IN COVENANT TO GROW

#472                                          IN COVENANT TO GROW

Scripture  Ecclesiastes 12:10-14; Acts 10:35 NIV                                                           Orig. 3/3/1968

                                                                                                                   Rewr. 10/1969, 9/20/1976

Passage:

Ecclesiastes 12:

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[a] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Acts 10

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 

Introduction

            I read an article last week that began, “The old taboos are dead or dying.  A new, more permissive society is taking shape.”  One man was quoted as saying, “The emphasis is  on the senses and the release of the sensual.  All the old codes have been broken down.”

            Let me tell you about two men whom I knew.  About 15 years ago one was working on the then-new Red River Bridge in Alexandria.  He lost his balance and fell 86 feet to the river bank, not into the water, or soft mud, but onto a pile of plywood sheeting that had been used on pier forms.  I saw him a few months back, and one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”

            Another, not yet old enough to vote, jumped from a plane as a paratrooper only to look up and face the horror of an unopened chute.  To see him today one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”

            I, for one, am glad that prudery and hypocrisy in morality are dead or dying.  But to think that we can exist without morality and codes of conduct is as foolish as saying that we can exist without gravity and natural law.

            Let us not think that out of the ashes . . . (illegible).

I.          Growing in Community Consciousness.  Psalms 15:1-33, “Lord, who will abide in thy tabernacle?  Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”

            Walking circumspectly.  The word “circumspectly” means looking about cautiously in all directions.   It is like the soldier on patrol—the needing to keep in contact with his unit, his primary duty is to search for hidden danger.  Not an injunction to search for inconsistencies in others.  A warning to stay away from threats, temptations.

            Just in our dealings. A word with many meanings.  For our use here it is to be consistent, impartial.  We are to treat all men fairly.  We are to take advantage of none.  Romans 12:17, Provide things  honest in the sight of all men.  I still get amused at these movies that continue to beset  us.  The Indian chief speaks to the army major and says, “White man speaks with forked tongue.”  It is too often true.

            Faithful in our engagements.  We could begin by saying it is an injunction for the deacon to take the office seriously.  Active, energetic, faithful. We could call attention to laity on part of church workers—absenteeism about 25%.  Sometimes I think preachers  have created some of the problem.  We left impression that the record is tithing—the very Sunday you lay out may be the Sunday God needed you for something great.

            Exemplary in our deportment.  God does not call us to go on crusades against the sins of the world  until we have learned to deal with our own sin.  But God is not ashamed to have any forgiven sinner, no matter how heinous his sin, to speak a word for Him.       

            Christlikeness is the order of the day.  Living so as to reveal God’s love to those around us and those we chance to meet.

II.         Growing in Family Faithfulness.  Genesis 18:19, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do what is right and just.”

            Maintain family devotions.      This does not refer to grace at meals.  Let us observe grace at home and abroad in the land.  It is a time of planned Bible devotion.  A parent or parents and children, reading together the word of God.  Praying together for greater grace.  (More strength to use prevailing grace.)  It is one of the most difficult acts of Christian consciousness.  I don’t know how often we have started on a few days, and some interruption or other [gets in the way].  Teaching our families to love and respect, but not worship, the Bible.

            Religiously educate our children.  It is first of all a job to be done at home.  Most tragic verse in Bible is Jeremiah 7:18, “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.”  We stop helping them in school work when they get beyond our school experience.  Could this be the reason you do not help them in their spiritual exercises?

            Then there is Sunday School.  Sunday School is a Bible teaching organization—the sincere application of Bible truth is the teacher’s first responsibility.  Gossip handled tactfully and discreetly.  Training Union is Training for Christians.  You say “I don’t get anything.”  Of course not, you don’t give anything.  You don’t enjoy it.  You enjoy Ed Sullivan more.

            Missionary organizations—115 million lost Americans above age of accountability.

            Avoid all tattling, backbiting, excessive anger.  This does not refer to temporary occasions of misunderstanding: husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and parents, neighbors, relatives, any two people who spend time in association or chancing a misunderstanding. 

This speaks directly to the person who delights in someone else’s  troubles.  It also directs us to seek accord when occasions of misunderstanding arise, and room is left for anger, but not excessive anger.

III.       Growing in Personal Perceptivity.  Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways.”  I Corinthians 11:31, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

            Maintain secret devotions.  A time of reverent study.  I Timothy 4:13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”  A time of quiet meditation.

            Seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.  This you must settle at home in quietness of your own life.

            Abstain from the sale of and the use of intoxicating beverages.  Anything that limits our performance as a person, anything that weakens our witness.  New Orleans pot party—2-year-old killed on Friday—mother reported  him missing 7 hours later.  Charged with negligence.

Closing

            Morality is the way a man reacts in regard to his fellow human beings.  For the Christian, morality is the effort to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.

            Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice—A man is chargeable and punishable for bringing discredit upon the military establishment.

            Paul’s admonition to Timothy—Endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

JAMES: A FAITH THAT WORKS

#72b                                  JAMES: A FAITH THAT WORKS

                                                     Source: Joel C. Gregory

            “Religion that is pure and undefiled . . . is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”  (James 1:27)

I.                    Authorship

a.       What we know!  James

b.      There are five in the New Testament.

                                                              i.      Son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19; 3:17*; Acts 2:1-2).

                                                            ii.      Son of  Alphaeus (Mark 3:18*).

                                                         iii.      The younger (Mark 15:40*; 16:1*).

                                                          iv.      Father of Apostle Judas (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13).

                                                             v.      The brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3*)—the Just.

c.       Reasons for the choice of this latter.

                                                              i.      A witness of the resurrection (I Corinthians 15:7).

                                                            ii.      A known church leader (Acts 12:17; 15:13,20f).

                                                         iii.      He matches this conservative Jewish outlook (Galatians 1:19; 2:2,12; Acts 21:18).

                                                          iv.      Similarity with letter (Acts 15:23f).

                                                             v.      Identified as Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:19).

                                                          vi.      Linked with second name of brother (Jude 1).

d.      Problems identified by some.

                                                              i.      Late agreement (Third Century).

                                                            ii.      Use of stylized Hellenistic Greek.

e.       Biographical review of this James.

                                                              i.      Half-brother not step-brother.

                                                            ii.      Became believer  in Jesus as the Messiah after the resurrection (I Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:14).

                                                         iii.      Became a respected leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12; 15:14f; 21:18).

II.                 Date

a.       Some say end of First Century (von Soden, Bruckner, Spitta).

b.      Most scholars opt for an early date (48-54a.d.).

                                                              i.      Terminology basically Hebrew as the early church was (twelve tribes, dispersion).

                                                            ii.      Terminology similar to Sermon on the Mount.

                                                         iii.      Does not mention controversies.

                                                          iv.      James the Just stoned A.D. 62—prompted by Ananus (High Priest).  Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.

                                                             v.      Reference to poverty best reflects that early period. (Compare Romans 15:25f.)

III.              To Whom Was the Letter Written?

a.       Again, what we know:  “To the tribes of the dispersion.”

b.      What this may mean.

                                                              i.      Jews

                                                            ii.      Jewish Christians

                                                         iii.      Both

                                                          iv.      All Christians—twelve tribes a metaphor.

                                                             v.      The early date would favor Jewish Christians who were finding it necessary to leave Jerusalem

                                                          vi.      Its message clearly Christian.  (James 1:1, 2:1, 5:7-8).

IV.              Relationship of Author to Readers

a.       James became the leader of Jerusalem church after departure of Peter (Acts 12:17).

b.      In that role, he was chief spokesman for conservative Jewish Christians.  Had some influence in Syria (Galatians 2:12).

c.       Called upon to negotiate early disagreement among the believers (Galatians 2:1-10; Acts 15:13, 20-21).

V.                 What Prompted the Letter?

a.       Reflects the economic and social conditions of Palestine and Syria in the years prior to Jewish revolt of AD 66-70.

                                                              i.      Wealthy merchants (James 4:13f)/farmers (James 5:1-6).

                                                            ii.      Considerable poverty (James 1:9-11, 2:6-7 and 14-17).

                                                         iii.      Additional oppression of the poor (James 2:6-7, 5:1-6).

b.      Reflects moral and spiritual problems as well.

                                                              i.      Disunity and behavioral problems.

                                                            ii.      Misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching of salvation by faith alone.

VI.              What Can Be Established As the Author’s Intent?

a.       The church must not discriminate against the poor.

                                                              i.      Injunction to wealthy as to dangers in materialism as well as oppression of poor.

                                                            ii.      Injunction to the poor not to let distress produce bitterness and disruption.

b.      The wisdom  of God produces character, consistency, community (relationships).

c.       Tests of faith will come:  God’s wisdom and strength produces the ability to endure and overcome.

d.      Saving faith and its confession.

                                                              i.      More than belief in Jesus.

                                                            ii.      Gives expression in obedience.

                                                         iii.      Magnifies compassion for the poor.

VII.           Various Outlines

a.       C.E. Colton

                                                              i.      Concerning trials                                          James 1:2-18

                                                            ii.      Concerning true religious service               James 1:19-27

                                                         iii.      Concerning partiality                                   James 2:1-26

                                                          iv.      Concerning the tongue                                James 3:1-18

                                                             v.      Concerning avarice and pride                     James 4:1-5:6

                                                          vi.      Concerning the sick                                     James 5:13-18

                                                        vii.      Concerning compassion                              James 5:19-20

b.      H.E. Dana

                                                              i.      The problem of trials                                    James 1:2-18

                                                            ii.      The nature of true religion                           James 1:19-2:36

                                                         iii.      The responsibility of the teaching office     James 3:1-12

                                                          iv.      A protest against prevalent evils                   James 3:13-5:6

1.      Strife                           James 3:13-4:2

2.      Avarice                       James 4:13-5:6

c.       A.T. Robertson

                                                              i.      Joy in Trial                                                     James 1:1-11

                                                            ii.      The Way of Temptation                                James 1:12-18

                                                         iii.      The Practice of the Word of God                 James 1:19-27

                                                          iv.      Class Prejudice                                               James 2:1-13

                                                             v.      The Appeal to Life                                         James 2:14-26

                                                          vi.      The Tongues of Teachers                              James 3:1-12

                                                        vii.      The True Wise  Man                                      James 3:13-18

                                                      viii.      The Outer and Inner Life                              James 4:1-12

                                                          ix.      God and Business                                          James 4:13-5-6

                                                             x.      Perseverance and Prayer                                James 5:7-20

d.      Howard P. Colson

                                                              i.      Some marks of genuine religion                  James 1:2-27

                                                            ii.      The practical meaning of Faith                    James 2:1-26

                                                         iii.      Tongue control and true wisdom                James 3:1-18

                                                          iv.      Sins of worldliness and Pride                       James 4:1-17

                                                             v.      Social Justice and Christian living               James 5:1-20

e.       Virtus E. Gideon

                                                              i.      Trials and the Christian  Life                        James 1:2-27

                                                            ii.      Works and the Christian Life                       James 2:1-26

                                                         iii.      The Tongue and the Christian Life              James 3:1-18

                                                          iv.      Worldliness and the Christian Life              James 4:1-17

                                                             v.      Patience and the Christian Life                    James 5:1-20

Links/Citations

Gregory, J. (1986).  James: Faith Works!  Convention Press.

JAMES: AN OUTLINE

#72a                                             JAMES: AN OUTLINE

                                                            Lamar Skinner

                                                       First Baptist Church

                                                        February 8/15, 1987

Greeting, James 1:1

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

I.          When Temptations Abound, James 1:2-18

1.   Joy in the face of it,  James 1:2-4

2.   Strength from God, James 1:5-8  

3.   Consistency of spirit is the key, James 1:9-11

4.   Trials and temptations distinguished, James 1:12-15

5.   The source of all good, James 1:16-18

II.         Beyond Hearing to Doing, James 1:19-27

1.      Communicating our faith, James 1:19-25

2.      Communicating through our actions, James 1:26-27

III.       Respect for Others, James 2:1-13

1.      Without favoritism, James 2:1-7

2.      The royal law, James 2:8-10

3.      Reviewing the commandments, James 2:11-13

4.      Faith and its counterpart action, James 2:14-20

5.      Old Testament examples, James 2:21-26

IV.       The Measure of Our Words, James 3:1-18

1.      Advice to teachers, James 3:1

2.      Control  of the tongue, James 3:2-12

3.      True wisdom is from God, James 3:13-18

V.        The Spirit Within, James 4:1-5:6

1.   Evidence of worldliness, James 4:1-2

2.   The weakened prayer-life, James 4:3-4

3.   Submitting and resisting, James 4:5-10

4.   Evil speaking, James 4:11-12

5.   Assertiveness and the Will of God, James 4:13-17

6.   Wanton wealth breeds pleasure not godliness, James 5:1-6

VI.       Patience As a Christian Virtue, James 5:7-12

1.      Patience expected, James 5:7-9

2.      Patience examined, James 5:10-11

3.      Patience cultivated, James 5:12

VII.      The Power of Prayer, James 5:13-18

1.      Prayer for the sick, James 5:13-15

2.      Prayer wrought in confession, James 5:16

3.      Prayer in Old Testament example, James 5:17-18

VIII.     Help for the Backslider, James 5:19-20

OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

#759a                          OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

                                                       First Baptist Church

                                                   Fellowship Hall  ----  7pm

Hymn                                    “What a Wonderful Saviour!”                                  Congregation

Christ has for sin atonement made, What a wonderful Saviour!  I am redeemed, the price is paid; What a wonderful Saviour!

Refrain:  What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus!  What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord! 

He cleansed my heart from all its sin, What a wonderful Saviour!  And now he reigns and rules therein, What a wonderful Saviour!

Refrain:  What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus!  What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord! 

Hymn                                              “Amazing Grace”                                             Congregation

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught  my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved.  How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.

Scripture:  I John 4:7-11                                                                                            Watson Goss 

7. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.  9. In this was manifested the love of God toward of us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Sharing Time                                                                                                                Harry Stall

(Others are invited to share testimonies)

Solo                                                                                                                                 Eric Carter

                                       “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus”

Scripture: I Corinthians 10:16, 17, 21; 11:27-29                                                  Delwyn Odom

10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  17 For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.  21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.  11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall drink the cup of the Lord, unworthy, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  28 But let us examine ourselves, and let us eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.  29 For the one eating and drinking unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to oneself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Hymn:                            “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”                           Congregation

When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Scripture: I Corinthians 11:23-24

23 For I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.  24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you.  This do in remembrance of me.’

Prayer of Blessing                                                                                                                Pastor

Sharing of Bread (Symbol of his broken body)

Hymn:                                  “Break Thou the Bread of Life”                                 Congregation

Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,

Thy holy Word the truth That saveth me;

Give me to eat and live With Thee above;

Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

Scripture: Mark 14:22                                                                                                           Pastor

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’

Partaking of the Bread                                                                                           Congregation

Scripture: I Corinthians 11:25, 26

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.’  26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death ‘til he come.

Hymn                                   “Let Us Break Bread Together”                                 Congregation

Let  us break bread together on our knees, Let us break bread together on our knees.

Refrain: When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink the cup together on our knees, Let us drink the cup together on our knees.

Refrain: When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, Let us drink the cup together on our knees.

Refrain: When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Scripture: Matthew 26:27-28                                                                                   Hugh McGee

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, ‘Drink ye all of it.’  28 ‘For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’

Prayer of Blessing                                                                                                                Pastor

Sharing of the Cup (Symbol of blood Christ shed)                                                      Deacons

Scripture: Hebrews 3:14                                                                                                       Pastor

We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast until the end.

Partaking of the Cup                                                                                              Congregation

Scripture: John 13:34. 35                                                                                     Windy Denham

34 A new commandment  I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Hymn                                       “The Master Hath Come”                                      Congregation

The Master hath come, and he calls us to follow

The track of the footprints he leaves on our way;

Far over the mountains and through the deep hollow,

The path leads us on to the mansions of day;

The Master hath called us, the children who fear him,

Who march ‘neath Christ’s banner, his own little band;

We love him and seek him, we long to be near him,

And rest in the light of his beautiful land.

Meditation: Five Grains of Corn                                                                                         Pastor

                           Providence, Privation, Prayer, Present Crisis, Promise

Scripture: Matthew 26:30                                                                                        Congregation

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Hymn                                            “God Be With You”                                           Congregation

God be with you till we meet again; loving counsels guide, uphold you; may the Shepherd’s care enfold you. God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain: Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet. Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.

                                        God be with you till we meet again!

THE PARABLE OF THE TABERNACLE

#605                              THE PARABLE OF THE TABERNACLE

Scripture  Exodus 25:1-9; Hebrews 9:6-14                                                            Orig. 2/17/1973

                                                                                                                               Rewr. 8/27/1990

Passage:

Exodus 25:1-9

25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

Hebrews 9:6-14

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!

Purpose: Continuing a PM series on Old Testament parables, here describing the tabernacle and its latent type teaching fulfilled in Christ.

Keywords:                  Symbolism of Christ             Hebrews History                   Tabernacle

                                    Old Testament Parables

Timeline/Series:         Old  Testament Parables

Introduction

            Recall of the function of the Hebrew High Priest is surely appropriate here.  Yearly, on the 10th day of the 7th month (October), the Day of Atonement was celebrated as the most sacred day of the year.

            On this one day, the High Priest took the fresh blood of sacrifice into the Holy of Holies, where he alone was permitted to enter.  He renewed Israel’s covenant with God by sprinkling the blood upon the ‘throne of Jehovah,’ the Mercy Seat covering the Ark of the Covenant. Contained herein were their most treasured relics: the urn of manna, the rod of Aaron, and the two tablets of the covenant. (See Hebrews 9:4, Numbers 17:10.)

            Returning from this mediatorial act, the High Priest then chose a living animal (goat), placed both of his own hands on the head of the goat and confessed the sins of the people.  The animal was then driven away to suffer death at the hand of providence, thus becoming the blood offering wrought at God’s hand for all the sins of Israel.

            The blood offering in the Holy of Holies covered unwittingly committed sin in the Holy Place.  Consciously committed sin of the people was transferred to the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10), for the transference of their guilt to the goat.

            The parable (Hebrews 9:9—parabolē) calls to mind all the rich imagery of the Hebrew religion, but it will also graphically depict three underlying differences that we will consider momentarily.

I.          A Brief Exposition of Exodus 25-31.  Exodus 25:8, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”

1.      Basically, there are three themes covered in this second book of scripture.

a.       Chapters 1-18 cover the Exodus, itself.  The people are set free.

b.      Chapters 19-24 present the law in its basic form.  (Chapter 20—Ten Commandments.) 

c.       Remaining chapters describe every aspect of the tabernacle.  (Chapters 25-40.)

                                                                          i.      Sanctuary, above, meant holy place.

                                                                        ii.      The word came to have meaning relative to material of the sanctuary.

S. Baxter (E15p76):  “. . . the problem with which the various philosophies of life seek to deal is that of human freedom, responsibility, and privilege.  Liberty without law is license.  Responsibility without freedom is bondage.  Liberty and responsibility together, without privilege—without rewards and punishments—lack motive and meaning.  Here, in the Exodus, the Law, and the Tabernacle, we see these three things—in the Exodus, liberty; in the Law, responsibility; in the Tabernacle, privilege.”

2.      The construction and refinement of the tabernacle was forced into two parts. 

a.       Moses was given the design (Exodus 25-31);

b.      Idolatry invaded the camp and the plan is suspended.  (Exodus 33:7)

                                                                          i.      Temporary replacement (Exodus 33:7)

                                                                        ii.      God descends in covenant.

c.       The tabernacle is completed.  Exodus chapters 35-40.  Baxter, p95, “The Tabernacle was not designed with a view to any merely architectural impressiveness.  It was designed to be a symbolical and typical expression of wonderful spiritual truth.”

II.         A Description of the Tabernacle.      Exodus 25:9, "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, . . . even so shall ye make it.”

1.      There was to be an outer court on a west to east axis 100 by 50 cubits (150 by 75 feet).

a.       Total of 60 pillars—5 cubits apart.

b.      Each would stand 5 cubits high.

2.      Within this outer court was to be a sanctuary (divided).

a.       Oblong (10 x 30 cubits on same axis).

b.      A veil would separate the two parts.

                                                                          i.      Holy Place—priestly function

                                                                        ii.      Holy of Holies—High Priest on Day of Atonement

III.       The Furnishings  of the Tabernacle are Seven.  Exodus 25:9, “According to . . . the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”

1.      Interestingly, there are seven times in scripture when this is reiterated.  Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 27:8; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5.

a.       New Testament words fashion or pattern:  both Greek tupos

b.      5179 in HGSB—prototype

2.      There are two articles in the Outer Court.

a.       Brazen Altar—the first approach to Holy God is through atoning sacrifice.

b.      Next is the Laver—sacred water for priestly cleansing.

3.      Only thusly is the Holy Place entered by the priests.

a.       On the right (north) is shewbread—here is both bread and drink decreeing sustenance in the spiritual life.

b.      On the left (south) is the seven branched candelabrum—declaring spiritual illumination.

c.       Deeper in the room is the Golden Altar of Incense—incense has always represented supplication (prayer).

4.      Before us now is the veil separating the Holy of Holies.

a.       Remember, only the High Priest enters here, and he only once a year on Day of Atonement.

b.      The Throne inside consists of two parts.

                                                                          i.      The Ark: a gold-covered acacia chest—declaring the covenant.

                                                                        ii.      Above the Ark, the Mercy seat with cherubim—representing God’s presence.

IV.       That Leaves Us to Determine What is Represented for the Future,  Hebrews 9:8, “. . . The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, . . . which was a figure for the time then present.”

1.      The seven articles represent seven symbolic teachings.

a.       The altar—atonement

b.      The laver—forgiveness

c.       Shewbread—sustenance

d.      Candlestick—illumination

e.       Incense—supplication

f.        Ark—covenant relationship

g.      Mercy Seat—access to God

Job 13:3, “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.”

Job 40:2, “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?”

Thus, there stands the critical issue of approach to God.

Job 42:5, “My ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.

2.      Look for a moment at a parallel to these seven teachings in John’s gospel

a.       The Brazen Altar—John 1:29,36, John beholds “the Lamb of God!”

b.      The Laver—John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

c.       Shewbread—John 4:10, “living water,” and John 6:51, “living bread.”

d.      Candlestick—John 8:12, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.”  See John 9:5.

e.       Altar of Incense—

                                                                          i.      Just outside the veil—John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

                                                                        ii.      Intercession—John 14:13, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified . . . Son.”

f.        Jesus approaches as High Priest—John 17:1, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy son also may glorify thee.”

g.      Covenant—John 20:17, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”  John 20:19, “Peace be unto you.”  John 20:22, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”  John 20:29, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet . . . believed.”

3.      Time has permitted us only to look at the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

a.       They have revealed a likeness in even small detail to Christ.

b.      They illustrate the person and work of the Redeemer.

c.       There is type-teaching as well in the offerings, in the priesthood, etc.

Conclusion

            The Post-Exilic Temple contained a Holy Place, and a Holy of Holies, but it was empty.  No Ark, no tablets, no rod, no manna, no Mercy Seat, but the High Priest kept up his seduction.  Hebrews 9:14, “. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  “Jesus Christ has revealed the living God whose Spirit inhabits not dead places and things, but the hearts of His believers.”  (B74p141)

Links

Baxter: https://www.preceptaustin.org/exodus-25-commentary

PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND THE BIBLE

#847                      PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND THE BIBLE

Scripture  I Peter 2:5, 9; Isaiah 61:5-6                                                                     Orig. 5/1/1988

Passage:

I Peter 2:5,9

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Isaiah 61:5-6

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

Purpose: Teaching a doctrinal study for Church Training relating the doctrine to scripture.

Keywords:      Series, Priesthood                  Doctrine

Introduction

            Pass out cards reflecting chapter one and ask class to comment on them.  Volunteers may be asked to read, and other class members will be given opportunity to comment..

            Display the overhead cel with the following agree/disagree information.  Ask the class to mark their paper “a” or “d.”

            D         1) The Old Testament priesthood symbolized the worthiness of the nation Israel.

            D         2) Old Testament priests were mediators, not interpreters. (both)

            D         3) The priesthood of believers is hierarchical, not hereditary.

            A         4) Our priesthood is rooted in Christ.

            D         5) Jesus is priest by virtue of Levite origins.

            A         6) The phrase “the priesthood of believers” is not found in the Bible.

            A         7) Equality of access to God’s grace for salvation is not rooted in human capability.

            D         8) To emphasize individualism is to deny community.

            A         9) There is no such thing as forced love.

            A         10)A person cannot accept salvation without accepting priesthood.

            Call attention to the teaching posters.  These are for the new chapter.  Ask the class if there is a certain one that stands out, and if they will comment upon it.

            Have the cel on chapter two on the screen.  We want to cover three things.

1.      Biblical teachings as priesthood.

2.      The priesthood as it relates  to Christ.

3.      Prepare for next chapter on priesthood of the believer and salvation.

I.                    The Jewish Priesthood.  Exodus 19:4-6, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.  Now, . . . if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests.”

a.       The above text is not typical.  See also Isaiah 61:5-6.

b.      Under Moses a representative priesthood emerged.

                                                              i.      Most of some 700 references.

                                                            ii.      This priesthood symbolized their covenant.

                                                         iii.      God gave Moses instructions relative to the priesthood.  Exodus 25:1 - 31:18

                                                          iv.      It was clear that they had some growing to accomplish if they were to reach communal priesthood.

1.      Tabernacle was to be a factor.

2.      The tent of meeting where they would worship God.

c.       The concept of a select priesthood.

                                                              i.      Theological roots of priesthood.

1.      Manifested God’s saving acts on behalf of Israel.  (Law was unrequested grace.)

2.      God would be with Israel through the priesthood and tabernacle—no philosophical; the certain creator; “Tabernacle” means dwelling place.  Exodus 25:8, “Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst.”

3.      Priests were living witnesses of that presence.

4.      The priesthood symbolized holiness.  Exodus 19:6, “. . . A holy nation.”  Leviticus 11:44f, “. . . consecrate yourselves, . . . and be holy, for I am holy.”

a.       Their dress reflected God’s character.

b.      Initial step in ordination had to do with cleansing.  Exodus 29:20, “tip of right ear . . . right thumb . . . great toe of right foot.”

                                                            ii.      Functions of the priesthood.

1.      First, they were interpreters.

a.       Brought God to the people.  Malachi 2:7, “He is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.”

b.      Taught them moral, ceremonial law, hygiene, nutrition, medical diagnosis.

2.      Secondly, they were mediators.

a.       They brought the people to God.  Exodus 28:5-4, stones on shoulder piece named tribes.

b.      Purpose was atonement for sin.

                                                         iii.      The structure of the priesthood.

1.      The gradations within society were: people, Levites, priests, High Priest.

2.      Last three are the spiritual elite.  Recall Jesus’ parable.  Luke 10:27f.

3.      Levites were of tribe of Levi, but not of line of Aaron.  Secondary temple duties.

4.      Hierarchy was complete with High Priest.  Leviticus 22:10, 11, 14 pictures distinctions between priests and people.

5.      In addition to this hierarchy, also is a hereditary factor.

a.       Ancestry and sex determine.

b.      Birth,  not worth, blood not gift.

c.       Ineptness often occurred.

6.      Priesthood ceased with destruction of temple in 70 A.D.

II.                 The High Priesthood of Jesus.

a.       A superior priest.

                                                              i.      There is a new covenant.  I Corinthians 11:25 “this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye.”  See Jeremiah 31:31f.

                                                            ii.      Hebrews directs our attention.

Hebrews 4:14 “great high priest”

Hebrews 2:17 “merciful and faithful high priest”

Hebrews 4:15 “sympathizes with our weaknesses”

Hebrews 7:11f outside the Levitical line (Melchizedek)

Hebrews 6:19 entering the new shrine

                                                         iii.      Old symbolic of God’s presence, Jesus “bears the stamp of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3)

                                                          iv.      He is ever alive to intercede (Hebrews 7:24f)

b.      A superior sacrifice.

                                                              i.      Superior because it is irreplaceable.

Hebrews 9:12 “once for all into the high priest.”

                                                            ii.      Superior because it deals effectively with sin.

1.      Thus is His priesthood.

2.      Thus, He calls us to be priests.

                                                         iii.      Class learning activity.

1.      Ask class to take pencil/paper and find prophet, priest, king phrases in Hebrews 1:1-4.

III.               His Priesthood and Ours.

Hebrews 10:19-25 “Having . . . brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, . . . having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full . . . our hearts sprinkled . . . our bodies washed. . . .  Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith . . . And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

a.       We are to draw near.

The priest must be near to God and the alienated one to be of  help.

b.      We are to hold fast.

Clearly, we can do little for others if we are not faithful and upright ourselves.

c.       We are to stir up.

Those outside the fold should never be “turned off” but “stirred up” by our ministrations.

IV.              The Priesthood of Believers.

a.       Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi, and lineage of Aaron.  Not a professional priest.

b.      Phrase, “Priesthood of Believers,” not found in the Bible.

c.       Considering the five New Testament passages.

I Peter 2:5 “Like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

I Peter 2:9 “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

d.      The character of the priesthood

                                                              i.      Holiness

                                                            ii.      Royalty

e.        The vocation of the priesthood.

                                                              i.      Priests worship.

                                                            ii.      Priests witness.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER (INTRODUCTION)

#846            THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER (INTRODUCTION)

Scripture  I Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:4-6                                                                       Orig. 4/1/1988

Passage:

I Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Exodus 19:4-6

4 “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Purpose: To introduce the study of the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer to the Church Training class.

Keywords:                  Doctrine                     Priesthood

Introduction

Item:   Which of the following would be the more correct?

·         “The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a fundamental belief among all Baptists.”  Findley Edge—1985 Doctrine of Laity1

·         “The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a fundamentalist belief among Baptists.”--incorrect

Item:   Pass out the true/false pretest.  Take time to work through this entire sheet of twenty questions allowing class to write in their answer.

Item:   Display Cel #2, pass out worksheets.  The class is to decide whether they agree with the statements, disagree, or are undecided.  Overlay Cel with answers and discuss with the class.

Item:   Display Cel #3

·         Discuss:  The priesthood of believers is the centerpiece of the Baptist faith.

·         Discuss:  A priest is someone  who relates to, and acts for, God.

·         Discuss:  All believers are priests.

·         Discuss:  Spectator religion is out.

·         Discuss:  Each Christian has a duty to hand on  the gospel.

·         Discuss:  The veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:45)

After discussion try to mount each of these statements around the room.

I.                    Refer to Outline Poster.

a.       Display Cel #4 (Outline).

b.      If the Agree/Disagree worksheet has not been used, do so at this time.

c.       Definition of terms.

                                                              i.      Priest—a person who relates to and acts for God (14:3).

                                                            ii.      Believers—those who hold the proposition that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the final and ultimate revelation of the eternal God (9:4).

                                                         iii.      Priesthood—to be priestly, to relate to and act for God (10:3).

                                                          iv.      Priesthood of believers—a demand for priestly sacrifice to God on the part of all believers (13:1).

d.       Have class search for answers to the “Who am I?” question in the text

                                                              i.      I am Biblical

                                                            ii.      I am Christian

                                                         iii.      I am Baptist

                                                          iv.      I am believer’s rights

                                                             v.      I am one’s right to access God

                                                          vi.      I am your right to choose Christ yourself

                                                        vii.      I am the opposite of proxy religion

                                                      viii.      I am the democratization of faith

                                                          ix.      I am a movement of the people of God

                                                             x.      I am your obligation of ministry

II.                  Looking at the Origin of Priesthood of Believers

a.       Origin in biblical teaching

                                                              i.      From Hebrew noun “kohen”—accepted meaning from the verb “to stand.”  Used over 700 times in Old Testament

                                                            ii.      Key Old Testament passage—Exodus 19:4-6 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.  Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then  out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.  . . . You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a  holy nation.”

1.      Moses was leading them to God’s will.

2.      They were on the verge of entrance.

3.      But first, they had to deal with a thing called “relationship” covenant.

4.      It was an invitation to the entire nation to become priests.

b.      Continuation in New Testament—

                                                              i.      Greek word for priest is “hiereus.”  Used in Gospels and Acts to describe the religious leadership of Israel; One reference to “priest of Zeus,” Acts 14:13.

                                                            ii.      Various New Testament passages referring to the priesthood of believers.

1.      I Peter 2:5, “You . . . are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.”

2.      I Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

3.      Revelation 1:5-6. “To him who loves us . . . and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve . . . God.”

4.      Revelation 5:9-10, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.”

5.      Revelation 20:6, “. . . but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

c.       Expression in the early church

                                                              i.      Believers applied Exodus 19:6 to themselves.

                                                            ii.      Drew strength from texts relating priesthood to Christ.

1.      “Hiereus” refers to Christ

2.      Hebrews 4:14, “great high priest.”

3.      Hebrews 7:14, “offered up himself.”

                                                         iii.      They understood that New Testament priest never referred to specialized clergy.

d.        A development in history changed the meaning of priesthood.

                                                              i.      Priesthood was clericalized!  Example, Mennonites in Transylvania began looking from their own fellowship for the next pastor.

1.      Clergy/laity came to be.

2.      Equality gave way to hierarchy.

3.      Then came celibacy to intensify.

                                                            ii.      Grace was sacramentalized!

1.      With the separation and exaltation of the professional clergy.

2.      Only they could dispense favors—baptism, Lord’s Supper.

3.      Sacramental faith replaced personal faith.

                                                         iii.      Church was institutionalized.

1.      Church became a place to go.

2.      Called to serve, many became spectators.

e.         From the Reformation on:

                                                              i.      Revolt came under such men as Zwingli, Luther, Calvin.

                                                            ii.      It was based upon a belief in justification by faith.

                                                         iii.      Luther’s emphasis.

1.      Before God all Christians have the same standing . . . through faith.

2.      Each Christian is a priest and needs no mediator save Christ.

3.      Each Christian is a priest and has an office of sacrifice, not the Mass but the dedication of himself.

4.      Each Christian has a duty to hand on the gospel which he himself has received.

                                                          iv.      The contemporary Baptist position.

1.      The necessity for each person to make his or her own commitment to Christ.

2.      The understanding of the church as a community of believers.

3.      The affirmation of the priesthood of all believers.

a.       Freeman Baptist World Alliance 1905 (essential) “the sovereignty of Christ, accompanied by . . . the complete and consistent recognition  of His personal, direct and undelegated authority over . . . souls . . . men.”

b.      E.Y. Mullins “Axions of Religion”2—historic significance of Baptists?? “The competency of the soul in religion.”

c.       Truett—“Keystone truth of the Baptists.”

d.      Norman W. Cox, “We Southern Baptists”—distinctive—“redeemed personality ministering under the Lordship of Christ.”

Conclusion

            Call attention to teaching posters.  Ask class to single out one special one and comment on it.

            Distribute printed copy of pretest and ask class to complete it for the next session.

            Call attention to the outline (Cel #4).  Session Two will cover chapters 2/3 “The Priesthood of the Believers and the Bible/Salvation.”

1Edge, F. (1985). The Doctrine of the Laity.  Convention Press.      

2Mullins, E.Y. (1908).  The Axioms of Religion.  American Baptist Publication Society.  

Edge:     https://www.amazon.com/Doctrine-Laity-Findley-B-Edge/dp/B000NSLECC/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1F6BGEAJRAE1I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6SmY1Bskp2qxrV8odPWtqL1kplMStdVz1ldKg2FcJgJ3kat750pTQVwVG_8oWbF8Zob7a9BR-h4_WPKEU7qGxM50Zwk_7bAEDHnGOEER4WQz6Uh80NOHZDX0z7yBFeySzm8sT-DOR_sk029MfGI8_EIEgTRkgaeB_dkcs4MChJQ.NvYu6-xatGNl5ntVM6zUKUtMgI7s9yEN-YImQz9rgcw&dib_tag=se&keywords=findley+b+edge&qid=1743776168&sprefix=findley+edge%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-7

Mulllins:  https://archive.org/details/axiomsofreligion01mull_0/page/8/mode/2up

PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND SALVATION

#848                     PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND SALVATION

Scripture  Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6, NIV                                                   Orig. May 14, 1988

Passage:

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Titus 3:5-6

5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior….

Purpose:  Continuing a Church Training study on the Priesthood of the Believer, here relating our understanding to salvation.

Keywords:                              Doctrine                     Priesthood

Timeline/Series:         Baptist Beliefs

Introduction

            Display Cel #6 “We are a holy and royal priesthood with the calling to worship and to witness.  Our priesthood had origins in the Old Testament and is rooted in Christ, the Great High Priest.”
            The above is a link to previous study unit.  Briefly refer to the three-part outline:  The Jewish Priesthood; The High Priesthood of Jesus; and The Priesthood of Believers.  See if there are any comments or questions related to this prior study.

            Display Cel #2.  Underline Chapter 3.  We will major this evening on the ways that the Priesthood of the Believer relates to salvation.  Display the three-part outline of this chapter (Cel #7).

                        The Equality of Access to Salvation

                        The Personal Nature of Grace

                        The Voluntary Nature of Faith

Use Cel #7a as a kind of overview of this triumvirate.  “Every person has the privilege of uncoerced personal access to God’s grace through Jesus Christ.” 

            Pass out the seven question cards.  Responses!

1.      How do the four gospels reveal Jesus as being available to all persons?

2.      Who helped you come to trust Christ as your Saviour?

3.      Do all persons have equality of access to God’s grace for salvation?  What about those who’ve never heard?

4.      Explain:  “Salvation is not church by church, community by community, or nation by nation.  It is lonely soul by lonely soul.”

5.      Explain (Martin Luther): “Before God all Christians have the same standing.”

6.      Dr. Shurden1  points out that Jesus’ love was a barrierless love.  Do you have a problem loving certain people?

7.      What are some ways people try to substitute for the gospel?

I.                    The Equality of Access to Salvation.  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

A.     The gospel thus portrays Jesus.  Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Heavy laden—referred to animal loads. John 12:32, “I, when I am lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”

All men without exception?

All without distinction?

B.     Mullins “religious axiom.”

1-Equal access

2-The inalienable right of every soul to deal with God for itself.

3-Article in Friday paper (NSW 5-13-1988).  Interview with Marilyn Vos Savant—identified herself as agnostic.  Would be more open to a God defined in terms of one world religion.

4-Equality of access to God’s grace for salvation is not rooted in human capability.  God is sovereign; His sovereignty can accept a wide corridor of human understanding or a narrow one.

C.     A definition of salvation.

1-Greek—soteria—health, wholeness:  Health as to fragmented bodies; wholeness as to fragmented relations; salvation as to fragmented spirits.

2-Salvation is God’s act on behalf of our helplessness.

D.     A longer look at Ephesians 2:11-22

1-A man-made distinction:  circumcised v. uncircumcised.

2-These distinctions are broken down in Christ.  Actually, Hebrews were divided from each other.  Courts of: Gentiles, Women, Israel, Priests; but even they were restricted from inner portion.  But Christ brought deliverance alike to all.  Ephesians 2:17, “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.   For through him we both have access. . . .”   Access: to bring to.

E.       Examining Jesus breaking down barriers.

Luke 6:15 Zealot—political distinction

Luke 19:5 Zacchaeus—religious distinction

John 4:27 Woman at the Well—sexual distinction

Mark 7:26 Syrophoenician—racial distinction

Matthew 8:10 Centurion—national distinction

Matthew 11:19 Sinners—social distinction

II.        The Personal Nature of Grace.  I John 1:2, “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”

A.      Thus, grace is God acting  to make Himself known where otherwise He would not be known.

1.      “Eternal life” is another reference to salvation.

2.      He is making this truth known to those whose it is.

Apocalypsis—is an unveiling

Phaneroo—is personal revelation

B.     God’s intervention in history was: personal, relational, individualistic.  John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  Matthew 1:23, “Emmanuel”—God with us.

C.     Dealing with a persistent heresy—gnosticism.

1.      Its teachings—Matter is evil/spirit is good.  Salvation was through secret knowledge.

2.      Dealing with it—Jesus was a real person with a real body. He sought to touch lives relationally.  Salvation is through faith in a personal Saviour. It can only be accomplished one person at a time.

3.      Proxies have no entrées to grace.

III.       The Voluntary Nature of Faith.  Exodus 19:8, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.”  Luke 15:11-24 story of the prodigal: without reading all recall that shepherd went for sheep/woman searches for lost coin/the father can only wait until the son chooses to return.

A.     What is at stake?

1.      Freedom

2.      Soul competency

3.      Love cannot be forced.

4.      Conversion can only be by conviction, not by compulsion.

B.     What we can therefore conclude:

1.      Mass evangelism is not a true concept.  Billy Graham early went to train counselors, on site, to pair off with people making decision, even in films.

2.      There can be no proxy salvation.  Parents can not baptize an infant and assume that opens the door to faith.

3.      A state church has always fallen into the pattern of coercive action.  Even in early American life it emerged.  Roger Williams, a Puritan himself, was banished from his Massachusetts church for soul competency. Read p.290 (S3).

4.      The primacy of the individual is never to be so magnified as to produce anarchy.

5.      And the opposite is true as well.  The individual must never be treated as without private worth.

6.      Freedom to express one’s own views must be seen to be inviolate.  “No person . . . shall be in any wise molested, . . . for any differences of opinion (that) . . . do not actually disturb the civil peace . . . colony.”

7.      Changes worldwide can only happen one person at a time.

Conclusion

            Avoid truth by substitution: proxy—infant baptism.

            Avoid truth by addition: Judaizers—become Jews to become Christians.

            Avoid truth by subtraction: humanists—would dispense with sin.

            Avoid truth by multiplication: works—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.

Shurden,Walter  https://www.amazon.com/Baptist-Identity-Four-Fragile-Freedoms/dp/188083720X

Lewis, C.S.  Books - Official Site | CSLewis.com

1Shurden, W.B. (1993).  The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. (14th Edition). Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.

COVETOUSNESS REDEFINED

#299                                     COVETOUSNESS REDEFINED

Scripture  Exodus 20:17, Luke 12:13-21, NIV                                                      Orig. 8/21/1966

                                                                                                                             Rewr. 10/28/1984

Passage:

Exodus 20:17

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Purpose: To conclude a series of messages on The Ten Commandments, this one redefining a positive thrust to “desire for” what is good.

Keywords:      Covetousness             Holy Spirit Gifts        Series, Ten Commandments

Timeline/Series:         Sequential

Introduction

            I stood one day looking upon a woodland scene that is etched still upon my memory.  The characters in the drama in miniature that unfolded before  my eyes that day were a colony of ants.  They were busy about those things that seem almost mechanical with such creatures.  I was reminded then and now of that passage from The Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 30:25), “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” 

            As I watched the busy activity at my feet that day, I wondered  how many hundreds were passing under my gaze, and how many thousands of others that I could not see, all of which had one common goal.  They were moving with unhurried pace, toward or away from the place that was their single destination.  There was one sure sign of where home was.  It was noted by the direction of those laboring under a burden.

            I was fascinated by the trail over which they travelled.  The woodland carpet had been worn nearly three quarters of an inch deep by their busy feet.  Here was evidence of insatiable desire for food.  Not by the wildest stretch of one’s imagination,  however, could this be called covetousness.

            Less than a mile away I had on numerous pastoral visits encountered another, though much larger, trail worn through a carpet of grass.  It was worn by a collie named Prince as he roamed inside a fenced yard, barking at and chasing everything that appeared to his searching eye.  That unreasoned longing more closely defines what God’s Word speaks of as covetousness.

I.          A Negative Notification.  V17, “Ye shall not covet your neighbor’s house; ye shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,  nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

1.      The command first speaks of property.

a.       Note that this command takes a direction that the others do not.  It is self-limited. 

b.      The word “covet” means “inordinate desire.”

c.       Eve—“Do not eat”—Satan challenged her at the point that God was saving the good one for Himself.  She looked, she lingered, she longed, she listened, she lost.

d.      Lot—While Abram built an altar, Lot (Genesis 13:12) was said to be “pitching his tent toward Sodom.”

2.      The command secondly speaks of coveting the person of another.

a.       It speaks as the 7th, at the point of sensual desire.  Jesus enlarges on this to remind us that such begins with a look.

b.      We remember well the story of David.  I Samuel 17—a man of greatness—through II Samuel 10,  II Samuel 11—obituary—“From the roof he saw” his sin, death of Uriah, encounter with Nathan, the child’s death, Absalom’s rebellion.

c.       This also speaks, as the 8th, at the point of personal gain.  Recall Laban—When Abram’s servant went to find a wife for Isaac, Laban “saw the earrings and bracelets that had been given to Rebecca and he went to fetch the man.”

II.         A Positive Promise. Luke 12:31, “Seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.”  I Corinthians 12:31, “Covet earnestly the best gifts, and yet I show you a more excellent way.”

1.      It is the positive promise of a job to be done, a task to be accomplished.

a.       Every person should have free and equal access to labor.  The biggest problem facing the next President is jobs.  Louisiana has unemployment from 4% to 14%.  The chief concern of governors, legislators, and police juries ought to be jobs.  God to Adam “by the sweat of your brow you will earn your bread.”  Proverbs 30:25, “The ants are a people not strong.  Yet they prepare their meat in the summer.”

b.      Any sin of coveting here, is in coveting not to work.

c.       It is certainly not a sin to covet a place of responsibility in your church.  The best performance of tasks is always by people who desire those tasks.

2.      It is the positive promise of family.

a.       Can there be higher or nobler thinking than to COVET family.  Two people in committed love.  A thousand when God’s love sustains. 

b.      We are told that there was a tribe in New Mexico  who had no word in their language for love.  Translators struggled with John 3:16.  Nearest word was similar to “heartburn.”  “God so hurt in His heart.”

3.      The positive promise of a faith to share.

a.       The teaching of Jesus is clear.  “Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”  This is uncommon desire.  But it is not inordinate.  In John 6:27 Jesus told a parable of a pearl of great price.  “When he found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”  Such covetousness is allowed.  Nay, rather, it is expected and demanded.

b.      The teachings of God’s Word contain no other message.  I Corinthians 12:31 “Covet the best gifts.”  I Corinthians 14:39, “Covet to prophesy.”  Psalm 51, “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Conclusion

            Tell the story from childhood of desire to have as Fuller Callaway, III, had.  Call attention to the fact that while still a young man, having lived his life in luxury, [he died a suicide].

THE SAD, SIMPLE SIN OF ADULTERY

#286                              THE SAD, SIMPLE SIN OF ADULTERY

Scripture  Exodus 20:14, Matthew 5:27-28 NIV                                     Orig. 7/10/1966, 2/1976

                                                                                                                               Rewr. 7/17/1989

Passage:

Exodus 20:14

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:27-28

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Purpose: Continuing a series on the ten commandments, here defining the sin of adultery as the abuse  of human sexuality.

Keywords:      Adultery         Love                Marriage         Sexuality         Series, 10 Commandments

Timeline/Series:         Sequential

Introduction

            If you could decide for everyone of what human sexuality ought to consist, what would you decide?  If your marriage were to become the touchstone, would our society be better off for it?

            The most significant human relationship on this earth is that which  exists between a man and a woman who have shared fully of themselves with each other.  To share fully, means to share in perpetuity.  Significance is determined by two lives interwoven with the fabric of eternity.

            It was popular a generation ago, but was indicative of fleshly pursuits rather than spiritual acumen:

“Though our love may vanish with the morning light,

We loved once in splendor, how tender the night.”

Today’s lyrics are far more vulgar and suggestive.  The goal of the entertainment industry today is to make the lifestyle of its proponents the standard for all.

            Christians do not have a choice.  We are not free to choose the kind of sexuality that we will employ.  Song of Solomon (3:5) contains an intriguing directive.

“I adjure you, O daughter of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds of the fields, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it pleases.”

            It addresses the vulnerability of sexuality.  To love always means to be vulnerable.  It means to face the trauma of what may jeopardize love.  Human spirituality is the resource through which we see the enemies to such love and by opposing, end them.

I.          The Sin Addressed in the Seventh Commandment is That of Adultery. 

1.      Its principal infraction is within the bounds of marriage.  Matthew 19:5, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh.”

a.       “Cleave,” by the way, means “to join fast together, to cement.”

b.      Marriage is a firm, fast, part of the plan of God.  It was so in the beginning.  Jesus affirms its longevity.

c.       It is the fullest expression of human sexuality. 

                                                                          i.      Not to be learned in Hollywood.  The music video scene prostitutes its meaning.  To follow the world’s way is to be adrift on a sea of passion.

                                                                        ii.      The Victorian church is partly responsible.  The abusive dogma of sex for procreation only is as offensive as promiscuity.

                                                                     iii.      It is the physical, mental, spiritual sharing of a man and a woman in every dynamic of life.

2.      Biblical adultery, however, is more than the breakdown of marriage. 

a.       It is defined as well as premarital sexual experimentation.  Deuteronomy 22 defines a long list of sexual infractions.  For these improprieties, death was often the sentence.  Marriage was an alternative if both were single.  There has to be a better beginning.

b.      Nothing is as simple as it used to be.  Valentine Day was celebrated on the frontier by leaving a cryptographic message, stamping on the porch, and hiding to watch the object of this flirtation to see her reaction upon deciphering the message.  Even if people had porches, I would not advise stamping on them in the middle of the night.

c.       What we Christians must always remember is that we can’t teach what we don’t live.  The Grapes of Wrath sizzled forty years ago.  It hardly raises an eyebrow today.  There are a lot of mothers out there who have caved in and just teach their daughters about the pill.

d.      The young person who navigates this sea of promiscuity has had excellent example, exemplary teaching, and probably has good genes besides.  It is worth the wait.  But marriage is made of more than innocence.

II.         We Are Not Hard-Pressed to Certify the Wrong of Adultery.

1.      It is wrong in the first place, because God’s Word says so.

a.       There are those who say it is a question for consenting adults.  Kinsey refers to sexuality as “biologic function.”  It is that in lower animals.  Do you wish it to be no more for humans?

b.      Trull calls man the “superorganic creation,” meaning that his sexuality is unlike other created orders.

c.       There are theologians who confuse the issue.  They are of the “new morality.”  Basically, this is the old immorality given acceptance.  Biblically, morally, humanly, sex is uniquely tied to marriage. It is climax and consummation of union.

Charlie Brown stood transfixed considering the hill just out of town.  “What’s on the other side?” he mused.  “What if there’s a kid over there looking over here wondering what’s on the other side?”  Lucy yells out, “Forget it kid.”

Christians survey the landscape of sexuality.  Some struggle to the top of the hill because it’s there, asking “What if?”  They toboggan to the bottom, crash on all the clutter.  Look back asking, “What if?”

2.      For the Christian, God’s Word is enough, but how do we convince an unbelieving world?

a.       Sexual misconduct is harmful.  Not because Father Time says so, or some zealous evangelist.  Perverted love is lust, and lust distorts the capacity for caring.  Sex becomes “What I can do for me,” and nothing else.

b.      It is harmful for pathological reasons.  Such diseases have always been around.  The new kid on the block is AIDS.  Newsweek reports that CDC will soon announce 100,000 cases, 54,000 deaths—Nearly as many as killed in Vietnam.

c.       Abortion is a social concern, but it is directly related to sexual misconduct.

III.       A Final Word Must Be Said of Judgment.  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

1.      This means that there are moral implications. 

a.       There is no satisfaction being only a dispenser of accusations.

b.      Openness to discuss such things means little if there are no alternatives. Two monkeys were on their way to the moon.  One says, “This is a heck of a way to make a living.”  The other responded, “You remember, they offered you cancer research.”

2.      For the guilty, there is the alternative of forgiveness.  It begins [by] recognizing God’s sovereignty.   For best results it should involve the offended spouse.  One must be capable of forgiving oneself as well.

3.      To deny the forgiveness factor is to play Russian roulette with our emotions.  James 1:15, “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  Romans 1:24, “Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts.”

4.      A final word, then, to the inexperienced.

a.       Keeping God’s command is reasonable.

b.      Not only is it best, it is possible.

c.       Cultivate clean thinking: avoid unseemly, sexually explicit situations.

d.      Accept the high ideal of Christ and trust Him for Holy Spirit help.

e.       Don’t complicate others’ lives by gossip, even when you know it’s true.