As a church, then, we are to support one another in times of need. On that, I have been pleased to see how well we support those in our church who are suffering in a time of loss or a time of need. We need to keep this up. In John 13:35 Jesus says, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

But our love for the saints extends beyond our immediate body. We are members with one another at Immanuel Baptist Church. We are also members with the folks at First Baptist, Panama City; Capitol Hill Baptist, Washington, D.C.; the Methodists; the Presbyterians; the Anglicans… The list goes on. The body of Christ, which brings the kingdom of God on earth, is composed of millions of people in countless local churches spread across the globe and existing throughout time.

As we bear one another’s burdens here, we need to keep our eyes open to ways we can bear the burdens of saints around the world. This means pray for suffering Christians in Nigeria; pray for struggling churches in the United States; pray for devastated churches in Haiti. When possible, give to support them. When possible, go to aid them. In all these things God is glorified and the world sees the love of Christ in us.

Our program guest was Bill Zahler. He is a member of First Baptist and a member of the disaster relief team of our association. He helped us understand more about the “Buckets of Hope” Ministry to help feed Haitian families. I am proud of our seniors from Immanuel. They have helped fill 11 baskets that will help feed 11 families for about a week. This is a means by which we can fulfill the mandate of Jesus to feed the hungry in His name.

In our Bible Study time with Bob – he began a new theme of study. We began looking at the book of Revelation. He read from Revelation chapters 1 and 2 and also 2 Peter 3. We look forward to this study as we continue in April.

Seniors – stay involved!

Martha

Pork chops
Mashed potatoes
Black-eye peas
Turnips
Cornbread
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.`

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, March 7th, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, March 7th, 2010

We have made it past Ephesians 5:22-33 and have entered the last chapter of Ephesians. Chapter six begins with Paul continuing the theme of submission. In 5:21 he instructed believers to submit themselves to one another and from 5:22 through 6:9 he is explaining what submission looks like within the home.

We spent a bit of time digging into his description of husband and wife in 5:22-33 where we saw that God has established the marriage relationship to serve as a kind of divine drama in which we demonstrate the relationship between Christ and the church.

In today’s passage Paul moves on to the relationship between parents and children. Here we see obligations on both sides: things expected of children, and things expected of parents. These instructions are not words of advice. We are not free to disregard what Scripture says to parents and children. Homes and society will only function well when they are organized according to biblical principles and guidelines.

Ephesians 6:1-4

It seems significant that in this passage Paul begins by addressing children. When Paul wrote these letters to churches it was with the expectation that the letters would be read to the assembled congregation. That Paul addresses children shows his expectation that children would be present to hear the letter.

We must never assume that Scripture is too complicated for children. They may not be able to explain all that Scripture teaches but they catch more than we think. And we must remember that when it comes to Scripture we are all children. None of us have the intellectual capacity to understand the Bible. Only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit can we understand the things that have been revealed. God who can illumine Scripture for us can also illumine it for our children. So you with children, even as you read your children’s story Bibles to your kids, do not shy away from reading them the real thing. And although we have children’s church we must not presume children would simply be unable to understand a sermon. Sometimes they may catch more than the adults.

In our passage Paul tells us three things, one which is more by implication than a direct word. First, Paul gives instruction to children. Second, Paul guides fathers in the raising of children. And third, given the way he addresses parents and fathers, Paul implies some things about the ordering of the home. We are going to divide these three points between this Sunday and next Sunday, focusing on the first point today and the other two next week. I had originally planned to preach all three in one sermon but it would have just about doubled the sermon length so I thought you might be grateful if I split it in two.

Before I move into the text, I have been reminded of an old saying that you can never talk about raising children until you have children. The corollary says that the children you have must be grown and out of the home before you can claim to know anything about raising kids. I have kids, but they are far from grown and out of the home. My wife and I are still very early in the learning process. But I can say what I will say today and next week because my authority to speak does not come primarily from my experience but from Scripture. These are words of instruction from the author of parenting, the heavenly Father himself.

Paul begins this passage by addressing children, saying that children are to obey and honor their parents. For the first instruction, children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, he simply appeals to what is right. It is commonly held in just about every human society that children are to obey their parents. Children who think they should be free to do as they please no matter what their parents think should consider whether any society has ever agreed with them.

That said, children today are being given increasing levels of autonomy. In the name of self-discovery, adults are tossing the reigns to children. One must stop and ask if this is because adults really believe children can make better decisions, or if parents grant autonomy to their children to reduce the work of the parent. But we know that children do not have the experience and learning of adults and are not yet equipped to make well-informed decisions. The older children get, the more autonomy they are granted. But so long as the child is at home he remains under this instruction from God: children, obey your parents in the Lord.

Such obedience is in the Lord as it demonstrates their obedience to God. A child is not just obeying his father and mother when he cleans up his room or returns home by 9:00. A child demonstrates his obedience to God by respecting God’s command that he obey his parents. One implication of this is that if a parents’ command would cause a child to disobey God, the child must be obedient to God, not to his parent. I once read in the news about a mother who taught her young children how to shoplift. She would then take them to the store and emerge with loads of stolen items. That is one parental command that should be disobeyed.

But in general, obedience to parents demonstrates obedience to God. On the other hand, disobedience is a sign that God is not active in a child’s life. It is noteworthy that several passages in the New Testament include disobedience as a sign of rebellious unbelief. Look at Romans 1:29-31: …They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless… God takes seriously a child’s obligation to obey his parents. The same rebellion that leads a child to disobey will also lead a child to foolishness, heartlessness, and inventing evil.

Next, Paul tells says in verse 2, honor your father and mother. Here he quotes from the fifth commandment in Exodus 20:12. Honor covers more territory than obedience. It means you are to obey but you also are to respect, love, and enjoy. Paul is not interested in children just doing the right thing. As a child I was often obedient because I knew disobedience would lead to painful consequences. But Paul wants children to exercise joyful obedience. Children, this does not mean you have to like everything your parents command, but it does mean you respect them and obey them out of respect more than out of fear of punishment. We are not walking in the love of Christ if our obedience is because we fear his punishment. We are to fear him, but the primary motivation for obedience ought to be love and respect. External obedience is not the goal, internal heart-change is what we need.

In Matthew 15 Jesus condemns the Pharisees for finding ways around supporting their aging parents. They had some great excuses for why they did not spend money to support their parents. On the surface they might seem obedient and their excuses might seem genuine but in Matthew 15:8 Jesus cuts through the facade and reveals their hearts: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. We honor our parents when obedience joins with respect, when our heart matches our lips.

There is another point to raise from Matthew 15. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for failing to honor father and mother. But the Pharisees were not children in the home. They were out on their own, probably married men, perhaps with children of their own. And still Jesus condemns them for violating the fifth commandment.

The instruction to honor father and mother never passes away. How it looks may change over time, I am not expected to obey my parents today in the same way as when I lived under their roof. But honor, respect, support – these expectations never change.

At the end of verse 2 and through verse 3 Paul says of this command, this is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. I want to suggest that the promise is twofold: part physical, part spiritual.

The physical part of the promise is that as a general rule, children who are obedient to parents will enjoy a better, longer life. This is not an absolute promise, some obedient children do suffer tragedy and illness or are killed for their faith or for some other reason die sooner while some wicked men live for many years. But the general principle is that as parents are given the task of guiding children in living in obedience to God, children who obey their parents will avoid many of the destructive behaviors that might lead to a troublesome or short life. Through disobedience a child falls into behaviors that harm him, cause illness, perhaps lead to death.

The spiritual part of the promise is twofold. First, our obedience to parents helps to demonstrate the work of God in our lives. Even children who might not be able to explain much about their faith can demonstrate their faith by obedience. If anyone’s life is characterized more by a love of rebellion than a growth in honor and obedience, there is reason to be concerned with whether or not that individual will enjoy the promise of eternal life with God.

Second, just as obeying parents can lead to safer physical behavior, obeying our parents can also lead us to growth in holiness. This assumes parents are following the instruction Paul gives in verse 4, which we will look at more next week. But parents, always keep in mind that your responsibility to your children is first and foremost to help them grow closer to God. Here is an important question. If your children obey your instructions or follow your example, will they grow like Christ? So children, obey your parents so that even now you will begin to experience the rewards of a growing walk with God.

I want you children to take all of this seriously. We live in an age where rebellion, particularly teenage rebellion, is casually accepted or thought cool. Over the last few decades society has grown to accept that “teenagers will be teenagers.” The end result is a trail of destruction in the lives of those young people who have rejected their parents guidance and decided to follow their own desires. If you really want to do something surprising and significant, throw off society’s expectation. Don’t go along with the crowd. Follow your parents in obedience to Christ. Only in that way will you have a life well lived.

To you parents with children walking dangerous paths, I offer you the encouragement of the prodigal son. We are not promised that our children will someday walk in righteousness. Even Proverbs 22:6 serves as a general principle, a proverb, a piece of wisdom advice, rather than an absolute promise. We set our children on the right path but as Proverbs 16:9 says, in the end it is God who establishes their steps. But we see in the story of the prodigal son that there are children who remember that what their parents have to offer is better than what the world offers. Continue to extend love to your children, though sometimes it must be tough love. Share Christ and show Christ in your life and entrust your child to the hands of God.

Pray for your children. I say that to all parents. Pray desperately for your sons and daughters. Do what you are called to do, teach and guide and instruct as faithful parents in the Lord, and entrust your children to God. Meanwhile, children, obey your parents, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother.

Baked chicken
Potato salad
Green beans
Baked apples
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

We have already had a good response concerning our Buckets of Hope mission project. Right now we have a promise of 7 buckets and we can add more if needed. If you have not helped and want to – just bring your items to our luncheon meeting.

Thank you for your participation in this mission project.

Martha

Romans 12:2 tells us to have renewed minds so that we might discern the will of God. Hebrews 4:12 tells us how to be renewed, how to be trained in the work of discernment: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If we want to discern truth from error we must be filled with Scripture.

We are surrounded on all sides by people in and out of the church who want to tickle itching ears. This should not surprise us, 2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us that there will be such times. But it reminds us that we must be firmly grounded in God’s truth so when ticklers come we can see through the folly of their words.

In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus compares the wise man who builds his house upon the rock with the foolish man who builds his house upon the sand. Who is the wise man? It is everyone who hears these words of mine and does them. We are built upon the rock when we are grounded in the Word of God. Only then are we safe from the storm. Only then will we endure the flood.

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, February 28th, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Today we come back to Ephesians 5:22-33. This will be our third time in this passage. It says something about the depth of Scripture that we could dig into a passage three times and still not quite draw out all that there is to see. We are too often tempted to move quickly through the Bible, speed reading the text without pausing to focus and learn from its teachings. But we need to treat the Bible like a dog treats a bone: chewing on it, savoring it, enjoying the juice and meat of the Word.

But we have seen in Ephesians 5 that Paul is teaching believers about submission within the body. To do this he starts with the most fundamental relationship in society: husband and wife. We saw last time that marriage serves as a divine drama, portraying before the world an image of the church’s relationship with Christ. Husbands are to lead their wives and families in a way that portrays Christ’s serving the church with sacrificial love while wives are to submit to their husbands as a demonstration of how the church submits to Christ.

In the midst of this depiction of marriage and the church, Paul reveals some things about Christ’s work to sanctify his people. In this Paul says something startling: that the church is the body of Christ and what Christ does for the church is Christ working to nourish and cherish his own body.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Before we see what Paul says about Christ and the church we will take a long road through Scripture to see why Christ had to do anything for us. In Ephesians Paul assumes that there is a problem with humanity. Christ does a cleansing, sanctifying work because something has happened to make us unclean. The uncleanness is unrighteousness. It is sin. It is wrongdoing, rebellion against God. And Christ came to take sinners and make them clean. Jesus has already shown us this. He tells us in Luke 5:31-32, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Thus only the unrighteous are found in Christ. And Paul tells us in Romans 3:10 that none is righteous, no, not one, so everyone is unrighteous. We are all fallen, stained by sin, in need of cleansing.

Our problem as humans is not something we can fix. We are sinners living in a sinful world. Like a man covered in mud and standing in the middle of a swamp, there is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves of our own filth. Sanctification must come from outside.

At one point in the gospels Jesus’ disciples are astonished to learn that even the rich cannot make their own way to righteousness. In Matthew 19:16-30 we find the account of the rich man asking Jesus how to be saved. He claims to have obeyed all the commandments but still he falls short of righteousness. In verses 23-24 Jesus says of him, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. This prompts the disciples’ astonished response in verse 25, “Who then can be saved?” to which Jesus responds (in verse 26), “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” This verse has been quoted in many wrong contexts. When Jesus said it he had salvation in mind. It is impossible for man to save himself. If a rich man, who had all power in the ancient world, cannot be saved, then who on earth can? Only those made clean by God.

Every single human shares the problem of sin and we are powerless to rescue ourselves from our sin. But why is this a big deal? Why not just accept that we are flawed and just get on with our lives?

The problem for us is that God will not tolerate sin in his presence. He is holy and just and he will punish wrongdoing. There is judgment against sin. In Acts 17:29 Paul tells us that God has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness. Regarding that day, listen to Peter’s description in 2 Peter 2:4-9: For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment… There will be judgment for sin. If you want to know what that judgment will be like look to Sodom and Gomorrah. The fires of judgment on those cities was a shadow of the eternal fires of judgment in Hell.

We have a problem. God has sent the solution. As Jesus said in Matthew, what is impossible with man is possible with God.

In Christ we find the solution to the problem. Focusing back on Ephesians, we saw in verse 23 that Jesus is savior of his body, the church. The impossible is accomplished by the God-man, Jesus Christ.

By his death Christ paid for our sins, bearing in his flesh the penalty for our rebellion as Hebrews 9:28 tells us that Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. By his life Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, completely obeying the commands of God. When we are joined to him by faith we are covered with his righteousness as if we lived his perfect life.

But though we are covered with Christ’s righteousness, our own lives remain sinful. We are not in bondage to sin, when we are saved we are born again, given new hearts that seek the way of God, but we continue to drag around the old flesh. So John tells us in 1 John 1:8, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So even as those in Christ we continue to battle sin. Christ does not count his work with us complete once he brings us to himself. He not only brings us forgiveness and covers us with his righteousness, he goes on to sanctify us, to work righteousness into us so that we can live as he lived.

Paul’s description of Christ’s work in Ephesians 5:22-33 shows Christ sanctifying his church. All of Jesus’ work was aimed at our holiness. He did not save us just to bring us into Heaven still walking in sin. Sometimes we treat salvation as the way to escape Hell while continuing to live the way we want to live. This is not salvation, this is deception.

Christ gave himself for our holiness. Paul tells us in verses 25-26 that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her… He lived and died so that we might have his perfect righteousness. He died so that our sins might be forgiven. He continues to work in us so that we might experience growth and victory over sin and unrighteousness. Jesus is not a cosmic genie who exists to meet your needs, he is the sovereign Lord who will shape the children of God into a spotless bride.

What Jesus has done and continues to do for us is not detached from himself. In verse 30 Paul tells us that we are members of his body. To illustrate this, Paul in verse 31 points back to Genesis 2:23 where the husband and wife are said to be one flesh. The church is the bride of Christ so we are his body. Thus Paul says in verse 32 that this mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. The one-flesh union of husband and wife symbolizes the one-flesh union of Christ and his church. That which Christ does with and for his body, he is doing for himself. He has joined us with himself. We are now part of him. Nonetheless, he remains our head, he continues to be Lord over us.

The Bible gives us several images of God purifying his people. In 1 Corinthians 5 we have the image of removing leaven for unleavened bread; in John 15 Jesus is the vine pruned by his Father; in Matthew 25 Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. All these images tell the same thing: God is purifying his body, casting off any who claim Christ but do not know him. But the image in Ephesians 5 is the most personal. Here Jesus is not removing goats from sheep, he is taking sheep and making them better sheep. He is taking true, living branches and making them healthier, more fruitful. He is taking his own body and making it spotless.

Back in Ephesians 1:22-23 Paul makes his first reference to the church as the body of Christ and with Ephesians 2:7 we saw that through the church God is making the glory of his grace all the more radiant throughout Heaven and earth. What we are to be as the church is the very image of the glory of God. Colossians 1:15 says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus has made us his body so through us as well as through himself Jesus is radiating the glory of God.

Christ has taken that which was filthy, stained, and fallen in sin and is making it into something lovely and glorious, the reflection of God’s glory. In order to do this he had to join us to himself, making us part of his body. As his body he cherishes us and nurtures us and sanctifies us. Often his sanctifying work is not pleasant. The flesh does not want to let go. Satan does not want to give us over to God. Thus James 1, and many other passages, speaks of trials being used to bring us growth. The author of Hebrews says as much in Hebrews 12:10: he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. Discipline here is not punishment, per se, but correction. When we discipline our children it is not to get back at them for doing wrong, it is to correct a wrong action.

When you have cancer you cut it out, though it be painful. When you have lesions on the skin you treat them to remove them. When the body of Christ has sin he cuts at it to make his body pure and spotless. We ought not think him hard for doing this. It is one of the most joyful things in the world to know that we belong to Christ, we are part of his body, and he is nurturing us toward holiness. Let him use his scalpel on your life, no one wields it better. The cutting may hurt but remember where you started: a sinful rebel. He has much work to do. No matter how long you have walked with him, he still has much to do to shape you into his image, the image of his Father. When he cuts you for discipline, for correction, for holiness, it is a kindness. It is Christ loving his own body.

1 Corinthians 2:16 says that as God’s people we have the mind of Christ. Having his mind, we ought to desire what he desires. He desires our holiness. Are you as passionate about living a holy life as Christ is to make you holy? The answer, of course, is no. None of us are. But to what degree are you satisfied or comfortable in your sin? Is holiness something you strive for? If you have the mind of Christ, you will passionately pursue holiness out of love for him who is your head. With your eyes fixed on him you will not worry so much about the things the world has to offer, your goal will be his will; and what is his will for you? Holiness and obedience.

We have already seen that none of us can save ourselves, that this is a work only God can do. In the same way, none of us can make ourselves holy. If we are to grow in purity we must follow the path set by God. In Ephesians 5:26 Paul says that Jesus sanctifies the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. In his Word he has given the agent of our washing. This Word is the light that shows us the path of Christ. This Word reveals the will of God, his commands for us. We cannot figure out on our own how we ought to live. God has given Scripture to guide us in holiness and he has given the Holy Spirit to lead us to understand his Word. If you would grow in the image of Christ, be filled with his Word, then do what the Word says. Follow the path of God as laid out in Scripture.

There is a promise in Ephesians 5. The promise is that Christ will complete his work. You may despair now that you do not see the holiness you desire. This is good! In this world we will never be holy as he is holy so if we ever start to think we have reached holiness we are in a dangerous, deceptive place. We are not holy, and we must recognize how much work God has left to do. This should cause us to have godly sorrow and godly repentance as we confess to our holy God that we have failed him once more. But in the midst of this we rejoice that one day he will finish his work. On the cross Jesus cried out with the words, it is finished. He had won the victory even if work still had to be done in our lives. Christ lived and died so that we might be made holy and by his grace we will be made holy. We remember the words of Philippians 1:6, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die for you just to see you lost to him. He who began the work of salvation in your life will complete it. He who began your holiness will make you holy. Continue to cry out in grief over your sin but know that he will make his bride spotless so you, his arm, his toe, his fingernail, he will make you pure.

One day we will all be with Christ in glory and on that day he will assemble his body and will present us to himself, to his Father, to all the heavenly hosts, to all creation, and we will absolutely shine in the radiance of his glory. No more sin, no more rebellion, no more depravity, we will be pure. Rejoice, Christian, knowing that in his steadfast love God will never let you go. He will accomplish his work. Every day of your life, long for that day. Every day long for the day when you will be what Christ is growing you to be. Long for the day when you no longer displease him with your sin. Long for an eternal reality where we fully and perfectly reflect the glory of God. Until that day comes, struggle for holiness, yield to Christ, follow his Word.

Hamburger steak w/onions
Baked apples
Black-eye peas
Macaroni & cheese
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

This past Sunday night Jennie London, coordinator for volunteer missions for our association, talked about the “Buckets of Hope” to feed Haitian families. I thought it would be nice for us to fill a bucket or two or maybe more. The deadline will be our luncheon date the 9th because they must be turned in to the association by March 15th. Below find listed the items needed; the items can be store brand but do not substitute any item or add any other item:

• 5 lb. bag long grain enriched rice
• 48 oz. plastic bottle cooking oil
• 2 lb. bag dry black or red beans
• 5 lb. bag of all-purpose flour
• 20 oz. cylinder of granulated white sugar
• 1 lb. box spaghetti noodles
• 40 oz. plastic jar smooth peanut butter

I will have the buckets and Ziploc storage bags. Thank you – this will be a worthwhile mission project.

Martha

During the evening service on Sunday, February 21st, Bill and Emily Richards of the Panama City Seafarer’s Ministry and Jennie London of the Northwest Coast Baptist Association spoke with us about ministry work and opportunities in and around the Panama City area.

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Rev. Don Redmon preached on love from 1 Corinthians 13 on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 during the morning service.

Bill and Emily Richards of the local Seafarer’s ministry and Jennie London, associational volunteer missions coordinator, will be joining with us to share about work and opportunities within the association.

Roast beef
Rice
Green lima beans
Corn
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

Thank you to all for coming and participating this year.

Stay involved.

There is something greatly relieving in waking up and feeling somewhat healthy after a period of sickness. It is like a breath of fresh air or a great weight taken off of your shoulders. My tendency sometimes is to revel too much in health, overtaxing myself and getting sick all over again. I pray that doesn’t happen this time.

But periods of sickness and health serve as a foreshadow of something far greater. If we feel such relief and strength after recovering from illness, just imagine what it will be like when we enter the fullness of salvation and experience the complete healing of glorification in Heaven. If healing is like a breath of fresh air I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step from this world of sin and pain and decay and death, entering into the world of fullness of life and peace and joy.

We labor in this world because we know there is something greater in store. We labor because we know our future is not tied to this world but is secure in God. We endure suffering and hardship because we know the day will come when we step into eternity and all the troubles we faced will be nothing more than a light momentary affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared to eternity spent with God. So labor hard, saints of the Lord! And wait with eager expectation the coming glorification.

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, February 14th, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, February 14th, 2010

I will leave it up to you to decide whether or not God has orchestrated our series in Ephesians so that Ephesians 5:21-33 would fall right on Valentine’s Day, I will only say that I did not arrange the series in this way. But it is a fitting on this day to consider what God has to say about marriage. We have seen verses 25-33 before, on June 26th of last year. Then we looked at what Paul had to say to husbands. This morning I will focus more on what Paul says to wives. We will take up this text again next time to draw out what Paul has to say about Christ and the church.

Last time we cracked the door on Ephesians 5:21 and Paul’s call for believers to submit to one another. Today we pick that up again and begin a section that runs from 5:22 through 6:9 and spells out how submission works within certain relationships. Paul does not provide examples for every kind of relationship but he focuses on the relationships that tend to be most central in our lives.

In today’s passage Paul’s focus is on marriage. In particular, the way husbands and wives are called to relate to one another, revealing the will of God for husbands and wives.

Ephesians 5:21-33

In the writings of John Calvin there are several references to this world as the theater of God’s glory. That is, throughout creation God is displaying his glory through the things he has made, primarily through the lives of his people. Borrowing that image, we could say that Paul has a similar view of marriage. Marriage is a theater of God’s love in which Christ’s love for his church is to be put on display.

Many people today criticize a conservative or biblical understanding of marriage. What they fail to understand is that God is not being arbitrary with these commands. His design for marriage makes it a grand theater for him to paint a picture of Christ’s love for the church and the church’s submission to Christ. To ignore God’s plan for marriage is to attempt to sabotage the display of God’s love.

So Paul talks to us about husbands and wives and the picture this gives of the church. Most of his attention in this passage is directed at husbands, but he begins with wives. To wives he gives a simple but direct command in verse 22: submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Notice first the scope of this command. Paul says to submit to your own husbands. Whatever this submission may be, it is limited to the bonds of marriage. This verse does not give us a general rule in which women submit to men; in this verse Paul tells us that wives are to submit to their husbands.

But what is this submission? What does it look like? The answer is not popular today, even though it is biblical. The answer requires a radical rethinking of who we are – as men and as women – and why we are in the world. All of us have to recognize that we are not here to chart our own paths, make our own way, or choose our own destinies.

Within marriage, a husband’s responsibility is to work for the purity and growth and edification of his wife, while a wife’s responsibility is to support her husband. The implications of this fly in the face of the claims of modern feminism. Married women today are told to find their identity beyond their husbands, as though husband and wife live in parallel worlds that merely intersect from time to time when convenient. But the biblical picture given to us in the book of Genesis tells a different story.

In our passage Paul makes reference to Genesis 2:24 where we read about the marriage union. Shortly before that we learn about the creation of Eve. Look with me at Genesis 2:18-24: Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Some people today claim that male headship is a curse of the fall, that God originally intended no hierarchy in marriage but as a consequence of Eve eating the fruit, she was made to serve Adam. Thus, they conclude, because Christians are in Christ and made free from the fall, male headship no longer exists, whether in society, in the church, or in the home. There are several problems with that argument but one problem should be quickly apparent. Eve was created before the Fall, but Eve was created to serve as a helper to Adam. From the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve he put in place this pattern for marriage.

Submission, then, is the wife seeking fulfillment not by charting her own path in the world but by walking with her husband in his work. There is a great scene in the movie Fiddler on the Roof in which one of the daughters, Hodel, tries to convince her father to let her go marry the man she loves. She tells her father, “I want to go. I don’t want him to be alone. I want to help him in his work.” This is Adam and Eve in the garden. This is husband and wife living faithfully in the 21st century. What it is not is domination. Men are never made dictators and any man who tries to abuse headship and turn his wife into a servant to serve his whim, he is a worm and not a man. But we will get to the men in a moment.

At the end of verse 24 Paul will instruct wives to submit in everything. The wife does not choose which parts of life are her own and which parts are her husband’s. The man and woman are now husband and wife which is to say they are one flesh. They are united in all things and in their unity the husband is head, just as our physical bodies have parts united under one head, and just as the church has believers with Christ as the head.

In verse 22 Paul says this submission is to be done as to the Lord. This tells us three things.

First, the wife’s attitude to her husband ought to be one of joyful surrender, even as we delight to submit to Christ. It is willing service, not begrudging agreement.

Second, the wife’s submission serves as an example of how we ought to be obedient to Christ. People see in the wife’s submission to her husband an example of our submission to Christ.

Third, the wife’s submission to her husband does have some limits. Namely, her first and primary service is to the Lord. She submits to her husband as an example of how she submits to Christ, but if her husband instructs her to go against God’s commands her first and primary responsibility is obedience to Christ. She must not submit to her husband if he would lead her into sin.

In these verses to wives, and in the following verses to husbands, Paul highlights the parallel of husbands and wives to Christ and the church. Just as soon as he has given the instruction to wives that they are to submit to their husbands, he presents marriage as the grand theater of God’s love. In marriage God puts on display the relationship between Christ and the church.

Those wives who find submission a difficult concept need to keep in mind what God is doing with marriages. As we said before, his plan for marriage is not arbitrary and the work he assigns men and women is important to accomplish his intentions. And because this is the way God designed us to function, no marriage can be as rich as the marriage lived in obedience to God’s design.

The picture provided is that as Christ is the head of the church, so husbands are heads of the family. In verses 25-32 Paul will draw out the full meaning of this parallel for husbands, and the responsibility on husbands is quite high. I will not draw this out in great detail since we saw this just a few months ago, but I do want to highlight in particular where the work of the husband for the wife mirrors the work of Christ for the church. Taking a broad look at this passage, there are three things revealed about Christ’s work: first, he lived sacrificially for his people. Second, Christ’s work for the church was for, continues to be for, and will accomplish her purity. And third, the church is not just loved by Christ, the church is the very body of Christ.

Husbands are called to embody these same aspects within marriage. In brief, husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Husbands, how do you sacrifice for your wife? Too many men see that women are called to submit and think it means wives are to sacrifice for their husbands. Wives are to follow their husbands, but it is husbands who are called to be like Christ who gave his life for the church. I want all of us, men and women, husbands and wives, single and married and widowed, to keep in mind that our entire purpose in this universe is to glory God and enjoy him. For husbands, you have been called to glorify God in your marriages by working for the holiness of your wife and children. Your purpose on this earth is not to get a better golf swing, not to bag the biggest deer or land the best seats at the stadium – these things are not bad things and they can be enjoyed, but they are not why we are here, they are extras. Husbands, much higher up the list for you is to live for the holiness of your wife.

Husbands, what do you do to lead your wife to a pure and holy life? One day Christ will gather all his body and will present the church to the godhead. Verse 27 says that we will be in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish. One day you husbands will in a sense present your wives to God. You will be held accountable for how you lived up to your responsibility. Are you working for holy homes and godly wives? Is your wife growing more like Christ because of your work and example? If she is not growing like Christ, is it due to her own sinfulness or is it because you are not leading her to him? Men, consider this. We are often willing to ignore the sin we see in someone else if it allows us to ignore our own sin. Seek holiness in your own life so that your sin does not hinder you as you lead your wife to purity.

Husbands, do you really realize that your wife is part of you? To adapt a phrase I recently heard, when Scripture says the husband and wife are one flesh, this is not poetry, this is not just a quaint, sentimental view of marriage. The two really are made one so Paul tells us that as the church is the body of Christ, so the wife and husband are one body. And as Christ nourishes and cherishes his church, so we are to treat our wives.

From the beginning, before the fall of man, marriage existed as the union of husband and wife in which the husband is called to love the wife and the wife is called to submit to her husband. Throughout most of history people did not know what marriage portrayed. They did not know it would someday serve as a picture of Christ’s relationship with his body. But in his great planning and design, God knew, and he designed marriage to be a grand theater of his love for us. To that end it is God, not the husband or wife, that is to be on display. So when husband and wife are living according to God’s design, Christ gets the glory.

I want to quickly apply this text to five groups of people. I know we are at the end of our time but I will move fast so bear with me and keep your minds sharp and your ears active.

Women, submission is not a popular topic today. The things I have said to wives might make some of you angry. I remind you that this world does not exist for personal satisfaction or accomplishment. It exists to lead people into the enjoyment of God. The only way we can enjoy him is to live life as he designed it to be lived and in marriage that means the husband leading in love, the wife submitting in grace. Not because you are subservient or of less worth than your husband, not because you are less intelligent or capable, but because this is how God designed marriage to work and you want to demonstrate your trust and obedience to his plans.

Married folks, husbands and wives alike, what is it about your marriage that direct people’s gaze to the goodness and love of Christ? How does your home serve as a miniature theater of God’s glory and love? Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to make Christ the focus of your family?

Single folks, how are you preparing now for this kind of life? Are you being careful to enter into relationships that have the potential to be God-glorifying marriages? Men, are you looking for women who already begin to reflect the purity of Christ? This does not mean they have a perfect past but that right now they are striving to grow in Christ. Women, are you looking for the kind of man you could submit to, the kind of man you could trust with your holiness?

To those married to unbelievers. At times yours is a difficult calling, whether you are husband to a wife who wants nothing to do with holiness, or wife to a husband who has no interest in leading you closer to Christ. Continue in the command of Scripture. Consider 1 Peter 3:1-2 which says, Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Your obedience to Christ shines as an example of Christ’s love.

Finally, to any spouse here that is an unbeliever. Consider all that we have said about marriage today. It exists to bring glory to God. Husbands, the work you are given is to lead your wife closer to Christ. Wives, your work is to teach the church by your example how we are to submit to Christ. It does not matter how good a husband or wife you think you are, if you are not carrying out God’s will for marriage, you are failing in your role. Find in Christ the true meaning and fulfillment of marriage. Being a Christian does not automatically make marriage better, but it sets one on the right path.

Pray for wisdom as we seek ways to expand our ministry in these age groups. Pray that God would send us families who desire to help us grow in these areas. Pray that the work we do will bear fruit by leading people closer to Christ.

Also pray that we would see growth among people not already part of a church. It is possible for our church to grow and yet no one be added to the kingdom of Heaven. Christians change churches all the time. What we really want to see is an impact among lost people, that our outreach would be blessed by God to be effective in leading many people to Christ. Pray for wisdom in planning outreach events, pray for workers to be sent into the harvest, and pray for the harvest, that it would be rich and bountiful.

God is in control and he continues to shine his light through Immanuel Baptist Church. Let us praise him for his grace to us and serve him with full faithfulness and zeal.

How might one enter the courts of the Lord? By trusting in the Lord and living out righteousness. We see this elsewhere in Psalms, Psalm 24:3-4: Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. In other words, those who live in obedience to God. We see something similar in Psalm 18:20: The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. In the light of the New Testament we would say it is those who live like Christ that will enjoy the blessings of God.

The difficulty is that none of us on our own can live the kind of righteousness that gains God’s favor. None of us have cleanness of hands. For that matter, nor did the Psalmist. In Psalm 18 the Psalmist goes on to add in verses 31-32: For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? — the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.

Serve the Lord in holiness and know that your holiness and righteousness come from him. He has covered you in the righteousness of Christ, making you pure. He is the one who equips you and strengthens you each day to live for him. It is he who cleans your hands, he who makes your way blameless. Follow him, trust in him, rely on him.

Pork chops
Mashed potatoes
Black-eye peas
Turnips
Cornbread
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

Bring your Bible for Bible Study and a covered dish for lunch.

Thank you for your input for ideas for future meetings. Many months are now filled programs.

Stay involved.

Martha

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, January 10, 2010

We have continued to see in Ephesians a contrast made between the sons of disobedience and the children of light. We were all once a part of the sons of disobedience until God in his mercy saved us from and out of our sins, adopting us into his family and making us children of light. In the transition a change takes place and we are to no longer follow the ways of the world. So Paul has been showing us some of the ways that our lives are different.

Among the changes come changes in community. Even our interactions with one another are not like the world’s ways. We are not disparate groups bound together for security or prosperity and at odds whenever conflict furthers our goals. We are the church, the body of Jesus Christ, united into one great group of God’s people, members of the kingdom and household of God. How we interact with one another – and with the world – is defined by God’s love. As he has loved us, so ought we to love one another.

In today’s passage Paul focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit in the community of believers and how the Spirit demonstrates himself through the body.

Ephesians 5:18-21

Paul seems to start in an unusual direction when he says, do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. This is his first mention of drunkenness; why does he bring it up?

Paul’s warning against drunkenness is not unique. We find similar warnings throughout Scripture. There are two things Paul could be responding to. First, there were the pagan notions of the cult of Bacchus, or Dionysus, the god of wine. The notion was that being drunk opened a person to be controlled by the deity. Drunkenness was a state of release of self-control so that Bacchus or his minions could take control. It was a way for mortal man to connect to God. Second, more general secular notions see drunkenness as the means to carefree living. To be drunk is to have a good time.

The problem for Christians comes on several fronts. Drunkenness kills productive living. Paul has just told us in verses 15-16 to make the best use of time because the days are evil. How can we make the best use of time if we are too drunk to even know what we are doing with our time? And that points to the second problem with drunkenness. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are told to be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Self-control, sober-minded, watchful – these cannot happen when one is drunk. Temptation is everywhere and we love sin. We need all our wits to spot and avoid the snares of the devil. Being drunk loosens inhibitions and makes it easier for us to plunge into the sin we want to do.

So Paul tells us to instead be filled with the Spirit. Alcohol does not lead to an actual experience with God, but Christians have God living in them by the Holy Spirit. We bear the very presence of God. And though the world considers drunkenness a state of joy, we know that we were created for God and can only find joy in him. Thus the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 16:11, in your presence there is fullness of joy. The Spirit of God brings the presence of God into the lives of God’s people. Only in him can we find true and lasting joy.

As Christians living in evil days, we must not waste time. Not all of our moments will be spent working, we must spend time resting, unwinding, and recharging, but even that time must be used in God-glorifying ways, for everything we do must be God-glorifying. And the Spirit guides us in all our moments, guiding our moments of work and our moments of leisure. Be filled with the Spirit to be guided in doing the will of God.

How then are we filled with the Spirit? Scripture tells us often to be filled, but how does it happen? There are three ways the New Testament speaks of Spirit-filling, and only one of them is in view here.

First, there is Spirit-filling that we have nothing to do with. An example is with John the Baptist. Luke 1:15 tells us that he was filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb. In the womb he could not hear a command like Paul’s and decide to be filled with the Spirit; this filling was entirely God’s doing. There are other such instances even in our lives when God does a special work, imparting his Spirit to us in special ways. We can ask for such filling but we cannot cause it or nurture it.

Second, there is Spirit-filling at salvation. As we see from 1 Corinthians 3:16, we are temples of the Holy Spirit. When we are saved we receive the Spirit and he dwells in us. This filling takes place once at conversion and the Spirit’s presence remains throughout our time on earth.

The third kind of filling is what Paul has in mind. This is the Spirit-filling that we nurture day-by-day. To get an idea of how this filling takes place, look at Colossians 3:16-17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians is basically a shorter form of Ephesians. Paul offers the same kind of instruction as he does here, so when he says something in a different way we can compare the differences to better understand his meaning. In Ephesians Paul says to be filled with the Spirit. In Colossians he says to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. So there is some connection between being filled with the Spirit and letting the word of Christ dwell richly.

We see this connection again in Galatians 3:2-3: Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Paul here is challenging the Galatians on their notion that though salvation is a matter of faith, sanctification is a matter of obedience to the law. In their minds, the Mosaic law does not save, but the Mosaic law sanctifies. Paul’s response is that in the same way that they were saved, so they continue in the faith. How were they saved? They received the Spirit or began in the Spirit by hearing with faith. What did they hear? Paul tells us that in Romans 10:17, faith comes from hearing the word of Christ.

The connection in Colossians and Galatians to Ephesians is that the daily Spirit-filling of the Christian takes place through the Word of God. We must be regular and faithful to study Scripture, for it is through the Scriptures that we are filled with the Spirit. The Spirit’s work in our lives is in large measure a work of guiding us in Scripture. The less we have of God’s word, the less the Spirit has to work with in us.

I want to insert one point as a kind of corrective or addition to last week’s sermon. As I focus on Scripture, and as I want you to focus on Scripture, I don’t want you to see Scripture as a kind of end in itself. We do not study the Bible just to know the Bible better. We do not love this book just because it is an amazing book. We study it to know the mind of God and to learn how to better serve him. In this book is the revelation of God’s truth about himself, about ourselves, and about the life he has called us to live. So study Scripture! And study it with God as your goal.

The result of Spirit-filling is given in verses 19-21. Here Paul describes three things the Spirit-filled believer will do. I think these actions are the Christian opposite to the sins of the sons of disobedience described back in 5:1-4 and the motivation of our action given at the end of verse 21 points back to where the chapter began, verses 1-2. The verses in between tell us a little more about the debauchery of the sons of disobedience and why Christians ought have nothing to do with such things.

Paul begins with worship. In verse 19 Paul tells us to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The speaking to one another or addressing one another is the action of Christians that goes against verse 4, the filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking of the sons of disobedience. Instead of speaking filthy things to one another, we are to speak words of worship to one another.

The three types of ‘speaking’ or ‘singing’ that he mentions are different kinds of singing but Paul’s point is not so much to point out the differences in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. His point is to highlight the difference between sons of disobedience and children of light. Psalms are songs of worship that draw directly from Scripture, particularly the Psalms themselves. Hymns are prepared compositions, where we get the notion of a hymnbook. Spiritual songs are perhaps akin to praise songs and probably were more spontaneous, songs of worship created and offered during times of worship.

The content of all this is Scripture, directly or indirectly. In worship we either repeat back to God his words in Scripture or we praise God with an understanding of him and his works given to us in Scripture. The Spirit stirs the Word within us and out comes praise.

The second thing Paul mentions is thankfulness. Paul’s word in verse 20 is challenging. How can we give thanks always and for everything? Terrible things happen in this world. How can we give thanks in the midst of Haiti or abortion or dead loved ones?

One key is that we do not have to be thankful for terrible things that happen. For everything does not mean I pray thank you Lord for abortion. Such things are an abomination to God and he would not have his people be grateful for such things. What we do pray is thank you Father that even things such as these are not beyond your sovereign control and you are guiding all human history to a predetermined end. No sin or raging of Satan can thwart you. Nothing can turn the world aside from your purpose. Thank you that you promise to undo Satan and use even this terrible suffering for ultimate good.

Our hope, like our worship, comes from Scripture and from life. From Scripture we read the promises of God, his promise to work out all things according to his plan, his promise never to leave us nor abandon us. In Scripture and in life we have repeated examples of the faithfulness of God, that he sustains his people in suffering. Most of all, the promise and hope and example of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who has made us his children and has conquered sin and Satan and will return to bring his work to an end. When we are immersed in Scripture, the Spirit stirs these things in our minds day by day. The result is that we walk in thankfulness. No matter how Satan rages, we remember the goodness of God and we give thanks in all things. Thanks for his promises and faithfulness. Thanks that he has saved us and even if Satan should kill our bodies we have everlasting security with God.

The third demonstration of Spirit-filling is humble submission. In verse 21 we are told to submit to one another. This verse does double duty, it rounds out the examples of Spirit-filled living and it serves as a transition into the next part of Paul’s teaching when Paul will teach about the family life of believers. What we see is that one thing the Spirit stirs in us is humility. Through Scripture we learn how great God is and how small we are. We have no cause for proud posturing.

We are not a community of people striving for position over one another but we serve each other in humility just as God in Christ has served us. In Christ there is no rich or poor, slave or free, Jew or Gentile, man or woman, white or black, legal immigrant or illegal immigrant, democrat or republican. We gather as the people of God for the worship of God and we humble ourselves, serving one another.

At the end of verse 21 Paul gives one reason for submission that is, I believe, a reason for all of this: worship, thankfulness, and submission. Paul says we do these things out of reverence for Christ. People will talk in many exalted ways about Christ but to truly revere him and love him is to be like him. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, the old saying goes, so those who want to attest to the value of Christ will copy him, will try to live as he lived.

Paul has already told us to do this, back in verses 1-2: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Imitate God, walk in the love of Christ. Christ glorified his Father, and this is the very definition of worship: to glorify God. Christ was thankful in all things. Christ was a humble servant, submitting to those around him. Not bowing to their whims, but humbling himself and putting their needs before his own. We revere Christ, and we follow after him, striving to live as he lived and thus to shine his light in the world.

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, January 31, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, January 31, 2010

We are taking an unexpected break from Ephesians this morning. I had an experience a few days ago which I found profoundly disturbing. I will not give you the details but I will tell you the result. It left me desperate for Scripture and with a desire to focus on Scripture this morning. So we are diverting from Ephesians to look at that which God has given us as our light.

The Bible ought to be our lifeblood. It ought to be said of us as Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress: “Prick him anywhere, and he bleeds Bible.” The Bible ought to saturate our lives so that it flows out in everything we do. Too often our lives are more like the words of John Piper who said, “Let it not be said of the King’s heralds: ‘Prick him and he bleeds movies.’” I want my ministry at Immanuel to be one of helping people grow in their love of God and, because the Bible is God’s Word, grow in their love of Scripture and find the Bible to be a greater source of delight than anything the world has to offer. So in this service I offer a different sort of sermon. This sermon is a prayer of thanksgiving, of supplication, of confession, and of intercession.

Father, I thank you for your Word. I thank you that you have not left us blind but have shown us yourself. You are the master painter and have taken the canvas of Scripture to paint in these pages the picture of your truth. You are the great writer who has created language by which you might be known and then have used language to reveal yourself to us. You have not remained distant from us but have revealed yourself through the Bible.

In this Word we learn that you are creator. You spoke all things into existence and made man your crowning achievement. In your Word we learn that man was not content to be the shining treasure of God. We wanted to be god and so we disobeyed. In the garden we cast ourselves at the feet of your enemy and we have served him ever since. By your grace there have been some who were faithful, some who trusted you, some who abided by your Word. And it was only by your grace that they had your Word to begin with. You could have wiped us out but in love you showed us mercy and grace.

Father, it is your Word that tells us of your Son, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and made his dwelling among us. We deserve wrath and Hell but we received the Son of God and through your Son the promise of the gospel was extended to everyone. So many have rejected. So many have turned aside. So many have despised the Words you have spoken. But again by your grace you have chosen some to be children. By your grace, they have believed. By your grace you have brought your children into your kingdom. By your grace you have given us work to do so that our lives are not meaningless and empty but are rich as we proclaim your glory throughout the earth. Oh God, by your grace you have given us your very presence! The Spirit of God to dwell within us! By you grace we know that one day your Son will return and will carry us to paradise. Not my hand but thine will lead me safely to that land.

Father, I would know none of these things if not for your Word. So many riches and treasures are found in these pages, and so many more things that I have not mentioned. I feel the passion of your servant David as he wrote these words in Psalm 119:89-105: Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Oh how I love your law! Make it my meditation all the day! Make me like the wise man of Psalm 1:2 who has his delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Father it is to my disgrace and it is my sin that I neglect this gift of yours. I have sinned every time I sought comfort from television rather than from you. I have sinned every time I sought instruction from magazines rather than from your Word. I have sinned every time I neglected Scripture for entertainment. Lord forgive me! I am such a wicked and wayward person. Set my sights on your law. And like Psalm 119:18, open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.Your law, your Word, your precepts, your revelation is glorious. When I look into the sky the stars fill me with wonder. When I stare over the ocean I am filled with awe. When I gaze upon the mountains I am amazed. When I stand before your Word I am blown away. And yet I do not love Scripture as I ought.

Father, the world draws me! All around distractions abound! Even in your church there stand a host of those who do not uphold your Word. Give us discerning hearts! Give us the wisdom to know when we are being led astray! Make us so tuned to Scripture that the warning goes off the moment someone would lead us the wrong way. Father, you have given us the tuning fork. You have given us the warning light. Cast aside all our distractions and fill us with your Word.

Day and night, Lord, day and night, make us to meditate on this Bible. Help us to think and give us understanding. You offer this promise through Paul in 2 Timothy 2:7, Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Father, we do not trust you enough. We do not live as though Proverbs 2:6 were true, that the Lord gives wisdom; from your mouth come knowledge and understanding. We are quick to speak highly of your Word but just as quick to turn aside and rely on the teachings of men. Lord, you have blessed the church with countless teachers and writers whose works can help us as we think about your Word but let it be your Word that they teach us. So many would give us the world’s philosophies. It is only your Word that give us light and it is you that gives us understanding.

Teach us to think deeply about the Bible. Teach us to meditate on it day and night. Stir us to memorize your Word, to keep it in our hearts, to trust that when we study, you will give understanding. And make us patient, knowing that you are the eternal wise God who knows when it is best for us to understand the things we find confusing.

And Father there are so many things in Scripture that shock us. Let us not turn aside from these difficulties. Let us not be quick to accept explanations that make us comfortable but let us wrestle with God in the tent of Jacob, for even if we are left with a limp, we will come through it having been blessed by you. Even if understanding takes us years, never let us give up on hard texts.

Father, you have not just given us Scripture. You have not just promised understanding. You have given us the Holy Spirit to lead us to understanding. In Isaiah 11:2 we learn of the Spirit that filled your Son: And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. This same Spirit is the one given to your children, the promise of 1 Corinthians 2:12 that we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

People in the world do not have this promise nor do they have understanding of your Word. You have said of them in 1 Corinthians 2:14, The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. They laugh, they scoff, they put us down. But you sustain us. Your Spirit fills us. By your Spirit you give us understanding of your Word. Apart from the Spirit, there is no understanding of your Word. But we also know, Father, that apart from your Word the Spirit gives no understanding. What will he help us understand if we do not meditate on your Word, if we do not think about these things written in the Bible? So let us have your Spirit, and stir us to study the Bible.

Father, give us understanding. Teach us how to live. Teach us how to behave as sons and daughters of God. Teach us how to serve you well and carry out the work you have for us. You told us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which you prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. We are born again in Jesus Christ, raised with him in new life, and raised to walk not in the world’s ways but in your way. You saved us to serve you, to do good works, works which you planned and prepared before the ages began.

How can we know how to live out those works? What can prepare us for every good work you have prepared? Thank you Father that here again we are brought back to your Word, for 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Teach us, then, to study your Word. Teach us to understand Scripture. Make us passionate to dive deep into these waters and emerge with precious jewels of truth and life. Your Word, these pages which are breathed out by you, is the means you have given us for growth and service. You equip us through Scripture. You make us competent to fulfill our calling through Scripture. You have not cast us into the world and told us to figure out your will on our own. You have given us light in your Word to train us for godliness, as we see in 1 Timothy 4:6-8: If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Lord, how I love your law. Make it my meditation day and night so that I might be trained for godliness, equipped to carry out the work you have called me to do.

So, Father, as Paul writes in Colossians 3:2, set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Set our minds on Christ and fill us with his Word. Make your Word our delight. Our souls are dry and battered. We are weak and frail. The enemy howls and rages all about us. We are so quick to grasp at anything looking like hope but let us settle for nothing but your Word.

Father, you know what it was that disturbed me so. Thank you for experiences that drive me closer to your Word. I pray for myself and for those others and for these who are here today that we would find our rest in you and in the rich waters of your Word. Open our eyes to behold wondrous things in your law. Make us to love the Bible and to read it and to study it and to talk about it and to memorize it and to dwell on it day and night and to speak it everywhere we go and to recite it back to you in prayer and to praise you for it and to never, ever find your Word a dull thing. May it be for us like the Psalmist in Psalm 40:8-10 who spread your Word wherever he went: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

Thank you that we are your children and that you have given us such good gifts. May we never neglect your Word.

The youth house is located on College Avenue, across the street from Immanuel’s sanctuary.

This group is going through Timothy Keller’s Reason for God and has just begun looking at the book.

For our February meeting someone will be here from Anchorage Children’s Home. For our mission action we are going to bring socks and underwear – all sizes.

Stay involved.

Martha

Baked chicken
Potato salad
Green beans
Baked apples
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

Our first group is for adults and is being coordinated by Mark Mercer. They will meet every other week and will be discussing Timothy Keller’s book Reason for God, a great tool to learn how to respond to arguments against Christianity. Contact Mark to find the time and place of the next meeting.

The second group, for young adults, will meet each Monday at 7:00 pm in the youth house. The first meeting will be February 1st and we will decide at that meeting what to study.

Pray for this new ministry of the church. Consider if you might want to join – or even start! – one of our groups. I believe these groups will be a great asset to build the lives of our people and to provide an entry point for people not yet a part of Immanuel. Pray and participate and let’s see what God will do!

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, January 24, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, January 10, 2010

On June 6, 1944, 50,000 American troops landed on the shores of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. They faced well defended Germans who had fortified bunkers located in the cliffs above the beach. As the soldiers stormed off their landing craft they made no mistake of where they were. This was enemy territory. All around their brothers fell to enemy fire. The ground around them was pitted and laced with wire. They held their weapons and charged through bombs and bullets to scale steep cliffs and overthrow the German forces.

Soldiers on the battlefield who forget where they are will soon lose their lives. A soldier cannot turn his attention from the task before him. He cannot treat the battlefield as though it were his living room. I am afraid that today many Christians have forgotten the battlefield. We have forgotten that we live in enemy occupied territory. The machine gun nests are firing hot and heavy and around us souls are being lost. We ourselves might be captured as prisoners of war and our only notice is to change the TV station. We are soldiers on the battlefield but we too often act as though this world were nothing more than an amusement park.

As we live life, we must recognize the battle and we must decide which side we will serve. In our text today, Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul will describe our days as evil days. How will we live out those days? Will we make the most of our time, redeeming the time for the cause of Christ, or will we be slothful, negligent of the battle around us, essentially traitors to the kingdom of God, supporting the work of Satan and his domain of darkness.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Paul wants us to be aware of where we are and the situation we find ourselves in. As believers, we have been saved and brought into the kingdom of God. We already enjoy privileges of being adopted as the children of God. We are no longer sons of darkness but are children of light. Nonetheless, we are not yet in our heavenly home. We live in enemy territory, in a realm where the days are evil. We must never let ourselves be fooled about our present state. We cannot close our spiritual eyes in slumber while the war rages around us.

One of the greatest tricks an enemy can use is to fool solders into a sense of peace. Let an army fall into a sense that all is well and they are most vulnerable to attack. All is not well in the world around us but we often refuse to see the danger.

One of our weaknesses is our desire for acceptance. We have all heard the story of Chicken Little who cried, “The sky is falling!” only to suffer shame and rebuke when the sky remained intact. We fear that if we raise the standard of Christ and speak against the ways of the world we would be labelled Puritanical or Pharisaical. We fear being called intolerant. We fear what we might have to give up if we acknowledge the dangers in the world around us. We fear a million things and as a result we ignore the danger and plunge into the ambush of the enemy.

Christian, it is time to awaken! Paul’s words in Romans 13:11-14 are words for us today: Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

In Ephesians 5:16 Paul says that the days are evil. This is his warning to us to remember the battlefield we are in. The prevailing position of the world is against God. We are not surrounded by neutral people trying to decide what side they want to serve. All who are not part of the kingdom of God are part of the kingdom of darkness. The days we live in are evil days and have been so since the fall of mankind.

In Galatians 1:4 Paul says: …the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father… The age we live in is an evil age and we were once a part of it. It is because of the work of Jesus that we have been brought into the kingdom of God. But though we have been brought into the light, the rest of the world walks in darkness. Jesus delivers a strong indictment against the world in John 3:19: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. They are servants of the enemy and they delight in his darkness.

This does not change our position toward people in the world. In Ephesians 6:12 Paul will tell us, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Humans beings are not our enemy. They serve our enemy. Satan and his forces remain our enemies. Our work in the world is to spread the light of God and show sinners the way to salvation in Christ. These days are ruled by Satan who sets himself in opposition to God and blinds the eyes of unbelievers, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:4: In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Satan has blinded people. Only God can make them see. We must shine his light into the world, but too often we will not even acknowledge the battle being waged. Nonetheless, those who serve Satan do so willingly as they willfully reject Christ. They delight in their sin as they walk in darkness.

We have seen in Ephesians descriptions of those who walk in darkness. Throughout chapter 5 those sons of disobedience have been contrasted with we who are in Christ, the children of light. There is – or should be – a massive difference in the lives of the sons of disobedience and the lives of the children of light. But we live in a day when there is little difference between many Christians and unbelievers. We have ignored the world’s dangers and have not just fallen into Satan’s traps, we have thrown ourselves into them.

Consider some of the dangers in the world. I believe entertainment to be perhaps the greatest danger to Christians. Some would accuse me of overstatement but look at so many of our lives. Christians are absolutely consumed with worldly entertainment. When we are in church we should focus on corporate worship but our minds drift to sports. When at home we should study our Bibles or spend time in prayer but our favorite TV show is on. When we have free moments we should reflect on God but our desire is for easy entertainment. Even in many of our churches we have exchanged the rich preaching and teaching of God’s word for feel-good fluff that keeps us from having to think too hard. We should give money for missions work or church growth or to feed the needy or to save lives in Haiti but instead we spend our money on bigger, fancier toys.

What is the use of Christians who are nothing like Christ? What is the use of children of God who look more like sons of disobedience? What in your life sets you apart from the world?

So Paul begins this passage with the words, look carefully then how you walk. Back a few verses, in 5:8, Paul reminds us that while at one time you were darkness, now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. With dangers all around us, we cannot afford to ignore the way we live. We must regularly, carefully examine our lives to see if we walk as children of light. No aimless wandering, no haphazard living, we are to see if what we think and do measures up to Christ’s expectations.

Two passages come to mind to help us as we look carefully how we walk. The first is Psalm 119:105 where the Psalmist writes, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. We cannot know how we ought to walk if we do not have the lamp of God in the Word of God. Scripture tells us how to live. The less we have of Scripture, the less we will live as God wants us to live. Somehow Christians today seem to feel that we can get by on a handful of verses we learned as children. None of us are in Scripture or memorizing Scripture as we ought. We need to be like the man in Psalm 1:1-2: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Did you catch that last part? Such a man finds his delight in the law of the Lord – that is, the word of God – and he spends day and night meditating on God’s word. Such a man will not easily be led astray.

We give the Bible lip service. “Yes, I believe this book to be the fully inspired word of God and that it is the final rule of faith and practice and I should guide my life by what it teaches.” “So how often do you read it?” “Oh, you know, I read a few verses a few days ago.” “Well what did those verses say and mean?” “I don’t remember right offhand but it was good!”

If we really believed that God wrote this book, how could we justify our neglect? The word of God is light and life! And by this word our steps are guided. It is to be our delight and the source of our meditation and when we look carefully how we walk, we measure our lives against Scripture. Do you avoid the things the Bible tells you to avoid? Do you do what the Bible says do? Do you delight in this God described by the Bible? Then you must know what the Bible says.

The second passage to help as we examine our walk is Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Do you want to know if there is sin in your life? Ask God to show you. Then be ready – for you have more sin than you know. God is the one who declares right from wrong. He is the standard of righteousness. He will measure your life and by the Holy Spirit will convict you of sin. A person lost in a forest cannot see above the trees to find his way to safety. But God stands above the trees, he stands above our sin and fallenness. He will reveal to us what we cannot see.

So much is at stake. As we wander the battlefield we see all around us those who have fallen. Brothers and sisters who have truly come to Christ by faith but have neglected the battle, have desired the enemy’s goods, and have been cut down. Their holiness broken, their witness shattered, they are tools in the enemy’s hands. Others around us have claimed Christ but have never shown the first sign of true repentance. They feel content in the fact that they once prayed a prayer or walked an aisle but their heart was never truly given to God. Saints and sinners alike are found walking with the enemy, ignoring the raging of battle.

In our verses Paul makes two contrasts. In verse 15 he says we are to walk not as unwise but as wise. Then in verse 17 he says, do not be foolish, but understand… What does Paul say of those who ignore the battle, who do not see the evil day, who follow the path of the sons of disobedience? First, they are unwise. Then, they are foolish. There is no excuse for a Christian to follow the world’s ways. It is dangerous, irresponsible, foolish.

Psalm 14:1 tells us, The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Many people today are voicing the claim of the fool, declaring there is no God who judges the affairs of men. But many, many more people are living as though the fool were right. Having no fear of God before their eyes, they live in whatever way suits them.

Wisdom means walking according to God’s will, living in ways pleasing to God. This is why Paul concludes our passage with the instruction in verse 17, understand what the will of the Lord is. This world is in enemy hands. We would be foolish to follow the ways of the world or to seek instruction from the world. We must follow Christ. We should make it our goal to live according to 1 Peter 4:2, live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Already in this sermon we have presented the means God has given us for knowing his will: the word of God. To give another illustration from Psalms, listen to what the Psalmist relies on in Psalm 119:25-32: My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

It is Scripture that will guide us in the will of God. But learning from the Psalmist we see there is one thing necessary with Scripture. He is studying God’s Word, but is he expecting to understand Scripture on his own? No. Over and over his cry is, make me understand the way of your precepts. The natural mind will never come to a right understanding of God’s Word. So as you seek out his will in Scripture, seek it with prayer, asking God to illuminate these pages and to enable you to understand by the Holy Spirit how God would have you live.

In closing, I want to remind you once more of where you are. The battle around us rages fierce and deadly. We do not have time to play around. We must make the most of time, redeeming it to serve Christ with every moment we are given. As I read the book of Genesis I have been astonished by the words of Jacob in Genesis 47:8-9. Pharaoh asks him his age and Jacob responds, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” The man was 130 and yet he said his days were few. Those of you who have many years behind you know the truth of the statement that life is short. Far shorter than we usually realize. In Psalm 90:12 the Psalmists asks God, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Realize that life is short and in a very little while your body will fall into dust. At the end of your days will you look back and say you did the bidding of Satan or will you be able to say with Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. May we wake up to the battle around us and give ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ. May the Lord find us faithful all the days of our lives.

There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying television and movies but we must be so careful of what we allow into our minds. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned that we need to be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. There is no such thing as harmless entertainment. Everything we see somehow affects how we think and interact with the world around us. We have an enemy who wants to make sure that the things we see cause us to walk in ways displeasing to God. Television provides him a tremendous tool to work unrighteousness into our lives.

Be careful how you walk, for the days are evil. Be careful what you let into your mind, for the devil wants to lead you away from God where he will consume you. Be willing to spend more time in Scripture than you already do – and actually spend more time in Scripture. Let the light of the Word fill your life so that when you walk in the world you will shine with the light of Christ. There is enough darkness in the world as it is, let us carry the light of Christ.

Hamburger steak w/onions
Baked apples
Black-eye peas
Macaroni & cheese,
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

For our February meeting someone will be here from Anchorage Children’s Home. For our mission action we are going to bring socks and underwear – all sizes.

Stay involved.

Martha

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, January 17, 2010.

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This message was preached by Pastor Chris on Sanctity of Life Sunday, January 17, 2010.

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday, a day set aside each year to uphold the value of human life, particularly the lives of the unborn. As I worked on this message my mind constantly returned to the tragedy taking place in Haiti. As we speak of the sanctity of life let us pray for the countless lives lost, at risk, and displaced in Haiti.

I have been positively glued to the news coming out of this. The devastation is overwhelming and the stories are numbing. I read of a two year old boy trapped in the rubble of his house. For 68 hours his parents listened to his cries weaken, unable to reach him because of the debris. By the mercies of God, a rescue crew was finally able to dig through the rubble and reunite the boy with his parents.

In another story an eleven year old girl was trapped, her leg pinned. It took two days to free her but hours after she was rescued she died from her injuries.

Story after story after story. Our hearts must be stirred. We have not had to live through this tragedy but we cannot ignore it. We are simply not Christian if we do not feel the compassion of our Lord for these people. Pray fervently, faithfully, regularly for them. Contribute to relief organizations. A list of charities can be found on the church website. Pray for us as even now we have begun talking about the possibility of a trip to Haiti in a few months to help with cleanup and rebuilding. On Sanctity of Life Sunday we declare that all human life is sacred, from the newly conceived child in the womb to the old man in his hospital bed to the young person dying of thirst in the ruins of Haiti.

In Romans 8:22 Paul writes that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Part of this groaning is the natural result of living in a fallen world, a world in which earthquakes and tornados and hurricanes are regular realities. But part of the groaning comes from human sin.

In our journey through Ephesians we have reached Ephesians 5:15-17. This will be our passage when we gather next week but I do want to look at it today as we consider issues of life. Paul writes, Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Human beings have been placed on this earth to glorify God. We lift him up and magnify the work of his hand. The highest expression of God’s creative work is humanity itself. We were the last part of creation to be finished and it is to us that God has given the rest. What’s more, we are bearers of his image, carrying within ourselves the imago Dei, the image of God which makes every human life sacred.

Satan knows this about us. Satan knows we are God’s treasured possession, the apex of creation. It is no surprise, then, that when Satan entered the garden he did not approach donkeys or apes or dolphins, he approached humans. Human beings were the goal of creation so human beings were – and continue to be – Satan’s focus. He wants to destroy what God has made sacred.

Unfortunately, Satan has found in humanity many willing accomplices, men and women who buy into his lie of autonomous power, believing they can be their own gods, masters of their own destiny. They follow Satan in his assault against humanity.

So we live in a world not just of earthquakes and tornados but of wars and torture and murder and thievery, men and women seeking to increase their position by tearing others down. Such people are not the exception. It is the natural state of every single human being. You and I reflect this tendency, battling daily the same selfishness that drives people to commit horrific acts.

As Paul said, we live in evil days. Nowhere, I think, is this evil seen any clearer than in the practice of abortion. Through abortion we see our tremendous ability at self-deception, our life-consuming selfishness, and the blood-thirsty greed of men who will trade life for profit.

I fear that in our day we are losing the debate over abortion. People have wearied of the fight and do not champion life. Young people increasingly believe abortion to be a lower priority issue. Too often those who do talk about abortion simply use it as a political wedge, making it a dividing line between parties rather than a cause of crucial concern. But we cannot sweep this issue under the carpet, diminish its importance, or use it as political ammunition. Returning again to Paul’s words, the days are evil. We must make the most of the time. Too many have cast off the issue of abortion. We must not.

There is a scene of terror found in Matthew 2:16-18. Herod, ruler of the people, was worried about a potential threat to his reign. To eliminate that threat he ordered that all boys in the region around Bethlehem under the age of three be killed. Matthew 2:18 gives the response of the people: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted because they are no more.

My question for us this morning is, where are the cries for the children slain? Matthew says Rachel refused to be comforted. What have we allowed to comfort us so that abortion is no longer a cause for weeping? The atrocity of slavery was ended because people would not rest, would not be comforted but continued rallying for the freedom of all. The same took place to end institutionalized racial discrimination. It was only brought to an end by people who knew the value of life, people who would not cease their efforts until we stopped just saying all men are equal and started treating everyone as equal.

One of the challenges in fighting abortion is that it is so easy to hide the problem. No slaves in the field, no segregated schools, just a sterile clinic and a box labelled “medical waste” containing the bodies of the dead.

Where are the cries for the children slain? Where are the champions of justice? Where is our horror over the brutality of abortion? Perhaps when enough people are horrified, abortion will end.

Let me share with you a mental image I have when I think of abortion. It is disturbing but necessary. We must expose the sin that is being kept in darkness. Here is the reality of abortion.

Imagine the unborn child. All he has ever known is the womb of his mother. As the days and weeks pass his body develops, cells forming and growing together to become organs and tissue, blood and heart and mind and arms and legs and fingers and toes and eyes and nose and mouth. His ability to think is limited, but he knows the comforts of warmth and food while in the womb. No one has ever held him, no one has ever kissed him, no one has ever looked in his eyes and whispered, “I love you.” But still he experiences the love of God as he grows in the womb, the place God has given him.

But one day his experience changes. There is an intrusion into his world. Something cold and hard and sharp penetrates and grasps him, puncturing his head and ripping apart his body. This child will never be held, never be cuddled, never know laughter, never know a mother’s comfort when he is scared. All he will know is that his once peaceful existence ends in agony and pain and terror and he is utterly incapable of knowing why. This is abortion.

To back away from the horror a bit, we hold on to this belief: that children who die go to be with the Lord. Although I believe that even unborn children share in humanity’s sin, having received the original sin from Adam, I also believe that passages such as Deuteronomy 1:39 at least indicate that children, those who have no knowledge of good and evil, though guilty of sin, are not made to account for their sin. Let this fact not lessen the horror of abortion but let it cause us to further rejoice in the mercy of God that though man has done a tremendous evil, the child, now dead, receives his first embrace from the arms of God.

So far we have focused on abortion but there are other ways that the unborn are cast aside. Research into cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and even in vitro fertilization all involve methods and procedures that eventually result in the destruction of human life. Each of them, particularly in vitro, involve their own ethical dilemmas that make them complicated issues, but that does not change the reality of what they cause.

When does a human become a human? If not at the moment of conception, then when? Many who support the right to an abortion nonetheless oppose so-called late-term abortions, abortions occurring after the 27th week of pregnancy. Why this point? Why not earlier? Is it because the image in the sonogram is now more recognizably human, making it more difficult to conceal that what we are doing is ending human life? But some do advocate late-term abortion. Some have gone so far as to argue that it should be legal to kill infants even within a few months after birth.

Who is the person wise enough to decide when a life becomes a human life? Many would answer, “The mother! I defend the woman’s right to choose!” Here we see the human determination to hold on to personal autonomy. I am the arbiter of right and wrong! The mother decides when what she carries is a life worthy of birth! Such a tremendous lie and yet so many have fallen for it.

Psalm 139:13-16 is the classic text to end the debate on when life begins. It remains and will always be the best place we can turn. Who gets to determine when life becomes life? God. What has he said? For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

That which is being knit together in the womb, the fruit of the union of man and woman, is a human life. When sperm joins egg it is a human life. The embryo that develops is a human life. It does not matter how noble the scientific claim, cloning and embryonic stem cell research result in the destruction of human life. And though I understand the desperate desire couples feel for children, in vitro fertilization almost always results in extra embryos that are frozen, remaining in freezers for years, many eventually ending up destroyed or designated for science. These are human lives cast aside.

Where are the cries for the children slain? Where are our voices, lifted up on their behalf? Be faithful to pray for the unborn. Be faithful in your own treatment of life, born and unborn alike. Show value for all human life. Write your politicians and plead with them to defend life. But know that politicians cannot change the hearts of the people so in your dealings with others, demonstrate that life is precious. Treat people with love and kindness. Treasure children. Celebrate pregnancies, even those brought about through sinful means. If you know someone considering an abortion, try to intercede. Help them to see that this is a human life and there are good alternatives to abortion. Provide support for struggling single mothers. In all things walk wisely, making the best use of your time for these are evil days. In all things demonstrate the value of life. In all things glorify God who knit you together and wrote down all the days that are for you.

But we realize that abortion is all too common in our society. We do not know who around us might have bowed to this sin. I have seen pictures of Christians outside abortion clinics screaming at the women going in and out. I pray this would not be our response. Let us show compassion and forgiveness and extend the gospel of God. And if there are any here who have undergone an abortion, or perhaps some parent or boyfriend who has pressured a daughter or girlfriend into an abortion, your guilt is real. The sin is real. A life has come to an end because of your choice. But just as real as your guilt is the forgiveness offered to you in Jesus Christ.

You say, “But how can I be forgiven when I have ended the life of my child?” God himself ended the life of his child to win your forgiveness. God the Father sent his Son to die on the cross for our forgiveness. The eternal Son of God has paid a debt we could never pay. It is not your actions that bring forgiveness. Forgiveness comes through God’s mercy and grace and the blood of his Son. His blood is infinitely precious. It is sufficient to cover your sin. Your child is no longer part of this world but he has been taken home to God. He or she has already forgiven you and with all the love the children of God are to feel for the lost, your child loves you and would have you turn to Christ. Confess your sin to God. Repent. Call out for his mercy and grace and cling to Christ and you will receive his forgiveness.

Roast beef
Rice
Green lima beans
Corn
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend the meal are welcome to join us at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child. Call the church office by noon Tuesday to reserve your meals.

Bob’s Bible study was taken from the first three chapters of Colossians. As Christians we are to grow in the knowledge of God and let our service always be pleasing to God.

Rize and Shyne Presentations is the ministry of Deborah Tainsh. Her talk was inspiring and challenged us to face difficult experiences with the help of our Lord. She has written a book “Heart of a Hawk” that is the true story of her family’s sacrifice and journey toward healing. They lost their only son in the Iraqi War. We remember USA Sgt. Patrick Tainsh, 1970-2004.

I have programs planned through April and I’m seeking ideas for further programs. Let me know if you know of a special program idea.

Martha

As Christians, we have mixed reactions to such tragedies. On the one hand, we know disasters of this sort are the natural result of life in a fallen world. Each new tragedy reminds us of the effects of sin. But each new tragedy also reminds us of the Redeemer who will some day bring an end to all suffering. Disasters must continue until the return of our Lord and even these tragedies remain under God’s control. I do not think anyone can point fingers and tell us why God brings such things but we can look and learn and be in fear and awe over God’s mighty, sovereign power.

We cannot say why God brings earthquake or tornado, fire or flood, but we can say what God would teach us. Through these disasters he would have us learn compassion, prodding us to pray for the suffering and to help them in any way we can. He would have us be reminded of his sovereign authority, knowing that disasters are not beyond his control. He would remind us that one day suffering will come to all who die without Christ. He would remind us that no one knows how long we have on this earth. Cling to Christ by faith while there is still time, and live for him while breath remains in your lungs.

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, January 10, 2010.

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This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, January 10, 2010

This week we are in Ephesians 5:11-14. For me, this has proven to be one of the most difficult passages to understand in Ephesians. The setting for this passage is fairly straightforward. Since at least chapter four Paul has been demonstrating the difference between the sons of disobedience and the children of light. And just so we’re clear, Christians are children of light. It’s not what we’re called to be, it’s not what we’re hoping to be – if you are born again through the blood of Jesus Christ, you are a child of light. The call, then, is to live as children of light.

So Paul wants us to see the difference in the life of the world and the life of God’s people. In chapter five he begins by calling for purity of thought, speech, and behavior, particularly regarding sexual immorality. We are to be pure, not doing or saying immoral, degrading things.

The world will try to deceive us, Paul says in Ephesians 5:6, fooling us into thinking sinful behavior is okay. With many empty words they will tell us why sin is not sin. But do not be deceived. Wrath comes upon them because of their sin. But you, child of light, though you were once in the darkness like they are, now you are in the light and you must live accordingly. The calling on you is given in verse 10: try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. We do not live for the world’s favor, we live to please our God.

So we come to our passage, Ephesians 5:11-14. As we read the passage, on the whole the pieces make sense, but follow the logic of the text and see if you can spot what gave me a hard time.

Ephesians 5:11-14

In this passage there are four things that gave me trouble. First, notice what Paul calls for Christians to do in verse 11: Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. We are to expose the wicked deeds of the world. But then he tells us in verse 12, For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Wait a minute, Paul. Just one sentence ago you said for us to expose the world’s ways. Now you tell us it is shameful to speak of the things they do? How can we expose without speaking?

The second difficulty comes in the first part of verse 14, what some of your translations, such as the King James, have as the last part of verse 13. Part of the problem is a difference in translation. The ESV reads: for anything that becomes visible is light while the NIV, KJV and others read: for it is light that makes everything visible. On the surface, the NIV translation makes a lot more sense. The problem is, while the statement makes sense, it doesn’t seem to add anything to the passage. A further problem is that the ESV translation is closer to the Greek. Grammatically, the NIV translation is possible, but the ESV presents a more consistent rendering of the text. The NIV translation does not undo what the verse is teaching, I don’t want to shake anyone’s confidence in it, but I think the ESV is closer to what is found in the original language.

But if the ESV is correct, what in the world does it mean? for anything that becomes visible is light? We don’t think this way. Shine a light on a wall, we don’t say the wall is light. So what does Paul mean?

Third, how does the second half of verse 14 fit with what Paul just said? It seems to be an abrupt shift from comparing light and darkness to calling for sleepers to awaken. In its context, what does it mean and why does Paul say it here?

And fourth, in that same section Paul calls for the sleeper to awaken, the dead person to arise from the dead. How can something like this take place? How can a dead person make himself alive, how can someone asleep rouse himself?

Let us look at verses 11-12 and the first difficulty. As we noted, in verse 11 Paul says we are to expose the works of darkness but in verse 12 it is shameful to speak of the things unbelievers do in secret. So how are we to expose their works?

Part of the answer is given in verse 13 where Paul says, when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. In short, Paul is telling us not to allow their deeds to remain in secret. Sons of disobedience are doing many things in the dark, performing many acts in secret. This does not mean they are trying to hide what they do, it means they are hiding the evil of what they do.

Take one of the hot issues of our day: homosexuality. Not too many years ago we could say they were doing this sin in secret, trying to hide from the eyes of men because they knew people did not accept their actions. Today, however, such sins are not just committed, they are flaunted in the public eye. The actions themselves are no longer done in secret, but society does hide the sin of the deed. Voices across our nation and around our world are arguing that homosexuality is natural, acceptable, and to oppose it is discrimination. We recall verse 6 where Paul said, Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. They are full of empty words and with their words they hide the sin of their actions.

So what is Paul telling Christians to avoid? What is the shameful speech he warns us of? Remember what Paul has already said about speech back in verses 3-4: But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Keeping that in mind, here in verse 12 Paul warns us to avoid any speech which makes light of the sin of the world. They sin in secret and we whisper about it. We joke about their sin, or treat it as an item of casual conversation.

Paul does not want us to leave sin in shadows. We must not participate with the world in their works of darkness. That includes showing tacit approval by talking lightly about their sin. Do you explicitly or implicitly give approval to the sins of others? Do you allow their works to remain in darkness, their sin to stay hidden, accepting their justification for evil rather than exposing their disobedience? That, Paul says, is shameful.

What are we to do? We are to expose their works. We are to bring their deeds to light. Paul does not say we must not verbally address their wrongdoing. Rather, we must reveal that their actions are sin. This is the only loving thing we can do. It is not loving to ignore someone’s sins, for, as we saw in verse 6, it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes. Will we allow them to justify their sin, to hide wrongdoing in shadow, while on the road to the judgment of God?

All too often this is exactly what we do. One reason for this is it allows us to ignore our own sins. If we downplay the wrong we see around us, we can downplay our own wrongdoing. But in this we sabotage one of the ways God has given us to expose sin. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says that you are the light of the world. There is a real sense in which God expects your life, your actions, your behavior to be the means of exposing wickedness. If you take a glass window and smear it with mud and tar it will not be a very useful window. But if a person grows up in a world where all windows are covered with mud and tar, they won’t think anything of it. But if you show them a window that is clean and clear, they will marvel that such things exist and wonder why they were willing to put up with a filthy window. You are the clean window in a world of filth. Your life is to be an example to the world of the glory and grace of God. When your life is set next to a life of sin and depravity, you are not supposed to look like them. Instead, your life is to display the glory of a life with God. One of the greatest obstacles to the spread of the gospel is Christians whose lives are as filthy as people in the world.

The second way we are to bring sin out of shadow is through Scripture. How do I know your selfish greed is inexcusable? God has already declared it so. How do I know you should not be sleeping with your girlfriend? The judge of all the earth has said so. The world is quick to accuse us of being judgmental when we raise standards of right and wrong, but we are not the ones judging when we repeat what the righteous judge has already established. So we use Scripture as our light into the darkness. We use it to expose sin in our own lives, and we use it to reveal the sins of the world.

In the end the result is that the world’s wickedness does not remain secret. We are not shamefully whispering secret things in the darkness, we are exposing ungodliness, unbelief, and unrighteousness, dragging them into the light.

So we come to the second difficulty, found in verse 14. I am going to spare you considerations of Greek grammar and simply say that I think the ESV translation here is correct. But what does it mean? How is something made light when it becomes visible?

In this case, meaning is found by what happens when we expose the sins of the world. People sin in secret in order to justify themselves. They deceive themselves about their actions, claiming evil is good, and thus claiming that they themselves are good. “I am basically a good person” is one of the greatest lies of the world. Apart from Christ, there are no good people.

When you expose the sins of the world, shining light on the works of darkness, making the works visible, making it evident that these things are sin, that in itself reveals something about the lives of people carrying out those actions. How do their wicked deeds become light when you expose them? It does not mean wickedness becomes goodness. It means the deeds themselves shine light on an ugly reality: the person committing this sin is not good. He has deceived himself into thinking his actions are just but he can no longer hide the truth. His actions are shown to be sin and because of that he is shown to be a sinner. You have exposed his sin and his sin shines as a light onto his life revealing that he is fallen and in need of a savior.

This helps to answer my third difficulty. Why does Paul say what he does at the end of verse 14? There he quotes what was probably an early Christian hymn that drew from Isaiah 60:1 and other Old Testament passages. He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Having just revealed the sinfulness of man, he moves on to give them hope. Throughout Ephesians we have seen that sinners are dead in their sins. Once again we look back at Ephesians 2:1-2 where Paul plainly says, you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. You were dead. And those no walking in darkness are dead. But God has given the solution to our sin, the answer to our deadness. It is found in Jesus Christ.

Having revealed that people are sinful even if they try to hide their sins, Paul now gives the answer to their sins. He says awake! Turn from your sin, and turn to Christ! He will shine on you, he will dispel the darkness, he will bring forgiveness, and he will lead you in paths of righteousness. This is a reminder to the Ephesians that they are not righteous because of their deeds. They were once just like the unbeliever, sons of disobedience, children of wrath, walking in darkness and facing judgment. But God sent Christ to give light and life.

Finally, our fourth difficulty. In that section Paul calls for the sleeper to awaken, the dead person to rise from the dead. But how can someone wake himself from sleep? And the greater difficulty, how can a man raise himself from the dead?

The answer is he cannot. But in our own experience we are accustomed to speak to people in this way. This morning when it was time for my girls to get out of bed we did not expect them to rise at the right time. Someone had to go in and rouse them. But what do we say? “Wake up! Wake up! It’s time to get up!” We are calling for them to rouse themselves but we are the ones doing the rousing. We are waking them up, we are disturbing their slumber.

Consider also Jesus and Lazarus. In John 11:43 when Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus he did not wait for Lazarus to raise himself. He did not expect the dead to fix themselves. Instead he called out with a voice of power and authority, the voice that spoke creation into existence, Lazarus, come out! At his call the dead can do nothing but obey. Lazarus, still in his grave cloths, came forth. Not because he was able to gather the strength to walk out but because the sovereign God of all the universe called him from death to life.

A final example that relates more closely to our passage. In John 3:7 Jesus said to Nicodemus, you must be born again. How can I do this? How can I be born again? We are told in 1 Peter 1:3, according to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again… So this is not a work I do, this is a work God does.

For the Christian, this is a source of hope. You are called to be a light in the darkness, shining in the world. But you are not responsible for how others respond to the light. We will never persuade a single soul into Heaven. That is God’s work, not ours. And for the unbeliever there is this reminder that no work of yours will save you. Nothing you do will bring you to life. Only the mercy and power of God can make a dead man live. Have faith in Jesus Christ, not in your own deeds, for when your deeds are brought to light they will not be pure and clear and good but stained and filthy and sin. Christ is your only source of hope, your only source of life. Turn to him.

As Christians living in a Christian culture we are sometimes inclined to consider ourselves faithful when we have gone to church, voted for conservative principles, and placed Christian stickers on our cars. We engage in activities some might call worship but fail to do the work of the Christian life.

In Matthew 23:23 Jesus issued strong words against the Pharisees who were champions of “doing church” while ignoring the actions expected of the people of God: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

As we begin a new year, let us commit to ora et labora, prayer and work, worship and service. We will not be like Pharisees who waved the religious flag while doing nothing to serve God. We will worship and enjoy God while laboring for his kingdom in all that we do.

Country fried steak
Mashed potatoes
Carrots
Baked apples
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend can still come at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child.

I have programs planned through April and I’m seeking ideas for further programs. Let me know if you know of a special program idea.

Come Tuesday and remember to bring your Bible for Bible Study with Bob.

Martha

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Part of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the evening service on Sunday, January 03, 2010.

We return tonight to Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:3-9. This morning we discussed in more general terms issues of adultery, divorce, and remarriage. Tonight I want to move into some specific situations.

If you missed the message this morning I encourage you to get a copy from the website sometime tomorrow afternoon or call the church office to ask for a CD.

We will not rehash everything we said this morning but I do want to restate our concluding summary. We said that marriage is precious in the site of God. It is his doing, he has united this man and woman into one flesh. Husbands and wives, do not commit adultery. Husbands and wives, do not divorce your spouse. If there is divorce and there has not been adultery, do not remarry. Honor God. Be faithful. Seek reconciliation.

Tonight we will look at various situations involving divorce. I want to start by looking at legitimate divorce. If a spouse has not committed adultery, when else might a husband or wife be justified in deciding to divorce his or her spouse?

Let me first emphasize another point from this morning. I said this morning that I am horrified at the thought that someone might come away from these messages saying, “I have found a way out of my marriage.” There are cases when one might legitimately seek a divorce, but this should never be something you desire. It is a last resort and is always followed with attempts at reconciliation.

But what are the circumstances permitting divorce? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 24:1. This comes from the passage the Pharisees would use to debate grounds for divorce: When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her… Moses goes on to give instructions for a specific situation involving divorced spouses. I am not as interested here in the situation as in the reason for the divorce.

In verse 1 Moses simply says, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her… The issue, then, is indecency. But what is indecency? Some of the Jews argued that adultery was the only offense that allowed a person to divorce. But as we noted this morning the Mosaic Law already had a provision for adultery. In Leviticus 20:10 we see that the adulterer was to be put to death.

But at the same time Moses certainly did not mean what other Jews assumed: anything your wife does that you find displeasing is grounds for divorce. Toast burned? You can divorce. House not clean? End the marriage. No! Moses does not allow divorce for your every sinful whim.

The word Moses uses for indecency literally means nakedness. In Hebrew culture nakedness was a shameful, indecent thing. For Moses to use the word in this context, he meant that a husband might divorce his wife if she has engaged in revolting behavior, something abhorrent to the marriage relationship. No common circumstance would do, it had to be a great offense against the marriage yet one that did not violate the Mosaic law.

This morning we mentioned two examples: abuse and addiction. If a husband physically (and in some circumstances emotionally) abuses his wife, he has committed something repugnant to the marriage. Likewise if a wife is addicted to drugs or alcohol and keeps bringing these substances into the home, exposing and endangering children, she has done something repugnant. We could name many situations of this sort. The wife who spends all of a family’s money, bringing constant financial crisis. The husband with a chronic addiction to internet pornography. Things that might not be violations of the law and do not constitute the physical sin of adultery (though in the case of pornography the guilty party is guilty of the sin of adultery, though not, I think, to the point of destroying a marriage).

Divorce may be justified if one spouse, say a husband, is chronically engaged in sinful activity that is harmful to his wife or to the children and he refuses to repent and turn from his sinful actions. His wife may find divorce the last resort, the only way to be protected from her husband’s sin. Even after divorce reconciliation should be sought, working to lead the sinning husband to repentance.

But as we saw this morning, the only circumstance allowing remarriage following divorce is adultery. Now let me give you a scenario. Suppose a man has a wife who regularly brings drugs into the home. After months of this and no change in her he finally divorces her. He continues to seek reconciliation and he does not marry someone else. But one day he learns that she has moved in with another man and they are sleeping together. In the eyes of God she has committed adultery since, as we noted this morning, the legal divorce did not end the covenant a husband and wife makes with God. By her adultery the marriage covenant is destroyed. Is the husband free to remarry? Or if after the divorce his wife marries another, can he remarry and not be guilty of adultery?

I probably wrestled with this question more than any other but in the end my conclusion was yes, the husband is free to remarry. Though he did not divorce his wife because of adultery, in the end she committed adultery and destroyed the marriage covenant. He is free to marry again. Let us remember that the goal should always be reconciliation. But if reconciliation becomes impossible due to the spouse’s remarriage, or if adultery has in some other way been committed, remarriage is permissible.

Let me again state my concern that we not look for excuses to divorce. I can imagine someone might hear me and say, “I have a way out! My husband is a lazy slob, that is surely repugnant to a marriage, it is repugnant to me! So I will divorce him and remain single. But I know he will remarry and when he does I will be free to marry someone better!” To anyone having a desire like this, I remind you that God is as interested in the condition of your heart as the faithfulness of your obedience. You might appear to be obedient to the letter of the law (though I would argue you have not been obedient) but certainly in your heart you have done wrong. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart and he sees your wicked desire to find a way out of what God has joined together. You will be guilty of sin.

Let me briefly mention one more situation then we will shift gears a little bit. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 Paul presents the circumstances of someone married to an unbeliever. He says to the Christian, do not seek a divorce. It may be hard to be married to a non-Christian but you are still called to faithfulness and the union is still from God. But what happens if that non-Christian wants the divorce? Paul says not to fight but allow the divorce. Some think that Paul here gives another exception to the remarriage rule, as if to say you cannot remarry unless your spouse has committed adultery or is an unbeliever who divorces you. But this argument goes farther than Paul goes. Paul has just given a general instruction in verses 10-11: do not divorce, but if you divorce, do not remarry. Then he comes back in verses 12-16 to give a specific example. If your unbelieving spouse seeks a divorce, grant the divorce. What do you do then? Based on verses 10-11, you seek reconciliation.

I could give more situations but what we have said will cover many circumstances. Now we will shift gears to see if you have any questions or comments remaining from the things we have discussed.