When the church first began here at the Barn. To ensure that the word preached would always be from God's word, The person who was to speak, was given the passage of the Bible from which to bring the message. The general policy was to choose a book of the new testament and take the chapters consecutively each week. In this way we have covered much of the new testament. Eventually we decided that this could possibly limit the guidance of the holy spirit. And so left each person speaking to choose their own portion of scripture But in so doing, there is always the danger of Someone having a worldly idea, and then seeking to find passages of scripture in an endeavour to substantiate it. I must admit that this word I bring today, could possibly be considered by some to be in that category. Especially when we consider it in the light of messages which we have heard on other occasions. Even in the light of the message which I brought two weeks ago. And yet it was as I was thinking over that word which I preached two weeks ago, that the Lord prompted me of the need to consider its implications a little more deeply in relation to other passages of scripture. you see we all have to realise, that it is impossible to preach the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ in one message. Each passage of scripture in the bible brings with it a particular truth. Quite often one exposition of the word needs another, to Qualify it and help us to see the whole picture. It's as if a second word, changes a two dimensional picture into a three dimensional one. The word today I hope will do just that in relation to my message of a fortnight ago If you can't recall the content of that previous message you are no worse off than those who weren't here and didn't hear it. But I shall remind you of it a little later on. ======================== Psalm 58 1/ Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? 2/ No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. 3/ Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. 4/ Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, 5/ that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. 6/ Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! 7/ Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. 8/ Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. 9/ Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wickedwill be swept away. 10/ The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. 11/ Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." At first glance can you imagine what sort of message could be brought from that psalm? Is this a legitimate way to think or act. Do you feel aggrieved when you see those who you consider less than righteous apparently thriving.? The Psalmist obviously did. Do you consider things perhaps a little bit unfair, especially when you are trying to do what is right.? Do You feel deep down in your heart that you are more righteous than some other people.? Be honest with yourself. Do You feel, just a little bit, like the Pharisee who said in Luke 18 verse 11 "God I thank you that I am not like other men, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers, or even as that tax collector." Or do you accept the fact that we are all sinners?, And being a good Christian you have nothing but forgiveness in your heart for all those who you know are not living life as they ought?. Is this what God expects of us? =============================== Let me you recap. Two weeks ago I spoke about Repentance and Forgiveness. Or was it Forgiveness and the Repentance. Our conclusion was that forgiveness came first. We realised that Jesus Christ's reason for coming into the world was to forgive our sins. And he died on the cross to do just that. And scripture adds "Whilst we were yet sinners." From this point on, I shall be making statements, asking questions, and quoting scriptures. Drawing to your attention to particular passages. Just as I believe the Lord brought them to mine. How you accept them, or apply them to your lives, I must leave up to you. My brief from the Lord, is to bring these points to your attention. And I promise you, that all the passages I bring came spontaneously to my mind in answer to questions which also came to me, as I was reading Gods word, with no effort on my part to seek them out. It was as if my thoughts were discussing this problem on their own. So. Having accepted Christ's forgiveness, and repented ourselves, and become followers of Jesus, our instruction as we seek to emulate Jesus, is to forgive others AS HE has forgiven us. Whilst they are yet sinners. Judge not lest you be Judged Some Questions :-- Do we then just forgive everyone and just let things happen.? Is any kind of reproach to be a thing of the past? Is to reproach someone a sign of unforgiveness and judgement? Is it judging to show disapproval of someone's actions? Or must a person first earn our forgiveness? If our instruction from the Lord is to forgive. Totally no matter what!. These questions should never arise. bearing in mind that our aim should be. "To be perfect as he is perfect." Our aim surely then, is to forgive others AS HE has forgiven us. Before we can answer these questions, we need to know in what circumstances Christ's forgiveness applies to us. I think it's time we read some scripture. But first another Two questions. If God has forgiven us do we automatically receive salvation.? This Question is answered in my previous message "Repentance or Forgiveness" Is it possible for me to have total forgiveness in my heart for someone whose actions I despise? Rom. Ch. 3 vs. 5-31 Paul here is dealing with a question raised by some Jews. That for a person to continue to sin only serves to show the depth of Gods mercy in His forgiveness of our sin. Romans Ch 3 vs. 5 - 31. 5/ But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6/ By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7/ But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8/ And why not do evil that good may come? -- as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 9/ What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10/ as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11/ no one understands, no one seeks for God. 12/ All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one." 13/ "Their throat is an open grave, they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 14 / "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." 15 /"Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 / in their paths are ruin and misery, 17/ and the way of peace they do not know." 18/ "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19/ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20/ For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21/ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, 22/ the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23/ since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24/ they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25/ whom God put forward as an expiation (Atonement) by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; 26/ it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. 27/ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith. 28/ For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. 29/ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30/ since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. 31/Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold Verses 9 to 18 Sum up the condition of those who have not yet appropriated for themselves the forgiveness of God. and the reason they have not appropriated it is given in verse 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes" until a person is fully aware of their need of salvation. The fact that God has forgiven them is of no use to them. To say that someone needs to appropriate God's forgiveness, does not negate the fact that God has already forgiven them. Nor does the fact that God's overwhelming mercy and love for us, which is shown in his forgiveness for sinners. Negate the prerequisite for His Justice to be fulfilled. To receive the benefit of Gods forgiveness we need to be Justified in His sight Look at verse 20 "For no human being will be justified in His sight by works of the law We cannot achieve justification in Gods sight on our own account How then do we achieve it? Verse 21 "But now the righteousness of god has been made known apart from the law"---------- Verse 22 "The righteousness; of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe."- - - - - - Vs 23 to 25 "Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God they are justified by his grace as a gift. Through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, who God put forward as an atonement, By his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show Gods righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins." Notice there it says He had past over - - - - - past tense. The forgiveness had already taken place Justification also was a gift but which needed to be received by faith and Paul sums it all up in verse 26 "It was to prove at the present time that He himself is righteous and that He justifies him who has faith in Jesus." To appropriate the benefit of Gods forgiveness, one needs to the justified in the sight of God, To be justified one must believe, and have faith in Jesus Christ We need to grasp the importance of this statement. although these free Gifts of forgiveness and justification, are there ready and waiting. Poured out for us by a loving and merciful God, they are not ours by any right of our own. They do not give us a license to please ourselves how we live our lives. Rom. Ch. 3 v. 31 "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? by no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." To be recipients of the love of God and his forgiveness one needs to be deemed worthy, in accordance with His precepts. Let me make absolutely sure that you understand what is being said here Gods love mercy and forgiveness for you, Is there, It exists, It doesn't alter, He longs for us to receive it. All it needs for us to receive it, is For us to acknowledge Him. Do you recall what Matthew reports Jesus as saying in Matt. Ch. 23 v. 37 "O Jerusalem Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered your children together as a hen Gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not." ============================= In the light of what we've learned how do we answer our initial questions? still bearing in mind Col. Ch. 3 v.13 " As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." Questions Should the way we forgive be, better than Christ's? The same as Christ's? Or not so good as Christ's? Some while ago I spoke on the need for purity within the church. During that service I read a few verses from 1 Corinthians. I'd like to read them again now. Paul writes in Chapter five verse 9 to 13 "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; Not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of a brother if he is guilty of Immorality or greed, or is an Idolater, reviler, drunkard, or Robber. - - - not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders?. Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you." It would seem to me from these verses. That there is a distinction made between the unconverted and those who have accepted Jesus as saviour. We as members of the body of Christ, have a responsibility regarding any who claim to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. Luke Ch. 17 vs. 3-4 "Take heed the to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, Forgive him; and if he's sins against you 7 times in the day, and turns to you 7 times, and says, I repent, you must forgive him." A question which I will allow you to answer for your self. In those two verses which has the priority the forgiveness or the repentance? Matt. Ch. 18 v. 15- 17 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." To allow Fellow Christians to assume that our Christian forgiveness is available to them under any and all circumstances. Is, I believe, unscriptual, and irresponsible. James Ch. 5 v. 19 "My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death." We have an obligation in Christ to seek to bring backsliders back into the fold. To do so we need to rekindle The fear of God before their eyes The paradox in all this. Is not that our forgiveness must be deliberately withheld. But that it is deliberately refused. Two weeks ago we ('At The Barn') recognised that Gods forgiveness was available for all including Moslems , Hindus, Buddists, etc. But Sadly not appropriated by them We all know John Ch. 3 v. 16 Do we also know John Ch. 3 v. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; He who does not Believe is condemned already, Because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God" Amen |
11 July 2000 |
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