Leviticus chapter 19 Leviticus chapter 19 I Will only
read the first two verses I'll not take time to read it all
Or I say that yes the first two verses. I'm sorry Leviticus chapter
19 and the Lord spake unto Moses saying Speak unto all the congregation
of the children of Israel and saying to them Ye shall be holy,
for I, the Lord your God, am holy. Now, before this morning,
I thought, first of all, I began to look at all these legal, Mosaic,
Levitical commandments that follow after these two verses. My first
thought as I looked over this chapter, because I looked over
it months ago, but as I began to look over it in particular
for this morning, I thought, well, I can look at some of the
figures and some of the shadows, and that certainly would be a
valid thing. Why does God give a commandment
in the Levitical law, don't mix breed your animals, right? I mean, we do it all, it was
done back then. We get a mule out of, what is
it, a horse and a donkey, am I correct in that? We get a mule,
we can say, well, the mule is sterile, then eventually you
would lose your bloodline. Now, that is physically true,
or why would he say don't sow different seed in the same field? Why? We know there are physical
reasons, Mason, why he commanded that. But it shadows, it typifies,
it figures this. You can't mix grace and works.
That's what it's talking about. You can't mix grace and works.
Why does he also mention Sabbaths here? And in other chapters,
what he says, Moses speak unto the children of Israel, he doesn't
mention Sabbaths. Well, one thing about it. The
Sabbath is still Friday evening sundown to Saturday evening sundown,
and God didn't change it to Sunday midnight to 12 midnight the next
day. It's not been changed. But the
Sabbath figures or typifies our Lord. He is our true rest. But that's not what I'm going
to speak on. Also thought of this, we could approach it from
God's declaration of Israel as holy because they were the channel
through which Messiah would come and God declared them to be holy. Now I know there could be disagreement
among men and some ask is this, ye shall be holy for I the Lord
your God am holy and men, I won't say will argue, but they have
their opinions. Some say it's a command, others
say it's a declaration. I see it as a declaration here.
I see it as a declaration, but be that as it may, the fact is
Israel was a holy nation, though it was made up of many reprobate,
unholy men and women. Men and women who were not the
elect of God. And of course, the Old Testament
and the New Testament teaches us this clearly. They're not
all Israel, which are of Israel. They're just not all Israel,
which are of Israel. So we could look at that, and
that would be a valid approach. They were holy, right? God set them apart. No, God created this nation.
and God set this nation apart and provided for them and kept
them in spite of themselves. And do we not see God's grace
manifest in even that? That's what he does for me. That's
a valid thing, but that's not my approach. My approach today
is this, I want us to see the purpose of the law. Now, what
I'm going to do, some of you will probably think, you may
not say it, but I thought it, you'll probably say, well, you're
doing this over and over and over again. But when you get
to the book of Leviticus, that's what it is, law, law, law. But it also is grace, grace,
grace. Now turn to 1 Timothy chapter
one. First Timothy chapter one. I want us to see the purpose
of the law. Paul asked the question to the
Galatians. Wherefore then serveth the law?
What is the law's purpose? Well, look at how Paul put it
to Timothy. First Timothy chapter one. And
verse six, from which some have swerved, and that is from the
end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart. Now where
you gonna get one of them? There is a pure heart. Our Lord
Jesus Christ spoke of a good heart into which good seed falls.
He gave the example, called it good ground and good seed, but
when he explained it, he said the seed's the word of God, and
the good ground is a good and honest heart. So somebody has
one, but it's got to come from God. Because there's none good
by nature. By nature, there's none good,
no not one, from which some have swerved, having turned aside
unto vain jangling. And you know, just like taking
a bell and just ringing it. Taking a bell and just ringing it. Look,
desiring to be teachers of the law. There's a lot of those in
our day still yet today. And every denomination, I don't
care which one it is, every denomination, when they talk about obedience
to the law, they pick and choose certain commandments. How many times do you hear, I'm
not saying some never do, because they pick and choose what they
like best. How many times do you hear pastors
preaching to their churches, you men, there's certain ways
you cannot cut your hair, and certain ways you cannot cut your
beard. And yet, is that not one of the commandments in Leviticus
chapter 19? If you read it, it's there. It's
there. Desiring to be teachers of the
law, but look at what Paul says. Understanding neither what they
say nor whereof they affirm. They don't know where they're
coming from. They don't know what it is they're really talking
about. But we know that the law is good if a man uses it in the
right way. That's what he's saying. If a
man if a man use it lawfully, knowing this, that the law is
not, so he's gonna give us the negative over here. The law is
not for a righteous man. You see, if a righteous man knows
the speed limit's 55, you don't have to post 55 along the highway. Right? Just tell him the speed
limit's 55. He'll drive no more than 55 if
he's a righteous man. What's those things posted for?
For those who are not righteous. For those who don't care about
the standard or the rule or the law. Knowing this, that the law
is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient. For the ungodly and for sinners. for unholy and profane, for murderers
of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers,
for them that defile themselves with bad kind, for men-stealers,
for liars, for perjured persons. And I figure the Spirit of God
moved Paul to think, now if I keep on, I'll never get done with
this letter. Hmm? Remember, they say there's 600
plus commands, and those commands cover thousands upon thousands
upon thousands of human action. It's not just 600 things you
can do wrong. There's 600 rules to tell you what is right to
do and what is wrong to do. For all they say, and if there
be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. So what is
the purpose of the law? It is to expose us for what we
really are. Now I've said that over and over,
maybe in slightly different ways, but that's the law's purpose. By the law is the knowledge of
sin. And that's the purpose of the law. And that's the best. That's the best God will ever
give you out of the law. Because if you think, You can
keep God's law to gain God's favor, then you got to keep it
all without fault. That's the purpose of the law.
So here's another question. Having read what Paul said, and
this ain't my opinion, this is inspired scripture. The law's
not for a righteous man, it's for what? It's for sinners and
ungodly people. For immoral, for unrighteous people. Everything
that falls under those categories, right? So here's a question. How can a sinner be holy in God's
sight? How can a sinner be holy in God's
sight? Did not our Lord Jesus Christ
himself say, and Paul affirmed it as a faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptation, Christ Jesus came into this world to save
who? Sinners. Sinners. So how can a sinner
be holy? Right? How can a sinner be holy? Now the word holy means this.
I'm not here to argue. I know there are a lot of people
think you're holy by the clothes you wear, or maybe the clothes
you don't wear, or the way you fix your hair. There are certain
denominations that teach that's holiness. There are some that
teach holiness as not going to the movies, not watching TV,
not playing cards, all those kind of things. But here's what
holy means. It means sacred. It means clean. It means sanctified. And the
word sanctified means holy, of course, but it means to set apart.
But it means specifically to set apart before God. Or to set
apart for God. Or both. For God and before. For instance,
God is holy, but God is also righteous. And God is never holy
apart from righteousness. God is never righteous apart
from holiness. But there were some things in the Old Testament,
especially of the Levitical worship, that were holy, that is declared
to be holy, set apart for the service of God, but that thing
never changed its personal character. The candlestick was holy. The
brazen altar was holy. But it wasn't righteous. Because
it had no soul. It had not sinned against God.
But that common piece of wood and gold and whatever they were
made with or overlaid with gold, it was holy. But when it comes
to you and I, we must be both righteous and holy before God. And you're never gonna be holy
unless you're righteous. You're never righteous unless
you're holy. As a matter of fact, the word saint simply means a
holy one. a holy one. Now I realize when
we say that, many people don't really know what holiness means,
so they think of that really austere, super-Christian kind
of person, you know what I mean? They don't do all these things,
and they do all these other things. But that's what holy means. Sacred,
clean, or set apart. And let me tell you, God is holy,
but he is not set apart, he is a part. He is absolutely different
than us. We were created in his image,
yes, but we fail in the garden in our daddy Adam. And we no
longer bear God's image in the outward or the inward respect. At best, at best, and I know
people argue about this and debate this, at best we are as the triune
God. We are made up of three parts.
And God is, that's not the right, I don't mean that, we are made
up of three parts. At best, God is Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost. But we've marred even that. We've
marred even that. So again, how can a sinner be
holy? Don't prejudice your mind about
what I'm about to say though. Holiness must be. Holiness must
be. Four things. Holiness must be
purposed for me, if I'm ever to be holy. Holiness must be
purposed for me, not by me. It must be purposed for me. Holiness
must be purchased for me. I cannot purchase it myself. Holiness must be wrought within
me. I cannot work it within myself. And holiness must be continually
sustained for me and in me, but I cannot sustain it myself. So somebody says, what are you
gonna preach about this morning, preacher? the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. First of all, holiness must be purposed. Turn to Ephesians
1. Holiness must be purposed, and
it was. God is not, God is no longer
purposing, this is still out there. There is no one who will
ever be holy that God has not already purposed that holiness
for them. That is, if you're unholy today
and God says, well, they're unholy today, but tomorrow God purposes
to make you holy, it does not work that way. Now, I know I
flubbed that quite a bit there, but holiness must be purposed
and it was. Ephesians 1. And I will highlight
a few things. I don't have time to deal with
all of it, of course. Blessed be the God and Father.
Let me just stop here and say, I realize some people do not
like this passage. Somebody says, I don't like the
way you believe it, preacher. No, you don't like what it says
here. There are people like that. They
don't like it. I was one of those people at
one time. Just the very hearing of the subjects that are mentioned
here boiled up within me a rebellion against God. But Paul, now, at
one time, I figure he probably felt that way too, especially
when he started looking at God and may have done this same thing
for some Gentiles. He said, blessed, right? Paul liked this. Paul blessed
God. He gave praise to God for what
he's about to say. Blessed be the God and Father
of the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in, in heavenly places, how? In Christ. Now I tried to give, I gave this
example some time back, I will try to give it again. Right now,
these people, whoever these people are, they already are what? Blessed with all spiritual blessings. They already have everything
they'll ever need in Christ. And I tried to illustrate this
by Israel when they moved out of Egypt. They had everything
for the tabernacle worship with them when they left. They spoiled
the Egyptians of wood and gold and silver and beasts, didn't
they not? And yet the tabernacle wasn't
even mentioned yet or formed yet, but they already had in
their possession what? Everything they would need. You see? And God's people are
blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Under what auspice? According
as he has chosen us in him, the nearest preceding thing there
is Christ According as he has chosen us in Christ before the
foundation of the world. He chose us in Christ He did
not choose us in ourselves and yet Nor did he choose us because
we would be in Christ, but he chose us in Christ and And he
did that because he'd already predestinated us. Because verse
five says, of the truth of verse four, having, he did this, according
as he had chosen us of him, having predestinated us. So in the purpose of God, now
not in the mind of God, God knows all things eternally at all times. But for our understanding, so
we'll know, this is not about us. He predestinated us under
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. He predestinated
me and he chose me, set his love on me in that very Christ. As a matter of fact, Paul puts
it this way in the epistle to the church at Rome. He said that
concerning Jacob and Esau, Jacob was one of the elect, Esau was
reprimanded. That's just the way it is. And he said, the children,
having not been born, neither, so he's talking about a second,
though equal thing, neither having done any good or evil. I was brought up that God seeing
who would be in Christ, and he chose whoever would be in Christ
by their free will. That's how I was raised. That
is not at all, it's contrary to what Paul's saying here. He
chose us in Christ. Not because we'd be in Christ.
Neither did he choose us in ourselves. But it's always in Christ. But
look at it. According as it's chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be.
As someone says, should. This is the old English. It's
not should as may or may not. It is should because God Almighty
has ordained this to be so. Watch some old English movies,
I mean really old English movies. You'll see this word should used
in its proper sense. It's not maybe it will, maybe
it won't. It is not that. This is God permitted this to
be so. That's what it means. God permitted this to be so.
According as he's chosen us in him before the foundation of
the world that we should be holy, You see it? So holy that we are
without blame. I cannot fathom that. By God's grace, I believe it,
but I can't see it, because I still, to some degree, see me. And I'm
just not holy in me. I'm blameable. I'm guilty. Go read the law and see if you
are or not. And if you don't think you are, then carry yourself
up at it. Go at the law, but you better
go 100%. And the problem is, if you've
already missed something in the law, you've missed the starting
point, because you've got to start from the get-go. Somebody says, well, I'll offer
a sacrifice. You better. Well, Jesus will be my sacrifice.
Either he's your sacrifice, and you worship him, or the law is
what you worship, and you worship God under that. You cannot. Remember, Paul says, we don't
serve according to the letter of the law. We serve in newness
of spirit. You remember the example I gave
you that? It's like a woman, she has a husband, and that husband
dies. Now she's free to marry another
man, right, by the law. She's free to marry another,
and she's not called an adulteress if she does so. But if that first
husband puts her away, it's not even, she had nothing to do with
it, especially in that day when the husband could put away the
wife and she had no say so in the matter. And here she is,
if she marries another man, what's the law declare her to be? Even
though the husband was wicked and mean and he put her away,
she's an adulteress. Now here's the whole point. We
serve God in Christ. We do not serve the law except
where? In your mind. Here's the analogy
I give. Here's that woman. She has this
second husband. First husband's dead. She makes
the meal for that husband. This second living husband sets
the plate before that husband and says, here's this fine meal.
Eat this meal. And that husband looks and That
is great. And she says, hold on a minute,
don't eat quite yet. She goes and gets another plate and sits
it down over here beside her, sits down the utensils and packs
that plate full of food and says, now this is for my first husband.
How many of you husbands want to deal with that? Hmm? Hmm? We serve God in Christ. My righteousness and my holiness
cannot be in the law because the law shows me my unholiness. in Christ, that we should be
holy and without blame, but look, before Him. This is the whole point. If you're
seeking holiness by the law, that holiness must be approved
of God, not me and not ourselves. It's gotta be a God-accepted
holiness. And God said the man that does
the law must, must continue in all things written in the book
of the law to do them. Having, he goes on, predestinated
us under the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. And
some say, like they accused one old pastor years, one of the
old preachers years ago, well you believe in double predestination.
I don't care if that's what this book teaches. I believe in predestination
and election, and I know God chose his people in Christ because
he'd already predestinated them under the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ himself. That's what it says. According
to the good pleasure, and here's the only will that matters, his
will. to the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted, how? In the beloved. God has already purposed holiness
for somebody. For somebody. Number two, holiness
must be purchased. Hebrews chapter 10. Holiness
must be purchased. And again I say, it was. It was. God is not purchasing
holiness for anyone. Either my holiness was purchased
by Christ some odd 2,000 years ago at Calvary or I have no holiness
before God except in the law if I keep it absolutely. Look
at what he says, Hebrews 10. For the law having no shadow,
a shadow of what? It's just a shadow, an outline. I'm not preaching about the shadows
themselves. For the law having a shadow of what? Good things
to come. He's not calling the law a bad
thing, but the law was over bad people. The unholy, the profane,
the unjust, good things to come, and not the very image of the
things can never, with those sacrifices, which they offered
year by year continually, make the comers therein to what perfect
or complete, whole, consecrated unto God. For then would they
have not ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, once
purged, should have no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices
there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. You see, why did God keep saying,
Moses, say to Israel, and he gives them a list, right? In
Leviticus, Moses, the next day or week, whatever it was, Moses,
say to Israel, gives them a very similar list. Some things overlap. Mason, there may be new things
in the list. Going through Leviticus, why?
To keep reminding us about how bad we really are. For it is
not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins. Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not,
but a body hast thou prepared me in burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin. Thou hast had no pleasure, never
did, never will. Not in some thousand years to
come. And Israel goes back to offering animals. If they do,
and they look to those things, they must keep the law completely
and wholly without fault. Thou hast no pleasure. Then said
I, lo, I come. In the volume of the book it
is written to me. This whole book is about one person, Jesus
Christ. In the volume of the book it
is written to me. And what did he come to do? To do thy will. Oh God, now here's a question
each and every one of us must answer. The Jesus we believe
in, if we believe in one, did he do God's will? Yes or no? Yes or no? Well I believe God willed to
save everybody without exception. Is your Jesus going to save everybody
without exception? If not, he didn't do God's will. Now folks, that's a one plus
one. Equals two. That's not a complex trigonometry
kind of thing. That's easy enough. I come to
do thy will. Above, what he said, sacrifice
and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin, thou wouldest
not, neither has pleasure therein, which are offered by the law.
Then said he, lo, I come to do thy will. O God, he does what? He takes away. Isn't that what it said? He takes
away the first. What's the first? It's this Levitical
law. He takes away the first that
he may establish the second by the which will we are made holy. There's the word. And you check
me out. Get you a concordance. Get Strong's,
get Unger's, get all the concordances. Read them. Sanctification is
the same word as holiness. By the which will, we are sanctified,
and here's the question, how and when? Right, in those valid
questions, how and when? By the which will, we are sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And what does that mean? You
don't need me to explain it. He goes on and explains it. And
every priest standeth daily, ministering, and they were still
at this time. 70 A.D. had not happened yet.
The Jews were still offering these sacrifices daily, over
and over and over. And every priest standeth daily
and ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins, but this man. after he offered
one sacrifice, four sins, forever, sat down on the right hand of
God. So when was my holiness purchased? When Christ died on that tree. Isn't that what it says? That's what he's teaching. There
is no question as to this. Somebody said, well, some people
don't see it that way. It's because they're blind. It's because they're blind. It's
not because it's not in plain English. It's because they're
blind. And look, from henceforth, expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool, and Paul mentioned
both sides of that category. Either you will fall on Jesus
Christ this stone and be broken, or he will grind you, he'll fall
on you and he'll grind you to powder. All of his enemies will
be brought down one day. Some will be brought down by
grace now, in mercy, and compassion and others will be put down by
God at the judgment, one or the other. From henceforth, now Christ
is expecting this to happen. You think it's gonna happen or
not? I mentioned to a group of folks years and years ago, when
I was in that heretical movement called the Association of Regular
Baptists, and I was teaching the men's Sunday school and happened
to be, it was just, Mason, it just happened to be starting
my first time to teach, new preacher, and Ephesians chapter one, I
was the men's class teacher. And I thought, oh my. I told
those men, the book of the Revelation, John has already seen thousands
upon thousands cast into the lake of fire. Yes or no? Does anyone think that that cannot
come to pass? or will not come to pass. Everyone
cannot go to glory because God, John done seen God cast some
of them into the lake of fire. Somebody's gonna perish. Yes
or no? And I seen lips curl and eyes
roll and if you could see heat on a human body, I'm sure the
heat of anger was moving off those men. What does he say? From henceforth expecting expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool. He'll conquer you
now or he'll put you in the lake of fire later. For by one offering
he hath perfected forever the very same ones that he sanctified. Isn't that what it says? Holiness was purchased for somebody.
I want to be one of those. I wanna be one of those. Number
three. Turn to 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians chapter two. Holiness
must be wrought within us. I said wrought within us. 2 Thessalonians two. For some
context. And for this calls God. You see
that? Now what calls? Because they
receive not the love of the truth. It's not just believe in the
truth. It's loving the truth. And if you love something, you
spend time with it, you spend money on it, you spend your emotions
on it, you spend your thoughts on it, that's just the way it
is. Now, if some of us loved our wives like we claim we love
the gospel, our wives would have left us long, long ago. Hmm? Seth, does your wife expect you
to spend some time on her, some emotion on her, maybe a little
bit of money on her? Uh-huh, yeah, and you better do so, and
you will, though, if you love her. You will if you really love
it. That's because they didn't receive
the love of the truth that they might be saved, and for this
cause, God shall send them strong delusion, and he gonna give them
exactly what they really wanted, the lie. You know what it says? Now, I was taught years ago when
I was back in that heretical movement, well, that is judicial.
That's judicial judgment, judicial hardening. It's still real. It's
still real. Yes, it's judicial. God doesn't
do this to good people, just because he don't like these good
people. If you're really good, God loves you. But you're not
gonna be good unless God makes you good. Look, and for this
cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe
a lie, or more appropriately, in the Greek, it is the lie.
Why, hell, or for what reason? That they all might be damned. Who believed not the truth, but
had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks
all the way to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Because
God hath from the beginning chosen you for salvation through sanctification,
there's the word, through this process of the Spirit of God
making you holy. Setting you apart under God,
but it's not just some technical thing It's a real thing Christ
said except a man be born from above He not even will be able
to comprehend the kingdom of God. God's got to do something
for us first First and what is it sanctification the spirit
and what's going to come through that belief of the truth? belief
of the truth but there's something that's gonna bring you to that
belief of the truth. Where unto? He called you by our gospel to
the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the law couldn't do it for him.
The law can't make me holy, could it? Why did God tell these people,
even these Jews, ye shall be holy for? you will keep the law. Ye shall be holy, if you follow
in my statutes and my commandments. Is that what he says? Ye shall
be holy, for, here's the reason, here's the reason, for I, the
Lord, your God, am holy. You see it? What's the cause
of their only real hope of holiness? That's the title of my message,
true holiness. What is true holiness? True holiness, God is my true
holiness in the person of his son. So as I said, number three,
holiness must be wrought within. But not only that, holiness must
be continually sustained within. You see, although I probably
haven't always said it this way, I don't believe God predestinated
some people to heaven and predestinated some people to hell. The book
never says he predestinated anybody to heaven. He says he predestinated
us under the adoption of children by Jesus Christ and himself.
It says he predestinated us to be conformed to the image of
his son. Those who thus are, they're going
to heaven. You see it? And those who are
fitted for destruction, they're fitted for it. He don't want
to send people to hell for the joy of sending people to hell.
God is not that kind of monster, but God is holy. And if you die,
and God sees you in yourself only, God Almighty will damn
you forever, and you would be fitted for it. He says, Romans
9 says, fitted for wrath. Destruction. Fitted for, whereunto
they were, what? Appointed, what? Because of their
sin. You see, God sends people to hell because of their sin.
God sends people to heaven because of their holiness. Yeah, the question is, what kind
of holiness you got? Now let's go to, holiness must
be continually sustained, Ephesians four, let's move along. Ephesians
four, we will see this. Ephesians four, verse 17, this
I say therefore, And he's talking about exact, there's a reason
why God ordained that we gather together as we do and we become
a part of one another even as we're a part of Christ. We're
all a part of one body. If you're a part of that body,
I can't do without you. I can't. When I am without you
in my sense of being, I'm miserable. I'm miserable. I can't do without
you. But look at verse 17. This I
say therefore and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth don't
conduct yourselves like the Gentiles. Walk not. And I remember it hit
me like a ton of bricks years ago when Earl preached a message
along this line. Our conduct in this world is
our walk, not a few deeds here or there. Most people think,
well, I go to church on Sunday, Sunday night, Wednesday, whatever
it is. Tuesday night, Thursday, whatever it is. I tell people
about the Lord. I tell them how the Lord loves
them, and I'm kind to them, and I don't cuss them out, and I
don't smoke cigarettes. And that's my walk. No, your
walk is everything you do in this life. Everything. This I say, therefore, and testify
in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk. The first thing, the problem
is the emptiness of the mind. Listen to me. I was this way. Some people are still this way.
They got an empty noggin. That's right. They can know quantum
physics and still have this kind of empty noggin. Do you hear
what I'm saying? They can be the most educated,
smartest person in the things of this world, and yet, if they're
one of these kind of Gentiles, they got the empty noggin. in
the vanity of their mind, having the understanding, what? Darkened. Darkened. Being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the
blindness of their heart. It's like everything about us
by nature is bad. You see it? You expect somebody
like that to walk in the Lord? They can't. So Walter, Members
of Sovereign Grace Chapel, quit getting angry at them because
they don't. Quit getting teed at them because
they don't. Right? They're blind. You gonna
go out here and find a physically blind man, show him a $1 bill,
or no, maybe show him a $1,000 bill you just got, and you want
him to look at that $1,000 bill and rejoice with you? He can't
see it. who being past feeling, Paul's
not done yet, who being past feeling have given themselves
over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness,
but that's not the way you learn Christ. You see it? But ye have
not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard, now notice,
not of him, but you heard him. You see, If all you ever hear
is a preacher like me preaching words, you will have heard nothing. But if you hear a preacher like
me preaching God's word, and you hear that word, you are hearing
God. This is God's word. It's not
just the red letters through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
It's his word. You may be hearing the sound
of my voice. This is God's word. But you've
got to hear him speak it. And he's the one that's gotta
make it happen. If so be that you've heard him and have been
taught by him as the truth is in Jesus. Paul just won't let
it, Paul, you're talking too much about Jesus. You're making
him in control of it all. Yeah, because that's the truth.
That, now he's going, now he's getting, that she put off concerning
the former way of life, the former conversation, the old you. The old what? He doesn't call
it old nature. He says the old man. The old
you. And what is the old you? What
is my old you? Which is corrupt according to
deceitful lusts. and be renewed in the spirit
of your mind, that ye put on the new you, the new man, which
after God is created in what? Now here's where I got my title.
In righteousness and true holiness. So if there's a true holiness,
then Mason, there must be a false holiness. If there's a true holiness, there
must be a holiness that doesn't cut the muster. Paul mentioned
that kind. He said, it's my own and it's
legal. He said, I count it but done.
That's what he says. Why? Because that's what God
teaches by Jesus Christ to his people. Christ is superior to
all things. Even the law, because the law's
done its job. If God Almighty's ever opened
your eyes, opened your ears, and give you a heart to perceive,
when you begin to read the law then, you will begin to cry.
If you really see the law, oh wretched man that I am. I've got an old me, and I need
to put him off, but look. that you put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,
wherefore now you can truly engage in the things you should engage
and not engage in. Look, he goes down through the
list, all the way through chapter five, all the way through chapter
six, doesn't he? Jay, you know what he does? Don't lie to one
another, do all these things. But only in the new man, and
the new man is after God created in righteousness and true holiness.
Now brethren, I don't see it. I don't see it in me. Occasionally
I think I see it in you. But I'm about as doubtful of
some of the things I see you do as I am about the things I
do. But I know this, if I'm born
of God, God's holy seed remains in me. I'm a holy person. I'm a saint. But let me stop
and say, only God has the right to call me that. Only God has the right to call
me that. Because why? He purposed it for
me. He purchased it for me. He wrought it within me. And
bless God, he's gotta sustain it. You'll have it there. Now
turn to Hebrews again, chapter 12. Holiness must be continually
sustained. Now I realize this world mocks
and ridicules born-again believers. And I meant to say that born-again
believers. There are some people who are believers. but they don't
believe the truth. There are some people who believe
in Jesus, but they believe in the wrong Jesus. That's just
a fact. But this world mocks and ridicules
born-again believers by phrases like this, well I thought he
or she was a Christian. Ever heard that? That Christian
falls flat on their face. Like David did. Like Abraham
did. Like Lot did. Like Noah did. like Peter did, and we could
go on and on, and that's why I thought he was a Christian.
Well, maybe he is, maybe he's not, but that ain't your business.
That ain't your business. Now listen to me, this world,
well, I thought he was a Christian, but listen to me, none of these
four necessities, if these four things I give you are necessities,
these are the fundamentals of the Christian faith. None of these four necessities
depend on those who are holy before God. And how do I know
that? Hebrews 12. Wherefore seeing, we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. Now go
back and look at these witnesses. Yes, they're given the marvel,
the glorious gift of faith. And with this faith, they were
able to do marvelous things, right? But also look at everything
they did. Jephthah. Verse 32, you ever
read about Jephthah? Have you, you remember Jephthah?
God gave him a great victory and he said, the first thing
that walks out of my house, I'm gonna sacrifice it to the Lord.
You remember that? Be careful what you vow to God.
Because you know what walked out of his door? First thing
that walked out of his door? His one and only daughter. And
you know what that man did? You remember what he did? Sacrificed
her to God. And yet his name is right here
with these other folks. David, huh? You remember Gideon? Trying to bargain with God? Wasn't
he? And yet God was gracious to him.
Was he? Is that not true? Wherefore, see, we're all so
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. When I
read them, I realize that if I have faith, I have that same
kind of faith they got. but I also know I have that same
kind of failure that they got as well. Let us, because of this,
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience, sounds simple enough, it ain't. Patience is one of
the most difficult things to do in this world, because God
will bring it to pass in his own time, in his own way, despite
what we cry out for. He will give us what we need,
but he will not give us our lusts. Now Willie, James says you ask,
you don't receive, because you want to consume into your own
lusts. You don't get it. run with patience the race set before
us, and do what? What's the primary thing? Looking
unto Jesus. And he starts it, and he's gotta
finish it. This thing called faith. You
know what it says? The author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
he despised the shame. and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be
wearied and faint in your own minds. You ain't never been there.
And bless God, thank God you won't ever have to if you're
in him. You have not resisted unto blood,
striving against sin? Have you forgotten the exhortation
which speaketh unto you as unto children? My son, despise not
thou the correction, the chastening hand of the Lord, nor faint when
thou art rebuked of him." Why? Because we need it. Because our
feet are so prone to stray. Look back at these great examples
of faith. Right? Look at them. Moses killed
a man. He was a murderer. Right? He killed that Egyptian. Why
didn't he turn that over to his Stepdaddy, whatever you want,
Pharaoh, huh? No, Moses, I will take this in
my own hand. And he had to run because of it. Some say preacher
don't mention those things. That's the truth. These are the
facts. Nor faint when thou art rebuked
of him for whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. If God loves you,
he will correct you. He'll do the starting of it,
he'll do the keeping of it, and he will do the ultimate finality
of it. It is his work. For whom the Lord loveth, he
chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye
endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what
son is he whom the Father does not chasten? But if ye be without
chastisement, you see, when we, I didn't say if, I said when
we stray, if we're really God's sons, his daughters, he will
correct us. But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, that's all sons. If you're without it,
then what are you? This is strong language. Then
you're a bastard and not a son. That's just what it says. And you remember what I told
you this Greek word really means? Bastard. Bastard. You are illegitimate. God is
not your father. You are not his son or daughter
if he don't correct you. But if he does, you are. Furthermore, We have had fathers
of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them what? Reverence. Shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the father of spirits than live? It's a rhetorical
question, folks. It's a rhetorical question. For
they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure,
but he for our profit. Now, those, well my God, he tried
to bring me around for years and years, God just couldn't
do it. Then your God's a pitiful failure. Your daddy's a piece
of trash. Now you got a son or a daughter
and they head out toward the major highway, out toward the
four lane, you're gonna say, oh please, please come back,
I don't wanna offend your free will, but please, please come
back, don't do that. What are you gonna do to that
child if you love them? You're gonna catch them, you're gonna
run them down, you're gonna snatch their hind end up by the arm,
and you're gonna drag them back to the house. Yes or no if you
really love them. Well I don't wanna offend their
will. Let them go out and play in the traffic. You're a pitiful,
pitiful parent. God is no pitiful, pitiful parent. Look and look, for they verily
for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for
our profit, that we might be partakers of his. Now there's a true holiness,
ain't it? His holiness. You see, you shall
be holy, why? Because if the Lord's your God,
He is holy. He gonna correct you. He gonna
straighten you out. He gonna bring you in the line.
Then it goes on. Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous. You're not gonna be smiling,
chewing bubble gum like you see these people walk in the aisles
during the Billy Graham crusades, coming to Jesus laughing. No,
God Almighty, this is gonna hurt. But it's for our good. but grievous
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto everybody that falls under God's hand in this. That's what
it says. It doesn't say for everybody
who exercises this, it says, look at it, afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. This is God's work, not my work.
This is not me exercising something, it's God exercising something. Wherefore, do what? Lift up the hands which hang
down and the feeble knees. It's okay, my brother and sister. If you are my brother and sister,
God will take care of you. But if not, if he doesn't, you're
illegitimate. Isn't that true? Now look at
it and make straight paths for your feet. Remember what you
are when you deal with a fellow believer. You know what I'm saying? Remember what you are by nature
when you deal with a fellow believer. Don't make it harder than it
already is. That's what he's talking about. Make straight
paths for your feet, lest that which is laid be turned out of
the way, but let it rather be healed. In other words, don't
fight against God. God may break your neck to get you out of the
way. God's dealing with one of his, well, let me just tell them
what they need to start doing now. Take your hands off of it.
God's chasing one of his, you best get out of the way. I mean,
which one of you, when you were trying to chase in your children,
and you, of course, I guess you can't do that nowadays, they'd
throw you in jail, but you were chasing your children and it
happened at Walmart. How many of you would have loved to somebody
come up and say, hey, you can't do that, let me show you how
to do this. Well, you'd been thrown in jail for jumping on
in, now wouldn't you? You don't tell me how to raise
my children. Mm-mm. But let her, let it be healed.
But look, follow peace with all, Ben, and holiness. Now, when you follow something,
what does that mean? It's always right out here, and
you're right back here. Yes or no? If you're following
your dog, your dog's always out here. You're right back here. God's people don't ever really
get it. Paul said, I have not apprehended.
I have not attained, but I press forward. I have not attained
the holiness that I want, but I have the holiness God demands
in his son. And it says, follow peace with
all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. You see, God's people are gonna
press toward it, are they not? Now, think of Leviticus 19, one
and two. Let me just turn back and read
it, those mental blocks. Leviticus 19, and the Lord spake
unto Moses, saying, speaking to all the congregation of the
children of Israel, and saying to them, ye shall be holy. And
what's the reason? Because God's holy. Right? God's holy. You know the thing
is, I pray that in covenant decree,
he is my God and my Lord. Now he is the God and Lord of
every man, but he is not the God and Lord of every man in
covenant mercy. And when David, even that King
David and his mason, his holiness and his unholiness, because he
had both, did he not? That king, what was his hope
when he's coming to die? God's covenant. He said, God's
made with me an everlasting covenant, even though he hasn't with some
of my family. Go back and read it, even though he has with,
and this is all my hope and all my desire. Remember what he says? It's our only hope. Mason, would
you close us in prayer and ask God, thank God for the food,
please? O righteous and holy Father in
heaven, we come before you this day to thank you, O God, for
this day and for that which we have heard All right, folks,
let's eat.