Why cross-reference the Bible during sermons?
1. Because the Bible is not a bunch of separate, unrelated sayings like the Koran or other books of other false religions
2. Because the Bible Comments on itself constantly
3. Because the Bible is one woven, unbroken tapestry of Truth, and God delights when we see the pattern within it.
4. But mainly because the Holy Spirit Himself, the third Person of the Trinity, inspired the holy men of old who were His penmen in writing the Bible, and they cross reference scripture continuously, and this is one of many examples.
1. The Bible Background
a. The Sad Facts—Laziness, carelessness, lust, shame, and murder.
b. David’s Sin—“…You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon…”
c. God’s denunciation—2 Sam 12:9 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?...”
(1) What David’s Sin deserved:
(a) First of all, that he be stoned to death—but since he was the king in a monarchy, that was not likely.
(b) Second, barring that, was that he deserved to be killed on the spot by God
(c) Third, his sin, LIKE ALL OTHER SINS great or small, deserved eternal damnation.
(2) God did none of those things—why?
(3) Because David was a truly saved man
(4) Because David’s sin was forgiven before David even asked, because Grace salvation, justification, imputation, redemption, and propitiation are permanent, unassailable, and eternally secure in the heavens David’s Repentance and God’s instantaneous forgiveness—2 Sam 12:13 “… So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die….”
(5) Then some will say: oh, then I can sin all I want…NOT SO—see the personal cost of the consequences of David’s sin..
d. Psalm 51—David’s Repentance—Psa 51:1-4
(1) Honest, complete, unequivocal, repentance
(a) No obscuring the Truth
(b) No Spin
(c) No blaming anyone else—instead we see complete acceptance of blame
(2) David Trusts in God, and declares that God was and is right to condemn and punish David’s Sin
e. But—The Consequences kept on coming “…10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”
(1) His infant son died
(2) His older sons rebelled against him
(3) There was murder between his sons, and other sins as well.
(4) This was direct chastisement by God, allowing the natural course of the circumstances and the consequences to take place in David’s life.
(5) Let no true believer think that sin is without consequence—God will not be mocked even by one of His own.
2. Psalm 32, The Psalm of the Forgiven Man
a. A Burst of Joy—(Ps 32:1-2)—"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit…”
(1) “...blessed…” equivalent to markarios in Greek—“happy.”
(2) Blessed—in the plural—Full Blessing, “Oh, the fullness of the plentitude of the blessings of God
(3) Transgression is rebellion against God, and rebellion against God is treason!
(4) Forgiven—in the passive mood, and present tense—continual forgiveness, ever-ongoing forgiveness
b. “…2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit…”
(1) Again, “blessed,” the same word and meaning—
(2) Oh, the fullness of joy to one who has been forgiven—
(a) And not just forgiven
(b) God does not impute sin to the account of one of His own—
(c) What did Nathan say?—God had already forgiven David because the account was closed long before that crime took place.
(3) “…no deceit…” No fraud, no deceit
(a) Oh, the honesty of the believer who has been shaken by God and who has grieved the Holy Spirit—
(b) True believers have no deceit in their spirits, because they know who and what they are but for God’s righteousness imputed to their account.
(4) Silence and chastisement – “…3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah…”
(a) Silence—spiritual silence, willful and stubborn—he refused to own up to and confess his own sin
(i) Why did God wait over a year before dealing with this?
(ii) He was giving David space and time to repent on his own
(b) His time of spiritual silence was a miserable time
(i) He was physically attacked by stress—he had no energy, his bones felt older than their years.
(5) Confession and forgiveness—“…5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah…”
(a) Confession of sin and reconciliation with God are individual acts that cannot be done by someone else for us.
(b) Steps—this is for believers who are truly saved, but need to learn about fighting against Headquarters
(i) Acknowledgment of sin
(ii) Honest and open about iniquity—moral evil
(iii) Confession—more than just saying “I did it…” The confessor believes in everything God tells him.
(iv) Forgiveness from od.
c. Worship To God—“…6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. 7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah…”
d. Instruction From God—“…8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you….”
e. The Wicked warned, the upright believing and shouting praises—“…10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
f. Teachings of this psalm
(1) Unconfessed sin produces inward torture—See Mat 18:32-35—a true child of God can only take it for so long.
(2) Forgiveness is a blessed state of wholeness and peace
(3) Genuine confession with a broken heart is the condition of forgiveness from God
(4) Divine Forgiveness is willingly bestowed—God has forgiven
(5) Forgiveness invokes joy, praise, and testimony—6
(6) Exhortation is the fruit and root of worship—32:6—“…let everyone who is Godly…”
(7) Assurances come with forgiveness
3. The Blessing of Being Forgiven and Declared Righteous—(Rom 4:6-8) "just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.""
a. Well might David understand—2 Sam 12:13 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die…”
(1) David had been under conviction for his sin—Ps 32:1-5
(2) David confessed his sin to God, and was told he had already been forgiven! Why? Because God will not impute sin to the account of one of His elect.
(3) However, David did have to suffer chastisement in this life, consisting of the natural results of his great misdeeds.
b. Accounted as righteous as Christ—“…to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.”
4. The Blessing of Being Forgiven
a. Iniquities—transgressions of the Law, Sins—wickedness in general, all forgiven, covered, and a coat of righteousness added.
(1) Micah 7:19 "He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea."
(2) Isa 43:25 ""I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins."
(3) Psa 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."
(4) Isa 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
(5) Jer 31:34 ""No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.""
b. No One may challenge this verdict—Rom 8:33 "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."
5. The Blessedness of a Closed Account—
a. The Real Issue in Eternal Security— 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
(1) Salvation is of the LORD
(2) What the LORD does is perfect and permanent
(3) The TRULY saved cannot be lost
(4) And here we can cut the theological fog
(a) We must avoid giving false security.
(b) Much of what has been written, preached, and taught in favor of Perserverance (Eternal Security) is dangerous, because it is incomplete, and can lead to a false sense of security.
(c) This false sense of security, combined with what is often in our day a very shallow and incomplete presentation of the gospel, leads to apostasy on a grand scale by those who were never truly saved.
(d) These false believers don't have salvation, but they have made a profession of faith, and probably have identified with a local congregation--Their life has no fruit and no root, but they trod along, resting on a false foundation.
(e) There really is such a thing as a false doctrine of eternal security. There really is such a thing as "carnal security" or "hell insurance
b. The Nature of Salvation
(1) Salvation is 100 percent a work of God—“…Salvation is of the LORD…” Jonah 2:9— God saves sinners--we do not save ourselves
(2) Salvation is a permanent change of state—John 6:47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
(3) As a part of the gift of Salvation, we become adopted children of God (Gal 3:26-4:7). This forever changes our RELATIONSHIP to God
(4) When we sin, God deals with us as a Father to a child (Heb 12:4-8), not as a judge to a criminal.
c. But having said all of that, THE key which unlocks the doctrine of eternal security is verse 8 of our text--
(a) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
(b) The Account is closed! This is a parallel thought to Rom 8:33 "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."
(c) God will NOT impute sin to the account of one whom God has justified—and who is going to override that decision?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
One Race, One God, One Law, One Gospel
(Rom 3:29-31) "Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
1. One Race—(Rom 3:29) "Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also…”
a. The Jew and Gentile problem
(1) The Jews regarded Gentiles as subhuman
(2) The Jews would have nothing to do with the Gentiles
(3) The Gentiles thought the Jews were exclusive and odd
(4) In the church, some Jewish believers offended Gentile believers by their adherence to the Mosaic laws and customs
(5) And, Gentile believers often tended to offend the Jewish believers by not being sensitive to their cultural heritage
b. Racial problems in history and in the world today
(1) Man’s history since Babel, when God divided the earth, is to be tribal—we here in the US have missed most of that because of the American “melting pot”, which really is more like a tossed salad.
(2) There are between 45 and 66 wars going on most of the time in the world, and most of them have to do with race, ethnicity, religion, or some other “nationalist” kind of issue
c. WE ARE ONE RACE
(1) We are one race, descended from Adam through Noah, We are “one blood,” as Paul tells us in Acts 17, but we can’t get it right—Why?
(2) The most segregated hour in America is eleven o’clock Sunday morning—we have made real progress here at FBC Clinton, but why is this a problem?
(3) As Dr. E.V. Hill once said, the regular Muslims, the Buddhists, and most of the drug dealers have no problem with this—why so the church?
(4) What did God Show Peter about this?
(a) (Acts 10:28) "Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean."
(b) (Acts 10:34-35) "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
(5) What is the problem? Three letters S—I—N
2. One God—(Rom 3:30) “… since there is one God …”
a. False teachings about the basic nature of God
(1) False teaching: Atheism
(2) False teaching: Agnosticism
(3) False teaching: Inclusivism
(a) False teaching: There are many different and valid manifestations of God
(b) False teaching: There are many ways to God
(c) False teaching: Jesus Christ is A way to God.
(4) False teaching: Post-modern theology—we can’t know for sure if there is only one God, but there might be.
b. The positive teaching on God
(1) The Bible’s answer –One God
(1 Cor 8:6) "yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."
Ex 20:3, De 4:35, De 6:4
3. One Law—“…31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law…"
a. The Great Misconception—God does not just “forgive and forget”—to save us, someone must pay for every sin.
b. God’s Nature Demands it!
(1) God is an Absolute God of Righteousness, Holiness and Justice, He must have a resolution for each and every sin, or He denies His own character
(2) But, isn’t God merciful? Certainly, but God’s Mercy is not EMPTY mercy, with no resolution of sin. Here what the Scriptures say on this:
(Exo 34:4-7) "So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.""
(Ezek 18:4) ""Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die."
c. The Bible teaches it in many places, that we shall all give an account to God.
(1) For believers, for any and all who believe, the payment was made at the Cross, in a substitutionary atonement, and though we will have our Christian life evaluated for the giving of rewards, we will not come, ever again, into Krina judgment
(2) For the unsaved, their payment is made personally, for all of their sins—Rev 20:11-15, Mat 7:21-23
d. How, then does God’s salvation plan, justification by faith alone, uphold the Law (in all its editions—conscience, nature, conviction and revelation)?
(1) First—Every sinner is dealt with on an individual basis. The details are enormous—all of the sins of every human being who ever lived are included in this record
(2) Second, every sin is paid for
(a) For believers, for any and all who believe, the payment was made at the Cross, in a substitutionary atonement, and every name of every true believer is to be found in the Book of Life. And though we will have our Christian life evaluated for the giving of rewards, we will not come, ever again, into Krina judgment—
(b) Remember, that Christ died to make salvation possible for all, but it is when we believe that propitiation takes place.
(c) For the unsaved, their payment is made personally, for all of their sins—Rev 20:11-15, Mat 7:21-23, through being thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.
e. Because our sins have been paid for by Christ, every single sin of every believer is paid for. Because the lost do not believe and avail themselves of the glorious satisfaction for their sins, they pay for each and every one for all eternity.
4. One Gospel—(Rom 3:30) “… since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith…”
a. Again, God is not inclusive—there is only One True God—“one God”
b. “…Who Will Justify…
(1) First, GOD will justify—He alone is the One who saves—AS in Romans 8:33—“…It is God who Justifies…”
(2) Second, God will justify those who truly confess His Son as their Lord and Savior and who truly believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead—Rom 10:9-13. No one is turned away
(3) God Sent His Son to heal us of our wretched condition of being captive to sin, and there is only one way for that to be made so—(1 Tim 2:5) "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,"
(4) He sent His Son, Who is the Way to this one Salvation—(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(5) This way of salvation is the ONLY way of salvation—(Acts 4:12) ""Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.""
(6) And Knowing Him, Knowing the Triune God, IS eternal life, as we will rest in Him forever, serve Him forever, Learn of Him forever, Glorify and praise Him forever—(John 17:3) ""And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
c. One of the things that Christ desires is to break down the walls and barriers between His people—He desires unity, not the false unity of compromise and watering-down religion to a feel-good society, least-common-denominator—no.
d. Instead, God desires unity of the Holy kind—unified in these things:
(1) Truth—Jude 1:3—We are to be dedicated to the faith—One Faith—Eph 4
(2) Community—We are to be unified in the basics of what a church is—a group of people committed to the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship (which is shared ministry), the breaking of bread, and prayer—Acts 2:42
(3) Mission—Mat 28:18-20—to make DISCIPLES who will follow Christ in thought, word, and deed.
(4) Purity—we admonish one another and exhort one another to good works. (Col 1:28, Heb 10:24-25
(5) Warfare—the war within, and the war without. 2 Cor 10:1-6 shows us the battlefield for warfare is not in houses “possessed” by demons, or in confronting demonic forces on some level that no mere human can imagine. No—our battle is in the minds of people who are dominated by the strongholds of Satan—
e. The point of real unity for the church is the “faith once delivered to the saints.”
(1) The Faith that Jesus preached, The Faith by which we are saved
(2) The Faith that does not change, has not changed, and will never change, unto eternity, world without end.
(3) It is the Faith that sounded forth from the great revival in Jerusalem—(Acts 6:7) "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to THE FAITH."
(4) It is the set of truths about salvation that grew in spite of all of the powers of Hell—(Acts 16:5) "So the churches were strengthened in THE FAITH, and increased in number daily."
(5) The Mission of the church is to teach and LIVE these tings— (Rom 1:5) "Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to THE FAITH among all nations for His name,"
(6) This is the faith in which we stand, on guard, ready to defend and give an answer—(1 Cor 16:13) "Watch, stand fast in THE FAITH, be brave, be strong."
(7) This is the faith by which you can test yourself —(2 Cor 13:5) "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in THE FAITH..”
(8) This is the place where you hold your ground—(Col 1:23) "… continue in THE FAITH, grounded and steadfast…”
(9) This is the faith in which we teach and plant the true believers— (Col 2:7) "rooted and built up in Him and established in THE FAITH, as you have been taught…."
(10) This is the faith that we pass on as a holy legacy— (1 Tim 1:2) "To Timothy, a true son in THE FAITH…”
(11) (2 Tim 4:7) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept THE FAITH."
(12) (1 Pet 5:9) "Resist [the Devil and demonic forces], steadfast in THE FAITH…”
(13) (Jude 1:3) "… contend earnestly for THE FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints."
(14) There is only ONE Faith! (Eph 4:4-6) "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
One Race, One God, One Law, One Gospel.
1. One Race—(Rom 3:29) "Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also…”
a. The Jew and Gentile problem
(1) The Jews regarded Gentiles as subhuman
(2) The Jews would have nothing to do with the Gentiles
(3) The Gentiles thought the Jews were exclusive and odd
(4) In the church, some Jewish believers offended Gentile believers by their adherence to the Mosaic laws and customs
(5) And, Gentile believers often tended to offend the Jewish believers by not being sensitive to their cultural heritage
b. Racial problems in history and in the world today
(1) Man’s history since Babel, when God divided the earth, is to be tribal—we here in the US have missed most of that because of the American “melting pot”, which really is more like a tossed salad.
(2) There are between 45 and 66 wars going on most of the time in the world, and most of them have to do with race, ethnicity, religion, or some other “nationalist” kind of issue
c. WE ARE ONE RACE
(1) We are one race, descended from Adam through Noah, We are “one blood,” as Paul tells us in Acts 17, but we can’t get it right—Why?
(2) The most segregated hour in America is eleven o’clock Sunday morning—we have made real progress here at FBC Clinton, but why is this a problem?
(3) As Dr. E.V. Hill once said, the regular Muslims, the Buddhists, and most of the drug dealers have no problem with this—why so the church?
(4) What did God Show Peter about this?
(a) (Acts 10:28) "Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean."
(b) (Acts 10:34-35) "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
(5) What is the problem? Three letters S—I—N
2. One God—(Rom 3:30) “… since there is one God …”
a. False teachings about the basic nature of God
(1) False teaching: Atheism
(2) False teaching: Agnosticism
(3) False teaching: Inclusivism
(a) False teaching: There are many different and valid manifestations of God
(b) False teaching: There are many ways to God
(c) False teaching: Jesus Christ is A way to God.
(4) False teaching: Post-modern theology—we can’t know for sure if there is only one God, but there might be.
b. The positive teaching on God
(1) The Bible’s answer –One God
(1 Cor 8:6) "yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."
Ex 20:3, De 4:35, De 6:4
3. One Law—“…31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law…"
a. The Great Misconception—God does not just “forgive and forget”—to save us, someone must pay for every sin.
b. God’s Nature Demands it!
(1) God is an Absolute God of Righteousness, Holiness and Justice, He must have a resolution for each and every sin, or He denies His own character
(2) But, isn’t God merciful? Certainly, but God’s Mercy is not EMPTY mercy, with no resolution of sin. Here what the Scriptures say on this:
(Exo 34:4-7) "So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.""
(Ezek 18:4) ""Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die."
c. The Bible teaches it in many places, that we shall all give an account to God.
(1) For believers, for any and all who believe, the payment was made at the Cross, in a substitutionary atonement, and though we will have our Christian life evaluated for the giving of rewards, we will not come, ever again, into Krina judgment
(2) For the unsaved, their payment is made personally, for all of their sins—Rev 20:11-15, Mat 7:21-23
d. How, then does God’s salvation plan, justification by faith alone, uphold the Law (in all its editions—conscience, nature, conviction and revelation)?
(1) First—Every sinner is dealt with on an individual basis. The details are enormous—all of the sins of every human being who ever lived are included in this record
(2) Second, every sin is paid for
(a) For believers, for any and all who believe, the payment was made at the Cross, in a substitutionary atonement, and every name of every true believer is to be found in the Book of Life. And though we will have our Christian life evaluated for the giving of rewards, we will not come, ever again, into Krina judgment—
(b) Remember, that Christ died to make salvation possible for all, but it is when we believe that propitiation takes place.
(c) For the unsaved, their payment is made personally, for all of their sins—Rev 20:11-15, Mat 7:21-23, through being thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.
e. Because our sins have been paid for by Christ, every single sin of every believer is paid for. Because the lost do not believe and avail themselves of the glorious satisfaction for their sins, they pay for each and every one for all eternity.
4. One Gospel—(Rom 3:30) “… since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith…”
a. Again, God is not inclusive—there is only One True God—“one God”
b. “…Who Will Justify…
(1) First, GOD will justify—He alone is the One who saves—AS in Romans 8:33—“…It is God who Justifies…”
(2) Second, God will justify those who truly confess His Son as their Lord and Savior and who truly believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead—Rom 10:9-13. No one is turned away
(3) God Sent His Son to heal us of our wretched condition of being captive to sin, and there is only one way for that to be made so—(1 Tim 2:5) "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,"
(4) He sent His Son, Who is the Way to this one Salvation—(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(5) This way of salvation is the ONLY way of salvation—(Acts 4:12) ""Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.""
(6) And Knowing Him, Knowing the Triune God, IS eternal life, as we will rest in Him forever, serve Him forever, Learn of Him forever, Glorify and praise Him forever—(John 17:3) ""And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
c. One of the things that Christ desires is to break down the walls and barriers between His people—He desires unity, not the false unity of compromise and watering-down religion to a feel-good society, least-common-denominator—no.
d. Instead, God desires unity of the Holy kind—unified in these things:
(1) Truth—Jude 1:3—We are to be dedicated to the faith—One Faith—Eph 4
(2) Community—We are to be unified in the basics of what a church is—a group of people committed to the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship (which is shared ministry), the breaking of bread, and prayer—Acts 2:42
(3) Mission—Mat 28:18-20—to make DISCIPLES who will follow Christ in thought, word, and deed.
(4) Purity—we admonish one another and exhort one another to good works. (Col 1:28, Heb 10:24-25
(5) Warfare—the war within, and the war without. 2 Cor 10:1-6 shows us the battlefield for warfare is not in houses “possessed” by demons, or in confronting demonic forces on some level that no mere human can imagine. No—our battle is in the minds of people who are dominated by the strongholds of Satan—
e. The point of real unity for the church is the “faith once delivered to the saints.”
(1) The Faith that Jesus preached, The Faith by which we are saved
(2) The Faith that does not change, has not changed, and will never change, unto eternity, world without end.
(3) It is the Faith that sounded forth from the great revival in Jerusalem—(Acts 6:7) "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to THE FAITH."
(4) It is the set of truths about salvation that grew in spite of all of the powers of Hell—(Acts 16:5) "So the churches were strengthened in THE FAITH, and increased in number daily."
(5) The Mission of the church is to teach and LIVE these tings— (Rom 1:5) "Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to THE FAITH among all nations for His name,"
(6) This is the faith in which we stand, on guard, ready to defend and give an answer—(1 Cor 16:13) "Watch, stand fast in THE FAITH, be brave, be strong."
(7) This is the faith by which you can test yourself —(2 Cor 13:5) "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in THE FAITH..”
(8) This is the place where you hold your ground—(Col 1:23) "… continue in THE FAITH, grounded and steadfast…”
(9) This is the faith in which we teach and plant the true believers— (Col 2:7) "rooted and built up in Him and established in THE FAITH, as you have been taught…."
(10) This is the faith that we pass on as a holy legacy— (1 Tim 1:2) "To Timothy, a true son in THE FAITH…”
(11) (2 Tim 4:7) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept THE FAITH."
(12) (1 Pet 5:9) "Resist [the Devil and demonic forces], steadfast in THE FAITH…”
(13) (Jude 1:3) "… contend earnestly for THE FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints."
(14) There is only ONE Faith! (Eph 4:4-6) "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
One Race, One God, One Law, One Gospel.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Davidic Covenant
(2 Sam 7:1-16)
1. Characteristics
a. A Covenant of Grace
b. An unconditional Covenant
c. A covenant God made with David and his descendants, physical and spiritual
d. A covenant partially fulfilled in Christ
e. A covenant not completely fulfilled until the Millennial Kingdom
2. The Unfolding Revelation of The Davidic Covenant
a. God began by narrowing the promise to the children of Abraham, then to the descendents of Issac, then to the descendents of Jacob.
b. Judah Selected from the sons of Jacob—Gen 49:8-10
c. David Selected from the sons of Judah—1 Sam 16:1-13
d. God Made The Covenant—(1 Chr 17:11-14
e. God has a great history with David
(1) He took David From nowhere to somewhere—and in this citation here The Holy Spirit uses the military covenant term for God—Jehovah Sabaoth—the LORD of Hosts (see Josh 5:13ff)—God’s Military Rank!
(2) 2 Sam 7:8-9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you.
f. God makes several promises in this passage.
(1) He promised to make David’s name great like the major players—and so He did—“…and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth…” Though David is famous to a point, he is not considered with the great kings of history.—This is yet to be fulfilled
(2) He promises to plant and protect David’s flock— 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.” Israel has never had rest from her enemies—the fulfillment of this is future as well.
(3) God will “make” a house—there are several possibilities here for an exact meaning—but since the predominant theme of this passage is the future, “house” probably means a dynasty, a succession of kings—“…Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house..”.
3. The problem of—17:12-16—
a. What we see in this passage is the Eternal Kingdom and the Earthly Kingdom intertwined .
b. The Earthly Kings and the Earthly Kingdom
(1) As Israel was dispersed, the kingly line was as well—Joseph and Mary knew their lines, but the lines were not remembered through successive generations of the half brothers of Christ.
(2) Someone might argue that the earthly promises have not been kept, that the line of kings is dead—the Bible does not even allow such a possibility.
(3) Just because we cannot locate the Kingly line and prove their ancestry does not mean that God can’t do so!
(4) The actual Earthly rule of the Davidic line of kings is not now in effect, but where was Israel before 1948?
(5) Even now, somewhere in the world, there is a Hebrew Christian man who is the true descendant of King David, and who is serving God in his own humble way, though he does not know who he is.
c. The problem of the Descendant and the descendant—
(1) At least part of this passage must apply to Christ, because the New Testament says that it does— (Heb 1:5) "For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?"
(2) First is Christ—down through the middle of verse 14, and with verse 16. (2 Sam 7:12-16) ""When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. 16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."' ""
(3) The totality of Christ’s Kingdom is not yet established—as He told Pilate—but He will establish His Kingdom on Earth in the future. (John 18:36) "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.""
(4) Second, is Solomon, and the earthly line of kings, who, because of sin, did not see success in the long run—
(a) “…If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you…”
(b) (1 Chr 22:9-10) "'Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 'He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'"
(5) The problem of the “chastisement” passage
(a) This cannot refer to Christ as committing His own sin, so this must apply to Solomon, who did sin, as did even the best of his descendents—types are never perfect, remember.
(b) However, it could refer to Christ becoming sin for us, and suffering. “…I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men…”
(c) Parallel that statement with these
(Isa 53) “….5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted…… led as a lamb to the slaughter… For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. …10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; …He shall bear their iniquities. 12 …He was numbered with the transgressors…”
(2 Cor 5:21) "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
4. Context—General Theological Impact of the Davidic Covenant
a. Much more weight added to the Truth that the Old Testament promises to Israel are to be taken literally and they will be fulfilled literally.
b. The Doctrine of the Person of Christ—Jesus is both Son of David and Lord of David, a quandary that the Pharisees could not answer, but the New Testament has an answer.
(Mat 22:41-46) "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore."
(1) Given the totality of New Testament revelation, we can answer this question solely based on Christology.
(2) He is David’s son because in His humanity, He is descended from David
(3) He is David’s Lord because He is the Son of God as well as Son of Man—(Mat 1:1) "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:"
c. The Work of Christ—Jesus is Prophet (Dt 18:15), Priest (Heb 9) and King—Rev 19:16. That He is from the line of David explains how He can be all three.
d. Eschatology—the study of last things—The Davidic Covenant in particular is meaningless and empty without a literal future earthly kingdom.
(1) First Advent Eschatological passages—that preceded Jesus first coming
(2) Second Advent Eschatological passages—that look ahead to the Rapture, the Glorious Appearing, the Final Rebellion, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. The Application of the Covenant
a. The Annunciation to Mary
b. O, Thou Son of David— “…and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:"
(1) The Giver of the Throne—this makes the fulfillment of the Covenant a certainty.
(2) The Davidic Covenant— “…the throne of his father David:"
c. The Identification of Christ as David’s Son.
(1) The New Testament begins by tying both Covenants of promise to Christ Jesus—Mat 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
(2) He was of David’s line legally through his step father, and actually through His mother. (Luke 1:27) "to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:32) ""He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David."
(Luke 1:69) "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,"
(3) Many people so recognized Him as the Son of David, and Jesus never contradicted that identification.
Mat 9:27 "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us."
Mat 12:23 "And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?"
(Mat 1:1) "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:"
(Mat 21:9) "Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!""
(4) Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, establishes Christ as David’s Son—Acts 2:22-31
(5) There are several references in the epistles as well, including verses that establish David as a prophet.
(Rom 1:3) "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,"
(2 Tim 2:8) "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,"
(Rom 4:6) "just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:"
(Rom 11:9) "And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them."
(Heb 4:7) "again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.""
(Heb 11:32) "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:"
6. The New Covenant Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant— Luke 1:33 "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
a. The Order of covenant work—Acts
(1) God taking a people for Himself out of the Gentiles—Acts 15:7-11
(2) The Tabernacle of David being raised again—Acts 15:14-17—see Rom 11:25-26
b. He Shall Reign over the Earth—(Zec 14:9) "And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be; "The LORD is one," And His name one."
(1) The house of Jacob—the continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant—Eph 2:11-20, Rom 2:28-29
(2) His future Reign is a certainty
(3) A Day has been appointed for His Reign to begin
b. The characteristics of the reign
(1) Israel will be converted in the last days
Zec 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
c. Eschatological passages about this great covenant
(Isa 11:1) "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots."
(Jer 23:5) ""Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
(Jer 33:15) "'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."(See total reference, 33:14-26)
(Rev 5:5) "But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.""
(Rev 22:16) ""I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.""
1. Characteristics
a. A Covenant of Grace
b. An unconditional Covenant
c. A covenant God made with David and his descendants, physical and spiritual
d. A covenant partially fulfilled in Christ
e. A covenant not completely fulfilled until the Millennial Kingdom
2. The Unfolding Revelation of The Davidic Covenant
a. God began by narrowing the promise to the children of Abraham, then to the descendents of Issac, then to the descendents of Jacob.
b. Judah Selected from the sons of Jacob—Gen 49:8-10
c. David Selected from the sons of Judah—1 Sam 16:1-13
d. God Made The Covenant—(1 Chr 17:11-14
e. God has a great history with David
(1) He took David From nowhere to somewhere—and in this citation here The Holy Spirit uses the military covenant term for God—Jehovah Sabaoth—the LORD of Hosts (see Josh 5:13ff)—God’s Military Rank!
(2) 2 Sam 7:8-9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you.
f. God makes several promises in this passage.
(1) He promised to make David’s name great like the major players—and so He did—“…and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth…” Though David is famous to a point, he is not considered with the great kings of history.—This is yet to be fulfilled
(2) He promises to plant and protect David’s flock— 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.” Israel has never had rest from her enemies—the fulfillment of this is future as well.
(3) God will “make” a house—there are several possibilities here for an exact meaning—but since the predominant theme of this passage is the future, “house” probably means a dynasty, a succession of kings—“…Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house..”.
3. The problem of—17:12-16—
a. What we see in this passage is the Eternal Kingdom and the Earthly Kingdom intertwined .
b. The Earthly Kings and the Earthly Kingdom
(1) As Israel was dispersed, the kingly line was as well—Joseph and Mary knew their lines, but the lines were not remembered through successive generations of the half brothers of Christ.
(2) Someone might argue that the earthly promises have not been kept, that the line of kings is dead—the Bible does not even allow such a possibility.
(3) Just because we cannot locate the Kingly line and prove their ancestry does not mean that God can’t do so!
(4) The actual Earthly rule of the Davidic line of kings is not now in effect, but where was Israel before 1948?
(5) Even now, somewhere in the world, there is a Hebrew Christian man who is the true descendant of King David, and who is serving God in his own humble way, though he does not know who he is.
c. The problem of the Descendant and the descendant—
(1) At least part of this passage must apply to Christ, because the New Testament says that it does— (Heb 1:5) "For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?"
(2) First is Christ—down through the middle of verse 14, and with verse 16. (2 Sam 7:12-16) ""When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. 16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."' ""
(3) The totality of Christ’s Kingdom is not yet established—as He told Pilate—but He will establish His Kingdom on Earth in the future. (John 18:36) "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.""
(4) Second, is Solomon, and the earthly line of kings, who, because of sin, did not see success in the long run—
(a) “…If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you…”
(b) (1 Chr 22:9-10) "'Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 'He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'"
(5) The problem of the “chastisement” passage
(a) This cannot refer to Christ as committing His own sin, so this must apply to Solomon, who did sin, as did even the best of his descendents—types are never perfect, remember.
(b) However, it could refer to Christ becoming sin for us, and suffering. “…I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men…”
(c) Parallel that statement with these
(Isa 53) “….5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted…… led as a lamb to the slaughter… For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. …10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; …He shall bear their iniquities. 12 …He was numbered with the transgressors…”
(2 Cor 5:21) "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
4. Context—General Theological Impact of the Davidic Covenant
a. Much more weight added to the Truth that the Old Testament promises to Israel are to be taken literally and they will be fulfilled literally.
b. The Doctrine of the Person of Christ—Jesus is both Son of David and Lord of David, a quandary that the Pharisees could not answer, but the New Testament has an answer.
(Mat 22:41-46) "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore."
(1) Given the totality of New Testament revelation, we can answer this question solely based on Christology.
(2) He is David’s son because in His humanity, He is descended from David
(3) He is David’s Lord because He is the Son of God as well as Son of Man—(Mat 1:1) "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:"
c. The Work of Christ—Jesus is Prophet (Dt 18:15), Priest (Heb 9) and King—Rev 19:16. That He is from the line of David explains how He can be all three.
d. Eschatology—the study of last things—The Davidic Covenant in particular is meaningless and empty without a literal future earthly kingdom.
(1) First Advent Eschatological passages—that preceded Jesus first coming
(2) Second Advent Eschatological passages—that look ahead to the Rapture, the Glorious Appearing, the Final Rebellion, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. The Application of the Covenant
a. The Annunciation to Mary
b. O, Thou Son of David— “…and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:"
(1) The Giver of the Throne—this makes the fulfillment of the Covenant a certainty.
(2) The Davidic Covenant— “…the throne of his father David:"
c. The Identification of Christ as David’s Son.
(1) The New Testament begins by tying both Covenants of promise to Christ Jesus—Mat 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
(2) He was of David’s line legally through his step father, and actually through His mother. (Luke 1:27) "to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:32) ""He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David."
(Luke 1:69) "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,"
(3) Many people so recognized Him as the Son of David, and Jesus never contradicted that identification.
Mat 9:27 "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us."
Mat 12:23 "And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?"
(Mat 1:1) "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:"
(Mat 21:9) "Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!""
(4) Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, establishes Christ as David’s Son—Acts 2:22-31
(5) There are several references in the epistles as well, including verses that establish David as a prophet.
(Rom 1:3) "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,"
(2 Tim 2:8) "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,"
(Rom 4:6) "just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:"
(Rom 11:9) "And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them."
(Heb 4:7) "again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.""
(Heb 11:32) "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:"
6. The New Covenant Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant— Luke 1:33 "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
a. The Order of covenant work—Acts
(1) God taking a people for Himself out of the Gentiles—Acts 15:7-11
(2) The Tabernacle of David being raised again—Acts 15:14-17—see Rom 11:25-26
b. He Shall Reign over the Earth—(Zec 14:9) "And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be; "The LORD is one," And His name one."
(1) The house of Jacob—the continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant—Eph 2:11-20, Rom 2:28-29
(2) His future Reign is a certainty
(3) A Day has been appointed for His Reign to begin
b. The characteristics of the reign
(1) Israel will be converted in the last days
Zec 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
c. Eschatological passages about this great covenant
(Isa 11:1) "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots."
(Jer 23:5) ""Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
(Jer 33:15) "'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."(See total reference, 33:14-26)
(Rev 5:5) "But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.""
(Rev 22:16) ""I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.""
Justification by Faith: The Anchor of Eternal Security
(Rom 3:28) "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."
1. Therefore —What is the “therefore” there for?
a. Man cannot save himself—Rom 1:18-3:20, 23—
b. The Gospel is about God’s righteousness apart from the Law—
c. The prophets were a witness to God’s unfolding plan, though they did not fully get it—(1 Pet 1:10-12)
d. God’s Way of Salvation—(Rom 3:24-26) it is:
(1) We are Justified by faith—"…being justified…” That is, when we believe, God makes a legal declaration that we are not only forgiven, but are also righteous!
(2) As a gift through grace—“…freely by His grace…: This entire process is a gift from God, beginning to end. It is entirely due to His grace and mercy toward us sinners
(3) Redeemed—“…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” We have been bought back from the slave market of sin, we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Son.
(4) God’s Work, God’s Sacrifice—“…25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood…” God publicly demonstrated His love for His own Holiness, His hatred of sin, and His love for us by sacrificing His own son on the Cross
(5) We receive the benefits of this sacrifice by faith, and faith alone—“… through faith…”
(6) God was just to save the OT saints, and God is just to save us.
e. So Salvation was
(1) Planned by God
(2) Unfolded by God
(3) Accomplished by Christ on the Cross
(4) Applied through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in conviction and the New Birth
f. Therefore, we can boast in nothing except His Person and Work
2. Our Minds Are Made Up (Rom 3:28) "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."
a. We hold, we conclude, we have proven this to us and you.
(1) The German Reformer Martin Luther, said that this is the doctrine upon which a church stands or falls
(2) This is the verse that D. James Kennedy had carved into the wood front of his pulpit.
(3) This is the verse which unifies Bible Believers and True Churches everywhere,
(4) This is a concept that the heretics hate.
b. What does Paul hold? Salvation by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
c. Why does Paul Hold to Justification by Faith?
(1) The word teaches it—OT and NY
(2) The Holy spirit confirmed this in the life of Paul and all the Apostles—Heb 2:1-4—in signs and wonders
(a) In the signs of the Apostles—(2 Cor 12:12) "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds."
(3) This way of salvation happened in Paul’s own life! He went from the Chief of Sinners (1 Tim 1:15) to the chosen servant of Jehovah.
3. What Do We Conclude? First, that we are Justified
a. To be justified is to be righteous
(1) As to our record
(2) No only sins forgiven, but also righteousness applied
b. To be justified is to be declared righteous by God on the basis of righteousness from God
(1) The righteousness is legal not actual, at this point.
(2) When God declares us righteous—He has said it, He will make it so—and here is where the Doctrine of Eternal Security is established. Once God has declared someone to be righteous, God Himself has then entered the fray to maintain our salvation.
(a) Christ has said that true believers will never face judgment for salvation—(John 5:24) ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
(b) Possession of eternal life accompanies true faith—(John 6:47) ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."
(c) It is God’s power that maintains my salvation—(1 Pet 1: 4 “… an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
(d) My salvation is maintained by Him because of His faithfulness—(1 Cor 1:9) "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
(e) It is the nature of God to finish what He starts, and this verse makes that perfectly clear—(Phil 1:6) "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…"
(f) The strongest possible sayings are exercised to show how secure our salvation is, because of justification by faith—
(i) (John 10:28) ""And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
(ii) (Heb 13:5) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.""
4. What Do We Conclude? Second, that this justification is by faith, not by works
a. The Bible’s Definition of Faith—Heb 11:1 “…Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…”
b. But First, a caution—there is a vain faith that does not save. 1 Cor 15:4
(1) Vain means “empty, useless…”
(2) You can worship God, and your worship be vain, if your doctrine is all messed up—(Mat 15:9) "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'""
(3) We could have made a profession of faith under the preaching of Paul and it could still be fain if it was not real— (1 Cor 15:2) "by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain."
(4) You could have suffered persecution in vain if you believe another “gospel”—(Gal 3:4) "Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain?"
(5) Vain faith has many forms.
(a) A family “faith” that is not a personal relationship with Christ
(b) A “faith” based on Tradition not Truth
(c) A “faith” that accepts the facts without confessing the Savior—James 2:19 “…You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble…”
(d) A “faith” that does not transform—John 10:27.
c. But Praise God, there is a True Biblical Faith, and the Bible is plain about what it consists of.
5. What is Saving Faith? (Heb 11:1) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
a. What faith is: two parallel ideas—Heb 11:1—“substance” and “evidence.”
(1) Substance
(a) “Solid confidence—
(b) We are confident that God will deliver what He has promised.
(c) We are sure of God’s promises because God is the One making them
(d) It is as real as if we held it in our hands already—1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…”
(e) “…of Things hoped for— Faith sees those promises as having been fulfilled already.
(2) Evidence (of things not seen)—
(3) Real proof, conviction, as in John 16:8. The one with true faith is convinced, has a conviction, a certainty, that God will keep His promises.
(4) “…Of things not seen…” As Paul says, “…we walk by faith, not by sight…” 2 Cor 5:7. We have not seen the things God has promised, but faith is the evidence of them, the conviction that they are real.
(5) The old argument—“you only believe that it is so, you can’t know…” The person saying this has no Biblical understanding of faith.
(6) Faith and Hope in the secular sense, or in the liberal religious sense, are kinds of wistful desires (“…I hope it is so, I really don’t know…”), whereas Biblical faith is knowledge and conviction.
b. The Practical Biblical Definition of Faith (from the Old Testament)—Heb 11:2 “…For by it the elders obtained a good testimony…”
(1) True faith has confidence and conviction, and it results in conversion, which is a disciple’s walk.
(2) The elders—the OT believers
(3) Define: testimony—The same word from which we get the word “martyr,” or witness
(4) But here the verb “witness” or “testimony” is passive—it does not refer so much to the witness of these believers, as it refers to God’s witness about them
(5) God has testified to the reality of their faith by including them in His Holy Word.
(6) So, this good testimony is God’s testimony about these men.
(7) True Faith leads to a good testimony from God! These all believed…These all lived their faith as well
c. An Illustration of Faith—Heb 11:3 “…By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…”
(1) True faith involves knowledge—“…By faith we understand…” These facts must make sense to the human mind that has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit— “…By faith we understand…”
(2) In the example of creation, we encounter facts from Nature and Conscience, but primarily from the Word
(a) God spoke the universe into existence—Ps 33:6-9, Gen 1:1
(b) Isa 48:13 "Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together."
(c) Creation was an act of the Triune God—Gen 1:2 "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
(d) Col 1:15-17 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."
(e) God the Son sustains the universe with that same spoken Word—Heb 1:3 "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, …”
d. So, from the exposition and from the example, Faith is a conviction and certainty of things we cannot see— Heb 11:3 “…By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…”
(1) (John 20:29) "… Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.""
(2) 1 Pet 1:7 “… Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:…”
e. Who is the Object of True Saving Faith? Heb 12:1-2—The Person and work of the Lord Jesus
6. What do we conclude?
a. That we are justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law
1. Therefore —What is the “therefore” there for?
a. Man cannot save himself—Rom 1:18-3:20, 23—
b. The Gospel is about God’s righteousness apart from the Law—
c. The prophets were a witness to God’s unfolding plan, though they did not fully get it—(1 Pet 1:10-12)
d. God’s Way of Salvation—(Rom 3:24-26) it is:
(1) We are Justified by faith—"…being justified…” That is, when we believe, God makes a legal declaration that we are not only forgiven, but are also righteous!
(2) As a gift through grace—“…freely by His grace…: This entire process is a gift from God, beginning to end. It is entirely due to His grace and mercy toward us sinners
(3) Redeemed—“…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” We have been bought back from the slave market of sin, we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Son.
(4) God’s Work, God’s Sacrifice—“…25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood…” God publicly demonstrated His love for His own Holiness, His hatred of sin, and His love for us by sacrificing His own son on the Cross
(5) We receive the benefits of this sacrifice by faith, and faith alone—“… through faith…”
(6) God was just to save the OT saints, and God is just to save us.
e. So Salvation was
(1) Planned by God
(2) Unfolded by God
(3) Accomplished by Christ on the Cross
(4) Applied through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in conviction and the New Birth
f. Therefore, we can boast in nothing except His Person and Work
2. Our Minds Are Made Up (Rom 3:28) "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."
a. We hold, we conclude, we have proven this to us and you.
(1) The German Reformer Martin Luther, said that this is the doctrine upon which a church stands or falls
(2) This is the verse that D. James Kennedy had carved into the wood front of his pulpit.
(3) This is the verse which unifies Bible Believers and True Churches everywhere,
(4) This is a concept that the heretics hate.
b. What does Paul hold? Salvation by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
c. Why does Paul Hold to Justification by Faith?
(1) The word teaches it—OT and NY
(2) The Holy spirit confirmed this in the life of Paul and all the Apostles—Heb 2:1-4—in signs and wonders
(a) In the signs of the Apostles—(2 Cor 12:12) "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds."
(3) This way of salvation happened in Paul’s own life! He went from the Chief of Sinners (1 Tim 1:15) to the chosen servant of Jehovah.
3. What Do We Conclude? First, that we are Justified
a. To be justified is to be righteous
(1) As to our record
(2) No only sins forgiven, but also righteousness applied
b. To be justified is to be declared righteous by God on the basis of righteousness from God
(1) The righteousness is legal not actual, at this point.
(2) When God declares us righteous—He has said it, He will make it so—and here is where the Doctrine of Eternal Security is established. Once God has declared someone to be righteous, God Himself has then entered the fray to maintain our salvation.
(a) Christ has said that true believers will never face judgment for salvation—(John 5:24) ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
(b) Possession of eternal life accompanies true faith—(John 6:47) ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."
(c) It is God’s power that maintains my salvation—(1 Pet 1: 4 “… an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
(d) My salvation is maintained by Him because of His faithfulness—(1 Cor 1:9) "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
(e) It is the nature of God to finish what He starts, and this verse makes that perfectly clear—(Phil 1:6) "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…"
(f) The strongest possible sayings are exercised to show how secure our salvation is, because of justification by faith—
(i) (John 10:28) ""And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
(ii) (Heb 13:5) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.""
4. What Do We Conclude? Second, that this justification is by faith, not by works
a. The Bible’s Definition of Faith—Heb 11:1 “…Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…”
b. But First, a caution—there is a vain faith that does not save. 1 Cor 15:4
(1) Vain means “empty, useless…”
(2) You can worship God, and your worship be vain, if your doctrine is all messed up—(Mat 15:9) "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'""
(3) We could have made a profession of faith under the preaching of Paul and it could still be fain if it was not real— (1 Cor 15:2) "by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain."
(4) You could have suffered persecution in vain if you believe another “gospel”—(Gal 3:4) "Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain?"
(5) Vain faith has many forms.
(a) A family “faith” that is not a personal relationship with Christ
(b) A “faith” based on Tradition not Truth
(c) A “faith” that accepts the facts without confessing the Savior—James 2:19 “…You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble…”
(d) A “faith” that does not transform—John 10:27.
c. But Praise God, there is a True Biblical Faith, and the Bible is plain about what it consists of.
5. What is Saving Faith? (Heb 11:1) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
a. What faith is: two parallel ideas—Heb 11:1—“substance” and “evidence.”
(1) Substance
(a) “Solid confidence—
(b) We are confident that God will deliver what He has promised.
(c) We are sure of God’s promises because God is the One making them
(d) It is as real as if we held it in our hands already—1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…”
(e) “…of Things hoped for— Faith sees those promises as having been fulfilled already.
(2) Evidence (of things not seen)—
(3) Real proof, conviction, as in John 16:8. The one with true faith is convinced, has a conviction, a certainty, that God will keep His promises.
(4) “…Of things not seen…” As Paul says, “…we walk by faith, not by sight…” 2 Cor 5:7. We have not seen the things God has promised, but faith is the evidence of them, the conviction that they are real.
(5) The old argument—“you only believe that it is so, you can’t know…” The person saying this has no Biblical understanding of faith.
(6) Faith and Hope in the secular sense, or in the liberal religious sense, are kinds of wistful desires (“…I hope it is so, I really don’t know…”), whereas Biblical faith is knowledge and conviction.
b. The Practical Biblical Definition of Faith (from the Old Testament)—Heb 11:2 “…For by it the elders obtained a good testimony…”
(1) True faith has confidence and conviction, and it results in conversion, which is a disciple’s walk.
(2) The elders—the OT believers
(3) Define: testimony—The same word from which we get the word “martyr,” or witness
(4) But here the verb “witness” or “testimony” is passive—it does not refer so much to the witness of these believers, as it refers to God’s witness about them
(5) God has testified to the reality of their faith by including them in His Holy Word.
(6) So, this good testimony is God’s testimony about these men.
(7) True Faith leads to a good testimony from God! These all believed…These all lived their faith as well
c. An Illustration of Faith—Heb 11:3 “…By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…”
(1) True faith involves knowledge—“…By faith we understand…” These facts must make sense to the human mind that has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit— “…By faith we understand…”
(2) In the example of creation, we encounter facts from Nature and Conscience, but primarily from the Word
(a) God spoke the universe into existence—Ps 33:6-9, Gen 1:1
(b) Isa 48:13 "Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together."
(c) Creation was an act of the Triune God—Gen 1:2 "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
(d) Col 1:15-17 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."
(e) God the Son sustains the universe with that same spoken Word—Heb 1:3 "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, …”
d. So, from the exposition and from the example, Faith is a conviction and certainty of things we cannot see— Heb 11:3 “…By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…”
(1) (John 20:29) "… Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.""
(2) 1 Pet 1:7 “… Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:…”
e. Who is the Object of True Saving Faith? Heb 12:1-2—The Person and work of the Lord Jesus
6. What do we conclude?
a. That we are justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
God Forbid That I Should Glory
(Rom 3:27) "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith…”
1. Then…the context
a. Man cannot save himself
Rom 3:19-20 "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Rom 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.."
b. God’s righteousness is something we cannot produce at all, in whole or in part
c. God’s righteousness is apart from the Law
d. God’s Way of Salvation
(Rom 3:24-26) , , to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
(1) We are Justified by faith—"…being justified…”
(2) As a gift through grace—“…freely by His grace…:
(3) Redeemed—“…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
(4) God’s Work, God’s Sacrifice—“…25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood…”
(5) We receive the benefits of this sacrifice by faith—“… through faith…”
(6) God was just to save the OT saints
(7) God is just to save us.
e. What part of salvation, therefore, is ‘ours’?
(1) It is received through faith (3:25)
(2) Salvation requires Holy Spirit Conviction
(3) It requires a revelation from God
(4) It requires us to believe in, adhere to, trust in, and confess Christ as our Lord AND Savior.
f. So Salvation was
(1) Planned by God
(2) Unfolded by God
(3) Accomplished by Christ on the Cross
(4) Applied through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in conviction and the New Birth
2. What is Boasting?
a. Boasting is a mode of speech and actions from that are self exalting and unfitting for any created being.
(1) Boasting is the result of human pride and arrogance, and has no place in God’s Church
(2) This is actually very prevalent in the churches of today—especially the heretics on TV, but it can seep in to where any of us are.
b. First, let us define “pride” Biblically—
(1) If you think you deserve better than what God has allotted you in life, that is pride—and pride of the satanic type at that. Pride of this sort, Boice notes, was the first sin— (Isa 14:12-14) ""How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'"
(2) The Pride of Life—Eve’s sin—1 John 2:15-16
(3) The Pride of Life—a temptation of Christ—(Mat 4:5) "Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,"
(4) If you think that your riches, your abilities, your position or station in life, entitle you to more influence, pride has entered.
(5) God hates pride
(Prov 8:13) "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate."
(Prov 11:2) "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom."
(Prov 13:10) "By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom."
(Prov 14:3) "In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them."
(Prov 16:18) "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Prov 21:24) "A proud and haughty man; "Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride."
(Prov 29:23) "A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor."
(6) Pride is the opposite of love—“…1 Cor 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude…”
(7) Pride is the opposite of justifying faith—(Hab 2:4) ""Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith."
(8) Religious pride is the worst kind of all
(Luke 18:10-14) ""Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""
c. Things that are not pride
(1) Being happy in having done a good job at work—Eph 6:4ff
(2) Rejoicing at the success of a friend or relative
(3) Encouraging or exhorting one another, or being encouraged or exhorted
(4) Rejoicing in a true spiritual ministry, or defending that ministry by relating the facts—
(2 Cor 1:14) "(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus."
(2 Cor 9:2) "for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority."
(2 Cor 10:8) "For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;"
(2 Cor 10:13) "We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us; a sphere which especially includes you."
(2 Cor 11:16) "I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little."
(2 Cor 11:18) "Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast."
(2 Cor 11:30) "If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity."
(2 Cor 12:1) "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:"
(2 Cor 12:5-6) "Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me."
(2 Cor 12:9) "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(2 Th 1:4) "so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,"
d. God loves true humility
(James 4:6) "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.""
(James 4:10) "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
(1 Pet 5:5-6) "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,"
3. Where is Boasting?
a. Well, first, it is often in the church
(1) Attitudes
(2) Speech
(3) Pride by actions
b. Examples of church pride—
(1) Philippi 2:1-4—the Philippian church had a problem with personal issues between women in the congregation
(a)
(2) Diotrophes was a man who despised the authority of the John the Apostle (known by that point in his life as “The Elder.” —(3 John 1:9) "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us."
(3) The false teachers in Jude’s day—Jude 1: 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority…”
(4) The Dangerous Men of 2 Tim 3:1-13
(5) The Super Apostles—2 Cor 11:12-15 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
(6) 2 Pet 2:9-20
(7) Religious Pride Today
4. Boasting is excluded By the Law of Faith
a. The word means Totally excluded
b. First, there are two laws, two written and spoken principles that can pertain here: it is either works or grace
c. The “Law” of works—works lead to boasting in self-religion
(1) This is a futile attempt to please God—for works cannot please Him—(Rom 3:20) "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
(2) The religion of morality—those who lean on this create their own standard for morality, like the rich young ruler, and others during Jesus’ day
(Mat 19:16-18) "Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"
(Mat 22:36) ""Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?""
(3) The religion of self-generated faith and easy believism.
(John 2:23-24) "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,"
(John 8:30) "As He spoke these words, many believed in Him."
(John 12:42) "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;"
(James 2:19) "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!"
(4) The religion of “religious feelings”
(5) The religion of church involvement
(6) The religion of ministering supposedly in the name of Christ, when the reality is not there
(Mat 7:21-23) ""Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
(7) The religion of knowledge
(8) The religion of false unity and popularity—2 Tim 4:1-8
(9) The religion of music—a new thing in this day
d. The Law of Faith Excludes Boasting
(Eph 2:8-10) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
(Gal 6:14) "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
(1 Cor 4:7) "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"
(Rom 4:2) "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."
(1 Cor 1:29) "that no flesh should glory in His presence."
(1 Cor 1:31) "that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.""
1. Then…the context
a. Man cannot save himself
Rom 3:19-20 "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Rom 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.."
b. God’s righteousness is something we cannot produce at all, in whole or in part
c. God’s righteousness is apart from the Law
d. God’s Way of Salvation
(Rom 3:24-26) , , to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
(1) We are Justified by faith—"…being justified…”
(2) As a gift through grace—“…freely by His grace…:
(3) Redeemed—“…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
(4) God’s Work, God’s Sacrifice—“…25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood…”
(5) We receive the benefits of this sacrifice by faith—“… through faith…”
(6) God was just to save the OT saints
(7) God is just to save us.
e. What part of salvation, therefore, is ‘ours’?
(1) It is received through faith (3:25)
(2) Salvation requires Holy Spirit Conviction
(3) It requires a revelation from God
(4) It requires us to believe in, adhere to, trust in, and confess Christ as our Lord AND Savior.
f. So Salvation was
(1) Planned by God
(2) Unfolded by God
(3) Accomplished by Christ on the Cross
(4) Applied through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in conviction and the New Birth
2. What is Boasting?
a. Boasting is a mode of speech and actions from that are self exalting and unfitting for any created being.
(1) Boasting is the result of human pride and arrogance, and has no place in God’s Church
(2) This is actually very prevalent in the churches of today—especially the heretics on TV, but it can seep in to where any of us are.
b. First, let us define “pride” Biblically—
(1) If you think you deserve better than what God has allotted you in life, that is pride—and pride of the satanic type at that. Pride of this sort, Boice notes, was the first sin— (Isa 14:12-14) ""How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'"
(2) The Pride of Life—Eve’s sin—1 John 2:15-16
(3) The Pride of Life—a temptation of Christ—(Mat 4:5) "Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,"
(4) If you think that your riches, your abilities, your position or station in life, entitle you to more influence, pride has entered.
(5) God hates pride
(Prov 8:13) "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate."
(Prov 11:2) "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom."
(Prov 13:10) "By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom."
(Prov 14:3) "In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them."
(Prov 16:18) "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Prov 21:24) "A proud and haughty man; "Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride."
(Prov 29:23) "A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor."
(6) Pride is the opposite of love—“…1 Cor 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude…”
(7) Pride is the opposite of justifying faith—(Hab 2:4) ""Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith."
(8) Religious pride is the worst kind of all
(Luke 18:10-14) ""Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""
c. Things that are not pride
(1) Being happy in having done a good job at work—Eph 6:4ff
(2) Rejoicing at the success of a friend or relative
(3) Encouraging or exhorting one another, or being encouraged or exhorted
(4) Rejoicing in a true spiritual ministry, or defending that ministry by relating the facts—
(2 Cor 1:14) "(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus."
(2 Cor 9:2) "for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority."
(2 Cor 10:8) "For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;"
(2 Cor 10:13) "We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us; a sphere which especially includes you."
(2 Cor 11:16) "I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little."
(2 Cor 11:18) "Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast."
(2 Cor 11:30) "If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity."
(2 Cor 12:1) "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:"
(2 Cor 12:5-6) "Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me."
(2 Cor 12:9) "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(2 Th 1:4) "so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,"
d. God loves true humility
(James 4:6) "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.""
(James 4:10) "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
(1 Pet 5:5-6) "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,"
3. Where is Boasting?
a. Well, first, it is often in the church
(1) Attitudes
(2) Speech
(3) Pride by actions
b. Examples of church pride—
(1) Philippi 2:1-4—the Philippian church had a problem with personal issues between women in the congregation
(a)
(2) Diotrophes was a man who despised the authority of the John the Apostle (known by that point in his life as “The Elder.” —(3 John 1:9) "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us."
(3) The false teachers in Jude’s day—Jude 1: 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority…”
(4) The Dangerous Men of 2 Tim 3:1-13
(5) The Super Apostles—2 Cor 11:12-15 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
(6) 2 Pet 2:9-20
(7) Religious Pride Today
4. Boasting is excluded By the Law of Faith
a. The word means Totally excluded
b. First, there are two laws, two written and spoken principles that can pertain here: it is either works or grace
c. The “Law” of works—works lead to boasting in self-religion
(1) This is a futile attempt to please God—for works cannot please Him—(Rom 3:20) "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
(2) The religion of morality—those who lean on this create their own standard for morality, like the rich young ruler, and others during Jesus’ day
(Mat 19:16-18) "Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"
(Mat 22:36) ""Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?""
(3) The religion of self-generated faith and easy believism.
(John 2:23-24) "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,"
(John 8:30) "As He spoke these words, many believed in Him."
(John 12:42) "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;"
(James 2:19) "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!"
(4) The religion of “religious feelings”
(5) The religion of church involvement
(6) The religion of ministering supposedly in the name of Christ, when the reality is not there
(Mat 7:21-23) ""Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
(7) The religion of knowledge
(8) The religion of false unity and popularity—2 Tim 4:1-8
(9) The religion of music—a new thing in this day
d. The Law of Faith Excludes Boasting
(Eph 2:8-10) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
(Gal 6:14) "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
(1 Cor 4:7) "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"
(Rom 4:2) "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."
(1 Cor 1:29) "that no flesh should glory in His presence."
(1 Cor 1:31) "that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.""
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
God Vindicated by The Cross, Rom 3:25-26
1. The War of the Ages
a. In Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, a great, cosmic, and mostly unseen battle was raging for the “town of Mansoul”
b. In ways that we cannot fully grasp at this point in our existence, this cosmic battle is being waged before an audience of the heavenly host—good and bad.
Eph 3:8-11 “…8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in£ God who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places….”
c. God the Father had a plan—and Satan did not know nor understand God’s plan—(1 Cor 2:6-8) "However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
d. Our Lord Jesus Christ had a Mission—To Crush the Serpent’s Head and Save Mansoul
e. Satan’s plan—confusion, as shown by his wavering back and forth, reacting to God’s bold moves.
(1) Satan took the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 very seriously, and he continually tried to so contaminate the seed of the women that he knew, so that no holy Seed could come from Eve’s daughters
(2) As God lavished attention and blessing upon Abraham, Satan did his level best to oppose God, planting Hagar in Abraham’s tents.
(3) Throughout the history of Israel, Satan made one attempt after another to destroy the Seed, but God always preserved a remnant.
(4) He tried to kill the Lord Jesus in the womb, by causing Mary to have to travel late in her pregnancy, so as to meet the requirement of the Roman Census.
(5) Satan tried to kill the Seed of the Woman through Herod, but God made a way of escape.
(6) In Mat 4, a very shocked prince of darkness is confronting the Messiah by tempting our Lord with the three primary lusts of mankind—the lust of the flesh (the fruit), the lust of the eyes (the false beauty of the kingdoms of the earth) and the price of life—to be seen and celebrated for Who He Is.
(7) In Matthew 16, Satan, speaking through Peter, tried to convince Christ to avoid the Cross, even though 1 Cor 2 plainly tells us that Satan did not understand what was happening.—(Mat 16:21-23) "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.""
(8) Several times, Satan made attempts on the life of Christ—but “the hour” had not come yet—
(a) (John 7:44-46) "Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!""
(b) (John 7:30) "Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come."
(c) (John 8:20) "These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come."
(d) (Luke 4:28-30) "So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way."
(e) (John 8:59) "Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."
(9) Then, from the arrest of Jesus on, the “rulers of the Earth,” Satan’s demonic minions, along with their human counterparts, pursued a policy of killing Jesus—which is exactly what God wanted them to do! Acts 4:23-28
f. If they had known what they were doing, the demonic forces would never have pursued this course. (1 Cor 2:7-8) "…7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
(1) Principle #1—God is in control of the universe
(2) Principle #2—God can take the evil intents of others and turn them to good—Gen 50:20
(3) Principle #3—Nothing is difficult for God—(Gen 18:13-14) "And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...”
(4) But God Himself had set the rules in His Law
(a) The Seed of the Woman, the Redeemer had to be kin
(b) The Redeemer of the Earth therefore had to be a man.
(c) The Seed of the Woman, the Perfect and only true sacrifice, had to be sinless and perfect.
(d) The Seed of the Woman, The Redeemer, must also be able to atone for the sins of a numberless (humanly speaking) multitude, so He must be more than a man.
(e) The Lord arranged all of these through the Virgin Birth
(5) There remained a couple of questions:
(a) How did God save the OT Saints and still maintain His Righteousness?
(b) How can He save the New Testament Saints (us) and still maintain His personal Righteousness?
2. Old Testament Salvation
a. Salvation is Salvation—The real answer to how Old Testament believers were saved is this: "God's people in the Old Testament were saved the same way that people are saved in New Testament times, that is, by grace, through faith in the sacrifice of Christ."
b. Now, someone will say, "The Old Testament believers were saved by faith in Christ? Brother Charley, how could they have faith in Christ? He was not fully revealed until He came in the flesh! How could the people in Old Testament times know anything about Christ?"
c. Example #1 of The Revelation of Christ in the Old Testament—Heb 11:24-26 “…By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt…”
d. Example #2 of The Revelation of Christ in the Old Testament Job’s Vision of the Eternal Christ—Job 19:25-27 “…For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
(1) Most scholars believed that Job lived in the times of Abraham—several hundred years before Moses.
(2) How could Job know about the Redeemer—How could Job know that the Redeemer would be God Incarnate—God the Son? There are some liberal theologians around today who read the Bible from cover to cover and can’t figure out that Jesus is God! Job had no Bible!
(3) The answer has to be, because there is no other answer, that God revealed to Job sufficient information for Job to have faith in what God was going to do. Job did not know the all details, though he knew a lot more than others, but Job believed in God's promise of redemption, because God had apparently revealed it to him in some way.
(4) Salvation doesn't just happen. This is really much the same way that it is even now, in New Testament times. God reveals the Truth about His Son to people so they can decide to trust in Christ Jesus: Mat 16:15-17, Mat 11:25-27
e. The answer line in the question of salvation for all times is this: The only way of salvation was always salvation by Grace through Faith.
(1) The Law was a parenthesis in the history of God's dealings with the human race. Grace, which was the only way of eternal salvation even in times of Law, was the heart of the covenant with Abraham, which came 400 years before the law!
(2) Gal 3:17 “…And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise…”
(3) Old Testament believers were justified by faith, just like New Testament believers.
(4) The main difference being that we look back to something God has done (the sacrifice of Christ on the cross), and they looked ahead to God's promise of redemption (which was fulfilled in the Cross).
(5) But How can the Cross (viewed as future to the OT saints) have taken care of their sins? Because God is outside of time, and He is not restricted to time—However, far more important than even that concept is this—what God has promised will come to pass.
3. God was just and righteous in forgiving the Old Testament Saints—“… This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ..”
a. To demonstrate His justice, God made the sacrifice of His Son public, for all to see.
b. This—What is “this?”
(1) The entire plan of God laid out in Rom 3:19-25
(2) “This” is the righteousness of God apart from the Law, which the prophets had given witness to.
(3) “This” Righteousness is gained through faith in Christ.
(4) “This” is God’s whole plan of salvation as a gift by Grace through faith in Jesus
(5) “This” is the blood sacrifice, the propitiation, the sacrifice that turns wrath aside, which is received by faith.
c. “…To show God’s righteousness…”
(1) God is Holy
(2) God never condones sin—sin is an abomination to God
(3) In order to be true to Himself, God does not forgive capriciously—sin must be dealt with. Either the sinner must die or a substitute must die.
(4) In forgiving us, God has taken care of sin, it has been dealt with, all debts have been paid.
(5) Even in that, God was gracious, He did not have to do it that way.
(6) And, on the Cross, God is declaring to the world that He is dealing with sin, that He is righteous and Just—Exo 34:6-7
d. “…Sins that are past…” The sins of the OT saints were forgiven based on what God was going to do—looking forward to the Cross
(1) God forgave Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Issac, etc.
(2) Heb 11:13 “…These all died in faith…”.
(3) God’s forgiveness has been justified in the Cross
(4) But God did not have to forgive, He forgave because of His forbearance, His merciful patience, as He Himself slowly unfolded the plan of Salvation.
4. God is Just to forgive You and I—“… 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus…”
a. What masterful language—To show, set forth, make a billboard of the fact, of God’s righteousness—remember, “angels are watching” Eph 3:10
b. “…At this time…” in the day we are in—
(1) Gal 4:4-5
(2) The Hour has come
c. His righteousness—God is righteous to forgive, God is just in His own dealings
d. Just and Justifier!!
(1) God is right, in every way—God is Just!
(2) God makes us right, in every way—He is the Justifier!
e. Of him which believeth in Jesus …
(1) The “Sin Question” was settled at the Cross, but only for those who believe.
(2) Again, the Cross does not take effect in anyone’s life until they believe.
5. Applications—
a. For the believer—your sins are paid for! You are free, free, free!
b. For the unbeliever—a great debt hangs over your head, you owe a debt you cannot possibly pay.
c. For the convicted sinner—the way of the cross leads home!
a. In Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, a great, cosmic, and mostly unseen battle was raging for the “town of Mansoul”
b. In ways that we cannot fully grasp at this point in our existence, this cosmic battle is being waged before an audience of the heavenly host—good and bad.
Eph 3:8-11 “…8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in£ God who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places….”
c. God the Father had a plan—and Satan did not know nor understand God’s plan—(1 Cor 2:6-8) "However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
d. Our Lord Jesus Christ had a Mission—To Crush the Serpent’s Head and Save Mansoul
e. Satan’s plan—confusion, as shown by his wavering back and forth, reacting to God’s bold moves.
(1) Satan took the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 very seriously, and he continually tried to so contaminate the seed of the women that he knew, so that no holy Seed could come from Eve’s daughters
(2) As God lavished attention and blessing upon Abraham, Satan did his level best to oppose God, planting Hagar in Abraham’s tents.
(3) Throughout the history of Israel, Satan made one attempt after another to destroy the Seed, but God always preserved a remnant.
(4) He tried to kill the Lord Jesus in the womb, by causing Mary to have to travel late in her pregnancy, so as to meet the requirement of the Roman Census.
(5) Satan tried to kill the Seed of the Woman through Herod, but God made a way of escape.
(6) In Mat 4, a very shocked prince of darkness is confronting the Messiah by tempting our Lord with the three primary lusts of mankind—the lust of the flesh (the fruit), the lust of the eyes (the false beauty of the kingdoms of the earth) and the price of life—to be seen and celebrated for Who He Is.
(7) In Matthew 16, Satan, speaking through Peter, tried to convince Christ to avoid the Cross, even though 1 Cor 2 plainly tells us that Satan did not understand what was happening.—(Mat 16:21-23) "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.""
(8) Several times, Satan made attempts on the life of Christ—but “the hour” had not come yet—
(a) (John 7:44-46) "Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!""
(b) (John 7:30) "Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come."
(c) (John 8:20) "These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come."
(d) (Luke 4:28-30) "So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way."
(e) (John 8:59) "Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."
(9) Then, from the arrest of Jesus on, the “rulers of the Earth,” Satan’s demonic minions, along with their human counterparts, pursued a policy of killing Jesus—which is exactly what God wanted them to do! Acts 4:23-28
f. If they had known what they were doing, the demonic forces would never have pursued this course. (1 Cor 2:7-8) "…7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
(1) Principle #1—God is in control of the universe
(2) Principle #2—God can take the evil intents of others and turn them to good—Gen 50:20
(3) Principle #3—Nothing is difficult for God—(Gen 18:13-14) "And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...”
(4) But God Himself had set the rules in His Law
(a) The Seed of the Woman, the Redeemer had to be kin
(b) The Redeemer of the Earth therefore had to be a man.
(c) The Seed of the Woman, the Perfect and only true sacrifice, had to be sinless and perfect.
(d) The Seed of the Woman, The Redeemer, must also be able to atone for the sins of a numberless (humanly speaking) multitude, so He must be more than a man.
(e) The Lord arranged all of these through the Virgin Birth
(5) There remained a couple of questions:
(a) How did God save the OT Saints and still maintain His Righteousness?
(b) How can He save the New Testament Saints (us) and still maintain His personal Righteousness?
2. Old Testament Salvation
a. Salvation is Salvation—The real answer to how Old Testament believers were saved is this: "God's people in the Old Testament were saved the same way that people are saved in New Testament times, that is, by grace, through faith in the sacrifice of Christ."
b. Now, someone will say, "The Old Testament believers were saved by faith in Christ? Brother Charley, how could they have faith in Christ? He was not fully revealed until He came in the flesh! How could the people in Old Testament times know anything about Christ?"
c. Example #1 of The Revelation of Christ in the Old Testament—Heb 11:24-26 “…By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt…”
d. Example #2 of The Revelation of Christ in the Old Testament Job’s Vision of the Eternal Christ—Job 19:25-27 “…For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
(1) Most scholars believed that Job lived in the times of Abraham—several hundred years before Moses.
(2) How could Job know about the Redeemer—How could Job know that the Redeemer would be God Incarnate—God the Son? There are some liberal theologians around today who read the Bible from cover to cover and can’t figure out that Jesus is God! Job had no Bible!
(3) The answer has to be, because there is no other answer, that God revealed to Job sufficient information for Job to have faith in what God was going to do. Job did not know the all details, though he knew a lot more than others, but Job believed in God's promise of redemption, because God had apparently revealed it to him in some way.
(4) Salvation doesn't just happen. This is really much the same way that it is even now, in New Testament times. God reveals the Truth about His Son to people so they can decide to trust in Christ Jesus: Mat 16:15-17, Mat 11:25-27
e. The answer line in the question of salvation for all times is this: The only way of salvation was always salvation by Grace through Faith.
(1) The Law was a parenthesis in the history of God's dealings with the human race. Grace, which was the only way of eternal salvation even in times of Law, was the heart of the covenant with Abraham, which came 400 years before the law!
(2) Gal 3:17 “…And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise…”
(3) Old Testament believers were justified by faith, just like New Testament believers.
(4) The main difference being that we look back to something God has done (the sacrifice of Christ on the cross), and they looked ahead to God's promise of redemption (which was fulfilled in the Cross).
(5) But How can the Cross (viewed as future to the OT saints) have taken care of their sins? Because God is outside of time, and He is not restricted to time—However, far more important than even that concept is this—what God has promised will come to pass.
3. God was just and righteous in forgiving the Old Testament Saints—“… This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ..”
a. To demonstrate His justice, God made the sacrifice of His Son public, for all to see.
b. This—What is “this?”
(1) The entire plan of God laid out in Rom 3:19-25
(2) “This” is the righteousness of God apart from the Law, which the prophets had given witness to.
(3) “This” Righteousness is gained through faith in Christ.
(4) “This” is God’s whole plan of salvation as a gift by Grace through faith in Jesus
(5) “This” is the blood sacrifice, the propitiation, the sacrifice that turns wrath aside, which is received by faith.
c. “…To show God’s righteousness…”
(1) God is Holy
(2) God never condones sin—sin is an abomination to God
(3) In order to be true to Himself, God does not forgive capriciously—sin must be dealt with. Either the sinner must die or a substitute must die.
(4) In forgiving us, God has taken care of sin, it has been dealt with, all debts have been paid.
(5) Even in that, God was gracious, He did not have to do it that way.
(6) And, on the Cross, God is declaring to the world that He is dealing with sin, that He is righteous and Just—Exo 34:6-7
d. “…Sins that are past…” The sins of the OT saints were forgiven based on what God was going to do—looking forward to the Cross
(1) God forgave Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Issac, etc.
(2) Heb 11:13 “…These all died in faith…”.
(3) God’s forgiveness has been justified in the Cross
(4) But God did not have to forgive, He forgave because of His forbearance, His merciful patience, as He Himself slowly unfolded the plan of Salvation.
4. God is Just to forgive You and I—“… 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus…”
a. What masterful language—To show, set forth, make a billboard of the fact, of God’s righteousness—remember, “angels are watching” Eph 3:10
b. “…At this time…” in the day we are in—
(1) Gal 4:4-5
(2) The Hour has come
c. His righteousness—God is righteous to forgive, God is just in His own dealings
d. Just and Justifier!!
(1) God is right, in every way—God is Just!
(2) God makes us right, in every way—He is the Justifier!
e. Of him which believeth in Jesus …
(1) The “Sin Question” was settled at the Cross, but only for those who believe.
(2) Again, the Cross does not take effect in anyone’s life until they believe.
5. Applications—
a. For the believer—your sins are paid for! You are free, free, free!
b. For the unbeliever—a great debt hangs over your head, you owe a debt you cannot possibly pay.
c. For the convicted sinner—the way of the cross leads home!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Propitiation—How We Escape God’s Wrath
Rom 3:25
--A problem every lost person has—God has wrath toward them
1. What is propitiation?
a. Propitiation means “…a sacrifice that satisfies God’s justice and turns away God’s wrath…”
b. Old Testament—the place of the application of blood sacrifice was the “kapporeth,” or Mercy Seat.
(1) The word only refers to the Mercy Seat, the gold covered lid of the Ark of the Covenant
(2) (Exo 25:17-22) ""You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold… 21 "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. 22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel."
c. New Testament—
(1) the term “propitiation” is conveyed to us by three terms which are from the same root word, and which reinforce each other’s meaning and impact
(2) Hilasterion—
(a) The Place where the sacrifice is applied—Heb 9:4 “… the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…”
(b) The sacrifice that turns wrath aside. (Rom 3:25) "whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,"
(3) Hilaskomai (verb infinitive—to make propitiation)—(Heb 2:17) "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
(a) Who are His “brethren” here? All mankind—the reason Christ had to come as a man was so He could be the Priest and Sacrifice
(4) Hilasmos—
(a) (1 John 2:1-2) "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
(b) (1 John 4:10) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
d. Look at these contexts!
(1) Ex 25:17-22, the Mercy Seat of God—where God and the Mediator meet to achieve reconciliation for the people and satisfaction for God’s offended Holiness and his violate law, and where the reconciliation centers in the blood of the sacrifice applied to the mercy seat
(2) Rom 3:24-25—The fullest revelation of the doctrines of salvation, that we are Justified as a gift by Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and that God’s righteous wrath against sin is satisfied by God’s own actions.
(3) Hebrews 2:17—the Incarnation—Why is it that the Mediator had to be of Godly blood
(4) 1 John 2:1-2—The extent of God’s salvation plan, that the propitiation is (potentially) for the whole world.
(5) 1 John 4:10—The love of God is evidenced by His Propitiation, as His Love for sinners motivates Him to make propitiation by the sacrifice of His Son.
2. But, Does God Have Wrath?
a. Many in our day reject that God has wrath—but to do so, they have to erase a lot of Bible verses.
b. The Extremes rule—Most people deny the wrath of God to a degree, no matter what their theological persuasion
(1) Why do lost, unchurched people usually reject divine wrath?
(a) Denial of a reality they cannot face
(b) Their thoughts are unified and allied with evolution—if there is no God, there is ultimately no accountability
(2) Various viewpoints among the professedly believing church.
(a) Ignore wrath and preach only "love"
(b) Ignore love and preach only wrath...
(c) Balance is required, but not often present!
c. We can only understand the wrath of God in the light of His love
(1) Wrath is not the central attribute of God—that is His Holiness (Isa 6:3) "And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"" (Rev 4:8
(2) Wrath is not the defining attribute of God—Love defines God.... ("God is Love....") God Is Love, but God Has wrath. (1 John 4:8) "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
(3) God does not delight in wrath, or its effects—
(a) (Ezek 33:11) ""Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. …'
(b) (Mat 23:37) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! …”
(4) BUT, Divine Wrath is the right and natural result of sinful rebellion against the Thrice-Holy God of Isaiah 6
(a) God is just and Holy and righteous—
(i) (Dan 9:14) ""… for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does...”
(ii) (Psa 99:9) "Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy."
(b) We are rebels against Him and His Law
d. Facts About Divine Wrath
(1) Divine wrath hangs over the head of the man or woman who does not believe in Christ—(John 3:36) ""He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.""
(2) The revelation of Divine Wrath is central to the theme of salvation—(Rom 1:18) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…”
(3) The wrath of God required the blood of Christ to turn wrath aside—(Rom 5:9) "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
(4) As natural born sinners, ,we are “children of Wrath—(Eph 2:3) "among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
(5) But it is God Himself who delivers us from His own wrath—(1 Th 1:10) "and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
(6) God’s plan for us is salvation, nor wrath—(1 Th 5:9) "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
(7) Those who reject Christ in this age will face Him on That Day in another way entirely—(Rev 6:16-17) "and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?""
(8) Though the devil will deceive some people into thinking it is not real, that cannot change the fact that the Wrath of God against sin is a vital part of the Gospel—(Eph 5:6) "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."
e. Wrath teaches us why people need salvation
(1) Wrath helps us appreciate God's Grace and Mercy to us
(2) Wrath is vital if we are to understand the Cross
(a) The Holiness and Justice of God require that He deal with sin—If He does not deal with sin, He denies His own law.
(b) The Wrath of God is the natural result of Holiness offended.
(c) But the love and mercy of God toward the human race are so great that He would rather pour His wrath out on His own Son than on us.
3. God Authored the Cross—25 “…Whom God hath set forth…”
a. There is a popular concept among some people that the Cross was “Plan B,” However, the Bible teaches otherwise. The Cross was the only plan from before the creation of the world.
(1) Jesus was not tragically captured, tried and slain because of any lack of power in Him, He was no martyr—Jesus laid down His life—Jn 10:16-18
(2) He was in control of events, He had to power to escape—John 18:4-6, Mat 26:52-54, but He did not
b. Whom God….
(1) Planned by God—1 Pet 1:18-20, Rev 13:8
(2) Arranged by God, Carried out at God’s command —Acts 4:24-28
(3) The actions of the Trinity—Heb 9:14
(4) Jesus Laid down his life—John 10:18
(1 Cor 2:8) "which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
c. Whom God hath set forth…
(1) Placarded—The Father exposed the sacrifice to public view—John 3:14, John 12:32
(2) Demonstrated to the world—God set forth His Son—He made a public spectacle of Jesus, and in this we can see both His love, and His hatred of sin.
(3) God loves us so much, and God hates sin so much, that He sacrificed His Son to atone for it
d. The Cross was a propitiation— “…Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation…
e. Propitiation becomes effective only when we believe—“….through faith in his blood…”
(1) Only through faith—there is no propitiation for unbelievers.
(2) Lost people die in their sins—John 8:24, Rev 20:12, Rev 21:7-8, Rev 22:15
(3) Only through faith in His blood sacrifice are our sins paid for.
(a) You must believe
(b) There is no inherited salvation
(c) You must believe in His blood sacrifice—there is no salvation in bloodless “Christianity…”
--A problem every lost person has—God has wrath toward them
1. What is propitiation?
a. Propitiation means “…a sacrifice that satisfies God’s justice and turns away God’s wrath…”
b. Old Testament—the place of the application of blood sacrifice was the “kapporeth,” or Mercy Seat.
(1) The word only refers to the Mercy Seat, the gold covered lid of the Ark of the Covenant
(2) (Exo 25:17-22) ""You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold… 21 "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. 22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel."
c. New Testament—
(1) the term “propitiation” is conveyed to us by three terms which are from the same root word, and which reinforce each other’s meaning and impact
(2) Hilasterion—
(a) The Place where the sacrifice is applied—Heb 9:4 “… the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…”
(b) The sacrifice that turns wrath aside. (Rom 3:25) "whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,"
(3) Hilaskomai (verb infinitive—to make propitiation)—(Heb 2:17) "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
(a) Who are His “brethren” here? All mankind—the reason Christ had to come as a man was so He could be the Priest and Sacrifice
(4) Hilasmos—
(a) (1 John 2:1-2) "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
(b) (1 John 4:10) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
d. Look at these contexts!
(1) Ex 25:17-22, the Mercy Seat of God—where God and the Mediator meet to achieve reconciliation for the people and satisfaction for God’s offended Holiness and his violate law, and where the reconciliation centers in the blood of the sacrifice applied to the mercy seat
(2) Rom 3:24-25—The fullest revelation of the doctrines of salvation, that we are Justified as a gift by Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and that God’s righteous wrath against sin is satisfied by God’s own actions.
(3) Hebrews 2:17—the Incarnation—Why is it that the Mediator had to be of Godly blood
(4) 1 John 2:1-2—The extent of God’s salvation plan, that the propitiation is (potentially) for the whole world.
(5) 1 John 4:10—The love of God is evidenced by His Propitiation, as His Love for sinners motivates Him to make propitiation by the sacrifice of His Son.
2. But, Does God Have Wrath?
a. Many in our day reject that God has wrath—but to do so, they have to erase a lot of Bible verses.
b. The Extremes rule—Most people deny the wrath of God to a degree, no matter what their theological persuasion
(1) Why do lost, unchurched people usually reject divine wrath?
(a) Denial of a reality they cannot face
(b) Their thoughts are unified and allied with evolution—if there is no God, there is ultimately no accountability
(2) Various viewpoints among the professedly believing church.
(a) Ignore wrath and preach only "love"
(b) Ignore love and preach only wrath...
(c) Balance is required, but not often present!
c. We can only understand the wrath of God in the light of His love
(1) Wrath is not the central attribute of God—that is His Holiness (Isa 6:3) "And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"" (Rev 4:8
(2) Wrath is not the defining attribute of God—Love defines God.... ("God is Love....") God Is Love, but God Has wrath. (1 John 4:8) "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
(3) God does not delight in wrath, or its effects—
(a) (Ezek 33:11) ""Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. …'
(b) (Mat 23:37) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! …”
(4) BUT, Divine Wrath is the right and natural result of sinful rebellion against the Thrice-Holy God of Isaiah 6
(a) God is just and Holy and righteous—
(i) (Dan 9:14) ""… for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does...”
(ii) (Psa 99:9) "Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy."
(b) We are rebels against Him and His Law
d. Facts About Divine Wrath
(1) Divine wrath hangs over the head of the man or woman who does not believe in Christ—(John 3:36) ""He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.""
(2) The revelation of Divine Wrath is central to the theme of salvation—(Rom 1:18) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…”
(3) The wrath of God required the blood of Christ to turn wrath aside—(Rom 5:9) "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
(4) As natural born sinners, ,we are “children of Wrath—(Eph 2:3) "among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
(5) But it is God Himself who delivers us from His own wrath—(1 Th 1:10) "and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
(6) God’s plan for us is salvation, nor wrath—(1 Th 5:9) "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
(7) Those who reject Christ in this age will face Him on That Day in another way entirely—(Rev 6:16-17) "and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?""
(8) Though the devil will deceive some people into thinking it is not real, that cannot change the fact that the Wrath of God against sin is a vital part of the Gospel—(Eph 5:6) "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."
e. Wrath teaches us why people need salvation
(1) Wrath helps us appreciate God's Grace and Mercy to us
(2) Wrath is vital if we are to understand the Cross
(a) The Holiness and Justice of God require that He deal with sin—If He does not deal with sin, He denies His own law.
(b) The Wrath of God is the natural result of Holiness offended.
(c) But the love and mercy of God toward the human race are so great that He would rather pour His wrath out on His own Son than on us.
3. God Authored the Cross—25 “…Whom God hath set forth…”
a. There is a popular concept among some people that the Cross was “Plan B,” However, the Bible teaches otherwise. The Cross was the only plan from before the creation of the world.
(1) Jesus was not tragically captured, tried and slain because of any lack of power in Him, He was no martyr—Jesus laid down His life—Jn 10:16-18
(2) He was in control of events, He had to power to escape—John 18:4-6, Mat 26:52-54, but He did not
b. Whom God….
(1) Planned by God—1 Pet 1:18-20, Rev 13:8
(2) Arranged by God, Carried out at God’s command —Acts 4:24-28
(3) The actions of the Trinity—Heb 9:14
(4) Jesus Laid down his life—John 10:18
(1 Cor 2:8) "which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
c. Whom God hath set forth…
(1) Placarded—The Father exposed the sacrifice to public view—John 3:14, John 12:32
(2) Demonstrated to the world—God set forth His Son—He made a public spectacle of Jesus, and in this we can see both His love, and His hatred of sin.
(3) God loves us so much, and God hates sin so much, that He sacrificed His Son to atone for it
d. The Cross was a propitiation— “…Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation…
e. Propitiation becomes effective only when we believe—“….through faith in his blood…”
(1) Only through faith—there is no propitiation for unbelievers.
(2) Lost people die in their sins—John 8:24, Rev 20:12, Rev 21:7-8, Rev 22:15
(3) Only through faith in His blood sacrifice are our sins paid for.
(a) You must believe
(b) There is no inherited salvation
(c) You must believe in His blood sacrifice—there is no salvation in bloodless “Christianity…”
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