alec tendencies at a young age. Tis way e learns tat back talking is ok. e need not respect and onor is fater and moter. By learning tat immediate obedience is not required of im, your cild learns early not to submit to any autority. e learns tat you and oters do not really mean wat tey say and tat e does not ave to obey te first time e is told to do someting. 18. Never make your cild pick up after imself. e sould never be made to feel responsible to pick up toys, clotes, litter, tools, leaves, etc. Let im see you act in tis way. Trow litter on te roadways and in oter public places. Tis way your cild will grow up expecting oters to care for im like a baby. is future mate will really appreciate tis! 19. Allow your cild to criticize adults. Never mind tat e is just a cild or yout and as alf formed values and knows little of real life: let im spout off all e wises in talking against older people. e as a rigt to say watever e wants to say. Tis way e learns to despise older people, including you, for you are not so muc different from tose you allow im to speak evil of! 20. Moters, determine to always get your way regardless of wat your usband says. Wives/moters sould always wine, argue, pout, scream, treaten to leave, etc., or watever it takes to get teir own way, regardless. Wives sould never obey teir usbands. Do not reverence your usband as your ead. Tis way your cild will learn e, too, can get around (Continued on page 7)

7 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 7 25 Ways to Raise (Continued from page 6) obedience and will soon despise fater! 21. Faters, do watever your wife wants. usbands, always give in to te desires of your wife on every point. Do watever se wants. Forget about wat te Bible says in tis matter. Never stand for rigt principles. Tis way cildren learn to despise autority, disrespect fater and finally come to despise a dominating moter. 22. Leave your cildren alone for extended periods of time. Your cildren would not do wrong if left to temselves! Your cildren are not depraved. Tey will never get into trouble if left alone for ours at a time regardless of te circumstances. Allow tem to supervise temselves wile you sop, visit, travel, etc. By leaving tem alone for extended periods of time your cildren can learn from TV, evil companions, wicked adults, experimentation wit drugs and sex, etc. and can do as tey please, learning wat te world wants tem to know. Forget tat...a cild left to imself bringet is moter to same (Prov. 29:13). 23. Never apologize to your cild. Regardless of ow wrong or mistaken you ave been as a parent, never admit tis to your cild. Try and fool im. Lie to im and deny any fault or wrong doing on your part. Tis way your cild learns to follow your example. Tey learn to act stubbornly and pridefully just as tey see you do. Tey will soon be just as ypocritical and lying as you are. 24. Do not casten your cild until you are really angry. Allow your cild to disobey and misbeave again and again until you are really angry and almost out of control: ten discipline tem. Tat way you can be really brutal and inflict severe pain on tem and peraps even serious injury. Do not let your cildren learn tat God always punises sin and fits te punisment to te seriousness of te crime and tat e castens is cildren for teir disobedient acts. Tis way your cildren quickly learn just ow far tey can go and also tat tere is not always punisment for willful sin. 25. Do not spend time wit your cildren. Involve yourself wit your job and religious, community and sports activities so tat you never ave time to spend wit your cildren. Do not talk to tem or learn wat teir interests are. Never pray wit tem. Do not counsel tem concerning te anti Cristian tings tey are being taugt in te secular scool system. Never contradict a scool text book, teacer, or scool friend. If you attend te meetings of a curc, do not let wat you learn about rigt and wrong affect your life. Tis way your cild soon learns tat curc is a front and tat you really do not care about Crist or tem. Tis metod will allow te world to press tem into its mold. Let tem learn tat selfisness and making money are more important tan eiter God or tey are. Tis way tey, too, will soon be worsipping te false god of materialism! Of course tese 25 WAYS TO RAISE A REBEL are a satire. Tey are presented, not to encourage teir implementation, but rater as practices to be avoided. If you ave been guilty of allowing one or more of tese tings to enter your life and relationsip wit your cildren, repent of it and begin to do wat is rigt. Tis may really take some doing as patterns may ave already been establised in your life and tat of your cildren. God will bless your obedience. Be wise, gentle, but firm, and do wat is rigt. Remember: more is caugt tan taugt. Wat are your cildren catcing in te areas of attitudes, information, values, and priorities from you and tose around tem. May God give us grace to bring our cildren up properly, in te nurture and admonition of te Lord. Amen. (Berea Baptist Banner, Marc, 1992). ow People Sould (Continued from page 1) evident in our lives. Te souls tat are close to God, are tose souls wo commune wit im often even many times every day. Now, I want us to use our text verse as a simple outline of ow People Sould Pray. At first glance, you migt read tese words tis way: O, ow people need to pray! O, ow necessary prayer is in te lives of God s people! And, I suppose tat tis would do us some good, to consider te necessity and te importance of prayer. But, I want us to rater tink upon te manner and te internal workings of prayer. I want us to consider te way or te ow of praying, as Paul lays it out for us in our text verse. Te simple outline is tis: pray everywere wile lifting up oly ands, witout wrat and witout doubting. Tese truts and te ow and te manner of prayer is laid out for us in our text verse. Everywere Te word terefore in our text verse, indicates tat te words tat Paul is about to write, ave some reference to te words wic e as just written. In te previous verses, te Apostle Paul stresses tat men ougt to often pray unto God, and we sould pray for a wide array of persons and situations. In our text verse, Paul says tat men sould pray every were. I believe tat tis idea of praying everywere as some reference to te preceding statements in wic e said tat we sould pray for all men (v. 1); tat we sould pray for te eads of te governments, and te leaders in society (v. 2); tat God intends to save all of is elect (v. 4); tat tere is only one God over all of te eart, and over all of te men wo live in te eart (v. 5); tat Jesus Crist gave imself as a ransom for all of tose tat will be saved (v. 6); and, in particular, tat Paul was a preacer, teacer, and an apostle wo was sent to te Gentiles, werever tey migt be (v. 7). So, no matter were te soul was tat was saved; no matter wo te soul tat was saved; it was Paul s desire tat we all would pray no matter were we are, and no matter were te objects of prayers migt be. I believe tat Paul s desire for tose tat would read tis epistle, was a worty desire tat men would pray everywere. Is tis not a good desire for us to ave for ourselves and for oters, tat we all migt be consistently praying unto God? Is not tis a good desire to ave, tat we, as te people of God, migt be approacing te trone of mercy and grace on bealf of men and women and situations all around te world? Isn t it comforting and even exilarating, to know tat rigt now, all around te world, saints are praying unto God? Our desire sould be personal in tat we would be participants in te (Continued on page 8)

8 Page 8 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 ow People Sould (Continued from page 7) effectual prayers tat are being offered up all around te world at any given moment. Our desire sould also be for our curces in tat our curc of wic we are a member, would be a praying curc tat would participate in te prayers tat are daily offered up all around te world. Even on a grander scale, our desire sould be for te people of God werever tey are tat we all would take advantage of te blessed privilege (and responsibility) of prayer, wic is granted unto us. In reality, te simple desire of Paul, was tat te men would call upon te name of God at all times, and in all places. It was Paul s desire (and ours today, as well) tat te Lord s people would diligently seek te face of God everywere and in all circumstances. Te Apostle Paul commanded te Tessalonians, Pray witout ceasing (I Tess. 5:17). Can you imagine a place or a time werein you ougt not to pray unto God? Is tere any part of our lives, or any area of tis Creation, werein men ougt not seek unto God? Let me give you some examples of prayers from Scripture: We find tat te cildren of God ougt to pray unto im bot nigt and day. I tank God, wom I serve from my forefaters wit pure conscience, tat witout ceasing I ave remembrance of tee in my prayers nigt and day (II Tim. 1:3) (See also I Tess. 3:10). Weter it is nigt or day, God is ready and willing to ear our prayers. Weter it is nigt or day, we are in need of communication wit our Lord God in eaven. In fact, if saints are praying everywere, ten wile it is day on one side of te globe, and nigt on te oter side of te globe, te saints of God are praying nigt and day every minute of te day! Te Scriptures also teac us tat we sould pray everywere, even in times of trouble. We read about te time wen Peter was imprisoned, in te early days of te curc at Jerusalem, and we find out tat te saints of God were very diligent to pray for Peter in tis difficult time. Peter terefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made witout ceasing of te curc unto God for im (Acts 12:5). Witout ceasing, te members of te curc were praying for Peter and for te trouble tat faced Peter and te curc. Tese folks knew Wo it was tat ad called tem, and tey knew Wo it was tat was able to deliver tem. Wo else could tey call upon? Wo else could be teir refuge in time of trouble? Wy do we seem to forget suc simple facts, wen we ourselves are faced wit difficulties and troubles? Furter, no matter wat te trouble migt be, even in times of persecution, te saints of God ougt to lean upon te God of eaven and eart. In te Old Testament, we ave Daniel as one of te best examples of a man wo was diligent in prayer. e was a man wo did certainly pray everywere and often. Wen e was told by te government tat e was not allowed to pray, e still prayed. Wen e was treatened and persecuted, e still prayed. Eventually, e was caugt. Ten tese men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before is God (Dan. 6:11). owever, despite te treat of te lion s den, Daniel still prayed. As we go troug tis life, we are obliged to give unto God praise and glory. Tese are still times of prayer. We can never be so low tat we do not need to pray; nor can we ever be so ig tat we can afford to neglect prayer. In te book of Luke, at te time tat te angel appeared unto Zacarias (te fater of Jon te Baptist), we find tat te people were indulging in worsip, and tey were united in prayer, as tey offered up teir praise and worsip unto God. And te wole multitude of te people were praying witout at te time of incense (Luke 1:10). I believe tat tis ougt to be replicated in te curces of Jesus Crist. Tat we would come togeter and unite our tougts, our earts, and our willing minds, as we offer up praise and worsip unto God. We can do tis troug public worsip and prayer. Tere is more tat I could say, as far as te requirement tat we ougt to pray every were. In times of supplication, wen we express our deepest desires, and our most dire needs we sould pray unto God (See Ep. 6:18). In times of tanksgiving, as we acknowledge God s gifts and favors wic e as so graciously bestowed upon us we sould pray unto God (See Col. 1:3). No matter were we are, and no matter te situation, God is always tere, and we sould always avail ourselves of te opportunity to speak and converse wit im. Imagine te effect, if God s people, all around te world, were to consistently take up tis privilege to pray every were. Lifting up oly ands Te second desire tat Paul expresses concerning oter men s prayers, is tat tey would be lifting up oly ands. Some folks migt vainly imagine tat Paul is speaking of attire or an apparent or visible sanctity, wen e speaks of te fact tat te ones wo pray unto God would lift oly ands. Peraps some folks migt envision tis man wit oly ands as a person wo adorned ornately, and wo appears very pious, and wo intercedes on te bealf of all of te lesser saints wo are assembled before im. Tis is, in fact, te practice and te metod wic is adopted by some forms of religion, and even some parts of so-called Cristianity. owever, I do not tink tat Paul is referring to any particular place, attire, or ritual, wen e expresses is desire tat men would pray every were, lifting up oly ands. Toug it is true tat te capter in wic our text verse is found, does ave muc to do wit te public worsip service; it is also true tat Paul expected men to pray every were, wic must include te times and places outside of te public worsip service of te curces of Jesus Crist. So, it must be true tat tese ow s concerning prayer, must be applicable to instances outside of te curc services as well. In actuality, Paul wanted is fellow saints to always and everywere demonstrate umility, reverence, and sanctity as tey presented temselves before te oly and magnanimous God, Wom we serve, and Wo as always been our Succor and Strengt. Tis is presented to us, in te picture of men lifting up oly ands as tey and we approac te trone of mercy and grace. Let te world know, tat our God is oly! In particular, as saints of God wo approac te God and Fater in eaven troug te oly Saviour Jesus Crist, we sould mend our ways, and contemplate our beaviors (Continued on page 9)

9 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 9 ow People Sould (Continued from page 8) and attitudes, and seek a certain oliness as we come before God. For God at not called us unto uncleanness, but unto oliness (I Tess. 4:7). More tan anyting else, I believe tat tis is wat Paul ad in mind wen e speaks of oly ands. We read in te book of Romans, of a warning and exortation tat Paul ad for te Roman Cristians: Being ten made free from sin, ye became te servants of rigteousness. I speak after te manner of men because of te infirmity of your fles: for as ye ave yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to rigteousness unto oliness. For wen ye were te servants of sin, ye were free from rigteousness. Wat fruit ad ye ten in tose tings wereof ye are now asamed? for te end of tose tings is deat. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye ave your fruit unto oliness, and te end everlasting life (Rom. 6:18-22). I believe tat te best and most effective prayers are offered up by tose men and women wo are not tainted wit te sins of tis world. ow can we ope to ave success in our communications wit a oly God, wen we do not express any real desire for oliness in our own lives? Paul is not building up te men wo would lead in prayer, wen e expressed is desire tat tese men would lift up oly ands. Rater, e is encouraging tese men men wo are servants of God and members of te curces of Jesus Crist tat tey would follow after God, and follow after oliness. Tey were no more or no better tan any oter men; yet, tey would, by teir lives, indicate teir desire to please God, and teir desire to live in a manner tat would demonstrate teir pursuit of oliness and perfection. We read in te book of ebrews, Follow peace wit all men, and oliness, witout wic no man sall see te Lord (eb. 12:14). I know tat tere is a doctrinal trut stated ere one tat we often refer to as we remind folks of teir need for a Saviour Wo would intercede on our bealf, and Wo would impute is rigteousness unto us so tat we would ave a basis, or a rigt, to stand before a oly God. But, I tink tat tere is a practical trut as well: Tose wo seek oliness in tis life, are most likely to be te ones wo see and ear God in an effective manner, as tey sojourn on tis eart. Tese faitful servants are te ones wo are most noted for teir prayers. Tinking about tis from a selfis perspective, I want oly men and women to pray for me I want tem to lift up oly ands unto God on my bealf. It is true tat I am appy to know tat any man or any woman would pray for me, and mention me and my needs and my ministry before God s trone. owever, in a rater selfis sense, I most covet tose prayers of men and women wom I know are in full pursuit of oliness and rigteousness in tis life. I am appy wen even a casual Cristian (is tere really suc a ting?) will pray for me; but, I am appier still, wen tose devout saints of God will remember me wen tey come before God in prayer. Sadly, if tese tings are true, and if my own selfis desires are sared by oters, do you not imagine tat tere is someone rigt now, for wom I am praying, wo migt also desire tat oly men and women would pray for im? Sould you and I not aspire to oliness, so tat we migt be te praying saints tat would be an encouragement to oters? Maybe te prase lifting up is even a picture of te way in wic you and I sould offer up not just our ands but, our earts, and lives unto God. Peraps, we sould be motivated to demonstrate oliness in our lives, so tat we, too, can better see and ear God in tis life, and so tat e will make use of us in a greater way in tis life. Witout Wrat Tirdly, I want us to notice from our text passage, tat Paul ad a desire tat is readers would pray witout wrat. In tis instance, I tink tat Paul is mostly speaking of a desire tat men would not be angry wit one anoter, and tat a spirit of unity and peace would be felt amongst te cildren of God. I suppose tat you and I know tis from our own experience, but it is true tat an angry, irritable, or ill-tempered man is not going to be prone to prayer muc less are te prayers tat e offers up be inclined to be effective or fruitful. As a matter of fact, it is difficult to properly approac God if we arbor in our earts ill will, or anger, or wrat against some oter of God s people. Te Lord Jesus Crist once said, And wen ye stand praying, forgive, if ye ave ougt against any: tat your Fater also wic is in eaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neiter will your Fater wic is in eaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:25-26). ow dare we ask for forgiveness from God, wen we are not inclined to forgive tose wo sin against us! as any man ever sinned against you to te extent tat you ave sinned against God? Are te transgressions tat men commit against eac oter in any way comparable to te transgressions wic men ave committed against our oly and rigteous God? We ougt to imitate Crist. We sould follow is example. We sould be a forgiving and gracious people wo could be more forgiving and gracious tan Jesus Crist? Certainly, as te Lord desires for us, armony and peace and unity in te curces of Jesus Crist, and amongst te people of God, will be conducive to successful prayers and a prosperous prayer life. In reality, it is even wrong for us to express undue anger or wrat against te world tat migt subject and persecute us. Paul said, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rater give place unto wrat: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, sait te Lord. Terefore if tine enemy unger, feed im; if e tirst, give im drink: for in so doing tou salt eap coals of fire on is ead. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil wit good (Rom. 12:19-21). We must not allow anger or wrat to consume us! Be ye angry, and sin not: let not te sun go down upon your wrat: Neiter give place to te devil (Ep 4:26-27). Tere may be a place and a time for a rigteous anger or indignation against te evils of tis world. But, we must not over-indulge in suc anger, nor sould we allow tis anger to continue or fester. Jon Trapp said, If ye ave oversot in passion, let it not rest or roost in you, lest it become malice. Te Apostle Paul said, But now ye also put off all tese; anger, wrat, malice, blaspemy, filty communication out of your (Continued on page 10)

10 Page 10 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 ow People Sould (Continued from page 9) mout (Col. 3:8) (See also Ep. 4:31-32; James 1:19-20). Jon Gill tinks tat te mention of wrat in our text verse as reference to murmuring, as te Etiopic version renders it, impatience and complaint against God in prayer. I suppose tat men are often dissatisfied wit God, and I suppose we are often prone to complain about our lot in life, or become impatient wit God and is will as e accomplises is purpose in our lives. I do not know tat tis would often qualify as wrat in te way tat I understand wrat or anger. But, even our small displeasures wit God will be impediments in our prayers. It is not good to pray unto God wile at te same time arboring discontent or dissatisfaction or even anger against suc a Good God as ours! In reality, we need patience as we deal wit men but, we also need patience in our relationsip wit God (See James 1:2-4). God is not bound by mortal time or uman conventions! We ougt not grow angry or impatient or even restless in our service unto our Lord God. Let God know and oters wo may ear our prayers tat we are leaving everyting in God s ands, and we are ready to submit our will unto is will. e will take care of us, and our trust must be in im. And, tis leads me to my final point today: Witout Doubting In our text verse we notice tat Paul oped tat men would pray everywere, olding up oly ands, denying wrat, and witout doubting. I tink ere at te end of tis verse, Paul gets to te matter of fait. ere, at te end of our sermon, we get to te matters of belief and trust. It is essential tat one would ave fait (believe) in te One unto Wom e prays. Witout fait it is impossible to please im. And, witout fait it is impossible to properly pray unto God. James said about te praying saint, But let im ask in fait, noting wavering. For e tat waveret is like a wave of te sea driven wit te wind and tossed. For let not tat man tink tat e sall receive any ting of te Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all is ways (James 1:6-8). Let us not doubt suc a God as e Wom we serve! Let us pray witout doubting! Concerning te doubt tat is mentioned in tis passage, Jon Gill said tat te reference is to a person s doubt and diffidence about being eard, and aving te petitions answered. In oter words, one may doubt tat God as te ability to do tat wic e as promised, and one may doubt tat e or se as a rigt to approac God. Concerning te abilities of God to ear and answer our prayers, te Lord Jesus Crist said, For verily I say unto you, Tat wosoever sall say unto tis mountain, Be tou removed, and be tou cast into te sea; and sall not doubt in is eart, but sall believe tat tose tings wic e sait sall come to pass; e sall ave watsoever e sait. Terefore I say unto you, Wat tings soever ye desire, wen ye pray, believe tat ye receive tem, and ye sall ave tem (Mark 11:23-24). Te praying saint must demonstrate tat e as fait in God tat God is able to do tat wic e requests of im. Wy sould we pray to a deity wo does not ave te ability to answer our prayers? If we doubt our God, ten our prayers are no better tan te prayers tat te eaten man offers up to is false god. In fact, it is probably true tat tere are many eatens wo ave more belief in teir gods, ten many of te professing Cristians wo pray in a frivolous and unbelieving manner to te one true God, wic tey claim to serve. Many do not allow tat God is sovereign, and yet tey request is aid. Many do not allow tat God is te Creator, and yet tey desire is elp. Wat kind of god is tis, and wat kind of prayers are tese? Tere is no fait to be found in te person praying, and tere is no strengt to be found in te god wo is te recipient of te prayer. It is furter true tat tis doubt tat Paul speaks of migt ave someting to do wit a doubt tat we migt ave of our own rigts, and a doubt of te privileges tat are laid before us. In oter words, some may say, ow can I, a poor sinner, approac unto God? Or, ow dare I, a man wo is small and unworty, call upon suc a Migty and oly Saviour? Well, it is for tese reasons tat we call upon im! If we were worty, we sould not need im! If we were strong and migty and able to save ourselves, we sould not call upon im! But, tis is not te case. We are small and we are elpless and we are sinners terefore we need God and we need Jesus Crist as our Saviour. As lowly men and women of tis world we must not doubt our rigt to approac God troug te Person and te Work of Jesus Crist. We must not doubt wat Crist as done on our bealf, and ow tat e as brougt us into favor wit God, and as opened te way for us to supplicate and worsip and praise at te trone of God. Remember wat Paul said in te verses just preceding our text verse, For tere is one God, and one mediator between God and men, te man Crist Jesus; Wo gave imself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (I Tim. 2:5-6). Jesus Crist is our Saviour, and e is our Mediator, Wo as brougt us unto God. Let us terefore come boldly unto te trone of grace, tat we may obtain mercy, and find grace to elp in time of need (eb. 4:16). And watsoever ye sall ask in my name, tat will I do, tat te Fater may be glorified in te Son. If ye sall ask any ting in my name, I will do it (Jon 14:13-14). Te Resurrection (Continued from page 1) tey tat ave done good, unto te resurrection of life; and tey tat ave done evil, unto te resurrection of damnation. Te Apostle Paul ecoed te words of bot: And ave ope toward God, wic tey temselves also allow, tat tere sall be a resurrection of te dead, bot of te just and unjust (Acts 24:15). In my umble opinion tis text as suffered greatly at te ands of postmillennialists, amillennialists, and even some premillennialists. Some post-trib premillennialists contend tat Daniel 12:2 lays te deat blow to te pre-trib rapture position, seeing tat Daniel puts te resurrection of te rigteous at te end of te tribulation period. Wile many cannot agree on te details of Daniel 12:2, most do agree tat we see ere te glorious trut of te doctrine of te resurrection of te body in te Old Testament. TERE IS A BODILY RESURRECTION Some liberal scolars and a few (Continued on page 11)

11 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 11 Te Resurrection (Continued from page 10) premillennialists suc as A. C. Gaebelein,. A. Ironside, Clarence Larkin, William Kelly, etc., see only a figurative resurrection in tis passage. Gaebelein says: Pysical resurrection is not taugt in te second verse of tis capter---we repeat te passage as noting to do wit pysical resurrection. Pysical resurrection is owever used as a figure of te national revival of Israel in tat day (Te Propet Daniel, p. 200). Tese premillennialists are as guilty of departing from te literal meaning of propecy ere as te amillennialists are in Revelation 20:4-6. Tose wo spiritualize Daniel 12:2 and apply te first part to Israel s restoration ignore te last part of te verse about te resurrection to same and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2 speaks of a resurrection of individuals as sown by te contrasting fates. A literal resurrection is surely taugt ere. If it is not, it would be difficult to find were it is in te Bible. Spirits do not sleep in te dust of te eart as tey are immortal and constantly active. Will someone quote me a verse wic speaks of sleeping spirits? Liberal teologians assume tat te Israelites of old knew noting about te resurrection of te body. Tis is a great mistake (Job 19:25-26; Isa. 24:22; 26:14; 66:24; os. 6:2). Tose wo suffered for teir fait in te Old Testament times looked for...a better resurrection (eb. 11:33-35). ebrews 11:35 settles for all time tat all te Old Testament saints did believe in a resurrection of te body. Te saints under te old dispensation compared deat to a sleep. For now sould I ave lain still and been quiet, I sould ave slept: ten ad I been at rest (Job 3:13). Consider and ear me, O LORD my God: ligten mine eyes, lest I sleep te sleep of deat (Ps. 13:3). Tis trut is also seen in te New Testament as well. Crist said: Our friend Lazarus sleepet... (Jon 11:11). It is said of Stepen: And wen e ad said tis, e fell asleep (Acts 7:60). Of te Corintians Paul said:...some are fallen asleep (I Cor. 15:6). To te Tessalonians Paul mentioned...tem also wic sleep in Jesus... (I Tess. 4:14). Te soul and spirit do not sleep, but te body does: And te graves were opened; and many bodies of te saints wic slept arose, And came out of te graves after is resurrection, and went into te oly city, and appeared unto many (Matt. 27:52-53). At deat te body enters into a state of inactivity. Te resurrection is an awakening out of sleep wen te body sall rise fres and vigorous, as a man out of comfortable sleep. O tat tou wouldest ide me in te grave, tat tou wouldest keep me secret, until ty wrat be past, tat tou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, sall e live again? all te days of my appointed time will I wait, till my cange come. Tou salt call, and I will answer tee: tou wilt ave a desire to te work of tine ands ( Job 14:13-15). Te psalmist wrote: As for me, I will beold ty face in rigteousness: I sall be satisfied, wen I awake, wit ty likeness (Ps. 17:15). Ty dead men sall live, togeter wit my dead body sall tey arise. Awake and sing, ye tat dwell in dust: for ty dew is as te dew of erbs, and te eart sall cast out te dead (Isa. 26:19). Te prase dust of te eart in ebrew is literally ground of dust or dusty eart, and it refers to te grave (Job 20:11). Te tougt is based upon Genesis 3:19:...for dust tou art, and unto dust salt tou return. Job said: Tey sall lie down alike in te dust, and te worms sall cover tem (Job 21:26). Te psalmist penned tese words: Tou idest ty face, tey are troubled; tou takest away teir breat, tey die, and return to teir dust (Ps. 104:29). King Solomon said: All go to one place; all are of te dust, and all turn to dust again (Eccl. 3:20). A RESURRECTION OF TE RIGTEOUS Amillennialists say a general resurrection is taugt ere. But tey ave a problem wit te words: And many of tem. Tey press te word many to mean all, and tey cite Romans 5:19 to prove tat many sometimes means all witout exception. But tey would be ard pressed to prove tat many as suc a meaning in nearly every oter verse in te Bible. Let sovereign grace amillennialists try teir meaning in some verses (Matt. 20:28; Acts 13:48). Amillennialists ignore te meaning tat many as in te context of Daniel capter 11:...tere sall many stand up against te king... (v. 14);... sall take many... (v. 18);...many sall fall down slain (v. 26);... sall instruct many... (v. 33);... many sall cleave to tem... (v. 34); to rule over many... (v. 39); take away many... (v. 44). Also in Daniel capter 12, verse 3, te many tat are wise and turn oters to salvation are mentioned. Tis cannot mean all witout any exception. Daniel 12:3 explains te many tat awake to everlasting life in Daniel 12:2. Again in Daniel 12:10 te many refers only to te rigteous: Many sall be purified, and made wite, and tried; but te wicked sall do wickedly... Amillennialists ave a ard time explaining away many in Daniel 12:2. At least a few admit tis. Albert Barnes says: Te natural and obvious meaning of te word many ere is, tat a large portion of te persons referred to would ten awake, but not all (Daniel, Vol. II, p. 258). Edward Young writes: We sould expect te text to say all. In order to escape tis difficulty, some expositors ave taken te word many in te sense of all. owever, tis is forced and unnatural. Te correct solution appears to be found in te fact tat te Scriptures at tis point are not speaking of a general resurrection, but rater are setting fort te tougt tat te salvation wic is to occur at tis time will not be limited to tose wo were alive but will extend also to tose wo ad lost teir lives (Te Propecy of Daniel, p. 256). It is best to apply te word many to te many wo rise to everlasting life. First, many indicates a multitude wic leaves anoter multitude beind. Second, te metapor of sleep for deat is used in Scripture exclusively of deceased saints. Te wicked are not said to be sleeping. Tird, in Daniel 12:2, Jon 5:28-29, and Acts 24:15 believers are distinguised from unbelievers and are mentioned first. Wy if all are raised at te same time as some say? Fourt, according to te context in Daniel 11 and 12, te many in te mind of Daniel are elect Israelites wo suffered martyrdom under te reign of te willful king in te time of great suffering. Te Bible clearly teaces tat tere are at least two resurrections. (Continued on page 15)

12 Page 12 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Forum Submit your questions on any Bible topic. 1. Can you please give a sort definition of sovereign grace? Tom Ross 6339 County Rd. 15 Sout Point, O Pastor Mt. Pleasant Baptist Curc 6939 County Rd. 15 Cesapeake, O Sovereign grace may be distilled in tree simple words God saves sinners. To expand, God cose to save a multitude of sinners out of Adam s fallen race before te world began in electing grace, according to te good pleasure of is own will. e cose tem in Crist not because of any foreseen merit, fait or obedience, but rater because of is own unconditional, sovereign love. Crist agreed to die in te stead of all te elect as teir only qualified Surety. Jesus Crist was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, and offered is merits and blood on te cross as a perfect sacrifice, suffering in te stead of all tat te Fater gave im before te world began in te Covenant of Grace. Crist bore te sins of God s elect on te cross and satisfied all te claims of justice on teir bealf by suffering te equivalence of te eternal wrat of te Lake of Fire for eac one in particular. Crist Jesus died, took te sins of te elect to te grave, and 3 literal days later rose from te dead witout sin, securing teir complete redemption, justification, and eternal life. Te oly Spirit agreed to regenerate, call, indwell and preserve all tat te Fater cose and Crist agreed to die for before te world began in te Covenant of Grace. In God s appointed time te oly Spirit regenerates te elect by giving tem spiritual life, immediately enabling tem to respond to te trut of te Gospel by gracing tem wit te gifts of repentance and saving fait in te finised work of te Lord Jesus Crist. Beginning wit te new birt te oly Spirit indwells te elect and begins te work of fruitful sanctification and conformity to te image of Jesus Crist. Te Spirit preserves te elect as te earnest of te promised ineritance, securing teir entrance into glory. You will notice tat in te expanded definition no mention is made of sinful man s perverted will, wicked eart, carnal mind, defiled works, denominational affiliation, or ceremonial religious performances. Tose wo ascribe to te teacings of Sovereign Grace woleeartedly believe in te simple teology of Jona wo proclaimed...salvation is of te LORD (Jona 2:9). Oter Scriptures teacing sovereign grace are plentiful (Matt. 11:25-29; Jon 6:37-40; 8:36; 10:11,15,26-29; 15:5,16; 16:13-15; 17:1-11, 21-26; Acts 13:48; 18:7-10; Romans 1:18-31; 3:9-31; 4:2-8; 5:1-11; 8:1-9, 28-39; 9:11-24; I Cor. 1:21-31; 2:10-14; II Cor. 4:3-7; Gal. 1:3-4; 2:16-21; 3:11-14; 4:3-7; 5:22-26; Ep. 1:1-14; 2:1-14; 4:22-24; Pil. 1:5-6; 2:13; Col. 2:9-10; I Tess. 1:4-6; 5:9, 23-24; II Tess. 2:13-15; II Tim. 1:9; 2:10, 24-26; Titus 1:2-3; 2:14; 3:3-7; eb. 7:24-28; 9:12, 26-28; 10:5-14; 13:20-21; I Pet. 1:1-9, 18-21; 2:9-11, 21-25; 3:18; II Pet. 1:1-9; 3:8-9; Jude 1, 24-25; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10; 13:8; 17:8). I took te time to look up te Scriptures and list tem for te reader. I encourage you to prayerfully read and meditate upon tem to gain a real understanding of sovereign grace teacing. One oter point needs to be made. Sound Baptists use te term sovereign grace to distinguis temselves from Arminians and Pelagians wo teac some form of works salvation. I use te term to distinguis me from tose wo call temselves Calvinists. I am not a follower of a man wo identified and taugt te anti Cristian idea of sprinkling unsuspecting infants wit water. Nor do I identify wit te Reformation leaders wo are Protestants. I am a Sovereign Grace Baptist. TOM ROSS Roger Reed 20 Ledgewood Dr. Mansfield, Oio Missionary of West Jefferson Missionary Baptist Mission 90 E. Main St. West Jefferson, Oio I am always disturbed wen someone asks me to give a sort (brief) definition/answer on any subject. But to ask for a sort (brief) definition on te subject of Sovereign Grace tat I ave studied and read about for years (and I am still studying) is like trying to give a sort (brief) answer on ow a cicken produces and lays an egg. So ere is my answer to tis question, in sort. And we know tat all tings work togeter for good to tem tat love God, to tem wo are te called according to is purpose. For wom e did foreknow, e also did predestinate to be conformed to te image of is Son, tat e migt be te firstborn among many bretren. Moreover wom e did predestinate, tem e also called: and wom e called, tem e also justified: and wom e justified, tem e also glorified (Rom. 8:28-30). I would encourage you, dear reader, also to read Epesians capters 1-3 unless some may find tat too laboring or too long to do. Study to sow tyself approved unto God, a workman tat needet not to be asamed, rigtly dividing te word of trut (II Tim. 2:15). God Bless! ROGER REED Mike DeWitt Sr. PO Box 950 Springfield, OR Pastor Parkway Landmark Baptist Curc PO Box 950 Springfield, OR Grace is unmerited favor, and God as given it to womsoever e will. MIKE DEWITT Mattew Stepp 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Pastor Big Creek Baptist Curc 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Sovereign grace is ow te Bible declares tat sinners are saved from eternal deat unto eternal life. Our Lord defined sovereign grace succinctly in te middle four verses of Jon 10:24-29, Ten came te Jews round about im, and said unto im, ow long dost tou make us to doubt? If tou be te Crist, tell us plainly. Jesus answered tem, I told you, and ye believed not: te works tat I do in my Fater s name, tey bear witness of me. But ye (Continued on page 14)

13 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 13 Te Berea Baptist Banner Forum Submit your questions on any Bible topic. 2. Wat Scriptures prove Baptist curces sould be independent? Roger Reed 20 Ledgewood Dr. Mansfield, Oio Missionary of West Jefferson Missionary Baptist Mission 90 E. Main St. West Jefferson, Oio I do not just believe Scripture(s) prove Baptist curces sould be independent, but I believe tat Scripture(s) prove tey are (were) independent. Revelation capters 2-3 are great examples tat te early curces were independent of eac oter or te Lord would not ave ad to write seven separate letters. If tey ad not been independent of eac oter ten e could ave wrote one letter to cover all te issues, but tat is not wat e did. e wrote seven specific letters to seven specific curces wit seven specific problems. I believe because tey were all independent of eac oter. Being a missionary myself I know te importance of being sent out by one independent Baptist curc, wic in my case is Big Creek Baptist Curc. Tis falls in line wit (Acts 13:1:16; 14:26) wen te curc in Antioc was led by te oly Spirit to send (separated and recommended) Barnabas and Saul for te work wereunto e ad called tem. I believe tis was missionary work. You will note tat te Antioc curc did not need te permission of te curc in Jerusalem to do tis because tey were independent of eac oter. One curc as no business in te affairs of anoter curc because tey are independent of eac oter. Dear readers, consider ow confusing it would be for me if I was under te control of all fifteen curces tat support te mission in West Jefferson, or any oter missionary for tat matter! Eac supporting curc knows I am a member of Big Creek and tat tey are te ones tat sent me out. Also, Paul wrote to individual curces, eac aving teir own problems. I also believe tat Baptism and te Lord s Supper sow te independence of te Lord s curces. If tey were not independent from one anoter, ten if you belonged to te curc at Corint you could go to te curc at Epesus or Pilippi and vote in teir business meetings and take te Lord s Supper wit tem as well, and you would ave a voice in decision making in eac Baptist curc in te world. Nowere in Scripture is tat taugt or even suggested. Only one curc as autority over me and te mission work, just as Barnabas and Saul ad one curc (te curc in Antioc) over tem. God Bless! ROGER REED Tom Ross 6339 County Rd. 15 Sout Point, O Pastor Mt. Pleasant Baptist Curc 6939 County Rd. 15 Cesapeake, O I tink it best to define wat an independent Baptist Curc is. A New Testament Baptist Curc is a local, visible, and literal congregation of scripturally baptized believers, organized and duly constituted for te express purpose of carrying out te Great Commision as outlined by te ead of te curc, te Lord Jesus Crist in Mattew 28: Since every curc in te New Testament ad a definite location and was considered as te body of Crist in tat given locale (te curc of God at Corint was considered to be te body of Crist 12:18, and te wole curc tat came togeter in one place 14:23) it naturally implies tat eac curc was independent. Eac curc of te Lord Jesus Crist functioned as an indendent, autonomous body of believers. So in reality every time te word curc is used in te New Testament it is referring to an independent body of baptized believers, wit te exception of te few times wen te word curc is used in a generic or institutional sense. Eac independent curc was responsible to preac te Gospel to every creature, keep and observe te ordinances, maintain te purity and discipline of its membersip, and earnestly contend for te fait as it was once delivered unto te saints. Independent Baptists do not believe tat any organization outside of its own membersip as any autority to dictate to te local curc. Tus, a convention, fellowsip, or association sould ave no autority over te local curc. Wen Paul instructed te curc at Corint in te principles of curc discipline and ow it related to te eligibility of partaking of te Lord s Supper in I Corintians 5, e clearly intimates tat it was te responsibility of te curc to purge out te old leaven, not a convention, association, or fellowsip of curces. Every metapor used to describe a curc implies a local, visible, independent entity (body, building, flock, bride, etc.). Eac curc conducts business as a democratic body under te eadsip of Crist and te Administration of te oly Spirit. No convention, association or fellowsip sould come between te local curc and te direction of its ead. Te curc decides were its mission dollars go. Te curc calls or removes a pastor, not a board or a convention. One only as to look at te istory of Baptists to see tat man made conventions, boards, and associations usually morp into a bureaucratic monstrosity tat seeks to undermine and even destroy te independence of te local curc. Independence does not mean tat curces cannot cooperate togeter and elp one anoter. Tey certainly may do so in te Spirit of Crist for te furterance of te Gospel witout seeking to undermine or usurp te independence of one anoter. We may excange letters of recommendation wit one anoter, support one anoter s missionaries, attend one anoter s special meetings, etc. owever, cooperation and encouragement are a far cry from a Convention or Association demanding tat a curc obey its dictates or else. TOM ROSS Mattew Stepp 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV Pastor Big Creek Baptist Curc 286 Big Creek Road Wayne, WV And I say also unto tee, Tat tou art Peter, and upon tis (Continued on page 14)

14 Page 14 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Forum #1 (Continued from page 12) believe not, because ye are not of my seep, as I said unto you. My seep ear my voice, and I know tem, and tey follow me: And I give unto tem eternal life; and tey sall never peris, neiter sall any man pluck tem out of my and. My Fater, wic gave tem me, is greater tan all; and no man is able to pluck tem out of my Fater s and. Sovereign grace is necessary, because men are totally depraved since te fall of Adam. Crist details tis by saying ye believe not, because ye are not of my seep (Jon 10:26). Tey will not believe, toug tey ear te trut. Total inability is sovereign grace: But Jesus beeld tem, and said unto tem, Wit men tis is impossible; but wit God all tings are possible (Matt. 19:26). Te LORD looked down from eaven upon te cildren of men, to see if tere were any tat did understand, and seek God. Tey are all gone aside, tey are all togeter become filty: tere is none tat doet good, no, not one (Ps. 14:2-3). Sovereign grace is salvation at te purpose and pleasure of God. Crist differentiated between reprobates and is beloved elect by naming te latter my seep tat e will call by name, just as e called Lazarus from is incarcerating tomb. My seep ear my voice, and I know tem... (Jon 10:27). Unconditional election is furter clarified by is concluding statement, My Fater, wic gave tem me According as e at cosen us in im before te foundation of te world, tat we sould be oly and witout blame before im in love: aving predestinated us unto te adoption of cildren by Jesus Crist to imself, according to te good pleasure of is will, To te praise of te glory of is (Sovereign) grace, werein e at made us accepted in te beloved (Ep. 1:4-6). Sovereign grace is a particular redemption of a particular people, as denoted by te Lord s words: I know tem And I give unto tem eternal life. It is an atonement limited to my seep and te reason tat Crist gives for te unbelief of te reprobate Jews, is tat ye are not of my seep. Te vicarious deat of Jesus Crist FOR is seep is evidenced by is very name. and tou salt call is name JESUS: for e sall save is people from teir sins (Matt. 1:21). But e was wounded for our transgressions, e was bruised for our iniquities: te castisement of our peace was upon im; and wit is stripes we are ealed. e sall see of te travail of is soul, and sall be satisfied: by is knowledge sall my rigteous servant justify many; for e sall bear teir iniquities (Isa. 53:5, 11). Universal redemption/ atonement is foreign to Isaia and Scripture. Blessed is e wose transgression is forgiven, wose sin is covered. Blessed is te man unto wom te LORD imputet not iniquity (Ps. 32:1-2). Sovereign grace is always going to be irresistibly successful. My seep ear my voice and tey follow me. Our Lord expects no less! Would a drowning man brougt to te surface of life refuse to gasp in tat precious air of life? oly Spirit regeneration canges a dicotomous abomination of Adam s fallen descent into an adopted cild in te tricotomous image of is Fater! Wo at delivered us from te power of darkness, and at translated us into te kingdom of is dear Son (Col. 1:13). And you at e quickened, wo were dead in trespasses and sins; But God, wo is ric in mercy, for is great love werewit e loved us, Even wen we were dead in sins, at quickened us togeter wit Crist, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ep. 2:1, 4-5). And lastly, sovereign grace is eternal life. In is own words: I give unto tem eternal life; and tey sall never peris, neiter sall any man pluck tem out of my and ow muc more clearly can te Sovereign of te universe speak? Once in grace? Always in grace! Eternal security is in te preservation of te saints by sovereign grace. Tey will persevere, because tey are preserved in everlasting life. Wo sall lay any ting to te carge of God s elect? It is God tat justifiet. Wo is e tat condemnet? It is Crist tat died, yea rater, tat is risen again, wo is even at te rigt and of God, wo also maket intercession for us. Wo sall separate us from te love of Crist (Rom. 8:33-35). Back to Jon 10:29, My Fater, wic gave tem me, is greater tan all; and no man is able to pluck tem out of my Fater s and. Sela! Tink about it! MATTEW STEPP Forum #2 (Continued from page 13) rock I will build my curc; and te gates of ell sall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). It is amazing to me sometimes, ow powerful tis verse is. Wenever a question comes up on te Lord s curc, we find our way back to tis telling statement of our Lord. Te Greek word ekklesia used ere, is defined as a local, visible, called-out assembly. Terefore, by very definition, Baptist curces are going to be 1) Local; 2) Visible; 3) Called-out; 4) Assemblies. Sela! Tink about it! Tirty-seven times in te New Testament, te word ekklesia/ curc is used in te plural: curces. unto te curces of Galatia (Gal. 1:2). Te curces of Asia salute you (I Cor. 16:19). but also all te curces of te Gentiles. Te curces of Crist salute you (Rom. 16:4, 16). Proof of eac Baptist curc s independence of te oters, is inerent in tis plural usage of te word ekklesia. If tey were not independent, ten te generic sense of te word would be sufficient in many of tese cases, in tat tey would refer to te curc in Galatia/ Asia/Macedonia/etc, but te Bible is very clear NOT to do tis. Tere is an autonomy and independence in eac ekklesia/ assembly. Tere is an independence granted to eac of te Seven Curces in Asia tat Jesus Crist sends letters to in Revelation 2-3 via Jon te Beloved. I was in te Spirit on te Lord s day, and eard beind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, Wat tou seest, write in a book, and send it unto te seven curces wic are in Asia; And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in te midst of te seven candlesticks one like unto te Son of man, And e ad in is rigt and seven stars: Te mystery of te seven stars wic tou sawest in my rigt and, and te seven golden candlesticks. Te seven stars are te angels of te seven curces: and te seven candlesticks (Continued on page 15)

15 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 15 Forum #2 (Continued from page 14) wic tou sawest are te seven curces (Rev. 1:10-13, 16, 20). Te independence of Baptist curces is proved in tis passage, in tat te Lord does not send is commandments to one star or pope over all of is big, universal curc! Crist carefully and meticulously sends UNIQUE exortations, warnings and directives to te seven stars/ angels/pastors of te seven assemblies/ekklesias/curces in Asia. Eac independent curc is to act upon tese unique directives as it pertains to teir independent assembly. Sela! Tink about it! Scriptural baptism is tied to te independence of Baptist curces. Te Apostle Paul re-baptized twelve saints at Epesus to ensure independent curc membersip (in tis case Antioc Baptist Curc, were Paul was a member.) Te Apostle Peter knew te difference and wen e recognized te need for baptism of Cornelius saved ouseold, e commanded te Joppa bretren to do te baptizing (cf-acts 10:23, 45-48), rater tan minister te baptism e, imself was autorized to give (from te Jerusalem assembly). Tis was rigt and proper, as te Joppa curc would be te assembly wit te responsibility to teac er new members and eventually establis a new local, visible, independent assembly in Caesarea. To verify and validate Scriptural baptism, New Testament curces would send letters to obtain and deliver suc confirmations. need we, as some oters, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you (II Cor. 3:1)? womsoever ye sall approve by your letters (I Cor. 16:3). We neiter received letters out of Judaea concerning tee, neiter any of te bretren tat came sewed or spake any arm of tee (Acts 28:21). Tis proliferation of letters to release or receive into membersip would not be necessary, if te curces were not independent. Te meticulous accounting of te interaction of two independent Baptist curces is seen in Acts 15:3-4, And being brougt on teir way by te (Antioc) curc, And wen tey were come to Jerusalem, tey were received of te (Jerusalem) curc [inserts for clarity-tms]. Trougout tis important capter, it is evidenced tat te important Jerusalem curc as no autority over te Antioc curc (or members), except to give advice and encouragement! Te writer Luke makes a very acute distinction trougout of te independence of tese curces from eac oter (cf: vs , 25, 27, etc). Independent curces will be involved in mission work. Acts 13:1-14:27 is te first missionary expedition financed and autorized (recommended- Acts 14:26) by te Antioc Independent Baptist Curc troug te Apostles Paul and Barnabas. It begins and ends wit an independent gatered congregation sending and endorsing wat was accomplised! No mission boards found in Scripture, just independent Baptist curces. Sela! Tink about it! Finally, curc discipline sows te necessity of independent Baptist congregations. If curc A disciplines a member for eresy/ immorality, ten curc B cannot take tat person into membersip until te member is restored into full fellowsip by curc A. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, ave judged already, as toug I were present, concerning im tat at so done tis deed, In te name of our Lord Jesus Crist, wen ye are gatered togeter, and my spirit, wit te power of our Lord Jesus Crist, To deliver suc an one unto Satan for te destruction of te fles, tat te spirit may be saved in te day of te Lord Jesus (I Cor. 5:3-5). If te assemblies of God were not independent, ten te apostolic autority of Paul would ave been enoug to exclude tis recalcitrant member (of te same body?), but it is NOT te same body. Te Apostle Paul is requiring tis independent Baptist curc at Corint to be gatered togeter as a local, visible, called-out assembly to administer te correct excusive and purgative discipline. Baptist curces ave always been independent because New Testament curces were independent and because Bible doctrine requires it. Sela! Tink about it! MATTEW STEPP Mike DeWitt Sr. PO Box 950 Springfield, OR Pastor Parkway Landmark Baptist Curc PO Box 950 Springfield, OR Local curces were never looked upon organizationally as a curc but always as curces (Rom. 16:16; I Cor. 11:16). Eac curc cose its own officers (Acts 6:1-6). Eac curc disciplined its own members (I Cor. 5:13). Curces were not responsible to any iger ecclesiastical body, or court of Law, but were subject only to God (Rev. 2:4-5). Problems were taken care of by te individual curc (I Cor. 6:1-5). Ten pleased it te apostles and elders, wit te wole curc, to send cosen men of teir own company to Antioc wit Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, cief men among te bretren (Acts 15:22). Te curc at Antioc voted and consulted wit no one. As tey ministered to te Lord, and fasted, te oly Gost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for te work wereunto I ave called tem (Acts 13:2). Te Lord s curces were led by te oly Spirit as tey ougt to be today and not by any oter entity. Te Bible is our only source of fait and practice. MIKE DEWITT Te Resurrection (Continued from page 11) In Luke 14:14 Crist mentioned...te resurrection of te just. Tis expression is superfluous if te just and unjust rise at te same time. Again Crist said: But tey wic sall be accounted worty to obtain tat world, and te resurrection from among te dead, neiter marry, nor are given in marriage: Neiter can tey die any more: for tey are equal unto te angels; and are te cildren of God, being te cildren of te resurrection (Luke 20:35-36). Note tat a wortiness is required to be in tis resurrection. No wortiness is required to be in a general resurrection. Crist speaks of a resurrection...from among te dead... as te Greek text as it, meaning some of te dead are left (Continued on page 16)

16 Page 16 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Te Resurrection (Continued from page 15) beind. Tose in tis resurrection mentioned by Crist are immortal, equal wit te angels, and te cildren of God. If tis is a general resurrection, ten tere must be no one lost. Revelation 20:4-6 speaks of a resurrection from among te dead: And I saw trones, and tey sat upon tem, and judgment was given unto tem: and I saw te souls of tem tat were beeaded for te witness of Jesus, and for te word of God, and wic ad not worsipped te beast, neiter is image, neiter ad received is mark upon teir foreeads, or in teir ands; and tey lived and reigned wit Crist a tousand years. But te rest of te dead lived not again until te tousand years were finised. Tis is te first resurrection. Blessed and oly is e tat at part in te first resurrection: on suc te second deat at no power, but tey sall be priests of God and of Crist, and sall reign wit im a tousand years. Jon speaks of te same resurrection tat Crist mentioned. Te resurrection in Revelation 20, like te one in Daniel 12, is a literal resurrection, for tose in it were beeaded for te witness of Jesus, and ten tey are said to live and reign wit Crist. Revelation 20:5 states tat te rest of te dead do not rise at tis time. Verse 6 calls tis te first resurrection. Tose in tis resurrection are immune to te second deat, are priests of God, and reign wit Crist for a tousand years. ebrews 11:35 speaks of...a better resurrection. In Englis adjectives ave tree degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. Example: good, better, and best. ebrews 11:35 uses te comparative degree wen speaking of te resurrection. Tis clearly implies two resurrections. Te first of te rigteous to everlasting life and a second wic is to same and everlasting contempt. TE TIME OF TIS RESURRECTION By looking at Daniel 12:1, it appears tis resurrection follows te tribulation and te deliverance of te Jewis remnant: And at tat time sall Micael stand up, te great prince wic standet for te cildren of ty people: and tere sall be a time of trouble, suc as never was since tere was a nation even to tat same time: and at tat time ty people sall be delivered, every one tat sall be found written in te book. Zecaria 14:1-9 puts te deliverance of te Jewis remnant at te second coming of Crist wen e comes to set up is kingdom and reign over te eart. Tis armonizes wit Mattew 24: Daniel 12:2 speaks of a resurrection of tribulation martyrs at Crist s post-trib coming to eart. Revelation 11 mentions tis resurrection: And te sevent angel sounded; and tere were great voices in eaven, saying, Te kingdoms of tis world are become te kingdoms of our Lord, and of is Crist; and e sall reign for ever and ever....and te nations were angry, and ty wrat is come, and te time of te dead, tat tey sould be judged, and tat tou souldest give reward unto ty servants te propets, and to te saints, and tem tat fear ty name, small and great; and souldest destroy tem wic destroy te eart (Rev. 11:15,18). Tis is te same post-trib resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6. It consists only of te tribulation martyrs. Tese are raised tat tey migt live and reign wit Crist for a tousand years. Many is used in Daniel 12:2 because not all sleepers awake at te end of te Great Tribulation. Many also implies tat not all te saints will be dead wen Crist returns to te eart to set up te kingdom. According to Daniel 12:1, an elect remnant will be delivered from te reign of te willful king. Te resurrection in Daniel 12:2 and Revelation 20:4-6 is only of te tribulation martyrs wo live under te reign of te beast and die for teir fait. Tere is a translation of living saints at Crist s pre-trib coming (I Tess. 4:14-18), as well as a resurrection of te dead saints. But neiter Daniel nor Jon in Revelation 20 mention a translation of living saints. Tis is because te living saints, bot Israelites (Dan. 12:1) and Gentiles (Matt. 25:31-32), go into te millennium in natural bodies. A RESURRECTION OF TE WICKED Note tat Daniel says:...some to same and everlasting contempt. Tere is taugt in te Bible a resurrection of te unjust (Acts 24:15), a resurrection to damnation (Jon 5:29). Te wicked are to ave teir bodies raised up. Revelation 20:11-15 gives te details of tis event: And I saw a great wite trone, and im tat sat on it, from wose face te eart and te eaven fled away; and tere was found no place for tem. And I saw te dead, small and great, stand before God; and te books were opened: and anoter book was opened, wic is te book of life: and te dead were judged out of tose tings wic were written in te books, according to teir works. And te sea gave up te dead wic were in it; and deat and ell delivered up te dead wic were in tem: and tey were judged every man according to teir works. And deat and ell were cast into te lake of fire. Tis is te second deat. And wosoever was not found written in te book of life was cast into te lake of fire. Te statement in verse 14 tat...deat and ell were cast into te lake of fire can mean noting less tan tat all te occupants of deat and ades are at tat time cast into te lake of fire. Tis is te resurrection of te unjust to damnation. Tis implies te rigteous will not be found among te dead at tat time, aving been resurrected 1,000 years before as Revelation 20:4-6 tells us. Tregelles, following earlier Jewis commentators, translated Daniel 12:2: And many among te sleepers of te dust of te eart sall awake; tese sall be unto everlasting life; but tose te rest of te sleepers, tose wo do not awake at tis time, sall be unto same and everlasting contempt (Remarks on te Propetic Visions of te Daniel, p. 162). Robert Culver, J. A. Seiss, Nataniel West, and oters support tis translation. We are very muc in te dark as to te resurrection body of te wicked. We must remember tat tey died unforgiven of teir sins. is bones are full of te sin of is yout, wic sall lie down wit im in te dust (Job 20:11). Jesus Crist told some unbelievers:...ye sall die in your sins: for if ye believe not tat I am e, ye sall die in your sins (Jon 8:24). Teir old frail bodies wit te sins of a lifetime in tem wit all teir aces and pains will be raised up again. We know te bodies of te rigteous will be incorruptible, glorious, and spiritual (I Cor. 15:42-45), but no (Continued on page 17)

17 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 17 Te Resurrection (Continued from page 16) suc tings are promised to te wicked. Tey will come fort wit a flesly body of sin and a lost soul. Tey ave no spirit nor spiritual life; terefore, tey cannot ave a body adapted to te spirit as do te rigteous (I Cor. 15:45-49). Jesus Crist made it very plain tat people wit pysical bodies will be cast into te lake of fire after te last judgment: And if ty and offend tee, cut it off: it is better for tee to enter into life mained, tan aving two ands to go into ell, into te fire tat never sall be quenced: Were teir worm diet not, and te fire is not quenced. And if ty foot offend tee, cut it off: it is better for tee to enter alt into life, tan aving two feet to be cast into ell, into te fire tat never sall be quenced. Were teir worm diet not, and te fire is not quenced. And if tine eye offend tee, pluck it out: it is better for tee to enter into te kingdom of God wit one eye, tan aving two eyes to be cast into ell fire; Were teir worm diet not, and te fire is not quenced (Mark 9:43-48). Even many conservative teologians see in tese words igly figurative language describing te suffering of te wicked in teir final abode, but tey are unable to tell us of wat te fire and worms are figures in most cases. ence tey ave a sadow witout a substance. Te word used for ell (geenna) ere by our Lord is a Greek word made up of two ebrew ones, originally meaning te valley of innom. Tis valley was sout of Jerusalem and was te place were te refuse of te city was dumped (II Kings 23:10). Garbage and bodies were continually kept burning tere in te time of Crist. Crist used tis place of burning bodies wit maggots in tem to compare it to te orrors of te wicked in ell. ell must be very muc like tis burning garbage dump. Te lake of fire is were te garbage of tis world is burned. Crist was a ell-fire preacer wo believed tat people would go to ell wit ands, feet, and eyes. Teir torment would come from unextinguised fire and immortal worms. If te fire is literal as well as te ands, feet, and eyes, ten te worms must be also. You must spiritualize all tings or none to be consistent. To picture a wicked man wit all te aces and pains of a body of sin in an ever-burning fire wit ever-eating maggots makes ell to be ell. Diet not literally means ends not or ceases not to live. Te carcass worm not only never dies, but never ends or interrupts its decomposing devouring process. I can ear some one ask, If te pysical body is ever-burning and te maggots ever-eating, will not te bodies soon be anniilated? Crist answered tis objection in Mark 9:49: For every one sall be salted wit fire, and every sacrifice sall be salted wit salt. Tere is a reference ere to ow te Israelites rubbed salt on teir sacrifices to preserve tem. In ell every wicked person will be salted wit ell-fire to preserve im for suffering eternal torment. Te power and wrat of God by means of te fire in ell will preserve men from anniilation so tey may suffer punisment for all eternity in tis most orrible condition. By some way unknown to us of tis day, te fire of ell will preserve teir old natural bodies so tey may suffer everlasting same and contempt. ow orrible te tougt! TE RESULTS OF TE RESURRECTION Te results of te two cases Daniel mentions are infinitely opposite to eac oter. Some are raised to everlasting life and appiness. Life in te Bible expresses appiness of experience (Ps. 30:5), and oliness of caracter (I Jon 3:1-2), and likeness to Crist in bot. e tat believet on te Son at everlasting life (Jon 3:36). e tat at te Son at life... (I Jon 5:12). Tose raised to life in te resurrection of te just sall ave immortal bodies and enjoy eternal companionsip wit God, te angels, and te rigteous. Tis is life at its best. Sin alienates from te life of God (Ep. 4:18). Life in Eden was interrupted by sin, but at te resurrection te rigteous sall rise to a life tat as no end. Tey will live in eternal yout. Tey sall ave no aces and pains. Teir bodies once slept in te eart, but at te resurrection of te just, tey will rise to everlasting life to die no more. Te resurrection body will never return to te dust as did te eartly body. Te unsaved rise to same and everlasting contempt. Te ebrew word (cerpa) for same means literally reproaces, and te word for contempt comes from te root (dara) to repel from one s self. Everlasting modifies bot same and contempt, and it points to unending punisment for te wicked. Te unjust lived and died in a course of sin in te world, witout any same or remorse (Jer. 8:12). Tey rise from te grave wit all teir sins and full of a conviction of tem in teir conscience. Tey will be asamed of teir sins and fear to face te Judge (Rev. 6:15-17). Tis same (Continued on page 18)

18 Page 18 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Te Resurrection (Continued from page 17) sall be seen by God, te elect angels, and te rigteous. And tey sall go fort, and look upon te carcases of te men tat ave transgressed against me: for teir worm sall not die, neiter sall teir fire be quenced: and tey sall be an aborring unto all fles (Isa. 66:24). Te raised wicked will be overwelmed on account of teir sins. CONCLUSION 1. Te resurrection does not cange caracter: e tat is unjust, let im be unjust still: and e wic is filty, let im be filty still: and e tat is rigteous, let im be rigteous still: and e tat is oly, let im be oly still (Rev. 22:11). e wo dies a rigteous man sall rise to everlasting life. e wo dies in is sins sall rise to everlasting same and contempt. 2. Do you ave a deceased relative wo died in te Lord and wose body now sleeps in Jesus? I know tat you miss im and long to see im again. Take fres courage and lift up your ead. Crist told Marta:...ty broter sall rise again (Jon 11:23). Te departed saint will come wit Crist from eaven and be raised incorruptible at te rapture (I Tess. 4:14,18). ow comforting to know tat you sall at tat time see im again in resurrected glory! 3. O, sinner, take warning. Flee te wrat to come! It is far better to repent of your sins and be asamed of tem in tis life (Rom. 6:21). Trust Jesus Crist to take tem away as far as te east is from te west. Ten you can one day rise to everlasting life instead of rising to same and everlasting contempt. 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 Supreme Court: Texas abortion law creates undue burden (WNS)--Republican-appointed Justice Antony Kennedy affirmed is legacy of protecting Roe v. Wade June 27 by providing te decisive vote to strike two provisions of a Texas law regulating abortion centers. Kennedy also provided te decisive vote in Planned Parentood v. Casey, a 1992 ruling tat upeld Roe. Te ruling from Kennedy and te liberals Justices Rut Bader Ginsburg, Stepen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan said abortion was safer tan cildbirt, long a talking point of abortion groups like Planned Parentood. Kennedy s vote meant tat te late Justice Antonin Scalia, ad e lived troug tis term, would not ave canged te 5-3 outcome. Two provisions in te Texas law,.b. 2, were at issue: One required abortion centers to meet ambulatory surgical center (ASC) standards and anoter required abortionists to ave admitting privileges at a nearby ospital. Religious freedom law struck down in Mississippi (WNS)--A federal judge blocked religious-liberty protections in Mississippi on June 30 ours before tey were set to go into effect. In a last minute, 60-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves struck down all provisions to protect religious people from being forced to participate same-sex weddings in ouse Bill 1523, calling te law state-sanctioned discrimination. Every American sould be alarmed at te speed and aggression wit wic our fundamental freedoms free speec, free exercise of fait, and freedom of conscience are being eviscerated in te culture and now te courts, said Greg Scott, a spokesman for Alliance Defending Freedom. ig court rejects parmacists religious liberty appeal (WNS)--Te Stormans family owns te parmacy Ralp s Triftway, and tey object to selling Plan B and ella two potential abortifacients because tey believe life begins at conception. If customers ask for eiter of tose drugs, Ralp s staffers refer tem to oter nearby parmacies. Ralp s reports 30 parmacies witin five miles stock te drugs. Tat was not satisfactory to te state of Wasington, were te governor and abortion groups lobbied to cange parmacy rules to require te sale of abortifacient drugs over conscience objections. Te Stormans and two oter parmacists objected to te new rules on First Amendment grounds, winning teir case at te district court level, ten losing at te 9t U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On June 28 te Supreme Court told te parmacists tey do not ave a case, rejecting teir appeal. DOE refuses to talk about transgender scool restroom rules (WNS)--Te Obama administration is refusing to cooperate wit lawmakers wo want Department of Education (DOE) officials to answer questions about its recent transgender restroom directive. DOE representatives were set to testify before a Senate subcommittee on July 6 to explain te controversial guidance issued last mont to all public scools. A joint letter from DOE and te Department of Justice directed scools to allow students to use te restroom of teir coice regardless of teir biological sex or risk losing federal funding. Tis week DOE officials told Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., cairman of te Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, tey will not be able to make te earing and offered no explanation or alternative dates. Judge blocks Indiana abortion law (WNS)--A federal judge on June 30 blocked an Indiana law banning abortions in cases wen a baby is diagnosed before birt wit a genetic abnormality suc as Down syndrome. Te Indiana law, one of only two of its kind in te United States, was set to go into effect July 1. In Marc, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a statute also designed to outlaw sex-selection abortions and te buying and selling of fetal tissue. In addition, te law would require tat te bodies of aborted or miscarried babies be treated in a dignified manner troug cremation or burial rater tan be disposed of in large containers wit oter infectious waste. Dems climate cange proposal targets scool kids (WNS) In mid-june, temperatures in te soutwest (Continued on page 19)

19 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 19 Bible & te Newspaper (Continued from page 18) spiked to 117 degrees, breaking te previous 1968 record of 115 degrees. Congressional Democrats were quick to use te weater to pus teir ongoing storyline of umans as te main culprits of global warming. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said one solution to climate cange is for te government to educate cildren and adults of all ages about wat e claims is umanity s role in global warming. But some experts argue te role umans play in climate cange as yet to be scientifically proven. Tis mont, Markey, along wit seven Democratic co-sponsors, introduced te Climate Cange Education Act autorizing te National Oceanic and Atmosperic Administration (NOAA) to create a climate cange education program for scools and te general public. Scools would not be required to teac te education program, but tose tat did would receive federal funding. ouse panel uncovers allegedly illegal fetal tissue trade in New Mexico (WNS)--Te Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives called on New Mexico s Justice Department on June 23 to review te possible illegal transfer of baby body parts. Panel cairwoman U.S. Rep. Marsa Blackburn, R-Tenn., issued a criminal referral to te New Mexico attorney general for te connection between te University of New Mexico (UNM) and Soutwestern Women s Options (SWWO), an abortion provider located one mile from campus. Te panel claims to ave evidence tat SWWO illegally gifted body parts to UNM for researc. Indiana demands cild advocates abandon baby box effort (WNS)--Indiana officials say two baby boxes newborn incubators tat allow women to anonymously surrender teir infants are illegal under state law and must be removed. In a letter sent in early June to Safe aven Baby Boxes, te nonprofit organization tat installed te boxes, Indiana s Department of Cild Services (DCS) said te boxes are not a legal way for moters to give up teir babies. Women wo use te boxes could face cild abandonment carges, te agency warned. But Safe aven founder and director Monica Kelsey said te organization will not remove te boxes and will continue plans to install more across te state. In a letter to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, attorney James Bopp said DCS as no legal basis for te position tat Baby Boxes are currently unlawful. Soutern Baptists denounce Confederate flag (WNS)--Te Soutern Baptist Convention (SBC), te nation s largest Protestant denomination, overwelmingly approved a resolution on June 14 calling on teir 15.3 million members to stop displaying te Confederate flag. SBC president Ronnie Floyd urged delegates to te denomination s annual convention in St. Louis to tink about te issue from a spiritual perspective. I believe te issue of racism is from Satan and is demonic forces of ell, e said. It is an assault on te gospel of Jesus Crist. Former SBC president James Merritt elped draft te denomination s resolution and said it ad noting to do wit political correctness, as some critics claimed. Tis flag is a stumbling block to many African-American souls to our witness, e said. And I rise to say tat all te Confederate flags in te world are not wort one soul of any race. For 90s teens, free condoms led to more pregnancies (WNS)--Free condom distribution witout counseling led to an increase in teen pregnancy in te 1990s, according to a new study released in June. Te study, conducted by Kasey Buckles and Daniel ungerman from te University of Notre Dame, found fertility rates increased by 10 percent in communities were scools provided free condoms. Gonorrea rates rose, as well. Te study, a working paper wit National Bureau of Economic Researc (NBER), compared teen girls in scools tat provided free condoms wit 20- to 24-year-olds in te same location and teen girls in scools tat did not provide condoms. Buckles and ungerman analyzed data from 22 districts in 12 states, a total of 484 scools in mostly large, urban areas. Most of te condom distribution programs tey studied launced in 1992 or 1993 to combat te AIDS epidemic. Cristian dating site agrees to play gay matcmaker (WNS)--CristianMingle, a dating website targeting Cristian singles, as agreed to open its matcmaking service to clients seeking same-sex relationsips. Te agreement came as part of a settlement in a lawsuit filed by two gay men wo claimed te company s focus on eterosexual relationsips discriminated against tem. Conservatives denounced te decision as a strike against religious liberty and an unnecessary interference in private business. Early on in teir quest to legalize omosexual marriage, advocates assured us tat it would not infringe on te rigts of oters, especially people of fait, Carrie Gordon Earll, vice president of public policy at Focus on te Family, said. From dating sites and adoption agencies to small businesses, it s clear today tat people of fait are being forced to compromise or risk financial ruin. CDC: African-American teens are embracing abstinence (WNS)--African-American teens are aving less sex, according to recent analysis of data collected by te Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Te percentage of African-American teens wo report tey ave never ad sex rose from 18.5 in 1991 to 51.5 percent in Te jump was even steeper for males. In 1991, barely 1 in 10 were not sexually active; in 2015 it was more tan 4 in 10. Te results are astounding, according to experts. Wile te overall number of American teens wo report tey ave never ad sex also increased in te last 25 years, te increase for African-American male teens is nearly 10 times greater a 28 percent increase for American teens and a 246 percent increase for African- American male teens since Te increase is bot unprecedented and enormously greater tan any oter etnicity, said te abstinence advocacy group Ascend, formerly known as te National Abstinence Education Association. Depression and same-sex parenting (WNS)--Cildren wo grow up in same-sex parented ouseolds may face a significantly iger risk of depression later in life. Tat is te conclusion of a study publised a few weeks ago, witout fanfare, in te open-access journal Depression Researc and Treatment. Te study found tat young adults wo ad grown up wit same-sex parents were more tan twice as likely to (Continued on page 20)

20 Page 20 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Bible & te Newspaper (Continued from page 19) be depressed as tose raised by a moter and a fater. Te findings add to a growing body of researc examining te effects of omosexual family structures. Gay parenting is a relatively recent penomenon, and te available data on suc families as been sparse. Te new study, Invisible Victims: Delayed Onset Depression among Adults wit Same-Sex Parents, claims to be te first to examine cildren raised by same-sex parents into early adultood. It uses survey data tat followed adolescents over a period of 13 years. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Ontario court deals blow to Cristian law scool (WNS)--Te Ontario Court of Appeal on June 29 ruled tat a provincial accrediting body can legally refuse to recognize Trinity Western University s proposed law scool based solely on te scool s marriage views. Tis is not just a loss for TWU, said university spokesperson Amy Robertson. Tis is a loss for all Canadians. Freedom of conscience and religion is te first of te fundamental freedoms mentioned in te Carter [of Rigts and Freedoms]. Te Cristian university plans to appeal te decision to te Supreme Court of Canada. Russian anti-terror bill would restore Soviet-era religious restrictions (WNS)--Activists in Russia warn new legislation meant to combat terrorism will violate freedoms of speec, privacy, and religion. Te Yarovaya Law passed te State Duma, one ouse of Russia s parliament, on June 24. It would ban proselytizing, preacing, and praying outside officially recognized religious institutions, according to Te New York Times. Pentecostal Bisop Sergei Ryakovsky and oter religious leaders warned te law would violate citizens rigts and contradict te constitution. Russia s oter parliamentary ouse, te Federation Council, passed te bill June 29, leaving its fate up to President Vladimir Putin. Works of te Fles (Continued from page 1) of committing wicked and abominable sins. Te works of te fles listed by Paul are similar to te list of sins tat proceed from te eart of man as spoken by Jesus in Mark 7:21-23 wic states: For from witin, out of te eart of men, proceed evil tougts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Tefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blaspemy, pride, foolisness: All tese evil tings come from witin, and defile te man. Te list before us may be broken down into te following four categories: 1) Sexual immorality; 2) Religious immorality; 3) Rivalries; 4) Drunkenness. SEXUAL IMMORALITY (v. 19) Now te works of te fles are manifest, wic are tese; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (Gal. 5:19). 1. It is interesting tat Paul declares tat te works of te fles are manifest, or sown fort by te beavior and conduct of te individual. Even toug all te sins listed in tese verses ave an internal root and beginning tey often sow temselves in te individual s abitual, external conduct. Tose wo practice sin and abitually live in te fles are detected by te immoral way in wic tey conduct teir lives. 2. Te first work of te fles dealing wit sexual immorality is te sin of adultery. Since marriage between a man and a woman is considered sacred and oly te most serious form of sexual immorality is tat of adultery. Adultery is illicit sexual intercourse between one or more married persons. It is distinguised from fornication wic is sexual intercourse between unmarried persons. Wen a man or a woman commits adultery tey are defying te terms of te marriage covenant troug unfaitfulness to teir spouse. Tere are tree different forms of adultery enumerated in te Scriptures. Te first is te actual pysical act of illicit sexual intercourse outside of te marriage bed. In te Old Testament tose wo were caugt in te act of adultery were to be stoned. If tose wo ad committed adultery in our present day were stoned tere would be very few people living because tis sin is so rampant. Wenever a nation loosens its divorce laws and goes contrary to te Word of God concerning te sin of divorce you can be sure tat adultery will be prevalent in society. Jesus said: Wosoever puttet away is wife, and marriet anoter, committet adultery: and wosoever marriet er tat is put away from er usband committet adultery (Luke 16:18). Te second form of adultery is eart adultery wic is committed by lusting after anoter man or woman. Jesus condemned tis sin as well in Mattew 5:28 wic states: But I say unto you, Tat wosoever looket on a woman to lust after er at committed adultery wit er already in is eart. So adultery is extended beyond te pysical act to te tougt life of te individual. usbands wo feed teir minds wit pornograpy are committing eart adultery against teir wives. Men wo go girl watcing at te malls and beaces are committing eart adultery against teir wives. Te sin of eart adultery is aggravated in our day wen men and women dress immodestly so as to excite te base passions of oters. Te tird form of adultery is spiritual adultery were a believer wo is united to Jesus Crist is unfaitful to is Lord troug friendsip wit te world or its religions. James 4:4 declares Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not tat te friendsip of te world is enmity wit God? wosoever terefore will be a friend of te world is te enemy of God ow many times as te influence of te world and its opinions crept into your life? Every believer sould be tankful tat te Lord Jesus does not divorce us every time worldliness creeps into our lives. Every form of adultery enumerated in te Scriptures as its source in te flesly passions of te old nature and is exceedingly wicked. Adultery in all of its forms sould be regarded as abominable in te sigt of God and condemned by im. Committing adultery is a breac of te Moral Law as recorded in Exodus 20:14 wic states: Tou salt not commit adultery. 2. Te second work of te fles dealing wit sexual immorality is fornication wic is illicit sexual intercourse by tose wo are unmarried. It as become acceptable for unmarried people (Continued on page 21)

21 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 21 Works of te Fles (Continued from page 20) to live togeter and engage in sexual immorality. ig scool and college campus s are cesspools of fornication. Our public education system and te political leaders ave united in promoting a so-called safe sex agenda wic is noting more tan te condoning of fornication. Te results of fornication are socking and undesirable. Teenage pregnancies, abortions, sexually transmitted diseases, and a low self-image are te by products of te sin of fornication. Te will of God is for men and women to abstain from fornication according to I Tessalonians 4:3 wic states For tis is te will of God, even your sanctification, tat ye sould abstain from fornication. Tose single individuals wo may be reading tis must understand tat fornication is not wat te world portrays. It is not as exciting and enjoyable as te world depicts it. Te pleasure is only sort lived as wit all sin. It will produce guilt and eartace in your life. Save yourself for marriage. Practice abstinence no matter ow unpopular it may be wit your peers. It is better to be unpopular wit your peers tan to violate te commands of God and wind up wrecking your life! 3. Te tird form of sexual immorality is tat of uncleanness. Uncleanness is te general term for all acts of uncastity and sexual wickedness. It would include te abominable sins of omosexuality and bestiality wic are condemned by God. Leviticus 18:22-24 declares: Tou salt not lie wit mankind, as wit womankind: IT IS ABOMINATION. Neiter salt tou lie wit any beast to defile tyself terewit: neiter sall any woman stand before a beast to lie down tereto: it is confusion. Defile not yourselves in any of tese tings... (emp. TR). Society at large as accepted sexual uncleanness as normal and merely considers it an alternative lifestyle. Yet it is still a defiling, wicked sin in te eyes of a oly God. Sexual uncleanness is detrimental and destructive to any society and sould not be promoted or practiced by tose wo name te name of Crist. 5. Te fourt work of te fles under te category of sexual immorality is lasciviousness wic includes every ting wic leads to acts of uncleanness or attends tem. Open acts of immorality against public decency are included in tis sin. Lasciviousness is caracterized by an inability to control tougts and acts of immorality and sexual uncleanness. People wo are lascivious are trapped by teir own lusts and ensnared by Satan. Our nation is polluted and defiled because it openly allows pornograpy and immodesty wic naturally excites flesly passions and promotes lasciviousness. Cild molestation, rape, and sex crimes are all te results of lasciviousness. It is sad tat te sins of sexual immorality ave polluted our present day society. We must combat tese works of te fles by living oly lives and by standing against te immorality tat is now rampant in our society. RELIGIOUS IMMORALITY (v. 20) Now te works of te fles are manifest...idolatry, witccraft... (Gal. 5:19-20). 1. Fallen man as always ad a bent toward idolatry wic is te worsip of anyting oter tan te true God. Idolatry manifests itself in many ways. Tose wo bow down to graven images, pictures, or men in acts of worsip must be considered as idolaters. In tis sense te Roman Catolic Curc is te biggest promoter of idolatry as se directs er people to bow down to graven images as well as to te unoly pope. Tis is open defiance of te first and second commandments of te Moral law wic states: Tou salt ave no oter gods before me. Tou salt not make unto tee any graven image, or any likeness of any ting tat is in eaven above, or tat is in te eart beneat, or tat is in te water under te eart: Tou salt not bow tyself to tem, nor serve tem... (Ex. 20:3-5). Even Cristians wo do not bow down to graven images commit idolatry wen tey allow any ting to ave a controlling preeminence over teir affections. Our worsip is to be directed to God alone wo demands to be worsipped in spirit and in trut. Wen God s people find temselves being covetous tey are committing te sin of idolatry according to Colossians 3:5 wic states:...covetousness, wic is idolatry. Tose wo place material pursuits above God are idolaters. Any man wo refuses to tite is an idolater because e is worsipping is money rater tan trusting God and giving im wat is due. Wen God s people allow pleasure and recreation to ave preeminence over te public worsip of God in is curc tey are committing idolatry. Wen te television, radio, or newspaper take precedence over personal exercises of prayer and Bible study te sin of idolatry is being committed. Idolatry is committed wen individuals exalt teir preacer and is opinions over wat te Word of God says. In tis ligt idolatry is a more prevalent sin among God s people tan most care to recognize. We cannot serve God and idols at te same time according to I Tessalonians 1:9 wic states: For tey temselves sew of us wat manner of entering in we ad unto you, and ow ye turned to God from idols to serve te living and true God. 2. Te second work of te fles relating to religious immorality is witccraft. Te Greek word for witccraft and sorcery in te Bible is parmakeia wic is were we derive our Englis word, parmacy. In ancient religions sorcerers would mix potions tat would alter te moods and perceptions of individuals so tat tey would be brougt under te evil control of te sorcerer. All occultic practices are under te control of Satan wo desires tat men would worsip im instead of God. Troug te ages e as introduced mind altering drugs to get te minds of people off eternal realities. I consider rock musicians to be modern day sorcerers wo are casting an evil and controlling spell over people. Tose wo abuse drugs are also sorcerers engaging in te black art of witccraft. New age necromancers wo use crystals for supposed supernatural powers are also to be considered as sorcerers. All of tese practices tend to alienate te mind of te individual away from God and eternal realities wic is exactly wat Satan wants. If Satan can divert te mind of an individual toward acts of religious immorality te person is easily controlled by te wicked one. Sorcery is very muc alive and well in our present day society. As God s people we must obey te admonition of I Tessalonians 5:22 wic states: (Continued on page 22)

22 Page 22 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Works of te Fles (Continued from page 21) Abstain from all appearance of evil. RIVALRY AND DIVISIVENESS (v ) Now te works of te fles are manifest...atred, variance, emulations, wrat, strife, envyings, murders... (Gal. 5:19-21). 1. Te first two categories of te works of te fles, sexual and religious immorality are readily recognized and admitted to be sins by God s elect because for te most part tey are outward sins. Te sins enumerated under te eading of rivalry and divisiveness are not as readily recognized as works of te fles by te people of God. Tose wo are doctrinally correct and outwardly moral often ave te defiling sins of strife, variance, and wrat dwelling witin teir eart. It is rare for people to openly acknowledge tat tey are guilty of tese sins because of te stubborn root of pride witin. 2. atred is a vice tat is a part of te old nature. Before we were saved Titus 3:3 declares tat we were ateful, and ating one anoter... atred manifests itself by a malicious spirit tat deligts in te mental or pysical torment of tose wom we consider to be our enemies. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, so believers are forbidden to ate oters and wis evil upon tem. Tose wo manifest a spirit of atred toward believers are in darkness according to I Jon 2:9: e tat sait e is in te ligt, and atet is broter, is in darkness even until now. e tat lovet not is broter abidet in deat (I Jon 3:14). 3. Variance is anoter work of te fles wic is manifested by a spirit of divisiveness. Tose wo engage in tis work of te fles are often found quarreling, arguing, and scolding oters. Tose wo are most guilty of te sin of variance usually are blinded to teir own faults wile tey frequently find fault and criticize oters. Tose wo practice variance cannot get along wit oters. Tey deligt in stirring up trouble and division among God s people. Variance is often associated wit debate and contention. Wen an individual persists in tis beavior e is to be cast out of te curc before e corrupts te wole body wit a ateful spirit. Proverbs 22:10 declares: Cast out te scorner, and contention sall go out; yea, strife and reproac sall cease. 4. Emulation is te work of te fles were people are found comparing temselves to oters in an unealty way. Tere sould not be a competitive spirit among God s cildren. We are to compare ourselves to te standard of Jesus Crist, not to te standards of one anoter. Emulation naturally leads to te sins of jealousy and envy. Wen a person is guilty of emulation tey will find temselves getting angry over te blessings and successes of oters. II Corintians 10:12 declares: For we dare not make ourselves of te number, or compare ourselves wit some tat commend temselves: but tey measuring temselves by temselves, and comparing temselves among temselves, ARE NOT WISE (emp. TR). 5. Wrat is anoter work of te fles tat is manifested by unwarranted outbursts of anger. People wo practice te flesly work of wrat are often caracterized by fits of ostility toward oters, especially tose tat oppose tem in some say. Men wo abuse teir wives and cildren pysically and mentally are manifesting a wratful spirit. Angry, ostile people rarely accomplis anyting for God because teir outbursts destroy teir testimony. 6. Strife is anoter work of te fles tat is manifested by a desire to sow discord, enter into contention, and disrupt unity. It is associated wit te sin of variance. People engaged in stirring up strife usually do so for selfis reasons. Tey want to make oters look bad so tat teir own cause can be furtered. Tose wo sow discord and strife are usually proud. It is one of te seven tings tat are abominable to God and ated by im as recorded in Proverbs 6:19 wic states: A false witness tat speaket lies, and e tat sowet discord among bretren. 7. Seditions is anoter work of te fles tat as to do wit te causing of scisms and divisions. Usually te practitioner of sedition is politically motivated. Tey want to gain control of te curc and ave tings teir way so tey are constantly looking for ways to cause trouble and strife. I Corintians 1:10 condemns all workers of sedition: Now I beseec you, bretren, by te name of our Lord Jesus Crist, tat ye all speak te same ting, and tat tere be no divisions among you; but tat ye be perfectly joined togeter in te same mind and in te same judgment. 8. eresies is anoter work of te fles aimed at producing divisiveness. eresy is caracterized by someone olding fast to a falseood tat is contrary to te clear teacings of te Word of God. eretics usually try to formulate some new and exciting interpretation of te Scriptures rater tan staying in te old pats of trut. Tose wo are guilty of eresies usually try to persuade oters to abandon te trut and embrace falseood. Many times teir beavior is te cause of curc splits. 9. Envyings is anoter work of te fles. Envy is te natural product of vain emulation. Te more tat people ave teir eyes focused on oters rater tan te Lord tey will tend to be envious. Tose wit an envious spirit often despise te blessings and successes of oters. Tey feel as toug tey deserve more tan tey are getting and are constantly preoccupied wit wat oters ave instead of wat God as been pleased to give tem. Envy is a most destructive vice in te realm of uman relationsips. It manifests itself by a spirit of cruelty as Proverbs 27:4 declares: Wrat is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but wo is able to stand before envy? No one wants to be around an envious person. Envy will cause a person to be unfit for serving te Lord. Proverbs 14:30 illustrates tis trut: A sound eart is te life of te fles: but envy te rottenness of te bones. Just as an individual wit rotten bones is unable to work, so also an individual wose eart is filled wit envy will be unable to serve te Lord effectively. 10. Murder is te most severe of all te works of te fles under te division of rivalries. Te inward atred, variance, and strife manifest temselves eiter by te pysical act of taking anoter man s life, or by destroying anoter person s caracter wit te tongue. Murder is a premeditated act of taking anoter man s life. Jesus declared tat unwarranted anger and atred against anoter is te same as te pysical act of violence in te eyes of God. Pysical or caracter murder (Continued on page 23)

23 August 5, 2016 Te Berea Baptist Banner Page 23 Works of te Fles (Continued from page 22) are equally offensive to God and sould not be practiced by te saints of God. DRUNKENNESS (v. 21) Now te works of te fles are manifest, wic are tese;...drunkenness, revellings, and suc like (Gal. 5:19-21). 1. Drunkenness is te sin of using and abusing alcool to te point of inebriation. It is te personal conviction of te writer tat believer s sould abstain from drinking alcool as a beverage because of te many sins tat it leads to. Alcool as te tendency to arouse and excite oter passions wic are wicked and unlawful. Social drinking is not to be tolerated among God s people. It is a sin tat not only destroys te mind, it also will destroy te testimony of te believer. Tose under te control of alcool cannot render acceptable service to God. Proverbs 20:1 declares: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and wosoever is deceived tereby is not wise. Tose wo engage in te sin of drunkenness sould be disciplined by te curc for a disorderly walk. 2. Revellings is a work of te fles tat goes and in and wit te sin of drunkenness. It is caracterized by excessive partying and dissolute beavior. Reveling seems to be te prevailing spirit of our age. People wit no fear of God would rater party teir life away tan be faced wit te trut of eternal realities. Most people wo are engaged in revellings are trying to escape reality so tey turn to alcool, drugs, or sexual perversion to divert teir attention. Believers must be sober and vigilant if we are to serve te Lord so we cannot be guilty of te sin of reveling. Since our lives ave been canged we are not to live in te excesses tat may ave once caracterized our lives. Our lives sould be so transformed by te power of God tat te lost world tinks it strange we do not engage in teir excesses and reveling. I Peter 4:2-4 declares: Tat e no longer sould live te rest of is time in te fles to te lusts of men, but to te will of God. For te time past of our life may suffice us to ave wrougt te will of te Gentiles, wen we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries; Werein tey tink it strange tat ye run not wit tem to te same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 3. Paul ends te works of te fles wit te prase: and suc life, implying tat tere are oter works of te fles wic are not mentioned in tis passage. Te eart of every man is filled wit more corruption and idden wickedness tan e knows. Jeremia 17:9 declares: Te eart is deceitful above all tings, and desperately wicked: wo can know it? Because te works of te fles are so armful and devious te saint of God must abor tem and war against tem. Romans 13:12-14 declares: Te nigt is far spent, te day is at and: let us terefore cast off te works of darkness, and let us put on te armour of ligt. Let us walk onestly, as in te day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in cambering, and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on te Lord Jesus Crist, and make not provision for te fles, to fulfil te lusts tereof. CONSEQUENCES OF SERVING TE FLES (v. 21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and suc like: of te wic I tell you before, as I ave also told you in time past, tat tey wic do suc tings sall not inerit te kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21). 1. Wen Paul first preaced to te Gentiles of Galatia e must ave preaced against te sins of te fles tat tey no doubt practiced before tey were saved by te grace of God. e warns tem against te works of te fles once again because te uman eart is prone to fall into sin and succumb to te works of te fles on occasion. owever a true cild of God cannot live in or practice sin any longer because of te cange tat Crist as wrougt in is eart. It is true tat te cildren of God sin, but because of te indwelling of te oly Spirit te believer is now convicted of sin and made to feel miserable wen any of te works of te fles are operating in teir lives. Tose wo are never grieved or convicted over sin sould ave absolutely no assurance tat tey are truly cildren of God. If tey can succumb to te works of te fles wit no feeling of remorse and no desire to exercise genuine repentance, tey are not truly born of God. If one as not been canged by te power of God, tey ave never been saved by te grace of God. II Corintians 5:17 forcefully illustrates tis trut: Terefore if any man be in Crist, e is a new creature: old tings are passed away; beold, all tings are become new. 2. Te Greek word for te prase tey wic do is prasso and it is a present active participle wic carries wit it te idea of a continual, abitual practice. Paul gives a solemn warning to tose wo tink tey are saved yet can abitually practice te (Continued on page 24) BEREA BAPTIST BANNER Financial Report to Beginning Balance... $2, RECEIPTS: Amazing Grace B. C., Stockdale, TX Berea B. C., Mantacie, MS Berea B. C., Stonington, IL Betel B. C., Pasadena, TX Big Creek B. C., Wayne, WV Briar Creek B. C., Williamsburg, KY Carol Willett, Edgewater, FL Citrus M. B. C., Inverness, FL Emmanuel B. C., Oldtown, KY Fait B. C., Lynn, AR Gail Knowles, Scarboroug, ME Grace B. C., Winston-Salem, NC Grace M. B. C., Marion, IL Grace M B. C., Tulsa, OK Indore B. C., Indore, WV Landmark B. C., Moncks Corner, SC Te Lord s Curc, Goose Creek, SC Micael Serman, Asland, KY Mt. Pleasant B. C., Cesapeake, O New Testament B. C., Gosen, IN Piladelpia B. C., Decatur, AL Portland B. C., Plumerville, AR Providence S. G. B. C., Tupelo, MS Soutside B. C., Fulton, MS Sovereign Grace B. C., Indianapolis, IN Sovereign Grace B. C., Nortport, AL Sovereign Grace B. C., Silsbee, TX Steve Cooper, Kansas City, KS Vicky Mills, Lancaster, KY Victory B. C., Courtland, VA Subscriptions Anonymous Dividing cecks Sub Total... $2, TOTAL... $5, EXPENDITURES: Printing Postage Wages... 2, FICA Dividing cecks Bank carge Total Expenditures... $3, ENDING BALANCE... $1, BEREA BAPTIST BROADCAST Financial Report to Beginning Balance... $6, RECEIPTS: Berea B. C., Mantacie, MS Briar Creek B. C., Williamsburg, KY TOTAL...7, EXPENDITURES: Radio Time TOTAL EXPENDITURES , Interest ENDING BALANCE... $6,815.40

24 Page 24 Te Berea Baptist Banner August 5, 2016 Works of te Fles let im. And yet te Bible says be frustrating for you to die for about God:...e doet according everyone s sins only to ave so (Continued from page 23) ANNOUNCEMENTS to is will in te army of eaven, many refuse you and go to ell works of te fles. Tose wo and among te inabitants of for teir sins anyway. Wat a Te Mount Pleasant live in and practice te works of te eart: and none can stay is waste of your blood. If you knew Missionary Baptist Curc of te fles will be barred entrance and, or say unto im, Wat tey would refuse you, I am not Cesapeake, O, and Pastor into te kingdom of God. Tey doest tou (Daniel 4:35)? Te sure wy you died for tem. I Tom Ross would like to announce will not enter into te realms following prayer is te logical guess just to sow ow loving tey will be osting teir annual of glory. By teir deeds tey result of tinking tat men ave you are. Tank you tat I am not Fellowsip Missions Conference prove tat tey are unregenerate control over God. like tem. God, I will not pray on Saturday morning August and unclean. I fear tat many Tank you God for saving for tese unsaved men, because 6t. professing Cristians in our day me after I gave you permission. I know tat you would never Services start at 9:30 am. of loose living and easy believism I know I was partially sinful but infringe upon any man s free will, Preacers wo will be ave never truly been converted te good in me was enoug to so wat could you possibly do for preacing are Elders Jeff Sort, and canged by te power of see te value in your offer. From tem? But I will plead wit tem Justin Meier, and Brent Spears. God. Tey are merely playing at te foundation of te world, to do te rigt ting as I ave Services will include God religion by exibiting an outward you could see tat I would freely done, and avoid te fires of ell. onoring preacing, earnest sow witout an inward cange coose you. Tanks for waiting I glory in te fact tat I took prayer, worsip, and godly of eart wrougt by te power of outside te door of my eart and te gift, I cose you, I made te singing! Afterwards a mout Almigty God. gently knocking. Of course you rigt decision, I opened my eart, watering Baptist feast fit for Dear reader, carefully examine know tere is no andle on your and I took you to be my personal kings and priests will be served your eart and ponder your side of te door, but I took care of savior, but I certainly did not (Rev. 5:9-10). Y all Come! condition before God in ligt of it and brougt you in. We make a ave to! It was all of me. Tank te solemn words of Jesus Crist good team. Wit your free offer you. I know you are just te way I Te Windsor Baptist Curc as expressed in Mattew 7:21-23 of salvation and my wise and want you to be and you always do of Windsor, IL is seeking a wic states: Not every one tat free will, I am going to avoid an wat I believe is fair and for tat qualified candidate for pastor. sait unto me, Lord, Lord, sall eternity in ell. Praise God. I I worsip you. Tey are small in number but ric enter into te kingdom of eaven; am clever enoug to recognize Te blood of Crist as no in trut. Candidate sould meet but e tat doet te will of my te Gospel as a bargain and I power to save apart from man s te qualification in I Timoty Fater wic is in eaven. Many ave cosen to do my part. Now, autorization. I am not boasting 3. For more information please will say to me in tat day, Lord, God, you need to do yours. Be or anyting, but I did nail tis one. contact Broter Jon Gregory Lord, ave we not propesied in ever mindful of my will, o God. I know tat one day I will stand at (217) or ty name? and in ty name ave I know tat you ave loved me before your judgment trone windsorbaptist.grace@gmail. cast out devils? and in ty name since time began and I am appy and wen you ask upon wat do com. done many wonderful works? to give you te gratification of I plead, I will boldly stand upon And ten will I profess unto loving you back. te srewd decision tat I made Te Fait Missionary Baptist tem, I never knew you: depart I am sorry tat tere are so to give Jesus permission to save Curc of Cobbitty, Sout from me, ye tat work iniquity. many oters wo will not let you me. Wales, Australia is in need of a in. If only tey would do wat I pastor. For more information was brigt enoug to do. It must please contact David Jackson at 4 Station Street, Tirlmere, Te NSW 2572, Australia or ARTICLE INDEX sellie45@bigpond.com.au. Sort Pews Te Victory Baptist Curc Brief of Cealis, Wasington is in Articles need of a pastor. Any interested by Curtis broter may call Gerry Greisen Pug at (360) , or Mark Fenison at (360) A FREE WILL PRAYER A great many people tink tat God cannot save tem unless tey 25 Ways to Raise A Rebel! by Curtis Pug... p. 5 Te Bible and te Newspaper... p. 18 Te Bible on Polygamy by Mattew Stepp... p. 1 Forum... pp ow People Sould Pray by Paul Stepp... p. 1 Little ills by Nataniel ille... p. 3 Te Resurrection by Milburn Cockrell... p. 1 Te Sort Pews by Curtis Pug... p. 24 Works of te Fles by Tom Ross... p. 1 ANNOUNCEMENTS