Trust in Christ Alone

Sometimes satire bats 1000% when putting a fine point on the truth.

President Donald Trump: 

“I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this [Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations] will be one of the reasons.”

Babylon Bee:

“Celestial sources report that in response to hearing of President Trump’s hopes for getting into heaven, God has agreed to let Trump into His kingdom if he simply repents of his sin and trusts in Christ alone for his salvation.

“According to the angelic hosts, the Lord had mercifully declined Trump’s wish to have his merits weighed against his faults, instead offering His only begotten Son as the spotless sacrifice for Trump’s sins.

“‘Peace deals are wonderful – yet, none are righteous. No, not one,’ the angel Gabriel confirmed. ‘But, peace deal or no, God in his love and mercy has agreed to let Trump into Heaven all the same, if he will only repent and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s grace is sufficient.’

“Heavenly sources confirmed that no one throughout history who trusted in their own goodness has been able to enter the presence of the Holy of Holies.”

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Pray for the President, and ALL that trust in themselves, rather than trusting in God which raiseth the dead, and his Son who rose from the dead!

Jesus and our sin

The Saviour of Sinners.

1 Timothy 1:15.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

’Twas a heaven below,
The Redeemer to know,
And the angels could do nothing more;
Than to fall at his feet,
And the story repeat,
And the Saviour of sinners adore!

Introduction.

The regular non-Calvinistic missionary Baptists (Fundamental Baptists, Independent Baptists, Landmark Baptists, Missionary Baptists, Southern Baptists) of the Southland have become weak on the subject of sin: (1) weak theologically, using language moving toward a nature with a tendency to sin and away from an inherent and inherited sin nature; and (2) weak practically, in preaching against sin, and disciplining sin in the church (e.g., so that known public wickedness is tolerated for members in a local church). Both problems go hand in glove. 

In theology, notice for example the change from the 1833 New Hampshire Confession of Faith to the 1963 Southern Baptist Faith and Message (with language still the same in 2000).

NHCOF: “…in consequence of [the fall] all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.”

BFAM: “Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation.”

Ephesians 2:3 clearly states we are “by nature the children of wrath.” The 1963 modified the state of the sinner in the world, so that the posterity of Adam inherit “a nature and an environment inclined to sin” rather than “being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God.” In an 1889 debate with Campbellite J. A. Harding, Baptist J. B. Moody’s strongly worded proposition on depravity read thusly: “The Scriptures teach that man is so depraved in mind and heart that he is unable without a direct enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey the Gospel of the Son of God.” 

Jesus came to save sinners and forgive sins, but he was not weak on sin. His rhetoric clearly and forcefully condemns sin. Notice these teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin is an internal, inherent matter.

Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

There is none good, but God.

Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

“Being evil” is an apt description of mankind.

Matthew 7: 11 If ye then, being evil…

• In this lesson on prayer, Jesus teaches that all people are evil (not just that they do evil, but that they are evil).

The self-recognizing sinner is commended, and the self-righteous Pharisee condemned.

Luke 18:13-14 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other…

None are without sin.

John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

We owe a debt we cannot pay.

Matthew 18:24-25 ten thousand talents…he had not to pay… 32 I forgave thee all that debt

• God’s forgiveness of sin is like the King forgiving his servant a debt he could not pay.

All need repentance.

Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Conclusion.

Jesus and the Bible teaches our depravity is personal, inherited, complete. This whole person is affected by sin, in body, mind, spirit, and will, so that there is nothing good in any of us to commend to God. Only by the grace of God and Spirit of God can we be led to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If we could pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, so to speak, The substitutionary crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross would be savage, senseless, and needlessly wrong. If we cannot determine the sickness, how can we determine the cure? God’s straight arrow of total depravity drives man from his self-reliance to a despair whose only relief is found by falling at the feet of a merciful Saviour!

If you do not properly abhor your sin, you cannot properly adore your Saviour.

Calling sinners to repentance

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jeremiah 3:22-25 

22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.

• Repentance turns to the Lord, “we come unto thee” v. 22. “Lord, to whom shall we go?” John 6:68.
• Repentance rejects other ways, “in vain is salvation hoped for from…” v. 23. “ye turned to God from idols…” 1 Thessalonians 1:9.
• Repentance embraces shame and confusion, “shame hath devoured…We lie down in our shame,” vs. 24-25. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance…” 2 Corinthians 7:10.
• Repentance acknowledges sin against God, “we have sinned against the Lord our God, we… have not obeyed,” v. 25. Repentance doesn’t excuse sin as just “mistakes” and “errors.” “O wretched man that I am!” Romans 7:24.

Repent, and be baptized

Acts 2:38 - Two imperatives (“repent,” “be baptized”) and a promise (“ye shall receive”). Those who teach baptismal regeneration – that is, that obedience in the baptismal waters gains eternal salvation – use this text as a primary support for their view. If an interpretation of Acts 2:38 does not match the teachings of the New Testament (or even the rest of the book of Acts), then something is wrong with that interpretation. In the next recorded sermons following Pentecost, Peter connects repentance with blotting out of sins (3:19-20), proclaims salvation in Christ alone (4:11-12), and associates repentance and the forgiveness of sins with the acts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus (5:30-31).

Repentance in Acts 

• Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted
• Acts 5:31 to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness
• Acts 13:24 John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance
• Acts 17:30 God...now commandeth all men every where to repent
• Acts 19:4 John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance
• Acts 20:21 Testifying...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
• Acts 26:20 they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance

Some interpreters labor to unite “for the remission of sins” with both “repent” and “be baptized.” Others labor to separate “for the remission of sins” from “be baptized” to modify only “repent.” However, the grammatical structure of Acts 2:38 shows that “for the remission of sins” only modifies “be baptized” and not “repent.” Peter commands his hearers, “Repent, and be baptized.” In both Greek and English, the verb μετανοησατε/ “repent” is in the second person plural; the verb βαπτισθητω/ “be baptized” is in the third person singular. The words that follow “be baptized” – “every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” – match the singular tense of “be baptized.” The final verb, “shall receive,” returns to the second person plural.

The question “in what sense does baptism remit sins is the real core of the controversy on Acts 2:38.”  Is baptism for the remission of sins? Yes, baptism is for (eis) the remission of sins, according to Acts 2:38. In what sense does baptism remit sins, or, in what way is it “for” the remission of sins? Those who find eternal salvation here assume “for” means “in order to obtain” the remission of sins. However, “in order to” does not exhaust the range of meaning of either the Greek preposition eis (εις) or the English preposition “for.” Baptism answers to the remission of sins because it is a sign of it. The words in Acts 2:38 are “eis aphesin ton hamartion/for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 includes the same phrase: “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (eis aphesin ton hamartion).” The similarities are compelling.  It is not the blood of the grape in the cup that gives remission of sins, but the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that the cup represents. We metaphorically receive the body and blood of Jesus in the elements of the Lord’s Supper. We metaphorically receive the death and resurrection of Jesus in the element of water baptism. Paul uses “likeness” (ομοιωματι, a figure, image, likeness, representation; cf. Hebrews 9:24) in Romans 6:5. He says we are baptized “into death” and then raised to “walk in newness of life.” Baptism does not literally put us in the death and resurrection, but “in the likeness.” Peter uses “like figure” (αντιτυπον, a thing resembling another, counterpart, antitype) in I Peter 3:21. Baptism saves similarly to the way the water saved Noah and his family. Water saved Noah by the ark, and baptism saves us by the resurrection. The conscience calls and baptism answers (επερωτημα).

Jesus actually, literally, and really put away sin by his sacrifice on the cross. Sins are remitted literally, in the death of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22); experimentally, in the exercise of faith (Acts 10:43); and ceremonially, in baptism (Acts 2:38). 

An open letter to the Texas Republican Party chairman

I interrupt the regularly scheduled blog post to bring you this important political message. I received no response, and so am posting here as promised.

Dear Chairman Rinaldi,

Our family received a postal mail correspondence from you as a representative of the Republican Party of Texas, stating “The Republican Party of Texas stands with Ken Paxton because he stands with us.”

[Personal information redacted.] Yes, we certainly can argue that Attorney Paxton is better than the Democratic alternative. He has done some good things as Attorney General. However, I am unwilling to settle for the lesser of two evils. Mr. Paxton has shamed the Republican Party of Texas, and brought us into disrepute for our moral inconsistency – saying one thing and doing another. For my part I am not only a fiscal conservative, but a moral conservative as well. The Republican Party of Texas platform is both fiscally and morally conservative.

I think you may be correct that the impeachment process is politically motivated. However, it does not logically follow that this means Ken Paxton should continue in the office of Attorney General. He needs to go. The second-best way for him to go would be for the voters who voted him in to vote him out. The best and less painful way would be for him to go voluntarily, either by resigning or not running again. Neither of these two options seem likely, based on the actions of Mr. Paxton and support of the state Republican Party chairman.

The Party platform says, “We affirm God’s biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior between one biological man and one biological woman, which has proven to be the foundation for all great nations in Western civilization” (p. 29).

For you, perhaps, and for some members of the party, this may only be a generic plank to show a reason for the opposition to the marriage of people of the same gender. It certainly is and should be that, but it is more than that. It affirms “God’s biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior” – which Attorney General Paxton has flaunted. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and we could forgive him for the sin of adultery. However, after this sin he multiplied sin upon sin. Attorney General Paxton lied to his wife, lied to his supporters, lied to Texas, continued to pursue the adultery he promised to put behind him, and used his position as Attorney General of the great State of Texas in doing so! I do not and cannot trust liars.

I intend to share this letter as an “open letter” to my church, my Facebook friends, and on my blog. Before doing so, I will give you an opportunity to respond. Is there any reason to believe that these things that Mr. Paxton did (mentioned in the previous paragraph) are not so? I will not support Ken Paxton simply because he is better than the Democratic alternative. He needs to support this plank of the State Party platform by living it. If not, we need a better Republican alternative.

Thanks for reading and considering my opinion. May you have a blessed day.

Applauding sin, repentance, and confession

This link is provided for context rather than “pick on” one person. This scenario plays out over and over. A pastor or other church staff openly confesses a sin or indiscretion to the church. The congregation applauds. What have we become? We should not applaud sin, even the confession of it. We should grieve over with a godly sorrow. One commenter on this said, “Save the standing ovations for the football field.”

What our ancestors might have thought was an April’s Fools joke has become an all too common practice.

The order of repentance and faith

The sequential order of faith and repentance evidently makes a fun and fine debating point. Some of the debate is substantial, and other of it is peripheral.

All Campbellites and some Baptists put faith before repentance, citing that knowledge must come first before one came repent. “It’s just common sense,” they say. I am satisfied to be a simpleton in this regard. I accept the order that repentance and faith are placed in the scriptures rather than submit it to human logic for what must be first. Our Lord’s own preaching (e.g. Mark 1:15-16) places repentance before faith. In Matthew 21:32 and 2 Timothy 2:25 repentance is in order to believing and acknowledging the truth. One must also be careful to distinguish the belief of accepting facts that are truth, and the belief of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Cf. James 2:19. Often those who put faith before repentance only mean believing facts when they speak of faith.

These scriptures put repentance before faith:

• Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
• Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
• Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
• Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
• Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, “There must be faith in general before you can repent, because if you do not believe certain things about God, you do not act upon it, and there is no repentance. But I am referring to faith in the special sense of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that case, repentance comes before faith and Paul puts them in that order: ‘Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.’”

“Why must repentance come first? Well, you will find that it always comes first in Scripture…Repentance is of necessity the first message, and it surely must be. It is Scriptural, yes, but Scripture also enables us to reason. Let me put it to you like this: Why should men and women believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It is no use just asking them to believe in Christ. They are entitled to ask, ‘Why should I believe in Him?’ That is a perfectly fair question. And people do not see any need or necessity for believing in the Lord Jesus Christ if they do not know what repentance is. Of course, you may be inviting them to Christ as a helper, or as a friend, or as a healer of the body, but that is not Christian conversion. No, no, people must know why they must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Law is our schoolmaster (Gal 3:24) to bring us there, and the Law works repentance.”

Saving faith should not be reduced to a mere assent to correct facts. Beyond that, the repentance of faith and the faith of repentance are “inseparable graces” neither readily nor easily separated in a time sequence.

Seeking God

The hymn “Seeking God” was written by Thomas Benson Pollock (1839-1896) and is one of two hymns he contributed to the 1889 Supplemental Hymns to Hymns Ancient & Modern. In this book it appears matched with Westbourne. The meter is 8s., 6 lines. Above the text appears the statement, “I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy servant,” based on Psalm 119:176. It is often paired with the tune St. Chrysostom by Joseph Barnby.

1. We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.

2. We have not feared Thee as we ought,
Nor bowed beneath Thine awful eye;
Nor guarded deed, and word, and thought
Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near,
And grant the grace of holy fear.

3. We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by thee;
They presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart,
To feel and own the love Thou art.

4. We have not served Thee as we ought,

Alas! The duties left undone—

The work with little fervour wrought—

The battles lost, or scarcely won!

Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,

For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

5. When shall we know Thee as we ought,

And fear, and love, and serve aright.

When shall we out of trial brought

Be perfect in the land of light.

Lord, may we day by day prepare

To see Thy face, and serve Thee there.

Where's, O Grave, thy conquering glory?

1. Pleased we read in sacred story,

  How our Lord resumed his breath;

  Where's, O Grave, thy conquering glory?

  Where's thy sting, thou phantom Death?

  Soon thy jaws, restrained from chewing,

  Must disgorge their ransomed prey;

  Man first gave thee power to ruin;

  Man, too, takes that power away.

2. I am Alpha, says the Saviour,

  I Omega likewise am!

  I was dead and live for ever,

  God Almighty and the Lamb.

  In the Lord is our perfection,

  And in him our boast we'll make;

  We shall share his resurrection,

  If we of his death partake.

3. Ye that die without repentance,

  Ye must rise when Christ appears;

  Rise to hear your dreadful sentence,

  While the saints rejoice in theirs:

  You to dwell with fiends infernal,

  They with Jesus Christ to reign;

  They go into life eternal,

  You to everlasting pain.

BY Joseph Hart

Christ, Without Repentance?

Much of today’s evangelism offers Christ without repentance. Masses of today’s youth are reported to be turning on with Jesus. Little or no mention is ever made of any of them ever admitting that they have wronged God, Nothing is ever said of any expressing heartfelt sorrow for their sinful ways. Most of those who claim to be turned on with Jesus’ continue on in their dirty undisciplined rebellious way — carrying a Bible.

We should not be too surprised to see such taking place. Have not many of those who preach to the Lord’s churches, seeking to ignite the fires of evangelism, been careless in calling people to repentance? Many of our pastors and evangelists preach sermon after sermon about Jesus Christ. They extend invitation after invitation to people to accept Jesus as their Saviour. Seldom do they tell people that they must repent toward God before they can believe on Jesus Christ for salvation.

The Eighth Declaration of Faith, upon which most of our churches have been organized, states that repentance and faith are inseparable graces. It is impossible to have one without the other. Jesus established repentance as a condition that must be met before one can believe. He told the chief priests and elders, “The publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John unto you in the way of righteousness said ye believed him not: but the publican and harlots believed him: and ye, when ye bad seen it. REPENTED NOT afterward. THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE HIM.” (Matthew 21:31-32).

People may “turn on with Jesus — people may walk the aisle and confess to believe on Jesus — people may join churches — be baptized, live a good life — even preach the gospel and call others to believe on Jesus. But no person has ever believed unto the saving of his soul without going the way of repentance.

Christ, without repentance? Impossible!! “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Ray O. Brooks; The Baptist Monitor, October 20, 1971 (As reprinted in The Baptist Waymark)

The thief on the cross

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

On the 14th day of Nissan, circa AD 33, three men were executed on a hill outside of Jerusalem called Golgotha or Calvary.1

The Two Thieves
On the right and left crosses at Golgotha were executed two men convicted as thieves. They probably knew one another and may have even been partners in crime. There were bands of thieves around Jerusalem. They were not stealth stealers but violent criminals with no qualms about taking what they wanted by assault, bodily injury and even death (Luke 10:30). Their reputation was such that authorities were careful to arrest them by sending soldiers in a show of force (Luke 22:52).

The Man in the Middle
In contrast to the men on the right and the left, the man hanging on the middle cross had “done nothing amiss.” He was the spotless Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. Yet, Jesus was identified as a malefactor (criminal) by the Jewish authorities (John 18:30). He was arrested as though he were a violent criminal (Luke 22:52), though he had been available to them in public teaching on a daily basis. He was by prophecy “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12; Mark 15:28), and even replaced Barabbas, a convicted thief and seditionist who was sentenced to die that day (John 18:40; Mark 15:7). In the human view of Golgotha’s scene, He was a “thief among thieves”.2 

The Early Hours
As the crucifixion began the third hour (about 9 in the morning), both thieves began to echo the words of the crowd.

Before the Sixth Hour
In an unexplained turnaround, one thief exhibits repentance and faith through his conversation with the other thief and with Jesus.

The death of Barabbas was expected to coincide with the execution of these other two. They may have participated in his crimes (he was a thief also, John 18:40) or they may have been independently arrested and sentenced. (The penitent thief's awareness of the other thief's just punishment indicates they were acquainted.) But Jesus Barabbas would not die this day. They find themselves sentenced to death with another Jesus who bore the superscription on his cross as Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. While in the excruciating torment of the cross, Jesus had the heart, mind and will to pray for others. It is a remarkable that of the two thieves suffering the like punishment and agony, one thief reviled Jesus with the crowd while the other thief was turned to repentance and faith.

The thief had nothing to offer Christ. He had nothing in his past to offer. While Jesus walked the hills of Galilee and the streets of Jerusalem with his disciples this thief was intently occupied with his chosen illegal trade. He was no Peter, James or John. He defied the people and the law and had been captured and sentenced to die. He admitted that he had been justly condemned to the reward of his deeds. He had nothing in his future to offer. In fact, he had no future. He could not promise to “join the church,” be baptized, or live righteously. This day he had been condemned to die – and die he would.

Salvation by Grace
What a marvelous picture of God’s mercy and grace. A guilty thief, a malefactor worthy of death, with neither past good works to commend him nor future good works to amend him -- all he could hope for was “God be merciful to me a sinner.”


The penitent thief was a sinner. He was receiving the just reward of his deeds. Jesus was a Saviour of sinners. He was giving a life a ransom for many. God was merciful. God's grace is the only explanation for Jesus's answer to this dying man, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." The trip to paradise would be a short one, and Jesus paid the fare.

1 which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull; someone wrote: "When the King James Version was written, the translators used an anglicised version — Calvary — of the Latin gloss from the Vulgate (Calvariæ), to refer to Golgotha in the Gospel of Luke, rather than translate it; subsequent uses of Calvary stem from this single translation decision." This did not originate with the KJ translators.
2 Not that he was convicted as a thief, but that in all ways he was treated like them.

Miscellaneous
"I grant you, one penitent thief was converted in his last hours, that no man might despair; but I warn you, only one was converted, that no man might presume." -- J. C. Ryle
"Those who wait until the eleventh hour to repent often die at ten thirty." -- Unknown
In theory the two thieves has opportunity to hear all of Jesus’s Seven Sayings on the Cross — i.e. they were still alive (John 19:28-33).

The First Baptist

Lesson from Matthew 3:1-17

Present day Baptists would do well to be more like the first Baptist. Notice some facts about true Baptist preaching from the first Baptist – John.

John the Baptist preached repentance (v. 2). This is a doctrine little emphasized today. Stress is put on belief with no mention of repentance, and belief is cleverly changed to a mere affirmation of the existence of Christ (which existence even the devils believe). Simply answering yes when asked “Do you believe in Jesus?” is not the same as believing to the saving of the soul. Repentance and belief are inseparable (Acts 20:21). A person must repent in order to believe (Matt. 21:32). Several things are involved in repentance. First, there must be recognition of sin which needs repentance. Then there must be a genuine sorrow for sin which causes an inward searching for God (II Cor. 7:10). Next there is turning from sin and turning to God (I Thess. 1:9). There is belief in one’s heart that Jesus died for his sins and rose for his justification (Rom. 10:9-10). “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

John the Baptist preached the confession of sins (v. 6). No one has ever been saved who did not acknowledge being a sinner. Confession is an admission of guilt, which must be done in order to obtain mercy (Prov. 28:13; Rom. 10:9-10). The modern man doesn’t want to hear about sin, much less confession. But even if you don’t know you’re a sinner, everyone else does!

John the Baptist preached baptism (v. 6). John’s baptism was authorized by God (John 1:6,33; Matt. 21:25). He baptized by immersion, or plunging in water (v. 6, 16). He only baptized those who were believers (vs. 6-9), and he only baptized adults. Those baptized by John went out to him and they confessed their sins – infants can do neither! John taught the importance of becoming a baptized disciple in order to be prepared to serve God (v. 3).

John the Baptist required a credible profession of faith before he would baptize an individual (vs. 7-8). Contemporary Baptist Churches are slacking on this requirement. Many will turn their heads the other way in order to add another name to the church roll. They are filling empty pews with empty people! Playing the numbers game is a very poor reason to make a person “twofold more the child of hell.” Shouldn’t a church require evidence of salvation before receiving them? John the Baptist did.

John the Baptist pointed to the Coming Saviour (v. 11). While the first Baptist announced Christ’s first coming, present—day Baptists should be proclaiming and looking for His second coming (Acts 1:11). The grandest day of all days will be “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Lastly, John the Baptist preached Christ, not self (v. 11; John 3:30). Jesus Christ should be the center of all preaching, all our church services, and all our lives. We owe our very existence to Him. Let Him increase, while we decrease. The church needs emphasis in an age in which she is roughly pushed aside, but let us always remember the old Baptist adage – “Blood before water, Christ before the Church.”

The first Baptist preached and taught these important doctrines. If we are deserving of the name Baptist, then so should we!

Adapted from The Baptist Waymark, Vol. I, No. 4, September 1986

Thou Art the Man by M.L. Vaughn

In the Book of books we read of two of God's chosen men who committed great crimes, yet condemned those who committed them as being worthy of death until the guilt was placed on them.

In Genesis 38 we read of Judah, the son of Jacob, who condemned a woman to be burned until she proved him to be the guilty man. Then he declared her to be more righteous than himself.

David the Psalmist, declared to be a man after God's own heart, committed the great crime of having Uriah put in the front in battle that he might be killed and that he might get his wife, II Sam. 11 and 12. God sent Nathan to David with his parables, and when David heard the parable he said, "The man must die." Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man." Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Later he said, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight." (Psalms 51:4)

How careful we should be in passing judgment on others. We should first get the beam out of our own eye before trying to get the mote out of the other fellow's eye. None of us should set himself up as being more honourable than Judah or David to whom it was said, "Thou art the man."

This old selfish nature of ours is so prone to condemn faults in others, but often the verdict comes ringing back, "Thou art the man."

Psalms 19:14 : "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." May this be the prayer of us all.

By Elder Marshall Lewis Vaughn (1858--1947), Mt. Enterprise, TX. First printed in 1940 in The Baptist Progress. Reprinted in The Baptist Waymark June 1986.

Repentance at the cross

HYMN 106 C. M. Repentance at the cross.

O, if my soul were formed for woe,
How would I vent my sighs!
Repentance should like rivers flow
From both my streaming eyes.

'Twas for my sins my dearest Lord
Hung on the cursed tree,
And groaned away a dying life
For thee, my soul, for thee.

O, how I hate those lusts of mine
That crucified my God!
Those sins that pierced and nailed his flesh
Fast to the fatal wood!

Whilst, with a melting, broken heart,
My murdered Lord I view,
I'll raise revenge against my sins,
And slay the murd'rers too.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, 1707

The prodigal son

The prodigal son, Lk 15:11-24

Afflictions, though they seem severe;
In mercy oft are sent;
They stopped the prodigal's career,
And forced him to repent.

Although he no relentings felt
Till he had spent his store;
His stubborn heart began to melt
When famine pinched him sore.

"What have I gained by sin, he said,
But hunger, shame, and fear;
My father's house abounds with bread,
While I am starving here.

I'll go, and tell him all I've done,
And fall before his face
Unworthy to be called his son,
I'll seek a servant's place."

His father saw him coming back,
He saw, and ran, and smiled;
And threw his arms around the neck
Of his rebellious child.

"Father, I've sinned--but O forgive!"
I've heard enough, he said,
Rejoice my house, my son's alive,
For whom I mourned as dead.

Now let the fatted calf be slain,
And spread the news around;
My son was dead, but lives again,
Was lost, but now is found.

'Tis thus the Lord his love reveals,
To call poor sinners home;
More than a father's love he feels,
And welcomes all that come.

John Newton (1725-1807)
Olney Hymns, 1779.

The contrite heart

The contrite heart.
Isa 47:15

The Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow;
Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;
If aught is felt, 'tis only pain,
To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclined
To love Thee if I could;
But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.

My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;
But when I cry, "My strength renew!"
Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted, I know,
And love Thy house of prayer;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

Oh make this heart rejoice, or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break,
And heal it, if it be.

William Cowper (1731-1800)
Olney Hymns, 1779.

Doing positive things

"Any positive thing man does is done by God's grace. This has to be the case, because man is by nature a totally-depraved, totally-enslaved being.We repent, believe, confess Christ in baptism, and do good works by God's grace." -- John Kohler New Covenant Christian Forum, Mon, 20 Aug 2007