Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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The Son Must Be Lifted Up

24 July 2014

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:14-17)

The Pharisees taught plainly that heaven and blessings of God were for the Jews only. Some even felt that the Pharisees were the only ones who deserved the favor of God. Their view of the Messiah was that he would be like a knight in shining armor who would come and deliver the Jews from all the nations of the earth. They believed the Messiah would put their enemies under them as they reigned with God in heaven.

It must have been a shock for Nicodemus to hear Jesus declaring Himself to be the Messiah and the Son of God! Even more shocking is what Jesus says next.

The Messiah will die.

Why?

So that not only the elect among the Jews would be saved from their sins but also God’s people among the Gentiles. That is how much God loves His people. He is willing to give up His eternally begotten Son to save men whom He will adopt as sons.

This text is not an offer of salvation to whosoever will believe it. It is a declaration of the atoning work of the Messiah that will redeem men from every nation on earth. The word “whosoever” declares that there will be children of God among the Gentiles, not just the Jews. Their belief is evidence of their election not the cause.

The Pharisees were close, but they had the wrong definition of who would be saved and the wrong timing of when the Messiah would come in His full glory. Make no mistake about it, He will come!

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)

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Tags: atonement, doctrine, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, john, messiah, nicodemus, salvation

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.