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IT IS TIME FOR THEE TO WORK!

April 3, 2005 AM

Sermon Outline

PS 119:126-128

INTRO: I admit to being just a little surprised when I came across this passage. David is clearly expressing his indignation toward people who choose to ignore the law of God. Certainly, David had his own sins, his own failures for which he was responsible. It just seems a little bit uncharitable for the psalmist to express such a vehement desire. But even in view of his own failures, David loved God and loved His word and loved Gods way. He knew what a blessing God had been to him and in his life, and he simply could not understand why anyone would ignore or disobey God. And when they did, David was indignant.

I. THEY HAVE MADE VOID THY LAW

A. Such a thing as this is truly a scary thought

1. how could anyone presume to do such a thing?

2. how could anyone, in his right mind, blatantly ignore or disobey His law?

3. how could anyone hold the law of the God of the universe in contempt?

B. But it happens every day in countless millions of lives!

1. the law of God is flaunted, is jeered, is denigrated in all nations, cultures

2. listen to Rom 1:21-25 - that may have been the circumstances in the first century (and previous centuries) - but is it any different now?

3. people say they believe in God - but they do not honor His law

C. Some Biblical examples or reminders...

1. Mt 15:1-9 - ...ye made the commandment of God of none effect...

2. Acts 7:51-53 - ...and have not kept it

3. 2 Tim 4:3,4 - ...they will not endure sound doctrine...

D. This is not only happening among those out of Christ folks...

1. it is happening even among people who have been disciples of Jesus

2. it is evident in writings, teachings, practices which are moving away from the old paths ... sound doctrine

3. deviations from His marriage law, salvation by grace alone, introduction of instrumental music in worship, alterations in church government/organization

II. SUPPLICATION: TAKE YOUR VENGEANCE ON THEM, LORD

A. We see sin, injustice, ugliness all around us

1. and we do not understand why God does not do something about it

2. (remember the cry of the martyrs in Rev 6:9-11)

3. I wonder if this may not even be a challenge to our faith ... the fact that God does not act now to set all of this right

B. I do not understand the longsuffering nature of God!

1. 1 Pet 3:20 - ...when once the longsuffering of God waited...

2. 2 Pet 3:9 - ...but is longsuffering to usward...

3. God has a very different agenda from mine - and His agenda must be in those words not will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

C. And we are assured there will be a great day of judgment

1. Rev 20:11-15 - that last verse should be frightening to anyone who makes void the law of God!

2. 2 Cor 5:9-11a - Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord...

3. not even the crucifixion of Jesus was set right immediately!

D. Something we must remember - Eccl 8:11-13

1. the problem we have is the time table - Gods is not ours

2. but what Solomon knew was that it shall not be well with the wicked

3. one of the great deceptions of sin is that God has not punished me thus far, and that probably means he will not

III. BY COMPARISON, DAVID LOVED GODS COMMANDMENTS

A. David valued highly the commandments of God

1. ...above gold; yea, above fine gold

2. Ps 19:10 - ...sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb

3. it was this passion for Gods word which caused the welling up of strong feelings about those who simply did not value the word of God!

4. I wonder if this passion exists in us? I wonder how hurt we are when people around us, among us make the commandments of God void by their behavior?

B. David considered the commandments of God to be right

1. ...I esteem all thy precepts...to be right...

2. Hos 14:9 - ...the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk...

3. the commandments of God are not fodder for argument, nuance, etc.

4. they are right - they are clear - they are to be obeyed

C. David was very open in his objection to any way but Gods

1. toleration can only lead to acceptance!

2. objection does not have to be unpleasant - but it must be definite

3. Jno 14:6 - Jesus, and that which He taught, is the only way to salvation ... to the Father

4. I can have no other message - if you are in a way that is contrary to that which is written in the word, you cannot get to eternal life with the Father!

CLOSE: Yes, I wonder, from time to time, why God permits the extensiveness of sin and error there is in our world. But my lot is to preach, to teach, to exemplify His word ... and to leave judgment and the time of it to Him.

Cecil A. Hutson

April 3, 2005

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)