The

Berean Searchlight
Studying God’s Word, Rightly Divided January 2019
TM
IN THIS ISSUE January 2019

Feature Article
Give the Jews Credit, by Ricky Kurth.............................................................5

Articles
8 Tips to Achieve a Godly Mindset, by Kevin Sadler..................................13
Our Union with Christ and the New Heart, by Ken Lawson....................15
True and Faithful Words, by Kevin Sadler....................................................21

Departments
2019 BBS Conference Schedule......................................................................4
Question Box...................................................................................................12
BBS Letter Excerpts........................................................................................26
News and Announcements..........................................................................30
This month’s front cover is the Portland Breakwater Light, in Portland, Maine.
The Purpose of the Berean Bible Society is to help you understand and enjoy the Bible. The
Mission of BBS is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by proclaiming the whole counsel of God
according to the revelation of the Mystery. Our Goals are to evangelize the lost, to educate
the saved in “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), to energize the Christian life,
and to encourage the local church.
The Berean Searchlight is the official organ of the Berean Bible Society,
and is sent free of charge to any who request it.
Editor: Ricky L. Kurth/Layout and Design: Jessica Sadler (Book specials: Christine Mulholland)
Reader’s Rights & Responsibilities: BBS respects a reader’s right to hold views that differ from
those of our writers. If a reader has a serious concern with a specific article, it is his or her respon-
sibility to act in a manner that endeavors to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
This can best be accomplished by contacting the editor, who will then forward your concerns
to the author of the article in question. We promise to address all concerns in a timely manner.

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The Berean Searchlight (ISSN 0005-8890), January 2019. Vol. 79, Number 10.
The Berean Searchlight is published monthly (except July) at no subscription price, by Berean Bible
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 A Note From the President
Dear Friends in Christ,
In January 2006, I had the privilege to take a short-term
mission trip to the Philippines with Missionary Joe Watkins.
I also traveled with Brothers John LaVier, Jr. and Dean
Reinheimer. It was encouraging and challenging to see the Lord’s remarkable
work being done in the Philippines. Their love for the truth and their tireless
zeal are readily apparent; the goals they set with respect to organization and
structure are lofty; and their undaunted focus on planting local churches is
impressive. Traveling from north to south, we visited a number of the Bible
schools in the Philippines. We had the opportunity to speak before large
classes of young people being trained for ministry and we visited just a few
of the more than 400 local churches that have been established there.
As we were driving from place to place, Pastor Watkins would often
share his memories of the early days in the Philippines, working with fellow
missionary Vernon Anderson and others. One story in particular that left a
lasting impression on me. He recalled that he and his wife, Pauline, went
to the Philippines on the support of one person who promised to send $50
a month. But when they got there, the $50 per month never came. They
prayed hard. Not long after, a gift of $3,500 came from an older woman in
the United States, which was which was her life savings. From that $3,500,
they were able to start a Bible school, and from that Bible school, leaders
were trained; the leaders, in turn, planted churches, and the ministry expanded.
I remarked to Pastor Watkins, “Think of the fruit from that one gift, and how
that lady will be rewarded one day because of all the Lord has done from it!”
He replied, “That’s absolutely right.”
This story reminds me of Philippians 4:17: “Not because I desire a gift:
but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” When we write about
giving, it is not just because we desire the gift of money which is needed for
this work of faith, but, as it was with our apostle, we “desire fruit that may
abound to your account.” Giving by the Lord’s people yields not only the
fruits of ministry, but also yields the fruit of heavenly reward that abounds
to the giver’s account. Financial gifts in support of the Lord’s work will
be honored with eternal rewards from our Savior’s hand at the Bema Seat.
Please remember Berean Bible Society in your regular giving in 2019.
Please also consider including Berean Bible Society in your estate planning
and will. In doing so, fruit will continue to abound to your account for years
to come after your homegoing. None of us will ever regret giving to the
Lord’s work. It will be remembered forever.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kevin Sadler, President
 Berean Bible Society

Conference Schedule

BBF Winter Conference, January 26-27, Inverness, Florida

Pastors Kevin Sadler, Ken Lawson, John Fredericksen, and others!
Contact: Ken Lawson (352) 726-9972
Orlando Special Meetings, February 3, Orlando, Florida
Pastor Kevin Sadler—Contact: Fred Bekemeyer (321) 303-2480
Tupelo Bible Conference, March 16-17, Tupelo, Mississippi
Pastor Kevin Sadler—Contact: John Smith (662) 706-4086
Phoenix Bible Conference, March 22-24, Sun City West, Arizona
Pastor Ricky Kurth—Contact: Mark Dilley (623) 377-3071
Northeast Ohio Bible Conference, May 3-5, Ashtabula, Ohio
Pastor Ricky Kurth—Contact: David Adams (440) 992-9008
Best of Israel Tour, May 7-16—Pastor Kevin Sadler, Dr. Robert Nix
Contact: Jim Tollar (262) 255-4750
BBF Summer Conference, June 16-20, Tipp City, Ohio
Pastors Kevin Sadler, Ricky Kurth, John Fredericksen, Jeff Seekins,
Ken Lawson, and others! —Contact: Tim Kenney (937) 325-9316
Pennsylvania Special Meeting, July 29, York, Pennsylvania
Pastor Kevin Sadler—Contact: Evelyn Ward (717) 755-4222
Bitely Bible Conference, August 2-4, Bitely, Michigan
Pastor Kevin Sadler and others!—Contact: Ken Lyon (231) 689-1941
BBS Regional Conference, August 23-24, Solomons, Maryland
Pastor Kevin Sadler—Contact: Janna Gestner (301) 866-1616
BBS Regional Conference, September 20-22, Kalispell, Montana
Pastor Kevin Sadler—Contact: Martha Olechowski (406) 407-8135
England Special Meetings, October 12-13, Alcester, UK
Pastor Ricky Kurth—Contact: Marcus Emerson +44 789 762982
There may be changes and additions to these conferences. The BBS website
and the BBS app have more comprehensive information on these conferences
and will be kept up-to-date.
Give the Jews
Credit
(A study in the Book of Haggai)

Pastor RickyKurth
Editor

P erhaps you’ve heard of the

man whose wallet was stolen,
along with his credit cards. He
failings of the Jews as faithfully
as we point out the failings of the
Corinthians and other Gentile
decided not to report the loss, members of the Body of Christ.
however, since whoever stole it But having said that, preach-
was spending less than his wife! ers need to be just as faithful
Speaking of credit cards and to give the Jews credit when
giving people credit, have you credit is due them. And we find
ever heard the expression, “Give a shining example of this as we
credit where credit is due”? return to our study of the Book
I ask because whenever preach- of Haggai.
ers and Bible teachers talk about “Then Zerubbabel the son of
the Jews, it is almost always in a Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of
negative way. “You know those Josedech, the high priest, with
Jews shouldn’t have murmured all the remnant of the people,
in the wilderness.” Or, “Those obeyed the voice of the LORD their
Jews shouldn’t have kept falling God, and the words of Haggai the
into idolatry.” prophet, as the LORD their God
Now I’m not saying that had sent him, and the people did
preachers shouldn’t say things fear before the LORD” (Haggai
1:12).
like that. Speaking of those very
sins among the Jews (1 Cor. 10:5- If you are familiar with this
10), Paul wrote, prophet and his prophecy, you
“…all these things happened know that God had commanded
unto them for ensamples: and His people to rebuild His temple
they are written for our admoni- upon their return to the prom-
tion…” (1 Cor. 10:11). ised land after their captivity
Well, if those things happened in Babylon. They started out
for examples, and preachers never well, but got sidetracked when
use them for examples, how is the king issued them a cease
God supposed to admonish us? So and desist order (Ezra 4:17-22).
there is certainly nothing wrong That’s when God raised up the
with pointing out the sins and prophets Haggai and Zechariah

January 2019 5
to get His people back on track promised land, as we see pictured
(Ezra 4:24-5:2). And as you can in Haggai’s day, and everyone
see from Haggai’s words here in from the governor on down will
our text, they responded well to obey the voice of the Lord. And
the admonition of their prophets, we know that what we’re seeing
much to their credit! here in Haggai is a type of all
that, for after the Jews finished
A Group Effort building the temple, God told
Now when Ezra adds that they Zechariah to do something else
resumed work on the temple, “and that was a type of the kingdom:
with them were the prophets of “Take of them of the captiv-
God helping them” (Ezra 5:2), ity…which are come from Baby-
that didn’t mean Haggai and lon, and…take silver and gold,
Zechariah picked up hammers and make crowns, and set them
and saws and helped with the ac- upon the head of Joshua the
tual construction work. They may son of Josedech, the high priest”
have, but these men of God might (Zech. 6:10,11).
also have been as inept as I am If you know your Bible, you
when it comes to building things. might be wondering why God
It’s more likely that they helped would instruct His prophet to set
in a spiritual way, by reminding “crowns” (plural) on the head of
the Jews that God’s people aren’t the high priest. The high priest
supposed to obey the king if he or- was only supposed to wear one
ders us to do something contrary crown (Ex. 29:6 39:30,31), one
to God’s will. And God wanted that would identify him as the
that temple built! spiritual leader of the nation. So
But did you notice that Haggai why would God have Zechariah
makes special mention of a man place two crowns on His priest’s
named Zerubbabel, saying that head? Well, the only other man
even he obeyed the voice of the in Israel to wear a crown was
Lord? He was the “governor of the king (2 Kings 11:11,12), the
Judah” (Hag. 1:1). That means political leader of the nation. So
that Haggai’s words had even God had to be telling Zechariah
reached the highest office in the to crown Joshua both priest and
land, and stirred the heart of king.
Israel’s civic leader! But when
the prophet mentions that Mixing Politics and Religion
Israel’s high priest also joined the The problem with that was,
people in resuming work on the priests in Israel weren’t allowed
temple, that means that everyone to be king, and kings weren’t al-
from the governor to the priest lowed to be priests! Saul lost his
to the people pitched in. If that throne when he dared offer an
sounds heavenly, that’s because animal sacrifice (1 Sam. 13:9-14).
all of this is a type of the coming So why would God want His high
kingdom of heaven on earth. priest crowned with two crowns,
In that kingdom, a believ- one to make him priest and one
ing remnant will be back in the to make him king, now that Israel

6 Berean Searchlight
 was back in the land? Surely Well, that’s what God was
it was to illustrate something doing with Zechariah. He was
that will be true in the kingdom, having him act out a prophecy.
something that God was asking In the coming kingdom, when
His prophet to act out by crown- redeemed Israel is back in her
ing His high priest with two land, the Lord Jesus will be both
crowns. priest and king to His people, as
Zechariah went on to prophesy in
“...grace believers... the very next verses, saying,
“Thus speaketh the LORD of
sometimes wrongly
hosts saying, Behold the man
conclude...we don’t have to whose name is The BRANCH…
fear God under grace.” He shall build the temple of the
LORD…and shall sit and rule
upon His throne; and He shall be
a priest upon His throne” (Zech.
6:12,13).
That Branch is Christ, as we
see in Jeremiah 23:5:
God often asked His prophets “Behold, the days come, saith
to act out their prophecies (cf. the LORD, that I will raise unto
Acts 21:10,11), something that David a righteous Branch, and
was not always easy for them to a King shall reign and prosper,
do. I mean, imagine being told to and shall execute judgment and
walk “naked and barefoot three justice in the earth.”
years for a sign...upon Egypt and If it sounds strange to call
upon Ethiopia” (Isa. 20:1-3). In Christ a branch, remember we
those days, the Jews were look- talk about having a family “tree.”
ing to those nations to save them Well, in the Lord’s family tree, He
from the Assyrians, so God had was a branch in David’s family.
his prophet illustrate how those And as Zechariah says, in the
nations couldn’t help Israel, for kingdom of heaven on earth, He
the king of Assyria was about to will be both priest and king.
lead them away captive, “naked And Zechariah also says that
and barefoot,” as well. the Lord will “build the temple
Or imagine being told not to of the LORD.” So when Zerub-
cry when your wife dies, as “a babel and Joshua went back to
sign” to your people (Ezekiel work building the house of God,
24:15-24). In this case, Nebu- Israel’s governor and high priest
chadnezzar was about to destroy were acting out their part in this
Israel’s temple, and He didn’t prophetic picture of the kingdom,
want them crying about it. It just as Zechariah acted out his
was their own disobedience that part when he crowned Joshua
was bringing that judgment upon with two crowns. Zerubbabel
them, so God was saying, as it and Joshua typified how Israel’s
were, “When it happens, don’t Priest–King will rebuild His
come crying to Me.” temple in the kingdom.

January 2019 7
 But now, if the Lord is going to of going back into captivity struck
be both king and priest to Israel fear in their hearts!
in that day, and rule the world Now grace believers who know
from Israel, this means that He that God doesn’t punish us with
will be both the spiritual and po- physical chastisement when we
litical leader of the entire world. disobey Him sometimes wrongly
If that sounds heavenly in light conclude from this that we don’t
of the political corruption found have to fear God under grace. But
in literally every government on then they come across verses like
earth to some degree, it should! Philippians 2:12, where Paul tells
That’s part of what will make the us to “work out your own salvation
kingdom to be heaven on earth! with fear and trembling.” After
And if you think that sounds that, they often write us here at
positively dreamy, you don’t have Berean Bible Society to ask why
to lust after Israel’s kingdom to we should fear God under grace.
partake of this blessing. The Lord Well, the reason you should
is already the spiritual leader of fear God under grace is: you
your life. If you’ll also make Him should be afraid to presume on
the political leader of your life, the His grace. You ought to be afraid
king of your life, and let Him hold to grieve the God who says that
o’er your being absolute sway, as He won’t chasten you physically
the hymnist wrote, you can have a if you disobey Him. You ought to
little bit of heaven on earth right be afraid to grieve the Spirit that
now, in your life! If you don’t seals you (Eph. 4:30) “unto the day
believe me, try it and see! What of redemption,” in the same way a
have you got to lose? godly husband fears to grieve the
wife who has likewise promised
The Fear of God never to leave him. That’s why
Now when Haggai says that it is very Pauline to say to one
the people feared the Lord (Hag. another, “let us cleanse ourselves
1:12), they feared with good from all filthiness of the flesh and
reason! The prophet had just spirit, perfecting holiness in the
finished pointing out to them fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).
that God was already beginning As we read on in our text, God
to judge them for not rebuilding says,
His house, chastening them in “Then spake Haggai the
ways that He had warned them LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s
would come whenever they dis- message unto the people, saying,
obeyed Him (1:6 cf. Lev. 26:14-33; I am with you, saith the LORD”
Deut. 28:15-41). And they knew (Hag. 1:13).
their Bible well enough to know Did you know that Haggai is
that both of those passages end the only man in the Bible that
with a promise from God that He is called “the LORD’s messen-
would allow them to be taken into ger”? All of God’s prophets and
captivity if they ignored His initial apostles were His messengers, of
judgments. And they had just course, since they all delivered a
come out of captivity. The thought message from Him to His people.

8 Berean Searchlight
 But Haggai is the only one given But now, I have a question for
this spiritually–prestigious title. you. If you know this passage,
you know that the Jews hadn’t
actually resumed building the
temple yet. It isn’t until we
come to the next verse in Hag-
gai’s prophecy that the prophet
describes how they returned to
the job site:
“I am with you.” “And the LORD stirred up
the spirit of Zerubbabel the son
of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and the spirit of Joshua the son
That’s because he is called the of Josedech, the high priest, and
Lord’s messenger “in the Lord’s the spirit of all the remnant of
the people; and they came and
message.” The Lord’s message
did work in the house of the LORD
to Israel was, as Haggai went on
of hosts, their God” (Hag. 1:14).
to say, “I am with you.” That was
Well, if they didn’t continue
the central message of God to
building the temple until verse
Israel throughout His dealings
14, how could God say that He
with them. It was the message
was with them in verse 13?
He wanted His people to hear
According to his fellow prophet
from Him, so the message was
Azariah, God couldn’t be with
delivered by a man called the
them unless they were with Him,
messenger.
right? So how could God say He
On One Condition was with them if they hadn’t yet
But there was something they rejoined Him in His building
had to remember when it came to project?
God being with them, as Azariah To answer, we have to peek
the prophet warned them: ahead to the next verse in our
text, where we learn when they
“The LORD is with you, while
resumed work on God’s house.
ye be with Him…but if ye for-
sake Him, He will forsake you”
Haggai says it was
(2 Chron. 15:2). “In the four and twentieth
day of the sixth month, in the
Under the Law, God being with second year of Darius the king”
the people of Israel was condi- (Hag. 1:15).
tional. He was with them as long When it says they strapped on
as they were with Him. But don’t their tool belts again in the 24th
let preachers put you under that day of the 6th month, that’s 23
condition, for “we are not under days after Haggai started preach-
the law, but under grace” (Rom. ing (cf. 1:1). And don’t forget
6:15). You’re not under the law what Haggai told them to do to
of conditional blessing. God is get started:
with you whether you are with “Go up to the mountain,
Him or not—another reason not and bring wood, and build the
to grieve Him. house…” (1:8).

January 2019 9
 So if God says He was with Get Stirred Up!
them in verse 13 because they Finally, when Haggai says that
“obeyed” Him before they re- “the LORD stirred up the spirit”
sumed work on the temple in of the governor, the high priest,
verse 14, we can only conclude and the people (Hag. 1:14), don’t
that they must have at least forget how God stirs people up.
obeyed the prophet’s initial in- When we hear God say, “I
structions and had gone to the will stir up the Medes…and
mountain and obtained the wood Babylon…shall be as when God
needed for this rebuilding project. overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah”
And when God saw them do that, (Isa. 13:17-19), don’t get the idea
He saw that they were with Him. that God reached into the heart
What a precious lesson for of Darius, king of the Medes, and
us! Whenever we fall away from forced him to attempt a daring
walking with the Lord, the way assault on Babylon against his
back to serving Him always better judgment. Since the Bible
seems like a long, formidable trek. never says that, it is more likely
But nothing could be further from that someone showed him Daniel’s
the truth! The truth is, once you prophecy that the kingdom of the
determine to resume living for Medes and the Persians would be
the Lord, God is fully aware of the ones to topple the seemingly
the first few stumbling steps you invincible fortress of Babylon
make as you resume your walk (Dan. 2:39 cf. 8:20), and armed
with Him. He’s been watching with this assurance, his heart was
and waiting for those first few stirred to launch the offensive that
faltering steps as eagerly as brought an end to Babylon’s world
new parents watch and wait for dominance (Dan. 5:26-31).
the first steps of their firstborn Beloved, God never forces any-
child—and He is as delighted one to do anything against their
will. When He wants something
done, He always uses His Word
to accomplish it. And it was the
Word of God that came to Israel
through Haggai and Zechariah
that stirred God’s people to finish
the work on His temple.
But that means that if you
don’t feel stirred up about the
things of the Lord, if you seem to
have no interest in being involved
in the work of the Lord, you need
with those first steps as they to get in the Book and stay in the
are. So if you have fallen away Book! God doesn’t have a “Plan
from walking with the Lord, take B” when it comes to piquing your
heart—and take a few steps! The interest in serving Him. He
way back to serving Him is not works only through His Word in
nearly as long as it seems. your life as well.

10 Berean Searchlight
 Get to Church! people who oppose dispensational
If you need help in getting truth on the grounds that “truth
stirred up, I would encourage you is truth, the truth never changes.”
to get to church, for it is a pastor’s Ever heard that? But if Peter
job to get God’s people stirred up says that there is a present truth,
with His Word! Look what Peter that means there must have been
said to his Jewish hearers in a past truth. The past truth he
2 Peter 1:12,13: had in mind was the old covenant
“I will not be negligent to put of the law, and the present truth
you always in remembrance of of which he was speaking was the
these things, though ye know new testament of grace. But as
them, and be established in the a member of the Body of Christ,
present truth. the truth in which you need to be
“Yea, I think it meet…to stir established is the more specific
you up by putting you in remem- grace truth of the mystery (Rom.
brance.” 16:25).
By the way, when Haggai
mentions that “the remnant of
the people…came and did work
in the house of the LORD” (Hag.
1:14), that’s the second time he
has mentioned the remnant in
“...if Peter says that there is a favorable light. In verse 12
a present truth...there must he described how “the remnant
of the people, obeyed the voice of
have been a past truth.” the LORD.”
This reminds me of how Daniel
Did you notice Peter said they mentions “Shadrach, Meshach,
already knew the things of which and Abednego” thirteen times in
he was about to remind them. Daniel 3, repeating their names
Beloved, you may know the Word over and over, most likely because
of God well, but don’t think that he was so very proud of the way
means you can stay home from they refused to bow to the will of
church. A pastor can get you the king when he ordered them
stirred up about the things you to worship his image. Haggai no
know! Of course, if you don’t have doubt found equal pride in the
a local grace church, and God’s way the faithful remnant was
Word isn’t stirring you up to start heeding his words and returning
one, you may have to move to to the service of God, and so he
where there is one. But it would mentions their faithfulness again
be worth it! Imagine being able in verse 14.
to get stirred up about the Lord
every week! Get to Work!
By the way, did you notice There was certainly good rea-
Peter said that his readers were son to be proud of them. You see,
“established in the present truth”? in speaking about the remnant,
That’s a good verse to show to you might be wondering how

January 2019 11
small a remnant we’re talking But they didn’t say, “We’re too
here. Well, if you know your small,” they just started building.
Bible, you know that when Cyrus They didn’t look at how small
told the Jews they could return they were and how big the job
to their homeland, only around was; they looked at the size of
50,000 out of a nation of probably their God and concluded, “We got
millions took him up on his gra- this! We can do it!”
cious offer (Ezra 2:64,65). When And that’s the spirit God’s
most of their countrymen chose people need to have today as
to lag behind in Babylon, and well. Don’t ever think that
went not with them to the work, your church is too small to
they could easily have concluded, build the temple of today, “the
“We’re too small a group to build church, which is His Body” (Eph.
a temple for the Lord.” They 1:22,23). Don’t ever get discour-
knew that when Solomon built aged that the grace movement is
the original temple, the nation of among the smallest of the small
Israel was a whole lot bigger and when it comes to religious groups
a whole lot wealthier, and they in the world. Just roll up your
were now a whole lot smaller and sleeves and get to work, and leave
poorer by comparison. the rest to Him!

Question Box
“If it was Paul who revealed that Christ gave Himself a ransom
‘for all’ (1 Tim. 2:6) as opposed to the “many” in Israel (Matt. 20:28),
how do we explain John 1:29?”

“…John seeth Jesus…and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which

taketh away the sin of the world.”
John was a prophet (Luke 7:28), and the prophets didn’t always
understand their own prophecies (1 Pet. 1:11), especially when it
came to “the sufferings of Christ.” God knew that this would probably
trouble the prophets, so He comforted them by explaining that “not
unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things” that they
prophesied (v. 12).
We know that no one who heard John make his statement under-
stood that Christ would die for the sins of the world, for some of the
12 heard it, but didn’t understand it (Luke 18:31-34). Not even Satan
understood it (1 Cor. 2:7,8), or else he wouldn’t have instigated Judas
to betray the Lord (Luke 22:3,4).
So the ransom Christ made for all men might have been prophesied in
John 1:29, but it wasn’t “testified” until the “due time” came for Paul to
be “ordained a preacher and an apostle” (1 Tim. 2:6,7). —Pastor Kurth
8
Tips to Achieve
a Godly Mindset
Pastor Kevinsadler
BBS President

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are hon-
est, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
Proverbs 23:7 teaches that as a person “thinketh in his heart, so is he.” And it
has been rightly said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit;
sow a habit, reap a character….”1 Our actions, habits, and character stem from
our thinking. In order for us to have godly actions, habits, and character, we need
to think like Christ (Phil. 2:5) and allow God’s Word to guide our thoughts and
renew our minds (Rom. 12:2).
In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul spells out eight things that contribute to
a wholesome, Christ-like thought life. Paul does not name any negative or evil
thoughts to be avoided, but instead stresses positive, good things which will
enrich our spiritual lives and give us a godly mindset. “Whatsoever” and “if
there be any” introduce each one, which teaches us that many things could be
included under each term.
1. “Whatsoever things are true.” God wants us to focus on truth, things
that are real, reliable, genuine, and true in character.
2. “Whatsoever things are honest.” God desires that we think on things
that are honorable, noble, worthy of respect and reverence.
3. “Whatsoever things are just.” God’s will for us is to think about
things that are right and good according to divine standards.
4. “Whatsoever things are pure.” God wants us to think on things that
are morally clean, holy, innocent, and wholesome.
5. “Whatsoever things are lovely.” God would have our mindset to be
dwelling on things that are acceptable, pleasing, beautiful, kind, and endearing.
6. “Whatsoever things are of good report.” God’s will is that we think
on things admirable and worth talking about.
7. “If there be any virtue.” In other words, we are to think on anything
of spiritual, physical, or moral excellence.
8. “If there be any praise.” Our thought life is to dwell on anything
praiseworthy and worth recommending to others.
 Paul writes, “think on these things.” The Greek word translated “Think”
means, in this context, to consider thoughtfully, to dwell in careful reflection.
Our thoughts and actions are connected, and as we fill our minds with these
things we will, in turn, be people who are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good
report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. The key to godly living is godly thinking.
This verse has been called “the briefest biography of Jesus Christ.” As we
think on things that are “true,” we undertand that Christ is “the Truth.” Christ
is “honest,” honorable, and worthy of all our respect, awe, and adoration. Christ
is “just,” righteous, and good. Christ is “pure,” holy, and wholesome. Christ is
“lovely,” acceptable, and pleasing. Christ is “of good report,” the most admirable,
about whom we tell others. Christ is virtuous and excellent in every way. Christ
is worthy of all praise. Christ is the highest One to occupy our thoughts. And
keeping Christ on our minds is fundamental to our spiritual growth.
All these things to think on in Philippians 4:8 are also true of the Bible. As
we think on our Bibles and let its truths dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16), we will
live out Philippians 4:8, and it will elevate our thoughts, actions, and character
for our good and God’s glory.
1. Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament Volume 2 (Colorado Springs,
Colorado: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001), p. 95.

“By the grace of God I am what I am!” This is the believer’s eter-
nal confession. Grace found him a rebel—it leaves him a son. Grace
found him wandering at the gates of hell—it leads him through the
gates of heaven. Grace devised the scheme of Redemption—and it is
grace which carries out that scheme...The thickets of Eden would have
proved Adam’s grave, had not grace called him out. Saul would have
lived and died the haughty self-righteous persecutor, had not grace
laid him low. The dying thief would have continued breathing out his
blasphemies, had not grace arrested his tongue and tuned it for glory.
Salvation is of God—of grace—of free grace. From the germ to the
fruit, from foundation to top-stone—it is of grace, free grace, alto-
gether and only. —D. L. Moody
 Our Union with Christ
and the

New Heart
Pastor KenLawson
BBS Board Member

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may
abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer
therein. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with
Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life” (Rom. 6:1-4).

The Human Heart

December 3, 1967 marked a milestone in medical history. Dr. Chris-
tian Barnard of Cape Town, South Africa, successfully performed the
first human heart transplant. This was followed a short time later by
a similar heart transplant by Dr. Michael Debakey of Houston, Texas.
These early transplants were only moderately successful because the
patient’s natural defense systems began attacking the new hearts as
foreign invaders. With the use of trial and error, advanced technol-
ogy, and better anti-rejection drugs, the outlook for heart transplant
patients improved. Meanwhile, the heart surgeons who were icons in
the medical community became media superstars, and they used that
publicity well to raise funds for their heart clinics.
While being interviewed on a nationally–televised talk show, Dr. De-
bakey told of the intricacy of the human heart, and then added, “Only
God can create a human body.” While these doctors were catapulted
to almost godlike status, they had to confess that there was much they
did not know about the heart, and could, at best, only promise their
patients a limited number of quality years.

God and Man’s Heart

As we read the pages of the Holy Bible, we soon learn that God
Himself also specializes in heart surgery. While He created the physi-
cal heart which pumps the blood that keeps us healthy, as the Great
Physician, He is much more interested in implanting a new heart in

January 2019 15
man which will be humble and submissive to His will, and which will
also bring an eternity of great fulfillment to His soul.
As we search the writings of the
Apostle Paul for us Gentiles, there “R
is one passage of Scripture that cha oman
deals systematically with the me- the pter 6 s
chanics of spiritual heart surgery. ‘ho is
Romans chapter 6 is the “how to” of t w to’
of the Christian’s life. Although Chr he
isti
Paul centers on Christ’s crucifix- a
ion and resurrection, he does not l i fe.” n’s
deal with initial salvation from
the punishment of sins which re-
sults from forgiveness. He dealt
with that previously in Romans 3:21-5:11, with the great themes of
sin, judgment, God’s love, faith, grace, redemption, justification, and
reconciliation. Here he begins to teach on the issue of the believer’s
sanctification (or separation) with the view to produce fruit unto holi-
ness. It answers the question, “Now that I am saved from the penalty
of sin and have eternal life, how can I live a life pleasing to God?”
The answer is nothing short of radical heart surgery. The heart (or
kardia) in Scripture is used to stand for man’s entire inner personal
life, and includes his mental, moral, and spiritual activity. It covers
his intellect, emotions, thoughts, desires, conscience, and will. It is the
seat of man’s sinfulness, but also the sphere of Divine influence. There
is a pure heart, and an evil heart of unbelief (2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 3:12).
Although Paul does not write in terms of the word “heart” in Romans
6, the teaching is surely there in force as he writes of indwelling sin
(the old heart), as well as partaking of Christ’s resurrection life (the
new heart).
He begins by raising a rhetorical question, which is really an objec-
tion raised by his critics concerning what they thought was the “fatal
flaw” of his teaching of grace. “Shall we continue in sin, that grace
may abound?” People always raise this question when they begin to
grasp the teaching of grace. But instead of rejoicing in it, they jump
to a wrong conclusion. They think grace teaching takes a soft stance
on sin, or even gives people a license to continue in it. Paul had writ-
ten, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom.
5:20). The legalist reasoned something like this, “Paul, if it is true, as
you say, that God’s grace increases much more to deal with man’s sin,
why not continue to allow sin to run free in order for God’s grace to
shine through even more gloriously.” Paul answers with the strongest
“No!” in the Greek language. The King James version translates it as
“God forbid!” Today we might say, “No, no way!” God protests sin as
it is against His holy character. Then Paul asks his own challenging
question, “How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

16 Berean Searchlight
He is not expressing the impossibility of living in sin, but rather how
illogical and contrary to God’s purpose it would be for believers to do
so since we have died to it. The reason for the cross was especially to
separate man from his sinning.

The Baptism that Counts

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into His death?” How this passage has suffered from
the intrusion of a water baptism ritual, thus losing the full force of
its teaching! Water is not mentioned in these verses, but “read into”
by the minds of many. Actually, the word “baptism” in verses 4 and 5
means “identification with” or “initiation into” something, in this case
Jesus Christ. To be identified with Christ means that we become one
with Him. To be initiated into Christ means that we are united to
him as our Source. This must be a spiritual baptism since a water
ceremony could not place us into Christ or be the source of holiness.
It is not a baptism into water, or a church denomination, that makes
the difference, but a baptism into Christ Himself.
In Bible times, when the color faded from a piece of cloth, they
would send it to a fuller and who would dip or immerse the cloth in
a dye. After a time, it would be removed and hung up to dry. In the
process, the cloth would take on itself the color of the dye, and become
one with it. Spiritually speaking, we can apply this in a similar way to
our baptism into Christ. If one insists on immersion as the definition
of baptism, then it is an immersion into Christ, by the Spirit, thus
making us one with Him (1 Cor. 12:12-13).
This “oneness” extends beyond His death to His burial and resurrec-
tion, for verse 4 goes on to say, “Therefore we are buried with Him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
When Christ died, there is a very real sense in which we died with
Him. When He was buried, we were buried with Him. And when He
rose from the dead, we rose with Him. This actually happened almost
2000 years ago when Christ died and rose again, but it is not made a
part of us personally until we believe the gospel of grace.
This is where it starts to get deep, because we cannot appeal to
human experience to prove this. We do not feel it or perceive it with
our senses. The only way that we know about it is by reading about it
in the Word of God, and that takes faith. I do not know how God put
me to death with Christ 2000 years before I was born, but I believe
it because He said it. The problem is our perspective. We live in the
present; God inhabits eternity. We see a little sliver of human history;
God sees the end from the beginning. There is nothing too hard for
God. Our union to Christ is what Bible teachers refer to as “positional
truth.” All believers have a present position in Christ as being united
with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.

January 2019 17
 Perhaps a better word for “buried” in verse 4 is “entombed,” as
Christ was not buried under ground, but placed in a sepulcher from
which you could walk on level ground. This positional truth is more
than just theory, because Paul takes it and teaches us how we can
translate the position into everyday, practical living in righteousness.

The Root and the Fruit

In Romans 6, Paul does not address “sins” (plural), but “sin” (sin-
gular). Sins refer to acts of sin that people commit. (Paul dealt with
this in chapters 1-5). Sin deals with the root source within us that
causes us to commit acts of sin. Many Bible students find it helpful
to think of sin here as “the sin nature” or as verse 6 says, “our old
man” (self). Sin is the root; sins are the fruit. It is truly wonderful to
know that God saved us from the punishment of sins by forgiving our
sins (plural) through the blood of the cross. Now He wants to save us
from the power and dominion of sin (singular) in our Christian lives.
Christ not only died “for sins” but He also died “unto sin once,” thus
breaking the power of the sin nature over us.
You may say, “I must have missed something, for I know I am saved,
but I still struggle a lot with sin. It sure doesn’t seem like I am dead
to it.” Be encouraged for Paul dealt with the same problem (Rom.
7:15-24). God apparently allowed Paul to experience the failure of
Romans 7 that He might be an excellent teacher of God’s solution in
Romans 6 and 8.
You see, everyone seems to think that the answer to sin in a be-
liever’s life is to appeal to will power, or to legislate against it. However,
Paul wrote “...to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not” (Rom. 7:18b). If the holy apostle could not will the
victory over sin, neither can we. Another way is to set up rules and
regulations against it, but that only serves to inflame sin within us
and provoke it to life. “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
wrought in me all manner of concupiscence [evil desire]. For without
the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when
the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Rom. 7:8-9).
So much for legislating moral goodness.
Many have found that when they put up a
sign like, “Don’t touch wet paint,” people are
prompted by something within to do that
very thing. Then they wise up and print
!
something like “Please don’t touch wet paint.” uch
o n ’t To
Now it is in the form of a polite request rather D
than an order. Even when the law is suc-
cessful in restraining outward acts of sin,
the sin nature simmers beneath the surface
waiting for the opportunity to express itself.
To be continued next month.

18 Berean Searchlight
 True and

Faithful
Words Pastor KevinSadler
BBS President

An excerpt from our newly released Revelation,Volume 4. To order a copy, see the
special offer on page 29.

“Behold, I Make Greek word translated as “Be-

All Things New” hold” (idou) means look or see.
“And He that sat upon the The Lord told John to look and
throne said, Behold, I make all see how He had made all things
things new. And He said unto me, new. The things John “saw” in
Write: for these words are true this chapter were “a new heaven
and faithful” (Rev. 21:5). and a new earth” (v. 1), and “the…
A new voice speaks in verse 5 new Jerusalem” (v. 2). John was
and, for the second time in the to observe these things with the
Book of Revelation, it is the Lord understanding that, because of
Himself speaking (Rev. 1:8). “He them, all things had been made
that sat upon the throne” is the new by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ, the One “from Next, the Lord commands
whose face the earth and the John to write it down. These
heaven fled away” (Rev. 20:11). new things that John was seeing
The throne He sits on, in the were sources of hope and joy for
immediate context, is the Great God’s people, the nation Israel.
White Throne. With the removal He needed to record what he saw.
and casting of all unbelieving These new things are for Israel’s
sinners into the Lake of Fire to eternal blessing: for her to live in
suffer for their sins forever, and the new earth with the curse of
with the old earth and old heav- sin removed and God’s presence
ens of sin passed away, the Lord dwelling on the earth with them
then declares, “Behold, I make all in the new Jerusalem. Out of
things new” (21:5). God’s love and care for believ-
The announcement in verse 5 ing Israel, He wanted a written
is introduced in the same man- record for her to read and know
ner as verse 3: “Behold!” The about her eternal hope.

January 2019 19
 John needed to write about “It Is Done”
what he saw and what he heard. “And He said unto me, It is
He was to make a record of the done. I am Alpha and Omega,
“words” that the Lord spoke about the beginning and the end. I will
making all things new and the give unto him that is athirst of
words that He was about to say the fountain of the water of life
in verses 6-8. These words are freely” (Rev. 21:6).
“true and faithful.” “It is done” implies absolute
At the Lord’s Second Coming, finality. Because Christ is faith-
John records that “I saw heaven ful and true, Who “calleth those
opened, and behold a white horse; things which be not as though
and He that sat upon him was they were” (Rom. 4:17), He can
called Faithful and True…” (Rev. say, “It is done,” before it is done,
19:11). Christ is Faithful and because it will happen exactly as
True, and the words that He He says. John Walvoord rightly
speaks are “true and faithful” (Rev. says of the words, “It is done”:
21:5). His words are, in truth, “This statement does not mean
God’s words. They are established that there are no future works
in truth, worthy to be believed, of God but that a major work has
and can be completely trusted. been brought to completion and
All who read the words that John that the works now relating to
wrote are given strong confirma- the eternal state are beginning.”1
tion that the Lord will accomplish The Lord is pointing forward to
His purposes and promises. a new, permanent condition that
God is faithful and true (1 Cor. has arrived.
1:9; Rom. 3:4). Like the God who
inspired it and revealed it, the
Word of God is faithful and it is
truth (Psa. 119:138; John 17:17).
God will keep and fulfill every
promise He has made to the na-
tion Israel regarding her eternal “In that day, the gospel
hope on the earth. God will keep
and fulfill every promise He has of the grace of God will
made to the Church, the Body not be valid.”
of Christ, regarding our eternal
hope in the heavenlies. As the
Apostle Paul wrote, “For all the The One on the throne Who
promises of God in Him [Christ] is speaking claims the names of
are yea, and in Him Amen…” God: “I am Alpha and Omega,
(2 Cor. 1:20). Everything will the Beginning and the End.” The
come to pass just as God has Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal
said and revealed in His Word. I AM, the Alpha and the Omega,
As believers in Christ, we have the Beginning and the End (cf.
much to be thankful for and look Rev. 1:8). He is fully God. He
forward to because God is faithful is infinitely qualified as God to
and true to His Word. declare the end of something and

20 Berean Searchlight
the beginning of something new. on Him should receive…)” (John
God started history and He will 7:37-39).
end it. And He will initiate the The Apostle John, who wrote
eternal state…. these verses from his recollection
As the old saying goes regard- of the Lord’s life and ministry,
ing the future in our day-to-day must have been reminded of these
experience, “I don’t know what words when the Lord spoke from
the future holds, but I know Who His throne about the water of life.
holds the future!” The Lord holds Salvation and life eternal is beau-
the future. He is in control. We tifully portrayed by the Lord as
can draw great comfort in our His giving life-giving water freely
lives in knowing this is true and to those who are in need and who
trusting Him. We also draw thirst. As the Lord said, “I am
comfort that we have a future, a the Bread of life: he that cometh
bright one in Christ in the heav- to Me shall never hunger; and he
enlies! Israel is being shown here that believeth on Me shall never
in the Book of Revelation that thirst” (John 6:35).
they too have a bright hope on
the new earth. And all of it will
come to pass exactly as the Lord
has said, because He is “true and
faithful.”

“The Fountain of the

Water of Life”
The Lord next says He “will
give unto him that is athirst of
the fountain of the water of life
freely.” During His earthly min-
istry, the Lord said something
to the Samaritan woman at the
well that was very similar: “But The “water of life” in Revela-
whosoever drinketh of the water tion 21:6 is both symbolic and
that I shall give him shall never literal. It is symbolic of the Holy
thirst; but the water that I shall Spirit and eternal life that is
give him shall be in him a well given to all who trusted Christ
of water springing up into ever- and God’s provision of salvation
lasting life” (John 4:14). Later, under Israel’s program. It is also
in Jerusalem at the feast of tab- literal water of life that flows
ernacles, the Lord taught in the from the new Jerusalem: “And he
temple, “saying, If any man thirst, shewed me a pure river of water
let him come unto Me, and drink. of life, clear as crystal, proceed-
He that believeth on Me, as the ing out of the throne of God and
Scripture hath said, out of his of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1). This
belly shall flow rivers of living literal water of life will also be
water. (But this spake He of the given freely to those who inhabit
Spirit, which they that believe the new earth for eternity.

January 2019 21
“He That Overcometh Shall (vv. 18-21) during the horrific
Inherit All Things” 70th week of Daniel. The over-
“He that overcometh shall comers will remain loyal to
inherit all things; and I will be Christ either to the end of their
his God, and he shall be My son” lives in martyrdom or to the end
(Rev. 21:7). of the seven-year Tribulation….
The true and faithful words of The overcomers of the Tribu-
the Lord continue as He makes lation period have rich promises
a blessed promise to “he that and blessing awaiting them in
overcometh.” This Book will the Kingdom on the earth: no
be directly applicable after the second death, to be clothed in
Rapture of the Church, the Body white raiment, to sit with Christ
of Christ, during the Tribulation. in His throne, to have their name
Believers in that day, if they can confessed by Christ to the Father,
stay alive, will need to overcome the right to eat of the tree of life,
to the end of the Tribulation. The etc. (Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21).
Apostle John reveals for us in his In fulfillment of His promises
epistles that the overcomers are to them, the One Who is faithful
those who are born again—those and true tells them that, in the
who believe Jesus Christ is the eternal state, “He that overcometh
Son of God. shall inherit all things; and I will
“For whatsoever is born of God be his God, and he shall be My
overcometh the world: and this is son.” They will inherit everything
the victory that overcometh the that Christ had promised them.
world, even our faith. Who is he He will be their God forever.
that overcometh the world, but They will be His sons forever.
he that believeth that Jesus is In that eternal position as sons,
the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4,5). they are heirs. Thus, they receive
The overcomers are those who an inheritance. And it is a rich
are saved under the gospel of the inheritance when you receive an
kingdom, believing that Christ inheritance from “He that liveth,
is the Son of God (John 20:31). and was dead; and, behold,” is
The overcomers are those who “alive for evermore” (Rev. 1:18).
will overcome Satan during the
Tribulation. They will overcome The Unbelieving Unforgiven
Satan’s powerful coercion to “But the fearful, and unbeliev-
take the mark of the Beast to be ing, and the abominable, and
able to buy and sell. The over- murderers, and whoremongers,
comers are those who overcome and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
the world and its majority and all liars, shall have their part in
strong social pressure to follow the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the sec-
the Antichrist. They are those
ond death” (Rev. 21:8).
who will abide in Christ (John
15:1-7) and in His love (vv. 9,10), In contrast to the blessings of
and love one another (vv. 12,17), eternal life, joys, and inheritance
and overcome the hatred of in the new Jerusalem among be-
their persecutors and of Satan lievers, we find the unbelieving in

22 Berean Searchlight
the Lake of Fire, those excluded because of these things cometh the
from the new heaven and new wrath of God upon the children of
earth in the eternal state. They disobedience” (Eph. 5:5,6).
have no inheritance. God will not “Sorcerers”: the unsaved who
be their God. They will not be traffic with evil spirits, who are
His sons. They are forever in the involved with witchcraft, people of
presence of sin, darkness, and evil, the occult and satanism. “Now the
experiencing the torments of the works of the flesh are manifest,
Lake of Fire and the second death. which are these; Adultery, fornica-
The unforgiven are listed by tion, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
the sins that marked their lives Idolatry, witchcraft…they which
on earth. do such things shall not inherit
“Fearful”: the cowardly un- the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
saved, those who were more fear- “Idolaters”: the multitudes of
ful of the disapproval of people unsaved whose worship has been
than of God, and so were afraid directed toward a material object
to trust God’s Word. which represents to them some
“Unbelieving”: all the un- spiritual reality or higher power.
saved who never trusted God’s The Apostle Paul wrote that “cov-
provision for salvation in their etousness…is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).
lifetimes. “But without faith it is Even the adoration of material
impossible to please Him” (Heb. possessions and giving them a
11:6). They have displeased God place ahead of God is considered
forever because they never placed idolatry.
their faith in Him or His Word
when they had the opportunity.
“Abominable”: the unsaved
who practice abominations; vile,
detestable people who are com-
pletely caught up in wickedness
and evil of all sorts.
“Murderers”: the unsaved
who knowingly and purposely kill;
malicious and savage killers. They
“are of [their] father the devil, and
the lusts of [their] father [they] “Liars”: unsaved people who
will do. He was a murderer from are compulsive deceivers, false
the beginning…” (John 8:44). witnesses, false teachers; those
“Whoremongers”: the un- who practice deception for gain.
saved who practice fornication They “are of [their] father the
and other forms of sexual sins; devil, and the lusts of [their] father
the sexually immoral. “For this [they] will do. He…abode not in
ye know, that no whoremonger, the truth, because there is no
nor unclean person…hath any truth in him. When he speaketh
inheritance in the kingdom of a lie, he speaketh of his own: for
Christ and of God. Let no man he is a liar, and the father of it”
deceive you with vain words: for (John 8:44).

January 2019 23
 The second death, eternal all the ages is “the lake which
death, will be pronounced on all burneth with fire and brimstone:
these unbelievers at the Great which is the second death” (Rev.
White Throne (Rev. 20:14,15), 21:8)….All the unsaved will be
because they have died in Adam punished for their sins and tor-
and in their sins: “For as in Adam mented in the Lake of Fire forever
all die, even so in Christ shall all and ever. The clear teaching of
be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). Scripture is that sin results in
Again, the Book of Revelation death (Rom. 5:12; 6:23; James
will be used in the future Tribula- 1:15). As a result of their sins all
tion period. It reminds the reader these souls will experience the
of the certain consequences of not second death, which is eternal
believing in Christ. Universal separation from the presence of
salvation is not taught in God’s God in the Lake of Fire.
Word. But as we see in this chap- If you are reading this book
ter of this Book of the Bible for and have not trusted Christ as
people in the Tribulation period, your personal Savior, we beg
there remains a universal invita- you to do so before it is too late.
tion for all who thirst to drink the Under the dispensation of grace,
water of life by faith in Christ. In you are saved from your sins and
that day, the gospel of the grace of the Lake of Fire by just trusting
God will not be valid. The gospel that Christ died for your sins,
of the kingdom will be what saves was buried, and rose again the
their souls. If they will trust the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4). The
gospel of the kingdom and repent, moment you trust this good news
confess their sins, get water bap- you have the free gift of salvation,
tized, and believe that Jesus is a home in heaven, and eternal life
“the Christ, the Son of the living in Christ.
God” (Matt. 16:16), they will be Endnote
saved from their sins and hell. 1. John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of
The final destiny of all unfor- Jesus Christ (Chicago, Illinois: Moody
given, unbelieving people from Press, 1980), p. 316.

BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY

TV Ministry Transformed by
Grace
Sunday 9:00 am in Chicago on WJYS
Monday 7:00 am CST: ION.4
Monday 5:00 pm CST:
• DirecTV: Channel 376
• Dish Network: Channel 267
• Glory Star Satellite System: Channel 117
Roku and Apple TV—BBS Network 24/7 streaming channel
 Reservations are due
January 26!

Berean Bible Society/Berean Bible Institute

• Caesarea
• Sea of Galilee
• Dead Sea
• Jerusalem
• Golgotha/Garden Tomb
• Eight nights lodging at four star hotels
• Breakfast and dinner daily at the hotel
• Travel in a deluxe motor coach
• Devotions led by BBS and BBI leaders

Price per person $2,800 (based on double occupancy and a minimum

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Included in the price is roundtrip air from Chicago. Eight nights lodging
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sional English–speaking tour guide, all entrances as appear on itnerary,
baggage handling at hotels (1 bag), tips to guides, drivers and hotel staff,
transportation in deluxe air conditioned motor coaches.
Reservations: A completed reservation form and a $300 deposit
are due to reserve a place on this tour.

Pilgrim Tours 1-800-322-0788 I PO Box 268 Morgantown, PA 19543

www.pilgrimtours.com
 BBS Letter Excerpts

From Indiana: From West Virginia:

“Pastor Kevin, your lessons on “September is Echo Month!...I
marriage have really helped my mar- could go on for pages on the spiritual
riage. Such a blessing! I just finished blessings your printed sermons and
the infinite God lessons you did, and magazine have been in my life. The
wow, you really have a way of paint- Searchlight penetrates the darkness
ing a picture on just how big our God of prisons across the nation, and I
is! You speak with so much passion am one of those that has benefited…I
and conviction, and I really appreci- have been a student of C. R. Stam for
ate that.” years.…”

From Mississippi: From our Inbox:

“I live in a small town in Mississippi “That helps a ton! Thank you…A
…I’ve seen your television ministry lot of the questions I encounter dur-
Transformed by Grace several times ing Bible study are answered by your
on the CTN network…on DirecTV at website and the Searchlight. Very
5:00 p.m. on Mondays. I’m enjoying cool stuff.”
the show and am also encouraged by
your simple biblical teaching style From Ghana:
that’s easy to understand and to “I have been following you for many
follow along with. At times you even years. I like your teachings and I
do so with a smile that’s infectious love your explanation. I am a pastor
and nice to see…God bless you Pastor in Ghana, and I need a little help to
Sadler and continued success in your spread the gospel.”
ministry and all that you do in life.”
From Oregon:
From Namibia, Africa: “I have…30 years of knowledge
“Things That Differ helped me thanks to BBS’s Searchlight maga-
solve and ease many, if not all, of the zines. I just read the Bible cover to
studies I started many years ago… cover for the first time in my life…
It explained how to get to the core of Can I be ordained?...I’m…just a man
the problem of why we have so many who wants to step up.” (Great! But
churches, and how to solve this…I BBS doesn’t ordain men, we leave
can now take on big issues and make that up to local churches. –Ed.).
them simple to understand. I made
a promise to God regarding it, and From Illinois:
a few years passed and I did noth- “I’m praying every day for you all. I
ing. It is really bothering me so in so appreciate your work and effort and
the past week it came to my mind to attitude in getting the amazing grace
go back to where it started: Things of God out there, and desiring to show
That Differ.” to all the fellowship of the Mystery.”

26 Berean Searchlight
From Oregon: From Wisconsin:
“The Apostle Paul said, ‘…I could “Enclosed is the quarterly pledge
wish…myself accursed from Christ from Friendship Congregational
for my brethren, my countrymen Bible Church. Thanks for the awe-
according to the flesh’ (Rom. 9:3-5). some service you provide for Biblical
Now I read in the last four issues of Education!”
the Searchlight (August-November)
that our dear brother in Christ, From Pennsylvania:
Kevin Sadler, has the same burden “We enjoyed your message [at the
for my people, Israel, as our Apostle November Duncansville, PA Bible
Paul, and it warms my heart. Very Conference]. Pray every day for you
encouraging. Praise the Lord!” all. Look forward seeing you again.
Until then, keep looking up!”
From South Carolina:
“I studied through your presenta- From North Carolina:
tion on baptism in the Searchlight… “A close friend and I have deeply
Your teachings are a great source for enjoyed at first Bullinger’s The
training and reference. I will be pass- Foundation of Truth, and then later
ing them on to others when the topic Cornelius Stam’s Things That Differ,
comes up…I just wanted you to know No Other Doctrine, two volumes of
that you are making a difference in Acts, etc. We are seeing how great
the lives of others.” our traditions have blinded us…We
are encountering resistance from
From our Inbox: some in our gatherings, so we would
“Thank you so much for your appreciate anything that will answer
response!!! It was so very helpful. our critic’s objections.”
Also, your sharing Galatians 3:8 was
an eye opener for me concerning the From California:
gospel preached to Abraham. Thank “I introduced…Things That Dif-
you for highlighting that. I see that fer…to my son…He read it over and
now.” over, until the book was all dog-eared
and tattered. I asked him why he
From Washington: read the book so many times, and
“One of my pastors let me borrow he said, ‘I wanted to make sure I got
Pastor Stam’s book Man, His Nature it, I needed to be sure I understood
and Destiny. It has been a massive it…You really found something valu-
help as a close friend of mine has able,  Mom.’ He now wants to read
gotten caught up in some deceptive this book to his colleagues at work.”
doctrines.” (Always listen to your mother! –Ed.).

From Guam: From Florida:

“I rejoice with you in…Paul’s “I love your Searchlight! You
distinct Gentile apostleship, and the share the message of grace so well.
proclamation of the revelation of the May the Lord continue to use you to
mystery….Our precious deposit is help people understand the differ-
being spread far and wide all over the ence between Israel and the Body
South Pacific and beyond.” of Christ.”

“These [Bereans] were more noble than

those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the Word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the Scriptures daily, whether those
January 2019 27
things were so.” —Acts 17:11
 News and
Announcements
The First Lady of Grace Musicians is now with the Lord. Our dear
friend Virginia Shriver may best be remembered by our readers as the
pianist at the annual Berean Bible Fellowship conferences in Cedar Lake,
Indiana. Your editor will never forget how she could really rattle the raf-
ters during the crescendo of “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” Afterward, her
husband, Pastor Harland Shriver, would stir our hearts with a message
from God’s Word. Ginny is now reunited with him, and playing command
performances before the King of kings.
Social Media Advancement: Those of you who follow Berean Bible
Society on Facebook will want to know that we also now have a pres-
ence on Twitter and Instagram. We want to emulate the Apostle Paul’s
“no man left behind” policy, and so we will continue to explore every
available avenue to reach people with his message, using whatever so-
cial media forum they favor. “Ye also helping together by prayer for us”
(2 Cor. 1:11).
Fans of Philemon have reason to rejoice now that your editor’s recent
series on Paul’s most personal epistle has joined the ever-expanding
library of MP3 audio and MP4 video messages available on our BBS
website. Whether you want to plumb the riches of God’s grace by studying
the Word topically, or delve into the mine of Scripture in a verse-by-verse
study of a particular book, our online library has got you covered. Just
go to www.bereanbiblesociety.org and click on the “Bible Study” tab, and
choose between the “audio” and “video” message links.
Read Your Bible Through in 2019! Grace believers know that Paul’s
epistles are God’s specific Word for us today, and so we tend to focus on
them. However, Paul quotes the Old Testament so much that it is often
difficult to understand his words without a working knowledge of Israel’s
Scriptures. So continue to focus on Paul’s epistles, but avoid the myopic
malady of spiritual tunnel vision by downloading a daily Bible reading plan
from the internet, and get started without delay. After all, it is our Apostle
Paul who insists that “all Scripture…is profitable” for us (2 Tim. 3:16).

Upcoming Conferences to put on your calendar!

BBF Winter Conference, January 26-27, Inverness, FL
Tupelo Bible Conference, March 16-17, Tupelo, MS
Phoenix Bible Conference, March 22-24, Sun City West, AZ
Best of Israel Trip, May 7-16, 2019
Bible Study Booklets
Price List

C.R. Stam
Ambassadors for Christ....................$1.00 When the Lord
Answer to Catholicism........................2.00 Became Angry....................................1.00
Believer’s Walk...................................2.00 Why Was Christ Baptized? .................1.00
Continue Thou....................................1.00 Will There Be Tears in Heaven? .........1.00
Early Ministry of Paul..........................2.00 Writings of John.................................2.00
Faith of Christ.....................................1.00 Your Faith in God’s Word....................2.00
Fulfillment..........................................1.00 Paul M. Sadler
God’s Plan of Salvation.......................2.00 According to the Scriptures..............$2.00
Hope for the Bereaved.......................2.00 Are You Secure? .................................2.00
Intelligent Christianity........................2.00 Dispensationalism..............................3.00
Is Salvation Certain?...........................2.00 Historical Beginning
Knowledge of the Mystery.................2.00 of the Church......................................3.00
Logic of the Plan of Salvation.............2.00 Supernatural Sign Gifts.......................4.00
Lord’s Prayer.......................................1.00 Trials and Temptations.......................2.00
Lord’s Supper......................................2.00 Uncertain Trumpet of
Love of Christ......................................1.00 Water Baptism....................................2.00
Our Oneness in Christ.........................1.00 Kevin Sadler
Paul the Master Builder......................2.00
2 Great Commissions........................$3.00
Pentecostal Signs................................2.00 A Praying Life......................................4.00
Power of God......................................2.00 Everybody’s a Somebody
Preaching of the Cross........................2.00 in the Body of Christ...........................3.00
Rapture of the Church........................1.00 Grieving With Hope............................3.00
Rome’s Greatest Blunder....................1.00 The Rapture vs. the Second Coming....4.00
Saul the Sinner and What Must I Do To Be Saved?............3.00
Paul the Boaster.................................2.00
Seven Times a Failure.........................2.00 Ricky Kurth
Simple as Can Be Discerning the Will of God...............$3.00
(English or Spanish)................................1.00 Now That I Believe
Sonship...............................................1.00 (English/Spanish/Dutch).........................3.00
Temple of God....................................1.00 Other Authors
That Blessed Hope..............................2.00 Bible Contrasts (Adams)...................$3.00
This Is That (English or Spanish).............2.00 Confession of Sins (Lawson)...............2.00
Unanswered Prayer (English/Spanish)....1.00 Pentecost, Was it the
Unpardonable Sin...............................1.00 Birthday of the Church? (Lawson)......2.00
Water Baptism....................................2.00 Kingdom of Heaven and the
We Know a Secret...............................2.00 Body of Christ (O’Hair).......................1.00
Orders up to $30.00, please add $4.00 for Postage and Handling
Orders over $30.00, please add 15% for Postage and Handling
Foreign orders must be remitted in U. S. currency
The Berean Searchlight
PERIODICALS
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
Paid at Germantown, WI
PO Box 756
and additional mailing offices
Germantown, WI 53022-0756

“When the Bible is not taken literally,

our understanding of the Word is
left to the opinions and imaginations
of fallible mankind.”
—Pastor Kevin Sadler