I mentioned a few weeks ago one
good thing that has come out of this pandemic is we've had
more specials and I appreciate the ones who sing the specials
and we're always blessed and Ivan always chooses good hymns
to sing that glorify our God and our Savior. Let's look tonight
in Proverbs chapter 22 We're going to read Proverbs
chapter 22 and then we will read from Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse
16. The title of the message is The
Ancient and the Old. The Ancient and the Old. Here
in Proverbs chapter 22 and verse 28 we read, Remove not the ancient
landmark, which thy fathers have set. And then in Jeremiah chapter
number six and verse 16, thus saith the Lord, stand you
in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where's
the good way? and walk therein, and you shall
find rest for your souls." But they said, we will not walk therein. In many cases, that which is
ancient or old is not always the best. For instance, in the
field of medicine, we know that the ancient and the old remedies
and some of the treatments that they had were not necessarily
the best. There was a time when men knew
nothing about antiseptics. But when it comes to the truths
of God, the things of God, they are ancient. They're old because
God himself is called the ancient of days. That is the eternal
everlasting God. When the nation of Israel came
into the land of Canaan, the land was divided up by lots. Each tribe received a particular
portion of the land, and then that was divided by lots to the
men of the tribes. Scripture says, the lot is cast
into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. So we
know that God is the one that gave the men their particular
parcel of ground. And there was landmarks. Now,
a landmark or the boundary of a man's inheritance was maybe
a stone. They didn't fence off their property
like we do in our country, but they had a landmark that marked
off the boundaries of their property. And if it were a stone, then
it would be easy for a covetous man and a man that had no scruples
to slowly edge that stone over. Just a little today, a little
tomorrow, maybe another little bit in a week or two, and before
long he would extend his property. He was a cheat. He was a thief. He used deceit. And I want to
speak to us tonight of several ancient landmarks when it comes
to the truths of God. And I'm only going to mention
four to us this evening for time's sake, but I hope to come back
again and deal with some more. ancient landmarks, old paths,
as we read here in Jeremiah. Old paths in which we, as a people
of God, we should walk, we must walk, and find rest for our souls. Because when we get out of the
old paths, we're not going to find any rest for our souls. Now, the first truth The first
landmark this evening, this ancient path, this old landmark is the
truth about God. The truth about God. I know that
the infinity of God, the infinity of God, that means that God cannot
be measured. Not any of his characteristics
may be measured. He is the infinite God. The truth about God is so great
that it's impossible for you and I, for us as creatures, to
comprehend everything about him. And I'm so glad tonight that
it's not necessary. It's not necessary that we be
able to comprehend and understand everything about God. For us to know Him, it's not
necessary that we understand everything about Him. But here's
one truth about God that we should all understand and it's easy
to comprehend. It is one of these old paths
in which we should walk to find rest for our souls. There's only
one God. That's an old landmark, the truth
about God. There's only one God. The truths
about him make it impossible that there be another. Every
truth about God, because of his infinity, makes it impossible
that there could be another God. because He knows all things,
because He has all power, because He's omnipresent, because He
never changes. Those truths about God mean that
there cannot be another God. It's impossible that there be
another God. This is an ancient landmark,
this truth about God. And some might say, and maybe
some here tonight might say, well, that's unnecessary. That's
unnecessary to mention to us this truth about God, that there
is only one God. But I would remind us that when
the nation of Israel came into the land of Canaan, they had
the oracles of God. That is, they had the word of
God. which recorded this wonderful truth, that revealed this wonderful
truth that there is only one God. Yet, it wasn't long, it
wasn't long before they had turned away to worship and acknowledge
other gods, to worship idols. They looked at the people around
them and before long they began to hanker for a god that they
could see. A God that they could touch,
a God that they could control, basically, that s what it meant.
But they soon fell into idolatry, and this idolatry brought God
s wrath upon the nation. Look over in Jeremiah chapter
44 just a moment. Jeremiah chapter 44 and beginning
with verse 2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel, you have seen all the evil that I have brought
upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. And behold,
this day they are a desolation and no man dwelleth therein.
The Babylonians had come in and taken captives and burned the
temple and many of the houses there in Jerusalem because here
was a reason. This is a reason God said, I've
done this. I did it. Why would God do that
to a nation that he had chosen, a nation which he had raised
up, a nation to which he had promised this land? Why would
he do that? because of their wickedness which
they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went
to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they knew not,
neither they, you, nor your fathers. Howbeit, I sent unto you all
my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying,
Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearken
not, nor incline their ear to turn from their wickedness to
burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore, my fury and mine anger
was poured forth and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in
the streets of Jerusalem, and they are rested. wasted and desolate
as at this day. There's only one God. Now, an
idol doesn't necessarily have to be something made out of stone
or wood. We think of idols like that,
and they are idols. There's no question about that.
But anything that comes between you and God, anything that we
put between ourselves and God becomes an idol to us. The nation
of Israel, they committed idolatry, and because of their idolatry,
God took offense. Took offense. When you think about who God
is, and all that he reveals himself to be to us in the word of God,
and to think that man, after God had showed such mercy to
this nation, that they would reward him by turning to a stock
or stone and saying, these be your gods, O Israel. The first landmark, the truth
about God. Number one, there's only one
God. Number two, there are three persons in the Godhead. Now that word Godhead, I use
it tonight because It is in the scripture. The apostle Paul uses
it. And what we have reference to
when we speak of the Godhead is the divine essence, the being
of God. There are three persons in the
Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When I baptize
our brother in just a few minutes, the Lord willing, I will do so
in the name, not in the names. Not in the names, but in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God, and yet there's a trinity
of persons in the Godhead. Sometimes someone will tell you
well the word trinity is not in the bible and that's true
The word trinity is not in the bible, but the doctrine of the
trinity is in the scriptures from the first pages in Genesis
all the way through all the way through if God gives you eyes
to see now if he doesn't You may read the Bible from cover
to cover. It's like one man told Charles
Spurgeon one time. He said, listen, I've read through
the Bible six or seven times on my knees, and I've never seen
election in the word of God. And Charles Spurgeon said, well,
let me give you my recommendation. Get up off your knees and find
you a good, easy chair and read the scriptures. God gives you
sight, you'll see. God's sovereign election from
pages after pages after pages. Look with me, if you will, in
Isaiah chapter 33. This is a bedrock belief, a landmark,
an old landmark, the ancient path, the Trinity of God. In Isaiah chapter 33, In verse 22, for the Lord our God is our judge. The Lord is our lawgiver. The
Lord is our king. He will save us. Now, God is
not saying that there are three gods. One God is the judge, one
God is the lawgiver, and another God is the king. He says there's
one Lord, one God, and yet He is judge, he's lawgiver, and
he is king. The founders of our country used
this verse of scripture along with others when they were working
to put together a government like no other government that
had ever existed on the face of God's earth. And they use this passage of
scripture to show the three branches of government. We have the judicial
branch, we have the representative or legislative branch, and we
have the administrative branch, the three branches of government.
We have one government. We don't have two governments
or three governments. We have one government. And yet,
in this one government, there are three branches. We have one
God. In this holy Lord God, there
are three persons. You say, I can't understand that.
You don't need to understand it. But you do believe it, if
you believe the word of God. Because all three are revealed
in the scriptures as God. And yet, here, O Israel, The
Lord our God is one Lord, is one God. Number three, the one
true and living God is absolutely sovereign in all things. Look with me at Daniel chapter
four. We used to have a brother in
our church. He has since gone to be with
the Lord. But he went to work for Humble
Oil Company when it was Humble Oil Company. I think he worked
probably as a fitter or something like that. Of course, that Humble
Oil Company became Exxon and all the various stages it went
through. And by the time I met him, he
was a very important man in the company. Had a good job. He didn't
have a college education. He didn't need one to do what
he was doing. But he told me, someone asked
him in the office one time, what college did you attend? He said,
the College of Hard Knocks. This person said, I've heard
of that college. Well, I want to show you a man here who went
to this college of hard knocks. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. He was so proud and so boastful
that God just showed him that he, that God is the one
who had raised him up and given him authority. It made him such
a great ruler to build that great city of Babylon. He took credit
for it, and God sent him out into the fields. And for seven
seasons, the Scripture says, he was out there in the field
eating grass like an ox, out in the rain and the cold and
whatever else, just like an animal. Notice here in Daniel chapter
4, beginning in verse 34, And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up
mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me,
and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him
that liveth forever. Now notice this, whose dominion
His rulership, His power, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion. And His kingdom is from generation
to generation, and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. And He doeth according to His
will in the army of heaven, the myriads of angels, the army of
heavens, that's one of His name, the God of hosts, He doeth his
will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest
thou? God is absolutely sovereign. The second landmark is the truth
about the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thomas, one of our Lord's
disciples, remember he was absent when our Lord first appeared
to his disciples on the day of his resurrection. And so seven
days later, he was with the disciples and the Lord appeared to them
again. Now he had said, except I see
the marks in his hands and the place in his side, I'm not going
to believe. Well, in fact, he said, unless
I put my finger, my hand in those marks, I'm not going to believe.
We have no record that he ever did put his hand into those wounds,
the place where those wounds were. But we do have this on
record. When he saw the Lord, he confessed,
my Lord and my God. My God. The Lord Jesus Christ told the
Jews as he was here in the flesh ministering before his crucifixion,
one place in John chapter eight, he said, I said unto you, except you believe that I am. Now you could say that to many
people in our city and many people in our country, wouldn't mean
anything to them. Well, let me tell you something.
To a Jew, I am Matt Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent one. I am. Except you believe that
I am, in other words, except you believe that I am God, you
will die in your sins. It's often been said that most
cults, most false religions begin by deviating, by moving the landmark,
if you please, by going out of the old paths concerning the
person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the days in which the New
Testament was written, the tendency then was to deny that he was
a man, his humanity. That's the reason the Apostle
John said the spirit of Antichrist was already at work. And what
was that spirit of Antichrist? It was to deny the humanity of
Jesus, that he was a real man. There's one God and one mediator
between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. To deny, the Greeks believed
that anything that was substantive was sinful. And so they denied
that he had a real body. This came into the church. You
see that in the epistles of John especially and also in Colossians.
This is one of the eras. that was early coming to attack
the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, that He really didn't
have a body, just appeared to have a body, because they were
convinced that anything that had a body had to be sinful.
The Lord Jesus Christ did have a real body, my friends. John
said, for many deceivers are entered into the world, now listen,
who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is
a deceiver and an antichrist. And the reverse is also true. Anyone who does not confess and
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is an antichrist,
is against God. against the Lord Himself. Now
this Spirit, John said, the Spirit has already entered into the
world, the Spirit of Antichrist, and He's still here. He's still
here. He's still at work. Only now
it's more denying His deity than His humanity. And isn't it strange
that one of the verses In the Old Testament, speaking of Christ,
I believe it's in Zechariah, speaks of him receiving wounds
in the house of his friends. And so much of so-called modern
Christianity today denies the deity of the Lord Jesus, denies
his Godhead. Look with me in 1 Timothy chapter
3 and verse 16, a very familiar verse of scripture. I remember a pastor friend of
many years gone by telling the story one time of a of two brothers,
both of them were preachers, but one was a universalist and
one was a preacher of the gospel of Christ. And the one who was
a solid preacher went to visit his brother and his brother,
out of, I guess, respect, asked him to preach. He didn't want
to because he was afraid of what he might say. But he told him,
he said, now listen, I don't want you to preach on anything
controversial. Don't preach on anything controversial."
And he said, okay. He took for his text. And without
controversy. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Justified in the spirit. scene
of angels preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world." That's
an amazing statement. All of those statements there
are truly amazing. That God was manifest, that's
the greatest, no doubt, but that he was believed on. that the
disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ went everywhere preaching that
God had come into this world as a man, and that He had died,
He was crucified, and that all who believe in Him are saved
from all their sins, that His blood washes clean whiter than
snow those who are deepest died with sin, that His righteousness
justifies from every sin. And men believed it. Not everyone. Of course not. But those whom
God had called, those whom God called, they believed. To the
Jew, a stumbling block. To the Greeks, foolishness. But
unto them which are called, Christ, the power of God, unto salvation. Here's the third truth. I had
four. I have four. I just looked at the clock. I
want to cover this other one at least, the third one. The
truth about the plenary verbal inspiration of the scriptures. Now what do those words mean?
Plenary verbal inspiration of the scriptures. It means what
the Apostle Paul wrote when he wrote, all scripture is given
by inspiration of God. In the original manuscripts,
each word, each word, though written by man, was God breathed. As the Apostle Peter says in
his first epistle, no prophecy came in old time by the will
of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost." Sometimes people you may hear say, well the Bible,
that's just a book written by men. Well, it was written by
men, but it was written by men who were inspired So that every
word, not just most of the words, but every word was what God intended
to be written. Now I said in the original manuscripts,
and it's true that we don't have the originals, but we do have
copies and copies of copies of entire books and entire letters
and parts of letters and parts of books, enough so that there
is a great text put together of the New Testament and we may
feel confident and we may have assurance that we have a complete
Word of God. And of course the church accepted
the Old Testament, the 27 books of the Old Testament, which the
Jews had always put among the inspired writings of God. The number of men who wrote this
book, remember it was written over 1,500 years by a number
of different men. But it shows there's only one
author, one author who is God the Holy Spirit. Now, if you
know anything about man, and you know anything about this
book, and I know you do, I know who I'm preaching to, you know
anything about man, you know anything about this book, you
know that man could not have written the book, and if he could,
he would not. He would not have written a book
that condemns him. He would never have written a
book that tells man your very best deeds, the very best that
you can do in God's sight are filthy rags. Man wouldn't have
written that. Man is more like that Pharisee
in our Lord's parable who said, I thank Thee, Father, that I'm
not like other men. No, a man would never have written
this book. Here's a book which gives a perfect
law, a perfect law that no man, as we come into this world, is
able to keep. Not really. Remember that rich
young writer, he said, all these things have I kept from my youth
up. How deceived, how blind he was. Paul, he would have said that.
I'm convinced Saul of Tarsus, before God spoke to him, he would
have said that. He would have said, I've kept
all that law perfectly. Some people believe that maybe
that rich young ruler was Saul of Tarsus. I don't know, it's
not important. But I believe he thought that
until God, this book, God's Law in the Hand of the Holy Spirit. stabbed him in the heart and
convinced him that the law is not only outward deeds, but it
has to do with the inward thoughts, desires, intents. And Paul said,
it killed me. And that's what the law does,
doesn't it? It kills a man of all hope of earning his salvation. Being able by the deeds of the
flesh to please God. And it points us to the Lamb
of God. One who was promised and pictured
patterns and types and shadows in that old law. The Lamb of
God that takes away the sin of the world. I pray the Lord would bless these
thoughts to all of us here this evening. David's going to come
and lead us in a couple of hymns. And Eric and I are going to go
into the back. And next time you see us, we'll
be standing back there in the baptistry. OK? Praise God for
this day. I'm thankful. I know we all are.
All right, David. Let's turn to hymn number 453.