Weekly Sermon

This message is a companion to three previous messages:  If Ye Fulfill the Royal Law (Part 1) - James 2:8
                                                                                               If Ye Fulfill the Royal Law (Part 2) - James 2:8     
                                                                                               If Ye Fulfill the Royal Law (Part 3) - James 2:8     

James 2:8 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.” 

In James 2:8 we find the commendation of the Lord our God Himself in His Holy Word unto all who fulfill His royal law.  Herein the law of the Lord our God is described as His royal law because He is the divine Lord and King of our lives.  Indeed, this reveals that we believers in this time of the New Testament do have the responsibility to serve under our Lord’s authority and to submit ourselves in obedience under the authority of law for our lives.  Furthermore, we have the responsibility to fulfill our Lord’s royal law, that is – to obey it completely and consistently.  Finally, we are brought to understand that we must fulfill our Lord’s royal law over our lives in accord with the Old Testament Scripture from Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  If we do this, then the Lord our God through His Holy Word by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit commends us with the declaration, “Ye do well.”  If we do this, then in our Lord’s sight we are walking in the way of righteousness.
 
So then, what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves?  In Leviticus 19:17-18 this instruction was first given, wherein God’s word declares, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”  Then throughout the New Testament, this instruction of our God’s law was quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ on two occasion in Matthew 19:19 & 22:39(with Mark 12:31 being a parallel passage to Matthew 22:39), by the apostle Paul on two further occasions inRomans 13:9 & Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8.  Even so, through a study of these and of some supporting passages, we may develop a greater understanding concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Already in the first part of the study, we considered ten truths concerning this matter, as follows:

 1.  To love our neighbor as ourselves is the foundational principle of God’s law in relation to others.  
 2.  To love our neighbor as ourselves is a debt that we constantly owe unto those around us.  
 3.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we work no ill against those around us. 
 4.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not use our Christian liberty for an occasion to our selfish flesh. 
 5.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we pursue a behavior of service unto those around us. 
 6.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not verbally “bite and devour” those around us. 
 7.  To love our neighbor as ourselves requires that we walk under the directing influence of God the Holy Spirit.  
 8.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we be moved with compassion to help those around us who are in need.  
 9.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not defraud or deal deceitfully with those around us.  
10.  To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not be impatient or abusive against those with a physical disability.
 
Now, in this fourth part of the study, let us consider seven final truths.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:20 reads, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

In James 1:29 we receive a three-fold exhortation concerning right relations with other people – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”  Verse 20 then adds an explanation for the Biblical exhortation that we should be “slow to wrath” – “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”  This truth is presented as an explanation of warning, in order to motivate us to follow the exhortation to be “slow to wrath.”  Grammatically, this verse provides a contrast between “the wrath of man” and “the righteousness of God,” a contrast that turns on the negative verb “worketh not.”  Indeed, “the wrath of man” (or, selfish wrath) and “the righteousness of God” are never in union with one another; for “the righteousness of God” is never produced through “the wrath of man.”  Rather, “the wrath of man” (or, selfish wrath) always moves in opposition to “the righteousness of God.”  Even so, this explanation warns us against the practice of selfish wrath in our lives.  Let us then consider the problem of selfish wrath and the product of selfish wrath.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:19 reads, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

As we have previously noted, the word “wherefore” with which James 1:19 begins indicates that the instructions of this verse are connected to and flow out from some truth in the previous paragraph (verses 12-18).  Even so, we have concluded that this connection is with the truth of verse 14.  This connection is with the truth that the cause of sinful temptation in our lives is the selfish desires of our own corrupt hearts.  The principle of selfishness is a natural characteristic of our hearts; and that principle of selfishness often corrupts our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions.  This is especially true in our relationships with others.  For this very reason, the three-fold exhortation of verse 19 is delivered in quick succession in order to reveal our need to deny our selves and our selfishness in our relationship with others.  In our selfishness, it is natural for us to be slow to hear the opinions and concerns of others.  In our selfishness, it is natural for us to be swift to speak our own opinions and concerns to others.  In our selfishness, it is natural for us to be swift to wrath when things do not go our way.  Thus we are exhorted to deny our selfishness by being “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” 

Grammatically, James 1:19 begins with a loving address from a pastor’s heart -- “Wherefore, my beloved brethren.”  James employed this loving address both to obtain the attention of his readers for his exhortation and to open the hearts of his readers unto his exhortation.  Thereby he expressed his pastoral love for them as brethren in Christ and his pastoral burden for them concerning their growth in righteousness.  Then verse 19 continues with a three-fold exhortation for right relations -- “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”  Finally, verse 20 concludes with a Biblical explanation concerning selfish wrath -- “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”  In this message we shall focus our attention upon the three-fold exhortation for right relations.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:4 reads, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The opening matter about which the epistle of James provides pastoral counsel concerns the trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives.   Concerning this matter James delivers a series of four instructions under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.  The first of these instructions is found in verses 2-3 and speaks concerning our regard and attitude toward the trials of life, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” 

The second of these instructions is then found in verse 4.  It clearly flows out of the previous instruction and is complementary thereto.  Whereas the previous instruction ends with the truth that the trying of our faith “worketh patience,” this instruction informs us to “let patience have her perfect work.”  Thus it speaks concerning our response of submission in the trials of life.  Grammatically, the instruction of James 1:4 can be divided into two parts.  First, there is the continual requirement of the main clause -- “But let patience have her perfect work.”  Second, there is the motivational result of the subordinate clause -- “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [or, lacking] nothing.”

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to six previous sermons:  In the Way of This Life - Psalm 119:1    
                                                                                      In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 1) - Psalm 119:3    
                                                                                      In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 2) - Psalm 119:3    
                                                                                      In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 3) - Psalm 119:3    
                                                                                      In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 4) - Psalm 119:3    
                                                                                      Away from the Way of Sins's Lies - Psalm 119:3    

Psalm 119:1-5 reads, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”

In Psalm 119 we encounter the words “way” and “ways” eighteen times and the word “path” two times, indicating that the pathway of our lives is an important subject of this psalm.  In fact, through these twenty references this psalm presents four categories of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life.  With the phrase “in the way,” verse 1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of this life.  With the phrase “in his way,” verse 3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord.  In direct contrast to our Lord’s way, verse 29 refers to “the way of lying” and thereby introduces us to the third category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of sin’s lies.  Finally, with the phrase “my ways,” verse 5 introduces us to the fourth category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of this life – the way of our lives.

Already concerning the way of this life, we have learned that in this life we all must face challenges, make choices, and accept the consequences.  Already concerning the way of our Lord, we have been exhorted to choose to walk after His ways.  Already concerning the way of sin’s lies, we have been exhorted to choose to avoid sin’s ways.  Yea, being exhorted to walk after our Lord’s ways, we have learned of our need for determination, conviction, passion, education, adoration, meditation, transformation, rejection, and continuation.  Furthermore, being exhorted to avoid the way of sin’s lies, we have learned of our need for correction, separation, instruction, and abomination.  Now concerning the way of our lives, we are brought to the place of personal application.  It is not enough for us to be exhorted with our need.  Now we must actually apply these principles to our personal walk day by day. 

Weekly Sermon

Proverbs 31:28-31 – “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

Weekly Sermon

2 Corinthians 2:11 reads, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Brethren, I would direct your attention to the opening phrase of this verse – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.” Let us then consider three truths concerning our spiritual warfare against our adversary the devil and concerning the manner by which he might get a spiritual advantage over us.

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to a previous outline:  In the Day of My Trouble - Psalm 77    

In Psalm 77:4-9 the psalmist Asaph cried out and complained, saying, “Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Will the Lord cast off for ever?  And will he be favourable no more?  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Hath God forgotten to be gracious?  Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”

Through this cry and complaint, we understand that the psalmist had come to a place of utter discouragement and depression.  In addition, we understand that the foundational reason for the psalmist’s discouragement and depression was that he had come to a place of doubting and questioning the gracious, merciful, and faithful nature of the Lord his God.  Yet by the end of this psalm, the psalmist had come to a completely different place, to a place of comfort and courage through whole-hearted trust in and praise of the Lord his God.  So then, what brought about this change?  The turning point of the psalm is found in verses 10-12.

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to two previous posts:  The Proverbs & Our Love (Part 1)     
                                                                             The Proverbs & Our Love (Part 2)    

Having considered in two previous posts (see above) what the book of the Proverbs teaches concerning the direction and the demonstration of our love, let us now consider what the book of the Proverbs teaches concern-ing our hatred.

Proverbs for Life

The book of the Proverbs presents a number of truths concerning that upon which we should or should not set our love, and concerning the manner in which we are to love.  In this first part of the study, let us consider that upon which we should, or should not, set our love.

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to a previous outlines:  And Forget Not All His Benefits - Psalm 103:1-5    

Psalm 103:1-2 reads, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Psalm 103:20-22 reads, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.  Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.”

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to three previous sermons:
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2     
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 2) - Romans 12:2     
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 3) - Romans 12:2      

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first three parts of the message, we have considered six answers to this question – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God; (4) we must commit ourselves to the truth of our new life in Christ; (5) we must commit ourselves to walk in and after the Holy Spirit; and (6) we commit ourselves to walk always in prayer and thanksgiving.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2     
                                                                                       By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 2) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first two parts of the message, we have considered four answers to this question – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God; and (4) we must commit ourselves to the truth of our new life in Christ.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 100 – “A Psalm of Praise”

  I.  Serve the Lord with Gladness. (vs. 1-2)
      II.  Why?  Because He Is God. (v. 3)
III.  Give Thanks unto the Lord. (v. 4)
      IV.  Why?  Because He Is Good. (v. 5)

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three answers to this question of these things – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; and (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.