Temple Baptist Church - 7-30-2023
Jeremiah 6:16
Introduction:
A. I have often said that we live in a changing world politically, morally, socially, and—unfortunately—spiritually.
1. Not all changes are bad. Some changes in our world have been beneficial as our standard of life has been greatly enhanced.
2. But other changes are prophetic ones. “Worse and worse, falling away, lukewarm, satisfied with life outside of God and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
B. I will leave the change for the most part this morning because the Bible says it will come and I believe the Bible.
C. It is the spiritual change that I believe that God hates most. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…”
D. People are being taught that God does not mind how we live as long as we are saved. They are taught that “turning from their wicked ways” is a doctrine of the far-right conservatives and it a legalistic doctrine.
E. Jeremiah 6:16 is not a suggestion; it is not a recommendation; it is not negotiable; it is a COMMAND! God will not walk with anyone outside of the Old Paths.
1. Most people today either Reject the Old Paths or try Renovate the Old Paths into New Paths. A term often heard is “Reformed Theology”. Theology does not need to be reformed.
2. New Paths are not right paths. We MUST walk in the Old Paths which are the Right Paths which are the Only Paths that God will walk with us in!
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
3. If anything is theologically new, it is not old, and if it is not old, it is not right!
F. When the Old Paths are forsaken, God says that we are to Repent and Return. Verse 16 is not a request; it is a requirement.
1. “Stand ye” That means to not be either moved or removed.
2. “See” Make sure that you know where you are standing is right.
3. “Ask” The Old Paths are both available and knowable. They are found in your Bible if you happen to own the right one and that is King James! No exceptions.
4. “Old paths” Not the new ones of the 20th and 21st centuries. These paths are Old Paths.
5. “Where is the Good way” God’s way is not only the right way, but also the good way.
6. “And walk therein” Clear paths that are well worn through the ages by our spiritual forefathers who walked those paths and made plain to us who follow them.
7. “And ye shall find rest for your souls” How wonderful it is to know what God said and to walk with Him within His Word. We will not find rest for our souls in New Paths because they cause confusion and division.
8. “But they said, We will not walk therein.” Paths of rejection. People in our day want to change what God said, walk contrary to what God said, and think that they are right with God.
G. The Old Paths of:
1. Scripture. I neither have nor do I want a modern translation from the New Text, the wrong text, the Wescott-Hort Text: the minority text, the critical text, the Catholic text. Our Bible is the Authorized King James Bible of our forefathers.
2. Salvation. No “wink wink, nod nod, one two three—repeat after me” prayers of salvation. Our salvation is the old salvation of our forefathers. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God through the Gospel. Salvation is a heart thing; salvation is a changing thing; salvation is an eternal thing.
3. Sanctification. Our sanctification is the old sanctification of our forefathers. A life that is changed through salvation and a life that is obedient through separation from this present evil world. Sanctification is light and salt!
4. Security. Our security is the old-fashioned security of our forefathers. Security or eternal life is a hated doctrine in our day. Security is found in Christ and Christ alone! We are not good enough to get saved and if you lived a perfect life, it could not save you. Salvation is a finished work through the gospel alone. We are not good enough to remain saved as we are sinners by both birth and choice.
5. Safety. As our forefathers walked in spiritual safety, we walk in the Old Paths of spiritual safety. Life is hard at times, life is unfair at times, life is confusing at times, but “Safety is of the LORD!” Walk in the Old Paths of safety and you will find rest for your soul!
Conclusion: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” They rejected the Old Paths in Jeremiah’s day. “But they said, we will not walk therein!” But we here at Temple Baptist Church will continue to walk in the Old Paths!
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