This web page contains 47 messages on
Bibliology most of which are on other web pages. They have been modified to some extent All multi-volume works
cited will give the volume number and page number for example, I:1. Items
in [ ] are comments by this writer. To access a message, click on the
title.
Charge It to My Account--A study in the Book of Philemon which is also
presented under the title The Postcard Epistle in the web page Study of Books.
It is
also a first of a series of four messages on the short, one
chapter books of the New Testament. (The whole series is on this web
page).
Contenders for the Faith--A study in the Book of Jude.
It is the last of a series of four messages on the short, one
chapter books of the New Testament. (The
whole series is on this web
page).
God's Truth Versus Man's
Tradition--Mark 7:1-13
Introduction to Daniel--Daniel 1:8. This is a series of studies on
the book of Daniel. (Click here to access the
series.).
Introduction to the Epistle of James--James 1:1.
This is a series of studies on the Epistle of James entitled JOURNEYS IN JAMES (Click here to access the
series.).
I Would Not Have You Ignorant of God's Word--The
second in a series of five messages preached over a radio station and is presented here just as
broadcasted. (Click
here to access the
series.).
No Greater Joy--A study in the Book of 3 John. It
is the third of a series of four messages on the short, one chapter books of the New Testament. (The whole
series is on this web
page).
The Book of 2 Peter--A ten message series which is outlined in the web
page Study of Books.
The Book of Habakkuk--A message on this short
three-chapter book of the Old Testament.
The Book of Redemption--An outline study of Exodus 1-40.
The Book of Romans--A twenty-four message series which
is outlined in the web page Study of Books.
The Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures--2 Timothy 3:16
The Necessity of Bible Reading--Acts 20:32; this is the
first of six-part series (Click here to access the
series.).
The New Testament: The Gospel of Jesus Christ--John 20 31
To the Elect Lady--A study in the Book of 2 John.
It is the second of a series of four messages on the short, one
chapter books of the New Testament. (The
whole series is on this web
page).
The Book of Redemption
Exodus 1-40
INTRODUCTION:
1. The Book of Genesis
a. Opened with "In the
Beginning"
b. Closed with "a coffin
in Egypt"
c. Sin and death had
taken its toll--Romans 6:23. . . ."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
2. Exodus starts where Genesis left off.
a. Starts with the death
of Joseph
b. Leads to the bondage
of Israel
3. Thus, the first chapters deal with:
I. REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT--CHAPTERS 1-12
A. The Need of Redemption Declared--Chapter 1
1. New King
2. Murderous Decree
a. Disobeyed by midwives who feared God
b. Disobeyed by Moses' parents
B. The Leaders of Redemption Prepared--Chapters
2-4
1. The primary leader
a. Birth of Moses hidden & found by Pharaoh's daughter--2:1-10
b. Killed Egyptian & fled to Midian--2:11-15
c. Marries a Gentile--a type of Christ--2:16-25
d. God reveals Himself to Moses--3:1-4:9
(I) God's Revelation--3:1-10
(II) Moses' three excuses--3:11, 13; 4:1, 10
(III) God's three answers--3:12, 14-22; 44:2-9, 11, 12
2. The second leader
prepared--4:13-18
3. Return to Egypt &
deliverance announced to Israel elders--4:19-31
C. The Contest for Redemption--Chapters 5-11
1. The first demand &
burden increased-- chapter 5
2. The promises of
God renewed--chapter 6
a. Chapter 5 gives us a trial.
b. Chapter 6 gives us the promises of God
3. The contests between
God and Egyptian gods--chapters 7-11
a. The plagues increased in severity
b. The plagues were against those things that Egypt worshipped
c. The plagues led Pharaoh to try to compromise
d. The lesson
(I) God's dealing with us is often increasing in severity.
(II) God deals with those things we falsely worship.
(III) God's chastisement sometimes leads us to try to compromise.
D. The Means of Redemption--Chapter 12
1. The feast of the
Passover instituted--12:1-14
a. By blood--vv. 1-6
(I) Christ our Passover died for us
(A) Romans 5:8--"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
(B) 1 Corinthians 5:7--"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a
new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is
sacrificed for us:"
(II) Shed His blood
(A) Romans 3:24--"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus:"
(B) Luke 22:20--"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is
the
new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
b. Blood must be applied--v. 7
(I) Israelites by faith applying the blood to the door posts
(II) We by believing--cf. John 5:24--" Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life."
c. Partakers of the sacrifice--vv. 8-14
(I) Spiritually
(II) As a memorial
2. The feast of unleavened bread instituted--12:15-20
3. The Passover accomplished--12:21-28
4. The first-born of Egypt killed--12:29-36
5. First stage of journey mentioned and Passover reiterated-- 12:37-51
II. ROAMING FROM EGYPT TO SINAI--CHAPTER 13-18
A. God's Protection--Chapter 13
1. The sanctification of the first-born--vv. 1-18
2. God's protection in journey to the Red Sea--vv. 19-22
B. God's Victory--Chapters 14, 15
1. The pursuit of the world (as represented by Egypt)--14:1-14
a. The first test
b. Israel cries
2. God's way out--14:15-31
a. God answers Israel
b. Israel crosses on dry ground
c. Pharaoh's army drowned
3. The Song of Moses--Chapter 15
a. First song in Bible--after redemption
b. Ephesians 5:18, 19--"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be
filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord;"
C. God's Provision--Chapters 16-18
1. For the flesh--16:1-17:7
a. Tested
(I) Twice here
(II) Once in last chapter
b. God provided their need--cf. Matthew 6:25-34--"Therefore I say unto you, Take
no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [26] Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better
than they? [27] Which of you by taking
thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [28] And why take ye thought
for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: [29] And
yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God
so
clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more
clothe you, O ye of little faith? [31]
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?
or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do
the Gentiles seek:) for your
heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the
morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof."
c. Manna--Christ, the Bread of Life: John 6:35--"And Jesus said unto
them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that
believeth on Me shall never thirst."
d. The Rock--Christ ("Spiritual rock which is Christ"--cf. 1
Corinthians 10:4)
e. Water--Christ, the Water of Life--John 4:14. . . . "But whosoever
drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life."
2. Against Satan--17:8-16
a. Amalek--typical of Satanic opposition
b. The provision of prayer--Ephesians 6:12, 18. . . ."For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
3. For Moses
a. Moses heavy load
b. The load distributed
III. RESIDENCE AT SINAI--CHAPTER 19-40
A. The Commandments Given--Chapters 19, 20
1. Preparation for the Law--chapter 19
2. The commandments themselves--chapter 20
a. Commandments between God & man
(I) Nine of the ten are reiterated in the New Testament in one form or another.
(II) Fourth commandment regarding the keeping of the Sabbath day is not
reiterated under grace.
b. The commandments between men
c. The manifestation of God's holiness
B. The Ordinances Given--Chapters 21-24
1. Ordinances concerning men--21:1-27
2. Ordinances concerning beasts--21:28-22:4
3. Ordinances concerning restitution--22:5-23:9
4. Ordinances concerning Sabbaths & sacrifices--23:10-19
5. The promised return to Canaan--23:20-33
6. The ordinances given to Israel & Moses returns to the Mount
C. The Plan of the Tabernacle Given--Chapters 25-31
1. The furniture of the Tabernacle--chapter 25
a. The ark
(I) vv. 1-22
(II) Christ, our mercy seat--Romans 3:25. . . ."Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare his righteousness for
the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;"
b. The table of showbread
(I) vv. 23-30
(II) Christ, our bread of life--John 6:35 (Quoted above)
c. The candlestick
(I) vv. 31-40
(II) Christ, the light of the world--John 8:12. . . ."Then spake Jesus again
unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life."
2. The walls of the Tabernacle--chapter 26
a. The Curtains, pillars, and wall boards
(I) vv. 1-30
(II) All speak of Christ
b. The Vail
(I) vv. 31-35
(II) Inner Vail which was rent in two at Christ's death
(A) Matthew 27:51--"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom; and
the earth did quake, and the rocks
rent;"
(B) Note: it was rent "from the top to the bottom."
(1) Thus, God rent it.
(2) The way into the Holy of Holies was now open to everyone.
(C) The Vail--a type of His flesh
3. The outer court of the Tabernacle--chapter 27
a. The altar of burnt offering
(I) Vv. 1-8
(II) Christ, our altar of burnt offering
b. The walls of the court--vv. 9-19
c. The oil of the lamp--vv. 20-21
4. The office of the priest--chapters 28, 29
a. The priest's clothes--chapter 28
b. The priest's commission--chapter 29
5. The variations regulations of the Tabernacle--chapter 30, 31
D. The Broken Law & Restoration--Chapter 32-34
1. The sin of idolatry--32:1-29
a. First 2 commandments broken
b. Cf. James 2:10--"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in
one point, he is guilty of all."
c. Cf. Galatians 3:10--"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."
2. The intercession of Moses--32:30-35
a. Cf. James 5:13ff.--"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any
merry? let him sing psalms. [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders
of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
b. Cf. 1 John 5:16, 17--"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. [17] All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
3. The presence of Jehovah with Moses--chapter 33
4. The Law renewed--chapter 34
E. The Tabernacle Built & Set Up--Chapters 35-40
1. In chapter 25
a. Plan of the Tabernacle began with the ark
b. Godward
2. Here
a. Account begins with the court
b. Manward
CONCLUSION:
1. Redemption from Egypt--Chapters 1-12
a. Climax is in chapter 12
b. Redeemed by the blood of an innocent one
2. Roaming from Egypt to Sinai--Chapters 13-18
a. The threefold battle
(I) With the world
(II) With the flesh
(III) With Satan
b. The threefold help of God
(I) In Protection
(II) In Victory
(III) In Provision
3. Residence at Sinai--Chapters 19-40
a. The Law Given--chapters 19-24
b. The Tabernacle Plan Given--chapters 25-31
c. The Law Broken--chapters 32-34
d. The Tabernacle Set Up & Fellowship Restored--chapters 35-40
The Book of Habakkuk
Chapters 1-3
INTRODUCTION:
1. As most people know, the prophets in the Old
Testament are divided into two groups: the major prophets--all over fourteen chapters in
length; and the minor
prophets--all less than fourteen chapters except Hosea and
Zechariah.
2. In this message we are to consider the Book of
Habakkuk.
3. This short book has three chapters and can be
divided accordingly.
I. THE PUNISHMENT OF JUDAH--Chapter 1
A. Habakkuk's Remonstrance--vv.1-4
1. The burden--v. 1
a. Frequently used by the prophets
(I) Cf. Isaiah
(A) 13:1--"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did
see."
(B) 14:28--"In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden."
(C) 15:1--"The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is
laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of
Moab is laid
waste, and brought to silence;"
(D) 23:1--"The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste,
so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is
revealed to them."
(II) Zechariah 12:1--"The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel,
saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation
of the earth, and formeth the spirit of
man within him."
(III) Malachi 1:1--"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by
Malachi."
b. Refers to the prophetic work
2. The cry--v. 2
a. How long
(I) God often delays answers.
(II) This waiting is for the benefit of our faith and to teach needs
lessons.
(III) James 5:7--"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the
Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and
hath long patience for it, until he
receive the early and latter rain."
b. Of unanswered prayer
(I) Disobedience--Deuteronomy 1:45. . . ."And ye returned and wept before the
LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear
unto you."
(II) Secret sin--Psalm 66:18. . . ." If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me:"
(III) Instability--James 1:6, 7. . . ."But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord."
(IV) Self-indulgence--James 4:3. . . ."Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
(V) Lack of faith--Matthew 21:22. . . ."And all things, whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
(VI) Lesson of faith
3. The apparent
injustice--vv. 3, 4
a. What the seer sees about him
(I) Iniquity
(II) Violence and spoiling
(III) Strife and contention
b. What injustice existed
(I) Law despised
(II) Judgment lacking
(III) Righteous persecuted
B. God's Reply--vv. 5-11
1. God is at work.--v. 5
a. Even if we do not believe it
b. Cf. Isaiah 29:14--"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work
among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the
wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the understanding of their prudent men
shall be hid."
2. God has His
instrument--vv.6-10
a. The Chaldeans raised up--v. 6
b. The Chaldeans were God's instrument of judgment--v. 7
c. The description of the judgment--vv. 8-10
3. The instrument to be
judged--v. 11
a. Because of idolatry
b. Judgment of the instrument is the main part of the prophecy.
c. Chapter 1 is the background for the prophecy against the Chaldeans.
C. Habakkuk's Reasonings--vv. 12-17
1. Based on the nature of
God--vv. 12, 13
a. His eternal nature--Cf. Deuteronomy 32:40--"For I lift up my hand to heaven,
and say, I live forever."
b. His holiness
(I) V. 13 primarily
(II) Sin is hateful.
(III) Apparent injustice in God for not destroying the wicked
(IV) True, God's holiness would cause Him to destroy the wicked, but His mercy
and grace would be longsuffering to them.
(A) Cf. the case of Jonah and Ninevah
(B) Cf. 2 Peter 3:9--"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance."
2. The illustration--vv.
14, 15
3. The prosperity of
idolaters
a. Only apparent
b. Idolatrous because of their prosperity?
c. At this point the seer is only using human reasoning, apart from the divine
viewpoint.
II. THE PRONOUNCEMENT AGAINST THE CHALDEANS--Chapter 2
A. The Sureness of the Prophecy--vv. 1-3
1. Waiting on God--v. 1
a. Prayerful waiting
b. Prayerful watching
c. The recognition of the need of being reproved
2. God's word
certain--vv. 2, 3
a. Prophecy to be written down
b. God will fulfill His Word.
B. The Statement of the Prophecy--vv. 4-20
1. Its preamble--vv. 4-6a
a. Their pride--vv. 4, 5a (v. 4b is quoted 3 times in the New testament)
b. Their greed--v. 5b
c. Their ambition--v. 5c
d. The introduction to the prophecy--v.6a
2. The first woe--vv.6b-8
a. Against their unjust gain
b. What they sowed they will reap.
3. The second woe--vv.
9-11
a. Against their covetousness
b. Their sin shall find them out.
4. The third woe--vv.
12-14
a. Against their murdering
b. Against their vanity
c. The prophecy extends to the millennial kingdom--v.14.
5. The fourth woe--vv.
15-17
a. Against drunkenness
b. Results in humiliation
c. They shall drink of God's wrath.
6. The conclusion--vv.
18-20
a. Their fall due to idolatry
(I) Hinted at in chapter 1
(II) Cf. Romans 1:19ff.--"Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. [20] For the invisible
things of
Him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead;
so
that they are without excuse: [21] 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. [22] Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of
the incorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore
God
also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own
bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the
creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen."
(III) Cf. Acts 17:29--"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man's device."
b. The glory of God
(I) In the holy temple--cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. . . ."What? know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye
have of God, and ye are not your own?
[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's."
(II) Shuts our mouths
(III) It should result in reverence for Him.
III. THE PRAYER OF HABAKKUK--Chapter 3
A. The Prominence of God--vv. 1-15
1. The beginning of the prayer--vv. 1, 2
a. Shigionoth
(I) meaning uncertain
(II) Sometimes this kind of term refers to a musical instrument.
(A) This writer thinks it is the case here.
(B) See the last phrase of verse 19.
(III) Other times it refers to some event.
b. God's Word causes reverential fear.
c. The desire for revival
d. The prayer for mercy
2. The theme of the prayer--vv. 3-15
a. The majesty of God is seen in delivering His people.
b. God is in control--vv. 3-9a.
c. God is powerful in deliverance--vv. 9b-13.
d. God is the downfall of the wicked--vv. 14, 15
B. The Place of the Prophet--vv. 16-19
1. Fear of God--v. 16
a. A glimpse of God will cause anyone to tremble.
b. A glimpse of God will cause one to realize his own sinfulness.
(I) Job 42:5, 6--"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear:
but now mine eye seeth Thee. [6] Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes."
(II) Isaiah 6:5--"Then said I, 'Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of hosts.'"
2. Rejoice in God--vv. 17, 18
a. In spite of circumstances--v. 17
b. Because God saves--v. 18
3. Strengthened by God--v. 19
a. God is our strength
(I) Psalm 46:1--"To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
(II) Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me."
b. God will exalt us--cf. 1 Peter 5:6. . . ."Humble yourselves therefore under
the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
CONCLUSION:
1. God punishes His people, often using the unsaved as His instruments.
2. God judges His instruments for their misuse of His blessings.
3. God is in control of circumstances.
4. We need to take the place of the prophet.
a. Realizing our sinfulness
b. Rejoicing in God our Savior in spite of circumstances
c. Relying on God to strengthen and to exalt us.
The Necessity of
Bible Reading
Acts 20:32
INTRODUCTION:
1. Winston's Dictionary defines necessary as "existing from the nature of
the
case, not to be
done without, unavoidable, obligatory."
2. When we consider "Necessary Things for Christians,"
we have in mind those things with
which a Christian can not do.
3. It is those things that are needed for the growth of a Christian life, just
as food is to the physical
life.
4. These things are pondered on the assumption that you have spiritual life,
i.e., that you have
been born again by faith in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and
Saviour.
5. In Acts 20:32, we find the first of these necessary things: "The Necessity of Bible Reading."
6. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
them
which are sanctified." (Acts 20:32)
6. The text tells us about:
I. THE WORD OF GRACE
A. The Source
1. God
a. It is His grace.
b. 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,
establish, strengthen, settle you."
c. 1 Corinthians 15:10--"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and
His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than they all: yet not I, but
the grace of God which was with me."
2. The Word
a. 2 Timothy 3:16--"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
b. The phrase "Word of God" occurs frequently in Scripture indicating God as the
source.
B. The Nature
1. Grace is unmerited favor.
2. Grace is the means of salvation--Ephesians 2:8. . . ."For by grace are
ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
3. Thus, the word of grace is the means of life.
TRANSITION: We are commended first to the Source of life--God; then to the means
of life--His
gracious Word. Therefore:
II. THE WORD OF GRACE IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP.
A. It is Spiritual Food.
1. Psalm 119:103--"How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter
than honey to my mouth!"
2. Hebrews 5:12-14--"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 unskillfull 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."
3. 1 Peter 2:2--"As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:"
B. It is the Source of Knowledge.
1. 2 Timothy 3:15--"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus."
2. 2 Peter 3:16, 18--"As also in all his [Paul's] epistles, speaking in
them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction."
3. John 8:31,32--"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, 'If
ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.'"
TRANSITION: The Word of grace coming from God and being the means of life is
able to build us up,
but also:
III. THE WORD OF GRACE GIVES US AN INHERITANCE.
A. The Nature of Our Inheritance
1. Acts 26:18--"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of
sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me."
2. Ephesians 1:11--"In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after
the
counsel of His own will:"
3. 1 Peter 1:3, 4--"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,"
B. The Basis of Our Inheritance
1. Sanctified ones
2. Thus, saints
a. Saints are those who have been born again.
b. Saints are not necessarily holy ones--i.e. the Corinthians who were
called saints, but had all sorts of errors and sins.
CONCLUSION:
1. The necessity of Bible reading is seen in the fact that the Bible is God's
word of grace.
2. The necessity of Bible reading is seen in the fact that it alone is able to
build us up spiritually.
a. It is our spiritual food.
b. It is the source of all spiritual knowledge.
3. The necessity of Bible reading in that God's Word provides an inheritance.
4. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
them
which are sanctified." (Acts 20:32)
5. Will you be faithful in Bible reading?
The Divine Inspiration
of the Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16
INTRODUCTION:
1. In these days of
denial of the importance of doctrine, we need to stand up and say, "These
Things We Believe."
2. One of those things we
believe is "The Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures."
3. 2 Timothy 3:16--"All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
4. As we consider the
inspiration of the Scriptures, ponder:
I. ITS CONCEPT
A. In Meaning
1. Literally, "God
breathed"
a. A similar phrase occurs in Job 32:8.
b. This term was never used among idolatrous Greeks concerning the writings of
their gods.
c. Similar terms were used by Hellenistic Jews concerning the Old Testament.
(I) Josephus--(actual source unknown)
(II) Philo--Ibid.
2. Implies that the agent
is the Holy Spirit--Cf. 2 Peter 1:21 ("For the prophecy came not in old time by
the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved [borne along] by the Holy
Ghost."
3. Inspiration is
asserted in Scripture, not explained.
B. In Authorship
1. Authorship is dual.
a. Divine
(I) Has been overemphasized in the past by Evangelicals.
(II) "The Scriptures are the Word of God in the sense that they originate
with Him and are the expression of His mind alone." (Chafer, Lewis Sperry,
Systematic Theology. Dallas,
TX: Dallas Seminary Press, c1947; I:72)
b. Human
(I) Overemphasized by liberal and neo-orthodox today
(II) "Certain men have been chosen of God for the high honor and responsibility
of receiving God's Word and transcribing it into written form." (Ibid.)
2. 2 Peter 1:21 is a main
passage.
a. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
b. Bears out the duality of authorship
c. Shows that the Holy Spirit is agent
d. Teaches that these set-apart men were "borne along" by the Holy Spirit
e. Does not teach the "how" of inspiration
3. Several verbal
theories of inspiration have been set forth.
a. Dictation
(I) God dictated every word to men.
(II) Divine authorship is emphasized to the near exclusion of human
authorship.
(A) Some personal matters would be unnecessary under this view.
(B) Romans 16:22 would be out of place under this view.--"I Tertius, who
wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." (Tertius was Paul's
secretary)
(III) Styles and writings would not be different very much, which they do.
(IV) This view virtually annuls rather than uses the various writers'
minds and wills.
(V) Many good Bible-believing men hold this view and is honoring to God.
b. Partial
(I) Inspiration reaches only to doctrinal teaching and precepts, and to truths
unknowable to the human author.
(II) Tends to separate the dual authorship of the Scriptures
(III) Denies inspiration to parts of the Bible
(A) How do we know (or determine) which parts are inspired?
(B) How do we know (or determine) which parts are not inspired?
(IV) Finds no support in Scripture
(V) Basically a rationalistic view
c. Degrees
(I) Some portions of Scripture are more inspired than others.
(II) Another attempt to divide the dual authorship
(III) Leads to the assertion that the Bible is full of errors.
(IV) Characteristic of liberals and neo-orthodox
(V) No Biblical support
d. Concepts
(I) Ideas are inspired but not words.
(II) Minimizes the divine authorship and concedes too much to higher critics.
(III) Words are necessary to convey ideas; thus, a change of word can
change the idea.
(IV) This view has resurfaced in the KJV vs. other translations controversy; in
fact, it is one of the main reasons used for so-called newer translations.
e. Natural
(I) This view equates Biblical inspiration with that of musicians and
poets.
(II) Emphasizes human authorship to the exclusion of the divine
(III) The lowest idea of inspiration
(IV) Does not secure the accuracy of the Scriptures (They that hold this view
care less about accuracy and/or truth.)
f. Verbal, plenary
(I) Will be considered in detail next
(II) True of every portion of Scripture
(III) True of every word of Scripture
TRANSITION: We see, therefore, what inspiration means. Examine now:
II. ITS COMPLETENESS
A. Extends to All Scripture
1. Every portion
a. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
b. Historical
c. Scientific
d. Doctrinal
e. Moral
2. Old Testament
a. 2 Peter 1:21 (Quoted above)
b. In the Old Testament itself
(I) "The Word of the Lord came unto me saying"
(II) "Thus saith the Lord"
(III) Many equivalent phrases
(IV) Isaiah 40:8--"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our
God shall stand forever."
c. In the New Testament
(I) Matthew 22:43--"He saith unto them, 'How then doth David in spirit call him
Lord, saying,'"
(II) Acts 4:25--"Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, 'Why did
the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?'
(III) Hebrews 3:7--"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, 'Today if ye will
hear his voice,')"
d. By Christ Himself
(I) Repeatedly witnessed to the divine inspiration of the Old Testament
(II) Accepted it in its entirety as well as in its parts
(III) It is interesting to note that the very portions that the critics first
attacked--the five books of Moses and Jonah--are the very portions that Jesus
verifies.
4. The New Testament
a. Christ's authority
(I) John 14:25, 26--"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present with you. [26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the
Father will send in My name, He shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
(II) John 15:26, 27--"But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from
the Father, he shall testify of Me:
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
(III) John 16:12-15--"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear
them now. [13] Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He
will guide you into all truth:
for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you
things to
come. [14] He shall glorify
Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. [15] All things
that the Father hath are Mine: therefore
said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it
unto you."
b. Apostles claimed Divine inspiration
(I) 1 Corinthians 14:37--"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord."
(II) 1 Thessalonians 2:13--"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing,
because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us,
ye received it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. "
(III) 1 John 5:10, 11--"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."
(IV) 2 Peter 3:2--"That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken
before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles
of the Lord and Savior:"
(V) Revelation 1:1, 19 imply it.--"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly
come to pass; and He sent and signified it
by His angel unto His servant John: [19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are,
and
the things which shall be hereafter;"
c. Some apostles showed inspiration of others.
(I) Luke is quoted by Paul as Scripture--1 Timothy 5:18. . . ."For the Scripture
saith, 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.' And,
'The laborer is worthy of his reward.'"
(A) First part is from Deuteronomy 25:4.--"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox
when he treadeth out the corn."
(B) Second part is from Luke 10:7.--"And in the same house remain, eating and
drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his
hire. Go not from house to house." [This latter phrase is not to betaken as a criticism of door-to-door visitation.]
(II) Peter states divine inspiration of Pauline epistles--2 Peter 3:15,
16. . . ."And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also according to the
wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of
these
things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they
do also the other Scriptures, unto
their own destruction."
B. Extends to the Very Words
1. The Lord argued from a
single word and for a single letter.
a. Matthew 5:18--"For verily I say unto you, 'Till heaven and earth pass, one jot
or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled'."
b. Matthew 22:41-45--"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked
them, [42] Saying, 'What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?' They
say unto him,
'The son of David.' [43]
He saith unto them, 'How then doth David in Spirit call Him Lord, saying, [44] "The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my
right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?" [45] If David then call Him,
"Lord", how is He his
son?'"
c. Luke 21:33--"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass
away."
2. Other instances can be
cited.
a. Jeremiah 1:9--"Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And
the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth."
b. Galatians 3:16--Paul makes a distinction between the singular and the plural.
("Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,
'And to seeds,' as of many; but as of
one, 'And to thy seed,' which is Christ.")
c. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13--Words are specifically mentioned. ("But God hath
revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea,
the deep things of God. [11] For
what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth
no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.")
d. Hebrews 4:7--Argument hinges on the single word, "Today." ("Again, he
limiteth a certain day, saying in David, 'Today', after so long a time; as it is
said,
'Today if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts.'")
3. Therefore, the concept
or idea theory--ideas not the words of Scripture inspired--is manifestly
in error.
TRANSITION: The Scriptures are inspired of God; this inspiration is both
plenary--extending to all of the Bible, and verbal--extending to the very words of
Scripture. In the
light of these facts, concerning inspiration, we need to ponder:
III. ITS CONSEQUENCES
A. Necessary to Salvation
1. Stated in Scripture
a. 2 Timothy 3:15--"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus."
b. Romans10:17--"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God."
c. 1 Peter 1:23--"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."
2. Apart from the
Scripture, we would never learn of Jesus Christ.
a. It is not the church from which we learn of Christ. (In spite of
the claims of a so-called church)
b. The organized church has often corrupted what Jesus Christ came to do.
c. It is by the Word of God we learn of Jesus Christ.
3. "The Church from
her Master Received the gift divine, And still that light she lifteth O'er all
the earth to shine. It is
the golden casket, Where gems of truth
are stored; it is the heaven-drawn
picture Of Christ, the living Word." (The Service Hymnal. Chicago: Hope Publishing Company, 1958;
130, stanza 2)
B. Profitable for Christian Living
1. Stated in Scripture
a. Our text and verse 17--"All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: [17] That the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
b. 1 Peter 2:2, 3--"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is
gracious."
2. The source of
doctrine
a. The basis for every well-known creed
b. The basis of many statements of faith
3. The purpose of
it
a. It reproves us.
b. It corrects us.
c. It instructs us in righteousness.
d. It is for our perfecting.
4. "Holy Bible, book
divine, Precious treasure, thou are mine; Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to
teach me what I am; Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to show a Saviour's love; Mine thou art
to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward; Mine to comfort in distress, Suffering in this wilderness; Mine
to
show by living faith, Man can triumph over death; Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner's
doom; O thy holy
book divine, Precious treasure
thou are mine." (The Service Hymnal, 126)
CONCLUSION:
1. The concept of this inspiration is seen
in
a. Its meaning:
God-breathed
b. Its dual authorship
(I) Divine
(II) Yet human
(III) Just like the Living Word, Jesus, the God-man
2. The completeness of this inspiration is
seen in
a. Its extending to all the
Bible
b. Its extending to the very
words
3. The consequences of this inspiration is
seen in
a. Its necessity for
knowing the way of salvation: through Jesus Christ, the Living Word.
b. Its profitableness for
Christian Living
4. In the light of the Divine inspiration of
the Scriptures
a. Unbeliever, what are
you going to do?
(I) Reject God's divine truth, either passively by neglect or actively by
blasphemy
(II) Accept God's way to Him through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ
b. Believer, what are you
going to do?
(I) Ignore it to your own hurt?
(II) Act upon what God says to do in that very Word
5. "Great Son of righteous, arise, Bless the dark world
with heavenly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise, Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments
right. Thy
noblest wonders here we view In souls renewed and sins
forgiven; Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make
Thy Word my guide to heaven." (The
Service Hymnal, 128, stanzas 3 and 4)
6. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2
Timothy 3:16)
Charge It to
My Account
Philemon1-25
1. How many of you have one or more charge accounts?
2. If you do, you know how easy it is to walk into a store, choose some
merchandise, and say to
the clerk, "Charge It to My Account."
3. As we begin a study of the four shortest epistles of the New Testament, we
consider the
"Charge-account" epistle, the personal letter of Paul to Philemon.
4. We call it the "Charge-account" epistle because of
vv. 18, 19a.
5. "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught,
put that on mine account; [19a] I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it:"
6. But consider first:
I. THE GREETING FROM PAUL--vv. 1-3. . . ."Paul, a prisoner of Jesus
Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved,
and fellow laborer,
[2] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house: [3] Grace to you, and peace, from
God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ."
A. The Persons Involved--vv. 1, 2
1. The Apostle Paul himself
a. A prisoner--most probably first imprisonment in Rome
b. Note: a prisoner of Jesus Christ
(I) In prison for Christ's sake, not his own
(II) Cf. Ephesians 3:1--"For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus
Christ for you Gentiles,"
2. Timothy
a. His son in the faith--cf. 1 Timothy 1:2--"Unto Timothy, my own son in
the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our
Lord."
b. A brother in the faith
3. Philemon
a. Our beloved
(I) The word dearly has no Greek basis, but doubtlessly expresses the heart of Paul.
(II) Used frequently as a form of address by Christians of one another
b. Fellow-laborer--literally: a worker together
c. Well-to-do citizen of Colosse
(I) Colossians 4:9 shows citizenship, indirectly. ("With Onesimus, a faithful
and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you
all things which are done here."
[Remember, Philemon is about Onesimus.]
(II) Had slaves
(A) Paul did not speak out against slavery here.
(B) This issue will be discuss later.
4. Philemon's family
a. Apphia
(I) Probably Philemon's wife
(II) The word beloved here
(A) Actually the word for sister
(B) A wife was sometimes referred to as a "sister." --1 Corinthians 9:5.
. . ."Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other
apostles, and as the brethren of the
Lord, and Cephas?"
b. Archippus
(I) A fellowsoldier
(A) Of Christ
(B) May have been used as appealing to a young man
(II) Possibly a son of Philemon
5. The church is Philemon's house
a. The letter was of a personal nature.
b. Nevertheless, he was to read it to all of the church, meeting in his house,
for benefit of the church.
B. The Greeting Imparted--v. 3
1. Grace to you, etc.
a. All of the Pauline epistles have this greeting except Hebrews.
b. Grace and peace generally connected in this greeting.
c. Mercy is often added to the greeting.
d. Notice the order here: Grace, then peace.
2. Two Persons of the Trinity mentioned
a. He presents God as our Father.
b. He sets forth the Lordship of Jesus Christ--sometimes His Saviorhood is added
to the
greeting.
TRANSITION: After this greeting from Paul, we find set forth:
II. THE CHARACTER OF PHILEMON--vv. 4-7. . . ."I thank my God, making
mention of thee always in my prayers, [5] Hearing of thy love and
faith, which
thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the
acknowledging of every good thing
which is in you in Christ Jesus. [7] For we have
great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints
are refreshed by thee, brother."
A. His Faith in the Lord
1. Paul prays for him.
a. Paul readily gives thanks to God for this man.
b. Paul's heart goes out to this man in prayer to God.
2. His faith in Christ is seen.
a. He has faith toward the Lord Jesus.
b. Paul prays for the communicating of that faith to others.
c. The communicating is by acknowledging the good things in his life which are
the result
of being in Christ Jesus.
B. His Love for the Brethren
1. The result of love for the Lord--cf. 1 John 4:21
2. The love
a. Gives the apostle great joy and consolation
b. Causes Philemon to refresh the hearts of others believers--i.e., saints
(I) Not just a verbal love
(II) Demonstrated in actual giving
(III) Illustration: The couple in Abingdon, VA, that assisted this writer
and his wife after the
car broke down went beyond just helping them to get to a
garage. They housed and fed them for several days while arrangements for a towing to
where they lived was being made.
TRANSITION: Having greeted Philemon and spoken of his character, Paul comes to
the heart of his
letter as seen in:
III. THE INTERCESSION FOR ONESIMUS--vv. 8-21
A. Its Basis-- vv. 8. 9. . . ."Wherefore, though I might be much bold in
Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, [9] Yet for love's sake I rather
beseech
thee, being such a
one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."
1. A spiritual one--vv. 8, 9a
a. Could have demanded of Philemon that which was fitting.
b. Instead he beseeches (begs of)
c. Made on the grounds of grace as demonstrated in love for one another
2. A personal one--v. 9b
a. His own demonstration of love for Philemon
b. His age--perhaps 60 years old which in those days was old.
c. His imprisonment--note that this is the second time he refers to himself as
the Lord's
prisoner.
B. Its Beneficiary--v. 10, 11. . . ."I beseech thee for my son Onesimus,
whom I have begotten in my bonds: [11] Which in time past was to thee
unprofitable,
but now profitable to
thee and to me:"
1. Onesimus
a. Name means "profitable"
b. But he was unprofitable to Philemon
c. Now profitable to Paul and Philemon
2. My son begotten in my bonds
a. Onesimus was a runaway slave and a thief.
b. He naturally came to Rome.
c. Somehow he came in contact with Paul, doubtlessly by being imprisoned.
d. He became saved.
e. The change
(I) Resulted in fellowship with Paul
(II) Told Paul the whole story
C. Its Purpose--vv. 12-21
1. Reception of Onesimus--vv. 12-14. . . ."Whom I have sent again:
thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: [13] Whom I would
have
retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the
bonds of the gospel: [14] But without thy mind would I do nothing;
that thy
benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly."
a. Sent back by Paul
b. To be received as part of Paul himself
c. Paul would have retained him in place of Philemon to serve him.
d. He did not wish to do so without Philemon's consent.
(I) Remember, legally Onesimus was Philemon's property.
(II) He wanted Philemon's
(A) Mind
(B) Benefit
(C) Will
2. Restoration of Onesimus--vv. 15, 16. . . ."For perhaps he therefore
departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever; [16] Not now as
a
servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much
more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?"
a. Departure for a time to have him forever
b. To be especially loved by Philemon
(I) No longer as a slave
(II) Now as a brother in Christ
c. Restored forever--speaks of security
3. Recognition of Onesimus--v. 17. . . ."If thou count me therefore
a partner, receive him as myself."
a. Receive him as myself.
(I) What a beautiful and lovely suggestion
(II) Picture Philemon reading this letter to his wife and son; and he comes to
this
statement--"We are to receive him
as if he were the Apostle himself."
b. A picture of identification
(I) Paul--represents Christ
(II) Philemon--represents the Father
(III) Onesimus--represents the sinner
(A) Born a slave
(B) Becomes a transgressor
(C) Unable to pay the debt
(D) Deserved death
c. Shows the indirect social effect of the Gospel
(I) In the flesh--still a slave
(II) In the Lord--a brother
(III) If one were to treat a slave as a brother, the slavery would soon
disappear.
(IV) NOTE: No direct action against a social wrong even suggested
4. Reconciliation of Onesimus--vv. 18, 19. . . ."If he hath wronged thee,
or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account; [19] I Paul have written
it with mine
own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou
owest unto me even thine own self besides."
a. If he has wrong thee or owes thee anything
(I) Onesimus had wronged Philemon by running away.
(II) Onesimus owed Philemon his life, for he was a slave.
(III) Onesimus owed Philemon more, for this statement is a tactful way of saying
that
Onesimus was a thief.
b. Charge it to my account
(I) Picture of imputation--our sins were charged to the Lord when He took them
on
Himself.
(II) Picture of substitution
(A) Verse 19a
(B) If Paul did not actually write the whole letter (which was generally the
case), he
had to write this, for Roman law required a person to put a
matter in writing to
be
legal.
(C) Paul is legally making himself obligated for Onesimus' debt to Philemon--In
like
manner, Jesus Christ legally paid our debt of sin.
(III) Philemon owed much more to Paul anyway--v. 19b
5. Realization for Onesimus--vv. 20, 21. . . ."Yea, brother, let me have joy of
thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. [21] Having confidence in
thy
obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."
a. It will give the apostle real joy.
b. It will refresh the apostle greatly.
c. He knows Philemon will not only obey his entreaty, but will do more than he
said.
TRANSITION: Having seen Paul's intercession in behalf of Onesimus--and what
lessons in prayer
there are in that, we hear:
IV. THE CONCLUSION FROM PAUL--vv. 22-25. . . ."But withal prepare me also a
lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
[23] There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in
Christ Jesus; [24] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
[25] The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Amen."
A. His Expectation--v. 22
1. He requests preparation of a place for him to stay.
2. He hopes for deliverance from prison through their prayers.
3. He requests their prayers in his behalf.
B. His Friends--vv. 23, 24
1. Epaphras
a. His fellow prisoner for the sake of the Gospel
b. Apparently was either a pastor or former pastor to the Colosse church.
(I) Colossians 1:7--"As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow
servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;"
(II) Colossians 4:12--"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of
Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of
God."
2. Mark
a. The same John Mark over whom Paul and Barnabas disputed
(I) Cf. Acts 13:13 with 15:36ff.--"[13:13] Now when Paul and his company loosed
from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John [Context
shows this to be John Mark.] departing
from them returned to Jerusalem. [15:36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas,
'Let us go
again
and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they
do.' [15:37] And Barnabas determined to
take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [15:38] But Paul
thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from
Pamphylia, and went not with them to the
work. [15:39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the
other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;"
(II) Colossians 4:10--"Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Mark,
sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments:
if he come unto you, receive him;)"
b. It is wonderful to see these two brothers reconciled to each other.
3. Aristarchus
a. Also a fellow prisoner
b. Also mentioned
(I) Acts 19:29--"And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught
Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in
travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theater."
(II) Colossians 4:10 (Quoted above)
4. Demas
a. With Paul at this time
b. Forsook Paul later--2 Timothy 4:10--"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved
this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."
5. Ever faithful Dr. Luke
C. His Benediction--v. 25
1. This benediction, or variations thereof, appear at or near the end of each
Pauline epistle.
2. Plainly states that this is one of the authenticating marks of his letters--2
Thessalonians
3:17, 18. . . ."The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is
the token in every epistle: so I write.
[18] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
CONCLUSION:
1. There are many lessons to draw from this letter to Philemon.
2. This writer have tried to give you an overall view, trusting that you caught some of the lessons.
3. He cite two lessons.
a. The doctrinal --pictures
(I) Identification
(II) Imputation
(III) Substitution
b. The practical--the loving and prayerful concern of the apostle's heart
(I) This should be true of every pastor (but too often they are self serving
and
lack love).
(II) This ought also to be so of every believer in Christ Jesus (but again too
often lacking).
4. Will you learn well the doctrinal lessons, and then
practice the practical one?
(To access the next of the four short epistles, go to the
top.)
INTRODUCTION:
1. We considered Philemon, the first of the four small epistles in
the New Testament.
2. Philemon, you will recall, was written by Paul to an individual believer who
lived in Colosse.
3. In this message we study another short epistle written to an individual by the Apostle
John namely 2 John.
4. Be sure to read 2 John
5. We see from this letter:
I. THE BONDS OF LOVE AND TRUTH--vv. 1-6.
. . ."The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth;
and not I only, but also all they
that have known the truth; [2] For the truth's sake,
which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever. [3] Grace be with you,
mercy, and peace, from God the
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Father, in truth and love. [4] I rejoiced greatly that I found of
thy children walking in truth, as we have
received a commandment from the Father. [5] And
now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but
that which we had from
the beginning, that we love one another. [6] And
this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment,
That, as ye have heard from the
beginning, ye should walk in it."
A. In Relation to Believers--vv. 1, 2
1. The elect lady
a. Who is she?
(I) Some say a church or the church in general.
(A) Chief reason for this view is that her children are believers.
(B) Objections
(1) Letter is too specific to be to a church or the church in general.
(2) The fact that her children are believers is no argument for it being a
church.
(3) It violates literal interpretation (the most important reason).
(II) Others say an individual woman.
(A) Reasons
(1) Personal approach
(2) Addressed in verse 5
(3) Salutation in verse 13--"The children of thy elect sister greet thee.
Amen."
(B) Only objection is that she is not specifically named.
(C) Possibilities
(1) Lady Electa
(a) Would take care of the one objection
(b) However, Electa is not known elsewhere as a proper name.
(2) Elect Kyria
(a) Also takes care of the objection against an individual.
(b) Though this is possible no reason for it.
(c) Verse 13 then should read Elect Adelpha.
(3) Best solution
(a) KJV: Elect lady
(b) The objection to it being an individual is not answered by this.
((I)) Other people have been referred to without being named.
((II)) The objection is not really important because it still specifies an
individual.
(c) Some influential Christian lady
b. She is shown Christian love by the apostle.
2. Love for believers
a. Prominent theme in John's first epistle
(I) 1 John 3:1, 10-18--"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the
world knoweth us not, because it knew
Him
not. [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth
[practices] not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. [11] For this is the message that ye
heard from the beginning, that
we should love one another. [12] Not as Cain,
who was of that wicked one, and
slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own
works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
[13] Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. [14] We know that we have passed from death
unto life,
because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. [15] Whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer: and ye
know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. [16] Hereby perceive we the love
of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we
ought to lay down
our lives for the brethren. [17]
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels
of
compassion from
him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in
truth."
(II) 1 John 4:7-21 (Be sure to read this lengthy passage.)
b. True love is always related to truth.
(I) Noticeable in 1 John 3 where we saw love associated with truth (verse 18
above)
(II) Evident here in this epistle
(III) Shown in 3 John (which you will see in the study of that epistle)
B. In Relation to God--v. 3
1. Grace, mercy, and peace
a. From God the Father
(I) He is "the God of all grace. He is the fountain of blessedness,
and of all the blessings that must bring us
thither." (Henry, Matthew, Commentary
on the Whole Bible. Mc
Lean VA: Mac Donald Publishing Company. n. d.; VI:1099)
(II) It is always in love and truth.
(III) It is threefold.
(A) Grace--unmerited favor
(B) Mercy--free pardon and forgiveness
(C) Peace
(1) "Tranquillity of spirit and serenity of conscience" (Ibid.)
(2) What the world craves and tries to obtain in every way except by the Prince
of Peace.
b. From the Lord Jesus Christ
(I) He is Lord!
(A) Of grace
(B) Of mercy
(C) Of peace
(II) Found in Jesus Christ
(A) John 1:17--"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ."
(B) John 14:6--"Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but
by Me.'"
2. Interestingly the emphasis today
a. By liberals
b. By Charismatics
c. Apart from truth--i.e., sound doctrine
C. In Relation to Witnessing--v. 4
1. Walking in truth
a. This rejoices a pastor's heart--cf. 3 John 4--"I have no greater joy than to
hear that my children walk in truth."
b. This is evidence of being of God--1 John 3:19f.--"And hereby we
know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. [20] For if
our heart condemn us, God is greater
than our heart, and knoweth all things."
c. Denial of truth, therefore, is evidence of not being of God.
2. Walking in truth is a witness.
a. Someone is bound to say, "What is truth?"
b. Truth is in Jesus Christ and in His Word.
c. Wherever this lady went and her children, they were witnesses of the truth by
their lives.
D. In Relation to Exhortation--vv. 5, 6
1. The Christian commandment
a. Verse 5
b.1 John 4:19-21--"We love Him, because He first loved us. [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? [21] And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God
love his brother
also."
c. This lady was commended for her love to love. yet is exhorted to continue
d. As an apostle he could have commanded her, but rather he entreats --this is
important for
both pastors and teachers
2. Love is walking after His commandments.
a. v. 6
b. His commandments
(I) The first and great commandment
(II) The second commandment
c. What is involved in these commandments
(I) Trusting Jesus Christ as Savior
(II) Including the incarnation
(A) God manifested in the flesh
(B) John 1:1-3, 14--"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning
with God. [3] All things were made by
Him; and
without Him was not any thing made that was made. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us,
(and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth."
(C) 1 Timothy 3:16--"And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world, received up into glory."
d. Liberals insist on this commandment of love, but deny trusting in the
incarnate Christ.
II. THE BOUNDS OF LOVE AND TRUTH--v. 7-13. . .
."For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist. [8] Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we
receive a full reward. [9]
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Son. [10] If there come any unto you, and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
Godspeed: [11] For he that biddeth him
Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.
[12] Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink:
but I trust to come unto you, and
speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
[13] The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen."
A. The Nature of the Antichrist--v. 7
1. Many deceivers in the world
a. 2 Timothy 3:1ff.--"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers
of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5]
Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
b. The rash of ads for astrologists and spiritualists on TV and the
internet
c. Among such deceivers are those speaking about love, yet line their pockets
with the
green!
2. The nature of these deceivers
a. They deny that Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh.
(I) This denial may be direct as liberals and those who deny the Biblical
witness.
(II) This denial may be indirect by denial of the virgin birth of Jesus or
saying it is
unimportant.
(III) In either case it is a denial of the incarnation and thus they are
deceivers.
b. They often appear to be believers even using scriptural terminology, but in
the final analysis, they deny the very meaning of the words.
c. ". . . he brings some error or other concerning the person of the
Lord Jesus; he either confesses not that Jesus Christ is the same person, or that Jesus
of Nazareth was the Christ, the
anointed of God, the Messiah promised of old for the redemption of Israel, or that the promised Messiah and
Redeemer has come in the flesh, or into the flesh, into our world and into our nature; such a one pretends that he is yet to
be expected. (Henry,
VI:1101)
B. The Doctrine of Christ--vv. 8-11
1. The warning--v. 8
a. We need to look and see that we have not lost the things we have gained.
b. "The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must
be."
(Ibid.)
c. There are many delusions today even in the name of Christianity.
(I) Deception in music (Note the increasing use of so-called Contemporary
Christian Music)
(II) Deception in extra-church groups (Groups that have no control or oversight
by local churches)
(III) Deception in the methodology--anything goes (This is an ever increasing
error in our day.)
2. The doctrine--v. 9
a. 1 John 5:1, 11-13--"[1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is
begotten of Him. [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."
b. The doctrine of Christ is explicitly tied up with the incarnation.
c. Importance of doctrine
(I) Necessary for salvation
(II) Necessary for proper understanding of God
(III) Necessary for Christian growth--cf. 2 Peter 3:18--"But grow in grace, and
in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be
glory both now and forever. Amen."
3. The limitation--vv. 10, 11
a. Concerns Christian hospitality
(I) This lady was doubtlessly like Gaius given to hospitality.
(II) "The exercise of the love of the brethren is conditioned and limited by the
truth; and
is not to be extended to those who are enemies and
impugners of the truth."
(Unknown)
(III) Does not refer to a traveler seeking hospitality
b. Concerns "This doctrine"
(I) Means here "This teaching"
(II) Refers, therefore, to those who is a person as a teacher
c. Concerns meaning of hospitality
(I) There is a great tendency today to listen to and to give hospitality to
(A) liberals
(B) neo-orthodox
(C) So-called evangelicals
(D) Teachers from great universities or seminaries, etc.
(II) These call themselves Christians, but they deny the fundamentals of the
Christian
faith.
(III) It is such ones that this verse is warning against
(IV) Hospitality to such is wrong.
(A) Verse 11 so states
(B) You are partaker of their error.
(C) "There are many ways of sharing the guilt of other people's transgressions;
it
may be done by culpable silence, unconcernedness, indolence,
private
contribution, public countenance and assistance, inward approbation, open
apology and defense." (Henry, VI:1102)
C. The Concluding Remarks--vv. 12, 13
1. Writing with pen and ink
a. The paper was doubtlessly the Egyptian papyrus or reed.
b. Ink is probably soot and water thickened with a gum.
c. Pen was a split reed.
2. Joy might be full
a. By his presence
(I) Personally presenting the message of love and truth
(II) Mutually comforted by their mutual faith
b. By the elect lady's sister
(I) Probably John was staying at this sister's house.
(II) Here again the sister is unnamed but was hospitable.
CONCLUSION:
1. The Bonds of love and truth are in the Lord.
2. The Bounds of love and truth are dependent of the doctrine of Christ.
a. We need to be watchful, test, and check those who are teachers to see if they
are true to Christ.
b. We should never welcome false teachers into our churches or our homes (even
if they claim to be Christians).
3. Let us be in the bonds of love and truth.
4. Let us be bound by love and truth.
(To access the next of the four short epistles, go to the
top.)
INTRODUCTION:
1. "To the Elect Lady," 2 John was the second message on the short New
Testament epistles..
2. A consideration of the third of the four short epistles in the New Testament
is now made.
a. Actually this is the shortest of the four.
b. How can that be? 2 John has 13 verses whereas this one 14 verses.
c. However, in the Greek, this epistle has 23 fewer words than 2 John.
3. 3 John speaks of three men, two of whom give the Apostle "No Greater Joy",
because they walk
in the truth.
I. GAIUS, WELL-BELOVED SAINT--vv. 1-8. . . ."The elder unto the well-beloved
Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [2] Beloved, I wish above all things that
thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth. [3] For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and
testified of the truth that is in thee, even as
thou walkest in the truth. [4] I have no greater
joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [5] Beloved, thou doest
faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the
brethren, and to strangers; [6] Which have borne
witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring
forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou
shalt do well: [7] Because that for his name's
sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. [8] We
therefore ought to receive such, that we might be
fellow helpers to the truth."
A. His Walk--vv. 1-4
1. The sphere of love--v. 1
a. Beloved--esteemed
b. In the truth--love for another must be in the truth.
2. The prosperity of love--vv. 2, 3
a. The prayer for health and prosperity--v. 2
b. Truth in him--v. 3
c. Walks in truth
(I) Verse 3
(II) His testimony by life and word is known.
3. The joy of love--v. 4
a. No greater joy--a pastor's greatest joy after leading a person to Jesus
Christ is to find that person walking in the truth.
b. Walks in the truth--Psalm 26:3. . . ."For thy lovingkindness is before mine
eyes: and I have walked in thy truth."
B. His Work--vv. 5-8
1. In the past--vv. 5, 6a
a. In helping ministers--v. 5
b. Witnesses of his love--v. 6a
2. For the present--vv. 6b-7
a. The request regarding workers--v. 6a
b. The witness regarding workers--v. 7
3. For the future--v. 8
a. Exhorted to receive workers
b. Helping results in fellowship in the truth.
II. DIOTREPES, LOVER OF PREEMINENCE--vv.9-11. . . ."I wrote unto the
church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
receiveth us not. [10] Wherefore, if I
come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious
words: and not content therewith, neither
doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth
them that would, and casteth them out of the church. [11] Beloved,
follow not that which is evil, but that
which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but
he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
A. The Letter to the Church--v. 9a
1. John wrote to the church.
a. The church here is doubtlessly the one to which Gaius belonged.
b. Contents of the letter are unknown to us, but may have to do with what the
apostle was
just talking about.
2. No suggestion here, as
some would say, of lost inspired letter.
a. Not everything the Apostles wrote were inspired.
b. There is the possibility that this letter is 1 John, but there is no evidence
for or against
that possibility.
c. There has been a rash of books on the so-called lost books of the New
Testament.
3. The implication presented here is that Diotrepes would not even receive a
letter from the
apostle.
B. The Evil Dominance of Diotrepes--v. 9b, 10b 10b
1. He did not receive the Apostle John.
2. He spoke against John.
a. It was not a question here that Diotrepes was defending the faith.
b. John was not guilty of any departure from truth.
3. He would not receive any of the brethren in Christ.
a. These were probably visiting brothers.
b. We do need to be careful of receiving strangers, but not when they give real
evidence of
their salvation.
c. These brethren were not guilty of not walking in the truth.
4. He not only did not receive them, but he forbade others to receive them.
5. He cast them out of the church.
a. Not because of heresy
b. Because they held to the truth and Diotrepes did not want them.
c. How like today in many denominations:
(I) A minister or person stands up for the gospel and the faith once delivered
to the
saints.
(II) He is opposed by liberals or others with wrong motives.
(III) Who gets cast out?
(A) The denier?
(B) No not at all; it is the one who had stood up for the truth.
C. The Rebuke and Appeal of the Elder--v. 10a, 11
1. His rebuke--v. 10a
a. Menacing the domineer
(I) He will censure this proud person.
(II) This speaks of apostolic authority
b. Remembering his deeds
(I) The apostle rightly will remember this evil one's deeds.
(II) This is only to be done when a person is clearly in the wrong.
(III) We should forget those things done to us even by believers.
(IV) All too often we are vindictive against those who wrong us.
(V) The point here is that the apostle would bring this matter before the church
itself
not an ecclesiastical court.
2. His appeal--v. 11
a. Be not followers of evil.
(I) Psalm 37:27--"Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore."
(II) We should not imitate evil.
(A) "Do not have the habit of imitating" (Henry, Matthew,
Commentary on the Whole Bible. Mc Lean, VA: Mac Donald Publishing Company,
n. d.; VI:265)
(B) The word evil is the same word as in Romans 12:21.--"Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
b. Be followers of the good.
(I) Again see Romans 12:21
(II) "The practice of goodness is the evidence of our filial
happy relation to God." (Henry, VI:1105-6)
c. Be revealed to whom you belong.
(I) If you do the good, you are of God.
(II) If you do the evil, you have not seen God.
(III) You need to realize that he is talking to believers.
(A) The true believer will do the good.
(B) The false believer will do the evil.
III. DEMETRIUS, A BROTHER OF GOOD REPORT--vv.12-14. . . ."Demetrius hath
good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we
also bear
record; and ye know that our record is true. [13]
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
[14] But I trust I shall shortly see
thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be
to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."
A. The Good Report--v. 12
1. All testify of him.
a. It is good to be spoke well of by many.
b. It could be not so good to be spoken well by all.
c. However, here it is one's integrity that is in view.
2. Faithful to the truth.
a. To be well spoken of is good, but better is being faithful to the truth.
b. A number of well known people in Christendom are well spoken of, but they
have not
been completely faithful to the truth.
c. John testifies of him.
B. The Concluding Remarks--vv. 13, 14
1. Many things to write them.
a. Will not write with ink and pen.
b. The words here are literally "black" and "reed."
2. May seen them shortly.
a. They will speak face to face.
b. "A little personal conference may spare the time, trouble, and charge of many
letters."
(Henry, VI:1106)
3. The benediction and salutation
a. A benediction of peace
b. We can always speak of peace to a fellow believer because we belong to the
Prince of
Peace.
c. Saluting the brethren is to remember them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
d. We should endeavor to remember fellow believers name, and greet them that
way.
CONCLUSION:
1. John commended Gaius and Demetrius for their walk in the truth.
2. Diotrepes is denounced for his lack of humility and his sin of pride.
3. Let us examine ourselves, and let us determine by God's grace to be like
Gaius and Demetrius.
(To access the next of the four short epistles, go to the top.)
Contenders for the Faith
Jude 1-25
INTRODUCTION:
1. We now consider the last of the four short New Testament epistles, Jude.
2. The key to this book of Jude is found in verse 3.
3. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto
you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you
that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints."
4. We are to be "Contenders for the Faith."
5. Consider first:
I. THE INTRODUCTION--vv. 1-3
A. The Author--v. 1a
1. The name here is actually "Judas" in the Greek.
2. There are at least 6 Judas' in the New Testament.
a. Judas, the New Testament rendering for Judah, the ancestor of
Jesus--"Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and
his
brethren; [3] And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Tamar; and Phares begat
Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;" (Matthew 1:2, 3)
b. Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus--"Simon the Canaanite, and Judas
Iscariot, who also betrayed him."
c. Judas, the son of Mary and Joseph--"Is not this the carpenter's son? is
not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon,
and Judas? [56a] And His sisters, are they not all with us?" (Matthew
13:55, 56a)
(I) The carpenter's son, by the context, is clearly Jesus; note that it is the
people in His country in which He grew up that said this.
(II) This puts the lie to any notion that Mary, Jesus' mother, did not have any
other children.
(III) The term "brethren" can in no way be interpreted as cousins, for it
mentioned "sisters" which can not be so understood.
(IV) These two terms (brethren and sisters) are connected directly to the
carpenter's son, and thus His mother, and not the carpenter; this would make
the brethren and sisters to be the children of Mary and Joseph, not
children of Joseph by a previous marriage (of which there is no hint
of in the
Scriptures.
d. Judas, the brother of James. . . ."And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was
the traitor." (Luke 6:16)
(I) The phrase "the brother" is in italics in the KJV showing it was added by
the translators; so literally it reads, "And Judas of James, . . . "
(II) The only other possibility would be "the son of James" which does not
at all seem feasible.
(III) Doubtlessly the same Judas who asked Jesus a question--"Judas saith unto
him, not Iscariot, 'Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us,
and not unto the world?'" (John 14:22)
(IV) He is mentioned among the disciples in Acts 1:13--"And when they were come
in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter,
and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas
the brother of James." (Note again the italics)
(V) Possibly also named Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus
(A) "Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son
of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus;"
(Matthew 10:3)
(B) "And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James
the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the
Canaanite," (Mark 3:19)
(C) Comparing these two verses with Luke 6:16 (Quoted above) shows the name of
Judas in the same position with Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus).
e. Judas of Galilee--"After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the
days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also
perished; and all,
even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed." (Acts 5:37)
f. Judas surnamed Barsabas--"Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the
whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas,
chief men among the brethren:"
3. Servant of Jesus Christ
4. Brother of
James--Cf. Luke 6:16 (Quoted above)
B. The Recipients--v. 1b
1. Those sanctified by God the Father
2. Preserved in Jesus Christ (Note: We do not have to persevere, for we
preserved by Him).
3. Called
C. The Authority--vv. 1, 2
1. That it was written
under the auspices of God is clear from being a servant of Jesus Christ.
2. Notice that mercy comes first, then peace; love for God and for one another
will follow.
D. The Reason--v. 3
1.He wanted to speak of their common salvation.
2. He had to speak rather of contending for the faith.
a. The word "faith" refers to the body of doctrine.
b. This body of doctrine was once delivered unto the saints.
c. They (and we) should contend for the faith, but not be contentious.
II. THE CAUTION AGAINST FALSE BELIEVERS--vv. 4-19
A. The Facts Concerning These People--v. 4. . . ."For there are certain men
crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly
men, turning the grace of
our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ."
1. The men
a. Dangerous because secretive
b. Doomed because before marked out
c. Despicable because ungodly
2. Their method
a. Turn grace to lasciviousness--lewdness, lustfulness, wantonness
b. Antinomian--against law (How prevalent this is among even some so-called
ministers
today who advocate breaking laws for supposed good end.)
3. Their message
a. Deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ--The apostle is attempting to set forth
the denial of
the unique relation between God the Father and God the Son,
Jesus Christ.
b. Deny Him as Master--Despot
B. The Illustrations of These People--vv. 5-11
1. Past examples--vv. 5-7. . . ."I will therefore put you in remembrance, though
ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the
land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. [6] And
the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He
hath
reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the
great day. [7] Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, 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."
a. The Hebrews in Egypt--v. 5
(I) Saved out of Egypt
(II) Perished in the wilderness
(A) Because of their unbelief
(B) Hebrews 3:1-19 (Be sure to read this portion.)
b. The angels--v. 6
(I) Angels were created by God to serve Him.
(II) Some say these were those who rebelled with Satan.
(III) Others contend that they are those angels who cohabited with mankind--Cf.
Genesis 6:1, 2. . . ."And it came to pass, when men began to multiply
on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born unto them, [2] That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they
took them wives of all which they chose."
(IV) Which one depends on whether you take Genesis 6:1, 2 to refer to angels or
to the
Cainites.
(V) If it refers to Cainites, then these angels must have fallen with
Satan--maybe these
were more prominent or more wicked.
(A) Cf. Isaiah 14:12-15 (Be sure to read.)
(B) Cf. Ezekiel 28:11-19 (Be sure to read.)
(VI) Job 1:6 suggests that they were angels.--"Now there was a day when the sons
of God came to present
themselves before the LORD, and Satan
came also among them."
(VII) Some of these are now in chains awaiting their final judgment.
c. The cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and surrounding cities--v. 7
(I) Guilty of sexual sins including homosexuality
(II) Destroyed by fire as an example of eternal punishment by fire
(A) Note that it says, fornications, but also going after "strange flesh."
(B) Strange that the Jehovah Witnesses ignore a passage like this.
2. Present exposes--vv. 8-10. . . ."Likewise also these filthy dreamers
defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. [9]
Yet Michael the
archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of
Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, 'The Lord
rebuke thee.' [10] But these speak evil of those things which they
know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things
they corrupt
themselves."
a. These false believers' character declared--v. 8
(I) Called "dreamers"
(A) The word "filthy" is in italics and thus is not the translation of a Greek
word.
(B) Doubtlessly their dreams were filthy.
(II) Defile the flesh
(A) By sexual sins
(B) By commandments against meats
(C) By abuse of the body
(III) Despise dominion--rulership
(IV) Denounce dignities
b. Archangel Michael's disputation declared--v. 9
(I) Michael contended with Satan about Moses' body.
(A) Michael is particularly the Archangel to Israel.
(B) What was the dispute?
(1) Did Moses' body belong to God?
(2) Did Moses' body belong to Satan?
(C) Why the dispute?
(1) Moses was called of God and redeemed by God; therefore, belonged to God--spirit, soul, and body.
(2) Satan thought he had a claim on Moses due to his sin, or at least on his
body.
(3) When God saves He saves completely--spirit, soul, and body; Satan no
longer has any claim over any part of redeemed ones.
(II) Michael in the dispute did not curse Satan.
(III) Only the Lord can rebuke Satan; we can only resist him.
(A) Cf. James 4:7--"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you."
(B) There are those today who rebuke Satan in Jesus' name, but this is wrong.
3. Personal examples--v. 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 Korah."
a. Way of Cain
(I) Substitution of works for the blood-bought way
(II) The killing or destroying of those who follow the blood-bought way.
b. The error of Balaam
(I) His error was chiefly going against the known will of God for the sake of momentary
financial gain.
(II) The end of such is to perish.
(III) A good example is the priests who made merchandise in the temple and were
thrown out by Jesus.
(IV) A modern day example is churches with their bake sales, strawberry
festivals,
bingo parties, etc.
c. The gainsaying of Core
(I) Speaking against God's chosen--might have reference to one pushing himself
into
the ministry without the call of God.
(II) Be careful in your criticism of your pastor; he must answer to God.
(III) There is a legitimate way--1 Timothy 5:19. . . ."Against an elder receive
not an accusation, but before two or
three witnesses."
C. The Pronouncements Against These People--vv. 12-19
1. Poetic description--vv. 12, 13. . . ." These are spots in your feasts of
charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds
they are
without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth,
without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; [13] Raging waves of the
sea,
foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness
of darkness forever."
a. Spots--spots in the wrong place always mar what they spot.
b. Rainless clouds--how often a heavy black cloud passes over without giving
forth its
contents
c. Fruitless trees--worthless except for burning
d. Raging waves--when waves of the sea start raging, they toss up all manner of filth and
uselessness
e. Wandering stars
(I) A wandering star cannot be used for navigation.
(A) That is why the North Pole Star is used for navigation.
(B) Could refer to
(1) comets
(2) shooting stars
(3) constellations which do not keep a fixed position.
2. Prophetic denunciation--vv. 14-16. . . ." And Enoch also, the seventh from
Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to
convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which
they have
ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners
have spoken against him. [16] These are murmurers, complainers, walking
after
their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's
persons in admiration because of advantage."
a. By Enoch--v. 14
(I) The seventh from Adam in the righteous line
(II) He walked with God, so that it is little wonder that he knew God's mind.
(III) The source of Jude's prophecy by Enoch
(A) Some say from some current literature of his day.
(B) God revealed it to him as something Enoch had prophesied.
b. In Judgment--vv. 14b, 15
(I) The Lord comes with His saints.
(A) Note that it is WITH His saints.
(B) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 has to do with the Lord coming FOR His saints.
(II) The Lord comes to execute judgment upon ALL.
(A) The just and the unjust
(B) This does not imply in any way that the judgment of both is at the same
time.
(1) The just
(a) For their works--cf. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15--"For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if
any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day
shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of
what sort it is. [14] If any man's
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
[15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet
so as by fire."
(b) At the judgment seat of Christ
((I)) Romans 14:10--"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set
at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ."
((II)) 2 Corinthians 5:10--"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad."
(2) The unjust
(a) For their works--Cf. Revelations 20:12-15. . . ."And I saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:
and another book was opened, which is the book
of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in
them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. [15] And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire."
(b) At the great white throne--Cf. Revelations 20:11. . . ."And I saw a great
white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them."
(III) The Lord comes to convince the ungodly of their ungodliness and judge them
for it.
c. For characteristics--v. 16
(I) Murmurers--Often the ungodly murmur against God for their conditions or
because of
world trouble.
(II) Complainers--No one complains like the unjust, but sad to say, believers
complain way too much.
(III) Lusters--Try to fulfill the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and
the pride of life
(IV) Speak great words--politicians are good examples
(V) Respecter of persons
(A) Show preference to some people in order to gain advantage.
(B) Prejudice?
3. Pastoral declaration--vv. 17-19. . . ."But, beloved, remember ye the words
which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
[18]
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk
after their own ungodly lusts. [19] These be they who separate
themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."
a. Words of the apostles recalled--Cf. 2 Peter 3:2. . . ."That ye may be
mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the
apostles of the Lord and Savior:"
b. Reminded of mockers
(I) There is today an increase in the mocking of Christian truth.
(II) Note: some of the popular songs and jokes that mock holy things
c. Ungodly--walk in the lusts which are always ungodly.
d. Separatists
(I) In the bad sense
(A) Those who go into a monastic type of life
(B) Can refer to those who name the name of the Lord, but will have nothing to
do
with sinners--Pharisees typical
(II) In the good sense
(A) Separating unto the Lord God
(B) Separating from heretics and fellow worshippers with deniers of the faith.
e. Sensual
(I) Of or belonging to the soul
(II) "Govern by the soul, i.e., the sensuous nature with its objection to
appetites and
passions." (Thayer, Joseph Henry, A Greek-English Lexicon of
the New Testament. New York:
American Book Company, c1889; 678)
f. Have not the Spirit
(I) Therefore, they are not Christians regardless of what they profess.
(II) 2 Timothy 3:8--"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also
resist the truth: men of
corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith."
II. COUNSEL TO THE BELIEVERS--vv. 20-25
A. The Responsibilities of the Believer--vv. 20-23. . . ."But ye, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21]
Keep
yourselves in the love of
God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
[22] And of some have compassion, making a difference:
[23] And others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted
by the flesh."
1. To themselves--vv. 20, 21
a. Build up in the faith
(I) A present tense participle--keep on being built up
(II) Note again that it is "the faith"--the body of doctrine.
b. Pray up in the Spirit
(I) Praying is one of the aspects of being built up in the faith.
(II) Cf. Ephesians 6:18--"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;"
(III) Note that it is praying in the Spirit, not to the Spirit.
c. Keep up in the Love of God
(I) This is an aorist active imperative--thus a command.
(II) This is the human side of the responsibility
(III) Cf. 1 John 4:7-10--"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of
God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son
into the world, that we might live through Him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us,
and sent His Son to be the
propitiation for our sins."
d. Look up for mercy
(I) Our Lord is ever merciful.
(II) This looking involves the return of the Lord.
2. To others--vv. 22, 23
a. Win them to the Lord with compassion--v. 22
(I) Having compassion often makes a difference.
(II) All too often Bible-believers are not compassionate.
b. Win them to the Lord in fear--v. 23
(I) First of all, we must have the fear of God--Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:11.
. . ."Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are
made manifest unto God; and I trust also are
made manifest in your consciences."
(II) Secondly, being fearful of their end if they do not repent.
c. Win them to the Lord by pulling them from the fire--v. 23
(I) The immediate reference is the fire of sin and degradation.
(II) The ultimate reference is to the Lake of Fire.
(III) The rich man wanted Lazarus to go tell his brothers of the awfulness of hell.
B. The Reassurance to the Believer--vv. 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 Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and ever. Amen."
1. The work of the Lord--v. 24
a. Keep you from falling
(I) In earth's experience
(II) You may be tempted and even sin, but you will not fall completely.
(III) This is another statement of our security.
b. Present you faultless
(I) In heaven's glory
(II) Cf. Ephesians 5:27--"That He might present it to Himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish."
2. The worth of the Lord
a. He is the wise God.
(I) He knows the end from the beginning.
(II) He knows all that is in between.
b. He is our Savior.
(I) He alone is able to redeem us.
(II) Cf. Hebrews 7:25--"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make
intercession for them."
c. He is worthy of all praise.
(I) Cf. Romans 11:33-36---"O the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His
ways past finding out! [34] For
who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? [35] Or who hath first given to Him,
and
it shall be recompensed unto him again? [36] For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things:
to whom be glory forever. Amen."
(II) "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!"
CONCLUSION:
1. As Jude does here, we need warning concerning false teachers.
2. We need counsel concerning our responsibilities and reassurance.
3. Because of these things we need to be "Contenders for the Faith"--again note:
contenders
not contentious.
4. Are you contending for the faith?
I Would Not Have You
Ignorant of God's
Word
1 Corinthians 10:1, 4
INTRODUCTION:
Thank you, Don. Good morning to you all. Yesterday we began to discuss the
phrase, "I would
not have you ignorant." This phrase is used at least 5 times by the Apostle
Paul. We saw yesterday
that Paul did not want his readers ignorant of salvation. Today, consider that "I
would not have you
ignorant of God's Word."
In 1 Corinthians 10:1, & 4 we read: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that you
should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
And did all drink the
same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them;
and that Rock was Christ."
The Apostle takes from the Old Testament portion of God's Word--the only portion
he had--some
historical events to illustrate the Christian life. By this he shows that:
I. GOD'S WORD IS TO US AN EXAMPLE.
As an example, God Directed History in the Old Testament. He so directed
Israel's history that it
serves as an example for us in the spiritual realm. Thus, he says in verse 11: "Now all these things
happened unto them for ensamples; and they were written for our admonition upon
whom the ends of
the world are come." Thus, God's Word is a light for our daily Christian walk. Many are the lessons
that can be learned from the lives of people in the Old Testament. For example,
in 1 Samuel 15, Saul
was instructed by God through Samuel to go smite the Amalekites, and completely
destroy them
including all their cattle. Saul went and did battle against the Amalekites, but
he saved alive Agag the
king of the Amalekites and the best of the cattle. When Samuel came and found
out Saul had done,
his lame excuse for not doing as he was told, Samuel said, "Has the Lord as
great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice,
and to hearken than the fat of rams." Now Samuel was not condemning Saul's
desire for a sacrifice,
but he was condemning him for not obeying God. In Samuel's statement there is
laid down a very
important principle which holds just as true to day for us in the Christian
life. God wants obedience
more than He wants our sacrifice, even if it is the
sacrifice of a tidy sum
of money. There are other important lessons to be learned from this same
incident for which we do
not have time to present.
Not only did God direct history in the old Testament as an example, God So
Directed in the Old
Testament that It Points to Christ. The plan of the tabernacle, for example, in
much of its detail points
to the Messiah as the sacrifice for sin. We do not have time in this brief
message to go into detail.
But consider a moment just the brazen altar which was just inside the gate of the court. Its very
position speaks of Jesus Christ as Savior. It was just within the gate. To begin
to worship the
sinning Israelite had to bring a sacrifice of an innocent, unblemished animal to
this brazen altar to take
care of his sin. In like manner for us today the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on
the cross takes care of our
sin, even as the Apostle Peter states in his first epistle: "Who His own self
bore our sins in His own
body on the tree." (1 Peter 2:24) We could go on to the meaning of the word for
altar in the Hebrew,
the size of the altar, the material, even the design of it; all speaks of Him
Who died for us. Many more
examples can be cited and not just from a study of the tabernacle. Each of the
Jewish sacrifices in
some way speaks of the one perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ.
But notice verse 4 of our text that even the rock from which the Israelites
obtained water in their
wilderness journey pictures Jesus Christ, the Water of Life. The verse says,
"And did all drink the
same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them;
and that ROCK WAS
CHRIST." [Caps for emphasis]
Not only does the Word of God serve us as an example for our Christian life, but
notice also that:
II. GOD'S WORD IS TO US A WARNING.
The warning is, first of all, Negative. It tells us what to avoid. Notice verse
6: "Now these things
were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they
also lusted." We receive
many warnings throughout life. God is given you another warning today through
this message. He is
warning you not to trifle with God's Word. Oh, I know that many today deny the
Bible is the Word of
God. They are trying to stifle their consciences by such claims. But just
suppose for a moment that
the Bible is what it claims to be, namely, the written Word of God. Assuming it
is, we need to take
earnest heed to what it says. The Old Testament is full of examples that serve
to warn us. Again, let
us briefly consider King Saul. God dealt with him repeatedly and still he would
not repent. Finally God
ceased dealing with him and sought another leader for Israel. The Bible says,
"My Sprit will not always
strive with men." (Genesis 6:3) Perhaps, God the Holy Spirit has repeatedly
spoken to your heart
about getting your life squared away with God. You have repeatedly neglected the
opportunities.
Perhaps, God has warned you repeatedly by severe illnesses, your casual reading
of the Bible, and by
your tuning in this program today. He wants you to turn to him and receive Jesus
Christ as your own
personal Lord and Savior.
God's Word warns us many times negatively; but God's Word also warns us
Positively. Notice
verse 12: "Wherefore, let him that thinks he stand take heed lest he fall." Then
in verse 13, God's
Word states that all temptation is common to man but that He, God, is "faithful
who will not permit
you to be tempted above that you are able, but will in the temptation provide a
way to escape." The
way to escape is through Jesus Christ our Lord. He supplies the grace and mercy
whereby we can
shake off the temptation of sin. It matters not what your temptation or trial
is, Jesus Christ is able to
help you overcome it. But in order to do so, you must have first trusted in Him
as your Lord and
Savior. You must partake of the spiritual Rock, Jesus Christ. Obedience to God
is impossible apart
from reception of Jesus Christ, for he who has not received Jesus Christ as
Savior has not taken the
first step of obedience to God, which is acceptance of Jesus Christ as one's
personal Savior from sin.
Dear listener, I would not have you ignorant of God's Word. It is to us an
example. It tells us how
to walk the Christian way. It is to us a warning. It warns us of the results of not following God; it
shows us that the way of escape is through Jesus Christ as personal Lord and
Savior.
Will you trust Him today?
The New Testament: The
Gospel of Jesus Christ
John 20:31
INTRODUCTION:
1. Perhaps, you have heard the saying "I can't see the
forest because of the trees."
2. Sometimes we study small portions of the New
Testament, that we do not see it as a whole.
3. We wish to consider "The New Testament--The Gospel
of Jesus."
4. "But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John
20:31)
5. This verse speaks, of course, concerning
John's Gospel; but we may well consider it as the key text of the New Testament, for all of
it speaks of Him.
6. As we try to get an overall view of the New
Testament, we find in the Gospels:
I. JESUS CHRIST IN PERSON
A. He Is Our Prophet.
1. In that He told forth
a. Matthew 4:17--"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, 'Repent: for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
b. Mark 4:1, 2--"And He began again to teach by the sea side: and there
was gathered unto Him a great multitude, so that He entered into a ship, and sat
in the sea; and the whole multitude was by
the sea on the land. [2] And He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in
His doctrine,"
2. In that He foretold
a. Matthew 24:1-6--"And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and
His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple.
[2]
And Jesus said unto them, 'See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you,
There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be
thrown down.' [3] And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples
came unto Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these things be? and
what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the
world?' [4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Take heed that no man
deceive
you. [5] For many shall come in My name, saying, "I am Christ"; and shall
deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of
wars: see that
ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is
not yet.'"
b. Mark 9:30-32--"And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and
He
would not that any man should know it. [31] For He taught His
disciples, and said unto them, 'The Son of
man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that
He is killed, He shall rise the
third
day.' [32] But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him."
B. He Is Our Priest.
1. Many times we find
Jesus praying for others.
a. Luke's Gospel is full of prayers by Jesus--Cf. Luke 11:1-4. . . ."And it came
to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one
of
His disciples said unto Him, 'Lord,
teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.' [2] And He said unto them, 'When ye pray, say, Our Father
which art
in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
[3] Give us
day by day our daily bread.
[4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.'"
b. Luke 22:31, 32--" And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you
as wheat: [32] But I have prayed
for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.'"
2. He prayed for the
Church--John 17. (Be sure to read this chapter.)
3. He prayed for
Himself--the prayer in Gethsemane.
4. He was the High Priest
offering up Himself for sin.
a. Matthew 27:46--"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,
saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is to say, 'My God, My God, why
hast
Thou forsaken me?'"
b. Luke 23:34--"Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do.' And they parted His raiment, and cast lots."
C. He Is Our King.
1. Crucified as a
King--John 19:19. . . ."And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross.
And the writing was, 'JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF
THE JEWS."
2. From other portions we
know He is to reign and we shall reign with Him.
3. "King of my
life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget thy
thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary." (Worship and Service
Hymnal. Chicago: Hope
Publishing Company,1967; 200, stanza 1)
D. He Is Our Savior.
1. Because He is our
a. Prophet
b. Priest
c. King
2. Because of His
love for us--John 15:12, 13. . . ."This is My commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends."
3. Because He has borne
our sins--Matthew 1:21--"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from
their sins."
TRANSITION: The Lord Jesus is set forth in Person in the Gospels as Prophet,
Priest, and King; thus He is our Savior. But after His death, burial, and
resurrection, He ascended
into Heaven. Therefore, in the Book of Acts, we see:
II. JESUS CHRIST IN PROCLAMATION--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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.")
A. Requires Going Forth
1. At first the apostles stuck to Jerusalem, but even there they went and spoke
to others.
2. The Book of Acts is full of going forth. (Be sure to read each of
these passages.)
a. The believers in general--8:4
b. Philip to Samaria and then into a desert to contact the Ethiopian--8:5, 26
c. Saul (Paul) in Damascus after his conversion--9:20
d. Peter to Lydia and Joppa--9:32, 36, 39
e. Peter to Cornelius--Chapter 10
f. Believers to various places--11:19ff.
g. Paul's missionary journeys--Chapters 13-28
3. We are commanded and commissioned to go forth--Acts 1:8 (Quoted above)
B. Requires Speaking Forth
1. Going is not enough; one must speak out.
2. Again, if we were to review those who went forth as just considered, we would
find that they
spoke forth.
3. We are so commanded--Acts 1:8 (See above)
4. "Ye Christian heralds, go proclaim Salvation through Emmanuel's name; To
distant climes the tidings bear, And plant the Rose of Sharon there." (Worship
and Service Hymnal 434, stanza 1)
TRANSITION: The Gospels set forth Jesus Christ in Person; the Book of Acts shows
Jesus Christ
in proclamation. But when He has been preached and souls
have come and received
Him as Lord
and Savior, then there is need for a local assembly of believers. That body
needs instruction from the
Lord and so we find
in the Epistles:
III. JESUS CHRIST IN THE CHURCH--Colossians 1:18 ("And He is the head of
the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in
all
things He might have the preeminence."
A. In Relation to His Body--Pauline Epistles
1. These epistles instruct us in the great doctrinal truths of our most holy
faith.
2. The doctrine of salvation (Romans-Galatians)
a. Centers in the cross.
b. Romans--to the natural man to meet his need of the gospel
(I) Sin--3:23 (Caused the cross)--"For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God;"
(II) Salvation--5:1 (In the cross)--"Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
(III) Sanctification--8:2 (By the cross)--"For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
c. 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians--To the carnal man
(I) 1 Corinthians
(A) Correction of error due to carnality
(B) Carnality seen in many things in the epistle--cf. 3:1. . . ."And I,
brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as
unto babes in Christ."
(C) The answer is being rightly related to the cross.
(II) 2 Corinthians
(A) Correction of error concerning authority
(B) Pauline authority is in view, but by application it can be applied to any
pastor.
(C) The answer again is a right attitude to authority in the cross.
(III) Galatians
(A) Correction of error concerning justification by faith alone
(B) The error was adding the law to faith in Christ alone for salvation.
(C) Resulted in loss of purity both in doctrine and conduct
(D) The solution is again in a right relation to the cross--Galatians 2:20. . .
."I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
3. The doctrine of Christ--here in relation to the church (Ephesians-Colossians
and Philemon)
a. The body--Ephesians
(I) Speaks of standing--in Christ (1:3)--"Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ: "
(II) Speaks of service--in edification (4:11 12)--"And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; [12] For the perfecting of
the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
(III) Speaks of warfare--in the Holy Spirit (6:12 13)--"For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness inhigh places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
b. The hands and feet--Philippians
(I) Christ is the Christian's life--1:21. . . ."For to me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain."
(II) Christ is the Christian's pattern--2:5. . . ."Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus:"
(III) Christ is the Christian's object--3:10. . . ."That I may know Him, and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
made conformable unto His death;"
(IV) Christ is the Christian's strength--4:13...."I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me."
c. The head--Colossians
(I) Head of creation--1:15-17. . . ."Who is the image of the
invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: [16] For by Him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by
Him, and for Him: [17] And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [or hold together]."
(II) Head of the church--1:18. . . ."And He is the head of the body,
the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things
He might have the preeminence."
(III) As believers we are united to the Head--2:10; 3:1-4. . . ."And ye are
complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: [3:1] If
ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth. [3] 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."
d. The heart--Philemon
(I) Paul was surety for Onesimus--vv. 18. . . ."If he hath wronged thee,
or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account;"
(II) Jesus Christ is surety for us--our debt of sin was placed to His account.
4. The doctrine of future things
a. The blessed hope--1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. . . ."But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [the dead in
Christ], that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus
will God bring with Him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these
words."
b. The day of the Christ--2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2. . . ."Now we beseech
you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
together unto Him, [2] 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."
(I) Some say based on supposed better manuscripts (by which they mean older)
that the day of Christ should read day of the Lord.
(II) This seems like another attempt to downgrade the KJV, and the argument is
not really so bright.
(III) Note that the verse preceding has the phrase Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the whole argument is superfluous; one manuscript picked up
Christ; another picked up Lord.
(See the study on Colossians for further discussion.)
5. The doctrine of the church--as to local assembly order
a. The importance of church order--1 Timothy 3:15. . . ."But if I
tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of
God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
b. The decline of church order--2 Timothy 4:3, 4. . . ."For the time will
come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
c. The need of church order--Titus 1:5. . . ."For this cause left I thee
in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain
elders in every city, as I had appointed
thee:"
B. In Contrast to Judaism--Hebrews
1. The emphasis here is that Christ is better than the Old Testament order.
2. The theme centers around the Priesthood of Christ in relation to believers
and thus the
church.
a. 4:14-16--"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For
we have not a High Priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16]
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need."
b. 9:11-14--"But Christ being come a High Priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say,
not of this building; [12] Neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal
redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of
goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to
the purifying of
the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?"
c. 10:21-25--"And having a high priest over the house of God; [22]
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."
3. The theme is to result in the life of faith.
a. 11:1, 6--"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
b. 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."
c. 13:15, 16--"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to
God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. [16] But to
do good and to communicate forget
not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
C. In Practical Life--James
1. The testing of faith--chapters 1, 2
a. Its purpose and source--1:3. . . ."Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience."
b. In obedience--1:22. . . ."But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves."
c. In brotherly love--2:8. . . ."If ye fulfill the royal law according to
the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:"
d. In good works--2:26. . . ."For as the body without the spirit is dead, so
faith without works is dead also."
2. The control of the tongue--chapter 3
a. The mature man--3:2. . . ."For in many things we offend all. If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect
man, and able also to bridle the
whole body."
b. The source and nature of maturity--3:17. . . ."But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of
mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
3. The rebuke of worldliness--chapters 4:1-5:6
a. The source of strife--4:2. . . ."Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and
desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask
not."
b. The submission to God--4:7. . . ."Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
c. The warning to the rich--5:1. . . ."Go to now, ye rich men, weep and
howl for your miseries that shall come upon you."
4. The exhortation of the Lord's coming--chapter 5:7ff. (Be sure to read
these passages.)
a. The need of patience--5:7-12
b. The need of prayer--5:13-18
c. The need of pardon--5:19, 20
D. In Suffering--1 Peter
1. In the light of complete salvation--1:1-2:8 (Cf. vv. 3, 4)--"Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"
2. In the light of the believer's position--2:9-4:19 (cf. 2:9)
3. In the light of the Lord's coming--5:1-14 (cf. 5:6)
E. In Love--Epistles of John (Be sure to read these passages.)
1. Love of the Heavenly Father for His children--1 John
a. In fellowship--1:1-2:11
b. In regard to their enemies--2:12-27
c. In view of the Lord's return--2:28-3:3
d. In contrast to Satan's children--3:4-24
e. In knowing false teachers--4:1-6
f. In assurance and warning--4:7-5:21
2. Love as Christ's commandment--2 John
a. The pathway of love--vv. 1-6
b. The warning of love--vv. 7-13
3. Love in relation to truth--3 John
a. The walking in truth--vv. 1-8
b. The warning of preeminence--vv. 9-11
c. The example of truth--vv. 12-14
F. In Warning--2 Peter and Jude (Be sure to read these passages.)
1. The last days--2 Peter
a. Virtues for the last days--1:1-14
b. Scriptures important for the last days--1:15-21
c. Warnings of the last days--2:1-22
d. Some events of the last days--3:1-18
2. Contending for the faith--Jude
a. Warning of apostasy--vv. 1-4
b. Historical examples of apostasy--vv. 5-7
c. Description of apostasy--vv. 8-19
d. Exhortations because of apostasy--vv. 20-25
TRANSITION: A great part of the New Testament deals with the Lord Jesus Christ
in the church. A
very noticeable factor is seen in the latter epistles, namely, an
increased
emphasis on the Lord's
return and our relation thereto. Thus, having been instructed, warned, exhorted,
and encouraged by
our head, Jesus Christ, the
New Testament ends with:
IV. JESUS CHRIST IN CONSUMMATION--Revelation (Be sure to read the passages not
quoted.)
A. As to the Church--Chapters 1-3
1. A glorious position with Him--1:1-8
2. A glorious vision of Him--1:9-18
3. A guileless examination by Him--2:1-3:22
a. The key phrase--"I know"
b. The key exhortation--2:7a. . . ."He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches;"
B. As to the Heavens--Chapters 4, 5
1. The Triune God--4:1-5; 5:1-7
2. The worship of the Triune God--4:6-11; 5:8-14
C. As to the Tribulation on Earth--Chapters 6-18
1. The beginning of the tribulation--chapter 6
2. The saved of the tribulation--chapter 7
3. The trumpet judgments--chapter 8, 9
4. The first parenthesis--chapter 10, 11
5. The prominent personages of the tribulation--chapter 12,13
6. The second parenthesis--chapter 14
7. The final judgment of the tribulation--chapters 15-18
D. As to the Millennium and Eternal Life--Chapters 19-22
1. The marriage of the Lamb--19:1-10
2. The coming of Christ in glory--19:11-21
3. The righteous reign of Jesus Christ--20:1-6
4. The white throne judgment--20:7-15
5. The all new things of eternity--21:1-22:21
CONCLUSION:
1. The New Testament is the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it presents Him.
a. Jesus Christ in Person--the Gospels
(I) Prophet, Priest, and King
(II) Thus, Savior; have you received Him?
b. Jesus Christ in Proclamation--Acts
(I) Requires going forth and speaking forth
(II) Are you being a witness for Him?
c. Jesus Christ in the Church--the Epistles
(I) Seen in relation to His Body, the Church, in the Pauline Epistles
(A) Sets forth the doctrines of salvation--in all its aspects
(1) Christ in relation to the church
(2) Christ in relation to future things
(3) Christ in relation to local church order
(B) Will you be properly instructed by your living Head?
(II) Seen in contrast to Judaism in Hebrews
(A) Our Great High Priest is set forth as better than all aspects of the Mosaic
system.
(B) Are you so enthralled by Jesus Christ that you walk in the life of faith?
(III) Seen in practical living in James
(A) He speaks of testing of faith, controlling the tongue, worldliness and
exhorts in view
of His coming.
(B) Are you living the practical Christian life?
(IV) Seen through suffering as in 1 Peter
(A) Peter sets forth suffering for Christ in the light of our complete
salvation, our position,
in Christ, and the soon coming of Christ.
(B) Oh, that we might rejoice when we suffering for Christ!
(V) Seen in love in John's epistles
(A) God loves us as His children; Christ has commanded us to love one another;
but
love must always be in truth.
(B) In the light of God's love for us, will you love one another, but in
truth?
(VI) Seen in warning in 2 Peter and Jude
(A) The last days are upon us and Peter exhorts us concerning these last days.
(B) Jude tells us to contend for the faith.
(C) In the light of His soon coming, what manner of life are you leading? Are
you
contending for the faith?
d. Jesus Christ in Consummation--Revelation
(I) Our Lord gives us His examination of the churches in chapters 1-3.
(II) Our Lord sets forth the glories of being with Him in chapters 4, 5
(III) Our Lord shows that judgments that are soon to come upon this sin-cursed
earth--chapters 6-18
(IV) Our Lord will yet reign and bring all things to their end as set forth in
the closing
chapters of this book.
2. You have gotten the bird's-eye view of the New Testament--the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
3. You now have two courses of action.
a. Rejection--can be done by sheer neglect of this glorious book as well as out
and out rejection.
b. Reception--requires not only believing (though not necessarily understanding)
from cover to
cover, but studying, and then acting thereupon.
4. The end is clear.
a. The Lord says, "Behold, I come quickly."
b. Are you ready?
c. The believing heart will readily respond with the words of the Apostle John,
"Even so come,
Lord Jesus."
God's Truth Versus Man's Tradition
Mark 7:1-13
INTRODUCTION:
1. Many churches in the Spring have a tradition of Ash Wednesday.
2. This is a tradition probably introduced by Pope Gregory I in the 6th Century.
3. We have heard a great deal of late about so-called changes in traditions
particularly since Vatican II.
4. Such persons have placed a great amount of emphasis on tradition.
5. "Making the word of God of none effect
through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:13)
6. Consider "God's Truth Versus Man's Tradition."
7. Notice first from Mark 7:
I. THE CRITICISM OF TRADITION--vv. 1-5
A. The Basis of Their Criticism
1. Disciples ate with unwashed hands.
a. This was not a matter of cleanliness for sanitary reasons.
b. This was a ceremonial washing.
c. "These ceremonial washings were prescribed with such minute details as to be
not only burdensome, but sometimes impossible." (Unger, Merrill F.,
Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press, c1957; 8)
2. The tradition concerning washing
a. Involved the hands
b. Involved cups, pots, bronze vessels, tables
B. The Nature of Their Criticism
1. Found fault
a. The Pharisees were always finding fault.
(I) With sinners
(II) With people
(III) With John the Baptist
(IV) With John's disciples
(V) With Jesus Himself
(VI) With Jesus' disciples
b. They were so perfect, you know.
c. Today certain ones find fault if people do not follow certain traditions.
d. This is not to say that all traditions are wrong.
(I) 2 Thessalonians 2:15--"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word [probably apostolic
preaching], or our epistle [The Word of
God]."
(II) 2 Thessalonians 3:6--"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother
that walketh disorderly, and not after
the tradition which he received of us [apostolic teaching]."
(III) It should be noted that apostolic preaching and teaching was equivalent to
God's word.
(IV) There is no justification for the acceptance of any other traditions.
2. Found fault because the disciples did not follow the traditions of the
elders.
a. Verse 5
b. Criticized over externals
c. Beware, lest we have this same Pharisaical attitude of criticizing over
externals.
TRANSITION: Tradition criticizes those who do not adhere to its tenants. On the
other hand, we observe in vv. 6-8:
II. THE CHARGE OF GOD'S WORD--(vv. 6-8)
A. From the Prophets
1. Prophesied concerning these hypocrites
a. Isaiah 6:10--"Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live
coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:"
b. Isaiah 29:13--"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near
Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed
their heart far from Me, and their fear
toward Me is taught by the precept of
men:"
c. Ezekiel 33:31--"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit
before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do
them: for with their mouth they show much
love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
2. Set forth by the Psalmist--Psalm 78:36, 37--"Nevertheless they did
flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. [37] For their
heart was not right with Him, neither were
they steadfast in His covenant."
3. Stated to Samuel--1 Samuel 16:7--"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look
not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused
him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
B. From the Lord Himself
1. Their worship was vain.
2. Their doctrines are commandments of men.
3. They lay aside God's commandments.
4. They hold traditions of men.
5. Cf. Colossians 2:16, 18, 20-23--"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or
in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days: [18] Let no
man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [20] 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
show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying
of the flesh."
TRANSITION: God's Word indicts man's traditions. Thus, we can see:
III. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN TRADITION AND THE WORD--vv. 9-13
A. The Contrast Stated--v. 9
1. Men reject God's Word to keep their tradition
2. This rejection is not always outward.
a. Not stated directly by them
b. In fact, there may be an outward acceptance of God's Word.
c. The case of the Pharisees
3. The rejection is by a nullifying of the letter and the spirit of God's Word
by the tradition (This is
not literal interpretation versus some sort of spiritualizing
or allegorizing).
4. Old Testament shows this.
a. Proverbs 1:25--"But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of
my reproof:"
b. Isaiah 7:23, 24--"And it shall come to pass in that day, that every
place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall
even be for briers and thorns. [24] With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns."
c. Jeremiah 7:23, 24--"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice,
and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all
the ways that I have commanded you, that it may
be well unto you. ]24] But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and
in
the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."
B. The Contrast Illustrated--vv. 10-12
1. The Law of Moses, which the Pharisees professed to revere, states--v.10.
. . ."
a. Quoted Exodus 20:12--6th of the 10 commandments ("Honor thy father and
thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee.")
b. Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9 quoted--"And he that curseth his father, or
his mother, shall surely be put to death. [Lev. 20:9] For every one that
curseth his father or his mother shall be
surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him."
2. But tradition allowed funds to be declared as a gift--v. 11
a. A man would invest his funds to receive a profit.
b. He would use the profit as he saw fit.
c. But by declaring the principle as corban, that is, devoted, or a gift, was
free from using
the funds to help his parents.
3. Thus, their tradition in effect disannulled the command to honor father and
mother--v. 12.
C. The Contrast Summarized--v. 13
1. Their tradition made God's Word ineffective.
2. Actually, their tradition provided loopholes in the Law.
3. Jesus cited one example, but He stated that they did many such things.
4. Tradition has always nullified God's Word.
a. 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."
b. Tradition says you must add works to be saved.
c. The effect is to say that you are saved by works rather than by God's grace
in Christ Jesus.
5. Paul's argument in Galatians 3:1-5--"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? [4] Have ye suffered so many
things in vain? if it be yet in
vain. [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,
doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith?"
a. Asks, Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing
of faith?"
b. Their reply would be, of course, By the hearing of faith.
c. Paul's return question, If you began in the Spirit by the hearing of faith
are you so foolish to
think that you are perfected by the "flesh", that is, "by
works?"
CONCLUSION:
1. We have seen the criticism of tradition--vv. 1-5.
2. We have observed the charge of God's Word against tradition--vv. 6-8.
3. We have examined the contrast between tradition and the Word--vv. 9-13.
4. Our Lord continues in the verses that follow showing that external observance
does not aid a man's
soul.
5. Defilement comes from within--Jeremiah 17:9. . . ."The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
6. Thus, a changed heart is needed which no outward, traditional rituals can do.
7. Salvation, and the perfecting process after salvation, is based on a changed
heart,
8. Let us be careful to emphasize the truth of God's Word and avoid making the
Word ineffective by
tradition.
9. Let us examine our good traditions in the light of God's Word to see if they
be in accord with it, or
whether they are making the Word ineffective.
10. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone; there is
nothing that you or I can do to save ourselves.
11. Maturity in the Lord does not come by what you do either, but by faith in
Christ alone.
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