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What is an “Angel?”

1. Angels are created beings…

Ezekiel 28:13 “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.”

Hebrew – malach “messenger”

Greek – angelos “messenger”

Translated as, “Angel” 179 times and translated as, “messenger” 7 times.

Theological Note: On rare occasions, the word “angelos” is translated as “messenger” describing a human being…

Matthew 11:10 “This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger (angelos) before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” (John the Baptist)

2. Angels are incorporeal/spirit beings…

Luke 24:39 “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

3. Angels are not the spirits of babies and other believers who have died…

2nd Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

4. Angels are not sexual beings, therefore, they do not marry nor do they produce offspring…

Matthew 22:30 “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

5. Elect Angels are servants of GOD and HIS people…

Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

Q: “Do Christians have a ‘guardian Angel?’”

A: Christians have a GURADIAN GOD and HE may choose to use Angels to protect HIS people, or HE may use whatever other means HE chooses!

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6. Fallen Angels are servants of Satan and his people…

Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV)

(12) “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Revelation 12:3-4

(3) “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. (4) His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.”

Satan and the fallen Angels are powerful, but they are not all powerful… (They are “lackeys on a leash.”)

Fallen Angels are called “demons” in the Bible…

1st Corinthians 10:20-21

(20) “No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”

Some of the fallen Angels were immediately put into bondage where they still remain to this day…

2nd Peter 2:4 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.”

Some of the fallen Angels are free for now in the world to serve Satan and serve and empower his people…

Matthew 25:41 “”Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Ultimately, Satan and all of the fallen Angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever…

Revelation 20:10 “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

7. When the Angels were created, GOD created three Archangels to be over them…

Gabriel, the Messenger of GOD…

Daniel 9:21 “while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.”

Luke 1:19 “And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

Luke 1:26-27

(26) “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (27) to a virgin betrothed[2] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.”

Michael, the Warrior Angel…

Jude 1:9 “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Revelation 12:7-9

(7) “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,  (8) but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world– he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him…”

Lucifer may have been the Worship Leader… (may have, that is!)

Ezekiel 28:13-15 (KJV)

(13) “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.  (15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

Amen.

“THE NAMES OF GOD, PART 3 – THE NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!”

INTRODUCTION:

The HOLY SPIRIT is GOD!

Acts 5:3-4

(3) “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? (4) While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

“Holy”    Hebrew – kadosh  “Other” or “set apart”

            Greek – Hagios “pure”

“Spirit”  Hebrew – ruach “breath” or “wind”

            Greek – pneuma “breath”

The HOLY SPIRT is a Person!

** The HOLY SPIRIT is described with personal pronouns!

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” John 15:26

** The HOLY SPIRIT has personal feelings!

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

The HOLY SPIRIT is the THIRD Person of the Trinity!

The HOLY SPIRIT is revealed by several names in both the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible:

EXPOSITION: John 14:15 – 26

(29 Names of the HOLY SPIRIT)

In our text for today, the HOLY SPIRIT is called, “Another Helper.”

Theological Note: “another” in this passage is the Greek word “allos” which means “another of the same kind!”

In our text for today, the HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of Truth.”

An excellent list can be found at www.blueletterbible.org which includes the following list…

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Holy Spirit.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of God.”

** “the Spirit of God” the second most common name used of HIM in the Old Testament, and it is the most common Name used of HIM in the New Testament!

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of the LORD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “The Spirit.” (Note the capital “S”.)

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “The Spirit of GOD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “The Holy Spirit of GOD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “The Spirit of our GOD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “HIS Spirit.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of the LORD GOD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of the LIVING GOD.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of your Father.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of JESUS.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of Christ.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of JESUS Christ.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of HIS SON.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of life.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of Glory.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the LORD, the Spirit.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of Holiness.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Holy ONE.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is called, “the Spirit of Grace.”

It is likely that John is referring to the Holy Spirit when he sees, “The Seven Spirits” in Revelation 1:4.

This is likely a reference to Isaiah 7:2 “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

Amen.

INTRODUCTION:

WHAT? “You shall call HIS Name JESUS…”

“Jesus” is from the Greek “Iesous” and it is a transliteration of the Hebrew Yesoshua (same as Joshua) and means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.”

WHY? “For HE shall save HIS people from their sins…”

Why did the Angel command both Jospeh and Mary to name HIM “Yahweh saves?”

Because HE is YAHWEH and HE saves!

Isaiah 43:3a “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”

Isaiah 43:11 “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.”

Isaiah 45:21 “Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.”

Philippians 3:20-21

(20) “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

EXPOSITION: “All the Names of Jesus” © bibleresouces.org

Jesus is…

THE SECOND ADAM; ADVOCATE; ALMIGHTY; THE ALPHA AND OMEGA; THE AMEN; THE APOSTLE OF OUR PROFESSION; THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH…

“MY BELOVED SON”; THE BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE; THE BRANCH; THE BREAD OF LIFE; THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR…

THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION; THE CHIEF SHEPHERD: THE CHRIST OF GOD: THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL: THE CORNERSTONE: COUNSELLOR: THE CREATOR…

DAYSPRING: OUR DELIVERER: THE DESIRE OF THE NATIONS: THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP…

THE EVERLASTING FATHER: THE FAITHFUL WITNESS: THE FIRST AND LAST: GOD’S FIRST BEGOTTEN: THE FORERUNNER…

GOD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD: OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST:

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: THE HOLY CHILD: THE HOLY ONE: THE HOLY ONE OF GOD: THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL…

I AM: THE IMAGE OF GOD: IMMANUEL…

JEHOVAH: JESUS; JESUS OF NAZARETH: THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH; THE JUDGE OF ISRAEL: THE JUST ONE…

KING: KING OF THE AGES: THE KING OF THE JEWS: KING OF KINGS:  THE KING OF SAINTS…

THE LAWGIVER: THE LAMB OF GOD SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD: LAMB OF GOD: THE LEADER AND COMMANDER: THE LIFE: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH: THE LORD OF ALL:

THE LORD OF GLORY: LORD OF LORDS: THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…

MAN OF SORROWS: MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT: THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT: MESSIAH: MIGHTY GOD: THE MIGHTY ONE…

A NAZARENE…

ONLY BEGOTTEN SON: OUR PASSOVER…

THE PRINCE OF LIFE: THE PRINCE OF KINGS: THE PRINCE OF PEACE: A PROPHET…

OUR REDEEMER: THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE: ROCK: THE ROOT OF DAVID: THE ROSE OF SHARON…

SAVIOR: THE SEED OF WOMAN: THE SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF OUR SOULS: SHILOH: THE SON OF THE BLESSED: SON OF DAVID; THE SON OF GOD: THE SON OF THE HIGHEST: THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS…

THE TRUE LIGHT: THE TRUE VINE: THE TRUTH…

THE WAY; WITNESS: WORD: THE WORD OF GOD…

(9) “Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 1:9-10

This past week I was working on a sermon for February 4^th on the subject of Angels. My basic outline for the sermon is answering a series of questions about these beings. One of the common questions that I have been asked over the years is, “Do Christians have a guardian Angel?”

As I pondered this question and the verses which are usually cited with it, it occurred to me that while I am not completely persuaded either way on this, one thing about which I am absolutely certain is that all Christians have a Guardian GOD!

GOD, HIMSELF, tells us in Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And JESUS said in John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 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.”

GOD tells us that HE will never forsake us, and no person can snatch us out of HIS hand! GOD may well use Angels to keep HIS promise of protection for HIS people. HE may, in fact, use any means that HE wills!

While we must be thankful for these amazing beings that GOD has created, our faith, trust, and hope is not in the ministry of Angels, but in the promises of GOD!

What Happens when a Christian Dies? 2^nd Corinthians 5:1-10

(1) “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (3) if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. (4) For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened–not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (5) He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.           (6) So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (9) So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

(10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

These are the Words of the LORD.

Thanks be to God for HIS Word.

Sermon: “What Happens When a Christian Dies?”

#1: When a Christian dies, our soul and spirit are separated from our physical body! * Definition of death.

Cf. 2^nd Corinthians 5:6-8 (6) “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

#2: When a Christian dies physically, we remain alive spiritually!

Cf. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

#3: When a Christian dies, we go to heaven!

Cf. Acts 7:55-56 (55) “But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (56) And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Cf. 2^nd Corinthians 5:6-8 (6) “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

#4: When a Christian dies, we go to be with God!

Cf. Revelation 21:1-3 (1) “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  (2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God”

#5: When a Christian dies, we begin to worship God face-to-face!

Cf. 1^st Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

#6: When a Christian dies, we go to be with our Christian family and friends who have passed away before us!

Cf. 2^nd Samuel 12:21-23 (21) “Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” (22) He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ (23) But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

#7: When a Christian dies, we are relieved of all sickness and suffering forever!

Cf. Revelation 21:4b “and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Cf. Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

#8: When a Christian dies, we receive our eternal inheritance as Children of God!

Cf. Romans 8:16-17 (16) “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

#9: When a Christian dies, we receive our rewards for our faithful living and service!

Cf. 1^st Corinthians 3:11-14 (14) “11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—

(13) each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.”

Cf. 1^st Corinthians 9:25-27 – “Victor’s Crown” for self-discipline!

Cf. 1^st Thessalonians 2:19 – “Crown of Rejoicing” for leading people to Jesus!

Cf. 2^nd Timothy 4:8 “Crown of Righteousness” for those who stay faithful to the faith!

Cf. James 1:12; Revelation 2:10 – “Crown of Life” for those who persevere under persecution!

Cf. 1^st Peter 5:4 – “Crown of Glory” for faithful Elders!

#10: When a Christian dies, we begin to serve God forever!

Cf. Revelation 7:15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.”

Amen.

INTROUDUCTION:

Late last Fall, I asked for suggestions from you about what subject you would like me to preach about over the next few weeks. I received six specific suggestions… The Names of GOD, The Names of Jesus, the Names of the Holy Spirit, Angels, Can GOD die? and The Epistle of First John.

As the LORD allows, between now and Palm Sunday (3/24) I will preach on these subjects in the order that I received them.

EXPOSITION: The Names of GOD!

We know WHO GOD is because HE has chosen to reveal HIMSELF to us through Creation, the Conscience, the Content of Scripture, and Christ!

** Since there are so many Names by which GOD is called in the Bible, I will limit the sermon today to 6 of the most common: God, Father, Holy One, Creator, LORD, and The Angel of the LORD.

#1. The primary Name by which GOD has revealed HIMSELF is “GOD.”

Each of the occurrences of the word, “GOD” in these verses, and in almost every occurrence in the Old Testament, is a translation of the Hebrew word “Elohim” which is the plural masculine form of   the noun אֱלהִים “Eloah” which means “Divine Being.”

It appears 2,598 times in the Old Testament.

It is plural because GOD exists eternally as ONE BEING yet THREE DISTINCT PERSONS.

It is masculine because GOD exists eternally as “The Father.”

In Exodus 3:14, GOD revealed HIMSELF to Moses as אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה “EH-YEH” which means, “I AM.”

It is the first-person singular of the verb “to be.”

In the Greek translation, which Jesus applied to HIMSELF) it is, ἐγὼ εἰμί  “ego eimi.”

Mark 14:61b-62

(61b) “Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (62) And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

#2. GOD has revealed HIMSELF as the “HOLY ONE!”

“Holy” is from the Hebrew adjective, “קָדוֹשׁ” “qadosh” which means, “apart” or “other.”

Psalm 71:22 “I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.”

Leviticus 11:45 “For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

1^st Peter 1:15-16

(15) “but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

#3. GOD has revealed HIMSELF as the CREATOR!

“Creator” is from the Hebrew verb בָּרָא (Bara) which means, “to shape” or “to create.”

Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”

Theological Note: In the creation passage, GOD reveals HIMSELF with the plural noun Elohim because all THREE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD were actively involved in creation.

John 1:1-3

(1) “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 were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

Colossians 1:15-17

(15) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

#4. GOD reveals HIMSELF as, “FATHER.”

GOD is revealed as “FATHER” 15 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament.

The title of “FATHER” is used in the context of relationship revealing GOD as the Progenitor, Head, Provider, and Savior/Protector of the human race.

“Father” is from the Hebrew noun אבות “abot”. This word, (usually given as “ab”) appears 1,212 times in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The Greek πατήρ “Pater” appears 418 times in the New Testament!

Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”

#5. GOD reveals HIMSELF as, “LORD.”

This comes from the Hebrew יְהוָֹה “YHWH” (usually called, “the Tetragrammaton”, “the four letters”) since it is held by Jews to be too holy to write or pronounce.

Grammatical Note – In order to communicate the Name of GOD, the Jews (including Messianic Jews) took the vowels from the word “Adonai” (lord) and interposed them into YHWH and created the word “YaHoWaHi” which in English is “Jehovah!”

In your English Bible, when you see the word, “LORD” (all upper-case letters) it is translating the word, “JEHOVAH” and when you see the word “lord” (using lower-case letters) it is translating the word, “Adonai.”

#6. GOD reveals HIMSELF as, “The Angel of the LORD.”

While this often speaks of GOD, HIMSELF, it sometimes describes an angel serving as a Messenger of GOD…

Genesis 22:11-12

(11) “But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” (12) He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Luke 1:11-13, 19

(11) “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. …

(19) And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

Here is my “Reformation Day 2022” Sermon giving my thoughts about the glorious blessing of GOD that we recognize on this day!

“5 Doctrines that Saved the Church”

One of the wisest axioms I have ever heard is this, “God made the Church the way HE wanted it; now HE wants it the way that HE made it.”

In Acts 2:42-47, we have a great picture of a New Testament Church – the way God made it:

Acts 2:42-47
⁴² “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

That is the way God made the Church and that’s the way HE wants it!

In February of 313 AD, Roman Emperor Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantine decreed the Edict of Milan, which basically declared Christianity to be the State Religion of Rome.

This certainly was the most harmful thing to ever happen to the Church!

The Romans had no real culture of their own, but, after they conquered Greece at the Battle of Corinth in 146 BC, they simply renamed the Greek gods with Roman names.

“Zeus” The King of the gods was renamed, “Jupiter”

“Hera” The goddess of Marriage was renamed, “Juno”

“Poseidon” the god of the sea was renamed, Neptune

“Eros” the god of love was renamed, “Cupid”

“Artemis” the god of sexuality was renamed, “Diana”

Sadly, when millions of Roman Pagans became so-called “Christians” by the decree of Constantine, they simply renamed their idols again and gave them “Christian” names such as “St Joseph” “St Mary” “Jesus” “St Peter” “St Paul” etc., etc.

After the fall of Rome to Odoacer the Barbarian in 476 AD, The Roman version of the so-called “Church” began to transform into a Theo-political entity called the Holy Roman Empire.

For the next 1,000 years, this was the sad state of the Church. There were always some genuine believers in the Church, and many were killed for trying to make changes.

But, by-and-large, the Roman so-called “Church” continued in its idol-worshipping, demon-empowered, cultic form as it is to this very day.

THEN, LIKE A LIGHTENING BOLT, ON OCTOBER 31^ST, 1517, (506 YEARS AGO TODAY) AN OBSCURE AUGUSTINIAN MONK NAILED A LIST OF 95 COMPLAINTS ON THE DOOR OF THE ROMAN CHURCH AT WITTENBURG UNIVERSITY IN SAXONY-ANHALT, GERMANY.

God raised up Martyn Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, John Knox, Menno Simons, and a host of others to bring about the Protestant Reformation.

The birth of the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, the Anabaptists, the Puritans, the English Separatists, and the Baptists ushered in 500 years of continual reformation and purification of the TRUE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, which is made up of every born-again believer in Jesus Christ from the upper room to today.

The Reformation gave us true Churches; God’s Word in the language of common people; and, best of all… a fresh understanding of A SOUND, BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF SALVATION, summarized perfectly in what are called, “the Five Solas”:

Sola Scriptura: Salvation is from the Scriptures Alone!

Sola Gratia: Salvation is by Grace Alone!

Sola Fide: Salvation is by Faith Alone!

Solus Christus: Salvation is in Christ Alone!

Soli Deo Gloria: Salvation is to the Glory of God Alone!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sola Scriptura – Salvation is from the Scriptures Alone!

John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me…”

2 Timothy 3:15-17
¹⁵ “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Romans 10:14, 17
¹⁴ “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Luke 16:27-31
²⁷ “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—
²⁸ for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
²⁹ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
³¹ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Sola Gratia – Salvation is by Grace Alone!

Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸ “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

THEO NOTE: “Mercy” is where GOD does not give us what we do deserve! “Grace ” is where GOD does give us what we do not deserve!

Sola Fide – Salvation is by Faith Alone!

Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

Romans 1:16-17
¹⁶ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:10-11
¹⁰ “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 4:5
⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…”

Romans 5:1-2
¹ “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

HERE IS WHAT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DECLARES ABOUT ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE SAVED BY FAITH ALONE:

Canon 9 of the Council of Trent, December 14, 1563 (and still the official R.C.C. Doctrine today)

QUOTE “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.”

#4 Solus Christus – Salvation is in Christ Alone!

John 8:23-24
²³ “He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 4:11-12
¹¹ “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

#5 Soli Deo Gloria – Salvation is to the Glory of God Alone!

Ephesians 1:3-6
³ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Ephesians 2:4-7
⁴ “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

AMEN and AMEN!

“Understanding Jesus” Part 4: What Jesus is going to do in the future – Sermon #16 “Jesus is Going to Come Back for HIS People!”

1. Over the previous 15 sermons in this series, I have taught about “WHO JESUS is” “What JESUS said” “What JESUS did” “What JESUS is doing” and now… we come to “What JESUS is going to do in the Future!”

2. Of course, JESUS is going to do lots and lots and lots of things in the future, so – as the LORD allows – I plan to take at least 5 more sermons to answer the question… “What is JESUS going to do in the Future?”

3. This morning I want to explain what the Word of God reveals as the very next thing HE will do… HE is going to Come Back for HIS Church!”

4. While there are lots and lots and lots of godly, intelligent Christian men and women who hold to lots and lots and lots of different views of the future, I remain persuaded that the Premillennial and Pretribulation view of the future is the Biblical view!

5. While I have lots and lots and lots of reasons for believing this to be the Biblical view – as you know, I wrote my Doctoral Dissertation on this subject – I just want to focus this morning on one of the key reasons that I believe this!

6. That reason is that JESUS, HIMSELF described HIS return on different occasions providing very different details, which must mean that HE was speaking of TWO DIFFERENT PHASES OF HIS RETURN…

First, JESUS described a time when Believers will be raised from the dead and every living believer will escape death!

John 11:23-27

(23) “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” (24) Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (25) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (26) and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (27) She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to describe this glorious event in minute detail…

1^st Thessalonians 4:16-17

(16) “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.       (17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

So… Believers who have died are resurrected, and the Believers who are still alive at the time are taken up to Heaven while still alive!

Four things happen at that time: The LORD RETURNS, Believers who have died are RESURRECTED, living Believers are RAPTURED, and all Believers are REUNITED to forever be with the LORD!

Second, JESUS also described HIS return using very different details in Matthew 24:29-31

(29) “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

(30) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

In John 11, JESUS is describing a time when HE will come “in the clouds” and raise those Believers who have already died and rapture those Believers who are still alive!

In Matthew 24, JESUS is describing a time when HE will HIMSELF return physically to the earth and stand on the Mount of Olives and destroy the Antichrist and his armies as the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to write in Revelation 19:11-16

(11) “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. (12) His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. (13) He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.   (14) And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. (15) From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (16) On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Since we know that JESUS cannot make a mistake and the Bible is the Word of God and cannot contradict itself, these two descriptions must be two different events!

7. So here is the “Biblical Order of Future Events” as given in the Word of God… DON’T PANIC – THESE EVENTS WILL MAKE UP THE REST OF THIS SERIES OF SERMONS !!!

The NEXT THING prophesied in the Word of God is the “rapture” of the Church as described in John 11 and 1^st Thessalonians 4.

The NEXT THING AFTER THE RAPTURE will be the 7 Years of Tribulation on the earth as described in Matthew 24:4 – 25:46

The NEXT THING AFTER THE TRIBULATION will be when JESUS returns to earth, defeats Satan and the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon and then sets up and rules over HIS KINGDOM on earth for 1,000 years as described in Revelation 20:1-10.

The NEXT THING AFTER THE KINGDOM will be the Battle of Gog and Magog followed by the Great White Throne Judgment of the unsaved dead of all the ages followed by the onset of The Eternal State as described in Revelation 19 – 21.

Amen!

ROMANS 11:1 – 10

“GIVEN OVER TO JUDGMENT”

INTRODUCTION:

1. Frankly, I am brokenhearted over the extremely rapid decline of western civilization and the coming onset of a new “Dark Age.”

2. While I am thankful that, “Americans can still be saved” I no longer believe that America can be saved from the devastation that we are witnessing on a daily basis.

3. Since GOD is fully sovereign over all things, including the fate of Nations, HE is either performing, or at least permitting, this to occur.

4. I am personally persuaded that GOD has given these formerly “Christian” Nations over to judgment.

NOTE: This is most clearly seen in Romans 1:18-31

(18) “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

(19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools, (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

(25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (26) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; (27) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (28) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (29) They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, (30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, (31) foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

Beloved Ones, let’s be clear about what is happening to the formerly God-fearing Nations of the world… these godless and wicked behaviors WILL NOT BRING the judgment of GOD upon a Nation… THEY ARE the judgment of GOD upon a Nation!

5. Any bible-believing person with even a basic knowledge of the scriptures knows that GOD has done this in the past on many occasions.

6. I believe, just as HE did with rebellious Israel, GOD has given our Nation over to a spirit of stupidity which will inevitably lead to our self-destruction!

7. I certainly pray that I am wrong about this, but I fear that I am not wrong about this.

EXPOSITION:

(11:1 – 2a) Just as GOD had not rejected Israel as being HIS people, HE has not – and will not – reject anyone anywhere who truly is HIS Child!

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (2) God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.”

(11:2b – 5) While it seems that true believers are few and very far between, GOD has a remnant of truly born-again, bible-believing people who are HIS people!

“Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? (3) “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” (4) But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (5) So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.”

(11:6) Just as merely being a physical descendant of Abraham did not make a person a Child of God, so today merely being a descendant of Christian people – or living in a “so-called” Christian Nation does not make a person truly HIS Child!

True salvation is always (and only) by grace!

(6) But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

(11:7) While it runs contrary to what most people think that GOD ought to do, as part of HIS judgment on unbelieving sinners, HE does harden the hearts of those who reject HIM!

(7) What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened…”

(11:8) One of the ways, and likely the most common way that GOD hardens unbelievers against HIMSELF and HIS Word is by giving them over to stupidity!

(8) as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

“stupor” comes from the Greek word, “katanuxis” which means to be in a deep sleep to the point of insensibility. Today, we would describe this level of insensibility as, “being in a coma.”

It is, of course, where we get the modern English word, “stupid.”

(11:9) One of the effects of being in a stupor is being blind!

(9) And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; (10) let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

God does give individuals and nations over to judgment! Let us pray for personal and national repentance!

Amen!

UNDERSTANDING JESUS SERMON #15                                             

“JESUS IS SAVING SINNERS AND SERVING HIS PEOPLE AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST!”

INTRODUCTION:

1. Over the past few weeks, we have considered “Who Jesus is!”

2. Then we also considered “What Jesus did!”

3. In a couple of weeks, (as the LORD allows) we will consider “What Jesus is going to do in the future!”

4. This morning, I want us to think about “What Jesus is doing now!”

5. Right now, June 25^th, 2023, “JESUS IS SAVING SINNERS AND SERVING HIS PEOPLE AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST!”

EXPOSITION:

FIRST, JESUS IS SAVING SINNERS!

Very soon after creating the world, JESUS shed the blood of an innocent animal and saved Adam and Eve from the ultimate judgment of their sin!

Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”

For the next 4,000 years, JESUS saved a multitude of sinners who repented of their sins and trusted HIS promise of a coming Messiah!

Joel 2:32a “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

2,000 years ago, JESUS OF NAZARETH came to this earth, lived a sinless life, and died on a cross to pay for the sins of everyone everywhere who turn away from their sins and believe in HIM as their Savior and LORD!

Romans 3:23-26

(23) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,    (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

And here today, and on every day until HE returns, JESUS will forgive the sins, change the life, and someday take to Heaven anyone anywhere and everyone everywhere who turn away from their sins and believe on HIM as their Savior and LORD!

Romans 10:8-13

(8) “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); (9) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (11) For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

(12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (13) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

SECOND, JESUS IS SERVING HIS PEOPLE AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST!

Hebrews 4:14-16

(14) JESUS, THE SON OF GOD is our Great High Priest!

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

(15) JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST WAS MADE LIKE US AND TRULY KNOWS OUR WEAKNESS AND OUR NEEDS!

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

(16) BECAUSE JESUS, THE SON OF GOD IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST WE CAN COME BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD TO RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE IN OUR TIME OF NEED!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

AMEN.