Calvary Hot Springs

Exalting Christ Through the Ministry of the Word

Journal

God’s Promises are Yes in Christ

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Thinking Out Loud

In the providence of God’s mercy, He subjected Himself to the welfare of the rebels who turned from and rejected Him. He did so of His own volition apart from any act on the part of mankind. By His mercy, He entered into a divine covenant with man, all conditions being met by the son of man, God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This covenant comprehensively recreates man’s existence and gives him life. It includes forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, adoption, new birth, new heart, new spirit, the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, love for God, love and acceptance by God. Salvation is comprehensive and changes the whole of man.

At the heart of God’s redemption is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the new covenant we’ve been brought into. There is nothing that can be realized in man’s redemption apart from Jesus Christ. Any gospel that conveys life apart from Christ is not the true gospel. It is not the gospel (good news) at all.

Because of this, the assurance and the security of the believer rests in Jesus… period. All the promises of God find their Yes in [Christ] (2 Corinthians 1:20). The Christian does not find his assurance and his security for salvation based on his feelings, nor from his behavior (good or bad). Assurance and security for eternal life does not come from being able to remember a time you “said a prayer,” “walked an aisle,” or “entered into a baptismal tank.” 

The believer’s hope rests in the promises of God that find their Yes in [Christ]. His indwelling Spirit then establishes us… in Christ, anoints us, and… puts his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:21).

Thanks be to God for the unchanging promises of His covenant in midst of uncertain times.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Power of God unto Salvation, Romans 1:16

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“Romans Chapter-By Chapter” Series

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16

Have you ever heard of the “Romans Road”? It’s a method of using a series of verses from the book of Romans to communicate the gospel to an unbeliever. The Romans Road is a useful evangelism tool. I remember as a teenager having the trail of verses linked together in my Bible and teaching others how to use the tool. It’s a valid and valuable way to explain the basics of salvation. However, Paul did not write the book of Romans primarily to address and persuade unbelievers. Rather, he wrote it to encourage and strengthen those who already believed. Which brings up a powerful point: The gospel is for believers! Yes, it’s for unbelievers, but no one ever outgrows their need to hear the gospel. The good news of the gospel provides eternal life and it also powers godly living. 

In the introduction of Romans, chapter 1:1-17, Paul writes, “to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). The Bible teaches us that every person who has been born again is a “saint” and saints were Paul’s target audience. The verses continue on to commend the church in Rome for their godly testimony and express Paul’s heartfelt desire to be physically present with the saints and “be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:12). This love for the faithful, roman saints, combined with Paul’s lifetime passion to preach to people of all nations causes him to express, “I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Romans 1:15). Paul could not be clearer that even those who are already saved, and even faithfully walking with God, need to continue to hear the gospel. 

Why? Why is the gospel so important beyond salvation? Why does someone who is already saved need to hear the gospel? Why would Paul write the greatest epistle on the gospel to saved people? 

These are trick questions. Notice I used words like “salvation” and “saved” in the questions above. Nobody who is breathing is “beyond salvation.” Most of the time in Christianity when we say someone is “saved” we are looking backward to the moment when they initially trusted in Jesus and became a Christian. We see salvation as something in the past for Christians. However, in the Bible there are many uses of “saved” or “salvation.” There are three “tenses” of salvation from sin. Salvation has past, present, and future uses. Look at Ephesians 2:8, “For by grave you HAVE BEEN SAVED through faith.” This verse refers to what we commonly think of as “getting saved.” This salvation is associated with justification. It’s the salvation that takes a sinner who is an enemy of God and, in a moment, transforms him into a friend of God. Justification pardons a sinner and makes him righteous in God’s eyes. This is the past tense (for believers) of salvation. 

In addition to the past, there is a present tense of salvation. “I would remind you,” Paul says to the Christian brothers in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, “of the gospel I preached to you, which you have received, in which you stand, and by which you ARE BEING SAVED.” I don’t know about you, but I am not perfect. God has saved me from my sin, but I still sin daily. However, God has provided salvation from that sin as well. Sanctification is the lifelong work of God making His saints more holy in their day-to-day lives. In fact, sanctification, saints, and holy are all related words in the Bible. So, we could restate the underlined sentence with a made-up word, Holy-fication is the lifelong work of God making His holy people more holy in their day-to-day lives. This sanctification happens by God’s power through His word. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). This is the present tense of salvation. 

There is yet one more tense, and that is the future tense of salvation. Observe Romans 5:9, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more SHALL WE BE SAVED by him from the wrath of God.” Believers in Christ will never face the wrath of God. They will be saved from it! Instead of wrath, they will enter eternal life with God (Romans 2:7). Heavenly salvation is yet to come and is often called glorification. Romans 8:30 guarantees that everyone who is justified is also glorified! When we are glorified in heaven (in the future), our behavior (our present sanctification) will match our righteous standing before God (past justification). This is the future tense of salvation. In these three ways, all saints are saved, being saved, and will be saved. 

Back to Romans 1:16. Paul explains that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel does not simply punch our ticket to heaven and leave us to our own devices. Rather, the gospel is what powers the Christian life from the point of conversion all the way to glory!  

We face eternity in our future. Eternity is often ignored, but it’s a BIG DEAL! Think about it: this life is short compared to eternity. Scripture calls it a vapor (James 4:14). We all know how long vapor lasts but eternity is forever. Eternity would be a frightening concept if it were unknown. But Scripture does not leave us blind to eternity. If you believe, you can be 100% confident that God’s power, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, will take you all the way to glory because the GOSPEL is the power of God unto salvation!

*Note: In case you’re curious about the Romans Road, the series is: Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9, 10:13, 5:1, 8:38-39. You might find it useful to use this tool by simply writing the next reference in the chain before each verse (i.e. Mark Romans 3:23 as “Romans Road” and then write “6:23” to begin the trail to the next verse.

The Benefits of Suffering

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Thinking Out Loud

The reality of living in a broken and sin cursed world is manifested in the existence of human suffering. Sin destroys everything that it touches and because of it, the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (Romans 8;22).

But human suffering in the hands of a holy and righteous God is actually beneficial for His people. The Bible tells us that we are called to share in Christ’s suffering in this world (our topic last Sunday). It has been granted to us that for the sake of Christ [we]… suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29). Suffering brings maturity in faith (James 1:2-4), it produces endurance and steadfastness (Romans 5:3, 11; Hebrews 10:36), it tests and tries your faith (1:7-9) and, according to God’s purpose, it conforms you to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-30).

For the follower of Christ, suffering teaches us to rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9). Isn’t this what the Lord did for Paul when giving him a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)? And isn’t this what Peter learned, having experienced his own weakness to stand for Christ (Matthew 26:34ff)?

Suffering reminds us that contrary to the deceit of sin, we were created to be dependent beings, dependent on our creator (Genesis 2). Suffering reminds us that nothing… absolutely nothing in this world can satisfy our parched and thirsty souls, but Jesus. 

Whatever you may be facing today or in the days ahead, be encouraged to act in obedient faith (don’t wait for your feelings to lead you) and count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. The benefits of suffering is good, because the God you serve… is good.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Meet Kellie Lim

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putting names to faces…

Kellie Lim moved to Hot Springs 27 years ago to come along side her husband as he took the pastorate of his first church. Her love for the Black Hills and for the brothers and sisters of Calvary was almost instantaneous. She has and continues to serve in the church in a myriad of ways and is a pleasure to be with (no bias… just truth).

Here she reared their two children, both of whom are now married and have given them seven grandchildren.

Kellie is in her element when teaching her first graders at Hot Springs Elementary where she has worked for 14 years.

From a very young age Kellie recalls having questions that stirred her heart regarding God and regarding eternity. But it wasn’t until she heard the gospel in high school that those questions were answered. God’s grace captured her heart when hearing the good news and she remembers thinking, “This is what I’ve been looking for.” As she grew in the Lord and learned of His ways, she discovered that by God’s providence, it was not she who was looking for Him, but He looking for her.

Kellie’s confidence and her hope for eternal life rests in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Meet Pete Burleigh

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putting names to faces

Pete Burleigh is a Navy veteran, having served for twenty years and four days. In 1997 he moved to the Black Hills area to be closer to the kids and in 2000 he remarried and he and his wife moved to Hot Springs specifically for employment. Pete has four grown children and six grandkids. You may run into Pete if you fill up at Dakota Mart Gas. He seems always to be working… especially on Sunday mornings. 

Pete started attending Calvary in 2006 and enjoys the fellowship and support from her people. 

Pete grew up on the Iron Range of Minnesota. It was there that through the life and ministry of American Missionary Fellowship missionary Les Wille (and his four daughters who first caught his attention), Pete came to know and to trust Jesus as his Savior. In his teen years, Les poured his life into Pete as he discipled him in the Word. Later, before going to his first duty station Les told him about the ministry of Overseas Christian Servicemen’s Center’s (OCSC) now known as Cadence International and their Center in Subic Bay, Philippines. It was there that he was nurtured in the Lord while serving in the military. God used the means of a young missionary and the ministry of a serviceman’s center to ground Pete in the truth and to care for him in his early life as a Christian. For this Pete is extremely grateful.

Pete’s hope for eternity rests in the Lord Jesus Christ; the promises for what is yet to come and the assurance of His presence for today.

Praise the Lord!

Worship Together, June 28

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Considering the turmoil and societal unrest of the world around us, grasping and affirming the church’s calling and purpose is extremely important. Our calling is a calling from our God  out of the world to Himself, for His glory. Of all the things that we may do to serve in this world; to minister to the needy, to comfort the sorrowful, to feed the hungry, pursue justice… of all the things that we may do to serve in this world, we must always keep at the forefront God’s calling to preach the gospel. Not just to “show” it, but to preach it. Considering that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, it is foolish to believe that serving has any significant value if the gospel is neglected. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36

Each time we gather, we rehearse the gospel. That is the good news that not only delivers us from God’s wrath, but enables us to benefits of being children of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s provision for all things that pertain to life and godliness. May the gospel never get old to you as you worship in song, in prayer and in the study and preaching of God’s Word.

Worship in Music

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:6–7 

Here is YouTube play list you might want to sing with…

Worship in Bible Study

Morning Study at 8:30

We’re jumping into Romans 8 on Sunday! You would benefit from reading and pondering ahead of time.

Some of you may have noticed some audio problems last week. I think I know how to fix it this time. (By the way, don’t hesitate to speak up if that happens again)

Looking forward to Sunday!

If you’d like to join us in this study, please let us know and we’ll send you the link.

We have posted the recordings of our weekly Zoom meetings on our YouTube channel. Be encouraged, if you have not been able to attend, to give each a listen.

Worship in Preaching

Take THIS LINK to our YouTube Channel from where you can select this morning’s message, “Fear and Serve the Lord in Sincerity and Faithfulness.” The video will be available at 6:00 this morning. 

Have your Bible open to Joshua 24

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel. This will keep you updated when we post new videos.

You can also access the audio and/or video files from our website: https://calvaryhs.org/resources/teachings/

Worship in Giving

Giving the firstfruits of our resources is a genuine form of worship, expressing thanksgiving for God’s blessing and dependance on His provision.

Missionaries are still  being supported and bills are still being to be paid. Here are a few options for giving of your tithes and offerings.

  • Mail a check made to: Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 957, Hot Springs, SD 57747
  • Call Pastor Matt at (605) 890-1428 or Isaac at (805) 602-2990 to arrange to drop a check by the office.
  •  CLICK HERE to give online. It will take you to a secure site where you will be able to pay by CC or eCheck. 

I trust you continue to seek the Lord in the Scriptures each and every day and that you being creative as to how you might minister to one another… albeit from a distance. Continue to pray, which allows us to minister to one another… no matter where we are.

Brothers and sisters… love one another.

Pastor Matt

Introduction to Romans

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“Romans Chapter-By-Chapter” Series

If you were stranded on an island with only one book of the Bible, which book would you choose? 

This question is intentionally difficult because Christians have been given a book wherein ALL of it is said to be necessary and profitable (2 Tim. 3:15-16), however many Christians, if they HAD to choose, would pick the Epistle of Paul to the Romans. Why? Because the book of Romans is unsurpassed in explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ. It expands on critical doctrines like justification by faith, the righteousness of God, and grace vs. works in more detail than any other book of the Bible.

This article begins a series that I am planning to write that will cover Romans chapter-by-chapter. This series serves a different purpose than verse-by-verse teaching. Verse-by-verse study is vital for mining the riches of God’s Word, but this “Romans Chapter-By-Chapter” series is intended to get snapshots of key truths throughout the book. I will attempt to find the key verse that best summarizes each chapter (sometimes I might cheat a little and do two posts covering two verses) and briefly explain the argument that is being made.

So, if a summary is the goal, then what about the whole book? What does a snapshot of the entire book of Romans look like?

Romans is an epistle (letter) so we have to notice the author, audience, and purpose of the letter. Instead of imagining our snapshot of Romans, let’s let God’s Word tell us what it is!

The author is given in the first word of the book, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). This is the same Paul (formerly Saul) who as a zealous, religious Jew had persecuted and murdered Christians (Acts 9:1) until Christ dramatically intervened, changed him, and gave him a mission “to carry my [Jesus’] name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Before he was saved, Paul was extensively educated in the Old Testament law (Acts 22:3). When he realized that Jesus was the Messiah that the Old Testament promised (Acts 9:22) his eyes were opened to the riches of the Old Testament. The book of Romans is filled with quotes and illusions to the Old Testament that Paul uses to build and substantiate his writing. God took a violent, educated man who was steeped in false religion and turned him into the greatest missionary for Christ that the world has ever seen.

The audience is recorded as “All those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). Clearly these folks were Roman believers who made up the Church in the imperial capitol city. Paul had never been to Rome (Romans 1:13) but he loved those saints and was passionate about visiting them and preaching the gospel to them (Romans 1:15). It is God who calls a person to be a Christian and each one is loved by God! If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then Romans is for you! And, by the way, it is for you to share.

The purpose of the letter is given in two places using parallel sentences, Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:26-27. Romans 1:5 combines the purpose for the book with Paul’s own life purpose as an apostle, “To bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.” Romans 16:26-27 closes the book with echoes of chapter 1, “[The mystery] has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ.” Notice three things about these statements. First, the emphasis on “all nations.”  Before Christ, God had worked primarily with the Jewish people, however, Jesus came with the mission of redeeming people from every nation and ethnicity in the entire world (John 10:16, John 11:51-52, Revelation 5:9). His “Great Commission” to the disciples, and by extension all believers, was to “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Among the Apostles, Peter primarily ministered to Jews while Paul aggressively expanded his mission to reach gentiles from all over the map (Acts 13:47, Romans 15:18-19). This theme of God throwing open the gates of the gospel to all nations is a vital theme to notice throughout the book of Romans. Many of the theological arguments that Paul makes are intertwined with the discussion about Jews and Gentiles and how they relate to God.

Second, notice the phrase “obedience of faith” in both verses. In that phrase we get a glimpse that the operating principle in Romans is “faith.” Faith, in contrast to law and works, is the principle by which God saves sinners. However, Paul writes with the intention to “bring about the obedience of faith.” Remember, he is primarily writing to people who are already believers, so he has the goal of bringing about further maturity in the faith and the obedience to God that corresponds to faith. He wants believers to obey God more and more. This purpose is intertwined with Jesus’ Great Commission mentioned above. God’s people are not only to proclaim good news throughout the world as they make disciples, but the discipleship process moves forward “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). The gospel of Jesus Christ is the critical message by which people are saved, but it is also the message that empowers, motivates, and strengthens believers to obey and glorify God.

Third, both passages refer to to the glory of God as the ultimate purpose for spreading the gospel and obeying God. Romans 1:5 uses the phrase, “for the sake of his name” and Romans 16:27 says, “to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ.” This theme is the most important theme in the universe! It means that the reason why Paul wrote and taught, or why any Christian preaches truth and walks in obedience, is not for moral self-improvement, societal gain, or even for escape from eternal fire. God saves and changes people for the exaltation of His own glory and fame. Jesus Christ is God and deserves to be praised! “All things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). The manner in which God saves people, the character and love that He displays, and the manner in which he frees people from sin is all designed for His great glory. 

Romans is a book about the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

     It is about that gospel going to all nations.

         It is about that gospel going to all nations to make them obedient through faith.

            It is about that gospel going to all nations to make them obedient through faith for God’s glory!

I hope you’ll follow along on our journey through this great book. God still uses it to change lives, and I believe He can use it to transform you!

Imminent Judgment & The Gospel

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Thinking Out Loud

Understanding the book of Joshua requires the understanding that while the Lord fulfilled His promises to His people, He was concurrently fulfilling His righteous judgment upon the Canaanites. Both sides of the spectrum spectacularly exhibits God’s glory. His glory is demonstrated in His care for His people, and His glory is demonstrated in His judgment on the idolatrous people of the land. Honestly, I have never read or studied the book of Joshua and come away from it with the somberness I have in our current study on Sunday mornings. 

Of course, God is patient. Over 400 years earlier, He gave time for the iniquity of the Amorites to be complete (Gen. 15:16). But the time had come and it was clear that His wrath would not be thwarted. He commanded Israel that they were to utterly destroy them… make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. They were to devote them to complete destruction (Deut. 7:1-5). That phrase, devote to destruction is used six times in the book of Joshua, indicating an offering satisfying God’s wrath. The conquest of Jericho gives a snapshot of God’s judgment. There, they utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword (6:21). 

The truth is, it is much too easy to glance at such passages as though they describe the latest Netflix movie thriller. It’s so… sterile. But these are real life, flesh and blood people. People just like you and me pounding out a daily living. These are just like your friends and loved ones who are without Christ. These are people who not only faced God’s judgment in the physical realm, but who are facing His eternal wrath even until today.

The very fact that God’s holiness justifies and demands his righteous judgment on unbelieving mankind makes the entire matter quite sobering. The Lord IS patient… not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance… BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME! (2 Pet. 3:9-10). There is a day of reckoning when God’s righteous judgment will come. Ponder on that for a bit!

If you know Christ, you know what makes the gospel such good news is that of His own volition, God extended His mercy toward you. Through Jesus’ sacrificial work for redemption, your sin has been forgiven and you have been reconciled to God. But many have not! They remain at enmity with God (Rom. 8:5-8). Any and all who are outside of Christ will justifiably face the fierce wrath of God. This includes real, flesh and blood people, many whom we know. But until He returns, there is still opportunity for men to turn to Christ.

Is it any wonder the Prophet Isaiah (and Paul) said, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? …So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:13–17)

I wonder if it shouldn’t be… that each time we, as true followers of Christ rejoice in the glorious gospel of Christ that we are also soberly reminded of God’s pending judgment to come… that the world’s only hope is the gospel… and that we are the Lord’s chosen means to proclaimed it.

Soli Deo Gloria!