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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.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“

Romans 1:16 “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.”

These are the words of the LORD. Thanks be to God for HIS word.

A couple of weeks ago I had the great joy of having lunch with a friend who is also a Pastor. As I almost always do, when the server took our order, I told her that we were about to pray over our meal and asked if there was anything for her that we could pray. She replied, “Just that I will continue to do well.”

After the meal and after paying at the counter, our server asked me what church I went to. I told her that I was serving as the Pastor at Summit Fellowship in Decatur. She then asked, “do you have anything for teenagers?”

That is the opportunity I missed!

I replied to her that we did not but that I was aware of some churches in Decatur that did have such ministries and I recommended them to her. I did at least think to give her a business card and I invited her to contact me if there was anyway in which I could be of help her.

Only after getting home, I realized that I should have told her something that I know very well! That is the fact that the thing her teenager needs most is to be with their mom in a good Bible-believing and Bible teaching church listening to biblical and expository preaching!

As you know, after my many years at First Baptist Atwood, I am committed to reaching and ministering to children and teens and training church members to do so! I am thankful beyond words for churches that are blessed to have – as does First Baptist Atwood – godly, committed, and qualified Bible teachers working with children and teens.

BUT… I (and we) need to remember that the week-by-week, Book-by-Book, verse-by-verse and doctrine-by-doctrine teaching of the Bible is the primary means by which God saves unsaved people and by which HE sanctifies and matures HIS people!

So, I am planning to go there again soon and share this advice with her. I hope that you will take a moment to pray for her and her children.

I am certain that the thought has occurred to many, if not most, elderly Elders that the problem with 40 years of experience is that it takes 40 years to get it, and by then most people think you are too old and too “out of touch” to have anything valuable to add to the conversation!

As an elderly Elder I want to share some of the theological knowledge and spiritual insights that I wish I had known when I was a younger believer. I hope that you will find them helpful.

I believe the single most important theological lesson I have learned in my 40+ years of ministry is that it is easy for a person to develop a relationship with a Church without having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

This was certainly true of me.

When I was 21 years old, my girlfriend’s father told her that she could not date me unless I joined their Church (which required that I be baptized by immersion) so I went to their Church on a Sunday night and was baptized.

I knew nothing about what it meant to be saved let alone how to be saved. This began an eleven years long saga of my being a member of four Churches and attending a Christian University without ever coming to realize that I did not really have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Sadly, it is really easy to become a member of a Church and once you are a member of a Church almost everyone will assume that you have a relationship with Jesus and therefore they will not seek to find out if you really do have a personal relationship with Him.

Two simple things are required to have a personal relationship with Jesus: first, you must repent of your sins, and second, you must believe in Jesus.

To repent means to recognize that you have sinned against God and to confess your sins to God and forsake them.

Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

To believe in Jesus does not mean a casual belief such as when we believe it might rain, rather, it means to believe to the point of committing yourself and your life to Him much like a skydiver believes in and commits their life to their parachute.

You must believe two things about Jesus to have a personal relationship with Him: you must believe WHO Jesus is and you must believe what Jesus did.

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.”

1^st Corinthians 15:3-4 (3) “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…”

Romans 10:9-10 (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.”

It is easy to know if you really believe these things because if you truly believe that Jesus is God in human flesh and that He paid for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead, you will desire to obey what He commands!

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Luke 6:46 “”Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Beloved ones, nothing else in life is more important than having a personal relationship with Jesus!

Since I have accepted the position of Transition Pastor at Summit Fellowship in Decatur, I have been happily surprised to learn that our church – while small and struggling – is a real church made up of real Christian people who really love the LORD!

I am thankful beyond words to have the opportunity to serve this faithful group of believes on the northwest side of Decatur!

When I came back to serve Central Baptist Association in 2020, I was surprised to learn how severely many of our member churches were suffering following years of decline that had been made much worse by impact of the Covid pandemic.

Nearly 60% of our 19 member churches averaged 30 or fewer people in morning worship for the 2020 – 2021 Associational year. Almost all of these churches have fewer people attending and the average age of those who do attend is higher that in the 2019 – 2020 Associational year.

Many of our Churches are continually getting both smaller and older. It was easy for me to be troubled by these statistics as I should have been!

Of course, the reasons for this decline vary from church to church, but in a more general sense our stories are very similar. If I am typical of our members, and demographically I am, I know that the older I get the more resistant I am to change and the more intolerant I become of things I do not like.

These attitudes are deadly for a church!

As decline continues, the funds needed for care and improvement of our facilities are less and less available and the physical ability of our members to do the necessary work to properly care for our facilities also declines.

At Summit Fellowship, we are engaged in a multi-year revitalization plan that we trust God will bless and end this season of decline and set the stage for future growth!

May it be so for all of our LORD’s faithful churches!