There it is in my favorite version, from which I preach and teach. The Apostle Paul sets forth the standard he followed and made it for everyone to whom he preached or taught. Beginning at Philippians 2:5, he tells us what Jesus did in order to meet these requirements. He became a man, even going so far as to die. Yes, He was "in the form of God." This is not difficult for us to believe, but He willingly took the lowest place, that of a servant and became obedient to the most disgraceful or shameful death. Yes, it was necessary, but in doing so he assumed the mind of one who must obey. Paul said that he desired that the Philippian brethren all be of the same mind. How could Paul justify such a request? He did it by pointing out that Jesus did it for us first.

Go over that language verse by verse and see just what was the "mind of Christ" which is the mind we should have. In fact, he told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2:16) that we have this mind. We talk of "a good mind": when we should say, "a stubborn mind." We talk of our weaknesses as though we would instruct the Lord. But, then, how do we have such a mind? It is by grace, through faith, according to which we have been identified with the Christ.

We think of how much he has done for us, but are only thinking that we have escaped the torments of hell and been given a better dwelling forever. Should we not also think of what He has done in accounting His mind to us, as ours. Or better said, He identifies with us, supervises our thoughts and actions, has a controlling influence over our thoughts. "1 Corinthians 2:16: "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Do you admit that His providing Himself, not merely as the pattern, but as the one who performs for us, has challenged us to a humility which is utterly beyond our own thinking?

Why did He do it? He loves us. A mother's love is sweet and kind and almost impossible to conceive, but in it we see some of the spark of His love. A Father's love may seem very stern, but in it we see some of the authority of the love of Christ. How important it is that a man and a woman know these things before they begin a home together or bring children into the world!

The Security Of The Believer
When we find great comfort and consolation in the doctrine of the security of the believer, we must not forget that this does not excuse us from obeying the Lord. As I hear preachers explaining the meaning of this substitutionary work of Christ I often get the idea that they are implying that our sinfulness makes no difference. All of our sins are gone; our salvation is preserved on our behalf. But we must not imply that it makes no difference how we live, whether or not we obey. Sometimes, when they hear me explain the truth of this doctrine they are ready, even quick to accuse me, of preaching salvation by works. But that is not what I mean. 1 Peter 2:24

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

That covers the matter of His taking our sins and paying for them. Hear it put a little different: "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2:15-22):

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

These marvelous words of inspiration tell us about an almost unimaginable provision afforded us by His grace. It tells of His bearing our sins, His creating a new type of living creature, made nigh by the blood of Christ. All men, those near (Jews) and those far from God (Gentiles), are now made one in Him. Their unity is with Christ, but also with one another. Surely we must see he is speaking of the church, filled with the Holy Spirit.

Only these are one with her Head, and so, with each other. It is not just about being born again, saved by the blood, of being enemies with each other, but now made both one, and hath broken down "the middle wall of partition" between them. This is a revelation which may have been missed. The very law which was designed to identify God's standard of righteousness and challenge men to look to Him for what their obedience to commandments could not do, (he calls it the law of comandments... in ordinances," he has abolished in His flesh, so making peace, "by the cross").

Ordinances cannot make peace, nor give peace in the heart, because law puts the flesh to the test and it can only fail. Even Christians, some in Bible days, as in Galatians, and some today, as when saved people, including Baptists emphasize keeping commandments. This stirs up more strife. Perhaps the Security of the Believer is the most detested doctrine of all those held by Baptists. People see it producing a people of pride who feel or believe they are keeping it better than others. But the blood has made provision for sin and lawlessness by the cross. Faith is within reach of every man. The law only becomes the bone of contention and does not make any man righteous.

The mystery mentioned often in this passage is indeed a secret, even today. Strange ideas are used to describe, indicating people hardly knowing how to think about the mystery of the gospel. Mystery means "a secret purpose," formerly hidden but now revealed, but only to those able or willing to believe it. How can men be brought to identify with God in Christ? Their whole lives are turned around and peace and joy fills them so that outward circumstances come to mean little as contrasted with the gracious ways and actions of God toward men who trust him. This "trust" is not a mere childhood belief that Christ is God, but it has to do with God's unfolding to the heart of the saints "of the household of God" the elements of that love and power and goodness which continues to grow and enhance His wisdom all our lives.

Let me point out a situation not in accord with this relationship in the lives of many who claim to have trusted Christ. To them, salvation is already over. "I fixed it up with Jesus forty years ago." No, one is not able to "fix it up permanently," but only in the beginning of what God requires. His description of a believer who is in a right relationship, is in the phrase "in Christ." One comes to this position by surrender. He had been brought to recognize himself a sinner. He gave up on this, and God sent peace into his soul, assuring Him by His love that He had been accepted. Then he begins to feel an obligation to follow the Lord. He has a desire to do anything, or everything, which God would desire Him to do. He must openly acknowledge his relationship to Christ with a public announcement. A desire to identify openly comes in the form of a willingness to obey.

The first act of obedience has taught his heart a desire to follow Christ in baptism. When Jesus Himself came to earth His first sign of obedience was "explained" in a willingness to be baptized. God had sent John to perform this act with heaven's authority, so Christ will be manifest to Israel as their Savior and Lord. It pictures how this will be made possible. Every Jew had seen it in the types of the Old Testament, the dying of an animal, the innocent suffering for the guilty. But John the Baptist had a commission to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

John prepared a people with a message having two main paints: "Repent" and "be baptized" Acts 2:38:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

When Jesus referred to this, as he frequently did, it was "be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with" (cf. Matthew 20:22-23 Mark 10:38-39; Luke 3:7, 12; Luke 12:50).

What Shall We Do?
Often when people are anxious to have the consolation they are told belongs to a believer, they come up with the question stated in this subhead:

"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages." (Luke 3:7-14)

The mixture of things he replied that we could do is a genuine challenge to our faith. Go over that list, but do not dare to suggest that our doing these things in the strength of our minds and flesh will satisfy God. All that we do should simply be the yielded heart's reply in gratitude for what He has done for us. When we read Paul's discussion of what he told the groups, the churches, which he established and taught, the language is filled with statements describing his giving, his praying, his working, his teaching, his loving. He worked, all the burden of his heart spilled out in his yearning and loving those people. As examples read Ephesians 1:1-23. Why not just read right on into the next chapter, at least ten verses. Did Paul prescribe all this working, praying, and doing as part of what is necessary for him to stay saved or to enter the kingdom? No, it was truth attached to the preaching of the Gospel, the plan of salvation, or the outworking of that salvation in works of faith. For another example read 2 Corinthians 2:1-16.

It is a delight to me to go over these passages and to recall many more. They describe the believer's experience. So many things enter until we find ourselves recommending such reading with assurance that you will be blessed, as I have, in looking into these things. All this describes what it means to be in Christ. Does this activity, this preaching, praying, working, and trying, describe every man's experience who has trusted Jesus as Savior? No, I fear it does not, for so many of us have never thought of all this as being a part of the Gospel, or a part of the wonderful experience which God has allowed us to partake of for His glory, for the conviction and uplifting of many, and for our growing in grace.

Our experience, even our teaching in Bible School, has tended to break down the working of God's grace in providing this experience, dividing it into segments. We learn salvation as a plan and the growth in grace as not being related to the initial experience at all. When I read Paul's description of His faithfulness in fulfilling God's purpose for him in reaching Gentiles for Christ I am stricken with conviction and to feel his joy, his peace of heart over those who responded, and how he rejoiced in the experience. He talked of this grace and this peace as a daily, even hourly experience, and always with God's Holy Spirit working it out, saving his life, then risking it for others, of his being a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and his liberty and freedom in Him.

Have you ever thought what might be the sense of Matthew 25:28: "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents"? Go back to the beginning of the story (Matthew 25:14). Jesus said his coming is not on a known date. See v. 13. So we have to watch. In illustration He said the situation is like a man who had many servants. He called these and put each in charge of a certain amount of his "goods." One man was left with only one "talent," that is, money. The man knew it was valuable, he feared his master, not wanting to make him angry, for he thought of him as being "hard." Perhaps he was not "hard" in a mean or ugly sense. We know He was not, since the story is the story of our Lord, going away, back to the Father.

The story pauses to tell us that the man, because of his fear of his Master, was willing to risk his anger, so he hid the money and intended to hand it to the Master when He returns (Matthew 25:24-27).

26 "His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (with interest)."

It then is clearly stated that the Master is the returning Christ who is the Judge . He calls this fearing servant, an unprofitable servant. The business of the Lord's servants is to work for the honor and glory of the Master. Am I one of those unprofitable servants? I should ask myself and be honest with my answer, now, for then it will be too late. This is the judgment in which all of his servants are judged (Matthew 25:34-40). There is to be a mighty disturbance among men just before and right after the Lord's coming. He will explain the facts which show how His judgment applies. Each man will be judged according as he has helped or ignored his fellow servants. How important it is that we learn from our Lord. He has a right sense of values, not depending on outward appearances but on whether or not they have served in faith and in love.

We may say we love the Lord, that our intentions are to do His will, but He knows our hearts and makes no mistakes when he consigns those on His right hand to positions of ruling with Him in the kingdom, and those on his left to eternal separation from God.

Truly Saved, or Deceived
There is a sense in which all men are referred to as "servants" of God. Whether they intend to be or not, it is God's will that all men come to Him and be His servants. If we have divided His work into segments, a plan, and a developing, we may use these divisions to explain things in ways they should not be. I know what I hear when I speak of God's grace at work in initial faith and continuing to work in the believer's growing up. This is a decision which may endanger a new believer. If we are to lead men to usefulness we surely will have to emphasize God's grace as it was seen in Jesus, not merely as it is said to work in an alien sinner.

Again and again we have seen those who are servants, or called servants, who lost their position, and will not inherit with the faithful. This should give us genuine concern as to whether our experience has been affecting our hearts, whether we shall continue as subjects of the blessed hope. "In Christ" we are safe, safe forever, but being unsafe does not mean eternally lost. Still, we must take the language of the Bible as literally as possible and live by faith.

Living By Faith, Galatians
I was awake a night or two ago and decided to read. My Bible was on the headboard, so I read the Book of Galatians. Mindful that this was written by Paul, a man who at one time stood for the law of Moses and believed it was for everybody. But if you read it as Paul the converted servant of the Lord, you will see arguments that may astound you. Certainly he makes it clear that our keeping the commandments is not the way to maintain our position before the Lord. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6). Someone, not a friend to Paul, was trying to destroy him and get rid of the Gospel which He preached. This is clear as we read. Can you imagine the frustration if at every turn there is a purported friend, or an enemy, presenting what is represented as Gospel Truth, but Paul says it is "another gospel," not the one he had given these Galatians.

Often by the time a story gets back to me of things I have supposedly taught, it is nothing like I had never taught. We cannot say the one who reports the story has lied, but he is looking through the language, even Bible language, and allowing his own prejudices to suppose that he was correctly reporting the incident. In such a case we must repeat our position, but again the same misjudgment may come back again.

Is this why many professed believers never talk about Scripture or the Truth in the Bible? I even hear family members and those who do not mean to misrepresent, saying that I like to argue the Scriptures. The word "argue" suggests that a controversy is already set up, and I am defending it. But this is not really the thing which prompts Bible discussion. There is simply too little real believing of what God has said. How can people grow in grace and become mature believers, if it is not often reviewed and tested? Let me say it again. "Living by faith" means simply that we accept the Truth of God's word, we believe it is the Truth, and we claim it as promised by the Lord Himself. The people who argue the Bible are those who do not believe what it really says, have not claimed it as instruction to themselves, and are unwilling to hear it now.

Perhaps there is a suggestion in our minds that somebody who goes repeatedly to a passage which is not understood by all or most all professing Christians, is not truly saved himself. But this is not true either. One does not get the whole sense of a passage merely because he has trusted Jesus, and he may never get all of it. If one approaches the Bible with sincere conviction that it is the Word of God, and there are no errors in it, he is on the way to understanding it, even though a large segment of professing Christians do not understand it. It is a large book; it has the whole truth in it and nothing but the truth when we truly listen. This makes it easy to grasp the sense, though one may come up with conclusions which few others have. I confess that there are a few areas in which I am not as settled on what is said as on most all the rest. Tradition is a powerful area, but it may be error.

Go to Romans 3. Perhaps you should start in chapter two where Paul takes up the matter of outward forms as against Abraham's simply claiming God's promise. Abraham claimed the purity, the cleanness of circumcision. Does that mean that the circumcision has merit for cleansing? No, it means that believing God's promise Abraham was set right before God, and THEN he was circumcised (Romans 4:10). Now observe that word "reckoned." There's the secret. Our taking God at His word sets us right before God. Then we are at liberty to serve, to pray, to rejoice in Him.

Baptism in the new covenant compares to circumcision in the old or law covenant. Neither actually cleanses the flesh, but the outward form taught the need for a cleansing, or a putting off or away. In the new covenant the outward form of circumcision is lacking but the spiritual lesson is applicable. See Colossians 2:11-13. The outward ordinance served under the Old Covenant, but it has a spiritual significance. In fact, it is called "the circumcision of Christ." The outward ordinance (circumcision in the Old, baptism in the New), when applied by faith becomes a spiritual thing. Baptism has been a ground for confusion and much controversy among men since Christ.

Thousands of Baptists died through the dark ages. Was this for nothing? No, because it was understood to identify a people who take God at His Word. It takes a literal death to stop the flesh from sinning. God's Spirit raised our Lord from literal death to literal life, and the same Spirit can serve us today if we believe Him for spiritual life. Perhaps, also, the flesh body of the saved man is quickened. Read the prayer of Jesus in John 17.

Perhaps the first emphatic point in this prayer of Jesus was that as His Father gave Him a resurrection body, He has given eternal life to those who believe Him. How does it feel to have eternal life? You can tell it by your keeping His Word. The glory of God can fill our life by His Spirit. As you are keeping God's word you find assurance that you have been given to Christ. Read v. 14 and see if you cannot recognize another experience that assures you that you are kept by the power of God. The world obviously hates you, if you are standing on the Word.

If you are busily practicing Political Correctness so as to never offend anyone, you may be missing the point. It seems to me that this generation has listened to the news, listened to the psychologists and various counselors until they have built up a spirit of compromise with the world. I promise you that the world will not return the compliment. You may agree not to criticize anybody. This is political correctness, but it is spiritual suicide. If you stand for the Word, so that men know your position, they will crucify you (figuratively) just as they did the Christ (cf. John 7:7; John 15:18.) The world has established certain proofs of "good citizenship": Do not ask a man's income; do not criticize anybody; do not offend him. Sometimes a man's age is a "secret" which cannot be touched.

Even an effort on our part not to offend will be missed and the world will go right on hating us if we take an open stand for God. They want it kept inside our church house or in our own houses. What better arrangement could Satan make than this. But the gospel must be preached. The Truth must be told. We simply must remember that obeying God is better than listening to men of the world. Obeying God is better than sacrifices for lessons.

Fox's Book of Martyrs
Have you heard of this old book? It has a lesson for us. Thousands of Baptists died for their faith. What was the issue? The doctrine of baptism as a profession of faith in Christ. Why this? Because it is the most hated of the expressions of faith. Men have believed that Jesus died for their sins and was raised for their justification Rom. 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Does it mean that much? Yes!

But the time has come in America when Baptists no longer feel that their open confession is such as deserves martyrdom. Jesus thought it was worth His dying for us. He was raised by it, Rom. 6:4: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." That we might have the incentive to stand on their faith we insist that at baptism there is something takes place upon living men and women. Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." That said, "live in the flesh." Does this not speak of something happening? He calls it "crucified with Christ."

It is not something which a man in the flesh does or can do, but "Christ liveth in me" and this "by the faith of the Son of God." 3:22 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." There it is in the same chapter. 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." That "crucified" and "baptized into Christ " makes the connection. If we have never read to believe the words how can we be faithful, living by faith? Go over those two chapters again, along with Rom. 6:3-5: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

There you see the crucifixion, the circumcision, the baptism into Christ, and our being planted together with Him, all in one passage. It is not that just joining a Baptist church and saying one is saved, gets us the resurrection life It comes by the Spirit of Christ, through the faith of Christ. If Missionary Baptists are to benefit in this extreme grace and be on the right hand of Christ in the judgment, there must be some walking by faith, coming into the relationship which Jesus promised (John 14–17) and living with Christ through prayer.

We must be very close to the tribulation which is to come before Jesus comes. There is no other way to stand with Him when He arrives and calls all men to judgment.

We frankly have rushed through this last explanation, but this does not mean there is any doubt about the meaning. It is obvious that God has planned a special work for this final age in which all men are asked to receive the supreme gift of the grace provided in the Son. If you have found it difficult, or impossible, to resist temptation and live in the glow of that light which comes in Christ, is it because you have neglected to be baptized, taken an open stand with Christ the crucified One, and maybe given up on ever being a witness to others?

We are not apostles, but there is a promise from Jesus: Heb. 13:5: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

This is a doctrine which many seem never to have learned. God makes himself known. He leads, He explains, He interprets. John 14: 26: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

This relationship gives us a real advantage over what was afforded in the Old Testament. The whole of John 17 is a prayer revealing His love and His desire for regular fellowship with His disciples. Our part is to enjoy the peace, talk to Him of our needs, our fears, of any matter which has to do with our Christian walk. If believers are busy in this relationship, whether at home or in church, why do we live as though we had no concern for our families, our neighbors, and even our own spiritual strength and comfort?

Encouragement at Bethel
Last month we mentioned our having some new additions. These brethren come highly recommended, not just by the church where they had been going. They live over at Fayetteville, but had found a church which they hoped would afford them opportunity to grow and be encouraged while encouraging others. That church did not give us any reason but told us they could not give us letters because of their heresy. Since they did not tell us we have only one recourse, to receive this family on their statement of faith and Scriptural baptism. They had not indicated any heresy in this family until they asked for letters to come with us. Perhaps that is what is wrong. It makes us feel bad for them, for the heresy must be in that church.

The Katrina disturbance caused the power company to send a crew from Harrison to help with power outages. Bro. Mike Horne, our Bible Class Teacher, had to go and spent nearly three weeks. This did not cost the tax payers anything. It is shameful that nearly everybody looks to the government for help in such matters. Every part of this freedom loving country came to the rescue of those left without homes, pets, and all their belongings. Tons of food and water went by trucks and ministered to many in that area. Perhaps FEMA and other Federal Agencies have spent more money, they have done far less. It is just one evidence that charity is not the sphere of government. Charity is meaningful when it emanates from loving hearts of individuals who give their time, their strength and their substance out of compassion.

But government, and liberals in politics, have about educated the American public to think it is the place of government. Very obviously, we are seeing the confusion which turns people away from trusting God to trusting the leaders in government. This is a tragedy for all who believe the Truth. Is there any wonder that churches themselves are deceived by this error?

Rampant Deception
In my lifetime we have seen the spirit of this world, worldliness, take over in such a way that even many Church members are governed by the deceptions as Truth. It likely is because we Baptists have not continued faithful to the Word, but have accepted many of the errors of the common people. Evolution, for example, is accepted since it is in the textbooks, and teachers are not always able to contradict what is seen there. Divorce is an accepted means of handling family dissension. This leaves the children in an atmosphere which is not conducive to the authority which fathers are supposed to have. Women taking jobs in the world is another evidence of Satan's deception. People see the advance in technology and feel they need all the inventions in the kitchen, in automobiles, etc., and one income is not sufficient. The wife is freed from some of her drudgery, but has taken up another.