Hope In The Midst of Condemnation

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope In The Midst of Condemnation

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Repentant Robber / Luke 23:39–43

If you are alive, its not too late to repent.

 Pastor Adrian Rogers shared the following illustration:

I don’t know about you, but I’m a connoisseur of the comic strips. I read the comic strips. And I have a few that I especially read, and I have some that I never read. One of those that is one of the better comic strips, I think, is Peanuts. And, you know, that’s written by Charles Schultz, who professes faith in Christ. And in one particular incident, it was raining and raining and raining and raining, and Lucy and Linus are looking out the window. And it was a thunderstorm, and Lucy says, “I hope it doesn’t rain so much that the entire world is flooded.” And Linus says to Lucy, “Now, Lucy, don’t worry. In Genesis chapter 9, verses 13 and 14, God promised that He would never send a flood to destroy the world again, and as proof of that, He put a rainbow in the sky.” Well, Lucy sighed and said, “That sure makes me feel a lot better.” And Linus said, “Well, sound theology has a way of doing that.”

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Today is Palm Sunday. We are one week away from celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! There may be some hearing this message today who have not been in church for a while, if ever. There is no mistake or random chance. God has brought you here for what is about to happen right here and right now.

Perhaps there is someone here who has thought “Its too late for me”. I have sinned so deeply and have lost so much, there is no hope for me now.

__

Three crosses there that day and Jesus, who was dying for the sin of the world. On one side was a thief, a malefactor. On the other side was a thief, a malefactor. One turned to the Lord Jesus Christ and asked for forgiveness and received it and was saved. The other looked at the Lord Jesus, railed upon Him, ridiculed Him, perhaps cursed Him, and died in his sin. Three were dying that day. One, therefore, was a dying Savior. The other was a dying sinner. And the third was a dying saint. I want us to think about that dying saint, that one who turned to the Lord Jesus and he prayed this prayer, this wonderful prayer, when he said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)1

Use a little imagination. Crucifixion was indescribably horrible, gruesome. What it was meant to do was to put so much fear in the hearts of the populace when they saw someone crucified that they would swear to themselves that this would never happen to them. This was the way of keeping the people in line. It was the most excruciating form of execution that a twisted, tormented mind could devise. And so here are these men there. Jesus, we picture Him in the middle. We picture the thief who rejected Him on one side, the one who ridiculed Him and cast slander at Him. We picture the other thief over here on the right-hand side of the Lord Jesus. And I want you to see him there with his gaping wounds. I want you to feel as you can the throbbing pain, where every nerve in his body is a highway for the footprints of pain. Perhaps he’s nauseous. He is almost in shock. There are flies in his gaping wounds. His body is dehydrated. His tongue is swollen. He can hardly turn his head. But he looks to Jesus and he says, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) And Jesus, in agony and blood, takes time from dying to turn to this man, and Jesus said, “Verily”—that means “you can bank on it”—“I say unto thee, Today shalt thous be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)1

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Oh friend think of that! Jesus looked at the thief next to Him with love in His eyes and made a promise… TODAY shalt thou be with me in paradise! Even when you are eyeball deep in condemnation, Jesus can save you! Drop your anchor on that unchanging immutable truth!

Hope Acknowledges The Sin That Condemns.

Luke 23:39–41 KJV

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Ezekiel 18:4 KJV

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 3:23 KJV

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

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:

1 Timothy 1:15 KJV

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Pastor Adrian Rogers told another story:

I read somewhere of a woman who was in the jail witnessing from cell to cell, and many people were saying how they should not have been there, and how they were framed, or how they were there by unfortunate circumstances, or how what they did was only a mistake, a misjudgment. One man said to this lady, “I am such a wicked sinner.” She said, “Thank God.” He said, “No, lady. I said, ‘I’m such a wicked sinner.’ ” She said, “Thank God.” He said, “Lady, are you mocking me? Are you making fun of me?” She said, “No, indeed.” She said, “Now you’re ready to be saved. That’s why I’m thanking God.”•

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Hope Embraces The Fear that Convicts

Luke 23:40 KJV

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Romans 3:18 KJV

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Matthew 10:28 KJV

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 147:11 KJV

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy.

Revelation 21:8 KJV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

An electrician has a fear of electricity. Now it doesn’t mean that he dreads electricity. But he knows that when he’s handling those wires, he must be careful or he can kill himself. A pilot has a respect for the power of gravity. Jim Glover, an erstwhile pilot in our church, told me, “Pastor, there are two kinds of pilots: there are old pilots and there are bold pilots; but there are no old, bold pilots.” Now, what did he mean by that? He meant that you have a healthy respect of gravity. No pilot that I know of fears gravity. But he knows that it can destroy him. I have a respect for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Now when I’m going down the road, I see that car. I do what you do: I look at the speedometer, you know, to check and see if I have somehow transgressed. Now when I see a policeman, I don’t quake and tremble, because I have a pure conscience in that arena. But I can tell you one thing: I have a healthy respect for the law.

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Hope Because of the Faith that Converts

Jesus Is The Sinless Christ

Luke 23:41 KJV

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

1 Peter 2:22 KJV

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.

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.

Only God Is Sinless

Matthew 19:17 KJV

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Mark 10:18 KJV

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

John 1:1 KJV

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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.

Jesus Was The Sovereign Christ – the King of Kings!

 Luke 23:42 (KJV)

 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

1 Timothy 6:15 KJV

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Romans 10:9–10 KJV

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Jesus Was The Saving Christ

 Luke 23:42 (KJV)

 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

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.

Romans 10:13 KJV

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 16:30–31 KJV

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 5:8 KJV

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Hope Because of the Future that Comforts

Luke 23:43 KJV

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Surely this story tells us above all that it is never too late to turn to Christ. There are other things of which we must say, ‘The time for that is past. I am grown too old now.’ But we can never say that of turning to Jesus Christ. So long as our hearts continue to beat, the invitation of Christ still stands. As the poet wrote of the man who was killed as he was thrown from his galloping horse,

Betwixt the stirrup and the ground,

Mercy I asked, mercy I found.

It is literally true that while there is life there is hope.1

1 Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke (p. 340). Westminster John Knox Press

Conclusion:

The eyes of the Lord looks down into the dark corners of your soul. You are exposed. God has promised that the soul that sins will die… every one of us have sinned and every one of us will die. Perhaps your death is more immanent than some in your life know. You feel the darkness of your deeds smothering you like the dirt that envelops a coffin 6 feet under ground. There is no concealing your sin or guilt… like that thief you stand naked, condemned and guilty before God.

Yet Jesus has already been where you are. He already became your sin. He already offered Himself as a sinless replacement for you. All you need to do is by faith accept His free gift. Repent of trusting in your works and turn to Christ alone. Christ came to save the chiefest of sinners and He came to save you! Drop your anchor on that truth and find Hope in the Midst of Condemnation! 

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:49 PM April 7, 2022.

Lot the Lingering Loser

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Lot the Lingering Loser

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / Sin / Genesis 19:15–29

 It is fun, interesting, and sometimes instructive to watch my grand kids play after church. As you may know, sometimes the kids love to play tag or chase when the crowds die down. Each child has their strength and weakness. Some are quick, some are agile, but some have learned the hard way that when you are running forward down the side aisles that have the support arches that protrude into the pathway, it is unwise to look backward. The sound of THUD, silence, then shrieking, is the sound of a child learning the lesson that when you have to run forward, it is unwise to look backward.

As we continue to look at Lot, a Bible Bonehead, we will discover that when we are given merciful warnings from God, we need to act and not hesitate, for when we do, we could lose everything like what happened in the story of Lot the Lingering Loser.

Lot Lingered In Spite of Multiple Warnings

He needed another wake up call

Genesis 19:15 KJV

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

The first time God rescued Lot, he was a prisoner of war (14:12, 16); and he went right back into Sodom. That painful experience should have warned him that he was out of the will of God; but if Lot heard the warning, he certainly did not heed it. 1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 82). Victor Books.

When morning dawned: we may assume that Lot has returned home from his unsuccessful visit to his future sons-in-law and is perhaps again in bed at his own house. All the earlier events have taken place in the night and early hours of the morning. The Hebrew expression is “And as the dawn arose,” which in many languages is expressed as “Before the sun came up.” The reference is to the period between first light and sunrise. In languages that divide these early hours and have a number of different expressions for periods of time before the sun rises, it is best to refer to the time when there is just sufficient light to see well.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (1998). A handbook on Genesis (pp. 425–426). United Bible Societies.

Ezekiel 16:50 KJV

And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Lot was dragged by the mercy of God.

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.

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;

But he lingered: lingered means delayed or hesitated. In some languages this is expressed as “took his time” or “didn’t hurry.” Translators may wish to make this statement a time clause, for example, “When Lot hesitated …,” followed by the action of the angels.

So the men seized him … by the hand: the angels have to use force to make Lot and his family leave.

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (1998). A handbook on Genesis (p. 426). United Bible Societies.

Lot was given explicit instructions

Genesis 19:17 KJV

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 • Escape for your life

 • Don’t look back

 • Don’t stay in the plain

 • Escape to the mountain

Lot Begged to Go His Own Way

Genesis 19:18–23 KJV

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Lots Priorities Were Still Selfishly Focused on Temporary Comfort.

 • God is about to rain down fire on Lots friends and even his married daughters and sons… yet he was begging not to have to go on a camping trip.

 • God in His mercy promised to spare Zoar

 • Perhaps if Lot would have followed the original instruction, his wife would not have been close enough to look back and be destroyed.

 • Sometimes after God has been trying to get us to change direction, He lets us have what we were begging for and sends leanness to our souls.

Psalm 106:13–15 KJV

They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel: 

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert. 

And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.

Lot Lost Everything

Genesis 19:24–25 KJV

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 • His Livelihood and Possessions

 • His Friends

 • His position

 • His married daughters and sons

 • His wife

Genesis 19:26 KJV

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 • Lot did follow the rest of the instructions but by then it was too late.

Genesis 19:30 KJV

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

Lot Was Spared Because Abraham had Prayed.

Genesis 19:28–29 KJV

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Ezekiel 22:29–31 KJV

The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Conclusion:

God is merciful enough to warn us way more than we ever deserve. It would be wise not to linger… if God is moving you to make a move, do not hesitate! God is merciful enough to give us specific leadership through scriptures and the Holy Spirit.. it would be wise not to bargain. It may be because of the hardness of your heart, He will grant you your request only to send leanness. God has your soul in His hand if you are saved, but your carnality could result in great personal loss. Take the warning and learn from Lot the Lingering Loser.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:12 PM April 5, 2022.

Proper Peer Pressure

Sunday Evening Sermons

Proper Peer Pressure

Pastor Don Carpenter

A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 5:1–13

Rich Atchley says that if you went to the average university campus today, & asked students if they know a verse of Scripture, most would say that they do. If you had asked 10 or 15 years ago, most would have quoted John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Everybody knew that verse then.

But today, most would reply with, “Judge not that you be not judged.” Atchely says, “The whole focus has changed. Ten or 15 years ago the focus was on the truth of God’s love. But today, surveys reveal that practically everyone is convinced that there is no absolute truth. So the emphasis has switched from truth to tolerance.”

And that leaves us free to do anything we want without worrying about what God teaches.

___

As we continue to look at the “Beautiful Mess” that was the church at Corinth, we find Paul turning from the issue of division to impurity. The first thing he had to deal with was a huge issue that had gone unchecked and was festering among the believers.

___

Paul is dealing with what, for him, was a constantly recurring problem. In sexual matters, the Gentile world did not know the meaning of chastity. They took their pleasure when and where they wanted it. It was so hard for those in the Christian Church to escape the in?uence of this attitude. They were like a little island surrounded on every side by a sea of idolatry; they had come so newly into Christianity; it was so dif?cult to unlearn the practices which generations of loose living had made part of their lives; and yet, if the Church was to be kept pure, they must say a ?nal goodbye to the old ways.

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 52). Westminster John Knox Press.

There Is A Pride Problem

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 KJV

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Commonly reported fornication 

– a behavior out in the open, embraced with pride not a sense of guilt and shame. It is one thing to struggle with the flesh it is another thing to call evil good.

Isaiah 5:20 KJV

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Sexual immorality The Greek word used here, porneia, can refer to a number of illicit sexual behaviors. Here it refers to a specific instance of sexual immorality that jeopardized the health of the Corinthian church.

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 (1 Co 5:1). Lexham Press.

Incest was the particular issue

Leviticus 18:8 KJV

The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

Leviticus 20:11 KJV

And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

The Church Was Prideful of their Tolerance

Some Corinthian believers misused their freedom in Christ to excuse sexual sin (v. 1). Members of Graeco-Roman and Jewish society considered this an abhorrent act, yet some within the church community mistakenly tolerated it because of a distorted understanding of grace (compare Rom 6:1, 15).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 (1 Co 5:2). Lexham Press.

They Should Have Been In Mourning.

Shocked as he was at the sin, Paul was even more shocked by the attitude of the Corinthian church to the sinner. They had complacently accepted the situation and done nothing about it when they should have been grief-stricken. The word Paul uses for the grief they should have shown (penthein) is the word that is used for mourning for the dead. An easy-going attitude to sin is always dangerous. It has been said that our one security against sin lies in our being shocked at it.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 52). Westminster John Knox Press.

There Was A Purging Problem

1 Corinthians 5:3–8 KJV

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The judgement is self evident because the sin is public.

Deliver to Satan

Deliver such a person to Satan – remove him from the protection of the local church. This acknowledges that Christian suffers destruction when left out from under the local church.

1 Timothy 1:20 KJV

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

John 12:31 KJV

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Hand over such a person Refers to expulsion from the church community—probably including their worship gatherings, their meals, and the Lord’s Supper (compare 1 Tim 1:20).

To Satan Paul is likely suggesting that those outside the community of believers belong to the realm of Satan (see 2 Cor 4:4 and note; Eph 2:2). In that scenario, Paul would be suggesting that the sinner be handed over to the realm of sin ruled by the evil one (Satan). Alternatively, he could be referring to Satan’s role as accuser; if this is the case, then Paul is using the term in the same way as the book of Job (e.g., Job 2:6). It’s also possible that both ideas are at work1

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 (1 Co 5:5). Lexham Press.

The Goal Is Repentance – Destruction of the Flesh

Galatians 5:24 KJV

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

But we have to note that even a punishment as serious as that was not vindictive. It was in order to humiliate the man, to bring about the taming and the eradication of his lusts so that in the end his spirit would be saved. It was discipline, exercised not solely to punish but rather to awaken, and was a verdict to be carried out not with cold, sadistic cruelty but rather in sorrow as for one who had died. Always at the back of punishment and discipline in the early Church there is the conviction that they must seek not to break but to make the person who has sinned.

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 53). Westminster John Knox Press.

For the destruction of the flesh Paul is not referring to physical death for this person since the goal is repentance and eventual restoration. Immediate physical death accompanied divine judgment for sin (Acts 5:1–11; 1 Cor 11:30–32), but this is probably not the case here. Also, Paul instructs the believers not to eat with this person, which further implies that “destruction of the flesh” does not mean immediate death (see v. 11). The purpose of this discipline is to break the pattern of sin (compare Gal 5:24).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 (1 Co 5:5). Lexham Press.

The Goal Is Also Preservation of Purity

Deuteronomy 13:5 KJV

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

The goal is also preservation of the purity of the church. Leaven is a picture of sin.

Since Christ is our Passover Lamb, the leaven of known sin that has not been repented of should not be allowed .

1 Corinthians 5:13 KJV

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

There Is a Purity Problem

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 KJV

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 

Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Christians are to be careful of the company they keep.

Psalm 1:1–3 KJV

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

This is not an isolation doctrine, else how could the church reach the world with the truth.

John 17:15 KJV

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

1 John 5:19 KJV

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

This is a consistency doctrine.

If someone wears the label Christian, their life should back the label. If not, then we should not fellowship with them like the label actually was correct.

1 Corinthians 5:11–13 KJV

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Ephesians 5:11 KJV

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 John 10 KJV

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

The nineteenth-century Scottish historian and moral teacher Thomas Carlyle said that we must see the in?nite beauty of holiness and the in?nite damnability of sin. When we cease to take a serious view of sin, we are in a perilous position. It is not a question of being critical and condemnatory; it is a question of being wounded and shocked. It was sin that cruci?ed Jesus Christ; it was to free us from sin that he died. No Christian man or woman can take an easy-going view of it.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., pp. 52–53). Westminster John Knox Press.

Sin destroys lives. If someone is living in public, unrepentant sin, calling evil good, the church must act by removing the privilege of fellowship until that precious wayward soul is won back to the Savior by His marvelous grace. This is Proper Peer Pressure.  

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:52 PM March 31, 2022.

Hope In The Midst of Failure

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope In The Midst of Failure

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Backsliding / 2 Peter 2:7; Philippians 1:6

Even though we deserve to lose everything, Salvation cannot be lost because it was never merited in the first place.

Has there ever been a time in your life where you were closer to God than you are now? If so,my dear friend, then you are backslidden! Perhaps you have tried to confess, to forsake your sins, to start doing right, only to fall short once again. You have trusted Jesus to save you once upon a time, but it seems as though God is done with you. You have reaped the bitter consequences of your mistakes and it seems as though you have been put on the shelf by God, consigned to a life of misery and defeat. THERE IS HOPE! The very same Jesus that pulled you up out of the miry clay, saved you, and set your feet upon The Rock, is the Same One that holds you firmly in His nail – scarred hand! You have God’s word in that! Drop your anchor!

This morning’s message is for the poor tired soul who has trusted Jesus, but has drifted far from the Savior. As we continue our series “Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World”, let us linger on this truth.

Philippians 1:6 KJV

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The word translated “confident,” speaks of the fact that Paul had come to a settled persuasion concerning the fact that the God who had begun in the Philippians the good work of giving to missions, would bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus. The word translated “until,” assumes the nearness of the Rapture in Paul’s mind and outlook.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English reader (Php 1:6). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Based on God’s immutable, unchangeable word we can drop an anchor of hope in the midst of failure.

Jesus Christ Began The Work In You When You Got Saved.

You did not start the work of Salvation

Ephesians 2:1–3 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Romans 3:23 KJV

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

Galatians 2:21 KJV

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Since Jesus Started the Work, He Has Promised to Finish the Work

Romans 8:28–30 KJV

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Galatians 3:1–3 KJV

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Jesus Continues The Work Through Correction.

This Demonstrated His Relationship to You As Adopted Father.

John 8:44 KJV

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

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.

Hebrews 12:5 KJV

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Hebrews 12:7–8 KJV

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

He Demonstrated His Love Through Correction.

Hebrews 12:6 KJV

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

This is Correction not Justice… that was cared for on the Cross

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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.

Correction Leads to Change for our Good.

Hebrews 12:11–12 KJV

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Jesus’ Love Leads to Second Chances

For Samson

Judges 16:22 KJV

Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

For David

Psalm 51:1–5 KJV

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

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

For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. 

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. 

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:10–12 KJV

Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me. 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 40:1–3 KJV

I waited patiently for the LORD; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

For Peter

Luke 22:31–32 KJV

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Acts 2:4 KJV

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 Acts 2:13–14 (KJV)

 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 

 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice…

Acts 2:40–41 KJV

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Jesus Holds His Own in His Nail Pierced Hands!

John 10:27–30 KJV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 

I and my Father are one.

C. H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying that he was so sure of his salvation that he could grab on to a cornstalk and swing out over the fires of hell, look into the face of the devil, and sing, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!”

When the storms of life, the winds of trouble, and the sea of discomfort and emotional agony seem to overwhelm, we have to say with the songwriter, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.… We dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.1

1 Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 312). Baker Books.

Jesus Christ Began the work and He has promised He will finish the work in you! There is Hope in the Midst of Failure! Drop your anchor!

Hymn # 296 Lord, I’m Coming Home

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:35 PM March 31, 2022.

Join Us This Sunday @ 11

Announcements

Has there ever been a time in your life where you were closer to God than you are now? If so ,my dear friend, you are backslidden! Perhaps you have tried to confess, to forsake your sins, to start doing right, only to fall short once again. You have trusted Jesus to save you once upon a time, but it seems as though God is done with you. Perhaps you have reaped the bitter consequences of your mistakes and it seems as though you have been put on the shelf by God, consigned to a life of misery and defeat. THERE IS HOPE! The very same Jesus that pulled you up out of the miry clay, saved you, and set your feet upon The Rock, is the Same One that holds you firmly in His nail – scarred hand! You have God’s word in that! Drop your anchor!

Lot the Looney

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Lot the Loony

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / Evangelism / Genesis 19:1–14

Lot’s unwillingness to at least reach his own family… or some within his family caused there to not be enough saved folks to stop the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Sometimes the cup of iniquity is full and the people are ripe for judgment. In such a case it may happen as it did in the flourishing and extraordinarily beautiful city of Messina, Italy. In the early morning of December 28, 1908, an earthquake struck, and 84,000 human beings died. Only a few hours before that devastating earthquake, which laid Messina and the surrounding districts in ruins, the unspeakably wicked and irreligious condition of some of the inhabitants was expressed in a series of violent resolutions that were passed against all objections.

The journal Il Telefono, printed in Messina, actually published in its Christmas issue an abominable parody, daring the Almighty to make himself known by sending an earthquake! And in three days the earthquake came! (Cited by John Lawrence, Down to Earth [Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale, 1983], p. 51.)7281

1 Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 207–208). Baker Books.

___

Our passage this evening tells us of the Angel’s visit to Sodom and the drama that ensued. Tonight’s narrative ends with a warning to Lot to get his family out of there because judgement is coming. When Lot comes to his family with an urgent warning about the judgement of God that was about to fall, they thought he was kidding… or that he had become Lot the Loony.

Genesis 18:20 KJV

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Genesis 19:14 KJV

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Tonight we are going to see what specifically about Lot’s behavior discredited his urgent God talk. May God convict and warn us to live consistently as to avoid becoming like Lot the Loony.

Lot Was Comfortable to be a Businessman and Judge in Sodom.

Genesis 19:1 KJV

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Their arrival in Sodom finds Lot sitting by the gate of Sodom. The gate is a common place for meeting in the East, either for conversation, for business, or for the administration of justice. It is normally a place where the town leaders (Deut. 21:19; Josh. 20:4) and kings (1 K. 22:10) assemble to adjudicate the business at hand. Yet Lot is among them, even though he is a “transient” (v. 9, gûr).1

1 Hamilton, V. P. (1995). The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 (p. 32). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Sitting at the gate. In ancient cities the gate area functioned as a public square. Its constant flow of people made it the ideal place for businessmen to set up their booths and for judges to hear cases. The fact that Lot is sitting in the gate suggests he was doing business there and had been accepted in the community of Sodom.1

1 Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Ge 19:2–3). InterVarsity Press.

Lot Knew The Danger of the Streets, Yet Was Comfortable to Judge and Do Business There

Genesis 19:2–3 KJV

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Lot Calls These Wicked, Violent Sex Offenders “Brothers”

Genesis 19:4–7 KJV

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 

And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

It was about sex and rape.

Genesis 19:5 KJV

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Genesis 4:17 KJV

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Genesis 4:25 KJV

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

It Was About Homosexual Wickedness.

Leviticus 20:13 KJV

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Among those who agree that the issue is sexual, the question arises whether the issue is homosexual relations per se or homosexual rape. The answer depends on how one chooses to translate y??a?. For instance, compare Speiser’s “bring them out to us that we may get familiar with them” with JB’s “hand them over to us so that we may abuse them.”

We see at least four problems with the view that the prohibition here is only on homosexual rape. First, nowhere in the OT does the verb y??a? have the nuance of “abuse” or “violate.” Second, the OT uses unmistakable language to relate rape incidents. Thus the Shechemites “seized” and “lay with” and “humbled” Dinah (Gen. 34:2). Amnon “forced” and “lay with” his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). Similarly, the biblical laws about rape also use these terms: “seize,” “lie with” (Deut. 22:25–27). Third, this interpretation forces one meaning on “know” in v. 5 (i.e., “abuse”) but a different meaning on “know” three verses later (i.e., “have intercourse with”), for it is unlikely that Lot is saying: “I have two daughters who have never been abused.” Fourth, such an interpretation forces these incredible words in Lot’s mouth: “Do not rape my visitors. Here are my daughters, both virgins—rape them!” Clearly, then, the incident frowns on homosexual relations for whatever reason. Note that in the often-cited parallel to Gen. 19, viz., Judg. 19, the host offers both his own virgin daughter and his guest’s concubine to Gibeah’s city dwellers with the statement “and sexually mistreat them” (we?annû ?ô??m, v. 24). By contrast, Lot avoids using any verb that has clear-cut indications of sexual aggression. Still, the reader of this narrative cannot avoid puzzlement over Lot’s willingness to make his daughters available to the people of Sodom for their sexual pleasure, even if he acts out of a desire for hospitality for his guests. In any case, his action is unsuccessful, unheroic, and it “may even make the audience of the story relieved not to be among the daughters of Lot1

1 Hamilton, V. P. (1995). The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 (pp. 34–35). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Lot Offered His Two Virgin Daughters as Substitutes for his Guests

Genesis 19:8–9 KJV

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

Lot Was Seemingly Unmoved When God’s Was Displayed.

Genesis 19:10–11 KJV

But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Lot’s pompous attitude in overstepping his bounds aggravates the Sodomites. Their words We will deal worse with you than with them suggest that they are prepared to have coitus with Lot. They will take Lot himself as a substitute sex partner rather than his daughters.

10 The townsmen put forth their hands against Lot (v. 9). But now the men extend their hands, pull Lot back inside the house, and slam the door. The concept of a divine door shutter is familiar from Gen. 7:16b, “and Yahweh shut him in” (again the verb s??ar). In the end he who attempts to save his guests is saved by his guests. Has it dawned on Lot yet who his visitors really are?1

1 Hamilton, V. P. (1995). The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 (p. 37). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Lot Could Have Saved Sodom and Gomorrah If He Had Just Reached His Immediate Family.

Genesis 18:32 KJV

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

Genesis 19:12–14 KJV

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 

For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Lot -1

Lot’s Wife -1

Lot’s Son’s in Law -2

(Lot’s married Daughters) -2

Lot’s Sons – 2

Lots unmarried daughters -2

AT LEAST 10 In Lot’s household!

Lot did not seem like he had Godly values, so to claim that he did was loony.

Genesis 19:14 KJV

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Amos 5:15 KJV

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

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:

We are being watched more than we are being listened to. Are you comfortable in the gates of the enemy? Do you know the dangers, but hang there anyway? Do you view the unsaved in your life to be close like brothers? Are you willing to sacrifice your family so you can stay close to the world? Have you been able to reach those closest to you? Perhaps it is a struggle because what you do speaks so much louder than your infrequent pleas for repentance. Let us learn from Lot the Loony.

In the choir of life, it’s easy to fake the words—but someday each of us will have to sing solo before God.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:24 PM March 29, 2022.

The Paternal Pastor

Sunday Evening Sermons

The Paternal Pastor

Pastor Don Carpenter

A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 4:14–21

A young boy looked up at his grandfather and wondered aloud, “Grandpa, how do you live for Jesus?”

The respected grandfather stooped down and quietly told the boy, “Just watch.”

As the years went by the grandfather was an example to the boy of how to follow Jesus. He stayed rock-steady in living for Him. Yet the grandson often lived in a way that was not pleasing to God.

One day the young man visited his grandfather for what both knew would be the last time. As the older man lay dying, his grandson leaned over the bed and heard his grandpa whisper, “Did you watch?”

That was the turning point in the boy’s life. He understood that when his grandpa had said, “Just watch,” he meant, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” He vowed that from then on he would live as his grandfather did – striving to please Jesus. He had watched, and now he knew how to live.

(From a sermon by Ajai Prakash, Godly Dads, 6/13/2012)

With this passage, Paul brings to an end the section of the letter which deals directly with the dissensions and divisions at Corinth. It is as a father that he writes.

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 49). Westminster John Knox Press.

The conclusion to this rebuke is both tender and intense. It is because of the intimacy he has with the Corinthian believers, he can make his final plea with them.

Be Warned!

1 Corinthians 4:14 KJV

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

My Goal is not to shame you.

The very word which he uses in verse 14 for to warn (nouthetein) is the word regularly used to express the scolding and advice which a father gives his children (Ephesians 6:4). He may be speaking with the accents of severity; but it is not the severity which seeks to bring an unruly slave to heel, but the severity which seeks to put back on the right rails a foolish child who has gone astray.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 49). Westminster John Knox Press.

I Am More Than Your Teacher

1 Corinthians 4:15 KJV

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Galatians 4:19 KJV

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Paul felt that he was in a unique position as regards the Corinthian church. The tutor (paidagogos: cf. Galatians 3:24) was not the teacher of the child. He was an old and trusted slave who each day took the child to school, who trained him in moral matters, cared for his character and tried to make a man of him. A child might have many tutors, but he had only one father. In the days to come, the Corinthians might have many tutors, but none of them could do what Paul had done; none of them could bring to birth in them new life in Christ Jesus.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 49). Westminster John Knox Press.

I led you to Christ, I am your spiritual father, therefore I love you as my child.

A child may have many guardians and teachers, but he can have only one father. He has a special relationship to his father that must not be preempted by anyone else. There had been no church in Corinth before Paul came, so that even the second-generation believers in the church were the results of Paul’s effective ministry.

Paul founded the church and Apollos followed him and taught the people. In some way that is not made clear in the Scriptures, Peter also ministered at Corinth. (Perhaps he had not been there personally, but other teachers from Jerusalem had ministered in Corinth as “representatives” of Peter.) God’s children need the ministry of different teachers, but they must never forget the “spiritual father” who brought them to Christ.

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 585). Victor Books.

Be Followers

1 Corinthians 4:16–17 KJV

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Not out of fear but out of a two way love.

Philippians 4:9 KJV

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Then Paul says an amazing thing. In effect, he says: ‘I call upon my children to take after their father.’ It is so seldom that a father can say that. For the most part, it is too often true that a father’s hope and prayer is that a child will turn out to be all that he has never succeeded in being. Most of us who teach cannot help saying, not ‘Do as I do’ but ‘Do as I say.’ But Paul, not with pride, but with complete unselfconsciousness, can call upon his children in the faith to copy him.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 49). Westminster John Knox Press.

Children have a way of imitating their parents, either for good or for ill. Researchers tell us that teenagers learn to drink at home and not from their peers. My guess is that other bad habits are learned the same way.

The word followers literally is “mimics.” Paul gave the same admonition in Philippians 3:17, but we must not think that he was exalting himself. Little children learn first by example, then by explanation. When Paul pastored the church in Corinth, he set the example before them in love, devotion to Christ, sacrifice, and service. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Paul was a good example because he was following the greatest Example of all, Jesus Christ.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 585). Victor Books

Timothy is Trained to Lead you in the Same Direction.

Then he pays them a delicate compliment. He says that he will send Timothy to remind them of his ways. In effect, he says that all their errors and mistaken ways are due not to deliberate rebellion but to the fact that they have forgotten. That is so true of human nature. So often, it is not that we rebel against Christ; it is simply that we forget him. So often, it is not that we deliberately turn our backs upon him; it is simply that we forget that he is in the scheme of things at all. Most of us need one thing above all—a deliberate effort to live in the conscious realization of the presence of Jesus Christ. It is not only at the sacrament but at every moment of every day that Jesus Christ is saying to us: ‘Remember me.’1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., pp. 49–50). Westminster John Knox Press.

Be Teachable

1 Corinthians 4:18–20 KJV

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Those puffed up are not teachable

Paul moves on to a challenge. They need not say that because he is sending Timothy he is not coming himself. He will come if the way opens up; and then their test will come. These Corinthians can talk enough; but it is not their high-sounding words that matter, it is their deeds. Jesus never said: ‘You will know them by their words.’ He said: ‘You will know them by their fruits’ (cf. Matthew 7:16). The world is full of talk about Christianity, but one deed is worth 1,000 words.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 50). Westminster John Knox Press.

God’s power will inhabit truth, not pride.

1 Corinthians 2:4 KJV

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

2 Corinthians 10:2 KJV

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

One way or another there will be an accounting of truth.

1 Corinthians 4:21 KJV

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

2 Corinthians 13:10 KJV

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

In the end, Paul demands to know whether he is to come to mete out discipline or to keep company with them in love. The love of Paul for his children in Christ throbs through every letter he wrote. That love was no blind, sentimental love; it was a love which knew that sometimes discipline was necessary and was prepared to exercise it. There is a love which can ruin people by shutting its eyes to their faults; and there is a love which can restore people because it sees them with the clarity of the eyes of Christ. Paul’s love was the love which knows that sometimes it has to hurt in order to put things right.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Corinthians (3rd ed., p. 50). Westminster John Knox Press.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:49 PM March 24, 2022.

Hope In The Midst of Heartache

Announcements

Join us for in person worship @ 11 for this exciting message! Has Giant Despair trapped you in the dark dungeon deep in the bowels of doubting castle? Does sadness, fear, doubt and depression gather like ominous storm clouds in the sky of your mind and heart? We live in a sin cursed world. Death and decay are all around us. What are we to do?

Sunday we are launching a 7 week series entitled “Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World”. The Bible for term is not simply positive thoughts but rather a rock solid assurance of truth. Will you join us in person or online?

Hope In The Midst of Heartbreak

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope In The Midst of Heartbreak

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Infant; Death and Dying; Suicide

In John Bunyan’s great allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, the incident is related of how Christian decides to leave the Main Highway and follow another Path which seemed easier. But this Path leads him into the territory of Giant Despair who owns Doubting Castle.

Eventually he is captured by Giant Despair and kept in a dungeon. He is advised to kill himself. The Giant said there was no use trying to keep on with his journey. For the time, it seemed as if Despair had really conquered Christian. But then, Hope, Christian’s companion, reminds him of previous victories. So it came about that on Saturday about midnight they began to pray, and continued in prayer until almost morning.

Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half-amazed, broke out in passionate speech, “What a fool am I thus to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well be at liberty. I have a Key in my bosom called Promise that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle.” Then said Hopeful, “That’s good news. Good Brother, pluck it out of thy bosom and try.” And the prison gates flew open.

(Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc. From a sermon by Matthew Kratz, The Attack on Hope, 8/27/2011)

Has Giant Despair trapped you in the dark dungeon deep in the bowels of doubting castle? Does sadness, fear, doubt and depression gather like ominous storm clouds in the sky of your mind and heart? We live in a sin cursed world. Death and decay are all around us. What are we to do?

This morning we are launching a 7 week series entitled “Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World”. The Bible for term is not simply positive thoughts but rather a rock solid assurance of truth.

This morning’s simple text verse serves as a testimony and a promise.

Psalm 147:3 KJV

He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.

But how can God possible do that when life is so messed up? Buckle up my friend! We are off on a spiritual journey to find promises to which we can anchor our very souls. Today I am hear to tell you without a doubt that there is Hope in the Midst of Heartbreak!

Because We Have A Savior!

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.

We need one because we are sinners.

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;

Proverbs 16:25 KJV

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

We need one because that sin deserves punishment.

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 21:8 KJV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We need one because we cannot save ourselves.

Galatians 2:21 KJV

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We need to accept the Salvation offered by Faith.

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.

Acts 16:30–31 KJV

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:13–14 KJV

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Because We Have An Anchor

Hebrews 6:17–19 KJV

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

God’s Counsel Does Not Change

God Even Swore An Oath On Top of His Reputation

God Cannot Lie! 

Therefore you can drop anchor on His promises!

As in human affairs an oath puts an end to all arguments, so too there can be no argument about this expectation since God confirmed it with an oath. If anyone, such as a sectarian, denied this eschatological anticipation, he was flying in the face of the strongest possible divine guarantee. Not only was it impossible for God to lie, but His ever truthful Word was supported in this case by His oath. These are the two unchangeable things, which encourage those who take hold of the hope1

1 Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 797). Victor Books.

The phrase “fled for refuge” (Heb. 6:18) suggests the Old Testament “cities of refuge” described in Numbers 35:9ff and Joshua 20. God appointed six cities, three on each side of the Jordan, into which a man could flee if he had accidentally killed someone. The elders of the city would investigate the case. If they determined that it was indeed manslaughter and not murder, they would permit the man to live in the city until the death of the high priest. Then he could return to his home. The members of the slain man’s family could not avenge themselves so long as the man remained in the city.

We have fled to Jesus Christ, and He is our eternal refuge. As our High Priest, He will never die (Heb. 7:23–25); and we have eternal salvation. No avenger can touch us, because He has already died and arisen from the dead

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 298). Victor Books.

Because We Have Witnesses

David Is Witness That We Can See Our Babies Again!

2 Samuel 12:18–23 KJV

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 

But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

 • David was a prophet, so he did receive new revelation from God.

Acts 2:29–31 KJV

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

 • David knew the child died.

 • David expected to SEE him – recognize him again.

 • David expected to live after the grave.

Psalm 17:15 KJV

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

Psalm 23:6 KJV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 • David comforted his wife with these truths.

2 Samuel 12:24 KJV

And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

Samuel is Witness That Suicide is not Greater Than Salvation!

1 Samuel 28:15–19 KJV

And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 

And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 

Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

 • Samuel was dead, yet he was animate.

 • Samuel used the same wording David did about his child.

 • Samuel used the same wording Christ used to the Thief on the Cross.

1 Samuel 31:3–6 KJV

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 

Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

Paul is Witness That There Is No Sinner So Bad That Jesus Cannot Save Them!

1 Timothy 1:15 KJV

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 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. 

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.

Romans 8:31–39 KJV

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 • Have you had an abortion? Jesus can save you!

 • Are you an addict? Jesus can save you!

 • Are you an adulterer, a homosexual, or prostitute? God can save you!

 • There is no sinner who comes to Jesus in faith that will be rejected!  

 • We have this hope!

 • We are anchored not only to God’s word, but He swore an oath that we can trust Him!

 • He cannot lie!

 • We can believe the Witnesses! David said he would be with his baby again. Samuel said that even Suicide cannot separate us from the love of God! Have you lost a believing loved one to suicide? You can see them again!

 • Are you a sinner? ( we all start out like that) Christ can save you!

We have these truths to anchor our souls in the midst of heartbreak!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:29 PM March 23, 2022.