Is There Unrighteousness With God?

Temple Baptist Church - 9-30-2018

Romans 9:14-22

Introduction:

A.  With each of these sermons, I need to reiterate the context.  National!  It is easy to look at these verses and interpret them as “stand alone verses,” and not take them in context.  Keeping the context consistent, we rightly divide the Word of Truth.

1.  In the first message, we saw Paul’s Burden for the Nation of Israel.  Verses 1-4.

2.  We the second message, we saw God’s Special Blessings upon the National of Israel.  Verses 4-5.

3.  In the second message, we also saw God’s selection of the Nation of Israel through the fathers, Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, and the rejection of the two first born sons: Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and Esau, the son of Isaac.  God chose Isaac and Jacob through foreknowledge of what these men would ultimately be. 

B.  Notice the Progression of Selection.

1.  Abraham had two sons by different mothers: Hagar and Sarah.  Ishmael was the son of Abraham’s flesh and Isaac was the son of God’s Promise.  God chose the younger over the elder.

2.  Isaac had two sons by the same mother:  Esau and Jacob.  Through foreknowledge of the choices of the sons, Esau would Despise the Birthright while Jacob would Desire the Birthright, God chose the younger over the elder. 

3.  Jacob had 12 sons and became the Father of the Nation of Israel, God’s Elect Nation.

a)  Isaac, the seed through which the Promised Seed, Jesus Christ, would come.

b)  Jacob, though a supplanter, would become a man who desired the blessings of God.

C.  The context has not changed as it continues to deal with the Elect Nation of Israel.

D.  Tonight, we will look at some people mentioned in the text as they are keys to special Protection and Promises given to the Nation of Israel.

1.  God has providentially protected the Nation of Israel.  Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

2.  God has given special promises to the Nation of Israel.  Ephesians 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

1.  Verse 14.  God is not unrighteous!  Why would the Holy Spirit even ask such a thing?  Because some casual readers may think like the Calvinists, that God is some hateful, unrighteous Creator who makes some people live in hell for all eternity just because He can.  GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS!  Calvinism teaches that God is unrighteous, hateful, unloving, and a respecter of persons.  That is not the God of the Bible!

2.  Now, in our text for tonight, we will look at three more individuals.  Moses, Pharaoh, and the Potter.

3.  Verse 15.  Why is Moses mentioned in this chapter?  Because of the statement that follows: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” To fully understand what God meant when speaking this to Moses, you have to read the context in Exodus 33:12-19.

Exodus 33:12-19  And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.  (13)  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.  (14)  And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.  (15)  And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.  (16)  For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.  (17)  And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.  (18)  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  (19)  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  (God’s mercy was to the Nation of Israel.  Though they were not a perfect people, God had selected them as His nation and separated them from all other nations.  The statement quoted in Hebrews, if properly interpreted, is meant for Israel as a nation.  A peculiar people.  It is not meant to be for an individual.)

4.  Verse 16.  God’s mercy to nations is not to those who do the best or most, it is to the nation of God’s choosing.  God’s sovereign will in the selection of a nation for His own was His choice to make.

5.  Verse 17-18.  Now we find another individual, though not named.  Pharaoh was a name like Emperor that was given to the man sitting upon the throne of Egypt.  As goes the Pharaoh, so goes Egypt.  Now for a little history.

1.  Joseph was sold into bondage but ascended to the second most powerful man in Egypt.

2.  Jacob, called Israel, and family came to Egypt to live during the great famine.

3.  Joseph was 17 when he arrived in Egypt and 110 when he died.  Quickly, after the death of Joseph, a new Pharaoh came to power who feared the Nation of Israel and put the nation in bondage.

Exodus 1:7-8  And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.  (8)  Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

4.  The Nation of Israel remained in Egypt 430 years with close to 350 years in extreme bondage.

5.  The Nation cried out because of the cruelty of their taskmasters (the nation of Egypt) and God send a deliverer, Moses.

Deuteronomy 4:20  But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

6.  Nothing says that Pharaoh was reprobate from his birth, but like the other Pharaohs who kept Israel in bondage, he was a hardened man who hated Israel and Israel’s God.  God raised him up to sit upon the throne because he would not let the Nation of Israel go.  God took the heart of a hardened, wicked, God denying, Israel hating man and finalized the hardening process.

7.  This was done so that God could show His power in Protection and Promise.  God brought them out so that He could bring them into the Promised Land.

8.  Mercy upon Israel and hardening and judgement upon Egypt.

6.  Verses 19-23.  Now, off to the Potter’s House.

1.  Verse 20.  “The thing formed” is not an individual person for a nation.  “The thing formed” is now asking “him that formed it” a question, “Why hast thou made me thus?” 

2.  Verse 21.  Israel became marred upon the wheel.  Israel may have been God’s chosen people, but down through the ages they had rebelled against God, hardening their hearts against Him. He therefore had no choice but to direct His wrath against them.  An honored vessel turned into a vessel of dishonor.

Jeremiah 18:1-10  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  (2)  Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  (3)  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  (4)  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  (5)  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  (6)  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.  (7)  At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;  (8)  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.  (9)  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;  (10)  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.  (Israel would not yield to the work of God and was marred in His hand.  They have paid dearly for their rebellion.  One day, God’s Elect Nation of Israel will once again be wrought on God’s wheel as a glorious, obedient nation again.)

3.  We all have heard the song that says that He didn’t throw the clay away.  The proper interpretation is not to the individual, it is to the House of Israel!  In these verses, God is showing the setting aside of the marred vessel of Israel because of their national rejection of the Messiah (Israel still rejects Jesus Christ), while calling out a Gentile Bride.  Then, when God is ready, He will make a new vessel of the Nation of Israel.

Enemies Of The Church - Part 2 - Division

Temple Baptist Church - 9-30-2018

Ephesians 4:1-6

Introduction: 

A.  The most important unit on the face of the earth other than the family is the local church.  It is the vehicle through which God works to:

1.  Evangelize the world.

2.  Teach new convert.

3.  Edify and encourage believers.

4.  Doctrinally ground the saints.

5.  Satan hates the local assembly!  Satan hates the local church!

B.  I want to look at another great enemy of the church this morning.

1.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Satan  (Though he is a great enemy)

2.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Finances (For God is not broke)

3.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Circumstances (For it rains on the just and the unjust)

4.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is The Enemy From Within (The people who occupy the pulpits and sit upon the pews.) 

5.  The Enemy of Division.

C.  God hates division within the local church.  Much is said about both the causes and results of division in the Bible.  Satan has “devices” that he uses effectively against the believer and we are ignorant of them.  Though I do not believe that either Satan or devils can indwell the believer, I do believe that they can greatly influence their thinking and actions.

Acts 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

D.  I want to bring your attention to verse 3 for a minute.  Let us look at the verse in reverse order.

1.  Peace – One of the greatest signs of a good church is that of peace. 

a)  We have peace with God through the finished work of Christ. 

b)  We have the peace of God through obedience to Christ. 

c)  We have peace with each other through the love of Christ.

2.  Bond of peace.  A bond is something in common that binds together.  These go together with the first three points.

a)  The bond of a New Birth.  We are family!

b)  The bond of a New Life.  We are new creatures in Christ.

c)  The bond of a New Love.  John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

3.  Unity of the Spirit.  Notice the capital “S.”

a)  As the Spirit is never divided from the Trinity.

b)  The Spirit never divides us from the Brotherhood.

4.  Keep.

a)  To watch or to keep an eye upon something.  To watch for any sign of weakening or lessening. 

b)  To carefully guard.  To hold fast or keep from slipping.

4.  Endeavouring. 

a)  Eagerness or Earnestness.  Endeavouring takes desire.

b)  To diligently work at something.  Endeavouring takes effort.

E.  The results of divisions within the church. 

1.  Division Destroys The Fellowship Of The Church.  How good and how pleasant it is to come to Temple Baptist Church!  People who love each other; have fun with each other; pray for each other; and are there for each other.  (People sit on the pews of the church with malice and unforgiveness in their hearts destroy the fellowship of God’s people.)

2.  Division Destroys The Commission Of The Church.  What a great job this church has done for missions around the world.  Probably 2-3 million dollars have gone to missions over the past 31+ years.  Many souls saved around the world because of the faithfulness and faithful giving of God’s people.  (Missions has damaged churches because of gaining a family and then loosing a family through spiritual nonsense!)

3.  Division Destroys The Testimony Of The Church.  We have a church that is well respected in our community.  We do not have a bad name and people know what we stand for.  (Church fights and splits have been detrimental to the prosperity of the church, both physically and financially.)

4.  Division Destroys The Posterity Of The Church.  Psalms speaks of the assembly of the saints as a “nest” to raise children in.  (Children both see and hear the ungodliness of the parents.  It affects their spirituality and, eventually, they are lost.)

5.  Division Destroys The Worship Of The Church.  People have different views of what true worship is.  True worship is when we elevate Jesus Christ and not man.  Worship must be done in the beauty of holiness.  Worship must be done in both spirit and truth.    (God and His Holy Spirit are grieved with this division and worship is neither holy nor acceptable.)

6.  Division Destroys The Evangelism Of The Church.  People may come to a divided church, but the will not stay at one.  People who out of God’s will never win souls to Christ.  (Instead of keeping our eyes upon the harvest and doing all that we can to win souls, our time is spent in bitterness and souls are lost.)

7.  Division Hinders The Prayers Of The Saints.  One of the most important things that we do at Temple is pray.  God’s house is called “THE house of prayer.”  We pray for so many things and have so many people on our prayer lists.  Prayer must be protected.  (Malice and unforgiveness are sins and when we regard iniquity in our hearts, our prayers go unheard.)

Conclusion:  I want to read verse 3 again.

Ephesians 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Jesus Christ Is Better Than Angels

Temple Baptist Church - 9-26-2018

Hebrews 1:4-14

Introduction:

A.  I may or may not have time to finish my message tonight but, I do want to deal very thoroughly with the subject matter because of its importance.

B.  I also do not want to do a study on Angelology.     Therefore, I will make some opening remarks about angels and then contrast them with our Lord Jesus Christ.

C.  Over the past 5 or more decades, there has been a fixation with Angels.  Guardian Angel Pins, Angel on my Shoulder Pins, Angel on my Lapel Pins, Angel in my Pocket Pins, along with pictures of Guardian Angels (normally female while biblical angels always took male form).

D.  The New Testament saints also, many times, had a wrong perception of angels.

Colossians 2:18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

E.  Many of the cults venerate angels to one degree or the other.  Jehovah’s Witnesses (that Jesus Christ was the angel Michael), Mormons (the angel Moroni of which an image is sitting atop of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake, UT.  The statue normally faces East, looking for the return of Jesus Christ.).

F.  These scattered Jews were very familiar with the concept of angels.  Angels have been since the creation, in both Old and New Testament.  The word “angel” or “angels” is found 303x in 289x verses in the Bible.  Angel means “messenger.”

G.  The term “Angel of the LORD” is found 68x in 64x verses and is used in reference to a Theophany or Christophany.

H.  As time progressed, the earthly work of angels waned until the completion of the Word of God, that which is perfect.  Though not a passing gift to God’s children, the open work of angels certainly diminished.  Now, we may entertain angels unaware and they may be our ministers, we are not aware of their presence.

I.  There are an innumerable host of angels.  Hebrews 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

1.  There are named angels:  An Archangel – Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer.

2.  There are Cherubims – defenders of the holiness of God.

3.  There are Seraphims – worshippers of God.

4.  There are Fallen Angels, evil spirits.

5.  There are Guardian Angels.

6.  There are Ministering Angels.

J.  Angels have great power, great glory, and great beauty.

K.  Our text proclaims that Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels.”  Not just better but “so much better.”  Beyond our capability to understand or explain.  There can be no human comparison.

1.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” because ofInheritance.  Verse 4.   Hebrews 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (

2.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” because of Relationship.  Verse 5-6.  1 John 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

3.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” because of Worship.  Verse 6.  Revelation 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

4.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Lordship.  Verse 7-8.  Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

5.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Righteousness.  Verse 9.  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: (Angels, though they cannot be redeemed, are free moral agents with the ability to choose good or evil.)

6.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Creation.  Verse 10.  John 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (Jesus Christ was the Creator while angels were created.)

7.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Immutability.  Verse 11.  Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

8.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Eternality.  Verse 11-12.  Psalms 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.  (Jesus Christ was before all things.)

9.  Jesus Christ is “so much better than the angels” through Approval.  Verse 13.  Mark 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

God’s Son-The Messiah-Jesus Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 9-19-2018

Hebrews 1:1-4

Introduction:

A.  The way that Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, is vital to these dispersed Jews or, as Peter called them, “strangers scattered.”  It will help us to remember that the Book of Hebrews is one of the Jewish Christian Epistles.

B.  For us to get an understanding of why these first four verses are necessary, we need to remember:

1.  At the time of Hebrew’s writing, the Jews were still having problems transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.  From the Law of Moses to the fulfillment of the Law in Christ.

2.  As with most of the Jewish Nation, those who believed upon Christ had been taught that when Messiah came, He would bring peace to Israel and set up His kingdom. 

3.  The believed upon Jesus Christ as the Messiah and had to scatter for fear of persecution.  Instead of peace and the Kingdom Age, they were persecuted, displaced, and hated by both unsaved Jews who rejected Christ and the gentiles that they lived around.

C.  To understand their dilemma, I want to look at John the Baptist.

1.  John the Baptist was a second cousin to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, on His human side.  Being 6 months older that the Lord, they grew up together, so John knew Joseph, Mary, and all of the siblings.

2.  When John began his public ministry, he said, “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

3.  When God revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah, twice in two days he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

4.  In John, chapter 3, John said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.  He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

5.  I have no doubt that John the Baptist was a believer and safe in the arms of God!

6.  BUT, when persecution came to John, doubts about Christ arose in his heart.  Matthew 11:2-4  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  (3)  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  (4)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  (Notice the word “again” in verse 4.)

7.  Even John the Baptist, the greatest prophet born of woman, needed reassurance concerning Jesus Christ being the Messiah.

D.  Paul is doing the same thing that our Lord did for John the Baptist.  Reassuring these saved Jews of who Jesus Christ was before beginning the rest of the epistle.  What has this to do with us by way of application?  I fear that most of us, in times of confusion, tribulation, sinfulness, disappointment, and discouragement also have a tendency to forget who the Lord Jesus Christ is!

E.  Paul gives a vivid, 7-fold description of Jesus Christ that these believers were well acquainted with.

1.  “God’s Son” - That Jesus was the only begotten Son of God: Jehovah God or LORD God of the Old Testament.  The great “I AM.”

John 1:14  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.

Matthew 3:16-17  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:  (17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2.  “Appointed Heir” - That Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.  Christ, consecrated, anointed, the Chosen One the Promised Seed.

Ephesians 1:21-23  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  (22)  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  (23)  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

3.  “Creator” – The worlds were made by Him.

John 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16-17  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

4.  “Fullness of the Godhead Bodily” – Emmanuel, God with us.  If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.  Jesus exactly represents God to us.

John 14:9-10  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  (10)  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

5.  “The Sustainer” – Not only did Jesus create all things, He continues to control all things. 

Mark 4:39-41  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  (40)  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  (41)  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Colossians 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

5.  “The Lamb of God” – The Old Testament sacrifices atoned for sin, Jesus Christ purged our sins. 

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

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.

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.

6.  “High Priest” – Presented the Blood on the Mercy Seat of heaven.

Hebrews 7:26-27  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  (27)  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

7.  “Mediator” – Jesus Christ is all that we need.  Not only our Propitiation and Hight Priest, He is:

a.  Our Advocate – One who speaks on our behalf.  1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

b.  Our Mediator – Our Go Between, our Reconciler.  1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

c.  Our Intercessor – He prays for us.  Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Conclusion:  Paul is telling these “strangers scattered” that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, their Messiah, is all that they need.