Part One, Ephesians 6:10-15

If you haven’t yet read Part One of this topic, you’ll want to read it by clicking here.

The Shield of Faith, Ephesians 6:16

The Lord Jesus is our Shield of Faith. Although we have been saved by God’s grace to believe on the Lord Jesus Messiah for salvation, our faith is not impeccable. Your faith and mine has had and will have moments of faltering, failing, falling away. We will occasionally doubt our Lord, doubt His truth, and doubt the salvation He has blessed us with. Yet when the Lord Jesus walked upon this planet as the perfect, sinless Man, he never faltered. He never failed. He never fell away. The integrity of His faith never wavered a single degree, even unto the death of the cross. Therefore, we take up the truth of His faith as our shield. When Satan’s flaming darts accuse you and me of faithlessness, of lacking trust, of unrighteous thoughts, words, or deeds, we need only to lift up Christ’s imputed righteousness. Believing that Christ’s righteousness is placed upon our account will quench the hottest missile the evil one can hurl.

The Helmet of Salvation, Ephesians 6:17a

This does not mean for us to think on our salvation as a mere religious truth, doctrine, or concept. It means considering, thinking about, and meditating upon the truth that Jesus Christ is salvation. Salvation not only comes from the Lord Jesus by His amazing and abounding grace (Jonah 2:9), He is salvation itself. There is no salvation apart from Him (John 14:6). That is a not only a blessed thought to consider, that truth protects our thoughts and fortifies our decision-making processes. As far as our spiritual warfare goes, it is written:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, KJV

The ESV renders 2 Corinthians 10:5 in this way:

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Now, both translations are acceptable from the original Greek. And as with the ESV, we should take every thought captive so that we may obey the Lord Jesus Christ. The only problem is that you and I have no power to take those thoughts captive unless we are strong in the Lord and go forth in the strength of His might (Eph 6:10). How are we strong by His strength in this area? We bring our thoughts captive to Christ’s obedience, or as the KJV renders it, “ bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (emphasis added). Christ Jesus was ever and always obedient to the heavenly Father. Our obedience, like our faith, sometimes wavers, wanders, or is weak. We fail, falter, or faint more than we often care to admit. But when we consider His obedience is imputed to us, placed on our eternal account, it empowers us with strength from on high to obey Christ.

The Sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:17b

It is true that the written Word, the holy Scripture, is our powerful resource in combating the schemes of Satan. With every temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11), He responded by quoting Scripture. You and I should quote Scripture to combat every temptation, but in wielding that Sword, we must recognize that the reason it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12), is that the Word it speaks of is Jesus Messiah. The reason why this living and active Word can discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart is because it is the Lord Jesus Himself. When we take up the Sword of the Spirit, battle is truly the Lord’s (1 Sam 17:47). This battle using the Sword of the Spirit must be wielded in the power of the Spirit of Christ (John 14:12, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:8-11, 13-14), otherwise we become no different than the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16).

Praying, Ephesians 6:18

Now, having been outfitted with Christ as our armor, we pray with the full knowledge of Christ’s imputed righteousness and His perfect prayers. We pray knowing that Christ Jesus has gone before us as perfect, sinless Man, and has Himself prayed the perfect, unhindered prayers before God the Father (John 8:29; 11:42; Heb 5:7); and that every perfect prayer of Scripture is placed upon our account because, in Christ, the Father hears our weak and pathetic prayers as if we were praying exactly like Jesus. This does not remove our responsibility to pray the best prayers we can utter, as much as a sinner saved by grace is able; but our prayers still carry enough corruption from the mortal flesh that still remains, for we still need the intercessions of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26-27), as well as those of our Lord Jesus Messiah (Heb 7:25).

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

I believe there has been a great misunderstanding in today’s American church concerning the armor of God. This doesn’t mean that Sunday school teachers shouldn’t use pictures of Roman soldiers to illustrate the armor worn by the most powerful army in the world during Paul’s day when he wrote Ephesians 6. God forbid. Those lessons are helpful to the young in years, as well as to the spiritually young at heart. Nevertheless, we need to approach the equipping of the saints by the powerful gospel truths for which it was intended.

Ephesians 6:10 presents to us the powerful intent of the entire passage, the central reason for the passage, and the ultimate application of the passage. The armor is the Lord Jesus Christ. To be strong in Him is to go forth in our spiritual walk, our spiritual lives, and in our engagement in spiritual battles in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ’s might.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on or to be clothed with the whole armor of God. It uses a Greek root that means to be dressed, most especially, to be dressed with Jesus. Using the same Greek root, the apostle tells us in another letter:

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14

It is only in trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved from the wrath of God that we so richly deserve. It only stands to reason that it would also be that trusting in the strength of the might of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is… being clothed with Him, so that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us what it is we are up against in our spiritual warfare when once we are saved by God’s grace. Though we live in a temporal world on earth, the conflict is a spiritual one, not fleshly or carnal (2 Cor 10:3-4). We need power that is greater than reciting a few words from the Bible like some spell or incantation. We need the Lord Jesus Messiah. He alone has conquered sin, hell, and the grave. His power alone, through the Holy Spirit given us, is that which allows us to overcome the demonic forces with which we wrestle.

Since we have clothed ourselves with Christ (Eph 6:11), in Ephesians 6:13 the Holy Spirit tells us through the apostle to “take up” the whole armor of God. Therefore, not only are we to be clothed with Christ, we are to apply the truths of Christ to our faith. Trusting in Christ for our salvation. Trusting in Christ for our supply. Trusting in Christ for our strength. Trusting in Christ as our sufficiency, in need of nothing else but Him. Standing firmly upon Him and His gospel truth.

The Belt of Truth, Ephesians 6:14a

This is at the core of our Christianity, the center of our being, that’s why it is a belt. Christ Jesus said,

“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

When we gird ourselves about the core of our being with the truth that Jesus Messiah alone is the Way, Truth, and Life, we are strengthened to resist many temptations by that powerful truth alone. When that is the truth that stabilizes our Christian walk, we will begin seeing Christ more and more in Scripture (John 5:39). And when we do not see Him, we will look for Him everywhere in those verses (Song 3:1-3; Isa 55:6). The more we know about Him, the better we know Him more personally. The more we know Him personally, the more we love Him (1 Jn 419). The more we love Him, the more we will seek to be with Him.

The Breastplate of Righteousness, Ephesians 6:14b

Whether we think of this as a shirt, an ephod, or a soldier’s body armor, the breastplate of righteousness is being consciously aware that Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us. Christ Jesus is the only righteous Man who ever lived, the only Jew who kept the whole Law both actively and passively, the only Prophet who ever spoke the truth without schism, error, or defect, and the only Son who was ever wholly obedient to His Father. He came to live the righteous life that you and I cannot possibly live, and the Scriptures say that if we trust on Him for having done so, and also in that righteousness, He suffered the wrath of God that we deserve and died a true bodily death, Christ’s righteousness will be placed on our accounts. When the heavenly Father looks at you and me, He sees the righteousness of His only Son. And when we believe that, trust that truth, that will protect our hearts.

The Shoes of Readiness, Ephesians 6:15

Here again, Jesus is the shoes for our feet. Mark’s gospel expresses this well as Jesus “immediately” (ESV) or “straightway” (KJV) did this or that, or went here or there. Jesus is the Gospel, the good news, and He proclaimed the gospel truth wherever He went—perfectly, immediately, and powerfully. We need to stand upon that truth with feet shod in readiness to speak, share, or proclaim Him. We need only be ready. The true work is done by Christ through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,

“When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” Matthew 10:19

While this was spoken in context of actual, physical, temporal persecution, it would most certainly apply to our spiritual warfare as saints in Christ. The readiness itself is not only a deterrent to the principalities and powers of the demonic and worldly age, but it also thwarts their deceptive missions.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

We’ll conclude this article on the “Armor of God” in a second installment.

In celebration of Reformation month, I’ve comp’d everyone on my mailing list to receive 1 full year of free access to everything on my Substack platform. Everyone who has subscribed this month has been upgraded.

Subscribe before November 1st and get full access!

And anyone who signs up before November 1, 2025, will be upgraded to receive full access to all devotionals for the past three years, to all the articles written for premium subscribers only, etc.

I hope to continue the commentary on the book of Revelation, as well publishing answers to questions I’ve received over the past few years.

Let a Christian brother or sister know they can subscribe and get the free upgrade.

October 31, 2025, is the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his famous 95 Theses on the castle door of Wittenberg Church, starting the Protestant Reformation and break from the Roman Catholic Church and her indulgences. Many Christians around the world celebrate the whole month of October as “Reformation Month.” I had not previously, but this month I am.

I’ve upgraded everyone on my email list. Everyone who has subscribed to a free account has been comp’d a full year’s paid subscription. You will have access to everything, even to articles and commentaries only available to paid subscribers. Because I’m “retired” there will also be other article categories coming, as well as excerpts from my upcoming book, The Glorious Gospel.

Perhaps you are already a paid subscriber. You have been extended for a year beyond your subscription ending. If you are a founding member, you have been comp’d for life (I’ll pray ask the Lord for another creative way to bless you).

Gift for Your Christian Friends and Family

When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders toward the end of his third missionary journey, he said,

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Here is an opportunity to give to your Christian friends and family. If you’ve enjoyed the daily devotionals and you think your Christian friends and family might like to receive the devotionals, when they sign up this month, they will be comp’d a full year’s paid subscription.

May the Lord Jesus continue to bless and keep you.

I had run across this YouTube video some ten years ago. It is from an old Edison-Bell phonograph of Spurgeon’s son, Thomas Spurgeon (1856-1917). In his biography of Thomas Spurgeon, W. Y. Fullerton (1857-1932) states that Thomas’ voice was similar to his father’s, having many of the same characteristics and inflections of speech. Here is that recording…

A Clearer Presentation

If you’d like to hear a clearer presentation of this recording, here’s one from about four years ago that has been reengineered but true to the original recording…

Thomas Spurgeon spent much of his earlier life ministering in Australia and New Zealand because of his health. He returned to London as pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1893 and served there until 1908.

Arthur T. Pierson (1837-1911) served as pulpit supply at the Metropolitan Tabernacle from 1891-1893, ministering during Charles Spurgeon’s poor health and for several months following C. H. Spurgeon’s death in 1892.

I’m hoping to get some reviews for the audiobook.

If you’re in the USA or UK, I have codes from Audible.com so you can download the audiobook for free. If you are interested, please respond to this email, or email me at pastor@calvarybaptistninilchik.com.

I’ll also send along a PDF eBook when I send you the code for the free download.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQFHW72R

If you don’t have a Kindle Reader but would still like to read and review the book, you can download a PDF copy of the book by CLICKING HERE.

There are prompts and links for leaving your review in both the Kindle Edition and the PDF copy. I do appreciate it. The reviews help bring more visibility to the book; and as the English version has blessed a large number of Christian believers, I’m praying that this version will help to draw my Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters nearer to our precious Lord Jesus. Muchas Gracias!

I’ve also provided the Spanish book description below:

¿Has oído decir que orar funciona, pero has tenido problemas con tu vida de oración? ¿Has buscado libros sobre la oración cristiana sólo para encontrarte con fórmulas o trucos? Si has anhelado un libro cristiano sobre la oración que te fortalezca para vivir una verdadera vida de oración como discípulo, ¡no busques más!

Señor, Enséñanos a Orar, explora las profundidades del Padrenuestro tal y como lo enseñó Jesús a Sus discípulos. Esta perspicaz guía desglosa cada frase, ofreciendo al creyente cristiano una comprensión más profunda de cómo orar de manera poderosa y efectiva. A través de este cuidadoso estudio, los lectores descubrirán cómo la oración sirve de modelo para su propia comunión con Dios, transformando tanto la vida de oración personal como la comunitaria.

Con este breve tratado, descubrirás el poder de una vida de oración, que te ayudará a conectar con Dios a un nivel más profundo. Cada capítulo desglosa las poderosas palabras de la oración, revelando profundas lecciones para la fe, la vida cotidiana y el crecimiento espiritual.

Qué contiene el libro:

NO TE AFLIJAS

Expresa el pecado de la preocupación y la ansiedad a través de las Escrituras, y la cura para esa angustia es la oración, confiando en un Dios soberano.

ENSÉÑANOS A ORAR

La petición de los discípulos y la respuesta del Señor.

NUESTRO PADRE CELESTIAL

Comprensión de a Quién rezamos y con Quién tenemos una relación.

EL SANTO NOMBRE DE DIOS

Acercarse a un Dios santo con temor reverente y estremecimiento.

EL REINO CELESTIAL DE DIOS

Aprendiendo la sumisión y la entrega al avance del reino de Dios en la tierra a través del evangelio de Jesucristo.

LA VOLUNTAD CELESTIAL DE DIOS

Aprendiendo la sumisión y la entrega a los planes y propósitos de Dios según Su santa voluntad y beneplácito.

Y MUCHO, MUCHO MÁS...

Tanto si buscas un crecimiento espiritual como una relación más estrecha con Dios, este libro te equipará para orar con mayor confianza y convicción, siguiendo el ejemplo establecido por el propio Cristo. Puedes seguir buscando libros sobre crecimiento espiritual o puedes conseguir este pequeño libro, descubrir los fundamentos de cómo Jesús nos enseñó a orar y empezar a disfrutar de la comunión con Dios en Cristo, desatando tu poderoso cristianismo con una oración que realmente funciona.

www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHR4V2RX

Have a blessed day!

My association and involvement with the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship (SGBF) began in 2009 with my acceptance of the call from Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama to minister as the church’s pastor. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston was a member church of the SGBF since the Fellowship’s founding in 2001; therefore, as pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, I was grandfathered into the SGBF due to my church membership and ministry call. I served as pastor of the church in Anniston from January 2009 to April 2018, leaving Alabama upon my acceptance of the call to minister as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik, Alaska.

During my tenure as pastor of SGBC in Anniston, I served the SGBF for two terms as vice-chairman and two terms as chairman. Immediately after arriving in Ninilchik, Alaska, I formally sent a letter to the SGBF requesting to continue as an associate, non-voting member. In 2022, I was granted “associate member” status, my name appearing in the Fall 2022 issue of the SGBF publication, The Sovereign Grace Messenger (SGM). That delay was not a big deal to me, since the priority of my ministerial duties in Alaska prevented direct involvement or interaction with the SGBF. Moreover, except for the SGM publication, which I received approximately three times per year, an occasional email exchange with Curtis Knapp, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, KS, and phone and email correspondence with Timothy Gallagher, pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston, AL, I had little to no communication with the SGBF or its member churches.

In the late summer of 2023, my 86-year-old-mother was struck with stage four peritoneal cancer. My wife flew to California to care for my mother on September 8, 2023. I followed on November 15, 2023. After my mother’s passing into glory on February 1, 2024, and after settling her estate and other affairs, my wife and I returned home to Ninilchik, Alaska on March 20, 2024.

It took nearly a month to filter through the accumulated mail. One of the last things opened was the 2023 Fall/Winter edition of the SGM. Immediately noticing the absence of Curtis Knapp from his position as editor of the SGM, I reached out to Curtis on April 16, 2024; stating that it was “none of my business” but added that his “absence from the list prompted me to get in touch” with him. In kind response, and after his introduction and other pleasantries, Brother Curtis replied:

“Yes, I am no longer in the Fellowship and no longer doing the SGM. Very long story. The extreme short version is that Larry Dean (a long-time close friend of mine) was preaching heretical things, denying substitutionary atonement and teaching a whole host of strange doctrines. I was shocked to find it out. It's all on his YouTube channel, especially if you search for sermons on the atonement or on justification. He also has a sermon he links to on his website that sums it up pretty well. 

“None of us knew he was teaching these things. Ryan Butler stumbled across it and told me and several others....”

I searched for Bridgetown Baptist Church online. On the Bridgetown Baptist Church website, under the menu subheading “Pastor’s Note,” was a link at the bottom of the page to an audio message preached (or at least uploaded) on March 17, 2017. About this sermon, Larry Dean writes:

“Here is the link to a message that probably sums up my understanding of the Work of Christ as well as any single message I have preached:  Justification Through Union With Christ” (online reference; emphasis in original)

You can listen to the sermon by clicking here.

I was grieved just from listening to that sermon alone; but also, after a perusal through some of Larry Dean’s sermons on the Bridgetown Baptist Church YouTube channel, I was much more sorrowful, as I had considered Larry, not only a brother in Christ, but also a friend. What Larry Dean preached, preaches, and will continue to preach (as I understand it) is heresy. It is another gospel (Gal 1:8-9).

While there is much more to his false doctrine than what I will describe in this short paragraph, its foundation is simply this: the atoning work of Christ’s penal substitution must include the unbeliever’s union with Christ upon the cross. Based upon his interpretation of Ezekiel 18:4, 20, the soul of the unbeliever must have mystically been joined in union with Christ, and by that union at Christ’s death upon the cross, the unbeliever must die for his own sins with Christ. Larry Dean also posits Galatians 2:20 as a supporting verse for his conclusions.

Contacting Brother Curtis Knapp again with my concerns over this heretical teaching of Larry Dean, he sent me a copy of a critique written by Ryan Butler, pastor of Grace Church of Bull Shoals in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. This critique, with its concerns, had been sent out to several of the members of the SGBF. When the issue was addressed with the SGBF, I believe Ryan may have been serving as vice-chairman of the Fellowship (this was Ryan’s second separate occasion in serving as vice-chair, the first time was when I served as chairman some ten years ago; Ryan then served as chairman following my terms in service).

Since my initial communication with Curtis Knapp, I had also spoken with Ryan Butler via phone conversation. He has given me permission to include his critique of Larry Dean’s teaching on justification. You can download a PDF copy of his critique by clicking here.

Ryan Butler provided a link to a YouTube page that has an audio recording of the minutes of the SGBF Annual Meeting held on September 13, 2023 with regard to this issue of Larry Dean’s teaching on justification in man’s salvation. You can hear that meeting by clicking here.

I have enhanced the audio of the meeting, amplifying only the portions of the meeting when those other than Ryan were speaking. Otherwise, the audio was not edited or doctored in any other way. You can listen to the discussion of the enhanced audio below…

Although I am no longer a voting member of the SGBF, it does concern me that an issue of this magnitude was not communicated to all the members of the SGBF, both voting members and non-voting associates alike.

The issue, it seems, presented before several of the ministers of that meeting was that they take, at simple face value, his word from the meeting that he believes in substitutionary atonement. Nevertheless, he still holds to his understanding and interpretation of what he preaches; that it requires the actual death of the sinner, an “actual participation”[i] of that person, albeit in Christ, to be justified before God for the sins he or she has committed against God.

The question is not whether Larry Dean says he believes in substitutionary atonement. The question is this:

The historically orthodox answer according to Scripture is… YES.

The answer cannot be, “Yes… but the sinner must also…”

“Yes... but…” violates four of the five solas of the Reformation: sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, and soli Deo gloria, the last two being the most insidious violations of them all.

The only thing that makes a sinner qualified for salvation is that he is a sinner… PERIOD. Paul wrote to Timothy,

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15, ESV

My death, even passive and somehow mystically united to Christ (according to Larry Dean), denigrates the preeminence of Christ in salvation because it implies that Christ’s righteous life and sacrifice was insufficient all by itself. It says that Christ’s sinless life was an insufficient substitution because it still required the death of the sinner.

Our justification is by Christ’s imputed righteousness alone.

That’s why Jesus came. He lived the righteous life that you and I can’t possibly live. While Jesus, by His incarnation was fully God, being fully Man, perfect, sinless, righteous, holy, blameless, etc., He fulfilled ALL righteousness. He, who need not repent, repented for our sakes at the Jordan River to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf (Matt 3:15). His perfect praise and prayers have gone before us (and continue even now since He is our heavenly Mediator, Advocate, and Intercessor). He withstood every temptation as perfect Man all the way to the cross. And then, upon the cross, He paid the debt He did not owe, for a debt we owe and cannot possibly pay. He was mutilated beyond human recognition (Isa 50:6; 52:14; 53:5) by sinful men, so that when He suffered the eternal and infinite wrath of God (Psa 22:1; Isa 53:5, 10; Matt 27:46; Mk 15:34), Jesus was at His weakest point physically. In this way, no one can say that His payment was insufficient, for Jesus suffered, not only as no other person has ever suffered, His sufferings surpassed the sufferings of the collective torment of all gospel-rejecters in their eternal judgment in the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels. At the height of Christ’s sufferings He did what Adam did not do— He committed His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46). Then, at the end of His torment, as the Almighty God, He declared the penalty to be paid in full when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). This is because, since it was God our Creator whom we offended, it can only be God our Savior who can declare the offense paid and pardoned.

The Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation and crucifixion was not a vehicle in order for sinful descendants of Adam to die for our sins. His righteous life and death alone required no help from anyone or any other thing because Jesus Messiah alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

Trusting upon Christ’s perfect, sinless, and righteous life and sacrifice alone (faith alone in Christ alone because of God’s grace alone) is the only good news for wretched sinners.

Larry Dean’s view on justification is not a simple disagreement causing factions among believers entertaining carnal notions, as it was in Corinth (1 Cor 1:10-17). This issue is worse than a mere heretical teaching. It invariably belittles Christ and blasphemes His natures as fully God and fully Man. Because of Christ Jesus, we are justified by His imputed righteousness alone for He, Jesus of Nazareth, is the foundation of the biblical gospel. Salvation is all of grace because it is ALL OF CHRIST!

I am deeply saddened to have to address this about Larry Dean’s teaching. I, too, considered Larry Dean a friend.

What also saddens me is that I know this issue is going to place several missionaries and itinerant preachers in a difficult position as I know of many who are receiving support from churches in the SGBF. Nevertheless, I am confident, that as our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus have provided time and again for me and mine as I served in the mission field, our Triune God will also provide for them who stand upon His holy truth.

The recorded minutes of the 2023 SGBF Annual Meeting above present a majority vote by the members, finding Larry Dean not guilty of heresy.

Both Curtis Knapp and Ryan Butler have stood as two witnesses of Larry Dean’s false gospel, meeting the biblical standard of 1 Timothy 5:19-22 and Titus 3:10-11. I myself have also listened to the messages in question. I will not, and because of the biblical gospel of Christ I CAN NOT, associate with the SGBF. I must resign any association or affiliation with the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship immediately. As ministers of Christ’s gospel we cannot choose friendship, fellowship, or unity over faithfulness to gospel integrity.

My letter of resignation was written as follows:

May 17, 2024

To the Officers and Messengers of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship:

Gentlemen,

It is with a heavy heart that I must resign from the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship as an associate member. Please remove my name from your future publications.

The reason for my departure from the fellowship is due to the teaching of Larry Dean, pastor of Bridgetown Baptist Church. Larry Dean’s teachings on justification denigrate and dishonor the orthodox doctrine of Christ’s justification by His imputed righteousness alone.

My simple resignation should suffice; however, if you are at all interested in a few more details concerning my decision, you can find them at length in an article I had written by clicking on this link.

Sincerely,

Jon Cardwell
pastor, Calvary Baptist Church
Ninilchik, Alaska

Cc:       SGBF Associate Members
            SGBF Missionaries
            SGM Editors

My prayer is that Larry Dean, and the men who stood with him, will repent and stand upon the sure Rock of the Lord Jesus Christ, and upon His righteousness and substitutionary atonement alone.

[i] Sermon, “Justification Through Union with Christ”; timestamp 32:01-30; moreover, at timestamp 32:06-12, Larry Dean says, “…an actual participation, although ours was passive, we were there…”

I have been in Riverside, California since November 15th. My lovely wife, Lisa, has been here since September 8th. We’ve been taking care of my mother, who has stage 4 peritoneal cancer (the peritoneum is the membrane that surrounds the vital organs in the abdomen).

My mom, Tish, is not saved. She was born and raised in the Philippines, and so she is nominally Catholic. Like me before I was saved in 1985, she believes in God; however, she has not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation. That’s a tough nut to crack. Lisa confessed that she was discouraged for several weeks before I arrived, thinking that she was a pathetic Christian because she was unable to share the gospel with my mom. Since being in California and interacting with my mom, I told Lisa, “She’s not open to the gospel yet. With her condition, she’s so absorbed with self-pity and self-righteousness that she won’t hear the truth. It is as the Lord said of the Jews of His day, quoting Isaiah 6,

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’  My words comforted and encouraged her.’” Matthew 13:14-15

And again,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” Matthew 13:57

I’ve shared the gospel with her here and there over the past 38 years; and I have had a few opportunities in the past few weeks to share the gospel, as well as my own personal salvation testimony. This morning, I even shared the gospel with family members who have flown out from the east coast of the U.S. and Canada to visit my mom.

While we have been here in southern California, we have enjoyed the blessing of attending a congregation of believers who exalt Christ for God’s glory and give a high place to God’s sovereignty in salvation. And though the fellowship has been rich in Christ, we do miss our beloved church family at Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik, Alaska. We love and miss them, and we know they love and miss us.

VOICE

For the past couple of days, I have not been able to provide an audio recording of the daily devotionals. With guests in at my mother’s house, there has not been an opportunity. Also, I have been dealing with an intermittent voice issue the past few years. It has been getting increasingly worse, so the recording hiatus has allowed me to give my voice a rest. I have had an endoscopy on my throat and larynx a few years ago and there seems to be nothing physically wrong. I requested a consult from my neurologist to discuss whether this might be something associated with my latent-onset diving decompression sickness (from years of diving with the U.S. Navy). That will have to wait until I return to Alaska, however.

PRAYER

If it should come to mind during your times of prayer, please pray for my wife, Lisa, and me. Pray that…

• …my mom’s heart would be pricked by the gospel of Christ.

• …we will learn what we must and draw nearer to the Lord as we minister to my mom.

• …we will soon be united with our beloved church family in Ninilchik.

• …Christ will be exalted and our Father will be glorified in all we think, say, and do.

Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ, and Him crucified, risen, ascended, and coming again.

With love, by God’s grace,

jon j. cardwell

“Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips.” Exodus 6:30

Today basically marks the end of the event occurring at Hughes Chapel on the campus of Asbury University. According to the university president, Dr. Kevin Brown,

“Thursday, February 23, will mark the end of this historic multi-week gathering at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary with the National Collegiate Day of Prayer broadcast hosted on our campus.”1

Most of us didn’t hear anything about this chapel event at Asbury University until it actually gained some momentum. Even then, afterward, I rather ignored it except for the brief mentions I perused from the Internet news. When it had gained even more notoriety, I decided to investigate a little further.

Asbury University

Asbury University was founded in 1890 as Kentucky Holiness College. Its founding was the result of a pledge made to a student at Vanderbilt University in 1880 by John Wesley Hughes, a Methodist evangelist and circuit-riding preacher. Planted in Wilmore, KY, the school’s name was changed to Asbury College a year later to honor the Kentucky Methodist minister and pioneer, Francis Asbury. Hughes also served as the college’s first president, from 1890-1905.

While it has Methodist roots, Asbury University identifies itself as a non-denominational Christian institution.

The current president of Asbury University is Dr. Kevin Brown, entering that position in 2019.

The institution claims to have experienced several “revivals” throughout its history: 1905, 1908, 1921, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1992, and 2006.2

Timeline of Events

• Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Chapel services occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10-11 a.m. At the conclusion of the Wednesday morning chapel service, a group of approximately 20 undergraduate students remained in Hughes Chapel auditorium. It started when one student began to openly confess some of his sins to the group.  “And so you have to wonder, ‘What’s going to break?’ In this case, the Holy Spirit has interceded for us here at Asbury and across the nation,” said student body president, Alison Perfater, who was there. Later in that day, some videos went “viral” on social media platforms.3

• Friday, February 10, 2023. The event continued non-stop since its start. Comprised predominantly of the Asbury student body, non-students began to attend. Coffee stations were also set up in the auditorium. Local media covered the event.

• Sunday, February 12, 2023. Vans and buses arrived from churches and other institutions. Estes Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary opened to accommodate the overflow. McKenna Chapel and other buildings also opened to accommodate visitors.

• February 13-14, 2023. Universities and seminaries began opening chapel services in response to “revival.”

• Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Asbury University event made national news with coverage by the Washington Post.  

• February 16-17, 2023. The university set February 23rd as last day of the event on campus. Large numbers of visitors continued to flood campus. Other Christian institutions held services in response to event.

• Saturday, February 18, 2023. Numbers of visitors to campus had swollen to the point that security was a concern.

• Sunday, February 19, 2023. Last day for public evening services was announced by the university.

• Tuesday, February 22, 2023. The university announced that the services would be moved to accommodate the significant number of students attending the event.

Revival: Yea or Nay?

The question before us is this: “Was the Asbury University occurrence a true revival?”

My answer: “Yes and no.”

I can almost hear some of you growl, “Aargh!” Allow me to explain.

Some 3,000 years ago, David penned this wonderful truth:

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; Psalm 19:7

Was there genuine revival at the Hughes Chapel of Asbury University? Surely, there may have been souls to which the Holy Spirit genuinely ministered. Every salvation, when it comes right down to it, is a supernatural event. We were dead in trespasses and sins, spiritually opposed to God; and by the Holy Spirit resurrecting our dead souls to the truth of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, we have died to self and have been raised to newness of life (2 Cor 5:17). That’s a miracle no matter how you slice it.

Moreover, many of us can give testimony after testimony of how we have received a genuine, life-changing conversion despite the unorthodox, and for some, even heterodox and outright heretical circumstances surrounding our salvations.

So, yes, I believe there may have been some true revivals among some, or perhaps many, individuals there.

First Disturbing Sign

Was the event itself something I would classify as a revival? No. Why?

“Revivals,” or, if you will, the working of God among us, can be misunderstood. I used the word “working” intentionally because those who know me fairly well will realize that I preach and write often about the “person and work of Jesus Christ.”

Of course, when I speak of the person of Christ, I’m speaking about the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity; and as eternal God, Jesus is the same in essence with the Father and Holy Spirit, and equal in power and glory. The Bible declares of Him thus:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

By Christ’s work, I am speaking of His righteous life as a perfect, sinless Man (1 Pet 2:2) and His corroborating miracles as Israel’s Messiah (John 5:36); and also, and most importantly, His substitutionary, atoning Sacrifice upon Calvary’s cross (1 Cor 2:2); and also His resurrection from the dead (John 2:19); and finally, His ascension into heaven (John 3:13; Heb 1:3).

When we presume this “work” in earthly occurrences is something “of God,” why is it that Jesus and His gospel are nary mentioned at all? His suffering God’s wrath for sins He did not commit, His paying a debt He did not owe for a debt we owe and cannot possibly pay, His tasting death for every man, by God’s grace (Heb 2:9), and the shedding of His precious blood, without which there would be no forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22) was never in the forefront of this event, as far as can be testified to.

With regard to the gospel of Christ, Christian journalist, Samuel Sey, interviewed several students and alumni of Asbury University. On February 17th he wrote:

Though one student says the gospel has been consistently and explicitly preached since the beginning of the “revival”, others contradict that claim. In fact, one former student who was at the chapel this week told me he rarely, if ever, heard a clear presentation of the gospel at the school.

Another student said: “Attending the few chapels I have at seminary, apart from one [or] two chapels that preach a biblical message of repentance, it’s always been about ‘being who you are’ and God loving you ‘as you are.’ There are a lot of messages that are about being ‘true to yourself.’”4

So, the first disturbing sign is that Christ was not exalted and the gospel of His atoning death was not clearly emphasized or proclaimed.

Second Disturbing Sign

The second disturbing sign is akin to the first. If the gospel of Christ crucified was not exalted, what was? Attention and emphasis were given more to the revival itself than to Jesus Christ and the gospel of His atoning death; and it is His sacrifice which gives our worship of God in Christ breadth and length and height and depth.

What could this possibly mean? It means that many of the participants had made an idol of the “workings” of the revival. If the work of God in Christ is diminished, viz., His atoning death, then what we are calling God’s work in its place is an idol.

We are not pragmatists and we do not justify methods, methodologies, situations, circumstances, and phenomenon just because “they work.” If we did, we are making the “results” our idols.

Idols are not merely carved or graven images of wood, stone, or metal. Idolatry can take many forms. Fame, wealth, and material accessories and adornments such as cars, homes, etc., can be idols. Family, friends, and all kinds of relationships can become idols in our lives if we are not cautious. Work, career, and occupations are often idols that must be dealt with; sometimes causing rifts between spouses in marriage. Ministry, church traditions, and even the salvation of souls can become idols in our lives if they are not placed in their proper position under the submission to Jesus Christ as Lord and King enthroned above all.

Idolatry, the second commandment, is the root of all sins; and at its core, idolatry is making anything equal to or greater than the Lord Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Third Disturbing Sign

The reasons for my doubts about this event overall follow a very steady regression. The third disturbing sign I’ve witnessed found among the news articles and video segments I’ve watched was either the misuse of God’s Word to wrongly justify the event or the complete disregard for the Scriptures altogether.

For example, the Asbury University student body president who appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program said this about the event at the school: “A theme or a Bible verse that we’ve all been sharing with each other is Habakkuk 1, and the Lord says, ‘Look at the nations and watch, for I am doing something in your day that you wouldn’t believe if you were told.’”5

She was paraphrasing Habakkuk 1:5, which says,

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”

I’m not bothered by her paraphrase at all. What troubles me is the context in which she is using the verse. YHVH God said this to Habakkuk about the judgment He intended to bring upon Judah because of its evil. The reason Habakkuk would have a hard time believing this work of God, even if it was told him, was because the LORD God said He was raising the idolatrous Chaldeans…

“that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.”  Habakkuk 1:6-7

This nation was even worse than the worst wickedness of Judah and Jerusalem, by which Habakkuk lamented (Hab 1:1-4).

While some may argue judgment came upon the event’s participants by the Holy Spirit’s presence, since it started with a student repenting and many others following (an issue I will cover in my fourth and final disturbing sign), the judgment appropriate with Habakkuk 1:5, that being far more evil men than Judah’s population bringing judgment astonishingly upon them, this verse prophetically speaks of the ultimate judgment suffered by Christ Jesus, whose murder was conspired by jealous religious leaders and executed by indifferent political heathen. Jesus would cause the sinful world to see; wonder and be astounded, as it is written:

As many were astonished at You— His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and His form beyond that of the children of mankind— Isaiah 52:14

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed…. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:4-5, 10

When Jesus was ravished beyond human recognition through three illegal Jewish trials and through three Roman trials afterward, succumbing to scourging, beatings, spitting, the pulling out of His beard (Isa 50:6), and all this while he had been kept awake for well over 24 hours, the Lord Jesus suffered God’s wrath spiritually for sins He did not commit when He was at His weakest physically. This is the gospel truth of our Lord and Savior so that when this was done, no one could ever say that His payment for our sins was not enough.

If the event at Asbury, or anywhere in the world, were a true work of God, Jesus would stand alone, apart from any supernatural phenomenon (Luke 9:36); and the only thing anyone would have to lean upon is the Word of God, which testifies of Christ (Rev 19:10).

Peter testified of the event he personally witnessed when he said:

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21

Far greater than the phenomenon of this event at Asbury University was what Peter, James, and John experienced when they were on the mount with the Lord Jesus Himself, eyewitnesses to His transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36). Despite this most wonderful experience, Peter said that “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed” (2 Pet 1:19). In other words, the Scriptures— the Word of God— is what is sure and steadfast. It is to God’s Holy Word wherein we must pay attention until the truth of the early light of salvation (until the day dawns) and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, incarnate God— righteously lived as a Man, sacrificially died as a Lamb, miraculously rose again as a Son, and ascended into heaven as a King— rises lovingly, joyfully, and peacefully from the depth of our beings (until… the morning star rises in your hearts).

Whatever you and I experience may cause our minds to be unduly swayed, influenced, or even perverted by the corruptions still remaining in our mortal flesh. Remember,

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17

The Word of God, which testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation (Psa 40:7-8; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39, 46; Acts 18:28; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Rev 19:10; et al.), is always greater than our feelings or our failings. We trust in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to Scripture alone, for God’s glory alone. And if there is something that eludes our thinking from the Scriptures, you and I must trust the Scriptures to be true despite our lack of understanding in its reading. We must weigh every assent of our thoughts and every action in our decisions by the exaltation of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ according to God’s written Word.

Fourth Disturbing Sign

Although there may be other things that trouble me over this event, they are probably minor in comparison to what I’ve already mentioned, as well as the fourth and final disturbing sign this event exudes: repentance.

Sometimes we treat repentance as a one-time, been-there, done-that, bought-the-tee-shirt kind of affair. “I did it once so I don’t have to do it again,” some may think. Or “I know I did it before, but this time I meant it,” says another.  Sometimes sinful man does not see repentance as an ongoing process which purges more and more the moral corruptions still hiding and abiding within “Mansoul’s Walls.”6 Repentance means turning from the sin I once loved and turning toward the Christ I once shunned. In turning to God in true repentance, we care not to depart from the commandments of His lips. When true repentance comes, you and I should treasure the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.

Proponents of the event are quick to promote Asbury’s gathering as a true revival because of many who have been repenting over the several days of this occurrence. While I have no doubt there can be some genuine repentance over sins, I’m skeptical because of testimonies, again, offered in the article by Samuel Sey:

Still, progressive Christians like Tim Whitaker at The New Evangelicals have essentially endorsed the “revival” after his visits to the chapel this week. Moreover, he says LGBTQ students at the school told him the university protects them from “conversion therapy.” According to Whitaker, the LGBTQ students who were “worshipping” at the chapel also say they’re especially hopeful the “revival” will create (progressive) change at the school.

That lines up with what one student said to me: “Unfortunately, I have first-account experience and conversations with people who are attending and speaking on the ‘greatness’ of revival who are actively living in sin (to be blunt).”7

When what God says, viz., the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is not the standard for how we live, then repentance is a sham, regardless of how sincere we may be when we’ve confessed.

To be fair, with regard to the report concerning Tim Whitaker and the LGBTQ students on campus, Asbury University’s official stance on biblical marriage and sexuality does not make concessions or compromises on the issues promoted by LGBTQ. See Asbury’s Commitment to Morality here; and see Asbury’s Human Sexuality Statement (in PDF) here.

Nevertheless, the statements from Brother Sey’s interviews are too disconcerting to be ignored.

Repentance could be either glorious and heavenly, or it could be worldly, deadly, and altogether ignoble.

The Scripture says,

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly grief or sorrow accompanies true repentance. It is a grace of God, which the Holy Spirit brings to the soul from above (Jas 1:17). It is not mustered from the filth and depravity of our sinful and corrupt flesh. Christ’s illumination (John 8:12), via the Holy Spirit who testifies of Christ (John 15:26) and convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11) does shed light upon those sins, however, so we may confess them before God (1 Jn 1:9) and repent from them for Christ’s glory (John 16:17).

Peter exhibited this kind of godly grief which produced repentance. After he had betrayed the Lord Jesus three times, denying that he was with Jesus (Luke 22:57), denying that he was a disciple of Jesus (Luke 22:58), and finally denying that he knew Jesus at all (Luke 22:59), when the rooster crowed as Jesus told him earlier (Luke 22:31-34), and when the Lord turned to look at Peter (Luke 22:61), Peter “went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62).

Worldly grief or sorrow accompanies a sentimental, fleshly repentance.

Judas Iscariot, on the other hand, confessed his sin,

saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Matthew 27:4

Judas even threw the thirty pieces of silver he received down in the temple (Matt 27:5a); and afterward, went out and hung himself (Matt 27:5b).

His confession of his terrible sin meant nothing because he confessed it before men who hated Christ and sent Him to Pilate. His repentance, though sincere and heartfelt, did not bring him to the cross. Yes, worldly sorrow produces death.

Concluding Remarks

Amidst all the sentimental hoopla, the shofar blowing, the speaking in tongues without an interpreter, the disorderliness, and other human manifestations, I’m sure there was more than likely some genuine conversions going on… but I believe they happened in spite of the to-dos, not because of them.

And just in case you don’t see the content of GoWithJordan’s tweet, here is the image associated with his tweet…

You can also view the original tweet by coping the following text and pasting it into an open browser window: twitter.com/GoWithJordan_/status/1626774979286122496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Recommended Reads

• Samuel Sey’s article on ChristianPost.com

“The gospel accounts containing Christ’s genealogy could have easily been refuted while the temple still stood.”

It should have read…

“The gospel accounts containing Christ’s genealogy could have easily been refuted while the temple still stood, were it not so.” [emphasis added]

Please accept my sincerest apologies.

Moreover, my voice recording of the devotional thought was read with critical missing piece. Again, so sorry.

It only goes to prove, that there is only one true, flawless preacher of the gospel— the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

You can read the entire corrected version by clicking here.

Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.

It’s been three months since I switched over to sending out my daily devotionals on this Substack platform. How do you like it?

I know that the email software I was using before was getting old and having trouble reaching some of you. Now, receiving these emails has been more reliable. It’s easier to sign up to receive these devotionals with this platform; and easy to unsubscribe if you don’t want them.

Moreover, I like the ability to record the daily devotionals as well. Some folks like reading and mulling over things. Some are visual learners. Some retain better through listening. Some like the combination of any or all three. I’ve also provided links to the online ESV Bible; which allows you to not only read the text, but to listen as well.

So far, the most popular devotional or commentary these last three months is “Happy Compliance Adorns Obedience with Grace,” from Ruth 3:5.

One of my favorite devotionals to write was “Salary and Something to Wear,” from Judges 17:10.

Which was your favorite devotional?

What feature do you like best from this platform?

Perhaps there’s something you don’t like. Feel free to let me know that too.

Please sound off and leave your comments, as this will help me minister to you better so that Christ is exalted in your life, and mine, much more greatly.

The audio recording is found below.

Read more

For the nine months in 1984 and 1985, the Lord ministered to me through several saved young men. I was a First Class Petty Officer in rank, and a Navy diver as my primary job; and then, I was stationed on the U.S.S. McKee (AS-41), homported at the submarine base in Point Loma, California. Two of the Christians witnessing to me were Navy divers (which seemed odd to me at the time) and two others aspired to be Navy divers (we called them “wannabes” — I know, not very kind). These Christian young men invited me to their Bible study held onboard ship in the early evenings before “taps” (lights out).

In the Bible studies, I heard the gospel, but it just didn’t make sense to me. I knew what they were saying. They weren’t speaking gibberish. Yet my unsaved, natural mind could not make sense of it. For one thing, I had no real sense of sin— never had it for my entire life up to that point. Being called a sinner was not offensive to me. It’s not that I didn’t believe there was a God. I did. I grew up in a non-religious home, so I had no real perspective of a holy God; unholiness was not a concept in my thought processes.

It’s somewhat laughable now, but in the early days of their witness to me, one of the  young sailors said to me: “You know, we didn’t come from monkeys.” My reply was along this line: “I know. I’ve been to the San Diego Zoo and monkeys don’t do the stupid stuff I do.”

Neither did I understand the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified which offered salvation by God’s grace through faith. I didn’t understand the cross or substitutionary atonement. The cross, Christ’s shed blood, His suffering the wrath of God: I heard it, but it was as far from my comprehension as the east was from the west.

By the end of May, I still didn’t get it, but I knew I wanted to be saved. I knew I needed to be saved, but I didn’t know how. I was so frustrated in this struggle of trying to understand, yet salvation was far beyond my furthest grasp. Attempts at “being good” only amplified the truth of sin, which for the spring months of 1985, it was becoming very real and overwhelming to me. I was so confused about the gospel that I didn’t even know what kind of questions I could ask.

Finally, since it seemed the Bible studies were becoming increasingly less helpful and my troubled soul was becoming increasingly more miserable, I decided that I wasn’t going to attend anymore… one of the Christians invited me to attend another Bible study they were going to have on a Friday evening at 1900 hours (7 p.m.) in the berthing compartment. I said “yes” to the invitation even though I determined not to go; and I went.

At the Bible study, I attempted to listen intently. “Perhaps this was the night I might find an answer,” I thought. My attention was consumed by my desperate desire for relief and I couldn’t make heads or tails of any of their Scriptural posits. There was one verse recited that evening that got into my head, which I couldn’t get out of my head—

but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

You have to understand, I didn’t memorize this verse. I didn’t know Isaiah from Jonah or John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. It was the essence of this verse that stuck with me; and it wasn’t until a few years later that I realized that this was the verse the Lord used through these young men to get my attention.

Now, this verse of Scripture didn’t make things better. No way, Jose! They made things much, MUCH worse. I was wretched. Looking back, I know it was only by God’s grace I even made it through the weekend. I must have been like a zombie walking around the darkened passageways of the ship after taps. I was at the end of my rope, at the end of myself, and wished it were all over. I even attempted to pray: “Lord, if I can’t be saved, You may as well strike me down right now and send me to hell…” and the gist of that verse from Isaiah came rushing to me in an instant; I knew my sins against God had caused Him to hide His face from me, and I cried aloud, “and You’re not even hearing me!”

I found one of the young Christians from the Bible study when the weekend was over, on Monday morning, June 3rd, 1985, 82 days before my 25th birthday. I asked him to pray for me because I was so low, hopeless, and helpless. He asked me if I knew how to pray, and of course, I did not and told him so. He said he would lead me in a prayer, and I could just repeat what he said. I didn’t realize at the time that this is what some Christians refer to as the “sinner’s prayer” (and even afterward I didn’t know what it was, as I will relate in a moment, a practice that I do not apply or promote in ministry, though I’m not against it per se).

Vince led me in this prayer, and I suppose I was repeating what he said because he didn’t stop me and tell me to repeat after him. You see, we knelt together to pray, and as soon as I closed my eyes, I didn’t hear a word he said. I was consumed in my own thoughts of Christ’s cross. I knew what it was. He bled and died for me. Jesus took my place and suffered for the sins I committed against a holy God. I believed it with every fiber of my being. I knew that trusting in Him I could turn from my sins and godless way of life and turn to Christ as my God, Lord, and Savior. I knew I belonged to Christ now, that He loved me, and that He gave Himself for me. It was as if I was engulfed in God’s love.

The only other word I heard Vince say was: “Amen.”

As I mentioned, I don’t use the “sinner’s prayer” when I share the gospel or witness to others. I don’t have “altar calls” when I preach. It was not the prayer that saved me. It was Christ alone, by God’s grace alone, through faith in Him alone that saved me. And as I mentioned before, I’m not against the sinner’s prayer per se. The Lord used it in Vince’s life, and certainly in mine, to be the catalyst by which I could literally kneel in prayer, and spiritually kneel before the cross, to surrender to Christ.

So transformed was I that day, Christ had changed my manner of speech. Before that June morning, every other word out of my mouth was a four-letter expletive, making me a “poster child” of sorts for having the mouth of a sailor. That was taken away from me instantly. It had to be pointed out by someone else because that kind of talk was so much a part of me that I didn’t know I spoke like that. So when it was gone, I didn’t realize it departed. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

I was in kind of a honeymoon with my Lord Jesus for a week. I kept on bugging these Christians about when they would have another Bible study.

Vince realized I didn’t have a Bible so he gave me a little New Testament, which also contained the Psalms and the Proverbs. This was exactly one week after the Lord had saved me.

I had duty that night and there were no dive jobs, so I sat up in the dive locker and read through the Gospel of Matthew, and then part way through the Gospel of Mark. You must understand, I learned to speed read when I was in high school, and once I learned, I hardly read anything slow at all… until the Lord saved me, that is. By the time I finished Matthew I was in tears. Not only could I understand several things I could never understand before, the truth of Christ’s righteous life, His crucifixion, and His resurrection were more real to me than anything I had ever experienced in my life. I wept even more reading through part of Mark.

After three weeks, I read through the entire New Testament, as well as the Psalms and Proverbs. Certainly, there were things I didn’t understand at all, but of those truths the Holy Spirit had opened to me, it was if I were a completely different person, just as God’s Word declared:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I had to get the whole Bible, one with both the Old and New Testaments. One of the Christian divers went with me to downtown San Diego to help me get my first Bible (as much as I traveled around the world by that time, I find it delightfully providential that I was born in San Diego in 1960 and I was born-again in San Diego in 1985).

With my first Bible in hand, my prayer to the Lord was something like this: “Lord, I know I’m not going to understand everything in Your Word, but if You’re willing, help me to understand as much as I’m able, by Your grace.” Of course He was willing! I read completely through the Bible in the next nine months.

My precious Lord was faithful to that promise 39 years ago and continues to be faithful to that promise today.

By 1987, I discovered Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Plan, which allowed me to systematically read through the entire Old Testament once in the year, as well as the New Testament and the Psalms twice in that same year.

MY STUDIES

Fast-forwarding a few years, with my young Christianity growing, grinding, even groveling for repentance because of my failures and unfaithfulness, a passionate love for God’s Word and His blessed gospel yet remained.

By late 1989, I was a Chief Petty Officer stationed in the Diving and Salvage Division of the Ships Repair Facility in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. My routine was: wake up at 0300 to pray and read my Bible; work out at the naval station gym at 0500 when it opened; eat a quick breakfast at the dive locker at 0600. Muster for divers’ PT (physical training) at 0630. After my shower following the exercises and 5-mile run, muster for quarters and dive job assignments at 0800. Knock off work anywhere from 1500 to 1600 hours after dive jobs were complete and maintenance was done for the equipment, dive boats, and recompression chamber.

I took a Bible College correspondence course. I just wanted to draw nearer to Christ through a better grasp of God’s Word, never imagining I would one day be called to be a pastor in Christ’s church. Since it was correspondence, it only took me nine months to complete.

The Lord called me into pastoral ministry in 2000. Since, I’ve applied and have been accepted to attend seminary; however, in God’s providence, I could not go, and I went to minister as the pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama from 2009 to 2018 (my fourth pastorate).

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MY THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION

I had written all that to say this: I believe a biblical education is essential for every Christian. Nevertheless, I understand it might not always be possible or practicable for one to attend Bible college, seminary, or other Christian training.

Because of that, I want to do all I can to pass on to you some of the wonderful blessings God has provided for me in His merciful love and amazing grace.

MY THEOLOGY ARTICLES

With that, I’m starting a category of posts called, “Theology Thursday.”

Theology is sometimes a word some Christians may shy away from. It tends to conjure up ideas of dry academics. Look, I get it. I dropped out of college in 1979 to join the Navy to be a frogman because I was tired of school. But theology doesn’t have to be some deep scholastic thought endeavor. It can be simple, enjoyable, and best of all, glorifying to God through Christ’s exaltation as we grow in understanding of the doctrines from God’s Word. Here’s a terrific definition of what theology is:

…the science of God and divine things; or the science which teaches the existence, character and attributes of God, His laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice. —Noah Webster, Webster’s Dictionary of American English, published 1828

Each week, on Thursday, I’ll present some theological article. I pray they will be a blessing to you. And remember, using this platform on Substack.com, you can leave comments or ask questions to get clarity from what I’ve written.

That said, Theology Thursday is coming soon.

MY TAKE ON HERMENEUTICS

Although it’s not yet Thursday, I wanted to leave you with something helpful today. The topic is basic hermeneutics. Recently, I gave a student of Alaska Bible Institute my four-minute hermeneutics course. Hermeneutics is simply this:

Interpreting; explaining; unfolding the signification; as hermeneutic theology, the art of expounding the Scriptures. —Noah Webster, Webster’s Dictionary of American English, published 1828

My unaccredited college course isn’t exactly a 101; it’s more of a 001. Here it is…

First, read the Bible daily, and read through the entire Bible in one year… every year. As a resource, you can use Robert Murray M’Cheyne “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Plan, which is available online for free by clicking here.

Second, learn the meanings of words from original languages.

Ideally, it’s best to learn the original languages in Hebrew, Chaldean, and Greek, most especially if one is going into a preaching or teaching ministry. The wonderful pastor’s pastor and author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” counseled a young minster with this rich wisdom concerning the pursuit of study in the original languages:

“The original Scriptures well deserve your pains, and will richly repay them. There is doubtless a beauty, fullness, and spirit, in the originals, which the best translations do not always express.” John Newton, The Works of Rev. John Newton, Volume 1, Williams & Whiting, London; 1810; pgs.118-119  

Most people don’t have time to learn another language; however, a good concordance for word studies would be an eternal investment of infinite value. Click here to examine an exhaustive concordance for the ESV. Click here to examine an exhaustive concordance for the KJV.

Third, interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is a great primer for finding associated, applicable, and complimentary Bible verses for the portion of text you’re studying. I’ve used this for the 22 years the Lord has allowed me to minister as a pastor, gospel preacher, and Bible teacher. Click here to examine that resource.

Fourth, interpret Scripture by the truth of the gospel; in other words, by the truth of the New Testament in general, and the truth of Christ Jesus, and Him crucified, risen, ascended, and coming again, in particular. While some systematic theologies are good, they can be overwhelming in their many volumes. A good, thorough Confession of Faith would be a great place to start. The 1689 London Baptist Confession is a terrific theological, gospel presentation, and a free PDF copy can be obtained by clicking here.

Finally, if your hermeneutic does not drive you to exalt the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the ultimate glory of God the Father, the interpretation is in error.  God is most glorified in the exaltation of His only Son, as it is written,

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

MY DISCLAIMER

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