Ben Smith, Sr.
Ben Smith Sr.
Originally from Columbus, GA, pastor Ben Smith has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ben and his wife Dana make their home in Waycross, GA, where Ben has pastored Central Baptist Church since 2012. Ben and Dana met while students at Shorter University. After completing his undergraduate studies, Ben earned his M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Pastor Ben preaches each Sunday at Central Baptist. Ben Smith: All for the Kingdom, an audio podcast of his sermons, is published weekly. Pastor Ben also writes a blog, Ponderings.
It is possible to be near the gospel and miss salvation. It is possible to have some knowledge of the gospel and not believe it. It is possible to be close to salivation and not be saved. Proximity does not equal possession.
Beyond making a comparison between Moses and Jesus, Hebrews 3 warns that it is not enough to simply know who Jesus is. Like the people that Moses led, there will be many who miss out on receiving the salvation of Jesus. Those whom Moses led out of Egypt were witnesses to God's great and glorious power but did not have faith and thus did not receive the blessing of the promised land. Likewise, many today have heard the gospel but have not believed in faith and thus have not received the promise of salvation.
God has used many things to reveal himself to man and testify to his glory, but these things must not distract you from the glory of Jesus Christ. We are people who are easily distracted. The first chapter of Hebrews identifies some of the good things God has used to reveal himself to man, testify to his glory, and accomplish his will. God used these good things to point to his glory, but they are not and never have been equal to his glory. The danger and warning of this chapter is becoming distracted by these things and missing what they testify to.
With such a propensity to be distracted, how can you keep your heart and mind focused on the glory of Jesus Christ? To keep you from disastrous distractions, this passage calls you to recognize the glorious supremacy of Christ in three areas.
Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Advent Christmas season. I've enjoyed preaching from the book of Hebrews this Advent season. The first sermon was from chapter one, titled The Glorious Son. The second sermon was from chapter three, The Faithful Son. The third sermon is from chapter seven, The Perfect Son. And the fourth and final sermon will be from chapter 10, titled The Will of God.