Msg #1808 John's First Epistle
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
The disciple that Jesus loved wrote five books in our Bible and the letter he aimed at Gentile believers is unprecedented in beauty and power. The Apostle John was commissioned by Christ to “write the things which thou hast seen.” He did so with a very careful consideration of his audience. His gospel was written to all people, his first epistle was written to Gentile believers, his second to Jewish believers (“the elder unto the elect lady and her children,whom I love in the Lord) (Notice that Catholic, Protestant and Reformed theologians suppose that they are the “elect-lady” and consequently they miss the heart of this little epistle, … they generally miss the heart of Scripture altogether with that same self-righteous blunder), and John's third epistle was to a man named Gaius. John's carefulness to identify his audience is only one characteristic that makes him a superb writer. He refers to himself in the third person and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ with every syllable. John was a disciple before Christ had disciples. Most people miss that John was the “other-disciple” when John the Baptist sent his two loyal disciples off to follow Jesus. (John 1:35-37). The Apostle John was thus the very first of the disciples at Christ's side. It takes a talented writer to capture a good introduction and conclusion, and a superb author to make them a prologue and epilogue. John is thus a superb writer in his own right, and when the Holy Spirit is dictating the very words that he records, well, undertaking the study of John's first epistle will make for an interesting adventure. Reading any of the Apostle John's works is equally so. John begins this epistle with his prologue addressing everything found in the body of the work. Let us begin there.
An Essay for week #8 Feb 25, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180225.mp3
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Msg #1807 Children Killing Children
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
America has “evolved” to a place where a significant number of our children, raised with no nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ, are psychotic, first degree murders. Recall that the first man born in this world became the first first-degree murderer. Our depraved society uses statistical studies to show that capital-punishment does not deter crime, but God says to Israel, “And all men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deut 21:21). Also society, in its rebellion against our Creator, uses statistical surveys to show that corporal-punishment in the home is “uncivil.” Indeed they have, and will again, used social services to “rescue” children from corporal-punishment used in Christian homes. The LORD God says in Holy Scripture, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.... Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.... Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.... Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.... The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.... Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul” (Proverbs 13:24,19:18,22:15,23:13-14,29:15,17). Our sick society says it is evolving, on a progressive path, they say, moving away from the things of God. Ugly fruit of that “progressiveness” is children killing children, and a blindness that makes them blame the AR-15. God, Help us.
An Essay for week #7 Feb 18, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180218.mp3
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Copyright © 2018 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Dresden, NY 14441
Msg#1804 Rebekah
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
This year we have discussed the book of Job wherein the trials of our lives, no matter how great are not worthy to be compared to the greatness of our God, and the importance of his glory, and his glorying. We are to trust him, no matter what besets us in our pilgrimage here. We have walked to Egypt with Joseph, the late coming beloved son of Israel, who was rejected by his own brothers, and scorned by the world, but raised up to be their salvation, raised up to reign over them all. We have a marvelous Christ who would do no less. Prior we climbed Mount Moriah with Abraham and Isaac to watch a father offer his son, “thine only son Isaac,” on a hill shaped like a skull, called Golgatha in Aramaic, Cranium in Greek, Calvary in Latin, Precious in Salvation. It now comes as no surprise that when God preserves sixty-seven verses to describe how Abraham's eldest servant is sent with his ten camels to secure Rebekah as a cherished wife for his only begotten son, ... well God has a much grander story to tell in the picture. The Father, played by Abraham, sends his Holy Spirit, played by the eldest servant, carried by kneeling saints, played by ten camels made to kneel by the well, to secure a chaste virgin, played by Rebekah, for his Only Begotten Son, played by Isaac waiting by the well, called, incidently, Lahai-roi (for all those Hebrew language buffs). We should all read Genesis 24 with more tender care. Valentines Day is just around the corner and this is the most precious of love stories. In Rebekah's wooing every little detail, painted and preserved for 3,875 years, is extremely important to God; so too to his Son's chaste virgin.
An Essay for week #4 Jan 28, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180128.mp3
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Copyright © 2018 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Msg#1806 One Flesh Communicating
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
In God's design for your love and marriage there are three distinct roles. These are not roles to be “played,” or “acted out,” but are actions (and attitudes) which are assigned, required, and expected by God himself. There is the role of the wife, the role of the husband, and the role of one-flesh. The latter role has three essentials, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, and Communication. Any of these roles or essentials might fill this short essay, but focus on that third essential – communication. Via our communication we 1) Grow in knowledge and understanding of our spouse (and our Lord), 2) we interchange information and ideas to work as a team, 3) we work out differences and resolve conflicts, and 4) we grow in the same direction in support of each other. When our lifeline of communications is healthy we 1) never have to be careful what we talk about together and there is a sense of freedom to express ourselves, 2) we have a sense of being understood, 3) we see an absence of win/lose arguments, 4) we find that talking reduces tension, and 5) we feel a sense of being safe and secure in this relationship. Those are two excellent checklists to ensure a robust effective lifeline of communication in a husband's and wife's role of becoming one-flesh. A critically impaired lifeline would have one or the other always assuming a negative intent on the part of their spouse, or an increasing distance and increasing silence. Watch for those as well, and as the spring time of our year approaches let's revisit the spring time of our love and romance. God's model makes our homes a taste of paradise here on earth. Rejecting God's way will make it taste like something else altogether.
An Essay for week #6 Feb 11, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180211.mp3
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Copyright © 2018 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Dresden, NY 14441
Msg#1805 A Marriage Mirror
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
In love and marriage God intends that a couple live in the most intimate relationship that is humanly possible, and that that arrangement, in becoming one flesh, foreshadow the intimate relation we are to have with our Lord Jesus Christ. The love, the significance, and the security that is found in each relationship is to mirror the other perfectly. The mirror, however, fractures when one does not first follow the “role of the sexes” called out by our Creator. Note them, as you note how much rebellion against them is found in society, even by many professed “Christians.” Genesis 3:16 states that the husband is to “rule over the wife,” and it goes on to state that the man shall provide for the home “in the sweat of his face.” The carnal church of Corinth is rebuked for letting women lead in prayer, reprimanded for letting them prophecy, and exhorted with clarity that women are not to be the leaders (1Cor 11:1-9). God goes on to rebuke their abuse of tongues and states, “Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted for them to speak” (1Cor 14:34, cf 23-40). God continues the refrain in a charge to young Timothy, “I will therefore that men (males) pray everywhere... But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man (male), but be in silence. For Adam was first formed then Eve” (1Tim 2:8,12-13). God's role for women, his purpose in creating females, and a wife's submission in the home (Eph 6:21-33, 1Pet 3:1-7) are all points of contention in our rebellious society, but these are clearly communicated in God's Holy Word. Being a believer and ordering your marriage his way can make your home a taste of paradise. Rebellion,... not so much.
An Essay for week #5 Feb 4, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180204.mp3
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Copyright © 2018 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Dresden, NY 14441
Msg #1724 Trust God's Words
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
An infinite God writes a book to his finite creation. It says that six-thousand years ago he created everything in six days and rested on the seventh. It says he sent his Only Begotten Son to save his people from their sin and he died as a “propitiation.” It says that a day is as a thousand years and his earth would have a day of rest when his Only Begotten Son, his Anointed One (in Hebrew, “Messiah,” in Greek, “Christ”) would come back and rule and reign for a thousand years. He says the words of his book are His words, the truths of his book are inerrant truths (without error), the “thus saith the Lord”'s of his book are infallible (they will never fail), and that every jot (the smallest Hebrew letter) and every tittle (their tiny letter demarcations) will be fulfilled. The rebellious, finite, rational, man scoffs at his book and changes its words. He theorizes that it took billions of years for natural science to produce planets and life. He swears that reducing our carbon-footprint is the only salvation for mankind. He is certain that our utopia will come when love concurs hate and we hush, ban, and exile those believers who know that God's book says sodomy is an abomination. Christendom is embarrassed by their infinite God's Holy Book. They change its words, delete its verses, insert gaps in his creation account and copyright what they think God meant to say. The people all agree, “This is so much easier to understand,” they say. Now and again, you might find a believer; their finite minds won't understand all the words of their infinite God, but they cling to, and believe, every one of them. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
An Essay for week #24 Jun 11, 2017
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Msg #1722 The Bewitching of America
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
In God's very first epistle to Gentiles he asks, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” Trying to keep the law instead of relying on faith of Christ was a bewitching accomplished by Judaizers who feigned praise on the young Gentile believers. Today this same bewitching is obviously attempted by Elen G. White's Seven Day Adventists, but more subtly by Rome and her Protestants. The average accepted model is that, “At the 'Gate' Saint Peter weighs ones good deeds against their bad and hopefully they get in.” When one is bewitched they are charmed under a spell and that describes most of “Christendom” which sets under “Clergy,” and do not read their Bible. Now, even if they do, their “Clergy” give them an ecumenical, uninspired version that is not “quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.” What is a believer to do against such a spell bound world? Might I recommend that you sharpen your sword. Don't try and defend your KJB, try and use it. The sword is not a defensive weapon it is an offensive weapon. The gates of hell are not offensive weapons, they are defensive. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,” is not a suggestion for Joshua as he invaded God's occupied promised land. If you want to be a tree planted by the rivers of water, a young man with a cleansed way, one with great peace who lets nothing offend them, you need to memorize and use the Word that is forever settled in heaven. Discard all of man's copyright versions; use an inspired inerrant Holy Bible on your spell bound neighbors and kin. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, memorize it.
An Essay for week #22 May 28, 2017
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs170528.mp3
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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
Our mailing address is:
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Dresden, NY 14441
Msg #1723 Use Your Talents, or Die?
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
God wrote his first gospel to report to the Jews the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, but the King was rejected, and now it would be a long time before he would install his kingdom. It is assured that he will come. Jesus illustrates his coming in the Olivet Discourse. In Matthew 25 the parable of the ten virgins, and the servants given talents drives home that one must watch, and has serious stewardship responsibilities. Notice that the five talents, the two talents and the single talent were given out based on a servants ability (25:15). Notice the one who got one, and did not use the talent, was cast into outer darkness. The talents that the Lord gave the servants are no less than a knowledge of God. Romans teaches that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,” and John reveals that the Christ, the true light, “lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Everyone has at least the one “talent.” “For the invisible things of (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). When a man buries that “talent” under an evolutionist's “science” text book, and does not put that resource to the exchangers, nor pay heed to its importance, that unprofitable servant is “cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). The Lord is soon returning. He is first coming for his own; make sure you are one of those, and then watch for him, with your lamp shining bright, and your “talents” well invested. Matthew writes an awesome gospel, it should be revisited often.
An Essay for week #23 Jun 4, 2017
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs170604.mp3
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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
Our mailing address is:
Good Samaritan Baptist Church
Dresden, NY 14441
Msg #1719 Not by Law, Works, or Penance
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Galatians is the first epistle written to the Gentiles. The Gospel of Christ is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, and so is the New Testament. The first of the Gospel records, Matthew is aimed to the Jews, the first of the epistles, James, is aimed to the Jews. The second epistle written was Galatians, and it deals with the line between Judaism and Christianity, i.e. law vs. grace. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, ... for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:16). Ecumenical bibles make this faith “in” Christ, but God's word says it is the faith “of” Christ that saves. Salvation is through faith, that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2). It is not our faith, nor our will. “Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13) Judaism, like all religions, had risen to the ultimate “we can do it our self” attitude. Their righteousness, attained by keeping the law, was man made righteousness, rebuked as hypocritical by Jesus Christ our Lord. “For by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified.” Defiled religions weigh the works of man, or the penance of man. True repentance requires that one see his helpless estate and call on, trust in, and believe in Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” False teachers, false priests, and mislead clergy, are still bewitching. Miraculously, “God sent forth his Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4-5).
An Essay for week #19 May 7, 2017
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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Msg #1720 Independent Baptist Needed
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
This week I accepted a degree from a theological seminary whose university worships pragmatism. I am grateful that they have acknowledged my seven years of ceaseless studies. I am grateful that in years gone by they held a position on the fundamentals of the faith, the inerrancy of the Scriptures, and the purity of King James Bible. Their keynote speaker Dr. Elmer Towns and his wife Jackie, spent over three hours mocking Baptist distinctives and deriding these three positions as my heart broke. Dr. Towns will be a great financial help to them, just like Syria was a great military help to Judah's King Asa in 2Chronicles 16:7-9. The world of the Independent Baptist shrinks as the Hybel-Warren-Syrian kingdoms grow, install rock bands, lower standards, mock my King James Bible, and advance their interpretive-dance-drama. Lord help us.
This week, 1600 miles from home, my granddaughter's friends admitted an uncensored worship of fantasy's Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, but no knowledge whatsoever of Christ, the Coming King of kings. If grandchildren are to put more stock in Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Universe than in David Benioff's “Game of Thrones,” or Peter Jackson's “Lord of the Rings,” it will take Independent Baptist's going door to door and talking about the True King, interpretive dance won't cut it. Will you walk by someones grandchild this week and NOT tell them about the King of Glory? Lord help us. Lord help the Independent Baptists who go door-to-door with your Gospel, and herald your holy plea on the street corner. People need the Lord. If you would this week, when you knock on a door or hand out a Gospel track, pray for our 1600 mile heart-string to Texas. God can do anything, God can reach anywhere.
An Essay for week #20 May 14, 2017
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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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Msg #1721 What Independent Baptists Preach
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Consider that Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins that took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom, but consider first that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The very first Gospel record is to the Jews and presents Jesus as the Christ, the king that will sit on the throne of David and rule the world from Zion, the City of David. The parallels for the kingdom of heaven that are depicted in the Gospel According to Matthew are not about Christ's Church, nor it's soon coming rapture. Matthew is to the Jews and all about the King being put in place in his kingdom on earth. The parallel about the ten virgins is no exception to this rule. No Protestant clergy or theologian can give a proper commentary on these ten virgins because they hold that a catholic, universal church has taken over all promises made to the Jews; they see no dispensational divides whatsoever, and are covenant theologians at best. To see the depth of the parallel of the five foolish virgins with insufficient oil, and five wise virgins prepared to meet the coming bridegroom, one needs to rightly divide the Word of Truth with a dispensational discernment. Independent Baptists are not Protestant, not Calvinists, and not Denominational and do that very well. Certainly the application is clear, the soon coming Kingdom of Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people, but in a day when lukewarm Christianity abounds you should connect to the truth taught in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church following the Old Paths. The Laodicean rock bands draw crowds and entertain the flesh, but they have no “Gold tried in the fire.”
An Essay for week #21 May 21, 2017
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