Faultless - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 8-10-2016

Jude 24-25

Introduction

A.  Last week, we looked at this verse in the light of the context which is earnestly contending for the faith once delivered.  We do not want to be “falling” or moving from our biblical position and we want to remain “faultless” in these last days by continuing to win souls, support missions, and steadfastly walk in the “old paths” that were paid for with such a high price.

B.  By application, there are 2 kinds of righteousness that I want to mention:

1.  The Righteousness of the Law.  The self-righteousness of fallen man in his sinful state which is moral goodness or kindness. 

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.

Galatians 3:10-13  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

2.  The righteousness of God which is the absolutely impeccable, immutable holiness of God which must be imputed to man for salvation as man has never and will never be able to be sinless or good enough to be saved!. 

Romans 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:21-23  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  (22)  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  (23)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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.

James 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

C.  One of the most misunderstood of all doctrines is the doctrine of Eternal Life and that life is found only IN Christ! 

1 John 5:11-13  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  (12)  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  (13)  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Titus 3:4-7  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  (5)  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  (6)  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  (7)  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

D.  The mistake is not knowing the difference between relationship and fellowship.  The Bible makes a plain distinction between the believer's position in Christ and his practice for Christ.

1.  The believer’s Position is in Christ.  It is instantaneous, secure, and—therefore—eternal. 

2.  The believer’s Fellowship is found in Practice.  It depends upon our moment by moment walk with Christ.  Can the believer sin?  Yes!  Can the believer then be lost?  No!  Salvation is a finished work and depends upon what Christ did and not what the believer does.

E.  Let me give you a few things that the Bible says about who and what we that are saved are.

1.  We have been purchased by Christ, bought by Christ, sanctified by Christ, cleansed by Christ, received by Christ, perfected in Christ, secured by Christ, and will be one day presented to Christ by Christ.

2.  He took our sins, in Him is no sin, we are in His body in which is no sin, in His righteousness, and in His faith.

3.  We have everlasting life, eternal life, full assurance, strong consolation, and hope.  We have been forgiven, justified, sanctified, reconciled, risen with Christ.

4.  We are accepted in the beloved, saved from the penalty of sin, citizens of heaven, children of light, elect, peculiar, and born again.

5.  We have passed from death unto life, shall never perish, never die, have peace with God, saved from the wrath to come, cannot be separated from the love of Christ, are children of God by faith, confirmed until the end, a new creature, and sealed by the Holy Ghost until the day of redemption.

6.  We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, made fit for heaven, complete in Him, and perfected forever.   We are a part of the family of God, in the body of Christ, filled with all spiritual blessings, and shall be translated into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

7.  We have access to God, eternal redemption, eternal glory, everlasting consolation, a Propitiation, an Advocate with the Father, an Intercessor, a High Priest, and a returning Lord. 

             

8.  Our sin is past, God’s wrath is gone, we have been made free, and there is now no condemnation.  We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of God, are joint heirs with Christ, and have an everlasting reward.   We have an incorruptible inheritance and a glorious liberty in Christ Jesus.

                       

9.  You see, we are and will be presented faultless before the throne of His presence with exceeding joy!  Not because of anything that we have done but because of a finished work on Calvary.  He is our Sacrifice, our Saviour, our Salvation, our Lord of lords and King of kings.  His our God!

                       

10.  What a blessing to be saved and know it!

Greet All The Brethren With An Holy Kiss

Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2016

1 Thessalonians 5:26

Introduction: 

A.  As we get to the end of 1 Thessalonians, the Holy Ghost once again admonishes the church to be loving and unified.  The greatest enemy of the local church is division and strife.  The local church is a family and should love like one.  God is not the Author of confusion but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

B.  Division is a preacher’s nightmare!  I can battle things that attack the church from the outside but when the enemy is rooted within the church, there is great potential for a church split or a pastor who has to leave.

C.  The Bible says to be of one mind, one accord, forgiving, forbearing, charitable, and hospitable one to another and yet, problems in unity are a continual source of heartache and headache!

D.  God is not pleased with division and strife in the church.

James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

E.  Brotherly love in the church is a sign of spiritual maturity!  Little children squabble while mature people overlook or minimize situations.

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

F.  I want to dissect this little verse as to get a proper understanding of it.

1.  The Command Of The Greeting – “Greet” - I love to come early and stay late.  Many times, people finally leave the church and remain standing around in groups in the parking lot.  Spend time with one another and fellowship!  God both wants and expects loving kindness within the walls of the local church.  This greeting was a sign that they were glad to see one another.  I am always excited about seeing God’s people come to church and love each other.

2.  The Consistency Of The Greeting – “all” – We are not to love a few or a certain group, but to love with consistency.  “Ye” is the understood subject - The command to greet is given to every believer.  We should all be mixing and mingling in sweet fellowship. 

1 John 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Philippians 4:21  Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

3.  The Character Of The Greeting – “holy” – To distinguish it from an unchaste and lascivious one; and from an hypocritical and deceitful one.  This “holy” kiss can only be given by one who is right with the Lord and, therefore, right with his brother.

1 Timothy 5:1-2  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

a.  A Kiss Of Deceit - Proverbs 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy aredeceitful.

b.  A Kiss Of Disloyalty - Luke 22:48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

c.  A Kiss Of Death - 2 Samuel 20:9-10  And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that wasin Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib1, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

1 John 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

4.  The Charity Of The Greeting – “kiss” A kiss is a token of love!  We do not kiss those whom we dislike and, yet, some will give the outward kiss without the inward love.  They will greet with their lips but their hearts are full of wrath and envy.

1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Conclusion:  Why “Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss?”  Because we, together, can fight and overcome the outward enemies that assail the church but disunity, discord, disgruntled people can quickly destroy the unity and work of the church!

Withered Hands and Withered Hearts

Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2016

Matthew 12:1-15

Introduction:

A.  Our Lord’s interaction with the Pharisees, Scribes, and Lawyers was a bitter-sweet one.  Everywhere Jesus went, the crowds gathered to hear the Word of God speak.  There were those who were just curious and came to watch; there were those who were just sick and came to be healed; there were those who were just hungry and waited to be fed; there were those who tempted the Lord and watched for failure; and there were those who hungered and thirsted after righteousness.

B.  This morning, I want to look at these for a few minutes.  I am not trying to be hard but things have not changed much since the days of our Lord who fed the multitudes and died virtually alone.

1.  Those who were just curious and came to watch.  To many, the things of God have just become a side show.  A form of Christian entertainment.  A place to get the emotions stirred and a place to have a good time.  A place where the miracles of salvation that sit on the pews are only things to be watched, not experienced.  Church has become a place for entertaining goats instead of feeding sheep.  Church is not a place of entertainment; it is a place of worship and reverence. 

John 6:1-2  After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.  (2)  And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

2.  Those who were just sick and came to be healed.  It is not always God’s will to heal those who are sick.  When those who are just sick come to be healed, if the healing does not take place, they just leave and go some were else.  If the healing did take place, they would still just wander away for they got all that they came for.  These are those who are in trouble.  I have seen so much “jailhouse repentance” in my years as pastor.  They weep and wail until they get out of jail and then it is business as usual until the next time.  Some just come to church to see if the Lord will get them out of their trouble but have no heart felt repentance.

Luke 17:15-18  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,  (16)  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (17)  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  (18)  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

3.  Those who were just hungry and waited to be fed.  I receive calls all of the time from people who prey upon the goodness of the churches and have to discern who actually needs help and those who just live off of the generosity of God’s people.  They have family that can help but they call the church.  There are jobs to be had but they do not work.  They live in open sin and rebellion but want the churches to support their lifestyle.

John 6:25-26  And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?  (26)  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

4.  Those who hungered and thirsted after righteousness.  Nine times, in the Book of John, the words “many … believed” are found.    I find it interesting that these words are not used together in Matthew, Mark, or Luke.  The Book of John speaks of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is only when one believes on the Lord Jesus Christ that they are saved. 

John 2:23  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

C.  I want to deal with two types found in our verses: a man with a withered hand and men with withered hearts!

1.  Men with withered hearts!  Verses 2 and 14.  There were two sects that came out of the 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew: the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  The Sadducees upheld the written Law and denied an afterlife.  The Pharisees upheld the oral Law and believed in life after death.  Both of these sects rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah,

a.  Withered heart people are a type of religion.  People are innately religious but the religion is personal merit.  People who have religion instead of salvation become the enemies of the church and the work of the Lord.

b.  Withered heart people are a type of rejection.  Religion has knowledge of biblical principle but such knowledge brings about a decision to turn to Christ or to turn from Him.  Those who reject are always enemies of Christ and, therefore, enemies of the saved.

c.  Withered heart people are not fond of the “withered hand” people coming to their churches!  Instead of the foolish, they desire the wise; instead of the weak, they desire the mighty; instead of the base, they desire the noble!  They desire a certain kind of people in their churches instead of all kinds of people there!

Mark 2:16  And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

d.  Withered heart people are not glad when the “withered hand” people are forgiven of their sins and spiritually healed!  The reason is simple, true salvation shows up religion.  These “withered hand” people have a change of life; they have a song in their hearts; they have a joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Mark 2:5-7  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  (6)  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,  (7)  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

e.  Withered heart people are not happy when their church savings account or CDs are liquidated and money goes to missions to help win a world to Christ.  They are not happy when they are no longer in control and can pressure the preacher into silence.  They get angry when the direction of the church becomes biblical in nature.  Their hearts are withered by the sin of religion and they try to find fault.

f.  Withered heart people normally remain that way and die without Christ!

2.  A man with a withered hand.  Verse 10.  Those with withered lives are welcome to come to church; they are accepted by Christ; they are the ones for whom He died.  I thank the Lord for our young people who come to Christ at an early age and never know the ravages of a sinful life.  Stay clean and live for Christ but the withered hands were the people who came to Christ in faith and find healing for their souls! 

a.  Lives withered by sin and shame!  Many of us were the undesirables, the off scourings of the world!  I thank God that He loved sinners!  A friend to the lost and dying!  The Saviour of the world! 

b.  I thank the Lord for the drunks that became saints.  The harlots who became godly ladies.  The drug addicts who are now clean.  The blasphemers whose mouths are now filled with praise.  The lost that are now found.  The hurting that found healing in Christ.  The backbone of the local churches! 

c.  Sinners who came to Christ for spiritual healing and feeding, not just for what they could get.  We have helped so many people with physical needs over the years and none of them are here tonight!  But, we have helped so many who had spiritual needs and they are here.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  (27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  (28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

d.  Thank God for the people who came to Christ by faith and were gloriously, instantly healed!  Their lives forever changed!  Their hope in heaven!  God loves all mankind but especially those of the household of faith!

Ephesians 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Conclusion:  We find a man with a withered hand healed while the ones with withered hearts angry because of their religion.  God was able to heal the man with the withered hand but not the ones with withered hearts!  He certainly could have if they would have!

Faultless

Temple Baptist Church - 8-3-2016

Jude 24-25

Introduction:

A.  Last week we saw that it is God who gives us the power to contend for the faith once delivered.  In this two verse Doxology, it is God who gets all of the praise and glory, not those who stand.

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

B.  Tonight, I want to look at the phrase: “and to present you faultless.”  The preceding phrase “now unto him that is able” goes with both “keep you from falling” and “to present you faultless.”  It is God alone who gives the desire and power to stand firm to the child of God.  It is also God who is able to present us faultless before the throne of His glory.

C.  I fully understand our faultless standing positionally.

1.  Our position in Christ is faultless because of the precious blood of Christ that paid our sin debt in full  I can never stop saying, “Thank God for Calvary!” 

2.  It was there that my sin was taken away for all of eternity!  It was there that I was made free! 

Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 38:17  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered itfrom the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Micah 7:19  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

D.  But, I believe that these verses must be interpreted within its context of contending or not contending for the faith once delivered.  Faultless, when interpreted within its context means that one has done all that they can in the area of contending for the faith.

1.  We must remain Faultless in our standing for the Word of God: the King James Bible!  We must continue to contend for the Word of Truth.  The Word of Truth cannot be a mixture of truth and error as that would make in only the partial Word of Truth.  We will continue to unapologetically stand for the King James Bible and none other.  Things that are different are not the same as God only wrote one Bible!  His inspiration was singular in action and continuing in nature.

Psalms 68:11  The Lord gave the word (the faith once delivered): great was the company of those that published it (those who have kept or contended for it).

Acts 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  (2)  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.  (To preach or to teach contrary to its principles or doctrines.  The greatest of all Bible doctrines is that of infallibility and inerrancy!  No place in the Bible does it ever refer to itself as fallible or erroneous!)

2.  We must remain faultless in our Christian Walk before both the saved and the unsaved!  “A life lived is worth a thousand sermons preached!”  “Your talk talks and your walk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks!”Psalms 40:1-3  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  (3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

a.  Faultless in our walk before God.  1 John 2:4-6  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

b.  Faultless in our walk before the unsaved.  2 Corinthians 3:2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

c.  Faultless before the Brethren.  1 Thessalonians 2:10  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

3.  We must remain faultless in our Witness to a lost world!  If we are to preach the gospel to every creature; if we are to go into all of the world; then we must be soul conscious and missions hearted!  We witness where we go and send witnesses to where we cannot go.

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (Power available.  The power to Go and the power to Give!)

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Power received.)

Romans 1:14-16  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  (15)  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  (16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (Power to reach.  Every creature!)

Romans 10:13-15  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (14)  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  (15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

4.  We must remain faultless in our Worship!  Too many churches in our day have substituted flesh for spirit because many have failed to identify them biblically.  The spirit of our worship must be found along with the truth of our worship.

John 4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  (Spirit without truth will cause you to blow up; truth without spirit will cause you to dry up; a right mixture of spirit and truth will cause you to grow up!)

1 Chronicles 16:29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.  (Holiness, not worldliness, is a requirement for true worship.)

Psalms 96:9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. (Worship is reverence coupled with fear!  I fear that many have lost both!  Worldliness and emotion do not go hand-in-hand with spirit and truth!)

Conclusion:  As God is able to keep us from falling, He is also able to present us faultless.  We, through the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the power of God, will have done what we could.