2 Thessalonians (13): The Lord of Peace

First Baptist Church Leominster

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The ABC’s of the Christian Life (3): Following Jesus unto Salvation (1)

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Let's turn in our Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 and we want to consider the last few verses.

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And so today, Lord willing, we'll complete our study of 2 Thessalonians. We have a concluding salutation for us in these three verses.

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Paul first expressed to the church, to the Christians of his church, his desire, in fact it's probably a prayer, even a prayer, that the

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Lord of peace would give them peace. That's what we have in verse 16. And then there's a word from Paul that the

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Lord would be with them. Interesting statement when you think about it.

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This is followed by an expression of Paul's desire for them to be confident that this was an authentic epistle of Paul.

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He signed it with his own hand. And then we read

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Paul's final word, an expression of Paul's desire that the grace of the

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Lord Jesus Christ would be with them. And so these are the concluding words of the Apostle. Let's read these verses.

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And again, there are really four divisions here. Now, may the

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Lord of peace himself give you peace always and every way. The Lord be with you all.

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The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle, so I write, the grace of our

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Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. And thus concludes the epistle. We might address these matters that Paul wrote in an order perhaps more conducive to our understanding.

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Because after verse 16 is expressed, it's almost like verse 17 is inserted within it, almost dividing up the salutation between a desire for the

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Lord of peace to give peace and for the Lord Jesus to grant them grace. Right in the middle of that, you have

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Paul acknowledging that he had signed this epistle with his own hand. And so we're going to take these matters in a little different order for our understanding.

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We will consider the contents in this way. First, we'll speak of Paul's self -authentication of this epistle.

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In other words, verse 17. And then we'll move back to verse 16. We'll address the Lord of peace as a giver of peace.

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Third, we'll just say a few words about Paul's desire that the

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Lord would be with them. And then lastly, if we have time, we'll say a few words about the grace of our

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Lord Jesus being with these people. Interestingly, Paul opened the epistle with an opening salutation that grace and peace would be given to them.

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And he closes the epistle similarly, that the Lord would grant them peace and grace. And so, let's first look at verse 17 and consider

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Paul's self -authentication of his epistle. We've spoken about this matter somewhat before today.

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Back when we read about Paul alerting the church to beware of false letters, as though they were attributed to his authorship, as though Paul had written them.

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That was a problem that some of the churches had. And so,

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Paul was concerned that they not embraced his false teaching as though he were teaching it.

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Paul had warned the church about those who taught wrong teaching about the second coming of Christ.

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They were teaching that the second coming was an imminent event. It was going to happen at any moment.

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That teaching is common today. It would happen very soon. But Paul wrote that, no, that's not the case.

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It's not going to happen very soon. It's not imminent. And so, we read in verses 1 through 4 of chapter 2, concerning the coming of our

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Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together with him.

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That's the second coming. You hear often about the rapture of the church. The rapture of the church and the second coming are the same event.

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He's talking about the coming, our gathering to be with him. Brothers, that you not be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word.

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And here it is, for a letter seeming to be from us. To the effect that the day of the

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Lord is come. Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first.

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Or the great apostasy. And should be the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

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Who opposes and exalts himself against every so -called God or object of worship. So that he takes his seat in the temple of God.

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And we've argued that that's the professing church. The church of God, proclaiming himself to be

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God. And so Paul said, don't let anybody deceive you about this. The Lord's not going to come until these two things take place.

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And so Paul was always contending with those who sought to discredit him and his gospel message.

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He not only had to impart truth and dispel ignorance, but he had to correct error. And errant teachers.

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And there were many of them. False teachers commonly even followed the apostle wherever he went.

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And they would come into a city that he had recently evangelized and started a church. And they would come in and be part of that church and corrupt the church with its teachings.

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And so these new, these heretics would come into a new assembly of Christians. Young Christians who didn't know any better.

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And they were easily deceived. They taught another gospel, which

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Paul argued in Galatians 1 is really not another. There's only one gospel. But they teach another one.

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And sometimes they were quite successful in their efforts. I don't know how many churches were in the region of Galatia.

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But there were several or more than several. And Paul wrote and written about the false teachers who had corrupted the gospel among them.

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Galatians 1. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel.

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Which is not another. It's not like there's more than one gospel. But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

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But even if we or an angel from heaven. There are people that claim they have direct revelation from the

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Lord. Angels communicating to them. Even if an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than what we've preached to you, let him be accursed.

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Let him be damned. As we said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you've received, let him be accursed.

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And so these heretics, these travelers of the churches were Jewish men. Some of whom claim to believe on the

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Lord Jesus as the Messiah. They claim to be Christian. But they taught that salvation was not through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

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But through faith along with works of righteousness. That is works of the law.

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And some in some ways this is very subtle error. In some ways it's very blatant error. Paul's epistle to the

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Galatians was Paul's major corrective of this heresy. In his epistle he contrasts his gospel in which people are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

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And with the gospel of those false teachers who were teaching salvation was obtained through faith in Jesus.

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Plus in addition performing meritorious works of the law.

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Both were necessary they argued. And brought about salvation. And so the error they taught was in some way subtle.

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But the heart of their teaching was blatant heresy. It was subtle for it's true that Christians are to order their lives according to God's law.

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A lot of evangelicals don't understand that today. Paul wrote in Romans 7 about this in Romans 8.

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The law is holy, the commandment holy, just and good. He said the law is spiritual. The problem is we're not, we're carnal.

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But the law is spiritual. Paul taught that the law of God as directed by Jesus Christ as he empowered his people with the

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Holy Spirit. Continues to serve as the rule of Christian living. Romans 8, we didn't put it down here.

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But in Romans 8 Paul reasons and argues the law could not produce holiness in people. Because it was weak to the flesh.

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Unregenerate people cannot keep the law. And so that's why God sent his son to condemn sin in the flesh.

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So that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. We who do not walk after the flesh but who walk after the spirit.

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Christians are law keepers. Not perfectly but generally. The law of God governs us through the kingship of Jesus Christ.

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And so Paul the Christian could write. I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

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That verse used to trouble me back in my antinomian days. I've been through everything in the last 45 years.

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And in my antinomian days that verse troubled me. How can Paul write that? Because I saw the law only as a negative.

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I want to cast it away from you. I did not distinguish between the law as a rule and the law as a covenant.

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And that was my fault. He delighted after the law of God according to the inward man.

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But at the same time he saw another law in his members or a principle. Warring against the law of my mind.

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Bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Oh wretched man who. Oh wretched man that I am.

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Who will deliver me from the body of this death. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And then he summed up his

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Christian experience. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God.

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The law of God governed Paul's thinking and his life. But with the flesh the law of sin.

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But though the law continued to be the standard of God's righteousness for the believer. Through the death of Jesus Christ.

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The law as a covenant. You must understand what that means. The law is a covenant.

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In other words as a basis. Of relating to God as mediated through Moses to Israel. Was no longer in force.

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Prior to the death of Christ the law of Moses as a covenant. Had set apart ethnic

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Israel. The Jewish people the nation of Israel is the people of God. At Mount Sinai that's what took place.

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God set apart ethnic Israel as a nation. Distinguishing them from the Gentile nations.

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And the Gentile nations excluded. God's blessing was promised through the covenant. Upon the ethnic people of Israel.

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But upon Israel having transgressed the law as a covenant. Having broken their covenant with God.

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And incurring his wrath. The Jews then became as guilty as the Gentiles. In fact the

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Jews were exiled out of the land. Because they had become even worse than the

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Canaanites. Whom God expelled when they first came into the land under Joshua. Through Jesus Christ therefore.

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The former law of the Mosaic covenant. Between God and Israel was rescinded.

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Removed. Hebrews talks about that because of the weakness of the flesh.

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That covenant was problematic. As long as that legal covenant.

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Had been enforced the Gentiles were strangers to God's promises. And aliens to God's people.

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If you wanted to be right with God you had to become a Jew. Like Ruth the

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Moabitess became Jewish. Gentiles.

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Apart from the Israelite nation. Were without hope without God in the world. But after the

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Lord Jesus died upon the cross and rose from the dead to become Lord. Israel was reconstituted under a new covenant.

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Israel is no longer defined as an ethnic people. Physical descendants of Abraham. But reconstituted under the new covenant in Christ.

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Those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Now those who have the same faith as Abraham as Paul reasoned in Romans 4.

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Are the people of God. Like children of promise. Children like Isaac was.

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In other words those who have faith in Jesus whether you are Jewish or Gentile. You are members of God's nation.

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Israel. Whether you are Jewish or Gentile if you have faith in Jesus. Then Paul reasons in Romans 4.

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This is in fulfillment to what God declared to Abraham. You will be a father of many nations. And Abraham is our spiritual father.

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With regard to our covenant relationship. With God. And so when the

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Lord Jesus died upon the cross. Formally. Gentiles had been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.

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The household of God. But now they were brought into the household of God. The commonwealth of Israel.

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And Paul wrote this extensively. In Ephesians 2.

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And he is writing to the church at Ephesus. Which was primarily comprised of Gentile Christians. Therefore remember at one time you

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Gentiles in the flesh. Called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision.

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See the Jewish people held the Gentiles off. You are not among the people of God. You are not in covenant relationship with God.

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Which was made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ.

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Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. At that time you were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.

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Implying not now. Now you are part of the commonwealth of Israel. Strangers to the covenants of promise having no hope without God in the world.

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But now in Christ Jesus. You who once were far off that would have been Gentiles. Have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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For he himself is our peace. That is Christ. Who has made us that is

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Gentile believers and Jewish believers. Both one and has broken down in his flesh.

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The dividing wall of hostility. That dividing wall of hostility was the 10 commandments.

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As a covenant. Because it separated the Gentiles. From being among the

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Jews as the people of God. By abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.

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Again that is a covenant. So that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two.

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So making peace. And might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.

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Thereby killing the hostility. That is between Jewish and Gentile Christians. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off.

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As Gentiles. And peace to those who were near. Those would be Jews. And so for through him we both have access in one spirit to the father.

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So then you Gentile Christians. Are no longer strangers and aliens.

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For you are fellow citizens with the saints. All the Old Testament Jewish saints.

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King David, Solomon, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua. All of them.

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Were now fellow citizens with them. And members of the household of God.

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There is one church comprised of all the people of faith throughout history. It is not

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Israel and the church. As so many emphasize. And the two will never mix. There is one people of faith.

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Although God was dealing with physical ethnic Israel. In a covenantal way for several thousands of years.

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That has been set aside. And now in Christ anyone anywhere who believes on the

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Lord Jesus. Becomes one member of the Israel of God. The family of God.

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The household of faith. The church of Jesus Christ. That is what Paul was declaring. But these false teachers had corrupted

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Paul's gospel. They taught the people that they needed to have faith in the

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Lord Jesus. In order to be saved. But then they taught that faith alone was not enough.

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They taught that believers in Jesus Christ. Were also required to keep the law of Moses. As a covenant of works in order to be saved.

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And I put that in bold and italic font. Because it is very important. Because again elsewhere the

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Lord taught the need to keep the law of God. Don't think I came to destroy the law.

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I did not come to fulfill it and establish it. Is what the Lord Jesus indicated. But what these false teachers taught.

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Is that it was through faith in Christ. Plus the addition of the merit of your works.

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Sounds like Roman Catholicism doesn't it? Sounds like a lot of liberal Protestant churches too. Through the merit of the works you perform.

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You are saved. And apparently these false teachers even resorted to writing letters.

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As though they were written by Paul. And sent them to his churches. You can imagine the trouble that he was dealing with.

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As he was trying to correct them and keep them in the true gospel. And so in order for Paul to protect these churches.

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And assure them that his letters were authentic. Paul signed the epistles with his own hand.

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Probably just a sentence or two. For Paul had commonly transcribed his epistles.

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Dictated them to a secretary. A scribe. One of his companions. And on occasion these secretaries would insert a personal word.

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One clear example is in Romans 16 .22. The actual man who wrote down the epistle to Romans was

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Tertius. And Paul had dictated the epistle to the Romans to Tertius.

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And then Tertius inserts as he's closing the epistle. He inserts a word from himself in verse 22.

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I Tertius who wrote this epistle greet you in the Lord. And so these epistles might have been written by Tertius.

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Might have been written by Silas. Or you know not in Paul's hand. And so you can see how easily a false epistle could be circulated.

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As though it were from Paul. And so in order for Paul to authenticate his letters.

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He would take pen in hand and write a few words at the end of the epistle. In his own handwriting. So that the recipients could be confident.

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They had before them an authentic Pauline epistle. Paul had indicated this practice in several places.

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Paul wrote at the end of 1st Corinthians. The salutation with my own hand. Paul's. At the end of the epistle to the

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Galatians. He wrote see with what large letters I've written to you with my own hand. You can imagine the very neat.

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Perhaps all uppercase Hebrew or Greek letters rather. Of an epistle.

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No spaces in between. Very little punctuation here and there. And then all of a sudden you've got this.

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Large letters written. I can envision like a small child writing in large letters.

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And that's Paul writing. And I believe by the way the way when

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Paul said in Galatians you see what large letters I've written. He wrote that way because he had problems with his eyesight.

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That's a personal opinion. I kind of think that was his thorn in the flesh. And so he wrote with large letters.

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But when people saw that they knew this is a letter from Paul. And so it was like today having a notary.

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With a seal. Indicating this is legitimate. Did that the other day for the church app.

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David Benanzas office got a seal. David stamped the seal. To prove to the tax people in Washington State.

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That the word of truth is sponsored by the church. And so they need an authentic word.

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And Paul would authenticate his epistle by doing so.

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Well let's move back now to verse 16. Which is really the beginning of this ending salutation.

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And here we read of Paul's desire for these Christians. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way.

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Let's first consider the title the Lord of peace. And then we'll consider what it is to experience this peace always in every way.

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Hopefully that's what you and I enjoy. Not everybody does. But every Christian may.

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If we were thinking rightly and living rightly. The Lord of peace. Paul makes reference to the

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Lord of peace. Now there are a number of occasions. When the scriptures refer to the God of peace.

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And I listed some of them. I'm not going to read those because of the time. But the God of peace is a rather common expression.

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Interestingly however. The phrase the Lord of peace is only found here. In 2

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Thessalonians. Should be 3 not 5. 3 .16 On most occasions the reference to the

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Lord. Is a reference to Jesus Christ. The Lord of peace. He's probably talking about Jesus Christ.

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Sometimes the word Lord is a reference to God the Holy Trinity. All three persons of the

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Trinity. But Paul commonly. Would use the term

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Lord to refer to Jesus. Earlier in this chapter.

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Paul used Lord specifically for Jesus Christ. In the first five verses.

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Finally brothers pray for us that the word of the Lord. May speed ahead. And be honored.

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But the Lord is faithful. And we have confidence in the Lord about you.

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May the Lord direct your heart to the love of God. And steadfastness of Christ.

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And so I think Paul's reference to the Lord here in verse 16. Is a reference to Jesus Christ. William Hendrickson thought so.

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The Lord of peace is the Lord Jesus Christ. It's he who established peace through the cross. I'm noticing

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Hendricks makes these very clear. Oftentimes assertive statements. And I always want to put a little question mark by them.

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You know how does he know this for absolute certainty. And I think James Moffat.

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Who dealt with the. Well they both dealt with the Greek text. But I think he wrote it probably a little better.

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Kouros that's the Greek word for Lord. Is probably in accordance with Paul's usual practice.

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To be taken as Jesus Christ. But the language of verse 5. Of 1st Thessalonians 5 .23.

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Makes the reference to God quite possible. And I think to make that allowance. Moffat is more accurate.

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Although Hendrickson is probably right. The word

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Lord Kouros. Is a title of Jesus Christ. And it speaks to his deity. How is that?

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Well. Kouros the Greek word. Was used by the old. By the translators of the

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Old Testament. The Hebrew Testament into Greek. And commonly known as the Septuagint. Don't know when that was translated.

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Maybe the 3rd quarter of the 2nd century BC. We don't really know.

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Probably in Alexandria in Egypt. They translated the Hebrew Scriptures. From Hebrew into Greek.

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And so they would use the word Kouros. The Greek word Kouros for Lord.

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And so most of the time. It would refer to Jehovah of the Old Testament. Jesus in the

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New Testament. Is Jehovah of the Old Testament. And Jehovah is referred to as Kouros Lord.

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And Jesus in the New Testament. Is referred to Kouros Lord. Most of the time. Not in every case.

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But most of the time. When the Greek word Kouros Lord. Is used of Jesus. It's asserting his deity.

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In the New Testament. Now Paul calls our Savior. The Lord of Peace. Recently we spoke about the difficulty.

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At times to interpret a phrase. It begins with the preposition of. There are a lot of nuances.

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And I even put in an appendix today. Of that genitive case. Is what it's called. And the various options.

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Or alternatives. Often times you can. You can render. Even in an English translation.

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Of. And then a noun following. And so the phrase.

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Has a few possible meanings. The Lord of Peace. May speak about the Lord. Who is himself at peace.

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The Lord is at peace. May the Lord. Who is at peace. Grant you peace. That may have been.

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What Paul intended. However it may mean. Is simply the

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Lord of Peace. Is the Lord. Who gives peace. And that's probably.

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What is being suggested here. May the Lord of Peace. Who's characterized by peace.

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Who can give peace. Give you peace. It's probably. What Paul was asserting. Now when we consider the

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Lord. Is the Lord of Peace. We should understand. He's not the Lord of Peace. To everybody. Without distinction.

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He's not the Lord of Peace. To an unbeliever. He's only the Lord of Peace.

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To those. Who have faith in Jesus Christ. This is very important.

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Often times. You know the Christians. Well intentioned Christians. Take the promises of God.

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The blessings of Christians. And apply them to non -Christians. And they tell a non -Christian.

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Well the Lord is the Lord of Peace. And you can have peace. Well yeah. If you repent of your sin.

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And believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As Savior and Lord. Yes you can have peace. But until. Unless you did.

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You're like those Gentiles in Ephesians 2. You're without God. You're without hope in the world. And we need to make that clear.

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You're on your own. Now this is what you could have. If you'll become a Christian. The Lord is the

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Lord of Peace. And He can give you peace. But until you. Until Jesus Christ is your

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Lord. He's not a Lord of Peace to you. Rather the scriptures present.

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The Lord is the Lord of War. And we talked. Actually the Lord of Peace. We talked about how that's unique here.

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And I did a search in my. Bible computer software. The Lord of.

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And so I searched the entire Bible. And. Really the expression

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Lord of. And then a noun is not a very common expression. Except for one phrase. The Lord of hosts.

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And if I remember right. There was like 216 verses in the Bible. Where the

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Lord of hosts is mentioned. And that's speaking of course. The Lord of forces and armies.

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Who's able to execute judgment. And justice in the earth. And come to deliver his people. That's not the

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Lord of Peace. When the Lord of hosts. Is presented. He is the

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Lord. Who is powerful to deliver his people. And to overthrow his enemies. And so.

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Please understand. That only his people. Those who are Christians. Who are now in a state of peace with God.

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Through Jesus Christ. May look to Jesus as the Lord of Peace. Very important.

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The fact is. We're in need of peace with God. Even as Christians. Now this blessing of peace.

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That the Lord of Peace. Is his people. Can really only be appreciated. When we fully consider.

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The state of the non -believer. Who's not at peace with God. And that's the way.

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Most of the world is. Is that not right? We ought to be afraid.

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On behalf of people. That we encounter and say. It ought to scare us. When we consider.

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What it is. To be without Christ. Within God's world. And the certain fate.

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Everlasting hell awaits them. We believe that. I know just to say that in these days.

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You know we're castigated. Perhaps marginalized. Viewed as the most arrogant.

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Self -righteous and mean. People as you could possibly be. But this is how.

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The scripture sets forth the world. Isn't it? People who are outside of Jesus Christ.

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Are without God. They do not have peace. Because you can only obtain peace with God. Through faith in Jesus Christ.

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People who are outside of Jesus Christ. Are not in a state of peace with God. Rather there exists a state of war.

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Between God and man. He is the Lord of hosts. To the non -christian.

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We believe the gospel. Is good news. Because it's good news. To people that are perishing.

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Who have no hope. No future. I think driving down to church.

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You know on a Sunday morning. You know and as far as you can see. There's only a car here there. You know on route two.

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And then I drive down on a Monday morning. You know at eight o 'clock. And it's bumper to bumper. People going to work.

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And I see people out running. You know as we're coming to church. And I think these poor people.

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You know who are without Christ. And they're clueless. And the Lord's coming. And we ought to be broken hearted.

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Toward them. And certainly since we have such a glorious answer. For their need.

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We should seek to proclaim it. And look for opportunities. To do so. Jonathan Edwards was so articulate.

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You know in his expression. Of the reality of things. He wrote.

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He lived in the 18th century. Pastored in the Congregational Church. Out in Northampton. And he wrote a sermon once.

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Entitled Natural Men in a Dreadful Condition. So he's talking about non -Christian people.

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As they're born into this world. They are not only without God. But the wrath of God abides upon them.

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There is no peace. Between God and them. But God is angry with them every day.

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That's merely a quotation of scripture. He's not only angry with them. But that to a dreadful degree.

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There is a fire kindled in God's anger. And it burns like fire. Wrath abides upon them.

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Which if it should be executed. Would plunge them into the lowest hell. And make them miserable there to all eternity.

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They have provoked the Holy One of Israel. To anger. God has been angry with them. Ever since they began to sin.

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He's been provoked by them every day. Ever since they exercised any reason. And he's provoked by them more and more.

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Every hour. The flame of his wrath is continually burning. There are many now in hell.

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That never provoke God. More than they. That is those who are living today. That are provoking God. Nor so much as many of them.

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Wherever they go. They go about with the dreadful wrath of God. Abiding on them. They eat. They drink. And sleep under wrath.

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How dreadful a condition. Therefore are they in. It is the most awful thing.

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For the creature to have the wrath of his creator. Abiding on him. The wrath of God is a thing infinitely dreadful.

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The wrath of a king. Is as the roaring of a lion. That's scripture. But what is the wrath of a king.

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Who is but a worm of the dust. To the wrath of the infinitely great and dreadful God. How dreadful is it.

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To be under the wrath of the first being. That is God. The being of beings.

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The great creator. The mighty possessor of heaven and earth. How dreadful is it. For a person to go about under the wrath of God.

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Who gave him being. In whom he lives and moves. Who is everywhere present. Without whom he cannot move a step.

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Nor draw breath. Natural men. And as much as they are under wrath.

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Or under a curse. God's wrath and curse are continually upon them. They can have no reasonable comfort.

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Therefore in any of their enjoyments. For they do not know. That they are given them in wrath. In other words even the blessings of God.

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Come to those under his wrath as a curse. As it is said in Job 18 .15.

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That he and brimstone should be scattered upon his habitation. How can they take any comfort in their food.

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In their possessions. When they do not know. But all are given them to fit them for the slaughter. That is the direct approach.

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But you know the Lord blessed that message. And the great awakening broke out. And there is peace however.

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With God. But only through Jesus Christ. And then to the

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Christian. May the Lord of peace. Give you peace. Is what the apostle is declaring.

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I am not going to read Gil's quote. Because it is lengthy. He is wordy. But he is good.

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He is accurate too. Drop down to the bottom of page 6. And there we see reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

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A peace with God to the believer. We are in a state of war. I don't know about you.

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But some of you were raised in church. Maybe you have never known it. That doesn't make you less Christian.

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By the way. Necessarily. But some of us who were in the world. And the

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Lord pulled us out of the world. Brought us through a condition of conviction of sin. And I tell you what.

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Every word of Edwards. Was what I felt in my soul. For several months.

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In November and December of 1971. And I came to a state of peace.

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In the second week of January 1972. And what a peace that was.

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Because I was keenly aware. Of the Holy Spirit. Made that clear. I read gospel tracts daily.

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Prayed the sinners prayer daily. But still lost in my sins. Until I exercised faith.

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As the scriptures say. The faith of God's elect. Faith produced and born. By the Holy Spirit.

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And then peace came. There is reconciliation with God. Through Jesus Christ alone.

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Only in this way. Can a state of peace. Exist between almighty

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God. And a sinner. Reconciliation is a wonderful word.

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That describes a cessation of hostility. Between two warring factions. Resulting in peace between them.

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And how does this reconciliation take place? Well it can only take place. When their former hostility.

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And rebellion ceases. And the justice. Of God toward their crime.

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Has been satisfied. And so God. Is at war with sinners. And his purpose to punish them for their sins.

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Because they have transgressed his laws. Not only in the things we do. But the things we fail to do.

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Sins of omission. Sins of commission. Things we do. And God's justice must be executed.

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His creatures. Must answer to the judge of all the earth. And the reason. That Christians alone can escape the condemnation.

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Of this unbending. Inflexible justice. Is that Christ Jesus bore their punishment.

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On their behalf. When he died upon the cross. And so that should make.

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The cross of Christ lovely to us. Precious to us. And the

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Lord Jesus himself. Who gave himself for our sin. And so through faith in him.

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Not through faith in him. Plus the merit of our works. That's damnable. Paul said let the man be accursed.

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Who teaches that kind of thing. We won't tolerate him whatsoever. Paul said. He's damning people's souls.

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By teaching that nonsense. Reconciliation with God is only possible.

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When God works reconciliation. On behalf of his people. And that's what God did.

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You and I can't reconcile ourselves to God. That's not possible. He has to.

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Bring about reconciliation. Or it's not going to take place. And so we read in Colossians 1 .19

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and following. It pleased the Father. It started with him.

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That in him Christ. All the fullness of the Godhead would dwell. And by Christ.

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To reconcile all things to himself. Reconciliation between. God and his people.

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Who are in rebellion to him. Is only possible through Jesus Christ. And the Father did it.

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We shouldn't think that the Father was against us. But Jesus was for us. And Jesus won over the Father for us.

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When he died. No it's the Father who loved us. And sent his Son. It pleased the

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Father. And so it was through Christ. Having made peace.

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Through the blood of his cross. The justice of God was satisfied. With regard to those.

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For whom Christ died. Those who believed on him. And so thankfully.

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He is the Lord of peace. But he is only the Lord of peace. To those to whom he is

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Lord. And maybe that's what Paul was intending to do.

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Emphasize. Well let's consider quickly. That the Lord of peace with his people.

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May impart peace to his people. Not all of his people enjoy peace. In their souls do they.

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And that's sad. This was Paul's desire and prayer. For these Christians he wrote. Now may the

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Lord of peace himself. Give you peace always in every way. It's good for Christians.

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To have a sense of well being. A settled confidence. An assurance of peace.

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Regardless of what's going on. In their lives. And in the world about them. All disciples of Jesus Christ.

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May enjoy a subjective peace with God. Don't let that word subjective trouble you. Subjective just simply means me.

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My and what I personally enjoy. And so this is a feeling. Of peace.

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A sense of well being. And it is beyond.

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Beyond. Knowledge and understanding. Sometimes this peace will settle your heart.

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When you've got no business being settled. All you have is the Lord. But the

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Lord imparts this peace to you. He gives you this peace. And you're at peace.

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When you know one moment. You're troubled distressed. Freaking out. And you know two minutes later.

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The Lord settles your soul. And you can handle it. Philippians 4, 6, and 7.

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Describe this subjective peace. In nothing be anxious. What are you anxious about? Make a list.

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In nothing be anxious. Paul wrote to the Christians. But in everything. By prayer and supplication.

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With thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God.

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This is not talking about objective peace. It's talking about subjective peace. That belongs to the Christian.

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That the Christian may enjoy. The peace of God which passes all understanding. I'm at peace and it doesn't make sense.

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I ought to be panicked. But I'm at peace. Because the Lord of peace. Gives peace to his people.

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And the peace of God which passes all understanding. Shall guard your heart. From distress.

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From fear. From anxiety. From worry which will consume you. Cause you to lose your health.

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Cause you to make wrong decisions. Your fears governing you. But this peace.

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Will guard your hearts and your thoughts. In Christ Jesus. Our peace was secured for us.

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Through the death of Jesus Christ. On our behalf. That objective peace. It's the same for every one of us who are

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Christians. And this peace is a fact. This objective peace. We are at peace with God.

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Romans 5. That objective peace is the state of peace.

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That we enjoy as Christians. Who believe on Jesus. And this objective peace.

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With God knows no degrees. Or diminishment. It's the same for every one of us. Because it's all wrapped up in Christ.

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Nothing changes this fact. God is at peace with his people. Due to Christ. But distinct and apart from the believers.

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Peace with God. The believer may come to experience. To varying degrees. Peace from God.

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Whereas our peace with God. Is in the realm of fact. Our peace from God. Is in the realm of feeling.

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And experience. No we don't govern our lives by feeling. But I hope you have some feeling.

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About the things of Christ. Or there's something very aberrant. Deficient about your Christian life.

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The Lord saves us. And it affects our affections. Our emotions.

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As well as our understanding. And our wills. And there's any number of factors.

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That may cause us to either. Have this sense of peace. Increased or diminished.

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Within our souls. Whether or not one is prayerful. Whether one is believing.

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The promises of God. And trusting themselves to the Lord. Whether or not.

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They are obeying the Lord. And so this subjective peace. Is available for the child of God.

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Regardless of external happenings. Or circumstances. Pastor you don't know.

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What I'm going through. Matters not. The Lord of peace.

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Is able to give peace. The peace that passes. Surpasses all understanding.

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And so whereas the objective peace. That we have with God. The state of peace between the believer and God. Is always the same and unchangeable.

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In every child of God. The subjective feeling of peace and well -being. Varies greatly between us. Some of you probably have a very settled.

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Sense of well -being. That God has granted you this peace. And you just.

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Regardless of what's going on in your world. You just have a sense of well -being. And joy and peace. That God has given you.

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And you might be undergoing. Going through very difficult things. On the other hand there's some of you. That may have a relatively easy time of it.

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Who was it. We were dealing with Pilgrim's Progress recently. Was it fearful or someone like that. Who in actuality.

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He wasn't going through all the difficulties. That some of the others did. Because he was weak. Anybody remember?

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Whatever it was. The Lord had conditioned him. Because he couldn't handle it. But others were experiencing great difficulty.

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But they had a sense of well -being. And peace about them. Some trouble themselves.

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Because they've refused or failed. To order their lives. Using the means that God has given us.

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To receive this peace. From God. And so as a result. Their peace has been removed.

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Not their objective peace. That cannot be removed. But this subjective peace.

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Has been shaken and even removed. For a time. And so may the Lord.

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Restore peace. To any troubled Christian that may be here this morning. And there will be a time.

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Probably that the Lord will bring us through. When we need to have this peace restored to us. Because the Lord wants us to take.

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Take us through these experiences. Doesn't he? That way he manifests himself to us.

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To Christians. Christians. God in Christ gives assurances of peace. Peace I leave with you. My peace

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I give to you. Is what Jesus said. Not as the world gives. You know the world gives peace.

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With a cessation of hardship and difficulty. And all is going well and smoothly.

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The Lord's got a different kind of peace. Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid.

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And so to believers. The Lord Jesus gives fresh manifestations. Of this grace of peace.

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As Paul wrote. To all that be in Rome. Beloved of God. Grace to you and peace from God our

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Father. And the Lord Jesus Christ. Now notice thirdly.

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In our third point. As we work through this in the last minutes we have. We see in verse 16b.

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That we are to desire and pray. That the Lord would be with his people. Paul expressed his desire.

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The Lord be with you all. And here the Lord is probably. A reference to Jesus Christ. Now there is a sense in which the

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Lord. Is always with his people. You know he is our God. And we are his people. And nothing can separate us from our

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Lord. He is always with his people. We read earlier in Hebrews 13 .5.

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Let your conduct be without covetous. Be content with such things as you have. Why? For he himself said.

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I will never leave you nor forsake you. Well if the Lord. Will never leave us nor forsake us.

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How can Paul. Express the desire. Or almost a prayer. The Lord be with you all.

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Isn't he always with his people. And so again we are in the realm. Of subjectivity aren't we.

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He is talking about. May you be aware of the presence. Of the Lord with you always.

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May the Lord be with you. And so there is a sense in which.

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A Christian can be. Aware. Assured.

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The Lord is with me. I was converted. Through various means.

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But one of the means. There was an elderly lady. In a church in Fort Bragg California. Who was abandoned.

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When she was a young mother. And had a son. She became a Christian. And her husband wanted no part of that.

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And left her. And she was in despair. As a young Christian. Living in Southern California.

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Remember she told me about the desert. She was just in utter despair. And she was praying to the

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Lord. And she said. It was as though. Physically.

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She felt an arm around her. And this peace. Settled her soul.

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And this carried her through. Now. That was a. Manifestation.

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Of the goodness and mercy of the Lord to her. And I am not encouraging people. To pray to that end.

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She wasn't even praying to that end. But the Lord comforted her. And assured her.

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The Lord was with her. And you and I. Need to have the Lord with us.

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Not that he is not with us. But we need to be aware that he is with us. Is that not right?

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Why do you go around. Sinning. When nobody else is around you. The Lord is with you.

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I'll tell you why you do. Because you don't sense the Lord is with you. Isn't that right? Why if I were.

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Sitting next to you. You might not put that thing on the computer or the TV. But if we were keenly aware.

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That the Lord was with us. We wouldn't do so either. Would we? And so it is important.

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That we have a sense. A subjective sense. That the Lord is with us. May the Lord be with you.

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Is what Paul desired. Now again.

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The indwelling presence of the Lord. Cannot be broken. He is with us. I'll never leave you nor forsake you.

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But the awareness. And sense of this indwelling presence. Is just like peace. It rises and falls.

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Depending on any number of various things. And so there are means.

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That are used. There are some Christians. That don't experience the Lord. Being with them.

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With a sense of comfort and assurance. And strength. Because they are abusing.

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Or neglecting the means of grace. That God has appointed. By which this grace.

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This blessing is imparted to his people. For example. The Lord Jesus commanded in John 14.

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He who has my commandments and keeps them. It is he who loves me.

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He who loves me. Will be loved by my Father. And listen to this. I will love him and manifest myself to him.

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That is reveal. Manifest myself. Do you want the Lord Jesus to manifest yourself. To you.

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So that you sense that he is with you. Obey his commandments. That is what the

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Lord said. That is one of the means of grace. That he appointed. And then the important passage.

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Where Paul talked about those Corinthians. Who were so messed up in the way they lived. He told them.

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Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship is righteousness with lawlessness?

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These are rhetorical questions. Demanding the answer. None or no. What communion is light with darkness?

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None. What accord or accordance or agreement has Christ with Belial? Another word for Satan.

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None. What part has a believer with an unbeliever? None. What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

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None. You are the temple of living God. And so he quotes an Old Testament verse here.

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As God has said. I will dwell in them. Walk among them. I will be their

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God. They shall be my people. Therefore. Come out from among them.

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And be separate. Says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean. And I will receive you.

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And I will be a father to you. And you shall be my sons and daughters. He is talking to Christians here. And if you want

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God to manifest himself to you personally. And intimately. As Father. And you sense your relationship with God the

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Father. Then use the means of grace. You need to have fellowship with Christians.

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And run with them. That does not say come out of the world. That is not possible. And he declares that in 1 Corinthians 5.

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But your closest friends should be Christians. With whom you have a common life.

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Common desires. Interests. And aims. And so may the

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Lord be with you all. May he manifest his love and his peace to us. And may we experience the joy of his presence.

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The comfort of his presence. The assurance of his presence. The fellowship of his presence. And let us be as Paul.

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Let us pray to this end. May the Lord be with you always. Amen. Important.

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And then his last word. And our last words. The final verse of Paul's concluding salutation reads.

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Paul not only desired the

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Lord of peace. To impart peace to them. But he also desired the Lord would grant his grace to them. Grace.

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What is it? Well. Its basic meaning is God's favor toward people.

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Chares is the Greek word. Grace. Sometimes it describes

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God's attitude. Or disposition. Toward an individual or group of people. God has grace toward his people.

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He has favor. He looks upon them favorably. He has favor toward them. The gospel message itself.

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Is an act of God's grace. A manifestation of his grace. Or kindness. But the word grace.

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Is sometimes used to describe God's power. Not so much a state. God's attitude toward you.

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He has favor toward you. Grace toward you. But it speaks about his power working.

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In a person. He imparts grace. And I think the great biblical definition of this is where the apostle

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Paul says that God gives you both the desire and the ability to do his will.

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And that's what in my mind grace is. When God's grace is working in you. You have the desire and the ability to do the things that please

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God. And so. God's grace is his power.

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That he manifests to people. As well as his state of grace. In which his people stand. God's grace.

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Of course. As you consider it in the bible. Can be distinguished. There is a common grace of God.

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And there is a special grace of God. Common grace is God's grace toward all people. All humanity.

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No matter where they are or who they are. God's common grace. It's a manifestation of his kindness and goodness.

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God is a good God. And he's even loving to his enemies. And that's why you and I are to be loving to our enemies.

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That doesn't mean that you're supposed to have affections. And fuzzy feelings about your enemies. But you're to do loving things for them and to them.

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Because that's how God is to his enemies. And we're to be like him. But God's common grace is upon all.

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The fact that we live in a free society. That we have laws. And a little bit of stability.

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And what not is due to the common grace of God. And our nation has always acknowledged that. Until recently.

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Now you talk about God. You mentioned God yesterday. It was a wonderful display.

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Where they commissioned the new aircraft carrier. Down in Virginia. The Gerald R.

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Ford. U .S .S. Gerald R. Ford. Wonderful. Occasion.

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And they even had a chaplain giving an invocation. And the same chaplain giving the benediction.

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And they were worried about God in his name. But of course not a mention of Jesus Christ.

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You know. And it's just. But we have common grace upon this land. And we sing about it.

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Grace is shed upon thee. And God's grace has been greatly shed upon us.

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But that grace if not responded to rightly can be forfeited. And withdrawn by God.

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And I think we're seeing that. In our culture. And across our land.

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And in the world. In the kinds of difficulties that face us. But there's thankfully a special grace.

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Common grace is for all humanity. Because God is a gracious God. But there's a special grace that he gives to his people.

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Sometimes it's called particular grace. His special grace. He shows and bestows this upon the recipients of salvation alone.

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So all the benefits of salvation are due to this special grace. We were chosen to salvation by grace.

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Ephesians 1. We're called to salvation by grace. Called by his grace. We are justified to his grace.

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We are adopted into God's family by his grace. We're sanctified in this life by his grace.

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God keeps us, preserves us through his grace. One day we'll be glorified by grace.

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This is special grace. That he bestows upon his people alone. And we are in need of grace continually.

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The grace that God gave you a year ago is not sufficient to deal with you today. In getting you through life.

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And so Paul concluded his epistle. May the

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Lord give you grace. And once again he opened the epistle. Grace and peace to you.

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He closes his epistle. May the Lord give you grace and peace. We need grace because we have challenges before us.

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We need peace because we have troubles around us. And so may the

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Lord grant us peace and grace. Amen. Let's pray. Father help us to Lord not only hear these things, understand them, believe them, but help us to practice them.

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May you impart Lord your grace to your people. Impart peace to you, you the

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Lord of peace. That we can go forth Lord as assured, joy filled, confident people.

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Living out in your presence Lord within this fallen world. And so forgive us our sins

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Lord, our unbelief, our failure. Restore our souls Lord if that's necessary.

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And strengthen us our God that we might please you in all of our ways. For we pray in Jesus name.