Faithful Preaching

Our calling as preachers is really very simple. We study, we stand before our people, we read the text, and we explain it. We reprove, rebuke, exhort, encourage, and teach—and then we do it all again and again and again.

- Mohler, He Is Not Silent, 64.

The Exception Clause

What is the "Exception Clause" in Matt. 19:9?

Matthew 19:7-10, They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  (8)  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.  (9)  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.  (10)  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

The “exception clause” in Matt. 19:9 extends to Gentiles as well as Jews in the Sanhedrin [Matt. 19:3]. Some believe this clause is not for us today but the Jews in the Sanhedrin finding out their bride was not a virgin.

What does verse 9 say?

1. “Fornication” covers a multitude of sins not just pre-marital sex. It also covers extra-marital sins.

2. There is no mention of the “betrothal stage” in the text as some believe putting it in relation to the Jews in the Sanhedrin.

3. The disciples asked Jesus, not just the Jews.

(1) Matt. 19:10-12

(2) Matt. 5:31-32, note here that the context is the Sermon on the Mount which is written to believers in kingdom living.

4. Note Matt. 5:31 where Jesus is talking about Moses but in v. 32 he says, “you.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is talking about how our inner righteousness must exceed the outward righteousness of the Jews. “You,” refers to the disciples not just the Jews.

Therefore we believe this is one of the two Biblical reasons for divorce, the other one being desertion (1 Cor. 7:10-16).

Born of Water and of the Spirit

What does "Born of Water and Spirit" mean?

John 3:3-5, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus had no glue what Jesus was talking about. He thought Jesus was talking about being born twice physically, being physically born a second time.

Different views...

(1). John's baptism.

Jesus nowhere makes John's baptism a requirement for salvation. John's baptism was preparing them for the Messiah.

(2). Christian baptism.

Some say water baptism but this would be meaningless to Nicodemus before the church was even born at Pentecost. Water baptism is not a condition for salvation nor was it instituted at this time.

(3). Human birth.

Some say "water" refers to the amniotic fluid of human birth. One has to be born physically before he could be spiritually born (note it is water and spirit).

(4). Regeneration by the Spirit or the cleansing by the Spirit through the Word of God (Ezek. 36:25-26).

Ezekiel 36:25-26, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” (27)  I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.

I want to give 4 reasons it is probably the latter view...

1. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; water is not baptism or physical birth.

2. Eph. 5:26, "To make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

3. The Context of vs. 6-8- Wind and the spirit are the same Greek word, pneuma, which means in English, breath or pneumonia.

In creation everything is after its kind- flesh begets flesh and Spirit begets spirit.  The wind can't be controlled and is invisible but the effects of the wind can be seen and witnessed. The proof of the Spirit's work can be seen and evidenced.

4. The Lord's rebuke in 3:9-10- Nicodemus did not understand. It had something to do with OT Scriptures which Nicodemus should have known.

Follow Jesus

Follow Jesus

John 1:35-37, Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;  (36)  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!  (37)  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

 

John the Baptist was happy when people left him to follow Jesus, because his ministry focused on Jesus. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

When people get saved they follow Jesus, not the preacher, the people, or the program. They believe, follow, and tell others.

The word "follow" means to imitate or mimic, to submit, and it speaks of Lord-ship. We as followers of Christ journey toward Christ-likeness and walking in His steps. We desire to walk as He walked.

 

"If any man come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me" Luke 9:23

Those Troubling "if" Clauses

Those troubling “if” clauses

 Hebrews 3:6, But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

We need to understand this in the light of the total context, which is Moses leading Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land (3: 7-19) and many did not continue proving they were not saved!

The writer is not suggesting that Christians must keep ourselves saved. This would contradict the major theme of the book, which is the finished work of Christ and His heavenly ministry guaranteeing our eternal salvation (Heb. 7:14).

The writer is affirming that those who hold fast their confidence and hope are proving [no maintaining] that they are truly born again, note "whose house we are, not become" [see 10:38].

Some believe these mere professors were in danger of losing salvation. The opposite was the case. If these turned out to be mere professors then departed, they did not lose salvation but by not continuing they proved they never were saved.

Three other times in this epistle, the writer exhorted the readers to hold fast to this confession (Heb. 3:14; 4:14; 6:9;10:23). It was this same confession that characterized men and women of faith in the ages past (Heb. 11:13).

Note other passages in the NT that speak of continuing or holding fast (Acts 13:43; 14:22; Col. 1:23; 1 Cor. 15:2; 1 John 2:18-19).

We should not have confidence in ourselves, because we are too prone to fail; but we should have confidence in Jesus Christ who never fails.

In other words, those who have trusted Christ prove this confession by their steadfastness, confidence, and joyful hope. They are not burdened by the past or threatened by the present, but are “living in the future tense” as they await the “blessed hope” of their Lord’s return.

It is this “heavenly calling” that motivates the believers to keep on living for the Savior even when the going is gets tough.

Led by the Spirit

What does it mean for the Christian to be led by the Spirit?

 

Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Context: After having contrasted those who walk in the flesh [unsaved] with those who walk in the Spirit [saved], Paul now states that believers (those who walk after the Spirit), have the marvelous privilege and responsibility of being a child of God and adopted as an adult Son in God’s family.

Exposition: “Are being lead” is in the present passive indicative which means “those that are being led.” This means that the believer’s life is characterized by righteousness, but also the Spirit’s leading, guiding, and directing. “Those who walk after the Spirit.”

One of the assurances of our salvation is to ask ourselves, “Do I feel God’s leading in my life?” Leading authenticates Christianity.

Doubts come from neglect of Bible study, prayer, fellowship with the church, and disobedience. Doubts can be placed in our mind in times of weakness.

We know that those who see their sinful desires and practices decreasing see evidence of the Spirit’s convicting work in leading their lives.

How does God lead his children?

1. He leads by giving us understanding of His Word. We have the “Anointed one” in us to teach us.

John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I

have said unto you.”

Eph. 1:17-18a, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.”

2. He leads us to obey His Word. It is thru our faithful obedience that that we experience the working of the Spirit in our lives.

 

The Rapture and the Return

The Difference Between the Rapture and the Return

The rapture [John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16-17], the return [Matt 24:27-31 and Rev. 19:11].

 

At the rapture we ascend in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, at the second coming the Son of Man comes on the clouds and touches earth.

At the rapture he comes himself for his bride before the tribulation to take us to the Father’s house, at the second coming we come with Him as the angels gather his elect Israel after the tribulation to enter the millennial kingdom.

At the rapture there is a resurrection, at the second coming in Matt. 24; Rev. 19 it says nothing about a resurrection.

At the rapture he comes 7 years before the tribulation to rescue His bride, while at the second coming he comes after the tribulation to the earth with his saints to reign in the millennial kingdom.

At the rapture he comes as a bridegroom, and at the second coming He comes as “the wrath of the Lamb.”

At the rapture his people witness his return while the world sleeps in darkness. At the second coming every eye shall see him and mourn over the one they pierced.

At the rapture we go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to be rewarded, at the second coming we are arrayed in fine linen having been rewarded.