We Wrestle Against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places
Ephesians 6:11-12
I am going to beg your patience today as I use a very striking speech from U.S. Attorney General William Barr presented at Notre Dame University recently as an illustration of exactly what our text is teaching us today.
Please open your Bible to the book of Ephesians chapter six and look with me at verses 11 and 12. As you turn there please understand my focus today is to illustrate the great spiritual struggle going on in America today in an effort to preserve religious freedom. Religious freedom is not just a Catholic issue, or a Baptist issue, etc. Rather the issue of religious freedom is central to the freedoms of every American (including the ungodly who to their surprise will discover if they successfully destroy religious freedom in the nation their own chains of bondage await them at the hands of the ugly elitists in their own ranks).
If you pay close attention today this speech (with some interjections from this Pastor) will help you discern the on-going 50-year battle to fundamentally transform America into a secular state. One which would give birth to unheard of persecution in the life of all who hold their faith precious.
Now look with me at our text: Ephesians 6:11-12:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Now, as I work my way through this speech, I think you will understand better why there is so much anger aimed at our current President. I am not here to defend every action of our President, but I am here to say I am on his side when it comes to the battle for religious freedom in our country. I have watched his actions on what amounts to the very cornerstone of our freedoms and since taking office he has relentlessly fought for religious freedom. His selection of William Barr to serve as Attorney General is a point in case. Once you here this speech it will become abundantly clear as to why I made that statement.
I appreciate the American Family Association for calling my attention to this important speech. I am quoting now our current Attorney General William Barr:
Thank you to the Notre Dame Law School and the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture for graciously extending an invitation to address you today. I’d also like to express gratitude to Tony de Nicola, whose generous support has shaped – and continues to shape – countless minds through examination of the Catholic moral and intellectual tradition.
Today, I would like to share some thoughts with you about religious liberty in America. It’s an important priority in this Administration and for this Department of Justice.
We have set up a task force within the Department with different components that have equities in this area, including the Solicitor General’s Office, the Civil Division, the Office of Legal Counsel, and other offices. We have regular meetings. We keep an eye out for cases or events around the country where states are misapplying the Establishment Clause in a way that discriminates against people of faith, or cases where states adopt laws that impinge upon the free exercise of religion.
From the Founding Era onward, there was strong consensus about the centrality of religious liberty in the United States.
The imperative of protecting religious freedom was not just a nod in the direction of piety. It reflects the Framers’ belief that religion was indispensable to sustaining our free system of government.
In his renowned 1785 pamphlet, “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” James Madison described religious liberty as “a right towards men” but “a duty towards the Creator,” and a “duty….precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society.”
It has been over 230 years since that small group of colonial lawyers led a revolution and launched what they viewed as a great experiment, establishing a society fundamentally different than those that had gone before.
They crafted a magnificent charter of freedom – the United States Constitution – which provides for limited government, while leaving “the People” broadly at liberty to pursue our lives both as individuals and through free associations.
This quantum leap in liberty has been the mainspring of unprecedented human progress, not only for Americans, but for people around the world.
In the 20th century, our form of free society faced a severe test.
There had always been the question whether a democracy so solicitous of individual freedom could stand up against a regimented totalitarian state.
That question was answered with a resounding “yes” as the United States stood up against and defeated, first fascism, and then communism.
But in the 21st century, we face an entirely different kind of challenge.
The challenge we face is precisely what the Founding Fathers foresaw would be our supreme test as a free society.
They never thought the main danger to the republic came from external foes. The central question was whether, over the long haul, we could handle freedom. The question was whether the citizens in such a free society could maintain the moral discipline and virtue necessary for the survival of free institutions.
By and large, the Founding generation’s view of human nature was drawn from the classical Christian tradition.
These practical statesmen understood that individuals, while having the potential for great good, also had the capacity for great evil.
Men are subject to powerful passions and appetites, and, if unrestrained, are capable of ruthlessly riding roughshod over their neighbors and the community at large.
No society can exist without some means for restraining individual rapacity.
But, if you rely on the coercive power of government to impose restraints, this will inevitably lead to a government that is too controlling, and you will end up with no liberty, just tyranny.
On the other hand, unless you have some effective restraint, you end up with something equally dangerous – licentiousness – the unbridled pursuit of personal appetites at the expense of the common good. This is just another form of tyranny – where the individual is enslaved by his appetites, and the possibility of any healthy community life crumbles.
Edmund Burke summed up this point in his typically colorful language:
“Men are qualified for civil liberty, in exact proportion to their disposition to put chains upon their appetites.... Society cannot exist unless a controlling power be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things that men intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.”
So the Founders decided to take a gamble. They called it a great experiment.
They would leave “the People” broad liberty, limit the coercive power of the government, and place their trust in self-discipline and the virtue of the American people.
In the words of Madison, “We have staked our future on the ability of each of us to govern ourselves…”
This is really what was meant by “self-government.” It did not mean primarily the mechanics by which we select a representative legislative body. It referred to the capacity of each individual to restrain and govern themselves.
But what was the source of this internal controlling power? In a free republic, those restraints could not be handed down from above by philosopher kings.
Instead, social order must flow up from the people themselves – freely obeying the dictates of inwardly-possessed and commonly-shared moral values. And to control willful human beings, with an infinite capacity to rationalize, those moral values must rest on authority independent of men’s will – they must flow from a transcendent Supreme Being.
In short, in the Framers’ view, free government was only suitable and sustainable for a religious people – a people who recognized that there was a transcendent moral order antecedent to both the state and man-made law and who had the discipline to control themselves according to those enduring principles.
As John Adams put it, “We have no government armed with the power which is capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”
As Father John Courtney Murray observed, the American tenet was not that:
“Free government is inevitable, only that it is possible, and that its possibility can be realized only when the people as a whole are inwardly governed by the recognized imperatives of the universal moral order.”
How does religion promote the moral discipline and virtue needed to support free government?
First, it gives us the right rules to live by. The Founding generation were Christians. They believed that the Judeo-Christian moral system corresponds to the true nature of man. Those moral precepts start with the two great commandments – to Love God with your whole heart, soul, and mind; and to Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself.
But they also include the guidance of natural law – a real, transcendent moral order which flows from God’s eternal law – the divine wisdom by which the whole of creation is ordered. The eternal law is impressed upon, and reflected in, all created things.
From the nature of things we can, through reason, experience, discern standards of right and wrong that exist independent of human will.
Modern secularists dismiss this idea of morality as other-worldly superstition imposed by a kill-joy clergy. In fact, Judeo-Christian moral standards are the ultimate utilitarian rules for human conduct.
They reflect the rules that are best for man, not in the by and by, but in the here and now. They are like God’s instruction manual for the best running of man and human society.
By the same token, violations of these moral laws have bad, real-world consequences for man and society. We may not pay the price immediately, but over time the harm is real.
Religion helps promote moral discipline within society. Because man is fallen, we don’t automatically conform ourselves to moral rules even when we know they are good for us.
But religion helps teach, train, and habituate people to want what is good. It does not do this primarily by formal laws – that is, through coercion. It does this through moral education and by informing society’s informal rules – its customs and traditions which reflect the wisdom and experience of the ages.
In other words, religion helps frame moral culture within society that instills and reinforces moral discipline.
I think we all recognize that over the past 50 years religion has been under increasing attack.
On the one hand, we have seen the steady erosion of our traditional Judeo-Christian moral system and a comprehensive effort to drive it from the public square.
On the other hand, we see the growing ascendancy of secularism and the doctrine of moral relativism.
By any honest assessment, the consequences of this moral upheaval have been grim.
Virtually every measure of social pathology continues to gain ground.
In 1965, the illegitimacy rate was eight percent. In 1992, when I was last Attorney General, it was 25 percent. Today it is over 40 percent. In many of our large urban areas, it is around 70 percent.
Along with the wreckage of the family, we are seeing record levels of depression and mental illness, dispirited young people, soaring suicide rates, increasing numbers of angry and alienated young males, an increase in senseless violence, and a deadly drug epidemic.
As you all know, over 70,000 people die a year from drug overdoses. That is more casualities in a year than we experienced during the entire Vietnam War.
I will not dwell on all the bitter results of the new secular age. Suffice it to say that the campaign to destroy the traditional moral order has brought with it immense suffering, wreckage, and misery. And yet, the forces of secularism, ignoring these tragic results, press on with even greater militancy.
Among these militant secularists are many so-called “progressives.” But where is the progress?
We are told we are living in a post-Christian era. But what has replaced the Judeo-Christian moral system? What is it that can fill the spiritual void in the hearts of the individual person? And what is a system of values that can sustain human social life?
The fact is that no secular creed has emerged capable of performing the role of religion
.
Scholarship suggests that religion has been integral to the development and thriving of Homo sapiens since we emerged roughly 50,000 years ago. It is just for the past few hundred years we have experimented in living without religion.
We hear much today about our humane values. But, in the final analysis, what undergirds these values? What commands our adherence to them?
What we call "values" today are really nothing more than mere sentimentality, still drawing on the vapor trails of Christianity.
Now, there have been times and places where the traditional moral order has been shaken.
In the past, societies – like the human body – seem to have a self-healing mechanism – a self-correcting mechanism that gets things back on course if things go too far.
The consequences of moral chaos become too pressing. The opinion of decent people rebels. They coalesce and rally against obvious excess. Periods of moral entrenchment follow periods of excess.
This is the idea of the pendulum. We have all thought that after a while the “pendulum will swing back.”
But today we face something different that may mean that we cannot count on the pendulum swinging back.
First is the force, fervor, and comprehensiveness of the assault on religion we are experiencing today. This is not decay; it is organized destruction. Secularists, and their allies among the “progressives,” have marshaled all the force of mass communications, popular culture, the entertainment industry, and academia in an unremitting assault on religion and traditional values.
These instruments are used not only to affirmatively promote secular orthodoxy, but also drown out and silence opposing voices, and to attack viciously and hold up to ridicule any dissenters.
One of the ironies, as some have observed, is that the secular project has itself become a religion, pursued with religious fervor. It is taking on all the trappings of a religion, including inquisitions and excommunication.
Those who defy the creed risk a figurative burning at the stake – social, educational, and professional ostracism and exclusion waged through lawsuits and savage social media campaigns.
The pervasiveness and power of our high-tech popular culture fuels apostasy in another way. It provides an unprecedented degree of distraction.
Part of the human condition is that there are big questions that should stare us in the face. Are we created or are we purely material accidents? Does our life have any meaning or purpose? But, as Blaise Pascal observed, instead of grappling with these questions, humans can be easily distracted from thinking about the “final things.”
Indeed, we now live in the age of distraction where we can envelop ourselves in a world of digital stimulation and universal connectivity. And we have almost limitless ways of indulging all our physical appetites.
There is another modern phenomenon that suppresses society’s self-corrective mechanisms – that makes it harder for society to restore itself.
In the past, when societies are threatened by moral chaos, the overall social costs of licentiousness and irresponsible personal conduct becomes so high that society ultimately recoils and reevaluates the path that it is on.
But today – in the face of all the increasing pathologies – instead of addressing the underlying cause, we have the State in the role of alleviator of bad consequences. We call on the State to mitigate the social costs of personal misconduct and irresponsibility.
So the reaction to growing illegitimacy is not sexual responsibility, but abortion.
The reaction to drug addiction is safe injection sites.
The solution to the breakdown of the family is for the State to set itself up as the ersatz husband for single mothers and the ersatz father to their children.
The call comes for more and more social programs to deal with the wreckage. While we think we are solving problems, we are underwriting them.
We start with an untrammeled freedom and we end up as dependents of a coercive state on which we depend.
Interestingly, this idea of the State as the alleviator of bad consequences has given rise to a new moral system that goes hand-in-hand with the secularization of society. It can be called the system of “macro-morality.” It is in some ways an inversion of Christian morality.
Christianity teaches a micro-morality. We transform the world by focusing on our own personal morality and transformation.
The new secular religion teaches macro-morality. One’s morality is not gauged by their private conduct, but rather on their commitment to political causes and collective action to address social problems.
This system allows us to not worry so much about the strictures on our private lives, while we find salvation on the picket-line. We can signal our finely-tuned moral sensibilities by demonstrating for this cause or that.
Something happened recently that crystalized the difference between these moral systems. I was attending Mass at a parish I did not usually go to in Washington, D.C. At the end of Mass, the Chairman of the Social Justice Committee got up to give his report to the parish. He pointed to the growing homeless problem in D.C. and explained that more mobile soup kitchens were needed to feed them. This being a Catholic church, I expected him to call for volunteers to go out and provide this need. Instead, he recounted all the visits that the Committee had made to the D.C. government to lobby for higher taxes and more spending to fund mobile soup kitchen.
A third phenomenon which makes it difficult for the pendulum to swing back is the way law is being used as a battering ram to break down traditional moral values and to establish moral relativism as a new orthodoxy.
Law is being used as weapon in a couple of ways.
First, either through legislation but more frequently through judicial interpretation, secularists have been continually seeking to eliminate laws that reflect traditional moral norms.
At first, this involved rolling back laws that prohibited certain kinds of conduct. Thus, the watershed decision legalizing abortion. And since then, the legalization of euthanasia. The list goes on.
More recently, we have seen the law used aggressively to force religious people and entities to subscribe to practices and policies that are antithetical to their faith.
The problem is not that religion is being forced on others. The problem is that irreligion and secular values are being forced on people of faith.
This reminds me of how some Roman emperors could not leave their loyal Christian subjects in peace but would mandate that they violate their conscience by offering religious sacrifice to the emperor as a god.
Similarly, militant secularists today do not have a live and let live spirit - they are not content to leave religious people alone to practice their faith. Instead, they seem to take a delight in compelling people to violate their conscience.
For example, the last Administration sought to force religious employers, including Catholic religious orders, to violate their sincerely held religious views by funding contraceptive and abortifacient coverage in their health plans. Similarly, California has sought to require pro-life pregnancy centers to provide notices of abortion rights.
This refusal to accommodate the free exercise of religion is relatively recent. Just 25 years ago, there was broad consensus in our society that our laws should accommodate religious belief.
In 1993, Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act – RFRA. The purpose of the statute was to promote maximum accommodation to religion when the government adopted broad policies that could impinge on religious practice.
At the time, RFRA was not controversial. It was introduced by Chuck Schumer with 170 cosponsors in the House, and was introduced by Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch with 59 additional cosponsors in the Senate. It passed by voice vote in the House and by a vote of 97-3 in the Senate.
Recently, as the process of secularization has accelerated, RFRA has come under assault, and the idea of religious accommodation has fallen out of favor.
Because this Administration firmly supports accommodation of religion, the battleground has shifted to the states. Some state governments are now attempting to compel religious individuals and entities to subscribe to practices, or to espouse viewpoints, that are incompatible with their religion.
Ground zero for these attacks on religion are the schools. To me, this is the most serious challenge to religious liberty.
For anyone who has a religious faith, by far the most important part of exercising that faith is the teaching of that religion to our children. The passing on of the faith. There is no greater gift we can give our children and no greater expression of love.
For the government to interfere in that process is a monstrous invasion of religious liberty.
Yet here is where the battle is being joined, and I see the secularists are attacking on three fronts.
The first front relates to the content of public school curriculum. Many states are adopting curriculum that is incompatible with traditional religious principles according to which parents are attempting to raise their children. They often do so without any opt out for religious families.
Thus, for example, New Jersey recently passed a law requiring public schools to adopt an LGBT curriculum that many feel is inconsistent with traditional Christian teaching. Similar laws have been passed in California and Illinois. And the Orange County Board of Education in California issued an opinion that “parents who disagree with the instructional materials related to gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation may not excuse their children from this instruction.”
Indeed, in some cases, the schools may not even warn parents about lessons they plan to teach on controversial subjects relating to sexual behavior and relationships.
This puts parents who dissent from the secular orthodoxy to a difficult choice: Try to scrape together the money for private school or home schooling, or allow their children to be inculcated with messages that they fundamentally reject.
A second axis of attack in the realm of education are state policies designed to starve religious schools of generally-available funds and encouraging students to choose secular options. Montana, for example, created a program that provided tax credits to those who donated to a scholarship program that underprivileged students could use to attend private school. The point of the program was to provide greater parental and student choice in education and to provide better educations to needy youth.
But Montana expressly excluded religiously-affiliated private schools from the program. And when that exclusion was challenged in court by parents who wanted to use the scholarships to attend a nondenominational Christian school, the Montana Supreme Court required the state to eliminate the program rather than allow parents to use scholarships for religious schools.
It justified this action by pointing to a provision in Montana’s State Constitution commonly referred to as a “Blaine Amendment.” Blaine Amendments were passed at a time of rampant anti-Catholic animus in this country, and typically disqualify religious institutions from receiving any direct or indirect payments from a state’s funds.
The case is now in the Supreme Court, and we filed a brief explaining why Montana’s Blaine Amendment violates the First Amendment.
A third kind of assault on religious freedom in education have been recent efforts to use state laws to force religious schools to adhere to secular orthodoxy. For example, right here in Indiana, a teacher sued the Catholic Archbishop of Indianapolis for directing the Catholic schools within his diocese that they could not employ teachers in same-sex marriages because the example of those same-sex marriages would undermine the schools’ teaching on the Catholic view of marriage and complementarity between the sexes.
This lawsuit clearly infringes the First Amendment rights of the Archdiocese by interfering both with its expressive association and with its church autonomy. The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the state court making these points, and we hope that the state court will soon dismiss the case.
Taken together, these cases paint a disturbing picture. We see the State requiring local public schools to insert themselves into contentious social debates, without regard for the religious views of their students or parents. In effect, these states are requiring local communities to make their public schools inhospitable to families with traditional religious values; those families are implicitly told that they should conform or leave.
At the same time, pressure is placed on religious schools to abandon their religious convictions. Simply because of their religious character, they are starved of funds – students who would otherwise choose to attend them are told they may only receive scholarships if they turn their sights elsewhere.
Simultaneously, they are threatened in tort and, eventually, will undoubtedly be threatened with denial of accreditation if they adhere to their religious character. If these measures are successful, those with religious convictions will become still more marginalized.
I do not mean to suggest that there is no hope for moral renewal in our country.
But we cannot sit back and just hope the pendulum is going to swing back toward sanity.
As Catholics, we are committed to the Judeo-Christian values that have made this country great.
And we know that the first thing we have to do to promote renewal is to ensure that we are putting our principles into practice in our own personal private lives.
We understand that only by transforming ourselves can we transform the world beyond ourselves.
This is tough work. It is hard to resist the constant seductions of our contemporary society. This is where we need grace, prayer, and the help of our church.
Beyond this, we must place greater emphasis on the moral education of our children.
Education is not vocational training. It is leading our children to the recognition that there is truth and helping them develop the faculties to discern and love the truth and the discipline to live by it.
We cannot have a moral renaissance unless we succeed in passing to the next generation our faith and values in full vigor.
The times are hostile to this. Public agencies, including public schools, are becoming secularized and increasingly are actively promoting moral relativism.
If ever there was a need for a resurgence of Catholic education – and more generally religiously-affiliated schools – it is today.
I think we should do all we can to promote and support authentic Catholic education at all levels.
Finally, as lawyers, we should be particularly active in the struggle that is being waged against religion on the legal plane.
We must be vigilant to resist efforts by the forces of secularization to drive religious viewpoints from the public square and to impinge upon the free exercise of our faith.
I can assure you that, as long as I am Attorney General, the Department of Justice will be at the forefront of this effort, ready to fight for the most cherished of our liberties: the freedom to live according to our faith.
Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you today. And God bless you and Notre Dame.
Be Strong in the Lord
Ephesians 6:10
I am speaking today from a single verse of scripture found in Ephesians 6 verse 10. You are welcome to open to this chapter as I hope to conclude with a reading of verses 11-19.
Ephesians 6:10 states, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Be strong in the Lord. Every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to grow into a mature believer who is strong in the Lord. We are not to remain weak.
Weakness in the Lord is reflected by a propensity to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Such weakness manifests with the inability to stand against the onslaught of a world bent on moving the church away from the truthfulness of the gospel.
Weakness in the Lord is also reflected in conformity to the spirit of the world. Believers are called to personal holiness, but many believers fail to develop godly convictions and remain weak in practice and have little salt in themselves.
Weakness in the Lord is also reflected by the inability to stand for Christ as a witness for him. All believers are called upon to represent the Lord Jesus in this world. Weakness manifests when we cower in the presence of a world that disagrees with us. Unwillingness to bear our cross and suffer rejection from an unbelieving world reveals a certain weakness in such believers.
Paul certainly understood the need to challenge believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. We need this same word of encouragement today.
My friends, may the Lord grant us grace to be strong and not weak at this critical time for our families and our nation. We need to be strong in the Lord in order to engage the very real spiritual struggle we find ourselves in. Our spiritual battles require spiritual strength.
I must remind you that we are engaged with a spiritual enemy who aims to hinder us and stop the cause of Christ. We are thus called to “resist the devil.” We must resist his invitations to indulge the flesh, neglect the cause of Christ, and to accommodate the unbelief of the world.
Accommodating the unbelief of the world is nothing less than tolerating the spirit of antichrist. However, we must resist the spirit of antichrist which flows from the father of lies, Satan himself.
Our battles are real, but where is the strength for these battles to be found? The strength needed is in the Lord. We need his strength to manifest in our lives and his strength does manifest in the lives of those believers who practice several things.
First, believers who feed upon the Word of God grow stronger in the Lord day by day. You cannot develop strength for the battle without feeding daily upon his word.
Next, believers who build a faithful church life become stronger in the Lord week by week. Why? A faithful church life affords you the opportunity to learn from godly pastors who feed you the Word of God. Without a faithful church life most believers will never be strong in the Lord.
A faithful church life also affords you the opportunity to function within the body of Christ. We need one another. A soldier alone on a battlefield is in great danger. He needs support for the battle. Likewise, Christians need the support of fellow believers in order to be strong in the Lord.
Next, every believer needs to grow a personal prayer life in order to be strong in the Lord. It is in the private prayer closet one develops a growing closeness to the Lord. In private prayer the Lord imparts his strength to our inner man.
We need grace to stand for Christ in a world full of opposition and unbelief. Prayer lays hold of the Lord and results in new strength for the battles we face.
If you would be strong in the Lord, or if you are to maintain strength in the Lord, then practice daily Bible reading, be faithful to the house of God, and engage in daily private prayer.
Now, let’s take a few minutes and consider what strength in the Lord looks like.
To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in faith. We must develop a strong confidence in the Lord as we learn of his character and embrace his promises. Consider for a moment the example of Abraham. In Romans chapter four we read:
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences and was raised for our justification (Romans 4:16-25).
Abraham was strong in faith. He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief. Likewise, in our own battles we must be strong in faith.
Regardless of what the world brings against us we must stand in faith to receive the promises of God. Jesus went so far as to say, "be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
In the battle, our enemy compels us to deny the name of Jesus and to deny his faith. This is at the very heart of our battle with a world of unbelief.
Shall we be faithful, no matter the cost? Shall we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, or shall we capitulate to the world even denying the Lord that bought us? God forbid!
We shall rise with a strong faith embracing the promises of the Lord that if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him! To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in faith. Such faith is strong in the face of persecution.
Abraham was so settled in his faith that God would give him a son he refused to look at his age or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Later when Abraham was tested to offer his son of promise on an altar of sacrifice, he once again moved in faith. He believed if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to keep his promises.
May I say, if this world persecuted us even to death, we should be of such strong faith we face that moment in the full assurance God will raise us up by that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead!
I’ve got news for this world—you cannot get rid of a real child of God. We are coming back with the Lord Jesus and we will rule and reign with him!
Church, be strong in faith! Have great confidence in the Lord. He is able to deliver us now and he is able to preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom.
Now, let me move on to my next point which is closely related to what I just said. What does it look like to be strong in the Lord?
Consider for a moment our priority to “keep the faith.”
At the end of his life the apostle Paul made this statement: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Like the apostle, we must be strong in the Lord in the interest of safeguarding the faith. The real battle in our world is over truth.
Many false spiritualities claim to be the truth. On the other hand, our secular friends pretend that absolute truth does not exist. However, the truth is found in “the faith which is once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
The faith is built upon the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture. Thus, we embrace without apology the authority of Scripture. The Scripture speaks with a final authority concerning the essential doctrines of the faith.
Doctrinally the content of "the faith" sets forth the unique person of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, God manifest in the flesh for our salvation.
Furthermore, it sets forth his supernatural death in which as our sin bearer he fully propitiated a holy God, covering our sin and guilt in His sight by the power of his shed blood.
And as I read just a few moments ago from Romans chapter four, Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. God raised Jesus from the dead thus establishing the promise salvation for all who confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart He raised him from the dead.
My friends, the authority of Scripture and the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ is the very heart of the faith.
We must be strong in the Lord and having done all to stand for the truth as it is in Jesus, stand therefore taking to yourself the whole armor of God that ye might be able to withstand in the day of great difficulty and trial.
To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in the face of opposition to the truth.
We believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We believe Jesus is Lord of all. We believe in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who is coming again to rule with great power over all the earth.
We are not to fear those who oppose our Lord, rather like the children of Israel of old we are to be strong and of a good courage. We are to fear not, nor be afraid of those who oppose the truth. For the LORD our God, he it is that goes with us and he will not fail nor forsake us!
And what, shall we fear the faces of those who despise our Lord and oppose the church? I think not, rather we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Hear this word from the book of Ezekiel where the Lord says, “Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads” (Ezekiel 3:8).
Indeed, the Lord will manifest the same power in our lives as we stand for him!
Jesus says when “they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost” (Mark 13:11).
Amen! As we stand strong for the Lord his Spirit will stand by us!
Now may I conclude with a reading of Ephesians 6:10-19:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Amen.
Ephesians 6:10
I am speaking today from a single verse of scripture found in Ephesians 6 verse 10. You are welcome to open to this chapter as I hope to conclude with a reading of verses 11-19.
Ephesians 6:10 states, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Be strong in the Lord. Every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to grow into a mature believer who is strong in the Lord. We are not to remain weak.
Weakness in the Lord is reflected by a propensity to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Such weakness manifests with the inability to stand against the onslaught of a world bent on moving the church away from the truthfulness of the gospel.
Weakness in the Lord is also reflected in conformity to the spirit of the world. Believers are called to personal holiness, but many believers fail to develop godly convictions and remain weak in practice and have little salt in themselves.
Weakness in the Lord is also reflected by the inability to stand for Christ as a witness for him. All believers are called upon to represent the Lord Jesus in this world. Weakness manifests when we cower in the presence of a world that disagrees with us. Unwillingness to bear our cross and suffer rejection from an unbelieving world reveals a certain weakness in such believers.
Paul certainly understood the need to challenge believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. We need this same word of encouragement today.
My friends, may the Lord grant us grace to be strong and not weak at this critical time for our families and our nation. We need to be strong in the Lord in order to engage the very real spiritual struggle we find ourselves in. Our spiritual battles require spiritual strength.
I must remind you that we are engaged with a spiritual enemy who aims to hinder us and stop the cause of Christ. We are thus called to “resist the devil.” We must resist his invitations to indulge the flesh, neglect the cause of Christ, and to accommodate the unbelief of the world.
Accommodating the unbelief of the world is nothing less than tolerating the spirit of antichrist. However, we must resist the spirit of antichrist which flows from the father of lies, Satan himself.
Our battles are real, but where is the strength for these battles to be found? The strength needed is in the Lord. We need his strength to manifest in our lives and his strength does manifest in the lives of those believers who practice several things.
First, believers who feed upon the Word of God grow stronger in the Lord day by day. You cannot develop strength for the battle without feeding daily upon his word.
Next, believers who build a faithful church life become stronger in the Lord week by week. Why? A faithful church life affords you the opportunity to learn from godly pastors who feed you the Word of God. Without a faithful church life most believers will never be strong in the Lord.
A faithful church life also affords you the opportunity to function within the body of Christ. We need one another. A soldier alone on a battlefield is in great danger. He needs support for the battle. Likewise, Christians need the support of fellow believers in order to be strong in the Lord.
Next, every believer needs to grow a personal prayer life in order to be strong in the Lord. It is in the private prayer closet one develops a growing closeness to the Lord. In private prayer the Lord imparts his strength to our inner man.
We need grace to stand for Christ in a world full of opposition and unbelief. Prayer lays hold of the Lord and results in new strength for the battles we face.
If you would be strong in the Lord, or if you are to maintain strength in the Lord, then practice daily Bible reading, be faithful to the house of God, and engage in daily private prayer.
Now, let’s take a few minutes and consider what strength in the Lord looks like.
To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in faith. We must develop a strong confidence in the Lord as we learn of his character and embrace his promises. Consider for a moment the example of Abraham. In Romans chapter four we read:
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences and was raised for our justification (Romans 4:16-25).
Abraham was strong in faith. He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief. Likewise, in our own battles we must be strong in faith.
Regardless of what the world brings against us we must stand in faith to receive the promises of God. Jesus went so far as to say, "be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
In the battle, our enemy compels us to deny the name of Jesus and to deny his faith. This is at the very heart of our battle with a world of unbelief.
Shall we be faithful, no matter the cost? Shall we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, or shall we capitulate to the world even denying the Lord that bought us? God forbid!
We shall rise with a strong faith embracing the promises of the Lord that if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him! To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in faith. Such faith is strong in the face of persecution.
Abraham was so settled in his faith that God would give him a son he refused to look at his age or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Later when Abraham was tested to offer his son of promise on an altar of sacrifice, he once again moved in faith. He believed if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to keep his promises.
May I say, if this world persecuted us even to death, we should be of such strong faith we face that moment in the full assurance God will raise us up by that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead!
I’ve got news for this world—you cannot get rid of a real child of God. We are coming back with the Lord Jesus and we will rule and reign with him!
Church, be strong in faith! Have great confidence in the Lord. He is able to deliver us now and he is able to preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom.
Now, let me move on to my next point which is closely related to what I just said. What does it look like to be strong in the Lord?
Consider for a moment our priority to “keep the faith.”
At the end of his life the apostle Paul made this statement: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Like the apostle, we must be strong in the Lord in the interest of safeguarding the faith. The real battle in our world is over truth.
Many false spiritualities claim to be the truth. On the other hand, our secular friends pretend that absolute truth does not exist. However, the truth is found in “the faith which is once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
The faith is built upon the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture. Thus, we embrace without apology the authority of Scripture. The Scripture speaks with a final authority concerning the essential doctrines of the faith.
Doctrinally the content of "the faith" sets forth the unique person of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, God manifest in the flesh for our salvation.
Furthermore, it sets forth his supernatural death in which as our sin bearer he fully propitiated a holy God, covering our sin and guilt in His sight by the power of his shed blood.
And as I read just a few moments ago from Romans chapter four, Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. God raised Jesus from the dead thus establishing the promise salvation for all who confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart He raised him from the dead.
My friends, the authority of Scripture and the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ is the very heart of the faith.
We must be strong in the Lord and having done all to stand for the truth as it is in Jesus, stand therefore taking to yourself the whole armor of God that ye might be able to withstand in the day of great difficulty and trial.
To be strong in the Lord means to be strong in the face of opposition to the truth.
We believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We believe Jesus is Lord of all. We believe in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who is coming again to rule with great power over all the earth.
We are not to fear those who oppose our Lord, rather like the children of Israel of old we are to be strong and of a good courage. We are to fear not, nor be afraid of those who oppose the truth. For the LORD our God, he it is that goes with us and he will not fail nor forsake us!
And what, shall we fear the faces of those who despise our Lord and oppose the church? I think not, rather we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Hear this word from the book of Ezekiel where the Lord says, “Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads” (Ezekiel 3:8).
Indeed, the Lord will manifest the same power in our lives as we stand for him!
Jesus says when “they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost” (Mark 13:11).
Amen! As we stand strong for the Lord his Spirit will stand by us!
Now may I conclude with a reading of Ephesians 6:10-19:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Amen.
Search the Scriptures—They Lead to the
Bethlehem Manger!
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39
Bethlehem Manger!
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39
In John 5:39 Jesus says the Old Testament canon (Genesis through Malachi) testifies of him. I would like to demonstrate that point in this message as I take you by the hand and lead you through several Old Testament passages which are connected to his birth.
If you will be patient with me, I must take you back to the very beginning. It is my hope you are becoming quite familiar with this foundational history. The history of Christmas begins in Genesis chapter three with a promise God gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This ancient promise encompassed God’s plan to free mankind from the consequences of Adam’s disobedience.
I trust you understand Adam’s disobedience gave Satan the authority to hold mankind in bondage to death through the power of sin. Sadly, apart from God’s intervention Adam’s sin left the entire race in a hopeless condition.
In Genesis 3:15 God did intervene.
He did so with a promise. God promised to send a deliverer who would crush the head of the serpent, thus freeing mankind from bondage to death. It should be pointed out mankind has lived with hope of a deliverer from the very beginning. In fact, all Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming of the Savior, while today we look back upon his actual coming.
From the promise of Genesis 3:15 his actual coming was four thousand years in the making. Think about that. Four thousand years of human history transpired from the Garden of Eden until the night Joseph and Mary wrapped the promised Seed of the Woman in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
During those years the Holy Spirit gave the Scriptures which Jesus references in our text. In those Scriptures God progressively revealed the coming Savior to the world. Do you realize God has detailed the coming of the Savior in such a meticulous way that only willful unbelief has the power to blind one to his true identity?
Consider the following details with me.
Following the global flood of Noah’s day and the dispersion of the race at the Tower of Babel, the Lord turns the historical record of Scripture to his dealings with a man named Abraham.
God called Abraham and made a special covenant with him. In this covenant he promised to make of him a great nation through which he would bless all the families of the earth.
The central theme of the Abrahamic Covenant was God’s intention to send the promised Seed of the Woman through Abraham. One of Abraham’s descendants would be unique and bless all the families of the earth.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham. Jesus is the special promised seed of Abraham through his mother Mary. The true Messiah must be a physical descendent of Abraham. All others are pretenders at best and deceivers at worst.
Scripture carefully documents the family tree of Jesus confirming Mary as a physical descendent of Abraham. This is one of the essential elements of Scripture which serves to confirm to the world the identity of Jesus as the true Messiah and Savior of the world.
My friend, through the seed of Abraham God has blessed the whole world with a Savior who is Christ the Lord!
Now let’s continue.
God established his covenant with Abraham and his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Jacob gave birth to 12 sons through whom God formed the nation of Israel. Thus, the promised seed of Abraham—through whom all the families of the earth are blessed—came through the nation of Israel.
This is exactly why Satan hates Israel and desires to destroy her. Satan drives hatred toward Israel in the hearts of the children of disobedience. As a consequence, Israel is sorely persecuted by the other nations of the world even to this present hour.
Now let me interject this question. Are you interested in knowing the true Savior of the world? Then you must receive the written record of God’s Son recorded in His inspired word. These details of Scripture identifying Jesus as the true Messiah are not trivial or boring or cumbersome. On the contrary, as pointed out in our text, Jesus says these details testify of him and have the power to convince you he is the Savior of the world!
Next, let’s consider our next passage from the Scriptures. Not only did God send his Son through the nation of Israel, but the true Messiah had to descend from a specific tribe within the nation.
Interestingly, just before Jacob died he pronounced various prophetic blessings upon his sons. Those prophecies are truly amazing, but one especially stands out.
Jacob prophesied a ruler would come through his son Judah. He refers to him as Shiloh, which means “rest and tranquility.” This title carries the thought of one who brings peace and is a special reference to the Messiah. Thus, per this prophecy the promised Savior could only come through the tribe of Judah.
Next, not only must the promised Messiah come through Judah, but he must come through a specific family within the tribe. We come now to the next significant covenant God establishes in his word.
In Samuel chapter seven the Lord sent his prophet to King David with a special message. In that message the Lord established an eternal covenant with the house of David promising his seed an everlasting kingdom.
Specifically, this covenant speaks of a special descendent from the house of David who will rule on his throne forever. The prophets who later ministered in Israel identify the Messiah as that promised seed.
Now let me come back to our text for a moment. Everything shared in this message is contained in the Scriptures of which Jesus says testify of him. Indeed, they do testify of him in clear, unmistakable terms. Don’t miss it my friend. If you follow a false messiah, a false prophet, or some false spirituality you will be lost.
The message of Christmas is indeed good tidings of great joy because the Savior was born just as God promised and all who believe upon him receive eternal life. But if you close your eyes to the witness of Scripture—as did the crowd Jesus spoke to in our text—then you will die in your sins and perish everlastingly.
Now be patient with me as I call attention to several more passages of Scripture before we are done.
We come now to the famous prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14. This prophecy binds the whole of Scripture to the ancient promise given in the Garden of Eden. Isaiah declares, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
With these words Isaiah reiterates God’s promise to send a unique person into the world without the agency of a human father. Of necessity the promise of Genesis 3:15 requires a miracle. The special seed of the woman must come through a virgin’s womb. This begs the question of how a woman who has never known a man can be found with child.
Such a circumstance can only be explained by the power of God. The virgin conception of Christ in the womb of Mary is a miracle. That miracle clothed the eternal Word, the eternally begotten Son of God, with a human nature in the person of Jesus the promised Messiah.
In light of Isaiah 7:14 our world needs to set up and take note of the mighty miracle that resulted in the birth of God’s Son. This miracle remains a sign to all men of all nations.
You say, I don’t believe it! But my friend, God says it is so. Do you wrestle with God? Do you resist the Holy Spirit who even now is confronting you with the truth as it is in Jesus? Be careful my friend. A decision lies before you and the path you take leads either to eternal life or eternal damnation.
Don’t go with the Herods of this world who seek to destroy Christ and refuse to allow him to ascend to the throne of their hearts. Rather, go with the wise men and come and bow before him and worship him!
This Christmas season the virgin conception and subsequent virgin birth of Christ remains a sign to the whole world. But the words spoken by Simeon to Mary in Luke chapter two are still true of Jesus today. He said, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.”
Don’t be surprised when the world speaks against Christ. While we love him, tragically many despise him and reject him.
Next, I bring before you another famous prophecy from the prophet Micah. A contemporary of Isaiah, Micah actually predicted the very place of the Messiah’s birth.
In Micah 5:2 we read, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
You will recall when the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem to worship the new born king, Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes demanding of them where Christ should be born.
They quoted to him this verse of Scripture confirming that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem. A short time later the wise men found the young child in Bethlehem the place of his birth. This is essential. The true savior identified by the Scriptures of which Jesus speaks in our text must be born in Bethlehem.
The Jews to whom Jesus spoke in John chapter 5 had to know where Jesus was born. Furthermore, they had to know of the slaughter of the innocent little babies by Herod less than 30 years earlier. The heart break of that situation was etched upon the nation’s memory.
Now I close with our Lord’s statement in verse 40: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
With all the witness of Scripture these men still would not come—but what about you? You have the same witness of the Scriptures—even more so. Today we not only have the canon of the Old Testament Scriptures as did Jesus and those in his day, but we also have the complete canon of New Testament Scripture documenting the actual birth, life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God.
Why will you not come?
The most familiar part of the Christmas history is the picture of Mary wrapping her firstborn son in swaddling clothes and laying him in a manger—but why in a manger?
You will recall that Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem as the little town swelled with like-minded travelers complying with the government. They soon discovered there was “no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
Although the lack of room seems innocent enough, there is something to be gleaned from this picture. Sadly, little has changed since that night long ago. The Son of God is still crowded out of a world which has little or no room for him.
The Gospel of John speaks to this reality with the following words: “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew (recognized) him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:10-11).
The Creator came into his own world only to find there was no room for him. Even his own people (the Jews) refused to accept him on a national level as their promised Messiah.
In similar fashion the nations remain guilty of the same today. Have you noticed any recent resolutions at the United Nations acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior of the world? On the contrary, he is not so much as granted the dignity of a barn by today’s world.
And what can be said about you? Are you among those who turn away in unbelief? Do you have any room for him in your heart?
The passage in John chapter one continues in verse twelve with a glorious promise. This promise belongs to all who make room in their heart for the Lord Jesus.
The Scripture says, “But to as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power (the right, the privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Have you received the most wonderful gift of all? The heart of the Christmas message concerns the gift of eternal life which God freely offers to the world through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But this gift must be received.
Please bow your head in humble repentance and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Give your heart to Christ and receive the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
If you will be patient with me, I must take you back to the very beginning. It is my hope you are becoming quite familiar with this foundational history. The history of Christmas begins in Genesis chapter three with a promise God gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This ancient promise encompassed God’s plan to free mankind from the consequences of Adam’s disobedience.
I trust you understand Adam’s disobedience gave Satan the authority to hold mankind in bondage to death through the power of sin. Sadly, apart from God’s intervention Adam’s sin left the entire race in a hopeless condition.
In Genesis 3:15 God did intervene.
He did so with a promise. God promised to send a deliverer who would crush the head of the serpent, thus freeing mankind from bondage to death. It should be pointed out mankind has lived with hope of a deliverer from the very beginning. In fact, all Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming of the Savior, while today we look back upon his actual coming.
From the promise of Genesis 3:15 his actual coming was four thousand years in the making. Think about that. Four thousand years of human history transpired from the Garden of Eden until the night Joseph and Mary wrapped the promised Seed of the Woman in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
During those years the Holy Spirit gave the Scriptures which Jesus references in our text. In those Scriptures God progressively revealed the coming Savior to the world. Do you realize God has detailed the coming of the Savior in such a meticulous way that only willful unbelief has the power to blind one to his true identity?
Consider the following details with me.
Following the global flood of Noah’s day and the dispersion of the race at the Tower of Babel, the Lord turns the historical record of Scripture to his dealings with a man named Abraham.
God called Abraham and made a special covenant with him. In this covenant he promised to make of him a great nation through which he would bless all the families of the earth.
The central theme of the Abrahamic Covenant was God’s intention to send the promised Seed of the Woman through Abraham. One of Abraham’s descendants would be unique and bless all the families of the earth.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham. Jesus is the special promised seed of Abraham through his mother Mary. The true Messiah must be a physical descendent of Abraham. All others are pretenders at best and deceivers at worst.
Scripture carefully documents the family tree of Jesus confirming Mary as a physical descendent of Abraham. This is one of the essential elements of Scripture which serves to confirm to the world the identity of Jesus as the true Messiah and Savior of the world.
My friend, through the seed of Abraham God has blessed the whole world with a Savior who is Christ the Lord!
Now let’s continue.
God established his covenant with Abraham and his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Jacob gave birth to 12 sons through whom God formed the nation of Israel. Thus, the promised seed of Abraham—through whom all the families of the earth are blessed—came through the nation of Israel.
This is exactly why Satan hates Israel and desires to destroy her. Satan drives hatred toward Israel in the hearts of the children of disobedience. As a consequence, Israel is sorely persecuted by the other nations of the world even to this present hour.
Now let me interject this question. Are you interested in knowing the true Savior of the world? Then you must receive the written record of God’s Son recorded in His inspired word. These details of Scripture identifying Jesus as the true Messiah are not trivial or boring or cumbersome. On the contrary, as pointed out in our text, Jesus says these details testify of him and have the power to convince you he is the Savior of the world!
Next, let’s consider our next passage from the Scriptures. Not only did God send his Son through the nation of Israel, but the true Messiah had to descend from a specific tribe within the nation.
Interestingly, just before Jacob died he pronounced various prophetic blessings upon his sons. Those prophecies are truly amazing, but one especially stands out.
Jacob prophesied a ruler would come through his son Judah. He refers to him as Shiloh, which means “rest and tranquility.” This title carries the thought of one who brings peace and is a special reference to the Messiah. Thus, per this prophecy the promised Savior could only come through the tribe of Judah.
Next, not only must the promised Messiah come through Judah, but he must come through a specific family within the tribe. We come now to the next significant covenant God establishes in his word.
In Samuel chapter seven the Lord sent his prophet to King David with a special message. In that message the Lord established an eternal covenant with the house of David promising his seed an everlasting kingdom.
Specifically, this covenant speaks of a special descendent from the house of David who will rule on his throne forever. The prophets who later ministered in Israel identify the Messiah as that promised seed.
Now let me come back to our text for a moment. Everything shared in this message is contained in the Scriptures of which Jesus says testify of him. Indeed, they do testify of him in clear, unmistakable terms. Don’t miss it my friend. If you follow a false messiah, a false prophet, or some false spirituality you will be lost.
The message of Christmas is indeed good tidings of great joy because the Savior was born just as God promised and all who believe upon him receive eternal life. But if you close your eyes to the witness of Scripture—as did the crowd Jesus spoke to in our text—then you will die in your sins and perish everlastingly.
Now be patient with me as I call attention to several more passages of Scripture before we are done.
We come now to the famous prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14. This prophecy binds the whole of Scripture to the ancient promise given in the Garden of Eden. Isaiah declares, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
With these words Isaiah reiterates God’s promise to send a unique person into the world without the agency of a human father. Of necessity the promise of Genesis 3:15 requires a miracle. The special seed of the woman must come through a virgin’s womb. This begs the question of how a woman who has never known a man can be found with child.
Such a circumstance can only be explained by the power of God. The virgin conception of Christ in the womb of Mary is a miracle. That miracle clothed the eternal Word, the eternally begotten Son of God, with a human nature in the person of Jesus the promised Messiah.
In light of Isaiah 7:14 our world needs to set up and take note of the mighty miracle that resulted in the birth of God’s Son. This miracle remains a sign to all men of all nations.
You say, I don’t believe it! But my friend, God says it is so. Do you wrestle with God? Do you resist the Holy Spirit who even now is confronting you with the truth as it is in Jesus? Be careful my friend. A decision lies before you and the path you take leads either to eternal life or eternal damnation.
Don’t go with the Herods of this world who seek to destroy Christ and refuse to allow him to ascend to the throne of their hearts. Rather, go with the wise men and come and bow before him and worship him!
This Christmas season the virgin conception and subsequent virgin birth of Christ remains a sign to the whole world. But the words spoken by Simeon to Mary in Luke chapter two are still true of Jesus today. He said, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.”
Don’t be surprised when the world speaks against Christ. While we love him, tragically many despise him and reject him.
Next, I bring before you another famous prophecy from the prophet Micah. A contemporary of Isaiah, Micah actually predicted the very place of the Messiah’s birth.
In Micah 5:2 we read, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
You will recall when the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem to worship the new born king, Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes demanding of them where Christ should be born.
They quoted to him this verse of Scripture confirming that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem. A short time later the wise men found the young child in Bethlehem the place of his birth. This is essential. The true savior identified by the Scriptures of which Jesus speaks in our text must be born in Bethlehem.
The Jews to whom Jesus spoke in John chapter 5 had to know where Jesus was born. Furthermore, they had to know of the slaughter of the innocent little babies by Herod less than 30 years earlier. The heart break of that situation was etched upon the nation’s memory.
Now I close with our Lord’s statement in verse 40: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
With all the witness of Scripture these men still would not come—but what about you? You have the same witness of the Scriptures—even more so. Today we not only have the canon of the Old Testament Scriptures as did Jesus and those in his day, but we also have the complete canon of New Testament Scripture documenting the actual birth, life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God.
Why will you not come?
The most familiar part of the Christmas history is the picture of Mary wrapping her firstborn son in swaddling clothes and laying him in a manger—but why in a manger?
You will recall that Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem as the little town swelled with like-minded travelers complying with the government. They soon discovered there was “no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
Although the lack of room seems innocent enough, there is something to be gleaned from this picture. Sadly, little has changed since that night long ago. The Son of God is still crowded out of a world which has little or no room for him.
The Gospel of John speaks to this reality with the following words: “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew (recognized) him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:10-11).
The Creator came into his own world only to find there was no room for him. Even his own people (the Jews) refused to accept him on a national level as their promised Messiah.
In similar fashion the nations remain guilty of the same today. Have you noticed any recent resolutions at the United Nations acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior of the world? On the contrary, he is not so much as granted the dignity of a barn by today’s world.
And what can be said about you? Are you among those who turn away in unbelief? Do you have any room for him in your heart?
The passage in John chapter one continues in verse twelve with a glorious promise. This promise belongs to all who make room in their heart for the Lord Jesus.
The Scripture says, “But to as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power (the right, the privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Have you received the most wonderful gift of all? The heart of the Christmas message concerns the gift of eternal life which God freely offers to the world through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But this gift must be received.
Please bow your head in humble repentance and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Give your heart to Christ and receive the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
God Has Spoken by His Son
Hebrews 1:1-14
Hebrews 1:1-14
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Now let’s take a few minutes and work our way through this passage. First, I call attention to perhaps the main point we should take home from this passage as stated in verses one and two.
Progressively from righteous Abel, to Enoch the seventh from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Samuel, and then to men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, and others, God spoke revealing his word to mankind and the Jewish fathers, until in fullness of time he sent to us His Son.
The important point to understand is just as God spoke through the prophets in the past, now he has spoken in a final way through the ministry of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about the import of this statement: God has in these last days spoken to us by his Son.
Some of you are old enough to remember the old E.F. Hutton TV commercials. E.F. Hutton was a well-known brokerage firm in the 70s and 80s. Their commercials were famous for a catch phrase that said, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” In one way or the other, the scene in one of their commercials would have people busy talking and moving about, but then the conversation between the two main individuals in the commercial ended up on money and inevitably one of the people would say, “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton and E.F. Hutton says.” And at that point all the busy chatter of the people all around them suddenly stopped as everyone in the room leaned toward the person who was about to tell what E. F. Hutton says.
You know where I am going with this illustration. My friends, God has spoken through his Son and Jesus says. . .
Lean in! Stop all the chatter. Stop listening to what everybody else is saying about God and the will of God and how to relate to God. Why? Because Jesus is talking, and he is God’s last word to mankind. He is God’s authoritative word to mankind. If God has spoken through his Son, then everyone needs to be listening!
If God has spoken through his Son, then every student should master the words of Christ. Every teacher should teach the words of Christ. If the living God has spoken through his Son, what could be more important than sitting at the feet of Jesus with an open Bible?!
Let me tell you how important this is, even if the average Christian parent and Christian family, and even many churches, sorely neglect the words of Christ. Listen to Jesus in John chapter 12:
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
In essence, Jesus is saying exactly what the first two verses of our text teach. Jesus spoke only the word given to him by his Father. But hear me carefully: failure to listen to that word and believe upon Christ results in judgment. Jesus says if you reject the word spoken by God through the Son, then that very word will judge you in the last day.
There is nothing more serious than failure to respect, listen to, and obey the word of God spoken by the Son of God. Are you listening? Are you obeying Christ? Do you respect his word? If his word has not changed your heart, then you are not listening, and you are lost.
Now look again at verse three where we discover five distinct truths about the Son through whom the Father has spoken in these last days. The first three truths concern his unique person as the Word incarnate, the last two concern his work on our behalf that secured our salvation.
First in verse three we read concerning the Son: “who being the brightness of his glory” that is, in his coming to earth he always was like the Father in divine essence. In fact, it pleased the Father that in Jesus should dwell all the fullness of the Divine nature in bodily form (Colossians chapters 1 & 2). The eternal Word manifested all the attributes of the Divine Nature in the man Christ Jesus.
Thus, the Lord Jesus as the God-man radiated the glory of God’s essential character in his moral perfection, in his unconditional love for mankind, in his veiled omniscience, in his mighty power over nature, and in his perfect Spirit-filled ministry of such magnitude the world could not contain the books that could be written concerning the works he performed.
Then take note of the next statement in verse three that states the Son is the “express image of his person” that is, while distinct from the Father in personality he possesses the exact nature of the Father. He is one with the Father in nature and thus in the person of Christ the Son presents the fullness of God's self-revelation to mankind.
When you study the person of Christ in Holy Scripture he is, as one commentary states it, the express image or “imprint” as of a die perfectly representing the original design. Said another way, one need look no further than the Lord Jesus Christ to understand the character and nature of the one true God.
And then concerning his unique person as the Son of God verse threes adds he “upholds all things by the word of his power.” This statement parallels the teaching of Colossians chapter one that says the Lord Jesus created all things and by him all things are sustained and held together. Indeed, the incarnate Son is our mighty Creator and Redeemer.
And now verse three sets forth two aspects of the work of our Lord. The next part of the verse says “when he by himself purged our sins.” This was the great purpose of the eternal Word taking to himself human nature. The book of Hebrews goes on to expound upon this point in detail in chapter ten saying of the Son: “Wherefore when he comes into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but a body hast thou prepared me.”
My friends look again into the Bethlehem manger and gaze adoringly upon the sweetest baby ever born in this sin cursed world. Look at Mary as she gently kisses the forehead of her son and know that one day a crown of thorns will grace his lovely head. Look at him as his guardian Father Joseph slips his finger into his infant hand and feels Mary’s firstborn son squeeze it gently. Those hands will one day be nailed scared as he is lifted up for you and for me.
This is the promised Messiah of whom the prophet says was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. This is the Lamb of God destined to bear the sin of the world. The Father would see of the travail of his soul, and his great sacrificed offered by the eternal Spirit would once for all satisfy the Divine wrath against your sin and mine. The prophet goes on to say by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Praise be to the Lamb of God born in Bethlehem who takes away the sin of the world!
Next, the Hebrew writer now sees Jesus on the other side of the cross. Indeed, he has by himself purged our sins and is now sat down on the right hand of Majesty on high. It is there he ever lives to make intercession for all who come unto God by him. Oh yes, the man child now caught up to God into heaven is the only mediator between God and man, the only Savior of the world.
Look again into the manger and see his infant body wrapped in swaddling clothes. His lowly condition does not portend a kingly future. But lying there in mean estate is the King of glory. The familiar Christmas hymn says it so well:
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud, The Babe, the son of Mary.
Indeed, this is Christ the King and the day is coming when he trades his swaddling clothes for a garment down to the foot and he girt about with a golden girdle shall mount a white stallion and with his eyes as a flame of fire and with many crowns upon his head shall he come the second time in great power and glory. And on his vesture and on his thigh a name is written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!
I say thanks be unto God for his unspeakable, indescribable gift—the Lord Jesus Christ!
Progressively from righteous Abel, to Enoch the seventh from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Samuel, and then to men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, and others, God spoke revealing his word to mankind and the Jewish fathers, until in fullness of time he sent to us His Son.
The important point to understand is just as God spoke through the prophets in the past, now he has spoken in a final way through the ministry of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about the import of this statement: God has in these last days spoken to us by his Son.
Some of you are old enough to remember the old E.F. Hutton TV commercials. E.F. Hutton was a well-known brokerage firm in the 70s and 80s. Their commercials were famous for a catch phrase that said, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” In one way or the other, the scene in one of their commercials would have people busy talking and moving about, but then the conversation between the two main individuals in the commercial ended up on money and inevitably one of the people would say, “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton and E.F. Hutton says.” And at that point all the busy chatter of the people all around them suddenly stopped as everyone in the room leaned toward the person who was about to tell what E. F. Hutton says.
You know where I am going with this illustration. My friends, God has spoken through his Son and Jesus says. . .
Lean in! Stop all the chatter. Stop listening to what everybody else is saying about God and the will of God and how to relate to God. Why? Because Jesus is talking, and he is God’s last word to mankind. He is God’s authoritative word to mankind. If God has spoken through his Son, then everyone needs to be listening!
If God has spoken through his Son, then every student should master the words of Christ. Every teacher should teach the words of Christ. If the living God has spoken through his Son, what could be more important than sitting at the feet of Jesus with an open Bible?!
Let me tell you how important this is, even if the average Christian parent and Christian family, and even many churches, sorely neglect the words of Christ. Listen to Jesus in John chapter 12:
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
In essence, Jesus is saying exactly what the first two verses of our text teach. Jesus spoke only the word given to him by his Father. But hear me carefully: failure to listen to that word and believe upon Christ results in judgment. Jesus says if you reject the word spoken by God through the Son, then that very word will judge you in the last day.
There is nothing more serious than failure to respect, listen to, and obey the word of God spoken by the Son of God. Are you listening? Are you obeying Christ? Do you respect his word? If his word has not changed your heart, then you are not listening, and you are lost.
Now look again at verse three where we discover five distinct truths about the Son through whom the Father has spoken in these last days. The first three truths concern his unique person as the Word incarnate, the last two concern his work on our behalf that secured our salvation.
First in verse three we read concerning the Son: “who being the brightness of his glory” that is, in his coming to earth he always was like the Father in divine essence. In fact, it pleased the Father that in Jesus should dwell all the fullness of the Divine nature in bodily form (Colossians chapters 1 & 2). The eternal Word manifested all the attributes of the Divine Nature in the man Christ Jesus.
Thus, the Lord Jesus as the God-man radiated the glory of God’s essential character in his moral perfection, in his unconditional love for mankind, in his veiled omniscience, in his mighty power over nature, and in his perfect Spirit-filled ministry of such magnitude the world could not contain the books that could be written concerning the works he performed.
Then take note of the next statement in verse three that states the Son is the “express image of his person” that is, while distinct from the Father in personality he possesses the exact nature of the Father. He is one with the Father in nature and thus in the person of Christ the Son presents the fullness of God's self-revelation to mankind.
When you study the person of Christ in Holy Scripture he is, as one commentary states it, the express image or “imprint” as of a die perfectly representing the original design. Said another way, one need look no further than the Lord Jesus Christ to understand the character and nature of the one true God.
And then concerning his unique person as the Son of God verse threes adds he “upholds all things by the word of his power.” This statement parallels the teaching of Colossians chapter one that says the Lord Jesus created all things and by him all things are sustained and held together. Indeed, the incarnate Son is our mighty Creator and Redeemer.
And now verse three sets forth two aspects of the work of our Lord. The next part of the verse says “when he by himself purged our sins.” This was the great purpose of the eternal Word taking to himself human nature. The book of Hebrews goes on to expound upon this point in detail in chapter ten saying of the Son: “Wherefore when he comes into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but a body hast thou prepared me.”
My friends look again into the Bethlehem manger and gaze adoringly upon the sweetest baby ever born in this sin cursed world. Look at Mary as she gently kisses the forehead of her son and know that one day a crown of thorns will grace his lovely head. Look at him as his guardian Father Joseph slips his finger into his infant hand and feels Mary’s firstborn son squeeze it gently. Those hands will one day be nailed scared as he is lifted up for you and for me.
This is the promised Messiah of whom the prophet says was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. This is the Lamb of God destined to bear the sin of the world. The Father would see of the travail of his soul, and his great sacrificed offered by the eternal Spirit would once for all satisfy the Divine wrath against your sin and mine. The prophet goes on to say by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Praise be to the Lamb of God born in Bethlehem who takes away the sin of the world!
Next, the Hebrew writer now sees Jesus on the other side of the cross. Indeed, he has by himself purged our sins and is now sat down on the right hand of Majesty on high. It is there he ever lives to make intercession for all who come unto God by him. Oh yes, the man child now caught up to God into heaven is the only mediator between God and man, the only Savior of the world.
Look again into the manger and see his infant body wrapped in swaddling clothes. His lowly condition does not portend a kingly future. But lying there in mean estate is the King of glory. The familiar Christmas hymn says it so well:
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud, The Babe, the son of Mary.
Indeed, this is Christ the King and the day is coming when he trades his swaddling clothes for a garment down to the foot and he girt about with a golden girdle shall mount a white stallion and with his eyes as a flame of fire and with many crowns upon his head shall he come the second time in great power and glory. And on his vesture and on his thigh a name is written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!
I say thanks be unto God for his unspeakable, indescribable gift—the Lord Jesus Christ!
The Coming Kingdom of Christ
Main passages of Scripture on the theme of His coming Kingdom
Main passages of Scripture on the theme of His coming Kingdom
God’s Covenant with Abraham: His Seed to Possess Canaan Forever
Genesis 13:14, 15; 17:8 (everlasting possession); Hebrews 11:8-13; Galatians 3:16; Jeremiah 7:7; 25:5.
Israel to be Restored as a Nation
Here is one of the great themes of the Bible, namely that Israel will be restored as a nation, return to Palestine, and re-establish her kingdom.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6; Daniel 9:20-27; Ezekiel 34:11-13; 36:22-28; 37:11-14.
Israel will be Regathered and Converted at Christ’s Coming
When our Lord comes to establish his Kingdom, Israel will be the center of his focus.
Deuteronomy 30:5-6; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Isaiah 11:10-12; Jeremiah 23:3-6; 33:14-17; Ezekiel 34:12-14, 22-24; 36:24-27; 37:21-28; Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:1-6; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:33; Romans 11:25-27.
David’s Kingdom Over Israel to be Restored Forever
There are three prominent elements found in Bible prophecies about the future: a land, a people, and a throne (or kingdom). The land is Palestine; the people is Israel; and the throne is the throne of David.
2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalm 89:3-4, 27-37; Isaiah 11:1-12; Jeremiah 23:3-6; 33:14-17.
Jesus Destined to be King of the Jews on David’s Throne
Revelation 5:5; 22:16; Luke 1:30-33; 19:11-27; 22:28-30; 23:1-3; Matthew 25:14-31; Matthew 6:9-10; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 2:25-27; 2 Timothy 4:1.
Eternal Promises to the City of the King—Jerusalem
Note: Mount Zion is the “southwest hill of Jerusalem, the older and higher part of the city; it is often called the city of David” (Young’s Analytical Concordance). The term “Mount Zion” is often used for the whole city of Jerusalem.
1 Kings 9:1-3; 2 Chronicles 33:4; 2 Kings 21:7; Psalm 48:1-2; Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 4:2-6; Daniel 9:16-19; Zechariah 13:1; 14:4-9; Matt. 23:37-39.
Righteousness, Peace and Prosperity Promised in Christ’s Kingdom
Isaiah 11:6-10; 35:1-10; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 14:16-17; Ezekiel 36:29-30, 35; Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 20:1-3.
Consider the following thoughts based upon 2 Peter 3:1-7:
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
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 Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
I must say believers need to be stirred up on a regular basis that we might be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. As well, we need to be stirred in our remembrance of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Savior.
In fact, we might use the word revival to encapsulate Peter’s desire for believers in these verses. All genuine believers in Christ stand in need of periodic revival. Revival for a believer is nothing more than a new day of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. As we enter a new year, I challenge you to seek the Lord for personal revival.
And yes, we all need revival! We need our minds stirred by way of remembrance. We need to remember the Word of God in the sense that we enter a new day of obedience to Christ. Many believers are not living lives of obedience to Christ. Too many professed believers live as though they must never give account to Christ. After all, we are saved by God’s grace and we are kept by the power of Christ--who loves us and gave himself for us.
While that is true, every believer must come to grips with a life of obedience to the Savior who has delivered us from the wrath of God to come. Jesus tests the authenticity of our relationship with him in the following terms. He said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46).
That is a penetrating question. If you are not obeying Christ, then perhaps you are not a Christian at all.
Certainly, if we are true believers, we need seasons of revival where the passion of obeying Christ is rekindled in our hearts. My advice to every professed believer in Christ is simple: stir up your mind and give careful attention to obeying the Word of God!
Now, notice Peter warns us of scoffers who shall come in the last days, walking after their owns lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?”
I do not believe the average person on the street thinks Jesus Christ is coming again. I certainly hope those who call themselves Christians believe he is coming again but know this: both outside and inside the visible church we have many scoffers today who do not believe he is coming.
Of course, they live like it too! Many people are living with little or no fear of God in our day. Sin is abounding, and open defiance of God is on the increase. Our world seems to have less and less respect for the true God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They do not believe he is the Creator; they do not believe God once judged the world with a global flood; they do not believe God sent the Savior through Israel and they refuse to repent at the preaching of the gospel.
Many people, willfully from the heart and on an intellectual basis, are pushing God out of their life. They are embracing a godless worldview that denies the truth in a Bible they do not know. This is tragic, but at the same time inexcusable.
Be careful my friend.
Do not go the way of this world. Do not rebel against the living God. Do not join the scoffers who in their ignorance and willfulness mock the promise of his coming. Know this: his kingdom is coming. You will either be a part of that kingdom by virtue of the new birth, or you will be thrust out of that kingdom into a place where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
One thing is for sure. As 2018 closes, this old world of ours just took another big step toward the appearance of Christ in his glory. Be of serious mind. Determine to serve Him with a fervent heart in 2019.
Genesis 13:14, 15; 17:8 (everlasting possession); Hebrews 11:8-13; Galatians 3:16; Jeremiah 7:7; 25:5.
Israel to be Restored as a Nation
Here is one of the great themes of the Bible, namely that Israel will be restored as a nation, return to Palestine, and re-establish her kingdom.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6; Daniel 9:20-27; Ezekiel 34:11-13; 36:22-28; 37:11-14.
Israel will be Regathered and Converted at Christ’s Coming
When our Lord comes to establish his Kingdom, Israel will be the center of his focus.
Deuteronomy 30:5-6; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Isaiah 11:10-12; Jeremiah 23:3-6; 33:14-17; Ezekiel 34:12-14, 22-24; 36:24-27; 37:21-28; Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:1-6; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:33; Romans 11:25-27.
David’s Kingdom Over Israel to be Restored Forever
There are three prominent elements found in Bible prophecies about the future: a land, a people, and a throne (or kingdom). The land is Palestine; the people is Israel; and the throne is the throne of David.
2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalm 89:3-4, 27-37; Isaiah 11:1-12; Jeremiah 23:3-6; 33:14-17.
Jesus Destined to be King of the Jews on David’s Throne
Revelation 5:5; 22:16; Luke 1:30-33; 19:11-27; 22:28-30; 23:1-3; Matthew 25:14-31; Matthew 6:9-10; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 2:25-27; 2 Timothy 4:1.
Eternal Promises to the City of the King—Jerusalem
Note: Mount Zion is the “southwest hill of Jerusalem, the older and higher part of the city; it is often called the city of David” (Young’s Analytical Concordance). The term “Mount Zion” is often used for the whole city of Jerusalem.
1 Kings 9:1-3; 2 Chronicles 33:4; 2 Kings 21:7; Psalm 48:1-2; Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 4:2-6; Daniel 9:16-19; Zechariah 13:1; 14:4-9; Matt. 23:37-39.
Righteousness, Peace and Prosperity Promised in Christ’s Kingdom
Isaiah 11:6-10; 35:1-10; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 14:16-17; Ezekiel 36:29-30, 35; Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 20:1-3.
Consider the following thoughts based upon 2 Peter 3:1-7:
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
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 Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
I must say believers need to be stirred up on a regular basis that we might be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. As well, we need to be stirred in our remembrance of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Savior.
In fact, we might use the word revival to encapsulate Peter’s desire for believers in these verses. All genuine believers in Christ stand in need of periodic revival. Revival for a believer is nothing more than a new day of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. As we enter a new year, I challenge you to seek the Lord for personal revival.
And yes, we all need revival! We need our minds stirred by way of remembrance. We need to remember the Word of God in the sense that we enter a new day of obedience to Christ. Many believers are not living lives of obedience to Christ. Too many professed believers live as though they must never give account to Christ. After all, we are saved by God’s grace and we are kept by the power of Christ--who loves us and gave himself for us.
While that is true, every believer must come to grips with a life of obedience to the Savior who has delivered us from the wrath of God to come. Jesus tests the authenticity of our relationship with him in the following terms. He said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46).
That is a penetrating question. If you are not obeying Christ, then perhaps you are not a Christian at all.
Certainly, if we are true believers, we need seasons of revival where the passion of obeying Christ is rekindled in our hearts. My advice to every professed believer in Christ is simple: stir up your mind and give careful attention to obeying the Word of God!
Now, notice Peter warns us of scoffers who shall come in the last days, walking after their owns lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?”
I do not believe the average person on the street thinks Jesus Christ is coming again. I certainly hope those who call themselves Christians believe he is coming again but know this: both outside and inside the visible church we have many scoffers today who do not believe he is coming.
Of course, they live like it too! Many people are living with little or no fear of God in our day. Sin is abounding, and open defiance of God is on the increase. Our world seems to have less and less respect for the true God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They do not believe he is the Creator; they do not believe God once judged the world with a global flood; they do not believe God sent the Savior through Israel and they refuse to repent at the preaching of the gospel.
Many people, willfully from the heart and on an intellectual basis, are pushing God out of their life. They are embracing a godless worldview that denies the truth in a Bible they do not know. This is tragic, but at the same time inexcusable.
Be careful my friend.
Do not go the way of this world. Do not rebel against the living God. Do not join the scoffers who in their ignorance and willfulness mock the promise of his coming. Know this: his kingdom is coming. You will either be a part of that kingdom by virtue of the new birth, or you will be thrust out of that kingdom into a place where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
One thing is for sure. As 2018 closes, this old world of ours just took another big step toward the appearance of Christ in his glory. Be of serious mind. Determine to serve Him with a fervent heart in 2019.
The Day of the Lord Will Come
Our text for this message is found in 2 Peter chapter three:
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.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 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.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
This sermon is built around the following words: warning; repentance; wrath; punishment; and lion.
I believe ministers of the gospel have a great responsibility to warn men of the coming day of the Lord. Furthermore, I believe we have a great responsibility to preach repentance. Repentance occurs when a man changes his mind about disobedience toward God. Those who refuse to repent need to understand they are storing up wrath against the day of wrath when the Lord punishes the world for its wickedness.
Indeed, the day of the Lord is coming when the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars out of Zion.
I am sure you noticed Peter’s reference to the longsuffering of God in our text. This attribute of God explains why the Lord is yet to judge the earth in our day. However, I must warn all who will listen that the day of the Lord follows the day of his patience.
Today the Lord patiently withholds the hour of his judgment while waiting for men to repent. However, the day of his longsuffering will come to an end. Isaiah declares men “shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly the earth.”
The Apostle Paul in his last fellowship with elders in the church at Ephesus said, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.” We must do the same.
We must warn our world of judgment to come and we must do so with compassion of heart, even with tears.
Listen closely. The Bible says in Acts 17:30 God “commands all men every where to repent.” In fact, Jesus states the great commission this way in the book of Luke:
"Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
Do you understand God is waiting for you to repent? Those of you worshipping false gods or who embrace a false spirituality that denies the Lord Jesus Christ stand in need of repentance. You must turn in your heart from such deception, repent and believe the gospel.
As well, those who persist in open defiance of God justifying the practice of sin are commanded to repent. This command comes through the voices of humble servants of the Lord who carry his word to the world. But know this: it is your Creator and Redeemer who makes this demand on your heart lest you perish!
Now we come to a troubling prospect. Do you know what an unrepentant world is doing as they persist in disobedience to God?
The Bible says, “despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:4-6).
The New American Standard Bible renders part of this passage in these words: “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Think about this: every day men and women who refuse to repent are making a deposit in an account that represents the wrath of God. Then everything they have stored up will be theirs to endure in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God!
No one should make light of the holy, righteous judgement of God Almighty against sin and rebellion. I warn you today to flee the wrath to come. The Lord says through his prophet:
“And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”
Again, the Lord says:
“And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible . . . Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.”
Hear me, the day is coming when the Lion of the tribe of Judah shall roar out of Zion. The prophet says:
“The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.”
Again, hear the Word of the Lord:
“The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”
Indeed, he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Thus John speaks of this great day to come in Revelation chapter 19:
11 And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Get ready my friends, soon the Lord shall roar out of Zion!
There are two elements of the day of the Lord we should be aware of when he arises to shake terribly the earth. The first is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter one where the Holy Spirit comforts the church by reminding believers the tables will turn at his coming:
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe . . . in that day.
In that day, the day of the Lord, the faith of the church shall be fully vindicated, and Jesus will be glorified in his saints.
And next we must not forget, at his coming the Lord Jesus will deliver Israel.
Listen to these words from the prophet Joel:
“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
Conclusion
Today our world is filled with wickedness such as abortion, immorality, drunkenness, idolatry, and false spirituality. It is not just America, but the nations of the world are storing up wrath against the day of wrath.
How can our world justify the murder of millions of unborn children? In America alone since 1973 the innocent blood of some 60 million unborn children cries out to the Lord. Millions more have died across the globe as mankind marches on in rebellion against the rule of God in their hearts.
It is no wonder Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” The reference to little children in this verse is a reference to new born infants, or very young children. Today little ones like this just a few months earlier die in their mother’s womb at the hands of those with no conscience and no fear of God. These little ones immediately go to heaven, thus the kingdom of heaven is largely comprised of such.
I warn you today. Don’t mistake the Lord’s longsuffering as neglect to keep his word. The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. The day of the Lord is coming, and the world will be punished for its wickedness.
Sadly, our world is quickly sinking into unbridled immorality. While no generation ever existed without the sin of immorality, today this sin is taking on a deeper character of open defiance of God. Many in the wrong are open enemies to God and anyone who lifts a standard of righteousness. Today sensuality, indecency, fornication, pornography, homosexuality, adultery, and moral confusion is hastening the day of the Lord.
My warning to you is to come out from among them, humble yourself before God in repentance, turn from a heart of disobedience and obey the gospel. The gospel of Christ calls you to the cross where you are crucified to the world. The old life is nailed to the cross and a new life in Christ begins.
The new life in Christ begins when one honestly turns to the Lord Jesus and confesses him as Lord and Savior. Such repentance brings one to trust in Christ alone for salvation and results in the mighty work of the new birth wrought by the Spirit of God in the heart.
My friends, time is short. If you persist in unbelief the day of the Lord will overtake you as a thief. You will not be ready. I urge you to take heed to the warning of God’s word and flee the wrath to come!
Our text for this message is found in 2 Peter chapter three:
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.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 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.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
This sermon is built around the following words: warning; repentance; wrath; punishment; and lion.
I believe ministers of the gospel have a great responsibility to warn men of the coming day of the Lord. Furthermore, I believe we have a great responsibility to preach repentance. Repentance occurs when a man changes his mind about disobedience toward God. Those who refuse to repent need to understand they are storing up wrath against the day of wrath when the Lord punishes the world for its wickedness.
Indeed, the day of the Lord is coming when the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars out of Zion.
I am sure you noticed Peter’s reference to the longsuffering of God in our text. This attribute of God explains why the Lord is yet to judge the earth in our day. However, I must warn all who will listen that the day of the Lord follows the day of his patience.
Today the Lord patiently withholds the hour of his judgment while waiting for men to repent. However, the day of his longsuffering will come to an end. Isaiah declares men “shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly the earth.”
The Apostle Paul in his last fellowship with elders in the church at Ephesus said, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.” We must do the same.
We must warn our world of judgment to come and we must do so with compassion of heart, even with tears.
Listen closely. The Bible says in Acts 17:30 God “commands all men every where to repent.” In fact, Jesus states the great commission this way in the book of Luke:
"Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
Do you understand God is waiting for you to repent? Those of you worshipping false gods or who embrace a false spirituality that denies the Lord Jesus Christ stand in need of repentance. You must turn in your heart from such deception, repent and believe the gospel.
As well, those who persist in open defiance of God justifying the practice of sin are commanded to repent. This command comes through the voices of humble servants of the Lord who carry his word to the world. But know this: it is your Creator and Redeemer who makes this demand on your heart lest you perish!
Now we come to a troubling prospect. Do you know what an unrepentant world is doing as they persist in disobedience to God?
The Bible says, “despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:4-6).
The New American Standard Bible renders part of this passage in these words: “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Think about this: every day men and women who refuse to repent are making a deposit in an account that represents the wrath of God. Then everything they have stored up will be theirs to endure in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God!
No one should make light of the holy, righteous judgement of God Almighty against sin and rebellion. I warn you today to flee the wrath to come. The Lord says through his prophet:
“And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”
Again, the Lord says:
“And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible . . . Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.”
Hear me, the day is coming when the Lion of the tribe of Judah shall roar out of Zion. The prophet says:
“The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.”
Again, hear the Word of the Lord:
“The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”
Indeed, he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Thus John speaks of this great day to come in Revelation chapter 19:
11 And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Get ready my friends, soon the Lord shall roar out of Zion!
There are two elements of the day of the Lord we should be aware of when he arises to shake terribly the earth. The first is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter one where the Holy Spirit comforts the church by reminding believers the tables will turn at his coming:
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe . . . in that day.
In that day, the day of the Lord, the faith of the church shall be fully vindicated, and Jesus will be glorified in his saints.
And next we must not forget, at his coming the Lord Jesus will deliver Israel.
Listen to these words from the prophet Joel:
“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
Conclusion
Today our world is filled with wickedness such as abortion, immorality, drunkenness, idolatry, and false spirituality. It is not just America, but the nations of the world are storing up wrath against the day of wrath.
How can our world justify the murder of millions of unborn children? In America alone since 1973 the innocent blood of some 60 million unborn children cries out to the Lord. Millions more have died across the globe as mankind marches on in rebellion against the rule of God in their hearts.
It is no wonder Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” The reference to little children in this verse is a reference to new born infants, or very young children. Today little ones like this just a few months earlier die in their mother’s womb at the hands of those with no conscience and no fear of God. These little ones immediately go to heaven, thus the kingdom of heaven is largely comprised of such.
I warn you today. Don’t mistake the Lord’s longsuffering as neglect to keep his word. The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. The day of the Lord is coming, and the world will be punished for its wickedness.
Sadly, our world is quickly sinking into unbridled immorality. While no generation ever existed without the sin of immorality, today this sin is taking on a deeper character of open defiance of God. Many in the wrong are open enemies to God and anyone who lifts a standard of righteousness. Today sensuality, indecency, fornication, pornography, homosexuality, adultery, and moral confusion is hastening the day of the Lord.
My warning to you is to come out from among them, humble yourself before God in repentance, turn from a heart of disobedience and obey the gospel. The gospel of Christ calls you to the cross where you are crucified to the world. The old life is nailed to the cross and a new life in Christ begins.
The new life in Christ begins when one honestly turns to the Lord Jesus and confesses him as Lord and Savior. Such repentance brings one to trust in Christ alone for salvation and results in the mighty work of the new birth wrought by the Spirit of God in the heart.
My friends, time is short. If you persist in unbelief the day of the Lord will overtake you as a thief. You will not be ready. I urge you to take heed to the warning of God’s word and flee the wrath to come!
This Year Thou Shalt Die
Jeremiah 28:16
The theme of this message is found in a single verse of Scripture in which we find the statement, “this year thou shalt die.”
I will give you the setting of this verse in a moment and then speak to the subject of death for a few minutes.
The statement, “this year thou shalt die,” is taken from the book of Jeremiah and was the word of the Lord to a man named Hananiah who opposed the ministry of Jeremiah.
As you may recall, Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” because of his fervent pleas to his people to repent before the certain judgment of God came upon them. Jeremiah spoke a word of warning to the people from the Lord. The message was simple enough. The Lord sent his word through Jeremiah warning the people to turn from disobedience and rebellion and to amend their ways. If they did so, then they would avert the impending judgment of God upon Jerusalem and the temple.
However, if they would not repent, then the word from the Lord was clear. The unthinkable would happen. The city which the people thought God would never remove and the temple which the people thought God would never judge, would in fact fall to the enemy.
Hananiah brought a different “word from the Lord.” He contradicted Jeremiah and spoke a word to the people that did not come from the Lord. Consequently, Jeremiah said to Hananiah, “The Lord has not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.”
Confirming His true word through Jeremiah, in the seventh month of that year Hananiah died.
If you will be patient with me, I simply want to lift this statement from the text and talk to you about it for a few minutes. We are in a new year, but suppose this year is the last year of your life. In fact, what was true of this man will one day be true for all men--this year thou shalt die.
We Christians do not shy away from the subject of death. We know as Paul said, "to die is gain" for a believer. Christians possess assurance of salvation, an inner knowing that at death we will be home with the Lord. Those who know Christ possess eternal life and as Jesus repeatedly promises they shall never perish.
However, there is a lost world around us avoiding the subject of death at all cost. And worse, many come to very wrong conclusions about death. Such is the case of the man I am about to quote.
This man exemplifies the thinking of a great many people in our world. He lives only for this world and sadly has his own ideas about death. I must say, there is only one authority on the subject of death. His name is Jesus. Failure to listen to him leaves you with nothing but a deceptive sedative to calm your mind when the year of your death arrives.
Listen as I quote the thoughts of this very lost man. He has plenty of money. He has some goals for the new year, but like so many he has no hope beyond the grave. He writes quote:
I woke up this morning in pain again. I injured my shoulder wrestling a few weeks ago, and it doesn't seem to be healing. Certainly not as fast as it would have healed when I was in my 30s.
This is one of the many things that happen to you when you reach 60. But it's hardly the worst. The worst is that you can't avoid thinking about death. People you know - colleagues, friends and family members - are seriously sick or dying.
Again, I am quoting this gentleman:
Right now, I see death as a hateful thief - ready to rob me of the time I need to accomplish the goals I have yet to accomplish.
There is so much still to do: books to write, movies to make, business to conduct and places to see. But most of all there are relationships I owe time to.
A reader recently wrote asking me why, when discussing how I spend my day, I don't talk about the time I spend with my family and friends. The main reason is that I don't feel I should be dragging them into public view without their permission. But another reason is that I write mostly about what I've learned... and I haven't learned how to do a very good job of spending time with them.
When I think about making good use of the time I have left, it's clear to me that working on my personal relationships should be my top priority.
So why don't I do that now?
I once read a book called The Denial of Death. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember what I took away from it: It's frightening to consciously recognize our mortality - to be fully aware that one day we will cease to exist. The fear of death is so great, in fact, that the reality of death must be suppressed from our consciousness, so we can go forward.
In other words, we deny death in order to be able to live fully.
Now let me pause here and interject something. We Christians do not live like that. We do not live our lives in bondage to the fear of death. I trust you will listen to this man’s words in the interest of understanding how the world runs from the subject of death. Furthermore, I trust you can see how those who have no hope of everlasting life live exclusively for the here and now. Truly their hope is in this world. What a contrast to a true believer whose hope is laid up in heaven. Now quoting again:
I think this is true. Especially for the young. But as we age, it becomes more difficult to keep death out of our thoughts. And eventually, we come to a crossroad where we must decide: Should I continue to deny death, to "rage against the dying of the light"? Or should I learn to accept the fact that we are all dead men on leave and learn to live, as Thomas Ken said, "that I may dread the grave as little as my bed"?
I think we can do both. We can continue living our lives fully and purposefully - even embrace long-term goals - while gradually allowing the reality of death to sit comfortably in our psyches.
Here are four steps you can take today to get yourself on that track:
1. Spend 15 minutes by yourself thinking about mortality.
Take a walk. Find a peaceful place. Breathe slowly. Look around. Recognize that one day - sooner than you can believe - you will not exist anymore. You will not be around to breathe the clean air, feel the sun on your skin and see the things you find beautiful. You will not be around to hear the sound of your lover's sigh, your children's voices and your best friend's laughter.
Try to get, as clearly as you can, a sense of your own mortality. Try to stop, if only for a few moments, a fundamental aspect of consciousness - the denial of death.
Use that recognition to get to the next step.
2. Visualize your own funeral. Imagine that four people stand up to speak about you. One is your spouse or significant other. Another one is a child or parent. Another is a friend. And the fourth is someone involved in your career. What would they be saying about you if you died tomorrow? Be honest.
I must pause here and interject again: why does it matter if you cease to exist at the moment of death?
3. If there is a difference between what you think those four people would say about you and what you'd like them to say, you've got some work to do.
4. Make a commitment to respect the time you have. That means living in such a way that you honor your core life goals as well as other important but nonessential life goals. The best way to do this is to make your core life goals a priority. That means attending to them during that first precious hour of your working day, before you get to all your other daily obligations.
Don't think you can put off working on your core goals until sometime in the future. Use your newly acquired ability to face your mortality to motivate you. Get the most important things done first. (unquote)
This man is a classic example of what Jesus warns about in Matthew 6:33. The most important things are not connected to this temporal world, rather they are connected to preparation for the next. Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. The most important things are not your core goals for this life, but preparation for the next!
This man is an investment advisor. He is worldly wise and probably can offer some sound advice on how to navigate the world of investing. But he is out of his league when it comes to the subject of death. His philosophy is dangerous, misleading, and amounts to pure spiritual blindness. He is godless and the goals he sets are not motivated with a desire to glorify God.
Did you notice this man did not quote the Lord Jesus Christ? In fact, he never mentions God at all and sadly says twice when a man dies, he ceases to exist. This is folly at its very height. This man is in grave danger of losing his soul. In some measure he has gained the world but will soon go out to meet the God so willfully rejected from his heart.
Like so many, are you running from the subject of death? Or like this man, are you coming to grips with a false idea about death?
Here is what the Bible teaches about death:
- Death is an enemy, an intruder into God’s very good creation.
- Death has passed upon all men for all have sinned.
- It is appointed unto all men to die, but after this the judgment.
- Jesus clearly teaches those who die in their sins upon death enter hell; while those who repent and believe upon him enter the joy of the Lord
- Through death, Jesus has destroyed him who held the power of death, that is, the devil. No one needs to subject themselves to a lifetime of slavery to the fear of death. Jesus Christ will set you free from that fear if you turn to him. Gloriously, those who believe upon Jesus pass from death unto life. Furthermore, our salvation includes the resurrection of our body. So, we may boldly say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Indeed, “thanks be unto God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion
If this year thou shalt die, are you ready?
I started today by introducing you to a man named Hananiah. He was severely rebuked by Jeremiah because he made the people to trust in a lie. My friends, our world is filled with many voices and they are not speaking the Word of the Lord, rather they are causing many to trust in a false hope. There is only one way to have real hope. You must listen to His word.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole authority on the subject of death. He says if you refuse to believe upon him you will die in your sins and cannot come where he is. Said another way, apart from faith in Christ we must face the wrath of God expressed in the place called hell.
Life is but a vapor that appears for a short while and then fades into eternal ages to come. Will you spend eternity with Christ, or will you perish everlastingly in a place separated from the presence of the Lord?
Bow your head right now and call upon the Lord. Give your heart and life to Christ and pass today from death into life (John 5:24). I trust you will be of serious mind.
- The Last Enemy to be Destroyed
(Please read John 11:1-36 for the background of this sermon . . . I shared these thoughts during Memorial Day weekend, but the truth contained in the message is much needed as day by day many are left grieving the loss of a loved one. For those who know the Lord Jesus Christ we can find great comfort and hope in the midst of our sorrows. Let the truth of God's Word comfort you today). -
In the background of our Memorial Day activities pictures of sacrifice are blurred and nearly forgotten. Perhaps the small American flags that often form long lines roll after roll in our cemeteries will at least for a moment grip our heart with humble gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice many made to hold back the evil seeking to oppress human freedom.
Each time we stand at the grave of a fallen soldier or the grave of a beloved family member the experience reminds us something is simply not right in our world. The strife that leads to war and death plagues the world till this very hour. Furthermore, the enemy called death is not contented to simply wreck havoc through war, but by and by invades each family taking those held so dear.
Such was the case with Mary and Martha. Their beloved brother Lazarus fell sick and succumbed to death. Heartbroken these two sisters proceeded with a funeral wondering in their thoughts as to why Jesus did not come upon their request.
In some measure we all experience the same emotions displayed by Mary and Martha in their hour of loss. As they talked to Jesus upon his arrival in Bethany both said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
How many times has the human heart cried out, “Lord, if you had answered my prayer my husband, my wife, my child, my loved one, my friend, would not have died.” Or how many times has grief of mind compelled us to lift our eyes toward heaven with the question—why?
There is an underlying truth we must come to grips with in order to find the comfort and hope needed to face a world filled with death and dying. I would say it this way: Death, introduced by man’s sin and now the great enemy of mankind, is the last enemy to be destroyed.
We need to understand the present order of things will not continue. Just as a day once existed without the presence of death upon the earth, a future day is coming when the enemy called death will once for all be banished from the earth.
Today all things in the creation are subject to decay and decline. However, there is a day coming when God will make all things new. The curse of sin and death will never touch this new creation. Death will once for all be swallowed up in victory.
However, between now and then the whole creation groans being burdened. Indeed, what an enemy death is! Today this enemy marches on seemingly unhindered. I say seemingly because in spite of the continued presence of this enemy in the world the resurrection of Christ stripped death of its' sting and gave birth to a living hope.
Entering into Bethany Jesus encountered a community taken back by the loss of a dear loved one and friend. The grief was widespread. The Bible says, “Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her.” He was moved by their sorrow. Touched by their grief the Bible says Jesus groaned in his spirit and was deeply moved. He was so moved the Bible says Jesus wept.
I am glad to know our God in the person of Jesus the Christ understands what it is to stand at a graveside and weep! It is comforting to know God has come near to us in the person of his Son. He has shared our earthly experience. He is not a God aloft from the feelings of our infirmities.
It is important to understand while God allows the present realities that test mankind, he is not immune himself. At the heart of God’s plan for mankind lies his own suffering in the person of his only begotten Son. At times the cup from which we drink may be bitter, but no one has ever drunk from a cup of suffering like that the Father gave to his own Son.
As some watched Jesus weep that day they said, “See how much he loved him.”
Indeed, Jesus loved Lazarus, but do you know how much he loves you? Christ cares about your broken heart. He weeps with you. He is touched by your grief and he wants you to understand he is going to do something about it. The case of Lazarus as recorded here for our comfort and instruction is nothing more than a preview of what is to come.
Yes, today there is death and weeping. Today we experience separation.
However, this is not the end of the story. He who is the resurrection and the life said to Mary and the others, “Where have you laid him?”
They proceeded to bring Jesus to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. He then told them to take away the stone. Martha immediately became concerned since Lazarus lay dead four days and by then his body was so decomposed it surely was in a most disturbing condition.
After Jesus encouraged her, some of those present proceeded to take away the stone. At that point Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou has heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
I am sure upon hearing those words everyone at that grave site watched the opening of the cave with anxious anticipation. Perhaps they heard a stir from inside the cave as Lazarus slowly stood and began the slow walk out of the tomb wrapped in the restraining grave clothes.
After a few moments that probably seemed like an eternity, suddenly a gasp of astonishment swept those present as a man wrapped in grave clothes came into view walking toward them!
Jesus said to the crowd, “Loose him, and let him go.”
My friends, do you think that was a mighty miracle? Well, Jesus says elsewhere
marvel not at this for the day is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and come forth!
Christ himself is the firstfruit, that is, Jesus first rose from the dead securing our salvation. Afterward they that are Christ’s will be raised at his coming. Paul said, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (or be physically dead), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory!”
My friend, do you understand the grave is not the end of the story? Do you understand that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life?
Do you understand he experienced death upon the cross as our sin bearer to deliver us from the power sin holds to separate us from the Father? Do you understand he rose from the dead because the power of sin is defeated and his sacrifice on our behalf is accepted by the Father?
Thus, the Bible says God raised Jesus from the dead for our justification. Said another way, the resurrection of Christ from the dead is God’s declaration he accepts faith in his Son as the means by which he frees mankind from the guilt of sin. Praise his name!
Now I have another question: Do you understand those who confess Christ and trust him as their Savior are partakers in his resurrection?
As Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead (this can speak of the spiritual condition in sin and also the reality that believers still face physical death), yet shall he live (Christ gives eternal life to those who believe upon him and promises the resurrection of the body).
And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die (this is not a reference to physical death, rather it is the Savior’s oft repeated promise that those who trust in him will never perish in the second death).”
Are you trusting Christ as your Savior? If so, you are now raised in Christ spiritually speaking. Already you are passed from death unto life. However, our salvation also includes the redemption of the body.
One day if the Lord tarries, someone will lay my body in an old dusty grave somewhere. But the songwriter has it right: Ain’t no grave going to hold my body down!
When the Lord Jesus returns for his church our great Creator/Redeemer will command death to give up our body and out of the dust of the ground he will shape us a new glorified body like unto his own glorified body. Yes, one day the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven with a loud voice saying, “Come forth.” His authoritative, creative shout will compel death to loose our bodies as we are clothed upon with immortality!
Thank God he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!
"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
- How is it That You Do Not Discern
This Time
Luke 12:54-56
I intend to touch upon several topics today that should not be ignored. We need to discern “this time” or the days we are currently living in.
During our Lord’s earthly ministry he pointed out to the generation of that day not to ignore the signs of the times (Matt. 16:1-4). Jesus expected that generation to recognize he was in their presence. It was a unique time in which the Son of God appeared.
They had the sign of his birth. At least two prominent events occurred with Herod in the mix of both. First, the wise men from the east stirred all of Jerusalem with their arrival in search of the one born King of the Jews.
And second, how could anyone in that generation forget the atrocity perpetrated on many of their families at the hand of a power hungry King Herod who ordered their babies to be butchered in effort to destroy the Christ child.
They had the sign of his brief appearance at the temple in Jerusalem at age 12. The young Messiah astonished the rulers of the Jews with his knowledge of the Scriptures both answering questions and putting forth questions to them which demonstrated wisdom well beyond his years. The Bible says all that heard him were astonished at his answers.
But his full appearance to the nation awaited one John the Baptist. Some 18 years later the ministry of John the Baptist began. He was the predicted forerunner of the Messiah. What a sign John was in his day.
Any spiritual minded Jew of that generation should have discerned the time based solely on the ministry of John the Baptist. John captured the attention of the whole nation and boldly proclaimed while he was not the Messiah he would soon identify him for Israel and the world.
Upon baptizing Jesus and declaring him to be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world our Lord’s ministry officially began.
The Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove and then led him into the wilderness where he was tested by Satan for 40 days and night. Upon defeating the personal attacks of Satan the Bible says Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.
Thus began the work of the Savior. During the following 3½ years the entire ministry of Jesus served as a sign to Israel and the world. His mighty works bore testimony to his claim to be the Son of God.
Now let’s look at our text:
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Please take note of our Lord’s question in verse 56. Jesus asked them, “How is it that ye do not discern this time.”
Clearly Jesus expected his generation to recognize the significance of the days in which they lived. Sadly, they persisted in unbelief and eventually had part in his crucifixion.
I believe our Lord’s question could very well apply to our generation today. In light of what is going on in our world Jesus could ask of us, “How is it that ye do not discern this time?”
One of the central messages of the Bible is the doctrine of the Second Coming. The Second Coming will be in two phases. Phase one is the unannounced rapture of the church described in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15.
The second phase will be the fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24. Daniel’s prophecy lays out a definitive seven year period of history determined upon the Jews.
When will the events leading up to the glorious appearing of Jesus in great power occur? While we are not permitted by Scripture to set definite dates for the rapture can we not discern the times in which we live? Can we not discern this time?
Consider the following things that characterize our time and give testimony to the possible soon return of Jesus for his church and his subsequent dealings with Israel and the world.
First, we come to what Dr. Tim Lahaye referred to as the “super sign.” He was speaking of the return of the nation of Israel to their homeland in a state of unbelief.
The regathering of Israel in unbelief is an astounding development in our world. Do you realize that Israel’s national posture makes it possible for scores of end time prophecies to literally be fulfilled just as the prophets and the Revelation predict?
This is truly an amazing development in our lifetime and suggests that the Lord is preparing to fulfill the 70th week of Daniel’s ancient prophecy. The rapture precedes the Lord’s dealings with Israel in fulfillment of Daniel’s famous prophecy.
Consequently, while we cannot know the exact time of our Lord’s return for the church, we can conclude that the event is approaching rapidly in light of this super sign! Do you see the point?
Shouldn’t Israel’s regathering enable us to discern this time?
By the way, Israel will celebrate the 70th anniversary of her national rebirth this year of 2018.
Closely related to the sign of Israel’s return to a national status is the sign of the city of Jerusalem. As you all know our current President stirred up a hornet’s nest with his recent announcement that the U.S. is moving its embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the city as the capital of Israel.
Zechariah’s prophecy that the Lord would make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people in the region and that he would make the city a burdensome stone for all people is coming to pass right before our eyes.
100 years ago no one could see this coming. The land of Israel lay barren and unfruitful with not one point of controversy surrounding the city. Perhaps many mocked Zechariah at such a prediction, but no one should doubt it now.
The controversy surrounding the city of Jerusalem is a definite indication we are headed straight for the time of Jacob’s trouble and the fulfillment of scores of Bible prophecies related to the end time.
My friend, can you discern this time? Are you ready if Christ returns today?
Next, I call your attention to a very interesting characteristic of our time that again points to the Lord’s return.
I am referring to what the late Dr. Tim Lahaye referred to as “Capital and Labor Conflicts.” James chapter five indicates that in the last days the concentration of wealth in the hands of those who oppress the greater population will become an acute problem.
While an obvious disparity has always existed between the rich and the poor, the issue here seems to be the loss of personal freedom and the opportunity for advancement of any kind due to the inordinate greed of those who control this world system.
Closely related to the prediction made by James is the prophecy of the book of Revelation predicting the rise of commercial Babylon under the antichrist with very limited freedom for most. In fact, the world will be compelled to receive a mark on their forehead or their hand in order to buy or sell.
We certainly recognize the ease in which this prophecy can now be fulfilled. The technology exists for a world ruler to require all to receive a mark that amounts to an implant capable of tracking one’s every economic move. Think about that.
Just 30 years ago that was impossible, but not today. How is it that we cannot discern this unique time we now find our self in?
By the way, just to illustrate how the disparity between the rich and the average citizen is growing wider by the year consider the following from a leading financial advisor (quote):
Today the richest 10% of America owns 75% of the nation's wealth... a level we have not seen since the 1930s.
This is what's driving the anger, the radical politics, and the growing racism in our society. You see, while the rich are getting richer, everyone else is losing ground. (The data) shows how for most Americans, real wages have been stagnant or falling for decades... The middle class—the most politically and economically stable part of our society—is disappearing.
The foundation of the middle class in America was a long history of consistently rising wages. For millions of Americans, life got a little better, year after year, as the value of their wages increased and our economy grew into the world's largest.
But this is no longer happening. Low income earners now make LESS in real terms than they did in 1980! And middle income earners make just 6% more than they made back in 1980. That's an increase of just 0.00172% a year!
No wonder people are so angry and stressed.
They've been going to work, year after year, but instead of earning more over time, they've actually been earning less, in terms of what their wages can buy.
Despite the boom in the U.S. economy and financial assets over the past 30 years—which boosted the wealth and incomes of the wealthiest Americans like never before—average Americans are actually worse off than they were decades ago.
And so, they've been forced to borrow more and more money simply to keep up.
You can see that in the data—But I bet you don't even need to see the data. Just think about your friends and people you know, and how much more debt these folks have to take on, just to keep their heads above water.
It used to be that most Americans didn't hold debt, outside of a mortgage on their first home. But after almost 40 years of declining real wages, Americans now have to go into serious amounts of debt for just about everything they buy.
Americans now have more than $1.5 trillion in college debt, for example.
And it's not just college loans that have soared.
Americans also have more than $1 trillion in credit card debt, and more than $1 trillion in auto loan debt—all record highs.
It's gotten so bad, 73% of Americans now die with debt... with an average total of more than $60,000!
Being in debt is an incredibly stressful way to live. You're in a hole and there is simply no way out. So it's no surprise that deaths by drugs and poisoning for the bottom 60% of American's population have doubled since the year 2000... and suicide rates have doubled as well over the same period.
This is incredibly sad—and it's unfathomable that this is happening in the greatest country on earth.
Unfortunately, the problem is going to get much, much worse.
You see, tens of millions of people in America are desperate. They have no way out. And sooner or later this hopelessness and desperation are going to lead to violent and radical politics. (unquote)
Well, you can chew on that data and draw your own conclusions. But what is happening in America is happening around the world. Wealth is now concentrated in the hands of the few relative to world population in an unprecedented way.
Did you know the three richest men in America possess a combined wealth in excess of the combined wealth of 160 million Americans?
Listen to the words of James 5 and see if you think his words fit this time more so than any period of history since he penned them . . . (James 5:1-8).
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
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. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Wow!
Conclusion
I could go on for some time showing why we should discern the fact Jesus is coming soon. And please remember this, although his coming is the blessed hope of the believer it will also usher in the judgment of God on a world that simply will not obey the gospel.
In spite of hearing the gospel and in spite of the convicting work of the Spirit of God most people are behaving just as they did in the days of Noah. Unconcerned, not watching, or blatantly mocking the idea that Jesus will ever return.
I close with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 . . .
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
How can you not discern this time?
If you are unprepared to meet the Lord it is time now to get ready.
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- Facing Eternity with Certainty
Living with Full Assurance
It is the greatest tragedy of all for one to face death without the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you are not prepared to enter eternity.
Furthermore, you need a settled faith; a fully persuaded heart that possesses the full assurance heaven is your eternal home the moment you leave this life.
Sadly people of all ages are leaving this life day by day unprepared to meet the Lord. Recently we were once again reminded that death can come when least expected.
I am thinking of the story I heard on the news of a dear lady who died when a tree fell on her car as she was driving down a particular road. Stormy weather developed one afternoon near her home and caused the accident.
This dear lady had no idea she was only minutes away from eternity. She was here one moment and gone the next. I do not know anything about her except for the tragic circumstances that took her life. I hope she was ready to meet the Lord.
In reality there is but a step between each of us and death. Are you ready to enter eternity should the day of death come for you today? You need to live each day with a settled peace in your heart that heaven is your home should death suddenly usher you into eternity. You need the full assurance of salvation in your heart and you can absolutely have it! What do I mean by the phrase “full assurance?” Here is a simple definition:
Full assurance is the settled, inner conviction a believer possesses eternal life and will never perish. Such assurance brings the joy of knowing moment by moment the believer belongs to the Lord and at the moment of death is immediately home in the presence of the Lord.
Full assurance is experienced as a believer comes to a proper understanding of the salvation provided by the Lord Jesus Christ as taught in his holy word.
Of all the religions and spiritual movements in our world it is Biblical Christianity that stands alone with the clear promise of eternal life for all who believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
I challenge you to find any religion or spiritual movement that offers its followers the same promise of eternal life offered by the Lord Jesus Christ. You will search in vain. It is Jesus Christ alone who has the words of eternal life.
Yet, in spite of our Lords very clear promises many who profess to be Christians have nothing but a “hope so” dead religion. Why is this so? The root of the problem is not difficult to discern. Many who call themselves Christians have an anemic understanding of the gospel of Christ.
Two reasons come to mind for this sorry state of affairs. First, preachers (regardless of their personality and style) are not feeding the flocks. The business of every minister is to “preach the word.” Of course, if the preacher standing in the pulpit fills his sermons with a bunch of fluffy, empty rhetoric and never teaches the truth of Scripture, then the people will suffer.
And secondly, the average professing Christian does not study the Word of God. You need to couple solid Bible preaching with a personal devotional life. You need to take the initiative to learn to the promises of Christ. You need to fill your troubled mind with the truth of Scripture until your doubts are settled and peace comes to your soul.
But alas my friends many who attend Christian churches of various stripes are contented to drift toward eternity with the pitiful attitude that says, “Well when I die I hope I go to heaven. I’m not really sure, but I hope I am good enough to go to heaven.” How foolish! It is likely that most Catholics, protestants, evangelicals, Baptists, etc. who are drifting toward eternity with no real assurance are lost.
While it is possible to be saved and lack proper assurance the fact is most who only hope they are going to heaven lack a real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not born again.
Watch your step my friend! You may be religious but very lost.
Now I ask you again: Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? Is your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? When did you make that decision? When did you experience the call of God to turn to Christ? Real assurance begins with a real relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am glad to tell you on the authority of God’s Word that all who honestly trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are saved. Such honest believers need to go on to the full assurance of salvation. Unfortunately however, many honest believers are living inner lives of doubt, fear, and apprehension concerning acceptance by God. Constant struggles concerning assurance of salvation leave many believers weak and feeling quite defeated.
If this is your condition let me give you a word of encouragement: the Spirit of the Lord intends to lead you into the full assurance of your salvation. He does not want you weak, in doubt, tormented by fear, and uncertain about your salvation.
The Spirit of God will quicken the promises of His word, bring you to a full understanding of the work of Christ on your behalf, and crush the doubts troubling your soul if you make it your business to seek a settled faith based solely upon the truth of His unchanging word.
Let me emphasize an important point closely related to what I just said. You must embrace the following statement or you will never possess the full assurance of salvation. Listen closely: the truth of Scripture has the power to develop in you a personal, inner knowing you are accepted by God on the merits of Christ alone and thus kept by the power of God.
Such assurance leaves no doubt heaven is one’s home at the moment of physical death. I trust you are hungry and thirsty to experience this full assurance deep in your own heart. One thing is for sure, full assurance is not possible if you are indifferent about your own soul and do not want to know you are saved and going to heaven at the moment of death.
If the truth be told a great many inside the professed church are so in love with this world they rarely think much about leaving it all behind for a home in heaven. Their heart (that is their affection) is not focused on heaven. How will you ever possess assurance of eternal life and a home in heaven when you really are not looking forward to going there? Are you a Christian at all?
The example of the Apostle Paul certainly casts light upon this matter. Paul said he had a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better. Is such a desire alive and well in your own heart?
And please do not miss this point: Paul’s express desire to depart to be with Christ speaks of a man fully persuaded heaven was his home at the moment of death.
Can you understand that? Clearly the Holy Spirit is teaching us we can be fully persuaded and possess the full assurance of our salvation.
Now I ask you: should death cast its irrevocable summons upon you and but hours separate you from eternity will you face that final fleeting season of temporal life as did the Apostle Paul?
As I said in a previous sermon the phrase full assurance is Bible terminology. Let’s review this again. The phrase occurs in the New Testament three different times. In Colossians 2:2 the apostle Paul expresses his deep desire believers would come to a “full assurance of understanding.” The apostle desires that our “hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.”
The phrase “unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding” speaks of the inward wealth a believer possesses who develops settled, deep convictions based upon a full knowledge of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The phrase full assurance is also found in Hebrews chapter ten. In verse twenty-two of the chapter we find this instruction: “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.”
Please note again the use of the phrase full assurance. The believer is not to approach the Lord with doubt and uncertainty. Rather he is to draw near to God with the settled conviction God accepts him and thus he has the privilege of coming boldly into His presence.
And finally, the phrase is found in Hebrews chapter six. In this chapter we read, “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Note again the use of the phrase full assurance.
In this passage it is connected to the hope of the believer. In the New Testament the word hope is used to communicate the settled fact believers are destined to possess all they already know is theirs in Christ. Burning in our souls should be a confident expectation we will inherit the promises!
We hope for that we see not and with patience wait for it. All that Christ promises his redeemed is in the bank of heaven and at the moment of physical death I am going to cash in every promise he ever made to me! All that I hope for will be settled up when I die. No wonder Paul said, “To die is gain!”
Like the children of Israel one day the Lord is going to part the waters of that old Jordan river for each of those he has freed from bondage to sin and death and he will lead us into a heavenly promised land flowing with milk and honey. Are you possessed by the full assurance of hope today? What a glorious hope we have in Christ!
Hear me today: the full assurance of hope implies it is the believer’s privilege to complete his pilgrimage here with the full expectation of an inheritance in heaven once the journey is complete!
In closing I want to emphasize again this most important point. The fact the Bible clearly speaks of the full assurance of salvation it follows that the idea no one can face eternity with certainty is misguided and tragic. You can know for sure when you die heaven is your home. As a matter of fact, this is the most important issue in life and you simply must not face eternity with a cloud of doubt over your soul.
Contrary to those who claim otherwise, God’s word has the power to bring every believer to a full assurance of salvation. Such assurance enables the believer to face eternity with certainty!
Do you possess the full assurance of your salvation?
As I have preached many times, the reason most people have no assurance of salvation lies in the fact they have no relationship to Christ at all. If you have never surrendered your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ then you are lost. You need the Lord.
Long ago King David on his death bed told his son Solomon, “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”
Like David, we too will one day go “the way of all the earth.” Death is coming and it will open the door to your eternal home. Are you ready? - Drifting Toward Eternal Ruin
- With the passing of another year each one of us are a step closer to eternity. The passing of each year reminds us in a very stark way that life indeed is like a vapor that appears for just a little time and then vanishes away.
While those who know the Lord Jesus are heading toward home, those outside of Christ are drifting toward eternal ruin.
I believe the Son of God. I believe every word he spoke concerning the dangers of eternal loss. Jesus said plainly, “. . . fear God who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The Lord Jesus warns repeatedly of the danger of eternal loss. Jesus clearly teaches that hell is a place of eternal, conscious existence apart from the presence of the Lord.
For example he says of the lost, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25:46).
Again Jesus says at his return, “And the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
John the Baptist warned that Jesus would “. . . thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The fire of a real hell is the expression of God’s holy passion against all sin, ungodliness, and the rebellion of those who refuse to repent and receive the mercy and grace available through his Son.
In fact, it will be the Son of God who purges his floor and separates the wheat from the chaff. The Lord Jesus will “burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The word unquenchable means that the fires of hell will burn forever. They cannot be extinguished. As the eternal ages roll on and on the anguish and groans of the lost will be unrelenting. Those in the lost condition will find no rest for the soul.
Furthermore Jesus says, “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
I ask you, what is it that keeps you from repentance? What sin do you love more than Christ? . . . What have you cast your eye on? . . . What possesses your heart in the place of the Savior?
Better that you pluck out your eye so to speak and live without it than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Cast aside whatever has captivated your heart and turn to Christ. Don’t weigh the cost . . . Pluck it out!
You say, but preacher if I turn to Christ I will be leaving behind my livelihood. So be it! Christ has something far better. Like Moses of old you should esteem reproach for Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt.
Moses discerned properly that whatever he lost in this temporal world as a result of following Christ could not be compared to the reward of following Christ! Many need to wake up to the same reality before it is too late.
Again, what is it that is keeping you from confessing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? I know this much: it is some kind of sin . . . it is love of this world . . . it is some misguided loyalty to a false spirituality. Indeed, these are the common denominators that bind men in willful unbelief.
But will you turn before it is too late?
Jesus said to a certain crowd, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). Again Jesus said, “I am the bread of life . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever” (John 6:35, 51).
Today many of you are drifting toward eternal ruin, but you can turn. You can come to Christ and believe upon him. You can repent. You can turn in your heart from sin and turn to Christ. And when you humble your heart he will save you!
Jesus says if you will come to him, he will under no circumstance “cast you out.” Jesus Christ came to save you from the lost condition. He did not come to condemn you. Rather, he came to deliver you from the lost condition. He came to seek and to save those who are lost.
Another year has passed. Yet many of you are still in your sins. You are neglecting your soul. There is but a step between you and death, yet you resist the call of God. You are in great danger.
Jesus says that those who die in their sins cannot come to heaven (John 8:21). In the same passage of Scripture Jesus said, “ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
Clearly, Jesus did not teach that everyone is going to heaven. However, he does offer the gift of eternal life to all who will come to him and believe upon him.
But what does it mean to “believe upon Jesus.” In the verse I just quoted Jesus says you must believe that he is the promised Messiah—Immanuel, God come in the flesh, the Son of Man and the Son of God. His words were, “if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
This is essential. No one is free to redefine the person of Christ. A great many people to this very day embrace the idea expressed in this question: Who is Jesus to you? How subtle. How dangerous. As though we are all free to make of Jesus whatever fits our own worldview.
Have you ever heard a math teacher say, “What is 2 + 2 to you?”
Perhaps some would say, 2+2=5 for them. Perhaps another would say, 2+2=9. And I could go on. Of course, you immediately understand the folly of such reasoning. 2+2=4. Period!
Strangely, when it comes to the person of Christ many, who should know better, feel at liberty to deny his unique person as the Son of God. They want a Jesus who is not the Lord. They want a Jesus who is not the only way to heaven by virtue of his atoning death on the cross and bodily resurrection from the dead.
Such people may be busy creating their own brand of spirituality, but they are going to die in their sins and where Jesus is they cannot come! They are lost.
I believe Jesus is the Lord. True Christians confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ! True Christians are not busy denying the deity of Christ and the Lordship of Christ. True Christians know he is the way, the truth, and the life.
On the other hand, those who refuse to believe that he is the unique Son of God are yet in their sins. Tragically, such people are living with a false hope. And with the passing of another year they are one step closer to a place Jesus describes as outer darkness.
Three times in Matthew’s gospel Jesus uses the phrase, outer darkness. For example he says, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:30).
Outer darkness speaks of separation from the Kingdom of God. It speaks of being on the outside looking in. It speaks of the lost condition. It speaks of separation from God. It speaks of hopelessness.
Somewhere beyond the reach of the new heavens and the new earth where God will dwell in eternity with the redeemed, there is a place of “outer darkness.”
It is God’s eternal penitentiary. It is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The light never shines there. It is the place of the second death. Sadly, as 2017 begins to unfold the slow drift toward eternal ruin continues for a vast sea of humanity.
I need to remind you that no one has an excuse for rebellion against God. No one has an excuse for resisting the witness of God. While it is true that all go astray, it is also true that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
In Titus chapter two we find these words,
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).
I believe in order to end up lost in eternity the unbeliever must actually resist the Holy Spirit. Jesus once wept over Jerusalem with these words,
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34).
Think about what Jesus is saying. Look at his heart. He speaks of Jerusalem but his mind is on both the city and all his people according to the flesh. He deeply desired to gather the Jewish people to himself, but they would not.
In other words, they resisted his call. They resisted his invitation to come. In effect they were resisting the Holy Spirit.
You may recall the Spirit-filled preaching of a deacon in the early church by the name of Stephen. He was full of faith and power, and did great wonders among the people. But his enemies did not appreciate his powerful presentation of Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
So they stirred a great crowd against him and brought him before the council of local leaders to have him punished. However, he preached boldly to them and at the end of his sermon he made this powerful indictment against the crowd:
He said, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it” (Acts 7:51-53).
When the crowd heard those words they were cut to the heart and proceeded to abuse Stephen and stone him to death!
But notice the discernment of Stephen. He said they were guilty of “resisting the Holy Ghost.” Likewise, many in our day are guilty of doing the same thing. May I ask you a question: are you guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit?
The call of God is real. The work of the Spirit is real. Don’t ever doubt this. Men and women are without excuse. In one way or other those who end up lost are guilty of resisting the Lord. He called, but they would not come.
Are you drifting toward eternal ruin? If you die in 2017 are you ready for eternity? There is only one way to be ready: you must repent and give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Death certainly is no respecter of person. It claims the famous, the wealthy, the unknown, the poor. Some who left this life in 2016 include:
Patty Duke
John Glenn
Nancy Reagan
Fidel Castro
Mohamed Ali
Arnold Palmer
Merle Haggard
Prince
Florence Henderson
Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
But where are these souls right now? I am not the final judge of anyone, nor are you. But Jesus Christ is the Judge. Jesus said,
“For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him” (John 5:22-23).
This much I know. Any man or woman who leaves this life without Jesus Christ is lost. But I also know this. Jesus knows his sheep and gives them eternal life. He said,
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28a).
What about you? Are you drifting toward eternal ruin? Isn’t it time to come to Christ? He is calling today.
If You Are Wrong About Jesus--
Nothing Else Matters
John 17:1-5
The Bible could not be clearer. There is only one true God and he sent His Son into the world for our salvation. Eternal life is wrapped up in a personal relationship to the one true, living God through His only begotten Son—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Of course the truthfulness of our text should make a careful study of Holy Scripture and a pursuit of the knowledge of God through His word imperative. If eternal life is at stake, if one’s eternal well being is at stake, if the lack of a personal relationship to Christ leaves you totally unprepared for what lies beyond the last human experience we call death, then no stone should be left unturned until you know him in the free pardon of your sin.
Our text makes it abundantly clear that no one possesses eternal life until they know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior . . . Do you know Jesus Christ as Savior? Do you bow before him as Lord? Do you confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and do you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead? Do you fully trust the death of the divine Son of God for your salvation? Or do you refuse to bow the knee? Do you explain away Holy Scripture? Do you refuse to accept the record God gives of His own dear Son?
My friend, eternity beacons. Soon the old Jordan River will cast its waters at your feet. Soon this brief life must give way to eternal ages. Soon either the glories of heaven will unfold with endless day or the groans of a devil’s hell will encompass your soul in endless night.
Jesus Christ says there are two distinct roads traveled by the masses of humanity. Many are traveling the broad road that leads to destruction and everlasting ruin. He says others are travelling the narrow road that leads to life. Which road are you travelling?
I implore you today. Do not deceive yourself. Apart from a personal relationship to Jesus Christ death is to be feared as the doorway to hopeless, endless separation from the presence of the Lord! Christ is the door by which you must enter to be saved. If you attempt to go another way Christ himself condemns you as nothing more than a thief and a robber (John 10:1). His language is meant to illustrate the futility of pursuing acceptance with the Father by any other means than his own precious blood. Indeed, the way of the cross leads home. There is no other way to possess eternal life. You must know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ whom he sent. You must come through the door!
But alas my friends, false spirituality abounds as Satan blinds the eyes of those who do not believe. Satan is busy casting doubt upon the Word of God and if you become complicit with him the enemy of your soul will most certainly drag you down to hell. But Christ is calling you today. The Spirit of God is calling you through the message of our text. Hear the Word of God: this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
It is quite obvious from this passage and the whole of Scripture that the true God is represented in history by His Son. God had a Son! The number of false spiritualities that deny this cardinal truth are too numerous to mention and I am sure you can think of more than one movement in our world that denies the Son. How tragic this is! Those caught up in these various movements are travelling the broad road. Their soul is in great danger. They are but a heartbeat away from the regions of the damned.
Sadly all those who perish in the everlasting burnings of the just and holy wrath of Almighty God have themselves to blame. The true Light that lighteth every man who comes into the world has appeared to all with an invitation to flee the wrath to come. That invitation is real. The pleadings of the Spirit of God in the human heart are real. But many turn away. Many resist the Holy Ghost and through neglect, or pride, or willful unbelief harden themselves until there is no more call of God.
Beware my friends. The day will soon be past. The brief hour of invitation to forsake your Egypt and suffer affliction with the people of God—in place of the pleasures of sin for a season—will soon be over. Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart. It is time to turn. Hear the text carefully. God sent Jesus into the world. God had a Son and any spirituality that says otherwise is dangerous. False spirituality is the means by which Satan is devouring multitudes. Don’t make the mistake of turning away from the Light. When the light of the gospel comes to your darkened soul it is time to turn. It is time to repent.
I warn you today: do not follow those who have popularized what amounts to the spirit of antichrist. Any doctrine that denies Jesus as the unique, only begotten Son of God, God come in the flesh for our salvation, is from the spirit of antichrist. The Word of God teaches us to “try” or test the spirits to discern whether the spirit is of God, or if it is a lying, deceptive spirit.
In order to discern what is of God we must examine what various religions, teachers, and movements say about Jesus. Remember, Satan manifests the spirit of antichrist as an “angel of light.” This is exactly why false spirituality is so dangerous. It often appears to be genuine and good. But if the teaching of a religion or some popular movement denies that Jesus is the eternal Word come in the flesh for our salvation, then it is of the spirit of antichrist. Those who deny the Lord are tragically lost regardless of their sincerity or zeal. (Cf. John 1:1, 14 and 1 John 4:1-6). Again, if you are wrong about the person of Christ nothing else matters. He is God’s unique Son, the Lord from glory, God come in the flesh for our salvation. To deny him means eternal loss!
One tragic example of the manifestation of the spirit of antichrist is very vivid to me. It is the example of a dear man who died less than a year ago. He is in eternity. And while I am not his final judge, unless he changed his mind about Jesus he has no hope. He sold millions of books that are to this day deceiving others and leading them away from the only hope of eternal life—the Lord Jesus Christ. He described Jesus Christ as a “self-actualized person.” He urged people not to be Christians, but Christ-like. He said, “I don’t think that Jesus was teaching Christianity, Jesus was teaching kindness, love, concern, and peace.”
You know, I was once in a math class and I didn’t think 2+2 was 4. Of course, my math teacher corrected me and it didn’t matter what my opinion was about it. Likewise, it doesn’t matter what the opinion of false teachers are. What matters is what Jesus said! Only the foolish could read the words of Christ and deny that he was the Son of God come for their salvation. Be careful my friend. Your soul is at stake. Interestingly Oprah Winfrey tweeted following the passing of this man: “It was a pleasure to talk to (this man) about life’s big questions. He always had big answers. RIP. You brought the Light.”
Excuse me, but that man and no other man is the Light. Jesus Christ alone is the Light of the world! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus Christ not only taught Christianity, he is Christianity! Jesus Christ emphatically declares himself to be the Son of God who came to give his life a ransom for all. He dogmatically says in our text that eternal life is to be found nowhere but in him. He dogmatically declares that he reveals the only true God who sent him to be the Savior of the world.
These are dangerous days in which the spirit of antichrist is dressed up in modern garb and goes undetected by the undiscerning. Indeed, the wicked are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. You have been warned. It is time to confess that Jesus is the Lord come from heaven for your salvation. He is Emmanuel, God with us! He is the eternal Word who left his Father’s side to tabernacle amongst us in the person of Jesus the Christ.
He proceeded to humble himself in the form of a servant and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. He endured the cross, despising the shame and is now set down at the right hand of God the Father expecting that his enemies be made his footstool! His precious blood has provided a covering for the sin of the world and today you can come to the foot of the cross and trust his death on your behalf for your salvation. He is risen from the dead with the promise of eternal life for all who will believe upon him.
Will you come to him? Will you confess him as the Lord from heaven? Will you accept his death and resurrection for your salvation?
Eternal life hinges upon that decision.
If you are wrong about Jesus, then nothing else matters. If you should gain the whole world but lose your soul all is eternally lost. What think ye of Christ, whose Son is he? Is he the Son of God? If you answer with the atheists and conclude that he was just a man—if he existed at all—then you will perish. It matters not that you climbed the corporate ladder or ascended to the heights of academia, or lived in positions of power while here on earth. You must go out to face Christ, whom you rejected as Savior.
If you answer with the pantheists and occultists that Jesus was just another ascended master and that you too can be a Christ, then you will realize all too late that your willful unbelief blinded your mind to the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One day the living Christ, the Lord from glory, will pronounce upon you those dreadful words, “Depart from me ye worker of iniquity, I never knew you.”
And to our Jewish community and our Muslim community we say with genuine compassion that you both stand in great danger. You both deny that God had a Son. In some context you both say you respect Holy Scripture, at least in part. But you have ignored or willfully turned away from Scripture. You would do well to humbly come back to Scripture with an open heart. You would do well to pray humbly that God would reveal to you the truth concerning His Son. As Jesus Christ says, “search the Scriptures, for they are they that testify of me.”
Now I close with our text again . . .
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power (authority) over all flesh (all mankind), that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John17:1-5).
I pray you will receive God’s word today. Invite Jesus Christ into your heart and place your faith in him as your only hope of heaven.-
- How We Know Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead
It is no secret the entire Christian faith is built upon the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The claims of Jesus Christ to be the Son of God depend upon his bodily resurrection from the dead.
Furthermore, the truthfulness of all Jesus taught hinges upon his bodily resurrection from the dead. If he did not rise again as he promised he is a fraud. His word cannot be trusted and worse yet we are still in our sins.
But this question has far reaching implications for the rest of the world as well. If Christ did rise again, then the question of world religions is over.
After all, if Jesus conquered death validating his unique standing as the God-man he is in truth Lord of all.
If Christ rose again, then all are accountable to him.
If Christ rose again, then all are compelled to worship him and confess he is both Lord and Savior of the world. Failure to do so will result in eternal loss.
We come then for a brief examination of this most important question: Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead?
The Testimony of the Empty Tomb
In an attempt to explain away the resurrection some people claim Jesus never really died. However, the gospels make it very clear Pilate would not release the body of Jesus for burial until his death was confirmed.
In fact, the centurion in charge was called before Pilate to confirm Jesus was dead. Only then would Pilate grant permission for Joseph of Arimathaea to take the body for burial.
Furthermore, the day following the burial of Jesus Matthew’s gospel records the following:
“The chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (guard): go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
It is a historical fact that Jesus died at the hands of Pontius Pilate and was taken from the cross with Pilate’s permission by those who prepared his body for burial. It is a fact his grave site was secured by Pilate lest anyone tamper with his grave.
The Scripture continues in Matthew’s gospel with these words:
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week . . . there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it . . . and for fear of him the guards did shake, and became as dead men.”
Those guards wasted no time scurrying away from the tomb with some reporting their eyewitness account to the chief priests.
In short order women arrived at the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. And to the surprise of the first women arriving early that morning the great stone covering the entrance to the tomb was rolled away.
The Scripture says, “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Narareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.”
Again in Luke’s gospel it says those who entered the sepulcher “found not the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:3).
Right here is the greatest evidence of the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. His tomb is empty!
Later when the apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of Jesus all the enemies of Christianity needed to do to silence them was produce the dead body of Jesus. But they could not!
So how could the enemies of Christ explain the empty tomb? The empty tomb was clearly there for all of Jerusalem to see. And just how would they attempt to counter the eyewitness testimony of those who confirmed his resurrection?
The only explanation they could devise was the pathetic idea the disciples stole the body. They actually spread that lie. And sadly they placed a horrible stumbling block before many who refused to accept the reality Jesus arose from the dead.
But my friend, a simple examination of the circumstances should dispel that idea completely.
In order to steal the body of Jesus from the tomb the disciples first needed to over-power a band of rugged Roman soldiers guarding the tomb.
Next, they would need to move the huge stone from the entrance of the tomb.
Next, once actually inside the tomb in order to mimic a resurrection they would take the dead body and carry the corpse to some other location.
Of course, they would do so with the full knowledge that as soon as the Roman authorities caught up with them the death penalty was a certainty. All of that for a dead man! No, no my friend! The disciples did not steal the body of Jesus.
In addition to the fact they did not steal the body of Jesus, it should be clearly noted the disciple’s state of mind precluded any attempt at such an outlandish idea. The death of Christ in public humiliation crushed the spirit of these men. They were confused and disillusioned.
They thought Jesus to be the promised messiah and now he was dead. All their hopes were dashed to pieces. Afraid and uncertain as to what the future held for them they hid from the authorities for fear of their own lives.
Again, they had neither the motivation nor the means to steal the body of Jesus. Upon examination of the false assertion the disciples stole the body of Jesus we conclude such a suggestion is totally untenable. Simply stated the disciples could not and did not steal the dead body of Jesus from that tomb.
Rather, the real explanation for the empty tomb lies in the reality the Spirit of God visited that tomb and raised Jesus from the dead!
When news of the resurrection came to Peter and John they both ran to the tomb. And when John arrived he looked into the tomb and saw the empty grave clothes.
But when Peter got there he went all the way into the sepulcher and not only saw the empty grave clothes, but he also saw the napkin once placed around the head of Jesus not lying with the linen clothes. Instead it was wrapped together in a place by itself.
Think about the implication of what they saw. The body of Jesus was gone and mysteriously the cloth used to wrap his head was neatly folded and laid aside from the other grave clothes.
Can’t you see the picture Scripture is painting for us? Here is what clearly happened. The power of God visited that tomb and the dead body of Jesus was quickened and raised from the dead.
The risen Christ proceeded to neatly fold the napkin once about his head. Obviously the only way that napkin could be found in such a condition required someone inside the tomb to fold it and lay it apart from the other linen clothes. The only one who could do so would be Jesus himself.
The testimony of the empty tomb includes the picture of these mysterious empty grave clothes and the neatly folded napkin. Both declare a bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
After this necessary "house cleaning" on the part of Jesus, with a mighty earthquake the angel of the Lord rolled away the stone and the glorified Christ walked out of the tomb!
His Enemies Could Not Produce His Dead Body
Next, it should be pointed out that the enemies of Christ actually confirm the resurrection.
As mentioned above, to dispel the resurrection all the enemies of Christ need do was produce his dead body. If there was no resurrection surely those who painstakingly secured the tomb to prevent such a rumor from ever occurring in the first place would follow-up on misguided claims of a resurrection in order to fully embarrass those claiming Jesus rose from the dead.
In so doing the discovery of the dead remains of Jesus would forever squelch the preposterous self-proclamations of the Nazarene to be “the resurrection and the life.”
However, those who participated in the crucifixion of Christ and had the most invested in completely destroying his memory could not disprove the resurrection. They could not produce his dead body.
Remember, all of Jerusalem was aware of the death of Jesus. As well, it had to be common knowledge Joseph of Arimathaea, a well known prominent Jew, buried him in his own new sepulcher.
No doubt many in the city visited Joseph’s tomb for themselves and discovered it was empty. No doubt they soon heard the false report instigated by the Pharisees that the disciples came and stole the body.
But the informed among the population knew the tomb was guarded by the Roman authorities. Surely they logically wrestled with the question as to how the disciples could steal the body from the tomb.
And if they did steal the body, why is no one tracking them down and recovering the dead remains to disprove the whole idea of a resurrection?
In spite of the lie fabricated to hide the reality of the resurrection, the enemies of Christ could not overcome the fact of the empty tomb. Nothing they put forth could provide a satisfactory explanation.
Soon they would be engaged by the bold preaching of eyewitnesses testifying to the world they saw the resurrected Christ. These passionate men were the same ones who watched him die and who just a few weeks earlier were hiding in fear of their lives.
Mark this down: the enemies of Christ could not produce his dead body and Jerusalem’s well informed knew this to be the case. Their inability to produce the dead body of Jesus serves as a powerful confirmation of his resurrection!
By the Testimony of the Roman Soldiers Guarding the Tomb
Matthew’s gospel states that “there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it . . . And for fear of him the keepers (guards) did shake, and became as dead men . . . behold, some of the watch (guard) came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done” (Matt. 28:2, 4, 11).
Please note there was no doubt among the soldiers as to what happened at the grave site. They felt the earthquake. They saw the stone rolled away. They most likely heard the report to the woman, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matt. 28:5-6).
These seasoned Roman soldiers became as dead men in the face of this experience! And at least some of them went immediately to the chief priests and elders to report the empty tomb.
In light of this report the only option available to the enemies of Christ was an attempt to hide the truth from the general population. How wicked! How devious! How akin to their father the devil to instigate a lie in an effort to cover the truth. But understand this: those Roman soldiers actually testified to the empty tomb!
By the Testimony of the Jewish Rulers Who Sought to Oppress the Truth
As previously noted the Jewish rulers could not produce the dead body of Jesus. In fact, they knew in light of the testimony of the Roman soldiers at the tomb that they could never produce the dead body of Jesus. Their actions to facilitate a cover-up actually bear testimony to the reality of the resurrection.
Sadly Matthew reports that this fabricated lie was “reported among the Jews until this day.” At the time Matthew recorded his gospel this lie still circulated among the Jewish community. Perhaps this lie remains a stumbling block for some until this very day.
But know this: this lie was only needed because they had no other way to deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
By the Eyewitness Accounts of Those Who Saw and Talked with the Risen Christ
How do we know Jesus Christ rose from the dead? We know because of the overwhelming testimony of eyewitnesses. Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive from the dead (1 Cor. 15:6).
The bodily resurrection of Jesus was confirmed by those who saw him and touched him and talked with him after the resurrection. The apostles in particular were called to be witnesses to the world of the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Hear the testimony of these men. The apostle John said, “. . . we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father . . . that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled . . . for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you…”
The apostle Peter said, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty . . .”
As well, the book of Acts declares: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
All these men possessed the same conviction. The Jesus they walked with for three and one-half years, the Jesus they communed with at the last supper, the Jesus they forsook, the Jesus they saw beaten and humiliated, the Jesus they saw die in shame, the Jesus they knew to be buried in a rich man’s tomb WAS NOW ALIVE! THEY KNEW HE CONQUERED DEATH!
Thomas expressed their conviction best. When he saw the risen Lord I believe he bowed at the feet of Jesus and said, “My Lord and my God.” Remember, Thomas is famous for his skepticism. He did not immediately embrace the truth of the resurrection.
Even though the others testified to him of the risen Christ he refused to believe until he could see the Lord for himself. A week later, Jesus confronted Thomas and invited him to touch the scars in his body—and not to doubt but to believe.
Upon seeing the Lord I believe he bowed at his feet as he proclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” His doubts were over. He went on to serve as an apostle and an eyewitness to the resurrection. The eyewitness testimony of the apostles, along with that of hundreds of others who also saw the risen Christ, should be enough to convince anyone he arose from the dead!
The following timeline courtesy of Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/resurrection/the-sequence-of-christs-post-resurrection-appearances/
Conclusion
It should be noted the apostles went on to confirm the resurrection with many mighty works in the name of Jesus. Their testimony and those works bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the apostles ultimately died as martyrs in testimony to the overwhelming conviction Jesus rose from the dead. They could not deny what they knew to be true. They could not deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It should also be noted that the Christian church cannot be explained apart from the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead. The existence of the church for nearly twenty centuries bears testimony to the risen Christ who prophesied he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
And finally, we have the testimony of the written Word of God. The record God gives of His Son in Holy Scripture is emphatic. Jesus rose from the dead!
The resurrection of Christ is central to the whole New Testament which ends with the message of the future Revelation of the risen Christ at his second coming.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is beyond doubt. Only those bent upon persisting in willful unbelief deny the resurrection of Christ. However, it is possible for all to come to a place of repentance through the witness of the Spirit of God.
I plead with you to listen to the call of God in your own heart. The risen Christ offers you the gift of eternal life through the witness of the gospel. Will you confess him as your Lord and Savior?
Thomas did so and his testimony should help all of us believe. While he saw Christ and believed Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
The gospel of John goes on to say, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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 20:28-31).
God requires all men to respond in faith to his Word. This is incumbent upon all men everywhere. God has commanded all to repent and place personal faith in his Son for salvation upon hearing his Word. Have you done so?
Here is God’s promise to all who will believe upon the resurrected Christ:
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.”
If you have never done so, please make that decision right now. With an honest heart simply confess the Lord in a prayer like this:
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I accept your death on the cross as the full payment for all of my sin. Right now I trust you alone to forgive me and to save me. I believe you died for me and you rose from the dead for me. Right now I invite you to come into my heart as I confess you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord Jesus for loving me and saving me.”
Amen! May the Lord fill you with the joy of His salvation is my prayer.
Pastor Rusty
It should be noted the apostles went on to confirm the resurrection with many mighty works in the name of Jesus. Their testimony and those works bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the apostles ultimately died as martyrs in testimony to the overwhelming conviction Jesus rose from the dead. They could not deny what they knew to be true. They could not deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It should also be noted that the Christian church cannot be explained apart from the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead. The existence of the church for nearly twenty centuries bears testimony to the risen Christ who prophesied he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
And finally, we have the testimony of the written Word of God. The record God gives of His Son in Holy Scripture is emphatic. Jesus rose from the dead!
The resurrection of Christ is central to the whole New Testament which ends with the message of the future Revelation of the risen Christ at his second coming.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is beyond doubt. Only those bent upon persisting in willful unbelief deny the resurrection of Christ. However, it is possible for all to come to a place of repentance through the witness of the Spirit of God.
I plead with you to listen to the call of God in your own heart. The risen Christ offers you the gift of eternal life through the witness of the gospel. Will you confess him as your Lord and Savior?
Thomas did so and his testimony should help all of us believe. While he saw Christ and believed Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
The gospel of John goes on to say, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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 20:28-31).
God requires all men to respond in faith to his Word. This is incumbent upon all men everywhere. God has commanded all to repent and place personal faith in his Son for salvation upon hearing his Word. Have you done so?
Here is God’s promise to all who will believe upon the resurrected Christ:
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.”
If you have never done so, please make that decision right now. With an honest heart simply confess the Lord in a prayer like this:
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I accept your death on the cross as the full payment for all of my sin. Right now I trust you alone to forgive me and to save me. I believe you died for me and you rose from the dead for me. Right now I invite you to come into my heart as I confess you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord Jesus for loving me and saving me.”
Amen! May the Lord fill you with the joy of His salvation is my prayer.
Pastor Rusty