Our Security in The Lord

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-29-2024

Psalm 124

 

Introduction.

A.  Psalm 124 is another “Song of Degrees.”  A marching Psalm to be sung by God’s people while traveling to Jerusalem on the Feast Days (Exodus 23:14-17 Unleavened Bread - Feast of Harvest – Feast of Ingathering) when all males were to appear before God in Jerusalem.  These Psalms of Degrees were to encourage the people of God as the closer they got to Jerusalem, the more dangerous their plight.

 

B.  The Psalm is Davidic.  King David knew as much as anyone who ever lived about the spiritual side of warfare.  There is a physical side but there is also a spiritual side.  We have been in Deuteronomy for quite a while: the Second (Deuter) Law (onomy).  This was the last book of Moses and was a reiteration of the Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinia.  The reasons for the book were twofold:

 

1.  To make sure that this new generation that about to cross Jordan knew what God gave to Israel through the mediation of Moses.

 

2.  To teach Israel to learn to worship before they went to war.

 

3.  Look at the beginning of verse one.  “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side!”  

 

4.  Look at the beginning of verse two.  “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side!”

 

5.  May these verses press to our hearts the truth set forth in these two verses!

 

C.  Now, look at the last four words of verse one.  “NOW may Israel say!”  Not “Israel said” but “NOW may Israel say!”  An important truth is found here in the use of the present tense instead of the past tense.  Israel should have responded in the day of trouble instead of David responding in retrospect.

 

D.  Have you ever thought what it would be like if the LORD was not on our side? What a horrible scenario!  What if the LORD was not on our side?  Our position in war with our spiritual enemies would be deplorable.  The world has no idea of what the LORD means to the child of God.  That He is with us; that He is among us; that He is for us.

 

1.  He is there to assist us.

 

2.  He is there to support us.

 

3.  He is there to supply us.

 

4.  He is there to strengthen us.

 

5.  He is there to shelter us.

 

6.  He is there to settle us.

 

7.  He is there to secure us.

 

E.  With the LORD on our side, we have nothing to fear!  No one to be afraid of!  No mountain too high to climb!  No problem too complex to figure out!  No enemy or war too big to conquer!

 

Isaiah 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

 

F.  He is our Friend.  He is our Captain.  He is our King. He is our High Priest.  He is our Intercessor.  He is our Advocate.  He is all that we need and everything that we are not! 

 

G.  This is what this Psalm is all about.  “NOW may Israel say!”

 

1.  It is important to know that the LORD is on our side in the present instead of seeing that He was on our side in retrospect!

 

2.  Someone once said that hindsight was 20/20, but I have found that often looking back still doesn’t get the right perspective.

 

H.  It is of the utmost importance that we have a right perspective of the protection of God before we begin to war.

 

1.  There is Positional Protection - 1 John 4:15-16  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  (16)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

 

Nothing can touch us without touching Him!

 

Colossians 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

2.  There is Personal Protection - 1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

 

“Beloved, Now are we the sons of God!”

 

3.  There is Providential Protection - Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

 

Whatever comes is ordained or allow of God.

 

J.  What if God was not on our side when men rose up against us?  Verses 2-5:

 

1.  Verse 3.  They would have “swallowed us up quick!”  You and I would have no hope in this world without the LORD on our side.  The battle would be over in a heartbeat!

 

2.  Verse 4.  The waters would have overwhelmed us both physically (overwhelmed us) and spiritually (over our soul).

 

3.  Verse 5.  “The PROUD waters had gone over our soul.”  Doubt would turn into Discouragement and Discouragement into Defeat! 

 

4.  Without the LORD on our side, the Foundation of our Faith upon which all things are built would Fail! 

 

Psalms 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

 

K.  BUT the LORD is on our side, “NOW may Israel say!”

 

1.  Verse 6.  “Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.”  God would not allow Satan’s crowd to take His children down!  When a shepherd boy named David faced the giant, Goliath:

 

1 Samuel 17:45-47  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (46)  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  (47)  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

 

2.  Verse 7.  “Our soul escaped … and we are escaped.”  Notice with me that the LORD allowed Israel to escape spiritual destruction as well as physical destruction.

 

Ephesians 6:10-12  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  (11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

3.  Verse 8.  “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”  Virtually the same wording as Psalm 121, another “’Song of Degrees:”

 

Psalms 121:1-8  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  (2)  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.  (3)  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  (4)  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  (5)  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.  (6)  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.  (7)  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.  (8)  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

 

L.  “If it had not been the LORD” is a sobering thought.  Where would we be tonight had not the LORD been there with us and on our side.  “Nevertheless I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” is a promise that our Lord Jesus Christ will certainly keep!

 

Hebrews 13:5-6  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  (6)  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

M.  Our strength is not in the “arm of flesh” but our strength in the Lord God and in the power of His might!

Our Security in Christ: Eternal Life - Just How Secure Are You?

Temple Baptist Church - 12-3-2023

Romans 8:31-39

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Romans, chapter 8, is a very personal and powerful chapter. 

 

1.  It sets forth our Position in Christ.  “No condemnation”

 

2.  It sets forth our Purpose in Christ. “We are debtors”

 

3.  It sets forth our Promise in Christ.  “The glory which shall be revealed in us”

 

4.  It sets forth our Partner in Christ.  “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities”

 

5.  It sets forth our Predestination in Christ.  “Conformed to the image of His Son”

 

B.  In verses 31-35, we find a series of questions asked and answered.  The answer to each of these questions is the Lord!

 

1.  Verse 31.  Question.  “What shall we then say to these things?” 

 

Answer.  It is the Lord who is for us.  “If God be for us, who can be against us?”  “How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

 

2.  Verse 33.  Question.  It is the Lord who justifies us.  “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?” 

 

Answer.  “It is the Lord that justifieth.” 

 

3.  Verse 34.  Question.  It is the Lord who intercedes for us.  “Who is he that condemneth?” 

 

Answer.  It is the Lord who intercedes for us.  “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

 

4.  Verse 35.  Question.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

 

Answer.  It is the Lord who keeps us.  Verses 35-39

 

C.  I will not answer all these questions this morning but want to zero in on the last question asked in verse 35.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

 

1.  This portion of Scripture settles the question: “Can a saved person ever be lost?”  Most people, including believers, use the phrases “eternal security” or “once saved, always saved.” 

 

2.  I personally use the phrase “eternal life” which can be found in your bible.  Learn to use biblical terminology when explaining biblical concepts.  Then, you can give them the exact words which are found in your bible.

 

D.  The age-old argument – Is salvation eternal life or a probation period that may end in eternal life if the believer holds out and endures to the end.  There are those who maintain that salvation is by grace through faith but can then later be lost through certain sins or failure to endure.

 

1.  This heretical teaching denies the fullness of eternal salvation.  When you get saved, you have eternal life – it is either eternal or it is not.  Not sure what it is about eternal that people fail to understand.  Eternal can have no end, either in time nor salvation.

 

2.  This heretical teaching “colors” sin by teaching that some sin will cost you eternal life while others only bring about chastening.  

 

a)  Adam plunged the entire world into sin by simply eating the forbidden fruit.  He did not kill, commit adultery, turn his back on God.  He simply loved his wife and disobeyed God’s command.

 

b)  The wages of sin (singular) is death.  Sin is singular but wages is plural.  Here we find the same principle found in Proverbs 16:25.

 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  (Every human can have a wrong way but the end of all wrong ways is still death.)

 

3.  This heretical teaching of maintaining ones salvation glorifies man through his obedience to God instead of glorifying God.  Man is saved by grace, but is now kept by his personal holiness, whereby he—through human merit—can claim that he is now fit for Heaven.

 

4.  This heretical teaching denies such plain scriptures concerning sin as:  Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10, etc.  Man is sinful at his best and certainly not worthy of Heaven.

 

E.   Salvation is both unmerited and eternal.  The words “For I am persuaded” are found in verse 38.  Persuaded means that someone or something has totally convinced someone else as to the absolute truthfulness of a subject.

 

F.  God’s people sometimes feel like they are separated from the Lord by        surrounding circumstances or personal failures.  What does God say about it?

 

1.  Things Of Earth Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 35-36

 

a.  Troubles cannot separate us from the Love of God - Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  (Troubles bring us closer to the Lord - Does Jesus care?  I know He cares!)

 

b.  Distress cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

 

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (The Lord gives peace in distress)

 

c.  Persecution cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (Godliness brings persecution)

 

d.  Famine cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  (Necessities bring dependence)

 

Matthew 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.

 

e.  Nakedness cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  (It is not what you have or wear, but Who you know)

 

f.  Peril cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, n perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

 

Matthew 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Psalms 18:6  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. (It is then that we call upon the Lord)

 

g.  Swords cannot separate us from the Love of God - Hebrews 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

 

Revelation 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

 

NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!

 

2.  Death and Life Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38a

 

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

Philippians 1:23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 

3.  Things Unseen Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38b

 

Luke 22:31-32  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

John 17:11, 15  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

 

4.  Things Present Nor Things To Come Can Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38c

Psalms 78:36-39  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

 

5.  Nothing Else Can Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 39

 

a.  Past things are covered by His Blood.

 

b.  Present things are covered by His Blood.

 

c.  Future things are covered by His Blood.

 

How Secure Are We?  Eternally Secure, Praise The Lord!