Sermons from 2020
Saints’ Internal Responsibilities
(“What am I supposed to do as a member?”)
I. This study focuses on the particular responsibilities of church members as a church.
A. We have corporate public responsibilities that all are obliged to perform.
B. We have mutual individual responsibilities in relating one to another.
C. Some have special responsibilities, such as pastors or deacons (where called for).
D. All are to have a service mentality. MAT 20:25-27; GAL 5:13; 2TI 2:24 c/w 2CO 4:5.
1. Those who love...
I. The invisible God and Creator has revealed Himself by three means.
A. General revelation in nature. ROM 1:20 c/w PSA 19:1; ACT 14:17.
1. Nature only reveals His existence and power (creative and destructive).
2. Nature does not reveal His purpose or will, nor does it reveal specifics about sin,
forgiveness, reconciliation, the afterlife, etc.
3. Nature’s message is subject to ambiguous interpretation, as is evident by the variety
of superstitions derived from natural phenomena.
4. Nature is a brok...
Saints’ Internal Responsibilities
(“What am I supposed to do as a member?”)
I. This study focuses on the particular responsibilities of church members as a church.
A. We have corporate public responsibilities that all are obliged to perform.
B. We have mutual individual responsibilities in relating one to another.
C. Some have special responsibilities, such as pastors or deacons (where called for).
D. All are to have a service mentality. MAT 20:25-27; GAL 5:13; 2TI 2:24 c/w 2CO 4:5.
1. Those who love...
Saints’ Internal Responsibilities
(“What am I supposed to do as a member?”)
I. This study focuses on the particular responsibilities of church members as a church.
A. We have corporate public responsibilities that all are obliged to perform.
B. We have mutual individual responsibilities in relating one to another.
C. Some have special responsibilities, such as pastors or deacons (where called for).
D. All are to have a service mentality. MAT 20:25-27; GAL 5:13; 2TI 2:24 c/w 2CO 4:5.
1. Those who love...
Saints’ Internal Responsibilities
(“What am I supposed to do as a member?”)
I. This study focuses on the particular responsibilities of church members as a church.
A. We have corporate public responsibilities that all are obliged to perform.
B. We have mutual individual responsibilities in relating one to another.
C. Some have special responsibilities, such as pastors or deacons (where called for).
D. All are to have a service mentality. MAT 20:25-27; GAL 5:13; 2TI 2:24 c/w 2CO 4:5.
1. Those who love...
Am I Saved?
1. This study concerns the eternal (not temporal) salvation of sinners.
2. It should be a matter of concern to believers.
A. All men are sinners and are deserving of eternal damnation. ROM 3:9, 23.
B. Relatively few are God’s children. MAT 22:14; LUK 13:23-24.
C. Many who think they are God’s children are not. MAT 7:21-23.
D. Considering the horrors of hell heightens this concern. ROM 2:8-9.
3. Being a child of God is a matter of the greatest importance. If we can but know we are children...
I. The invisible God and Creator has revealed Himself by three means.
A. General revelation in nature. ROM 1:20 c/w PSA 19:1; ACT 14:17.
1. Nature only reveals His existence and power (creative and destructive).
2. Nature does not reveal His purpose or will, nor does it reveal specifics about sin,
forgiveness, reconciliation, the afterlife, etc.
3. Nature’s message is subject to ambiguous interpretation, as is evident by the variety
of superstitions derived from natural phenomena.
4. Nature is a brok...
The Parable of the Two Debtors
I. The parable is recorded in MAT 18:23-35.
A. This is a parable pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. As such, it especially applies to
conduct among brethren in the church.
B. It follows on the heels of obvious church instruction in the area of personal offenses.
MAT 18:15-17.
C. It was prompted by Peter's inquiry about the extent or frequency of forgiving an offending brother. MAT18:21-22.
II. In overview, this parable teaches us:
A. we are indebted to God because ...
The Gospel Is Not Involved In Regeneration
I. This study treats of regeneration as an integral part of the eternal salvation of sinners which is the work of God alone and does not depend upon the gospel.
A. regeneration: The action of regenerating; the process or fact of being regenerated; re-creation, re-formation, etc.
B. regenerate: In religious use; to cause to be born again in a spiritual sense; to invest with a new and higher spiritual nature.
II. The condition of man precludes it.
A. The...
1 Timothy 2:1-6
vs. 1-3.
A. Paul here recommends heavenward pleas for all men, particularly for civil authorities.
1. He opens this section with a conjunctive adverbial phrase, “I exhort therefore...,” after
having written about two disciplined brethren. 1TI 1:19-20.
2. There is a connection between rebuked brethren and civil oppression.
JOH 13:21, 25-27; ACT 17:5-8.
3. It is conceivable that Hymenaeus’ and Alexander’s “blasphemy” consisted of a distorted rejection of authority (c/w 1TI 6:1), against...
That Which Works Good
I. This study considers things that work good (particularly for the saint’s soul). ECC 6:3.
A. This touches on the sovereignty of God: His never-thwarted government over all things,
good and evil. PSA 76:10; PRO 16:4.
B. God is in no way the author of sin, nor is He the positive promoter of sin.
JAM 1:13-14; JER 19:5.
1. God never makes a person sin. The responsibility of sin is always attributed to the sinner. PRO 5:22; GAL 2:17-18.
2. God never makes a man to lie since, if He ...
I. The invisible God and Creator has revealed Himself by three means.
A. General revelation in nature. ROM 1:20 c/w PSA 19:1; ACT 14:17.
1. Nature only reveals His existence and power (creative and destructive).
2. Nature does not reveal His purpose or will, nor does it reveal specifics about sin,
forgiveness, reconciliation, the afterlife, etc.
3. Nature’s message is subject to ambiguous interpretation, as is evident by the variety
of superstitions derived from natural phenomena.
4. Nature is a brok...
That Which Works Good
I. This study considers things that work good (particularly for the saint’s soul). ECC 6:3.
A. This touches on the sovereignty of God: His never-thwarted government over all things,
good and evil. PSA 76:10; PRO 16:4.
B. God is in no way the author of sin, nor is He the positive promoter of sin.
JAM 1:13-14; JER 19:5.
1. God never makes a person sin. The responsibility of sin is always attributed to the sinner. PRO 5:22; GAL 2:17-18.
2. God never makes a man to lie since, if He ...
I. In these verses, Paul focuses on the attitude which:
A. befits the saint.
B. matures the saint.
C. coheres the church.
D. best emulates Jesus Christ.
1. God's election concentrates on making saints to be like Christ. ROM 8:29
2. The ministry of the word is to form Christ in us. GAL 4:19
3. The saint's plea ought ever to be, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (JOH 3:30)
4. The characteristic of christ which is emphasized here is condescension.
a. condescend: "To come down voluntarily. 2. fig. To com...
About the Twelve Tribes
Question: Do the Hebrews still exist as the historic twelve tribes?
1. This is a complex question because of subtleties of distinction and commonality in the terms, Hebrew, Jew, Israelite. Here is a short overview:
A. Abram is the first identified Hebrew (GEN 14:13) from whom Isaac, Jacob and the
twelve patriarchs came who are the heads of the twelve tribes.
DEU 27:12-13 c/w GEN 49:28.
1. This listing of twelve tribes differs from the list of the twelve tribes which would recei...
That Which Works Good
I. This study considers things that work good (particularly for the saint’s soul). ECC 6:3.
A. This touches on the sovereignty of God: His never-thwarted government over all things,
good and evil. PSA 76:10; PRO 16:4.
B. God is in no way the author of sin, nor is He the positive promoter of sin.
JAM 1:13-14; JER 19:5.
1. God never makes a person sin. The responsibility of sin is always attributed to the sinner. PRO 5:22; GAL 2:17-18.
2. God never makes a man to lie since, if He ...
That Which Works Good
I. This study considers things that work good (particularly for the saint’s soul). ECC 6:3.
A. This touches on the sovereignty of God: His never-thwarted government over all things,
good and evil. PSA 76:10; PRO 16:4.
B. God is in no way the author of sin, nor is He the positive promoter of sin.
JAM 1:13-14; JER 19:5.
1. God never makes a person sin. The responsibility of sin is always attributed to the sinner. PRO 5:22; GAL 2:17-18.
2. God never makes a man to lie since, if He ...
That Which Works Good
I. This study considers things that work good (particularly for the saint’s soul). ECC 6:3.
A. This touches on the sovereignty of God: His never-thwarted government over all things,
good and evil. PSA 76:10; PRO 16:4.
B. God is in no way the author of sin, nor is He the positive promoter of sin.
JAM 1:13-14; JER 19:5.
1. God never makes a person sin. The responsibility of sin is always attributed to the sinner. PRO 5:22; GAL 2:17-18.
2. God never makes a man to lie since, if He ...
(2 Kings 6-7)
I. The name Elisha means “God is salvation.” The power of God to help and save is emphasized in this prophet's life and ministry.
A. He was a prophet in Israel during a time of general darkness and apostasy.
B. He was the successor to the great prophet Elijah, whose translation Elisha had witnessed.
2KI 2:9-15.
C. Some of his dealings with Syrians were for their benefit, a fact about which the Lord Jesus Christ reminded His generation. 2KI 5 c/w LUK 4:27.
D. But Elisha was first and foremost a...
2. Paul had profited (v. 14) in his former religion, which had a tradition of equating gain with godliness and redemption. 1PE 1:18.
A. profit: intr. To make progress; to advance, go forward; to improve, prosper, grow, increase
(in some respect). Obs.
(1) Paul had advanced in the Jews' religion, and it is a general rule that systems
promote those who further their interests, not the interests of something contrary.
a. He had been a Pharisee, “...the most straitest sect of our religion...”
(ACT 26:5). ...
vs. 15-16
1. Paul here sets forth his conversion to Christ from the Jews’ religion and the bondage of sin’s deception.
A. As a Pharisee trusting in his own righteousness to justify him before God, he would have been convinced that he was free. JOH 8:33.
B. But his overlooking of the covetousness that condemned him before God made him also overlook that he was not free. JOH 8:34.
C. “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” (J.W. von Goethe)
Galatians 1-1-17 Page ...
C. “...immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (v. 16).
(1) What need is there for a conference when the instruction is clear and directly from
the Source?
a. “Always drink upstream from the herd. Even the Water of Life is purest
before it has input from a corrupt creation.” (PWB)
b. Corruptible flesh and blood (1CO 15:50) had not revealed the truth to Paul:
his gospel was “...not after man...” (GAL 1:11-12) so why seek confirmation
of men?
c. NOTE: It is a general trend of our nature, whe...
The Strait Gate And Narrow Way
(Matthew 7:13-14)
1. This passage shows us that all ways are NOT equally valid.
A. There are essentially only two ways: the right way and the wrong way.
B. All of God's ways (PSA 119:15) so harmonize as to constitute only one way.
PSA 119:1, 14; JOH 14:6.
C. All of the various ways of error are so many versions of the wrong way; one may as well choose one as the other. JOS 24:14-15.
2. This passage also teaches that the right way is not popular.
3. The right way is str...
I. Christ’s minister is to hold fast and preach the whole counsel of God. ACT 20:27.
A. Scripture addresses many things that are uneasy or delicate but all profitable. ACT 20:20 c/w 2TI 3:16.
B. There is a greater risk from avoiding necessary topics than preaching them, a risk to the saints who need the information and a risk to the preacher for not giving it. 1CO 9:16.
C. It has been a number of years since I have specifically addressed a topic like this.
1. Many in the congregation were little childre...
This is a small extract of a larger series on deception. The
complete series by Pastor Wagner on Deception is also available.
I. Self-deception
1. Deceive v. - 1. trans. To ensnare; to take unawares by craft or guile; to overcome, overreach, or get the better of by trickery; to beguile or betray into mischief or sin; to mislead. Obs. (or arch.) 2. To cause to believe what is false; to mislead as to a matter of fact, lead into error, impose ...
(Luke 16:1-13)
I. The Lord Jesus Christ here instructed His disciples about faithfulness in all things (1TI 3:8-11), uncertainties (PRO 27:1), potential loss of stewardship (1CO 9:27), prudence (PRO 22:3), and the difference between being a lover of money (1TI 6:10) and a friend of money (ECC 10:19).
II. Some have interpreted Christ's lesson from the unjust steward as a license for questionable or shady business dealings where practicality may override principle.
A. Purloining (pilfering, misappropriat...
I. The word of God is designed to give knowledge AND discretion. PRO 1:4.
A. discretion: Ability to discern or distinguish what is right, befitting, or advisable, esp. as regards one's own conduct or action; the quality of being discreet; discernment; prudence, sagacity, circumspection, sound judgement.
B. Scripture teaches us not only to pray, but how to pray, what to pray for, and what not to pray for.
C. Instruction is needed in the area of prayer to facilitate discretion. LUK 11:1.
1. “...we know no...
III. Humans are biologically designed by God to begin strong hormonal secretions around the time of adolescence which alter the body’s internal and external functions and external appearance. Concomitantly, the desire for sexual gratification becomes very strong.
A. Materialism asserts that man is no more than matter as animals are no more than matter. Man is just an animal whose “love” is merely sexual desire which is only a natural expression of the flesh and no more. Promiscuity is considered normal.
B...
V. Here are some thoughts on physical affection and dating.
A. Physical affection (as distinct from dispassionate physical contact like a fist bump or karate kick to the head) is to be an expression of love. SON 1:2.
B. It is questionable, at least, for physical affection to be expressed in simple social dating because no real love is involved at the outset.
1. Undiscerning physical affection can easily become an excuse for carnal pleasure without regard to lasting commitment. Remember ROM 13:14.
2....
F. What Paul experienced in conversion and suffering gave rest, comfort and growth to the
churches. ACT 9:30-31.
(1) God knows that seasons of relief are needed. 1PE 5:10.
(2) Seasons of peace should promote the building of God’s house. 1CH 22:9-10.
(3) Seasons of challenge need not halt the building of God’s house.
EZR 4:23-24; 5:1-2 c/w HAG 1:2-4.
(4) The word of God (by which the house of God is built numerically and spiritually) is to be advanced in all seasons. 2TI 4:2.
vs. 21-24.
1. Having escaped Je...
I. Definitions.
A. race: A group of persons, animals, or plants, connected by common descent or origin. 1. a.
The offspring or posterity of a person; a set of children or descendants. Chiefly poet. 2. a. A limited group of persons descended from a common ancestor; a house, family, kindred. b. A tribe, nation, or people, regarded as of common stock. c. A group of several tribes or peoples, regarded as forming a distinct ethnical stock. d. One of the great divisions of mankind, having certain physical peculia...
Chapter 2
The first half of this chapter is Paul's account of the great church council at Jerusalem (ACT 15). That council convened because of the Judaizers’ infiltration of the Antioch church (ACT 14:26 – 15:2). It was for the express purpose of deciding what aspects of Mosaic law and ritual, (particularly circumcision) should be binding upon Gentile Christians and whether they should be conditions for eternal justification. Thus, its determinations had a direct application to the Galatians. Paul's gospel ...
B. Regrettably, false prophets/teachers all too often find reservoirs prepared to receive their polluting doctrine. The unstable, morally weak and the disaffected are drawn to the tune of these Pied Pipers. 2PE 2:14; 2TI 4:2-4.
C. Heretics (those who openly advance contrary doctrine) must be warned before rejection.
TIT 3:10.
(1) They may be ignorantly advancing heresy and only need compassionate correction.
(2) But if they insist on opposing the truth (and themselves), they must be identified as hereti...
I. Society is going through a period of great challenge: pandemic fears, civil unrest, violent protests, iconoclasm, erasure of history, abrogation of law and order, popularizing of anti-liberty politics, etc.
A. This is to be expected when society abandons the fear of God. PSA 9:17.
1. The effects of godlessness are very tangible. ISA 59:9-15; 2CH 15:3-6.
2. True religion’s operations are very essential.
B. The church is a kingdom/nation not of this world which dare not follow suit.
JOH 18:36; ROM 14:17;...
V. As bleak as the civil forecast was in His day, Jesus also gave clear instruction to believers how to process it and all other trials.
A. He commanded, “Let not your heart be troubled...” (JOH 14:1).
1. Christ would not have said this if it were impossible to do.
2. The heart must be guided and kept. PRO 23:19; 4:23.
3. Unfettered emotion is the character of madding crowds that would “cancel” the just for the sake of their manipulators (ACT 19:28-32) but believers should not be so manipulate...
IV. The notion of a superior race in relationship to God’s righteousness has no biblical basis.
A. The Jews laid heavy emphasis on descent from Abraham (JOH 8:33, 39) but the Holy Spirit negates such a confidence. MAT 3:9.
1. Paul had pure tribal descent from Benjamin (one of the twelve patriarchs of Israel) but affirmed that such a heritage was an inconsequential relic. PHIL 3:4-7.
2. Paul loved his countrymen dearly but knew their race or national identity were no guarantees of exemption from righteous...
A. (1TI 3:16) And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, received up into glory.
1. Paul declares the essence of Christian religion which sets it apart from all other religious systems or philosophies: God became man by an act of His will.
2. All false systems ultimately teach that man becomes God through an act of his will.
a. That proposition was used as an appeal to spiritually alive si...
3. The events of the Jerusalem council were important and relevant to Paul’s letter. ACT 15:6-29.
A. Peter reminded the church that when he first was sent to the house of Cornelius, God made it very clear to him and his Jewish companions that He had His children among the Gentiles (ACT 15:6-9). God demonstrated His acceptance of believing, uncircumcised (and as yet unbaptized) Gentiles as brethren by giving the Holy Ghost to them as He had done to the Jewish believers at Pentecost. ACT 10:34-35, 44-45; 11:...
4. As Paul rehearses the determination of the Jerusalem council, he refers to James, Peter (Cephas, JOH 1:42) and John as pillars. v. 9.
A. Pillars are prominent supports in great structures. So it is with the apostles. EPH 2:20; REV 21:14.
B. The man who walks by faith will be made a pillar in God's house. 1JO 5:4-5 c/w REV 3:12; JER 1:18.
C. It is a comfort to the faithful who overcome temptations and trials that, as in times past, the King stands by the pillar. 2KI 11:14; 23:3; ACT 27:23; 2TI 4:17; MAT 2...
1. A foolish child is a great grief. PRO 10:1; 15:20; 17:21, 25.
A. foolish: Fool-like, wanting in sense or judgement.
B. fool: One deficient in judgement or sense, one who acts or behaves stupidly, a silly person, a simpleton. (In Biblical use applied to vicious or impious persons.)
C. Debating or reasoning with a foolish person yields no rest. PRO 29:9.
2. God, the perfect Parent, has rebellious children. ISA 1:2-5.
A. Who would dare deem God a failure as a parent?
B. If the perfect Parent has rebellious ...
I. This scripture contains Israel’s great benediction (The utterance of a blessing; solemn invocation of blessedness upon a person; devout expression of a wish for the happiness, prosperity, or success of a person or enterprise).
A. This was instruction to the priests (Aaron and his sons) to bless Israel.
B. It was a putting on Israel the name of the LORD.
C. What the priests would utter in blessing, God would accordingly bless. v. 27.
D. Mind that this was not a matter of priests telling God what to do so ...
vs. 15-21.
1. Paul here says to Peter, “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,” (v. 15).
A. Paul is certainly not insinuating that Jews have no sin. c/w ROM 3:9.
B. A contrast is simply being drawn between the Jews to whom pertained the adoption, glory, covenants, law, and promises (ROM 9:4) and the late-comer Gentiles who were “...graffed in among them...” (ROM 11:17) and were spiritually Jews. ROM 2:28-29.
(1) The gospel was first to the Jews informing them of Christ’s justifying work...
F. Thus, saints should desire to BE found in Him having a righteousness “...which is through the faith of Christ” (PHIL 3:9), not their own faith (which is a law-work). EPH 2:8-9.
(1) Compare desire “...to BE found in Him...” (PHIL 3:9) with “...we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might BE justified by the faith of Christ...” (GAL 2:16).
a. Compare the use of the word “be” in GAL 2:16-17 with “be” in 2CO 6:14-18; MAT 5:44-45.
b. These texts are obviously not setting forth conditions to procure sonship...
I. For purposes of this study, the word “sinner” refers to non-elect, unregenerate persons whereas “saint” refers to elect, regenerate persons.
II. Sinners neither do good nor can do good. ROM 3:9-12.
III. Yet Scripture cites numerous examples of sinners choosing good things.
A. Consider the scribes and Pharisees, who were not eternally saved. MAT 23:33.
1. Yet they tithed, which is a good thing commanded in the law of Moses. MAT 23:23.
2. They practiced the rite of circumcision which was given by Moses. ...
(1 John 2:18-25)
A. John warns believers about present antichrists and a future antichrist.
1. The prefix, “anti” means: opposite, against, in exchange, instead, representing, rivalling, simulating.
2. The future antichrist will simulate and rival the true Christ. c/w 2TH 2:1-12
3. The future antichrist is called the man of sin, the son of perdition, and that Wicked.
a. Judas Iscariot is called the son of perdition. JOH 17:12
b. Like Judas Iscariot, the antichrist is led by the devil. LUK 22:3-6
c. L...
D. Much is being made today of “white privilege.”
1. Caution is here needed since the dominance of Western Civilization in the world is at least partially owing to the Spirit of God in directing the gospel of Jesus Christ to regions of light-skinned people.
2. Some of the so-called “privilege” is owing to the effects of the gospel in subduing men’s minds to the love of God and of neighbor.
3. The real issue is not skin but sin. Men will answer to God for their hatred of Jesus Christ, His gospel, His sove...
6. In vs. 19-21, Paul emphasizes the fact that the law, with all of its ineffective sacrifices, ordinances and impossible requirements (ACT 15:10; GAL 3:10; HEB 10:1-4) had served its purpose, and its purpose was never to produce the righteousness of God in sinners.
A. Sinners might be credited with righteousness for acts of righteousness that conformed to God’s law (DEU 6:24-25) but a nature of sin interrupted by occasional acts of righteousness is NOT the righteousness of God Who “...is righteous in AL...
I. Definitions.
A. envy: trans. To feel displeasure and ill-will at the superiority of (another person) in happiness, success, reputation, or the possession of anything desirable; to regard with discontent another's possession of (some superior advantage which one would like to have for oneself).
B. covetousness: 1. Strong or inordinate desire (of). Obs. 2. Inordinate and culpable desire of possessing that which belongs to another or to which one has no right.
C. emulate: 1. trans. Of persons: To strive ...
V. Beware the evil eye of envy that sees the advantage of another and cannot abide by it. MAT 6:23; 20:15.
A. Saul’s envy was noted by, “...And Saul eyed David...” (1SAM 18:8-9).
B. “Envy is the devil’s eye, as hypocrisy is the devil’s cloven foot.” (Unknown)
C. Beware of the “unfair” claim when it comes to God’s expectations or favor. JOH 21:20-22.
D. Envy of the valid advantage of another (the favor of God, success by merit, inheritance, etc.) is one thing. But it is especially vain to be envious ...
I. love: That disposition or state of feeling with regard to a person which (arising from recognition of attractive qualities, from instincts of natural relationship, or from sympathy) manifests itself in solicitude for the welfare of the object, and usually also in delight in his or her presence and desire for his or her approval; warm affection, attachment.
II. Preliminary thoughts.
A. Why should you care if God loves you or not, as long as He lands you in heaven for eternity?
1. You would be ali...
H. Some science has it figured out.
1. Researchers who put together a draft of the entire sequence of the human genome, “...unanimously declared, there is only one race---the human race...If you ask what percentage of your genes is reflected in your external appearance, the basis by which we talk about race, the answer seems to be in the range of .01 percent.” (Natalie Angier, Do Races Differ? Not Really, DNA Shows, NYT 8-22-2000)
2. “The genetic variation within each of the various ethnic groups of Homo...
Chapter 3
Having reminded them of the doctrine to which they had been initially converted, the precedent established at the Jerusalem council and the error of Peter at Antioch, Paul now directs his rebuke at the Galatians. In the light of such evidence and their own experience, how could they so easily be drawn into the designs of the Judaizers? It is a concern of the man of God that serious labors to show men the way of truth are received with apparent shallowness and that without constant ...
4. As Paul carries on (v. 2), he poses an obvious question which the Galatians seem to have overlooked: had they received the Spirit by keeping law-works like circumcision or by hearing about Jesus Christ faithfully fulfilling the law for them? Had the Spirit come upon the church under the dispensation of the law/O.T. from Moses or under the dispensation of faith/grace/N.T. from Jesus Christ? JOH 1:14, 17 c/w ROM 3:21.
A. The dispensation of the Law wound down with the dawning of the N.T. gospel ...
vs. 5-9.
1. Continuing on, Paul reminds them that the blessings and ministration of the Spirit which were peculiar to the N.T. gospel church were theirs to enjoy, not by law-works like circumcision, the “do and live” righteousness of Moses’ Law, etc., but by hearing the gospel of Christ and turning submissively to Him. This was the great lesson of ACT 10. He then makes an appropriate comparison with Abraham.
2. v. 5 asks another obvious/rhetorical question: “He therefore that ministereth to you th...
GEN 1:1-3.
God brought forth order out of darkness and disorder in creation.
The grave is a place of darkness and disorder. JOB 10:22.
God will have no trouble at all bringing forth glorious, ordered bodies from the grave at
Christ's return: He knows the process well. PHIL 3:20-21.
Evolutionists generally hold to a spontaneous beginning of life from inanimate matter (life
from the dead) in the distant past which they have ...
VIII. The importance of copies.
A. The first mention of copying concerned the Ten Commandments.
1. The original autograph was smashed. EXO 32:19.
2. God simply replaced it and commanded it to be placed in the ark. DEU 10:1-5.
a. What He wrote was “...according to the first writing...” (v. 4). It was a duplicate or copy that was not to vary from the original.
b. Thus, the rule was laid down for future perpetuation of God’s words. c/w JOS 8:32-35; JER 36:27-28.
B. A copy...
I. The exhortations in this passage should be understood in the context of Christ's other instructions in this sermon on the mountain.
Christ had been presenting the righteousness of God which exceeds the righteousness of
the Scribes and Pharisees. MAT 5:20.
He had just taught that the kingdom of God and His righteousness should be that which we
seek FIRST. MAT 6:33.
Hence, our asking, seeking and knocking should be foremost for God's kingdo...
dung: Excrementitious and decayed matter employed to fertilize the soil; manure. 2. (As constituting the usual manure) The excrement or fæces of animals (rarely of human beings): as cow-dung, horse-dung, pig's-dung, etc.
The Holy Ghost in both testaments uses candid, vulgar and sometimes graphic terms.
All scripture is profitable (2TI 3:16), even the 36 occurrences of dung.
Every word of God is pure. PRO 8:8; 30:5; PSA 119:140.
All sc...
v. 10-14
The law of Moses was a great blessing to its recipients (ROM 3:1-2) but when relied upon to secure eternal justification, it became a curse. v. 10 c/w ROM 3:19.
“under the law” (GAL 3:23; 4:4-5, 21) = “under the curse.”
(1) “under the law” contrasts with “under grace” (ROM 6:14-15), God’s favor freely bestowed without condition upon unworthy, incapable sinners.
(2) Righteousness by the law is a frustration of grace. GAL 1:21.
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