Jesus’ Doctrine

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-25-2024

John 18:19-22

Introduction:

 

A. As we continue with the night of our Lord’s betrayal, we find that Annas put Him into the hands of Caiaphas, then Caiaphas sent Him to the Judgment Hall where He was under the authority of Pontius Pilate, the Procurator of Judea and Governor of the East.

B. Procurator means “proxy”: the authority to represent someone else, authorized to act on behalf on their behalf. Rome, the last of the world empires, ruled the entirety of the known world. Pilate had almost complete power in the Nation of Israel.

 

C. In our text, Jesus is still sitting in the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas, who in verse 19, asked two things of Christ:

 

1. Caiaphas asked Christ of His Disciples.

 

a) This was a necessary question to ask as when there was an insurrection of any kind, all that had a part in the insurrection had to be punished along with its leadership.

 

b) Christ did not even address this portion of His questioning as Calvary had nothing to do with Christ’s disciples, but they would suffer a martyr’s death after Christ’s resurrection with the exception of John the Beloved. I could preach Divine Protection of God’s people, but I want to concentrate of the second portion of Pilate’s question tonight.

 

c) In the Lord’s prayer in John, chapter 17, He said that He had kept His disciples and had lost none of them other than Judas Iscariot, the betrayer.

 

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

 

John 18:7-9 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. (8) Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: (9) That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

 

2. Caiaphas then asked Christ of His Doctrine. The Lord answered this question. Christ answered in this way:

 

“Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. (John 18:20-21)

 

Doctrine defined:

 

a) In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles. The doctrines of Plato are the principles which he taught. Hence a doctrine may be true or false; it may be a mere tenet or opinion.

 

b) The act of teaching. Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

 

c) Learning; knowledge. Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

 

d) Biblically defined: διδαχή didachē did-akh-ay' – instruction, the act or matter of teaching. Doctrine comes from a root word meaning to teach but also to learn. Disciples were learners!

 

e) Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines Doctrine in this manner:

 

1) In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles. The doctrines of Plato are the principles which he taught. Hence a doctrine may be true or false; it may be a mere tenet or opinion.

 

2) The act of teaching. Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

 

3) Learning; knowledge. Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

 

D. Jesus’ answer to the question of Doctrine:

 

John 18:19-22 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. (20) Jesus answered him, (1) I spake openly to the world; (2) I ever taught in the synagogue, (3) and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. (21) Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. (22) And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

 

E. Jesus’ Doctrine was a thing of general knowledge as He preached it to His disciples, the world, in the synagogues, and the temple.

 

F. What did Jesus preach to them? I will not try to examine everything that Jesus preached to them in 3 ½ years but will look at just a few.

 

1. The Doctrine of Incarnation!

 

a. Jesus’ Past - John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

b. Jesus’ Present - John 1:10-14 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

2. Jesus’ Person - John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (57) Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

 

The seven “I Am’s” of Christ.

 

Jesus identified Himself as Jehovah God; the great I AM THAT I AM.

 

Thus, Jesus’s equality with the God the Father which infuriated the Jews.

 

John 10:30-32 I and my Father are one. (31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (32) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

 

3. Jesus’ Propitiation - John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 18:12-14 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, (13) And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. (14) Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

 

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

4. Jesus’ Purpose - John 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (33) This he said, signifying what death he should die.

 

Christ Jesus came into this world, not to condemn the lost, but to save sinners. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

5. Jesus’ People - John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God …

 

Conclusion: All these things were common knowledge by the Jews because Jesus had preached these things to them openly.

The Blessing of the House of God

Temple Baptist Church - 9-22-2024

Psalm 122

 

Introduction: 

 

Psalms 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

A.  Psalm 122 is another of the Song of Degrees written by King David.  It is a traveling Psalm that inclines upward.  The relationship between the believer and the local church is an upward one.  The older we get in the Lord the more that we should realize the importance of going to church.  A little bit of heaven on earth!

 

B.  This verse is one of the most important ones in the New Testament.

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  “Not forsaking” is not as admonition to the faithful but an admonition to the unfaithful.  “And so much the more” shows the importance of what we are doing today.

 

2.  Psalm 122 is a Psalm of the faithful.

 

C.  Those who love and are faithful to God’s House are neither sad no mad.  They are Glad!  Glad, Sad, or Mad?  So many people only attend church either regularly of irregularly because they either think that they have to or, in the case of young people, because they have to!  Everyone here tonight fits into one of these categories.

 

D.  In verse 1, King David shows excitement, enthusiasm, and eagerness when someone comes to him and announces that it is time to go to church!  King David, a man who has everything and anything that he desired.

 

E.  In verse 1, we find the thrill of going to church that most people know nothing about.  “I was glad!”  “Let’s Go!”

 

F.  Going to church is very special to Barbara and me.  We became like kids with a new toy!  I want to say that in a right way because for the first time in our lives, we were excited about church.  It was something new though we had been raised in church.  It was different than before.  We have built our lives around the local church over the past 48 years.  And, Yes, going to church is also an act of discipline but not one of drudgery. 

 

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

~ Samuel Smiles

 

G.  Hebrews 10:22-25 are possibly the most quoted verses concerning church attendance and have been often preached in the negative. 

 

Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  Verse 22.  It is a place that gives assures us.  “with a true heart in full assurance of faith”  Going to church does not save us but faithfulness to church certainly assures us!

 

2.  Verse 23.  It is a place that stabilizes us.  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering”

 

3.  Verse 24.  It is a place that provokes us. “to provoke unto love and to good works”

 

4.  Verse 25.  It is a place that encourages us.  “exhorting one another”

 

Psalms 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

H.  We love our church!  We love our people!  What a privilege it is to be able to come to church!  What a blessing it is to be able to come to church!  What a benefit it is to be able to come to church!  The importance of faithful, happy attendance is both important and beneficial to our lives.

 

J.  A beautiful breakdown of Psalm 122:

 

1.  In verse 1, we find Gladness.  “I was glad”

 

2.  In verse 2, we find Stability.  “shall stand”

 

3.  In verse 3, we find Fellowship.  “compact together”

 

4.  In verse 4, we find Worship.  “give thanks unto the name of the LORD”

 

5.  In verse 5, we find Teaching.  “judgment”

 

6.  In verse 6, we find Love.  “that love thee”

 

7.  In verses 7-8, we find Prosperity.  “Prosperity”

 

8.  In verses 7-8, we find Peace. “Peace be within thy walls … peace be within thee”

Let Us Not Be Weary in Well Doing - Part 3

Temple Baptist Church - 9-22-2024

Galatians 6:1-10

 

Introduction:

A.  Over the past couple of weeks, we have been exploring the importance of our context as it speaks of three states of believers.  The key word of our context is the word “Brethren!” 

 

Galatians 6:1  Brethren …

 

2 Thessalonians 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

 

1.  Paul writes to and about saved people when he classifies them as:  Carnal, Spiritual, and Weary in well doing.

 

2.  I believe that the Bible teaches that there are degrees in each:

 

a) Carnal – you do not get overtaken in one step but there is a process of decline that leads to it.

 

b)  Weary – you do not just suddenly for from spiritual to weary, thus a process of slow decline.

 

c)  Spiritual – not everyone is an Apostle Paul, though we can be such, but there is a slow spiritual growth involved. 

 

3.  If God only used a Paul or Peter, then He would have very few to work with.  So, if you and I are not a Paul or Peter, we can still be used of God in His work.

 

B.  Everyone of us fits into one of these three categories.  It is not up to me to determine where each of you fit into these verses.  It is up to me to determine where I am this morning.

 

C.  Life is hard and full of disappointments and discouragements.  Then, we live in the days of “fat bodies and lean souls.”  But God’s grace and strength are still available!

 

D.  We have discussed the carnal believer.  He is in an ALMOST helpless condition.  There are exceptions who see their condition, repent and get back right with God, but these are the few and not the majority.  The majority of carnal believers need a little help from their friends and brethren to recover.

 

E.  We have discovered the “weary in well doing.”  This believer is slowing down then slipping down then stumbling down then falling.  He/she will eventually become the carnal believer overtaken in a fault if this state is not corrected.

 

F.  Now, let us look at the context.  Who is the Apostle Paul speaking to?  Not the carnal or already getting weary believers, but the spiritual believers.  He is warning of the possibilities of slipping, stumbling, and falling while helping them to guard their spiritual state.

 

G.  Now, you may not think that you are spiritual this morning. 

 

1.  I have often said that I never met a spiritual person who thought that he or she was spiritual! 

 

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

2.  Why?  Because the more you give up of this world and get closer to God, the more that you see the things in your life that need to be corrected.  The closer to the Light the brighter the Light the more dirt becomes apparent.

 

3.  When we think that we are somebody, we become nobody.  When we think that we are nobody, we become somebody because it is then that we rely upon Christ and Christ alone.

 

H.  Spiritual is a descriptive term used for both men and women.  Who is this spiritual man or woman?  Believers who “walk in the Spirit.”  Obedient to the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

 

J.  How do they maintain spirituality? 

 

1.  By being Faithful.  Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

 

a.  We live in days of unfaithful people, both saved and lost.  People who cannot be depended upon to either be here or to serve.  Not trying to discourage you, but just stating a visible fact.

 

b.  By faithful, I mean a “steady roller” as we used to say in the mines.  These were always there on the job.  Some say that the greatest assets of an individual are availability and dependability.

 

2.  By being Busy.  Luke 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

a.  Two things are found in this verse:  “having put his hand to the plough” and not “looking back.”  Spiritual believers are busy “ploughing!” 

 

1)  A spiritual believer is one that Ploughs.  Interesting term because ploughing is tilling the ground.  In the parable of the Sower, we see four types of ground that produce different “fruit.”

 

2)  There was only one ground that produced and that was “good ground,” ground that was prepared by someone who ploughed it.  One sows, one waters, and God is able to give the increase.

 

3)  The work of the Lord is multifaceted and needs everyone to do his or her part in ploughing the field of the world!  Who will go and work in God’s vineyard today?

 

b.  A spiritual believer is one that is Purposed.  He or she has their eyes on the Point. 

 

1)  Ploughing straight furrows in long fields requires one to pick a point in the distance and keep their eyes on the point.  The purpose is to plough straight furrows!

 

2)  The Point of the spiritual believer is the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we keep our eyes on Him, we will plough right.  When we get our eyes off Him, we plough crooked rows. 

 

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

3.  By being a Sower!  Not to sow right is to end up in one of the other two spiritual conditions found in our text: overtaken in a fault or weary in well doing. 

 

a.  The Direction Of Sowing – 8  “To the Spirit” 

 

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

 

The inward fruit of the Spirit is a result to sowing to the Spirit.  Hearing him speak in a “small still voice” that only the child of God can recognize.

 

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 

b.  The Desire Of Sowing – 8  “Shall of the Spirit reap” 

 

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

 

Sowing to the Spirit is a desire live for Christ and not the world.  Being heavenly minded and of much earthly good.

 

John 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

 

c.  The Dividends Of Sowing - 8  “Life everlasting” 

 

Galatians 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

 

Sowing to the Spirit is trading the temporal for the eternal, the corruptible for the incorruptible.

 

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

Matthew 6:19-20  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  (20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 

d.  The Discipline Of Sowing - 9 “Let us not be weary ... faint not” 

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

 

Sowing to the Spirit takes spiritual discipline which brings about spiritual integrity which brings about spiritual character.  Living for Christ is a hard road and one less often traveled.

 

e.  The Dereliction Of Sowing - 9          “Weary in well doing

 

James 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

 

Sowing to the Spirit is often hard and lonesome.  Many get tired along the way.

 

Isaiah 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

f.  The Duty Of Sowing – 10  “Good unto all men ... especially ... household of faith”

 

1 John 3:13-19  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.