The Importance of Attending Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-24-2026

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5; Hebrews 10:22-27

 

Introduction: 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  (Be not shaken) 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)  (Be not deceived) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, (Be not except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  (4)  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  (5)  (Let us be reminded)  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

 

Hebrews 10:22-27  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  (Let us be faithful to assemble) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but (Let us exhort) exhorting one another: and so much the more, (Let us be watchful) as ye see the day approaching.  (26)  (Let us be obedient) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

1 John 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

 

1.  Just allow me to preach to us all this morning!  We live at the end of the last days with rampant sinfulness all around us. I am not here to fix that this morning because it will wax worse and worse.  My greatest fear is that we will allow the things of this present world to change us also.

 

2.  I want to tie some phrases together this morning as I begin a series on the Church. “A falling away” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” in Hebrews 10:25.  Both “falling away” and “forsaking the assembling” mean the same thing.  You had to be somewhere to fall away and also to forsake something.

 

3.  Now, for a good biblical example of these phrases, let's go to 2 Timothy 4:

 

2 Timothy 4:10a  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…

 

4.  This “present world” that drew Demas away from the Lord first and the Apostle Paul later continues to have an effect on both the pulpit and the pew!  So, hang on for a little while as every one of us needs this message!

 

A.  This November will be the Golden Anniversary of my salvation.  Fifty years!  I was once young (28 when I was saved), and now I am old (78 and counting).  In my years of salvation, bible college, and pastoring, I have witnessed 2 Thessalonians chapter two, verses 1-5, come to fruition.

 

1.  During the early years of salvation, Barbara and I saw the excitement of our home church as it was 1,000+ strong, hundreds coming in on the buses and making professions of faith.  It was all new to us, so we sat and watched with awe.  What we did not see but were quickly introduced to was the church's foundation, which was cracked.  Great preaching and tremendous singing, but a church that was in the process of falling away.  The pastor was soon to resign, and a power struggle raised its ugly head. And the huge crowd dwindled in a couple of years to about 85 people sitting in that massive sanctuary.

 

2.  During those years, God began to groom Barbara and me by allowing us to step up and help the church stabilize.  I was a babe in Christ, and Barbara was not yet saved (which took place in 1982).  Driving a bus, teaching Sunday School, chairman of the board of deacons, school board, radio board, plumber-electrician-grounds keeper, but a soul winner.

 

3.  Less than a year after Barbara was saved, God, in His infinite mercy, called me to preach.  I did not know what He wanted me to do or where He wanted me to go.  I only knew that God knew all the details, and my desire was to follow Him.  I didn’t know where to go, but God led us in the way He wanted us to go. 

 

4.  I spent 4 years in Bible College with app 250 men of God that, like my family, brought their wives and kids in.  Those were the glory days as God was calling and sending families around the world to once again turn the world upside down.  I still did not know what God wanted me to do, but I was “bucking in the traces”.  I wanted to do something for the glory of God because of what He did for Barbara and me!   We owed a debt that we could not pay to the One who paid a debt that He did not owe.

 

5.  God sent me to a faithful handful of people who loved God and loved the church.  God used these few precious saints to stabilize the church and help it grow. 

 

6.  Over this past half-century, I have had many opportunities to quit and go back to the world from which Barbara and I came.

 

7.  I said all that to say this: I have seen a generation that loves God and continually serves Him around the world today.  But, throughout the years, I have also seen the decline in spirituality and faithfulness come to pass.  The “falling away” has taken its toll upon the people of God, from the pulpits to the pews, as spirituality and faithfulness are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

 

B.  There has been a serious decline in church attendance in the past few decades, and this decline is simply a fulfillment of Scripture.  The days of Noah (eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage), Lot’s Day (they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded), and Demas’ Day (having loved this present world … departed unto Thessalonica).  Pastors preach Hebrews 10:22-26 to little or no avail as more and more of God’s people have fallen in love with the world at the expense of the local churches.  Decline in church attendance is a direct result of a decline in spirituality and a love for the world! 

 

1.  It has been prophesied that in the last days there would be a falling away, and we are in the middle of it.  Normally, we classify the “falling away” as the spiritual apostasy that is certainly in full swing.  But I have seen such a fearful change in believers and churches in general over these past 39 years. 

 

2.  I remember the faithfulness of God’s people here at Temple and the loss that we have suffered as we watched them grow older and pass on to heaven through the veil of death.  Years ago, the crowds on Sunday night and Wednesday night, along with Sunday School,  were virtually the same as on Sunday morning. 

 

3.  The older generation treated the Lord’s Day as the Lord’s Day.  Though we still have families like that, across the Bible Belt, we find more and more churches canceling services each week or making them optional.  They love the things of the world more than the things of God!  That bothers this old preacher!

 

C.  The “form of godliness” has permeated the ranks of the professing believers with little or no conviction or holiness of life.  “As the manner of some is” has become the rule instead of the exception, with more and more of the once faithful now either slack in their faithfulness or completely out of church. 

 

D.  The Importance of God’s House.  The phrase “The house of the Lord” is used 213 X  in the Bible.  The phrase “house of God” is used 87 times in the Bible.  That is a total of 300 references.  This does not include other references such as “temple” and “tabernacle.”  God’s house is a place of great importance.

 

E.  In Hebrews 10:25, we find the command of God to assemble.  That in itself should be all that is necessary to get God’s children to be faithful, but faithful attendance will never be accomplished until we see the value of the church, along with having a love for the church.  There is an old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink!”

 

F. Hebrews 10:25 shows the importance of the assembly of the local church.

 

1.  The Emphasis of God’s House - Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  Why the emphasis?

 

a.  It Is A Place Of Rallying.  (When you are down.)

 

b.  It Is A Place Of Relying.  (When you are devastated.)

 

c.  It Is A Place Of Renewing.  (When you are defiled.)

 

d.  It Is A Place Of Revival.  (When you are defeated.)

 

2.  The Exhortation of God’s House - Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

a.  Let us draw near in holiness.

 

b.  Let us draw near in faithfulness.

 

c.  Let us draw near in consideration of others.

 

d.  Let us draw near in exhortation.

 

3.  The Excitement of God’s House - Psalms 122:1  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

a.  What a Privilege.

 

b.  What a Pleasure.

 

4.  The Ecstasy of God’s House - Psalms 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 

Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

 

a.  Ecstasy means an overwhelming feeling of great joy, delight, or intense emotional excitement.

 

b.  The Joy of coming to church and worshipping God!

 

c.  The Joy of coming to church and seeing the brethren.

 

d.  The Joy of coming to church and leaving this old, sinful world behind for a while.

 

e.  The Joy of serving God in obedience to His command.

 

Conclusion:  Don’t let the things of the world draw you away from church.  Let the Love of God draw you to church!  Don’t let “falling away” be a vivid description of you.  The Lord is coming, and we are leaving one way or the other soon. 

Chastisement - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-30-2025

1 Corinthians 10:1-15; Hebrews 12:5-13

 

Introduction:  The key verse of this portion of Scripture is found in verse 1:  “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant.” 

 

A.  I am spending a little more time on this subject because of its misunderstanding and importance.

 

1.  The Chastening of the Lord is put in a wrong perspective by both the world and the worldly believer.  It is treated as a bad thing!  It is treated as a punishment rather than a clarion call to wake up from your sleep in sin, a warning of impending danger.  The fire whistle downtown at the fire station warns of a possible tornado.  Blowing your horn at the driver ahead who is asleep at the wheel.

 

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

2.  The World despises chastening because they are humanistic (the “god” of self) and unrepenting.  The world view is “If it feels good, do it, and it is nobody else’s business” what I do.

 

3.  The Worldly believer despises chastening because they do not understand the why and how of true love.  We live in the “darkness of this world,” and our eyes become accustomed to it.

 

B.  Before we get into the text, we need to set a biblical precedent that establishes a biblical principle.  To do so, we need to look at the first mention of “chasteneth” found in the Bible.  The word is found two times in this Old Testament text: 1) to draw a comparison and 2) to establish an action. 

 

Deuteronomy 8:1-6  All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.  (2)  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.  (3)  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.  (4)  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.  (5)  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.  (6)  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

 

C.  The First Mention of “Chasteneth” appears in both Deuteronomy chapter 8 and is personalized in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.  Here we see chastening tied to Israel’s day, the Corinthians’ day, and to our day.

 

D.  In our text, we find the Lord faithfully exercising chastening to one and all.

 

1.  Israel was a nation of great privilege.  1 Corinthians 10:1-4 speaks of the blessings of salvation (salvation through sacrifice on Passover), deliverance from Egypt (a type of the world), deliverance from Pharaoh (a type of Satan), divine guidance, divine protection, and provision.

 

2.  Israel was a nation of great failure.  1 Corinthians 10:5-6 speaks of their failure in faith to go into Canaan and their rejection of the blessedness of God’s provision during the 40 years of wandering.

 

3.  Paul warns the Corinthian Church not to fall into the same trap of ingratitude and faithlessness as Israel.  1 Corinthians 10:7-10 warns the people of Corinth that the same God who chastened Israel was the same God who would chasten them.

 

4.  Paul prophetically warns us who live in these last days. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:11-12  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  (12)  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

E.  In the First Mention of chastening, God gives an analogy so that His people understand the why and how of chastening.  He likes His chastening of Israel for their disobedience, as with the chastening of a disobedient child.

 

F.  I believe that every parent who loves their children chastens them “betimes.” 

 

Proverbs 13:24  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 

 

(Betimes – early at the task or at dawn.)

 

G.  We older people often speak of the love and respect that we had for our parents because they loved us enough to chasten us. 

 

H.  Great Privilege – Great Sin – Great Chastisement - Luke 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

 

1.  It can cost you a loved one – 2 Samuel 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

 

2.  It can cost you your temporal blessings - John 21:3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

 

3.  It can cost you your health - Psalms 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 

4.  It can cost you your joy - Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 

5.  It can cost you your life - 1 John 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

 

J.  As a norm, chastening is preached as a negative thing.  When we correct our children, it is not only to punish, but to bring about fruits of righteousness in them.  God desires that His children grow up to love and serve Him.

 

K.  Hebrews 12:6-13 is a Full Mention Principle.

 

1.  The Exhortation Of Chastening – vs. 5

          2.  The Exercising Of Chastening – vs. 6

          3.  The Encouragement Of Chastening – vs. 6-8

          4.  The Example Of Chastening – vs. 9-10

          5.  The Effects Of Chastening – vs. 11-13

 

1.  Chastening Is A Sign Of God’s Love – “whom the Lord loveth” – It Is Positive Because It Is Done In Love And Not Hate!

 

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

 

2.  Chastening Is A Guarantee Of Son-ship – “every son whom he receiveth” – It Is Positive Because Is A Product Of Eternal Life!

 

2 Timothy 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

3.  Chastening Is A Purposed Process – “if ye endure chastening”  “corrected” – It Is Positive In That It Removes Sin’s Penalty And Restores Spiritual Fellowship!

 

Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 John 3:2  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.

 

4.  Chastening Is A Progressive Process – “chasteneth…scourgeth” – It Is Positive In That You Can Turn Around At Any Time And Do Not Have To Continue In Chastening!

 

a.  The Valley Of Chastisement is a valley of our own making.  It is chastisement for sin. - James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

Numbers 32:23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

 

b.  The Valley Of Chastisement is a valley whose depth is up to us.  It is according to our sin. - 1 Corinthians 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

c.  The Valley Of Chastisement is a valley whose length is up to us.  It is according to our hard headedness. - Hebrews 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (Chastening turns into scourging.)

 

d.  The Valley Of Chastisement is a valley whose darkness is up to us.  In other valleys you find God’s blessing while in this valley you find God’s displeasure. - Hebrews 10:30-31  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

Hebrews 12:28-29  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  For our God is a consuming fire.

 

e.  The Valley Of Chastisement is a valley whose results are up to us. 

 

                    1) There can be continued and progressive punishment for sin.

                    2) There can be the restoration of the believer to a place of fellowship.

5.  Chastening Is A Blessing – “it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness” – It Is Positive In That It Produces Righteousness And Testimony In The Believer!

 

Job 5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

 

Psalms 94:12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

 

a.  Chastening Removes Sin’s Penalty – (The wages of sin is still death!)

 

b.  Chastening Restores God’s Power – (Sin causes a loss of power with God!)

 

c.  Chastening Regains The God’s Victory – 1 Peter 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (Sin brings about spiritual defeat!)

 

d.  Chastening Renews God’s Favor – (Favor is better than wrath any day!)

 

e.  Chastening Revives God’s Peace – (Isaiah 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.)

 

f.  Chastening Re-establishes Worship – (Sin removes the worship of spirit and truth!)

 

g.  Chastening Re-affirms God’s Word – (What God promises God delivers!)

Running Your Race

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-3-2025

1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Introduction:  Along with our text, I want to read these corresponding verses.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

A.  In our text for tonight, Paul likens the life of the child of God to a race to be run. 

 

1.  When we think of racing, our minds often go to NASCAR. Typically, such a race is long, 400-500 laps.  I am not a great NASCAR fan (NASCAR is an acronym for Non-Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks), so I often cheat when watching one of their long races. 

 

2.  The only thing that matters is the last 10 laps or so.  There is an old saying, “I said all that to say this.”  The last 10 or so laps, “said all that to say this.”  The winner is not the one who started in the lead, as there are numerous lead changes over that distance, not to mention the crashes that can occur along the way. 

 

3.  Not every race car that starts will finish, nor will every race car be first.  BUT it is vital for every driver to “finish!”  The same with running a Marathon, which is a standard distance of 42.195 kilometers or approximately 26.2 miles.

 

4.  Thus, it is with the Christian’s life as not everyone will come in first place, but everyone needs to finish their own particular race.

 

5.  I once ran distance races but never ran against another competitor.  I ran against the clock and my endurance.  An old saying that works here is “You do you!”  My race, my distance, my endurance, my body, my time are mine, not yours!

 

B.  The word “race” is only found 4x in your Bible.  Twice in the Old Testament and twice in the New.  In these four mentions, we see biblical guidelines for running “the race that is set before us.”  In these four mentions of “race,” we find:

 

1.  We find Strength.  Psalms 19:5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. (Our race requires strength.)

 

2.  We find Chance.  Ecclesiastes 9:11  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.  (We do not know what lies ahead for each of us.  Our race requires endurance.)

 

3.  We find Prize.  1 Corinthians 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  (Our race requires results.)

 

4.  We find Individuality.  Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (Our race is personal.)

 

C.  There are several things mentioned in our text that define each of our races.  These are essentials for running and finishing.

 

1.  We See Participation – Saved people only!  “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all?” 

 

a.  “All.”  Like it or not, you began your race of life in one of two places, but all are on the Start.  This race becomes much easier when we understand that God saved us to serve, not to be served.  We saw that last week.  Not every believer runs their race because they either think it is unnecessary or unimportant. 

 

b.  In worldly races, you see a handful of participants with 100,000 observers.  In days gone by, we had the 70/30 rule, 75/25 rule, and 80/20 rule, and now we have the 90/10 rule.  The 90/10 rule means that 10 percent of believers do 100 percent of the work, while 90 percent do relatively nothing.

 

2.  We See Positioning – Starting Blocks or Starting Line.  Starting Blocks, if you do not intend to run far or for long.  Starting Line, if you are in it for the long haul.  The starting blocks have been laid, but not all intended runners place their feet in them.  When we get saved, the “gun” sounds and the race begins.

 

3.  We See Potential – There is a prize to be won because there is work to be done.  God intended every member of the Church to do their work according to the talent given to them.  God has given to each of us a peculiar work to be done for the completion of the whole building of God.  Not all have the same measure of faith or opportunity, but ALL have a work to do within the body of Christ.

 

4.  We See Preparation – Hebrews 12:1 – “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.”   Before starting the race, weights and sins need to be laid aside.  Paul said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.”  Laying aside weights means temperance, while laying aside sin means holiness.   There is much pre-race preparation, such as diet, exercise, and endurance-building.  Here, we find the importance of a holy, separated life in God's sight.

 

5.  We See Patience – “and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”  Running the race but leaving the results to God.  We do our work and trust God to do His.  Life’s race is a long one with many ups and downs.  Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.  Too many hit a rough place in the road of life and quit.  Hang in there!

 

a.  The Enduring of Patience - Romans 5:3-4  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  (4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 

b.  The End of Patience - James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  (3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  (4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

6.  We See Prize. 

 

a.  We See A Perpetual Duty.  “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of or faith”

 

1)  In Christ, we find our Salvation.  Hebrews 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

 

2)  In Christ, we find our Strength.  John 15:4-5  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

b.  We See A Personal Delight– “who for the joy that was set before him”

 

1)  The Joy of our Life - 1 Peter 3:10-11  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

 

2)  The Joy of our Lord - Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 

c.  We See A Permanent Desire.  “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”

 

1)  Our Present Problems - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17a  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment …

 

2)  Our Permanent Pleasure – 2 Corinthians 4:17b-18  worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

7.  We See a Perilous Possibility.  “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”  “Castaway” means to be disapproved, put on a shelf, to become unusable!

Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation - Part 2 - The Righteousness of God

Temple Baptist Church - 9-28-2025

Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:1-5

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Virtually nothing is said about the life of Abel in either the Old or New Testaments.  In Genesis chapter 4, we find that the offering Abel made pleased God, but it also cost him his life at the same time.   I want you to notice the word “And” mentioned seven times in our text, showing the continuation of the context.

 

Genesis 4:1-8  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  (2)  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  (3)  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  (4)  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  (6)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  (7)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  (8)  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

B.  Abel’s offering pleased God.  Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

 

1.  “By faith.” Early in the Bible, we see that salvation was by faith. Abel’s faith was not in the sacrifice he offered, but in the prophesied “seed of the woman,” the coming of the Messiah mentioned in Genesis chapter 3. 

 

2.  “A more excellent sacrifice than Cain." The sacrifice that Abel offered was a continuation of the Old Testament’s practice of Atonement (to expiate or cover sins).

 

3.  “By which he obtained witness that he was righteous.”  The faith of Adam and Eve was passed on to their children to be either accepted (Abel) or rejected (Cain).

 

4.  “God testifying of his gifts.”  The sacrifice of Abel was pleasing to God. 

 

C.  Abel’s offering to God cost him his life.  Salvation will always cost you your life!  Spiritually, the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.  I love the song that says this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through!  Physically, look back through the millennia at God’s people who were martyred for their faith in Christ alone. 

 

Genesis 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

 

1.  After Abel’s acceptance and Cain’s rejection, we find them talking in the field.  I am sure that the brothers discussed many things over the years preceding this event, with no mention of division or hatred.

 

2.  “And”  In this one conjunction, we find the continuation of the preceding verses.  The context had not changed.  They discussed the acceptance of Abel’s gift and the rejection of Cain’s.  The division between the brothers continues to this day.

 

3.  Genesis chapter 4 gives a vivid picture of what righteousness God rejects, and what righteousness God accepts.

 

D.  Self-righteousness is called the way of Cain, which God rejected and continues to do so to this day. 

 

Jude 11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

 

1.  One of the age-old problems with people being saved is that of ignorance of what it takes to get to heaven. 

 

a)  Self-righteousness in Salvation. Christianity has become a generic term for all religions that teach about Christ. Many faiths use His name, but the only way to heaven is through His name.

 

Acts 4:11-12  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

 

b)  Self-righteousness manifested itself in personal merit.  Those who believe that they are good enough to go to heaven or need to do something other than accept grace alone.

 

b)  Self-righteousness also manifests itself in those who believe that they are good enough to maintain their salvation through personal merit or good works. 

 

c)  Both doctrines are heretical!

 

2.  Personal righteousness is completely done away with in this one verse. 

 

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.  (Notice with me the word “all” found twice in this verse.)

 

a)  “all as an unclean thing.”  There is none righteous, no not one!  We are all sinners.  We are all unclean.

 

Romans 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  (11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  (12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

 

b)  “all our righteousnesses.”  Notice that the word “righteousnesses” is plural.  It covers everything that can be done to merit (works-based) salvation.  Religion does not understand the biblical teaching that works, and grace destroy each other.

 

Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

 

c)  Abel’s righteousness was the imputed righteousness of God! 

 

d)  What God begins, God finishes!

 

1)   God’s Counsel and Purposes Cannot Fail.

 

Isaiah 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

 

Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

 

2)  God as the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

 

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Revelation 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

 

3)  God Always Completes His Work.

 

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

Ecclesiastes 3:14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

 

4)  In the First Mention of salvation and restoration in Genesis chapter 3, it was all of God and all of grace.

 

5)  What God did for Adam and Eve, He did for Cain and Abel, and He has also done it for us. 

 

E.  Followers of the “Way of Cain” are ignorant of the righteousness of God necessary for salvation. 

 

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.  Ignorance of God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 3.  “not according to knowledge…ignorant of God’s righteousness” 

 

Psalms 71:19  Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

 

Religion tries to bring God down to man’s level while elevating man to God’s level.

 

2.  Impeccability of God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 3.  “God’s righteousness”  The Bible declares that God dwells in a light that no man can approach unto.  He is impeccably holy.  He is immutably holy.  He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.”

 

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;  (16)  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.

 

Salvation must always be by grace through faith because God demands absolute holiness, and He alone is impeccably holy.

 

3. Impossibility of God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 3.  “going about to establish their own righteousness.” 

 

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

 

4.  Insubordination to God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 3.  “have not submitted themselves” 

 

Galatians 3:1-3  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  (2)  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  (3)  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

 

God’s demand: obedience to the gospel.  Vs. 16.  Romans 1 shows the progression of the knowledge of God rejected:  a)  When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God - God gave them up)  b)  They changed the truth of God into a lie - God gave them up again  c)  They did not like to retain God in their minds - God gave them over to a reprobate mind.

 

5.  Imputation of God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 4.  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”  Salvation is a result of God’s righteousness being imputed to the believer through propitiation and faith. 

 

Jude 24-25  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,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

 

“Dressed in His righteousness alone; faultless to stand before the throne.”  “When He sees me, He sees the blood of the Lamb; He sees me as worthy and not as I AM!”

 

6.  Invitation of God’s Righteousness.  Vs. 13.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”   

 

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.