Ignorance - Ignorance and Death

Temple Baptist Church - 9-1-2024

1 Thessalonians 4:13; Philippians 1:20-24

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to preach on “Ignorance and Death.”  Once again, we hear the words that Paul said, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” 

 

B.  Now, most of you will probably, at this point, ask the question in your mind, “Why is the pastor preaching on the subject of ignorance and death to us?”  Because none of us want to die right now.  Thinking about death is not what we do as far as the flesh goes.

 

1.  Because we do not know when we will die, and God has given us a will to live.

 

2.  Because we do not know how we will die, and not one of us wants to suffer in the process.

 

3.  Because we have no control over death but know that it is coming for all of us if the Lord does not come soon.

 

C.  Why are we thus?  Why fear to some extent of death?  Because God has not yet given to us dying grace.  Dr. Harold Sightler used to say, “God’s people die well.”  If we are sick and screaming and hollering, we are more than likely not dying.

 

D.  Paul spoke of his dilemma in Philippians, chapter 1, concerning life and death.  Interesting the way the Bible describes this.  We understand the precept of magnifying Christ in our lives but death?  Paul wanted to live like a Christian and also die like one!  We are to magnify Christ when we die.

 

Philippians 1:20-24  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  (24)  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

 

E.  I am preaching this for this reason: as most of us are vaguely familiar with what happens leading up to, during, and after death, there is also a natural fear of death that all of us have.  I say vaguely familiar with death because none of us have experienced death by walking through that valley.

 

1.  It is a valley of the shadow of death.  Death is certainly a dark place. The words “darkness” and “death” are found 13 times in your Bible.  In Biblical Numerology, 13 is the number of ill omen.

 

Job 10:21-22  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;  (22)  A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

 

2.  It is a valley that can hold great fear.  Hebrews 2:14-15  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  (15)  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

Job 24:17  For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

 

Jeremiah 2:6  Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

 

3.  An old saying goes like this:  “If I knew where I was going to die, I probably wouldn’t go there.”  I believe that this saying would apply to most of us, though we are saved.

 

4.  I have no fear of the afterlife but possibly will not enjoy the process of death.  I had just as soon go to sleep here and wake up there.  As one man said, “My brother went to sleep last night and this morning he woke up dead!”

 

5.  But, if I knew where I would die, I probably still wouldn’t purposefully go there and neither would you.  God placed within man a natural desire to live.  Our bodies are tough and will struggle against death until that final moment comes.

 

F.  Paul knew that he would continue to suffer in this life and also the gain of dying in the life to come.  Death was far better, and living was more needful.

 

G.  The gain of death far outweighs the pains of living.

 

1.  Heaven’s Person – we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.  

 

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

2.  Heaven’s Pleasure.  Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

Jude 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,

a.  No More Sea

b.  No More Tears

c.  No More Death

d.  No More Sorrow

e.  No More Pain

f.  No More Night

g.  No More Sin

 

3.  Heaven’s Place.  1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 

a.  A Place of great Purity.

 

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

Revelation 22:14-15  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 

b.  A Place of great Beauty.

 

(1)  Walls of Jasper

(2)  Gates of Pearl

(3)  Foundations of Precious Stones

(4)  Street of Transparent Gold

(5)  Palaces Of Ivory

(6)  River As Clear As Crystal

(7)  Tree Bearing 12 Manner of Fruits

(8)  Lighted By The Glory of God

 

c.  A Place of great Accommodations.  “In my Father’s house are many mansions!” 

 

4.  Heaven’s People.  They Are Blood Bought

 

Revelation 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

Conclusion:  Have no fear, my little children, death is the final enemy, and our Lord Jesus Christ tasted death for us and now awaits our coming.  What a day that will be!  

Judas Iscariot

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-21-2024

John 18:1-5

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Tonight, we will begin looking forward to the Cross of Christ.  I will take my time through these chapters as they are a wealth of information concerning what let up to the death of Christ as well as the actual crucifixion.

 

B.  Tonight, I will take a very personal look at Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed our Lord.  In verse 5 of our text, we find the words “And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.” 

 

1.  I preached a message on Judas Iscariot last January concerning his prophecy and ultimate betrayal of Christ.  I will not reproach that tonight but want to look at Judas in a more personal way.  Who was Judas Iscariot?

 

2.  Judas, one of the Twelve disciples!  There was a progression in the life of Judas that led to this point.  I will deal with his earlier years in a minute but:

 

3.  Here stood a man that was called by our Lord to be one of His closest friends and followers.

 

4.  A man who heard the very words of Christ, scrutinized His life, walked and prayed with Him, saw the great miracles He performed.  These things show me a continual hardening of his heart that brought him to the place where he “stood with them!”

 

5.  From hiding among the disciples to betrayal and openly rejecting the Lord by bringing these who would take Him to this special place and openly standing against Him.

 

6.  And, yes, Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ in fulfillment of prophecy.

 

7.  I want to take a short look at the life of Judas Iscariot and try to see what brought him to this place in life.

 

8.  The reason for this message is that many people continue to betray Christ today.  Though not to the degree Judas did, betrayal is still betrayal.  How did Judas get to this point will be the message.

 

C.  There are some who believe that judas was damned before he was born because his prophecy is found in the Old Testament of your Bible.  The Bible teaches that NO ONE is damned before they are born!

 

D.  There are many who believe that Judas Iscariot will be the resurrected Anti-Christ in the end time.  I have read a book written on this line of thought.  They use such phrases that were give to Judas such as, “the son of perdition” and that he died and “went to his place.” 

 

E.  Judas Iscariot was just a man like any other man.  The Bible is clear on this matter.

 

F.  Therefore, I want to look at the life and person of Judas Iscariot to find out how he came to this point in life.  To openly lead a crowd of armed men to take our Lord and fulfill the prophecy of betrayal.

 

G.  Though the Bible says little about Judas Iscariot, it speaks volumes at the same time describing his history, where he lived, who his father was, his upbringing, rejection, and ultimate betrayal.

 

H.  Judas Iscariot ‘s name.  His name which gives a biblical description of who he was and were he originated from.

 

1.  Judas, which tells us of which tribe he was born, the Tribe of Judah.  Judas is the Greek rendering of the name Judah.  Judah means Praise and is the tribe through which our Lord Jesus Christ came.

 

2.  Iscariot, Of Hebrew origin; inhabitants of Kerioth; Iscariotes (that is, Keriothite), an epithet of Judas the traitor.  Iscariot is a name with dual meaning: 

 

a)  “Is” (Greek) from the Hebrew word “ish” which means “a man”

 

b)  And “ishi” which means “husband.”

 

Hosea 2:14-16  Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.  (15)  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.  (16)  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (my husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (my Lord).

 

c)  Judas was a man and probably a husband.

 

d)  “cariot” from in the Hebrew which indicates where he was from, a small village of Kerioth. 

 

3.  This title was given to him to separate him from another disciple named Judas, the son of James and also give information about where he was from.

 

J.  His Tribe, Judah.

 

1.  Judah means “praise.”  It was the tribe prophesied to bring forth “Shiloh” (the Messiah-the Saviour), the One who would bring peace and tranquility to Israel. 

 

2.  His City, Kerioth, located about 15 miles south of Hebron (Also called Mamre, where Abraham observed the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, app. 35 miles south of Jerusalem

 

3.  There were 5 cities of the plains where Sodom and Gomorrah were located but God only destroyed 4 of the, leaving Zoar, which could be well observed from Kerioth as Lot did.

 

K.  Judas Iscariot’s upbringing.  There is nothing said concerning his life from birth to adulthood but the obvious is implied. 

 

1.  Judas Iscariot was raised in Judah, so no doubt was well versed in the scripture concerning the come of the Messiah from Judah.

 

2.  He is also called the “son of Simon.”  Simon is the Greek rendering of Simeon which means “hearing.”

 

3.  The implication here is that Judas was more than likely raised in a good home where he was taught Scripture.  Home life was highly regarded in the days of Judas life.

 

4.  Somewhere, sometime, Judas began down the road of rejection of the biblical teachings that permeated Judah and probably taught in his home.

 

5.  Because of his rejection, he became a silent disciple of Satan in stead of a vocal disciple of the coming Messiah.

 

6.  Well, preacher, how to you know all this?  Because Judas, a silent disciple of wickedness and rejection, became a silent but lost disciple of our Lord.  The other disciples never, until the very last, had any inkling that Judas would be the one to betray our Lord.

 

7.  Judas Iscariot’s youthful rejection led to a reprobate mind in the end.  When the Lord answered the question of the disciple at the last supper, He told them the betrayer would be the one to whom He gave the sop after it had been dipped.  The other disciples still did know who Judas was as, when he took the sop and left, they thought he was going out to buy necessary things for the feast.

 

John 13:26-30  Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.  (27)  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.  (28)  Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.  (29)  For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.  (30)  He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

 

8.  Judas Iscariot’s secret refusal and rejection did not fool the Lord Jesus, because He asked, “Will ye also go away” of His disciples, He also said, “One of you is a devil!”

 

John 6:70-71  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  (71)  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

 

L.  Judas Iscariot exposed.

 

1.  In our text, we find that Judas betrayed our Lord and then publicly stood with those who would crucify our Lord.

 

2.  That which remained hidden for years came to fruition in his later life as he openly stood against Jesus Christ in a public setting.

 

M.  Judas Iscariot was damned. Judas Iscariot, a man called a friend by our Lord, chose to reject Christ and go to a hell, prepared for the devil and his angels.  A sad end to a sad life!

 

1.  Judas eventually hung himself, dying without Christ and salvation.

 

Matthew 27:3-5  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  (4)  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  (5)  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

 

2.  Judas Iscariot died and went to hell!

 

Acts 1:25  That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.