Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Safeguards of Purity

Temple Baptist Church - 12-10-2014
1 John 3:1-3
 
 
Introduction:
 
A.  We could all agree that the condition of our nation has continued in serious decline over the past century.  Morality is at an all time low; national pride is at an all time low; everything is in a constant condition of decay.
 
B.  We could all agree that the effect of this decline has affected us all to some degree.  We are constantly bombarded in a satanic war of attrition. 
 
C.  We could all agree could all agree that the Lord could come at any moment.  The world’s condition along with the spiritual decline of just the last 14 years is indicative of the fulfillment of prophecy.
 
D.  Our day is prophesied and described as:
 
1.  Days of Sinfulness:
 
a)  The days of Noe or Noah - Matthew 24:37-39  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 
b).  The days of Lot - Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
 
Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
 
2.   Days of Deception - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
 
3.  Days of Spiritual Peril - 2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
 
4.  Days of Apathy - Revelation 3:14-16  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
 
E.  Within our text for tonight lie some safeguards that will help us to remain pure:
 
1.  Safeguard #1 – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us” – (Knowledge of what God did for us – His Sacrificial LoveMay we never forget the price paid for our eternal salvation!  Free but not cheap as it cost God His Son, the Son His life, and heaven it’s glory!)
 
2.  Safeguard #2 – “that we should be called the sons of God” - Knowledge of who we are – Sons of God  (We have been adopted into the most wonderful family!  Sons of God with brothers and sisters the world over.  I thank God for that.  Twice, the Song of Solomon says, “My beloved is mine, and I am his!”)
 
 
3.  Safeguard #3 – “Beloved, now are we” – (Knowledge of why we are what we are – We chose to believe and Desire Him – we desired Him over the world – we came to Christ because we chose to do so.)
 
4.  Safeguard #4 – “it doth not yet appear what we shall be” – (Knowledge of what we are to strive to be – a separate people zealous of good works.  God not only saved us from something, He saved us to something.)
 
5.  Safeguard #5 – “but we know that, when he shall appear” – (Knowledge that He could appear at any moment – Our blessed hope.  We are to be watchful for He is coming as He said and we are going home.)
 
6.  Safeguard #6 – “we shall be like Him” – (Knowledge of what we desire to be (our blessed hope) – we look forward to a world and body without sin.  We look for a city wherein dwelleth righteousness; a prepared place for a prepared people.  The song writer said , “Some call it heaven; I call it home.)
 

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