"I AM THAT I AM"

EXODUS 3:14

A. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE "I AM THAT I AM" OF OUR

OPENING TEXT IS THE SON OF GOD
1. He used similar expressions during His earthly ministry:
a. "Before Abraham was, I am" - John 8:58
b. "I am the way, the truth, and the life" - John 14:6
c. "I am the resurrection, and the life" - John 11:25
2. His personal pre-existence is vouched for by the Holy Bible:
a. ". . . whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" -
Mi. 5:2
b. Prov. 8:22-30
c. John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-3, 8, 9
d. John the Baptist said of Him, "he was before me" - John 1:30
e. Christ speaks of His pre-existence in His high priestly prayer -
John 17:1-23

B. ANOTHER WAY OF SHOWING THAT HE HAD A PERSONAL PRE-

EXISTENCE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS
1. The Father calls Him, "my fellow": Zech. 13:7
2. He is called "the angel of the Lord":
a. Ex. 23:21; Isa. 63:9
b. Gen. 18:1; 32:22-29
3. He is called, also, "Michael": Dan. 10:13; Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16; John
5:28, 29
4. He is the true God and eternal life:
a. John 1:1-3; 1 John 5:20
b. The mighty God - Isa. 9:6
c. God over all - Rom. 9:5
d. Thomas called him "My Lord and my God" - John 20:28
5. Had the Jews studied Bible prophecy, as they should have, they could
have learned that it was the Son of God who told Moses that His name is "I AM THAT I
AM":
6. His life and ministry both testify that Christ is the great "I AM" of the
Bible:

C. SIGNIFICATION OF "I AM THAT I AM"

1. It indicates that:
a. He is unchangeable; "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and
forever" - Heb. 13:8
b. "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the
earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hand: they shall perish; and they all shall
wax old as doth a garment . . . but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail" - Heb.
1:10-12
2. It means that He can be relied upon:
 a. His word is unchangeable - Matt. 24:35
b. His power is eternal - Rom. 1:20; Matt. 28:18
c. His love is the same - John 13:1-3; Jer. 31:3
d. His promises are yea and amen - 2 Cor. 1:20
e. He ever liveth and maketh intercession for us - Heb. 7:25
f. He is Immanuel - God with us - Matt. 1:23
g. He is THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA of creation and
redemption - Rev. 1:8; John 1:1-3; Acts 4:12; Matt. 1:21; Isa. 41:14; 49:26; 54:5
3. It is with Him that every one of us has to make a decision:
a. Accept Him as our personal Saviour;
b. Or reject Him.
c. This is a personal responsibility and therefore a personal decision
each of us must make.
d. As for me, I made that decision long ago and I am not sorry for it
either.
e. It is a great joy to know that the great "I AM THAT I AM" of the
Bible is my Lord and my Redeemer!
f. Day by day I reconsecrate my all to Him and His cause.
g. Dear reader, have you made that decision?
THE WORD OF GOD

A. "HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD" - Rev. 19:15

1. We know that our text has reference to the Son of God:
a. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God" - John 1:1-3
b. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: these three are one" - 1 John 5:7
2. He is the Voice - the Logos:
a. Because He reveals God and the hidden things of God - Eph. 3:9;
Rev. 4:1; John 1:18; Matt. 11:27; John 14:9
b. He is the Eternal Word because He was in the very beginning with
God - Compare John 1:1-3 with Prov. 8:22-30; Heb. 1:1-10; John 8:57, 58; 17:1-9
c. He is the eternal Word because all things in heaven and in earth
were made by Him - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:14-17; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:1-3
d. Finally, He is the Word, or Logos, because He is God's channel to
reveal Himself and His Holy Will to men - 1 Tim. 2; 1 John 2

B. NATURE OF THE WORD

1. The context shows conclusively:
a. The pre-existence of the Son of God - Compare John 1:1-3 with
John 8:58; 17:5-8; Col. 1:17
b. He revealed in the days of his flesh that He is both divine and
human -
(1) He is divine because He has His Father's nature - John
14:9; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3
 (2) He is truly human because the Word was made flesh - John
1:14; He took the nature of the seed of Abraham - Heb. 2:16
(3) His divinity revealed itself in His nature - Heb. 7:26, 27; in
His words - John 6:63; 7:46; by the miracles He performed - Matt. 11:5; and by His
ability to read the minds of men - John 2:24, 25
(4) His humanity is clearly seen in His birth - Luke 2:7, 12; He
got hungry and thirsty - Luke 4:2; Mark 11:12; John 4:6; also in His temptations - Heb.
4:15
2. Thus it becomes clear:
a. That the Logos of the Bible is God's channel of revelation, the
voice of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto - 1 Tim. 6:16
b. That this Logos is the connecting link between God and man,
between heaven and earth, He is that mystical ladder which Jacob saw - Gen. 28:12

C. BLESSINGS OF THE WORD OF GOD; THE WORTH OF THE WORD

1. It is our assurance that God has provided a channel of communication
between Himself and men:
a. Sin had broken this channel - Isa. 59:1-3
b. Christ, the Word, reopened it - John 14:6; Matt. 11:27; John 1:18
2. This Word is heard:
a. In time of danger, sorrow, and death - Rev. 14:13; Jer. 31:15, 16;
Matt. 14:27
b. It is the word of power and full assurance meeting our every need -
Luke 8:22-24; Matt. 11:28-30
c. It is the word of friendship and sympathy - Matt. 11:28-30, John
11:23-44
d. It is the dependable word - Matt. 24:35; Heb. 13:8; Num. 23:19-21
3. And finally:
a. It is the Word of salvation - Matt. 1:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:12
b. "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed" - Matt. 8:8
c. "Bid me to come unto thee on the water" - Matt. 14:28, 29
d. "Thou shalt be with me in Paradise" - Luke 23:42-44
e. The Word of God is the key to all God's promises, past, present,
and future - 2 Cor. 1:20; Heb. 6:9-16; 13:8
IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US
MATTHEW 1:23

A. THE SON OF GOD HAS A NUMBER OF TITLES WHICH EXPRESS

1. His relationship to God the Father:
a. God - John 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; 1 John 5:20; Rom. 9:5
b. The Word - Logos - John 1:1-3, 14; Rev. 19:13; 1 John 1:1
2. His relationship to humanity:
a. The Word made flesh - John 1:14; Gal. 4:4
b. The Son of man - Matt. 8:20; 12:8; 13:37
3. His mission:
a. Jesus the Messiah - Matt. 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Tim. 1:15
 b. High priest - Heb. 3:1; 4:14
c. Mediator - 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Heb. 7:26

B. IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US

1. Here we have the key to our Lord's two natures:
a. He is truly divine - "For in him dwelleth the fullness of the
Godhead bodily." - Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3; Phil. 2:6-11
b. Just as truly human - John 1:14; Heb. 2:14-16
c. In His divinity He lays hold of the throne of Omnipotence; and in
his humanity He ties Himself to the human race.
2. Immanuel:
a. That name reunites the universe - 2 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2 Cor. 5:19-21
b. It indicates that in Christ the whole family in heaven and in earth is
reunited - Eph. 1:10, 11; 3:15
c. It means that all the man-made partitions will be removed forever -
Eph. 2:14-16; John 10:15, 16

C. SIGNIFICATION OF THE NAME IMMANUEL

1. It means wonderful assurance by the Highest in heaven:
a. "If God be for us, who can be against us" - Rom. 8:31-33
b. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"
c. "Who is he that condemneth?"
d. "Who shall separate us from the love of God?"
2. Immanuel - God with us:
a. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all"
b. "It is God that justifieth"
c. "It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again"
d. It is He who maketh intercession for us.
3. Immanuel - God with us - means eternal security for the saints:
a. Against all our enemies - Rom. 8:35-39
b. In all our battles with Satan and sin - Rom. 8:37; 1 Cor. 15:57, 58
4. Immanuel - God with us - that is the great secret of the many mighty men
of God:
a. David - 1 Sam. 17:45
b. Samson - Judg. 15:4, 5; 16:29, 30
c. Elijah - 1 Ki. 18:19
d. Elisha - 2 Chron. 17:17
5. They were mighty because God was with them:
a. The weakest of God's children can be mighty in the strength of the
Lord.
b. Said Paul, "when I am weak I am strong" - 2 Cor. 12:10
6. This explains the secret in the lives of some of God's instruments. How
we should linger long, meditating upon that wonderful name - Immanuel:
a. It should create confidence in us.
b. It should embolden us to do exploits for God.
 c. It should help us to remember the close ties between God and His
children.
d. It should remove all doubts as to the ultimate victory of the cause
of God.
THE SON OF GOD

A. "THEN THEY THAT WERE IN THE SHIP CAME AND WORSHIPPED HIM,
SAYING, OF A TRUTH THOU ART THE SON OF GOD." - Matt. 14:33
1. The supernatural act of our Lord, when the angry waves of the sea obeyed
Him, convinced the disciples:
a. That Christ was more than a human being; He was, indeed, the Son
of God.
b. They recognized the divinity of our Lord.
2. It is of special interest that Jesus associated divinity with the title Son of
God:
a. Even the Jews associated divinity with the name Son of God - John
5:17, 18
b. They called it blasphemy on the part of Christ, speaking of God as
his Father - Matt. 26:65
3. The title Son of God was well known in ancient Israel:
a. Israel is called the Son of God - Ex. 4:22; Hos. 11:1
b. Adam is called the Son of God - Luke 3:38

B. BUT WHEN THIS TITLE IS APPLIED TO JESUS CHRIST, IT IS SINGULAR

AND VERY UNIQUE
1. Christ is God's only Son:
a. Our Saviour speaks of Himself as "the only begotten of the Father"
- John 1:18
b. John uses this title several times - John 3:16; 1 John 4:9
2. Christ traced his origin to God the Father:
a. "I came out from thee" - John 17:8; Prov. 8:22-30
b. "God is the source of my being " - John 8:42 (The New English
Bible)
c. "I am from above" - John 8:23
d. The "only begotten" signifies that no other being is the Son of God
in the sense of our Lord's Sonship.
e. Let us keep this fact in mind as we continue this important study.
3. The uniqueness of the title Son of God, when applied to Jesus Christ, is
seen when we consider:
a. His answer to his mother at the temple, "Did you not know that I
was bound to be in my Father's house?" - Luke 2:49
b. The Father's testimony from heaven at our Lord's baptism, "This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" - Matt. 3:17
c. On the mount of transfiguration a voice was heard from heaven
saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved" - Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7
 d. The very essence of the story of Gethsemane is that Jesus is talking
to His Father in a very unique manner - Matt. 26:36-42; Mark 14:32-29

C. THE DEEPER MEANING OF THE FATHER AND SON RELATIONSHIP

1. The Father and Son relationship between God the Father and God the Son
implies:
a. A very unique intimacy between Jesus and His heavenly Father, "I
and my Father are one" - John 10:30
b. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" - John 14:9
2. But intimate as this relationship is, it never becomes equality in the
absolute sense:
a. See and read, please, The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 1, pp. 17-22;
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, pp. 268-269; Patriarchs and Prophets, page 37.
b. The Father is always distinguished from the Son and the Son keeps
His place as a Son - John 5:19, 30; 14:28
c. There were things known only to the Father - Mark 13:32; Matt.
24:36; Acts 1:7
3. The Father and Son relationship dates back to eternity:
a. The Bible begins the revelation of God with the Father and Son
relationship - Gen. 1:26-28
b. Our Lord speaks of that relationship in His prayer - John 17:5;
Prov. 8:22-30; Mi. 5:2; Col. 1:14-17
c. Christ revealed His sonship to His Father in His nature, His
ministry, and in His infinite sacrifice.
THE SON OF MAN

A. "THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM, WE HAVE HEARD OUT OF THE LAW

THAT CHRIST ABIDETH FOREVER: AND HOW SAYEST THOU, THE SON OF
MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP? WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN?" - John 12:34
1. In our former study we considered our Lord's title - The Son of God:
a. His singular relationship with God.
b. His divinity.
2. At this time we want to take a brief and prayerful look at His title - The
Son of man:
a. The title Son of Man occurs 82 times in the New Testament, with
one exception, all these occurrences are in the gospels.
b. The one exception is the saying of Stephen in Acts 7:56: "Behold,
I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
c. What is still more striking is that the title Son of Man came from
the lips of our Lord, save our opening text, when the people use the expression - "The
Son of Man".

B. "WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN?"

1. The title Son of Man indicates that:
a. The Son of God is now also the Son of man - John 1:14; Heb.
2:14-16
 b. The title Son of God connects Him with God as His Father.
c. And the title Son of man ties Him forever to humanity.
d. He is now truly divine and just as truly human - John 1:1-3, 14;
Gal. 4:4
2. Deeper meaning of this union:
a. Both titles indicate that divinity was clothed with humanity. In His
divinity He lays hold to the throne of God, and in His humanity He connects the human
race with God.
b. Thus we see one of the reasons for the title - The Son of man. This
title shows that He, who is divine, is also human. He is a man, and He is God!
c. In His humanity, Christ shares with us the experience of humanity,
being subject to the laws that control mankind.

C. FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF OUR LORD'S TITLE "THE SON OF MAN"

1. The Bible shows that at the very heart of the title, Son of man, lies the plan
of redemption:
a. For Christ to redeem man and bring back the first dominion, He
had to be a man, as truly as Adam was a man.
b. He could have no advantage over Adam - Mi. 4:8; Rom. 5:12-19;
Heb. 2:14-16
2. Partaking of the nature of the seed of Abraham was necessary:
a. To qualify to be man's representative in heaven - Heb. 4:15
b. Humanity was a must for the Son of God to be our High Priest in
the heavenly sanctuary - Heb. 2:14-16; 4:15; 5:1-5
c. That means that the Son of God had to go through man's
experience to be sympathetic - Heb. 7:26; Isa. 53:1-12
3. As the Son of man, Christ demonstrated that the law of God is just and can
be obeyed by man: Isa. 42:19-21; Ps. 40:6-8; Matt. 5:17-20; John 12:49
4. Satan claims, and many believe, that the law of God is arbitrary and
cannot be kept; but the Son of man showed by his teaching and His life that God's law is
just and that man can live up to it:
5. As the Son of man, Christ reunited the family in heaven and in earth: Eph.
1:9-11; Heb. 12:22-28
6. He broke down the man-made partitions and reunited men again: Eph.
2:11-16
7. It is noteworthy that our Lord used the title "Son of man" with great
emphasis to call attention to His mighty deeds and also to the majesty He shall appear in
when He comes again: Matt. 26:64; Luke 21:36; John 5:22
8. Who then is the Son of man?
a. He is the only begotten of the Father, full of glory and truth - John
1:14
b. He is the one in whom two natures reside - divinity and humanity.
c. He is your Saviour and mine.
THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE
A. "IN ALL THEIR AFFLICTION HE WAS AFFLICTED, AND THE ANGEL OF
HIS PRESENCE SAVED THEM." - Isa. 43:9
1. Our text is a part of the prayer of the prophet Isaiah in which he recounts
God's love and care for his people:
2. This prayer leads us to the very zenith of God's love, if that can be
possible at all, for this divine love found its greatest expression on the cross of Calvary:

B. LET US CONSIDER THREE GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GOD'S LOVE, AS

EXPRESSED IN OUR TEXT
1. "In all their affliction he was afflicted":
a. This testimony about God's love becomes incomprehensible to me
as I attempt to understand its implication - Rom. 11:33-36
b. For God is infinite in His being, unsearchable are all His ways - Ps.
145:3. Absolute perfection is the glory of His being.
c. How then can He be afflicted with our affliction? Many of us are
afflicted by reason of sin and hereditary weakness, but that is not true of the infinite One!
2. And yet, our text speaks of an afflicted God:
a. That being true, it is evident that the greatness of God's love
revealed itself in the suffering God.
b. The truth is that our text speaks of the experience of the Son of
God on Calvary - Luke 23; Isa. 53
c. It was God who suffered in the person of His only Son - Rom.
8:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:18-21
3. But there is still another side to the story of the afflicted God:
a. That suffering was a manifestation of God's love and sympathy for
fallen humanity - John 3:16
b. It reveals his paternal attachment to the children of men - Rev.
21:3, 4
c. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that
fear him." - Ps. 103:13
d. Let us meditate upon these wonderful scriptures - Ex. 15:26; Isa.
66:13; 49:15

C. "AND THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE SAVED THEM"

1. Christ is the angel of the Lord:
a. He is called "Michael the archangel" - Jude 9; Dan. 10:13; Rev.
12:7
b. Christ has been in the presence of the Father from eternity. Only
the Son of God has access to the counsel and purpose of God the Father - Patriarchs and
Prophets, p. 34
c. Read these Bible references prayerfully - John 1:1-3; 17:1-22;
Prov. 8:22-30
2. His presence:
a. Moses recognized the importance of God's presence; he would not
go forward without it - Ex. 33:12, 16
 b. God's presence is vastly different than the presence of men - 2 Ki.
6:16, 17
c. That presence is promised to every child of God - Matt. 18:20;
28:20
3. The presence of the angel does four things for us:
a. It brings salvation - Matt. 1:21
b. This salvation is threefold:
(1) It saves us from the guilt of sin - Rom. 8:1-3, 31-33;
(2) It saves us from the power of sin - Rom. 1:16; Acts 26:18
(3) It saves us from the eternal consequences of sin - 2 Cor.
5:14-17; Rom. 8:1-3
c. It brings eternal security to all who are sheltered under its wings -
Rom. 8:1-33; Ps. 90:1; 91:1-16
d. And finally, the presence of God assures us of eternal victory -
(1) Victory over sin - John 8:31-36; Matt. 1:21;
(2) Victory over suffering, pain and death - Isa. 35:10; Rev.
22:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:26-58; 2 Cor. 2:14
4. "In all their affliction He was afflicted and the angel of His presence saved
them":
a. What a wonderful blessing it brings to the believer to know that he
is never alone in affliction; God is with him.
b. What blessed knowledge it is to know that salvation is assured to
God's people.
c. Do we know this from experience?
THE MESSIAH

A. "ONE OF THE TWO WHICH HEARD JOHN SPEAK, AND FOLLOWED

HIM, WAS ANDREW, SIMON PETER'S BROTHER. HE FIRST FINDETH HIS
OWN BROTHER SIMON, AND SAITH UNTO HIM, WE HAVE FOUND THE
MESSIAH, WHICH IS INTERPRETED, THE CHRIST." - JOHN 1:40, 41
1. Our test brings to light the finding of the Messiah by Andrew, Simon's
brother:
a. That was the most wonderful discovery anyone can make!
b. Dear reader, you are a reader of the Bible, have you discovered the
Messiah? - John 5:39
2. Andrew shared his faith:
a. He was not self-centered, but ready to share his faith with others -
Acts 1:8, 9
b. He began his missionary activities with his own relatives at home.

B. THE MESSIAH
1. Meaning of the word "Messiah":
a. The word "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew verb "mashach"
which means to anoint, and therefore is the Anointed one.
 b. In the Hebrew practice, anointing was particularly connected with
the consecration of kings, priests, and prophets - Judg. 9:8; 1 Sam. 16:12, 13; Ps. 89:20; 1
Ki. 1:45; 2 Ki. 11:12; Ex. 28:41; 29:7; 1 Ki. 19:16; Isa. 61:1
2. The anointing was the crowning acts attended by the people with great
solemnity:
a. The office of the king - Judg. 9:8
b. The office of the priest - Ex. 28:41
c. The office of the prophet - 1 Ki. 19:16
3. Of special interest to us is that the office of the Messiah includes:
a. The office of the Prophet - "The Lord said unto me . . . I will raise
them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee" - Deut. 18:17, 18; John
7:40; "And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee" - Matt.
21:11
b. The office of the High Priest - "Consider the Apostle and High
Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" - Heb. 3:1; "Jesus, made an high priest forever after
the order of Melchizedek" - Heb. 6:20
c. The office of the King - "I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion"
- Ps. 2:1-12; "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty
in battle" - Ps. 24:7-10; "He will sit upon the throne of his father David" - Luke 1:31-33

C. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF

THE MESSIAH
1. The interpretation of the Jews:
a. They limited the office of the Messiah to that of a prophet and a
king, but excluded the office of a priest. That office was limited to the tribe of Levi, and
Christ came from the tribe of Judah - Mi. 5:2; Heb. 7
b. They limited the office of the Messiah to their own nation; to them
the Messiah was to be the Saviour of their nation from other nations.
2. But the Bible concept of the Messiah is, indeed, threefold:
a. He is the Prophet of all prophets - John 1:1-3; Matt. 17:5; Heb.
1:1-3
b. He is the High Priest of all priests - 1 John 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:5; His
office is universal.
c. That is true, also, of His office as King of kings and Lord of lords.
3. The office of the Messiah concerns itself:
a. With the problem of sin, which is universal - Rom. 3:23; 5:12
b. The restoration of character and universal harmony - Eph. 1:8-11;
2:11-16; John 15:16; 17:1-22
c. The defeat of the adversary - Gen. 3:15
d. The destruction of death - 1 Cor. 15:26, 50-57
e. The bringing back the first dominion - Mi. 4:8
f. These are some of the assignments of the Messiah; they are the
mission of the Son of God to which He addressed Himself with His whole being - John
9:4-6.
THE LAMB OF GOD
PART I
A. "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF
THE WORLD" - John 1:29
1. The word BEHOLD signifies:
a. To call attention to a great truth - Luke 24:39; John 1:47
b. To direct attention to a great event - Matt. 21:5; Rev. 22:7
c. To point to a great sacrifice - John 3:16; 1 John 3:1-3
d. To the outstanding Manhood of the Son of man - John 19:5
2. By the word BEHOLD, attention is called to:
a. A truth of great moment for all, "Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sins of the world."
b. The attention of the Jewish nation was directed to the true object of
the sacrificial services, which were but a type of the infinite sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

B. "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD"

1. That expression is found a number of times in the Bible:
a. It dramatizes the lamb-like attitude of the Son of man during his
great suffering and death on Calvary - Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32
b. A lamb suffers in absolute silence. "It opened not its mouth", so
the Son of God suffered in absolute submission to the will of his Father.
c. A lamb was offered by the Israelites to commemorate their
deliverance from Egyptian bondage - Ex. 12:4, 5; so Christ, our passover Lamb, died for
us to deliver us from the bondage of sin - 1 Cor. 5:7
2. The lamb offered by the Israelites:
a. Had to be blameless - Ex. 12:5; Mal. 1:8
b. To typify the blameless Lamb of God - 1 Pet. 2:22
c. There was no sin in him - 1 John 3:5
d. He reflected the image and character of his Father - John 14:9;
Heb. 1:3
3. The Lamb of God:
a. Up to that point all lambs had been the gifts of men.
b. But this Lamb is different -- it is the gift of God - John 3:16
c. This reminds us of the words of Abraham to his son Isaac, "My
son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering" - Gen. 22:8
4. The Lamb of God:
a. Was God's own choice and His own gift.
b. Said the Son of God, "Sacrifice and offering hast thou not required.
Then said I, Lo I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me" - Ps. 40:6-8
c. The Lamb of God is the only means to atone for sin - Heb. 9:22, 23
d. Christ was not only the greatest gift God gave to save us; but
actually He was a part of God Himself - Rom. 8:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:18-21
e. But there is still another truth to bring to mind. When we have to
suffer we shall manifest the lamb-like attitude that the Lamb of God manifested.

C. "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF

THE WORLD"
 1. This is the height and the depth of the meaning of our opening text:
a. To take away our sins - can we fathom this glorious gospel truth?
b. Has the burden of your sins been lifted away by the cross of
Calvary? - 1 Pet. 2:24
c. God actually laid our sins upon the Lamb of God!
d. But keep in mind that only the sins that are confessed are included.
All unconfessed sins remain upon the transgressor - John 9:41
2. Has the heavenly gift made any difference in your:
a. Thinking about the plan of salvation?
b. Has it affected your life? If not, why not?
THE LAMB OF GOD
PART II

A. "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF

THE WORLD" - John 1:29
1. This message, by John the Baptist, came at a time when large numbers of
eager listeners came out of the cities and villages to hear this unusual preacher:
a. They had witnessed the sacrifices of many lambs.
b. But most of them had never before realized that all the sacrifices of
animals were but a type of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God - Heb. 9:12-17, 22-23; 10:1-
6; Col. 2:16, 17
2. It was, therefore, a fitting occasion for John to direct the attention of his
audience to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God:
a. The time was near at hand when type was to be met by the anti-
type.
b. When the real purpose of the earthly sanctuary and its services was
met by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the sanctuary with its services in heaven.

B. LET US CONSIDER THE TITLE, THE WORK, AND THE ATTENTION

WHICH CHRIST DEMANDS
1. The Title given to Jesus: "The Lamb of God"
a. Our Lord was distinguished for those things which a lamb was
capable of -
(1) Innocency - 1 Pet. 2:22; Isa. 53:9; Heb. 4:15
(2) Meekness - Matt. 11:29, 30; 21:5
(3) Opening not its mouth when it is slaughtered - Acts 8:32;
Isa. 53:7
(4) The lamb's usefulness -
No other creature is more useful than a lamb. Its flesh is
meat and its wool is used for warmth - John 6:55
2. As a Lamb, Jesus had been typified by both the paschal lamb and the daily
sacrifices:
a. The lamb had to be without blemish.
b. A year old, set apart four days, and then it was slain, but no bone
was broken; it was roasted with fire and its blood delivered the firstborn from the
destroying angel - Ex. 12:11, 27; Lev. 23:4
C. THE WORK OF JESUS -- "TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD"
1. How was that done?
a. God made Him sin who knew no sin - 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13
b. "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" - Isa. 53:4-6
c. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" - 1
Pet. 2:24
d. He took the cup that rightfully belonged to us - John 18:11; Matt.
26:42
2. Eternal Accomplishment:
a. "Taketh away the sins of the world" - This is the Magna Carta of
redemption.
b. This is the great Beacon-Light of Bible prophecy.
c. It is the bright Morning star for the soul.
d. It takes care of every sincerely confessed sin -
1 John 1:9; Prov. 28:13
3. But there is still another side to the accomplishment of the Lamb of God:
a. Through death He satisfied God's broken law. Here is reason for
serious thought by our `No law' friends. If God's law could have been set aside, then
Christ would not have had to die to satisfy the broken law - Gal. 3:13; Ps. 40:6-8
b. He, by His obedience unto death, magnified God's law and made it
honorable - Isa. 40:19-21; Matt. 5:17-19; Luke 16:17; Phil. 2:6-11
4. Behold the Lamb of God:
a. Think, think, about some of the reasons of the incarnation of the
Son of God - 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:14
b. Think about the wonders of the life of the Lamb of God - Acts
10:38; Heb. 7:26
c. Behold the infinite price heaven paid for our redemption!
d. See our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary working out
the great atonement made on the cross of Calvary - Heb. 4:14, 15, 16; 7:25, 26
e. Behold the Lamb of God our only hope!
THE WORD MADE FLESH

A. "AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US (AND
WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE
FATHER) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH." - John 1:14
1. The Word of our text occurs four times elsewhere: John 1:1; 1 John 1:1-5;
Rev. 19:13
2. It refers to the Son of God, who is also the Son of man, as stated in our
text:

B. THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH

1. This experience of the Son of God presupposes the pre-existence of the
Son of God:
a. The prophet Micah says, "Whose goings forth have been of old,
from everlasting" - Mi. 5:2
 b. The Saviour says, "Before Abraham was, I am" - John 8:58
c. He is the One who said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" - Ex.
3:14
2. It is the Word by whom all things were created in heaven and in earth:
a. John 1:1-3
b. Col. 1:14-17
c. Eph. 3:9
d. Heb. 1:1-3
3. The humanity of the Son of God:
a. It is as real as that of every child that is born into this world - Luke
2:7; Gal. 4:4; Isa. 9:6
b. He was subject to the same laws in nature as all of us are -
(1) The law of growth and development - Luke 2:52
(2) Nourishment and rest - Matt. 21:18; 25:35; Matt. 27:48;
John 4:6
4. The Bible gives three specific reasons for the incarnation of the Son of
God:
a. The office of the priesthood. To qualify for the priesthood, the Son
of God had to partake of the nature of the seed of Abraham - Heb. 2:14-16
b. The sacrifice for sin necessitated the incarnation - Isa. 53:1-12.
The sacrifice included the shedding of His blood - 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
c. In his humanity, Christ met and defeated Satan at every turn -
(1) Through his perfect obedience, the Son of God proved that
God's holy law is an expression of God's character and love for all his subjects - Ex. 20:3-
17; Ps. 40:6-8; Isa. 42:19, 20; John 12:49
(2) In his steadfastness against all temptations to do evil, Christ
defeated Satan once and for all times. Satan is a defeated enemy - 1 Cor. 15:57
(3) Thus Christ, the second Adam, regained all that was lost
through the transgression of our first parents - Mi. 4:8; Rom. 5:12-19

C. THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US

1. When God directed Moses to build the earthly sanctuary, he made known
one of the main reasons for the sanctuary:
a. "That I may dwell among them" - Ex. 25:8; 29:46
b. When the earth will have been made new, God will, again, dwell
among men - Rev. 21:3
c. Christ, the Son of man, tabernacled among men for the space of
about thirty-three years. That was necessary for the Son of God to learn, firsthand, the
experience of humanity.
2. Divinity, clothed with humanity, was discovered in the flesh:
a. On many occasions divinity flashed through humanity - John 2:11;
Matt. 14:25-32
b. God was truly manifested in the flesh, seen of the angels, and
accepted by men - 1 Tim. 3:16
c. Man could see God in the life of the Son of God -
EXAMPLES -
 (1) Nathanael did - John 1:47, 48
(2) Peter did - Mark 5:1-19; Matt. 14:28-33
(3) Thomas did - John 20:28
(4) The wedding guests did - John 2:1-11
d. Truly, the Son of God came in the flesh to open the way for
humanity to re-enter the family of sinless beings - Eph. 3:15
THE NAME OF JESUS

A. "AND SHE SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS
NAME JESUS: FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS." - Matt.
1:21
1. A Name in Israel:
a. Indicated the expectation of the person so named - Ruth 4:17
b. It indicated standing - 2 Sam. 7:9
c. Influence - Gen. 12:3; 17:5, 6
2. The Name JESUS:
a. Joshua or Jeshua - deliverer or redeemer.
b. A common family name among ancient Israel. Many parents gave
this name to their sons, expressing their expectation of their sons.
c. Was chosen by the angel of the Lord for the Redeemer of the
world - Luke 2:21; Matt. 1:21

B. A CAREFUL STUDY OF THE NAME JESUS SHOWS

1. That in this name is summed up our Lord's Mission to this world:
a. To save His people from their sins - Matt. 1:21
b. For there is no other name given among men whereby we must be
saved - Acts 4:12
2. That gives the Name JESUS a manifold signification of universal
importance:
a. It places universal authority in this name -
(1) Authority over the devil and his angels - Mark 16:17
(2) Authority to come to God with our requests -
John 14:13; 15:16
b. There is unlimited power in this wonderful name -
(1) Power to heal the sick - Acts 3:1-11; 9:34
(2) Power to do miracles - Mark 9:39; 16:18-20
(3) Power to live a victorious life -
Phil. 2:12, 13; 4:13
(4) Power to witness for the Word of God -
Matt. 10:1

C. LET US, IN CLOSING, CONSIDER SOME OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF THE

NAME JESUS
1. Satan and evil-minded persons fear and hate the name of JESUS:
a. Because they know that in that name is indicated their final doom -
Matt. 8:29; Mark 1:24
 b. The devils know also that in that name is the only hope for
deliverance of their victims from their power - Acts 8:7; 13:8-11; 19:14-28
2. That blessed Name JESUS symbolizes:
a. The hope of a poor, lost, and dying sinner - Luke 23:42-44; John
8:1-12; Luke 19:1-14
b. The hope of God's people, encompassed with many infirmities -
Matt. 1:21; Mi. 7:18-20
3. Let us make the application of our text more personal! What does this
wonderful name mean to me?
a. How does it affect my life? - Gal. 2:20
b. Have I, by carelessness brought reproach upon that blessed name?
- 1 Tim. 6:1; Jas. 2:7
c. Have I, at any time, in thought, word or action, denied that
wonderful Name? - Matt. 26:70; Luke 12:9; Acts 3:14
d. What does my use of the name of JESUS mean to others? Are
they drawn to Him? Do they feel that there is hope for their own lives because we live by
that name?
e. How many people with whom we associate recognize a change in
our own lives because we do believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
f. Sincerely, how often have we sought God in earnest, prevailing
prayer in the blessed name of Jesus?
g. Will that name JESUS make the difference in our relationship to
one another? Will it take us into the kingdom of God?
THE MAN CHRIST JESUS

A. "FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND
MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS." - 1 Tim. 2:5
1. The word "man" comes from two Greek words:
a. Anthropos - human being - a specimen of the human race.
b. Aner - a male member of the human family.
2. In the New Testament Jesus is called by both these words:
a. John the Baptist uses the word "aner" when speaking of Jesus -
John 1:30
b. The woman of Samaria uses the word "anthropos" when she said,
"Come and see a man ("anthropos") who has told me everything I ever did" - John 4:29
c. Peter used the word "aner" in his sermon on the day of Pentecost -
Acts 2:22

B. LET US CONSIDER, PRAYERFULLY, THE IMPLICATION OF THE NAME

"THE MAN" WHEN APPLIED TO OUR LORD
1. It shows us that those who actually associated with Jesus found Him fully
and naturally a man:
a. He did not appear to them to be an indeterminate person from
some halfway land, part spirit and part human.
b. They saw in Jesus Christ clearly and fully a man, even though God
was in Christ - 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 Tim. 3:16
 c. The Word was made flesh; he was born of a woman; he took the
nature, not that of the angels, but of the seed of Abraham - John 1:14; Gal. 4:4-6; Heb.
2:14-16
2. The Bible offers several reasons for speaking of our Lord as "the man":
a. He took the place of the first man Adam to gain the victory over
sin, where Adam lost - Compare Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:22-29 with Mi. 4:8
b. To qualify for the office of the priesthood, which necessitated the
entering into the experience of the human race - Heb. 2:14-18. Only a person of kindred
feeling and experience knows how to help.

C. LET US NOTE WHAT THE MAN JESUS ACCOMPLISHED AS A MAN, IN

THE FASHION OF OTHER MEN
1. He demonstrated that there can be perfect harmony between man and God:
a. "I and my Father are one" - John 10:30; 17:21-23
b. "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath
sent me" - John 5:19, 30
2. That there can be in man the union of the two natures -- the divine
manifesting itself in the human: 1 Tim. 3:16
a. "Christ in you the hope of glory" - Col. 1:27
b. Thus we become partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pet. 1:2-8; 2
Cor. 3:18
3. That our Saviour had no advantage over us; He hungered and thirsted; He
was tempted in all things, as we are; He sorrowed; He wept; and He feared, just as we do!
4. As a man, he emphasized the dignity of manhood:
a. This was acknowledge by Pilate when he said, "Behold the man" -
John 19:5. No greater test can come to manhood than in the very shadow of the cross!
b. He proved his manhood in the hour of great temptation - Matt. 4:1-
11; Luke 4:1-13
c. He showed his manhood in his gentleness with others - Ps. 18:35;
2 Sam. 22:36
5. He showed the full measure of a man:
a. In exercising complete self-control under the most severe tests in
his earthly life.
b. He demonstrated what man's union with God can and will do in
and for man!
c. The man Jesus draws me closer to Him. He is my elder brother.
He is a relative to me. I dearly love Him - the man Christ Jesus!
THE MIGHTY GOD

A. "FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: AND THE

GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER: AND HIS NAME SHALL BE
CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE
EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE." - Isa. 9:6
1. In our former study we have dwelt upon the man Christ Jesus:
a. We learned that those who associated with Him in the days of His
flesh saw Him as a man.
 b. He lived, suffered, and died, as a man.
2. But our text speaks of Him as "The Mighty God":
a. How can both be true?
b. There are, as we know, differences of opinions.
c. To the Jews it seemed preposterous for the Son of God to claim
divinity - John 5:18: 10:33

B. LET US CONSIDER THE CLAIM OF OUR LORD TO BE GOD

1. The Bible teaches uniformly Monotheism, or that there is but one God:
a. The testimony of the Old Testament declares that there is one God
- Deut. 4:35; 6:4-8; Isa. 45:5; 46:9; Ex. 20:1-3
b. That is true of the testimony of the New Testament, in which our
Lord is foremost - John 4:22, 23; Matt. 4:10; Mark 12:29-34
c. Consider the plain statements by the apostles - 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor.
8:4-6; Eph. 4:4-6; Jude 24-26
2. But our opening text speaks of the Son of man as "The Mighty God":
a. It may be significant that the word God is never associated with
our Lord in the first three gospels!
b. It is brought into sharp focus in the fourth gospel -- in the book of
John - John 1:1, 2; 20:28. "My Lord and my God" was the testimony of Thomas.
c. Can there be a question about the deity of our Lord? Not at all!
To the contrary, we will show that He is, indeed, The Mighty God.

C. THE DEITY OF CHRIST

1. There are a number of passages in the Bible, the King James Version,
where Christ is spoken of as God:
a. In Paul's Epistles - Heb. 1:8, 9; Rom. 9:5
b. In one of the Epistles of John - 1 John 5:20
2. The deity of our Lord seems plainly indicated in such passages as: Phil.
2:6-11; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:1-3; Col. 2:2; Tit. 2:13; 1 Tim. 3:16. But they, who are familiar
with the original and the different translations, know that there is a question about each of
these texts, either with the correct translation or with the interpretation of the Greek.
3. Personally, I do not doubt that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my God:
a. The Father speaks of him as God - Heb. 1:8, 9
b. He created all things in the universe - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:14-17;
Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:1-3; but the Bible speaks very plainly that God created the universe -
Gen. 1:1, 2; 2:2, 3
c. His divinity was manifested in his life, in his speech, in the
miracles he performed - Matt. 11:5
d. He revealed His Father's nature -- the God nature -- Col. 2:9; Heb.
1:3
e. He accepted the appellation of Thomas - "My Lord and my God" -
John 20:28
f. He accepted worship by his followers, which he would not have
done had he not been God in verity and truth - Luke 24:50-52
 g. Our heavenly Father has decreed that all the angels in heaven shall
worship him - Heb. 1:6
4. To doubt the deity of Christ is to reject the plain teaching of the Bible and
to close our eyes to the facts demonstrated in his life and teaching on this earth:
BEHOLD THE MAN

A. "AND PILATE SAITH UNTO THEM, BEHOLD THE MAN!" - John 19:5
1. Behold the man:
a. He has been scourged, maltreated, and yet He retains complete
self-control - Matt. 27:26-28; Luke 23:16
b. He was mocked, ridiculed, and abused, yet He retained His manly
dignity - John 19:2, 3
2. What a man to behold:
a. A man of sorrow and acquainted with grief - Isa. 53:3
b. A man despised and rejected of men - Isa. 49:7
c. A man who was wounded for our transgressions, and with his
stripes we are healed - Isa. 53:5

B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER AND PRAYERFUL LOOK AT THE MAN OF

OUR TEXT
1. Who is He?
a. He is God's only begotten Son - John 3:16; Matt. 3:17; 17:5
b. He is Immanuel - God with us - Matt. 1:23
c. He is God manifested in the flesh - 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:14
d. He is the Head of the human race - Heb. 2:14-17
e. He is the Messiah of Bible prophecy - John 1:41
2. What has He done?
a. He literally emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives and
heavenly glory; became the servant of all servants - Phil. 2:6-11
b. He became poor to make us rich - 2 Cor. 8:9
c. He was treated as we deserve that we will be treated as He
deserves - Isa. 53:1-12
d. In Him dwelleth not only divinity but He is the embodiment of
perfect manhood.
3. What does He mean to us?
a. He is the Lamb of God that beareth away the sins of the world -
John 1:29; Rev. 5:6
b. God made Him sin who knew no sin, that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him - 2 Cor. 5:21
c. He is our advocate before God the Father - 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1-
3

C. BEHOLD THE MAN

1. The man of destiny:
a. He embodies the manhood God designed to be -
(1) A true reflection of God - Heb. 1:3; Col. 2:9
 (2) A pattern of what we are to be - Rom. 8:29
2. From now on the Head of the human race:
a. As the Son of man he carried humanity to the highest heaven, and
tied man to God and God to man forever and ever.
b. The King of kings and Lord of Lords calls Himself our brother -
Heb. 2:14-16; Ps. 22:22; John 20:17
c. He holds the key to the destiny and the destination of every person
born into this world - John 6:53-57; Acts 4:12
3. What He means to me personally:
a. My pattern and ideal of true manhood to strive for - Heb. 12:1-6
b. He is my Saviour and my friend; in Him I trust.
c. I humbly but truly love and adore Him.
d. He is my hope.
4. Behold the man!
a. A man of great dignity.
b. A man of complete self-control.
c. A meek man.
d. A man chosen of God to bring mankind back to true manhood.
e. The man of destiny because all in heaven and in earth, past,
present, and future, centers in Him, was made by Him and for Him.
f. Is that your concept of the man of our text?
THE SERVANT OF GOD

A. "BEHOLD, MY SERVANT SHALL DEAL PRUDENTLY, HE SHALL BE

EXALTED AND EXTOLLED, AND BE VERY HIGH." Isa. 52:13
1. It may be said that the title "servant" is the title in the light of which all
other titles of Jesus must be seen:
a. This title has a great history -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham, Moses, and other distinguished persons are
called "servants of the Lord" - Ex. 14:31; Num. 12:7; Deut. 34:5; Josh. 1:1, 15; 8:21, 22;
18:7
b. This title was not given only to individuals, but to the nation as
well - Isa. 41:8-10; 44:21; 48:20; 49:3
2. The title "servant" associates Jesus with all other servants of God; it makes
Him an Elder Brother: Heb. 2:11; Rom. 8:29

B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SERVANT OF GOD

1. It indicates His mission in this world:
a. To make known to men our heavenly Father and His love for man
- John 1:18; Matt. 11:27; 17:1-23
b. To magnify God's law and make it honorable - Isa. 42:19-21; Ps.
40:6-8; Matt. 5:17-20
c. To seek and to save that which was lost - Matt. 18:11; Luke 19:10
d. To unify and bring back to men heavenly harmony - Eph. 1:1-12;
John 17:21-23
 2. It indicates His attitude:
a. He was meek and lowly -- a servant - Matt. 11:28-30; Phil. 2:6-11
b. He obeyed His Father because He loved Him - John 4:34; 6:38;
Luke 22:42
c. He willingly sacrificed heaven and His life to save sinners - Isa.
53:1-12
d. He came to minister and not to be ministered unto - Matt. 20:28
e. He gave dignity to service, which it had lost through the
selfishness of men.
f. He gave us an example, that we should be like minded - Mark
9:34; Luke 9:46-48
3. Because of His suffering, four songs in the book of Isaiah portray the
suffering servant:
a. Isa. 42:1-4
b. Isa. 49:1-6
c. Isa. 50:4-9
d. Isa. 52:13 and 53:12
4. Because He has faithfully and successfully accomplished his assignment:
a. He wasted no time - John 9:4, 5
b. He closed His earthly ministry with the words, "It is finished" -
John 19:30

C. WHAT A TIMELY LESSON FOR US TODAY

1. Christ's title is "Servant of God":
a. He was fully qualified to bear this title, which sums up his ministry
on earth, and includes his work as our High Priest in heaven.
b. His life, his ministry, and sacrifice gave dignity to living and
serving God and men.
c. His life is summed up in these inspired words, "How God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the evil; for God was with him." - Acts 10:38
2. In serving others and us, Christ gave us an example to:
a. Live not unto ourselves, but unto God and His cause - Rom. 14:7;
Gal. 2:20
b. We, too, have to become servants of God - 1 Pet. 2:16; Rom. 6:16,
17; Acts 1:8, 9; 1 Pet. 2:9-11
c. Just do as He did - John 13:1-17; 1 Pet. 2:21
d. He says, "Follow me" - Matt. 11:28-30
e. He was faithful - Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11
f. Are we God's faithful servants? - Matt. 25:31-42
g. Can we say with Paul, "I have finished my course?" - 2 Tim. 4:7,
8
h. Can heaven count on us, our loyalty, and our perseverance?
i. Let us think of the blessedness of serving God and humanity
faithfully.
CHRIST THE JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE
A. "FOR THE FATHER JUDGETH NO MAN, BUT HATH COMMITTED ALL
JUDGEMENT UNTO THE SON." - John 5:22
1. A study of the New Testament indicates clearly that Jesus Christ has been
given by the Father the power to judge all men:
a. Said Peter in the house of Cornelius, ". . . that it is he which was
ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead" - Acts 10:42
b. This same truth is expressed by Paul in his second Epistle to his
spiritual son Timothy, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom" - 2 Tim. 4:1
2. From the book of Hebrews we learn that the belief in Jesus as Judge was
part of the elementary and basic instructions Christians received by the apostles:

B. CHRIST THE JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE

1. He is eminently qualified to be the Judge of the universe:
a. He is the Creator of the universe as we understand it - John 1:1-3;
Col. 1:15-17
b. All things were created for Him, all things belong to Him - John
16:15; Col. 1:16
c. By Him and His power all things are upheld - Heb. 1:1-3
2. Most important of all, if that is possible, is the fact:
a. That He redeemed the world by and through His great sacrifice on
the cross.
b. He laid down His life for all men, to save them from sin.
c. He, who lived among men, who knows our life like an open book,
will judge with justice and in truth.
3. Standard in the judgment to come:
a. The law of the Ten Commandments - Compare Eccl. 12:13, 14
with Jas. 1:22-26; 2:8-11
b. The gospel of Jesus Christ - Rom. 2:16
c. This is understandable because the gospel leaves all without
excuse in the day of judgment.

C. FACTORS THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE JUDGMENT BY JESUS

CHRIST
1. He is the light from heaven that lighteth every one that cometh into the
world:
a. Said He, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6
b. Of Him John testifies, "In Him was life; and the life was the light
of men" - John 1:4
2. He is the bread that came from heaven:
a. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven" - John 6:51
b. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye
have no life in you" - John 6:53
 3. Judgment will come upon all who reject the Son of man for the following
reasons:
a. They will not be judged because they were born into this world
with a sinful nature.
b. Judgment will come over them because they rejected the plan of
salvation offered in Christ Jesus.
c. They despised Heaven's efforts to save them -
ILLUSTRATIONS -
(1) The unresponsive wedding guests - Luke 14:14-26
(2) The Jews as a nation - Matt. 21:33-41
d. Said Paul to the Jews, "And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own
heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." - Acts 18:6
4. All who do accept Christ as their personal Saviour:
a. Will not come under condemnation.
b. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." - John 5:24
c. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - Rom. 8:1
CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST
HEBREWS 4:1-6

A. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS MANY NAMES, INDICATIVE OF HIS

MINISTRY
1. Messiah, Christ, the Anointed One: John 1:41; 4:25; Dan. 9:25
2. Jesus: Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12
3. Mediator, Advocate, Intercessor: 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Isa. 59:16
4. Apostle, Messenger: Heb. 3:1; Isa. 42:19
5. Prophet like unto Moses: Deut. 18:15; John 1:21
6. High Priest after the order of Melchizedek: Heb. 5:10

B. OFFICE OF OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST

1. Includes all that the aforementioned names stand for; his office is all
inclusive by reason of his relationship to the plan of redemption:
a. He represents the human race - Rom. 5:16-19; Heb. 2:14-16; he
took upon him the nature of the seed of Abraham and thereby tied himself forever to
humanity. When he ascended up to heaven, he took humanity to heaven with him.
b. He is both our passover Lamb and our High Priest. When he
approaches God in our behalf, he offers his blood as the means to atone for our sins and
pleads our case - Heb. 7:24-26; 9:25, 26; 2 Cor. 5:20, 21; 1 John 2:1-3
c. He confesses us before God as trophies of his sacrifice - Matt.
10:32; Luke 12:8
2. The ministry of our High Priest concerns itself with:
a. Making peace between us and God - Rom. 5:1-6; Eph. 2:11-16
 b. Opening the way to come to God in prayer by Jesus Christ our
Lord - Heb. 4:16; 1 John 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:5
c. Making the gift of the Holy Ghost possible to the believers - John
16:7-13

C. QUALIFICATIONS OF OUR HIGH PRIEST

1. We have already indicated that his office includes:
a. A sacrifice - a Lamb without any blemish - Heb. 9:26; 10:12
b. Mediation in our behalf - Heb. 4:14; 1 Tim. 2:5
2. He possesses five essentials which qualify him for the office of the High
Priest:
a. He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, an eternal priesthood
- Heb. 5:10; 7:2, 3
b. He is the Author of our salvation - Heb. 2:10; 5:9; 10:14
c. He passed through the experience of the children of men, was
tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin - Heb. 2:18; 4:15; Isa. 63:9
d. He understands our difficulties and sympathizes with all who are
tempted. This is one qualification necessary for a high priest to represent us before God.
e. His ministry and His sacrifice have been accepted by the Father.
That is the very heart of the great atonement. Upon presenting Himself and His sacrifice
unto the Father, He and the sacrifice were accepted and the Holy Spirit was given as the
pledge of that acceptance - John 16:7-13; 20:17
3. In view of our great High Priest, our Elder Brother, and His accepted
sacrifice in our behalf:
a. Let us lay aside every sin and faithfully run the race that is set
before us - Heb. 12:1-8
b. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace praying Abba Father -
Heb. 4:14-16; Rom. 8:15
c. Let us draw nigh unto the Father by Jesus Christ, our High Priest,
to receive grace in time of need - Heb. 4:16
d. Is this the picture you get from the study of our subject?
CHRIST OUR PASSOVER
1 CORINTHIANS 5:7, 8

A. ORIGIN OF THE PASSOVER

1. Dates back to Israel's departure from Egypt: Ex. 12:11, 27; Lev. 23:4;
Num. 28:16
2. The word "passover" comes from the Hebrew word "pasach" which
signifies to pass, to leap, or to skip over:
a. A memorial of coming out of Egyptian bondage - Ex. 15:16
b. The angel of God which slew the firstborn sons in Egypt bypassed
the firstborn sons in Israel. Their habitation had been marked with blood - Ex. 12:1-15
3. The paschal lamb:
a. Israel was directed to select a male lamb and kill it on the 14th day,
one for each home or family.
 b. Put the blood of this lamb on the door post for a sign of their
security against the avenging angel which passed through Egypt - Ex. 12:1-15
c. This was the story of redemption in shadows - Heb. 10:1-6; Col.
2:16, 17

B. CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

1. Christ, the Lamb of God, symbolized by the paschal lamb -- John 1:29 - is
our Passover:
a. John points to Him when he says, "Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world" - John 1:29; Rev. 5:6
b. In Him and His sacrifice type was met and fulfilled - Col. 2:16, 17;
Heb. 9:8-11; 10:1-6
c. When He cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30) the curtain, separating
the Holy from the Most Holy, was rent in twain; from that moment all sacrifices ceased -
Matt. 27:51; Luke 23:45
2. The passover reveals God's provision to save us from the judgment to
come:
a. No condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus - Rom. 8:1-7
b. A secure shelter - John 6:53, 56; Rom. 8:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:18-21

C. EFFECT OF THE PASSOVER IN OUR LIVES IS CONDITIONAL

1. We must leave Egypt - confess and forsake our sins:
a. Jesus came to save us, not in sin, but from sin - Matt. 1:21; Rom.
3:31; Gal. 2:17
b. Continuance in sin is the misuse of the grace of God - Rom. 6:1-3;
2 Cor. 6:1-3
2. We must abide in Christ, just as much as the Israelites had to remain in
their dwelling when evening came: John 10:16; 15:1-6; Acts 2:46, 47
3. We must be members of his mystical body, the church: John 10:15, 16
4. We must partake of the unleavened bread: John 6:53-58
5. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is the only shelter against the avenging
angel. Let us keep this truth in mind when we think of the day of God's vengeance: Ps.
32:1-3; Rom. 4:7; Mi. 7:18, 19; Rom. 8:1, 31-33
6. Communion:
a. Our Lord established a memorial of His infinite sacrifice for us so
we shall ever keep in mind the price paid for our salvation.
b. The Lord's Supper is that Memorial -
(1) "Do this in remembrance of me" - Matt. 26:26-29
(2) "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord's death til he come" - 1 Cor. 11:23-26
7. While no specified time is set by our Lord when this service is to take
place, Paul does give specific directions how it should be celebrated:
a. Worthily - 1 Cor. 10:15, 16; 11:27
b. With prayerful self-examination. Communion should ever be
open; each communicant must examine himself, and so eat.
GOD'S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
A. "AND HE DREAMED A DREAM, AND BEHELD A LADDER SET UP ON
THE EARTH, AND THE TOP OF IT REACHED TO HEAVEN" - Gen. 28:12
1. Jacob was a privileged character to whom God gave specific promises:
a. He was a prophet. Seven revelations are recorded given to him at
different times. Compare Gen. 28:12 with chapters 31:11-13; 32:1, 2, 24-30; 32:9-12;
35:1; 46:1-4
b. The first heavenly vision came to him at a time when he felt his
need of encouragement most.
2. He lived in constant fear of his brother:
a. Esau had vowed to kill Jacob.
b. He felt that he was to be blamed for his difficulties with his
brother. The devil plagued him constantly.
c. God, in mercy, brought encouragement to him in the hour of need.

B. GOD'S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

1. The scene in Jacob's dream reveals:
a. God's interest in our destiny.
b. His love and compassion were manifested in the Garden of Eden to
Adam and Eve at a time when they deserved it least - Gen. 3:15, 16
2. Bible students know that God's mercy comes to mortals when they deserve
it least:
a. That was true in the experience of King David - 2 Sam. 11:12
b. It was true in the experience of Lot and his family - Gen. 14:16;
19:1-22
c. That was true in the life of Saul, who became Paul - Acts 9:1-16; 1
Tim. 1:15
d. That was true in the experience of the thief on the cross - Luke
23:42-44
e. That is true in the case of every sinner drawn by the cords of divine
love - John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:15
f. I know that is true in my own life. Only eternity will reveal the
depth of God's mercy to undeserving sinners.
g. Dear soul, when you are at the point of discouragement and
despair, keep looking up, remember God's stairway to heaven.

C. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT GOD'S STAIRWAY

1. Jacob's vision:
a. He saw a ladder set up on earth, and the top of it reached to
heaven.
b. He saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
c. And the Lord stood above it.
2. Thus we have a brief, but very enlightening picture of the plan of
redemption in miniature:
a. Christ is God's stairway connecting heaven and earth.
 b. The ladder stood on the earth, and the Son of God came to this
earth to become the connecting link between earth and heaven.
c. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" - John 14:6
d. The angels of God are sent to minister unto them that are to be
heirs of salvation - Heb. 1:13, 14
e. At the head of the Ladder is our heavenly Father; He is the moving
source of the plan of redemption - John 3:16
3. Blessed assurance to God's people, who are, like Jacob was, conscious of
their many shortcomings, and their need of divine aid:
a. Christ is their stairway to heaven. He is the connecting link
between God and men.
b. He is our advocate with the Father - 1 John 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb.
7:26, 27
c. He is the throne of grace to which we are invited - Heb. 4:15, 16
d. He is our assurance that we have free access unto God's mercy seat
- John 14:1-3; 17:1-22
e. All God's promises are yea and amen in Him - 2 Cor. 1:20
4. The Son of God has been and still is the only stairway from sin, sickness,
and death to complete liberty, and in the end eternal life:
5. Let us use this stairway to break away from sin and sorrow which follows
a life of sin:
OUR MASTER

A. "THE MASTER IS COME, AND CALLETH FOR THEE" - John 11:20-28

1. The story of our Lord's visit to the house of His friends is full of pathos
and soul-saving interest:
a. It shows his interest in our sorrows and grief - Isa. 53:4; 63:9
b. A change had taken place in the home of his very close friends.
Death had broken into that home; his friend Lazarus had been laid to rest.
2. The Lord not only knew of this sorrow but he stayed away for a while so
that the power of God could be manifested in the raising of Lazarus:
a. The disciples had to learn a lesson.
b. And the people were to come face to face with the one who said, "I
am the resurrection and the life."

B. OUR MASTER
1. The word "Master" signifies a person that stands above the average person
in wisdom and skill; one who does everything well:
2. Our Master has proven Himself Master:
a. In creation - John 1:1-3; Ps. 19:1-6; 33:6, 9; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb.
1:1-3; 8, 9
b. In His ministry in the days of His flesh - John 2:6-9; 6:10-13;
11:41-44; Matt. 14:25-33; Luke 8:22-25
c. He is a Master in the scriptures - Luke 2:47; 4:1-32; Matt. 22:29-
34
d. He is Master in adversity - Luke 8:24
 e. He is Master over all diseases - Ps. 103:1-6; Matt. 11:4-6
f. He is Master over death and hell - Matt. 9:18, 19; John 11:25-44;
John 5:28, 29
g. He is ever the same unchangeable Christ our Lord - Heb. 13:8;
Mal. 3:6; Num. 23:19-21; Heb. 1:8-10
3. The presence of our Master:
a. Martha understood the significance of the presence of the Master,
"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died" - John 11:21
b. His presence is indicative of loving sympathy and care - Ps.
103:13; Isa. 63:9
c. His coming indicates further that he knows our every need - Ps.
103:14
d. He comes to help us - Isa. 61:1-3; Matt. 18:11

C. "HE CALLETH FOR THEE" -- "COME UNTO ME" - John 11:21; Matt. 11:28-
30
1. That shows that salvation is personal:
a. We are saved as individuals. This truth is illustrated by our Lord's
parables of the prodigal son; the lost sheep; and the lost coin - Luke 15:1-32
b. He comes to call us to Himself, "Come unto me" - Matt. 11:28-30
c. He invites us to share with the special banquet God has prepared
for us - Luke 14:16-32; Isa. 55:1, 2
2. He calls us for a number of specific reasons:
a. He calls us out of a world of sin - Rev. 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 6:14-17
b. He calls us unto a life of holiness and dedication to God - 1 Pet.
2:9-11; Rom. 9:24
c. He calls us to work in His vineyard - Matt. 20:1-7
d. He will call us to share with Him the blessings of His coming
kingdom - Luke 22:30
e. What is your attitude toward the presence of the Master, and His
personal interest in you?
f. Can you hear his voice and does your heart respond to the Master's
call? - Isa. 65:1-11; Heb. 3:7-9
g. Our Master - what a wonderful knowledge it is to know that we are
no longer a slave to sin, but that our Master is now Jesus Christ - Rom. 6:16, 17
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

A. "THOSE WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED OF A PHYSICIAN, BUT

THOSE THAT ARE SICK" - Matt. 9:9-13
1. The words of our text show that our Lord speaks of Himself as a
Physician:
a. Healing of bodily ailments was the main function of His ministry -
Acts 10:38
b. It consumed the major portion of his time and energy - Matt. 11:5
c. The physician of the soul is a common picture in ancient thought -
Jer. 8:22; Ex. 21:19
 2. The work of a physician was most difficult in ancient Israel:
a. The prohibition to the Jews to touch dead bodies - Num. 19:11;
31:19
b. They looked upon sickness as a punishment from God and for a
doctor to heal the sick was to set himself against God's just punishment - John 9:1-3;
Luke 13:1-4

B. THE WORK OF A PHYSICIAN

1. It has been said that the lawyer sees men at their worst, a minister sees
men at their best, and the doctor sees men as they are:
a. That is the only way that he can help the sick.
b. It would be impossible for him to know what to prescribe without
knowing the nature of the ailment.
2. The physician is the man with the mind and the eye trained to diagnose
what is wrong:
a. He sees signs that a layman cannot see, and he interprets them in
accordance of the law of the body.
b. A cure is impossible unless and until the ailment has been
ascertained.
c. Having seen the man and fully diagnosed the sickness, the
physician is eager to prescribe the remedy.
d. The physician is the man who often will risk his health and life to
help the sick to get well.
e. The patient will and must trust the physician to be healed.

C. JESUS CHRIST THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN

1. He is incomparable in the fullest sense of the word:
a. He who made man to begin with knows our mental, moral, and
physical difficulties.
b. Knows and has the remedy for our troubles in his own power.
c. His loving compassion moves him to bring healing to body and
soul - Matt. 9:36; 15:32; Luke 7:32
2. He uses his own means and his own methods:
a. Never the same. Compare Mark 10:46-52 with John 9:1-7; Matt.
15:22-28
b. To the lepers he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests" -
Luke 17:12
c. To another he said, "Take up thy bed and walk" - John 5:12
3. He goes to the root of our difficulty:
a. Sin is the root of difficulties in life, and our Lord saves us from sin,
thus prepares the way for the healing of mind and body - Mark 5:1-15; Luke 15:11-17
b. He and He alone has the power to deliver from the power of sin -
Matt. 28:18-20
4. We, who seek to be healed, must cooperate with the Great Physician:
a. "Wilt thou be made whole?" - John 5:6-9
 b. "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" -
Matt. 13:58; Mark 9:24
c. "Thy faith hath made thee whole" - Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; 17:19
d. "The faith in his name made him whole" - Acts 3:16
5. It is most wonderful to note that our great Physician combined the
forgiveness of sin with the healing of the body: Compare Ps. 103:1-3 with Mark 2:1-14
6. What has the great Physician done for you and me?
a. Has He forgiven us our sin?
b. Does He hear our prayers and heal all our sicknesses?
THE THIEF VERSUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
JOHN 10:10

A. THE BIBLE IS NOTED FOR TEACHING GREAT TRUTHS BY AND

THROUGH CONTRASTS
1. The wheat and the tares: Matt. 13:38-40
2. The sheep and the goats: Matt. 25:32, 33
3. In our text we have the contrast between the good shepherd and the thief:
John 10:1-10

B. LET US CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THIEF AND THE

GOOD SHEPHERD
1. The Thief:
a. The word - Thief - horrifies us because it is synonymous with theft
or stealing and murder or killing, as our text states.
b. Satan is the personification of the Thief and Killer in our text -
John 8:44
2. He seeks to steal from us the blessings of the gospel:
a. Our joy - Phil. 4:4
b. Our peace - John 14:27
c. Our trust in God - Matt. 25:24, 25
d. Our faith in God's promises - 1 Tim. 1:19
e. Our very soul - Matt. 16:26
3. He is the chief Killer, the father of all murderers:
a. Used religion to commit murder - Gen. 4:1-22
b. It injects sin and sin brings death - Jas. 1:15
c. He knows that his time is short - Rev. 12:12
d. It is high time that we too know the shortness of our time.
4. The Thief is after God's people:
a. He has others already.
b. He wants that which is precious to God.
c. He knows that the Lord's portion is his people - Deut. 32:9; Ps.
33:12
EXAMPLES -
(1) He wants to sift Peter - Luke 22:31, 32
(2) Christ steps in and saves Peter.
 (3) He makes accusation against Joshua the high priest - Zech.
3:1;
(4) the Lord steps in and saves the high priest and the people.

C. THE GOOD SHEPHERD

1. He came into the world that we might have life and have it more
abundantly:
a. Think of the contrast: death and Satan; life and Christ the good
Shepherd.
b. We all love life; Satan knows that too! - Job 2:4
2. But the good Shepherd came to give us eternal life:
a. That is His promise - Mark 10:28-30; 1 John 5:10-12
b. It will be given to the saints at His second coming - John 5:28, 29;
1 Thess. 4:13-17
c. It is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord - Rom. 6:23; 1
John 5:10-12
3. Eternal life is, like all God's promises, conditional:
a. Repentance and conversion - Ezek. 18:21-33; John 3:3-9
b. Faith - John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Heb. 11:6
c. Obedience - Matt. 19:16; Rev. 22:14
d. Endurance - Matt. 24:12-14
THE GENTLENESS OF CHRIST
ISAIAH 42:3

A. OUR LORD INVITES US TO COME TO HIM AND LEARN OF HIM - Matt.

11:28-30
1. We adore Him as the embodiment of perfection:
a. In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily - Col. 2:9
b. He is the express image of the Father's person - Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:15
2. Our opening text gives us still another object lesson to learn:
a. Gentleness, which expresses those virtues in man that are
acceptable to men, and are a mark of nobility.
b. The gentleness of Christ is a revelation of His royal relation to God
the Father.

B. THE GENTLENESS OF CHRIST MADE MANIFEST

1. "A bruised reed shall he not break":
a. His rebuke of the disciples, "What manner of spirit are ye" (Luke
9:55) gives clear indication of the gentleness of our Lord.
b. He ever recognized human limitation and dealt with man
accordingly - Ps. 103:13-17; John 16:12
c. He always had a deep concern for men, "Have ye anything to eat?"
"Give them to eat" - John 21:5; Matt. 14:16
d. He used the endearing expression, "children" when speaking to his
disciples - John 13:33
2. Our Lord was very gentle to all men:
 a. Think of His bigheartedness in His invitation, "Come unto me all
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" - Matt. 11:28
b. He healed the ear of the servant of the high priest who had come to
arrest him - Luke 22:51
c. Here is food for serious thinking on our part. Would we have done
that to our enemy?
d. Note how gentle the Master was in His conversation with the
woman that came to the well to draw water.
e. He knew her life and could have spoken severely to her, but not so,
He was gentle - John 4:9-26
f. Think of how gentle He was with Peter on the night he betrayed
Him - Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61

C. WONDERFUL LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE ON THAT GREAT VIRTUE

"GENTLENESS"
1. Our Lord's motive for dealing gently with sinful humanity:
a. He loved the people, and that is the very essence of true and lasting
gentleness.
b. "Behold how he loved him!" - John 11:36
c. "Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them
unto the end" - John 13:1
d. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you" - John 13:34
2. He saw great potentials in every person, and for that reason He was unto
men as the dew is unto the tender plant: Hos. 14:1-6
a. He died for all because he saw what His redeeming grace could
accomplish in their lives.
b. He will have many trophies of His grace, among whom you and I
will be.
c. Said someone, "Where there is room to hope for anything, there is
room to save all things."
3. Experience shows that:
a. Gentleness is the only sure way of rekindling the spark of hope of
lost souls -
EXAMPLES -
(1) The penitent thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44
(2) Mary Magdalene, out of whom the Lord had cast out seven
devils, was among the first at the tomb of our Lord - Mark 16:9
b. The Good Samaritan applied this gentleness to the wounds of the
man that had fallen among the bandits - Luke 10:32-36
4. Prayerful reflections:
a. Gentleness in our words is a must for us as Christians - Eph. 4:32
b. "A soft answer turneth away wrath" - Prov. 15:1
c. "Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
gentleness hath made me great." - 2 Sam. 22:36
 d. Most of all our actions must express gentleness - Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor.
10:1; Tit. 3:2
MY LORD AND I
JOHN 3:30, 31

A. THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD EITHER

BY SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES OR BY THE LEADERS OF THE JEWS
1. The Jews asked him, "Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them
that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?":
2. His answer was short and to the point:
a. "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the
way of the Lord" - John 1:21-23
b. To the disciples he said, "I am not the Christ, but that I am sent
before him. He must increase, but I must decrease" - John 3:25-30

B. "HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE"

1. Signification of our text:
a. His influence must spread.
b. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in favor with God and man" -
Luke 2:52
c. "And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country
round about." - Luke 4:37
2. The Messianic ministry must increase:
a. Matt. 4:24-26
b. Matt. 15:21-26
3. The number of His followers increased:
a. John 3:30
b. Matt. 28:18-20
4. But I must decrease:
a. When the sun appears on the horizon, the moon fades away.
b. Candle lights, kerosene lamps, gas lights, and electric lights lose
their effectiveness in the presence of the sunlight.
c. So it is with the light of all men in the presence of Him, who said,
"I am the light of the world" - John 8:12
d. He is, in truth, the light that shines in us, who are but candlesticks -
Luke 8:16; 11:33
e. My Lord and I.
5. The reason for our decrease is most obvious:
a. The moon borrows its light from the sun.
b. What light the Christian has comes from the Sun of Righteousness
- John 1:4, 5; 14:1-4
c. We shine when Christ, the light of the world, shines in us - Matt.
5:14-16
d. We are but a mirror reflecting the son of God, dwelling in us by
faith - Gal. 1:15
C. MY LORD AND I
1. We must increase:
a. The beauty of His character must become visible in my life - 1 Pet.
2:9
b. He, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, must be seen and
heard in my life - Gal. 2:20
c. He must be allowed to subdue all sinful tendencies in me - Col.
3:17
2. But I must decrease:
a. I, the old man, must die - Rom. 6:6; Gal. 5:24
b. I must deny all my selfish, sinful desires so that the work of grace
can do its perfect work - Matt. 16:24
3. My Lord and I:
a. How fortunate I am to be associated with the Lord of glory, with
the hope of the world, with my loving, personal Saviour!
b. As I meditate upon this relationship and the blessing it brings to
my unworthy life, I feel as Peter must have felt when he said, "Depart from me; for I am
a sinful man, O Lord" - Luke 5:8
c. To be connected with the Light of the World gives full assurance
that darkness must flee away.
d. The history of the church of God is full of examples of the blessing
the light of the world brings to those who let it shine in and through them.
THE BELIEVER'S ALL SUFFICIENCY IS IN CHRIST
PHILIPPIANS 4:13

A. "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, WHICH STRENGTHENETH

ME."
1. Experience shows that a Christian is constantly exposed to two deadly
dangers:
a. Overconfidence:
EXAMPLE -
(1) Peter had moments in his relation with Christ when he was
overconfident of his abilities: "Though all men shall be offended, because of thee, yet
will I never be offended" - Matt. 26:33-35; Mark 14:66-72
b. No confidence:
EXAMPLE -
(1) The disciples on numerous occasions showed no
confidence in the power of the Master - John 6:5-7; Luke 8:24, 25
2. Both evils are because of our:
a. Insufficient knowledge of our own ability - John 15:5; Rom. 10:1-
3
b. Or of our unwillingness to place our confidence in Him who is all
able - John 20:24-28
This is a major reason for our defeats in our Christian experience - Jas. 4
B. "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, WHICH STRENGTHENETH
ME."
1. Paul wrote out of the wealth of his experience; and we shall do well to
consider his testimony:
a. After considerable struggle with himself, he freely confessed, "I
have no confidence in the flesh" - Phil. 3:3; "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)
dwelleth no good thing" - Rom. 7:18
b. It was after his surrender to Christ, and his daily witnessing to the
enabling grace of God, he was fully authorized to speak the words of our text.
2. Let us consider the implications of our opening text:
a. It indicates Christ's all-sufficiency for a full and happy life - 2 Pet.
1:2-9
b. The Christian is fully able to perform all duties derived from his
connection with Christ.
3. Those duties are manifold:
a. Love our enemies - Matt. 5:44
b. Bless when we are cursed.
c. Pray for those who mistreat us.
4. The Christian can perform all sacrifices:
a. Abraham did - Gen. 22:1-12
b. Joseph did - Gen. 39:1-18
c. Daniel did - Dan. 6:1-10
5. He can resist successfully all temptations:
a. Joseph did - Gen. 39:1-18
b. The friends of Daniel did - Dan. 3
c. The Christian martyrs did - Heb. 11:36-40
6. He can successfully overcome all things:
a. The lust of the flesh.
b. The lust of the eyes.
c. The pride of life - 1 John 2:15, 16; 5:1-5

C. OUR OPENING TEXT BRINGS TO LIGHT THE INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY

OF DIVINE STRENGTH PLACED AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE CHRISTIAN
BELIEVER
1. Jesus Christ is that source:
a. "For in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily." - Col.
2:9
b. He assures us in the Gospel commission,
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" - Matt. 28:18
(1) He is the food for the soul - John 6:55
(2) His blood is God's cleansing power - 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
(3) His grace is sufficient for our every need - 2 Cor. 12:9
(4) He is the eternal, unchangeable Saviour - Heb. 13:8; Mal.
3:6; Heb. 7:24-27
2. We think of the power of His word:
a. By it He upholds the universe - Heb. 1:1-3
 b. By it He transforms lives - 1 Pet. 1:22, 23; 1 John 3:7-9; 2 Pet. 1:2-
8
c. By it He will raise the dead - John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:13-17
d. By it He will make all things new - Rev. 21; 22
A PLANT OF RENOWN

A. "AND I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PLANT OF RENOWN" - Ezek. 34:28,

29
1. The metaphor of our text refers to the Messiah:
a. Isaiah speaks of the Messiah as "a stone, a tried stone, a precious
cornerstone, a sure foundation." - Isa. 28:16
b. Zechariah alludes to Him as "a fountain opened to the house of
David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" - Zech. 13:1
c. Malachi speaks of "the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his
wings" - Mal. 4:2
2. A plant of renown:
a. The prophet Isaiah, when speaking of the Messiah, calls Him a
Branch - Isa. 11:1
b. A similar idea is expressed by the prophet Jeremiah - Jer. 23:5

B. LET US CONSIDER
1. The Plant:
a. Its frailty. When we study the nature of a plant we discover some
of the wonders of the plant life. It is frail, easily damaged; not too promising to begin
with.
b. Of the Messiah it is written, "He shall grow up before him as a
tender plant." - Isa. 53:2
c. Look at His place of birth - Nazareth. That town was considered
least promising. "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" - John 1:46; 18:5
2. The hidden character of the Plant:
a. The divinity was shrouded in humanity - John 1:14; Phil. 2:6-11
b. He, the King of glory, took the form of a servant - Phil. 2:5-7
c. In his outward appearance, He seemed far from being the express
image of God - Isa. 53:2
3. A Plant of renown: "I will raise up for them a plant of renown". The term
"renown" signifies fame, celebrity, distinction. Christ is the Plant of Renown for five
specific reasons:
a. For unrivaled virtues. Time and space will not permit me to
mention the medicinal virtues of this Plant; it yields a balm for every ill, the body, the
soul, and the spirit. No disease is too powerful for it to cure - Acts 10:38
b. For its fruitfulness. Some plants yield no fruit, save it be beauty;
but this Plant yields fruit in great abundance. Think of the fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22-
24; think of the lives that are transformed by its healing balm - Acts 10:38; Matt. 11:5
c. For its shade in the heat of the day. This is a very valued virtue in
the East where the heat is intense most of the day - Isa. 25:4
 d. For its vast extent. Its branches are bound only by the
circumstances of the globe - 1 John 2:2; John 3:14; 12:32
e. For its perpetual virtues. It is an evergreen; its leaves never fade;
and its virtues never fail. To this Plant all have access throughout the ages and to the
ends of the world - 1 Cor. 10:1-12; Heb. 13:8

C. SOME VERY TIMELY QUESTIONS

1. What do we think of this Plant?
2. Do we admire it?
3. Have we receive some of its healing virtues?
4. Do we feed upon its delightful fruit?
5. Let the church of God exalt this plant; let us, as members of the church,
point a sin-sick world to its saving virtues. Let its fame be spread abroad, that sinners
may repair unto it to be healed.
6. "I will raise up for them a plant of renown."
a. That plant is none other than the Son of man. He humbled himself,
took our nature, lived among men, endured hunger and thirst.
b. Will this plant of renown benefit our own soul? Will it bring to us
the health which the soul needs to endure to the end?
WISDOM FROM ABOVE
JAMES 3:17

A. "BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN

PEACEABLE, GENTLE, EASY TO BE ENTREATED, FULL OF MERCY AND
GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, AND WITHOUT HYPOCRISY."
1. Our text is a little, and yet complete, gospel of holy living:
a. It emphasizes heavenly wisdom.
b. That wisdom finds it embodiment in Jesus Christ, who is made
unto us -- WISDOM - 1 Cor. 1:30
c. He is the wisdom of God - Verse 24
2. James contrasts the wisdom from above with the wisdom of this world:
Compare Jas. 3:13-15 with verse 17.

B. THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE

1. What is it?
a. We have shown that Christ is the embodiment of the wisdom from
above.
b. Wisdom signifies the right application of knowledge.
c. The power of judging rightly.
EXAMPLES -
(1) Our Lord and the snares of His enemies - Matt. 22:15-22
(2) Solomon and the two women arguing over a child - 1 Ki.
3:16-28
d. Making wise decisions - Ps. 119:30-33
2. Source of Heavenly wisdom:
a. The Bible is the basic source of true wisdom - 2 Tim. 3:15-17
 b. The commandments of the Lord - Deut. 4:6; Ps. 119:98
c. Experience - Dan. 4:37; 6:26; Prov. 3:18
d. Prayer - Jas. 1:5-7; 1 Ki. 3:6-9
e. The Holy Ghost.
EXAMPLES -
(1) Stephen - Acts 6:6-10
(2) Our Lord - Luke 2:46, 47

C. NATURE OF THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE

1. It is pure:
a. Without guile - based upon the Word of the Lord - Ps. 12:6
b. It comes from the commandments of the Lord; they are pure - Ps.
19:9; 119:140
c. Every word of God is pure - Prov. 30:5
2. Peaceable:
a. The God of peace -- its Source - Rom. 15:33; 2 Cor. 13:11
b. Christ the Prince of peace dwells in the heart - Isa. 9:6
c. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of peace which makes it the
wisdom of peace for the saints.
3. Gentle:
a. David - 2 Sam. 22:36
b. The apostles - 1 Thess. 2:7
c. A prerequisite of a minister - 2 Tim. 2:24
4. Easy to be entreated: It allows God and His children to reason with it.
5. Full of mercy: Matt. 5:7
a. The Samaritan - Luke 10:33-37
b. The parable of the debtor - Matt. 18:23-32
6. Without partiality: This is one of the most severe tests for anyone
claiming to be a child of God.
a. To be impartial takes grace from above for even God's children -
Acts 6:1-3; 1 Tim. 5:21
b. Peter had to learn this lesson in the school of Christ - Acts 10:34,
35; Gal. 2:11-15
c. Admonition of James to the church - Jas. 2:1-9
d. Without hypocrisy - Hypocrisy is one of the great sins in the last
days.
e. Even God's professed people are not altogether free from this
wickedness - 1 Tim. 4:2; Matt. 23:28
THE CROSS AND ITS MEANING
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18

A. THE CROSS
1. Instrument of extreme cruelty:
a. It was used by some nations to exact the severest penalty on
criminals.
 b. Death on the cross or pole was looked upon as a measure against
crime, so severe that the very thought of it would send terror into the heart of the lawless.
2. The Jewish nation adopted this punishment and used it on numerous
occasions:
a. Mention is made of this punishment in the book of Deut. 21:23
b. Paul refers to Deut. 21:23 in these words, "Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree" - Gal. 3:13

B. THE DEATH OF THE SON OF GOD ON THE CROSS ON CALVARY

CHANGED THE MEANING OF THE CROSS
1. It is now an emblem of victory over sin:
a. Paul uses the cross in that light, "But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me,
and I unto the world" - Gal. 6:14
b. To the Corinthians he writes, "For I am determined not to know
any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" - 1 Cor. 2:2
2. It has become, also, a symbol of victory over death:
a. Satan knew that Christ would, through dying on the cross, doom
him to destruction - Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:26; Heb. 2:14
b. Not only did the death of Christ on the cross doom Satan, but death
itself will be destroyed by reason of the death of our Lord on the cross of Calvary - 1 Cor.
15:55-57
c. As we think of the achievement of the death of our Lord on
Calvary, we, too, glory in the cross because it is the emblem of hope for us over sin and
death.

C. THE CROSS AND ITS MEANING EXPLORED

1. Here we learn of the attitude of God toward sin:
a. The bitter cry of the Son of God, "My God, My God, Why Hast
Thou Forsaken me?" - Matt. 27:46
b. His fear that made him plead with his Father, "O My Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from me" - Matt. 26:39
2. Here we see divine love in its brightest colors:
a. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" - Luke
23:34
b. "This day thou shalt be with me in paradise" - Luke 23:43
c. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" - 1
Pet. 2:24
d. "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom
he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son" - John 19:26
3. Here we see the terribleness of sin in its darkest colors:
a. The bitter cry! He, who knew no sin, drank the cup that rightfully
belonged to us - Matt. 27:26
b. His heart actually broke. That indicates the unspeakable pain that
came to the Lamb of God - Ps. 69:21
 c. It is here where God went into judgment with sin in the person of
his only Son. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Cor. 5:21
d. These facts make the cross of Christ the great fact of redemption;
and we must consider all Bible truths in the light of that eternal fact.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST

GALATIANS 4:14

A. "BUT GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME,
AND I UNTO THE WORLD."
1. By the cross of Christ is not meant the mere wood on which He was
crucified:
a. It is superstition, and not piety, which is strengthened by handling
and contemplating on a crucifix.
b. There is no precedent in the Bible for using or venerating the sign
of the cross.
2. By the cross of Christ, the apostle refers to the suffering and death of the
Redeemer, the death by which the atonement was made:
a. To glory in the cross means to delight in its achievement.
b. To make it our boast.

B. LET US NOTE, BRIEFLY, THE THINGS HIGHLY ESTEEMED BY OTHERS,

AND DESPISED BY PAUL
1. The Jews boasted that they were the children of Abraham - John 8:39; but
what good did that do to them? - John 8:44
a. Many glory in pious ancestors, but unless they will do the work of
the ancestors, no good can come to them.
b. People will call themselves Christians, but unless they live a
Christian life, the name itself has no value to them - Rev. 3:1-3
c. The Pharisees boasted to be far above the common people, yet read
what the Son of God says about them - Matt. 23:13-27
d. Some men boast of their learning. Paul ranks high among the
educated, but he did not glory in his learning, but he gloried in the cross of Christ.
2. What was treated with great contempt was the object of Paul's glory:
a. The person and rank of Christ were contemptible.
b. That was true, also, of his doctrine, humility and mercy.
c. His condescension was to minister unto others, and not be
ministered unto; that was looked upon with great disdain.
d. The gospel of Jesus Christ was thought of as foolishness.
e. But most of all, the cross was a mark of great shame unto the
world.

C. THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE REASON FOR

GLORYING IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
 1. By the cross of Christ was the curse that had rested upon the world
removed:
a. This is the very heart of the plan of redemption - Gal. 3:13; Gen.
3:19, 20
b. God sent his Son, not to condemn the world but to save it - John
3:16, 17
c. But how did he redeem the world through the death of the cross?
2. All blessings of the gospel flow from the cross of Calvary:
a. Pardon - Col. 1:18
b. Peace - Col. 1:20, 21; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14-16
c. Sanctification - Heb. 13:12
3. The cross of Christ furnishes us with our only right to pray to God: Eph.
2:14-17
4. The cross of Christ is the only real incentive to live and die for God: Gal.
2:20
5. The cross of Christ is the only constraining power to love others and, if
need be, die for them:
6. The cross of Christ is the great instrument of the believers' triumph:
7. The gospel of the cross of Christ forms the background to a new world:
8. My prayerful appeal:
a. Have you, dear friend, experienced the influence and power of the
gospel of Jesus Christ?
b. Can you show some tangible evidence in your life of the influence
of the cross of Christ? Gal. 6:17
c. Has it made you hate sin and love righteousness? Unless that is
your experience, you must obtain a deeper knowledge of the meaning of the cross of
Christ.
THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS
ROMANS 5:6-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 8:11

A. THE PROPHET ISAIAH CRIES, "ARISE, SHINE; FOR THY LIGHT IS

COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON THEE. FOR, BEHOLD,
THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE
PEOPLE." Isa. 60:1, 2
1. Sin creates darkness:
a. Satan blinds the minds of the unbelievers - 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4
b. Darkness becomes the covering for all whose deeds are sinful -
John 3:19, 20
c. The darkness, created by sin, leads to eternal destruction - Matt.
8:12; 22:13; 25:30
2. The cross of Christ brings light to all who accept the atonement made on
the cross:
a. That is where the penitent Thief found light for his soul - Luke
23:38-44
b. That is where all who sit in darkness see the light of their
redemption - Matt. 4:16
B. LET US LOOK AT THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS
1. Christ died for the ungodly!
a. Ps. 58:4
b. Prov. 10:16
c. Rom. 3:10
Ungodly means to attempt to live without God in our thoughts, words, and
actions - Ps. 14:1-7. By nature we all are ungodly; every one looks upon his own way -
Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:9-19
2. He died for sinners:
a. That is the real cause of the death of Christ.
b. Rom. 4:25; Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24
c. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom.
3:23; Gal. 3:22
d. Thus the whole world, without any exception, is responsible for the
death of the Son of God.
e. For that reason the whole world must look to the crucified and
risen Saviour for light - Isa. 45:22
3. He died for the weak:
a. There are many weak souls in the church of God - 1 Cor. 11:30; 2
Cor. 11:30
b. Who has not felt his weakness in the face of the constant pressure
of life?
c. That fact ought to encourage us to say with Paul, "for when I am
weak, then I am strong" - 2 Cor. 12:10
d. That ought, also, to help us to be more considerate toward our
weak brother - Rom. 15:1; 1 Cor. 12:22
4. He died for our brother:
a. We are, when we accept Jesus Christ, brethren.
b. A brother is very closely related to us in the light of the cross of
Christ - Gen. 13:8; Jas. 4:11; 1 Cor. 8:10, 11
c. The sacrifice on the cross makes our responsibility toward our
brother much greater.
5. Christ died for all:
a. That means that the light of the cross is to be brought to the whole
world.
b. "Ye are the light of the world" - Matt. 5:13-16
c. It means that our duty to God and man is never finished until the
light of the cross has reached every darkened nation, every darkened home, and every
darkened heart.
6. Beloved, is that what you see in the message that comes from the cross of
Calvary?
a. How it ought to embolden us to take this blessed gospel into every
corner of this world - Matt. 28:18-20
b. How it ought to make us willing to give all we are and all we have
to take the good news to all who sit in darkness.
THE ATTRACTION OF THE CROSS
JOHN 12:32, 33

A. THE MERITS OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST OFFERS TO SINNERS

1. Complete and eternal liberty:
a. From the guilt of sin - John 8:36; Rom. 7:24; 8:1, 2. What a love
gift centers in the cross of Christ!
b. From the enslaving power of sin - Rom. 6:1-3; 14-16; Acts 26:18.
True freedom centers in the atonement made for us on Calvary.
c. From the eternal consequences of sin - 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Mi. 7:18,
19. One might exclaim, O the height and depth of mercy! Rom. 11:33
2. It brings to the believer a new and brighter outlook:
a. We learn the true value of life in the light of the cross of Christ.
b. It will teach us to value it more than we would in a world of sin
and selfishness - Eph. 1:1-6; Phil. 1:21; Ps. 8:4-6
c. It reveals the value the Creator and Redeemer places upon our
lives - Jer. 31:1-3; John 3:16
d. One sees a new and hopeful future for the human race - Luke
23:43, 44; 2 Pet. 3:12, 13; Heb. 11:14-16. When we read Hebrews Chapter 11 we find
that the history of God's people has ever been the same; all the saints looked forward to a
new and better world.

B. IT CHANGES THE VALUE OF THE PENITENT SINNER

1. He is, by nature, a sinner:
a. Isa. 40:15; Job 10:9; Ps. 103:14
b. Ps. 62:9; Isa. 40:6; 1 Pet. 1
2. He became, in the light of the cross:
a. A saint - Phil. 4:21
b. A fellow heir to God's promises - Gal. 3:26-29
c. A trophy of God's grace - John 3:16; Eph. 2:7, 8
d. A Son of God - John 1:10, 11

C. WHAT DO ALL THESE THINGS MEAN TO YOU AND TO ME?

1. Much in every way:
a. We need not worry about our confessed sins; they were taken care
of on the cross of Calvary.
b. Christ died for our sins - 1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 14:9; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15
c. That fact alone should keep the memory of the cross of Christ alive
in our hearts forever. Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-29
2. It gives sanctified reason for us to be fully dedicated to the gospel of the
cross of Christ:
a. "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the
marks of the Lord Jesus." - Gal. 6:17
b. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus" - Gal. 6:14
 3. Here are some soul-saving facts of the benefits derived from the gospel of
the cross of Christ:
a. It will give us rest and assurance forever - Rom. 8:1-3, 31-33
b. Think of the invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ: "Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matt. 11:28
c. It makes us beloved in the Beloved. God sees us, not as we are but
as the gospel of Jesus Christ has transferred us out of darkness into his marvelous light -
1 Pet. 2:9-11
(1) These blessings of the cross place new and great
responsibilities upon every person born into this world.
(2) How can we, in the light of the cross of Christ, continue in
sin? Heb. 10:26-29
(3) How can we close our eyes to the infinite price paid for our
redemption?
THE PEACE OF THE CROSS
COLOSSIANS 1:20-22

A. DESIRE OF THE AGES

1. Peace and tranquility:
2. Lasting peace, the desire of the nations:
3. The tragic story of history:
a. Ambassadors of peace are bitterly disappointed - Isa. 33:7; 38:17
b. The real enemy of lasting peace is sin in the hearts of men - Jer.
17:9
c. There is no peace where sin rules the hearts of the people - Jer.
6:14
4. Our world has been without real peace ever since Lucifer stirred up a
rebellion in this universe: Rev. 12:7-12
a. Selfishness is at the bottom of the unrest among the nations.
b. The spirit of lawlessness is another contributory factor to the
trouble in the world.

B. THE PEACE OF THE CROSS

1. Christ made peace when He slew the enmity between the people:
a. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - Rom.
5:1
b. This is the peace announced by the angels when they sang, "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" - Luke 2:14
c. "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making
peace." - Eph. 2:14, 15
2. Peace of the cross is expressed in God's attitude of forgiveness:
a. "Forgive them; for they know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
 b. "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death,
to present you holy and unblemished and unreprovable in his sight." - Col. 1:21, 22
3. It holds out God's faith in the lives of sinners:
a. "They know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
b. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son" - Rom. 5:10
c. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Rom. 5:6, 8
EXAMPLES -
(1) The thief on the cross - Luke 23:37-44
(2) Saul, later called Paul - Acts 9:15
(3) Christ would have died for one sinner - Luke 15:4-7
4. Christ overcame all His enemies on the cross:
a. Lucifer - Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14
b. Death - 1 Cor. 15:26; Eph. 2:14-16
c. All enemies - Eph. 2:14, 15; Col. 2:14-16

C. BLESSINGS OF THE PEACE OF THE CROSS

1. It brings peace to the heart:
a. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus - Rom.
8:1
EXAMPLES -
(1) Stephen - Acts 6:15
(2) Daniel - Dan. 6:21,22
(3) Joseph - Gen. 39:22, 23; 40:1-23
(4) Many other servants of God.
b. When we possess peace in our soul, nothing outwardly can disturb
us.
2. It is peace of character:
a. We have such examples as Joseph, Daniel, Abraham, and other
great Bible characters.
b. Character is that part of man which expresses the highest ideal in
word, thought and action.
c. Actually, character is what a person is and does.
d. When we can say with Job, "My righteousness I hold fast, and will
not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job 27:6
THE SMITTEN ROCK
EXODUS 17:5

A. SETTING OF OUR TEXT

1. Israel in dire need of water:
a. They camped at Rephidim, a place devoid of water.
b. Men and beasts were suffering from want of water.
2. Israel, as usual, chided with Moses, blaming him for their lack of water:
a. "Give us water that we may drink"
 b. This attitude by ancient Israel reveals a spiritual blindness that is
so common among the professed people of God.
c. They looked to men for the impossible, whereas they should have
turned to the Lord for help.
3. It was at this point that God, in mercy, directed Moses to smite the rock:
a. Water gushed out of the rock to supply the need of men and beasts.
b. But the people continued to plague Moses, unmindful of the
blessings of God.

B. OBSERVE, PLEASE, THE TYPICAL ALLUSION OF THE SMITTEN ROCK

AT REPHIDIM TO CHRIST THE ROCK OF AGES
1. The circumstances of the people:
a. They were in need of water to keep themselves and their animals
alive.
b. There was no earthly way for anyone to supply this water in that
place.
(1) Moses knew and understood this situation; but the people
did not, they looked to Moses to supply the water.
(2) They left God out of their need, and that was a serious
mistake on their part.
2. How completely destitute is man outside of Jesus Christ:
a. "Without me ye can do nothing" - John 15:5
b. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me" - John 14:6
c. Yet how easy it is to look to poor mortals for help to supply our
needs! Jer. 2:12, 13

C. GOD'S GRACIOUS CONDESCENSION

1. A loving and compassionate God provided the needed water:
a. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.
b. God used the most forbidding and most unlikely means to give
them water - He had it come out of a rock, a flint-rock at that.
c. He directed Moses to smite the rock in the presence of the Lord.
d. Living water gushed forth from the rock to satisfy the needs of
Israel.
2. This miraculous experience typified the smitten Rock of ages:
a. The rock from which they got their water was none other but
Christ - 1 Cor. 10:4
b. The Saviour must have alluded to the experience at Rephidim in
his call to the people on the last day of the feast, "If any man thirst, let him come unto
me, and drink" - John 7:37
3. The water at Rephidim came from the smitten rock:
a. The blessings of salvation can come to us only by God smiting the
Rock of ages - Zech. 13:7; Matt. 27:37
b. The soldiers pierced His side and blood and water came out of it -
John 19:34
 4. The experience of Israel at Rephidim has some very timely lessons for us
today:
a. God allows men at times to get into dire and seemingly hopeless
circumstances -
(1) To expose their true nature and hopelessness.
(2) To direct them to the plan of salvation.
b. He sends us help from the most unlikely places.
c. He allows circumstances to blur our vision or view, not to
discourage us but to help us to turn to our great helper.
d. That will give us a better view of heavenly things.
e. May the water of life meet our every need.
TRAVESTY UPON JUSTICE
JOHN 18:12-27

A. THE JEWS, WHO HAD THE POWER OF MINOR COURT TRIALS

1. Professed to be governed by the law of the Lord:
a. This, however, was true only superficially, as seemed to their own
advantage.
b. They, of course, had their own interpretation of the law.
2. The records show that during the trial of Christ they disregarded all the
elements of justice indicated in the law and blindly sought to destroy Christ:
a. By using methods condemned by the law - Acts 23:3
b. By using impugnation before a verdict could be based upon the
evidence at hand.

B. TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AT THE COURT OF HIS PEOPLE

1. Prosecutors:
a. A trial by night; that in itself was contrary to sound law.
b. The testimony of false witnesses received -
(1) The testimonies were self-contradictory - Mark 14:56
(2) They falsified His words, making up sayings that He never
said - Mark 14:58, 59; John 2:19. Even their own testimony was contradictive.
c. They attempted to make Christ witness against Himself.
d. They denied the office of the rulers.
2. Conduct of Jesus:
a. He met fury with dignified self-control.
b. Even Pilate had to exclaim at the trial of our Lord, "Behold the
man! John 19:5
c. He answered the questions, concerning Himself and His ministry,
with calmness and great dignity.
d. The undeserved abuse He bore in great humility - Isa. 53:6
e. He was the only person at the trial that revealed a sense of justice,
even in the face of gross injustice by His own people.
3. The conduct of His accusers:
a. They disqualified themselves meting out justice -
(1) Through unreasonable bias.
 (2) They showed personal venom toward Christ.
b. They brought out a verdict of guilt without the needed evidence in
the case.
c. They put a false construction upon his words.
d. They pretended that His avowal of Himself was a confession of
guilt.
e. They subjected Him to great indignation without any justifiable
reason!
4. A friend that failed:
a. Peter, who was so confident of himself a few hours before the trial,
assured his Master that he would never forsake Him but failed to keep his promise.
b. He moved to a dangerous place -
(1) Warmed himself at the fire of the enemy - Luke 22:56-58
(2) Denied his Lord three times - Mark 14:71
5. Why did that friend fail?
a. He slept when he should have been in prayer.
b. He trusted self when he should have leaned on the Lord.

C. A LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY

1. The trial of our Lord, by His own people, was a miscarriage of justice:
a. Because they had rejected His message.
b. That blinded them to truth and justice.
c. By rejecting the Lord they placed themselves into the service of
Satan, a murderer.
2. When we blind ourselves to the teachings of Jesus Christ, we, too, will
become the agents of Satan, and so do his will even in the halls of Justice:
3. Rejection of light leaves no alternatives:
a. He, who is not for Christ, is against Him - Matt. 12:30
b. There are but two Masters to choose from and to serve - Christ or
Satan.
c. The Jews preferred to serve Satan because they hated the Son of
God and killed Him.
d. What would we have done in their place?
"LET HIM DELIVER HIM NOW"
MATTHEW 27:43

A. "HE TRUSTED IN GOD; LET HIM DELIVER HIM NOW: FOR HE SAID, `I
AM THE SON OF GOD'"
1. These words, although slanderous in intent, are a fulfillment of Bible
prophecy:
a. "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip,
they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him; let him
deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." Ps. 22:7, 8
b. It seems incredible that men professing faith in God can become so
heartless, without pity and without any compassion, as men manifested at the crucifixion
of the Son of God.
 2. What makes the crime against the Son of God more hideous is the fact:
a. The murderers of the Son of God claimed to be the children of
God, sons of Abraham - John 8:33-44
b. How many beastly crimes against the human race have not been
committed in the name of religion! John 16:2

B. IMPLICATIONS OF OUR OPENING TEXT

1. An unusual acknowledgement by sinners:
a. "He trust in God"
(1) Could sinners give a higher compliment to the Son of God!
b. Some of them must have observed Him when He was in prayer -
John 11:41
c. They knew of the Lord's intimacy with His Father, and His
reliance upon God - John 12:49, 50; Matt. 6:25-32
d. They were aware of His blameless life. Never did they accuse
Him of carelessness or hypocrisy; they attacked His teaching only.
2. Essence of the taunt of sinners:
a. He trusted in God; let Him deliver him now.
b. This taunt was peculiarly painful, make no mistake.
(1) God allowed His Son to suffer fearful abuse and the pain of
the cross without interference by Him.
(2) The bitter cry of the Son of God, in His dying moments,
"My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" seemed to support their taunt.
3. The taunt of sinners seeks to pin suffering and pain to sin:
a. Even the disciples had this idea - John 9:2; Luke 13:1-4
b. Heathens had this idea - Acts 28:4
c. They ignored the prophecy which gives the reason for our Lord's
suffering and death - Isa. 53:1-12
C. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS
1. Our God does deliver us out of trouble:
a. That is His gracious promise - Ps. 41:1; 50:15
b. The Bible teems with vivid examples of such deliverance by God -
(1) Joseph - Gen. 37: 39; 41
(2) Daniel and his friends - Dan. 2; 3; 4; 6
(3) Jeremiah - Jer. 38:6, 13
(4) Paul and Silas - Acts 16:25-30
(5) Peter and a host of other witnesses.
2. Sinners forget that the suffering and the death of Christ were for them;
they were entirely because of our transgression:
a. He was made sin for us - 2 Cor. 5:21
b. God dealt with sin in the person of His Son
c. This was done by God to justify or satisfy the broken law - Rom.
5:12-19; 8:1-3
3. The Father did deliver the Son from death:
a. He did not permit His body to see corruption - Acts 2:27
 b. He brought forth the Captain of our salvation from the dead - Rom.
1:3, 4
c. The suffering and death of the Son of God were vicarious.
d. They were voluntary - John 10:18
e. They were for our sakes - 1 Cor. 15:3
f. He took the cup that rightfully belonged to you and me.
"THEY WATCHED HIM THERE"
MATTHEW 27:36-38

A. IMPORTANT BACKGROUND TO OUR TEXT

1. The place of the scene -- Calvary or skull:
Luke 23:33 - "a bare skull"
2. The scene: The crucifixion of our Lord. That scene will be immortalized
for what it stands for.

B. "THEY WATCHED HIM THERE"

1. "They":
a. The chief priests, the perpetrators of the crime of the ages - Matt.
27:20-25; Luke 23:23
b. A large number of spectators who had tried "crucify him" - Luke
23:4, 5, 35
c. The Roman soldiers and their officers, who had their sport with the
"king of the Jews" - Matt. 27:27; Luke 23:36
d. Some of our Lord's close friends were there too -
(1) Chief among them was his sorrowing mother - John 19:25-
28
(2) Some of the disciples, notable was John the Beloved - John
19:25-27
2. "They watched Him there": They were interested in His behavior on the
shameful cross.
a. Would He break down and plead for mercy from the tormentors?
b. Would He call for vengeance against His enemies?
c. Would His attitude remain the same as they had seen it when He
healed the sick and comforted the sorrowing?
3. What they could have seen:
a. That Christ was not a criminal, but actually the Son of God - Matt.
27:54
b. He manifested God's love under the severest test - Luke 23:34, 45,
46
c. They could have seen the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins
of the world - John 1:29
4. What they said about Him is most enlightening:
a. "He saved others" -
(1) What a testimony to the mission of the Son of God, at a
time when Satan exhausted his fury to discredit and destroy Him!
 (2) That was an admission, on their part, that they were
crucifying the Saviour and not a criminal.
b. "Let him save himself" -
(1) He could have done so had He not, voluntarily, suffered
and died for my sins.
(2) He could have asked His Father and He would have given
an order to the angels to deliver the Son of God out of the hands of His enemies.
c. "He trusted in God" -
(1) What an inadvertent acknowledgement of the fidelity of the
Son of God!
(2) This was one time the enemies of Christ spoke the truth!
d. "Let Him deliver him now" -
(1) Ah! Here is reason for pause by all who watch our
suffering Saviour on the shameful cross!
(2) Why did the Father fail to intervene for His Son?
(3) Had He done so, then you and I would be lost forever -
Rom. 8:31-33

C. WATCHING OUR LORD ON THE CROSS

1. Only there can we see the terribleness of sin:
a. When Martin Luther, so we are told, wanted to overcome certain
sins in his life, he spent time near a crucifix in prayer and meditation.
b. Only in the shadow of the cross of Christ will we learn to see sin in
its sinfulness.
c. Only in the light of the cross of Christ will we see hope for our
sinful soul.
2. It is there where the morning star can be seen in all its heavenly glory:
a. That is where one of the thieves saw the star of his hope - Luke
23:36-44
b. All who truly desire salvation will find it there - Gal. 3:13; Isa.
53:1-12
c. The story of the cross of Christ will be the subject of learning
throughout all the ages to come. Is that what you see as you study the mystery of the
cross?
THE AGONY OF CHRIST
LUKE 22:44

A. "AND BEING IN AGONY, HE PRAYED MORE EARNESTLY"

1. Our text is connected with one of the most interesting and affected events
in the history of this world:
a. This is so, whether we contemplate the person or the sufferer;
b. Or consider the reason for his agony.
2. Of special interest is:
a. The cause of our Lord's anguish.
b. The extent of His suffering.
c. The great end of His suffering.
B. LET US CONSIDER OUR TEXT IN THE LIGHT OF THE EVENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH HIS HISTORICAL AGONY
1. The person of the illustrious Sufferer:
a. It was none other but His Majesty the Son of God - Heb. 1:3; Col.
2:9; Isa. 9:6
b. It was the Son of man, our older Brother.
(1) It was His humanity that shrank back from suffering and
shame.
(2) It was His knowledge that He was to be made sin, when He
knew no sin, that brought on the agony - 2 Cor. 5:21
2. The agony itself:
a. Luke is the only writer that mentions our Lord's agony.
b. The word "agony" signifies -
(1) Deep and intense mental suffering - "He began to be
sorrowful"
(2) For although He was a man of sorrow, yet all His previous
griefs were as nothing, with what He felt, were as drops as to the swelling billows which
now went over His head.
3. Two statements, as recorded by Mark, indicate the intensity of the agony
of Christ:
a. "he began to be sore amazed, and to be every heavy"
b. "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death" - Mark 14:32-35
It fills my soul with awe as I put down these words; it seems as if I were
near Him when He was in deep agony!
4. Cause of the agony:
a. It arose from the pressure of the world's guilt laid upon Him -
(1) Although He was spotless, yet it pleased the Father to lay
upon Him the iniquity of us all - 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Isa. 53:6
(2) God gave up His Son to suffering and death for us all -
Rom. 8:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:31-33
b. The curse of sin rested upon the innocent One - Gal. 3:13
c. The agony of our Lord's suffering was intensified by our Father
hiding His face for a moment - Matt. 27:46
5. Effects of the agony:
a. He became physically exhausted - Luke 22:43
b. Sweat drops fell from His sorrowing face as drops of blood.
c. It was necessary for an angel to come to strengthen Him - Luke
22:43

C. THE PRAYER OUR LORD OFFERED

1. He prayed more earnestly:
a. There was much at stake - your and my destiny. The destiny of the
plan of redemption depended upon what happened within twenty-four hours.
b. He loved both His Father and also the human race, and sought to
give all to both.
 2. With strong cries and tears, He pled with God for help: Luke 22:44; Heb.
5:7
a. "Take this cup from me, Father" The cup of suffering and shame
which did not belong to Him.
b. "but not as I will, but as thou wilt" Luke 22:42; Matt. 26:42; Mark
14:36; John 18:11
3. Lesson for us:
a. The amazing evil of sin! Our finite minds shall never realize the
exceeding sinfulness of sin.
b. Learn the price of our salvation - 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
c. The sympathy of our Lord learned through suffering - Heb. 4:15
THE WOUNDS OF A FAITHLESS FRIEND
LUKE 22:47-50

A. IF WE HAD NEVER READ THE STORY OF THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST,

WE MIGHT NEVER DREAM OF A PROFESSED BELIEVER IN CHRIST TO BE
THE BETRAYER OF THE SON OF GOD
1. The treachery that surprises:
a. A convenient tool.
b. One who lived a double life -
(1) He was a professed follower of Christ;
(2) and at the same time a Thief;
(3) and the betrayer of the Son of God - Mark 14:10, 11
2. The Bible teaches:
a. That the love of money is the root of evil - 1 Tim. 6:10
b. Here we see the conflict between following the Lord of love and
self-denial and the love of money.

B. THE WOUNDS OF A FAITHLESS FRIEND

1. It reveals a master stroke of the devil:
a. He knows and seeks out the double minded members of the
church.
b. He knows only too well how unstable they are - Jas. 1:8
c. The double minded have sin in their hearts - Jas. 4:8
d. He knows their great potentials as effective agents for or against
the cause of God.
2. The treachery of Judas:
a. He used the symbol of love for a base purpose - to betray the Son
of God into the hands of His enemies.
b. He used the kiss to deliver his Master to be murdered by Satan's
agents.
3. There is no other treachery as great as the one by a false brother:
a. That is what Paul says - 2 Cor. 11:13; Gal. 2:4
b. The Lord forewarns God's people of such treachery in the last days
- Matt. 24:10
c. Brother shall betray brother - Mark 13:12
 d. Not even the one sleeping in your bosom is to be trusted
completely - Mi. 7:5
4. Judas recognized the wrong of his treachery, but too late:
a. "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood" - Matt.
27:4
b. That confession was too late, the act of the treachery had been
consummated too far, it was irreversible.
c. What an impression this treachery should make on us this
morning!
d. We must ever keep in mind that Satan is on the lookout to use a
double-minded Christian to do injury to the cause of Christ - Luke 22:31; Mark 14:67-71

C. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RESULT OF THE TREACHERY AND THE

EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT
1. The arrest:
a. The armed mob coming out to take Jesus shows that they judged
Him by themselves; they themselves were overpowered; they felt the Majesty of His
presence - John 18:6
b. They could have known that He was their Superior!
c. His nonresistance was not that He was powerless, but rather it was
a manifestation of nonresistance!
d. In this our Lord indicates the spirit and method of meeting the
enemy - nonresistance.
2. A rash defender:
a. Peter, impetuous but sincere, felt it his duty to prevent the arrest of
the Master.
b. He used physical force with no good effect.
c. But the Lord had no need of Peter's carnal defense.
d. There were legions of angels awaiting to be permitted to intervene
- Matt. 26:56
e. The Lord of glory could have smitten His captors with one word -
Rev. 19:15
f. This ought to teach us that divine triumph never comes through
carnal means - Zech. 4:6
g. When the church uses carnal means to subdue others, that is an
indication that it has no spiritual power.
h. In closing, let us seek an answer to this question: Do we, as
professed Christians, use a double standard?
"IT IS FINISHED!"
JOHN 19:30

A. THESE ARE, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE, THE MOST MEANINGFUL WORDS

EVER SPOKEN BY OUR LORD
1. They are, in truth, the death warrant against Satan, the chief instigator of
sin:
 a. "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" -
Rom. 16:20
b. Satan knows that he is under sentence and his time is very short -
Rev. 12:12
2. It is, thank God, the emancipator's proclamation to every victim and slave
of sin:
a. "He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound" - Isa. 61:1; 2 Tim. 2:26; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
b. "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them
which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up." - Matt. 4:16; 1 Pet.
3:18, 19
3. It is the Magna Carta of the believers and their liberty:
a. From sin - 1 Cor. 15:3; Matt. 1:21
b. From the power of Satan - Rev. 12:10; Luke 10:18; Acts 26:18
c. From the power of death and the grave - Hos. 12:13; Heb. 2:1-16

B. "IT IS FINISHED"
1. A life of loving obedience: Phil. 2:6-11; Ps. 40:8; John 12:49
2. He showed the way of obedience unto us: Matt. 26:39; John 10:18; Heb.
5:8
3. The old dispensation of types came to an end - type had been met by the
anti-type:
a. Luke 23:45; Heb. 10:1-9
b. Heb. 7:18, 19; 8:13
c. The sacrifice of animals came to an end - Heb. 9:8-12
4. God's moral law had been vindicated: Ps. 40:6-8; Matt. 5:17-19
5. The all-sufficient sacrifice for sin has been made once and forever more:
Heb. 9:25-28; 10:10-14
6. The work of redemption, as far as the sacrifice was concerned, was
finished:
a. The moment had come when the consummation of the plan of
redemption could be seen!
b. The hope and expectation of all the pilgrims of God in all ages see
that their hope has a solid foundation.
c. The unfallen angels have seen and are fully satisfied - 1 Tim. 3:16
d. The mystery of iniquity has been fully exposed to the full view of
the universe.
7. Meditate upon these scriptures:
a. John 9:4; 17:4; Gal. 1:4
b. Rom. 8:2; 1 John 5:12; Gal. 3:13; Rev. 21:6

C. "IT IS FINISHED"
1. Can you, dear reader, fathom the signification of these words?
a. The Son of God had work to do - John 9:4
b. To perform this work, Christ came, lived, taught, and died!
 c. He had fought with the most determined foes in the universe - Rev.
12:9; He had met and defeated him once and for all times.
d. He had lived among men, shared life's experience with men - Heb.
2:14-16
e. He had prayed much and labored much; He had healed the sick and
raised the dead.
f. He had lived a sinless life.
2. What do all these things mean to you and to me?
a. Mortal tongue cannot tell nor even begin to tell the meaning of the
closing words of Christ on the cross.
b. But this we do know, that all that pertains unto our salvation, on
God's part, has been completed.
c. When can we say, "It is finished?" 2 Tim. 4:6-8
CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH
PART I
MATTHEW 15:21-28

A. THE PLEA OF A MOTHER FOR HER SUFFERING DAUGHTER

1. Her daughter was plagued by a demon:
2. This woman, not of the Jewish nation, knew of the compassionate ministry
of Christ, the son of David:
3. She begged for help: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my
daughter is grievously vexed with a devil"

B. THE ENCOUNTER OF THAT MOTHER WITH CHRIST

1. He met her plea with silence:
2. The disciples attempted to intervene, but how? "Send her away"
3. His response to their suggestion: "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel"
4. The woman's attitude:
a. "She came near him and worshipped him."
b. She would have had cause to give up in despair; but no, she was in
need of help and nothing could stop her from getting it.
5. The final and climactic test came; it was more severe:
a. Said Jesus, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to
the dogs"
b. That should have silenced every hope in the heart of that mother!
c. But, no, she was more determined than ever; she had a ready and
convincing answer. "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
master's table."
6. Her argument was overwhelming and very convincing:
a. Said the Master, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee as
thou wilt."
b. Victory over national prejudice and related obstacles had come at
last. What a triumph in the hour of seeming hopelessness!
 c. What a lesson for the disciples, and for us, who may have similar
difficulties because of race or religious prejudices!

C. THE POWER OF CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH

1. This troubled mother recognized in Christ the great Healer:
a. She knew that He had the power over demons and could cast them
out.
b. She believed that His heart of mercy would cross the race line and
help her child.
c. She saw in Christ the only hope for her daughter - Acts 4:12
2. Her faith had four specific qualities:
a. It was clear sighted: She understood the trouble of her child -
demon possessed; she knew that medical science could do nothing for the child.
b. It was great because it was humble; she cried for mercy; she made
no claims to deserve God's mercy; she fell down and worshipped the Lord; she
manifested humility under the most severe tests.
c. It was earnest: She made use of the opportunity while the Master
was near; she made the case of her daughter her own, "have mercy on me".
d. It was great because it was persistent: It refused to be discouraged;
it found in the very heart of discouragement, encouragement.
Think of her argument in the face of seeming impossibility!
3. The great lesson for us:
a. It reveals to us the power of Christ-centered faith!
b. Our need of salvation and our knowledge of the Saviour are a force
that cannot be defeated - 1 John 5:4
c. It ought to help us not to become discouraged when the answer to
our prayers is delayed for a time.
d. It ought to take all pride of "self" out of our hearts and fill us with
humility.
e. Finally, the faith of that mother triumphed; will our faith triumph?
CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH
PART II
LUKE 23:42

A. THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT THIEF ON THE CROSS IS

MEMORABLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS
1. It was made under the least favorable circumstances:
a. In a seemingly hopeless surrounding.
b. It came after he had jointly mocked the bleeding Saviour - Matt.
27:44
2. It shows that where there is life there is hope:
a. He had a change of heart in the shadow of death.
b. It reveals that he had a certain knowledge of the kingdom of
Christ--"remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom" - Luke 23:42

B. THE POWER OF CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH

 1. It creates a penitent attitude:
a. He sees that his punishment was just.
b. "We indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds" -
Luke 23:41
c. "Doest thou not fear God?"
d. It brought a complete change into the life of the suffering criminal.
2. It lifted the dying thief beyond his hopelessness and despair:
a. Not so with the other criminal! Think of his cry of despair - "If
thou be Christ, save thyself and us" - Luke 23:39
b. It enabled him to see the light of hope in the darkest and most
forbidding environment.
c. He sees a different reason for the death of Christ on the cross!
3. He calls Christ "Lord":
a. At a moment when the world looked upon Christ as "a defeated
imposter".
b. Many see Christ in a place of honor and esteem, but not on the
shameful cross!
c. Oh! The power and vision of a Christ-centered faith!
d. We need that faith to appreciate the Christ of the Bible crucified
for our sins!
e. That was the great revelation to Paul - 1 Cor. 1:23

C. OUR LORD'S RESPONSE TO THIS CHRIST-CENTERED PRAYER OF

FAITH
1. It was instant and powerfully reassuring:
a. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in
paradise" - Luke 23:43
b. It transferred a condemned but penitent thief from eternal
condemnation to the kingdom of the Son God!
c. This raises a very serious question--does our prayer do that for us?
2. Think of the meaning of our Lord's answer?
a. All sins of the sinner are blotted out as if they never had been
committed - Mi. 7:18, 19; Isa. 44:22
b. No other condition for forgiveness and hope are stated!
c. Our Lord literally transfers the penitent thief from a state of
condemnation to commendation!
3. All this and more is the fruit of the Christ-centered faith:
a. The thief saw salvation in the light of the cross on Calvary!
b. He trusted in the merits of the atonement made for sinners on the
cross.
c. This is the real faith that will bring eternal redemption to the one
who is blessed with it; it matters not what his past might have been!
4. Oh! What a lesson for me and you, dear reader:
a. Light and hope in the darkest and most forbidding environment!
b. A faith that is able to center in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for
me and for you!
 c. A faith that can trust God, who gave His only Son to save us from
sin and give us the hope of eternal life - John 3:16
PRECIOUS FAITH
2 PETER 1:1

A. "SIMON PETER, A SERVANT AND AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO

THEM THAT HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US THROUGH
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST."
1. Precious faith defined:
a. Faith which is of inestimable value -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham's faith - Gen. 22:1-12; Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:8-19
(2) The faith of the centurion - Matt. 8:1-10
(3) The woman of Canaan - Matt. 15:22-28
b. Faith that is highly effective - Matt. 17:20
c. Such a faith is the gift of God - Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5

B. PRECIOUS FAITH
1. Faith is precious because it has Jesus Christ as its object:
a. Who can tell the preciousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ?
(1) In dignity He is higher than the loftiest seraph in the
heavens!
(2) In relationship He is the Son of God!
(3) In power He is the Creator and Redeemer of the world!
(4) In love He is the very essence of love itself!
b. He is my personal Saviour! Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:21
2. Faith is precious because it rests upon the Holy Scriptures:
a. It is not based upon cunningly devised fables or the traditions of
men - 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rom. 10:17
b. That includes the sixty-six books of the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:15-17;
Luke 24:25-28
c. It is based upon the Word of life - 1 John 1:1; Heb. 4:12
3. This faith is precious in its influence:
a. It exercises a living, spiritual influence - John 11:26; Gal. 2:20.
Read prayerfully 2 Pet. 1:2-11
b. It produces sanctified courage -
(1) David meeting Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:45, 46
(2) Daniel on several occasions showed both faith and courage
- Dan. 1:8; 6:10
(3) We think of the Mother of Moses - Ex. 2:1-10
c. It enriches the benefactor with the grace of a noble life - Phil. 4:8

C. FURTHER BLESSINGS OF THIS PRECIOUS FAITH

1. We are justified by it: "Being justified by faith" - Rom. 5:1. "It is God
that justified" - Rom. 8:33; Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:21-26
 2. By faith we have the adoption into the heavenly family: Eph. 1:1-9; Gal.
3:26; John 1:12
3. By this faith we are sanctified: John 17:17; Acts 15:9
4. By faith we have obtained complete and eternal salvation: 1 Pet. 1:5, 9; 2
Pet. 1:2-9
5. How precious is this faith in us?
a. Does it control our lives? Jas. 2:24-26
b. Do we have reasonable evidence that this precious faith dwells in
us?
c. Do we know from our experience the power of this living faith?
d. Could the Holy Spirit record the faith in us that would encourage
others to embrace it?
6. What is our answer to these life questions?
a. If this precious faith is missing in our lives, why?
b. May we not join the disciples to pray, "Lord increase our faith"?
A PUBLIC PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH
ISAIAH 44:5

A. "ONE SHALL SAY, I AM THE LORD'S; AND ANOTHER SHALL CALL

HIMSELF BY THE NAME OF JACOB; AND ANOTHER SHALL SUBSCRIBE
WITH HIS HAND UNTO THE LORD, AND SURNAME HIMSELF BY THE NAME
OF ISRAEL."
1. Our text reveals that believers have different ways to express their
attachment to God and His people:
a. One does it by a public statement. "One shall say, I am the
Lord's".
b. Another shall emphasize that he is attached to the name of Jacob.
"Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with
God and men, and hast prevailed" - Gen. 32:28
c. And others will make the name "Israel" their name.
2. All add up to give emphasis to one's belief; it is a public mark readable by
the public: Matt. 5:14-16

B. THERE ARE, AS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR OPENING TEXT,

DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE EXPRESSION TO OUR FAITH
1. One may stress the fact that he belongs to Christ:
a. That is very important - Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8
b. To fail to identify ourselves with Christ is a denial of our faith.
(1) Peter had failed in this at the arrest of our Lord - Mark
14:66-72; John 13:36-38
(2) But Peter was not alone in this; the other disciples fled
when they saw what was happening to their leader - Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50
2. Another believer may see great significance in a name:
a. The Jews placed great emphasis upon a name - John 8:33-39
b. Christ, too, emphasizes a public acknowledgement of His name -
Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Luke 21:17
 c. So did Paul - Acts 21:13
d. Bearing the name of Christ is very important.
3. Still another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord:
a. These people feel that a written confession has greater weight to
publicize their attachment to the truth.
b. Read prayerfully Neh. 9:38; 10:1-29; Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:9

C. BLESSING OF A PUBLIC CONFESSION

1. It is a public acknowledgement that Christ and His cause are ours too:
a. We are not ashamed to be identified with Jesus Christ and His
cause - Rom. 1:16, 17
b. The propagation of Christianity is our main business - Luke 2:49
2. Jesus Christ has an original right on us and our lives:
a. He created us - John 1:1-3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:15-17
b. He redeemed us - Gal. 2:20; Gal. 3:13; Isa. 43:1-7; Rom. 14:7-9
3. It is a great honor and a personal privilege to belong to Jesus Christ and
His church: Rom. 14:7-11; Acts 26:1-29
4. There is great power in a public confession:
a. Think of the effect of the confession of Elijah upon apostate Israel!
1 Ki. 18; 19; Daniel and his friends moved the heart and life of pagan rulers to
acknowledge the God of Israel - Dan. 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; Peter's testimony - Acts 2:3
b. A book of remembrance is written for those who freely confess the
Lord in public - Mal. 3:16, 17
c. The blind man that received his sight did not hesitate to confess
Christ - John 9:23-27
d. That is how one brother won the other for the Lord - John 1:41
e. Read prayerfully Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10, 11
LIVING FAITH IN ACTION
MATTHEW 15:22-28

A. WHY THIS SUBJECT?

1. Our unfinished work demands a vigorous and active faith:
a. Our cause is very similar to that of Noah - Heb. 11:7; he was
possessed of a moving faith.
b. We are in need of a faith that looks beyond all things visible! Heb.
11:7, 27
2. This late hour is very short and it calls for a dynamic faith to meet the
challenge of this pleasure loving and godless generation: Rom. 9:28
3. This Movement is doubtless the voice of the Third Angel: Rev. 18:1-3

B. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE POTENTIALS OF LIVING AND

ACTIVE FAITH
1. Experience shows that:
a. All things are possible through Christ-centered faith - Mark 9:23;
PK, p. 157, 2 T p. 140
 b. The church must rely on faith in God's faithfulness - Heb. 11:6;
CH, p. 226
2. Faith, anchored in God's promises, is a mighty force to be reckoned with:
a. Goliath learned this truth in his combat with a man of faith - 1
Sam. 17:42-51
b. Pharaoh, too, learned this truth in the experience of Moses' mother
- Ex. 2; 6; 8; 9; 10;
(1) This living faith dissipates all obstructions--think of the
walls of Jericho!
(2) It changes the most discouraging outlook in life - Josh. 1:7,
8. Remember the experience of Israel when they heard the report of the spies - Num. 13;
14;
(3) O for a faith that will not sink in the face of seeming
insurmountable difficulty -
-- ". . . stand still and see the salvation of God" - Ex.
14:13
-- ". . . our God...is able" - Dan. 3:17
-- ". . . Let us go up at once and possess it" Num. 13:30

C. NATURE OF LIVING AND EFFECTIVE FAITH

1. It never questions God's promises:
a. Abraham's faith -
(1) "My Son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt
offering" - Gen. 22:8
(2) "And being not weak in faith, . . . He staggered not at the
promise of God through unbelief" Rom. 4:19, 20
b. Joshua's and Caleb's faith - Num. 14:38; 26:65; Deut. 1:36
2. It is ever ready to sacrifice for truth:
EXAMPLES -
a. Abraham - Gen. 12:1-6; 22:1-12
b. David - 1 Chron. 21:24
c. Paul - Acts 21:13
3. It is like a grain of mustard seed: Matt. 17:20
4. It is dependent upon daily vigorous exercise:
a. It must be developed in the school of Christian experience.
b. Difficulties, problems, and hardships will aid in the development
of our faith -
(1) That was true in the experience of the disciples.
(2) That is true in my own personal experience. Forty years of
work in public, meeting all kinds of problems, have taught me to rely on the Lord.
5. It is steadfast in trials:
a. Said Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" - Job. 13:15
b. ". . . for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13
c. ". . . Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after
thee: . . ." said Ruth. Ruth 1:16
 6. Adverse outlook never deters it from moving forward to obtain its
objective: Matt. 15:22-28; Mark 10:46-52
THE FOUR ACTS OF SAVING FAITH
PSALMS 4:4, 5

A. "STAND IN AWE, AND SIN NOT: COMMUNE WITH YOUR OWN HEART
UPON YOUR BED, AND BE STILL. OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD."
1. This Psalm is an evening prayer:
a. It reveals David's wonderful understanding of true faith in God.
b. It is amazing to note the keen understanding the servant of the
Lord had of true worship.
2. I like to think of four acts of saving faith, revealed in the text:

B. THE FOUR ACTS OF SAVING FAITH

1. Self-awakening: "Stand in awe and sin not"
a. This admonition by David that he had a vision of the holiness of
the Lord; and exceeding sinfulness of sin.
b. Isaiah, too, had a similar vision, and cries out, "Woe is me, for I
am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" - Isa. 6:5
c. Job has a vision of the holiness of God and he saw his own
sinfulness, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job. 42:5, 6
d. When we meditate upon the holiness of God and the equity of His
law, we will have less inclination to sin - Gen. 39:7-12
e. A realization of the eternal consequences of sin is still another
deterrent to sin - Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 6:23
2. Self-communion: "commune with thine own heart" - Ps. 77:6
a. Take time of contemplation and reflection.
b. Such communion will lead to relaxation and correction.
c. Life is full of problems, some self-made and others are the result of
life itself.
d. A safe course to follow when we commune with our own heart -
(1) Our communion should be marked by uncompromising
fidelity, absolute honesty, and sound principles.
(2) The Word of God is the chart for such self-examination -
Ps. 119:9; John 5:39

C. TWO SAVING EFFECTS OF SELF-EXAMINATION

1. "Offer the sacrifice of righteousness":
a. That means more than mere lip service! Isa. 29:13
b. It is seasoned with sanctified actions - Ps. 50:1-12
c. Great decisions are often followed by sacrifice -
(1) The covenant between Jacob and Laban - Gen. 31:44-55
 (2) The contest between Elijah and the priests of Baal ended in
victory by Elijah at a sacrifice - 1 Ki. 18:21-39
2. "Put your trust in the Lord" -- that means complete self-abandonment!
a. How graciously the passage closes!
b. The awe and the trembling converge in fruitful trust in the Lord -
Ps. 23:1-6
c. If self-examination will lead us to trust in the Lord, we will have
made great gains in our Christian experience; we will be on our way to the kingdom of
God.
d. This trust in the Lord should have two marks -
(1) We should trust in the Lord as we would a loving and
compassionate Father - Ps. 103:13
(2) It should create confidence in us that He is able to do for us
above all that we ask of Him - Eph. 3:20
3. Thus we see the four acts of saving faith:
(1) Self-awakening
(2) Self-communion
(3) Self-confession
(4) Self-abandonment
THE HISTORY OF LITTLE FAITH
MATTHEW 14:28-31

A. PETER'S UNUSUAL VENTURE

1. He saw his Lord walking on the water:
2. His love and affection for the Lord made him venturesome:
a. "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."
b. No other mortal, as far as we know, has ever made such a request
of the Lord.
3. Our Lord said unto Peter, "come":
a. That meant that the Lord assumed full responsibility to safeguard
the venture of Peter.
b. In the invitation "come" was the secret of Peter's success.
4. Peter's faith shrunk when he got his eyes off of the Lord Jesus:
a. He began to sink.
b. Left to himself, he would have perished.
5. But little faith is better than no faith:
a. "Lord save me." Little faith knows the power of prayer, and it uses
it very effectively.
b. The Lord's answer was instant and complete.

B. LET US CONSIDER THE HISTORY OF LITTLE FAITH AND ATTEMPT TO

DRAW SOME HELPFUL LESSONS FROM IT
1. The story of our text:
a. Is full of spiritual signification for the Christian believers, "thou of
little faith".
b. I do not suppose that the Lord would call Peter "Little Faith".
 c. Yet, Brother, Little Faith is a true disciple of Jesus Christ - Matt.
16:16; 17:4, 20
(1) He is adventurous -- it was the spirit of adventure that
caused him to meet the Lord on the water. We know of no other incident like that.
(2) There were times when Little Faith accomplished a lot -
Matt. 17:27
(3) The prophets Elijah and Elisha, too, were venturesome at
times - 1 Ki. 18:33-35; 2 Ki. 6:5-7
(4) Little Faith hath its weakness; it was tempted to turn its
eyes away from the Lord to the oncoming waves.
(5) But Little Faith had a special gift that all of us ought to
covet: it knew when and how to pray, "Lord save me".
(6) Here is where Little Faith is ahead of no faith.
2. Little Faith acknowledged by the Lord:
a. It is true that the Lord rebuked Peter, saying, "O, thou of little
faith", but that is much better than if he had said, "O, thou of no faith".
b. It is important to mention the fact that Peter had a desire to be with
the Lord; that was to his credit.
c. He had solid footing so long as he kept his eyes on the Lord Jesus,
who had said, "come".
d. He ventured all to be with Jesus, and that is to his credit.
e. Finally, Little Faith was coming to Jesus all the while, and that was
his salvation.

C. LITTLE FAITH'S DELIVERANCE

1. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him":
a. God does all things in time; that is a wonderful blessing.
b. It should create a desire in us to do everything in time also.
2. Our text makes it plain that Little Faith received his help solely from the
Lord:
a. It was not Peter's ability to swim that saved his life.
b. But it was the hand of the Saviour that saved him.
c. The Lord caught him; that means that Peter was almost gone; he
was a brand saved from the watery grave.
d. It is very illuminating to know that the Lord brought Peter back
into ship.
e. Little Faith rebuked -
(1) Peter was saved from drowning.
(2) But the Master had to rebuke his unbelief.
(3) It was, however, a gentle rebuke.
f. What would our faith have accomplished, had we been in Peter's
shoes?
CHRISTWARD FAITH A DIVINE PREREQUISITE
FOR A SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
A. "THIS ONLY WOULD I LEARN OF YOU, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY
THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH?" Gal. 3:2
1. Confusion among the Galatian believers:
a. False teachers had led them astray from the true gospel to Jewish
ritualism.
b. They were taught that unless they kept the law of Moses they could
not be saved.
2. Paul wrote the Epistle to the Galatians to point out the difference between
the works of the law and the fruit of the Spirit:
a. Human efforts are excluded because our own efforts will and
cannot save us from sin - Rom. 4:6; 9:11; 11:6
b. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the only work acceptable to God -
Gal. 5:22-25

B. SIMPLE AND LIVING FAITH THE DIVINE DENOMINATOR TO TRUE

CHRISTIANITY
1. It opens the door to every blessing that is ours in Christ:
a. Faith gives us access to -
(1) Sonship - Gal. 3:26
(2) Righteousness acceptable to God - Phil. 3:9
(3) Sanctification - Acts 15:9; 26:18
(4) All God's promises - Heb. 6:12
(5) Unlimited power - Matt. 17:19-22
(6) Victory over the world - 1 John 5:4; Eph. 6:16; Heb. 11:32-
34
b. Without faith it is impossible to please God - Heb. 11:6
2. Simple Christ-like faith, the key to Christian living:
a. It rests on God's foundation - 1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Pet. 2:6
b. It is rooted in God's great facts -
(1) God's love - 1 John 4:8
(2) His grace - 2 Cor. 12:9
(3) His eternal and unchangeable will - Heb. 10:10

C. BEHAVIOR AND BLESSING OF THIS FAITH

1. Behavior:
a. It does not stagger at God's promises - Rom. 4:17-20
b. It sees the invisible - 2 Ki. 6:17; Heb. 11:24-28
c. It relies upon God's promises - 2 Pet. 1:4; 11:33
d. It trusts God completely even when it must hope against hope - 1
Pet. 1:21; Job 13:15
2. Blessings:
a. By it we have access to God the Father by Jesus Christ our Lord -
Eph. 3:12
b. Christ dwells in our hearts - Eph. 3:17
c. We are credited with God's righteousness - Phil. 3:9
d. We are justified before God by faith - Rom. 3:22, 28
 3. Examples of saving faith:
a. Abel - Heb. 11:4
b. Enoch - Gen. 5:22-26
c. Noah - Gen. 6; 7; 8; 9
d. Abraham - Gen. 12; 15; 17; Heb. 11:8-11
e. Moses - Heb. 11:24-28
f. Rahab - Ps. 87:1-7
g. Ruth - Ruth 1:16
4. A challenge to God's people living in the last days:
a. Our Saviour's big question - Luke 18:8
b. Will our faith carry us through the crisis of the last days? Rev.
3:10-22
c. Is our faith anchored to God's Word or to the rudiments of the
world? Col. 2:8, 20
d. Is our faith intelligent to a point where and when it can understand
the signs of our time?
"WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?"
LUKE 8:25, 26

A. THE DISCIPLES IN THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL TRAINING

1. Voyage on a stormy sea:
2. Boat was filling with water:
3. Our Lord calmed the raging sea:

B. "WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?"

1. Simple and childlike trust:
a. Indicates a condition of relationship - Heb. 11:6
b. The secret of a living and victorious faith - 1 John 5:4
c. The one great essential for achieving good results in the work of
the Lord - Matt. 17:20, 21; Luke 17:16
2. This faith must be cultivated in the school of practical experience:
a. That is why God kept the children of Israel forty years in the
wilderness.
b. That is why Moses took care of the sheep of Jethro for many years.
c. That is why some of us pass through trying and difficult
experiences.
3. A misplaced faith:
a. It is based upon things visible and tangible -
(1) We think of the ten spies and their report to the
congregation - Num. 13:29
(2) It brings to mind the story of the defeated Israelites - 1
Sam. 4:3-5
(3) Even Samuel had some difficulties on this point - 1 Sam.
16:7
b. It is motivated by feeling -
 (1) Peter had considerable trouble with this faith - Matt. 14:28-
31; 26:35; Mark 14:66-72
(2) The children of Israel had a similar experience when they
left Egypt - Ex. 15; 16
(3) Feeling is, in its very nature, blind; but when it is based
upon sound reason and facts, it is an expression of heartfelt convictions - Rom. 9:1-3;
John 2:13-17
4. The faith of the disciples limited God:
a. They felt that should Christ remain asleep, all would be lost -
(1) This is a fatal weakness of human reasoning common to
most of us. Man is prone to attempt to fit God into his own mold or imagination.
(2) The disciples forgot, overlooked, that He who was asleep in
the boat was the same who created the seas in the first place.
(3) Their faith was based upon things material, and not upon
God's Word.
b. Man limits God when he puts God into the groove of his own
imagination -
(1) Naaman attempted that with the God of Israel - 2 Ki. 5:1-11
(2) The king of the Syrians thought that God is circumscribed
by the hills and the valleys - 1 Ki. 20:28

C. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LIMITED GOD

1. Some people limit God in their prayers:
a. Their requests or petitions limit God to what they think they need.
Too many of us are apt to do this.
b. Others exclude in their prayers what God is ready to do for them.
Our vision is so limited and the circle of our plans so narrow that we forget God's claim
to the universe.
2. To limit God means:
a. That we make it impossible to do what He can and would do if our
faithlessness would not block the way.
b. Had ancient Israel allowed God to work out His original plan for
them, they could have entered the promised land in ten days instead of 40 years.
c. We, too, limit God by refusing to follow His counsel. Think of
what God could have done for the church of God if the members of the church had
followed the counsel it received during the last century!
3. Where is our faith?
a. Is it based upon the promises of God?
b. Do we really live up to the light God has given to us?
c. Will our faith be with us when the final crisis comes upon us?
HAVE FAITH IN GOD
MARK 11:20-22

A. "AND JESUS ANSWERING SAITH UNTO THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD."

1. Association with Jesus Christ was a period of training for the disciples:
 a. They learned the art of prayer by watching the Master in prayer -
Luke 11:1-13
b. They learned to use the scriptures from the Saviour - Luke 4:32
2. They were in need of knowing the secret of fruit-bearing faith:
a. This, too, could come to them in the school of experience.
b. Our text is a typical example of the training they received from the
Master of the divine art.

B. ASPECTS OF LIVING FAITH

1. Faith defined:
a. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen." Heb. 11:1
b. Faith in God is a living, dominant conviction concerning God, His
Being, His character, and government.
c. It is that act and habit of the mind by which the truth concerning
God is drawn in from the study of the Word of God - Rom. 10:17
2. For faith to be sound:
a. It must be based upon the Word of God - John 7:37, 38; Rom.
10:14-17
b. It must be exercised if it is to be sound and active - Jas. 2:26
(1) Living faith is as much of our being as any other organ of
the body.
(2) That is one of the several reasons why the Lord allows us to
go through various experiences - Heb. 12:1-11
(3) It is the daily bread for which we pray - Heb. 11:8; Jer.
15:16; Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8; 2 Pet. 1:19, 20
3. Living faith in God our greatest need:
a. We need not think of ourselves as unbelievers when we sense our
need for a more active and living faith -
(1) Of some it must be said that, "They have cast off their first
faith" - 1 Tim. 5:12
(2) Of others, Paul writes, "they have suffered shipwreck of
their faith" - 1 Tim. 1:19
(3) Others have departed from the faith - 1 Tim. 4:1
(4) But to depart from the faith means to forsake the Lord - Jer.
2:13, 14
b. We need a living faith in God -
(1) To please Him - Heb. 11:6
(2) We need this faith to carry us through this present life -
Rom. 1:16, 17
(3) To live a victorious life - 1 John 5:4, 5

C. LET US HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH

1. The profession of our faith:
a. We profess to believe and we teach Present Truth - 2 Pet. 1:12
 b. That indicates and includes the Three Angels' Message - Rev.
14:6-12
c. It includes the Sabbath Reform Message - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1, 12-14;
Acts 3:19-21; 15:16
d. It has reference to our faith in the soon coming of Jesus Christ -
Tit. 2:11-14
2. To hold fast the profession of our faith indicates:
a. Danger to losing it -- this danger is very serious in the closing days
of earth's history - Luke 18:8; Matt. 24:12, 13
b. The sifting time is upon us and many will lose their experience and
fall by the wayside.
c. There is but one way to hold fast the profession of our faith; and
that is to live it day by day; practice what we profess to believe - Jas. 1:22, 23; Rom.
2:13; Matt. 7:21-26
STAND IN THE FAITH
ROMANS 5:2

A. A QUESTION WE OUGHT TO PUT TO OURSELVES

1. Am I standing in the faith I profess?
a. God is looking for those who stand up for what they profess - Jer.
5:1
b. Some have suffered shipwreck in their faith - 1 Tim. 1:19
2. Apostasy seems on the increase: Look at the reports from the General
Conference.

B. OF WHAT QUALITY IS OUR FAITH?

1. The Bible speaks of some that are:
a. Weak in the faith - Rom. 14:1; 15:1; 1 Cor. 8:7
b. Rich in faith - Jas. 2:5
c. Bold in faith - 1 Tim. 3:13
d. Full of faith - Acts 6:5, 8
e. Faith unfeigned - 1 Tim. 1:5
f. Common faith - Tit. 2:4
g. Precious faith - 2 Pet. 1:1
2. The quality of my faith:
a. Does it give me strength in adversity
(1) As it did to Job - Job 1:21
(2) What it did for Paul - Acts 27:25
b. Does it give me strength to prevail in prayer?
(1) As it did for Jacob - Gen. 32:22
(2) What it did for David - 1 Sam. 17:45-50
(3) As it did for Jochebed in the hour of crises - Ex. 2:1-11

C. HEAVEN'S DESIGN FOR OUR FAITH

1. That our faith be Bible based:
 a. Many base their faith upon the traditions of men - Isa. 29:13; Mark
7:7-13
b. Only the Word of God creates a sound faith - Rom. 10:17; John
7:37-39
2. That it shall be an active faith:
a. For a faith to be healthy and strong it must be exercised.
b. Unless our faith is exercised it will die! Gal. 5:6; Jas. 2:24-26
3. That it shall be sound:
a. To be sound means that it is free from defect - Tit. 1:13; Eph. 5:26,
27
b. To be healthy, free from disease - 1 Cor. 11:30
4. That it shall be unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ:
a. Unto praise -
(1) As the faith of the centurion - Matt. 8:10
(2) As the faith of the woman of Canaan - Matt. 15:28
(3) As the faith of the poor widow - Mark 12:41-44
b. Unto honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ - Matt.
25:34-45
5. Examples of great faith:
a. Noah - Gen. 11:7
b. Abraham - Gen. 22:1-12
c. The disciple - John 1:50
d. See and read these Bible texts - Luke 8:13; John 7:48; 20:25; Rom.
4:18; Luke 8:25; 18:8; Matt. 9:22; 15:28
THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH
ROMANS 16:26

A. "BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE

PROPHETS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMAND OF THE EVERLASTING GOD,
MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH."
1. These words by Paul show clearly that:
a. Obedience to the perfect will of God is the basis to life itself -
(1) That was true in the Garden of Eden - Gen. 2:16
(2) That was true when God brought His ancient people out of
bondage - Deut. 30:19, 20
b. It is the foundation of all blessings - Isa. 1:19; Ps. 81:14; Rev.
22:14; Isa. 48:18
c. It is the test of true faith - Luke 6:46; 2 Cor. 2:9; 1 John 2:3-7
2. Loving obedience is the one great objective of the gospel of Jesus Christ:
a. The basis of Christ's sacrifice - Heb. 5:9; Rom. 5:19; Phil. 2:8
b. Paul preached obedience - Rom. 1:5; Gal. 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:9
c. Obedience is the fruit of true faith - Heb. 11:8; Gal. 5:6; Jas. 1:22-
25; 2:24-26

B. HOW GOD LOOKS AT DISOBEDIENCE

 1. Disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry:
1 Sam. 15:23
2. It is enmity toward God: Rom. 8:6, 7
3. Will receive its due reward: 2 Cor. 10:6; Heb. 2:2. These are some truths
to take to heart; to disregard them will be fatal to all.

C. BLESSINGS OF LOVING OBEDIENCE

1. Loving obedience by the Son of God is the very foundation of our hope:
a. That is what Paul teaches - Rom. 5:19; Heb. 5:8
b. That is what our Lord emphasized very strongly - Matt. 7:22-28
2. I can think of seven specific blessings which are the fruit of loving
obedience:
a. The right to the tree of life! Our first parents lost that right through
disobedience - Compare Gen. 2:16-18 with Rev. 22:14
b. Entrance into the New Jerusalem! Rev. 22:14, 15; Isa. 26:2
c. Entrance to life everlasting! Matt. 19:17
d. Great peace! Isa. 48:18, 19; Ps. 119:165
e. God's peculiar treasure! Mal. 3:16, 17
f. The friendship of God! Gen. 22:12; John 15:14
g. God's promises for this life and the life to come! Ex. 15:26; Deut.
7:17; Rev. 22:14
3. Only as we obey the voice of God can we know the joy that comes
through loving obedience:
4. Bible based faith will bring the fruit of loving obedience to God:
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
JUDE 3, 4

A. SOUND DOCTRINE - Tit. 1:9; 2:1

1. Sound faith is based upon sound doctrine:
2 Tim. 1:13; Tit. 2:8
2. Sound doctrine is based upon the Holy Scriptures:
2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 7:37-39
3. Traditions of men are in sharp contrast to the Scriptures: Mark 7:7-13;
Isa. 29:11-13

B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOUND DOCTRINE

1. Negatively:
a. Not the traditions of the Fathers which make void the Word of God
- 1 Pet. 1:18; Ezek. 18:20
b. Not the commandments of men - Mark 7:7-13; Isa. 29:13
2. Positively:
a. The Bible teaching of creation - Genesis 1; 2; Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb.
11:1-3
b. Bible teaching of the origin of sin - Isa. 14:12-18; Ezek. 28:12-17;
Gen. 2:15, 16; 3:1-6; 1 John 3:4-9
 c. Teaching of the Bible about the plan of redemption - Acts 4:12;
Matt. 1:21; John 3:16; 1 John 3:1-3
3. Object of the plan of redemption:
a. To restore a broken relationship - Eph. 2:11-16; Rom. 5:1-3
b. To recreate man into the image and likeness of the Son of God -
Rom. 8:29; John 3:1-6
c. To enable us to keep God's commandments - Heb. 10:15, 16; Phil.
2:12, 13; 4:13; 1 John 5:1-6
d. To create all things new - a new heaven and a new earth - Rev.
21:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:13; Isa. 65:17-21

C. CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

1. Upholding its claims: Neh. 13:17-25; Gal. 2:11
2. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only:
Jas. 1:22; Heb. 10:36; 1 John 2:17
3. Not to sacrifice it upon the altar of pleasure: 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Pet. 4:1-4
4. Have its power transform and illuminate our lives as it did that of Stephen,
of Paul, and many other dedicated witnesses for Christ: 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 6:15
5. Stake our very lives, if need be, to uphold its principles:
6. Successful contention for the faith does not mean that we have to spend
our time and energy arguing with others over what we consider the truth; our best
argument is found in the consistent life we live:
7. Contending for our faith implies that:
a. We are able to support it with the Holy scriptures; that is what our
Lord did - Luke 10:25-27; that is what Stephen and Paul did - Acts 6:8-10; 9:22; that
means that we must be diligent students of the Bible to learn firsthand the basis of our
faith - 2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 22:29
b. Most of all, to contend for the faith of our fathers, we must live it
in our home and in our association with others - Matt. 5:14-16
c. It is a great honor to be able to contend for the faith that has made
us a church.
THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH
1 PETER 1:7

A. "THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS

THAN GOLD THAT PERISHETH, THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE, MIGHT BE
FOUND UNTO PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY AT THE APPEARING OF
JESUS CHRIST."
1. We are in a most competitive age:
a. Competition is so keen and intense that large companies never put
their product on the market before they have tested it to their satisfaction.
b. The purpose of testing is twofold--to discover the weakness of the
product and bring out the good quality.
2. Our text speaks of the trial of our faith, and points out that this testing of
our faith is more important than the testing of gold:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
1. Faith is the very foundation of life:
a. Without our faith, it is impossible to please God - Heb. 11:6
b. We live by faith - Rom. 1:17
c. It is, in truth, the very substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen - Heb. 11:1
2. Faith is the power in our life which appropriates God's promises; these
include:
a. The forgiveness of our sins.
b. The acceptance into the family of God -- think of the faith chapter,
Hebrews 11.
c. The hope of life everlasting.
d. Can the reader think of any gospel blessing that is not channeled
through faith?
3. Since so much is dependent upon faith, it seems self-evident that it is in
need of being tested to perfect its quality:
a. A test of our faith is imperative because of the human element
connected with it.
b. This human element can be seen in the lives of the following Bible
characters -
(1) Abraham - Gen. 16; 20
(2) Moses - Deut. 32:51
(3) Elijah - 1 Ki. 19:4
c. Trials are brought upon our faith, not to destroy it but to free it
from the human element of weakness.

C. BLESSINGS OF A TRIED FAITH

1. Think of Abraham, the father of all the faithful:
a. He laid the best on God's altar and became a type of our heavenly
Father giving the best he had - John 3:16; Gen. 22:1-12
b. We are to do the same - Heb. 12:11; Rom. 12:1
2. Triumph of a tested faith can be seen:
a. In Job
b. In David
c. In Moses and many other stars in God's kingdom.
d. Trial of our faith develops confidence and obedience - Ps. 119:6-
60; Gal. 1:15, 16; Heb. 11:19
3. Finally, the trial of our faith reveals:
a. God's timely intervention, as in the case of Joseph; of Abraham; of
Jacob and many other witnesses tested and tried.
b. Divine acceptance - Again I refer the reader to Heb. 11
c. Eternal blessings shall shine forth in God's kingdom - Phil. 2:15
GOD'S SPECIAL QUESTIONNAIRE
ISAIAH 39:1-6

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO OUR TEXT

 1. Hezekiah's sickness and recovery:
2. The phenomenal sign of his healing and its effect upon other nations:
3. Hezekiah's failure to glorify the Lord, who had healed him: Isa. 38:1-22;
39:1-8

B. GOD'S SPECIAL QUESTIONNAIRE

1. "What said these men?"
a. They were not interested in temporal things.
b. They had been sent to make inquiry about the phenomenal healing
of King Hezekiah.
c. "Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all the
people." Ps. 96:3
d. That is what Nebuchadnezzar did after he learned of the power of
the God of Israel - Dan. 4:1-4
e. Here is a timely lesson for God's people today - Isa. 43:10; Acts
1:8
2. "From whence came these men?
a. They had come a long way to hear the story of salvation - 2 Ki.
20:14
b. They came from the land of idol worship - Isa. 2:8
c. All these facts multiply the importance of their mission and
increase Hezekiah's responsibility to use that occasion to acquaint these people with the
true God.
d. They were special representatives of the king of Babylon, who was
interested in the secret of Hezekiah's miraculous healing.
e. God had influenced the heart of the pagan king to learn the story of
salvation firsthand.
3. "What have they seen in thine house?"
a. A family altar as evidence of the God of Israel?
b. Hezekiah, where is now thy God?
c. How searching are these questions to all who profess to serve the
living God?
4. Hezekiah's miserable failure:
a. He exposed all his treasures to these men -- gold and silver and
other valuables - Isa. 39:2
b. Why did he not show the place where he pled with God to heal
him? Why did he not explain to them God's undeserved mercy in the hour of death?
c. What a travesty to the goodness of our Lord and Saviour! How
sad was the turning of the events which followed Hezekiah's dismal failure.

C. LET US CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF HEZEKIAH'S FAILURE TO USE THE

OCCASION TO SHARE HIS FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD WHO HAD SO
SIGNALLY HEALED HIM
1. The effect was very harmful:
a. To him
b. His kingdom
 c. And the cause of truth - Isa. 39:5-7
2. Those men left, returned home:
a. Unimpressed
b. And unchanged as far as their original mission was concerned.
c. What effect does my life have upon those who associate with me?
Are they impressed with the wonderful story of salvation?
EXAMPLES -
(1) The story of the woman of Samaria and her fellow country
men - John 4:29-42
(2) The experience of the disciples on the day of Pentecost -
Acts 2:1-41
3. How different was the experience of Daniel and his friends with
Nebuchadnezzar!
a. What he learned about their loyalty to the God of Israel - Dan.
3:16-18
b. About God's part in that drama - Dan. 3:24-30
4. That was true, also, of Daniel's experience with king Darius:
a. He had been misled by Daniel's enemies.
b. Placed his loyal servant into the lions' den - Dan. 6:1-14
c. But he learned the reward of faithfulness to principles - Dan. 6:19-
27
d. If our life's story was recorded in God's book, what would it be
like?