October 2011

Volume 6 #10 Volume 6 #10

Wading River Baptist Church

P.O. Box 438, 1635 Wading River-Manor Road, Wading River, NY 11792 (631) 929-3512; 929-6022 www.wrbc.us office@wrbc.us

Biblical Separation Part 2: Personal Separation

Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Underlying the biblical challenge to personal separation is the problem of worldliness. Every born-again believer is confronted by a multitude of temptations to conform to the world. Satan, who is the ruler of this world (Jn 16:11), together with his demonic forces, sees to it that all Christians are well-supplied with opportunities to capitulate to worldly values and activities; and as we saw in the first article in this series, many contemporary churches are tolerating, if not actually advocating, lifestyle choices that defy the standards of biblical holiness. Generally, the justification for these choices is spiritual freedom. Some professing Christians insist that they have Christian liberty to make the decision to engage in doubtful (if not outright sinful) activities, and that to deny them that right is legalism. This is not an innovative way of thinking. Fallen human nature has always looked for a way to justify sinful behavior. The more cover we can find in the Bible, the better. It was just this kind of thinking that provoked Jude to write his little epistle. He had intended to write a letter to his brethren about our common salvation (v. 3), but then became aware of a serious problem that was beginning to infect the first-century churches. He explains: I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. But it was not a doctrinal threat that concerned him. Rather, certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (v. 4). At this point, Jude was not so much concerned about what the Christians believed as he was about how they lived. Here were Christians who were turning grace into licentiousness (moral license). What this means is that they were reasoning that because they had received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and because their sins were forgiven, and because if they were to confess their sins, they could be assured of forgiveness (1 Jn 1:9), they could live without restraint. That was their right by virtue of their standing in grace. On the contrary, however, Jude devotes the remainder of his brief epistle to demonstrating the satanic roots and sobering fruit of such thinking. Tragically, regardless of how it is masked, this error of license in the name of grace persists in present-day evangelicalism. For many professing Christians, such license is the mark of authenticity. They are eager to point out the hypocrisy of those who advocate holiness (they themselves do the things they seek to deny to others). Its true that even the most devout believersthose unequivocally committed to holinessfail consistently to live up to the high biblical standards of Christlikeness, but that is no reason to set aside those standards. In fact, neither Scripture nor 2,000 years of Christian tradition sanctions those who profess Christ yet who engage in such practices as drinking, recreational drugs, sexual immorality, cursing and the use of crude language, and all other such behavior that distinguishes the unregenerate. The case for personal holiness and separation from sin is clear. To Israel in the wilderness, the Lord declared repeatedly: I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean . . . . For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev 11:44-45). There is no escaping this obligation on dispensational grounds either, for the Apostle Peter writes to church-age believers: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Pet 1:14-16). Note, that the requirement here is holiness in all our behavior. Thus, our responsibility for godliness is grounded in the very being of God himself. He is holy, we are His adopted children, and we are to share His holiness. At the heart of this requirement is the reality that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Paul asks the Corinthian congregation, notorious for their worldliness, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor 6:19-20). Because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and knowing the great cost to the Lord Jesus of purchasing our redemption (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:18-19), we willingly seek to glorify the Lord in the way we live. But what does this mean in practice? It means separation from the sinful behavior of the world. Again to the Corinthians, Paul says: Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or
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what harmony has Christ with Belial [i. e., Satan], or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 6:147:1). Once again, the prohibition is against all defilement, both of the physical body and of the human spirit (i. e., inner thoughts, desires, and motives as well as outward deeds). We are not free to choose what sins we will enjoy and which we will forgo. The reason for this, of course, is that there is by nature a radical separation between the values of a holy God and those of a sinful world. As John admonishes, Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also

its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 Jn 2:15-17). The sinful desires of the world cannot peacefully coexist with the love of God in the same heart. We cannot serve two masters (Mt 6:24). But isnt this legalism, and doesnt Scripture forbid legalistic thinking? Those who argue this way need to remember that the proper definition of legalism is either the doctrine of salvation by works or the doctrine of the Law as the Christians rule of life. Neither is in view here. What is often called legalism is what the Bible calls holiness. To those who reject any notion that Christians are subject to a list of dos and donts, it is important to keep in mind that the New Testament actually has its own lists of dos and donts (1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-23, and Rev 21:8 for example). Some behavior is simply forbidden to Christians. To engage in it, therefore, is sin. Its that simple. The Apostle Paul sums up the problem of grace versus Christian liberty in writing to Titus: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own

possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14). Grace teaches godliness. Anticipation of Christs coming motivates righteous living. These truths are the answer for the problem Jude identified, namely, turning grace into moral license. Thus, those who vigorously deny the biblical teaching that Christians are to live lives separated from sin betray an absence of grace in their thinking. They need to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). In spite of their many failings, Christians want to please the Lord. When they sin, they are grieved; thats not the way they want to live. They take no satisfaction in being authentic or relevant. They confess their sin and strive to live ever more pleasing to God. Likewise, no truly Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church will ever condone this false authenticity by condoning licentious behavior. They will constantly emphasize that in their worship, in their ministry, and in their fellowship, holiness befits the house of God (Psalm 93:5). In our next article, we will explore this important truth. Pastor Ron Glass Next issue: A Look at Ecclesiastical Separation

Getting Acquainted with Harold Cosgrove

On September 23, 2011, Harold Cosgrove celebrated his 90th birthday, putting him in a select group of seniors at the WRBC who have reached such a milestone. Automatically a respect is attached to such a landmark in a mans life, recognizing the wisdom that has been acquired along the way. After all, Harold is only a decade short of a century full of experiences, many of which are left to our imagination of his life years ago. Harold was born in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, on September 23, 1921, a time when technology was just beginning to enter ordinary households with things like the radio and appliances that we take so much for granted. Television was just being discovered and was not yet in the home. Cars were beginning to expand via mass production, and jazz music was in. Families were big in those days, and Harolds family was no exception. His mother and father, Walter and Jennie Cosgrove, raised six children. Harold was the fourth child, with three older siblings (William, Albert, and Jean) and two younger siblings (Mary and Evelyn). He attended Franklin Lakes Grammar School and Ramsey High School as well as the Franklin Lakes Methodist Church where, as a young adult, he joined the Methodist Youth Forum. Soon after high-school graduation, World War II began and all the Cosgrove sons entered the Army Air Force. The first year of Harolds enlistment was served in the statistical control unit of the Army Air Force. After applying and being accepted for flight training, the Air Force sent him to Lafayette College in eastern Pennsylvania for pre-cadet training. He eventually became a crew member on a B-25 airplane serving overseas in the China/Burma/India theater of war. The 14th Air Force in which he served was the The Flying Tigers. This was the outgrowth of the original Flying Tigers who were volunteers helping China after the Japanese invaded China. His crew was being trained to invade Japan where it was expected there would be a great loss of life. As a result of the atomic bomb the operations ceased and all of the crews were able to return home safely. Harold worked for several companies after the war, specializing in the new IBM machines which at that time were the start of the computers. While living in Plainedge, NY, he obtained employment with Grumman Aircraft Corporation in Bethpage, where for 26 years he contributed to computer operations on many projects, including the lunar landing module (LEM), F-14 development, and testing of the space shuttle.
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When he found time outside of his work, Harold enjoyed speed skating and participated in competitions throughout the northeast. Some of his speed skating friends went on to participate in the Olympics. Another love of his was flying, so he trained and received his pilots license in order to fly several types of airplanes. This he did for five years. Seemingly by chance, Harold met his wife at one of his places of employment. He first saw her walking down the hall and thought she was so beautiful, very much wanting to meet her. A friend found out her name and in what department she worked, resulting in a phone call full of convincing persuasion to go out on a date. This she did, with many dates to

follow; some of them impressing this beautiful woman, whom we now know is Gerry Cosgrove. For example, they had dates at the ice cream parlor, most unlikely for a male suitor. Harold and Gerry married June 21, 1952, in the Cambria Heights Community Church and started their family. They have two children: a son, Robert, and a daughter, Janet. Harold and Gerry are blessed with two grandchildren, Matthew and Jonathan. They lived in Plainedge, NY, for 46 years where they attended the Levittown Baptist Church before retiring and moving to Leisure Village in 1999. Once they moved to Leisure Village, they met their next-door neighbors, John and Ro Freyhammer, who at that time were members of the WRBC. It was the Freyhammers that introduced the two of them to the church. Harold and Gerry like to

join other retirees from Leisure Village in traveling throughout the United States; but when in town, they continue to attend the WRBC. They are particularly fond of the fellowship at the Senior Saints luncheons as they join other seniors in celebrating the Lord. If you do not know Harold Cosgrove, Harold is the handsome senior sometimes mistaken for someone much younger. He is not only handsome, but smart; however, Harold is a bit on the shy side if you have not made his acquaintance. Once you make his acquaintance, he will quickly hold your attention with the many colorful stories of his life. Harold is also a gentleman, never having an unkind word for anyone. It would be your loss if you do not allow him to be a part of your life, for he has 90 years of living to share. Joan Tyska

Missionaries of the Month Marvin and Denise Robinson

Many Christians have come together in agreement that the United States is in grave need of revival, beginning with its evangelical churches. As we pray for this revival, it is comforting to know that there are those missionaries who have chosen to stay within the boundaries of the U.S. to plant churches and bring the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, with the poverty level within the states on a steady increase, we also see reason to reach out to some of those less fortunate living in suburban, government-subsidized housing developments. This is exactly what Marvin and Denise Robinson of Missions Door are doing as they continue to serve in the Rochester, NY area. They continue to extend invitations to anyone wanting to come along side of them to minister in Bible clubs for children, open evangelism, and in projects for the elderly. Generally in the summer they would schedule as many groups as they can in order to reach scores of children and adults with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as passing along their vision of reaching the inner city with the truth of salvation. A little off their beaten path, earlier in 2010, Marvin and Denise joined Vince and Maryam Morgan as they traveled on their Great Commissionto Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. The Lord provided them with a wonderful apartment in Nazareth; they were able to meet with an Ethiopian pastor and his wife; and they attended a Russian Messianic Bible study in the city of Afula (located in the Jezreel Valley), among other most blessed events. Family updates include a new grandchild; #3 for the Robinsons. It was stated in their 2010 newsletter that the grandbaby was on its way, due on Christmas Day. Since we dont hear from the Robinsons very often, it is assumed that their son, Paul, and his wife, Erica, now have three children: Macey, now 5; Justus, now 3; and the baby, not yet one year of age. Continue to pray for these dedicated missionaries, especially concerning their financial needs. As the economy continues to play havoc with everyones lives, the area of finances remains a troubling one for the Robinsons, as well as for most of our missionaries. Joan Tyska

August and September in Review

Saturday, August 6, 2011 Young adults (15 years of age and up) from across Long Island gathered at Calvary Baptist Church in Port Jefferson Station for the Revive Us Lord Rally featuring Christian music and the ministry of Gods Word. The rally was sponsored by the Christian Youth Soccer League (CYSL) and run by WRBCs Vic Perez; the CYSL provided the rallys refreshments after the 18-hour fast which had been suggested for all those participating in the rally. Vic Perez caught the vision for a Christian youth day/revival meeting right here in Suffolk County, took the lead in organizing it and handling all of the logistical details, inspired others to partner with him in this outreach opportunity, and saw the entire ministry through to fruition less than four months after articulating his vision. The two speakers were Bruce Bennett, Pastor of Word of Truth Church in Selden, and Peter Albrecht (WRBC). Peter preached a strong Biblical message entitled, From Wrestling to Blessing: Gods Method for Revival (Genesis 32:24-31). Peter emphasized that revival is first caused by a meeting with God; second, revival is completed by a blessing from God; and third, revival is confirmed by walking with God. It was a lesson not limited to young people but rather a message that should be firmly planted in everyones heart. The musical worship was provided by the Calvary Baptist Church Worship Team and the Saving Grace Youth Worship Band which WRBCs Danielle, Sariah, and Esias Perez participated in. The total attendance was about 50, including parents, siblings, and volunteers. Sunday, August 14, 2011 When the Piraino and the Perez families come together for a musical worship, we have a moment to reflect once again how blessed we are to have such beautiful and talented young people at the WRBC. But this parcontinued on page 4

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ticular Sunday, it was also a reminder that these young people are slowly entering the world around us as some of them return to college, leaving a vacant spot at WRBC.

from the roof of the church. The silhouette of Carl against the sky of a setting sun was spotted on the roof of the church the evening before the hurricane, as he was quietly taking precautions to weatherproof the church.

Sunday Night Bible Study continues to be a strong focus in the church as attendance remains close to 21 each Sunday evening. Chris and Jackie Hallstrom offer the comfort and convenience of the home, the only exception being August 14 when the Hallstroms were on vacation. Even then, no one wanted to relinquish the Bible study; the group met in the fellowship hall, in spite of the torrential, recordbreaking rains. The Bible study offers a chance to interact and participate in a study that brings everyone to a new and better understanding of the Word. Pastor Glass leads the discussion; however, Doug Heuzey led the Bible study during a fiveweek span when Pastor and Maureen were on vacation. Each Sunday evening ends with a time of fellowshipping and snacks, a most precious time with the church family. Sunday, August 28, 2011, will always be remembered not only by those at WRBC, but by anyone living in the path of Hurricane Irene. As the category-1 hurricane approached Long Island, Pastor Glass, while on vacation, put out a phone message to all of the church members announcing the cancellation of all church activities for the duration of the storm. Without hesitation, everyone reached out to our Heavenly Father with prayers for safety and comfort in His care. As a new dawn broke through on Monday morning after the hurricane, and the communication opened up, it was quite apparent that Gods protective care had been on all those from the WRBC. Many trees were down and electric service was interrupted for some; but in all, everyone survived without significant property damage. The itself church and the parsonage were also spared from damage. There, just a few trees were down which were quickly removed by a few from the church eager to serve. Thanks to Carl Chapman for his concern over a recent leak

Saturday, September 3, 2011 The Wading River Baptist Church Moving & Storage Company came together again for another historic move. Fourteen people with their trucks and SUVs arrived midmorning at Terry Ashmores basement apartment to move all of its contents to a storage unit. The task was completed by midafternoon, even with a bagel break. A note of thanks to everyone that might have given up a beautiful sunny day to maybe go fishing or take in a Labor Day weekend activity in order to cheerfully come together to serve in such a wonderful way. Saturday, September 10, 2011, as everyone focused on 9/11, the seniors of WRBC and the surrounding community took a 9/11 break to focus on a Butterfly Blessings Senior Saints Luncheon; approximately 20 seniors gathered in the fellowship hall for another memorable luncheon. Mike Pandolfini led the devotions with a message entitled The Benefit Package which contrasted temporary, worldly benefits to the eternal, heavenly benefits that belong to a saved Christian. A moment of prayer was given to remember 9/11, but basically the thought of the whole luncheon was the butterfly blessings that come and go in fleeting moments of our lives. Some of the precious moments are revealed in the following pictures. Pictures of Kaitlyn Hallstrom and Linea Piraino and their race to see who could carry the most hymnals as they dutifully carried them back to the church sanctuary. Then there is our butterfly

mascot, Diane Pandolfini, greeting Bob and Marlene Drummond. The trash to treasure table each luncheon draws the attention of the seniors who eagerly anticipate one of those moments of finding that special treasure. There was a special joy shared by those attending the worship service on Sunday, September 11, 2011. Pastor and Maureen Glass were still away visiting their family and relaxing with a bit of R&R, and Peter Albrecht was filling in and providing the leadership and sermon. But before giving the benediction, Peter announced in the most reverent and praiseworthy way his betrothal to Silvia Hofmann. The joy and excitement over the announcement brought on an unannounced time of fellowshipping in which the WRBC family shared in the good news with the couple. Congratulations continued to the betrothed couple at an announced time to celebrate at a coffee hour the following Sunday, September 18, 2011. Returning to the pulpit on Sunday, September 25, 2011, was Pastor Glass after a month-long vacation of rest and relaxation. Their vacation began as they put their youngest daughter, Katie, on a plane to head back to Covenant College in Georgia. Then Pastor and Maureen Glass headed to Ephrata, PA, to visit with their son, Chris, and his family. Next on the agenda was a visit with daughter Julie and family in Lynchburg, VA. The third stop was in Greenville, SC, to visit with son, Geoff, and his family. Back on the road, Pastor and Maureen headed for Columbia, SC, where they stayed at the Alumni Building of Columbia International University, with opportunities to visit with Maureens sisters. It was a time not only to rest but to catch up on family news and enjoy the grandchildren as they grow in number. One more visit with Geoffs family before returning to Wading River only to take a breather before leaving for Clarks Summit, PA, for a week-long conference at Baptist Bible Seminary. One would agree that even though the pulpit ministry never suffered with respect to the proclamation of the truth of the Word as Vic Bellard and Peter Albrecht shared the responsibility of preaching in Pastor Glasss absence, Pastor and Maureen were welcomed back with a joyous welcome. Guess Pastor and Maureen will just have to read this review to catch up on all the wonderful activities in their absence. Joan Tyska

Classics to Contemplate

The Empowering Life of Christ

From Every-Member Evangelism by J. E. Conant, Part 1
Editors Note: From time to time, we hope to bring you excerpts from largely forgotten works on the spiritual life, works from previous generations that need to be read and pondered today. Judson Eber Conant (1867-1955) was a Bible-teaching evangelist and prolific Christian writer who produced numerous volumes on evangelism, including Every-Member Evangelism (1922). He firmly maintained that the believers reckoning upon his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection was vital to fruitful witnessing: It is not we who win the lost by the help of Christ, it is Christ Himself who does the soul-winning through the lives and lips of yielded disciples. Conant also pastored churches in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusetts.

The divine power is the life of Christ, crucified and risen again, dwelling in us. The beginning of this indwelling was what the disciples were commanded to wait for when Christ went away, and what they received on the day of Pentecost. This does not mean that they were not born again until Pentecost, for there is plenty of evidence that they were, but that the Holy Spirit began His official mission on earth on that day. That official mission is the baptism of all true disciples into that one body through which Christ continues His work of seeking the lost, being not only the head directing the work, but also the power by which the work is to be done; the directing and empowering being actualized within the Church by the Holy Spirit. The disciples were therefore commanded to tarry until the Holy Spirit came to begin His mission of actualizing within them the indwelling Christ, and told that then, and not before, they would become effective witnesses unto Him. They must be possessed by the divine power before they would be enabled to obey the divine command and follow the divine pattern. Human mechanics are of no avail here; it takes divine dynamics. And this is true to this hour. The Lords people can no more obey the divine command until they have become possessed by the divine power today, than they could in the beginning. Now the only way to become possessed by the divine power is to come under the complete and constant control of the indwelling divine life, and this is impossible without such a living experience of the cross that self will cease its activity and the life of Christ will be enthroned and put into active command. In a very simple and practical way, therefore, we shall seek to find what it means to be

crucified with Christ, and also the method of receiving the cross into our experience. I. The Meaning of the Crucified Life Pride is the very essence of the natural man. It is seen in the sinner in his refusal to surrender, and in the Christian in his failure to keep surrendered. Self must keep doing something. To be compelled to cease all activity is the keenest pain to the flesh, because pride is cut to the heart. To be considered incapableso incapable that nothing self can do is acceptable to Godthis is intolerable beyond expression. This gives us a clue as to the meaning of the cross in experience. Absolute surrender to the will of God puts self out of activity; it consigns self to the cross where all its doing will cease. To do this is to enter the crucified life. Now to apply this to our obedience to the Great Commission, in order to enter the crucified life we must first see and acknowledge that 1. We are Utterly Unable to Obey We are perfectly helplessutterly strengthless, and therefore totally incapable of obeying the very least of the Lords commands, and we certainly have no ability to obey this greatest of all His commands. (1) We are unable because we are nothing. Many of us think that we are at least a little something, but as long as we think so we are not in the place of power for service. We are nothing, and we have nothing to exhibit to the world. And even if we had, the world would not be interested in seeing it, for they are saying, not, Show us what you have, but, Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us (Jn 14:8). Now if, to satisfy the heart yearning of a dying world, we busy ourselves in showing them our equipment, our wealth, our institutions, our programs, our creeds, our denominations, instead of showing them the Father through the indwelling Christ, it will be because our pride and self-sufficiency have not yet been swallowed up in utter abandonment to Him who is our all. We must be so completely hidden away in Christ that the world will no longer see us, but the Christ who liveth in us. How can we approach men with a divine message when the human is all they can see in us? Like the shoe salesman who always wore the same goods that he sold and always exhibited them to all to whom he tried to sell, so we must always exhibit Christ to those to whom we testify of Christ; and this we can never do until we get to the place where we are willing to acknowledge that we are nothing and He is all. He must actually be our all in our daily

conscious experience, or we can never show a dying world how sufficient He is for all their need. We must be able to show the goods we advertise. This we not only can do but will do from the moment we so yield that Christ can really live His life in us and thus become our character in daily living, and our power in daily service. This is the life hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3). This is the life in which we are literally nothing and He is all. This is the life through which the world can see Him who reveals the Father. (2) We are unable to obey because we can do nothing. This is a hard lesson to learn. It is so hard that many never learn it. Even those who are very sure they could never do personal soul-winning work with the lost are just as sure there are some things they can do. Many Christians have the false notion that if we will only do all we can, then the Lord will come in and add His strength to ours; but that we cannot expect Him to do so until we have done all we can. Spiritual empowering to them is His great strength added to our little strength. Indeed, there are many who seem to think that the characteristic difference between the lost and the saved is that the saved have accepted the help of the Lord which the lost have rejected. But the difference is vital. That is, it is the difference between life and death. Christian living is not our living with Christs help, it is Christ living His life in us. Therefore that portion of our lives that is not of His living is not Christian living; and that part of our service that is not of His doing is not Christian service; for all such life and service have but a human and natural source, and Christian life and service have a superhuman and spiritual source. This was precisely what Christ meant when He said, Apart from Me ye can do nothing (Jn 15:5). And Paul said the same thing from the opposite angle in the words, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil 4:13). And in another place he explains how he can do all things through Christ when he says, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God (Gal 2:20). That is, Christ lived His own life in and through Paul, and this was made possible through Pauls faith. Think of what faith is and this will be plain. Faith is surrender to some one else to do for us what we cannot possibly due for ourselves. What we do for ourselves is all of works and not of faith. What we surrender to some one else to do for us is all of faith and not of works. continued on page 6

continued from page 5 Now how much of his life did Paul live, and how much did Christ live? Did Paul do his part and then let Christ make up what he could not do? Was Christ Pauls helper, or was he Pauls life? When Paul said, To me to live is Christ (Phil 1:21), did he mean, To me to live is to be helped to live by Christ? The just shall live by faith (Gal 3:11); Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6); Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23); said Paul; and thus recognizing that faith and works cannot be mixed in the continuance of the Christian life any more than they can in the beginning of it, he turned it all over so completely to Christ that he himself no longer lived it, but Christ lived His life in him in response to Pauls faith. This is living the Christian life. Nothing else is. For any life that is not of faith is of works, and is therefore sin, and a life of sin is not Christian living. A person may be a Christian and still be attempting to live by works; but he cannot do any real Christian living except by faith. And yet there are many Christians who are ready to say in prayer-meeting, with becoming modesty, so they think, I am still striving to serve the Lord in my poor, weak way. But the fact is, the Lord never asked us to serve Him in our poor, weak way, and He is not the least pleased with that kind of service. He has asked us to surrender to Him, and let Him serve Himself through us in His strong and mighty way. So long as we are strong enough to be even weak we are too strong for Him. It is only when we become utterly strengthless that His strength becomes available. For when I am weak [utterly strengthless, in the Greek], then am I strong (2 Cor 12:10), says Paul. The conclusion of all this is that no matter what our natural endowments and training may be, obedience to the Great Commission is impossible to all except those who realize that they can do nothing. (3) We are unable to obey because we can give nothing. This is especially the place where active and trained workers fail. What are all their training and experience for if not to equip them to give something to those whom they seek to serve in the Masters name? What is all their knowledge for if not to give to others? Why the natural endowments the Lord gave them if not to make their giving to others more effective? You recall that Christ imagined a man who had a friend come to see him, arriving at midnight, and he had nothing to set before him. So empty was he of everything that he had to go to some one else for bread to set before his friend (Lk 11:5-8). By that parable the Lord intends us to understand that we too have nothing to set before a famishing world, and if we set anything before them at all, we must go outside ourselves and our own resources to get it; and if we go to Him who has the bread of life to give, we can get as many loaves as we need. Many a Sunday-school teacher will work hard on a lesson until the preparation is thorough and splendid, and then go before the class with the feeling, I certainly have something to give the class today. This is a great lesson, and I am going to have a great time giving them what I have dug out of it. And then how many times they will find no response from the class, and wonder why all the thorough preparation seems to go for nothing. And many a preacher will go before the people with the calm assurance that he has something worth while to give them now, whether he ever had before or not, and then find himself pumping and perspiring before an audience that he is conscious is getting nothing. And he recalls more than one service when, because of unusual demands on his time, he has gone before them with nothing but a text, and to his own joy and the great refreshing of his people, he has found himself the channel of a message from the very throne. And many a personal worker will prepare very thoroughly for an interview with some one he is seeking to lead to Christ, and then go to him with the feeling that what he has to give him ought certainly to bring him this time, and then be compelled to leave with the feeling that the one he is after is farther away from Christ than he was before the interview. What does all this mean? Is it wrong to make thorough preparation? Should we throw all preparation to the winds and simply open our mouths and expect the Lord to fill them? Most emphatically, no! It is not wrong to make the most thorough preparation possible. The fatal mistake comes in thinking that our preparation has given us something of our own which we can in turn give to others. It is pride of equipment that causes our defeat. And we shall fail every time we put confidence in our preparation, for then our trust is not in God. The most splendid ability and the most elaborate equipment are but the tray on which to serve the bread of life, and if we put confidence in the tray instead of in Him who alone can put the bread on it, we are defeated before we start our serving. We have nothing, and the sooner we learn it, the sooner we shall come to depend utterly on Him who alone has to give what this old hungry and starving world needs. If, after we have made our utmost preparation, we go to God and tell Him the tray is ready, and then ask Him to put the bread of life on it that we may serve it, we will then be where the Lord can use our preparation to His own glory. It is precisely at this point that many workers, and all the shirkers, fail. The everpresent and powerful temptation of the workers is to depend on endowment, preparation, and equipment, thereby putting all their splendid capacities directly in Gods way. And it is the constant temptation of the shirkers to imagine that none can become soulwinners except those who have an ability, experience, and preparation that they themselves do not possess, and therefore they are excused. But the fact is that neither the great capacity of the one nor the limited capacity of the other is anything to God except a vehicle on which to convey the bread of life to the famishing. That man of very limited capacity had it right when he said in his prayer, O Lord, thou knowest my capacity is very small and I cant hold much, but, Lord, I can overflow a great deal. We can now begin to see what the cross is for. We are nothing, we can do nothing, and we can give nothingnot from the moment when we consent to surrender and become helpless before God, but all the time, whether we realize and acknowledge it or not. Imagining that we are something, and can do and give something of spiritual value, can never make these things facts. They are not now, they never have been, and they never will be facts. The only part of us that is not utterly helpless is the self-life, and that is very powerful and active. And when there is prospect of its activity being ended, it seeks to avoid it by becoming very kind-hearted, benevolent, generous, and even religious; but it is utterly incapable of doing anything spiritual, and therefore it can do nothing but get in Gods way so long as it is allowed the slightest activity. And so the cross is for that life that is something. It must be reckoned as on the cross, so that Christ can make its activity to end. We are nothing, and when we come to a complete end of all our doing, then the cross has begun to operate in our lives. We surely cannot have missed the illustration of this that Christ gave us in His life. As a Man filled with the Holy Spirit, He was constantly emphasizing His utter dependence on the Father. Whatever He was He received from God, and the words that He spoke and the works that He wrought all came from the Father. He was literally living the crucified life, because of which the Father was His constant enabling. To be continued in the November 2011 issue of The Beacon.

October Bible Quiz Questions

1) By what other name was the apostle Lebbaeus (surname Thaddaeus) known? 2) Judas the son of James is the author of the Epistle of Jude. True or false? 3) Name the four half-brothers of Jesus. 4) Who was the wife of Ahab, the wicked king of the northern kingdom of Israel? 5) What type of wood was used to build the ark of the covenant? Bonus: What are the Latin and English meanings of the letters INRI which were written on the cross of Christ? Felix Acerra Submit the answers and Bible references to: office@wrbc.us Congratulations to Dr. Virginia Sylvester, sister of Joan Tyska, for submitting all five correct answers to the September Bible Quiz!

September Bible Quiz Answers

1) John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14; 17:12-13; Luke 1:17). 2) Tishbe, a village in the Wadi Yabis in western Gilead, near the Jordan Valley (1 Kings 17:1). 3) On the mountains of Ararat, where Russia, Iran, and Turkey converge (Genesis 8:4). 4) Gamaliel (Acts 22:3; see also Acts 5:34). 5) False (Numbers 18:25-32). Bonus: Theodore Beza.

The Birthday Corner

October 2nd John Moses Piraino October 16th Ann Williamson October 20th Helen Bryan

The Anniversary Corner

October 15th Joe & Martie Best

October 2011
Sunday 2 9:45 AM Sunday School (Evangelism; Peter Albrecht, teacher)
11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study at Hallstroms (886-1334)

Monday Tuesday

Wednesday 5
8:00 AM Ladies Prayer Joan Tyska (727-5998) 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

Thursday Friday Saturday 6 7 8

9:45 AM Sunday School (Evangelism) 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study

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11 7:00 PM Board of Deacons Meeting 18

12 8:00 AM Ladies Prayer

7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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9:45 AM Sunday School (Evangelism) 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study

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8:00 AM Ladies Prayer 7:00 PM Semi-Annual Business Meeting

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9:00 AM Fall Work Day

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9:45 AM Sunday School (Evangelism) 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study

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8:00 AM Ladies Prayer 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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30 9:45 AM Sunday School (Evangelism)

11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study

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PO Box 438 Wading River, NY 11792

Wading River Baptist Church

Our Purpose
1. To glorify God through sharing the good news of salvation by Gods sovereign grace through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To nurture believers through a strong program of Christian education, youth ministries, and expository Biblical preaching. 3. To provide an opportunity for Biblical worship, service, and fellowship. 4. To extend our ministry throughout America and around the world through participation in home and foreign missions. WRBC is affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Association of America and the Conservative Baptist Mission to the Northeast.

For the Exaltation of God in All Things For the Proclamation of Faith in Christ For the Transformation of Gods People