Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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All In God's Time

2 September 2014

"And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (John 4:39-42)

Mainstream Christianity works more like a machine following orders and steps rather than with love and patience. Men have derived "systems of salvation" to make it easier for men to be "born again." But those same systems lead men to condemn unbelievers too quickly.

We must first remember that we are not in the position to judge the eternal salvation of a single individual especially with regarding to judging them unto condemnation!

We must also remember that God knows the heart of every man and can rightfully judge the presence or absence of faith in Him. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY!

This passage from the gospel of John shows that belief is displayed in a variety of ways and comes to fruition at different rates. Just because a person does not respond immediately does not mean he should be condemned by us for his unbelief. If that were the case, then Stephen would have been completely wrong about Saul of Tarsus (Paul the Apostle) who was in charge of Stephen's execution!

Paul is an extreme case but there are other times when people display their belief differently that others. They may display it in the same way but their belief does not go as deep as another. This does not mean the lesser devotee is damned because he does not measure up to one who is walking by faith in a better way.

Our walk in faith is a growth process. All of God's children are growing but they are all at different stages of growth and they are growing at different rates.

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Tags: all_in, conversion, devotion, harmony_of_the_gospels, john

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.