March                                                                                                 May

All Things Work Together    Ordination at Brownwood Texas    The Parable of the Trees    Creation vs. Evolution    Lead Us Not into Temptation    Reading the Bible on a Daily Basis   Point Enterprise Meeting     Authority and Leadership    Uncle Ed's Philosophy    Impeccability of Jesus Christ     There are Eleven      What's in it for me?    Tour Through The Bible    Spiritual Things of Tense  Meetings    Obituaries 

In Romans chapter 8, verse 28 we read the words of Paul, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." I suppose that I have heard this preached many times during the years of my ministry and have tried to preach on it myself a few times.

At one time I took the all things as meaning everything that God does, than at other times I took it as the things listed below in this text. Some down through the years, took it as everything that happens to a person works for his good, rather it be good or evil that the Lord in the end makes it all work to his or her good.

Saying this I realize that there are some things that seems to be all wrong, it seems to be evil and yet we find that the Lord sometimes takes the evil works of men, such as Joseph being sold in to slavery and years later bringing him to be the deliverer of the very ones that sold him.

I feel that the only safe ground is to keep it in the context in which it is written. I want you to notice that verse 28 mentions the all things and then in verses 31 and 34 Paul says, "what shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." It seems to me by the context that the all things in verse 28 are the same as these things in verse 31 and whatever these all things are is freely given to us in verse 32. Then verse 33 brings in election.

Do you realize as we look at this text that verse 28 when Paul says, "Who are the called according to his purpose." That the calling is dealing with us being called in a covenant sense and all that are called, the all things work together for good to them that love God. Then in verse 29 & 30 he starts out by saying, "o whom he did foreknow, still dealing with the ones in verse 28, the word, foreknow carries the thought of whom he has an intimate relationship with, that is those that he called in covenant.

Then he lists 5 things. "For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

So in verse 28 he says, all things, then in verses 29 & 30 he tells us what the all things are, then in verse 31 says, What shall we then say to these things? then in verse 32 tells us that these all things are freely given to us. We are dealing with what the Lord has done for us that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

He called us in covenant, he predestinated us, he called us from a dead state in sin into a life in Jesus Christ, he justified us and he glorified us. This is what it took for a wicked sinner to reach heaven. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. This is a wonderful doctrine that Paul is teaching and ends up in this chapter saying that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. AMEN

On March 30, 2002, at the request of the Brownwood Primitive Baptist church, a presbytery was formed to set aside Brother Jay Adams to the full work of the ministry.

Elder Vance Rodgers served as Moderator; Brother Gene Johnson, clerk, and Elder Norman Cooper offered the prayer.

Elders and Deacons laid on hands and the prayer was delivered by Elder Cooper. Elder Rodgers delivered the charge. This being done, Elder Cooper made a motion and was seconded by Elder Jernigan to dismiss the presbytery, and Brother Adams was returned to the Church a fully ordained Elder.

Minutes were read by the clerk, motion made and seconded by Elders Jack Johnson and Archie Robertson to accept the minutes as read and will become church property.

A song was sung as the Elders and Deacons gave him the right hand of fellowship followed by church members and visitors.

Elders attending: Jack Johnson, Howard Jernigan, Norman Cooper, Archie Robertson and Vance Rodgers.

Deacons attending: Gene and Gerald Johnson, Troy and Campbell Koen, Robert Morris, and A. G. Kinchloe.

Elder Vance Rodgers, Pastor

Sister Patsy Johnson, Clerk

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There will be no service at Brownwood, Texas on third Sunday, in June, so as to give members the opportunity to attend the Camp Meeting at Mt. Olive at that time.

Patsy Johnson, Church Clerk

I am writing to let all know what a wonderful meeting we had at Seagoville Primitive Baptist Church, recently.

We had 17 elders and heard some wonderful preaching; lots of young members. Not all were of our belief but we were thrilled to get young folks in our church.

We ask for your prayers for our churches, the Elders and families of our pastors. And we want to thank you for the wonderful job you do getting the Banner of Love issued each month. May God continue to be with the staff that makes the Banner of Love what it is.

In Christian Love,

Pete and Joyce McCoy

Alba, Texas

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Once the trees held a council and decided they wanted someone to rule over them, according to a parable given by Jotham and recorded in Judges 9:8.

When they asked the olive tree to rule them; it declined asking why it should give up producing the olive oil, which is used in the worship of God, just to become a ruler over its fellow trees.

Next, they went to the fig tree and asked it to become their ruler. It too declined on the ground that producing "sweetness" was more important than ruling.

Then, they went to the grapevine and asked it to rule over them, but the grapevine said, why should I cease making wine to gladden the hearts of men to be ruler?

This parable teaches me that even the most humble duty in the service of God is too good to give up to become a ruler in the church. Dear brother, if you sing, pray or preach, don't give it up to try to rule over your fellow saints. Go on in fruit bearing, and if there is any "scratching" done, let the brambles do that. I don't mean that those who fall into the error of fussing are not children of God, but they are living after the old bramble nature.

H. G. Richards, The Banner of Love, 1934

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FOR MANY YEARS

I am glad to get the Banner of Love for many years. So keep it coming. Am sending a little more money to help out with stamps.

For our love of Christ, we thank you.

Curtis and Catherine Poteet

Floydada, Texas

Jesus gives us an example of prayer in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the sixth chapter of the gospel of Matthew. Verse 13 reads, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

A question arises, "Does God lead His people into temptation?"

The active person in this verse would be the Father to whom the prayer is made, and we [the ones asking the prayer] would make the request. The request is for God to "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

There are at least two kinds of temptation found in scripture, one of solicitation to evil or sinful temptation, and the other of a "trial," but not of or to sin. We must not pray to God that he not tempt us to sin, because James writes in 1:13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." The kind of temptation that God does is that of a trial or a testing, such as He did with Abraham in Genesis 22:1-14, concerning the offering of Isaac.

This was done to prove to Abraham that he would be faithful. Even this kind of testing can be a difficult task for one, but has positive results for those that endure the trial.

1 Pet. 1:6-7, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found into praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

The scriptures teach us that the trial or testing of our faith may result in great benefits for us in this life whether our trials come from God or from persecution from men. We can and should endure hardness as good soldiers of the cross of Christ. We cannot totally escape the temptations that try us in this life, but we can rejoice that God will not suffer our temptations to be greater than we can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

However, the application of testing does not seem to me to be that which the prayer in Matthew 6 indicates. Jesus would not direct us to ask the Father that we do not have any trials or testing of our faith, and then inspire James to write, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." Both Peter and James show the need and great benefit of the trial of our faith, and even Paul states that "tribulation worketh patience."

Romans 5:3. James writes of a "falling into" temptations; Jesus encouraged his disciples to watch and pray, that ye "enter not into temptation." Matt. 26:41; and in Matthew 6:13, the prayer is that He "lead us not into" temptation.

One of the key words in verse 13 is the word "not."

It is understood that Jesus is our leader and we are His followers, and the prayer to the Father is, that as He leads us, that He lead us "not" into temptation. Our adversary, the devil, the tempter, "walketh about seeking whom he may destroy," and "evil is present with" us always though we are born of the Spirit. Satan, the evil one, always tempts us with evil in a sinful and wicked way.

In light of all the above scripture, the prayer would indicate a request that God "lead us not into" or that He "lead us away from "evil temptation, the word "not" indicating "away from" evil temptation. A comma follows the word temptation in this verse, and the sentence continues to say, "But deliver us from evil." This indicates the desire of the prayer, that we be delivered not into temptation, but rather "away from" the evil [one].

The last phrase in this verse also strengthens this thought in that it begins with the word "for". "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever."

His kingdom is perfect and undefiled. No evil is present therein. The prayer asks for "thy kingdom come," and as long as we dwell in His kingdom, we will be delivered not into temptation but from evil. The entire prayer is a request that while we live our lives in this world that we live it in His kingdom, thereby we are delivered from evil temptations and the wickedness of this world.

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AUTHORITY and LEADERSHIP

By Elder Hulan Bass

I would like to emphasize the words "authority" and then "spiritual leadership."

These are two key expressions.

First let's consider AUTHORITY, then LEADERSHIP.

The Militant Visible Organic, Organized Church on Earth has only ONE HEAD - Jesus Christ - as per - Matt. 7:29 - "For he taught them as one having AUTHORITY, and not as the scribes." He is really the ONLY AUTHORITY.

Now the AUTHORITY RULE BOOK is the Holy Scriptures, especially the N.T.

So, I find that Jesus "set the pace." Luke 4:16-----22. Read all of this. Next especially notice Verse 20 - After he had read from O.T. Prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2, notice then what He did with the BOOK - "And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down." Notice Jesus Himself, the HEAD of the Church placed the RULE BOOK in the hands of the Minister. That is HOW and ONLY HOW the minister has the RULE OVER the church - Heb. 13:7 - "Remember them which have the RULE (Book) over you. Heb. 13:17 - "Obey them that have the RULE (Book) over you, and submit yourselves."

How is he to do this? By presenting the "Rules" unto you, the church-member, by carefully and distinctly "Rightly Dividing," the Word of Truth, and giving the sense thereof, causing them to understanding the reading. Neh. 8:8. Never should the pastor say to any member, or even imply, "Now you do this or that because I say so." The church membership should never be guided by the pastors theories, philosophies and ideas, apart from the "Rightly Divided Word of Truth." 2^nd Tim. 2:15.

Now the MINISTER himself DOES NOT, personally, have the RULE (Authority) as a DICTATOR over anyone. But He is IN CHARGE OF THE RULE BOOK, and it is what has the RULE over the whole church. It is the minister's responsibility to read, preach and teach the RULE BOOK to the church congregation, and he is very responsible to RIGHTLY DIVIDE such, or else he will have to answer to the HEAD.

The Office of the Minister - Pastor - is not a separate Island of Independence, but the Pulpit is WITHIN the framework of the Church Body - the Body of Christ, and his office, as well as the Deacon's are both subject the discipline of the body. Yet the Minister is to read, teach, preach, instruct, guide, direct, lead, oversee, set the example by also living and practicing what he preaches.

Also, Luke 22:13-------30 - teaches many lessons by the Head of the Church, Jesus Himself, after the First Lord's Supper, Communion of Bread and Wine, Jesus pointed out that one would betray him (Verse 21-22 and in Verse 23 - they began to inquire among themselves who it was. Now here is the MAJOR point - Verse 24 - tells that at the same time - simultaneously while they were discussed who would betray Him, they were ALSO in a strife as to which of them should be accounted the GREATEST.

These Apostles, the foundation officers of the N.T. Church were in a big argument as to which was the GREATEST. That's normal human nature. Yet, Jesus began to teach them the RANKING or EQUALITY of each member of the N.T. Church beginning with these 12 officers. He illustrates the "Chain of Command," and Hierarchy of the Roman Civil Government that was ruling at that very time. He states that He know they understand that there is Caesar, then Kings, Governors, Tetrarchs, etc. - Verse 25 - "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles (Romans) exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise AUTHORITY upon them are called benefactors."

Then Jesus contrasts this type of governmental procedures, which is the usual and norm for that day and time, and even today in America, in our Capitalistic Free-Enterprise Corporate way of doing business there is essentially the same (in principle) type of "Authority,"  from the CEO, Chairman of the Board, President, VP right on down to the worker on the assembly line and even the janitor. But Jesus states sometime that should be blazoned in neon flashing lights - Verse 26 - "BUT YE SHALL NOT BE SO; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." 

Then Jesus reinforces this premise in Verse 27 - "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."

This ended their argument right there.

Would we not all agree that in normal social gatherings the society rule would be that the Host and Guests are much more important and greater than the "servants?"

So the hierarchy goes out the window. There is none. However, there is two offices of  leadership and business administration - 1st Cor. 12:4--6; Acts 6:3-4.

Even the younger, or the older, or the one who began working in the vineyard early gets the SAME pay as the one who only joined at the eleventh hour - Matt. 20:1----16.

In closing we quote - Acts 20:28 - "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

So we must conclude by noticing the role of the Ministers is that of a SERVANT - "to feed the church." The Overseers, in the grammar of this context, indicates clearly that the preacher is relegated to the position of "Overseeing the Feeding."

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Lubbock Meeting - Elder Steve Bloyd, right of Falls Church, Maryland, was the guest minister at a three-day meeting April 19-21, 2002 at the Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church, Texas. from left are Elder Gail Faries, associate pastor, and Lubbock Church Pastor Elder George Johnson. Elder Bloyd's ministry began with the Lubbock church years ago where he served as a deacon before the called for his ordination to the ministry.

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UNCLE ED'S PHILOSOPHY

Even though the morning air is cold, the sun is shining, and it looks like it will be a beautiful day.

An old gentleman is seen walking down the street, then he stops momentarily and sits down on the bench in the small park across the street from the post office.

As he pulls off his gloves, he starts to examine the mail he had in his hand. Then a young man approached him, and said: "Well, Uncle Ed, how are you this morning?"

Ed: Well fine. I was enjoying this sunshine, after a cold night. How has it been going with you, Brother Tom?

Tom: Oh, fine. I have just been out visiting some of the church people, and was just getting ready to go to your house.

Ed: Well, that's fine. I am always glad to see you. Things get pretty quiet around my place during the week. What do you know?

Tom: Oh, not much. One matter I was worrying about. I used for a subject at church last Sunday, where we are taught to train up our children in the way of the Lord, and when they grow old they will not depart from them. do you remember that scripture?

Ed: Sure. and it is a good thing. I would have enjoyed hearing your sermon. Good liberty?

Tom: Oh, I don't know. I felt like I handled the subject pretty well, but after church a brother was talking with me, and he has me disturbed about it. Ed: Well, well, tell me about it.

Tom: This brother said he did not understand the scripture. He knew how it read, and he listened to me, but he said he had brought his children up in the church, taught them the true principles, he thought, and all of them were members of the church, but one of his boys had become cold, married a girl of another church, and now he has left the church, and joined in with his wife, and seems not to care for the church anymore.

Ed: I see. But I don't see what this has to do with the scripture you mentioned.

Tom: Don't you see, he was fine when he was a child, but as he grew older, he departed from the church and its teachings. This is what had his father disturbed. Ed: Don't tell me. How old is this son, anyway?

Tom: About 22 or 23 years of age.

Ed: Now that's great, I am crowding 80. Since when is a person barely out of his teens to be classed as being old?

Tom: Oh, I never thought of it that way.

Ed: Well, you better start thinking that way. Don't you think?

Tom: I guess you are right.

Ed: I could give you many instances of people, who were brought up in the atmosphere of the church, and left after growing up. But these true principles were moved away back in their minds, to be kept and nourished, sometimes almost unconsciously. I know one man like this, and after he was past 70 his doctor told him that whatever he planned to do he better get done, because his days were numbered. And, do you know, one of the things he wanted was to return to the old home church, and be baptized, and die in the church.

I could recall accounts of many more people like this.

A true principle instilled in the mind of a child will never leave. They may be shoved back for years and years, but at the right time, they will be remembered.

Tom: Thank you, you have helped me. I will be seeing you again soon.

Tense of time in scriptures proves either spiritual works comes before or after spiritual life. Which is it? It is because of, not in order to. Condition or state of being? Answer, state of being.

Is the horse before or after the cart? Which comes first, tree or fruit? Can something dead make it's self alive?

Consistently held in systematic theology is the error that spiritual works precedes salvation. The purpose of the Bible gospel, in truth, is not how to but how you already have been saved.

All the New Testament books are addressed to those already saved: Eph. 1:1, II Cor. 1:1, I Cor. 1:2, Rom. 1:6, Acts 1:1, Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:2, 1 Thes. 1:14, Gal. 1:2, II Thes. 1:1, Tim. 1:1-2, Philemon 1:2, Heb. 3:1, James 1:1, 1 Pet. l:1-2, 1 John 1:4, II Pet.. 1:1, John 1:1-4, II John 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev. 1:1, Mat, Mark, Luke and John:; [see Romans 15:16-18, v. 27]; 1 Cor. 2:14. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." John 3:27, "A man can receive nothing, except that it be given him from heaven." Nothing means, no thing.

Spiritual things: belief, faith, love, redemption, justification, sanctification, hearing, seeing, grace, spirituality, calling, election, holiness, light, peace, joy, The Covenant, resurrection, imputation, adoption, and the Gospel. Only the born again receive spiritual things.

Spiritual life comes first and then action. As shown in the following scriptures, is for past" is for present, and is for future. Keep in mind throughout, that tense and order of things in this matter are as past, present and final. To wit: John 6:47, "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." V. 29, This is the work of God, that ye believe. V. 65, [first] given of my father: [second] Man can come unto me. Ch. 8:47, He that is of God, heareth God's word, ye therefore heareth them not, because ye are not [born] of God. Ch. 3:3, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. V. 15....Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16...That whosoever believeth [the work of God first, John 6:29]. have everlasting life. V. 36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; [does not say shall believe]. V. 27, A man receive nothing, except that it be given [gift] from heaven. Ch. 5:24, Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth [John 6:29] on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.

II Tim. 1:9, Who hath saved us [first] and called us, [second.] Rom. 1:16....Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, [second-God's work; John 6:29. John 1:12-13 [1] But as many as received Him [past]. [2] to them gave [past] He power to become sons of God. [3] even to them that believe [present] on His name. [4] which were born [past], not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.

Thusfore, God's will, which was before [4] or - our rebirth, [3], our belief, [2] our power to become sons and [1] by our receiving Him, each of which preceding the other. 1 John 5:1, Whosoever, believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born [Greek has been begotten] of God.

Help can come only from God. I am that I am, The same yesterday, today and forever.

You've got all the time you need, speaking of "tense." The future has already been taken care for you 2,000 years ago, by that help that only God can give [and gave] you!

In Christ, Brother Elvin Dick

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READING THE BIBLE ON DAILY BASIS

Dear Brother Don and Sister Opal: Just had to send you a note to tell you how much I appreciate your articles on "Tour Through the Bible. I have been struggling to try and read the Bible on a daily basis, not really understanding half of what I've read. In fact, I read Exodus three times and still had a lot of questions.

This last month's paper came and there was an article on Exodus which was helpful to me. I started in Leviticus and read and re-read again. Then this month's paper came and there was your article on Leviticus. So, I just had to thank you for your efforts. I have also purchased a Ryeie Bible, which is also helping me to understand. I asked the Lord for help and He has answered my prayers two-fold. When we pray with a sincere heart and believe, His answer comes swiftly.

Hope this finds our brothers and sisters in Texas enjoying our Father's blessings. We have prayed that the Lord would send you and your family consolation in the loss of Melba. Brother Steve has told us he was so glad that he could be with you in your sorrow.

Mt. Carmel has rejoiced in the fact that disciples were sent this way from other parts of the country, namely, Elder Stewart and Elder Huffman. Both have been called to serve churches and while we are happy for them, we miss their fellowship.

I am enclosing a check to renew our subscription to The Banner of Love. Please use the remainder as you see fit. Come and see us when you are able. The time flies by so quickly, seems it was just yesterday when we had the trip to Hopewell and we had the opportunity to fellowship and worship with you all.

We pray that our Lord will continue to bless all of your efforts. Tell everyone we said, Hello, and send our love.

Thank you again, for all the hard work that is put forth in publishing the paper.

May God bless you all.

In Christian Love,

Bro. Roy and Sister Syl Davis

Baltimore, MD

P.S. Also enjoyed your article, "Never". I too, have eaten the word many times. I say, Amen, to the last two lines of your article, There is no way we can earn it. It is purely His gift.

Note: Thank you for your money gift and the lovely letter. I have lovely memories of you folks, especially the night you met me at the Baltimore airport at midnight, with a copy of Elder Richard's book in your hand; and the trip to Hopewell, N.J. and other times of fellowship. Opal Richards.

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Please use this for the support of the paper, wherever it may be needed Am still enjoying the many good articles and church news. Thank you for all you both do.

I have written another article; but have not sent it, because we are still not settled. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. And may the Lord continue to bless you all with the strength to continue.

In His love,

Brother Bud Lowrance

Olney, Texas

We have been having some wonderful Church services here in Lampasas. The Lord has blessed us with his love. We are meeting every Sunday and also praise Him in song service on Saturday night before the 1st Sunday and the 2nd and 4th Tuesday evenings of the month.

Come visit us when you can.

In Christian Love,

Sister Sharon Runyan

Lampasas Primitive Baptist Church, Lampasas, Texas.

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Impeccability of Jesus Christ

Part 2

Jesus born of the Virgin Mary

Part 1

By Elder Bernard Gowens

1^st Corinthians 15:47 tells, us that, ‘The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven’ Adam was of the earth, earthy. Adam was made of the dust of the earth and was of neither man nor woman:

Then, God made Eve of a man without a woman, having made her of Adam’s rib. Every other person was made by both man and woman except for the Man Christ Jesus. Jesus was born of a woman without man. Jesus Christ, the second man of verse 47 is not of the earth, earthy. He is the Lord from heaven. The Virgin Mary was His earthly mother (Isa. 7:14).

Matthew 1:20 says, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

These scriptures reveal that the Man, Christ Jesus, was born of the Virgin Mary. There is a false idea that when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, it made her immaculate, sanctified, and impeccable; therefore, this enabled her to conceive and deliver an impeccable child. This view is assumed from the reading of Luke 1:28: “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:’ blessed art thou among women.”

Neither New Testament scripture nor any prophetical concept taught in the Bible insinuates that the ‘Virgin Mary became impeccable when she was conceived with child. Luke 1, verses 28, 30, and 35 does not teach that Mary became “purified and sanctified” in body or was made “impeccable” during her gestation period.

According to Scripture, it was not necessary for God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, to purify Mary in order to bring His Holy Thing (Christ Jesus) into the world with impeccability. However, these scriptures do indicate that Mary was set apart to a holy purpose. According to God’s purpose and providence, she was placed in a very special category, separate from all other women, yet her essential human nature was not impeccable. Because of the known prophecies of the First Coming of the Incarnate Christ, many Jewish women were, no doubt, hoping and anticipating the possibility of being embraced with this Divine Favor of God to give birth to the God-­Child, for the God-Man manifested in the flesh.

In accord with Divine purpose, God chose this particular Mary, who was a virgin, to conceive by the Holy Ghost and to become the earthly mother of Jesus Christ. The holy purpose to which she, as a virgin, was set apart involved her conception by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost with that “Holy Thing”.

Mary did not have to possess a sinless nature for God to overshadow her with the Holy’ Ghost that she may conceive with God’s Holy Child.

It was the Man, Christ Jesus, that was made immaculate, not Mary. Mary did not have to be immaculate, purified, or sanctified to bear a perfect, sinless Son, for human sin-nature is inherited through the earthly father, not the mother, according to Scripture (Rom. 5:12-19).

For Jesus to have been conceived and born impeccable, He could not have had an earthly father. Mary’s conception was a supernatural conception. Mary was a virgin. She had never intimately known man as her husband; therefore, the Child Jesus, to whom she would conceive and give birth, was not the offspring of a sinful father.

Jesus Christ was neither procreated nor propagated from the first man Adam. So, the conception and birth of this Man Child Jesus must be by the supernatural, marvelous, and mysterious work of God. In overshadowing the Virgin Mary, God circumvented the laws of nature in order to bring His Impeccable Son into this world.

This is called the “Mystery of Godliness” (1st Tim. 3:16). That the Holy Ghost, God the Spirit, who is without flesh and bones, supernaturally generated in the Virgin Mary the very Incarnate Seed of Christ to materialize with impeccable flesh, bone, and precious blood shall always remain a mystery to us mortals. We ask the question “Is anything to hard for the Lord?” (Gen.18:14).

If God could create the material universe out of nothing (which He did), should it be thought incredible that He could assume an impeccable human nature in the Person of His Son? This was no problem for God. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27).

By virgin birth, “God was manifest in the flesh” - impeccable, not sinful flesh. (Cf. I Tim. 3:16). Being virgin-born, Jesus was indeed fully human, yet, within His intrinsic human nature, He was totally unaffected by Adam’s sinful nature. He was verily man, with all sin excepted.

Without a sin-nature, He did not possess the capacity to sin, for people sin because they are sinners (They are not sinners because they sin). Some proponents of peccability say that Jesus had the capacity to sin but was also “able to resist sin.” Advocates of impeccability teach that Jesus could not. sin because “he was not able to sin.”

Again, take special notice of statements in Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35 where it speaks of Mary conceiving by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost. To comprehend the impeccability of Christ Jesus, we must believe the record of His conception and birth. These Scriptures inform us that the Incarnate Son of God, in the nature of his human flesh and bones, is that Holy Thing, conceived and born holy, and is verily the Son of God.

Jesus, being conceived and born of necessity without a human father, was all man and yet all God. As God, Jesus was Deity, and Deity cannot sin. As Man, Jesus was also human, and, in His humanity, He could not sin. Sin always, without exception, passes to the child from the father, never from the mother (Rom. 5:120. To say that Jesus Christ was not impeccable is to say that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost were not impeccable.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Second Person in the Godhead and always is the Eternal Son of God without beginning or ending. The preincarnate Word was Deity, and, in His incarnate nature, He remains Deity - both Divine and human – God manifest in the flesh. He was impeccable in His Divine nature, and He is now impeccable, HOLY, and without the capacity or nature to sin, even in His human nature, which we shall address in future articles, the Lord willing.

We re-emphasize that Jesus did not have an earthly father. If He had, He would be a sinner and could not be the redeemer of His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). To be the redeemer of sinners, He must be impeccable. To be impeccable, He must have a heavenly Father. But, to be incarnate in the likeness of men, He must have an earthly mother.

However, an earthly father could not be the cause of the earthly mother’s conception with respect to the promised Worthy Redeemer. A worthy redeemer must be willing; he must be able; and he must be a near-kinsman. Christ Jesus was, and is, all of these.

We conclude this part with a question to be addressed in a later writing: How then could the Messiah be both human and sinless at the same time?? May this unalterable truth be a blessing to your soul and glorifying to God. Amen!

Part 3

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Brother Patrick and Sister Nu Jacob asked for a home in the Church on Sunday, December 2, 2001. The church received them by experience and baptism. They were baptized on December 23. Her son-in-law, Elder Justin Huffman of Memphis, TN baptized Sister Nu, and the pastor of the Spring Grove Church, Elder Andrew Stull, baptized Brother Patrick.

Jack Denton has teased me about a cross, a gymnasium, and I know he has a good sense of humor.

This is the truth and not a rumor.

Lowell Elder works at X Fab, and what is manufactured there is a computer chip. He has several family members in Oklahoma City and many times he has taken that trip.

From time to time, Daniel Gowen has filled the stand. Also, if your computer is giving you problems, he will give you a hand.

He visits the sick, leads gospel hymns, and his name is Duane Hays. Sandra is his wife and they are both sweet in their ways.

Dale Johnson has a talent for fixing vehicles that need repair. His fee, I am sure is always fair.

Martin Nichols is from a little town we know as Post. He has been married for over 65 years and maybe about, that milestone, he should boast.

He likes to tinker with things as tractors and his name if Fred. His last name is Nixon and in the communion service, he knows the meaning of unleavened bread.

Cecil Pharr, his age is twelve and four score. Of years left on this earth; he may have a few more.

In the Bass family, we know him as D. Don. He is an honest lawyer by the name of Richards, and no one would he con.

Cecil Richardson; in the future will probably lead a hymn entitled, "It is I."

He may do so well, that some individuals may break down and cry.

Ken Slater knows carpet and owns a store called, The Rug Depot

Which is something everyone should know.

At the Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church, as to the number of Deacons, there are eleven.

They all know that only by the grace of God that their home is secure in heaven.

With much love,

Jerry Bass

Lubbock, Texas

The Church was not built upon Peter, but upon Jesus Christ, the anointed of God.

The Church was not built or established upon revelations, but the Revelator, "For other foundations can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." - 1 Cor. 3:11, It was the suffering Son of God that was the tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation and was the chief corner stone Himself in His own Church.

------Elder J. S. Newman

[from an early edition of The Banner of Love.]

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Point Enterprise Meeting

God so wonderfully blessed us at our annual meeting in March, that words could not express the joy we felt. It seems we had never felt such a powerful outpouring of His blessings and Grace as we did that weekend.

On Sunday morning, five of God's little children asked for a home in the Church. The Church received them by experience and baptism on Sunday. Sunday afternoon we went in Sister Joann Burleson's tank, which had just been filled up after Saturday's rain of 3". This picture is of the five going into the water with Elder Stull. We are thankful and give the Blessed Savior all the praise.

Elders in attendance at the Pt. Enterprise Annual Meeting in March were Andrew Stull, pastor of Church, Harold Horn, Billy Lawrence, and Branson Miles, George Walker, Tommy Hart, James Henthorn, Sammy Box, Gerald Stanford, Daryl Inman, Paul Mc Clain, Tim Montgomery, Don Washek and Hugh Montgomery.

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HASSELL'S CHURCH HISTORY is now available. Our supply of this highly acclaimed history of the Church was exhausted over a year ago. We are pleased to announce that a new printing is now available. The price is $32.50 per copy, including postage and handling. You may send your order to Old School Hymnal Co., Inc., P. O. Box 1000, McDonough, GA, 30253

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Creation vs. Evolution

By Elder Vince Hardy

The Holy Scriptures plainly declare that God is the Creator of heaven, and earth, and all things therein (Eccl. 12:1; Isa. 40:28, 45:12, 48:13, Neh. 9:6; Rom 1:25; 1 Pet. 4:19; Col. 1:16; Acts 4:24, 14:15, 17:24). Nevertheless, with the hood of scientific and technological advances in the world today, it is easy to understand the confusion that many people have regarding Creation versus Evolution as an explanation of origins.

For many years now, evolution as an explanation of origins has been taught in our schools and universities as a Scientific Fact, rather than just a Theory. Speaking strictly from a scientist’s perspective, neither Creation nor Evolution (to explain origins) is a considered a scientific fact because neither are testable by the scientist. No scientist can observe the event, nor reproduce it in the laboratory.

Thus, it is a dishonest scientist who claims macroevolution to be a fact. Nevertheless, as many professing Christians have been indoctrinated with and have accepted the idea that evolution (as an explanation of origins) is a scientific fact, they often attempt to reconcile the teachings of the evolutionist with the teaching of the Bible by taking the position that God did indeed create all things, but that he did so over a span of millions of years by the process of evolution. With this reasoning, it is concluded that the, six days of creation recorded in Genesis’ chapter 1 were not literal, 24 hour days, but rather, days which symbolize millions of years in which all things had time to evolve by the process of macroevolution.

Nevertheless, while many professing Christians attempt to reconcile the Genesis account of creation with the evolutionist’s theory of origins, the two views cannot be successfully reconciled by those who take the Scriptures alone as their only rule of faith and practice. For the Scriptures clearly teach that God created all things in six literal 24-hour days, rather than millions of years.

The simple reasons that I believe God created all things in six; literal, 24-hour days are as follows:

First, considering the Scriptures by themselves (without the influence of science nor pseudo-science), the most obvious meaning of the language used in Genesis I is that Creation took place in six, literal, 24 hour days. There is nothing inherent in the passage (nor in the rest of Scripture) that would suggest anything different than the obvious meaning.

The phrase, “And the evening and the morning was the first day”, leads one to believe that it was a literal day consisting of an evening and morning. The language God uses is not complicated, nor difficult to understand. The idea that a “day” in Genesis chapter 1 was not a literal, 24-hour day has only become popular after the advances and indoctrination of evolutionary thought upon society. It is only in this so-called “enlightened age” of evolutionary thought (wherein men professing themselves to be wise, become fools; Romans 1:22; Psalms 14:1) that professing Christians have begun trying to add man’s speculation to God’s Word for a foundation of their faith.

Secondly, Exodus 20:9-11 says “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.... Again, the most obvious meaning of this passage is that these six days of creation are literal, 24-hour days. The reason God gives that we should work six days and rest on the seventh is that He worked six days and rested upon the seventh as we see in Genesis 1 and 2.

If the six days of Genesis chapter 1 were not six, literal, 24 hour days, then Exodus 20:9-11 would not make any sense. The Lord has set the pattern that we are to follow. God said He created all things in six days, the same kind of days that man should work. He also said He rested the seventh day, the same kind of day in which man should rest.

Thirdly, Genesis chapter 1 affirms that Creation occurred in six evenings and six mornings. While the word “day” (yowm) in the Hebrew language is sometimes used to denote a time period longer than 24 hours (e.g. Genesis 2:4), I have found no place in the Old Testament where the words “evening” and “morning” were used to signify an indefinite period of time.

The words “evening” and “morning” appear to be used in the Old Testament as having the same connotation that we have for them today. These words are used to designate particular parts of a 24-hour day.

Fourthly, according to Genesis 2:4-6, God created every plant of the field before he put it into the earth, and created every herb of the field before it grew in the earth. Hence, the grass and plants of the field were created by the creative voice of God rather than by evolving from a more primitive form of life, which supposedly took place over millions of years.

This Scripture says that God made plants and herbs, and then afterwards, he placed them into the ground in order for them to grow and reproduce. This verse tells us that the plants and herbs did not evolve from a seed that evolved from some primitive form of life. God made the plants first, and then, afterwards, He placed them into the ground. The evolutionist must deny this verse to hold to his theory of origins.

Fifthly, the Scriptures set forth the principle that the things in our world were brought into existence by the creative voice of God, rather than by the process of evolution. Scripture says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. … For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalms 33:6-9

These verses plainly teach that things were formed by God speaking them into existence, and not by a process of evolution. We find in Hebrews 11:3 that “the worlds were framed by the word of God” and that the things which we see here in the world were not made from self-existing matter, but were made from nothing by the creative voice of God. God spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast.

In conclusion let me say that God’s children should not feel compelled by the evolutionist to attempt to mix God’s Word with the carnal reasoning and theories of men. We should ever remember that the most vocal advocates of evolution are God­denying atheists, which according to the Scriptures are fools (Psalms 14:1). And why should any of God’s children so highly esteem the voice of a fool as to believe in his God-denying theories? Brethren, continue to stand fast in the faith and in the truths of God’s word, and let not your hearts be troubled by the vain theories of men. Always remember that God is true, and every man a liar who contradicts God.

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