Coming and Going

Coming and Going

Amos 8:1-14; Colossians 3:1-25 / Proverbs 1:1-19

I. God Makes Assumptions About People

A. Believers are slow learners; learning takes place slowly in small amounts constantly and painfully repeated. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” (Isaiah 28:10-11)

B. People must focus on what God says; minds filled with holiness do not have room for evil. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

C. When people turn from evil they will return to an even worse level of evil if they do not take appropriate precautions. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

D. People are easily distracted; even things which in themselves may be true or even useful can be converted into hindrances to holiness. “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” (1 Timothy 1:4) “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” (Titus 3:9)

II. Believers Make Assumptions About Themselves

A. People will not understand God’s story until they learn that it focuses on Jesus Christ. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

B. An eternal relationship with God Himself through Jesus Christ is more valuable than anything else; the common point to Bible study, prayer, and worship is encounter with God. “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:8)

C. God is the final authority on all things; at best any other authority is middle management. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23)

D. While people may not know what they are doing, God can be relied on to understand and direct all things. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

III. Consider the Implications

A. Testing God’s boundaries is dangerous; God does not ignore sin. “Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.” (Amos 8:4-7)

B. When people refuse to act on the knowledge of God which they have, He removes that knowledge. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

C. Some questions do not have right answers; there is no way to prosper apart from God’s revelation. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” (Romans 1:18-19)

D. As people insist on their own way rather than God’s way, God eventually gives them what they seek. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:” (Romans 1:21-24)

The Problem Isn't Law

The Problem Isn't Law

Romans 7

I. Marriage Illustrates How Law Works

A. Laws inherently display purposes and observe limits. "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" (Romans 7:1)

B. Because law reveals truths and illustrates realities, it is inherently valuable; the laws of chemistry enable science. "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:" (Proverbs 6:23)

C. Marriage is the fundamental expression of law and the basis for contracts. "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." (Romans 7:2) " And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:23-24)

D. Marriage requires two partners and ceases inherently at death; it is inextricably confined to the present age. "So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." (Romans 7:3)

E. The transformation of grace works in the same way; the death on cross effects the substitutionary atonement by which people become free to enter a new relationship with God. "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (Romans 7:4-5)

F. The law taught reality so that people could see the fundamental
problem; now something larger is at work. "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6)

II. The Law Is Actually Holy

A. The law was never the problem; it was the opportunity. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." (Romans 7:7) "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7)

B. People are naturally drawn to disobey God and the law illustrates what offends God. "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." (Romans 7:8-10)

C. Sin transforms the path to righteousness into directions for disobedience. "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." (Romans 7:11-12)

D. The true character of sin reveals itself in the capacity to convert something good into something bad. "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." (Romans 7:13)

III. The Conflict Is in the Human Heart

A. The conflict between righteousness and the sinful nature is painful; the believer's struggle confirms the validity of the law. "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good." (Romans 7:14-16)

B. A believer will want better than sin will permit. "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7:17-18)

C. A person can be drawn in two conflicting directions at once. "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:" (Romans 7:20-22)

D. The struggle is unspeakably horrific; there is no human solution. "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:23-24)

E. Christ alone delivers. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:25)

Who Fills Your Daybook?

Who Fills Your Daybook?

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

I. People Like Planning for Themselves

A. The Tower of Babel and the disastrous confusion which ensued from building it illustrate the common theme of human self-centeredness. “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4)

B. People commonly assume both the present and the future are in their own hands. “Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.” (Psalm 49:11-13)

C. The pathetic Absalom is a prime example of the dilemma. “Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.” (2 Samuel 18:18)

D. God does not leave the world in the perpetual grip of sinners; where there is death there is also hope of redemption, resurrection, and restoration. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:7-8)

II. God Generates the Master Plan

A. God specifically repudiates the social safety net of civil power; on Judgment Day the government will not be much help. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalm 118:9) “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” (Psalm 146:3)

B. No plan counts for much till God approves it; the City of God has a righteous master plan. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:19-21)

C. Only what is done in God’s plan can last; the morally and theologically neutral are only ephemeral. “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:30)

D. How can people who may not even understand themselves understand what should be done with life? “Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24) “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

III. The Master Plan Works

A. God enjoys working with people who want what He intends. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalm 37:23)

B. God takes all the contingencies into consideration and works with the entire picture in His present. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:10)

C. The clay should never delude itself into attempting to be the potter. “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8) “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:6)

D. Relax, God is in control and He knows what is best; avoid telling God what to do. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Romans 11:34)