The Sabbath (ePub)

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Then one day shortly thereafter his son, who was five years old at the time, approached him asking, Daddy, will you help me learn this verse? The verse was John 3:16. He had never heard that passage in his entire life. As he taught his son, he also memorized the passage.

The next day as he was working, John 3:16 kept rolling over and over in his mind. He thought, Yes, God must love the world, He gave His only begotten Son. I could never do that. Yes, God no doubt loves the worldbut God cannot love me. I am too vile. Over and over this singular thought seized his mind until the words whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life gripped his soul. He stopped. He was arrested. He thought, Surely whosoever means me! Can it be that God loves me? He then cried, Lord, I do believe on Thee! Immediately, the burden rolled away. Resting now upon the promise of God Who cannot lie, he felt a peace, as never before experienced, flood his soul. The world that was draped in black suddenly broke into splendid light!

In awe, not able to fully grasp all that was said in that sublime passage, he wandered for several days asking, Can it be God really loves me? The very thought was staggering! Then one day, his wife asked, Are you saved? To this he replied, I am not saved by what I have done but solely by the grace of God. There was no boasting but humble adoration for God Who so loves the world. The following Lords Day he attended Palm Springs North Baptist Church and made a public confession of faith. The following week, he was baptized, and the week thereafter, he was called to preach. This alarmed him as he saw himself so unfit for such a task. But the call weighed heavily upon him, and he finally surrendered. Upon his pastors recommendation, he immediately enrolled in Miami Dade Junior College and finished his work at Florida Junior College where he received his Associate of Arts degree. He also attended Luther Rice Seminary where he received both his Bachelors of Divinity and his Masters in Theology. He completed six years of work in a little over three years, graduating with honors.

While in school, he worked supporting his family and preaching in the city rescue mission. He taught and preached in the churches as well. Upon graduating, he taught the doctrine of the atonement at Luther Rice Seminary. After leaving there, he taught Bible through an extension course of Florida Junior College. Though he was met with opposition, he continued to teach, leading the class from Genesis through Revelation. The Lord blessed his labors as He saved some, strengthened others, and called still others to fulltime mission work. He also pastored at Bible Baptist Church.

In 1978, Chris Pappas was called to Collins Road Baptist Church which had just started a Christian school for Kindergarten through twelfth grade students. He accepted the call, and the two churches merged. He presently pastors his flock at Collins Road Baptist Church where he has served for forty years.

Chris Pappas is married and has three sons, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. He has authored another book, In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7. This book on the Sabbath is the second book he has published, and he is presently working on a third. He is consumed by the love of God and for the flock God has placed under his care. Having a burden for the saints and a jealousy for God, he has taken up his pen to strengthen and encourage the saints in these days of utter darkness.