The Cities Of Refuge – Kedesh

Temple Baptist Church - 6-5-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Introduction:

A. The Meaning Of The Cities Of Refuge

1. The Institution Of The Cities Of Refuge – God’s Sovereign Grace

2. The Interpretation Of The Cities Of Refuge – Man’s Physical Safety

3. The Importance Of The Cities Of Refuge – Saint’s Salvation In Type

4. The Implications Of The Cities Of Refuge – A Type Of Christ And Their Names Have Great Significance

B. Kadesh comes from the word “sanctum” which means to be clean or holy; to be consecrated or dedicated; to be morally pure (Christ Is Our Holiness)

1. When a man enters Christ Jesus, he then takes on the imputed righteousness of Christ.

2. This righteousness is not the goodness of man; it is the perfect, faultless righteousness of God Himself.

3. This righteousness is not a mixture of darkness and light; as God dwelleth in a light that man cannot approach unto, we—as God’s chidren—dwell in perfect light in Christ.

4. This righteousness is not a mixture of dead works and faith; it is imputed through faith alone.

5. This righteousness is certainly not a mixture of self-praise and boasting; our praise and boasting is in Christ alone.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Imputed righteousness of faith)

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

C. In today’s spiritual economy, most religions and denominations try to do right in order to be right with the Lord. Romans 9-10 spells out the spiritual blindness of Israel in light of Paul’s pray to God for their salvation. I will not read all of Romans 9:27-10:10 for sake of time but will point out a few things. These verses explain:

MAN’S RIGHTEOUSNESS VS. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

**Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1. We See The Desire of the Redeemed – vs 1 “heart’s desire and prayer … saved” (I wish for no man to die without Christ!)

2. We See The Dedication of the Religionist – vs 2 “zeal of God” (It is a shame we don’t have the same zeal!)

3. We See The Deception of the Religionist – vs 3 “ignorant of God’s righteousness”

4. We See The Dilemma of the Religionist – vs 3 “going about to establish their own righteousness”

5. We See The Damnation of the Religionist – vs 3 “have not submitted themselves”

6. We See The Deliverance of the Religionist – vs 4 “everyone that believeth”

Let Us Examine God’s Righteousness

Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Revelation 15:4a Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy

Let Us Examine Man’s Righteousness

Job Said - Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

David Said - Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Solomon Said - Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Isaiah Said - Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Peter Said - Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Paul Said - Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

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.

1. In Christ, We Have Perfect Holiness (There is no fault in us!)

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Colossians 1:20-22 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

2. In Christ, We Have Positional Holiness (Salvation is by faith!)

Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 4:5-6 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Romans 5:17-19, 21 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous…. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

3. In Christ, We Have Practical Holiness (We could not keep it!)

Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

4. In Christ, We Have Permanent Holiness (We cannot lose it!)

Ephesians 1:12-13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:10-11 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.