Good Shepherd Community Church

Although we celebrate the birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth on December 25 it is highly improbable that he was born on this day! The accounts found in Luke and Matthew do not give us an exact day they do relate a timeframe of the year. Consider Luke 2 and the revelation to the shepherds out in the fields at night. No shepherd would have his sheep in the wet cold winter in Israel! This is the season of little grazing grass necessary for their life and health. The time for flocks grazing is the Spring and Summer and early Fall but not Winter. John's gospel directly links Jesus with the fulfillment of the Feast of Israel recorded in Leviticus 23. After Jesus immersion by John and his return from the wilderness the Prophet Forerunner of the Messiah declared- "Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29,35 Using the historical indicators identified in the gospel accounts mostly likely Jesus was crucified at the Passover in the Spring of AD 33 on Thursday or Friday April 2 ,3. The shadow of Law meets its completion in Jesus dying as God's provided Lamb for the sins of his people. In like manner Jesus birth is connected to the Fall feast of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles. The Hebrew lived in tents during their journey from Egyptian slavery to the Promised land. God also had his tent erected among them as they traveled. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. Exodus 25:8-9 John connects Jesus incarnation with Tabernacles in chapter 1 of his gospel. John 1:1-3,14

All Episodes Wayne A Conrad The Antichrists Identified Episode Downloads 0 Total 0 Today Description Send us a text Many people throughout Christian history have been fascinated by the identity of the antichrist. The Apostle John is actually the only biblical write to use the term antichrist! He uses it 5 times in his first two letters. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18 John must have been remembering the words Jesus had spoken ."Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4 John's concern is the theological identity of the antichrist. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 1 John 4:2-3 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 John 7 Thus the spirit of antichrist is found in all those who deny the reality of the incarnation, the coming of the Word, the eternal Son, into human flesh through the virgin birth by Mary of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus became a true human without ceasing to be true deity in his one person for the salvation of sinners.

This week I have had 3 people I know die. I went to one's funeral but the other two were many miles away and 2 were having funerals today at the same time! All this on my birthday. It causes me to remember Psalm 90 verses 3, 9-12 "You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" ... For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. What does the Bible teach us about the reality of death? The location of the spirits of the dead? And how does Jesus Christ birth, death and resurrection address this issue?

The Apostle John in his first letter writes some intriguing words, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you." The old commandment he is referring to is the "Shema," the confession of faith in the one true God to whom we owe full allegiance and devotion. In answer to a scribe's question in Mark 12:28-33 as to what is the greatest commandment, Jesus answers, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. He also relates the second greatest commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (This latter commandment is a phrase attached to a list of various laws in Leviticus 19.) The new component is Jesus' own love for his disciples. He loves us so much that he laid down his life for us on the cross. John 13:1-5, 34f records John's own experience of the love of Jesus shown by his washing their feet. In this context he gives the new commandment, "A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The Apostle John writes a deeply personal pastoral letter to his spiritual children in Ephesus. He is concerned about the spiritual dangers they are facing both from within and without related to false doctrine and ungodly secular antichrist pressure. He wants to protect and enhance their fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ. His letter points to several signs or markers to distinguish true from false believers. In verses 12-14 of 1 John the apostle inserts a pause to particularly address the little children, the fathers and the young men in 6 parallel statements. The "little children" designation is used throughout his letter to indicate that they are beloved in the Lord by him. But it can also accent the reality of the first great awareness of newborn Christians. They rejoice in the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus' death and their relationship to God as Father. John then addresses two groups he calls fathers and young men. The fathers seem to refer to mature believers who know the true identity of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word who has always been with the Father and through whom we know the Father. However, John writes the most to the young men. They are strong, have overcome the evil one. He gives the reason because the word of God abides in them. This middle group bears the brunt of the spiritual battle in which the church is engaged. Although John singles out these particular groups the spiritual realties noted belong to all believers. It appears that John wants to encourage and assure the believers that they do belong to God in Christ.

Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday in America dates back to 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaim the 4th Thursday in November a yearly day of thanks. "It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." However the tradition of giving thanks to God for his providential care goes back to the Pilgrims who had come over from Holland on the Mayflower. Governor Bradford reports that Plymouth had been stricken with a severe drought. "Upon which," said William Bradford "they set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress." That same evening it began "to rain with such sweet and gentle showers as gave them cause of rejoicing and blessing God… For which mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving." Our Thanksgiving festival probably goes alway to the Torah indirectly through the Pilgrims having such a feast in 1621. Consider Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Text: 1 John 2:3-11 Title: Keeping God's Old But New Commandment As a pastor to God's people, the Apostle John wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage fellow believers. In this passage he presents three reasons that believers can know that they know God; i.e., know that they are saved from their sins: I. We keep his commandments/Word - v. 3-5 II. We walk in the same way Jesus walked - v. 5-6 III. We love the brothers and sisters in the church - v. 7 -11 True believers in Christ will demonstrate fidelity to God's Word and affection for God's people. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Scripture Reading (1 John 2:3-11 ESV) 0:43 Opening Prayer 2:55 Context: John as Pastor to Believers 5:07 Real Christianity – Forgiven but Still Sinning 8:30 Jesus Delivers Us from Darkness into Light 11:43 How Do We Know We Truly Know Him? 15:19 1. Keeping His Commandments 23:45 2. Walking as Jesus Walked 29:02 3. Loving the Brothers & Sisters 32:40 Old Commandment Becomes New in Christ 35:36 The Darkness Is Passing – Light Is Shining 38:49 Hatred Has No Place in the Light 44:18 Summary: 3 Marks of Genuine Faith 46:13 Closing Prayer Hashtags: #1John #KnowGod #ObeyJesus #WalkLikeChrist #ChristianLove #LoveOneAnother #LightVsDarkness #BibleSermon #AssuranceOfSalvation #TrueFaith #JesusIsTheLight #Commandments #Sermon #ChristianLiving #GospelTruth

The main idea that drives the Apostle John's first letter is fellowship with God. He makes this clear when he starts his letter. "What we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 He then addresses the need for knowing the truth about God as light and the truth about our sin as a necessity for true fellowship to exist. He presents 3 false ideas that some have. If we assert the believes that sin is a non entity or that humans do not have a sinful nature or that we have not actually sinned we are not speaking according to truth. We lie about the reality of sin and human nature and actually call God himself a liar! With repentance that is a change in our mind about our sin and God the holy righteous One who has acted on our behalf we can know fellowship with God through Jesus atoning death. John presents Jesus work as the corrective for these false beliefs. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. v9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. v7 John is a realist and says, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:2 At the letter's conclusion John writes, I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

In this epistle the Apostle John's focus is on the strengthening of fellowship of believers with God and with one another. Verse 5 states that "God is light" - this points to his total perfection infinitely. Thus his people must reflect his nature and strive to conform to his image, though the reality is we still sin. Three times, in verses 6,8, and 10, John writes, "if we say," thus pointing to some erroneous concepts regarding sin: 1) Those who walk in darkness are not in fellowship with God or the brethren. On the contrary, we must walk in the Light, which brings us into Christian fellowship, and such walking also brings us cleansing from sin through Jesus' blood. 2) Those who deny that they are sinful are self-deceived. They must instead confess their sin to receive forgiveness. 3) Those who deny they have committed acts of sin make God a liar and do not possess the indwelling of the Word of God. Jesus Christ himself is the standard for Christian living and behavior, and we must strive to be like him. Though Christian people have not reached perfection, their solemn calling by the grace of God is to be like the Lord Jesus as much as possible.

The Christian message and life begins not with man, humanity, but with the being of God himself. In fact the Apostle John begins with the One who was in the beginning and with whom he had had physical emotional connection. He is writing about the incarnation of the Word in the person of Jesus the Christ. John's letter to the churches begins at the same place as the Gospel of John! Compare 1 John 1:1-5 with John 1:1-4. He writes of the Word, Life and light. In his letter he adds the eternal life and fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. His climatic statement is- God is Light! At the conclusion of his letter he summarizes in these words, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20 CSV If we are to understand the gospel, and the Christian life correctly then we must begin at the right place. We must begin with God, the God who is Father and Son, Jesus Christ- the true God who is the Holy, the Light!

John the Apostle was the youngest of Jesus' apostles and he had a unique relationship with the Lord Jesus. Both his gospel testimony and his letters to the churches convey a warm pastoral heart of loving care for the Lord's people. One thing I value in his writings is his stated purpose for writing. In his gospel he states, " Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." JZohn 20:30f in his letters of 1 John he states several times why his writing and to whom he is writing. "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled. JZohn 1:3-4 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 John. 2:1-2 He addresses all the people under their spiritual maturations of young believers, adult father believers and young adult believers. To each group he gives a reason such as assurance or encouragement in spiritual warfare. a number of other reasons are given but end his letter with this one. " And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20 His letter to them will function in like manner for us who pick up and read.

The Biblical description of a "saint" is not some super-spiritual Christian but all those people whom God has called out of the world and set apart for himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. These people are expected to live holy lives, separated from the world, and reflecting the character of God. They have spiritual union with contemporary believers around the world, as well as with those who are already in heaven. An example of a fellow believer and martyr from the early centuries of the church would be Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who stood firm in his faith in Christ despite being killed for his belief. The distinguishing and necessary mark of a true believer is personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith is marked by ongoing spiritual growth by conforming progressively more into the image of the Savior. Such people are commanded to "run with endurance" the race of life marked out for them, looking to Jesus, "the author and finisher of their faith," as well as to the example of the saints of previous ages, who were faithful to God in the midst of hardships and trials. As a living saint today, each believer has union with all believers who together are Christ's joy.

The various Reformers during the Protestant Reformation restored New Testament worship emphasis especially the centrality of the Bible in the language of the people. Preaching and the public reading of the Scriptures was the focus in the services. They looked to such Bible passages as John 4:24 and Phillippians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 14:16-18,26 and Acts 2:42 for direction. John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them Acts 2:42 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 1 Timothy 2:1-8 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, .. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you i..preach the Word

There are a number of very important issues that were addressed by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Among them is the recovery of biblical spiritual worship offered to God alone. How we worship must be in accordance with God's special revelation first to Israel under Moses and then to the fullness of truth given in the person and actions of Jesus of Nazareth. "The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17 This episode looks at God's first revelation under the Old Covenant through Moses. The first 3 commandments God spoke from Mount Sinai concern his worship. God alone is the object of our worship. His worship is exclusive and tolerates no idols. Under the Old Covenant God's worship involved an elaborate priesthood, sacrifices ,vestments , days, ect. An imitation of these practices rose in the history of the church and is seen in the worship practices of Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The various Protestant Reformers rejected the use of idols in God's worship. They looked to Christ as the fulfillment of the law and ground worship on the New Covenant spoken of in. the New Testament. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21

The supreme goal and end of all things is the glory of God. God's glory is seen in the magnificence of his creation but it is even more profoundly seen in the salvation of sinners through the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That God would send his Son from heaven to take upon himself full humanity and then die on Calvary's cross to pay the sin debt owed to God is grace and mercy beyond comprehension. God created the universe out of nothing but when he saves a sinner he enters into his creation in mortal combat with sin, Satan, and death through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The Biblical truth of the all-sufficient saving work of Jesus Christ for his people was recovered at the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. In his work God's glory is fully displayed, and that is to be the supreme focus of the Christian life.

Of all the people groups on the earth, the ancient Hebrew people were the most blessed because God revealed his being and nature to them alone, as well as another vital revelation: they had sinned against him and needed cleansing and forgiveness of their sins. The Law of Moses established the sacrificial system of killing animals whose deaths were a substitute for the deaths that the Israelites deserved for their sin. But the sacrifices of animals was insufficient to cover the peoples' sins. It was a temporary stop-gap measure that would be completed when the Messiah and Savior would come in the future to die for their sins on a cross outside of Jerusalem. The sacrifice of his body was all-sufficient for the complete removal and forgiveness of sin, once for all and eternally.

A "mediator" is someone who stands between two parties and has the interests of both parties at heart - such is our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament Moses (along with his brother Aaron) stands as the great model of a Mediator between Yahweh and the people of Israel. When the people had fallen into idolatry and immorality while Moses was up on Mt. Sinai, in his anger Yahweh told Moses he would destroy the nation and begin another nation with him. But God relented when Moses implored him to withdraw his hand of judgment and reminded him of his promise to the patriarchs that he would make a great nation of them. In Hebrews 2:10 we read about the suffering of this Mediator, Jesus Christ, which qualified and tested him and confirmed his worthiness for the job God appointed him to. The former Levitical priests under the Old Covenant were imperfect because of their sin, but Jesus was perfectly sinless and rose from the dead so "he ever lives to make intercession for his people" (Heb. 7:25). This Mediator, who was fully human and fully divine, also offered himself up on the cross as the payment for the sins of his people. As our High Priest in heaven he takes our praises and prayers and purifies them and offers them to the Father on our behalf. "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the cross tells me so." Therefore, let us remember our baptismal vows and by his grace serve him with gratitude and consistency.

David in Psalm 145 tells us the greatness of God by declaring what he is and what he has done. By example he shows how to praise God the King. However, he goes further by speaking at the beginning of the psalm of he various ways he intents to lift up the Name of God. Listen for the various ways he is extolling God and we can join him in these actions.

In the first three chapters of the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul lays out the case that all humanity, not only the Gentiles, but also the Jews are guilty before God of sin. Their infection with sin is not shallow, but all pervasive. In this passage in Romans 3 the apostle quotes several passages in the Old Testament, mainly from the psalms, demonstrating how deep-seated sin is in all humanity. This immersion of every human in sin can be seen in that: No one seeks God No one does good. No one is righteous Every person is active and deliberate and cruel in their wickedness. No one fears God. The world with its philosophies and religions has no real solution to this massive spiritual problem; only the Gospel of Jesus Christ recognizes the seriousness of this problem and presents the only solution: the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ whose death on the cross paid the price of his people's sin and provides them with the imputed righteousness of Christ. Salvation from sin cannot be obtained by human works, but is only by the grace of God through faith in Christ for all who believe.

David composed a hymn, a song, extolling the greatness of God in the revelation of his nature, his character displayed in his grace to us. Psalm 145:3 Great is YHWH (Yahweh) and greatly to be praised.

The Psalms of David are so valuable and instructive to God's people in every age. The overarching theme of this psalm is the magnificent greatness of God. The content of this psalm may be structured as follows: I. From whom should Yahweh's praise come? It would come from David himself as well as all of God's people and even all humanity from every age. It will arise from one generation to another as the faith is passed on by faithful teachers and preachers. All the saints of God who call on him, those who fear him and love him will praise him. II. When should Yahweh's praise come forth? David declares it would arise every day as well as forever and ever from him - probably indicating it would continue into the future after his death. David is the model for all God's people to follow. III. Why should Yahweh's people offer him unending praise? It is because of his mighty acts, his goodness to all his creatures, but especially for the perfections of his holy being: he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and steadfast in love, as well as righteous and not neglecting to destroy the wicked. Christians today should follow David's example and be people unswervingly committed to praising and blessing God every day of our lives.

Paul writes in Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." These words address participation in Christian assembly and tells us to use Psalms. We should read them, pray them, sing them and teach and preach them. Three recently used psalms demonstrate this. The psalms reviewed are, first of all, Psalm 130, a prayer of lament and petition resulting in a self exhortation and a group exhortation. For the next service we turned to Psalm 105. However, Psalm 105 and 106 are actually one psalm of poetic historical narrative of God's dealings with his chosen people, the Hebrews, Israel. The psalm is an exhortation to praise God and a teaching device to encourage spiritual renewal in light of God's faithfulness. Lastly, we used Psalm 86, a prayer of David in the form of lament and petition to Yahweh, the Lord. It is a heartfelt prayer of deep relationship with God confessing God's uniqueness- You alone are God. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Yahweh, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me

We are not told the specific occasion for David's distress but we can learn from him how to deal with the trials that come our way. He goes to Yahweh in prayer with confidence that God would answer him. Even in the midst of David's personal trials, God's glory and majesty remains unchanged and his worthiness to be worshiped will be recognized by all nations. David's enemies are ruthless, but God's love and faithfulness is steadfast. As David is comforted in his God, so are we as we look to him.

The Lord's Supper , holy Communion is an integral part of Christian worship and the singing done at the Table should be rich in content filled with biblical orthodox teaching as well as praise and prayer. Jesus set the example at inaugural holy meal recorded in Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26. After singing a hymn (probably Psalm 118) they went out to the Mount of Olives. Consider the teaching of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:14-21 and Luke's words in Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7. The Supper was frequent apparently every First Day of the week when the disciples, the believers came together to eat the Lord's Supper. See 1 Cor. 11 repeated phrase "when you come together". Examples of good hymns to sing at the Lord's Table that express rich biblical teaching and the meaning are cited. From the Baptist Charles Spurgeon, in the 19th century when teaches spiritual presence of the Resurrected Lord Jesus, "Among Us Our Beloved Stands". Alex Motyer, in the 20th century, "O God Your Mercy Moved by Love" and "Behold the Lamb, Communion Hymn" by the Getty's in 2006.

The people of Israel rejoiced in Yahweh because they remembered his mighty acts in their history, especially how he chose them, the least of all the peoples of the earth, to be his very own treasured possession. Then he graciously saved them from starvation when he brought them from Canaan to Egypt. After several hundred years they had grown into a populous nation which the Egyptians feared, so they oppressed them and put them into servitude. Yahweh sent Moses to deliver them out of Egypt, lead them through forty years of wilderness wanderings, and bring them to the Promised Land. God brought them there so they could obey his law and live before him as his special people. When the ancient prophecies of the coming Messiah-Deliverer of God's people were fulfilled in the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord, and through his subsequent death, resurrection, and ascension, there was even greater reason to remember the mighty acts of Yahweh seen in the Savior. Through his Son, God has done all that was necessary to save his people from their sins, granting them eternal life and fellowship with himself. God's actions in Christ must be proclaimed by his people throughout their daily lives. We pray for the Lord to open up doors for us in our everyday lives to speak the Gospel to people in our culture whom he brings us in contact with. Both the speaking of the gospel and the receiving of it are works of the Holy Spirit.

The act of worship that is Christian baptism must contain the proclamation of the Word containing its institution and its meaning. A biblical way of enhance this service is to sing Christ centered gospel focused hymns expressing Biblical truth to both the one being baptized and the body of worshippers participating in this gospel ordinance. Psalm 105:2 ESV Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! There are examples of people who upon being baptized responded with rejoicing Acts 8, the newly baptized Ethiopian went on home rejoicing. The converted Philippian jailer upon hearing and believing the good news was baptized and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God. Acts 16:34 New Testament baptism presents conversion and baptism together. We must not separate what God has joined! The order of human response to God's sovereign move in grace is to repent-believe and baptized. One very important way of worshiping at the observance of baptism is to read appropriate scripture ,comment upon it and sing songs that express the meaning of the act to both the one being baptized and the others witnessing and sharing in this act of worship. Two examples of hymns are "The Servants of God a Baptized and When Jesus Died Upon the Cross

Sermon Outline: I. The Distress of the Psalmist - v. 1-3 II. The Relief of the Psalmist - v. 4-6 III. The Certain Hope of God's People - v. 7-8 As we read this Psalm we see that the psalmist is in great distress and is crying out for the mercy of God. The thing that is overwhelming him is his own sin, his great iniquity. He knows how righteous God is but is comforted in Yahweh's steadfast love and plentiful redemption. So the Psalmist waits in certain hope that God will redeem him as well as all his people from their iniquities. Knowing the Old Testament promises of the Messiah is where his ultimate hope rested: the coming One who would pay the price for the true removal of their sin and guilt. We, too, wait for the consummation of our salvation at Christ's return.

Jesus Christ gave and commanded two ordinances or sacraments for his followers to observe. Both are directly connected to and embody the gospel, the wonderful news of forgiveness and new life with God as our Father through the redemptive actions of Jesus- his life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Through these appointed rites we participate with Christ in his work on our behalf. To counter the all to common low view of the ordinances we must embrace a robust biblical view of their connection with our salvation through union with the Lord Jesu

Paul's words in Col. 3:1-4 cut across time: they begin with the past, come into the present, and look to the future. In all these phases we are united to Christ. Union with Christ has been called the "umbrella doctrine" because it covers the entire Christian experience. "In Christ" is the fundamental expression used over and over in Paul's letters to describe the position of the Christian in this world. In Gal. 2:20 we learn that we have been united with Christ in his death. All of our subjective blessings are based on his objective work on the cross. As Michael Horton says, "If Christ remains outside of us , it's useless to us - we must cash in through personal faith in Christ." When Christ arose and ascended, we also rose and ascended with him, not bodily, but spiritually. So in our present experience on earth, we walk by faith via the enablement of the grace of Spirit, to live our daily lives so as to please him. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we read about our future at Christ's return: the raising of our lowly bodies from the grave to be changed like unto Christ's glorious resurrection body. Thus our present spiritual union will also become physical by the power of God.

Hymn singing that is the musical expression of Biblical truth in the form of vocal music is extremely important in the Christian life. What we sing and how we sing it shapes us in many ways. In the Bible singing plays a major role. This is especially true when believers gather. The Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament command us to sing and gives examples. The earliest recorded song I find in the Bible is Exodus 15:1ff Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, "I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea. 2 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name. WEB Moses concluded his mediator prophet role by composing and singing a song recorded in Deuteronomy 32. Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. For I will proclaim Yahweh's name. Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock: his work is perfect,for all his ways are just. A God of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he. An example of the importance of singing God's truth is the experience of Paul and Silas recorded in Acts 16. After being grossly mistreated and thrown into jail, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. This is the Paul who later wrote to the churches in Colossians 3.

"Union with Christ" is essentially "Christ in you" and "you in Christ." But it involves not only a union with Christ but a union with one another, with the body of Christ, fleshed out in the core of a Christian assembly. Louis Berkoff gives a good definition of union with Christ: it is the "intimate, vital, and spiritual connection between Christ and believers." M. Pete Johnson says "to be saved is to be united to the Savior." God saves us not just as individuals in union with himself but also to join us to his people. The Christian life cannot be lived in isolation from other believers. Rom. 12:5 says "we are members one of another." It is only in the local church that we can rub shoulders with fellow Christians and share our mutual life together. In Christ we are new men and women, but we are joined to other new men and women in the local assembly. We have all been washed of all our various sins by Jesus' blood. We have all been awakened from spiritual death to spiritual life by the Holy Spirit and brought into the same quality of fellowship with God and his people that the triune God has experienced in himself in all eternity. As Christian believers we are in union with Christ and the "new we" - the people of God, the body of Christ.

In Ephesians 4 we have a picture of the Lord Jesus ascending back to the Father in heaven. He has as the incarnate Lord entered into the spiritual battle with Satan on the cross. There he He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Although Satan thought he was winning in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus he was in fact being defeated. Christ Jesus dying for his own people given to him by the Father took away their damnation and since he had no sin of his own death had no hold on him. Thus he arose from the dead on the third day in an immortal body. Some 40 days later Jesus ascended into heaven and took a host of captives with him! We are those captives if we belong to Christ Jesus by faith. He rescued us from the domain of Satan and now leads us in victorious procession into heaven to be presented to the Father in union with His own person. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Christ Jesus the Lord! He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. 2 Corinthians 2:14

The believer's union with Christ includes union with him in his ascension - this is accomplished by work of the Holy Spirit - it is a mystery, but it is also reality. Four key words will be used to describe this great union of the believer with their Lord in his ascension: 1) "glory" - the fundamental meaning of "glory" as seen in the Old Testament is something of great heaviness or weight, such as gold. Christ has always shared in glory with the Father and Spirit in eternity but when he was incarnated and suffered for sins at the cross his glory was manifested in a powerful way. In John 17:24 Jesus prayed to the Father that his people would be able to be with him and see his glory. 2) "home" - salvation fundamentally involves placing us in union with his Son. Since Jesus' home is with the Father, it is the home of his people also! Christ is in the home and we are in him, so it is our home also. 3) "victory" - we see in Colossians 2:15 that at the cross Christ disarmed rulers and authorities and in his resurrection and ascension he defeated these enemies so that he now brings his redeemed people with him into the Father's presence by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 4) "seated" - the New Testament states that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father and therefore the believer's life "is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). By the Spirit we are also seated with him there, though we still live on earth. Union with Christ involves these four great realities: glory, home, victory, and seated.

In times of affliction the presence of friends can be a great source of help and encouragement. Consider Job and the visit of his three friends.

In this sermon, we delve into the profound truth of our union with Christ. Discover how believers are spiritually resurrected with Christ, united in His death, burial, and resurrection through faith and baptism. Uncover the transformative power of this divine fellowship, where our sins are forgiven, and we are made alive in Christ, free from the judgment we deserve. Join us as we unpack the significance of participating in Christ's redemptive work and living as those identified and incorporated into His body, the church.

Paul writes in a number of places of our natural identity in Adam as condemned transgressors of God's law born spiritually dead and under condemnation. But the message he had delivered to the churches in Galatia was that the Lord Jesus Christ, had given himself on the cross for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. No one can be saved by the works of the law because of our state in Adam and our transgressions. The Law can convict of sin but can not deliver those who break it. Accordingly ,we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2) For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Paul's new identity is that of a forgiven sinner who is a new person in Christ. His old identity in Adam as condemned sinner is replaced because of Christ payment for our sins. Through Jesus identification with us and our identification and participaction in Him we are accepted sons of God. How Paul marvelled that Jesus loved because he died for him, even more by the Spirit's work of union with Christ in his death on the cross Paul as all true believers have been crucified with Christ so that Christ lives in us, in the New I.

Sermon Text: Galatians 2:20 Sermon Title: "Apprehending Our Union with Christ" The theme of being "in Christ," central to Paul's epistles, describes the believer's profound union with Christ, drawing us into the intimate fellowship of the Father and Son. Through the Holy Spirit, we are united with Christ by repentance and faith, becoming justified, sanctified, and glorified in Him—spiritual realities that transform and empower our Christian lives. When Christ died, our old sinful self died with Him; when He rose, our new self in Christ rose, so that "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Living by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, makes all things new. In today's sermon, "Apprehending Our Union with Christ," we explore this transformative union. By understanding Scripture's truth, we uncover the benefits of salvation—not just deliverance from hell but freedom from this evil age, bringing peace, joy, and harmony with God. Yet, a warning remains: we still sin, and God will judge. To resist sin and avoid the weight of judgment, we must continually study and apply Scripture, mortifying the deeds of the flesh. By apprehending our union with Christ, we live out the truth that Christ lives in us, revolutionizing our lives through the power of this divine fellowship. 00:00:13 - Introduction to Biblical Grammar 00:01:12 - Understanding Verb Tense and Audience 00:02:25 - Exploring Voice, Tense, and Mood 00:03:30 - Importance of Grammar in Scripture 00:04:05 - Introduction to Galatians 00:05:15 - Justification Through Faith in Christ 00:07:06 - Sin Beyond Actions: Thoughts and Motives 00:09:10 - The Law and Cov

Early believers in the Lord Jesus as the Christ or Messiah did not called themselves Christians. Paul never referred to himself as a Christian! How did he called himself and what name did he used to referred to believers. You discover this by looking at his salutations in his letters- he addresses them to the believers and gives them a designation.

Early believers in Messiah Jesus were known as Followers of the Way and Nazarenes, treated as a sect within Judaism . They were first called Christian as a pejorative term Acts 16 but the term given in derision stuck. However the term that the Apostle Paul used for believers was the "in Christ". This sermon begins the exploration of union with Christ.

The word Christian, while meaning many things to many people in our modern world, has one essential meaning: "to be in union with Christ." The apostle Paul repeatedly uses the term "in Christ" in the introductions to his letters to the Romans, Thessalonians, Colossians, Philippians, and Ephesians, where the doctrine of union with Christ is plainly evident. These greetings highlight the truth of Christ's incarnation and His indwelling presence in believers. John Calvin captures this, stating, "We do not, therefore, contemplate him outside ourselves from afar in order that his righteousness may be imputed to us but because we put on Christ and are engrafted into his body—in short, because he deigns to make us one with him" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 2, Section 24). In the reality of union with Christ, we find the external work of His incarnation. This work is applied internally to us through the Holy Spirit, what we have termed "one-inness in Christ," the center of our salvation and sanctification. The New Testament provides four metaphors to understand this mystery: marriage, the body, the temple, and the building. In our modern day, Louis Berkhof has perhaps phrased it best: "That intimate, vital, and spiritual union between Christ and His people, in virtue of which He is the source of their life and strength, of their blessedness and salvation" (Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof).

Sermons on the wrath of God and the final judgment and hell are missing today. This has been true for several decades. But we avoid the message at our own peril and of those who most need to hear God's summons to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Revelation 6 contains the vision of the six seals of Revelation. The fifth seal is that of the martyrs calling for vindication and the sixth seal is the response. Consider the wrath to come from the holy God against all who do not know him and do not obey the gospel by belief in the Son. He who is the Lamb of God that bore the sins of his people and took their punishment is also the One to whom judgment is given. "the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:22f Peter preached to Cornelius that God appointed Christ to be the judge of the world. "[Christ] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead" by his resurrection from the dead.(Acts 10:42). Paul declare the same truth to the Athenians:"[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:21 The only refuge from the judgment of the Lamb is personal faith in the Lamb. Psalm 2:11b Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the promised Savior of his people but he is also the coming Judge. The one who bore the wrath of God against our sin is also the one who will mete out his wrath on sinners when he returns. The wrath of God is a reality revealed in the scriptures that we need to be reminded of. It is a terrifying prospect for those outside of Christ, but there is escape from this wrath when a person flees to Christ in repentance and faith. In Christ is refuge, life and never-ending joy and fellowship with God.

What happens when a human dies? Many ideas have been suggested. However, the Bible gives a clear but reserved answer. The focus in the Scripture is on the believer in Christ Jesus. Jesus gives a story of the rich man and Lazarus to warn us to heed the words of God now in order to prepare. Jesus also gives great assurance to those who believe on him. He says he gives them eternal life and will raise them from the dead on the last day. Until then he is with them even in death and they enjoy his presence while they await the day of his return to earth. Paul states that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, indicating a conscious and immediate presence with Christ after death. 2 Corinthians 5:8

The great awaited "tsunami of salvation" broke out 2,000 years ago with the advent of Messiah Jesus, his death, resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit. But the thousands gathered into the kingdom of God needed training and discipleship. So the Lord Jesus led the apostles to form groups of believers around Jerusalem. Acts 2:42 describes the holy activities of these discipleship groups: "they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Why do Christ's churches gather weekly? It is to be instructed in the faith as Jesus passed it on through his apostles, it is to fellowship with Christ and his people by the Holy Spirit, it is to be reminded of Christ's suffering for our sins at the Table of the Lord, and it is to present our praises and petitions to our God in prayer with one mind and heart. The local church gathering is the only place on earth where this happens - it's why the Christian needs to be there and must be there when the saints gather for corporate worship.

The church, those people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and gather to worship him, are very important to God. This message sets forth the importance of the church to God the Father, to Jesus the Son and to the Holy Spirit. In light of these facts how important is the church to us, to you?

The Nicene Creed's statement regarding the church is taken directly from Scripture: it is the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. The New Testament epistles show the vital connection between Christ and his church. To be a Christain is to be intimately involved in the life of a local assembly. A New Testament church is a gathering of regenerated people who belong to the Lord Jesus by the ministry of the one Holy Spirit and who are summoned to belong to the one Lord to commune with him and to mutually upbuild one another. It is "holy" because it is separated from the world and separated unto God as his holy people. The church is "catholic", meaning it is trans-historical and trans-cultural - comprising all who are cleansed by Jesus' blood and inhabited by the Holy Spirit. The church is "apostolic," meaning it exists under the teaching authority of the apostles as expressed in the New Testament. The church is composed of those who are baptized "for the forgiveness of sins." Baptism is the initiation rite into the Christian church for those who have come in repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ; it is the outward mark of those whom God has called to himself through Christ. These believers function as living members of Christ by participation in local assemblies before God under his Word.

Happy Independence Day/ Happy Birthday to America There is a greater freedom than political independence from a foreign power. It is the spiritual freedom that Jesus accomplished for those who believe on him. He came on the divine mission of the rescue of rebel sinners from the slavery of Satan and sin and its consequence of death and hell. (Genesis 3:13-15) His incarnation- the Word, the eternal Son taking mortal flesh - was necessary to free us from slavery to sin, death and ultimate hell. (Hebrews 2:14) He did this by undergoing, submitting himself to the suffering, death on the cross in our behalf in our place. (Colossians 2:15) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death! He is the true Liberator who fought and won the battle for all who place their faith, their trust in Him. If the Son sets you free you are free indeed! (John 8:36)