“Faithfulness’ Artificial Fruit: Mere Outward Conformity"

"Proclaiming Liberty" (Part 3)

Theme: We proclaim liberty because of the Jubilee. I. Political Liberty II. Economic Liberty A. Consider the Jubilee 1. Rest for the land: 25:11-12, 21 2. Return of hereditary land and property to families 3. Freedom of Israelites who sold themselves into slavery B. Not socialism; rather, free enterprise capitalism III. Religious Liberty A. Relevance 1. Emphasis on the Exodus—so the people could worship 2. Political and religious liberty go together 3. Political liberty depends upon religious liberty B. Observations 1. Presbyterians supported the American because the threat of the imposition of episcopacy/bishops 2. Threats to our religious liberty today, including the attempt by the State to interfere in the government of the Church 3. The Family is also under assault in this regard 4. Individuals are also suffering harm 5. Properly speaking, religious liberty is for the true religion Application A. Be wary of false teaching B. Give thanks for the religious liberty we do enjoy C. Pray for those believers who suffer under tyranny D. Remember: truth spreads via persuasion, not physical force

"Proclaiming Liberty" (Part 2)

Theme: We proclaim liberty because of the Jubilee. I. Political Liberty A. Political and economic liberty go together B. Observations 1. Right of revolution—John Calvin; John Knox 2. The primacy of law and the rights of the people 3. Delicate balance of powers—dispersing power 4. There can be a misuse of political freedom II. Economic Liberty A. Consider the Jubilee 1. Every 50 years, trumpets blaring on Day of Atonement 2. Its nature a. Rest for the land: 25:11-12, 21 b. Return of hereditary land and property to original families c. Freedom of Israelites who had sold themselves in slavery B. Observations 1. The Jubilee is not socialism 2. Free enterprise capitalism is taught in the Bible 3. Economic independence is desirable Application A. Have you forfeited economic liberty because of sin? B. For what purpose do you desire this liberty? 1. If it's to spend it on yourself, then you're a materialist 2. Rather, you should aim at eternal values C. Trust in Jesus, who is the Savior 1. He gave up His riches, so we could be made rich 2. He became a servant/slave, so we could be free 3. He gave Himself over to death, so that we might have life

"Proclaiming Liberty" (Part 1)

Theme: We proclaim liberty because of the Jubilee. I. Political Liberty A. Why is this type of liberty relevant to the verse at hand? 1. This law came in a context of a Hebrew republic 2. Political and economic and liberty go together 3. This theme of political liberty was in mind in 1776 B. Observations 1. Right of revolution against tyranny a. Not to be undertaken lightly, but rather as a last resort b. Like just war theory: proportionality; proper authority; prospect of success c. Not mobocracy 2. The right of secession 3. The grievances—a detailed, covenantal indictment 4. The primacy of law and the rights of the people 5. Delicate balance of powers a. Spreading about the power b. Recognition of other "governments" 6. There can be a misuse of political freedom Application A. Beware the trap of "democracy" 1. Democracy => mob rule => chaos => tyranny 2. Representative government protects rights of the people 3. A republic helps to provide liberty for the whole 4. Presbyterian government is the model B. Rejoice in Christ's mediatorial rule 1. He orchestrated the Hebrew republic 2. He orchestrated the American republic 3. He did so for the good of the people 4. He did so in order that there could be peace 5. And which leads to gospel proclamation

"Inheritances" (Part 2)

Theme: Solomon contrasts the inheritance of the good with that of the sinner. I. A Good Man's Inheritance A. A good man lives by God's righteous standard B. His inheritance is both material and spiritual wealth C. To children and grandchildren—trans-generationally II. A Sinner's Inheritance A. Who is a sinner? 1. One who gives himself over to sin 2. Usually, someone who is notorious in his sinful ways B. What happens to his inheritance? 1. It gets taken away from him 2. So that the good may prosper: Job 27:16f; Proverbs 28:8; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Isaiah 61:6 C. Why does this occur? 1. Because of God's judgment 2. Because of wasting it and not being able to pass it on 3. Because of patterns of thought and behavior that cause the next generation to be wasteful Application A. Rejoice that the righteous spoil the wicked B. The financial is a token of the eternal C. What kind of legacy are you leaving? 1. Is it one of godliness? 2. Is it one that will shine throughout eternity? 3. If so, it's only because of what Christ has done

"Inheritances" (Part 1)

"Inheritances" (Part 1) Theme: Solomon contrasts the inheritance of the good with that of the sinner. I. A Good Man's Inheritance A. Who is a good man? B. What is his inheritance? 1. Material wealth 2. Spiritual wealth (Psalm 128) C. How far does it extend? 1. Children—what you do affects your children 2. Children's children 3. There is also application in societal terms 4. Note: Christians are far-sighted and future-oriented a. Believers take the long view b. They are patient c. They plan for the future Application A. Repent of past sins B. Look to the future 1. There is a judgment day coming 2. Anticipation of God's glory flooding our society C. Look in faith to the Lord Jesus 1. He Himself looked to the future 2. He looked past the pain and suffering of the cross 3. He looked to eternity, when He would bring His people to His inheritance