Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.  Does this apply to us and our being justified?  Have we been wicked?

The Bible clearly tells us that God the Father cannot even be in the presence of sin.

Consider Colossians 1:21-22  And you who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

Also consider Romans 3:10  There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God, they have all turned aside, they have all become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one,  23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

God cannot just forgive sins, it’s against His very nature.  Something extraordinary had to have happened for our sins to be forgiven.  A perfect sacrifice had to be made.

Going back to Proverbs 17, which says, he who justifies the wicked is an abomination.  You might say that Jesus wasn’t an abomination because He was righteous, yet He did humbly, willingly become an abomination for us.  He became sin.  2 Corinthians 5:21 expresses this- For He (God the Father) made Him (the Son) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This is the time of year that Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  Matthew 21:1-11 records the event.  Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them.  All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying: Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold your King is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt the foal of a donkey.  So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.  They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Jesus on them.  And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitude who went before and those who followed cried out saying: Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!  And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved saying, who is this?  So the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. 

Just as Jesus was born in a stable or barn to young, simple parents, his coming to Jerusalem was very humble.  Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, and yet here He is riding on a small donkey.  At that time worldly kings came in long processions with chariots, huge white horses and white camels with a multitude of servants and riches.  Jesus sat on the worn coats of the disciples.

This is Jesus, the same Jesus Who is one substance with the Father, all God, the Creator of the Universe. 

Colossians 1:15-17 Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.   For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 

Consider when you scrape your skin with a finger nail, the skin cells that are removed.  They may be dead now, but each one of them contained a complexity of systems that only can be compared to a small city- much more complex then our largest factories. We now know this because of our super microscopes.  Jesus is the Creator of each one; of all of life and everything that we know, yet He came here in humility! 

The Darwinian view of survival of the fittest over long ages is completely opposite of the truth of Christ Jesus.  Instead of the strong surviving and the weak dieing;  The most fit, the Creator, died willingly for us so that we may have eternal life.

Jesus would die a naked, shameful, criminal’s death a few short days after His entry into Jerusalem, and He knew it.  Here is God in the flesh willingly taking the wrath of His Father, and giving His life on the cross, as payment for our sins.  This was no ordinary thing; it was the most pivotal event in history after creation itself. 

This is how we can be judged by a just God and be found holy and righteous.  His body and His blood sacrificed on that tree!  That is how we are forgiven.

Colossians 2:13-14 You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  

Hebrews 12:1-2  Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through Him, only Him!

       A big part of the Lord’s supper is understanding who man is and what God has done for His elect through grace.  We need to always remember how truly lost we would be without God and His work for us and in us.    

        First who man is. Genesis 6 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  Genesis 8 The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.  1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 6 For there is no one who does not sin.  Job 15 What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a women, that he could be righteous? If God puts no trust in His saints, and the heavens are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is abominable and filthy, who drinks iniquity like water!  Job 42 (the word records Job as most righteous, but after God shows Job the truth Job said) “but now my eyes see You. Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Psalm 14 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have all together become corrupt: there is none who does good, no not one. Psalm 130 If you Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? Proverbs 1 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Proverbs 20(9) Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin. Ecclesiastes 9 Truly the hearts of the sons of man are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live.  Isaiah 53 We like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way.  Isaiah 64 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags. Ezekiel 37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down: and it was full of bones. Then he caused me to pass by them all around and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.  Matthew 19(17)  Jesus said to him “why do you call me good?  No one is good but One, that is God” Mark 7 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. John 3 This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather then light, because their deeds were evil. John 7 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Romans 1(18-25) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God , they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened, -who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. Romans 3 What then are we better then they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: there is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have all together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. No flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 1 Corinthians 2 The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Ephesians 4 You should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Colossians 1(21) And you who were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.  James 3:5-8 The tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles, and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

       This is the nature of man. It’s not that people are as bad as they could be, but that they are in rebellion to God, without His work in them first.  When we read Scriptures like these we are tempted to think, “that was those people, not us”.   

       One of my favorite theologians is R.C. Sproul Jr.  One of his hermeneutics, which is the way we study the Bible, is very simple.  It is that when you read about God’s people acting stupidly in the Bible, think “how am I stupid, just like them?”  This is not to put anybody down, but I think it is important for us to know the truth.  An example of this is when God brought his people through the Red Sea, shortly after they built the idol of the golden calf.  This seems incredibly dumb to us that they would turn from God so quickly, but what do we put before God, just like they did?  We all struggle with idolatry, just like them.

       This doesn’t paint a very good picture, so what is our hope?  

       Now the good news- what God has done for His elect. Ezekiel 36 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Matthew 19 “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” John 6 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 8 Jesus answered them, “most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 14 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Romans 5(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 8(28-30) We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (foreknew is that God fore loved his chosen) Romans 9(6-21) But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect.  For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”  That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.  For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”  And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of the works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “the older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”  What shall we say then?  Is there unrighteousness with God?  Certainly not!  For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.  For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”  Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “why does God still find fault?  For who has resisted His will?  But indeed O man, who are you to reply against God?  Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”  Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?  2 Corinthians 3 God gives the increase.  Ephesians 2(1-10) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Colossians 1(13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 2 You being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Titus 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 1 Peter 2 You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 John 4 In this the love of God was manifested towards us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  We love Him because He first loved us. Hebrews 1 He had by Himself purged our sins.

       The truth is that without God’s grace working in an unbeliever first to open their eyes, and change their hearts, they will never choose God and believe.  We can be assured that God knows and loves us forever, because of the evidence of our faith in Him. 

      Can we boast in our decision or does all the glory go to God?  Unselfish obedience to God doesn’t come from trying to earn or maintain something, but comes from the fear and gratitude we have when we, who were dead in our sins, are resurrected by the Holy Spirit, becoming new creatures in Christ with our very nature changed, and our eyes are opened to true faith through God’s grace.  It is so amazing what our Lord Jesus Christ, being One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, has done for us.  Our works or fruit is evidence of this, it is the result of the work God has done in us.  As new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we follow God and His ordnances, living different from the world.  Knowing what God has done for us, how could we not be in obedience to Him.  All the glory and praise goes to God.

       Genesis 2:21-24 The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of Adam’s ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman Because she was taken out of Man.  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

       Adam gained his bride, Eve, through a wound in his side.

       John 19:31-37 Therefore, because it was the Preparation day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.  But when the came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.  And he who has seen has testified and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.  For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken” and again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced”

       Revelation 21:1-4 Now, I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.  Also there was no more sea.  Then I, John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice form heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away ever tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

       Jesus bought and gained His bride, which is all those who truly believe in Him by His grace, through a wound in His side.

       1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 45-48 But, now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”  The last Adam became a life giving spirit.  However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust: and as is he heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

       Jesus bought us through His body and blood on the cross.  Romans 6:22-23 Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  And John 8:36 Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

       Also in Numbers 21:5-9 The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”  So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many of the people of Israel died.  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.”  So Moses prayed for the people.  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole, and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.  In John 3:14-17  (Jesus explained) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”        

       Jesus was struck and became a serpent (sin) on the cross for us.  In both of these instances the people were in sin and doubt, and they were saved through the Son. 

       It is no different with us.  Ephesians 2:1-3 reads, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.     Jesus knew He would be struck and raised up.  He went willingly to the cross knowing his Father would pour His wrath on Him, His closest friends would deny and abandon Him, and we would sin against Him, but He did it anyway. Ephesians 2:4-10 goes on to say,   But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.            

       We cannot somehow work to earn our salvation, because we all have a continuing sin problem.  Jesus paid the price for all of our sins, past, present, and future.  Our fruit or works is a response to our being saved by our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It sets us apart from the world as His followers, because of what He has already done for us.  When we are tempted to sin, we should remember the price Jesus paid, and look to Him who was lifted up.  It’s in His strength, not ours.     

       God’s Word paints a much different picture of how our culture should be.  Ephesians 5:15-28,6:1-9  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.  Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.  And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

-God focuses so much in His word on the training of children and that they need to submit to their parents

-why?  a son and daughter that submits to their father will find it easier to submit to God, and other authorities

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

       Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

       When we look to the great men and women in the Bible who glorified God, we see this.  There are so many to look to.  I’ve chosen a few.

       Consider Abraham: Genesis 22:1-14 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him “Abraham.”  And he said “Here I am.”  Then God said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mariah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  So Abraham rose early in the morning (not only did he submit to God, he did it right away) and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”  So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father”.  And he said “Here I am my son.”  Then he said “Look the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”  And Abraham said “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”  So the two of them went together.  Then they came to the place of which God had told him.  And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said “Abraham do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, for Me.”  –because Abraham submitted to God, He provided a ram for the sacrifice and blessed Abraham, promising him descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the seashore.

       Consider Joshua –courageous, spied out the land of Canaan and came back with the good report when the other spies said that they could not defeat the giants, Joshua knew they could,  Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked and behold a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”  So He said, “No but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”  Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandals off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.”  And Joshua did so.  Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.  And the Lord said to Joshua. “See I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor.  You shall march around the city all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once.  This you shall do six days.  And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark.  But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.  It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat.  And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

-I want you to consider this –Joshua was a military commander and this plan would be a waste of manpower, while they are marching it takes supplies, meanwhile the people of Jericho would have chances to go out and get food and water and bring them back into the city –made much more sense to siege the city, then attack

-you know the rest of the story, Joshua obeyed the Lord- they marched around the city as told and the walls fell and they took Jericho –Joshua submitted to God even though it seemed foolish to march around the city 13 times total –we as a culture are so pragmatic –we do what we think will work in man’s wisdom –so often times the ends justify the means, instead of just submitting to God and living His way.  See what Joshua commanded the people shortly before his death: Joshua 24:14-15 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose whether the gods which your fathers serve that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”     -to serve someone, one must submit

       Consider Rehab-lowly harlot who hid the spies sent by Joshua in Jericho, risking her life to help who she knew was God’s people –listen to what she says Joshua 2:8-11 “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us and that’s all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.  For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”  -Rehab recognized the true God and helped God’s people, submitting to God’s will

       Consider Ester –was forced to marry a pagan king, submitted to her husband, submitted to her Uncle Mordeci and risked her life, saving the Jewish people.

       Consider Mary-Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary, and having come in the angel said to her, “Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.”  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Then Mary said “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word.”  And the angel departed from her.

-Mary could have said “OK Lord, but can’t this wait till after Joseph and I have been married and had a nice honey moon” but instead she says let it be to me according to your word

-Mary knew that she would be shamed by being pregnant out of wedlock, she could even be stoned and yet look at her response:  Luke 1:46-47 records her praising God “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant, For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”

       Consider Joseph- Matthew 1:19-21 Then Joseph her husband being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example was minded to put her away secretly, but when he thought about these things behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  24-25 Then Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name Jesus. –Joseph was put in a bad situation because his fiancé was pregnant, yet he followed what God commanded him.

        Two encounters that Jesus had, is what gave me the idea for this sermon.  Very rarely in the Scriptures do we see Jesus amazed at someone’s faith and commending them for it.  Both of these people were unlikely to have such amazing faith.  In both of these accounts it was their understanding of submission and authority that Jesus saw and commended.

       The first is the Centurion –Matthew 8:5-10,13 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him saying, “Lord my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”  And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”  The centurion answered and said, “Lord I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, Go and he goes; and to another Come and he comes; and to my servant, Do this and he does it.”  When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”  (13) Then Jesus said to the centurion “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.”  And his servant was healed that same hour.

- the Roman centurion was obviously a great man being over 100 soldiers –he had obviously seen combat and was in great authority over many  -he didn’t even feel worthy to have Jesus in his house –recognized who Jesus was –understood submission and authority so well

       The second is the Canaanite woman –Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  But Jesus answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”  But Jesus answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  Then she came and worshipped Jesus, saying “Lord help me!”  But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  And she said, “Yes Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters table.”  Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire.”  And her daughter was healed from that very hour!

-I love this story  -when I first read it I thought Jesus was just having a bad day and being rude along with his disciples  -I realized that Jesus already knew her faith and was testing it  -she knew her position as being low, but she still had a place at the table  -she knew Jesus for who He was  -can’t you just feel how Jesus embraces her when he says “O woman great is your faith” –even though her Lord responded to her negatively, she persisted, knowing who Jesus was and that He loved her.  This reminds me of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

       Consider Paul- Acts 23:1-5.  Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”  And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.  Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!  For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”  And those who stood by said, “do you revile God’s high priest?”  Then Paul said “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”  -Paul pointed out that he was wrong in being defiant to someone whom God had put in authority, even though Ananias was wrong.

       Now I want you to focus on a garden, a terrible garden, and yet a wonderful garden, the garden of Gethsemane.  (Matthew 26:38-42) Jesus is in the garden with Peter, James, and John and He says to them “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch with Me.”  He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying.  “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”  Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again, a second time Jesus went away and prayed saying “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

-we know the rest of the story –Jesus submitted to His Father and died on the cross, enduring the wrath of His Father for our sins

       Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

       Is there a more submissive position then being tied up and scourged, then nailed, naked to a cross for the whole world to see?       (demonstrate His position (arms out) verses a defensive or defiant position (fists raised, arms crossed))

       In conclusion, so what does this mean for us?  How should we live?  Can we ever submit to God as perfectly as Jesus did?          Then our intense gratitude that comes from the understanding that Jesus paid the entire price for us, should lead us to submit to God and His Word more and more as we grow in Him. Consider the prayer that Jesus gave to us. (Matthew 6:9-13)  Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, (in other words, I submit to Your will), On earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive others who trespass against us, And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one, For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 

       Always remember Abraham, Joshua, Rehab, Ester, Mary, Joseph, the centurion, the Canaanite woman, Paul, and all the other great men and women in the Word that submitted to God.  Most of all remember and focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, (Hebrews 12:2) and our Savior.

      Whatever your circumstances, submit to God and trust in Him.  He promises us joy, and the strength to persevere.  When He gives us positions of authority, do it in humility as a servant.  We know we can trust in Him in everything.

       Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.    

Also consider:

Matthew 26:55-56 Jesus submitted to the Scriptures, fulfilling them

Hebrews 5:5-9 Jesus learned obedience

Galatians 3:13 cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree, Jesus knew He would be cursed and still submitted

Jude 8  they reject authority

Proverbs 12:1 follow (of submit to) correction

As I’ve read the Bible, I’ve noticed that tradition comes up a lot in the word–being both positive and negative

-God calls us to remember, to not loose sight of the truth  -God warns us not to loose sight of Him due to our tradition

We all have traditions –things that make you, your family, your church, your work team, unique.  Traditions can be every day things, or they can be things you do once a year, or even a once in a lifetime thing.  They are part of who you are, and were you belong. 

Traditions can be bad, and destructive.

Jesus in Matthew 15:1-9 warns us about ungodly tradition.  Then the scribes and the Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying “why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”  He answered and said to them, “why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother; and He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.  But you say ‘whoever says to his father or mother, “whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” then he need not honor his father or mother.  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”

Paul in his letter to the Galatians writes how his tradition caused him to persecute the true Church.  Galatians 1:13-14 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul gives us a very strong warning in Colossians 2:8-10 about the traditions of men.  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Peter also warns about tradition.  1 Peter 1:17-21  If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by traditions from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

I was raised in the Catholic Church: based on tradition and man’s reason  -I never read the Bible and only heard very short readings  -maybe one verse  -I never felt close to God –just something we had to do on Sunday morning

-remember being angry when I did start reading the Bible after I got out of High School –been lied to     -that I couldn’t understand the Bible, and about what was in the Bible

-even though I rejected the catholic church there are still many traditions that are important to my parents that I’ve held on to, and am passing on

-what should rule our tradition, how should we exam our tradition

(the standard)   -God and His Word in everything that we do and are  -our Church   2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

-good men may disagree on interpretation, but as long as our standard is the Word

This makes us different from the world.  God warns us to not add to or to take away from His Word-it is sufficient for everything.  Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of you fathers is giving you.  You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

It is not that we should try not to have tradition, but that the habits or traditions that we have should be centered on God, with a Kingdom building mind set. 

Paul voices in many of his letters that tradition is something that we need to be aware of, but he also wrote that tradition centered on God is a very good thing .

Romans 14:5-8 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.  He who eats , eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.  For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

1 Corinthians 11:2  Now I praise you brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, 3:6  But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. –But we command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

-our worship is an example of this.  We follow the example and commands given to the early Church

All through the Bible God warns us to remember the past and to show it to our children.

Deut 6:4-9 Hear O Israel: “The Lord our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate.

Psalm 78:5-8  For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

-we went to a homeschool conference years ago –one of the speakers, Steve Beck, said that he had the bad habit of eating very quickly, but he figured out that gave him the chance to read the Bible outloud to his family –I also have the bad habit of eating quickly –took his advise –read the Word most every day as a family –has become a very good tradition and has sparked many very good discussions, teaching opportunities

-Joshua –strong, courageous, and persevered

Joshua 4:19-24  Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.  And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.  Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “what are these stones?” then you shall let your children know saying, ‘Israel crossed over the Jordan on dry land; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

-stones not as an idol, but a reminder and an opportunity for fathers to pass on their history and faith

Joshua 24:15  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

  –generations to come,  this is who we are, this is our tradition    

 -God throughout His Word blesses those who remember, and judge those who forget

One of the best examples of this is the Rechabites   Jeremiah 35

-time of moral decline in Judah

-eight generations since Jonadab

-not only knew and followed their tradition, but knew the reason for their tradition.  They honored their father and honored God

-the fathers had obviously passed their tradition down to every generation

-can’t you feel their resolve and their joy in being who they were.  This is who I am.  I don’t think they would have drank the wine, even at the point of a sword   

-they were a nomadic people which kept them from making wine  -they stood together strongly for who they were and what they believed

-God used them as an example of faithfulness  -unlike Judah at that time

In conclusion:  will we ever have things that we put between us and God?  Yes  Will our traditions always be God pleasing?   No

-analogy I really like

-women of the Church

-clean houses   -house ever been perfectly clean –no cobwebs, dust, dirt   -stop vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, cleaning  -of course not   -it’s the same with us

Can a godly tradition last if it is not shared with others?  Will our children take to heart our faith if it isn’t important enough to us to tell others?  Our faith should shine through to our neighbors.  Evangelism is so important!

It isn’t enough to just have tradition according to God’s Word, we need to also show our children and others the source of our tradition.  This helps us not loose sight of the truth.  Morality is not enough.  God must be the source of that morality.  Forming good habits is very important, but we can’t lose sight of the source of those habits. 

-if we don’t know the source, the why –that’s a problem

 We are born again, blood bought, followers of Christ.  Our lives and our traditions should reflect that in every way. I thank God that it does.

Truth Proverbs 14:12, John 8:58, 14:6, 18:37, Ephesians 6:14, Hebrews 13:8, 2 John 1:1-4 

Sovereignty of God (all knowing, all powerful, and above all) Genesis 50:18-21, Exodus 20:20, Deuteronomy 2:30, 20:1, Job 31:4, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalms 33:10-11, 94:11, 139, Proverbs 21:1, Jeremiah 32:16-25, Lamentations 3:37-38, Amos 3:6, Daniel 4:34-35, Matthew 10:30, Acts 17:23-31, Romans 11:33-36, 1 Corinthians 3:20, 8:6  

Word of God(sufficient for all areas of life-do not add to or take away from) Deuteronomy 8:3,12:32, 31:10-13, 32:47, 2 Samuel 23:2, 2 Kings 22 (King Josiah read the Word to the people and they turned to the Lord and repented), Psalm 12:6-7, 19:7-8, 78:2, 119:105,129,140-142,160, Proverbs 30:5-6, Jeremiah 1:4-9, Amos 8:11-12, Matthew 1:22, 2:15, 4:4, 24:35, Mark 16:20, John 1:1-5,14-15, 10:35, 12:48-50, 14:26, 16:13, 17:7-17, Acts 1:16, 20:32, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, 4:6, 15:1-8, Ephesians 3:3-5, Galatians 1:11, 1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 1:10, 3:14-17, Hebrews 1:1-2, 4:12, 1 John 5:7, 1 Peter 1:22-25, 2 Peter 1:3,16-22, 1 John 5:7, Jude 17, Revelations 22:18-19