What we believe:

Grace...

Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the only way God saves sinners. The works of men, their religion, and sincerity will be rejected at the judgment.

Baptist...

We are Baptist in doctrine and practice. We are not reformed or non-denominational.

We believe in the Sovereignty of God, the Lordship of Christ, that the Election of Sinners is Unconditional , that man is totally depraved and unable to come to the Saviour without Divine intervention, and that God's saving grace is irrissistable. That all those who Christ saves will persevere until the end and that it is the responsibility of every human being to repent and trust Christ.

Church...

That the church is a local, baptized body of believers that God has brought together to worship and serve him according to the scriptures. That it is autonomous and free from any and all authority other than that of Christ himself and is self propagating. 

BIBLE STUDIES

By: R. R. Massegee

OTS 31 July and 7 Aug 2005

Right off the top let me say that I believe every person who ever has lived and ever shall live must at some time give an account to God for everything he or she says, does, or fails to do, or even thinks. The junk caller says, “Now don’t hang up.” So, don’t turn me off, or close your mind and close your spirit because you don’t want to believe what I am about to say, but it is also true, in spite of what has been said from many pulpits and our parents, a person does not go to heaven or hell for what he or she does. One goes to hell because he or she has not done something: and that something is not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.   And one goes to heaven because God, ere the foundation of the earth was laid, selected that person and wrote his or her name in the Lamb’s book of life. One does not believe because his or her name was not written in that book. In other words, they are among those to whom Jesus said, It was not given unto them to hear and understand: Luke 8:10.

However for those who might not know, I shall list a few scriptures as a sample of what the Bible teaches on this subject. But, there are many more scriptures, that I could list, and all of them agree with these. But if you won’t believe, neither would you believe the others.

1. Matthew 12:36: But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Even if there was no other scripture, that one is sufficiently plain to defy contradiction. We shall get more into that later.

1. Matthew 18:23: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. Now read the remainder of this chapter, and you will see that the king who is representative of Jesus Christ in this parable, demanded an accounting from his servants.

1. Luke 16:2b: How is this that I hear this of thee? Give account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer a steward.

1. Romans 14:11-12: ¹¹For it is written, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. ¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. No further comment is needed for these two listings.

1. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15: ¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1. Philippians 4:17: Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

1. Hebrews 13:17a: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account. So our pastors and teachers must give account for what they teach.

1. 1 Peter 4:4-6b: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead, ^6bthat they might be judged according to men in the flesh.

1. Matthew chapter 25: Even though the word ‘account’ is not used in the three parables in this chapter, the Ten Virgins, verses 1-13; the parable of the servants, verses 14-30, and the account of the Judgment of the nations, verses 31-46, it is perfectly obvious that each group gave an account to God for their actions or lack thereof.

1.  Matthew 16:27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

1. Revelation 2:23b: I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will     give unto every one of you according to your works. (Note: For you who like to do word studies, explain to me the difference between “every man” or “every one of you” and “all men”.)

1.  Revelation 20:13: and this is the final judgment (accounting) of the dead (lost), And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (NOTE: The clause, ‘they were judged every man’ taken literally and in context means every man who was present at this judgment, not every man on earth or in time.)

1.  Romans 14:10, 12: The final judgment (accounting) of the living (the saved), ¹⁰But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother” for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (NOTE: In this judgment there are only saved people. Therefore, the judgment is for rewards only. It is not to determine if one is saved or lost, that already had been determined. So in verse ten the clause ‘we shall all stand’ and in verse twelve the phrase, ‘every one of us’ taken literally and in context does not mean all people, or every person on earth, but only those present at the time, the brethren, that is, those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the earth.)

1.  Revelation 13:8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, (the antichrist) whose names are not (present tense) written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1.  Revelation 17:8b. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not (past tense) written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,

1.  Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

1.  Revelation 21:27b, Speaking of the New City Jerusalem, And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever workeh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The question is: Do we have anything to guide us as to what is right or wrong? As we learned in Romans chapter fourteen, those who are sound in their faith are not to judge those who are weak and who do things we ourselves consider wrong or at least not expedient, but rather to admonish them in love because it is Christ that judges, and his judgment is based upon intent, that is, motive. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. So the answer is: Yes, we do have plenty of scriptures to tell us what is right and wrong, and these scriptures are they which we may use to admonish the weaker Christian.

As a springboard, let’s use 1 Corinthians 6:12; and 10: and the last part of verse 23. Let’s start by reading verse 12 of chapter six. Paul writes: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Notice that Paul did not say that all deeds are lawful to him, but that all things are lawful. I have heard it said, though haven’t found it in the Bible, that there is nothing, (no thing) that is sin within itself. However, it is a good thought to use by way of explanation. For example: there is no sin in a gun, even a loaded one. A loaded gun can lie on a shelf until it decays into rust, and there is no sin in it of itself. It is only when man picks it up that sin develops. This is true with any other thing you may want to name: a cigarette or a package, a glass, a bottle, or a carton of an alcoholic beverage, or any type or form of drug. All of these things, Paul says, are harmless, if left in their place, and are lawful. In fact, if one will examine any one of these things I mentioned above, one will find that not only are they lawful, but they are even beneficial if used or administered in a lawful manner.

But Paul continues, but all things are not expedient: It is lawful for Paul to do, but it may not be expedient. Now what does ‘expedient’ mean? Webster explains it “Suitable for achieving a particular end in a given circumstance”.  So Paul says, “It is not suitable for achieving a particular end in a given circumstance.” What is the desired end for a Christian? Is it not to glorify God and to grow in righteousness?  If not, it should be. So Paul says, “It may be lawful, but it does not further my goal to glorify God.” So, the questions one needs to ask in every circumstance are: Is this the best way for me to glorify God? Will I profit from it spiritually? Could it put me in a compromising position? Does it have the appearance of evil? If so, shun it. Is it recognizable as sin? Then abhor it. Just don’t have anything to do with it.

My daughter Laura was saved, and I use that term loosely, when she was about nine years old. As she began to develop into a teenager, she occasionally would ask to do something or go someplace. In many cases I would tell her to give me as many reasons as she could why she wanted this particular thing, and what benefit she would derive from it. Then I would ask her to examine the question and see if she could come up with any reason why she should not. At times I would have to help her on that one. After considering the pros and cons, as a general rule, because I believed I could respect her decision, I would tell her, “OK, now you see the benefits and the dangers; you decide what you want to do about it, and it will be OK with me. But remember that you will have to suffer the consequences if things don’t work out the way you think they will, and that whatever you do will reflect on your mother and me as your parents, either good or bad. I think I would be safe in saying that more times than not, she would decide that she didn’t want to do that or go there nearly as badly as she thought she did.

Many years ago I read a story of a very rich man who lived way out in the country. To get to the nearest city it was necessary to traverse a very dangerous mountain road. At one place the road was narrow, and on one side was a steep bluff, while on the other it was straight down hundreds of feet, and if a car went off there, it would be all day long. This man wanted to hire a chauffeur to take his wife and children to town at times. Three men applied for the job. He said he wanted to test their ability to drive. He took all of them up to this dangerous place and asked them separately, “How close to that cliff could you drive and still feel safe. One man said he could drive within a foot of the edge. The other said about six inches. The other fellow replied, “Sir, if I had your wife and children in the car, I would stay as far from that cliff as was possible, and still not feel safe. Can you guess which of the three got the job? That is the attitude one should have about sin of any sort.

Paul continues, I will not be brought under the power of any. One never knows when one may be brought under the power of any one of these things I mentioned above.

Example: I had a Christian friend, a weak Christian, but nonetheless a Christian, who had never tasted tobacco in any form, he had never tasted of an alcoholic beverage, had never cheated on his wife, had never used a curse word. In fact he was so clean he squeaked. Then he became anemic, and the doctor told him if he would drink a bottle of beer thirty minutes before dinner every night, it would give him a better appetite, and he soon would be back in good health. He replied, “But Doctor, I have never even tasted beer.” The doctor assured him that one beer a night would not hurt him, but would help him. So on the way home he stopped and bought a six-pack. He drank one bottle about thirty minutes before dinner. That one bottle made him tipsy and he could not resist the temptation to drink another, and another until he had drunk all six and passed out on the floor.

That would have been bad enough, but the next morning on his way to work as he passed the store, he could not resist the temptation to go in. He never made it to work, but wound up in jail for drunk driving. From the moment of that first drink he was an uncontrolled alcoholic. He soon had a police record; he lost his job, his wife and children and home and eventually was sent to the penitentiary for writing hot checks. The last I heard he was still in the Pen. And his wife had remarried.  I know that was an isolated case, but who knows whether that one sin will become one’s master? I am sure it is not as isolated as we might think.

The point of this is that one never knows which or at what time some sin will take power over him. So, what is the answer? We find that in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 where Paul writes: Abstain from the appearance of evil. And in Romans 12:9 where he says: Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In other words, stay as far away as is possible from the edge of that cliff.

So, it boils down to a matter of choice.  The lost man, because he is dead in sin as a result of what Adam did, has a choice, but the only choice he can make of and by himself is to sin. He cannot choose to do righteous. Why do I say that? Because everything and anything he does is sin regardless of his supposed intent. (Do   you mean that if a lost man risks his life to save the life of another it is sin? YES!) Proverbs 21:4 tells us: An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin. Why is that? Because; it is not done in faith. Psalm 109:7: speaking of the lost man says, When he shall judge, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. And Romans 14:23 reads: And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (So, anything a person does that does not glorify God is sin. No amount of good the lost person does will get him in the good graces of God.)

The saved man also has a choice, and depending upon to whom he surrenders himself, he chooses to do either righteous acts or acts of sin. And upon his decision hangs the amount of reward he will receive at the Judgment seat of Christ. James 4:17; speaking of Christians, tells us: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 1 John 3:4 tells us: Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And in 5:17 he tells us:  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Now in the last part of 1 Corinthians 10:23 we read: but all things edify not. Even though something is lawful, it may not edify one. What does ‘edify’ mean?  Again Webster says, “to instruct or improve spiritually”.  Isn’t that exactly what I have been saying? If what you are contemplating will not instruct or improve you  or your listeners spiritually, Paul says, “Don’t do it.”

No, that does not eliminate physical work or exercise. Both are necessary for the health that provides the power and provisions for service to God, doing what God has instructed us to do. They both are honorable provided one makes them honorable. However, if one works in order to amass a fortune so that he can say, “Look what I have done”, or to satisfy one’s desire for things, or if one exercises in order to look at other near-naked people, or to show off one’s own near-naked body, and say, “Look at me”, then it is sin.  Colossians 3:17 tells us: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Yes, every person whether saved or lost will at some time give an account to God for every thought, every idle word, and every act that he commits.

While we are here let me ask you: “What is meant by the word ‘idle’? The primary meaning of the Greek word translated Idle here is ‘unemployed, lazy, useless, or barren’. When you use it with the word ‘word’ then, it means that the word is useless or barren, that is, not accomplishing anything. How is that applied to conversation? It means any word that does not glorify God. A little personal example: I have a cousin who is about two months older than I. I lived with them for a number of months when I was about 13. Her father was a Baptist preacher, and was very strict with his family, yet he was rather condescending or lax toward himself.  This cousin used the expression, “Well Heavens Tebetsy” very often. One day when there were several of us kids together, she used that term a number of times. Finally, I said, “Well, Hells Bells”. She exploded: “Bob, you should not use that term. There are not any bells in hell, and you should not say that word in public.” I asked, Well, how many Tebetseys are there in heaven? The thing is, that both are “idle words”, and some day the one who uses them will answer to God for using them.” She stopped and thought a moment and said, “I never thought of it that way.” And I never heard her say that term again. People so often get hung up on what we call ‘by words’ until they can hardly say a sentence without using one; you know. Darn. Gosh, dad gum it, shucks, and other such words. Most who use them do not know that these words were developed for people to use in public instead of a curse word. So, in essence, when one uses them, that person is cursing. In addition, the term does not glorify God, therefore they are not only idle, they are an insult to God; and believe me, that person will answer to God for it some day. In addition, the use of any of those words tells the other person that you do not have enough command of the English language to be able to express your thought.

Let me give you an experience one Christian had. He became interested in the rock hobby. Now there’s nothing wrong with that. Then he worked his way up to President of what they call “The Federation”. The Federation was a group of individual clubs, and all clubs were required to be a member of the Federation in order to exhibit their displays at the annual Federation show. Within this Federation of more than 5000 members was a club called, The Rolling Rock Club. It was formed so that a person anywhere in the world could be in a club within the Federation. If a person belonged to that club regardless of where he lived, he could exhibit in the Federation show. However the Rolling Rock Club had its business meetings only on Sunday mornings. This new President attended one meeting out of respect, but told the members present that he would not attend their next meeting because Sunday was the day to go to church. And he did not attend their next meeting. And would you believe: he was told by a number of the members later that they appreciated his stand.

Remember, if it does not glorify God, or work toward making you a better Christian, and better able to serve God, then don’t do it, because at some time, you will be called upon by God to give an account for it. And it will detract from your rewards in heaven.

Supplement to Accountability 

I know this is not on the subject of Accountability, but back on Page 4 last Sunday, I used the term ‘was lost’ and said I used that term loosely. I know that most Baptists and probably all of the Protestant denominations have no idea of the actual meaning of that term: and since it is possible that some of you had a question about it and did not ask it, let me ask you one: What does it truly say when one says, “I got saved, or I was saved at such and such a time? Someone give me an answer. I also know that most people use that term without even thinking. In fact, most of us do not even think when we read the Bible. We just say the words. 

Let’s do a little word study on that phrase: According to Webster, “GOT” is a transitive, active verb; and ‘WAS’ is a intransitive, active verb, and both of them imply, or demand action of the part of the receiver.  In other words it implies that the receiver performed some function in order to receive whatever it was he or she GOT or WAS.

Since we Baptists do not believe in works for salvation, this statement goes against everything we believe about salvation.

Then we need to press the thought further. We’ll do that by asking you another question: If you are saved and know you are saved, tell me “When were you saved?” Can you remember the day and time?

OK, let’s have some answers.

Answer, You were saved sometime in the distant past, before the foundation of the world, when God decreed that you were his child. At that time, you became his child. And having been born a child of God, you can never become unborn; thus you can never become, not a child of God. Why? Because; you had nothing to do with your birth. For example: How much, did you have to do with your natural birth? Did you choose your parents? Once born to your parents, can you ever become ‘unborn’ of them? I think not. It is physically impossible. Regardless of how rotten, mean, and no good you become, or how rotten, mean, and no good your parents become, and even though your parents may disown you; you are still their child. If this be true in the physical, and it certainly is; how much more impossible is it in the spiritual. Jesus said, in John 6:37, 44:  ³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me; I will in no wise cast out.

⁴⁴No man can come to me, except the Father which sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

There are two very poignant statements, deeply affecting our condition here. The first is in verse 37 where it reads: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. The decisive word here is ‘shall’. Every person God gives to Jesus ‘shall’ come to Jesus; not maybe, not perhaps, not if that person decides on his own that he’ll give Jesus a try, but ‘shall’ meaning that when he gives anyone to Jesus, God himself will see to it that person gets to Jesus. If it had not been God’s will, he would not have given that person to Jesus.  The second word is ‘will’. This is found first in the second and third phrases in verse 37: and him that cometh to me; I will in no wise cast out. That person whom God chose and gave to Jesus, and made it impossible for him not to come to Jesus, Jesus himself will in no wise cast out. The term ‘cast out’ means ‘to refuse to accept him or her’.  Why? Because; Jesus came to do the will of God. John 6:38,39: Jesus is speaking: ³⁸For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

So what this is saying is that once one is born into the family of God, you are eternally born into that family. We clinch that fact with the words of Jesus in John 10:27-30: ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰I and my Father are one.

Bro. Massegee is a member of Oak Trail Baptist Church in Granbury Texas, he is ninety three years old and started teaching Bible when he was thirteen years old. He is a brilliant Bible scholar and teacher.

Confession of faith:

The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689 AD)