A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Numbers 10 (Part 2)

Numbers 10:28-32—28  Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey. 29 Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good things to Israel." 30 And he said to him, "I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives." 31 So Moses said, "Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you." We read in the Book of Judges (Judges 4:11) that Hobab did indeed travel with the Israelites from Sinai. This gives us a good example of why we need to learn from those who have studied Scripture well. Yes, God is our guide, He directs on where we should go and what things we should do. But in our day-to-day walk and learning, we need someone to guide us in what that means. As the cloud guided the general direction the Israelites should travel, they needed someone to point out where they could find food, find water; which way to travel to avoid anyone who would try to harass or plunder them; which way would not involve the most physical expenditure, considering there were women and children in their camp. 

Likewise, we know Christ, we know our Bibles tell us to live lives of holiness to God. But so many times we ask “What does that mean? What things should I do or not do? Should I do this-or-that? Or should I avoid it?” Jesus said as He washed the Apostles’ feet in John 13:15—“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” In Ephesians 5:1 Paul says Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. “But what does that mean?” As this question abounds today, so it did even as Paul was writing his epistles. He told Timothy in 1st Timothy 4:12—Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. When someone has 100 pianos they have to tune, how do they do it? They find one piano that is in tune, and use it to tune the first piano. Then they use it to tune the second piano, and the third, etc. We can apply that same principle to imitating God—when we find a person who is imitating God, we let their lives be an example to us, and we follow them as Timothy followed Paul who followed Christ who followed the Father. But we need to make sure their lives are aligned with Scripture. In our daily walk with Christ, we need someone to guide us. As we read the Scriptures, as a guide to show us how to live for Him, there is not a step-by-step guide to show us that this is right our this is wrong—there is not a list of do’s and don’t’s to show us whether every little thing is right or wrong. We need someone to show us, from the Scriptures, that things are right and wrong, using the principles in the Scriptures to show us why they are right and wrong. So that, not only may we abstain from the things that are wrong, but we may also do the things that are right and proper. 

This is why it is important to find a preacher who is preaching the Word of God in truth, and not a motivational speaker/life coach who only wants to make people feel good while they speak on Sunday morning, rather than show forth the glory of God and lead them away from sin. Which is why someone like Joel Osteen is so problematic. He has admitted, from his mouth, that he does not consider himself a pastor and he does not use the word “sinners” in his sermons: “I don’t use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don’t. But most people already know what [when] they’re doing wrong. When I get them to church, I want to tell them that you can change.” (https://savenewengland.org/2023/07/14/preaching-against-sin/) No! If a man is sinning, he is, at the very least, grieving the heart of God and, at worst, taking one more step towards the fires of Hell. But how can a man know he is sinning if he is never told? Romans 7:7—I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." We hear many times that we need preachers who will preach Law and Gospel. Some will say “Why do we need to preach the Law? The Gospel is all that matters”. Are we saved by faith alone apart from works of the Law? Of course! (Galatians 2:16). But how will we live a life of holiness apart from doing things that please God and putting away from ourselves those things which displease Him (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9). As John Owen said “Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin, or sin will be killing you” (from “Of The Mortification of Sin In Believers”). 

This may seem hard to many. There are those who think that ceasing from sin means their lives will be filled with mundaneness and drudgery. What could be farther from the truth! To follow God is peace and joy and contentment! Will we always be happy? No. But look at any saint mentioned in Scripture and decide if their life was full of happiness. Will we never sin again if we are in Christ? Oh, I wish! Did you have a stray thought? Did you get cut off in traffic and curse the person under your breath? Did you notice that man’s or woman’s attractiveness for just a bit too long? Then you have sinned. Just after he said the preceding, Mr. Owen said again: “Indwelling sin always abides whilst we are in this world; therefore it is always to be mortified. The vain, foolish, and ignorant disputes of men about perfect keeping the commands of God, of perfection in this life, of being wholly and perfectly dead to sin, I meddle not now with.” 

But in this is true freedom: If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1st John 2:1). We no longer need to bring the blood of bulls and goats to a priest to be killed, cut up and burned.  We don’t need to go into a closed booth and tell the guy in the funny collar everything that we have done. We simply tell the Father that we know we did wrong, ask for forgiveness through our Savior, and guess what—we are forgiven! Show me one place in all of Scripture where prayer is even suggested to be made to someone other than God. Why? Because God alone has the authority to forgive sins. Even the Pharisees knew that (Mark 2:7; Luke 5:24). But here’s what they didn’t know—that God was standing right in front of them and was teaching them about forgiveness. But they were zealous for every jot and tittle of the Law, and forgot one very important thing: mercy. Hosea 6:6—For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. They thought they were doing well in that every time they sinned they brought a sacrifice. But they had it backwards. God wanted for them to not have to bring a sacrifice at all (Isaiah 1:11-17; Psalm 51:17). And in Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:7; and Luke 5:24 Jesus shows them the better way—to show mercy toward your neighbor. 

Numbers 10:33-36—33 So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp. 35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You." 36 And when it rested, he said: "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel." So, after all this time and after all these words the people finally left Sinai, with the cloud of God marking the way they should go. And whenever the cloud was taken up and they were thus commanded to leave, that Moses lifted up his voice and pleaded to God, "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You". He so begged, that those who would oppose the people of God might be taken away from them, that they may have a clear passage to where God was leading them. For how could the people fight when they had the Ark in the midst of them? “But if they had the Ark, wouldn’t God be there and fight for them?” You would think so. And so did the people of Israel when they fought against the Philistines and the battle was not going in their favor. 1st Samuel 4:3-5—3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. “Hooray!” the people said. “God is in the midst of us; surely He will defeat our enemies!” But, alas, it was not so. For not only did the Philistines defeat them in battle, but they also took with them the Ark of the Covenant. 1st Samuel 4:10-11—10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Note, this chapter is almost a continuation of the Book of Judges (as Eli was named a Judge in 1st Samuel 4:18), when the nation was still young, and was still trying to find their way out from that most sad and dreadful period, when they were still smitten with the worship of other gods, and still sought after a visual representation of God. And they thought that the Ark was God, and their superstition drove them to believe that if only this thing they could see and feel was in their midst, they would win. But it was not so. And, as Phineas’ wife said in 1st Samuel 4:18—"The glory has departed from Israel!" All this happened for one reason: Eli, being a wicked judge, had not restrained his sons from besmirching the Law of God and taking to themselves what belonged to God (1st Samuel 2:12-17). 

Yet many who don’t know Christ think the same way. When they do what is not right in the sight of God; when they slander His name, when they despise His Son; when they think themselves smarter than to believe in “some Sky Daddy”; when mischief befalls them, who do they turn to? Who can they turn to? They have insulted the only One who can deliver them out of their predicament. Or if that person thinks there may be a God, they may offer up some feeble prayer to Him, that He may deliver them. Or what about the person who knows that God is real, so they may wear a cross on a necklace; they may put up pictures of Christ knocking at a door, they may have in their midst some token to God, and think that will protect their life and their eternal soul. But God does not look for these things when that person stands before Him. He does not ask if they wore a crucifix, or if they had some trinket in their home. They will ask if they knew Christ. If they believed in Him for everlasting salvation from their sins. If they cried out, as Moses did, for Christ to scatter the minions of Satan, to make them flee before Him, to forgive their sins and impart to them His Spirit, that they may live lives that bring honor to Him. May God be gracious to us; may God fight for us and give us His great salvation. Let us not think trinkets and necklaces will make us acceptable to God, but only faith in Christ, the author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:2). Of those who would not rebuke the evil, Alexander MacLaren said: “Good, weak men, especially when they let foolish tenderness hinder righteous severity, bring terrible evils on themselves, their families, and their nation. It was Eli who, at bottom, was the cause of the defeat and the disasters which slew his sons and broke his own heart. Nothing is more cruel than the weak indulgence which, when men are bringing a curse on themselves by their sin, ‘restrains them not.’” 

But of those who will stand strong for God and His Christ, He will scatter their enemies, and make them flee. James 4:7—Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Adam Clarke: “He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of Jesus, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.”

 

"Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel." When the cloud rested, Moses would pray that God would visit His people, that He would be their God, and that they would follow His ways. And they did. Then they didn’t. Then they did. Then they didn’t. The story of the people of Israel is one of constant worshipping of God until one of their kings turned the people away from God (e.g. Ahab, Jeroboam), then they came back to Him under the rule of a wise king (e.g. Josiah, Jehoshaphat). But then their true King came, and they had Him put to death. So that spelled the end of Israel, right? Wrong. Romans 11:1-5—1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. God is not through with Israel. Although many in the physical nation of Israel do not believe that Jesus is their King, there are also many outside that physical nation who do believe. Rabbi James Scott Glazier says “The essential difference between Jews and Christians is that Christians accept Jesus as messiah and personal savior. Jesus is not part of Jewish theology. Amongst Jews, Jesus is not considered a divine being” (https://reformjudaism.org/learning/answers-jewish-questions/what-are-main-differences-between-jew-and-christian). But when he says “Jesus is not part of Jewish theology”, he is sadly mistaken. Jesus is spoken of in the Law and the Prophets; He is spoken of in all of their Tanakh. John 5:39—“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” He came to reconcile the people of Israel to God (Matthew 15:24). But they would not have Him as their King, for they were quite content having Caesar as their King (John 19:15). And even today, many Jews reject Him. But there are also many Jews who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. At this present time there is a remnant. A fellow named Ty Perry, at “The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry”, says it nicely. “Gentiles should never assume God has divorced His Chosen People. Jewish people should not cast Jesus off as a traitor to His people. He never denied the Jewish people, and His message of salvation by grace through faith is for all people, the Jew first and also the Gentile (Rom. 1:16)” (https://www.foi.org/2020/01/10/when-did-jesus-stop-being-jewish/). There are many groups, both Jewish and Gentile, who are longing for Israel to come to know that Jesus is King of the Jews, and that He longs for them to be saved (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34).

 

But why? Why is it that so many in Israel do not see Christ as their Sovereign? Why do they reject having Him as their Lord? Why does it seem that God has cast off His people, who to this day and forevermore are His people? Well, God has blinded their eyes, has caused a spirit of unbelief to come upon them that the number of Gentiles He has ordained should come into His kingdom. Romans 11:25-29—25 Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God made a covenant with Abraham, with David, and He promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that the people of Israel would be He people forevermore (Jeremiah 31:37). And who did He swear that by? He swore by Himself (Hebrews 6:13). When an oath is undertaken, can that oath be broken? No. Joshua learned that the hard way in Joshua 9. He had sworn by God that no harm would come to the Gibeonites, even though they had purloined that oath through untruths. Did that nullify that oath? No. So then, does the faithlessness of Israel negate the covenant God made with Abraham? Of course not! Even though Jesus said of Jerusalem that it “kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her”, Paul said at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace and that one day all Israel will be saved. Adam Clarke again: “[Israel] Shall be brought into the way of salvation, by acknowledging the Messiah…The term saved, as applied to the Israelites in different parts of the Scripture, signifies no more than their being gathered out of the nations of the world, separated to God, and possessed of the high privilege of being his peculiar people. And we know that this is the meaning of the term, by finding it applied to the body of the Israelites when this alone was the sum of their state.”

 

And one day, as the cloud returned to the people, our King and Sovereign Lord will return to us, giving us eternal rest. He will cause our enemy to flee, will bind him in chains for 1000 years, let him loose for a bit, then cast him into the lake burning with fire and brimstone for all eternity. He will return to His own, both Jew and Gentile, shall give us eternal peace, and we shall be in the presence of our Lord forever (1st Thessalonians 2:19).

 

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Amen. 

Verse-by-verse through Philippians (3:16-3:19)

Last week we talked about how those of us who have studied this word and are more mature in the faith, we are called to teach those who are newer to the faith. That if God has given us a gift for teaching or for preaching that we are to use that gift to build up the church—and by “church” I don’t just mean people that walk into a particular building on Sunday morning. When the Bible speaks of “the church” it refers to all believers in Christ. Sometimes it means all believers all around the world. Ephesians 5:25—Christ…loved the church and gave Himself for her. Sometimes it means a local congregation. Paul opens some of his letters by saying To the church which is at Corinth or To the church of the Thessalonians. The CHURCH is a worldwide body of believers which is made up of smaller bodies of believers. I hate to use words like “divided” or “separated” because we are not “separate.” Much like Tennessee and Rhode Island and Utah and Alaska are all states which make up one nation…under God. They are individual states which make up one whole.

And the people that gather here and the people that gather over on Elm Street and the people that gather in Powell and the people that gather in Africa and the people that gather in—wherever—are all smaller gatherings of the one great gathering. And Christ has given us gifts to use in ministering to those who gather, so that the whole body may grow and so that each individual may grow into the fullness of what Christ has called us to be. And the one person who knows a little truth, and the other person who knows a little more truth, and the person who knows a whole lot of the truth will all be measuring everything according to the same truth. Just like the illustration of measuring the distance from here to the end of the block. Whether I'm using a ruler or a yardstick or a tape measure—those instruments are different lengths but they are all based on the same standard. Six inches is 6” is 6”.

And in the same way, if a new believer and a more mature believer and the fellow who has been preaching truth for 60 years see the same thing—they are all seeing that through their own knowledge of the truth, and if they are all measuring according to the same standard of truth—then they are all going to be in agreement on it. So, let’s go ahead and read our text. And continue this idea.

Philippians 3:16-19—Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

We look for men who are teaching truth, and when we find them, we follow them, and we use them as a pattern for ourselves. And we use truth to measure anything else that claims to be truth (2nd Corinthians 10:3-6). If one person says “this is one inch,” and another person says, “No, this is one inch.” How do I determine who is correct? We find the "original inch" and we compare the two against it. By the same token, if someone says, “The universe was developed over billions of years, and human beings evolved from monkeys millions of years ago,” while another person says, “No, the universe was created over the course of six days a few thousand years ago, and man was created in God’s image.” How do I figure out who is right? I am gonna look for the answer from someone who was actually there!

Was God there when the universe was created? And let’s go one step further. If someone says, “You have to pray your Rosary and obey the Pope and give indulgences for your dead mother in Purgatory in order to be saved,” and another person says, “No, we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.” Where is the first place you should look? We should look to the One who decides what is necessary for salvation! And so you read your Bible, and lo-and-behold, none of those things that your Roman Catholic friend said you have to believe are in the Bible. So who do you believe? Yeah. You believe the one that has Scripture on their side. Because the Scripture is the rule we walk by.

Verse 16. Let us walk by the same rule—measure. We measure everything by the Holy Scriptures—not by Popes and councils. Martin Luther stood before the council that declared him a heretic for daring to say that Scripture is the final word on anything, and said, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience would be neither right nor safe. God help me. Here I stand, I can do no other.” If our conscience is captive to the Holy Scriptures, should we go against our conscience? No. We should walk by the same rule; we should be of the same mind.

Verse 17. Brethren, join in following my example. KJV—Brethren, be followers together of me. The HCSB is close, Join in imitating me. The NET comes closest—Be imitators of me. Literally, be joint-imitators of me. It’s one of those words Paul had to make up, kinda like the word “Google.” Ten years ago, if you asked your secretary to "Google" for you, you'd have probably wound up in a lawsuit. Today, we know what it means to "Google." The Greek word Paul used (συμμιμητής, summimetes) literally means, “join with each other as imitators of me.” Key word: imitate.

Last week we talked kinda briefly about how the apostles taught what Christ taught. And the early church taught what the apostles taught—which was what Christ taught. So if we follow what the early church taught, which was what the apostles taught, which was what Christ taught—whose teachings are we gonna be following? A=B, B=C, C=D, so A=D. How do you tune 100 pianos? You tune one, then you tune the rest according to that one. That passage from Ephesians that we looked at last week, let me finish that for you. Ephesians 4:14-16—We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I don’t understand how someone can study the human body and look at it and say it was just one big accident—or a bunch of little accidents. You want to know what is responsible for regulating your blood pressure? Your kidneys and your lungs. If your kidneys aren't getting enough blood, they release a substance that releases another substance, which changes into another substance, that goes to the lungs and there is an enzyme there that changes that substance into something else and then that increases your blood pressure. Guess what happens if one of those steps doesn’t happen? The whole shebang gets shut down, and the body does not work right.

What happens when the church doesn’t do what the church is supposed to do? The body of Christ will never die (Matthew 16), but sometimes it doesn’t function right. But since the apostle Paul imitated Christ, then we know that if we imitate Paul, we will be imitating Christ. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. KJV—mark those who so walk… We talked about the word “mark” a couple weeks ago. It’s the same word here that he uses in verse 14 when he says I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We get the word “scope” from the Greek. Telescope, microscope, gun scope. If I'm a sniper, where is my focus? Do I see what’s around me? Do I see what’s behind me? What is the only thing my eye is trained on? The only thing my eye sees is what is directly in front of me. So look at what Paul is saying here. We are to join together in imitating Paul—because he was focused on one thing and one thing only, and that was Christ. Then we mark those whose lives demonstrated a pattern of following Christ. Ephesians 5:1—Be imitators of God as dear children.

And we examine their lives, see how they lived their lives, and we follow that example. Join in following my example, mark those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. That word “pattern” means “the mark of a stroke or blow; a figure formed by a blow or impression.” We get the English word “type” from the Greek (τύπος, tupos). That’s why they call it a “typewriter.” The Greek refers to striking a blow that leaves a mark. On that typewriter, you mash the button, and what happens? You hit the “j” button; the die smacks the ribbon, and leaves an impression of the letter “j”. What happens if you hit that button again? You're gonna get another “j”. Is it gonna look like the first “j”? What happens if you hit that “j” 8,000 times? You're gonna get 8,000 “j’s” that all look pretty similar. Should a Christian today look pretty similar to a Christian from 2,000 years ago?

Basically, we are to think of men like the apostle Paul, and his students like Timothy and Titus, focus on them as examples, patterns. We imitate them, and we follow others whose lives are carbon copies. And that gives others a carbon copy, a pattern, and example to follow. Those people become a pattern for others who come after them. You see what I'm getting at? 1st Thessalonians 1:7-9—You became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth…Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. The Thessalonians had turned from their wickedness and their idolatry, and worshipped Christ. The people in Macedonia and Achaia heard that, and saw that their faith was genuine. So, when Paul and Timothy and Silas went to Macedonia and Achaia, those people already knew the Thessalonians, and they knew that the Thessalonians had learned from Paul and Timothy and Silas.

So what would that mean when they went to these regions? “Oh, you're the guys that taught the people at Thessalonica—that’s good enough for us! Welcome!” That’s the legacy we are to leave. That if someone says, “I learned what the Bible means from listening to the guys over at Grace,” and we if we are doing our job, what will that mean to others who are thinking about coming here? “That person goes there. I want to know the Bible. I'm gonna go there, too.” If we’re doing our job.

But if we’re not doing our job of teaching the whole counsel of God—who will we answer to in the end? I gotta confess, sometimes I’m not half as scared as I should be. It oughta frighten us to death. Isaiah 66:2—“I look on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” We not doing this to get an “A” in a class. We can't bluff our way through this. Our Boss, our Supervisor, the One who is gonna be grading us—the One that we must give an account to in the end—is God. So we are obligated to do our best to make sure that our teachings leave the right mark on people’s lives, so that if others follow their pattern, and those people follow our pattern, that pattern will lead them to Christ. If someone were to say, “My pastor is John MacArthur,” I would probably think that person knows the Bible because John MacArthur is one of the finest Bible teachers alive. That is the pattern his teaching leaves on a person.

Now, if a person said, “My pastor is Joel Osteen,” I would think they would be able to tell me how to be happy and healthy and wealthy and prosperous, and how “God created me to be a champion!” But I would also leave with the impression that the person wouldn’t know a whole lot about what the Bible actually means. That is the pattern his teaching leaves on a person. Study under a man like Dr. MacArthur—or some other men I could name (Mark Dever, Al Mohler, the late James Kennedy)—then the pattern, the mark they leave on your life will be that you know the Bible and what it means. If you study under a man like Joel Osteen, then the pattern, the mark he will leave on your life will be that you're happy—but you don’t know a whole lot of Scripture.

And that is so sad. Listen to the how the Psalmist described his love for God’s word. Psalm 119:1-18—Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

Does that sound like a pattern that we should follow? Here is this man pouring out his heart about how wonderful the Law of God is—that very same law that condemns us! That is the attitude of a Christian. It’s not a case of “I have to keep the Law if I want to love God.” No! The truth is, “I love God—so I want to keep His Law!” Obeying mom and dad doesn’t make you love them. You love them, so you obey them. We are to note the men whose lives are patterned after godliness, shaped out of godliness, devotion to the truth, and a love for Christ. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

Verses 18-19. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. Paul has just finished telling us to watch and follow those people that you can see their lives and say, “That is someone who imitates Christ. I want to be like that person.” And now he lets us know that there are others whose lives are the complete opposite. They live a life that ignores Christ, that is hostile to Christ, and who want nothing to do with Christ.\

Verse 18. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Anybody want to be an enemy of God? But here’s the thing: look at what Paul says. Does he say these people are enemies of Christ? They are enemies of Christ, but he calls them enemies of—what? Enemies of the cross of Christ. When Paul talks about an “enemy of the cross,” he’s not simply talking about people who are out-and-out sinners. He’s talking about people who deny that salvation comes only by and through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Now, what do I mean by that? Well, if we go back to the first few verses of this chapter, we see one example. This whole chapter is one long train of thought. He spends all these verses warning the Philippians about a group of men called “Judaizers.” Long story short: these were Jews who were pinning their hopes of salvation on keeping “the Law”—the Ten Commandments and all the rest of the 613 commandments in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy. Plus, they said, if a man was not circumcised, they taught that the man could not be saved. And by doing so, they were pitting themselves against the cross of Christ.

But listen to some of the words Paul has for these guys: Galatians 5:2-4 [NASB]—If you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. In other words, if someone tries to say that salvation comes through faith in Christ AND “keeping the Law” then they're not saved. If someone says you must be saved by Christ AND keeping the Sabbath; or you must be saved by Christ AND baptism, or you must be saved by Christ AND anything—they probably aren't saved. Because according to Galatians 5:4, if anyone is seeking to be justified by Law, they are severed from Christ.

Hebrews 10:28-29—Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Think about that! Anyone who knew the Law, but went ahead and did what was forbidden by that Law of God—was put to death if 2-3 people testified (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). That is what God demanded and that is what God thinks about sin. And in that regard, He has not changed. He still hates sin. But now, God has sent His Son, who fulfilled all of those 613 commandments, so that we don’t have to worry about remembering all of them and trying to obey each and every one of them—because there is no way we could! So if you reject the sacrifice that was the cross of Jesus Christ, guess what your only hope of salvation is? From the moment you're born until the day you die, you must keep that Law perfectly, never ever break even one commandment ever, ever-ever, even once.

Guess what?

Romans 3:23—All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 1st John 1:8—If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. So if a person rejects the blood of Christ, they have basically said to God that they’re gonna do what only Jesus could ever do. They make themselves an enemy of the cross of Christ by rejecting that cross—they have condemned themselves. Because they are saying that they are putting their hope of salvation in themselves. And, I believe Dr. MacArthur said it best: “The apostate is beyond salvation because he has rejected the only sacrifice that can cleanse him from sin and bring him into God’s presence. To turn away from that sacrifice leaves him with no saving alternative.” The cross of Christ is the ONLY way to salvation. Period. Paragraph. Jesus Christ is Savior.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

Weak preachers are God's Judgment

Sometimes I forget things. Like the fact that when a snake in the pulpit rises to fame and prominence, the people who follow that man (or woman) are not "victims." They are merely reaping what they have been seeking. They do not want the truth, they want the Mercedes. And so, God says, "Fine--you won't get either one!" And He sends a Joel Osteen or a Paula White or a Benny Hinn or some other serpent to fill a pulpit and give those people over to the one they are really serving.

Here, Paul Washer, speaking truth, shows us why people like Creflo and Kenny and Jesse and Junie-B are truly God's Judgment upon a lost and wicked people.

A gospel tract you won't find at Lakewood Church

HAT TIP: Contemporary Calvinist

Fake Translation of the Week--Deuteronomy 13:4

(Real Translation Here)

In this day and age where the Emerging Church Movement is growing, people are flocking to the ear-tickling voices of men like Joel Osteen and TD Jakes, and men like Mark Driscoll are letting vulgarities fly from what was once considered a sacred place (the pulpit). This time in history where you are laughed at, disowned, ridiculed, and ostracized for standing on the truth of Scripture--by those who call themselves the church--it seems only fitting to re-translate a certain passage of Scripture.

(Altered text in bold italics)

Deuteronomy 13:4 (Emerging Translation)--You shall walk after whatever you think the LORD your God is, and fear those who build their own ideas of Him out of thin air, and keep removing His commandments from your Bible, and obey those who claim to speak with His voice and listen only to your own wants and desires; you shall serve yourself and hold fast to your own ideas about what sin is.

Fake Translation of the Week--Acts 5:40-42

(Real translation here)

There are people who think that when you follow Christ, all the world will applaud your decision, that all your troubles will end, life will be a bed of roses, your life will be filled with health, wealth, and prosperity, and you will experience Your Best Life Now!© (read the John MacArthur quote under the blog title for more on that)

Yeah........right.......

Tell that to the apsotles, who were beaten, imprisoned, scourged, shackled, left for dead, driven out of every town they went to. Oh, I guess they must have been under a curse, or had some unconfessed sin in their life, or their faith wasn't strong enough.

But, for those who think we deserve a comfortable life because we belong to Christ, take out your Sharpies® and your Exacto® knives, and start creating your own Bible.

Altered text in bold italics

Acts 5:40-42 (Comfortable Life Translation)--40 and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, complaining that they were better than that, and they didn't deserve the treatment they received. After all, they were Christians, and they are entitled to all the rewards and benefits thereof 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ, just so they didn't offend anyone.

Give us Barabbas!

Matthew 27:15-23

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

Is this not the rallying cry of many churches today? When given the choice between the real Jesus (The one who went around spouting such things as "Repent!" and "Go forth and sin no more!" and "Take up thy cross and follow Me") or the kinda hip sort of laid-back slacker-dude type of Jesus (The kind that supposedly said we weren't supposed to be worried too much about sin and all that sort of icky stuff, that we we're just supposed to chill and get along and not worry about all that holiness stuff), many churches have no problem choosing the latter.

After all, who wants to have to worry about sin and Hell and God's wrath and all that? "Hey, come on dude, chill with all that stuff! Church is just a place to hang and be cool! Hey, who's up for poker? Dude, go ahead and put in some Elvis! He, like, sang some gospel songs or somethin'!"

No, they would rather have that non-threatening Jesus. Who in fact is not Jesus at all. Truth be told, they don't want Jesus. They want Barabbas.

• "Don't prophesy to us right things! speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits!" (Isaiah 30:10) They want Barabbas.
• They want to hear "Peace! Peace! when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). They want Barabbas.
• They want to hear "Peace and safety," not knowing that sudden destructon will come (1st Thessalonians 5:3). They want Barabbas.

They want someone who isn't going to ask too much of them, who isn't going to make them feel guilty about the sin in their lives, who isn't going to ask them to give up their old life, or ask them to put to death the sins of the flesh. They want the one who is just gonna talk about getting along with folks. They want the feel-good experiences with the Holy Spirit without all that, you know, conviction of sin and stuff. They want Barabbas.

Who wants that Jesus that says, "Take up thy cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34)? Let HIM be crucified. "I got a life to live, and I can't be held back by reading some book you guys think is supposed to help me know God. I already know Him, and He ain't gonna judge me!"

When someone tells you about these preachers that go around speaking smooth things and deceit, and that we should really listen to them because of how popular they are, remind them of this fact: Even Barabbas won a popularity contest once.

The world was not worthy of these

Domain For Truth has the story of a family of missionaries in India. The husband and their two sons were burned alive by militant Hindus. The wife and daughter, rather than leave and go someplace safe, have decided to remain in India. Their life, and their Christian witness has inspired many to follow Christ.

Read this post. Read the whole thing, slowly, taking in every word. Then turn on your TV and try to watch Ken Copeland, or Joel Osteen, or Fred Price, or Mike Murdock, or any of those other goofballs that try and tell you that if you're saved, you won't suffer anything.

Is Doctrine Important?

To hear some people say it, we who claim the title "Christian" shouldn't really be too concerned with doctrine. They'll say something like "Doctrine divides! We should just be concerned with loving people and doing good deeds!" Or, "We should just preach the love of Jesus!" I love this next one--"What Would Jesus Do? He wouldn't condemn anybody!" (I guess these people never read Matthew 23.) Well, He doesn't have to condemn anybody. They condemn themselves (John 3:17-18).

All that said, just how important is it to follow sound doctrine? In the epistles, the word "doctrine" is used 26 times in 25 verses. It is used 3 times in the first two chapters of Revelation. And 51 times in 50 verses in the whole Bible. . Maybe it's just me, but that makes it seem like doctrine might be just a wee bit important. So let's see what the Bible has to say about the importance of...the Bible.

The main text will be 1st Timothy 4:13--Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Hmmm. What was that last word? What's that that Paul tells young Timothy to be attentive to? Oh yeah. DOCTRINE. Why is doctrine important? Is a Calvinist more saved than Arminian? Is someone more sanctified if they don't believe in a pre-trib rapture? Well, both of these questions are moot. These are not necessarily saving doctrines.

But, how would one know that if they didn't understand proper doctrine? What of the one who comes in and says, "Unless you speak in tongues, you're not saved!" Don't laugh. There are people who teach that. A friend of mine from our church was told that by a HyperCharismatic "preacher" once. It messed her up for years. And he's not the only one that preaches that. I have to shake my head whenever I hear some preacher say, "We believe in salvation through Jesus Christ as evidenced by speaking in tongues." Why did these goofballs preach this? Because they do not understand proper...DOCTRINE.

If you don't have it, how can you know what is right and wrong? How can you say that someone knows the truth? You see, God did not give us His written word just so we could have something to put on our coffee table, or carry around with us on Sundays. He gave us His word--He spoke the words to the apostles and prophets--so that we would know Him, trust Him, fear Him, and obey Him. The pages aren't perforated. Their aren't little lines that say "Cut here if you don't like this." ALL Scripture is profitable. Every single verse. Even the ones that some people don't like because they make them feel bad. Oh, yeah, that's another reason He gave us His word. That whole "conviction of sin" thing.

You see, one can say they worship God. They can claim to believe in the same Jesus as you and I do (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons). But, how can you know if they do or not? Well, yo have to examine their...you know what. Do they believe Jesus is the eternal, uncreated Son of God, born of a Virgin (i.e., a chaste virgin), begotten by the Holy Spirit (not by physical sexual intercourse with God the Father)--or do they believe He was just an angel? Or that He was Satan's brother in some pre-mortal world? Do they believe that God the Father had to learn how to become God? Do they believe the Holy Spirit is simply "God's active force?" If they hold these doctrines, they do not know God.

Now, you'll get your Joel Osteens, your Emergents, your Purpose-Drivers who will say that, "Well, we should just help these people be the best people they can be!"

Who cares if they're lost and headed for eternal destruction?

"Let's just help them cope with their life for now! In fact, lets show them how to have their Best Life Now!!" If these people would study to show themselves approved (2nd Timothy 2:15), and would actually study their Bibles instead of just skimming over the tough parts, they would fall on their face, repent, and pray for the lost instead of heaping scorn on those of us who understand the importance of proper doctrine.

Oh, I'm sorry. That just makes me a member of the "doctrine police." So be it. There's a reason Paul said to "gove attendance to...doctrine." Because it's IMPORTANT!!! Here are some more verses that show how important this is:

• 1st Timothy 1:3-4--As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.


• 1st Timothy 4:16--Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


• 1st Timothy 6:3-5--If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings...from such withdraw thyself.


• 2nd Timothy 4:2-4--Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.


• Titus 2:1, 6-8--But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine...Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.


• 2nd John 1:9-11--Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.


• Revelation 2:14-15--"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."

There's plenty more.

But, nah, doctrine isn't important.

Fluffernutter Alert--Joel Osteen: "Mormons are true Christians"

ReformationNation has links to an interview with "America's pastor" (How did he get THAT title? I wouldn't sit under him.) in which Osteen, when asked if they are Christians, says:

Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his savior, and that's what I believe, so, you know, I'm not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are. And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me, and I don't think he would — anything would stop me from voting for him if that's what I felt like.

MIKE WALLACE: So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?

JOEL OSTEEN: I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know. I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his savior, to me that’s a common bond. (Online source)

That's right, Joel. Don't you worry about whether you are encouraging your flock to follow the false Christ and false Gospel of Mormonism. Just so long as they feel good while they're on their way to destruction, and they can be the best lost people they can be.

Osteen not having his "best sales now" in persecuted countries

Found this at Tom in the Box (a satire site). Not sure if this is satire, but it sounds like it could be true (at least the premise).

The 10/40 window is also the area of the world where Christians face the most persecution. The worst persecutors, such as North Korea, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Sudan, all fall into this critical window of the world (North Korea is actually not labeled on this map because it is so dangerous for Christians to even be there).

TBNN has learned that Christians who live in these countries just do not find Pastor Osteen's books relevant. For example, despite the fact that "Your Best Life Now" was translated into Korean, the North Korean Christians just do not want to read it.

North Korean Pastor Kim Sung-Wei (named changed for security reasons) told TBNN, "North Korean Christians face great difficulty each day. If the authorities find out that we serve Jesus, they will take away our homes and jobs. If they find us meeting together for worship, they will throw us in jail. As a pastor, I have been beaten three times already this year. This man, Osteen, writes about things that we do not understand."

"Your Best Life Now," while being a best-seller in the USA, sold five copies in Pyongyang, and three in the remainder of the country. We have heard of similar stories in much of the rest of the 10/40 window.

This guy's REALLY good!!

John Piper on the "prosperity" gospel: