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J. Sidlow Baxter
James Sidlow Baxter (1903–1999). Born in 1903 in Sydney, Australia, to Scottish parents, J. Sidlow Baxter was a Baptist pastor, theologian, and prolific author known for his expository preaching. Raised in England after his family moved to Lancaster, he converted to Christianity at 15 through a Young Life campaign and began preaching at 16. Educated at Spurgeon’s College, London, he was ordained in the Baptist Union and pastored churches in Northampton (1924–1932) and Sunderland (1932–1935), revitalizing congregations with vibrant sermons. In 1935, he moved to Scotland, serving Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh until 1953, where his Bible teaching drew large crowds. Baxter emigrated to Canada in 1955, pastoring in Windsor, Ontario, and later taught at Columbia Bible College and Regent College. A global itinerant preacher, he spoke at Bible conferences across North America, Australia, and Europe, emphasizing scriptural clarity. He authored over 30 books, including Explore the Book (1940), Studies in Problem Texts (1949), Awake My Heart (1960), and The Strategic Grasp of the Bible (1968), blending scholarship with accessibility. Married to Ethel Ling in 1928, he had no children and died on August 7, 1999, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Baxter said, “The Bible is God’s self-revelation, and to know it is to know Him.”
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J. Sidlow Baxter preaches about the promise of reigning with Christ on His Messianic throne during His millennial reign, where evil will be subjugated, righteousness and peace will prevail, and war will be no more. The privilege of sitting with Jesus on His throne is reserved for the overcomers, emphasizing the need for believers to strive for victory in their faith journey. Just as there are degrees of punishment in hell, there are degrees of reward in heaven, highlighting the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in overcoming trials and temptations to receive a greater reward.
Are All Believers Overcomers?
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne."--Rev. 3:21. In this promise our Lord is referring, of course, to His Messianic throne and His millennial reign. When He comes again, in power and glory, then will He lift His resistless rod over the nations, and unfurl the banner of world-wide empire. The evil one shall be interned in the bottomless abyss. Evil shall be completely subjugated. Righteousness and peace shall be dispensed to the nations. Christ Jesus shall reign upon the Davidic throne which has been promised and covenanted to Him. A chastened and renewed Israel will send His messengers of enlightenment and peace throughout the earth. Science and invention, scholarship and art, shall all devote themselves to noblest ends. War shall be done away, and the throne of David's greater Son shall be supreme. It will be wonderful to live under that reign, yet it will be even more wonderful to reign with Him; and this is what Jesus promises. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne." What a promise! But the promise is to "the overcomer." Are all believers "overcomers"? Let him think twice who would answer a dogmatic "Yes" to this question. The letters to the seven churches, at least, suggested otherwise to an unprejudiced reader. Our standing in Christ is no artificial position of immunity. As there are degrees of punishment [in hell] so there are degrees of reward [in heaven]. One is made ruler over ten cities, another over five. "One star differeth from another star in glory." Let our eager prayer ever be that we may be among the "overcomers."
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James Sidlow Baxter (1903–1999). Born in 1903 in Sydney, Australia, to Scottish parents, J. Sidlow Baxter was a Baptist pastor, theologian, and prolific author known for his expository preaching. Raised in England after his family moved to Lancaster, he converted to Christianity at 15 through a Young Life campaign and began preaching at 16. Educated at Spurgeon’s College, London, he was ordained in the Baptist Union and pastored churches in Northampton (1924–1932) and Sunderland (1932–1935), revitalizing congregations with vibrant sermons. In 1935, he moved to Scotland, serving Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh until 1953, where his Bible teaching drew large crowds. Baxter emigrated to Canada in 1955, pastoring in Windsor, Ontario, and later taught at Columbia Bible College and Regent College. A global itinerant preacher, he spoke at Bible conferences across North America, Australia, and Europe, emphasizing scriptural clarity. He authored over 30 books, including Explore the Book (1940), Studies in Problem Texts (1949), Awake My Heart (1960), and The Strategic Grasp of the Bible (1968), blending scholarship with accessibility. Married to Ethel Ling in 1928, he had no children and died on August 7, 1999, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Baxter said, “The Bible is God’s self-revelation, and to know it is to know Him.”