Antioch Baptist Church

Antioch Baptist Church Antioch Baptist Church is a place where the Word of God is taught verse by verse in an expository manner. We are a Reformed Dispensational church.

Antioch Baptist
Pastor Brad Jones
Sunday School: 10:00 / Church Service: 11:00
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:30-7:30 PM
Fourth Sunday Communion: A time we observe Communion every other Fourth Sunday

We are Reformed Dispensational Baptists. The historical name of Antioch is the name of one of the first churches established in the Book of Acts (11:19-30) and is the place the disciples were first called

“Christians” and was called the “the cradle of Christianity”. The congregation there provided relief to brothers and sisters living in Judea at a time of famine. Also, Paul and Barnabas based their ministry out of that early church of Antioch. The name of Antioch has long stood as a name that has represented the Lord Jesus Christ in an uncompromising stand on His Word and faith in His eternal salvation. It has been said that although ancient Alexandria became the brains of Christendom, its heart was yet beating at Antioch. The early church at Antioch stood for the proper interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and became synonymous with the literal and historical method. Today, Antioch Baptist Church continues as her namesake, following Jesus one step at a time.

05/11/2026

After finishing communion, together they all sang the last of the Hallel Psalms and then left the upper room to head to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30-35). As they walked, the Lord Jesus warned the disciples what would happen when the Jewish temple police came to arrest Him. The Good Shepherd would be struck down, taken into captivity, and His sheep would be scattered. But He would also be raised and meet them afterward in Galilee. Jesus had told them often that He would be killed, and He also told them He would be raised from the dead. Evidently the disciples didn’t understand or fully grasp what this meant. But one thing they did grasp was that their Lord was soon to be arrested or taken away, because they insisted that they would not scatter when He was. The Lord Jesus knew they would leave Him when the temple police showed up. Peter bravely stated he would stay even if all the rest fled. Jesus told him he would not and that he would even go so far as to deny the Lord three times before the night was over, “before a rooster crows”. But Peter said he would not and the other disciples responded the same way. It was one more time the disciples claimed to know themselves better than their great King and Savior who is God in flesh. King Jesus knows His disciples, and He knows what they will do in any given circumstance. But despite the rejection of their King and Savior, they will be preserved by the King’s sovereign love. Even Peter, who infamously denied Jesus three separate times and cursing in doing it, was preserved by the Lord Jesus. The Good Shepherd never loses one of His sheep.

05/04/2026

Matthew records what happened on that Thursday evening as the twelve disciples gathered with their Lord and celebrated Passover (Matthew 26:20-29). But this Passover celebration was different. Although the disciples had secured a Passover lamb and taken it to the Temple for one of the priests there to slaughter and prepare it, then brought it to this upper room for the celebration of the Seder Dinner, the true Passover Lamb was already seated right there with them. The rightful and righteous Messianic King of Israel, the Lord Jesus, established the New Covenant in His blood as the Passover Lamb of God. This King, who is God incarnate, would soon go to the cross of Calvary and be the sacrificial lamb required by God for the remission of sin. Blood must be shed. But “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4) The King of glory must die and shed His precious blood. Thus, Jesus said, “this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” This narrative by Matthew in his gospel sets a contrast between the selfish and diabolical work of the betrayer Judas who works to gain monetarily and politically by the death of the Lord Jesus, while the Lord Jesus seeks to save those who are His by selflessly giving away His precious life for the wretched sin of mankind. The King of glory’s life was worth a dead slave’s price to those who wished to see Him dead. But King Jesus knew His sacrifice would reconcile those who are His sheep, sinful as they are, with God the Father. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. This magnificent King would die for His subjects in establishing the New Covenant in His blood.

04/27/2026

The historical narrative of Matthew’s gospel now begins to record the Last Passover. But first, the Lord Jesus is going to command the disciples to prepare a place for them to conduct this feast (Matthew 26:17-19). In a wonderful display of His sovereign power the rightful and righteous King of Israel directs the disciples to a very specific location, and to a very specific man with a very specific message. The disciples had asked the Lord Jesus where He wanted them to prepare for the Passover dinner. The King states that there would be a certain man to whom they would speak and they were to make a specific request of this man. The disciples did as they were told and they found the man and he opened his home for them, just as the Lord Jesus said he would. The time was near for God’s Passover Lamb to be slaughtered. The sovereign hand of God the Father made the preparations necessary so that His Son, who was to be that unblemished Lamb, could institute this Last Passover which was to become the Last Supper. This also would institute the Lord’s Supper. It is another step towards Golgotha. This magnificent and benevolent King knew exactly what was getting ready to transpire over the next few days. The disciples, even though they had been told several times, did not seem to understand what was going to happen. But they prepared for the Passover Feast as they had been told, probably looking forward to the fellowship with each other and their Lord. Unbeknownst to them, this would be the last Passover Feast with their Lord and the last time it is celebrated under the Old Covenant. Many things were going to change for them after this weekend.

04/20/2026

Matthew’s gospel is winding down. He is closing this historical narrative with a focus on the cross. The final three chapters of Matthew’s gospel cover this main theme. MacArthur writes, “In chapter 26 he details the preparation for the cross and the arrest of Jesus. In chapter 27, he presents Jesus’ trials, ex*****on, and burial. And in chapter 28 he narrates the Lord’s resurrection victory over death and His final instructions to the disciples.” (129) While we understand the chapters and verses were added later (the chapters in the 13th Century and the verses in the 16th Century), the three different topics of the sections of the text Dr. MacArthur identifies are clear as we study the last part of Matthew’s gospel account. The account of the woman with the “alabaster vial of very costly perfume” is well known to many believers (Matthew 26:6-13). She brings the vial of perfume into the home of Simon the l***r where Jesus is reclining at a table with the disciples and pours it out upon the head of the Lord Jesus. This causes quite the stir among the disciples because of the value of the perfume. They ask the question among themselves, "Why this waste?" It is interesting how suddenly philanthropic they became with their valuable assets. They knew in some limited sense that the Lord Jesus was the Jewish Messiah because they had admitted as much earlier (Matthew 16:16). Wasn’t the Jewish Messiah worthy? In stark contrast to the outcast but hospitable l***r and the sacrificially giving woman who anointed Jesus with her valuable perfume, Matthew gives the example of the sinful self-serving betrayer named Judas. He was incensed with the direction the Lord Jesus was taking His ministry and despised the meekness of this supposed King of Israel. He acted out on his disappointment by sneaking away to betray the Lord Jesus to the “chief priests” which would be the Sadducees. For thirty pieces (shekels) of sliver, Judas sold his information and his allegiance and watched for an opportunity to lead the Jewish authorities to a place where they could arrest Jesus under the cover of darkness without anyone knowing. This is the same contrast Jesus made in His previous parables, and the lessons flew right over the head of Judas because Judas’ heart was dead. Judas was reprobate and would be eternally damned as a son of perdition.

04/13/2026

Matthew had finished recording the teachings of the King with that final, challenging parable. (The King’s Olivet Discourse had come to an end. It was probably Tuesday of the holy week, according to Fruchtenbaum.) Now he records the final section of his gospel which includes the arrest and trial of the rightful and righteous Jewish Messianic King. He is placed on trial by the most biblically literate group of men in the world at that time. They are the only group of men who have the Scriptures, the Old Testament, and are well-versed in their knowledge of these holy and inspired words. Yet, they will proceed to plot against their prophesied King and Messiah completely rejecting Him in their stiff-necked rebellion against God. But the King knew this and Matthew made this clear in his narrative. This wonderful Messianic-King would allow His creation to apprehend Him, place Him on trial, and then cry out for the Romans to brutally crucify Him, hanging Him between heaven and earth. In a couple of days this the Roman Empire will do, first viciously scourging Him within an inch of His life. But the King knew this and had ordained it to be so. The King was willing to go to that terrible cross to pay for the sin of the elect. There is not a power in creation strong enough to force this mighty King to go to the cross of crucifixion unwillingly. He went there of His own accord, and “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Matthew had laid out the steps that lead to the Lamb of God being slain for the sin of His elect; the Good Shepherd who will die for His sheep. The evil plan hatched by the religious leaders of Israel (vv. 3-5), the ointment for the preparation of His burial (vv. 6-13), and then the wicked betrayal by a friend (vv. 14-17). All of this will fulfill what was prophesied by God to the first couple who sinned in the garden. God had told the devil after Adam and Eve sinned and fell (Genesis 3:15), “He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” This Person who would go to the cross was the promised Seed who would crush the head of the snake. He would defeat death, hell, and the grave.

04/06/2026

There will be a day when the Son of Man returns and establishes “His glorious throne” and “All the nations will be gathered before Him”. But there will be a difference in those gathered. There will be sheep and there will be goats gathered around the throne of King Jesus. Sheep never become goats and goats never become sheep. The sheep have always belonged to the Good Shepherd, while the goats are not of His flock. This then is the moment where the Good Shepherd who is the returning King will separate the two forever in eternity. The Lord Jesus teaches the disciples a parable using as an example something with which they would be very familiar: managing livestock. There is a stark contrast between the sheep and goats. The sheep are on the right hand of the King while the goats are on the left hand. The sheep are blessed while the goats are accursed. The difference is in the way they have lived their lives. While it is true salvation is a gift from God, that salvation results in a changed life that is obedient to the King. Matthew makes it clear as he records the words of the Lord Jesus that what the believer does is very important to the King. This parable is the last recorded teaching of the Lord Jesus in Matthew’s gospel. The parable of the sheep and goats is one that teaches that there will be a separation between those that are described by Jesus as “righteous” and those that are described by Jesus as “accursed ones”. The fate of these two groups is starkly and eternally different as the Lord Jesus teaches here. This is the teaching on which Matthew wanted to end the Lord Jesus’ teaching ministry. This is a critically important truth that Matthew felt, and led of the Spirit of God, he had to leave with those who would read and study it. How does following the Lord Jesus impact a person’s lifestyle and worldview? Do they reject the world and truly care what the King of glory has to say about things? Every person who claims Christ must have an answer for these and other questions that lead to self-examination, because one day it will be too late. King Jesus will state on that final day: “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Where do you stand, friend, and why?

03/30/2026

The next parable the Lord Jesus uses to teach the disciples is about a man who prepares to go on a journey and calls his slaves to entrust his possessions to them while he is gone. Keep in mind the theme of these parables and the overall theme of the Olivet Discourse that Matthew wants to highlight is Jesus’ teaching to remain alert while the rightful and righteous Messianic King is away. As it relates to that call to alertness, this parable teaches about the master’s possessions the slaves are supposed to properly steward while he is absent. It reveals that the master apportions His possessions according to his own desire and sovereign will. The master will give some of the slaves “five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.” As the parable progresses, it becomes clear that the possessions of the master given to his slaves to manage were intended to be used to increase the value of the master’s possessions, to increase his profit. All of this is being accomplished while the master is away. It is obvious that Jesus is sharing this parable to help the disciples understand that when He is gone there will be responsibilities that they must carry out using the “talents” He has left with them. His return, as He has already stated, is imminent and they should not waste time in using what belongs to Him to carry out a profitable work in His absence. As the parable progressed, we read that not all the slaves were obedient to the master’s intention. Jesus makes it clear that one of the slaves mismanaged the talent given to him. It was a costly mistake and resulted in a sudden judgment in eternal conscious torment. Boice writes, “We are not justified by works. If we are trying to be justified by works, we are not Christians. But neither can we claim to be Christians if we do not have works. If we are not working for Christ, we are not justified.” (Pg. 535)

03/23/2026

The second parable the Lord Jesus teaches in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 25:1-13) is one of warning for the unprepared and the fate that awaits them. The worldly wisdom displayed in the lack of preparation by some of the virgins in the parable is seen widely in effect today. This lackadaisical attitude when it comes to the coming of the bridegroom will lead to a surprise for a lot of people when the King of creation returns. Only those who have diligently awaited His return and prepared for it by being prudent in their lives and faithfully looking for it will be known by the bridegroom, who is their King. The prudent and prepared are the ones who have listened to the voice of the Bridegroom and remained faithful knowing His return would come “at an hour when you do not think He will.” The frightening thing is that there are people today who are exactly as the unprepared virgins were in this parable. They did not get ready for the Bridegroom’s return and will be left outside and the Bridegroom saying to them with a terrible finality, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Edersheim outlines the parable, “Similarly, the Parable of the Ten Virgins may, in its great outlines, be thus summarised: Be ye personally prepared; be ye prepared for any length of time; be ye prepared to go to Him directly.” (pg. 453) The Lord Jesus is pressing His teaching to His disciples about staying alert for His second coming. Was He going to come back while they were alive? No, but He knew they would receive this teaching and pass it on to the next generation and they would pass it to the next. Those who follow the Lord Jesus and are His slaves should be alert and eager for His return. That’s what He taught the first generation of disciples and that’s what they should teach the subsequent generation and so on. The follower of King Jesus should be alert for the return of the King. Their lives should reflect obedience to the King and should reflect His teaching in their changed lives. If not, then it will be for that person like what the King will say to those who are not prudent, prepared, and alert when He does return, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”

03/16/2026

The Lord Jesus continues to teach the disciples in His Olivet Discourse warning them to be alert and ready for His coming (Matthew 24:42-51). The question then is why would Jesus warn His disciples of that day to be ready and alert for His Second Coming when it wouldn’t be during their time? Remember what Jesus had told them earlier about His Second Coming: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Jesus, in His Messianic capacity and office, such as they saw Him there and then, did not know when the Father would send Him back. (This expression, of course, does not refer to Christ in His divinity.) But warn them He did. King Jesus would return one day and anyone who claimed His name would be required to be ready, whether He came in their day or not. That certainly applies to those who claim to follow Christ today. The command of being alert and faithful, waiting for the inevitable return of the King is a command for all the elect. In the first parable Jesus had used to teach them, He had warned them about how those who follow Christ would see that when the “branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near”. There would be signs of His pending return. He then orders them to always be ready, to be found faithful to His teaching and commands. This was so important to the Lord Jesus that He would follow up this command to be ready and faithful with two parables used to impress upon the disciples (and any believer reading them) just how dangerous it was to be imprudent and not prepare, or to be wicked and lazy and hide what little they did have. Take heed, saint of God! Whether King Jesus returns in your lifetime or not, you are not to be imprudent or lazy, for that will result in the displeasure of the returning King and bode ill for your eternal fate.

03/09/2026

The Lord Jesus begins a series of teaching sessions consisting of a few different parables (Matthew 24:32-41). This first parable is about a fig tree, but not the one He had cursed earlier. While some see this fig tree as a symbol of Israel, it is not. It is simply used by Jesus as an illustration. MacArthur wrote, “A popular version of that view is that the budding of the fig tree refers to Israel’s becoming a political state in 1948. Because Jesus does not identify the fig tree as Israel, that meaning would have been totally obscured to the disciples and to every other believer who lived before the twentieth century.” (pg. 61) (This is clarified in Luke’s gospel account where Luke includes additional information: “Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees”.) Jesus also used an example from the Old Testament, specifically Genesis 6, to warn His disciples that the suddenness of His coming is comparable to the suddenness of the judgment of the flood in Noah’s day. The hearts of men were irretrievably malicious during this time right before God’s judging waters rose upon the earth. This rise of limitless wickedness precipitated God’s judgment. Out of what could have been over a million people living on the earth at that time, only eight souls were to live through it, safely transported within the ark. God’s judgment is complete and swift. The Lord Jesus likened His Second Coming with the worldwide flood that God used to judge the world. He said to His disciples, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” God’s final judgment will be worldwide, swift, and without understanding until it happens. But, just like the flood of Noah’s day, it will happen and it will be complete. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

03/02/2026

The Second Coming of the Messiah will be a day that the whole world will see. Both believers and unbelievers will witness this event. Believers gratefully looking forward to the day their King returns (their faith becoming sight and eternal life with Him), and unbelievers, denying that this King ever existed let alone would return, even mocking those who have their hope in it (their lack of faith becoming sight, also, and then judgment by Him). The Apostle Peter remembered Christ’s prophetic words when he wrote his second letter about thirty or so years later in Rome (2 Peter 3:3-4): “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”” King Jesus is going to return, of that make no mistake. What is important is what will your relationship with the King be when He does return to rule here on earth. Will you be found to be invited to His kingdom as a blood-bought citizen who Peter warns as “not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,” but growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”? Or will you be found to be a person who has faithlessly and selfishly mocked the King’s certain return only to be faced by His regal court festooned with only your naked unrighteousness before the Judge? The saints of Antioch are progressing through the gospel of Matthew (this Sunday is Matthew 24:29-31). Each Sunday we repeat these words aloud together towards the end of our worship, just after the preaching of the Word: “Great is the mystery of our faith! Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again! Hallelujah!” This is to remind us of that eternal truth of His return based upon the eternal truth of the Lord Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. King Jesus will return just as certainly as He was raised from the dead. Be ready to meet Him, dear friend, because He is coming again. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!

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2093 Thomaston Highway
Butler, GA
31006

Opening Hours

Wednesday 5:30pm - 8pm
Sunday 10am - 12:30pm

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