Category: Penny Pulpit

Msg #1511 Christ Our Perfect High Priest

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Without the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we would have no High Priest to atone for our sin, and no mediator to stand between us and God. I have heard a hundred sermons on the importance of the resurrection. For me all reasons pale before our need of a High Priest. When Christ, God incarnate, died as my Passover Lamb, he cried, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Even though, at this point, he fulfilled the role of a Passover Lamb, i.e. he died “for” us, he had not yet purged our sins. The epistle to the Hebrews states, “When he had by himself purged our sins, (he) sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb 1:3b). “It is finished,” applied to his role as our Passover Lamb; in his role as our high priest he had to take the Lamb's blood into the most holy place and sprinkle it on the ark of the covenant. There was a physical ark containing the covenant with Israel, but that ark was only made after the pattern of the one residing in heaven (Exod 25:9). The resurrected Christ took His blood to the actual throne of God and sprinkled it on the ark of the covenant. Recall how the resurrected Lord told Mary Magdalene, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17). In like manner, the high priest was not to be touched as he brought the sacrificial atoning blood into the most holy place on the Day of Atonement. God did not put more into his Old Testament imagery than he could fulfill in his Only Begotten Son. When he purged our sin with his blood, he did it as our High Priest.

An Essay for week #11 Mar 15, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150315.mp3

In Tablet format at http://www.gsbaptistchurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays15.pdf

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1534 They That Wait

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

A fellow beagle lover on a hunt told me, “Lock your beagle and your wife in your car trunk; come back in two hours and see which one is glad to see you!” That made some kinda weird sense to me until later my wife said, “That's because that beagle thinks you're a genius!” Now it makes more sense. Sophie, my beagle, sets on my feet as I write this so let me acknowledge that I am no genius, but it seems that when the Holy Spirit of God told the Apostle Paul not to go to Jerusalem, Paul was not supposed to go to Jerusalem. A few verses later, in Acts 21, a prophet of God told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. A few verses more and, with his stubborn jaw set and his teeth grit, the greatest preacher alive struts into Jerusalem. Once there, he follows the advice of the “well-intended”, and takes a set of Old Testament vows. He promises to offer an Old Testament animal offering for his sins! I am not a great preacher, or genius, but I am kinda glad God includes the details of Paul's blunder in his record keeping. Goodness knows I've needed lessons in submission. I've met some who think Paul could do no wrong, and was perfectly justified in his defiance of the Holy Ghost. Well, okay. God previously wrote by Paul's hand, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Just the same that is not an excuse to lock your jaw and continue down some stupid stubborn course of action. God had a plan for those next eight epistles to get written. Paul's stubborn rebellion caused that they are called prison epistles.

An Essay for week #34 Aug 23, 2015

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1520 When I See the Blood.

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

This week our evangelist taught that Christ is the focal point of Scripture, redemption is its theme, but the blood is the basis, or foundation upon which it all rests. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spor to God, purge your conscience from dead works serve the living God? … and without the shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb9:13,14,22). “By his own blood … having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (verse 12). Exodus 12 details the passover lamb and declares, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (verse 13). The blood is your purchase price; “Ye are not your own… for ye are bought with a price” (1Cor6:19-20). Luke writes Paul's charge to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts20:28). You are purchased like a slave, bought from the slavery of sin; “Verily, verily, I say unto your, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…. If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed” (John8:34,36). The blood purchases forgiveness: “In (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph1:7). The blood washes us clean, like a shower after hard labor in the hay field. “(Jesus Christ) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev1:5). It is the blood that cleanseth us from all sin (1John1:7). “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Rom3:25). His blood is indeed the basis for all that a Christian has. Praise His Holy name.

An Essay for week #20 May 17, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150517.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1521 Seven No-Mores or Forevermores

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you”, and we say that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. There is another prepared place, for in Matthew 25 he said to those gathered on his left hand in the judgment of nations, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” It is not a popular truth, but their everlasting fire is just as everlasting as our everlasting life. The saved are going to be snatched from this world in a resurrected body; “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1Thes 4:18), but there is no comfort or Comforter for the lost soul; “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them… and they shall not escape” (1Thes 5:3). To the saved Jesus says, “Enter thou into the joy of the lord” (Matt 25:21b) but for the unsaved he declares, “cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”(Matt 25:30). For us, “In thy presence is fullness of joy… pleasure for evermore” (Psalm 16:11), for those in hell there is absence of joy, and pain forevermore. We will be in a place of beauty, a city foursquare with twelve gates, twelve foundations and streets of purest gold (Rev 21), they will be in a place of darkness with eternal fire and brimstone (Rev 21). We will be in an incorruptible body that has put on immortality (1Cor 15:54); they, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44, 46, 48) (Not in an NIV). In heaven there will be seven 'no-mores' (Rev 21:4, 25, 22:3). In hell seven 'forevermores' (Rev 21:8b). Whether saved or unsaved, you should carefully consider John 3:16-18 and 36.

An Essay for week #21 May 24, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150524.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1531 What the Remnant Aint

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

After Jeremiah wrote to God's remnant, who were taken into Babylon as captives, he was approached by a group in Jerusalem who thought that they were the true remnant. They were quite mistaken. An unprecedented drama unfolds in Jeremiah chapter 42 through 44. This pseudo-remnant promises Jeremiah that they will do whatever “the LORD thy God may shew us.” Note first that it was not, “The LORD our God,” and second, they had no intention of obeying the LORD. Their heart was set on flight into Egypt, and the LORD God said, if you go, ye shall be an execration. Wow, that is an overpowering word, only used on this rebellious pseudo-remnant. It is worth dusting off your dictionary, and while it is open look up imprecation as well. Psalms 109, 40:14-15, 69:22-28, and 70:2-3 are called “Imprecatory Psalms” with reason, and that is not as powerful as an execration. This pseudo-remnant, following their women worship leaders, (44:15,20,24) refused the Word of God, rejected the prophet of God, despised the servant of God, and charged down into Egypt in defiance of God's command. His execration is so consuming that he says, “Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall be no more named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying the Lord GOD liveth” (Jer 44:26). That verse alone is justification to throw Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, from Alexandria Egypt, right back into the trash can they were found in. While the trash lid is open toss in the Septuagint that Alexandria produced as well. Pray that the “scholars” who use these Egyptian products to “repair” God's Holy Bible are not an execration. The LORD is a jealous God, use the right Bible.

An Essay for week #31 Aug 2, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150802.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1532 The New Testament's Crescendo

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

John preached with the other eleven apostles for thirty years before our Lord Jesus Christ commanded him to “write the things which thou hast seen” (Rev1:19a). He had collected and read the writings form the other apostles, now he would write the capstone of the Gospels, the summary of the Epistles, and the crescendo of the whole New Testament. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ he calls the Word, the faithful witness; he calls the Creator of life, the first begotten of the dead; he calls the Light of men, the prince of the kings of the earth (John1:1-4, Rev1:5). He references him that loved us, for God so loved the world, the one that washed us in his own blood, and the one who made us kings and priests. There is no greater literature than the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It's prologue gives that triplet of names, a triplet of things he did for us, and then a triplet about his coming, 1) in the clouds, 2) every eye shall see, and 3) those that pierced him shall wail because of him. The prologue concludes with three titles of the LORD God applied directly, without apology, to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the one which is, and which was, and which is to come. In the Hebrew tongue that would be the great I AM of Exod 3:14. He is the Almighty, just as he is the mighty God of Isa9:6. There is no prologue like it, and a prologue is just a formal introduction showing what is found int the body of the book. The gospel of John, the three epistles of John and the Revelation of Jesus Christ are God's conclusion for his whole Bible, superb literature, and awesome revelation.

An Essay for week #32 Aug 9, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150809.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1529 What's a BAPTIST?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The perpetuity of the Church that Jesus built, his ecclesia, the local called-out and assembled body of believers, is an encouragement to true Baptists. For 1,985 years an unbroken line of Churches held common doctrines that made eight long term distinctives. They always believed in the authority of the inerrant, infallible, inspired Scriptures. The Bible was their sole authority for all faith and practice. They practiced autonomy of each local body, never acknowledging any denominational authority. Certainly knowing no pope, archbishop, or presbyters to edict their rules; always autonomous and independent. This continuous line of Churches had no priests; good Bible doctrine establishes the priesthood of all believers. They had only two ordinances, which were never called mysteries or sacraments. They practiced individual soul liberty and had only saved baptized members in their local assemblies. They recognized only two offices in their Church and had no boards to steer them. And, they knew the importance of keeping separate from rules of empires, magistrates, and governments. This long line of local autonomous Churches still exists today, and they will until Jesus comes. Then he meets them in the clouds before the great tribulation period when his wrath is poured out on this world. The Church that Jesus built, the true Church, has a branch near you. Flee the apostasy, flee the denominationalism and get into His true autonomous, independent, Bible believing Church. If you are in one, review these distinctives and its foundation. B is for Bible, A is for autonomous, P is for priesthood, T is for two ordinances, I is for individuals, S is for saved members, T is for two offices, and S is for separation. What does it spell? BAPTISTS. Oh, if you don't have these distinctives, kindly take that acronym off your Church sign.

An Essay for week #29 Jul 19, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150719.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1530 What Can a Remnant Do?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The LORD God explains seven things that he wants his remnant to do as they are held in a heathen nation. He tells them to settle down and dwell there (Jer29:5). Jesus tells us to be in the world, but not of the world (John17:10-17). “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1John2:15). The song writer puts it, “This world is not my home I'm justa passen thru.” God tells them to reproduce (Jer29:6). A wise believer is a soul-winner. Ergo they would be wise to chain reference Psalm126:6 with Proverbs11:30, Daniel 12:3 and James 5:20, even to memorize them. The remnant dwelling in a heathen land were told to intercede for it and pray for their peace (Jer29:7). So too are believers in their plight, “I exhort…that supplications, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1Tim2:1-2a). Further, believers are told, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom12:17-21). Fourth, the remnant are to refuse false teachers. Galatians1:6-9, 1John 2, and 4 tell believers, “let them be accursed.” The remnant are told to have hope, their captivity will soon end, and they will be restored to their Promised Land in Jerusalem (Jer29:10-11). Well, 1Corinthians 15, 1Thessalonians 4, and Revelation 4, all reveal that Bible believers will soon hear a trumpet say “Come up hither.” Then, in a moment, Christians will be gone. Two more things for his remnant, then and now, seek him with all your heart (Jer29:12-14) and expose the liars on every side (Jer29:21-22, 31-32). Believers need to be about their Father's business. This is no longer a Christian nation.

An Essay for week #30 Jul 26, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150726.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1527 Life Changing Trials

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When a man looks straight down the gun barrel of his mortality, it forever changes his perspective on life. One of the greatest joys, and greatest frustrations, of a youth pastor is dealing with people who think themselves invincible. When Peter spent the night on death row, he walked out a changed Apostle. Herod, in Acts 12, had killed James the brother of John with the sword, and saw that this pleased the Jews. His intent was to give them an even grander pleasure the next day: the public execution of the outspoken Apostle Peter. When God opened prison doors and set the captive free, the miracle is sometimes dwarfed because preachers want to emphasize the prayer meeting in this chapter. Look what happened to Peter. He was sleeping comfortably, content to die for Christ, when the angel of the Lord kicked him in the side and said, “Arise up quickly!” Luke eloquently records the many miracles and the dreamy stupor of Peter. Then he writes, “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me…” Sometimes we do not know things for sure until he takes us through the near death trials. Twenty years later, Peter wrote what I call the Know-Grow-Shew-and-Go series in his first epistle. It starts, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy…. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation … But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:16,18) God will save you till you know it, and change you till you shew it. Don't wait for your mortality to come in view.

An Essay for week #27 Jul 5, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150705.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1528 Militant Fundamentalists

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

At the turn of the 19^th century, as apostasy seeped into the Church, a fundamental line was drawn. One hundred years later that fundamental line needs to be dusted off, sort of like an umpire brushes the edges of home plate. Back then those within the lines were deemed Christian, and those who ventured outside the fundamentals were deemed apostate. The conference in Buffalo NY defined five primary points of doctrine which must be adhered to by true Christians. A compromise of any of these doctrines would label a group as apostate to true Christianity. Clear lines are good, especially in a diverse, gray world, filled with mixed multitudes. Today these lines should be dusted off in every congregation. Paul said in 2Cor 6, “What part hath he that believeth with an infidel” (verse 15b)? An infidel might reject, 1) the trinity; or 2) the inerrant, infallible, plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture; or 3) the doctrine of Christ, to include (a) the incarnation = Christ was God in the flesh, (b) the virgin birth = God is Christ's physical father, (c) Christ's sinless life = he was the spotless Lamb of God, (d) Christ's death, burial, and resurrection = the gospel of 1Cor 15, and (e) Christ's substitutionary atonement and propitiation for our sins = “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” An infidel might reject 4) personal salvation by conversion alone, that is repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts20:21); or 5) the reality of a literal (not allegorical) second coming of Christ, a literal heaven and a literal hell. Rejecting any of these five fundamentals still makes one an infidel to Christianity. Separating from infidels makes one a fundamentalist. Calling them out makes one militant. Today we need more unashamed militant fundamentalists.

An Essay for week #28 Jul 12, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150712.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch