It Is Appointed

Sunday Morning Sermons

It Is Appointed

Pastor Don Carpenter

Isaiah 24:2

A little girl crawled up in the lap of her Grandpa and cuddled close. Then she looked into Grandpa’s face with those big blue eyes of hers and said, “Grandpa, can you please make a sound like a frog?”

Grandpa thought for a moment, then smiled and said, “Ribbit. Ribbit.”

Suddenly, the little girl leaped from his lap and ran into the kitchen yelling as loud as she could, “Mommy, we are going to Disney World…we are going to Disney World…we are going to Disney World!!!”

The young mom hushed her child and said, “Honey, why do you think we are going to Disney World?” The little girl, gleaming with joy, blurted out, “You said we can go to Disney World when Grandpa croaks!”

In 2020 the world turned upside down. The COVID pandemic forever changed the way people in this generation think about a lot of things. Thank God that we have come a long way from lock downs and hoarding toilet paper. We can take a few minutes and consider what caused world wide hysteria on this level? I believe it was the universal confrontation with the inevitable, the fact of death. Our society is not as equipped to handle the sense of imminent threat of death. A Pew Research Study conducted in November 2021 found that one in six Americans did not believe in life after death at all. The Bible gives us haunting truth that we often try to suppress, but in the dark, in the quiet hours when all you hear in the screaming of your own conscience and the moaning of regret deep within your soul… this verse rings out and cannot be silenced.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Today we are going to quit running. We are going to rationally and Biblically look at this issue. It Is Appointed.

It Is Appointed To All Men

Isaiah 24:2 KJV

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

Religious Status Will Make No Difference

 Isaiah 24:2 (KJV)

 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest…

Social Status Will Make No Difference

 Isaiah 24:2 (KJV)

 … As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress…

Financial Status Will Make No Difference

 Isaiah 24:2 (KJV)

 … As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

Christian Song Writer Steve Tayler wrote an interesting allegory comparing the promise of Hebrews 9:27 to what it would be like if a meltdown were to occur at London’s famous wax museum:

 • Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, the queen is losing face

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, a national disgrace

 • It’s the middle of the night at the London shrine

Could have been the janitor, could have been divine

Someone said the thermostat never did work

Now we’ve got the temperature going berserk

 • Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, the queen is losing face

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, a national disgrace

 • Celebrities, statesmen, history’s elite

They’re dripping in the hallways, they’re starting to secrete

They’re pouring out the pores, they’re shrinking on the spot

Someone take a photograph, get ’em while they’re hot

 • Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, the president looks alarmed

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud’s, a general’s been disarmed

There is more to that silly song, but you get the point. It is appointed unto men once to die… no exceptions.

Once To Die

Hebrews 9:27 KJV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

There will be no do overs

Romans 5:12 KJV

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Christ Offers Eternal Life after death.

John 3:16 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You Know Its Coming, Get Your House In Order.

2 Kings 20:1 KJV

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

Once To Be Judged

Those Without Christ Will Be Judged Only On Actions.

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Revelation 20:11–15 KJV

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Those In Christ Will Face A Rewards Based Judgement.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 KJV

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.

So there it is, the news we all know is true, but no one whats to think about it. Ignoring it does not make it go away. We are all going to die. It is appointed. We are all going to be judged. It is appointed. God in His love and mercy has provided so we need not face the second death, Hell, but can be assured of eternal life in Heaven. Jesus paid the price for our sin! Once you embrace that, get your house in order… and banish fear forever. Jesus has conquered sin and death. There is no reason to fear the fact of death… it is appointed.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 5:18 PM May 17, 2022.

Samson The Sanctified

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Samson the Sanctified

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / Judges 13

Sanctification is a fancy church word that simply means cleaned up and ready to use. Your laundry that has been washed, dried, and ironed is sanctified because it has been cleaned and prepared for use.

My son is a tennis shoe freak. It started out with a pair of Jordan sneakers. He has lots and lots of shoes. When he started working almost every payday that’s what he wanted a new pair of shoes. Now he has more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

Those shoes are always spotless and ready to wear. He buys the right type of cleaner and never allows a pair to get dirty. He wears them, cleans them, and puts them in the box, ready to wear the next time.

This is sanctification. Being cleaned up and prepared for use.

The old fashioned biblical message of sanctification and purity is simple and often ignored. People are looking for something more exciting, more appealing, and easier to take. Rather than preaching on sin, people would desire tips on achieving financial success, marital bliss, and an elevated sense of self-worth. The late Dr. Paul Tassel at the 1990 National G.A.R.B.C. Conference lamented that we Baptists have been scrubbing our hands too long by pursuing sanctification, and it is time that we get on with the operation. This is a common misconception. People assume that purity is old and dry… and that there is no power of God demonstrated in careful separation.

There is another crowd among us who is seeking manifestations of God’s power. People who would not “quibble” over doctrine or standards as long as there was some evidence of supernatural activity.

My friends, what we need now is what they needed in our text this evening – an encounter with the supernatural. The people of Israel fell into sin and judgment once again. This time, God used the Philistines to oppress His people for forty years. The people needed God to raise up a deliverer. They needed to experience a genuine encounter with the Supernatural.

Manoah’s wife was childless. It was impossible for her to conceive, yet God chose to entrust this couple with the next deliverer for Israel. They were about to experience a genuine encounter with the Supernatural.

So as we examine the events of this chapter, may God give us eyes to see the principles we must learn as we also desire the power of God. These are the things we must remember as we see the pure beginnings of Samson the Sanctified.

Sanctified Before Birth

A promise of deliverance 

Judges 13:1–3 KJV

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

  1. From barrenness

  2. From the Philistines

The mother was to remain pure

Judges 13:4 KJV

Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

** Apparently God sees an unborn Baby as fully human, capable of being sanctified and prepared for service***

 • Beware = to keep, tend, watch over, retain

 • Pure from anything associated with wine

 • Pure from strong drink

 • Pure from dietary defilement

For an Israelite, this was purity from pagan influences

The child was to be distinct

Judges 13:5 KJV

For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

1. A Nazarite for life – separated for a purpose

2. The sign of his distinction was outward

è God sees both inside and outside!

è During the Tribulation, people will be damned to Hell because of an outside mark!

Purity Was The Secret to Power

A. Manoah was jealous of his wife

Judges 13:8–10 KJV

Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. 

And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. 

And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

1. Wanted more than the tired old message of separation

2. Wanted to meet the messenger

3. God’s messenger came back first to his wife alone

B. The message does not change

Judges 13:12–14 KJV

And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? 

And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 

She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

1. She must beware (retain) the things she already was told

2. The standards are restated

Jeremiah 6:16 KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

C. It is possible to completely miss the message

1. Trying to learn some hidden nugget or secret

Judges 13:17–18 KJV

And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

2. Seeing divine power but forgetting divine commandments

Judges 13:20–22 KJV

For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 

But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. 

And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Obedience Builds Two Way Trust

Judges 13:23–25 KJV

But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. 

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

A. No fear because God accepted the sacrifice – vs 23

Judges 13:19 KJV

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

1. The sacrifice was an outward sign of their belief

2. Faith saved them

Genesis 15:6 – And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

B. No fear because God gave them the commandments

1. She did have a son

2. God began to stir in Dan

There was a farmer who was known to be a hard man. He was abusive and foul-mouthed to both man and beast. In time he became friends with a Christian, who influenced him to consider becoming a Christian, and he did. His life was immediately marked by dramatic change. He cleaned up his language and his behavior. He treated his employees well. He was gentle and patient with his livestock. And he was loving and considerate toward his wife.

One day he became frustrated while working and fell back into his old ways. He cursed the livestock. He spoke harshly to his hired hand. And then, he caught himself and went to the farmhouse where his wife found him sitting at the kitchen table distraught and broken over his failure.

When she asked him, “What’s the matter?” He blurted out, “I’m no different than I used to be”

“Oh, but you are different than you used to be ” She said. “Then you would never have been sorry or thought you had done wrong. Then you would not be contrite and wanting to be a better person. I see every sign that the Holy Spirit of God is working in you.”

(From a sermon by Monty Newton, “Desiring Good and Doing Bad” 7/4/08, SermonCentral.com)

When God calls someone to service, He calls them to sanctification and purity. The Power of God flows best through a pure vessel. As we learn about the boneheaded things Samson does, let us remember his beginning as Samson, the Sanctified.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:48 PM May 4, 2022.

Hope Walks The Streets Of Gold

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope Walks The Streets (of Gold)

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 5:8–14

A millionaire Christian is sleeping in his bedroom when an angel comes to him and wakes him up.

“It’s time for you to go to heaven”, says the angel.

“Oh, i’m not ready, what should I bring ?”, says the millionaire.

“Nothing, just yourself”, replies the angel.

But the millionaire pulls a large suitcase from under his bed and opens it up. It is full of gold bars. “Can I just bring this along ?”, he pleads with the angel.

The angels thinks for a while, gets on his hand phone to God and speaks some divine language. Then he turn to the man and says , “OK, but only the suitcase”.

So the millionaire is taken up to the pearly gates where St.Peter is waiting to welcome him. Looking at the suitcase St.Peter says, “I’m sorry but we don’t allow any earthly possessions here, you’ll have to leave the suitcase behind.”

The angel whispers the situation into St.Peter’s ears and St.Peter seems to understand. “But what could be so important that God would allow you to take it through ?”, muses St.Peter, “Let me take a look”.

St.Peter opens the suitcase to see all the gold bars inside and immediately falls to the floor rolling around with ecstatic laughter!

The millionaire is amazed at St.Peter’s antics. Why is he laughing ?

After a while St.Peter is able to stop laughing and manages to let out a solitary question, “Why do you want to bring PAVEMENT into heaven ?”

For the last 6 weeks we have been looking at the theme “Anchored To Hope In A Stormy World.” We have seen that there is hope in the midst of heartache. There is hope for the backslider. There is hope for the sinner facing natural consequences of his sin. There is hope of life in death valley. Last week we started to meditate about heaven. We discovered that when a believer draws his last breath here on earth, his next breath will be in heaven as his spirit is immediately before the Lord!

Today let us focus on our believing loved ones who have made that journey already. What are they doing right now in Heaven? What do we have to look forward to? Let us see what God’s Word has to say on this subject and drop our anchors and believe what God says.

They Are Worshiping The Redeemer.

Revelation 5:9–10 KJV

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 7:9–10 KJV

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Revelation 15:2–3 KJV

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Revelation 19:5–7 KJV

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

They Are Resting

Hebrews 4:9 KJV

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

From The Weight of this Sin Cursed Flesh

Romans 7:24–25 KJV

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.

From Suffering the Curse of Sin

Romans 8:18 KJV

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

1 John 3:1–2 KJV

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Thessalonians 1:5–7 KJV

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

From The Sting of Sin – Death

John 11:26 KJV

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Revelation 21:3–4 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

An advertisement based on Revelation chapter 21 reads: “Free, beautiful homes to be given away in a perfect city! With: 100% pure water, no electric bills, perpetual lighting, permanent pavement, nothing undesirable, everything new, perfect health, immunity from accidents, best of society, beautiful music, free transportation.

They Are Reuniting

With Loved Ones

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

With God

Psalm 17:15 KJV

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Matthew 5:8 KJV

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

With Christ

John 14:3 KJV

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Revelation 22:4 KJV

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

They Are Rejoicing

Psalm 16:11 KJV

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Isaiah 51:11 KJV

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, And come with singing unto Zion; And everlasting joy shall be upon their head: They shall obtain gladness and joy; And sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Luke 15:7 KJV

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 KJV

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

They Are Serving

Revelation 22:3 KJV

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

They Will Be Reigning

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Hebrews 12:28 KJV

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Revelation 3:21 KJV

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 20:6 KJV

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door,

Not by the beauty of it all, by the lights or its décor.

But it was the folks in heaven who made me sputter and gasp;

the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from 7th grade, who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor, who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought was rotting away in hell,

was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, “What the deal? I would love to hear your take.

How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve made a mistake.

And why’s everyone so quiet, so somber? Give me a clue.”

“Hush, child,” said He. “They’re all in shock. No one thought they’d see you.”

When we get to Heaven it will not be because of our great virtue but because of Christ’s Great Grace! He has promised that those who have gone on before are enjoying Heaven’s bliss and are waiting to see us. You can drop your anchor on that truth!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:49 PM April 27, 2022.

This Changes Everything

Sunday Evening Sermons

This Changes Everything

Pastor Don Carpenter

A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 6:9–20

Many people all over America are hoping that their lives will change for the better. The addict is hoping to find freedom only to become enslaved. The broken hearted seek pleasure, only to find more pain. The guilty search for religion, only to find greater condemnation. It seems for many that they are condemned to hopeless situation, with no chance in sight.

Some people, however, have encountered some incredible truths. They saw that they were sinners, hopelessly condemned before God. They saw they could do nothing on their own to erase that sin. They realized that Jesus paid the price for sin and asked him to save them from their sin. This changes everything!

The apostle Paul outlines this wonderful truth in our text this morning. The only thing that will truthfully change a person inside and out is salvation.

When you come face to face with God’s saving grace, you will come to realize that this changes everything.

Salvation changes your inheritance

1 Corinthians 6:9 KJV

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

A. No one is righteous

Romans 3:10 KJV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

B. Unrighteousness is described

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 KJV

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

If a person commits just one murder, he is considered a murderer

1. Fornication= “Pornos”= one who has sex outside of the marriage bond.

2. Idolaters- worshiping something other that the true God- one who has passionate devotion to a person or object.

3. Adulterer- one who has sex with another’s spouse

4. Effeminate= soft – one guilty of addictions to sins of the flesh

5. Abusers of themselves with mankind= homosexual.

6. Thieves

7. Covetous= “desires enviously what belongs to another”

8. Drunkard

9. Reviler= slanderer

10. Extortioner= obtain by force or improper pressure.

C. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God

Salvation changes your standing before God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

You are washed -> cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ

Psalm 51:2 KJV

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:7 KJV

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Titus 3:5 KJV

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

You are sanctified= set apart, made holy.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

John 17:17 KJV

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

You are justified= declared righteous.

Romans 5:1–2 KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Salvation changes your value system.

Because I am saved I refuse to be enslaved to anything

1 Corinthians 6:12–13 KJV

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Romans 6:1–2 KJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Because I am saved I refuse to yield my body as an instrument of unrighteousness

Romans 6:12–13 KJV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

1 Corinthians 6:13–14 KJV

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Where at one time, having sexual relations outside marriage was considered liberating, current studies show that it damages one’s ability to trust, affecting future relationship, one’s respect for self, affecting every decision and diminishing the value of right decisions, and one’s respect for health.

Liberating? At what cost.

Drs. Freda Bush and Joe McIlhaney released a study at Harvard University that shows that exposure to immorality and participation in sexual acts during childhood years actually changes the brain, interrupting the normal production and usage of dopamine, vasopressin and oxytocin in the brain for the remainder of the life.

These chemicals, when released properly, create the “monogamy syndrome”, in that moment bonding the person to another. If this occurs outside of marriage, that moment of bonding never fully takes place, even after marriage.1

According to the study, listen, “But that bonding, which acts like adhesive tape or Velcro, is weakened when people tear away at its power by breaking off with a sexual partner and moving on from one to another to another. So when it does finally come time to bond permanently with a spouse, the ability to bond is damaged.

The brain actually gets molded to not accept that deep emotional level that’s so important for marriage. When they do marry, they’re more likely to have a divorce than people who were virgins when they got married.”

Others studies, reported by American Journal of Preventive Medicine, physical and emotional changes in unmarried people who have sex, as well as in married people who have sex outside marriage.

This is not to discount the spiritual changes in these people.

The Bible is relevant concerning the building blocks of a strong, supportive, fulfilling family life, although some have misrepresented what it is teaching through the years. One of those building blocks is entering into the most important human relationship of choice with the ability to commit fully, and much further than you have ever committed to another in your life. Purity before marriage is now seen as a crucial part of that. This is something many will miss out on because the deemed the Bible irrelevant to themselves.

1 Corinthians 6:15–19 KJV

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Because I am saved I resolve to glorify God with my body

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Conclusion:

Can you fathom this? The God of the universe, who holds all things together by the word of His power, who fills all things and is bigger than the universe; bigger than time, literally lives in you. Calls you His dwelling place. What a magnificent creation you are! What high and wonderful privilege we have been given, to house the Holy Spirit of God!

– Clark E. Tanner

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:28 PM April 21, 2022.

Looking Hope In The Face

Sunday Morning Sermons

Looking Hope In The Face

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Eternal Life / Philippians 1:21–23; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8

What will it be like to wake up in Glory?

Billy Graham tells the story of the death of his grandmother in his book, Death and the Life After (pg. 169). He writes, “When my grandmother was dying she sat up in bed, smiled, and said, “I see Jesus, and he has his hand outstretched to me. And there’s Ben and he has both of his eyes and both of his legs!” My Grandfather,” Graham writes, “had lost a leg and an eye at Gettysburg.”

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

As we continue our series “Anchored to Hope In a Stormy World” we turn our attention to the question of life after death. By faith we can see what is hidden to the natural man. If you are a Born Again believer, you have Bible assurance as to what will be happening and where you will be after you draw your last breath here on earth. Get ready to be blessed as you take God at His word affirm the following statements as your own and Look Hope In The Face.

I Know I Will See God

 Job 19:23–27 (KJV)

 Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book! 

 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead In the rock for ever! 

 For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God: 

 Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; Though my reins be consumed within me.

Because I Have A Redeemer – One Who Paid My Price.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 53:10–11 KJV

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:6 KJV

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

In Spite Of My Dying Body

1 John 3:2 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 21:3–4 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

I Will See Him Personally – not in some metaphorical sense – as a Father and Friend

Job 19:27 KJV

Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; Though my reins be consumed within me.

Exodus 33:11 KJV

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Romans 8:15 KJV

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

I Know I Will See Things Clearly

 1 Corinthians 13:9–12 (KJV)

 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 • We know in part.

 • We continue to grow and learn both in scriptures and experience

Romans 5:3–4 KJV

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 • No matter how much we learn and experience, out perception is limited, like peering through dark glass.

 • We will see truth face to face.

 • We will know Jesus then and He knows Us now!

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XVII Now, and Then (No. 1,002)

 There are some grand doctrines, brethren and sisters, we dearly love, but though we love them, our understanding is too feeble to grasp them fully. We account them to be mysteries; we reverently acknowledge them, yet we dare not attempt to explain them. They are matters of faith to us. It may be that in heaven there shall be counsels of eternal wisdom into which no saints or angels can peer. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. Surely, no creature will ever be able, even when exalted to heaven, to comprehend all the thoughts of the Creator. We shall never be omniscient—we cannot be. God alone knoweth everything, and understandeth everything. But how much more of authentic truth shall we discern when the mists and shadows have dissolved; and how much more shall we understand when raised to that higher sphere and endowed with brighter faculties, none of us can tell. Probably, things that puzzle us here will be as plain as possible there. We shall perhaps smile at our own ignorance. I have fancied sometimes that the elucidations of learned doctors of divinity, if they could be submitted to the very least in the kingdom of heaven, would only cause them to smile at the learned ignorance of the sons of earth. Oh! how little we do know, but how much we shall know! I am sure we shall know, for it is written, “Then shall I know even as also I have known.” We now see things in a mist—“men as trees, walking”—a doctrine here, and a doctrine there. And we are often at a loss to conjecture how one part harmonizes with another part of the same system, or to make out how all these doctrines are consistent. This knot cannot be untied, that gnarl cannot be unravelled, but—

   “Then shall I see, and hear, and know

   All I desired or wish’d below;

   And every power find sweet employ

   In that eternal world of joy.”

I Know I Will See Christ

The Moment My Spirit Leaves My Body!

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 KJV

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:21–23 KJV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

He Will Have A Place For Me 

John 14:1–3 KJV

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I Will Be With Him Forever

1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 KJV

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Will See Him Face To Face!

 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 (KJV)

 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

*The Story of Basil Rasmussen*

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:52 PM April 21, 2022.

Lot the Righteous?

Uncategorized

Lot the Righteous?

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / 2 Peter 2:7; Numbers 34:13; Deuteronomy 2:9

No matter what it looked like on the outside, Lot struggled with the wickedness around him and it bothered him. Don’t judge too harshly.

Do you guys remember the cartoon with Wiley Coyote and Ralph the sheep dog. I use to love that cartoon. Every morning Ralph and Wiley would meet at the time clock which was mounted on a tree. As they clocked in they would great each other and then they would go to their respective departments.

Ralph the sheep dog went to his post on the cliff and took his position as head of the sheep protection department. Wiley, true to his nature, would slink away in to the forest to plan his strategy as head of the sheep acquisition and consumption department.

As the day wore on Ralph sat patiently at his post with a protective eye looking over the flock as Wiley tried one scheme after another in hopes of making his quota of sheep for the day. However, no matter how hard he tried it seemed that poor Wiley’s plan was always thwarted by Ralph at the last moment. Inevitably as the day drew to a close just before the whistle blew, Wiley would pull out all the stops and slip into his sheep costume and meander into the fold with the hope of finally catching his prey only to realize after his pray was in fact none other than Ralph the sheep dog who had dressed himself up as a sheep in anticipation of Wiley’s scheme. Poor Wiley never caught a break.

Wiley’s sheep costume illustrates a tactic that is used by our enemy the devil. In fact in Matthew 7.15 Jesus warns us that in similar fashion Satan will send ravenous wolves into the fold dressed in sheep’s clothing to catch the sheep unaware and snatch them away by false teaching. As we learned last week Satan will do what ever he can to destroy the flock. Therefore, it is imperative that we have discerning spirits so that we can discern the motives of those who are among us.

However, our generation, as I’m sure it has been in generations past, I believe the greatest danger to the work of the Kingdom of God is not as much when wolves come in dressed as sheep, but it is when the sheep go in to the world dressed in wolves clothing. The greater problem in modern American Christianity is when “so called” Christians wear their sheep’s clothing on Sunday only to put on their wolves clothing on Monday.

As we finish our look at a Bible Bonehead named Lot, we come to an unexpected commentary about his life written by Peter. Certainly this guy did not look saved, and yet, God’s word calls him Righteous. Our text verses give us some insight and warning about how far a believer can wonder, yet still be a blood bought child of God.

The main lesson tonight is that when a believer chooses to surround himself with sin and compromise, he will be tortured until he gets out and gets right.

Lot Was Delivered

2 Peter 2:7 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot…

Because of God’s Character

2 Peter 2:9 KJV
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Genesis 18:23 KJV
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:25 KJV
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Because of God’s Mercy

Genesis 19:16 KJV
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Because God Was Using Sodom and Gomorrah as Warnings to Others.

2 Peter 2:6 KJV
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Lot Was Just – Righteous

2 Peter 2:7–8 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Genesis 15:6 KJV
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3–5 KJV
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [manner of life] of the wicked.” He didn’t go for the way they lived; he hated it. He was a just man, which means that he was justified before God because he trusted God as Abraham did, although he didn’t lead a life like Abraham, one that was a testimony to the world. Lot stands on the page of Scripture as a saint of God who was justified because of his faith, but his life denied everything he believed and he never had a moment’s peace down here.

“For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing.” Just think of the filth that that man had to listen to! Very candidly, I do not believe that a child of God can continually engage in filthy conversation. Filthy conversation will lead to filthy action.

God said to this man, “Lot, you will have to get out of the city. I cannot destroy it with you in it.” You see, in the meantime there was a man named Abraham who was not criticizing Lot but was praying for him. That is a good lesson for many of us. There is a preacher, a friend of mine, who criticizes everything and everybody. One day he was criticizing an outstanding Bible teacher whom I respect and know that God has mightily used. I said to my friend, looking him right straight in the eye, “Have you ever prayed for him?” He turned red and said he hadn’t. I said, “Instead of criticizing him, why don’t you pray for him? If you think he is wrong, pray for him.”

Abraham prayed for the city of Sodom. He wanted his nephew Lot to be spared. Abraham asked God to spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous people. He finally got it down to ten righteous people, and then he stopped praying because he was afraid that Lot was not really a child of God. But Lot was, and God got him out. God said, “I cannot destroy the city until you get out.”1

1 McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (2 Peter) (electronic ed., Vol. 55, pp. 58–59). Thomas Nelson.

Lot Was Vexed

Psalm 119:158 KJV
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; Because they kept not thy word.

Two different Hebrew Words translated vexed in KJV.

2 Peter 2:7 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Vexed” is katapone? (?????????), “to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor, to afflict or oppress with evils.” The vile lives of the people of these two cities wore Lot down as his soul rebelled against the filth he saw always about him.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 51). Eerdmans.

Vexed -exhausted by, oppressed by Filthy Conversation.

1 Timothy 3:5 KJV
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

The Greek term used here, meaning “lack of restraint,” occurs elsewhere in nt listings of sexual sin (e.g., Rom 13:13; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; 1 Pet 4:3). The sexual misconduct of Sodom was so extensive that men from the city attempted to rape the angels visiting Lot (Gen 19:1–22).1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (2 Pe 2:7). Lexham Press.

Filthy” is aselgeia (????????), “unbridled lust, excess, wantonness, shamelessness.” The word is in the locative of sphere following the preposition en. (??.) Peter is referring to the behavior of the lawless in the sphere of unbridled lust.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 51). Eerdmans.

Vexed – Tortured

2 Peter 2:8 KJV
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

James 4:17 KJV
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

“Vexed” is basaniz? (????????), “to torment, to torture.” Strachan remarks: “It is somewhat peculiar that the active should be used. ‘He vexed, distressed his righteous soul.’ May it not be that in the use of the active a certain sense of personal culpability is implied? Lot was conscious that the situation was ultimately due to his own selfish choice.” Strachan translates, “day in, day out.”

Translation. For, in seeing and hearing, the righteous one having settled down permanently among them, day in, day out, tormented his righteous soul with their lawless works.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

Lot’s waning faith is unpacked for us a bit more in verse 8: “For as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.” What Lot saw and heard day in and day out took its toll on him. The exposure to the “lawless deeds” of the unprincipled people of his city literally tortured his spiritual nature. Lot was wearing down when God rescued him.1

1 Shaddix, J., & Akin, D. L. (2018). Exalting jesus in 2 peter, jude (2 Pe 2:6–8). Holman Reference.

Self Inflicted Wound Due to Personal Choice

Genesis 13:13 KJV
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Dwelling” is egkatoike? (??????????), “to live in a home,” kata (????), “down,” and eg (en) (?? (??)) “in,” or “among.” Katoike? (????????) speaks of the act of settling down permanently. It was used of the permanent residents of a town as contrasted to the transients who lived there only for a time. Lot had settled down permanently among the inhabitants of Sodom.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

“Seeing” is blemma (??????) (from blepo (?????)), “a look, a glance.” It is used of the look of a man from without. The person looking is an onlooker but not a participant of the thing viewed.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

Conclusion:

This commentary in 2:7b–8 about Lot’s weakening defense likely is included for a couple of reasons. First, Peter wants to warn his readers about passive exposure to wickedness, especially of the sexual nature (see 1 Thess 4:1–8).

The portrayal of Lot provides a warning to a generation of people who will view without protest television material that, a generation ago, they would never have considered seeing at a movie. (Vaughn and Lea, 1, 2 Peter, 173)

We’ll never completely be able to avoid hearing and seeing everything that’s evil. But the default response to that predicament is not to throw up our hands and welcome the world into our lives and homes. When that happens, we stop crying out to God for his deliverance. Instead, we need to run from godlessness (cf. 1 Cor 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22), partly because of its devastating effects on our spiritual sensitivity and defenses. We must avoid settling in to our cultural climate. The biggest danger many of us face as believers is not being martyred for our faith but having our faith dulled by exposure to wickedness.1

1 Shaddix, J., & Akin, D. L. (2018). Exalting jesus in 2 peter, jude (2 Pe 2:6–8). Holman Reference.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:12 PM April 20, 2022.

Celebrate Easter With Us Sunday @ 11:00 AM

Announcements

Our family here at Evangelical Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us as we lift our voices in song, lift our hearts in praise, and lift our spirits in God’s Word! Everyone from all walks of life is welcome! We will also have an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids after the morning service. Will you worship with us?

Exactly What Happened On Good Friday

Uncategorized

Exactly What Happened On Good Friday

Pastor Don Carpenter

According to the Chicago Tribune, on June 22, 1997, parachute instructor Michael Costello, forty-two, of Mt.Dora, Florida, jumped out of an airplane at 12,000 feet altitude with a novice skydiver name Gareth Griffith, age twenty-one.

The novice would soon discover just how good his instructor was, for when the novice pulled his rip cord, his parachute failed. Plummeting to the ground they faced certain death.

But then the instructor did an amazing thing. Just before hitting the ground, the instructor rolled over so that he would hit the ground first and the novice would land on top of him. The instructor was killed instantly. The novice fractured his spine in the fall, but he was not paralyzed.

One man takes the place of another, takes the brunt for another. One substitutes himself to die so another may live. So it was at the cross, when Jesus died for our sins. (Choice Contemporary Stories and Illustrations, Baker Books, compiled by Craig Brian Larson, pg57).

Through out the centuries, believers have focused their meditations upon the events that led up to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This evening, we are going to take a few minutes and focus upon what actually did take place on the cross nearly 2000 years ago.

Introducing the Main Characters

Humanity – Hopelessly Condemned Sinners

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Jesus – the Sinless Lamb of God

He is perfect God

John 1:1–3 KJV
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

He is sinless man

1 Peter 2:21–22 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Hebrews 4:15 KJV
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

The Chinese character for “righteousness” is most interesting. It is composed of two separate characters—one standing for a lamb, the other for me. When “lamb” is placed directly above “me,” a new character—“righteousness” is formed.

This is a helpful picture of the grace of God. Between me, the sinner, and God, the Holy One, there is interposed by faith the Lamb of God. By virtue of his sacrifice, he has received me on the ground of faith, and I have become righteous in his sight.

Jesus Became Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin…

A. Jesus became our sin.

B. Jesus mediated, but did not forgive sin directly while He was on the cross.

  1. He had the power to forgive sin.

Mark 2:7–12 KJV
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

  1. He mediated on the cross, perhaps because he was made to be our sin????

Luke 23:34 KJV
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

C. God could not look at the sin that He had become.

Matthew 27:45–46 KJV
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

D, He did this voluntarily

John 10:17–18 KJV
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Romans 5:8 KJV
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 2:1–2 KJV
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

We Can Become Christ’s Righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

…that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A. God grants mercy (not getting what we deserve) to those who come to Him.

Psalm 51:1 KJV
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

B. God grants grace (God’s Riches AT Christ’s Expense) for those who trust Jesus for salvation.

  1. Righteousness credited to our account.

Genesis 15:6 KJV
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3–5 KJV
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

  1. The faith of Jesus credited to our account. Romans 3:21–22 (KJV) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 3:22 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

If we look through a piece of red glass, everything is red. If we look through a piece of blue glass, everything is blue. If we look through a piece of yellow glass, everything is yellow, and so on.

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God looks at us through the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees us in all the white holiness of his Son. Our sins are imputed to the account of Christ and his righteousness to our account.

So how about you? Tonight we reflect on the most consequential spiritual events of History. Jesus became your sin so you can become His righteousness. Have you by faith accepted that free Gift? He waits for you right now.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:38 PM April 15, 2022.