• God knows and detects.
  Isaiah 29:15-16 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
• Christ knew and detected.
  Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
• God has no pleasure in.
  Isaiah 9:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
• Shall not come before God.
  Job 13:16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
• DESCRIBED AS
  • Wilfully blind.
    Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
    Matthew 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
    Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
  • Vile.
    Isaiah 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
  • Self-righteous.
    Isaiah 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
    Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
  • Covetous.
    Ezekiel 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
    2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
  • Ostentatious.
    Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
    Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
    Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
  • Censorious.
    Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
    Luke 13:14-15 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
  • Regarding tradition more than the word of God.
    Matthew 15:1-3 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
  • Exact in minor, but neglecting important duties.
    Matthew 23:23-24 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
  • Having but a form of godliness.
    2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
  • Seeking only outward purity.
    Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
  • Professing but not practising.
    Ezekiel 33:31-32 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
  • Using but lip-worship.
    Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
    Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
  • Glorying in appearance only.
    2 Corinthians 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
  • Trusting in privileges.
    Jeremiah 7:4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
    Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
  • Apparently zealous in the things of God.
    Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
  • Zealous in making proselytes.
    Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
  • Devouring widows’ houses.
    Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
  • Loving pre-eminence.
    Matthew 23:6-7 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
• Worship of, not acceptable to God.
  Isaiah 1:11-15 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. …
  Isaiah 58:3-5 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
  Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
• Joy of, but for a moment.
  Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
• Hope of perishes.
  Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
  Job 27:8-9 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
• Heap up wrath.
  Job 36:13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
• Fearfulness shall surprise.
  Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
• Destroy others by slander.
  Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
• In power, are a snare.
  Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
• The Apostacy to abound with.
  1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
• Beware the principles of.
  Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
• Spirit of, hinders growth in grace.
  1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
• Woe to.
  Isaiah 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
  Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
• Punishment of.
  Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
  Isaiah 10:6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
  Jeremiah 42:20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
  Jeremiah 42:22 Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.
• Illustrated.
  Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
• Exemplified.
  Cain,
  Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

  Absalom,

  2 Samuel 15:7-8 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

  The Jews,

  Jeremiah 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

  Pharisees, &c.

  Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

  Judas,

  Matthew 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

  Herodians,

  Mark 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
  Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

  Ananias,

  Acts 5:1-8 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. …

  Simon,

  Acts 8:13-23 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. …

Intro.

1.     Conquering heroes are honored with praise, power, privilege.  We benefit from heroic efforts of the past & present.

2.     There is no greater struggle for men’s freedom nor a more glorious Conqueror than Jesus’ victory over sin & death & His exaltation on high – Rev. 12:7-10.

    a.     “There are no victories at discount prices.”  (Gen. D. Eisenhower)

    b.     Christ’s victory won at great cost – Jno. 12:27-33 (Heb. 2:14-15).

3.     At great cost Jesus has “overcome the world” so you and I may live free!  Jno. 16:33

I.  JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD – Jno. 16:33.

    A.    He Has Overcome Satan – 1 Jno. 3:8; cf. Rev. 12:8-9.

        1.     Satan’s power to hold men in fear & tempt us to yield to the flesh is not insurmountable – Christ has defeated Him!

        2.     By His crucifixion He “cast out” Satan (destroyed his power base) – Jno. 12:27-31; cf. Heb. 2:14-15.

    B.     He Has Overcome Sin.

        1.     In His death He bore the penalty of our sin (death) – 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 2 Pet. 2:23-24 (Isa. 53:4-6).

        2.     He “condemned sin in the flesh” – Rom. 8:3 (1-4). 

            a.     By His sinless life, Jesus showed that the failure of the law to give life was not with God’s law, but with man weakness of flesh (Rom. 8:3; Heb. 4:15).

            b.     By His death, He condemned sin that dwells in man’s flesh (8:3).

        3.     Jesus overcame sin in His life & by His death!

    C.    He Has Overcome Death – Jno. 11:25-26.

        1.     Physical death, in His resurrection – 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:20.

        2.     Spiritual death, because he saves from sin – 11:26; Rom. 6:21-23.

        3.     In Christ we are “free from the law of sin and death” – Rom. 8:1-2.

    D.    He Has Overcome the Darkness of Ignorance & Error – Jno. 1:4-5.

        1.     Lk. 2:29-32 – A light bringing salvation to the nations (Matt. 4:16).

        2.     Jno. 8:12 – Light of the world to escape darkness (9:5).

        3.     Jno. 14:6 – The Way & Truth who is the path to God!

    E.     He Continues to Overcome Every False Doctrine – 1 Jno. 4:1-4.

        1.     False teachers with their false doctrines (those who teach error are against Christ, 4:3) fall before Christ.

        2.     He is mightier than they! – 4:4-6 (Gal. 1:8-9)

II.    OUR FAITH IN JESUS OVERCOMES THE WORLD – 1 Jno. 5:4.

    A.    By Our Faith in Christ, We Share in Christ’s Victories! – Rev. 12:10

    B.     When We Live by Faith, We Overcome (Rev. 12:11):

        1.     By the blood of the Lamb – Eph. 1:7.

            -Overcome sin & death – Rom. 6:1-3; Acts 22:16 – Believe & be baptized – Saved by His blood!

        2.     By the word of their testimony – cf. Rev. 12:17; 14:12.

            a.     Word of the gospel – Acts 2:40; 20:20-21, 24, 32.

            b.     Overcome Satan by the word of God! – 1 Jno. 2:13-14.

            c.     Overcome darkness & error when we believe & walk in His light of truth! – Jno. 12:35-36

            d.    Overcome every false teaching – 2 Cor. 10:3-5 (Eph. 6:17).

        3.     By self-denial – Matt. 16:25; cf. Rom. 8:35-39.

            a.     Rev. 12:17 – The battle rages & we must deny & endure – 2 Tim. 2:3-4.        

            b.     Eph. 6:13 – Clothed in His armor, we stand!

        4.     Rev. 12:12 – Rejoice in the victory of Christ!  (Rev. 17:14)

Conclusion

1.     Victory over Satan, sin & death is through Christ – 1 Cor. 15:50-57.

2.     Rev. 3:20-21; 21:7 – Hear & obey Him!  He who overcomes shall inherit all things!

3.     To the victor goes the spoils!  Will you share in victory or defeat?

Intro.

1. Without God’s word, man would be lost without a compass and drowning without a lifeline! (Jer. 10:23) Psa. 119:57-64

2. In our conflict with the devil we have been given the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6:17 (2 Cor. 10:3-5); Heb. 4:12.

3. Satan is faced with the problem of what to do about the word of God. Consider what he has done and what he will do (2 Cor. 2:11)…

I. DENY AND DOUBT IT, Gen. 3:1-6.

A.  Denial and Doubt Lead to Disobedience.

1.  Deny its warnings of sin, its plan of salvation, its rebukes of error, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; cf. Acts 13:44-45.

2.  Deny its inspiration, its accuracy and its relevance.

3.  Doubt its commands, promises and warnings.

4.  By uniting the word of God with faith, Satan’s scheme will fail in your life! Heb. 4:2

II. TRY TO GET YOU TO “LOSE” IT, 2 Kgs. 22:8, 11, 13.

A.  Through Worldliness.

1.  cf. 55 yrs. under Manasseh, 2 Kgs. 21:9.

2.  Person steeped in worldliness has little use for the word of God because it condemns his lifestyle, Jno. 3:19-21; Gal. 5:19-21.

B.  Through Compromise, cf. Rev. 2:14-16.

1.  Compromising with religious error and immorality of the world causes God’s word to be “lost” in people’s lives.

2.  The word of God destroys compromises, Rev. 2:16.

C.  Through Neglect, 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-12; 2 Pet. 3:16-18.

1.  Without reading, studying, meditating – Will not obey it!

2.  Word of God is also neglected in the pulpit and in Bible classes; in decisions (personal, family, business and recreational).

III. MAKE IT VOID THROUGH THE TRADITIONS OF MEN, Matt. 15:1-9.

A.  By Convincing us that our Opinions are Equal to God’s Will, Col. 2:8, 20-23; 3:16; Gal. 1:8-9.

B.  By False Teachers, 2 Pet. 2:1-2 (Matt. 7:15-16).

1.  Test everything! 1 Jno. 4:1, 6; 1 Ths. 5:21-22; Acts 17:11

2.  Accept truth and reject error, 1 Ths. 2:13; 2 Tim. 1:13.

3.  False teachers not only introduce error, they may also leave out what ought to be taught, cf. Acts 20:20, 27.

a.  Men-pleasers teach what people want, not what they need (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

b.  What kind of teacher are you content with?

IV. CROWD IT OUT OF OUR LIVES, Lk. 8:14.

A.  Through the Cares of the World, Materialism and Desiring Other Things (Mk. 4:19).

1.  Priorities and desires set our pattern of how we use (or fail to use) the word of God, Lk. 8:14.

2.  Our lives ought to revolve around God’s word, Deut. 6:6-9.

3.  We get so busy with everything but God’s word. Stewardship of our time (priorities, things that last), Matt. 6:33.

B.  Through a Hardened Heart, Matt. 13:13-15 (cf. 13:19, 23).

C.  Through Hypocrisy: “Say and Do Not”, Matt. 23:2-3; Lk. 6:46; Jas. 2:14.

Conclusion

1.  The devil wants people to think the word of God is a dead letter:

a.  That is what the lives of many “believers” convey!

b.  Yet: Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:22-25.

2.  Through the power of the Lord you can defeat Satan by never: denying and doubting God’s word, “losing” it; making it void through error, or crowding it out of your life.

• Are from God.
  Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
  Job 12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
  Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
  Micah 6:9 The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
• DIFFERENT KINDS OF;
  • Blotting out the name.
    Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
  • Abandonment by God.
    Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
  • Cursing men’s blessings.
    Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
  • Pestilence.
    Deuteronomy 28:21-22 The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
  • Enemies.
    2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
  • Famine.
    Deuteronomy 28:38-40 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
    Amos 4:7-9 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
  • Famine of hearing the word.
    Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
  • The sword.
    Exodus 22:24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
    Jeremiah 19:7 And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
  • Captivity.
    Deuteronomy 28:41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
    Ezekiel 39:23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
  • Continued sorrows.
    Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
    Psalms 78:32-33 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
  • Desolation.
    Ezekiel 33:29 Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
    Joel 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
  • Destruction.
    Job 31:3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
    Psalms 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
    Proverbs 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
    Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
• INFLICTED UPON
  • Nations.
    Genesis 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
    Jeremiah 51:20-21 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;
  • Individuals.
    Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
    Jeremiah 23:34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.
  • False gods.
    Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
    Numbers 33:4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
  • Posterity of sinners.
    Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
    Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
    Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
  • All enemies of saints.
    Jeremiah 30:16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
• Sent for correction.
  Job 37:13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
  Jeremiah 30:11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
• Sent for the deliverance of saints.
  Exodus 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
• ARE SENT, AS PUNISHMENT FOR
  • Disobedience to God.
    Leviticus 26:14-16 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
    2 Chronicles 7:19-20 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
  • Despising the warnings of God.
    2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
    Proverbs 1:24-31 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: …
    Jeremiah 44:4-6 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
  • Murmuring against God.
    Numbers 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
  • Idolatry.
    2 Kings 22:17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
    Jeremiah 16:18 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.
  • Iniquity.
    Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
    Ezekiel 24:13-14 In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.
  • Persecuting saints.
    Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
  • Sins of rulers.
    1 Chronicles 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
    1 Chronicles 21:12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
• Manifest the righteous character of God.
  Exodus 9:14-16 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
  Ezekiel 39:21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
  Daniel 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
• Are in all the earth.
  1 Chronicles 16:14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
• Are frequently tempered with mercy.
  Jeremiah 4:27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
  Jeremiah 5:10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S.
  Jeremiah 5:15-18 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men. And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword. Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.
  Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.
• SHOULD LEAD TO
  • Humiliation.
    Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
    2 Chronicles 12:6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
    Lamentations 3:1-20 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. …
    Joel 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
    Jonah 3:5-6 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
  • Prayer.
    2 Chronicles 20:9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
  • Contrition.
    Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
    Esther 4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
    Isaiah 22:12 And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
  • Learning righteousness.
    Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
• Should be a warning to others.
  Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
  Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
• MAY BE AVERTED BY
  • Humiliation.
    Exodus 33:3-4 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
    Exodus 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
    2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  • Prayer.
    Judges 3:9-11 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
    2 Chronicles 7:13-14 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  • Forsaking iniquity.
    Jeremiah 18:7-8 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
  • Turning to God.
    Deuteronomy 30:1-3 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
• SAINTS
  • Preserved during.
    Job 5:19-20 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
  • Provided for, during.
    Genesis 47:12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.
    Psalms 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
    Psalms 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
  • Pray for those under.
    Exodus 32:11-13 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
    Numbers 11:2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
    Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
  • Sympathize with those under.
    Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
    Jeremiah 13:17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.
    Lamentations 3:48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
  • Acknowledge the justice of.
    2 Samuel 24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
    Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
    Nehemiah 9:33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
    Jeremiah 14:17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
• UPON NATIONS–Exemplified.
  The old world,
  Genesis 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
  Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

  Sodom, &c.,

  Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

  Egypt,

  Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

  Israel,

  Numbers 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
  Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

  People of Ashdod,

  1 Samuel 5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

  People of Bethshemesh,

  1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

  Amalekites,

  1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
• UPON INDIVIDUALS–Exemplified.
  Cain,
  Genesis 4:11-12 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

  Canaan,

  Genesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

  Korah, &c.

  Numbers 16:33-35 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

  Achan,

  Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

  Hophni, &c.

  1 Samuel 2:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

  Saul,

  1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

  Uzzah,

  2 Samuel 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

  Jeroboam,

  1 Kings 13:4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

  Ahab,

  1 Kings 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

  Gehazi,

  2 Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

  Jezebel,

  2 Kings 9:35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

  Nebuchadnezzar,

  Daniel 4:31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

  Belshazzar,

  Daniel 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

  Zacharias,

  Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

  Ananias, &c.

  Acts 5:1-10 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. …

  Herod,

  Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  Elymas,

  Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
• PRESERVATION DURING–Exemplified.
  Noah,
  Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
  Genesis 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

  Lot,

  Genesis 19:15-17 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

  Joseph, &c.

  Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

  Elijah,

  1 Kings 17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

  Elisha, &c.

  2 Kings 4:38-41 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.

  Shunammite,

  2 Kings 8:1-2 Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

• Christ set an example of.
  John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
• Is through faith in Christ.
  Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
  Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
• A characteristic of saints.
  Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
• PRODUCED BY
  • Trust in God.
    Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
  • The fear of God.
    Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
    Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
• Faithfulness to God.
  1 Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
• Express your trust in God with.
  Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
• Have, in prayer.
  Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
  Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
• Saints shall have, in judgment.
  1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
• Exhortations to.
  Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
  2 Chronicles 19:11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
  Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
  Ezekiel 3:9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
• Pray for.
  Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
  Ephesians 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• MINISTERS SHOULD EXHIBIT, IN
  • Faithfulness to their people.
    2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
    2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
  • Preaching.
    Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
    Philippians 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
  • Reproving sin.
    Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
    Micah 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
  • The face of opposition.
    Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
    1 Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
• Exemplified.
  Abraham,
  Genesis 18:22-32 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. …

  Jacob,

  Genesis 32:24-29 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. …

  Moses,

  Exodus 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
  Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

  Aaron,

  Numbers 16:47-48 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

  David,

  1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

  Elijah,

  1 Kings 18:15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
  1 Kings 18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

  Nehemiah,

  Nehemiah 6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

  Shadrac,

  Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

  Daniel,

  Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  Joseph of Arimathea,

  Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

  Peter and John,

  Acts 4:8-13 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. …

  Stephen,

  Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  Paul,

  Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
  Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

  Barnabas,

  Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

  Apollos,

  Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Intro.

1.  “What is truth?” Jno 18:37-38 “Truth” used in various senses in the Scriptures:

a.  Truth is opposite of falsehood, Prov 12:17, 19, 22 (Eph 4:25)

b.  Truth is used to mean fidelity or truthfulness, Jer 7:28 (Isa 59:13-15).

c.  The doctrine of Christ, “the truth of the gospel”, Gal 2:5, 14.

1)  Some never come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim 3:7.

2)  Some turn away from the truth, 2 Tim 4:4.

2.  The Lord is “the truth”, Jno 14:6; Eph 4:21.

3.  Why you need truth in your life.

I. BECAUSE YOU NEED JESUS IN YOUR LIFE.

A.  The Truth Reveals Jesus and Makes Him Available to You, Jno 6:68 (Acts 5:20)

1.   Fellowship with Jesus by following His word (truth), 2 Jno 9; Jno 14:23.

2.   Cannot reject the truth of the gospel and be with Jesus!

B.  Who Do You Turn to in Times of Need? (Phil 4:13, 19)

1.   Need spiritual guidance…advice…support…redemption?

2.   App. Do you turn to…

a.   Worldly friends? 1 Cor 15:33

b.   The world’s wisdom? 1 Cor 1:21

c.   Self-help? Jer 10:23

d.   Theologians? Matt 15:7-9

e.   Gospel of Jesus? Jno 6:68; (Eph 1:7-13); 2 Tim 2:24-26

II.   BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE SAVED FROM YOUR SINS, 1 Tim 2:3-4 (Jas 1:21).

A.  Truth Reveals Salvation to Sinners, Tit 2:11-12.

1.   Hear and know the grace of God in truth, Col 1:6.

2.   Truth forms the basis for faith, Jno 19:35; 20:30-31.

3.   Truth purifies the soul when obeyed, 1 Pet 1:22.

B.  Jesus (Truth) is our only Way to the Father, Jno 14:6.

1.   Because truth is in Jesus, Eph 4:21 (Jno 1:17). Produces “true righteousness and holiness” in the faithful.

2.   Revealed by His apostles, Rom 9:1; 2 Cor 11:10 (2 Tim 1:7)

3.   App. What is your source of truth? (Feelings, friends, reason, Bible)

III. BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY SERVE GOD IN TRUTH, 2 Jno 4; 3 Jno 3-4 (1 Jno 1:5-9).

A.  Truth Sanctifies Us unto God, cf. Jno 17:17-19; Eph 5:25-27; 1 Pet 2:9.

1.   Set apart to God’s service and pleasure (1 Cor 1:2).

2.   App. What are you doing to be sure you are set apart to God?

a.   Learning and living the truth?

b.   Attentive during classes and sermons?

c.   Take time to be holy with Bible reading?

B.  Must Worship God in Truth, Jno 4:23-24; cf. Eph 5:17-20.

-App. What defines worship for you: Word of truth or feelings?

C.  In Order to Grow to Maturity, Eph 4:14-16 (Heb 5:11-6:3); 2 Pet 1:3-8.

1.   Christ is truly food and drink, Jno 6:55 (His truth, 6:63).

2.   App. Is truth your “favorite food”?

D.  To be Protected from Sin, Eph 6:13-17.

1.   The battle rages; you must be strengthened in the Lord by His truth (6:10-12).

2.   App. Can you identify the victories of truth in your life? (Make a list of truth’s triumphs in your life, and thank God for the power of His truth!)

Conclusion

1.   Truth is the essence of God, Deut 32:4.

2.   We must not “exchange the truth of God for the lie” of false gods and false teachings, Rom 1:25.

3.   Christians are and must ever be people of truth, 2 Jno 1-2.

a.  Love the truth… (2 Ths 2:10)

b.  Obey the truth… (1 Pet 1:22)

c.  Live the truth… (1 Jno 2:3-6)

d.  Be saved in truth! 1 Tim 2:3-4

Intro.

1.  Churches in NT experienced tremendous tests of faith. Some persevered when tested; others faltered (Rev 2:9-10; 3:15-17).

2.  Just as each Christian must face trials of faith, churches will, too (Jas 1:2-4).

3.  Having studied things which can destroy a local church, turn attention to things that should not destroy a local church.

I.  THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT DESTROY A LOCAL CHURCH.

A.  Persecution for the Sake of Righteousness.

1.  Galvanizing and cleansing effect (Could use today), Acts 5:40-42; 6:1, 7; 8:1, 4.

2.  Tribulation, suffering, prison, death – Crown, overcome, not hurt, Rev 2:9-11.

3.  Strengthened in persecution, 1 Pet 5:10.

B.  Being in the Minority and/or Isolated from Faithful Brethren.

1.  Christians always minority, Matt 7:14 (Lk 13:24).

2.  Lord stands by us – Enough, 2 Tim 4:16-18.

3.  Even where Satan’s throne is, we can be strong, cf. Rev 2:13 (Rom 8:31, 28).

C.  Sin Problems (When Solved with/by the Word of God).

1.  Unrepentant sin. Discipline, to protect the church and save sinner, Acts 5:5, 11, 13-14 (1 Cor 5:5-7).

2.  Murmurings, Acts 6:1-6. Apply truth and solve the problem.

3.  Disputes over truth, Acts 15:1-2. Establish truth (15:24-29), preach it only (15:30-35), turn away from those who teach error (Rom 16:17).

D.  Being Sound in the Faith.

1.  Some no longer like such designations (“tradition”) – Want to be “progressive”, “on the move” and “exciting” – Euphemisms for not be content with sound doc­trine.

2.  Timothy – Titus: Sound doctrine, words, speech, faith – “Healthy, wholesome, uncorrupt.”

3.  Charged to remain “sound”; words of Jesus Christ, 1 Tim 1:3; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13.

4.  Soundness in the faith is required, Titus 1:13.

5.  Those wanting soundness will still obey the gospel, Acts 5:13-14.

E.  Financial Distresses (Poverty).

1.  Poor, yet rich in faith, Rev 2:9.

2.  Lord supplies needs – First give ourselves to Him, 2 Cor 9:6-11 (8:1-2, 5).

a.  May lose building and property.

b.  Preacher support (other churches).

c.  A matter of trusting the Lord! Money must never be the measure of success or failure of any church of Christ.

II.  WHAT WE MUST HAVE TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS LOCAL CHURCH.

A.  Submission to Divine Authority, Col 3:17.

1.  Divine pattern for doctrine, worship, work, etc. must be faithfully followed.

2.  Departure means destruction.

B.  Devotion to Christ and His Truth in our Daily Lives, Lk 9:23 (Jno 8:31).

1.  Christ must live in us, Gal 2:20.

2.  His gospel must direct us, Jas 1:22.

C.  Submission to One Another, Eph 5:20-21; Phil 2:1-4.

-Humble service and deference to each other strengthens the bonds of love and unity.

D.  Bear Good Fruit, Rev 3:15-16.

1.  Fruit is individual, Jno 15:2.

2.  It can also be congregational, Phil 4:14-18.

a.  Spread word, edify, aid needy saints.

b.  Fellowship those doing God’s work.

3.  Fruitful in work, confident of entering heaven, 2 Pet 1:5-11.

Conclusion

1.  How important is this church to you?  Is it im­portant enough to allow nothing to disrupt its fellowship with Christ, its unity and its usefulness to God?

2.  If so, respect divine authority, devote yourself to Christ and bear fruit.

3.  Then, nothing will destroy this church

1 Corinthians 5

Intro.

1.     Eph. 5:25-27 – The purity of the church is the result of being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. We are to be holy & without blemish (through Christ).

2.     Church at Corinth not grounded in this truth, so much impurity within it.

3.     1 Cor. 5-6 – Addresses moral impurity & the church’s attitude toward unrepented sin in the lives of its members.

I.  WHEN OPEN SIN IN THE LIVES OF CHRISTIANS IS IGNORED, THE CHURCH BECOMES GUILTY OF SIN – 5:1-2, 6.  (Problem in l Cor. 5 is not only fornication, but also the congregation’s toleration of sin!)

A.    Congregations Can Become Guilty Of Sin!

1.     5:1 – Fornication among you.

a. Type that repulsed immoral Gentiles (with step-mother).

b. 2 Cor. 7:12 – The father was still living.

c. Either married or living with step-mother.

2.     Problem: They were tolerating this sin!

3.     Congregations & sin (cf. Rev. 2:4-5; 3:16, 19).  Unless repentance, lose fellowship with Christ!  (2 Cor. 7:10-11 – They did repent!)

B.        Toleration of Sin in a Church Produces Arrogance – 5:2, 6.

1.     Hard to imagine!

a. Perhaps due to the notion that they had wisdom (3:18), or had many spiritual gifts (1:7), considered themselves a great church (unaffected by this sin).

b. Perhaps they said:  “This is a private matter – none of our business.”

2.     Sin is deceitful & hardens hearts – Heb. 3:12-13.

3.     They should have mourned (grieved) – 5:2.

a. Word describes one’s sorrow over death.

b. One’s spiritual demise should produce grief!

c. Not a passive grief — It leads to a corres­ponding action!

4.     The removal of the wicked person from the congregation – 5:2.

a. Implied:  Man would not repent.

b. Stated:  Church had an arrogant attitude.

c. Need:  Correct attitude & take needed action!

d. Discipline is not enacted out of revenge or hatred — grief over sin!

II.    THE ACTION OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE AGAINST SIN – 5:3-5, 9-13.

A.    Such Action Is Not Unloving or Wrong – It Is Entirely Appropriate – 5:3.

1.     Church discipline does not “judge” thoughts & intentions, it judges (disciplines) actions!  Therefore, Paul (though absent) could judge in the matter (having the facts – credible testimony – before him, 5:1).

2.     We must not refuse/criticize authorized action against sin!

3.     Discipline is both congregational (5:4) & individual (5:11) in nature.

B.        Congregational Action – 5:4-5.

1.     5:4 – “Ye being gathered together” – This is during an assembly.

-With Christ’s authority!  (Divine power & apostle’s endorsement)

2.     5:5 – “Deliver…unto Satan…”

a. Identify him with the one he is serving.

1)     cf. Rom. 16:17 – “Mark” – Take note, behold.

2)     5:13 – “Put away from among yourselves the evil person.”

b. We will see the reasons for this action in a moment.

C.    Individual Action – 5:9-11.  (Social isolation)

1.     5:9, 11 – “Not to keep company with.”

–No “mixing together” – No social contact with the offending party.

2.     5:11 – “Not even to eat” – Implies condoning, approving of the person’s sin (cf. 2 Jno. 10-11).

3.     2 Ths. 3:14 – “Note” (congregational); “do not keep company with” (individual).

4.     This is a commandment of God!  Therefore, violation warrants discipline!

III.   THE PURPOSES OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE AGAINST SIN – 5:3-8.

A.    Destroy the Flesh – 5:5.

-Destroy the flesh as dominate force in his life – Rom. 8:5-8; Gal. 5:24 (cf. l Tim. 1:20 – Might once more be led by the Spirit).

B.        To Save the Soul – 5:5.  (By repentance – Acts 8:22)

1.     Purpose is to save, not to condemn!

a. Cause shame for sin – 2 Ths. 3:14.

b. Not an enemy…brother who needs to be admonished! – 2 Ths. 3:15.

C.    Protect the Church From Sin – 5:6-8.

1.     Toleration of evil increases sin!  (Leaven)

a. Moral standards are lowered.

b. To tolerate sin is to bear responsibility – Rom. 1:32 (Acts 20:26-27).

c. Others are influenced to sin (cf. Rom. 16:18).

2.     Purge out from the congregation the disposition to tolerate sin (& the sin itself) – 5:7!  (Purity illustrated by using the Passover – no leaven!)

3.     Christian life is to be purged from sin! – 5:8

Conclusion

1.     Acts 5:1-11 – God’s attitude toward sin in His church!  (5:11)

2.     1 Cor. 5 – God’s attitude toward tolerating sin in the church!  Discipline it!

3.     Correctly applied discipline works! – 2 Cor. 2:6-8; 7:9-11

Intro.

1.  When the Bible is used to expose sin & error, it is not uncommon to hear the guilty reply that it is wrong to judge them:  Judge not, that you be not judged!

2.  Misunderstand the nature of judging:

    -krino:  “To separate, select, choose”; hence, “to determine,” and so “to judge, pronounce judgment.”  (Vine, 336).  To decide, give a verdict, declare an opinion” (ISBE, III:1777).

3.  Matthew 7:1 does not forbid all types of judgments.  If it does, then Jesus contradicts Himself in John 7:24!

4.  There are some judgments condemned by God, & there are some judgments God Himself calls on us to make.  We have to able to discern the difference so we will judge righteous judgment!

I.   JUDGMENTS WE MUST CEASE (Because God condemns them).

  A.   Hypocritical Judging of Others – Matt. 7:1-5.

      1.   This is the Lord’s point here!

      2.   Harsh, bitter, faultfinding spirit, which points out others’ sins while committing the same sins! – cf. Rom. 2:1-2, 21-22.

      3.   Self-exalting & self-condemning! – 7:2 (Measured back to you, cf. Lk. 6:38).  Example:  Lk. 18:9-12, 14

  B.   Judging by Appearance – Jno. 7:24.

      1.   Surface judgments;  Subjective, not based on objective facts.

          a.   Context:  Jno. 7:19-24 – When the day of circumcision (8^th day of life, Lev. 12:3) fell of the Sabbath it appeared to break it, but in fact, it did not!

          b.     Same true of Jesus when He healed on Sabbath (Matt. 12:7).

      2.   Judging on the basis of the flesh (worldly standards) – Jno. 8:15.

      3.   1 Sam. 16:6-7 – Since God looks at the heart, we must be careful:  What appears to be one thing may in fact be something else!

      4.   Lk. 7:43 (36-50) – Simon judged appearances rather than fact!

  C.   Rash Judgments – Prov. 18:13 (15:28)

      1.   Paul was a victim of rash rush to judgment – Acts 21:27-29.

      2.   1 Cor. 4:5 – Premature judgments forbidden:  “…secret things, of which it is impossible that those who do not know the hearts of men should make up a judgment, do not judge of them before the time, when God will certainly come to judge all men.”  (Poole, Online Bible)

  D.   Critical Condemnation of Others’ Liberties – Rom. 14:3-4, 10, 13.

      1.   We must be able to allow others to exercise their conscience in areas of authorized liberties without condemning them!

      2.   This is not saying, “do not judge what is sinful,” it is saying do not criticize each other when liberties are used differently!

      3.   A matter of not meddling in the matters of others – 1 Pet. 4:16.

II.    JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT (Jno. 7:24).

  A.   How? – Jno. 5:30

      1.   Right standard:  Truth, the word of God (What we hear from God, Heb. 1:1-2; Rom. 10:17).

      2.   Right motive:  Seek the will of God (Jno. 6:38).

  B.   There are Judgments We Must Make:

      1.   Judge what is right – Lk. 12:57.

      2.   Judge what is holy (pearls) & what is defiled (swine) – Matt. 7:6.

      3.   Judge the evidence that Jesus is the Son of God – Matt. 16:1-4.

      4.   Judge false teachers – Matt. 7:15-20 – By their fruit (1 Jno. 4:1, 6).

      5.   Judge truth from error – 1 Cor. 2:14-15.

      6.   Judge what sin is and stop sinning – Jno. 8:10-11; Heb. 5:14.

      7.   Judge what is sin among saints, & discipline it – 1 Cor. 5:3-5.

      8.   Judge disputes among brethren – 1 Cor. 6:1-2, 5.

      9.   Judge what is proper – 1 Cor. 11:13.

  C.   When We Use the Right Standard & the Right Motive to Judge, We Are Not Setting Ourselves Up As Judges – Jas. 4:11-12.

        -1 Ths. 5:21-22 – We are applying God’s judgments so that we may hold fast to what is good & abstain from every form of sin – And to teach others God’s will on things that “pertain to life & godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).

Conclusion

1.  We shall all stand before Christ & be judged by Him – Acts 17:31.

2.  We must yield to the judgments of God in our own lives.

3.  We must judge righteous judgments to expose sin & uphold righteousness.

If someone were to ask me what is the most discouraging thing I have encountered as a preacher I would reply, “The deadly danger of indecision.” Not only preachers but any person who has spent time trying to teach the word of God to a lost soul knows just what I am talking about. The teacher has presented the truth with sincerity and love to one that is lost, pleading for the lost one to purify his soul by obeying the truth, being born again (I Peter 1:22-23; John 3:3,5). Then, at the conclusion the deadly danger of indecision pops up. The person who has been taught says, “I am undecided. I can’t make up my mind at this time.” Because of indecision, obedience is delayed until another time.

I can only imagine how discouraged Paul felt with the response of Felix after he had reasoned with him “about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” Even though Felix was afraid he fell prey to the deadly danger of indecision. He said to Paul “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:25).

In the encounter of Elijah with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel in I Kings 18 we see how this deadly danger of indecision affected Israel. Israel had turned away from Jehovah to serve idols. Isaiah opposed this and as a result was accused by King Ahab of being “a troubler of Israel.” Elijah replied “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals” (I Kings 18:18). Ahab then gathered the prophets of Baal to meet Elijah on Mt. Carmel and Isaiah challenged the people, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word” (I Kings 18:21). They could not make up their minds what to do. They were undecided.

This brings me to the point of my article The danger of indecision leads to the danger of delay which will be fatal if not corrected in time. If you are standing today in the valley of indecision about becoming a Christian you are standing on dangerous ground. Let me issue the challenge of the prophet of old. How long will you falter between two opinions? If Jesus is the Savior then obey Him (Luke 6:46; Hebrews 5:9). At this time you are partly for God and partly against Him. You are divided in your attentions. Your attitude is divided. Your affections are divided. You may not intend to be against Christianity, but you are, if you are not for it. If you have never become a Christian you are still lost. No matter what you think, your indecision means you are against Him. Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). You are either for the Lord, obedient and active in His service or you are against Him. God and Jesus demand that we give them first place in our hearts or none at all.

One may say, “I am a good person. I don’t act like a wicked sinner. I live better than some who claim to be Christians.” But, how much of a recommendation is that to God? I don’t care how good you are, or how good I am, none of us are good enough to be saved without becoming a Christian. If salvation is based on goodness then no one can be saved. Period! “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romands 3:23).

Think about this. Even if you are a good person outside the church of the living God, where is your influence? In your indecision you are a worse enemy to the cause of Christ than the out and out wicked sinner. Why? Because of your influence. The community knows the ungodly man and has little respect for him or his opinions. But, you, being a person of good character, but not a Christian, are seen as a respectable citizen and others (whether you aware of it or not) are following your lead in delaying obedience. Your indecision has an influence on them since they are following your life.

You might say, “But becoming a Christian will not make me a better person.” That is the purely human view. Salvation is offered on the basis of accepting Christ and complying with His commands, not on moral goodness. No matter how good you think you are there is sin in your life that needs forgiveness and the only way to obtain forgiveness is through the atoning blood of Jesus’ blood (I Peter 1:19; Ephesians 1:7). To be saved you must obey, for Jesus only saves those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Obedience to the gospel is not designed to make you a better person (though it will), it is designed to give you forgiveness of sins so you one day will be glorified before the throne of God. Remember when Naaman came to Elisha to be cured of leprosy, he was eventually cleansed, but not until he obeyed Elisha’s command. But dipping seven times in the river Jordan didn’t make him a better man. He was a good man before he came to be healed and the cleansing of leprosy did not affect his moral standing. But, he would have remained a good man with leprosy if he had not done as he was commanded to do. In the same way God offers forgiveness of sins based on certain conditions. One must believe and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Obeying these conditions will not change the nature of man, but it does make one a Christian. The reformation of life (the fruits of repentance) comes after.

Not only will indecision cause you to be lost in eternity, it has many side effects in this life. Indecision is a waste of energy. Have you ever got up some morning without any definite plans? There are several things to do, so you say I will do this – no, I will do this, and I think I will do this, but by the end of the day you really have accomplished nothing. You started with indecision and ended with inactivity.

This inactivity leads to another danger, that of wrong action. Pilate’s indecisiveness about the innocence of Jesus finally led him to wash his hands and condemn Jesus to be crucified. His lack of courage to do right caused him to do wrong. So indecision leads one not only to inactivity, then wrong action which soils one’s character, it can eventually result in the wrong destiny. Indecision can eventually lead you so far away from God that you will find it impossible in your heart to have the courage to become a Christian and when you die to be lost forever. I hope you consider seriously the dangers of indecision.