Have you ever gone to a revival and seen all the shouting and running the aisles and felt empty? Have you ever gone to church, all the activities, and felt empty when you left? "Am I missing something?" People will come to the Superbowl party, but they will not seek truth. With all the pomp and procession, what is wrong with the church today?
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The Emperor has No Clothes
Episode 05
Remnant Bible
Fellowship
I.
Introduction
a. There is a plague spreading throughout
the world in the name of Jesus Christ. To give an
illustration let’s consider Hans Christian Anderson’s story of the Emperor’s
new clothes:
i.
There
was a very vain emperor who cared for nothing but about how he dressed and
appeared to others. Two swindlers came to town, feigning themselves to be
weavers, and convinced everyone, including the emperor, that they had such
cloth as appeared invisible to those who were unfit for their positions or were
unusually stupid. The emperor commissioned an outfit to be made of this fine
cloth. He sends more than one minister to examine the garments themselves and
tell him about them. Everyone he sends gives an excellent report. He goes to
see the outfit himself, but doesn’t see anything. Nevertheless, so as not to
appear as unfit for his position or as a fool he puts on the new garment. He
heads out into the city as part of a major procession. All the townspeople
shout praises and high accolades to the emperor for his new garments. "But
he hasn't got anything on," a little child said. "Did you ever hear
such innocent prattle?" said its father. And one person whispered to
another what the child had said, "He hasn't anything on. A child says he
hasn't anything on." "But he hasn't got anything on!" the whole
town cried out at last. The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right.
But he thought, "This procession has got to go on." So he walked more
proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn't there at
all.
b. It is interesting to consider, isn’t it?
A man so proud that he refused to acknowledge that he was naked. It took the
simplicity of a child to point out the obvious, because he had no concern for
being considered a fool.
c. The “church” has so much activity, so
much money, so much influence, and so much “life”. All it does is keep people
busy.
d. In the United States, in the Bible-belt,
I’ve stood on one corner and seen four different churches less than one-hundred
yards away. Yet our country is more biblically illiterate than ever in its
history.
e. If you were to ask “Christians” about
things, they’ll tell you about their church: how wonderful, kind, nice, and
welcoming it is. They preach the Bible, some say. Though the only difference in
most church-people’s lives is that they go to a building a couple times a week,
talk about what they ought to do and how terrible the world is, and how Jesus
loves them.
f.
How
do we reconcile all the activity today in the name of Jesus with the manifest
lack of separation, holy fear, and power? I believe that if we consider some
things from scripture we will have the answer.
II.
The
Majority
a. Many people hear a “gospel” sermon and
then join a church, spend the rest of their lives revolving around the church
house. They were promised peace, joy, happiness, and that they would know God. When
deep down many don’t feel that they know God at all: they know church. They
praise the church, and they are grateful for the church.
b. It is clear from statistics today that
sin is just as rampant in church houses as it is outside them. Divorce,
abortion, worldliness: there is no end to the inconsistencies with what the
scripture tells us a Christian is supposed to be.
c. That’s not what I want to consider
though. I want to consider something else entirely. The plague in Christianity
today is a cancer of the “professing” body of Christ. A tumor. Tumors are
abnormal masses of cells that grow in a body. They have no beneficial purpose and
can kill the body by the damage they inflict. Christianity has a tumor. An
abnormal mass of individuals who profess to know Christ, but in their hearts
show that something is wrong. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof.” (2 Tim. 3:5) These are the “nice” people. They are the most
faithful attendees at church.
d. Though there are many enemies attacking
the truth of Christ’s gospel today, His sheep still know His voice. To the
sheep, the things that we’ll go over from scripture today will seem like water
to a thirsty soul. To anyone else it will seem contentious, unloving, and
divisive. According as the apostle said, “To the one we are the savour of death
unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” (2 Cor. 2:16)
III.
Without
the Camp
a. I remember when I was young in the Lord
and I was growing mightily. Over time I started to feel like something was
“off” at my home church. It was a big Baptist church. We had 500 people on
Sunday morning a lot of times. There were over a hundred “ministries” the
church was involved in. The choir was really good. There was preaching,
revivals, conferences, etc. I began to get involved with the college group, the
adult bible study, even the Bible Institute our church started. Eventually one
thing stood out to me: no one wanted to talk about Jesus Christ. I mean Him,
the person, and not the subject matter of “Jesus”. No one wanted to go “do” for
Jesus Christ. There was no personal relationship with Him. You can talk about
the Bible, prophecy, doctrine, and any number of things and still be absolutely
void of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I had asked the associate pastor to
start a prayer meeting for the college group and he responded, “That’s asking
too much of people when they’re so busy.” I went twice to try to start doing
door-to-door visitation and no one else in the entire church showed up! I
started getting very discouraged about all this.
b. At this time I began questioning and
really seeking the Lord for answers. Was I the un-spiritual one? Was I wrong?
Was I asking too much of people? I began looking at other churches and found
the same thing at the next one. Only this time people would get involved, but
nothing was for the Lord. Everything was for the church in the name of the Lord.
Church was the end that justified the means now. We can’t come together for
prayer, but by-golly we’ll have a Superbowl party or a UFC get together! You
could go do the same worldly things as the lost as long as it was with church
people and it somehow made it holy. Ice cream socials, quartets and concerts: anything
in the name of Jesus that had nothing to do with Him personally. I would be so
vexed and think about verses such as Psalm 29:9 which says, “…in his temple
doth every one speak of his glory.” But in the church today it’s volume without
virtue, praise without practice, shouting and running the aisles without any
actual seeking of God or substance.
c. It was at this time that I was driving
down the avenue toward my house one evening. I was weeping I was so confused. I
was asking the Lord, “What’s wrong with every one?” The Lord answered and
impressed upon me, “They aren’t going without the camp.” This was a reference
to Hebrews 13:13 which says, “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the
camp, bearing his reproach.” You see, Christ was crucified outside the city
gates of Jerusalem. We are told that like as He was taken without the camp
(outside the city/apart by Himself) Christians are told to go out unto Him. There are too many that stand
at the city gate and they see Christ afar off, and they esteem Him. They esteem His
holiness, righteousness, power, and life…but they will not bear His reproach.
They will not go out unto Him.
d. This not-going-without-the-camp takes
different forms today. Let’s look at some scriptures that will shed light on
this.
IV.
The
Religious
a. It used to be said by people when you got
saved that you “got religious.” Well, the most religious people of Christ’s day
were the Pharisees. But Christ had this to say about them, “For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat.
5:20)
b. Unless your righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the most
religious people of Christ’s days on earth then it’s impossible for you enter
the kingdom of heaven.
c. What were the Pharisees like?
i.
They
fasted often. (Mat. 9:14)
ii.
They
held the highest position in Israel of religious authority. (Mat. 23:2)
iii.
They
had long times of prayer. (Mat. 23:14)
iv.
They
had extreme zeal for proselytizing. (Mat. 23:15)
v.
They
were very faithful in tithing. (Mat. 23:23)
vi.
They
revered the prophets of God. (Mat. 23:29)
vii.
They
knew what the Law of Moses said very well.
d. Most pastors would be grateful to have
such faithful attendees at their church!
e. The Pharisees were more zealous than most
people who profess to be Christians today. How is it then that these zealous
Jews were the staunchest opponents of Jesus Christ? They wanted to kill the Son
of God in the name of God. How could they so easily, and majorly, miss the
entire point of the Law of Moses? It was to bring men unto the knowledge of the
messiah.
f.
In
John 6:28 we have an interesting question posed by the Pharisees to Christ: “Then
said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?”
g. Isn’t that the heart of the matter? What
can I do to curry favor with God? To make Him bless me, fill me, and do mighty
works through me. What can I do?
h. It seems to be an honest question asked
in sincerity doesn’t it? I’ve been asked this question myself by people. There
are multitudes of people who understand that the Bible is right, they believe
in God, they understand that you need to “live right”, and they understand that
church is supposed to be a place where you can find out the answer to this
question. But the overwhelming majority of church-goers have completely missed
the point of the gospel. “High morals” doesn’t mean you’re a Christian.
i.
Christ
said to the Pharisees, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men,
but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Mat. 23:28)
j.
Understand
that the Pharisees did all that a man can “do” to curry favor with God. Jesus
even told His disciples, “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye
after their works:” (Mat. 23:2-3) How can Jesus say “but do not ye after their
works”? They tithed, they made long prayers, the fasted, and they were
extremely zealous to teach others. Why then were they to not do after their
works?
k. The answer is seen as Christ continues:
i.
“But
all their works they do for to be seen of men.” (Mat. 23:5) A man is only as
holy and spiritual as he is when no one is there to witness it.
ii.
They
made long prayers for a pretence. (Mat. 23:14)
iii.
They
valued the gold of the temple and altar more than the God whose altar and
temple it was. (Mat. 23:16)
iv.
“…for
they say and do not.” (Mat. 23:3)
l.
The
essence of Christ’s entirely earthly ministry revolved around one concept:
i.
“This
is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
ii.
“…for
without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
m. Outwardly the Pharisees were “doing” a
lot, but God was not pleased with them. Jesus Christ said, “God is a Spirit: and
they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)
There was something lacking in them. It was not enough to outwardly “do”
things. In order to better understand this let’s consider a different passage
of scripture.
V.
Circumcision
of the Heart
a. In Romans 2 Paul explains that God’s
judgment of the gentiles is righteous. He then continues by showing that the
Jews are condemned in God’s sight also because they do not keep the law. Paul
then explains a very important truth, “For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he
is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the
spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom
2:28-29)
b. Physical circumcision is the cutting away
of the foreskin of the male genital. It was given to Abraham as an outward sign
of the faith which he already possessed. (Rom. 4:9-12)
c. What Paul tells us though is that it is
not physical circumcision that justifies a man before God. Those who are
circumcised in their flesh are not the children of God, or Jews, as Paul says.
But those who are circumcised in heart are Jews in God’s sight.
d. To illustrate why this is an important
distinction, think of our original question from the Pharisees: “What can we do
that we might work the works of God?” Or, think of it this way, “Why should God
accept you?” Abraham and the Pharisees would have had two different answers:
i.
Abraham
would say, “I believed God, and it was counted unto me for righteousness in His
sight.” (Gen. 15:6)
ii.
The
Pharisees would say, “I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes
of all that I possess.” (Luke 18:11-12) Or, because they were the physical
descendants of Abraham. (John 8:33)
e. There is a contrast set forth in this
passage in Romans 2:27-29:
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“transgress the law” (v.27)
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“fulfill the law” (v.27)
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A Jew outwardly (v.28)
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A Jew inwardly (v. 29)
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Circumcision in the flesh (v.28)
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Circumcision in the heart (v.29)
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In the letter (v.29)
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In the spirit (v.29)
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Praise of men (v.29)
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Praise of God (v.29)
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f.
When
this contrast is set forth you begin to understand very clearly the problem.
The Pharisees believed that because of their works they were accepted in God’s
sight. Anytime someone says, “Because I did this-and-this I am good,” they have
the same mindset as the Pharisees. You think it’s only that which you do that
matters to God. You never stop to consider the motive and disposition of your
heart before God.
g. God looks on the heart of man and not
only at the outward appearance. (1 Sam. 16:7) The majority of Christ’s rebukes
in the gospels deal with this issue. For example, God considers it adultery
when a man looks with lust in his heart, and not only when a man actually does
the act. (Mat. 5:28) God looks at the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb.
4:12)
h. This is why Paul says it is not that
which is outward that you makes you a child of God, but that which is inward.
Not in the letter (the external “checklist”), but in the spirit (a right heart
and disposition). What are the old hymns
we sing, “Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word…” or “Search
me O God, and know my heart today, try me O Savior, know my thoughts I pray…”
Where do you think they got it? People say, “Well God knows my heart.” Jesus
said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” I can tell you
what’s in your heart because it’s going to spill out into your daily life.
i.
The error
of the Pharisees is that they thought they were good people. When Jesus Christ
said that there is none good but God. (Luke 18:19)
VI.
The
End of the Law for Righteousness
a. The Pharisees missed the entire point of
the Law of Moses.
b. This is what Paul references when he
speaks in Romans 2:27. He says that the uncircumcised (the gentiles) can “keep
the righteousness of the law” (v.26) without being circumcised in their flesh,
but in their heart. “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed
not after righteousness [the outward keeping of the law], have attained to
righteousness [the fulfillment of the law], even the righteousness which is of
faith [the purpose of the law]. But Israel, which followed after the law of
righteousness [outward checklist], hath not attained to the law of
righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were
by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.” (Rom.
9:30-32) The apostle makes clear that the stumblingstone was Jesus Christ.
(Acts 4:11-12)
c. Remember that physical circumcision was
given as an outward sign of the faith that Abraham had. It was his faith that
was counted as righteousness in God’s sight. Romans 4:11-12 says, “And he
received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith
which he had yet being uncircumcised [before the outward was done]: that he
might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised;
that righteousness might be imputed unto them also [the righteousness of faith]:
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,
but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he
had being yet uncircumcised.”
d. Galatians 3:6-9 says, “Even as Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore
that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be
blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
Those who seek to be accepted with God only attain it by faith in Jesus Christ
alone.
e. It is faith that makes a man a child of
God and accepted with Him. It is faith that is the circumcision of the heart.
But in what sense?
f.
Romans
10:3-4 says, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about
to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth.”
g. Jesus Christ is the END of the Law for
righteousness to every one that believes on Him for salvation. He is their
righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). We are accepted before God the Father only because
of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:6). We have to submit to the righteousness of God,
because we are not good. This means casting yourself entirely upon Jesus
Christ, and having no confidence in the flesh.
h. If we think that we are good people, or
that we have good works ourselves apart from Jesus Christ, then we are going
about to establish our own righteousness. A righteous man needs no salvation.
Only those who are unrighteous need a Savior.
i.
We
are told in Galatians 3:24 that the purpose of the Law was to bring us to the
acknowledging of our need for Jesus Christ: that we might be justified by
faith.
j.
If
you think that your good works are anything in the sight of God to cause you to
be accepted with Him then you are living under the Law and not under grace. You
have denied the gospel of Jesus Christ.
VII.
Law
and Grace
a. So let me ask you a question: Do you try
to obey God’s commandments to earn His favor or because you have committed your
life to Christ? Take a moment to examine your own heart. This is extremely
important because it is the difference between being under the law or under
grace.
b. Let’s consider another passage of
scripture, turn to 2 Corinthians 3:3-9.
i.
“Forasmuch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of
stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ
to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers
of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written
and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which
glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be
rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more
doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.” (2Co 3:3-9)
c. If you will notice there is the same
contrasting as done in Romans 2:28-29 being done here. It also revolves around
the concept of “letter versus spirit” living. Let’s consider the contrast:
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Written with ink (v.3)
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Written with the Spirit of the living
God (v.3)
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In tables of stone (v.3)
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In tables of the heart (v.3)
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Sufficiency of ourselves (v.5)
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Sufficiency is of God (v.5)
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Ministers of the letter (v.6)
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Ministers of the Spirit of God (v.6)
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That which kills (v.6)
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That which gives life (v.6)
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Ministration of death (v.7-8)
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Ministration of the spirit (v.7-8)
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Ministration of condemnation (v.9)
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Ministration of righteousness (v.9)
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d. That is quite a stark contrast. This
passage repeats what we saw in Romans 2: When man relies on himself all that it
is going to get from God is death and condemnation. Men going about to
establish their own righteousness that have not submitted themselves to the
righteousness of God.
e. The difference between doing things by
faith and reliance in Jesus Christ or doing them in your own sufficiency and
means is the difference between living under the law or under grace. The
difference between the Old covenant and the New covenant in Christ’s blood. In
Jeremiah we read, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people.” (Jer. 31:33) This verse is quoted in the book of Hebrews
8:10 to show us that this is NT salvation.
f.
The
law is a “checklist salvation” mindset. If I do X-Y-Z then I am right with God.
“What can we do…?” A Pharisee in heart. Make a list of God’s commandments and
ordinances and do them and surely God will accept you. Wrong.
g. From the lips of Jesus Christ Himself we
know that there is none good in all creation by their own power but God the
Father. He is righteous, and man is not.
h. We read in Romans 14:23 that “Whatsoever
is not of faith is sin.” When man goes about to do good works he is building
upon the sand. Christ gave the illustration of the wise man who built his house
upon the rock and the foolish man who built upon the sand for this purpose. You
do things in your own strength when you don’t do them by faith in Jesus Christ.
It is self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness: it is the
oldness of the letter, and not the newness of the Spirit. It is law, and not
grace.
i.
Grace
is explained after this manner: “For the promise, that he should be the heir of
the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is
made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath:
for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that
it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not
to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of
Abraham; who is the father of us all.” (Rom. 4:13-16)
j.
It
saved by faith that it might be by grace. For the purpose that the promise
might be sure. God made His promise to Abraham because of the faith that
Abraham had 430 years before the Law was given. There was no Sabbath, no
temple, etc. There was God. It is this promise given to Abraham that we are
told was the coming of Christ to redeem the world:
i.
We
read in Galatians 3: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of
God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith [Hab. 2:4]. And the law
is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of
Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of
men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man
disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises
made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed,
which is Christ.” (Gal. 3:11-16)
k. The promise was made to Abraham’s seed,
which is Christ. We are partakers of the promise of the spirit through faith in
Christ.
l.
The
Law, which is earning God’s favor by external obedience, is not of faith. You
cannot mix saved by works and saved by grace through faith. Paul the apostle
said, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more
grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no
more work.” (Rom. 11:6)
m. If you are counting on your good deeds to
get you to heaven then you are walking in rebellion to the grace of God. All
you earn is God’s wrath, because the law works wrath (Rom. 4:15). But God has
made salvation to be by faith, that it might be by grace (Rom. 4:16). “But the
scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus
Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Gal. 3:22)
n. It is in the wisdom of God that he has
condemned all of man’s selfish works; because it is only after this manner that
God has made the promise sure to whosoever will come. (Rom. 4:16) To those who
walk in the same steps of faith as faithful Abraham (Rom. 4:12). This brings us
to a very important point: If it’s not that which is outward that justifies us
before God, then do we have to keep the commandments at all?
VIII.
Does
the outward matter?
a. With all this talk of outward versus
inward do we then make void outward obedience? Does there have to be any
external works, or obedience to God’s commandments, since we are justified by
faith in Jesus Christ through grace?
b. First off, I will say that this is a
common question. It usually takes the form of this argument: “If you do nothing
to earn salvation, then how can you do anything to lose it?” I will state
bluntly that the only reason this question is usually brought up is because the
person who asks it is looking for a loophole. They don’t want to obey God
because they don’t want to submit to God.
c. But some people have some idea that that
which is Spirit does not require obedience to God’s commandments. They have
equated the idea of God commanding something and requiring obedience of people
to the idea of Law. If you try to tell them God requires some obedience from
them then you are called a “legalist”.
d. This mindset comes from the foolish
notion that faith has nothing to do with works. Some will then say, “But you
said you cannot mix grace and works!” I didn’t say that, the scriptures do in
Romans 11:6. The point that the apostle Paul makes is that you cannot say that
your good works count for anything in the sight of God and say at the same time
that Jesus is your Savior. You cannot mix saying, “I am saved by Jesus Christ”
with saying, “I am a good person.” That is what Paul rebuked.
e. But faith is clearly laid out in
scripture as having something to do with works. Let’s take a look at some
scriptures:
i.
“What
doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of
daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the
body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest
that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not
Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith
made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by
faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (Jas.
2:14-26)
ii.
You
see the point that James makes is that faith does, but altogether for a
different purpose. It is faith wrought with works. Faith obeys God because it
believes God’s Word. Abraham believed God’s promise regarding Isaac and obeyed
God’s commandment to sacrifice him BECAUSE he believed God’s promise.
iii.
The
same can be said regarding the NT commandments to Christians. God has said
certain things such as “in the day when men shall give an account for every
idle word that they speak” (Mat. 12:36) If a man has submitted himself to the
righteousness of God and has given himself to God’s Lordship over him then when
he reads that commandment he will be careful what he speaks. Not to earn favor
with God and call himself a good person, but he will obey it because it is his
Lord’s commandment. His will is to do the will of God. He glories in Christ,
and not in himself. (1 Cor. 1:31). A servant who does all his master’s will at
the end of the day did only that which was his duty to do Christ said (Luke
17:10).
iv.
The
Bible refers to “the obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:26), or being obedient to
“the faith” (Rom. 1:5). This can be summed up in Colossians 3:17, “And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him.” The life has been given to God that we
could say as the apostle Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal. 2:20-21)
v.
This
is why the notion of someone being born of the Spirit of God without there being
an outward show of obedience to Christ is foreign to the scriptures. The spirit
of God is that which led Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry, and it was the
spirit of God that led the apostles through the acts of the early church.
Literally ALL of the scriptures were written under the direction of the Holy
Spirit. (2 Pet. 1:21) Therefore, whatsoever is written in them as commandments
was not contrary to the Spirit of God. So walking in the Spirit would by nature
be obedient to all the commandments written in the scriptures.
vi.
They
that are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Rom. 8:14), and the apostle
John said that the children of God were made manifest in the sight of men by
their obedience in doing what is righteous. (1 John 3:10)
vii.
So
when a man submits himself to the righteousness of God and believes the gospel,
he is born of the spirit (John 3:5-6). The Spirit of God then begins to lead
him as the believer yields to him. God works in him both to will and to do of
God’s good pleasure (Php. 2:13). Our part is to believe on Christ, and walk by
that faith, and God’s part is to work these things in us. The work of God is
that we believe on him whom he hath sent.
f.
Christ’s
own words contradict the notion that the outward does not matter:
i.
“Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them. “(Mat. 7:17-20)
ii.
The
nature of the tree causes it to bring forth fruit. It is every good tree that
brings forth good fruit. Believers are partakers of the divine nature by faith
in Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:3-4). It is as we abide in Christ that we bring forth
fruit (John 15:5).
iii.
It
is because the inward is right in the sight of God that the outward evidence
will follow. But it will be wholly done for the glory of Jesus Christ and not
for the man himself. (1 Cor. 1:31)
g. When Christ rebuked the Pharisees he told
them that they tithed and did all sorts of things outwardly but left out the
weightier things in God’s sight such as judgment, mercy, and faith. These are
inward things of the heart. Christ said, “these ought ye to have done, and not
to leave the other undone.” (Mat. 23:23) He told them, “You ought to do the
weightier matters of the heart, but not to the excluding of the outward
things.”
h. Considering all these things it is clear
that a child of God will act like a child of God. You may be young, and
growing, but your growth is in grace and holiness unto the glory of Jesus
Christ. You are growing to be more like Him upon whom your eyes are firmly
fixed.
IX.
Man’s
Inability
a. At this point, I’m reminded of something
I’ve heard argued before. If a lost man does outwardly the things that God
commands aren’t they still good things?
b. For instance, God hates lying. So if a
lost man sees that God says not to lie, and he of his own volition starts doing
all things honestly, doesn’t that mean he’s doing a righteous thing? I mean,
because God said not to do something he stopped doing it?
c. There are two problems with this line of
reasoning:
i.
First,
man must first be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ before he can even
begin to obey God. Otherwise, his past sin still separates him from fellowship
with God. He might not even be sorry for his past sins.
ii.
Secondly,
there has never been a single person in existence who has ever heard the
commandments of God and actually completely obeyed them just because he
esteemed them to be good. There is always a knowledge of God in the obedient
man’s heart, because apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing. (John 15:5)
d. Why is that the case? Why can’t a man
just do a checklist? Paul the apostle shows the problem clearly in Romans 7.
e. Paul, being a Pharisee before his
conversion to Christ, sought to live by the straightest sect of Judaism. He
sought to live completely by the law.
f.
But
the problem was that Paul esteemed the law to be good (7:22), but by his own
strength he had no ability to do what God had commanded (7:18).
g. The problem came when Paul realized “that
the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (7:14)
h. Paul, left to himself, could only fail.
An outward checklist of commandments could not fix man’s flesh to make it
spiritual. That which is carnal minds the things that are carnal and does the
things that are carnal. Only that which is spirit is spiritual. Christ taught
the same thing in reference to the new birth in John 3:5-6. That which is flesh
is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit. Man is flesh and he cannot do that
which is spiritual without a radical change from God who is a living Spirit.
i.
We
read in Romans 8:3-4, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
j.
So
Paul concludes his testimony as to the problem saying, “O wretched man that I
am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 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.” (Rom. 7:24-25)
k. It was only through Jesus Christ that
Paul could be delivered from the bondage of his own flesh and carnality to the
liberty of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2).
X.
Dead
with Christ
a. In this we begin to understand what is
referred to as “dying to self”.
b. A man who has no will of his own is dead.
Paul explained it this way, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
c. Paul was dead, but Christ lived in him. He
lived, but not unto himself (2 Cor. 5:15). He lived by the faith of Jesus
Christ. He lived to do the will of God. His independence and self-will was
gone. He had given it to God.
d. This is what is meant in Romans 7:4-6: “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. 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.”
e. To be “in the flesh” is self-will and
self-dependency. The result of trying to please God in this way will be the
same as Paul found. You will try but you will fail. You will sin. It is
unavoidable. It is unavoidable but that you should exercise your own
self-seeking will contrary to God’s. That is the definition of sin. But, if you
were to die to yourself, and reckon your own will to be given unto God, then
God can take you and deliver you Himself.
f.
Romans
6 talks a lot about this.
i.
“Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4) Christ died physically on the cross and rose again
by the spirit of God never to die again. We are told that after this manner
when we identify with Christ, we are accepting the death of our own will. To
the end that we should walk in a completely new way afterwards.
ii.
“Now
if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:” (Rom.
6:8) If we die to ourselves to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ, then we
are assured of God that as Christ was raised from the dead so shall we be
raised.
iii.
“For
he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7) Sin is the result of man walking
in his own strength apart from God. If the man dies, that is, he stops seeking
to walk in his own will and strength, then sin ceases. He is free from the law
to walk in the Spirit: which is wholly to glorify Jesus Christ. The man is free
from the bondage of his own flesh.
iv.
“For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under
grace.” (Rom. 6:14) If you are under the law, walking in your own strength to
please God, then you are under the dominion of sin. But if you are living under
grace, completely depending on Jesus Christ, then you are not under the
dominion of sin. Paul says it this way in Galatians: “This I say then, Walk in
the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:16-18) If
you want to be free from sin: cast yourself wholly on Jesus Christ and stop
relying on yourself.
g. An important thing to consider is
mentioned in Romans 6: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of
obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16)
i.
If
you yield yourself to sin you become its servant again. Christ said, “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John
8:34)
ii.
Also,
be careful not to slip back to self-sufficiency and self-will. Paul warned us,
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found
sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build
again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through
the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.” (Gal. 2:17-19)
XI.
Alive
through Christ
a. Remember that the law could only work
wrath (Rom. 4:15), and it is considered the ministration of condemnation (2
Cor. 3:9).
b. “For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
(Rom. 10:4) When a man comes to the end of himself by realizing his inability
to please God himself he looks for a savior. That savior is Jesus Christ.
c. “There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2)
i.
All
the condemnation of the law is done away with in Christ. The believer in Christ
is not walking after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Therefore he is not under
the law, but under grace (Gal. 5:18).
d. A question that has been asked before is,
“Can a man be of the Spirit of God and continue in a state of carnality?” The
answer is a resounding no. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit.” (Rom. 8:5) Those that are born of the Spirit of God mind, or have a
disposition to, the things of the Spirit of God.
e. Likewise we are told, “So then they that
are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:8)
f.
“For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14)
It is only those led by the Spirit of God that are Christians.
g. A wonderful illustration
given to us in scripture of how we can expect to be judged of God is in 1
Corinthians 3:
i.
It
says, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise
masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But
let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Cor. 3:10-15)
h. One thing to take away
from this passage is that the only foundation that lasts is Jesus Christ. All
that build, and are saved, are building on this one foundation. Some may err in
how they build upon that foundation, but they have the correct foundation.
i.
This
shows the simplicity of the matter: continue to walk by faith in Jesus Christ.
j.
Christ
Himself told his disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I
in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John
15:4-5)
i.
He
gives the promise that if you abide (continue/remain) in Him then you will
bring forth fruit unto God.
k. “Let that therefore
abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have
heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the
Son, and in the Father.” (1Jn 2:24) Keep the knowledge of Jesus Christ at
forefront of your heart and mind, walk by faith in it, and you will continue in
Him.
XII.
The
Emperor
a. Now, I’ve gone over a
LOT of scripture to come to this. Remember the story of the Emperor’s new
clothes? I’m going to ask you now: Who is the emperor in our illustration? I’ll
tell you, it’s the visible church today.
i.
The
majority of churches teach a “checklist salvation”: “come to an altar, say a
prayer, be sincere, ask Jesus into your heart and you’ll be saved for all
eternity!” Or, they miss the point of the gospel which is abandoning yourself
to Jesus Christ: “I go to church, I read my bible sometimes, live a moral life,
what more must I do?” Or, “Yeah, I’m a really good person.” They show that they
don’t even understand the gospel of Christ. Inwardly they still want Hollywood,
friendship with the world, and they care only about the things of the world.
Nothing has changed.
ii.
The
majority of churches teach that the outward state of their life doesn’t matter.
They may say that a Christian will not continue in sin, but they certainly
don’t expect anything less. “I’m not
perfect, just forgiven.” Whatever happened to perfecting holiness in the fear
of God? Just a “carnal Christian”, right? What a contradiction, a
carnally-minded spirit-led Christ-follower! May I remind you that Christ said
that which is flesh is flesh, and that which is spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6)?
And they that are of the spirit do mind the things of the spirit (Romans
8:5-6)? It is only those that are led by the spirit that are the sons of God
(Romans 8:14).
iii.
The
majority of churches today teach that man is generally good; if not in word,
then certainly in action. Lots of nice people doing nice things, talking about
nice things, and no one upsetting the status quo of “church”. A little sin you
say? Don’t worry, Jesus loves you.
iv.
The
majority of churches today expect nothing spiritual of professing believers. Come
to an altar, say a prayer, be paraded in front of a church with the pastor
saying, “welcome so-and-so into the family of God!” They’ll come to church
faithfully: the ice cream socials, the movie nights, and the superbowl parties.
They’ll hear sermons about how wonderful heaven is, “don’t you doubt your
salvation because you said a prayer,” and the ever more vague and subjective
“moving of the Holy Spirit.” Shout, run the aisles, be moved by the pretty
music: leave the church saying “what a
wonderful service.” Behold: world-changers for Jesus Christ. Come and get you
some community: but don’t you dare ask us to seek God.
v.
The
majority of churches today are filled with people living their own lives, their
own ways, for their own purposes. They are dead to nothing but God. If you even
insinuate that God has commanded them differently than how they live all you
will receive is excuses, “I don’t agree with that”, accusations of being a
legalist, or “don’t you judge me”. All the while Jesus Christ says, “For every
one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20) They don’t care what God said. They’ve
got their lives to live.
vi.
The
majority of churches don’t really do anything for Jesus Christ. They do
everything for His professing church. They abide in nothing but the church
house. Do nothing for Him, but everything for a building. I’m tired of hearing
people say, “If it wasn’t for the church I’d be drunk in a ditch somewhere.”
God forbid such a person should ever be cast into prison for their faith. For
most people church is their god. They praise it, thank it, obey it, and
reverence it. Not so with God’s church. God’s church only has eyes for Jesus
Christ. “In his temple doth every one speak of his glory.” (Psalm 29:9)
b. Behold the Emperor, how
great is its pomp, its influence, and its social networking. It is rich,
increased with goods, and has need of nothing.
c. This is the Emperor, the
modern church. Listen now to what the only Begotten Son of God says, “Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest
see.” (Rev 3:17-18)
d. My final question is:
will the church just shiver and suspect the truth, but continue and say, “The
procession has got go on?” Will the pastors just hold up the train that isn’t
really there? Shout a little, run the aisles: maybe we can convince ourselves
that God is in the midst.
e. Fine linen is the
righteousness of saints, and you are naked. “As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19)
f.
“Awake
thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
(Eph. 5:14)
