Alright, everyone turn, if you're
following along, to Ezekiel chapter 11. I'd like you to read, not
aloud, but read along with me when I read this. But before I read Ezekiel chapter
11, let me give just a little background. was deported to Babylon with
the second group of deportees. That was around 11 years before
Jerusalem fell and the temple was destroyed. That was the third
and final deportation. Although Ezekiel was in Babylon,
that's where he was at. Although Ezekiel was in Babylon,
He prophesied against some who remained in Jerusalem. That is
the last group of people that were there. He prophesied against
them. They were mocking the prophet
Jeremiah's instruction to brace for and to bow to the captivity. You see, most people, I think,
have the idea that the Israelites were informed by God to fight
against this invading king. They were not. They were warned
that the invasion and the captivity was coming and were actually
informed as to how long it would last. And nothing could stop
it. I'll use a phrase from Hollywood,
resistance was futile. But that last remaining remnant,
not the remnant of the elect, but the last remaining remnant
in Israel were proud and boastful in themselves in light of the
evidence of the two prior deportations. So they were mocking the prophet
Jeremiah's instruction to brace for and to bow to the captivity
and prepare to build houses in Babylon. That's where they were
told to prepare to build houses in. Not in Jerusalem, but in
Babylon. Go back and read Jeremiah's prophecy.
You've got to read the whole book. But it's there. But they were to build these
houses in Babylon awaiting the promised restoration and deliverance
from God. And you can go back specifically
and read Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 1 through 14 for the historical
background. Now let's read our text. Ezekiel
chapter 11. Now remember this. The third
and final group was still in Jerusalem. A very small group.
They're called the remnant. But they're proud, boastful,
idolatrous people. In other words, they thought
they could defy God's prophet. And that's the way it always
happens. Men don't generally say, I will defy God. They'll
say, I won't listen to that man. That's what we do by nature.
But if that man's sin of God, that man has given you the Word
of God. Here is the Word of God through Ezekiel, chapter 11.
Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me unto the east
gate of the Lord's house. I don't know how this happened.
I don't know if it was literally bodily or not. I have no idea.
But I know some things happened here. And I know the Spirit of
God, Ezekiel was in Babylon. Moreover, the Spirit lifted me
up, brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house, which
looketh eastward, And what is east? East is the place, looking
eastward is the place of first light. That's what the east gate
is. If you stood at the east gate
and looked eastward, you would see first light. And behold,
at the door of the gate, five and twenty men, among whom I
saw Jaazaratnaya, the son of Azer, and Pelataya, the son of
Benaya, princes of the people. So far, no big deal, right? 25
people, and here's two specific right in the midst. Then said
he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief
and give wicked counsel in this city. That's in Jerusalem. Which
say, it is not near. What's not near? The captivity. In spite of all the evidence.
Two prior deportations. And they're just a little handful
left in the city. It is not near. Let us build
houses. Now that may sound, if you just
read this without the historical background, then what's the problem?
Jeremiah told them to build houses. But where? In Babylon. Because it was futile to build
a house in Jerusalem. It was going to crumble. Even
God's temple was going to crumble. would say, it is not near, let
us build houses. This city is the cauldron and
we be the flesh. In other words, we're in a pot
and protected. That's what they're saying. We're
protected from the fire because we're in this pot. We're in Jerusalem. Let me just say this, and this
is just an addition. Your physical place does not
make the difference. It's who you're in, not where
you are. Now listen to me, I don't care if you're in the deepest
throes of communism, or if you're in the looseness, the looseness
of our society today, that's not the point. The Constitution of the United
States of America is not your deliverance. I suppose, Mack, I could never
take the oath of president, could I? That's not your deliverance.
As I've said many a time, the Constitution may give you the
freedom of religion, but God does not. This city is the cauldron and
we be the flesh. But think about how we are in
our human nature, how we say things that are really so true,
we just don't get it. We're flesh in a boiling pot. The fire might not touch you
personally or physically or individually, but it's going to get to you.
Therefore prophesy against them. Is that not what it says? Prophesy
against them. Prophesy, O son of man. And the
Spirit of the Lord fell upon me and said unto me, Speak. Thus
saith the Lord. Thus have you said, O house of
Israel. For I know the things that come
into your mind, every one of them. Nothing is hid from God. God knows what you mean whether
you say it or not. God knows what we mean better
than we do. We say it and then try to justify
it when we find out it may be a little skewed. God knew what
it was like from the beginning. You have multiplied your slain
in this city and you have filled the streets thereof with the
slain. And don't think of this merely literally. He is a prophet
prophesying. He is speaking metaphorically.
You are killing one another. Your rebellion by your idolatry
By your fighting against God and his purpose That's what he's
talking about Therefore thus saith the Lord God your slain
whom you've laid in the midst of it They are the flesh and
this city is the cauldron You see how God will turn man's own
words against him But I will bring you forth out of the midst
of it. That's not a matter of deliverance. You think you're
safe in the city. God said, I will bring you out
of it. And it will be under the hand of a heathen king. You remember
Zedekiah? He tried to fight. He was the
last king. And he was with the remnant in
the city. And you remember what happened?
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the city. So much so that you
know what they began to do? eat one another. They became
Mason cannibalistic. Fighting was futile because it
was not a fight against Nebuchadnezzar, it was a fight against the sovereign
purpose of a sovereign God. He had decreed this captivity
to manifest His own glory in the deliverance of His people.
We say it's chastisement. And yes, rightfully so. But it
was so that God might manifest His deliverance of His people.
And all of us were born in a Nebuchadnezzar captivity. And the more you try
to fight against it, the worse it will be for you. You best
just recognize what it is. because you will be bowed down
under it. You have slain, thus saith the
Lord God. You have slain whom you have
laid in the midst of it. They are the flesh, and this
city is the cauldron, but I will bring you forth out of the midst
of it. You have feared the sword. I will bring the sword upon you,
saith the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the
midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers,
and will execute judgments among you. They took Zedekiah. You
know what they did? They killed every one of his
sons before his eyes, then they gouged his eyes out. Why? Because he fought against Nebuchadnezzar
per se? No. Because he was fighting against
God. Jeremiah warned them. Give up. Give in. Acknowledge the reality. But they would not. Ye shall fall by the sword, I
will judge you in the border of Israel, and ye shall know
that I am the Lord. And that there is a negative
thing. This city shall not be your cauldron. Now he's dealing
with them on there. What were they saying? This city
shall not be your cauldron, neither shall you be the flesh in the
midst thereof, but I will judge you in the border of Israel,
and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked
in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after
the manner of the heathen that are round about you. Amen. And it came to pass, when I prophesied,
that Pelletiah, the son of Benaiah, died. Now, again, I say, I don't
know whether David Wright, Ezekiel, was actually transported from
Babylon on that river he sat by and lived by all the way.
I don't know what all really happened here, Joe. I really
don't know. I cannot express that. But I know this. When Ezekiel
began to what? Preach, one of the demonstrants
physically died. Isn't that what it says? Then
fell I down upon my face and cried with a loud voice and said,
O Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel? Ezekiel was wondering, is God
going to wipe them all out now? Now think of this in itself.
Ezekiel is here moved to prophesy against Israel that you will
fall under the sword and be brought into the captivity like everyone
else And yet, even while Ezekiel was preaching, he wonders if
God's going to kill them all right there. Was God going to
kill them all right there? No. It ain't about how perfect
the preacher is. It's about how perfect the truth
is. Again, the word of the Lord came
unto me, saying, Son of man, Thy brethren, even thy brethren,
the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel holy, are
they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem hath said, Get ye
far from the Lord, unto us is this land given in possession."
Notice how men will take even the truth of God and try to twist
it to their own advantage. Justifying their own evil rebellion
based upon the promise of God. Right? Had God not given them
the land? Yes, sir. Yes. But at this time, it was
not theirs to enjoy. Exactly. Therefore, say, thus saith the
Lord God, although, now think about this, although, what one
of the blessedest, most blessed, all those that there is in the
scripture. Although I have cast them far
off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the
countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary, but even
where, I'm adding that, even where, in the countries where
they shall come. Even in the midst of your bondage,
God Almighty is your God, if you're one of His. Therefore say thus saith the
Lord God I will even gather you from the people and Assemble
you out of the countries where you've been scattered, and I
will give you the land of Israel They shall come thither They
shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations
thereof from thence And I will give them one heart and I will
put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out
of their flesh Thank God he takes it out He don't ask you if you
need it removed. I will take the stony heart out
of their flesh and I will give them a heart of flesh that they
may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them and
they shall be my people and I will be their God. What a glorious
promise of deliverance from their bondage. True? But one last verse. Some of the most glorious buts
there are in this scripture, but here's one that's still glorious,
but it shows God's wrath and God's justice. But, as for them
whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things
and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their
own heads, saith the Lord God. What about that? If that gives you a thought of presumption, then
you don't know the free and sovereign grace of God. If that makes you
think, well if that's the way it's going to be then, I'll just
do what I want and everything will be okay. Be careful. Be
careful. Ezekiel's day is no different
than ours in at least two respects. Here they are. Here's the two
things. I'll deal with the first one, Lord willing, today. God
willing, next week I'll deal with the second one. First of
all, here's the way in which Ezekiel's day is no different
than ours in at least two respects. God always exposes error. Always. Bank on it. You could put your paycheck on
it. God always exposes error. Especially in house. You hear
what I said? Especially in house. He may deal
with the reprobate, the wicked, the unbelieving in time. He may,
but He will deal with His own people in time. He will. But God always does it. with
His grace in view. Whether it be Israel, whether
it be the house of Abraham, whether it be the house of David the
king, whether it be in Israel or whether it be in the church.
God always exposes error, especially in house. We see that in chapter
11 verses 1-12. But here's the second thing,
God willing that will be next week. God's grace always reigns. It always reigns. But only amidst the elect. But only amidst the elect. That's
in chapter 11 verses 13 through 21. So my title is this. Error exposed. And grace reigns. Now this morning I'll deal mainly
with error exposed. If you want to put it that way
Paul, instead of part 1 and 2, however you want to do it, that
doesn't matter. But here it is. Error exposed. And not but, because
remember the but here. Error exposed and grace reigns. Never use reigning grace as an
excuse for error. It is error exposed and grace
reigns. So God always exposes error. Sir. Always. When it's in house,
He always exposes error. The amount of time that it is
suffered to go on is no indictment against God Almighty's justice
and revelation. That's right. Well, this one
is exposed within a week. That one, it took a whole year.
That's not the point. The point is God's sovereign
purpose. Error will always be exposed, especially amidst God's
people. Now if all I gave you was a historical reenactment of what happened
to Ezekiel and his day and those people of that day, it would
be nothing to us. I've given you the historical
background. I will now apply this to us. I'm not going to
go back through. I will mention the verses. We may briefly look
at certain statements, but we're going to see how that Ezekiel's
day is no different than ours in this respect. Error is always
exposed. First of all, the most dangerous
error always creeps up from within. Chapter 11, verse 1. Is it not? the most dangerous error. This
world out here is rife with error. Yes, sir. There are thousands
upon thousands of so-called churches out here that is nothing but
error. But that's not the problem. The problem for these folks wasn't
Egypt at this time. That's right. That's exactly
right. Was it? No. Ah, it was Nebuchadnezzar. Ah, but even worse than that.
It was their own unbelief and rebellion. That was the problem. The most dangerous error creeps
up from within. Two points here. First of all,
remember that Paul said he warned about this day and night, morning
and evening with weeping for three years to the Ephesian assembly. Out of your own selves shall
arise up men speaking perverse things. That's frightening. Yes, sir. That's frightening. One, I don't
want to be one of them, Mac. Exactly. I don't want to be one
of them. But two, this thing is real.
Yes, sir. Don't ever think this place,
our group, where I am physically, it's the cauldron and I'm the
flesh. I'm okay. Be careful and so much so let
me turn back to it Acts chapter 20 and I will read one verse
to you And I thought about this and I think we really I don't
get the force of it I'm sure as I should Paul said for three
you can read it for three years day and night Morning and evening
I warned you about this and I wept with tears, warning you about
this is going to take place. But then in verse 32, and now
brethren, I commend you to God, and that's always first. That's
always first. I commend you to God, but what
else? And to the Word of His grace,
which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified. You make your boast in God, but you slight His Word? No,
sir. It does not happen that way.
Now take note of that because when we get to God's grace always
reigns, we're going to see this. There's never any grace manifested
where the Word of God is not adored and reverenced and bowed
to. Never. Oh, I believe they have
grace. They don't believe what we believe. No. Do they believe
who we believe? And if they don't, they're lost. They're under judgment. It ain't
about trying to pick out what doctrines, it's about what God
do you believe. Look, and now, brethren, I commend
you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build
you up. Any rebellion against the Word
of God is rebellion against God Himself. Somebody says, I don't
see it that way. Then you see it wrong. Why can't
it be one or the other? God or His Word? It just ain't. It just ain't. God says He's
exalted His Word above His name. Is that not what He said in His
own book? Here's the second thing. Error
left to fester will turn to gain green. 2 Timothy 2. Let's read that. 2 Timothy 2. Verse 15. Study to show thyself
approved unto God. Study what? I will study God. Where are you going to study
God at? In the seminary? No. In His Word. in His Word. It's the only place
you're going to know God is from His Word. Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth, but shun profane and vain
babblings. Oh, how kind Paul was toward
the opinions of others. Speak about that in a moment,
too. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase
unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a what?
A canker. of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,
who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection
is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless,
the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord
knoweth them that are His, period. And then we like to stop right
there. Don't we? Well, the Lord knows that they're
His. So I just ain't gonna be concerned about it. Was Paul
concerned about it for three years? He warned these people. That sounds like concern to me.
Don't, don't confuse faith with tardiness and sloth in God's
Word. Why just believe God? No you
don't. No you don't. You believe God, you engage the
instrumentality that God's ordained and that's His Word. That's where
it's at Look at what he says and Let
everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity
this ain't talking about a can of beer and a pack of cigarettes
This is talk about error concerning the truth of God Almighty's purpose
these purpose the resurrection and somebody comes along and
lies about it says it's passed already and That's like a canker. It's like gangrene, and it'll
spread if left unchecked. Error left to fester will turn
to gangrene. The dishonor of God, the dishonor
of his Christ, the dishonor of his gospel is a cancerous, cancerous
thing. It's satanic influence. So number
one, The most dangerous error always creeps up from where?
Within. Because we're prone not to expect
it there, even though we've been warned about it. I can just imagine
Ezekiel when he sees, here's 25 men. He's probably thinking,
well good, there's 25. And then finds out at least, kneel two
of them. Lie on God. Right? They've been lying on God. Number two. Error never remains
solitary. Chapter 11 of Ezekiel, verse
2. Then said unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise
mischief and give wicked counsel. Where? Up in Assyria. They sneak off and preach something
different up in Assyria. They run over to Princeton and
say something different than what they say when they're in
Corral West, Virginia. No, that's not the point. That's not the
problem. They give wicked counsel in this
city. Error never remains solitary.
A person who hates the truth of God never wants to stay there
alone. They want to drag others down
with them. A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lot. That was a brief one, but true.
and profound nonetheless. Number three, let me give you
some of the hallmarks of all erroneous religion. Remember,
Ezekiel's day is no different than ours in these two respects.
And one, God always exposes error. What did it matter to the people
in Babylon about those people down yonder, Joe? Why does it matter? Because God's
purpose matters, that's why. That's the only thing that matters,
is God's purpose about this thing. Those in Babylon had done settled
in. Ezekiel had his own house. Go
back and read it. He had his own house. Had a wife
there. She died, God killed her. Just to prove a point. But there are some hallmarks
of all erroneous religion. Here's four of them. They always
discredit God's word and exalt man. Verse three. Which say it
is not near? What's not near what God Almighty's
ordained a purpose what God said? It's not near Let us build houses
Let us do this is either exalting themselves this city's the cauldron
with the flesh all false religion all of it no matter what it whether
it takes on the name of Christian or Buddhism or Whatever it is,
it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what denomination
in Christianity it is. One of the hallmarks of all error,
all erroneous religion, is they will discredit God's word and
they exalt man. But not only that, the masses
are always involved. Verses 4-6, Therefore prophesy
against them, prophesy, O son of man, the Spirit of the Lord
fell upon me, and said, Speak thus, saith the Lord. Thus have
ye said, O house of Israel, I know everything that is in your mind,
but look, ye have multiplied your slain in the city. The masses
are always involved in error. I want to give you something
this morning. May God give you ears to hear, eyes to see, and
a heart to perceive. if the masses agree with my expression
or your expression. And let me just use three things
as an example. If the masses agree with my expression
or your expression of, let's say, love or kindness or mercy,
and you could go on down the line, but we'll look at those
three. Love, kindness, let's say, here's what I say love is. Here's what I say kindness is.
Here's what I say mercy is. If the masses agree with your
expression of that, then your view is an abomination in God's
sight. Because according to Luke 16
verse 15, our Lord said that which is highly esteemed among
men is an abomination in God's sight. That's tough language.
Highly esteemed among men. Highly esteemed. Is not love,
kindness, and mercy highly esteemed? Sure it is. I was watching, now I don't care
what side of the aisle you're on, I was watching, not really
watching the DNC, but some of the talking heads about the DNC,
the big thing they just had. One fellow said this, I think
he was a senator, and one fellow said this about Donald Trump.
that basically, and this is out of verbatim, and I didn't have
time to write it down, didn't even realize that this was going
to play part here when I heard it. But he said this, he didn't
agree with anything Donald Trump said. As a matter of fact, he
had all kinds of phrases that he had about Donald Trump and
where Donald Trump stood. He said, but I love him unconditionally.
And I said to myself, and I think I even said to Penny sitting
beside me, I said, that man is a liar. That man is a liar. He said what
Jehovah says, we are to love unconditionally. I love him unconditionally. He's a liar. And if you ever
tell anybody you love them unconditionally, you are lying to them, and you
are lying to yourself. There is one person who loves
unconditionally, and that is God Almighty. But He only loves
in His Son. The love of God is found only
in Christ Jesus. Outside of Christ Jesus is nothing
but the hate of God, and the wrath of God, and the judgment
of God, and the condemnation of God. Love. Unconditional love. You
don't have it and I don't have it. It is our standard. It is our standard. But it's
not what we do. So if anybody thinks that the
love you express, they agree with, oh yeah, I believe we ought
to love everybody and love everybody unconditionally, then you got
the wrong idea about love. What about kindness? I checked
into what kindness is. Anybody want to stand up right
now and tell me what kindness is? Uh-huh, come on. Somebody stand
up, I'll let you put this on. Do you really know what kindness
is? But we all think we do, don't we? Don't you? Have you ever
checked it out? From this? I'm not talking about
Webster's. I'm talking about from this. There are three main words used
for kindness in God's book. One of them comes from the word
with which we have our word philanthropy. And that means a fondness of,
a care for mankind as a whole. Right? It's kindness. A fondness
of, a care for, a compassion toward mankind. But there's another
one. And actually, our English word
is the exact same word. It's Philadelphia. You know what
that one is, though? It's kindness, but you know what
kind of kindness it is? Fraternal affection. It's the love of the
brethren. And it is different from the
other one. They all come from the base word, but the other
one is anthropos, the love, the kindness toward men. The other
one's the kindness toward the brethren. They're different. Now here's the one, you remember
Peter said, you know, add to your faith virtue. Your virtue
is a kindness is the next one. You know the list, add to your
kindnessness. You know what that kind of kindness is? You know
what it means? You know what most people think kindness is?
Be sweet and nice to everybody. Don't say anything that will
hurt somebody's feelings. They think that's kindness. No,
you know what that is? That's a wimp. That's somebody's riding the
fence. And there's some men that's rode the fence, and I'll say
it again so long, they've castrated themselves and ceased to become
men. You know what that word is? It's the word used most of
the time for kindness. You know what it means? Usefulness.
There's kindness. Useful. That's what it means.
The direct meaning of the word, we have translated it kindness.
Add to your faith, virtue, virtue. Kindness is what? Usefulness.
You can be sweet to somebody, then turn your back on them.
is to be useful. And sometimes being useful is
doing what? Exposing error, warning, reproving, rebuking,
edifying, admonishing, and they're all different. Kindness. Throws a different
light on it, don't it? What about mercy? You know what
most people think mercy is? Just let it go. Don't they? Now rather than giving just the
strict word, mercy is this, to withhold judgment in pity and
compassion. That's what it is. To withhold
judgment in pity and compassion. But let me tell you something
about mercy. God never does it at the expense of justice. God
has never just let it go. Any sin, any iniquity, any rebellion
against God that God has been merciful toward is because Jesus
Christ the Lord suffered the judgment and the condemnation
of that sin and iniquity, that crime, that rebellion on Calvary's
tree. That's the only sin He's ever
merciful to. I mean, it's so much so that
people today say this, you ought to let God have mercy on you.
And I heard Tim James mention that, and it never dawned on
me, David, right about it. He said, if somebody has offended
me, and then they come to me and say, I'm going to let you
have mercy on me. Yeah, you see what's coming next.
You don't demand of someone you've offended mercy. You plead for
it. At best. But you know what? He
has mercy on him, we'll have mercy. He has compassion on whom
He has compassion. And whom He will, He does what?
What's it say, brothers and sisters? Whom He will, He hardens! That's
where the mercy of God is seen, right alongside a hardening.
Now the world don't agree with none of what I've said about
true love, kindness, and mercy. And we go right on down the line.
They pick up their dictionary. They get man's explanation of
a word and then try to make God fit into that word. But what
you do is you take the word and you look up that word in this
book and see the character of God in that word and then you
find out what that thing really is. God is love, that's right,
but we don't define God by love, we define love by God. And therein
is a big difference. So again I say, the masses are
always involved. If the masses agree with your
expression of something, and it's a scriptural thing, then
your expression is an abomination in God's sight. That's tough,
I know, but that's reality. Here's the third hallmark of
all erroneous religion. The very thing they fear. Not
reverence, but a void. You can fear something reverent,
but you can fear something what? Avoided. The very thing they
fear, that's a void, is the very thing which will judge them.
Chapter 11, verses 7-11. You feared the sword, what's
it going to be that brings you down? The sword. The sword. Listen to me. God give us ears
to hear you boast about yourself You brag about yourself you give
credit to others Rather than God Hmm you know what Christ
said Matthew chapter 12 verse 36 and 37 By your own words you'll
be judged You know what said let's turn back there. Let's
read that Matthew chapter 12 Verse 36, but I say unto you
that every eye of the word that men shall speak, they shall give
an account thereof in the day of judgment. And then somebody
says, well, I just won't say anything. God knows what you're
thinking or not already. You ain't going to avoid something
by not saying it. You're right. But God already
knows what's in here. Yes, sir. You might not expose
yourself to somebody else, some other fallen man or some other
fallen woman, but you're not going to hide yourself from God. But I say unto you that every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof
in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be
justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. And you know
what most people do? When they enter that right there,
they begin to practice what's called isojesis. They add into
God's Word. Well, that means then God will
put on a scale and see my good words and my bad words, and whichever,
that's not what he says. Why is it words have anything
to do with this justification and condemnation? You know what
the answer is. Because out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth. You see it? What we do here shows what's
down here. And when I When I boast about
myself or I give credit to somebody else, well if it wasn't for so-and-so,
I wouldn't be as great as I am today. That so-and-so better
be God. Listen to me, that so-and-so better be God and not your mama. Not your daddy. Not your wife. Not your husband. Not your mother.
Not your father. Not your kids. Even if your kid
has Down Syndrome. They don't get the credit. God
Almighty gets the credit. And let me tell you this. Our
Lord said this, even when you've done all that you're duty to
do, you're still to say what? We are but unprofitable servants. I'm not saying we never say it.
But you know what happens when God's people say it? We first
think, I wish I hadn't said it. And then we realize, I said it
because it's down here. And then it's, oh God. Be merciful. Oh God, propitiate me, the sinner. But what's the world, what's
false religion do? It begins to justify itself. But, but,
but, there is no but there. The only but in our context is
a but of judgment. Here's another thing. I said
the very thing they fear is the very thing with which God will
judge them. All false religion does this.
They trust God's word, but they're blinded to its subject. They hold to God's word vehemently,
but they don't even know who the word talks about. Right? They look at its commands, whether
it's a legal law for Mason, whether it's an ecclesiastical exhortation. And they say, but I will do that
and gain God's favor. You know what Christ told those
Jews? He said, search the Scriptures because in them you think you
have eternal life. And they did. The actual rendering is you do
search the Scriptures. They love the Scriptures. They
put them on their heads. On their clothes. Quoted them, no doubt. And what did Christ say? You
trust in Moses. He said, but you don't even see
who Moses talked about. He talked about me, Christ said.
You don't believe me? All false religion does that.
It builds up God's Word, but it's blinded to the personal
work of Jesus Christ. All false religion does that.
Here's number four. I will try to hurry along. The
last one. The last hallmark of all false
religion. They mix the worship of God with
the worship of this world. Chapter 11, verse 12. See it? Now look at it. And ye shall
know that I am the Lord, for ye have not walked in my statutes,
neither executed my judgments. Now that's bad enough, right? But, have done after the manners
of the heathen that are round about you. They didn't deny the
Lord's existence. They didn't deny his, we got
the land, it's our inheritance. Mason, didn't that believe in
the word of God? Yeah, until a prophet sent him along and
said God's gonna rip it from you. God gave me this yeah, and God
gave you God gave it to you said God's got their right to take
it away If you earned it by your own merit God would owe it to
you, but you don't God don't owe us anything He owns it all Lock, stock, and
barrel. This is what all erroneous religion
does. They mix the worship of God with
the worship of this world. Here's what they mix. They mix
God's grace and man's works. But you know, Romans 11, 6 says
this, if it's by grace, then it's no more of works. And if it's by works, it's no
more grace. That's simply put. You don't mix them. If you mix
them, they both cease to be anything. They both cease to be anything.
There's another thing they mix. They mix election with man's
works. Don't they? Let me give you just a little
something. I remember years ago, I had a Bible that was called
the Schofield Bible. It could be helpful. But it can
confound you beyond belief. There is a passage in the scriptures
that said elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father. Scofield had a footnote on that and he says we don't
know what it is in the foreknowledge of God which is the basis of
the election. And you know what? He's right.
We don't know what it was or is in the foreknowledge of God
that was the basis of the election. And it says elect according to
the foreknowledge of God the Father. Now he was right. But what he would not go on to
say is at least we know what it wasn't. Oh yeah? We may not know what
it was, but he does define it as what it wasn't. And according
to the Apostle Paul in Romans 9 verses 11, he said, before
the children were even born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election, might
stand, it was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger.
And you know why? Jacob I loved, Esau I hated.
It may not define what it was in God's mind that was the basis
of the election, but it does define what it was not. It was
not any righteousness or goodness or even evil in us. That's what
it clearly says and the men argue about what it was. Or especially
what it was. They argue about that. It tells you right here. All false religion does this.
Tries to mix the election with God looked into the future and
seen you would believe or seen you would repent and believe.
That's exactly opposite of what this book teaches in clear language.
We even have it, Mason, translated into English for us. And yet
men still mix the religion of God with the religion of this
world. Here's something else they mix. Law and grace. But
ain't that the same thing as grace in man's works? Yes, but
it can be no. Law and grace is strictly that.
Law and grace. It's law. Those laws, some have
said, makes them, what, 600, 630, something like that. Well,
there's a whole lot more other laws than that, but all the rest
of them are man's laws, man's works. The Bible says nothing
about if you teach a Sunday school class, thou shalt or thou shalt
not. Does it not? It doesn't say anything
about thou shalt sing in the choir or thou shalt not. Does
it not? Don't say anything about none
of that. Yet men make these works of men to gain God's favor. But
even when it comes to the law, you can't mix law and grace. You know why? Look at Romans
chapter 7. Paul answers a lot of questions
in Romans. Romans chapter 7. Look at what
he says in verse 6. But now we are delivered from
the law. That being dead wherein we were
held, that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in
oldness of the letter. The law didn't get us to where
we are. The law ain't going to keep you where you are. The law
ain't going to sustain you where you are. It ain't going to get
you to the end. The law shows to me and you our utter failure
before God. Only grace supplies both the
way and the walk. Here's the fourth thing they
always mix. The religion of God and the religion of this world.
They equate these two things as mixed together. Endurance.
There's perseverance with human effort. You got to endure until the end. Well, that's what the book says.
Does it not? Anybody who fights with that
is fighting with God's Word. The question is, how does that
take place? Right? Well, Paul tells us in
Philippians 2, verse 13, For it is God that worketh in you. God worketh in you. Not on you. In you. Both to will. Not to make just you will Him.
It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His
good pleasure. If you persevere unto the end,
it's because God Almighty has preserved you. The pea and tulip, total depravity,
unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace,
perseverance of the saints should be foremost preservation of the
saints. Because we only persevere because
we're preserved. They know one of us has got the
endurance in and of ourselves to make it to the end. Why? Because
back to Paul, Romans 9, it is not of him that willeth, nor
of him that what? Endureth. But of God that showeth
mercy. Now does that mean we never will
or endure? No. But it's not of you. It's
not of that. It's up to God. It's up to God. But let me end with this. Ezekiel exposed error right now
somebody says well, why don't you just preach Christ not even
talk about the error it just don't happen that way When you
preach Christ? You must expose error Yeah, when you preach Christ
you must but does this speak this just give me in the goods
the good part Just preach the gospel That is all we preach
But we declare of God's judgment against error. When Christ came
along and was preaching, did he just preach all the good things?
Oh, you generation of serfs, you vipers. What? Yeah. John the Baptist, preaching
hope to sinners, was he not? But then another group came and
said, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? You bunch
of snakes. But I'm supposed to be kind.
Not that kind of kindness I ain't. Because the most kindest person
you've ever come across is a person that's told you the truth of
God in Christ Jesus and told you the truth about yourself.
That's the most kindest person that you've ever met on this
world, in this world, that tells you the truth about yourself
and about the personal work of Jesus Christ. Therein is true
kindness, true love, true compassion. I can see Paul on Mars Hill with
all these idols, but I don't want to mention that. I'm just
going to preach to Christ. Preaching Christ don't work like
that. What did he say? You folks are too religious.
Look at all this trash you got around here. The God of glory,
this one you don't even know, the unknown one. He's the one
I'm going to declare unto you. John the Baptist, what did he
do? Did he just preach, Behold the Lamb of God? Paul Mayhead
mentioned this morning. Did he just preach, Behold the
Lamb of God? No, he preached the whole counsel of God. People
came, soldiers came. He said, let me tell you what.
He said, you better treat men properly, don't be unjust to
them, and be content with your wages. Now boy, there's one for
all of us, ain't it? We deal with people where they
are. And one of the first things that God ever does is expose
error, whether it's nationally, whether it's locally, and always
when it's individually. Always when it's individually.
If God's going to deal with you in mercy, if God's going to bring
you out of captivity, He's going to show you you're in captivity
first. That's the kind of people He
delivers, the ones in bondage back. The promise was to be delivered
from Babylon, not from Jerusalem. Preaching the Gospel is these
two main things. Tell man what he is, and tell
man who Jesus Christ is. Amen. And do it without batting
an eye or worrying about an emotion. You've got to. Because if you
let those things get in the way, you know what? You will let one
or the other or both suffer. That's right. Because they will
play the emotion card with you. When you don't love me, you don't
get it. Paul says, am I your enemy because
I tell you the truth? What's the answer to that rhetorical
question? No. The enemy is the ones that
lie to you like these two men did. Exactly. Now think about
this for next week. God's grace always reigns. Yes
sir. And one of the first things Ezekiel
said was what? When I begin to prophesy, I may
pronounce his name, what happened to him? He died. Just think about
that. And God willing, we'll start
there next time. Father, as we continue, help
us to fellowship together for those who can't stay here with
us. Lord, be with them. Cause our
hearts and minds to be upon one another. But Lord, only, only
in light of your heart and mind being upon us in Christ. Stay
our hearts and minds in heaven. I thank you in Christ's name.
Amen.