And Many Shall Follow Their Pernicious Ways - Part 4

Temple Baptist Church - 4-18-2018

2 Peter 2:6-9

Introduction: 

A.  We have now looked at the first step to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:21-22: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”  False teachers began with the angels in heaven.  (verse 4)

B.  We looked at the second step to a reprobate mind last week, Romans 1:25:  “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”  We tied this verse with Noah’s Day, as the sons of God rejected the old paths of their fathers and began to dishonor their bodies through adultery and fornication with the daughters of men.

C.  Tonight, I want to look at the third step to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:28: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”  Though sodomy is not the result of a reprobate mine, it certain leads to one if not repented of.

D.  Sodomy in the five cities of the plains was a result of all three steps.

1.  Adam’s Day was a pure day until the false teaching of the serpent beguiled Eve.  I find not other problems with sinfulness.

2.  Noah’s Day was characterized by the imaginations of evil minds.  Luke 17:26-27  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

3.  Lot’s Day was an extension of Adam and Noah’s Day.  Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

E.  Notice both the similarities and progression of sin.  Adam’s Day was characterized by hard work and faithfulness, Noah’s Day was characterized by sexual perversion.  Lot’s Day was characterized by idleness, fulness of bread, haughtiness, and abomination.

Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

F.  Sodom and Gomorrah were noted mainly for the sin of sodomy.  We are faced with the same sinfulness in our society so I will make a few biblical statements and then move on.

1.  Sodomy is a sin, not an alternate lifestyle – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

2.  Sodomy is a learned behavior, not an inherent one - Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

3.  Sodomy is widespread both young and old - Genesis 19:4   But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

4.  Sodomy is still an abomination in the sight of God - Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Genesis 13:13  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

5.  Sodomy still brings about the judgment of God - Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

a)  God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin - Genesis 19:5  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

b)  God allowed the tribe of Benjamin to be destroyed because of sodomy - Judges 19:22   Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

1.  Sodom’s Sin.

a.  Idleness and Prosperity - Ezekiel 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

b.  Unbridled Lust - Jude 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

c. Rejection of God - Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

2.  Sodom’s Curse.

a.  They Defile The Land - 1 Kings 14:24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

1)  They were driven out of the land - 1 Kings 15:12  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.  (today they are exalting their lifestyle in America)

1 Kings 22:46  And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

2)  They destroyed their houses - 2 Kings 23:7  And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.  (today they are allowing them to live together in peace)

3)  They were spiritually rejected - Deuteronomy 23:17  There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.  (today they are ordaining them)

b.  They Destroy The People- Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.  (Aids)

c.  They Will Go To Hell - 1 Corinthians 6:9   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Timothy 1:9-10  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

3.  Sodom’s Cure.

1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  (Salvation cures the sin of sodomy.  The sodomite is no longer a sodomite.)

4.  Sodom’s Caution.

Jude 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  (God does and will always condemn and judge such sinfulness which will result in a reprobate mind.)

No Condemnation

Temple Baptist Church - 4-15-2018

Romans 8:1-11

Introduction:

A.  God wants us to understand that, positionally, the law has no dominion over us.  But, practically, we are still just sinners saved by the amazing grace of God.

Colossians 3:3-4  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

B.  The child of God’s “conflict of interest.”  The carnal man desires the things of the world while the spiritual man desires the things of God.  The flesh is against God and the spirit loves God.

Romans 7:22-24  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

C.  Chapter 8 begins with the word “therefore,” so the context has not changed.  Though we often commit those sins of commission (intentional sin) and sins of omission (also intentional sin), our position in Christ never changes.

D.  One of the most important words in verse one is “now.”   

1.  One day, God will take us home and we will have a sinless body with no sin nature.  But, what about now?  So many denominations err at this point.  They will agree that salvation is apart from works but will argue that works are essential to maintaining salvation.  To put it simply, man is not good enough to be saved but must be good enough to remain saved. 

2.  Paul spoke of this when writing to the churches at Galatia.  The Judaizers crept in and tried to bring the believers back under the law.

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?

E.  Verses 1 and 9 describe the child of God, not indict him!  If you are saved, you will have a desire to live for Christ.  God uses the same way of explaining the position of the child of God in both Romans 8 and James 2.

James 2:17-20  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  (18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  (19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  (James declares that a faith without works is a dead faith.  God’s children love God and have a desire to live for Him.)

F.  John recorded this in John, chapter 3 (The New Birth Chapter):

John 3:16-21  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

G.  Three positions of the child of God:

1.  Saved, not trying to be saved.  Salvation is a present, finished work!

Ephesians 2:1-10  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (4)  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.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved (to deliver, protect, make whole) through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (Everything in these verses are broken down into our pre-salvation and present salvation.  Salvation is

2.  Safe, not trying to remain saved.  Salvation is an eternal work!

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one.  (An absolute negative!)

3.  Sure, not doubtful.  Blessed assurance is a product of our faith in God’s promises!

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

1 John 5:10-13  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  (11)  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.

Isaiah 32:16-18  Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  (17)  And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.  (18)  And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

The Church, A Den of Thieves?

Temple Baptist Church - 4-15-2018

Mark 11:15-19

Introduction:

A.  Lately, I have been preaching on the local church.  As I was reading my Bible on the deck Saturday morning, these familiar verses stood out.

B.  In Matthew, Mark, and Luke we find the story of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem and His cleansing of the Temple.

C.  In the Wilderness, there was the Tabernacle; in Jerusalem, there was the Temple; in the New Testament, we find the local church.

D.  All three of these had a common purpose: a place where men met with God in worship and a place where God met with men in fellowship. 

1 Kings 8:48-49  And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:  (49)  Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

2 Chronicles 7:14-16  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (15)  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  (16)  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

E.  Here, we find God’s love for the place of worship.  What was to be known in all nations as the house of prayer had become common and a house of thieves.

Mark 11:17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

1.  The Anger of the Lord!  This account is one few times that we see Jesus Christ angered. 

John 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

a.  He found a change in the people’s attitude toward the temple.

b.  He found a change in God’s intended purpose of the temple.

2.  The Den of Thieves!  The House of the Lord had become Commercial! 

Mark 11:15  And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

a.  Churches that have become commercial.  John 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.  (Some raffle off things, have even have coffee shops in them, support their projects by selling donuts, having bake sales, etc.  God’s church business is to be funded by the tithes and offerings.  Religion is big business and you can get rich if you find out what the people want and adhere to it.)

b.  There are churches that are all about the money.  1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (We are not to worry about the finances of the local church.  The offerings are God’s, not ours and we operated within the finances that come in.  Since when has God been broke?  Televangelists have done much harm to the world’s perception of religion.)

c.  Often, preachers speak of families that will not trust God with the tithe and then the same preachers worry over the offerings.  I often say, when we receive the Lord’s tithes and offerings, “You give as unto the Lord and it will be just right.”  That is why I do not normally take up special offerings.

2.  The House of the Lord had become Common!  Mark 11:16  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

a.  A vessel was something for common use.  Sanctuaries have become auditoriums.  A “sanctuary” is something reserved or set aside.  To carry a common vessel “through” was to make the sanctuary a thoroughfare or common use.  The new trend is to have a multi-purpose place of worship.  I have seen a church on Hwy. 25 North that was such.  It could be used for worship or play as it was a glorified gymnasium with chairs set out for services.  The sanctuary is not a place for play or food and drink.  It is a place of worship.

b.  Churches in our day, for the most part, have become common through becoming casual.  The church is a holy place where God’s people come to worship Him.  It is a special place.  It is a sanctuary that is set aside.

c.  The modern-day churches uses three things to attract the worldly.

1)  Their Music that appeals to the flesh.

2)  Their Message that offends no one.

3)  Their Methods that are unbiblical.

d.  Here at Temple, we will respect God’s house—both the pulpit and the pew.  It may seem a little old fashioned, but our forefathers had it right and we will keep it right.

3.  The end result: The House of the Lord was no longer the House of Prayer!  

Psalms 66:18-20  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:  (19)  But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.  (20)  Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Conclusion:  Every generation will have to make a choice concerning what they want in a church.  As each generation passes through the “valley of the shadow of death,” a new generation will choose either the Old Paths of the fathers or the New Paths of the world.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Conflict of Interest

Temple Baptist Church - 4-8-2018

Romans 7:7-25

Introduction:

A.  In the last couple of chapters, we have seen our relationship to both sin and the Law:

1.  We are dead to sin!  Romans 6:1-2  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  (2)  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

2.  We are dead to the Law!  Romans 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

B.  Now that we are established in these two important biblical facts, let us look at the heart and life of the great Apostle Paul.  This will help us in two ways:

1.  How to spiritually succeed biblically.

2.  How to handle spiritual failure biblically.

C.  We, just as the Apostle Paul, are a trichotomy in our image of God and a dichotomy in our relation to our life in this world.

1.  Trichotomy – three in one: body, world conscious—soul, self-conscious—spirit, God conscious.

2.  Dichotomy – two in one: an old nature that is sinful and a new creature that is holy.

D.  Thus, a conflict of interest!  A situation in which a person is involved in multiple interests where serving one the interests could involve working against one of the other interest. 

Romans 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-25  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  (18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

James 4:5-7  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?  (6)  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  (7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

E.  Though we have the Holy Spirit and a desire to serve Christ, we also live in a flesh that has an old nature that desires the things of the world.  You hear from some religious people about the eradication of the flesh whereby a child of God eventually lives a sinless life.  I have a problem with such people because 1) they have not the conviction of the Holy Spirit and 2) they have called God a liar!

1 John 1:8, 10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us ...  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1.  It is by the Law that we know what sin is.  Verse 7.  1 Timothy 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

2.  Paul was alive without the Law.  Verses 8-9.  He thought he was doing God’s will by persecuting the church.  1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

3.  The Law is holy and right.  Verses 10-13.  The work of the Law is to bring about sinfulness and point us to Christ.  Galatians 3:24-25  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

f.  Positionally, we are dead to the Law but Practically, we are still sinners and come short of the Law.  Thus, the Conflict of Interest.

F.  Let’s break these verses down.

1.  Carnality – Verses 14-15.  Though we are saved positionally, practically our flesh is not saved.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

2.  Consent – Verse 16.  When the child of God does wrong (he knows that what he is doing is evil),  he agrees with the Law that the Law is holy and right.

3.  Conflict – Verses 17-22.  There is a constant battle between the newness of the spiritual man and the wicked of our sinful flesh.

James 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

4.  Captivity – Verses 23-24.  Your flesh tries to control your mind bringing you into spiritual captivity. 

2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

5.  Confidence – Verses 24-25.  One day, this old body will be changed and we will get a new one that is holy.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  (51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.