Cedar Lodge Baptist Church

09/08/2026

Our brother John's faith has become sight.
Pray for Renee and his family in this time of grieving.
Memorial Service details will be announced here.

09/06/2026

https://youtu.be/BB_Dpy3JcRI

Pastor N J Rich Cedar Lodge Baptist Church

09/06/2026

In Christ I am Sealed
Sept 6-12, 2026 CLBC Ephesians 1:13-14 Week 37

“In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Having heard, believed and trusted, we were also sealed, v13. All of this is part and parcel of our salvation experience. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer children of the evil one. Our link to Adam has been broken by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we are now sons and daughters of God!

The fact that it is God who seals us, and that He does so by coming to live inside of us is more than just a theological truth; it is a source of great comfort! Once we hear, believe and trust in the Gospel message, we are sealed! I must point out that simply hearing the Gospel message, no matter how many times we hear it, doesn’t mean we are saved or sealed. We have to believe that Jesus literally took our place on the cross, that He literally paid our sin debt as He died, that He was buried in the tomb, and that He literally rose again the third day. Anything less is empty religion.

Another thing we must be perfectly clear about is that the sealing of the Spirit is not some second blessing, but is experienced the moment one comes to saving faith. The Spirit with whom God seals us, marks us with His stamp of ownership, and so is also appropriately called the “guarantee,” or “down payment” of our inheritance.

The language of v14 bothers some people because it appears that when God seals us, He is declaring ownership of us, “the redemption of the possession.” And right about now you are probably hoping that I’m going to tell you that isn’t the case. Well, I’m not going to do that.
Yes, I know that this Scriptural truth rubs us the wrong way. We like to think of ourselves as independent, autonomous beings. Yet the truth of the matter is that we are either slaves to sin, leading to death, or we are slaves of righteousness, evidencing new life. Read Romans 6:16-18 and you will see what I mean: “Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, 18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.”

Addressing the religious leaders of His day, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks in his native tongue for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore, you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:44-47)

You see, our spiritual parentage is evidenced by how we react to the truth. Everyone on this planet belongs to the devil or to God.
There is no third option.

Until next time – Pastor N J

If you have any questions concerning salvation, feel free to email us at: [email protected] or [email protected]

09/04/2026

Theology matters! You either have good, biblical theology, or you have bad, unbiblical theology. Everything you believe is based on your theology. Some people's beliefs don't make sense because their theology is unbiblical.

09/03/2026

Because so many people have asked, here are my teaching notes from Weds night on Isaiah, part 4:

Prophecy in Isaiah, pt 4
Understanding Bible Prophecy
Lesson 23 CLBC 9/2/2026

God’s Judgment on Babylon
Isaiah 13:1–22. Isaiah, who was living at the time that Assyria conquered the ten tribes (722 BC), also predicted the future destruction of Babylon which would occur long after his death. The prophecy against Babylon and her destruction was described as occurring in “the day of the Lord” (v6). The prophecy of Babylon’s destruction was partially fulfilled in 539 BC when the Medes and the Persians captured the city of Babylon.

However, the prophecy concerning Babylon looked far into the future to view the final fall of Babylon in the judgments related to the second coming of Christ (Revelation 18). The description of the Day of the Lord as a time of terror and God’s wrath was not completely fulfilled at the fall of Babylon in 539 BC. and described the great Tribulation, the three-and-a-half years that will precede the Second Coming.

In Revelation 18 Babylon is described as a city that will experience sudden destruction by earthquake and fire. Though some understand that this may not be the literal city of ancient Babylon rebuilt, the realistic description of Revelation 18 fits perfectly into the concept of a major city to be rebuilt in the end time but to be destroyed by earthquake and fire as a judgment from God at the Second Coming.

Every age has featured a “Babylon,” a political and economic system that has sought to control people’s lives. Just as the contrast to the “harlot” is the pure bride, the contrast to “Babylon” is the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the eternal home prepared for the Lamb and His people. Each generation of believers must strive to keep itself pure from the pollution of both the “harlot” and “Babylon.”

The Death of the King of Babylon
Isaiah 14:9–23.
The rulers of the earth and kings” are described as being in the realm of the spirits of the dead (v9–11). This prophecy concerning Babylon went beyond the literal Babylon of history or prophecy. The king of Babylon (v3) is usually identified as Sennacherib (705–651 BC).

Sennacherib was actually the king of Assyria, but when he conquered Babylon, he became its king as well. His death is described like the falling of the morning star which suddenly disappears once the dawn arrives – (the morning star is Venus).

He had been a great conqueror of the many nations around Israel, but he would be killed by assassination. His desire was to be greater than God (v13–14).

Some interpreters consider these verses as referring to more than Sennacherib and actually a description of the fall of Satan in the prehistoric world. Satan was originally created as a holy Cherub, and rebelled against God and was condemned by God. The wording of verses 13–14 is said to describe the viewpoint of Satan in his desire to be raised above all other rulers and made “like the Most High” (v14).

The CSB Study Bible notes are very helpful here in explaining these verses:

14:9 Sheol refers to the grave and in some contexts signifies the underworld. In this verse Sheol is personified and pictured as warmly greeting its new citizen, the Babylonian king. Indeed, Sheol will rouse all the spirits of the departed kings to greet the Babylonian king when he arrives in the realm of the dead. Some believe this reference to the activities of the dead is just a poetic device, but it is better understood as evidence that the Israelites at the time of Isaiah had an awareness of the afterlife.
14:10 Though conscious, the spirits of the departed kings will confess that they are weak in the afterlife. This weakness contrasts with the oppressive power they had exercised in life.
14:11 Maggots and worms will crawl over the co**se in the grave. This plays on the idea that Sheol was considered both the grave and the underworld.
14:12–15 Commentators have often connected this passage to Lk 10:18 and Rv 12:8–9, but the context seems clear that the one fallen from the heavens is not Satan (even though the KJV translated shining morning star as “Lucifer”) but is instead the Babylonian king. If there is a double application the Bible never indicates as much. The poetic theme of this passage may be modeled on the Canaanite account of a lesser god that tried to usurp the position of the high God. Such pride resulted in a quick and horrible fall.
14:12 The shining morning star may figuratively refer to a Canaanite deity whose story provides the pattern for this taunting lament for the Babylonian king. But in any case, Venus is the morning “star” that falls so quickly through the sky.
14:13 The attempt of a human, no matter how powerful, to take the place of God is the ultimate expression of arrogance. In Canaanite mythology, which is exploited here to make a point about human pride, the mountain of Baal, the chief god, was in the remotest parts of the North. Indeed, his mountain was named Mount North (Hb Zaphon).
14:15 Pride tries to lift a human up to the level of God, but it always causes a rapid fall to a position below humanity (the Pit).
14:16–17 In death the powerful, oppressive king will look weak and helpless. The nameless people who will see him are quoted as expressing amazement at how powerless he looks.
14:18–20 There is even a contrast with other kings, who were buried in fine tombs. This king will not even be given a decent burial but will lie dead on the battlefield, surrounded and even covered by other dead bodies. Again, the idea is that a person who was powerful in life will be reduced to a humiliating circumstance in death.

This is one of the passages that the KJO crowd gets completely wrong due to the unfortunate mistranslation of “Shining morning star” to “Lucifer.”

If you’re looking for a description of the fall of Satan in the OT it is more likely to be in Ezekiel 28:11-19.

Again, the study notes in the CSB are quite helpful:

28:11–13 The prideful king of Tyre is compared either to a guardian angel at the “mountain of God” (v. 14) or to errant Adam in the garden of Eden. Nine of the twelve precious gemstones listed here were included on the high priest’s breast piece (Ex 28:15–20; 39:10–13).
28:14 Though the context is an oracle against the king of Tyre, many believe that this anointed … cherub should ultimately be identified as Satan himself. In that case the passage would have double reference. As an angel, Satan had continuous and unhindered access to the glorious presence of God before he rebelled.
28:15–16 These verses would fit an angel of God.
28:17 The primary fault of the Tyrian king was greed. This may explain why there are numerous allusions to the garden of Eden in the account. As Adam and Eve attempted to obtain equality with God (Gen 3:5), so also did the king of Tyre (Ac 12:20–23). Also, the description is similar to that which is given for the serpent in Rev 12:9.
28:18–19 These verses have the king clearly in view. Verse 19 repeats 27:36.

09/03/2026

Men's Fellowship - Thursday night - 6pm in the Activity Room.

09/03/2026

Ladies Bible Study and Fellowship
10am Thursday morning!

08/30/2026

https://youtu.be/xt7riOn2vfc

Pastor N J Rich Cedar Lodge Baptist Church

08/29/2026

In Christ I am Fruitful
August 30-Sept 5, 2026 CLBC Galatians 5:22-26 Week 36

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

The fruit of the Spirit is a natural product of the Spirit rather than of our own doing. It is made possible by the living relationship between the Christian and God. The singular form stresses that these qualities are a unity, like a bunch of grapes instead of separate kinds of fruit, and also that they are all to be found in all Christians. In this they differ from the “gifts” of the Spirit, which are given one by one to different people as the church has need (1 Corinthians 12).

The nine virtues that are the Spirit’s fruit seem to fall into three categories of three each. The first three appear to be Christian habits of mind in their more general aspect. Their primary direction is God-ward. The second set primarily concerns the Christian in his relationship to others and are social virtues. The last three concern how a Christian is to be in himself/herself.

The “love” spoken of here isn’t the mushy sentimentalism of the fallen world, nor is it the lust that drives some relationships. This is Agape love – the love that seeks the highest possible good for its recipient. It is a self-sacrificing love (John 3:16; Romans 5:5, 8;
8:35-39; Ephesians 2:4).

“Joy” is the virtue in the Christian life corresponding to happiness in the secular world. On the surface they seem related; but happiness depends on circumstances, whereas joy does not.

“Peace” is God’s gift to us, achieved by Him at the cross of Christ. It is peace with God (Romans 5:1) and is to express itself both in peace of mind (Philippians 4:6, 7) and in a very practical peace between all those who know God.

“Patience” is the quality of putting up with others, even when we are severely tired. God’s patience with us is spelled out in Lamentations 3:22-23.

“Kindness” is the quality of being considerate, generous, and friendly. Because God has been kind to us, we should be kind to others.

The last virtue of the second set is “goodness” and is closely related to “kindness.” “Goodness” primarily speaks of who we are in our heart and soul – and is a condition only achievable through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our life.

“Faithfulness” is that which makes a person trustworthy or reliable. Every servant of God should be reliable – faithful.

“Gentleness” describes the person who is so much in control of himself that he is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.

“Self-control” is the overarching virtue that makes all of the other virtues possible. Without self-control we cannot glorify God with our life, and we will not have any of the other fruit of the Spirit.

Until next time – Pastor N J

If you have any questions concerning salvation, feel free to email us at: [email protected] or [email protected]