SOME AFTER WORDS
1. During every period of the "Dark Ages" there were in existence many Christians and many separate and independent Churches, some of them dating back to the times of the Apostles, which were never in any way connected with the Catholic Church. They always wholly rejected and repudiated the Catholics and their doctrines. This is a fact clearly demonstrated by credible history.
2. These Christians were the perpetual objects of bitter and relentless persecution. History shows that during the period of the "Dark Ages," about twelve centuries, beginning with A.D. 426, there were about fifty millions of these Christians who died martyr deaths. Very many thousands of others, both preceding and succeeding the "Dark Ages," died under the same hard hand of persecution.
3. These Christians, during these dark days of many centuries, were called by many different names, all given to them by their enemies. These names were sometimes given because of some specially prominent and heroic leader and sometimes from other causes; and sometimes, yea, many times, the same people, holding the same views, were called by different names in different localities. But amid all the many changes of names, there was one special name or rather designation, which clung to at least some of these Christians, throughout all the "Dark Ages," that designation being "Ana-Baptist." This compound word applied as a designation of some certain Christians was first found in history during the third century; and a suggestive fact soon after the origin of Infant Baptism, and a more suggestive fact even prior to the use of the name Catholic. Thus the name "Ana-Baptists" is the oldest denominational name in history.
4. A striking peculiarity of these Christians was and continued to be in succeeding centuries: They rejected the man-made doctrine of "Infant Baptism" and demanded rebaptism, even though done by immersion for all those who came to them, having been baptized in infancy. For this peculiarity they were called "Ana-Baptists."
5. This, special designation was applied to many of these Christians who bore other nicknames; especially is this true of the Donatists, Paulicians, Albigenses and Ancient Waldenses and others. In later centuries this designation came to be a regular name, applied to a distinct group. These were simply called "Ana- Baptists" and gradually all other names were dropped. Very early in the sixteenth century, even prior to the origin of the Lutheran Church, the first of all the Protestant Churches, the word "ana" was beginning to be left off, and they were simply called "Baptists."
6. Into the "dark ages" went a group of many churches which were never in any way identified with the Catholics. Out of the "dark ages" came a group of many churches, which had never been in any way identified with the Catholics.
The following are some of the fundamental doctrines to which they held when they went in: And the same are, the fundamental doctrines to which they held when they came out: And the same are the fundamental doctrines to which they now hold.
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES
1. A spiritual Church, Christ its founder, its only head and law giver.
2. Its ordinances, only two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They are typical and memorial, not saving.
3. Its officers, only two, bishops or pastors and deacons; they are servants of the church.
4. Its Government, a pure Democracy, and that executive only, never legislative.
5. Its laws and doctrines: The New Testament and that only.
6. Its members. Believers only, they saved by grace, not works, through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
7. Its requirements. Believers on entering the church to be baptized, that by immersion, then obedience and loyalty to all New Testament laws.
8. The various churches--separate and independent in their execution of laws and discipline and in their responsibilities to God--but cooperative in work.
9. Complete separation of Church and State.
10. Absolute Religious liberty for all.
It Was Never So Seen in Israel Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Dr. Paul Chappell "As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." Matthew 9:32-33, 35Never before had Israel seen someone who loved everyone. Oscar Wilde is best known for his humor and quick wit in writing. His novel, The Importance of Being Earnest, has been drafted into plays and theatrical productions across England and America. In 1882, Wilde landed on American soil, and after being asked what he was intending to proclaim while in America, he replied, "Only my genius." Wilde enjoyed a whirlwind tour of the United States, but after several years traveling across the States, he returned to his homeland. After fifteen years of rampant living, Wilde found himself alone in prison. While in prison, he stated, "I have been a spendthrift of my genius...I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character." Although Wilde enjoyed a life of luxury and frivolity, he ended his life in a mess of trials, suspicion, poverty, and loneliness. His legacy had shifted from witty writer, to poverty-stricken prisoner. Sadly, many people in our world trade character and reputation for wealth and fame. Reputation is not a cherished commodity but a means to an end. While many people could be named for their spoiled reputations, notice someone whose testimony not only preceded Him but remained spotless. The story of Jesus' ministry could be summed up in verse thirty-five of our passage today, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." The earthly life of Christ was characterized by service to others. People knew of Jesus. They knew that when He visited cities, lives were touched, infirmities were healed, and people were changed. It was well-known that Christ had the power to help, and He used that power to do good wherever He went. As Matthew records, "It was never so seen in Israel." How would people describe your life? Could it be said that such good works were never so seen in your neighborhood or town? Jesus kept a good testimony wherever He went. Do you? Of course, Jesus was the Son of God and doing good was natural for Him. Yet as God's children, we have access to the same power Christ had. God has given us strength and power to live godly lives and do good wherever we go. Think of the words of Oscar Wilde, "...every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character." Building a legacy or establishing a good reputation isn't achieved over night. It takes daily choices to do good, make right decisions, and follow Christ's example. Think about the Apostle Paul. He didn't inherit a good name from others. His godly reputation was a result of daily choosing to follow God and emulate Christ. While doing good doesn't earn us salvation, God desires that we would seek to emulate His earthly life. He spent His life doing good and serving others. Are you living your life after the pattern of Christ's earthly ministry? Can others tell that your life is different than the lives of others? "It was never so seen in Israel." Jesus' ministry was different than the everyday works of the religious leaders. Even so, your ministry and your good works should be different than the actions of those around you. Determine right now to follow Christ's example and make the decision to build a godly testimony through living like Jesus today.
1 Timothy 1:4“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” As Paul taught Timothy how to preach and what to preach, he told Timothy not to get caught up in preaching that leaves the listeners with questions. Instead, Paul told Timothy to preach the faith because the faith always leaves the listeners with absolutes which results in building their faith. Recently I was helping a person who was struggling with making a decision about which side to stand on concerning a subject being preached. My advice to them was that when having to choose which side to stand on, always stand on the side where there are absolutes and never stand on the side of question. The reason we always stand on the side of absolutes is because God is a God Who always leaves us with absolutes. Satan's tactic is always to get a person to question what is going on, while God's method is that He always gives us an absolute as to whether something is right or wrong. This is how you always discern which way is right and wrong: when you walk away with a question in your mind about which one is right, then most likely whatever preaching caused you to have question should never be followed. Follow the type of preaching that says this is right and this is wrong. This is why preachers must preach absolutes, for God always presents absolutes in the Bible. Years ago I had a preacher tell me that I am too black and white in my preaching and how I lived. He told me if I was going to be successful, then I need to get some gray areas in my life and preaching. My response was that God never has any gray areas; all of God's areas are black or white, right or wrong. When you are faced with a decision on whom or what to follow always remember, follow the side that gives you an absolute that is based on the Scriptures. If a preacher leaves you with doubt about what is right and wrong in a certain area, then you must be careful about following this preacher. We must remember the Bible teaches us in Romans 14:23, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” We all need the type of preacher who gives us absolutes. This type of preaching will certainly make more people mad, but this type of preaching will also save people from ruining their life in sin. Let's be careful about following those who leave questions, always be sure to follow those who leave absolutes based on God's Word.
Revelation 2 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (v. 7) It is interesting that the Lord mentions the “tree of life,” which we all know is Christ. He was in Eden, the garden of God, and Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat of His fruit, after the fall. The Bible does not tell us where this tree went, until we get to the Book of Revelation. You may remember that the Lord put guards around this Tree, lest man eat of it and live forever, ( Gen. 3: 22-24), and it seems to “disappear” from scripture after that. What happened to this “Tree”? I believe that God took it up into Heaven and planted its holy roots deep within Heaven’s soil, and here we see it mentioned again in the last days. Not only that, but the garden seems to be there too, “the paradise of God”! (text verse). Yes, it seems that God preserved His garden, and the tree of life for us, in our final glory with Him. Why is Christ portrayed as a tree? Because a tree is a symbol of strength; beauty; and fruitfulness, which is what we have in Christ. It would be nice to expound further on these three wonders of Christ, but I may save that for another time. Here let us go on to see more about this Tree. Let’s jump to Rev. 22:2, where we read “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” This is referring to the New Jerusalem, the true city of God, our future home! The tree is also for healing, doesn’t that sound like something Jesus would do? Yes, Jesus is our tree of life. The promise of our text verse is to be with Him forever. These “overcomers” are the redeemed of Christ, having overcome the world through Him. The only stipulation in this promise is that we hear Him, (actually “Heed” Him, as “hear” is often used as obeying too). This thought becomes strengthened in Rev. 22: 14, where we see the last reference to this tree, and that we, through obedience, are given a right to eat from it.
“Bring him unto me.”
- Mar_9:19
Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed, but the miserable child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent in faith obeyed the Lord Jesus’ word, “Bring him unto me.” Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, “Bring him unto me.” O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes! Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul, but Jesus still commands, “Bring them unto me.” When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts are breaking we should remember the great Physician’s words, “Bring them unto me.” Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives.
The Lord sometimes suffers his people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary he is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the strong for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our morning’s need may be, let it like a strong current bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow, he delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to him while he waits to meet us.
Proverbs 16:1-33Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." This is one of the most misquoted proverbs. Pride goeth before destruction, not just a fall! Pride is a sin, and it is all about giving ourselves the glory for the circumstances of life or the works of our hands. Instead we should give God the glory! Even God, when looking down at Jesus' earthly baptism did not say "I am so proud of my Son", but rather, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When we consider the things we have pride in: a home, a child, our job - and then think of how easy it would for us not to have inherited those things - we will be truly thankful for His blessings, rather than proud of our meager accomplishments with what God has provided. The Bible teaches that in us, no good thing dwells. If we followed our own nature, we would not accomplish anything spiritual. Even the lost world tries to bring the fruits of their own hands to God: giving to the poor, being kind to a neighbor, visiting the sick. But God looks on the motivation for such acts, and calls all of our righteousness filthy rags. Do you give to the poor out of pure and undefiled charity, or so that you will look good, or make yourself feel happier or less guilty over what you possess? Are you kind to your neighbors out of holy love and concern for them, or so that your life will be easier, so they will watch over your house, or so they will think highly of you? Do you visit the sick with only their benefit in mind, or for social standing, selfish reasons, or even as a tribute to some earthly person you are trying to honor? The good that comes in man, comes only from the Lord. It is when we submit to God and allow Him to work in our lives that any real good works come from what we do - and it is not us really doing it, but He that works through us! When you come to terms with this Christian truth, you find there is really no room for pride in any area of our lives.
Revelation 9
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 10
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Revelation 11
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 12
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Psalms 139
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Faith or Belief Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Dr. Paul Chappell "And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." Matthew 9:19-22Faith is not dependent upon outward circumstances, but on the unchanging truths of God's Word. I once read of a student demonstration performed in a college science class. The student's presentation was on the principle of the pendulum. The principle states that a pendulum, when released, will fall short of its original release point during the backswing of its arcing motion. To test this, the student attached a string to a child's toy top and secured it to the top of the chalkboard with a push pin. Making a mark of where the toy was released, he released the toy and continued marking the furthest point of the backswing. After the demonstration, it was easy to note that the toy did not reach its original release point, thus verifying the principle of the pendulum. He then asked the class, "Do you believe the principle is true?" A hearty "yes" was uttered by everyone in the room, including the teacher. Then, to further prove the principle, he walked to the middle of the classroom where he had hung a large metal ball with a sturdy rope tied to a metal beam running along the ceiling of the classroom. He asked the teacher to sit in a chair a few feet away from the giant ball. Swinging the make-shift pendulum back, the student placed the ball at the teacher's nose, then asked, "If the principle of the pendulum is true, this ball will not swing back further than this releasing point, and your nose is safe. Do you still believe this is true?" With beads of sweat running down his face, the professor uneasily muttered, "Yes." The student released the ball and as it began its backswing, the teacher darted from the chair and dove under a nearby desk. The student then asked, "Class, does he really believe in the principle?" "No!" was the overwhelming reply. This teacher's actions proved that he believed the principle as a fact of science, yet when his belief was tested, he proved he wasn't willing to risk physical pain to prove the principle's validity. Christians can be compared to this professor. They read the truths of God's Word, maybe even teach them, but when it comes to putting their beliefs to the test, they run and hide as fast as the professor did. They soon learn that stating faith and acting out faith are very different things. Notice the story in our verses today. Jesus was on His way to see the ruler's daughter who was gravely ill. Yet as they traveled, a sickly woman came to Christ and touched the hem of his robe, knowing that He had power to heal her. The crowd around Jesus was great, as Mark 5:24 tells us, "And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him." I'm sure there were many people around Christ who wanted Him to heal them, minister to their need, or fix their problem; yet why was this woman healed and not others? As the Lord said, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Faith is not dependent upon outward circumstances, but on the unchanging truths of God's Word. A person who believes the facts about God's Word may talk about God and serve Him, but when tough times come, he will abandon his beliefs; yet someone with true faith still holds on to the belief that God is good even when things look bleak. The professor in our story proved that his belief was only a head knowledge and wasn't true faith. Yet the woman with the issue of blood proved that even though she had suffered for many years, spent all she had, and found no rest; she had faith that God had the power to heal her. Take time right now to evaluate your beliefs. Is what you believe merely head knowledge, or would your faith stand strong even through tough times? Ask God to deepen your faith and secure your beliefs in Him. Remember that difficulties will come, but God is always good. To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.
24. Some serious questions have many times been asked concerning the Baptists: Would they, as a denomination, have accepted from any nation or state an offer of "establishment" if such nation or state had freely made them such an offer? And, would they, in case they had accepted such an offer, have become persecutors of others like Catholics or Episcopals, or Lutherans or Presbyterians, or Congregationalists? Probably a little consideration of such questions now would not be amiss. Have the Baptists, as a fact, ever had such an opportunity?
Is it not recorded in history, that on one occasion, the King of the Netherlands (the Netherlands at that time embracing Norway and Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark) had under serious consideration the question of having an established religion? Their kingdom at that period was surrounded on almost all sides by nations or governments with established religions--religions supported by the Civil Government.
It is stated that the King of Holland appointed a committee to examine into the claims of all existing churches or denominations to see which had the best claim to be the New Testament Church. The committee reported back that the Baptists were the best representatives of New Testament teachings. Then the King offered to make the Baptist "the established" church or denomination of his kingdom. The Baptists kindly thanked him but declined, stating that it was contrary to their fundamental convictions and principles.
But this was not the only opportunity they ever had of having their denomination the established religion of a people. They certainly had that opportunity when Rhode Island Colony was founded. And to have persecuted others--that would have been an impossibility if they were to continue being Baptists. They were the original advocates of "Religious Liberty." That really is one of the fundamental articles of their religious faith. They believed in the absolute separation of church and state.
25. So strong has been the Baptist conviction on the question of Church and State combination, that they have invariably declined all offers of help from the State. We give here two instances. One in Texas and the other in Mexico. Long years ago in the days of Baylor University's babyhood, Texas offered to help her. She declined the help though she was in distressing need. The Texas Methodists had a baby school in Texas at the same time. They accepted the State help; that school finally fell into the hands of the State.
The case in Mexico occurred in this wise: W. D. Powell was our missionary to Mexico. By his missionary work he had made a great impression for the Baptists upon Governor Madero of the State of Coahuila. Madero offered a great gift to the Baptists from the State, if the Baptists would establish a good school in the State of Coahuila, Mexico. The matter was submitted by Powell to the Foreign Board. The gift was declined because it was to be from the State. Afterwards Madero gave a good large sum personally. That was accepted and Madero Institute was built and established.
“Partakers of the divine nature.”
- 2Pe_1:4
To be a partaker of the divine nature is not, of course, to become God. That cannot be. The essence of Deity is not to be participated in by the creature. Between the creature and the Creator there must ever be a gulf fixed in respect of essence; but as the first man Adam was made in the image of God, so we, by the renewal of the Holy Spirit, are in a yet diviner sense made in the image of the Most High, and are partakers of the divine nature. We are, by grace, made like God. “God is love”; we become love-”He that loveth is born of God.” God is truth; we become true, and we love that which is true: God is good, and he makes us good by his grace, so that we become the pure in heart who shall see God. Moreover, we become partakers of the divine nature in even a higher sense than this-in fact, in as lofty a sense as can be conceived, short of our being absolutely divine. Do we not become members of the body of the divine person of Christ? Yes, the same blood which flows in the head flows in the hand: and the same life which quickens Christ quickens his people, for “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Nay, as if this were not enough, we are married unto Christ. He hath betrothed us unto himself in righteousness and in faithfulness, and he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Oh! marvellous mystery! we look into it, but who shall understand it? One with Jesus-so one with him that the branch is not more one with the vine than we are a part of the Lord, our Saviour, and our Redeemer! While we rejoice in this, let us remember that those who are made partakers of the divine nature will manifest their high and holy relationship in their intercourse with others, and make it evident by their daily walk and conversation that they have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. O for more divine holiness of life!
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