|
|
|
|
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF GREATER
BATON ROUGE
& Adoniram Judson, Jr. Mission and Ministries Center
10560 Airline Highway ~ Baton
Rouge, LA 70816
Phone: (225) 296-3943
|
Together We Guard Training - Presenter Dr. Faye
Scott
|
|
Dear BAGBR Church,
John 5: 5 "A man was there
who had been ill for
thirty-eight years."
What is the age of
accountability? Often this
question is in regard to
when children can comprehend
their need for Christ! The
"age of accountability" is
not emphasized in
scripture. Is there ever a
question specifically about
that? This man had been ill
for 38 years, and there is
no explanation as to whether
or not it originated
congenitally (from birth) or
accidentally (later, after
birth). So this man's age
could have been 38 or much
older.
Do we ever ask at what age
someone can be saved?
Nicodemus was probably 60+,
and the Samaritan woman with
all of her life experiences
had to be at least 40 or
possibly 50. Do we ever ask
at what point can someone
respond to Christ if they
are challenged physically,
spiritually, emotionally, or
mentally? He had been
waiting for 38 years for
someone to bring him to the
water. He had been trusting
in a tradition, a common
belief of the culture, that
this stirring of the water
would be how he would be
healed. Surely, someone
would have helped him at
least once in a timely
manner over these 38 years!
Could it be that he had been
able to get into the water
"when the water was
stirred," and yet when he
was not healed, his excuse
was to blame others rather
than acknowledge the
foolishness of this belief?
When he WAS healed, it was
because "The Water" came to
him (vv. 8-9). Initially, he
did not even know Jesus'
name (v. 13). The scripture
does not mention whether or
not he was spiritually
"healed," but the very fact
that when Jesus found him
next he was in the temple,
and this gives us that
impression (v.14). In his
previously crippled
condition he was not allowed
to come into the temple, and
at best he could only sit
outside the gate of the
temple (Acts 3: 1-2). No
doubt he longed to be
allowed to worship! But, he
was not.
Those who have been truly
changed by Jesus will find
themselves in
church-worshipping! And in
the process His name becomes
real and dear (vv. 14-15).
What is our life's
mission?...to introduce
others to some spiritual
ritual, to perpetuate some
failed and empty religious
tradition? No! Bring Jesus
to them! Jesus is the
"water of life" and no
matter the age or the
condition of the person who
comes, Jesus can save them!
We are not to determine if
they are "of age" or of
"proper mental state," but
rather to be determined that
ALL need is to be
communicated the Gospel,
then He determines the "age
of accountability!" (Mt. 19:
14) We must be Gospel
witnesses, preachers, and
servants, and when we bring
the WATER and they drink of
the Living Water-He saves
them (4: 13-14, 7: 37-38)!
In
Christ,
Tommy Middleton
< Read
more about Dr. Middleton >
|
|
|
|
* Baptist
Association of Greater Baton Rouge
*Disaster Relief
*Seafarer Ministry
If you would like to give to one of
the other ministries, select
Baptist Association of Greater Baton
Rouge in the notes section include
the title of the ministry. If you
have a question call 225 296-3943.
GIVE HERE
Thank you for your generosity!
|
|
|
|
The Baptist
Association's Mission |
|
|
MISSION |
|
The
Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge has as
its present mission (A) to establish new
relationships between both the churches and pastors;
(B) to strengthen existing relationships of the
churches and members through a commitment to a
vision for kingdom growth that is larger than the
local church. This commitment can be evaluated by
the degree to which the local church members will
penetrate their community with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ through family and community orientation and
social involvement that exemplifies the caring and
sharing nature of Jesus Christ.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director Tommy
Middleton
|
Sermons
| |
|
|
|
|
