Bible Text: various | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale |

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America’s greatness parallels her acknowledgement, application, and adherence
to certain basic principles of the Judeo-Christian Faith. The philosophy and practice
of our founding fathers was guided by Biblical principles, and we need to vote for
those who hold these principles dear.
1. Sanctity of Human Life…
The Bible condemns murder.
Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder.”
Aborting a baby is murder.
Exodus 21:22-25, “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child
so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined
as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges
decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for
life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound
for wound, bruise for bruise.”
Psalm 139:13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s
womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful
are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your
eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days
that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
America once led the world in upholding the dignity and value of human life; but
today it legalizes the murder of millions of babies through abortion. And so, today
with have a society that shows more concern for the protection of plants, animals,
fish and birds, then it does for that of human life.
2. Marriages and Families…
God ordained that marriage be between a man and a woman.
Genesis 2:21-24, “God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept;
then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God
fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her
to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ For this reason a
man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall
become one flesh.”
Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is
to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Genesis 4:1-2, Now the man [Adam] had relations with his wife Eve, and she
conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, ‘I have gotten a manchild with the
help of the Lord.’ Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel.”
Genesis 5:3, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the
father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”
This was the first family – a husband and wife (who had been made in the image
of God), purposed and provisioned to become a mother and father, in order to fulfill
God’s plan for them to have and to raise their children in accordance with the
principles and precepts God revealed to them.
Ephesians 5:22-25, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For
the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church…
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her.”
Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor
your father and mother’— which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘that it
may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do not
exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of
the Lord” (cf Proverbs 6:20; 23:22, Colossians 3:20).
A society is only as strong and healthy as the individual marriages and families
within that society. Marriage as God ordained it, is the union of one man with one
women, committed to one another in Christ; family as God ordained it, includes the
children given to the man and woman by God, who are to be raised to know and
honor God.
Common law marriages and same-sex unions are not recognized by God as
marriages, and the godless notion that it takes a village to raise a child is an
abomination to God and a detriment to our society and civilization as a whole..
3. Common Decency and Modesty…
Common decency begins with the covering of human body parts that are
associated with male and female sexuality, as was exemplified in the story of
Creation.
Genesis 2:25, “And the man and his wife were both naked, yet not ashamed.”
In Genesis 3:1-19, we are told that a serpent (Satan incarnate, cf. Revelation
12:9; 20:2) deceives Eve into thinking that not only does the forbidden fruit of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil look good, but it will taste good and make
her wise, so she eats it and gives some to Adam. God calls out to them, but they
are afraid, hiding, ashamed of their nakedness. God said, ”Who told you that you
were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
God renders judgement on Adam, Eve, the Serpent, and all of creation.
Genesis 3:21-23, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife
and clothed them. And the LORD God said, ‘The man has now become like one of
Us, knowing good and evil.’”
The loss of human innocence and decency is clearly shown in America today,
where modesty, chastity and abstinence are mocked, while pornography has
flourished and is advertised at our news stands, on television shows and in theaters
where obscenity, profanity, nudity and sex, are popularized.
2Timothy 3:1-5, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers,
disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious
gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of
godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”
God’s people are to live differently than those who reject God.
Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” 5, “For this
you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is
an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” 7-11, “Therefore
do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are
Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all
goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the
Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even
expose them.” 15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but
as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not
be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (cf. Joshua 1:8), “This book
of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then
you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success,” (cf. Romans
12:2), “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect.”
4. God-centered education…
God always intended for Biblical instruction to be given to our children both in
and out of the home, as we teach and model Biblical precepts and principles.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 6–9, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your
heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you
sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and
on your gates.”
Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old
he will not depart from it.”
In the beginning, all the schools in America used the New England Primer as
their text book – every page of this book proclaims God’s sovereignty in creating
and maintaining the heavens, the earth and all that exists.
In the past 50-60 years, God has been removed from the public education
system, prayers to God have been banned at school, and the true history of
America’s founding fathers’ deep reverence for God’s Word is no longer to be found
in text books, but instead has been replaced by secular humanism, resulting in the
lowering of moral standards and academic performance, while increasing violence,
drug & alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies and school drop outs.
5. A Work Ethic…
Since the very early days of creation, when the curse of sin began to bring
consequences to our world and everything in it, man was forced to work for his food
by the labor of his hands and the sweat of his brow.
Genesis 3:17-19, To Adam [God] said, “Because you have listened to the voice of
your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying,
‘You shall not eat from it’; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat
of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread,
till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and
to dust you shall return.”
But even life’s most mundane routines and simplest tasks can bring great joy
and fulfillment to a person who is in a right relationship with God.
There is dignity in a day’s pay for a day’s work, dignity that our welfare system
(which gives something for nothing, expecting nothing in return), has stripped away
from millions of Americans.
America’s free enterprise system, was meant to encourage ambition, incentive,
competition, and hard work, while producing an equitable market for the things we
need; but even so, without God’s blessing no one will find pleasure, fulfillment, or
contentment in their work or the product of their efforts.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink
and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand
of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?”
Ecclesiastes 5:18, “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to
drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the
few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”
Ecclesiastes 6:12, “For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime,
during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who
can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?”
Ecclesiastes 8:15, “So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man
under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him
in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:7, “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with
a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.”
2Thessalonians 3:6-10, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life
and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves
know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an
undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for
it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not
be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in
order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not
willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
6. God’s Covenant People/God’s Church…
Long ago God told Abraham that out of his offspring would come a great nation
of people through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed.
Genesis 12:2-3, “I will make you a great nation… …and I will bless those who
bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the
earth will be blessed.”
God made an eternal covenant with Abraham, to be shared by every true
believer and follower of Christ.
Genesis 17:7, “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your
descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to
be God to you and to your descendants after you” (Galatians 3:29), “And if you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants [offspring or seed], heirs
according to promise [recipients of God’s blessings].”
This new relationship with God is made effectual through a new birth from God.
John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
God wants a people of His very own, a people who will honor and obey Him.
1Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
God established the church, so that His people might know Him, belong to Him,
and serve Him through an eternal spiritual body, of which Christ is the head.
Colossians 1:16-18, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities
—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and
in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church.”
1Corinthians 12:12-14, “For even as the body is one and yet has many
members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body,
so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews
or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 18
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He
desired.” 20 “But now there are many members, but one body.” 27 “Now you are
Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”
7. God’s Civil Government/the State or Nation…
God also established human, civil government.
Romans 13:1, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by
God.”
1Peter 2:13-17, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority
instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to
governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend
those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the
ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a
cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love
the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
And so, we are to pray for the leaders placed over us; but we must obey God’s
Word, first and foremost, above all authorities on earth: Jesus said (Mark 12:17),
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s but give to God what is God’s.”
Ultimately, everything is God’s to do with as He pleases: marriages, families,
churches, communities, institutions and nations; but these will all fail, when God’s
sovereign Word is not acknowledged, revered, and applied!
We live in a post-Christian America where the majority of its citizens are either
aggressively opposed to God or overtly indifferent toward Him.
Peter Marshall, a Scottish-American Preacher, appointed Chaplain to the US
Senate (1947-1949) declared, “The choice before us is plain, Christ or chaos,
conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing
about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come, it now is,
when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship.
America’s future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God’s
government.”
America’s greatness is equal to each of its citizens who acknowledge, apply,
promote and proclaim, God’s plan, purpose, and provision of forgiveness for sins
and eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.
America is in a spiritual crisis that is not going to end well, no matter who is
elected into whatever positions of authority; but we, as servants of God, should
make the effort to find out what each of the candidates believe, and how they have
voted, in reference to God’s guiding principles, as we have studied them today.
Galatians 6:9-10, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will
reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to
all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
We have the privilege in this country to vote for those who may end up having
earthly authority over us; but be assured of this: who you vote for, is not nearly as
important as what you vote for. In the upcoming election, who you vote for must
exemplify the greatest amount of alignment with what you vote for, i.e., the Biblical
principles we have studied here today.
How can you know what a candidate really believes of stands for? Do your
homework, study how they have voted in the past. Get a copy of the Oregon Family
Council’s Voter’s Guide [www.oregonfamilycouncil.org], and see how each candidate
expresses themself concerning the very important issues we are facing today.
As God’s people, as Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ, we are not to vote
based on a candidate being a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, a member
of the Green Party, the Tea Party, the Protest Party or the Pajama Party, we are to
vote as Christians, in alignment with that which pleases God, as has been revealed
in and through the clear teaching of God’s Holy, Eternal, and Sovereign Word.
Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” 23-24, “Whatever you do, do
your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you
serve..”
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1John 2:3-11 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1John 2John 3John | Sunday Morning:
The printable hymn lyrics, bulletin (with Oct Calendar)
and 10:30 am full sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
9.27.20 ~ 1John 2:3-11, The Life and Light of God… (full sermon notes)
 

Read 1John 2:3-6…
“3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

John repeatedly states that those who genuinely know Christ (i.e., Christians) will strive to keep the commands of God. Our obedience illustrates that we are indeed saved

Ephesians 2:10,
“10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

To call yourself a Christian and not seek to do the good works God has prepared for you to do, is to call God a liar (1John 2:3-4).

A person who has truly been saved (1John 2:5-6) will live in a manner that honors the One who has saved them. In other words, if you are a Christian, you will purpose to follow Christ’s example as you live in this world for Him.

God is “light” (1John 1:5, 7) and therefore His people will reflect that light; just as Jesus Christ obeyed the Father, so those who have come to the Father through Christ will follow Christ’s example.

1John 1:5, 7…
“5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

“7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

God gives you His Spirit so that you will have both the capacity, and the capability, to do that which pleases Him, i.e., that which reflects your obedience to the most fundamental command of Christ

(cf. Mark 1:15, 17).
“15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

“”17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Jesus’ by His words and deeds summed up all of that is written in the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus set the example of what real love is, when He took upon Himself our punishment, though He Himself was innocent of any crime. We who have received God’s sovereign payment for sin (cf. 1John 1:9), will want to honor and imitate Him

(cf. 1John 4:7-11).
“7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this 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 also ought to love one another.”

Jesus’ crucifixion is the greatest expression of love the world will ever know; and though Jesus is in heaven, we serve Him here on earth, following His example and obeying His commands.

See John 10:14-18;
“14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.””

John 15:12-17…
“12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.”

Read 1John 2:7-8…
“7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.”

John says he isn’t giving us a new command, but an old one; and yet, he says it is a new command manifested in Christ. What does he mean?

Well, the command that we should love one another has been taught since the events in the Pentateuch took place

Leviticus 19:18,
“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

In Romans 13, Paul gives instruction on how we are to love one another, our neighbor, quoting from Leviticus 19:18, but also from the Decalogue [The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5].

See Romans 13:8-10…
“8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

(the Royal Law, James 2:8).
“8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”

John exhorts us to obey what God commands, for that expresses our Love for God (cf. John 14:15, 21, 23), the biblical word ‘love’ and the word ‘obedience’ are synonymous, i.e., those who love Christ will live in obedience to God’s Word, and they will love others.

John 14:15, 21, 23…
“15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

“21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” ”

“23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Matthew 22:34-40;
“34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.””

Mark 12:28-34
“28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.”

Jesus repeats what the Old Testament teaches about loving others, calling this the Greatest Commandment because it fulfills all the Law and the Prophets.

By His own willful sacrifice to the point of death, Jesus demonstrated how we, God’s people, are to love.

John 13:34-35,
“34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

How did Jesus love us? He died for us, taking our punishment upon Himself

(2Corinthians 5:21),
“21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

But you know, Christ commands us not to just love one another, and love our neighbor, but we are also to love our enemies.

(see Luke 6:27-36).
“27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Our relationship with Christ is reflected in the way we treat others, even our enemies. To “love” someone does not mean we have to “like” them or have good  feelings for them; in fact, we are never commanded in the Bible to “like” someone, but we are commanded to love everyone. You see, God’s love [agapao] is a verb, meaning a willful and intentional act, saying and doing what is necessary or required to be an example of Christ to someone.

The oldness and newness of this commandment about perfect love (1John 2:7-8), is made manifest in and through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior, for He fulfills all the Law of the Old and New Testaments.

(1John2:7-8)
“7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.”

Read 1John 2: 9-11…
“9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

We can say we are Christians, but if we aren’t ‘loving’ others by God’s definition, we are expressing hatred toward them and rebellion toward God. According to God’s definition (1John 3:18), we must “not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

(1John 3:18),
“18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

See Colossians 3:12-17, 23-24;
“12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

“23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

The false teachers of John’s day, like those in our day, claimed to know and to teach Christ; but their actions negated that they had any personal knowledge of, let alone a relationship with, Christ the Lord.

I’m sure you have heard it said that your walk [your way of life] should match your talk; in other words, what you say you believe in your heart should be reflected in how you behave in this life.

Words are cheap, but if you are genuinely saved and living in obedience to God’s Word, it will be plainly seen by the way you treat other people.

Ask yourself, “Are my actions and words toward others reflective of the teachings of the Bible and the character of Jesus Christ?” If your answer is unabashedly “yes,” perhaps you should, if you dare, ask those who know you the best if that is indeed true most of the time.

Is the Light and Life of God being exemplified in and through your life, where others can see it?

Ephesians 5:7-13…
“7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Look at 1John 2:11
“11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

again… There is no middle ground with God, no gray area, nothing hidden in the shadows; everything is to be brought out into the Light of God’s Word; if nothing shines, if nothing shows up, then it is all darkness.  John says, “the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness,” i.e., those who live apart from Christ or in disobedience to His Word are groping around in the darkness with no idea what direction they are going in, because the darkness has blinded them.

We must be witnesses of the message of Christ and we must be coming together to encourage one another toward love and good deeds, in order that we will help the blind to see, and set the prisoners free, as Paul writes in

2Corinthians 4:3-6,
“3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Last week I reiterated that God’s Word, from beginning to end, demonstrates God’s sovereign plan to separate Light from Darkness, forever; darkness exists and is representative of all things that are offensive to God and void of the Life and Light of God.

Genesis 1:1-4,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”

Revelation 22:3-5,
“3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

[Speaking of when the end will come to all things that are under the curse of sin, it says “There will no longer be any curse… …And there will no longer be any night [darkness]; and they [God’s people] will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

1John 1:5-6,
“5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;”

Listen, all those who genuinely belong to Christ will desire to shine the Light of God, by displaying Life from God, as they walk by the Spirit of God, in obedience to the Word of God.

We must each seek to know, to show, and to share the Good News of God’s Word, that everyone who repents of sin and believes in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, for salvation will be saved; and then they will know, and show and share this message with others.

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1John 1:5-7 – 1John 2:2 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1John 2John 3John |  
09-20-2020
Is God’s Light Shining Through You?
1John 1:5-10 & 1John 2:1-2
Last week 1John 1:1-3…
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

We read John’s declaration of what he (and the other Apostles) have seen, heard, and touched in reference to Christ; we also looked at how Jesus is the Word of God, the Creator of All Things, in Him was spiritual life; He became flesh and lived among us, in order to show us and provide for us God’s way of salvation.

John 1:1-4, 14, 18…
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

“14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

John 1:4…
“4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

In Him [God’s Son] was life [zoe – eternal life] and this life was God’s Light [revelation] to men.

John 11:25-26…
“25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

John 14:6…
“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

John 8:12,
“12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ”

Read 1John 1:5-7…
“5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Today’s passage speaks about the Light of God, through which we are able to have fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, because “God is Light.”

John declares what he has personally heard from Christ: “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness.” “Light” is synonymous with God’s character and righteousness, referring to all that is God’s truth; “darkness,” on the other hand, refers to all that is false, all that does not please nor exemplify God.

God’s Word, from beginning to end, demonstrates God’s sovereign plan to separate light from darkness, forever.

Genesis 1:1-4,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”

Revelation 21:23-24,
“23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.”

Revelation 22:3-5,
“3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

Those who belong to Christ walk in the Light, i.e., they live in obedience to God’s Word

(John 14:6-7, 15, 21, 23),
“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” ”

“15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

“21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.””

“23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Our obedience to God openly declares our fellowship with Him, it also encourages us to fellowship with other Christians; all this made possible because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and sovereign resurrection from the grave that makes a personal and eternal relationship with God possible.

(1John 1:6-7)
“6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;” 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Read 1John 1:8-10…
“8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Everyone is a sinner, but only those who repent of their sin, trusting Christ to save them, receive forgiveness and eternal life.

Romans 3:10-12, 23…
“10 as it is written,“There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.””

“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23…
“23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Romans 10:13…
“13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ”

No one can become a Christian apart from believing in and trusting the Savior for forgiveness and eternal life. Anyone who says that he/she is not a sinner is calling God a liar and does not belong to Him.

Read 1John 2:1-2.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

Christians, forgiven their sins (past, present, future), will desire to serve the One who has saved them, and this is done by the power of His Holy Spirit living in us.

See Romans 8:5-8…
“5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Sinful man is a dead man walking! He can do nothing to please God, for he is an enemy of God; but believers are members of God’s own family, seeking to please our Father in heaven!

See Romans 8:9-11…
“9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, repenting of their sins and trusting God’s Son for salvation, have God’s Spirit placed in them.

Ephesians 1:13-14,
“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

1Corinthians 12:12-13,
“12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit..”

Without God’s resident Spirit, a person is still dead in sin; but if God’s Spirit is in you, you have been made alive spiritually in Christ for eternity.

See Romans 8:12-15…
“12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””

We are no longer to be slaves to our flesh, and so, we struggle to put to death the control our flesh wants to hold over us.

We are to feed upon God’s Word, expressing our love for the Lord by seeking to obey the commands we are given in His Word, telling us how we should then live as those who are born of God’s Spirit, children of God.

God’s Spirit is always in alignment with God’s Word, leading us to do what is right in God’s eyes

(Ephesians 5:1-2),
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

God is our Father, Christ our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our counselor, comforter, trainer, conforming us to the character and nature of God. We have God’s Spiritual DNA in us, marking us as belonging to God.

As Christians, we aren’t perfect, we will continue to sin; but when we do we have “one who speaks to the Father in our defense.”

(1John2:1),
““My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ”

John is the only New Testament writer to use this word, it literally means “one who comes alongside.” In every other use of the word
it is translated “Counselor” or “Helper”; in other words, we have, the Counselor/Helper from God who comes alongside and speaks on our behalf, like a defense attorney, the greatest defense attorney, God’s Spirit!

John 14:16, 26;
“16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;”

“26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

John 15:26;
“26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,He will testify about Me,,”

John 16:7);
“7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

Did you know that Satan constantly brings charges against God’s people?

Revelation 12:10-12,
“10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” ”

Coming before God day and night. Satan points out our sins to God in a vain attempt to bring charges against us, like a prosecuting attorney seeking the death penalty. But thanks be to God! Whenever Satan makes an accusation against us, God overrules him by declaring the eternal forgiveness we have received through

Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Jesus is the once and for all atoning sacrifice or propitiation for all our sins (the final, full and complete payment, Tetelestai = it is finished!, satisfying a Holy and Righteous God’s judgment for the penalty of sin).

2Corinthians 5:21,
“21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Hebrews 9:27-28,
“27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

1Peter 3:18,
“18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”

Jesus died for the sins of the whole world but only those who repent and believe in Him are freed from the penalty of sin; genuine Christians come out of the darkness into the light, they go from death to life.

(1John 2:2),
“2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

John 5:24,
“24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

Even those who reject Christ benefit from God’s plan; for even unbelieving sinners are able to enjoy their earthly life, though at the moment of death they will begin their eternal existence apart from God’s presence, in Hell. God is ‘light’ and all those who genuinely belong to Him will walk in the ‘light’ of His Word, by the power of His Spirit who indwells each and every true believer and follower of Christ.

If God, who is light, is your Father, then you ought to at least be giving off a little glow. Jesus said

(Matthew 5:14, 16),
“14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;”

“16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven”

True believers “are the light of the world,” and we are to “let [our] light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven..”

Has anyone come up to you lately and remarked how you seem to be glowing?
Or perhaps they have asked you what makes you shine? Probably not!

We all have room for improvement, but as God’s children, we should genuinely desire for Christ to be seen in and through our life, that we do not hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, who equips and empowers us, and causes us to shine like lights in this dark world, for the purpose of directing others to Jesus Christ: Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Again!
And all God’s people said? Amen!
Pastor Mike Hale
 

Bible Text: 1 John 1:1-4 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1John 2John 3John | The printable bulletin and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
 
September 13, 2020
“Personal Testimony”
Studing: 1John 1:1-4…
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”

The Book of 1John, along with 2&3 John, was written (early-mid 90’s A.D.) by the Apostle John, who also wrote the Gospel According to John (late 80’s-early 90’s) and Revelation (mid-late 90’s).

John was well known among the churches in Asia minor, and though the letter itself doesn’t specify John as the author, it was well established by the earliest testimony of the church that he indeed wrote this letter.

John’s main purpose seems to be to reiterate the foundations of the Christian faith and to exhort Christians to test and approve all that is proclaimed and practiced in the name of Christ.

Read 1John 1:1-3…
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to youthe eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

John was a first-hand witness to what Jesus said and did, including His death and resurrection. John was not only an Apostle, he was one of Christ’s most intimate followers, along with Peter and James.

John focuses here on the historic reality of Jesus Christ (the God-man: Son of God, Son of Man); because the false teachers of that time claimed to know Christ, yet denied that He was both God and man. John desires that all Christians obtain and maintain a proper view of Christ’s humanity and divinity.

Notice how John states that he (and the other Apostles) have heard, have seen, and have touched Christ. John emphasizes how he personally looked upon and touched Jesus during His earthly ministry, both before and after His resurrection.

John provides his own personal testimony, that God did come in the flesh and that He did provide forgiveness and eternal life. John declares that those who have genuine fellowship with the Father through Christ, will know, believe and teach what is recorded in God’s Word.

This letter was written 50-60 years after Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension; and yet, John has a vivid recollection of all that Jesus did, said, and was. How is that possible.

John 14:16-17,
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

John 14:25-26,
“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

John reemphasizes his own personal experience and eyewitness account of Jesus’ life on earth. This first-person testimony is very important, especially in light of all the false teachers of that day who arrogantly and falsely proclaimed lies about Jesus Christ; although they never really knew or believed in Him.

You and I, as God’s people, are to testify to others about the personal and growing relationship we have with Jesus Christ, as we prayerfully communicate with God, reading, studying and applying His Word to our life, learning to trust Him for what we need and thanking Him for all that He provides, now and forever.

Everyone who seeks forgiveness for their sins through Christ has eternal life and fellowship with God the Father and God the Son.

John 1:1-4,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

John 1:14,
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18,
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

John 5:25-26,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.”

John 11:25,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”

1John 5:11-13.
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

God’s people are to be witnesses, like John, ready to share the message of Christ with anyone and everyone who will listen.

God’s people are messengers; Christ is the Message. We are spiritual food and beverage servers: Christ is the Bread of Life and the Living Water.

John 4:10,
Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14,
“whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:27,
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you…”

John 6:33-35,
“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world…” “…Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

Have you ever been offered food or drink when you were so full you felt as if you would burst? There may be a lesson in such an experience, I believe people need to be spiritually hungry or thirsty in order to be able and willing to hear the gospel.

I don’t do “door-to-door evangelism,” and I personally have a real distaste for telemarketers, especially Christian telemarketers who constantly call at the most inopportune times (lunch time, dinner time, bed time), trying to sell me something I don’t need or want.

It usually begins something like, “Is the Pastor in?” Then, “have I caught you at a bad time? Brother Hale” (“Pastor Hale,” or “Rev. Hale”). Finally they say, “I would like to tell you about an offer for a new ministry tool”… blah, blah, blah!

Or maybe they ask, “Is the person in charge of your youth ministry available?” or “Could I please speak with the individual who makes decisions about your phone and internet service?” or “Is the one in charge of ordering office supplies in?”…

I often think, maybe it is just too difficult for telemarketers to understand that, if I have a need for something I will seek to find it, and I don’t want them coming to my door or my phone to try and sell me something.

But you know, these experiences have caused me to rethink the way I bear witness to, or proclaim the message of, Christ.

God has provided all that is necessary for us to serve Him honorably and victoriously.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of the truth that we are all sinners, and there is Only One Savior.

(John 16:8-9), Jesus said,
“And He, when He [the Holy Spirit) comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”.

The Bible proclaims the truth of God’s plan, purpose, and provision through His Son. Jesus told the religious leaders

(John 5:39), “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

(John 14:6),
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

As Believers, we are to give testimony through our words and works, that we are just sinners saved by the grace of God. Our purpose is to serve God and to love others by treating them as we would want to be treated

(1Peter 2:12),
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

(1Peter 2:15),
“For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

Our personal testimony should express God’s love and exemplify God’s character.

In 1John1:4, we read,
“These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” Why does John say, “These things we write,” instead of “I write,” “so that our joy may be made complete,” instead of “your joy”?

John 15:8-9,
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”

John 15:11,
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

John 16:16,
“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

John 16:22,
“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

John 16:33,
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Are you excited about witnessing for Christ? Our peace and joy come from Christ; in fact, it is the joy of one who has been forgiven all their sins and granted eternal life.

You and I will not personally (this side of heaven) hear, or see, or touch Jesus, as did John; but we are just as responsible to bear witness and testify about Christ.

You and I must allow the truth of God’s Word to change us internally, if we expect for the changes to have an effect externally, where people see us.

2Corinthians 5:21,
“He made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

I pray that, in the weeks ahead, as we work our way through 1John, we all will have an increase in our desire to know, to grow in, to stand firm upon, and to declare the Message of Christ, as we serve the Bread of Life and the Living Water to anyone who hungers or thirsts for the righteousness that only comes from God.

 
And all God’s people said? Amen!
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: various passages | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | The printable bulletin and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
 
September 6, 2020
“It Really Is All About Jesus Christ”
As I brought last week’s sermon to a close, I declared that salvation can’t be obtained by ancestral heritage, good works, or religious rituals. And although the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, it is the plan, provision, and power of God for salvation to everyone who repents, believes, and follows Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

I made a point last week of reiterating how the true Jesus of the Bible, God’s One and Only Son, is both Savior and Lord; He came from heaven to die for our sins, was raised from the dead to demonstrate eternal life, ascended back to the Father, and is coming back to get all who belong to Him, to take us to heaven.

That kind of foolishness will give you hope, put peace in your heart, and change your life for eternity!

The truth about Jesus Christ is marvelous, miraculous, and yet most of the people who have lived, are living now, or have not yet been born, reject the truth about Him, and instead believe a variety of half-truths and lies:

Some say He was nothing more than a good teacher, but good teachers don’t claim to be God.

Some say He was merely a good man, but good men don’t mingle with prostitutes, liars, and thieves.

Some say He was a maniac, but maniacs don’t speak the way He spoke.

Some say He was a fanatic, but fanatics don’t draw children to themselves or reach out to heal lepers.

Some say He was just a myth, but myths don’t have ancestral heritage going all the way back to Adam..

Some say He was a phantom, but phantoms don’t bleed, let alone can they give up their life for others.

Some say He was a fraud, but frauds don’t rise from the dead.

There is also a wide variation among religious belief systems, concerning who Jesus Christ is, for example:

Judaism believes in God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, but it rejects Jesus as God’s Son, considering Him to be a false prophet who leads men astray.

Islam considers Allah [Arabic, ‘the god’] to be the only God and Jesus is just one of five human messengers who came from Allah, along with Abraham, Moses, David, and Mohammad.

Mormonism teaches that Jesus is a spirit-child of Elohim (the God of planet earth), and through obedience and devotion Jesus obtained Godhood and so can we.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus isn’t God; He is Michael the archangel, the first creation of God.

Christianity is all about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.

See Matthew 16:13-17…
“13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Who do “the people” (the Jewish people, apart from the religious leadership) say the Son of Man is?. “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus asks, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

(These words affirm Jesus as [the Anointed or Holy One] the Messiah (Hebrew) , the Christ (Greek). Jesus declares Simon has been “blessed” by God’s revealing to him this truth, that Jesus is “the Son of the living God” (ascribing His deity as God the Son).

See John 1:1-4,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

(Before time, Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”)

See John 1:14…
“14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18…
“18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

See John 6:44-46…
“44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.”

Matthew 11:27,
“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

John 14:6-7,
“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” ”

John 20:31,
“These [the Scriptures about Christ] have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

See Luke 24:25-27…
“25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

See Luke 24:44-48…
“44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

You cannot honestly or intellectually [with this knowledge] come away from the Bible’s clear and repeated testimony that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, that He and the Father are equal in origin, essence, authority, wisdom and power.

See Matthew 26:62-66…
“62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63 ButJesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ,the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66 what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” ”

Caiaphas [the high priest] pressures Jesus to answer these false accusations, but He remains silent, unwilling to give credence to these bogus charges.

Now we get to the heart of the matter, what is really eating at these religious hypocrites (verse 63), “Tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God,” i.e., “Are you the Messiah? Are you the Holy One who was to come from God? Are You the One sent to rule as King over Israel? Are you the Savior?”

Jesus answers (verse 64)
“You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Daniel 7:13,
“I kept looking… …And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming.”

Revelation 1:7,
“Behold, He [speaking of God’s Son] is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Caiaphas (verse 65) goes ballistic, tearing his robes, making a scene, declaring Jesus guilty of a capital crime; basically saying (verse 66), “You heard Him, He said He is God! We need no further testimony, He has condemned Himself!” “Tearing your garments” expresses a very deep grief; of which the High Priest was forbidden to display, according to the Talmud [The source for all Jewish law], that is, unless he witnessed unquestionable blasphemy toward God.

Leviticus 24:15-16
“15 You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin. 16 Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”

The Sanhedrin [the Jewish Supreme Court] now judges Jesus worthy of death, even though, according to their own law (Leviticus 24:15-16), blasphemy against God means to curse God or disrespect His Name, and any person guilty of this crime was to be stoned to death. But Jesus had only stated the obvious, that He was the Messiah, they could have considered him a liar, but He was not cursing God or disrespecting the name of God.

See Matthew 26:67-68,
“67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” ”

These pious, arrogant, irreverent religious leaders, even with all the false testimonies of their so-called “witnesses,” did not have convincing proof of Jesus guilt; but now, with Jesus own words, they judge Him guilty of blasphemy; in reality, He has done nothing but speak the Truth: He is God’s Son, the Messiah, Lord and Savior.

They spit in Jesus’ face displaying their disdain and contempt, attacking Him about the head with their fists, slapping and mocking Him, yelling insults, challenging Him to “prophesy” who was hitting Him [unable to see through His swollen eyes and bloodied face].

This takes place early Friday morning, the day He would be crucified. Five days earlier, when Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, the people praised Him, crying out for Him to save them; but now, Israel’s leaders have arrested and condemned the One and Only, sent by the Father to die for their sins, for all sin; God our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It really is all about God’s Son, the divine message of the Cross is the power of God for salvation to everyone who repents of sin, believing in and following Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Maybe you are hearing this today and you aren’t sure if you are saved?

What should you do?

Admit that you are a sinner (Romans 3:10-12, 23-24), we all are.
Believe that only Christ can save you (John 14:6), He is the only way.
Confess your sins to God (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:36-38), you must repent.
Demonstrate a changed life (James 1:22-25), read and obey God’s Word.
Exemplify the character of Jesus Christ (1John 2:3-6), by following His example.

We must proclaim the Message of the Cross, as a message of hope, love, and eternal life, for it really is all about Jesus Christ: Crucified, Resurrected, Coming Again.

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
 

Bible Text: 1Corinthians 1:18-25 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Is the Message of the Cross Foolishness | The printable bulletin and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
 
August 30, 2020
“Is the Message of the Cross Foolishness? – Part 2”
 
Continued from Part 1
 

Read 1Corinthians 1:18-25…
“18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Why do the majority of people who live on the earth reject God’s greatest Gift: forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord? Because most of the world rejects God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible, and they also despise Christians, i.e., believers and followers of Christ.

John 15:18-19,
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

2Timothy 3:12-13,
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Hebrews 9:27-28,
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many [not all, or even most, but many] will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

In order to be saved, a person must own up to and repent of their sins, confessing Christ as Lord, believing in Him as Savior. But the majority of people who live on earth, do not acknowledge the damning consequences of their own sinfulness; instead, they justify themselves by postulating that, God [if He does exist] wouldn’t condemn them to hell for just dong what comes natural to humans [if there is a hell], after all, if God created us this way why would He punish us.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry (cf. Mark 1:15, 17), He made it very clear that we must “Repent (of our sin), believe (in Him for salvation), and then follow Him (obeying God’s Word in and through our life).

Mark 1:15, 17
“15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” ”

“17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ”

The message of the cross is not foolish, it is God’s sovereign, infallible, inerrant, and eternal truth. Mankind apart from the saving grace of God through Christ, is not just foolish, but are separated from the life of God and dead in their sins.

Psalm 14:1,
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

But honestly, we were all fools prior to believing in Christ

(Ephesians 2:1-3),
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (the Devil), of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

In Genesis 3:15,
God speaks to the serpent (Satan incarnate) saying, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed
and her seed.”

In Matthew 3:17,
when Jesus was being baptized by John, God the Father said, ““This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

In Matthew 17:5,
when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, God the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

John 6:28-29, 40…
“28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them,“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” ”

“40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.””

John 8:24,
“I said to you that you will die in your sins… …unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 10:30,
“I and the Father are one.”

John 14:7,
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

1John 5:11-13,
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The message of the cross, the gospel of Christ, is anything but foolish…

Romans 1:16,
“it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” God turns no one away, but all humanity has turned away from
God

(Romans 3:10-12), as it is written
“10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” ”

Psalm 14:1-3
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.”

Psalm 53:1-3
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.
2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.”

And yet (Romans 10:13),
“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of sin] will be saved.”

1Timothy 2:3-4,
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2Peter 3:9,
“The Lord is… …patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

The Message of the Cross is Way of Salvation, as Jesus said (John 14:6), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father [who is in heaven] but through Me.”

2Corinthians 9:15,
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

In Acts 4, Peter and John are on trial for healing a man (lame from birth). Peter declares (verse 10), “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.” 12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” [only Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior: Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Again].

Acts 4:10, 12
“10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

“12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.””

Read 1Corinthians 1:19-21…
“19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ”
The Wisdom of this age is foolishness [moronic] to God. Paul challenges his readers. Where are the wise teachers and debaters of this world? Do they really believe they are equipped to discern the ways and wonders of God? Human wisdom cannot obtain the knowledge of God, nor can it bring acceptance by God, let alone salvation from God; for God’s ways are so much higher than man’s. God’s thoughts confound the wisdom of the world.
No wonder we are commanded (Romans 12:2), “[to] not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind, so that [we] may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable  and perfect.”

Read 1Corinthians 1:22-25…
“22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Unbelieving Jews sought more miracles, even though they had been exposed repeatedly to the divine nature of Christ’s power and wisdom through His words and His works (see Matthew 12:38-42).

Matthew 12:38-42
“38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”

Jesus tells the self-righteous religious leaders of the Jews that the Gentiles of Nineveh, who responded to God’s message through Jonah, will stand in judgment against the generation of Jews who witnessed, yet rejected, the Messiah, God the Son, Creator and Judge over all.

According to Matthew 12:42, the Queen of the South (Queen of Sheba, Joel 3:8; Jeremiah 6:20) will stand in judgement against “this generation of Jews.” During Solomon’s reign, this Gentile woman, an Arab, came “from the ends of the earth” [1200 miles SE of Israel] in order to hear Solomon speak God’s wisdom; but Jesus says, “Something greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus isn’t just speaking God’s Wisdom, He is providing Salvation – forgiveness from sin and eternal life – and yet the Jews refused to receive Him.

Matthew 12:42
“42 The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”

Joel 3:8
“8 Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation,” for the Lord has spoken.”

Jeremiah 6:20
“20 “For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.” ”

The Jews had been set apart by God. He had given them the patriarchs and the prophets, He had lived among them in the Tabernacle of Meeting, in the Holy of Holies of the Temple; and they had received over a millennium of protection and provision from God; and yet, when God sent His own Son to bring them forgiveness and eternal life, they rejected Him.

One day those Jews (and everyone who rejects Christ) will stand before God condemned at the judgment; and yet, many Jews and Gentiles will be justified before God because they believed in God’s One and Only Son.

Salvation can’t be acquired through ancestral heritage, good works, or religious rituals. And although the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (those who reject God’s Son), it is the plan, and the provision, and the power of God for salvation to everyone who repents, believes, and follows Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.
This the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us,
took the blame, bore the wrath
we stand forgiven at the cross.
It is that kind of foolishness that will light up your life and put peace in your heart for eternity!
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
 

Bible Text: 1Corinthians 1:18 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Is the Message of the Cross Foolishness | The printable bulletin and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
 
“Is the Message of the Cross Foolishness? – Part 1”
 

Read 1Corinthians 1:18-21…
“18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

When Paul says “word of the cross,” he is speaking of the total revelation of God’s plan and provision as recorded in the 66 Books of the Bible, this being fulfilled in and through God’s Son [Jesus Christ], as

Paul writes (1Corinthians 15:1-4),
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

The word gospel originated from the Anglo-Saxon word godspell, which means ‘good story’, and is expressed in the Bible by the Greek word evangelion, which means, “good news”.

In 1Corinthians 1:18
“18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Paul is referencing the message of the great chasm between God’s holiness and man’s depravity, as recorded and revealed from

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

to Revelation 22:21,
“21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

this is indeed the good news about Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again to get all those who belong to Him.

Paul declares that this message is considered to be foolishness to those who are perishing [the Greek word translated foolishness is ‘moria’ (meaning = nonsense, dull, stupid; from which we get our English word moron).

Those “who are perishing” are those who have mortal life, but are spiritually dead, and unless they repent and believe in Jesus Christ they will die in their sins, doomed to an eternity in hell.

Those who reject the cross of Christ remain dead in their sins because they have rejected God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

Please turn to Romans chapter 3.

Romans 3:10-12,
as it is written, ”There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”
as it is written

[Psalm 14:1-3;
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.”

Psalm 53:1-3],
”There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

Romans 3:23-24,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:8-9,
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. ”

Romans 6:23,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:1-2,
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Romans 10:9-10,
“if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

No wonder Paul proclaims

(2Corinthians 9:15),
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!”

At the very beginning of time (as we know it), God declared His plan and provision to save us from the consequences and condemnation of sin.

Please turn with me to

Genesis 3:1-24…
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the  garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
16 To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.”
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
19 By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”
20 Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Turn to Isaiah 7:14,
“14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Turn to Matthew 1:18-25…
“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

[At the river Jordan, John was baptizing, and when he saw Jesus

John 1:29…
“29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Ephesians 1:7,
“7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

Hebrews 1:1-3,
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Hebrews 9:27-28,
“27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 10:4-6,
“4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; 6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.”

Hebrews 10:9-10,
“9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 10:14-18.
“14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
As we read earlier in

1Corinthians 1:18,
“18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Paul declares that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who believe, it is the power of God for salvation.

Let’s look at some of the words of the Son of God, concerning God the Father’s plan, purpose and provision fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ:

See John 5:24-30;
“24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

John 6:28-29,
“28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.””

John 7:14-18;
“14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

John 8:23-25;
“23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?”

John 8:28-30;
“28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”

John 10:22-33;
“22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.””

John 14:6-7.
“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.””

The biblical and historical record of credible eye witness accounts, reports, and recordings of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, are too numerous and well documented to dismiss.

Jesus repeatedly told His disciples

(Luke 9:22),
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

Why do the majority of people who live on the earth reject the free gift of God, forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord?

Tough question, but the answer is quite simple.

You see, in order to ask God for forgiveness, a person must sincerely admit their need to be forgiven, i.e., they must own up to and repent of their sins, confessing Christ as Lord, but also as the only way of salvation; for there is no other way to resolve the enmity that exists between the Holy God of Creation and sinful humanity.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry

(Mark 1:15),
“15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

Mark 1:17,
“17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.””

“Repent, believe, follow Me!”

He made it very clear that we must “Repent (of our sin), believe (in Him for salvation),
and then follow Him (obeying God’s Word in and through our life).

The message of the cross is not foolish, it is God’s word: sovereign, infallible, inerrant, eternal. The truth is, that mankind apart from the saving grace of God through Christ, is foolish [i.e., stupid, idiotic, halfwitted, brainless, unreasonable; reckless, foolhardy, dimwitted, dopey, self-centered, and downright rebellious].

The epitome of foolishness is to reject the free gift of God (His own Son), who provides forgiveness for sin and eternal life. The poster child for all fools is found in

Psalm 14:1,
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

But honestly, we were all fools prior to believing in Christ; for we were dead in our sins, unwilling to give the place of authority in our life to God. And for those who continue to consider the message of the cross to be foolishness, God’s judgement is inevitable:
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
Continued Next Week – part 2:
 

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 5:25-28 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Thessalonians | The printable bulletin/newsletter, 
and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
“Paul’s Closing Requests and Benediction”
Read 1Thessalonians 5:25-28
“25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Paul is bringing to a close his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica. Paul shared his life with them and expressed his love for them, while exhorting and encouraging them to trust God and love one another, as they seek to grow in their relationship with God through Christ, being transformed by the Word of God, as the Spirit of God enables them to do so.
Paul has instructed them about future things, when they will be caught up to be with Christ forever; and also about how they should be living right now, on this side of heaven, which is our true home for eternity.
One of the clearest instructions on how we should now live is given in
1Thessalonians 5:16-18,
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Read 1Thessalonians 5:25…
“25 Brethren, pray for us.”
Paul’s first request was to ask the family of believers (the brethren) to pray for him, Silas, Timothy, and the elders in the church at Thessalonica.
Paul believes in and understands the power of fervent prayer, and the intimate fellowship experienced by those who pray with and for one another.
I feel especially blessed when I hear some of our folks pray for our leadership here at FBC, and many time for me and Nancy specifically. We genuinely appreciate the protection we receive as a result of the prayers of this family of believers.
Read 1Thessalonians 5:26…
“26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.”
Paul’s second request is for the believers to greet one another in a manner that shows intimate relationship and respect for each other; after all, as believers, we are family, brothers and sisters in Christ.
It is interesting that Paul uses the expression “a holy kiss” in three other places in the New Testament
(Romans 16:16;
“16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
1Corinthians 16:20;
“20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
2Corinthians 13:12),
“12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
and Peter uses it once
(1Peter 5:14).
“14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.”
During the time of Paul, this would have meant a familial hug and kiss greeting with someone you really cared about, and in fact, someone you are related to in Christ. A ‘holy kiss” was a symbol of genuine love, an expression of affection, oneness, unity, and of a kindred spirit.
It was common practice, in the first century AD, for person to greet a superior with a kiss on the hand, elbow, knee, or foot, but friends would kiss one another on the cheek. The most infamous unholy kiss was that of Judas Iscariot, when he came to openly betray the Lord under the guise of friendship
(see Matthew 26:45-50).
“45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” 47 While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.”
Read 1Thessalonians 5:27…
“27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.”
Paul’s third request and deep desire is that God’s sovereign Word, given through him, would be read, heard and understood by all the believers in Thessalonica.
This letter would have been given to the elders of the church, to whom Paul says “I adjure you by the Lord,” adjure means, to bind with an oath, i.e., to solemnly urge them to make sure all the brethren both hear and submit to God’s Word.
This letter was to be read aloud during worship, for it is God-breathed Scripture. There would only have been the one copy, so the idea of passing it around wasn’t even considered; not to mention that, many within the congregation were illiterate and therefore unable to read. And so it was very important that this be read when the believers came together for corporate worship.
2Timothy 3:16-17,
“16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
See 1Corinthians 2:1-16…
“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”  10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Read 1Thessalonians 5:28…
“28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Paul’s benediction is a prayer on their behalf, that they would experience the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is worth mentioning here that Paul began and ended every one of his letters recorded in the New Testament, by repeatedly referencing the grace of God:
Romans 1:7;
“7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 16:20…
“20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

1Corinthians 1:3;
“3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1Corinthians 16:23…
“23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.”

Galatians 1:3;
“3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”

Galatians 6:18…
“18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”

Ephesians 1:2;
“2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 6:24…
“24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.”

Philippians 1:2;
“2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:23…
“23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Colossians 1:2;
“2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

Colossians 4:18…
“18  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.”

1Thessalonians 1:1;
“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”

1Thessalonians 5:28…
“28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

2Thessalonians 1:2;
“2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2Thessalonians 3:18…
“18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

1Timothy1:2;
“2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1Timothy 6:20-21…
“20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—  21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.  Grace be with you.”

2Timothy 1:2;
“2 To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2Timothy 4:22…
“22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”

Titus 1:4;
“4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”

Titus 3:15…
“15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.”

Philemon 3,
“3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philemon 25 …
“25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
God’s Grace distinguishes Christianity from all other religions, it permeates
Biblical theology: GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
John 1:1-3,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:14,
“14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:17,
“17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”
Romans 3:21-24,
“21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
The Lord’s Supper [Communion] celebrates the highest level of Grace bestowed upon true believers and followers of Christ at His own expense: God’s predestined, eternal, spiritual deliverance from the captivity and slavery of sin under the Law, to the liberating covenant with God through Christ, under Grace.
The old covenant (before Christ) was that of the Law, involving continual sacrifices and offerings for sin; but the new covenant (through Christ) is that of Grace, involving only one sacrifice for sin. Christ’s shed blood on the cross has paid in full our sin debt to God; therefore everyone who repents of their sin and believes in Jesus Christ for salvation is without condemnation having been freed from the penalty of an eternity in hell.
Ephesians 1:7,
“7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

Ephesians 2:8,
“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

Hebrews 9:27-28,
“27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 10:10,
“10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 10:14-18,
“14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, 17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
Turn to Acts 2:40-47…
“40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43  Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Read through 1Thessalonians 5:25-28 again…
“Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Notice that Paul’s closing remarks and benediction, here in 1Thessalonians, which was most likely written around AD 51-52, includes the priorities of prayer, Christian love and fellowship, the Apostles teaching [Word of God], and Grace.
This is Luke’s narrative describing what the newly birthed church (under the leadership of Peter) was doing, not very long after Jesus had ascended back into heaven; in fact this is a record of what was going on within the church about 7-8 weeks after Passover, AD 32.
The key verse is Acts 2:42,
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Notice that Paul mentions the same priorities for the church in his letter, as those which had been expressed 20 years earlier in Jerusalem: the Apostles teaching [Word of God], Christian Love and Fellowship, the breaking of bread (Lord’s Supper- remembering Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins, God’s greatest expression of Grace), and Prayer.
It really is all about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior: Resurrected andComing Again. Through Him we have been granted: forgiveness for sins and eternal life; the right and the privilege of entering the throne eroom of God in prayer, at any time, any where; we have been born into an eternal family, as children of God, with millions of brothers and sisters; we have everything we need for life on this earth, and for life in heaven.
God’s Grace is a wonderful thing.
                     GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
We each ought to be continually giving thanks to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, for all the blessings we have already received, and for those we have yet to experience – things so wonderful, as Paul tells us
(1Corinthians 2:9),
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with each one of you, until we meet again.
 
Pastor Mike
°°°>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 5:23-24 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Thessalonians | The printable newsletter, August 2020 calendar
and sermon notes are located at the
bottom of this web-page (click links to download)
“Complete Sanctification in Christ”
Read 1Thessalonians 5:23-24…
“23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

The focus in verse 23a is our sanctification, i.e., being set apart for God’s special purpose, that we be separated from sin and joined to holiness.

God’s Word is full of examples of God setting apart certain days, people and places for His own honor and glory:

Genesis 2:3,
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Exodus 28:41,
“You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.”

Exodus 40:9,
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall consecrate it and all its furnishings; and it shall be holy.”

Jeremiah 1:5,
“Before I formed you (Jeremiah) in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Luke 1:15,
“For he (John the Baptizer) will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.”

Matthew 1:20,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child [Jesus, God’s Son] who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:23,
“they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Mark 3:14-15,
“And He [Jesus] appointed [the] twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.”

Hebrews 10:7,
“Behold, I have come… …To do Your will, O God.”

Hebrews 10:10,
“By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 10:14,
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Hebrews 10:17,
“And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

God has sovereignly saved and secured us for sanctification in Christ, to serve Him on the earth as new creations

(cf 2Corinthians 5:17).
“17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

God, through Christ, made us eternally set apart from all that has been created, and one day we will be transformed, and this temporal mortal body will be glorified, being made immortal. We will be given bodies like that of Jesus after His resurrection from the grave.

Philippians 3:20-21,
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

Romans 8:29-30,
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

1Corinthians 15:47-49,
“The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.”

1Corinthians 15:53,
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

At the moment of genuine salvation, God marks us as His own.

Ephesians 1:13-14),
“In Him [Christ], you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

At the moment of genuine salvation, God gives us His peace and sets us apart for service

(Philippians 2:13),
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” At the moment of genuine salvation, God fills us with His Spirit, marking us as His own possession

(cf Ephesians 1:13-14),
“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

granting us His peace and setting us apart to serve Him

(Philippians 2:13),
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

God sanctifies us entirely, completely, finally, so that no part of our spirit, soul, and body remains unconsecrated to the Lord.

See 1Thessalonians 5:23b…

The words spirit and soul refer to the nonmaterial nature of humans, while body refers to the material nature of humans.

Genesis 2:7,
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground (material nature), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (nonmaterial nature); and man became a living being.”

Genesis 3:22a,
“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil.’”

2Peter 1:3-4,
“[God] has granted to us everything pertaining to life (temporal biological life) and godliness (eternal spiritual life), through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. …so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world.”

We have a body, and we have a soul and spirit; and God holds us accountable to use our bodies in a manner that is pleasing to Him.

1Corinthians 6:12,
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

1Corinthians 6:19-20,
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

God has equipped us for sanctification, so that we can faithfully and victoriously serve Him

(Ephesians 2:10),
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

2Timothy 3:16-17,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Therefore (Romans 12:2),
we are  “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Our main purpose is to be witnesses of Christ, so that others might be saved.

1Peter 2:11-12,
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

We are eternally protected and preserved in Christ, and there will be no shame, and no blame, for God’s children; in fact, when the Lord comes to take us home, we will be made perfect.

1Corinthians 15:50-58,
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

See 1Thessalonians 5:24…
“24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

God is faithful to fulfill all He has promised to completion

(Philippians 1:6),
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:28-30,
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

We have been set apart from all the other people in this godless and corrupt generation through our sanctification in Christ. Our main purpose is:

Romans 12:1,
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

1John 2:4-6,
“The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ [meaning, I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ] and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

Titus 2:11-14,
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. One of the clearest expressions of the premier attitude of sanctification is found

in Galatians 2:20,
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
 
Short Communion Message
at end of Sermon added
 

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 5:19-22 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | The printable PDF bulletin/newsletter
and sermon notes
bottom of this web-page.
Vitally Important Don’ts and Dos…
Read 1Thessalonians 5:19-22…
“19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.”

Two weeks ago (1Thessalonians 5:16-18), we studied Paul’s command for us to continually, without ceasing, in every situation: be rejoicing, be praying, and be giving thanks, because this is God’s will for us in Christ.

Today, we are going to study 1Thessalonians 5:19-22, please follow along as I read through the text. In verses 19-20, we are commanded to not do two things: we are not to quench the Spirit, nor are we to despise prophetic utterances. Okay, but what do those mean?

The Spirit (verse 19), is of course the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is referred to masculine form

(John 14:16-17),
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you

Paul commands that we do not quench the Spirit of God. Think about that word quench for a minute, you’ve heard thirsty people say after drinking some water, “boy, that really quenched my thirst.”

To quench something can mean to stifle, retard, or even extinguish its energy or working power; in reference to the Holy Spirit, this is paramount to us hindering or suppressing the work of the Spirit in our individual lives, and in the life of the church.

It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us as spiritual children of God

(cf. John 3:5-8;
“5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

Titus 3:5),
“5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

fills us, seals us, places us in Christ’s body, sanctifies us

(cf. Ephesians 1:13-14;
“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

1Corinthians 12:12-13, 18, 27;
“12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

“18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

“27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Colossians 1:15-18;
“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

2Thessalonians 2:13).
“13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

It is God’s Spirit who makes God’s Word effectual in our lives, that we might serve the Lord boldly and victoriously

(see 1Corinthians 2:12-16).
“12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

God loves and desires we grow spiritually healthy and strong

(see Psalm 119:11;
“11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

Ephesians 4:15;
“15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”

1Peter 2:2).
“2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

As Christians, we can quench the Spirit’s work in us by not prayerfully, reverently, and expectantly reading, heeding, hiding God’s Word in our heart, and applying God’s Word to our life, as witnesses of His Grace.

We can also quench the Spirit by the way we respond to the difficulties and troubles in this life, e.g., instead of trusting God and seeking His provision and purpose in and through the events, circumstances and happenings in our life, we attempt to live by our own abilities and resources, holding up our own rights, freedoms, comforts and wants as priorities, instead of our witness for the Lord

Matthew 5:1-11;
“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

Matthew 6:26-34).
“26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God’s Spirit illuminates God’s Word, so that we can know the will of God and appropriate the provisions of God, in order to carry it out

(see Romans 12:2;
“2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Philippians 4:12-13, 19).
“12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

“19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

1Thessalonians 5:20
“20 do not despise prophetic utterances.”

We are warned not to despise prophetic utterances. The word translated despise here, means to look down upon, to consider as having no value, to show contempt toward.

The words prophetic utterances and prophecy are different forms of the same word, referring to both written and spoken words. The revelatory proclamation of God’s divine, sovereign and eternal Word was limited to the apostolic era; although, in the New Testament apostles and prophets proclaimed new revelation, but also reiterated divine truth that had already been spoken or recorded.

Prophetic utterances have ceased, i.e., there has not been given, nor will there be, any new revelation from God, the Bible is complete. However, the gift of prophecy [proclaiming God’s Word] by way of expositional and exegetical teaching, is the method and manner through which pastors-elders-overseers feed and care for God’s flock today.

Prophecy, for the most part, is a term that refers to God’s written Word.

2Peter 1:20-21,
“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

However, God’s Word is not only to be read via the written text, it is to be heard as it is proclaimed, as John writes:

Revelation 1:1-3,
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. “

Revelation 22:18-19,
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

Read 1Thessalonians 5:21-22…
“21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.”

Now we come to three exhortations by Paul, to the church, that are vital for believers to do; and these have to do with spiritual discernment, based on the authority of God’s Word.

1Corinthians 2:1-11,
“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

Colossians 2:8-10,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”
Ephesians 5:13-17,
“All things become visible when they are exposed by the light, everything becomes visible in light.” “For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:3-12,
“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”

Ephesians 5:1-2,
“Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

We are called to examine, to test and approve, to judge between true and false, right and wrong, good and evil; as we embrace, live out, and proclaim, that which is pleasing to the Lord.

Romans 12:9,
“ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Philippians 4:8,
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

We are to abstain [keep away from] any evil [all that is displeasing to the Lord]: behavior, attitudes, teachings; anything that is harmful, including lies, falsehoods, deceptions, i.e., all that perverts spiritual truth, morality and goodness [by God’s standard].

As Children of God and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must not do anything that is dishonoring to God and to God’s Word; but instead, we are commanded (Ephesians 5:18) “to be filled with the Spirit,” (Colossians 3:16), to “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” (Philippians 2:5), that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” and (Galatians 5:25) we are to “live by the Spirit, [and] keep in step with the Spirit.”

These are all different ways of stating the same sovereign truth — that Christians are to live under the control of the Spirit of God, in harmony with the Word of God, in a demonstration that models the Son of God, in order that the character of God and obedience to His Word might be exemplified in and through our daily lives.
Pastor Mike
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