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Lord, we adore me.
We must be with.
Friends.
Verse four of our chapter but.
I'd like to also suggest that perhaps we could finish taking up this chapter. I know there's lots here this morning, and then perhaps this afternoon we could go on and make some comments concerning the second chapter.
Hebrews the Ugly Just chapter one. This one, perhaps just this morning and then this afternoon. Chapter 2, Hebrews chapter one.
Starting with verse 4.
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Front of which of the angels said he at any time Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. And again I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a son. And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. Then of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels and spirits? And his ministers a flame of fire, But on to the sun he saith.
Thy throne, O God.
Is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness, is a scepter of thy Kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of thine hands they shall perish. But thou remainest, they shall all wax old as death of garment, and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed.
But thou art the same, and thy ears shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? And they are they not all ministering spirits send forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.
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Ministry in the Old Testament. And they still have an important ministry, as is brought out at the end of this chapter. But as we said yesterday, he takes up everything that is what's before them in the Old Testament, and he shows that it was right and proper in its place. It was good in its place and ordained of God. But he sets that all aside in light of the one of whom we've been Speaking of in these meetings, his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we don't want to overlook the ministry of angels.
They are God's servants and they do his bidding. But isn't it a tremendous thing, brethren, to think that well, God used and does use angels in various ways? There are certain things that he takes up himself not using angels. And when it came to the redemption of man, did he send an Angel? I speak carefully. No, he came himself as we had in the verse before us. He couldn't send an Angel to take up the work of eternal redemption. God had to send forth his Son.
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. He came, God the Son, to die on Calvary's cross and to take up the question of sin. So let's say angels have an important place. But there are certain things that he does, He has to carry out himself. This is a little out of context, but just in connection with the coming of the Lord. He's not going to send an Angel for us. It's true that we'll hear the IT, it speaks of the voice of the Archangel and so on, But the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.
He came to die for us, and he's coming to receive us unto himself that where he is, there we're going to be.
Of God's creation and a very.
Interesting part of God's creation because in rank of creation they are higher than men and they're known for their power. They excel in power. That's what angels to do his bidding. And so in the second chapter it says when the Lord Jesus became a man, he was made.
A little lower than the angels because human creation is lower than angelic creation.
But the Lord Jesus was not part of creation as such, He was.
The Creator. And so he is much better than the angels being made, so much better than the angels. And I think when it says being made, it's interesting that it must take in the thought of his being a man here in this world because he has obtained.
More excellent name than they by inheritance is entained, and more excellent name than they so it talks about obtained and being made.
He was not made the Son of God. He was the Son of God from all eternity. But as a man this is his place now, much more excellent than the angels. And then in verse five, beautiful statement that is not well understood so often.
Thou art my son this day, Have I begotten thee? It's a quote from the 2nd Psalm, and it's quoted 2 Times in the New Testament, if I remember right.
But it's a beautiful statement as that first part thou art, my son, is a statement of his eternal sonship. God speaking Thou art my Son, was something that was always true from all eternity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the eternal God.
That we know now in three persons, but here is the one who is the eternal Son of God.
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Thou art my son, Then when it says, this day, have I begotten thee?
It's his incarnation, He came, and we could say never before was the Son of God a man. There was a new, something new that had never been before. The Son of God was now a man, and as such as a man in the creation.
The Father could open the heavens and say Thou art my beloved Son. Perhaps there was a question. Could a man down in here in this world?
Be the Son of God in the sense that we have it here.
The Lord God himself answers that question. He opens the heavens and after the Lord Jesus comes up from his baptism.
Is the heavens open and the voice of the Father. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. What an object. What a tremendous object. A man who is the very Son of God.
As we go down into chapter, that is going to fold it up.
As doth the garment that waxes old.
This blessed one from eternity.
As we have in verse.
12.
But thou art the same a title, so that same one from eternity.
Was here in this world.
And that word I went to that grass and ladies life down.
Because his God, he could never die.
But he became a man.
They never ceased to be gone.
Never cease to be that one from eternity.
And now we look into the heavens, and we see the same person.
Do I am sitting at the right hand of God?
The same.
From eternity to eternity.
And we'll learn in this book about this person.
Was the same yesterday.
Going back into eternity today, where He is forever.
We change. We sing. He changes now. And he loves us. He died for us. He lives for us. He's coming for us. He'll reign.
Glorious person, the same yesterday, today and forever.
Came into this world and took manhood. He brought all his, eternal all his.
God had glories with him.
Is the same.
That blessed One is He's truly God and truly man. He brought all his glories with him. He just seemed not. And there he is in the glory. Now he's sitting there at the right hand of God.
John's Gospel, Chapter One.
And verse one.
John's Gospel chapter one and verse one.
The word was.
In the beginning was the word.
Let's do his existence eternal.
The Word was with God.
But He was divine. He was there.
As to his nature divine.
The word was gone.
His person distinct.
Think of this one the word and then just turn over.
And read.
Verse 14.
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Verse 14.
It's the same person.
The word.
Was made pleasure.
He took a party.
And her body was prepared for him.
Back in eternity, when he took that body, when he came here in this world, that he might do the will of God in this world, that he might go to the cross of Calvary.
That he might dare not cross offer himself without spot to God the Word was made flesh.
This blessed you, dwelt among us.
Was here among us, God with us, His name Emmanuel, God with us.
And we beheld his glory. The glory is of the only begotten of the Father.
Will a Grace and truth and now.
He lives in the glory a man.
In all his glory the same.
Human was a veil, wasn't it? It speaks in Hebrews chapter 10 of Through the Veil, that is to say, his flesh. And so to many people they didn't see anything more than a mere man. They said we know who this is, the Carpenter, that's all they saw in him. But he was no less God when he was becoming a man.
Than he ever was. Still it was just the human form that veiled that glory. And if he were to come in all his glory, we couldn't have stood to see it. But even then the glory shone through at times, and the amount of transfiguration is official glory. His face shone as the sun. Imagine that. And his garments were white as the light.
And when he rose to calm the storm, it seems like even the disciples didn't realize who this one was. And they marveled and said, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the waves obey him?
And it really makes you marvel, brethren, do we grasp the glory of the person that we profess to have in our midst. I say it will deliver us from looking at men. So often we get occupied with one brother and another, sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. But, brethren, the Lord give us to be delivered from that, to be occupied with the glory of this person.
The more we see him, the more everyone else is going to fade out of the picture.
And this is what Christianity is, a heart that is drawn after this glorious person of our Lord Jesus. Lord help us. I really believe we're like those disciples. We don't, just really hasn't dawned on us yet.
Who this person is that we're talking about?
This marvelous truth that.
This person who was here in this world is now in the glory, and he still has those nail prints in his hands and his feet and the spear mark. And his son, Why did he remain a man? Why is he there as a man?
So that I could look into his blessed face. I'm going to see him. I'm going to see that man. What a joy overflow from our hearts when we realize that when we enter heaven.
Enter that glory. No man has seen God at anytime, but we're going to see the God man. The man Christ Jesus. Oh brethren.
How blessed that we have the privilege of coming into His holy presence here.
Gathered to his precious name, to come as priests into his presence, to offer him before God.
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In order that we might enjoy him forever.
We're going to forever.
It says, for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
This is never.
How we as man would have planned for God to come into this world? Is it very unusual? But he's not like us. Look what it says in verse three. He is despised and rejected of man. And of course it's the same today, isn't it? We read those wonderful verses in Peter that say unto you who believe.
He is precious. What a wonderful thing here in verse three. Look at this. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. This is God. Like I was reading in Matthew, it says, oh, let's just read it. Matthew 1.
Here we were hopeless, helpless, lost in our sins. Not a not a thought towards God, but his heart. It was aimed right at us, wasn't it His heart? Was not his judgment, His heart.
For Matthew 123.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.
God had to do all the moving, didn't he? Because we would have never made a move towards him.
But he did all the moving. And what an amazing thing. How he came so low being being born in a thing that would not being after he was born, being put in a thing that animals would eat out of. This is amazing. I dare say probably no one in this room was ever brought into this world this way. But the Son of God, that's how he came. Isn't it amazing? Isn't he wonderful?
Our brother John mentioned about that time when we're going to see the glories of this person in the Father's house. And the Lord Jesus expressed it in his prayer to the to his Father in John 17, Where he said, Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me. And that's something that in in that sense is yet future. But I believe there is something for our exercise now, brethren.
Because we don't have to wait until that time to behold the glories of this blessed person. Just go over to Two Corinthians chapter 3.
Where you have something that is for our present exercise and enjoyment. Second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18. But we all with open face. I'm going to read this in Mr. Darby's translation. But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And so, brethren, we can, as we said yesterday, by faith, look up into the open heavens.
And behold this glorified man at the right hand of God, and in the measure in which we are occupied with himself. There in that measure there will be a change in our lives. In that measure we will reflect something of Christ in our lives.
We sometimes sing a little prayer. Not we may live while here below, but Christ our life may be. And it's not that we try to generate within ourselves some testimony for the Lord or two from within, try to generate a Christ likeness or some outward moral conformity. But, brethren, in the measure I say, in which we look up, and we're occupied with the glories of this person, in that measure those glories will.
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In some measure, reflect in your life and mind.
And this is important. And this gets our eyes off one another, as our brother Bob was saying, not to be occupied with one another and perhaps some gift that the Lord has given another or some ministry, wonderful as that is. And those things are for the blessing and edification of the Church of God. But to see beyond that, and to see Christ reflected in our in our lives, oh, this is what's going to lift us above this world, lift us above the circumstances of life.
And I just challenge each of our hearts. Get a fresh glimpse of Christ, Be occupied with him.
We sometimes sing a little prayer, and I have to say for myself, I sing it so often that perhaps the import of it doesn't fully grasp my soul. I'll fix our earnest gaze so holy Lord on thee, that with thy beauty occupied we elsewhere none may see. We used to sing when we were young people. That home, that hymn, looked full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
In the light of his glory and grace, you're going to say something, Brother Don.
Helpful and important to see the difference between the first chapter and the second chapter. In chapter one, the blessed person that we speak of is the Son, and that's what's in view. In chapter 2, it is Jesus as the Son of Man, and the two chapters are kept distinctly different in what's presented to our souls in them.
In chapter one, which I believe corresponds to His person presented to us in John's Gospel as Son, he is in every way superior to angels. In chapter 2, when He's presented to us as Jesus and the Son of Man, we see him made a little inferior to the angels in chapter one, when He's presented to us here as God coming out in the full revelation of Himself in person and Son.
And he's contrasted to angels throughout this chapter. It's always as superior in every way to them.
When he comes an incarnation, it says the angels worship Him. When it is a matter of His taking his throne or taking His place in Godhead Majesty, He just does it in chapter 2, where he's presented as Jesus. It's God that makes things subject to Him, and so we are to see him here in this first chapter, not in His humiliation.
Not as Jesus, as Luke's gospel presents him to us, but the man that we see in this first chapter is John's ministry to us of God having come. And when you trace him through the Gospel of John, he's always superior to every circumstance. He goes right on to do the Father's will and he goes on to the cross. It's the only gospel, for example, where he could bears his cross.
Instead of having in the other three Gospels, someone else bears it with him or after him. But it's a wonderful thing, Brethren, to just see him in this first chapter in all his glory, and in chapter 2 to see him made a little lower, to see Jesus as it were, the one before our eyes. But in chapter one we're to see a person that we worship. And so when he's here and he's likened, he says thy throne.
Oh God is forever and ever.
And so it's his deity presented to us in manhood. But always his deity in chapter 2 is his manhood, but he doesn't give up his deity in manhood, and so it's a blessed thing. Can I say to keep the two chapters in their perspective? Or we'll mix the two and we'll miss something of the glory that God intends us always to have in reverence for himself.
Even in manhood.
One poet puts it.
The marvel of the old eternal word.
Confining himself to folds of infant flesh.
We have.
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That wonderful truth that's been brought forward, and I believe here this day have I begotten thee refers to.
The babe at Bethlehem's Manger, doesn't it?
Yet the eternal God, as our brother rule is brought out, it's the confines.
Touched upon in chapter One, but it is the eternal Son before the heart.
There's a remark in the Old Testament in Proverbs chapter 8. It says Speaking of the eternity of his person. I was daily his delight. That's a remarkable statement.
Sometimes said I don't have any sons, but I do have two daughters. And while I love those daughters very much, I can't always say that their daily my delight. There are some days that through their actions they grieve me.
It's not that I love them any less, but because of their actions I'm grieved. But here was one from a past eternity who could say in perfect confidence I was daily His delight and interesting that that expression daily is used in connection with eternity, because time has to do with the creation and man on this earth. But He puts it in that way so that we can understand that here was one who never from a past eternity.
Did one thing to grieve his Father. And then, as we've been speaking, when he came forth in the incarnation as the Son, the heavens could open up, and the voice declare, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And then to think that at the end of his pathway he could say, I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work that Thou gave us me to do. Because, brethren, it was more than just finishing the work. It's true, He did finish the work, as I think we mentioned yesterday.
But every attribute of God was brought into full display in the Lord Jesus coming in incarnation. Because I believe that's what to be glorified really is. It's to have every quality and every attribute that makes up a person brought into full display. And so he glorified God on the earth. Every beauty and attribute of God was brought into display by his life here, his perfect life and in the work of redemption.
Another illustration that I know I've used before, but I might set one of my children to a task, and when I come back after giving them ample time to complete that work, I might find that they have done that work to my complete satisfaction. But it may be no reflection on myself. You wouldn't say that I was glorified in the work. I was satisfied with it, but oh how much more with the eternal Son who came in incarnation.
He didn't just complete the work, he didn't just finish it. But I say every attribute of God the Father was brought into full and distinct display.
Timothy the apostle speaks of.
God the blessed, and only potentate the king of kings, and Lord of Lords, who only hath immortality. He dwelleth in the light, which no hand can approach, unto whom no man hath seen or can see.
Well, no.
It was in the mind of God that he should be, that he would manifest himself.
And his beloved Son took manhood. And a wonderful thing it was that he chose manhood in order to manifest God, in order to manifest the Father as he was already remarked. All those blessing attributes, all those wonderful traits of character, we see in that blessing God whom we've come to know, they're all told out, all manifested there in the person of the Lord Jesus, that blessed man here, down here in this world.
Thing to see that when he leaves the place when he sent forth, as it says, when he bringeth in verse 6, the first born into the world, he does not set aside his place in God had glory.
He was the Son from all eternity, but when he becomes a man, he does not put that aside. He remains that, and the Father acknowledges him that in manhood that is, that we might always while we see his humiliation here on earth as a man, we might also see that he does not put aside what he was from all eternity, and becoming a man, and so immediately upon coming into the world.
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And in fact, scripture carefully doesn't say his birth or something like that. Although it's true that he comes and he is born in in a Manger and so on. The intent of the Spirit of God is for us to see that he does not put aside his glory of his person in becoming.
Into this world as man. And so the Father immediately acknowledges him, And he says, Thou art my son.
And so he was Son in eternity. But the moment he comes into this world in manhood, that's the first thing. As a word, God says thou art my son. It's not now you become my Son. But it is an affirmation and an acknowledgement of who it was that had come into this world. That we might worship him, and that we might always honor him, but never lower his person down in our thoughts or in our hearts to be less than thy throne, O God, that we like the angels who saw him here.
Worshiped him.
Here as man.
Six That beautiful verse says It's so wonderfully how exact scripture is unto us a child is born.
A son it doesn't say is born. That's what we have to say when we have our children. But a son is given how exact scripture is. The sun didn't begin to be at that time. He always was.
But he was given a son is given beautifully the exactitude of Scripture. And I think it is important these points because there is the idea, and some of the modern translations definitely suggest the idea that when Jesus became a man, he ceased to be God in some sense of the word. And that is not true at all. He was always.
An ever God over all things, blessed forever.
The glory was veiled. We use that term in our hymn 27, a beautiful hymn that it's lay thy glory by.
Personally think it's even more exact to use the scriptural term.
The glory was veiled because the glory was always there and it shone through at times. But that is what we would call, I suppose, poetic license and we understand that. But he was always God over all things, blessed forever. But it's interesting here in verse 6 when he uses this title first begotten.
We know we have the term only begotten, and that was a term of relationship of the Father with the Son from all eternity. First begotten is a relationship that the Lord Jesus has in connection with all of creation, and it's not a question of.
Being born first, necessarily, it's really a question of preeminence. That's the thought.
So as the sun is brought into this world, he is the first born and even those angelic hosts are brought to worship him. And perhaps that's why we see only mentioned in Luke's Gospel, where he's shown to be a man the angels worshipping.
Him praising him, the angelic hosts, with a loud voice.
Praising him. You don't have that Matthew's Gospel. You have it in Luke, where he's presented as a man.
Another in connection with what you say Brother Bob is to see the verse in Matthew one and verse 20. We won't turn to it, but it loses really its meaning in the King James, where it says that holy thing which shelf is in her, is conceived of the Holy Ghost. But if you notice it ought to read is begotten of the Holy Ghost because the scripture is very careful to guard the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if I can put it this way, the woman conceives, the man begets.
And so he's the only begotten of the father. But and so I just say that that it's helpful to see that that difference and to notice that it does lose its impact in the King James. But I believe you know some Mr. Darby's translation, it's begotten the scripture so careful to guard these precious, this precious truth.
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Those who ministered.
But this blessed person has his throne.
And so they remain as ministers through all eternity but He.
Always is to have his throne, and so as it says, but unto the sun, verse 7 as to the angels who maketh his angels spirits and ministers a flame of fire. But by contrast but the sun he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. And so we see as the Jewish people did. The angels were highly thought of and.
They thought it was a great privilege to have a just manifestation of angels, or to have angels visit them in some way or another. And it was. But by contrast, they're just ministers. But this blessed person has His throne. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. And so they are subject to Him. And we ourselves as men will always recognize that it is himself and His throne.
That has the 1St place the preeminent place.
Used to be, at least never get beyond being servants. Today never get beyond to being servant but life. But the blessed Lord is you never said God, never said to an Angel. Sit though at my right hand until I make thine enemies and I put my thy footstool. Never did and I want to pull it is though that.
God's fellow, when we get God's fellow, which is Christ, then we get fellows and he has others are going to share that place, that glory with him. You and I, by grace, are going to share that place that he has a wonderful lady we're going to share. He's going to share it with us.
At love, as Mr. Darby says, which gives not as the world but shares all it possesses with its loved coheirs. And he's going to share it with us. And he's not going to take that. He's not going to take the inheritance in that coming day until he's got you and me and all his own with him there. And we're going to, he's going to share it with us, share it all.
Helpful to have some comments on the difference between the Father's throne and His throne and the position of the Lord Jesus now and the position he will take in the coming day. Might be good to just have some comments to make that distinction.
Of answering.
Sit down, and God says, sit down at my right hand until I make thine enemies, mine thine enemies, my footstool, thy footstool.
But the day has come.
And you're going to come and come and take his own throne. He's going to reign over all creation.
In the second Psalm it speaks about this.
Where he's really seen as begotten of God as a life he he's seen as he says, ask a man I shall give thee the nations of it, the heathen for thine inheritance. It would be a small thing for him to give them the tribes of Israel. But he's going to ask me, and I'll give you all the nations. But then we'll go over to the 8th Psalm. There he's made. There is as we get him in the second chapter. There he is. He is head over all creation wise.
There all creation.
Son of man over all creation.
It will be right.
When he introduces all this, it'll be in righteousness. And as we have it here, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His Kingdom. And then it says, Thou hast loved righteousness, so they can establish it in righteousness because.
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He is there, as that man to reign in that Kingdom.
What a joy it will be to be in Debt Kingdom.
Of righteousness. He loved righteousness.
He looks for in our lives now, doesn't he?
The more Jesus had taken them yet has A and justice notice. We alluded to this verse in Hebrews 12 yesterday. But just notice this verse in Hebrews 12 That we often quote verse two. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and noticed this is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We sung that hymn yesterday.
On his Father's throne is seated Christ the Lord, the living one. And so he seated there at the right hand of the throne of God. But he is waiting for that day when he will take the throne of his glory and reign in righteousness. And it's just helpful to see that distinction. I'd like to again, I'd like to hear what others have to say, but is that right, Bob, to make that distinction?
Chapter 3 and verse 21.
To him that overcometh this is to Laodicea will I grant to sit with me.
In my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne, there you have the two Thrones distinguished. Where he's sitting now is at the right hand of the throne of God. But when he comes in His glory to take his Kingdom and rule with a rod of iron, he will sit down in his throne, and then those that are.
Overcomers will sit with him in his throne. I think that shows it.
And the chapter in chapter one, where the honor and the glory that belongs to his person is, is emphasized to us. He says in verse 8. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness. This is Speaking of the sun. It's not Speaking of God, but it's Speaking of the sun. Thy unto the sun he saith. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is a scepter of thy Kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
And therefore God thy God hath anointed Thee. The nature of God is to love righteousness and hate iniquity. That's God in his nature presented to us. And the Son is of the same nature, being of the same person and same Godhead. And so he is the one who loves righteousness and he hates iniquity. He's the only perfect display of God in loving righteousness and hating iniquity and perfection.
And so, having that same nature, he has that same place, and he's given that same honor and title, Thy throne, O God. And so I believe it. When it's the throne of God, it has more to do with the thought of the nature of God and what he likes and is. But when it is the person Jesus in chapter 2 who is the Son of Man, he receives as Son of Man the whitest possible place of honor and glory over man.
And so in Psalm 8, where he's presented to us that Brother Clem mentioned, he's presented to us as the Son of Man and his Son of Man. He doesn't take a place in the majesty on high he receives it. And so the Kingdom when it's presented to us, and he's looked at as Son of Man, he receives that from the Father as man, and he holds it as man. The glory of the Kingdom is not yet seen, because he's seated now at the right hand of that majesty on high, a son of man.
But he awaits the time of the Father, when the Father is going to give him that place, not only as he has it now in heaven, but it's going to be seen in power and glory on the earth. And so, and yet it's as man He receives it, not he doesn't take it. But in this first chapter again it's the glory of his person as Son, and as Son he is of the same nature and character as he is God.
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And so it's his throne according to his own nature.
Except for answering sometimes those that want to deny the eternal.
Or the deity of the Lord Jesus. Sometimes I've had people say where in the scriptures does.
It say that Jesus is God. Here's one verse that is extremely clear.
Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, Oh God, that's as clear as you want to have it. Thy throne, oh God, Jesus is man, but Jesus at the same time the same glorious person in chapter one is in chapter 2, but distinct in his glories. We can appreciate his diverse, many colored glories.
But it's the same glorious person, but here in chapter one as God over all things, blessed forever. So it's thy throne. Oh God, He is God.
Verses verse 9 To death to meditate on brethren and the day in which we live. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. We're living in a day of of where iniquity is tolerated and embraced. It comes to that point and if we allow ourselves to go in the currents of this world's thinking.
We're going to do the same thing, and I don't think any of us can deny that we're affected in some measure by the culture through which we pass The Lord help us to keep the right perspective. This is the way it is for God.
He loves righteousness. He hates iniquity. Is it right to hate?
Here's a place where it is right to hate iniquity, and people want us to accept things that are iniquity as if they were.
An acceptable form of life. Lord, help us brethren, to see it in the light of God's throne and not in the light of popular culture.
God has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.
Before there ever was a world, before there ever was a man here on this earth, but before there ever was a world. God chose us in him. And so we are seen before God. And we don't belong to this world at all. We don't belong here. We just we just going through it. We just called to go through it as best we can unspotted, keep our shape ourselves unspotted from this world. But we don't belong here. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, where there ever was a world.
And so how one thinks of what a wonderful.
How wonderful it is to have such an object before our hearts of one who draw this earth, and no one could bring a thing against him.
That was love, righteousness and hate and iniquity.
In second days brought before us, described as the last days in perilous times, days of complete giving up, and the rise of our unrighteousness and iniquity on every hand, days very parallel to the days in which we find ourselves in 1999. But at the end of it all, Paul says, having sought by grace to fight the good fight and to run the race, he says, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.
Which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me in that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
In other words, Paul says, I've sought to live righteously in an unrighteous world, and now there's a crown of righteousness laid up as a reward at the end of it all. But he says not to me only. And, brethren, if we seek by the grace of God to live righteously in an unrighteous world because we don't have to compromise, we have all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And if we seek by grace, and it's only by grace, to walk righteously in an unrighteous world, oh, he says, you may be misunderstood.
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You may be reproached, there may be some persecution connected with it, but he said, never mind, I'll give you a crown of righteousness at the end of it all. Well may this exercise us brethren, And then to think too, that the one who's going to take the throne of his glory and reign in righteousness is.
Going to have us in association with himself in that day. In Isaiah 32 and verse one it says, behold, a king shall reign in righteousness. But it doesn't stop there. It says and Princess shall rule in judgment. And brethren, this ought to encourage our hearts when we go to work. When you go to school, when you're in the neighborhood or the community, you live, do you see a lot and hear a lot of unrighteousness? Indeed we do. And the standard is being taken away today. And they say there's no standard and it's just whatever you want to do.
But he says, if you seek to live righteously, remember there's a day when those things won't be openly practiced and seen, and if they are, they'll be judged morning by morning. It'll be a reign of righteousness. But he says you'll, you'll be there too. We're going to have a part in this.
And that's why Paul speaks there, of loving his appearing brethren, as we see and hear all the unrighteousness of the day in which we live, and it abounds more and more.
Does it thrill our hearts to look on to that time when he's going to have his rightful place, his enemies are going to be made his footstool? This is not the reigning time now, but there is a time coming when he's going to reign in righteousness and we're going to reign with him.
Thoughts, beloved brethren, that while.
We have had brought before us how that the world in which we Live Today, morally, is a world that would encourage us to walk according to iniquity. Our consciences be hardened to all that's going on, and we sadly have to say we often come under those influences without realizing it. But notice the rest of that verse. It says, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Just a little application.
It's not only though it's very beautifully so. What's at the end of the path? It's not only that there is the glory that's coming, and we're going to see that and be part of it and see the Lord Jesus in glory. And we want to walk in a way that's fitting for that. But the path walking right now in this world, to walk according to righteousness, is a path of gladness. There are, you might say, not only coming returns coming joys, but there are present joys.
Present happiness, present gladness for walking right now, beloved young people.
According to righteousness and not according to the spirit of this world. Don't think that it doesn't mean something to the one who hung on that cross while people laughed at him and mocked him. And he did that because it was the will of his Father that he go there and he answered to sin and he makes satisfaction for it. Don't think that he doesn't appreciate every little thought and action and step that you and I take.
In order to please him in this world, it's true there's something coming, and he's going to let us know how he appreciated how we live. But beloved young people, and for all of us, beloved brethren, he appreciates right now for us as we take those steps. And we ought to realize that it can be, and it is the only path of joy and gladness to walk according to righteousness right now.
There maybe some have puzzled over those verses at the end of Psalm 139 and I would appreciate.
A comment on them. Psalm 139.
And verse 19.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God, Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men, for they speak against the wickedly and thine enemies. Take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them mine Enemies. Maybe someone could help us on that passage of Scripture.
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Did you finish? Excuse me, John?
Psalm 101 is somewhat of an answer to that also.
Brother London often quoted this.
This is millennial time. I quickly I'll read the Psalm. It's only 8 verses.
I will sing of mercy and judgment unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of them that turn aside. It shall not cleave to me.
A forward heart shall depart from me. I will not know a wicked person who so privily slandereth his neighbor. Him will I cut off.
Him that hath a high look and a proud heart, will I not suffer or allow mine eyes shall be.
Upon the faceful of the land that they may dwell with me. He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house. He that telleth lie shall not tarry in my sight. I will early in the morning, that is, I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doors from the city of the Lord.
This is characteristic.
Of when righteousness reigns, the Lord Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he hates sin.
Sin will be greatly suppressed.
Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for the 1000 years reign and if you send today, tomorrow you will be judged.
So there's going to be a very small amount of sin for 1000 years and yet.
The there will be many who were not born again.
They will follow Satan at the end of the.
A Millennium.
To for God a second time for Gog and Magog, and be destroyed by the Lord, as they were, as Gog and Magog was destroyed at the very beginning of the Millennium. But the characteristic of the reign of Christ is what we have in Hebrews.
Oh God, let's see, I thrown. Oh God is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is a scepter of thy Kingdom, so it will be a glorious, glorious rain.
Marvelous Time. Perhaps the first helpful John is in Matthew 5 and verse 43.
And 44.
Really to the end of the chapter, But reading a few verses there from verse 43, you have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that you may be the children of your father.
Which is in heaven? For he maketh his Son to rise on the evil, on the good, and sendeth rain on the just, and on the unjust. For if you love them, which love you, what reward have ye Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans? So be therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect. In other words, I think it's helpful to see that in the Book of the Psalms it's always the Jewish context.
Where it was proper for a Jew in the earthly picture to hate their enemies, that was proper. But when the Lord Jesus comes into the world, he says to love your enemies. And so I think when he speaks of hate in the New Testament context, it's hating of iniquity, hating of sin that we don't hate people, we hate the sin that's behind it and the sin that they're committing.
That's.
Our proper portion, our proper position in connection with iniquity today. And it's because we reflect the glory of our Father in heaven. And what kind of a God is he? He's a God that gives rain and sunshine on the just and on the unjust. So if someone does this bad, we don't react, as perhaps the Israelites in the Old Testament times would have.
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We desire the blessing of those people all the while.
Never adjusting our standards to the iniquity that they are practicing.
Maybe that helps.
Action. I'm sure we would all agree that God's judgment relative to iniquity has not changed either from the Old Testament to the day of grace or in turn to the millennial day. When the Lord Jesus deals with things, as we have in Psalm 139, his view of that iniquity is just the same as it ever was. But if God chooses to deal in grace, what a wonderful thing that you and I are privileged to be part of it.
But then we need to be exhorted not to become casual toward that iniquity, don't we?
Let's see it first. Let's see.
What is there? Oh, in First Timothy and also and Titus. God takes the He takes the ground of being the He's a savior God will get him savior God. And his grace goes out to all. He would have all men to be saved and to come under the knowledge of the truth. And that carries all through and so that.
And then in Titus Two, he's God.
We have God. He's still a savior, God and the Lord Jesus is brought before us. There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. And So what a wonderful God, what a wonderful God he is. He goes on and in his mercy towards mankind everywhere, he answered.
He's a savior God.
And the Lord Jesus finally does come to reign in righteousness. There's going to be no doubt as to his right entitled to take up the work of righteous judgment in this world. When the Lord Jesus came the first time in lowliness and grace, they said at his trial, we have no king but Caesar. Then we read two they said in their hearts. They said we will not have this man to reign over us, which was really fulfilled in the stoning of Steven, because they sent a messenger after him saying.
We will not have this man to reign over us, but in Ezekiel chapter 21 There's an interesting verse that says I will overturn, overturn, overturn it until he come. Who's right? It is if you just notice a verse in the 19th of Revelation in connection with that day when the heavens are open. We've been Speaking of open heavens in these meetings and the heavens are going to be opened in a coming day to reveal this one coming forth in power and glory to reign.
But notice what it says in Well, I'll read verse 11 to get the connection. Revelation 19 and verse 11. And I saw a heaven opened, and behold, a White Horse. And he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, And on his head, I want you to notice this. On his head were many crowns, and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself.
It's interesting and we'll notice this when we go on to the second chapter this afternoon.
That the word for crown, usually in the New Testament in the original, denotes that which is given as a reward, that which is earned. And that's the way it is in the second chapter of the book of Hebrews, where he's crowned with a crown of glory and honor. But here the word is a little different. In fact, the word is only used three times. And it's not that which denotes a reward. Mr. Darby translates it diadem, it's that which is worn by.
Right, and title. As by royal birth, it's only used three times. You have it earlier in this book in connection with the beast.
And he has 10 crowns on his head. Satan has seven crowns, the dragon. But when the Lord Jesus comes forth, he's not wearing a set number of crowns. It's many crowns. And we had a little experience some years ago that helped me to appreciate at least part of the thought in this many crowns.
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Several years ago my wife and oldest girl and I had the opportunity to be in London, England, and we had opportunity while in London to go to the Tower of London where our house the Crown Jewels of the British royal family. And as we were taken from 1 dazzling showcase of jewels to another, I was impressed with how many crowns the Queen of England has as sovereign of the realm. She doesn't just have one crown, she has many crowns.
In fact, the day that we visited the Tower, one of those crowns was not on display, because either that day or the next day, the queen was going to have that crown placed on her head, and that crown was going to give her the right entitled to perform some official function as the Queen of England. Next week she might have another crown put on her head, and that crown would give her the right entitled to perform some other function. And I'll just think of it, brethren, when he comes forth and the heavens reveal him.
Is there going to be any question as to his right entitled to take up the work there was when he came the first time? But he's coming in power and glory, and he's coming with his brow decked with many crowns. And there will be no doubt in the minds of those that see him as to his right, entitled to take up every aspect of the work, of executing righteous judgment, because there will be different aspects in Revelation 4, as we mentioned yesterday.
It's his right and title as creator in the 5th chapter. It's more his right entitle as to Redeemer. And so there will be no question as to that right and title. And then I say again to think that we're going to come with him and be associated in that wonderful reign of righteousness.
He says.
And thou, Lord, in the beginning has laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest.
And so on. I'd like to go back to the 102nd Psalm where we have these words.
And in their context, we see a wonderful.
Presentation of our Lord Jesus as a man here on earth in Psalm 102.
It says in verse 23.
He weakened my strength in the way he shortened my days. If you read the whole Psalm, beginning in the first, we won't but verse one hear my prayer, oh Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me. In the day when I am in trouble, Incline nine year unto me in the days when I call, answer me speedily, for my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as in hearth. My heart is smitten and withered like grass.
And here we have prophetically something of the feelings of the Lord Jesus as he was here on earth as a man, and going through these things and coming to the end of his life. And he says he weakened my strength in the way he shortened my days. And we know that he was cut off in the midst of his days. And he was a perfect man. And as a perfect man, he felt it. He wasn't indifferent to it. He wasn't, didn't. It wasn't that he didn't feel these things. And we see his feelings expressed.
But what a tremendous answer God gives him and when he says.
In verse 23, he weakened my strength in the way he shortened my days. I said, Oh my God, take me not away in the midst of my days and right there.
There's a change of speakers. God stops. He steps right in at that point when the Lord is presenting these things to him. And he says, and it's really what's quoted in Hebrews One, He says, thy years are throughout all generations of all. Thou hast laid the foundations of the earth. That is his place, and his person is brought out here. And he said, as man would view it, your days are shortened.
As the feelings of man might see it, everything is lost. But what a tremendous answer is given to the, you might say, the need of his heart at that moment. He says, God says to him, Thy years are throughout all generations of old Taoist laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure. Yeah, all of them shall wax old as a garment, as a vesture.
Shalt thou change them? And they shall be changed, but thou art the same, and thy year shall have no end. Oh, what a blessed answer given to this man on earth, to have that honor given to him to bring out who he was. And that is His Majesty that we see in our chapter.
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This man that we're talking about. This person and it what what majesty, Brethren, We were talking yesterday a little bit about creation and the tremendous expanse of the universe that man can't find the edge of. I really believe it has an edge because it's created. But man can't find an edge to it. He looks out there as far as he will.
But here God says the time is going to come and he's going to take it off as a vesture and fold it up and it's going to pass away. But there's one that remains. Oh, he's the same. He will always be there. So there's going to be a change of this creation. People worry, and it's kind of interesting for us who are believers and have this perspective, to see people worrying about some meteorite hurtling towards the Earth and sending a rocket out there to explode it before it hits the earth.
Preserve mankind. That oh brother, we know the one who's going to fold it all up and it's going to be changed. What? Majesty, brethren, the Lord help us. This is Christianity. To get this glorious person before our souls to enjoy them. I'm honestly convinced, brethren, that many of our problems that we have as individuals and collectively too, is a lack of appreciation of the greatness and the glory of the person.
That we're talking about. This is Christianity. You got big problems.
Yeah, I've got some big problems too. But we got a bigger God and Savior. Tremendous. To let this soak into our souls. Brethren, to enjoy, to appreciate it. Oh brethren, it is going to help. It's it's not a matter of me solving my problems. It's a matter that he's dealing with me and the problems that I had, he's fully able to resolve.
In the tremendous to be able to say this God is our God forever and ever.
And he is interested.
Difficulty in situation in our lives knows us through and through.
So much does he know us that the very hairs of our head are all numbered. And brethren, I know our time is gone. But I would like to say something as a warning, particularly to those who are younger, because at the end of the chapter he comes back here to the ministry of angels, and they do still have a ministry. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation? But, you know, there seems to be a great movement in many circles today to make much of the ministry of Angels.
And we don't want to overlook the Ministry of Angels, but we don't want to take it up at the expense of the precious truth that we have just had before us in this meeting. Something that helped me go back to the 34th Psalm, where David speaks of angels.
And I know there have been many brethren who have felt the real.
The Lord undertaking for them in connection with the Ministry of Angels in various situations. Sometimes you get into a country where there are no 1800 numbers or anyone in a uniform that you can turn to that you can trust. And I believe the Lord does still send His angels to take care of His own. But notice what David says here. Let's get the context of.
Verse 7 by going back to verse 6.
This poor man cried unto the Lord, a cried, and the Lord heard him. And I want you to notice that we find here David doesn't look to angels to deliver him from his problem and his situation. This is a Psalm of David, and he doesn't look to angels or pray to angels. He cries to the Lord.
And it says, He cried unto the Lord, And the Lord heard him. And who saved him out of all his troubles? Not angels.
But the Lord saved him out of all his troubles. Now go to the 7th verse and it says the Angel of the Lord in campus round about them that fear him and delivereth them. And so the Lord may use at times angels there is ministering spirits. But notice then in verse eight he goes right. He doesn't dwell on this. He goes right back and says oh taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in angels no trusteth in him.
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And so it's the Lord we look to, this one who is all powerful, and we've been Speaking of the glories of this person, those glories from a past eternity. This is the one brethren, that you and I have the privilege of going to on a daily, hourly basis. The one who's interested in every detail of our lives, the one who is able for every situation, the one who's ordering all things after the Council of His Own Will and working things out for a purpose of blessing in our lives. Let's look to this glorious person. Be thankful that perhaps he does.
Use angels as ministering spirits. But I only say this as a warning, And there have been many books written recently by different ones, and they're out there on the bookshelves. And I'm not saying that these books are wrong or that there's false doctrine in them. But let's be careful, brethren. We can be so occupied with the servants that we lose sight of the one who has sent them to be ministering spirits to those who shall be heirs of salvation.
#82
on hardware.
For thy love.
Mercedes.
For.
My word.
Old name.
Grace and grace and grace and pray.
Make Love.
Your voice.
And prayers.
Right and praise and praise him. Praise him.
Shall we stand?