Maturity or Conformity in Our Rest?

This Sunday we’ll be hearing our confessional statement on the Lord’s Day from the Baptist Faith & Message (2000). Last semester I taught a class on Baptist history and polity for our Association’s C.L.D. class. We spent three hours one Monday late in the semester looking at the development of our confession. The development of the article of the Lord’s Day was striking.

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New Hampshire Confession (1833) Article XV, “Of the Christian Sabbath”

That the first day of the week is the Lord’s-Day, or Christian Sabbath; and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and recreations; by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest which remaineth for the people of God.

Baptist Faith & Message (1925) Article XIV, “The Lord’s Day”

The first day of the week is the Lord's day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.

Ex. 20:3-6; Matt. 4:10; Matt. 28:19; 1 Tim. 4:13; Col. 3:16; John 4:21; Ex. 20:8; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:1; Matt. 12:1-13.

Baptist Faith & Message (1963) Article VIII, “The Lord’s Day”

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.

Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10.

Baptist Faith & Message (2000) Article VIII, “The Lord’s Day”

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.

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There is a great distance between “kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and recreations; by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest which remaineth for the people of God” (1833) and “activities...commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ” (2000). Is the difference due to Baptists’ deeper consideration of the liberty found in the Gospel, or conformity to a culture obsessed with entertainment and play? I’m sure that impassioned arguments could be made for either side.

We are Baptists. We balance continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments.

Discontinuity: Whereas the Law of the Old Testament was clear about sacred rest on the seventh day (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15), the Law of the New Testament asserts that “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” that is, God Himself (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5). In honor of this, the New Testament describes the Church gathering on the first day, not the seventh day, of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). We call this the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).

Where is the continuity? The New Testament is not free of commandment (Matthew 28:20; John 14:15; 15:10; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 4:2). The people of God are still under the rule of the only Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12), Jesus Christ. How does that apply to the day of our gathering as the Church? If the New Testament represents the fullness of what was progressively revealed in the Old Testament, how is that seen in our observance of the day of gathering? Is Christ fully revealed as the glory of the Father by a full day dedicated to His worship or a single hour followed by a trip to the lake?

How reliable is “the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ,” when many Christians believe this is a religious way of “following your heart”? Too often the “Christian’s conscience” has nothing to do with prayerful meditation on Scripture and everything to do with “the way that seems right to a man” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).

These are not easy questions, and have been the subject of much debate for two millennia.

Consider the development of this article on the “Christian Sabbath,” or “the Lord’s Day.” Is your “rest” a dedication to entertainment no different from the world’s (except for maybe a few hours at Sunday School and worship), or is it a dedication of a day pointing to the “rest” that remains in eternity for those in union with the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus Christ?

Sabbath Rest (1894) by Samuel Hirszenberg

Dig It Deep

Monday morning always begins with a prayerful evaluation of the teaching times coming up in the week ahead: Monday afternoon, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday morning, and Sunday night. There is no day off. Starting at 5 a.m., I’m always writing studies or sermons. This is in addition to my own personal studying/devotion and that which I do with my children. I think I stand in good company.

“The LORD then spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘...make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean...teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses’” (Leviticus 10:8,10,11).

“Of Levi he said, ‘...they observed Your word, and kept Your covenant. They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your law to Israel’” (Deuteronomy 33:8-10).

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

“Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (Nehemiah 8:7,8).

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2,3).

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘...go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God...we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ ...the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:2,4,7).

“For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:27-31).

“An overseer, then, must be...able to teach...” (1 Timothy 3:2).

“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following” (1 Timothy 4:6).

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:9-16).

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:13,14).

“Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:14,15).

“The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1,2).

“For the overseer must be...holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” (Titus 1:7-9).

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).

“These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you” (Titus 2:15).

This is the Word on the matter in both Testaments. I am trying to help others come to this place in their service to Christ’s Church. I burdened to constantly be digging the well deep, far deeper than it would need to be delved for a typical Sunday morning sermon. Why? Because it’s usually needed...needed to answer a question from someone during the week, to comfort someone who’s struggling, or to guide the congregation on another matter entirely. It is the only ground for fellowship, visitation, evangelism, counseling, and good works. The study and teaching of the Word is never wasted or in vain.

How are you preparing? “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). The Holy Spirit says through the inspired author of this letter, “by this time you ought to be teachers.” It doesn’t necessarily mean that they would be Sunday School teachers or ordained elders/deacons – but those who have been growing together with Christ’s people in His Church for some time ought to be an influence for the Word on those around them. We are surrounded by people who are seeking help, answers, and guidance for the questions of life. We alone have the answers. Can you handle the “word of righteousness,” having your “senses trained to discern good and evil”? Have you dug your own well deep, deeper than you need for your own daily devotions? You never know when you’ll need to draw the water of life for your family, neighbors, friends, or that stranger you’ll meet in the Providence of the Sovereign King this day.

The Commanded Waters of the King

“Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper” (Baptist Faith & Message 2000, VII).

I meet with two candidates for baptism this evening. We have a baptism service this next Sunday night, and it’s always a valuable chance to revisit the biblical texts on baptism.

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37,38). Someone recently asked why we don’t extend Gospel invitations in this way. The two-fold command of Peter on the day of Pentecost was “repent” and “be baptized.” I don’t know if I’ve ever heard that Gospel response commanded, and I’m pretty certain I’ve never given it. I admit this by way of confessing pastoral failure.

As Carl Trueman ably pointed out in his The Creedal Imperative (which I read with our mission pastor earlier this year), the first thing to go when ecumenism, para-church involvements, and denominational camouflage (my term, not Trueman’s) become the rule is a church’s dedication to living out the biblical witness on the sacraments/ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Since interpretive differences on the ordinances are the usual reasons for denominationalism, the ordinances are happily relegated to no-man’s land these days in favor of a Rodney King-ist approach: “Can’t we all just get along?” Sadly, this usually means putting the local church second to the universal church (though the N.T. is written to the local church and the biblical support for the idea of the universal church is far less in volume), and it always means making baptism and the Lord’s Supper disappear from view (since these highlight the local church and our uniqueness as a denomination).

It’s the first step in obeying the King’s command to make disciples of all the nations: “...baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). It is, as I heard a Presbyterian say last year, the beginning to a lifetime of discipleship in Christ. It is a commitment on the part of the church to teach them everything that Christ the King commanded of His disciples (Matthew 28:20). It is a surrender to the rule of Christ the King. It is an entering into the promises of the Father to those who are in union with His Son; it is also a recognition of the curse upon those who do not have a living faith in the Son.

Baptism is important. It is worth making much of, and should be mentioned with the presentation of the Gospel, regardless of the demands of ecumenism and/or a popular sentimental watering-down of denominational distinctiveness. I'm not against cooperation for the Kingdom work, but not at the expense of what we confess to be the biblical standard for His Church.

Paul mentions it when giving his testimony to the people in Jerusalem: “A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name’” (Acts 22:12-16).

Remember your baptism. Read Romans 6 and remind yourself of the radical change and union God uses it to proclaim over you.

“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him” (1 Peter 3:21,22).

Have you repented and been baptized in His name? Have you been baptized unto a lifetime commitment to be discipled by His church unto full obedience to His commands? Have you appealed to Him from the waters for forgiveness that comes only through His name?

This is the command of the King. Hear, obey, and receive His boundless mercy and grace.

- Pastor Michael

Principles of HIS Righteousness, Not Ours

This Sunday in our corporate meditation on our confession of faith, we will be considering this short but infinitely important statement: “Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God” (Baptist Faith & Message 2000, IV.B).

That’s our problem as sinners: “...principles of His righteousness...” We do not stand before our Creator and Judge based upon a moral/ethical relativism that compares us to our neighbors, cultural sentiments, wisdom of the age, etc. We stand before Him based upon His standard, not ours.

“These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes” (Psalm 50:21).

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8,9).

He is not like us in a flexible, shifting idea of right and wrong based upon the feelings of the moment or a libertinism in which we are each our own law-giver. He is the unchanging, absolute God Who has given us His perfect standard in the Word of God. And we fall short. All of us. It’s not even close!

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:19,20,23).

Before the “principles of His righteousness,” all are guilty and merit only the eternal wrath of an eternally righteous God. “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15). The one who thinks he will gain entry into the eternal bliss because he is a “good person” has never read and believed God’s own testimony on the matter in Scripture. All are guilty before Him: “...there is none righteous, not even one...there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Romans 3:10,12, quoting from the Old Testament).

So, what is to be done?

Work harder?

Ignore the Law of the Judge and hope in blissful ignorance alone?

The answer is justification: the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith [Habakkuk 2:4]’” (Romans 1:16,17).

We must stand before God with a righteousness that is as perfect as His own, a righteousness that that not come from us (who are radically incapable of even coming close to achieving perfect righteousness before a perfectly righteous God).

Jesus must be our righteousness.

“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed [δικαιουται, “justified”] from all things, from which you could not be freed [δικαιωθηναι, “justified”] through the Law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39).

“...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26).

This confession of the righteousness of Christ being accounted to us by faith is under attack these days.1 We hold to it, not daring to think that in the coming Day the best efforts of our whole life lived will not match God’s perfect holy standard of righteousness. We plead Christ alone and His righteousness alone.

Those of you who think you can stand before God based on your own goodness or righteousness slander the cross of Christ! “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through [our keeping of] the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Galatians 2:21). Repent of your self-righteousness and embrace the justification that comes through faith in Jesus Christ’s righteousness!

We hold to this confession.


1 I have a friend that holds to the teachings of this movement (New Perspectives on Paul, as they're called). They seek to redefine "justification" as having nothing to do with our status as sinners before a holy God, calling this view of justification as being the result of Martin Luther's existential angst over his own guilty struggle with sin. They argue that Paul meant no such thing in his theology of justification, that the New Testament idea of justification has nothing to do with our sin before a holy God or how to be saved from His wrath. With this confession we hold not just to Martin Luther's reclaiming of the biblical doctrine of justification, but Jesus' own estimation of what it means to be justified before God! “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:13,14).

The King's Gift of Repentance

This Sunday in our corporate reading of the confession, we’ll be speaking of regeneration: “Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour” (Baptist Faith & Message 2000, IV.A).

“Repent” is the first command of the Gospel (Mark 1:15). I say “command,” and not “invitation,” for that’s exactly what it is. The command to “repent” comes in the context of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). The King doesn’t invite; He commands. We see this further in what is traditionally called “the Great Commission,” don’t we?

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“Repent” isn’t a popular approach to preaching the Gospel anymore, is it? Easy on modern sensibilities or not, it is the entryway into a saving obedience by faith to the Gospel (see Romans 1:5; 10:16; 16:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 for the idea of obeying the Gospel by faith). I suspect the command to “repent” in the Gospel has never been popular (like the true Gospel itself) because it labels us sinners so depraved that God Himself had to take on flesh and take His own wrath against us on Himself to accomplish the impossible: our salvation (Matthew 19:25,26; Mark 10:26,27; Luke 18:26,27). In an age where the religion is self and the worship self-esteem, the Gospel is scandal. As it should be. To help us overcome our inborn natural religion, God gives us a gift: the ability to obey His command to repent.

He gave it first to the Jews: “He is the One Whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

Then He gave it to the rest of us: “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life’” (Acts 11:18).

The Holy Spirit brings it to His people through the Scriptures, including the apostolic letter: “For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it - for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while - I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Note that both of these describe repentance not just at the initial moment of conversion, but continually in believers’ lives as they mortify sin. This, in fact, was Luther’s first point of the 95 Theses that sparked the Reformation (he nailed these to the Church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517)! The first Spirit-gifted repentance that begins our eternal life in Christ is a continual gift throughout this life as we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ until the eternal day of Glory.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time...you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God” (1 Peter 1:3-5,23). If you are a Christian, He has caused you to be born again through the preaching of His Word, and His Word begins the Gospel with the command to “repent.”

Has the King given you the continual gift to obey His command by the power of His Spirit?

Person Faith That Is Corporate

Today's reading from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 at Indian Hills Baptist Church will be from the introduction to article IV: “There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

Yes, it’s a personal faith in that no one else’s faith can be counted as yours for salvation. However, there is a tendency in our culture to compartmentalize faith to the extent that we regard it as private, isolated, and disconnected from others who share in that faith. The mythical, unbiblical “I can be Christian without the Church” mentality is “personal faith” taken to an extreme.

Faith. Note the following occurrences of the verb “to have faith,” translated “believe” (the Greek πιστεύω) in the Acts:

• “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47).
• “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:32-35).

So keep in mind: “personal faith” does not mean isolated, individualistic faith. It is a faith that does separate you from the world, but immediately and always binds you to the congregation of “those who have received a faith of the same kind...by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). It is a personal faith that is corporate; that is, of the Body.

“A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel” (VI).

See you at the Gathering, beloved.

We Confess Him to Be Our Father

As part of our worshiping together in our common confession this year, one of our men read concerning the first Person of the Trinity yesterday morning in our gathering: “God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men” (Baptist Faith & Message 2000, IIA).

Father. While in the Old Testament God was known to those in covenant with Him by the name יהוה (historically rendered “Jehovah,” these days “Yahweh,” the ALL-CAPS “LORD” in most English Bibles), in the New Testament the Church is told countless times to call the first Person of the Trinity “Father.”

Calling God “Father” is one of the clear signs of assurance that you have been sealed in your salvation through the Son by the Holy Spirit:

• “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God...” (Romans 8:14-16).
• “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:4-7).

Calling God “Father” is not just how Jesus taught us to pray to the first Person of the Trinity; it is also a reminder that the Church is actually an eternal family bound together in Christ with God as Father. Instead of praying “my Father,” we are told to pray “our Father” (Matthew 6:9; cf. Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:16; Philemon 3).

Because we have been saved through the Son and filled with the Holy Spirit, we call Him “Father.” Because the Church is our family in the Son, filled with the Spirit, we call Him “Father” together. Forever.

We confess the first Person of the blessed Trinity to be Father, and worship together as His children in this common confession of faith.