Stand Fast - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 3-12-2017

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Introduction:

A.  Last week, we looked at some areas in which we must stand fast. 

1.  “In the shifting sands of human theology,” we must be firmly anchored in the Word of God: our Faith, our Freedom, our Fellowship, our Fight, and our Finishing.  Spiritually in America—the Bible Belt—and the World are in serious decline. 

2.  The Old Paths of holiness and doctrinal purity have been forsaken for the New Paths of worldliness and ecumenism!  I expect the world to be worldly but not the church.  We do not bow our knees to the “god of this world.”  We bow them to the God of this Bible!

B.  It is one thing to know where we need to stand but another to know what will help us to do so. 

1.  In our text, we find Paul’s encouragement to the church at Thessalonica as they face spiritual change and adversity.  The adversity that once came from without now was within.  The enemy is among us! 

2.  Paul gives several things in these verses that I believe are important to our maintaining the Old Paths wherein is the good way.

1.  The Assurance of God’s Abiding Love.  Vs. 13-14, 16.  “Brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ … which hath loved us.”

Ephesians 2:4-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (Why doubt the love of Christ?)

2.  The Assurance of God’s Men Who Taught Us Truth.  Vs 15.  “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  

2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (He learned from his mother, grandmother, and the Apostle Paul.  Why would he doubt their sincerity?)

3.  The Assurance of God’s Consolation.  Vs 16.  “And hath given us everlasting consolation.”

Hebrews 6:17-20  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  (18)  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Our Lord said to follow Him.  He chose our path so why should we doubt Him?)

4.  The Assurance of God’s Promises of Impending Victory.  Vs 16.  “And good hope.”

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (If the battle is the Lord’s, why should the outcome be in doubt?)

5.  The Assurance of God’s Amazing Grace in Suffering.  Vs 16.  “Through grace.”

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

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.  (If God is the God of all grace and that grace is sufficient, why should we think that God will place more on us than we can bear?)

6.  The Assurance of God’s Comforting and Comforter.  Vs. 17.  “Comfort your hearts.”

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  (If God promised that He would walk with us, why should we doubt His presence?)

7.  The Assurance of God’s Stablishing His Children.  Vs 17.  “And stablish you in every good word and work.

Romans 16:25-27  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  (26)  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  (27)  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (To strengthen and stabilize. The results of establishment in the Word of God is two-fold: 1)  In every good word [their witnessing and preaching]  2)  “in every good” … work [evangelization and missions].  If the Word of God is right, why should we doubt His promises?) 

The Righteousness of God

Temple Baptist Church - 3-12-2017

Matthew 5:20; Romans 10:1-13

Introduction:

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

1.  Self-righteousness in Salvation.  I know of no religion that teaches and preaches the grace of God alone for salvation other than true Christianity.  Notice I said, “True Christianity!”  Christianity has become a generic term for all religions who teach about Christ.  There are many religions that USE His name but only one way to heaven and that is THROUGH his name.

2.  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. 

a)  Self-righteousness manifests itself in relation to salvation by those who believe that they are good enough to go to heaven through personal merit.

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

c)  Both doctrines are heretical!

B.  This is not a new problem.  Israel, who had the truth of God’s Word and the Covenants, turned from the faith of their father, Abraham, to the wickedness of Phariseeism. 

1.  In the 400 hundred silent years that preceded the coming of Christ (around 100 B.C.) between Malachi and Matthew, two main branches of Judaism came into dominance: 1)  The Sadducees   2)  The Pharisees. 

2.  Galatians 6:12-14  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  (13)  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  (14)  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  (These have the unbiblical perspective that they have “arrived” spiritually through their outward appearance and separation from the world.  This attitude results in exclusion!)

C.  The Pharisees were separatists and, unfortunately, they eventually began to rely upon their system of “do’s and don’ts” for righteousness with God instead of becoming obedient to God’s righteousness.  The Lord rebuked them for making clean the outer appearance while the inner man was full of dead men’s bones and rottenness. 

In Matthew 5:20, our Lord said, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

D.  The problem still exists today.  Separatism and Phariseeism are not the same.  God command us to be separate but, if not watchful, the same problem arises again.  I once saw on a sign this quote, “People are like fish: you catch them but let God clean them.” 

E.  In our text, we find the ignorance of Israel during the years after the resurrection of Christ.  The problem was two-fold with one aspect, ignorance of God’s righteousness, causing the second—going about to establish their own righteousness.  The problem persists today.

F.  Paul’s desire for Israel was that they would recognize who Jesus Christ was and turn to Him for salvation.  Israel had “zeal” for God but not according to knowledge.  Spirit is good but leaves one lost without truth.  I want to look at a few things in this text.

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!

Ignorance is not necessarily a bad word as it means that one has not learned.  In Romans 10, I believe that the ignorance was willful.  Israel was familiar with the Old Testament and especially the Pentateuch.  One of the greatest of Old Testament truths found in these first 5 books was that of the holiness of God.  Mt. Sinai should have left a lasting impression upon the nation of Israel as God thundered from a mountain that was on fire.  Israel’s ignorance was willful! The world of today tries to bring God down to man’s level and man up 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.” 

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

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

One fact that every saved person understands is that of personal sinfulness.  There are those who believe that they are sinless but they are deceived and lost.  No conviction of sinfulness means there is no Holy Spirit there to convict.  Men everywhere are trying to be right with God with what they do instead of what He did.

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? 

Along with recognition of God’s righteousness must come obedience to the holiness of 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.”   

I think that “whosoever” covers it all!  Come to Jesus Christ with your bankrupt life and He will give you His righteousness.

Spiritual Growth

Temple Baptist Church - 3-8-2017

1 Peter 2:1-5

Introduction: 

A.  Growth is a natural occurrence after birth. 

1.  We expect our physical children to grow at a specific rate and, if they do not, we become concerned and take them to the doctor and find out what the problem is. 

2.  We also realize that not all children are the same so there will be those who grow bigger as well as mature differently.  It takes some children a little longer to “grow up” psychologically. 

B.  Spiritual growth is the same.  

1.  We are expected to grow consistently after the New Birth.  As a baby desires to feed on the milk of the mother, the newborn child of God should have a desire to feed upon the “sincere milk of the Word.”  I am bothered when a professing believer has no desire for the Word of God or the things of God!

2.  Not all will grow at the same speed but all need to grow.  And, yet, we too often fail to be concerned when God’s children remain in a state of spiritual “infancy!”  Let me give you a Biblical example.

Hebrews 5:11-14  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

C.  We should have: Spiritual Babes, Spiritual Young Men and Women, Spiritual Older Men and Women.

1 John 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  

D.  With our physical health, there are three main ingredients for proper growth and good health.

1.  You must eat right!  Children need a nutritious, well balanced diet that incorporates all the food groups.  Children of our day are obese because they eat all the wrong things.  A good healthy appetite must be cultivated at an early age.  When I was a child, I learned to eat what was set before me.  Today, I eat what is put before me!  Churches do more entertaining than they do Biblical preaching and teaching.  The pulpits pander to the “fast food” appetites of the people.

2.  You must have exercise!  Healthy bodies require exercise and plenty of sunlight.  Children of our day are physically lazy and spend most of their time indoors while playing around on cell phones or other electronic devices.  When I was a child, mom would not allow us to remain in the house on beautiful days.  No sitting around watching the TV set for us.  We spent our days running and playing out in the sunlight.  People must exercise spiritually unto godliness.  (1 Timothy 4:7-8)  Instead of doing only those things which please self, do things for the Lord that will be a blessing to others.

3.  You must have rest!  Our bodies and minds need rest.  When you fail to eat right while sitting around doing nothing, you do not rest right!  When I was a child, mom would make us lie down for a while in the heat of the day and either nap or just rest.  When night came, we got to bed early and were refreshed when we got up in the morning.  Spiritually, there is an old saying: “You need to come apart before you come apart!”  I have heard men say that they had rather burn out than rust out but you are out either way.  We must learn that rest is a good thing and renews us for the work that lies ahead.  Even our Lord got tired and slept.  He also took his disciples apart to allow them to rest.

E.  There are two things that I want to look at in this message.

           

THINGS THAT WILL STUNT YOUR GROWTH – “laying aside”

1.  Malice

MAL'ICE, n. Extreme enmity of heart; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.

a.  Malice Causes Defilement - Hebrews 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

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:

b.  Malice Causes Division - Ephesians 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Philippians 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

2.  Guile

            GUILE, .  Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit; usually in a bad sense.

           We may, with more successful hope, resolve

a.  Honest Before God - Romans 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

b.  Honest Before The World - 1 Thessalonians 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

c.  Honest Before The Saints - Hebrews 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

3.  Hypocrisies

a.  Unfeigned Faith - 1 Timothy 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2 Timothy 1:5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

b.  Unfeigned Feelings - 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:

4.  Envies

a.  Envy And Carnality - 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?

b.  Envy And Contention - 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:

c.  Envy And  Confusion - James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

5.  Evil Speaking

a.  The Deceitful Tongue - Psalms 52:4  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Psalms 120:2  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

b.  The Destructive Tongue - James 3:5-6  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Psalms 15:1-3  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

THINGS THAT WILL STIMULATE YOUR GROWTH – “that ye may grow thereby”

1.  It Takes A Birth – “as newborn babes”

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (The dead have no life)

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned.

2.  It Takes Desire – “desire”  (You must have a desire to grow in Christ)

3.  It Takes Sincerity – “sincere milk”  (If you can prove it to me in the Bible – you don’t want to know the truth!)

4.  It Takes God’s Word – “the word”  (The Word of God is both milk to the young and meat to the strong)

5.  It Takes Remembrance – “that the Lord is gracious”  (By the mercies of God)

6.  It Takes Approach – “To whom coming”  (If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God)

Stand Fast

Temple Baptist Church - 3-5-2017

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Introduction:

A.  We have looked long and hard at the churches of Macedonia which were standing fast in the faith and doing a great job in missions.  (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)  Thessalonica was the capitol city of the 2nd Province of Macedonia under Roman rule and Rome did not like the infiltration of Christianity as they thought Caesar to be god.

B.  In this second epistle to the Thessalonicians, Paul commended them for their work and labor of live in chapter one and gave warning in the first part of chapter two concerning the “falling away” that was in progress.  Paul alluded to that same “falling away” when writing to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

C.  As the great Apostle preached, witnessed, and established local churches—Satan’s crowd infiltrated very quickly. 

1.  Thus, in our day, Bible believing people have gone from the being the rule to being the exception in my short lifetime.  Good churches are getting harder to find.

2.  As more and more churches get in to the “numbers game,” they give in to the worldliness and false doctrine that so quickly infiltrates.  I am all for numbers, but—in out day—churches that still preach sanctification are labeled by those who do not as “legalistic” and are to be avoided.

3.  Salvation is so much more than a “wink wink nod nod” pray this little prayer.  Salvation is to those who repent and turn to Christ.  It is not a prayer alone that brings one salvation but a heart condition that turns one to Christ.  He is Lord and the repentant bow!

D.  Paul is exhorting a great church to remain great! 

1.  Their greatness was not found in numbers because they were but few. 

2.  Their greatness was not found in finances because they were in poverty. 

3.  Their greatness was not found in peace because they were in great affliction. 

4.  Their greatness was found in obedience to the Word of God.

5.  Their greatness was found in their love for each other as well as the missionaries that came their way.

E.  The message is this: you can run well and stop!  Galatians 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  (A spiritual church is like your body’s weight: if you do not strictly maintain it, it begins to go up and is almost impossible to stop.  Once a church begins to slip, it becomes virtually impossible to pull it back to where it once was.)

1.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Faith

a.  Suffer The Word - Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

b.  Magnify The Word - Psalms 138:2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

c.  Pray For The Word - 2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

d.  Preach The Word - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

e.  Continue In The Word - 2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

2.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Freedom – be not entangled “again” with the yoke of bondage – Christ’s yoke is not bondage, it is light – the blessing of coming to Christ is “free indeed”

a.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Bondage - Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

b.  Beware Of The Yoke Of False Brethren - Galatians 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

c.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Phariseeism - Colossians 2:20-23  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

d.  Beware Of the Yoke Of Inexpedient Things – 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,

1 Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  (Yes, we are free.  But we must be careful how we use our freedom lest it become bondage.)

3.  Stand Fast In Our Fellowship –persecution brings the church together.  The world hated Christ as Christ loved them.  The world hates us as Christ loves us.

a.  Fellowship In Unity - 2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

b.  Fellowship In Separation - 2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  (Separation is a must!)

c.  Fellowship In Light - 1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

4.  Stand Fast In Our Fight

a.  We Need To Fill The Gaps - Ezekiel 22:30  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  (Our older generation is passing off the scene and the need is great for men and women to “step up to the plate!”)

b.  We Need To Withstand The Onslaught - Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

5.  Stand Fast In Our Finishing - 2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.