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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker

Role: Conference speaker

Bruce Baker served in the US Navy for over 11 years as an Electronics Technician attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer before leaving the service to work as a TV engineer at a Christian television station. It was during this time he felt the call of God to enter the ministry full-time. He enrolled at Calvary Bible College graduating with a BS in Christian Ministries; he then continued on to Calvary Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Master's of Divinity degree (Pastoral Studies) with Highest Honors. He received his PhD from Baptist Bible Seminary.

Prior to Bruce Baker becoming permanent pastor at Washington County Bible Church, he was Assistant Professor of Bible and Theology at Grace School of Theology, located in Houston, TX.  He formerly held the positions of Senior Pastor of Jenison Bible Church in Hudsonville, MI; Senior Pastor of Open Door Bible Church in Belton, MO; and Adjunct Professor of Bible and Theology at Calvary Bible College.  It was during his tenure in Missouri that his passion for teaching Bible and Theology to pastors who had no access to any formal education was kindled.

To date, he has taught in over six different countries on four continents. For the last six years he has concentrated his efforts in central Africa (Congo DR, Burundi, and Rwanda).(Yeye anaongea swahiili kidogo, lakini si vizuri sana.  He speaks a little swahili, but not very well.)

Bruce is a contributing author to the book Progressive Dispensationalism as well as the author of numerous journal and magazine articles. Spiritual Maturity is his first full-length book.

Bruce Baker and his wife, Bonnie, have been married over 30 years and have three children and five grandchildren. He enjoys singing and has been a soloist in such works as Hayden's Creation and Handel's Messiah.

Latest sermons by
Wed, Mar 12, 2014
Duration: 1 hr 21 mins 51 secs

Theonomy and Progressive Dispensationalism

Currently, it seems only those who see any religious activity in the public square as evidence of an impending theocracy would link any form of dispensationalism with reconstructionism. Douthat observes,

When the evidence for Rusdoonian infiltration of the Religious Right grows thin for even the most diligent decoder, the subject is usually changed to the Rapture, another supposed pillar of the emerging theocratic edifice. Premillennarian dispensationalism’s emphasis on the imminent collapse of all institutions, foreign and domestic, would seem an odd fit with Reconstructionism’s idea of hastening Christ’s coming by building his (political) kingdom on Earth. But every 1950s conspiracist knew that when Communists seemed to differ—Tito and Stalin, Stalin and Mao—it only concealed a deeper concord. Similarly, everyone on the Christian Right is understood to be on the same side, no matter their superficial disagreements.

While it is certainly true that “everyone…is on the same side” and that some disagreements between dispensationalists and reconstructionists are “superficial,” it must also be stressed that there are vast differences between the two, admittedly Christian and fundamental, camps. Yet recent movements in dispensationalism have made the association of these two groups less alarmist than it first appears. The fundamental shift in underlying assumptions that took place in the formation of progressive dispensationalism has now made such a linkage, not only possible, but logically necessary. Indeed, an examination of the changing relationship between theonomy and progressive dispensationalism is prudent for several reasons.

Wed, Jun 17, 2015
Duration: 1 hr 0 mins 28 secs
Dr. Bruce Baker's first presentation for the 2015 Chafer Pastor's Conference
Thu, Jun 18, 2015
Duration: 1 hr 10 mins 20 secs
Dr. Bruce Baker's presentation on Spiritual Maturity
Thu, Jun 18, 2015
Duration: 1 hr 16 mins 36 secs
Dr. Bruce Baker's presentation on The Problem of Sin and its Cure
Thu, Mar 17, 2016
Duration: 1 hr 14 mins 10 secs

At last - Dr. Baker's slides have been updated to full-frame slides. The application he used for his presentation is called Timeline 3D, used in conjunction with Keynote, which is available on Mac platforms only.

The video Dr. Baker showed is available at http://www.mapsofwar.com.