Jesus is the only High Priest

Jesus is the only High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)

“Jesus is…” What a wonderful and incredible title! What an intense and incomparable truth! What a vital and life-giving statement! Jesus is…! He is indeed, the way, the truth and the life – and no man comes to the Father except through Him! He is indeed, the only mediator between God and man; and the one and only, King of kings and Lord of lords! And He is, just as importantly, the only High Priest… …But I’m not sure that in today’s 21st-century America we can as readily comprehend the complete significance, or understand the full magnificence, of that incredible blessing, as easily as we can perhaps discern and determine some of the other things that the holy word of God says that Jesus, our beloved Lord and only Savior, is.

My text tonight is Hebrews 4:14-16, which states: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

But in an effort to help us to better understand the incredible impact of that passage and the infinite, soul-strengthening blessings which it holds for us, I think it is only fitting that we actually begin with just a bit of the very storied origin, history, and heritage, of the God-instituted office, of the Jewish High Priest…

Let us begin with an Old Testament passage wherein Moses summarizes for us, what being a member of the priesthood literally consisted and was composed of. In Numbers 16 where Korah and his rebellious cohorts confronted Moses and God’s first High Priest Aaron, “They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?’” (vs. 3) (Although of course God was the One who had chosen and set Moses and Aaron apart for His service.)

“So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, ‘Tomorrow morning the Lord will show you who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near Him…’” (Vss. 4-5). In this passage we see the divinely-dictated and fundamental condition, qualification, and function, of the Jewish priesthood in general.

  • Their condition? They were chosen or set apart to God.
  • Their qualification? Maintaining holiness.
  • Their function? Drawing nearer to God than others were allowed to (cf. Exodus 19:22, 30:18-21), specifically because of their election, holiness, and separation to God’s service.

And the High Priest was meant to be both the pinnacle and epitome of that particular group; the culminating point and apex of the Jewish priestly hierarchy.

And just as a side note; as we study tonight, please pay particular attention to the glaring realities of this eternal truth relative to the priesthood in general and the High Priesthood in particular: God’s priests have to be wholly devoted, to holiness. And certainly we see the same distinctive demanded of ourselves as God’s N.T. people, because we “…are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” (I Peter 2:9). As such, we are to be holy in all our behavior, because He is holy (See I Peter 1:13-16; Titus 2:11-14).  Let us note throughout, that God demands adherence to His absolute ideal; that He demands acute attention to detail and reverential obedience to the divinely-dictated, pure and perfect patterns as put forth in Scripture in all things. We must be holy and wholly obedient just as Moses, who was commanded to carry out in its finest and most infinite and intimate details, the pattern for the tabernacle and everything connected with it because of the implications inherent in the institution of the New Covenant, its worship, and its supreme and superlative High Priest Jesus Christ (See: Hebrews 8:1-6, 9:23-26, and 10:1-4). “Pattern theology” is proper theology.

Now, having established that, let us consider the following from the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary: “The Aaronic priesthood was instituted in order to maintain fellowship between the holy God and the sinful nation, to bring the people’s gifts and sacrifices before God, and to convey God’s gifts, mercy, salvation, and blessing to the people. By an act of free favor God committed the priesthood to one particular family—that of Aaron (Exodus 28:1), which priesthood they received as a gift (Numbers 18)… This divine preference was confirmed by the miracle of the budding rod (Numbers 17) and the priesthood as a heritage to the descendants of Aaron. The qualification, namely, holiness, was represented in outward form by the act of consecration and the robes of office… Holiness is essential to fellowship with God, and Aaron and his sons, no less than the people whom they were to represent before God, were stained by sin. As the sanctity imparted to them by their consecration, their official robes, and other legal requirements, which fitted them to serve at the altar, was only of an outward character, it follows that these could only have had a symbolical meaning. It was doubtless intended that they should symbolize the sinless character of the human priesthood at the same time they served as a type of the perfect priesthood of the true and eternal High Priest.”

Please turn with me to Exodus 28:1-3: “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.”

At that point, God then goes on to give an incredibly detailed description of the divinely-demanded design, including the exact specifications of what He wanted for the High Priest’s garments. And as previously alluded to, just as Moses had been commanded to construct the tabernacle and all of its furnishings according to the divinely described and delivered pattern (Exodus 25:8-9) which was shown to him on the mountain (Exodus 25:40, 26:30), which he did (Acts 7:44), so too, was he to make everything according to God’s exact design when it came to the High Priest’s garments. This, because the details all had a divine purpose as they pointed to the great High priest to come, Jesus Christ.

For instance, in Exodus 26:9-12, we see that the divine design called for two onyx stones, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, to be attached to the shoulders of the High Priest’s garments. This perhaps signifying that when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to appear before God as a mediator and one seeking to sacrificially reconcile the people to God, he “carried” or “bore” them into the presence of God. The apparent allusion to what our blessed Savior does for us as He “…always lives to make intercession for [us]…” (Hebrews 7:25) before the throne of God, is a blessing both incredible and incalculable.

Secondly, we see in God’s pattern of the High Priest’s garments in Exodus 26:15-30, His exact specifications for the “breastplate of judgment,” which distinguished the High Priest as the supreme, human, judicial representative of Israel.

And it is worthy to briefly mention at this point, that not only was the Jewish High Priest considered the supreme judicial representative of Israel before Jehovah God, but that he was also considered as the supreme civil head of the people, as well as the supreme head of state, all at the same time. This might be akin in some folks’ present-day minds, to perhaps possessing the power and authority of the Pope, the President, the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice and the respective heads of congress all rolled into one! The power, influence, affluence and authority of the office of the High priest can clearly be noted as we study the accounts of the events which took place:

  • With Jesus and Peter in the palace and courtyard of Caiaphas the High priest in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 18.
  • As we see Peter and the apostles pursued, persecuted, and prosecuted by the High Priest and his council cohorts in Acts 4 and 5.
  • With the story of faithful Stephen; as he was first interrogated by the High Priest, and then mutilated and martyred because of his righteous response in Acts 7.
  • When we see Saul of Tarsus as he obtained letters from the High Priest to pursue and apprehend the disciples of Jesus from as far away as Damascus (Acts 9:1-2), which  he later reiterated in his retelling of the tale as recorded by Luke in Acts 22.
  • In Acts 23:1-5, wherein we see even the apostle Paul display some seemingly uncharacteristic restraint and respect for the authority of the office of the High Priest, in response to the High Priest’s command that he be struck with a blow to the mouth.

But, back to said breastplate… The fact that it, too, was also to be engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to appear before almighty God on behalf of the people, symbolized the fact that he was to bear the people upon his heart as he interceded for them before Jehovah God:  “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually” (Exodus 28:29-30).

Wherever we read throughout the account of that final, fatal evening spent with His disciples in chapters such as John 13-18; or of His greatest of all love and sacrifice in places such as Romans 5; or even of His eternal activities and perpetual pleadings for us as our Great High Priest throughout the book of Hebrews; it becomes quickly obvious to even the most casual of observers, that Jesus Christ both had and has us, both in and on His heart, in everything He does for us before the Father. I absolutely love the implications of the wording of Hebrews 7:25, wherein it indicates to us what His life’s purpose is… It states that He always lives, TO intercede for us! We and our plight, are truly always on the heart, of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ!

And thirdly, please note that in Exodus 28:36-38, we see the exact specifications and pattern regarding the pure gold plate which was to be attached to the High Priest’s turban. This golden “diadem,” or “crown” (Exodus 29:6), with the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD,” would indicate that the High Priest who wore it was indeed, a “crowned one among his brethren, the supreme spiritual head of the priesthood.” (It is worthwhile to note at this point, the elaborate silver and gold crown of the High priest Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, in Zechariah 6:9-14; see also, Zechariah 3.)

The High Priest, because of the holy standing granted Him by the grace of God, when thus adorned with these words and this crown on his forehead, was allowed by God to make symbolic, sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people (vs. 38). I say “symbolic” because no matter how “pure” or “holy” the High Priest was, or how many animals were ever sacrificed, these could never truly or fully atone for anyone in the sight of God. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (vs. 11). But, “It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices [were] offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience… (Hebrews 9:9). Jesus alone, did it all! He is both the perfect sacrifice and the holy High Priest! That is the whole point of the book of Hebrews – particularly as pointed out in Chapters 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10!

But let us not miss the beautiful and bountiful significance of the symbolic holiness which God bestowed on His Old Testament High Priests, as it relates to the reality and totality of the absolute, exquisite and exclusive holiness of our one and only New Testament High Priest, and as evidenced in the sacrificial lamb and ever-interceding High Priest that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord! There simply is no comparison between their crown, and His; see for yourself…

Hebrews 2:9 states, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Likewise, Philippians 2:6-11 speaks of the “crowning accomplishment” of our High Priest Christ Jesus thus, “…who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

It is precisely because of His perfect humility and reverent submission to the will of God in even the worst of circumstances (Hebrews 5:6-8), that He both was and is for all time, considered completely holy and consecrated (and therefore totally and perfectly qualified), to go before God on our behalf as our great High Priest.

Hebrews 2:10-11 goes on to state, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren…” Jesus, despite His heavenly holiness, is still not ashamed to call us who are so much less, His brethren. Isn’t that incredible? But the beauty of that incredible truth – that His pure holiness does not prevent His ability to identify with us – is due to the fact that He has been, where we now live.

In other words, one might say, “He has walked a mile in our shoes.” Please notice verses 14-18: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”

And oh how He suffered for us! In ways that our human minds cannot even begin to imagine or envision! By the same immeasurable measure and incomparable comparison with which the Bible indicates that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9); and how unsearchable are His judgments and ways to us who are merely mortal (Romans 11:33); how our limited minds simply cannot conceive the extent of His limitless ability to bless us (Ephesians 3:20-21); and simply the sentiments summed up by such passages as I Corinthians 2:9, wherein it is stated that, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him;” neither, do I believe, are we human beings “wired” to understand the full extent of the sufferings He endured, in order to secure that eternal crown which qualifies Him to serve forever as our great High Priest.

You see, we often make the mortal mistake of focusing mostly – if not exclusively – on His bloody, bodily, physical suffering; sometimes to the complete exclusion of His eternally superior spiritual suffering, which had to have been unimaginably worse. As horrible as Calvary was to endure physically, it is still unthinkable that our Lord and Savior’s deepest “…suffering of death…” in order to secure His being “…crowned with glory and honor…” as our faithful, sympathetic, and able-to-understand High Priest, was physical in nature. After all, many a first, second, and third century martyr reportedly faced physical suffering with a ‘smile on their face’ as it were, as they prepared to meet their God.

But Jesus’ primary and predominant agony was of a far more intense nature, as He, God in the flesh, would now experience the full wrath and agony of His heavenly Father not coming to His rescue, as He saw His perfectly obedient Son, dying an absolutely agonizing death by crucifixion… all for yours and my sins. “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:45-46). Never before, and never again throughout all eternity, would deity know such horrific suffering. Jesus, the very Son of God almighty Himself now knew painfully, perfectly, and personally, exactly what it was like, to be “…without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). He had known firsthand from before time began what it was like to be equal with God (John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:6). And now He knew full well, firsthand, and for the first time, what it was truly like to be totally without God. In other words, He now knew what it was like to be… us. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

And all of that is what helps qualify and make Him our one and only, perfect High Priest – His perfect holiness, coupled with His complete understanding from His personally having undergone our personal human experience. He knows exactly who, what, and where we are and have to endure daily… because he’s been there. The only difference is, that despite the difficulty incurred by having to deal daily with Satan, He never sinned. And He is the only one therefore holy enough, in and of Himself, to serve as our perfect High Priest!

Having “been where we are” as humans, and yet now being where God is by virtue of His own perfect holiness, we have it all in Christ Jesus, as scripture so beautifully and bountifully confirms. I want for us to now notice just a few of the unbelievable blessings the book of Hebrews informs us of, that stem from having Him as our great High Priest.

Let us begin with my assigned passage in Hebrews 4:14-16… Verse 14 states: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest would be allowed to once a year enter the “Holy of Holies,” or, the place nearest the heart and presence of God. But even then, neither he nor the people on whose behalf he sought to intercede were made truly perfect or sinless in the sight of God. But we have an infinitely superior High Priest in the person of Jesus Christ Himself; who has entered the true “Holy of Holies” (or “Most Holy Place,” depending on your translation), that being heaven itself! And He entered with an infinitely better sacrifice than the blood of bulls and goats – that being the blood of His own pure, perfect, and sinless self! Note Hebrews 9:1-12:

“Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience– concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

I would also reiterate that while both Hebrews 9:23-24 and 10:1-7 echo this incredible truth, they also validate once again, the absolute and vital importance of following whatever divine pattern we are given by God at any time for any reason; and in fact, even when we cannot possibly, humanly fathom or conceive of the reason at the time.

“Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…” (Hebrews 9:23-24).

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.’ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come– in the volume of the book it is written of Me– to do Your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:1-7).

Even though Jesus our great High Priest has gone into the heavenly and “Most Holy Place” to intercede for us before the Father, He at the same time is not unsympathetic to, nor has He forgotten, what we are still going through… and… He possesses unlimited power, resources, and compassion, with which to strengthen all of us in all our struggles: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus knows and cares! God is mindful that we are but dust! “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalms 103:11-14).

Because of who He is as our High Priest; where he’s been in heaven and on earth; and what He’s been through as both the Son of God and the Son of man – all of which qualifies Him to be our perfect and only High Priest, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). It’s there for the asking my beloved brethren (Matthew 7:7-11)! We have a better hope, a better covenant, and a better High Priest, than ever before or ever again possible:

“He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Hebrews 7:25-8:2).

Jesus is our one and only great High Priest because He lives in heaven, pure and holy, interceding for you and me at the throne of God, while sending us His unlimited grace and mercy to strengthen and comfort us in the world of sin, Satan, and sorrow that we must confront each day… because he’s been here.

All the high priests taken throughout the ages from among men were not truly holy, but subject to sin. “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5:1-3). Many examples could be given of the human factor of frailty and failure to be holy from within the ranks of the human high priests, but surely only a few will suffice.

In Exodus 32 we see the failure of Aaron, the very first high priest, in allowing the people to produce and worship the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain.

In Leviticus 10 we see the failure of Nadab and Abihu – the rightful heirs apparent to the high priesthood as the first and second born sons of Aaron – to abide within the divine and God given pattern, by choosing to utilize and introduce into the mix, “unauthorized fire,” or fire which the Lord had “commanded not.” And when they did they died. “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ”

Please let it be made clear that in this example we once again have validated for us just how important it is to obey and adhere to the divine pattern as prescribed by God. God is only glorified when we do what He said, and only what He said, and in the exact way He said to do it (I Chronicles 15:1-15). In fact, God’s prescribed pattern is so important to God, that Jesus could not have served as a high priest – or any priest whatsoever for that matter – while on earth because He came from a tribe about which God, through Moses, had said nothing concerning the priesthood (See Hebrews 7:13-14).

Contrary to the pop-culture opinions of many in our beloved brotherhood today, when God’s pattern tells us exactly what to use – whether it’s a particular kind of fire, a particular way of transport, a particular tribe from which priests must come, or a particular way of praising Him in music – He doesn’t have to specifically list for us all of the elements we’re not to use. They are not allowed simply because He told us what we were to use instead. If it’s not clearly included in His pattern, it is to be excluded from our practice. And there were no exceptions – not even for Jesus (Hebrews 7:13-14).

But that is exactly what made Jesus both pure and holy enough to become our perfect high priest. He came to do only and exclusively the will of the Father in all things (See John 5:30, 6:38); and that, despite the deepest levels of the most intense and immense difficulty (Matthew 26:36-44; Hebrews 5:7-8)… and in so doing, He fully glorified God (John 17:1-4)… and became not only our humble, holy, and completely perfect High Priest… but also the all- powerful and exclusive source of strength, and author of eternal salvation, to all who obey Him, because He now lives in heaven, to intercede for them, before the throne of God (Hebrews 5:1-9; 7:25-8:2).

As Hebrews 5:4-10 so eloquently yet powerfully portrays it: “And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest…

In closing, one cannot enter into the holiness of heaven where Jesus is, without having Jesus as their Lord, their Savior, and their exclusive High Priest. Only His blood sacrifice is truly sufficient and powerful enough to fully cleanse a sinner to the point that he or she can stand before a holy God uncondemned.

In order to have Him as their Lord, one must humble themselves and obey His word (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49). In order to have Him as their Savior, one must accept His grace on His terms for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:37-47, 5:27-31, 22:16). And in order to have Him as their High Priest, one must humble themselves daily, make living in holiness their top priority, seek His ever-present grace and mercy, and draw nearer to God constantly, if they would live with him eternally.

Please note Hebrews 10:8-31:

“Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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God’s Standard : The Shocking Truth

THE BIBLE TEACHES FACTS!

In America today we want to think that everyone at least believes in good morality and God’s family values, yet our desire to believe this does not make it so. There are many people in America today that have very bad values whenever it comes to comparing their values system with the values system that God encourages people everywhere to possess.  God’s value system established by God’s Written Word covers all areas of man’s relationship in life from the cradle to the grave. Whenever we want to know what God desires of us rather than what is currently in vogue in society we simply need to turn to that subject in the Written Word of God (i.e., the 66 books of the Bible) and the answer is there, let me give you a few examples, following:

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD FOR MARRIAGE?

One woman for one man for life, Gen 2:18-25,

And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” NKJV

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD ABOUT ADULTERY AND FORNICATION?

No sexual relations other than ones spouse (i.e., the marriage partner),

Gal 5:18-19, –— But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, NKJV

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD ABOUT FRAUD, DECEIT, AND LYING?

Revelation 21:8, 8But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part (shall be) in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death (ASV).

Today in our society, dishonesty and greed has become axiomatic with business transactions in nearly every area of commerce. These are sins against God and God’s instructions that are clearly taught via the Written Word of God. There is no time whenever men and women are to involve themselves in fraud, deceit and other acts of dishonest to accomplish selfish, covetous, or greedy objectives, such is always sinful.

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD ABOUT MURDERERS?

All murderers will be lost cast into the lake of fire at the judgment unless they repent and turn to God in His terms for forgiveness. See the references for number 2 and 3 already listed.

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD ABOUT TEACHING THE TRUTH?

Anyone that teaches false doctrine will be condemned by God, no false teacher can be acceptable before God, there is only one true gospel.

1 Cor 9:16, For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. ASV

Gal 1:6-9, I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. ASV

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD FOR CHURCH ORGANIZATION?

Each congregation is organized as an autonomous (i.e., self governing) body. Each church will have its own plurality of qualified elders (i.e., bishops, shepherds, overseers), its own deacons that serve the church under the oversight of the elders. The preacher is not an elder unless he is qualified and selected by the congregation, each eldership oversees the work of the church over which they server and no other.

Phil 1:1, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: ASV

A list of the qualifications are found in Timothy and Titus 5:1-9.

1 Peter 5:1-3, The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to (the will of) God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. ASV

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD ABOUT PARENTS AND CHILDREN?

Parents are head over children in the home, children are to be cared for and loved by parents. Children are to honor and submit to parents,

Ephesians 6:1-4,  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. ASV                                                                                                           

WHAT IS GOD’S STANDARD FOR WORSHIP?

The standard that God has established for approved worship is established by the text in John 4:24, — 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. ASV      Anyone that will worship God correctly must do so based upon what the Bible authorizes, please notice the following acts of worship that is approved by God:

1.         ASSEMBLYING:

Hebrews 10:24-25, and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. ASV

1 Corinthians 5:4, in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, ASV

2.         TEACHING and/or PREACHING:

Acts 20:7, — And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight. ASV

Acts 4:18-20, — And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:  for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. ASV

3.         LORD’S SUPPER:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink (it), in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come. ASV

4.         CONTRIBUTION:

1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. ASV

5.         PRAYER:

Philippians 4:6, — In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ASV

6.         SINGING:

1 Corinthians 14:15, — What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ASV

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH OTHERS?

As we examine the instruction from God that  applies to us as we develop and sustain relationships with other people, there are guidelines that will aid us in God’s Book of instructions (i.e., the Bible).

1.         “Love thy neighbor” The instruction cannot be misunderstood:

Matthew 22:39, And a second like (unto it) is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ASV

 

2.         Who is my neighbor? Everyone is my neighbor.

Luke 10:27-29, And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? ASV

3.         Show mercy toward others!

Luke 10:36-37, Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. ASV

4.         Love of others emanates from the heart, no evil will be directed toward a neighbor and no hurt (physical or physiological) will be directed toward them.

Romans 13:7-9, Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute (is due); custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ASV

5.         Nothing harmful to a neighbor will emanate from the heart of the one who truly loves and has a desire to be a good neighbor.

Romans 13:10, Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. ASV

6.         Interaction with others will ought to be based upon the concept that whatever I want for myself and for my own comfort and pleasure ought to be afforded my neighbor also.

Romans 13:9, For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ASV

7.         In all interaction with others I must do all that I am capable of to promote good will, if there is dissention between me and my neighbor let it be his fault — not mine as the cause.

Romans 12:18, If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. ASV

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP TO GOVERNMENT?

God instructs His people to abide by the just laws that the governments (i.e., local, state, and federal) enact. There is no instruction contained in the Bible for Christians to submit to secular laws that violate the laws of God.

Romans 13:1-7, Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the (powers) that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Wherefore (ye) must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute (is due); custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. ASV

Matthew 22:21, They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. ASV

Acts 5:27-29, And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. ASV

WHAT DOES GOD TEACH US ABOUT ETHICAL AND MORAL CONDUCT?

What does this point consist of? The concept of morals and ethics are by-products of submitting ourselves under the Kingship of Jesus Christ and is shown in our conduct. Some examples of moral and ethical qualities are demonstrated in the following overt acts:

  1. Patience, showing forbearance and restraint in lifestyle.
  2. Having limits to involvement in activities that may hinder our relationship to God and to other Christians in the living of life for God.
  3. Insisting upon equal treatment for all people regardless of race, or ethnic origin.
  4. Accepting our place in life or in the church and seeking patiently to improve ourselves without taking advantage of others.
  5. Realizing that circumstance in life is sometimes tragic, sometimes depressing, and doing our best regardless of the circumstance.
  6. To accept defeats in life as well as victories in our struggles with life and its problems — to always continue to serve God regardless.
  7. To keep ourselves physically clean and morally pure as much as possible.

NOTE: The very concept that encourages us to live the life of a Christian also instills within us the above qualities that are often referred to as moral and ethical qualities. These qualities of character are also called “Christian virtues” or “Christian graces”. Please note some of them as they appear in the Bible:

2 Peter 1:4-10, whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in (your) virtue knowledge; and in (your) knowledge self-control; and in (your) self-control patience; and in (your) patience godliness; and in (your) godliness brotherly kindness; and in (your) brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: ASV

These qualities of character will naturally become part of the Christian as they grow toward maturity in the faith. These moral and ethical qualities will enable the Christian to become the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Christ desires. The Lord says that His disciples are to be so, please note the following verses:

Matthew 5:13-16, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do (men) light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ASV

CONCLUSION: Indeed, there are many areas of life where the Christian may have an influence upon other people in the world. The Christian will be on display all the time, at work, on vacation, at the market place, and with family and friends — Are we conscious of this great influence that we exhibit before others? We surely ought to be because we may be the catalyst that causes another person to turn to God for salvation sometime. Because of our great influence over other people let us recognize the fact:  God has given us information and a pattern of right and wrong to follow, that is the Written Word of God (i.e., the 66 books of the Bible).

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Dead Men Tell No Tales

“Homicide Victims Rarely Talk to Police”

That’s right! No… really? Not never, “rarely.” I love watching “Headlines” on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show.” This actual headline (and many others) makes me wonder who actually is editing these stories. I know we all make mistakes and I myself am not immune from typos and blatant errors in spelling and grammar. But I don’t employ anyone full-time for the purposes of editing or proofreading. This is one of my many pet peeves in life.

In our Wednesday evening Bible Class we discussed the problems of jumping to
conclusions, making faulty, premature judgments, gossip and the life changing/damaging consequences of these actions. During that discussion I was reminded of the old adage, “ Dead men tell no tales.” Simply stated, someone who is dead cannot reveal any secrets… ever!

The application to the Christian life is profound. In Romans 6:1-11 we read:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What the Spirit is saying through the inspired pen of Paul is that when we are baptized the old man of sin must be put to death. There must be a conversion that takes place and not just a ceremonial dunking! When the old man is laid to rest in baptism a new man emerges to walk just as Christ walked.

The dead man cannot lie, gossip, be a talebearer, cheat, steal, judge unrighteously, or continue to live in any sin. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul said that:

“Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

Notice he said they had been these things, but they were no longer. Part of their justification and sanctification through their washing in baptism was that they had “put to death” the old man and his ways.

Did you catch the grammatical error in the first paragraph? One of my pet peeves is not that I do not have a full-time editor employed to proofread my writings but that such blatant mistakes are overlook by professional editors. God doesn’t miss the errors as we often think, hope or wish He would. He expects us to correct them through humble obedience and faithfulness. Thereby relying upon the precious blood of His Son to cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness.

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Giving and Being Pleasing to the Lord

HOW MUCH SHOULD ONE GIVE AND BE PLEASING TO THE LORD?

This is a very important question. Many think that one should give whatever they have left in their pocket, some believe that their giving should be based upon the 10% rule as outlined in the Old Testament. However, when we look at what they did in the Old Testament, is 10% right? Under the Mosaical law there were three types of giving:  1 tithe – the one most familiar with is the priestly tithe. In Lev. 27:30-33 is states, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.” Now, this was not 10% of a paycheck. It was 10% of everything.  2 tithe – is the tithe to eat with the family and Levites (Deut 14:22-23). 3 tithe – is to support the poor and the Levitical priesthood (Deut. 14:28-29). So each year, the Jews gave 20% of everything they received this would include anything for birthdays, holidays, etc . . . On top of that, every 3rd year they would give another 10%.

But, what about today in the church, how much should we give? Well, I know of a congregation who only has 29 members (less than ½ of our membership), where 90% of the congregation is retired and no longer works. Of that 90%, most of them use to be farmers. Their contribution was 1,300 each and every week which they exceeded for a weekly average of 1410 a week. I know another congregation that has taken a mortgage out on everything that they have: namely, the building because what good is it to have a $150,000 or $500,000 building with no mortgage? They believe that the money for their building could be best spent making the building larger, or giving to missionaries or having a real solid food pantry. Therefore, each week, they have to make payments on the building.

So, how much are we to give? We are to be giving as much as possible because God loves a cheerful giver! Instead of counting pennies to up to a usual 2% (which is what many congregations usually give), try tossing your pocketbook in the collection plate and see what good it does. This is what the poor widow did in Mk. 12:41-44 who gave all she had. We are to give so that the church will grow. I get letters and emails on almost a daily basis from Christians who need help. I have had request for song books, bibles, paper and shoes because the members are tired of having blisters on their feet daily, missionaries who are constantly unfunded and starving, devoted Chrsitians who want to go to a preaching school and preach the Gospel all over the world. Without an abundance of funds, we cannot do any of these things except, keep house. And our Lord never wanted us to do that!

Now, many will whine like a two year old stating that they are little and cannot do what other congregations do. But, this is just an excuse. God is not fooled!

Christians often forget that the church has a great responsibility to help the poor, the orphans, and those who are in our community to teach them the Gospel which takes money. If we spent as much money on evangelism as we do our toys, our gardens and our nicknacks, the whole world would have been completely evangelized years ago.

Alas, giving must be voluntary. Notice 2 Cor. 9:5-7, “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Look at 1 Cor. 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” And, since we worship on Sunday evening, we should also at least offer the collection on Sunday evening unless we are saying that Sunday evening worship is not the same and Sunday morning worship. Worship is worship and it would be terrible if the Lord came on Tuesday and you explained to Him that you forgot to give Sunday morning and that you would just wait until next Sunday to give, but the next Sunday never came.

It is through poor giving that we see a poor attitude in the Christian. Read Mal. 3:7-10, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  Giving poorly, mars the fellowship between God and ourselves. Let us all give cheerfully and not make excuses of why we cannot give much.

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What is Sin

A preacher once said, “I would esteem above every other gift that could be bestowed upon me as a preacher the power to adequately conceive what sin is and to adequately set it before the people.”  Why is it so important for us to understand what sin is?  

Because of the consequences of it. 

Isaiah 59:1-2, Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Our sins separate us from God and cause Him to hide his face from us and He refuses to listen to our pleadings. 

John 8:21, “Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 

Another consequence of sin is that we cannot go to Jesus as long as we are in our sins. 

1 Corinthians 5:5, “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“.

A consequence of sin is the destruction of our flesh.  Since the garden of Eden, man has been denied access to the tree of life and we all grow old and die. 

And finally:

Romans 6:23.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The final consequence of sin is spiritual death which is eternal separation from the presence of God. 

So we have in all,

1)  Sin separates us from God.
2)  God hides His face from us.
3)  God refuses to listen to us.
4)  We cannot go to Jesus where He dwells.
5)  We grow old and die.
6)  We are eternally lost and our souls will spend eternity in the Fires of Hell. 

It is my prayer and my goal in this lesson that I will have the ability today to convey to you what sin is, so that it may be avoided and also its consequences.

Sin is a violation of conscience:

Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  The word “faith” in the context of this verse is not referring to a system of faith as it does in Galatians 1:23 and Jude 3.

It refers to faith in a subjective sense, the persuasion or confidence of an individual  Thus, this passage is teaching us that we must be fully persuaded that what we are doing is lawful; otherwise, to act, is to sin. 

We also see that our actions are not to be based on what “the crowd thinks” or “what others do”.  We must believe a thing to be right.  Our conscience is that moral nature about us that reacts favorably or unfavorably, sanctions or disapproves, as we react to the things we think, the things we say say or the things we do.

But we must be very careful about our conscience.  Just because we may truthfully think something is ok, it may not necessarily be so.  Our conscience must be educated by God’s Word.  Paul persecuted Christians in all good conscience (Acts 23:;1; 24:16; 26:29) so if our conscience is not according to God’s word, then we need to take those steps to correct our conscience. 

The conscience is not an infallible guide –  In John 16:2, Jesus said, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”  Those who rejected Christians in that context thought in all good conscience that they were serving God but they weren’t.  We need to make sure our conscience is in line with the will of God. 

The conscience can be dulled.  1 Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”  These people will depart from the faith, allowing themselves to be drawn away by lies and false doctrines to the degree that their very own conscience will be seared to the point that it cannot be trusted.  They will no longer be able to react unfavorably to the wrong things they, or others around them, may think, say or do. 

Ephesians 4:19, “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”  We can sin so much that our conscience becomes seared and dulled to the point that we feel that what we are doing is ok when it isn’t. 

Do you have any doubts about playing a certain game, going to a certain place, participating in a certain function, or involving yourself in a certain habit?  If so, refrain from doing it!  Instead of living by doubt, obey the will of God – Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Sin is knowing to do good, but doing it not.  James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  This verse emphasizes the fact that sin is not only wrong doing, it is a failure in doing right, failing to do good.  I have heard this type of sin referred to sins of omission. 

We are not only to be innocent of doing bad, we are to be followers and doers of good.  Galatians 6:10 teaches, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  Notice the emphasis placed on fellow Christians.  But those outside Christ are not in any way excluded from this. 

 In speaking to the church in 2 Corinthians 9:10-14, Paul wrote, “Now may He [referring to God here]  who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men”

Our primary obligation as Christians in the body of Christ are to each other, but that in no way excludes us of our obligations to those outside the body of Christ.  It would be wrong of us to minister to the needs of someone outside the body of Christ while being neglectful of our brethren in need, but it would be likewise just as wrong for us to be neglectful of those outside the body of Christ if we have the means whereby we can help them.  And this obligation falls not just on the individual, but on the church as well.  Paul was speaking to the church in Corinth as a group. 

Some examples of those doing good.  The good Samaritan was a doer of good (Luke 10:30-37); Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  Jesus said that in the final resurrection, those who do good will inherit eternal life (John 5:28-29).  Therefore, not doing good, or failing to do good, is sin.  

James 4:17, quoted earlier, presents unto us the sin of unused knowledge, the failure to do what we know is right, the sin of knowing how to live right and not doing it.

Yet how often do we hear…

1) “I know what’s right, but …”

2) “I know I should teach the lost, but …”

3) “I know that I should not forsake the assemblies, but …”

4) “I know what I should be doing, but …”

5)  “I know what I am doing is wrong but…”

We need to consider seriously the words of Jesus in Luke 12:47-48, “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”   Those of us who know the will of God and refuse to submit ourselves to it in obedience will be “beaten with many stripes“.  God expects more from those who know better. 

Sin is a violation of God’s law.  And 1 John 3:4 teaches us without question that there is law, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”  It is impossible to commit lawlessness where there is not any law to break. 

Paul wrote in Romans 4:15, “because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.”  If there was no law for us to follow, then it would not be possible for there to be sin.  If there were no law, there would be no transgression. There would be no sin. 

Where did this law come from?  In the old testament, Isaiah 33:22, “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver , the LORD is our king; he will save us.”  They had law in the old testament, no doubt about it.  But what about the New Testament?  Do we have a lawgiver?  In writing to Christians James says by inspiration in 4:12, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy…”.  Why would James tell fellow Christians there was a lawgiver if there was no law?  Of course there’s law, Paul called it “the law of Christ” in Galatians 6:2.  

Our lawgiver is Jesus Christ.  Where did He get it?  John 12:48-50.

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.  For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”   Jesus received the law from God the Father and spoke it to those on earth.  And this law which has been recorded for us by inspiration is what is going to be used to judge us in the last day.   

According to 1 John 3:4, Sin is breaking God’s law. 

For example:

God tells us not to lie (Ephesians 4:25, Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. Therefore to lie is a sin. 

1 John 3:4 teaches that sin is a personal refusal to be governed by God.  Jesus Christ not only is our law giver, he is also our king, our governor if you will.  Paul taught the Ephesians that He was “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:21-22).  Paul taught the Christians in Corinth that Jesus was indeed reigning in 1 Corinthians 15:25:  “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”

When we refuse to be subject to our King, then we are refusing to be governed by God.  This is  called rebellion toward God in scripture.  King Saul learned this the hard way in Old Testament times when he allowed the people to keep some of the cattle and the spoil from the destruction of the Amalekites.  When Samuel confronted Saul about this he said:

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:23).  When we fail to obey God, we reject His word.  Sin is rebellion against God, rejection of His will, and refusal to be governed by His word.  

Sin is a failure to keep God’s commands

“All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).  Everything that is not righteous or rightful is sin.  All of God’s commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172).  John teaches in 1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”  He then went on in the same conmtext to say in verse 10: 1 “whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Thus, those who obey God’s commands are righteous, but those who do not obey God’s commands are unrighteous.  John 5:17 teaches us that to fail to keep God’s commands is to sin.  

Sin is to trespass against God.

2 John 9 ((NASB)
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

When we go somewhere today where we are not allowed to go, it’s called trespassing.  We can go beyond the teachings of Christ and thereby fail to abide in His teachings.  Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB), “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written...”  We can go too far, we can exceed or go beyond what is written.  We can go where we are not authorized or permitted to go.  We can trespass against God and to do this is sin.

THE BIBLE’S EPITHETS FOR SIN

Webster defines epithets as “a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing”

One epithet for sin is “transgression”.   Acts 1:25, “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

 “Transgression” means to rebel or set one’s self against.  Thus, sin is treason against the Most High.  A sinner is a rebel.  Sin is a clinched fist and its object is the face of God.  Sin is the refusal to submit ourselves to the authority of God.  

James 4:7-10 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Another epithet for sin is “iniquity” “Iniquity” has reference to perversity or crooked dealings.  The Greek word for iniquity is often translated as lawlessness.  Iniquity is that which is twisted, or bent out of line or not in harmony with the law of God.  God’s word draws a line, and it is our responsibility to walk along that line without departing from it.  

The Bible uses word pictures to illustrate sin.  

1. Sin is pictured as a “putrefying” disease in Isaiah 1:6

2. Sin is pictured as a “heavy” burden in  Psalm 38:4-6

3. Sin is pictured as “foolish” insanity  in Numbers 12:11

4. Sin is pictured as “defiling” filth in  2 Peter 2:20-22

5. Sin is pictured as a “binding” debt in Matthew 6:12

6. Sin is pictured as a “blemishing” stain in James 1:27

7. Sin is pictured as an “impenetrable” darkness in 2 Corinthians 6:14

8. Sin is pictured as “slavery” in Romans 6:17

CONCLUSION:

Sin is no laughing matter.  Sin is:

1) Rebellion against the will of God

2) Lawlessness

3) Perversity

4) Failure

5) Trespass

6) Enslavement leading to spiritual death. 

Furthermore, sin is:

1) a disease needing curing,

2) a burden needing lifting,

3) insanity that needs curing,

4) filth that needs cleaning,

5) a debt that needs paying,

6) a stain that needs removing,

7) and darkness that needs light

And finally, sin is expensive.  Sin carries with it a great cost.  When we sinned, we forfeited our souls.  When we sinned it cost us our spiritual lives with God forever.  When we sinned, we lost our place in heaven with God the Father forever.  The cost of sin to us cannot be overstated.  It cost us everything that really matters. 

God cannot just overlook our sin.  His righteous nature demands the punishment of death which we owe for our sin.  So He paid that debt for us so that we could have a hope of eternal life after sin.  He paid that debt by sending His only Son down here to earth to suffer and die the death we deserved.  God paid our sin debt for us in order to set us free of the slavery, the bondage of sin.  Our sin cost God a lot.  Our sin cost God the life of His only begotten Son.  He paid that debt because we can’t.  We have nothing to offer for it.  We’re dead in our sins.  What does a dead man have to offer?  What does a dead man have to give as payment for a debt?  Does a man’s creditors go to his gravesite to try and collect unpaid debts?  No.  Why?  Because the dead man has nothing with which to pay that debt. 

Similarly, those who are dead in their sins have nothing to offer as payment for their sin debt.  Our deaths, both physical and spiritual, are what is due for our sins.  When we die, there is nothing left to offer.  Our sin cost us everything.  Jesus Christ came down here and offered His life in the place of ours so that we could have a hope of life.  Without the sacrifice of Jesus, we have no hope.  Jesus Christ left heaven, and came down to earth to die, so that when we die, we can leave earth and go live in Heaven with Him forever. 

So how do we free ourselves from the slavery of sin?  How do we cure the disease?  How do we lift the burden?  How do we cure the insanity?  How do we cleanse the filth?  How do we remove the stains?  How do we shine light on the darkness?  How do we free ourselves from the slavery of sin?  In short, what do we have to do in order to take advantage of the offering of Jesus Christ and live? 

Romans 6:15-23

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!  Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul’s answer was that we become slaves to God if we want to be free from the slavery of sin.   Slavery to God sounds a lot better than slavery to Sin.  Slavery to God ends us up in eternal glory and Heaven with God.  Slavery to sin ends us up in Hell with the devil and his angels and everybody else who are liars, cheaters, drunks, thieves, adulterers, murders, fornicators.  The company we would have to keep in Hell would be bad enough all by itself, but add to that the wrath of God in eternal punishment and the consequences become dire indeed.  So. 

How do we become slaves to God?  How do we become slaves to righteousness like Paul said?  Easy, by doing what he said to do in verse 16 of the passage we just read.  “Obedience leading to righteousness“.  Obedience.   Well, what are we supposed to obey?  First of all, we have to be “in Christ“.   An American is someone who lives in America.  Likewise, a Christian is someone who lives in Christ.  We have to be a Christian in order to be a slave of righteousness.  Non-Christians are not slaves of righteousness.  They have not submitted to the authority of God.  So then how do we come to live in Christ?

First we have to hear Jesus.  This means more than just hearing passively.  We are to listen attentively and heed the message.  Paul said “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). 

Then we have to believe.  Jesus said “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).  We must have faith but that is not where it stops.  As Bobby taught us in the past weeks, faith without obedience is dead and we are not saved by a dead faith.  We are saved by a living, active, complete faith. 

Then in Mark 1:15, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”  In Luke 13:3 Jesus said Luke 13:3
“except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish.”  Repentance is extremely important in that without it, we cannot be saved.  Repentance is best defined as a sorrow of heart that leads to a change of behavior.  We are sorry for the sin in our life and we resolve to live better.  We resolve to be a slave of righteousness living according to what is good and right and shunning that which is wrong and evil.  Repentance is not a one time thing.  Rather, repentance is a commitment that takes a lifetime of resolve with a daily recommitment for the rest of one’s life. 

Then Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”  We have to confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  This is another thing that is not a one time thing.  We confess Jesus as the Son of God before men for the rest of our lives.  But the initial confession precedes one’s baptism just like with the Ethiopian Eunuch who said that he believed Jesus Christ was the son of God. 

Then finally, Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  He also told Nicodemus in John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  Those who wish to become Christians and be a slave to righteousness must submit to the command to be baptized.  It is at this point that we are immersed into the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3).  Jesus death was by the shedding of His blood, therefore when we are immersed into His death, we are immersed into the means of that death; His blood.  It is at that moment in time that the cleansing blood of Christ is applied to us and our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).  We are immersed/buried into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3).  We are then reborn to a new life in Christ.  We are then freed from the slavery and bondage of sin and have become a slave of righteousness.   We have become a Christian, added to the church of Christ by God (Acts 2:47). 

From that moment on, Christians are commanded to walk in the light, meaning we live faithfully and obediently like the first century Christians were instructed.  We serve the will of God by serving each other, spreading the the good news of salvation and worshipping in spirit and in truth.  Confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness and keeping on keeping on trying to live our lives as slaves of righteousness.  Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). 

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