Sermons - Cornerstone Christian Fellowship

The Beginning and the End - Part Ten

Dec 15, 2024 by: John Herbert | Series: The Beginning and the End

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1 Co 15:25 For He must reign [the Millennial Kingdom] till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

We will continue to look at matters surrounding death and darkness and light and life.

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Sunday December 15th 2024 
The Beginning and the End
Part Ten

1 Co 15:25 For He must reign [the Millennial Kingdom] till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

We had seen last time that there is an inseparable connection between sin, death and the darkness into which God spoke light in Genesis Chapter 1. And all three, sin death and darkness speak of one particular thing, that which is completely antithetical to God’s Sovereign purpose concerning rulership of the earth in the Seventh Day in the place of Satan and his angels, and therefore, they bring separation from that purpose.

The combination of sin and darkness we saw first in Genesis 1:2, where, because of Satan’s sin, the material creation had become formless, and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. Through his rebellion Satan, and the angels with him, became totally separated from God’s purpose for creating them, to administer this one province in God’s universal Kingdom. And this for them, is a situation that can never change. They are ‘dead’ in this respect and will remain so during this age, the Age to come, and the endless ages that will follow, depicted through their being cast into the lake of fire – Re 20:10 The devil, [and his angels] who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

We then saw sin and death coming to Adam and the Woman through the events in the Garden - Ge 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Adam and the Woman, because of Satan’s deception, became separated from God’s purpose for creating them, to have dominion, and at that moment of separation they could only find themselves in a place associated with the darkness and death. And the loss of the glory with which they had previously been covered would have been testimony to the removal of that which is light and life, and therefore, separation for them from the position for which they were created, leaving them ‘dead’ with respect to it – Ge 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Unlike Satan and his angels however, God provided redemption for Adam and Eve through the substitutionary death and shed blood of the animals that He killed to make the tunics of skin to cover their nakedness. And their redemption, allowing them to pass from death to life, re-connected them to God’s purpose for their creation. Their redemption at this point, as was ours, was for a purpose, not just for its own sake. And this meant that they were then in a position where ‘light’ shone in their ‘darkness’, making it possible for them to fulfill their created purpose. They had been redeemed for that purpose, but as we have seen, this purpose was not automatically restored to them. The redemption they experienced did not return them to their pre-fall condition, but it did make it possible that the return to this condition could one day be realized by them.

We had also seen that sin and death have been passed from Adam to all those who have been subsequently procreated – Ge 5:3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

Ro 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men,[all procreated in the likeness and image of fallen Adam – born dead in trespasses and sins] because all sinned—

‘All men’ then, because they have been born ‘dead in trespasses and sins’ must be redeemed if they are ever to be reconnected with God’s purpose for creating Adam, rulership in the Seventh Day. But as with Adam and Eve, the provision of this initial redemption does not automatically make that connection, rather it makes that connection possible. In the same way that the light shining in the darkness on Day 1 did not complete the restoration of the ruined creation, but it made the complete restoration possible.

And the events of Day 1 in Genesis Chapter 1, along with God breathing into lifeless Adam ‘the breath of life’, we have seen to be complimentary foundational types for our own experience as we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, as we accepted the offered redemption as a free gift through His substitutionary death and shed blood, allowing us to pass from death to life. Redemption that has made it possible for us to reconnect with God’s purpose for creating Adam – Jn 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The spiritual life imparted to us through God’s breath, His Spirit, made a separation within us between that associated with darkness and death, our old man, the man of the flesh, who has an inextricable connection to the god of this age and the wisdom of this world, and that associated with light and life, the man of the spirit, who has an inextricable connection with God’s purpose for the Seventh Day and with the wisdom brought forth from above out of God.

This wisdom brought forth from above out of God is the Word of Christ, the gospel of the glory of Christ, the Word of the Kingdom, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in the Father and in Christ. The same wisdom that we have seen pictured through Boaz’s and Naomi’s instructions to Ruth. Instructions that encompassed Ruth’s journey from the land of her birth to the land of her inheritance, her work in Boaz’s field and her preparations for appearing on his threshing floor - Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

And it is through the man of the spirit alone that spiritual truth, the wisdom from above, ‘the word of Christ’, which is to dwell in us richly in all wisdom, can be received and understood – 1 Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Only by the new man being continually filled with the Spirit through receiving and believing the Scriptures that declare the ‘Word of Christ’, the gospel of His glory, will we then have access to that recorded in - Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

This is a verse that we tend to gloss over, but we will pause for a moment and consider it within the context of God’s purpose for His Son, mankind and the material creation in the Seventh Day. The verse itself has a Jewish focus, and in its immediate context we find it placed between a verse dealing with understanding God’s precepts to avoid the false way and a verse dealing with keeping His righteous judgments. However, as the action of the feet and the direction of the path for the Jewish people lead to the same Seventh Day we are waiting for, we can readily find an application in it for ourselves.

It is our feet, in a figurative sense, that are the vehicle to carry us along on our journey from the land of our birth to the land of our calling and the Scriptures provide the ‘light’ to our feet to provide both balance and stability as we undertake the journey – Heb 12:12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all [people], and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…….

And our balance and stability, seen through the metaphor of walking on a straight path we can see in – 1 Th 5:8 But as for us who are of the day, let us be mentally and spiritually well-balanced and self-controlled, having clothed ourselves with a breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, a hope of salvation, 9 because as for us, God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ……
[Wuest]

And there is purpose in us being stable and balanced as we make straight paths for our feet – Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

That which ‘is written’ referred to in this verse can be found in Isaiah Chapter 52 and Nahum Chapter 1, and the context for both in these Books is Jewish and Millennial. However, the use of this verse in Romans 10 is with respect to Christians with the Seventh Day in view, which makes it applicable to us all.

For ourselves then, it is the Word of the Kingdom which is the light that directs our feet towards Christ’s Kingdom, that strengthens us along the way providing balance and stability so that we might not falter – 1 Co 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

It is the Word of the Kingdom that will establish us in the present truth 
Ro 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

The Word of the Kingdom that will strengthen us and settle us –
1 Pe 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

And as we make this journey we are to proclaim the gospel of peace -  Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

‘He Himself is our peace’, and we are not dealing here with peace with God and the peace of God per se, but rather the peace that we have within ourselves through our absolute surety in the One who is the Alpha and the Omega. The One for whom and by whom all things were made, the Prince of Peace – Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The One who is our hope – Col 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The same hope that we have seen declared from ‘in beginning’, which is the Christ appearing in His glory to establish His Kingdom in the Seventh Day.

And as we make our figurative journey towards that Seventh Day, in the surety and confidence and trust we have in our Savior to accomplish that which He has declared from the first thirty-four verses of Scripture, so we are to proclaim the gospel of peace to all, as we see in – Eph 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, [we should have balance and stability instead] 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

And as we see again in – Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

We will proclaim the good news that we are at peace, settled and established through the surety we have in the Christ, the Word made flesh, as we speak the truth to one another in love, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, encouraging one another through the Scriptures to love and good works, encouraging one another’s faith, and so much more as we see the Day approaching – Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And we will proclaim the good news that we are at peace, settled and established through the surety we have in Christ, the Word made flesh, as we walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise – Jas 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

1 Ti 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

And it is the lamp to our feet that will enable us to stand steadfast and immovable upon the surety we have in Christ that will allow us to engage correctly in the spiritual warfare – Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace……

The Word who provides the light to our feet is the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who is our peace, our firm foundation, the reason for the good news which we are to proclaim to one another as we encourage one another in the race of the faith. And through the One who is the Word, sure and steadfast – Mt 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law [the 5 Books of Moses] till all is fulfilled.

Because of Him and through Him we will have faith, the faith to the saving of the soul that comes by hearing, the faith to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand – Eph 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Col 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

And in conjunction with this, the Word of the Kingdom is also the light to our path, the light that shows the straight path we are to follow if we are to fulfill the purpose for our redemption and the purpose for the creation of Adam. And within the context of our present study, we will remember this concerning that path – Jer 6:16 Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.

And asking for these ‘old paths’ has taken us to the foundational truths immovably set in the first thirty-four verses of Genesis, where God’s purpose for His Son, Man and the material creation in the Seventh Day, has been opened to our understanding through the wisdom brought forth from above out of God, from ‘in beginning’, giving us peace in the certainty of its fulfillment.

And these old paths have revealed to us the One who is ‘in beginning’, the Word made flesh, the heir of all things, who has encouraged us to Mt 11:28 Come to Me, [The Word, who is a lamp and a light] all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The ’old paths’ have revealed us to the One who has said – 
Mt 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

It is the man of the Spirit alone then, our new man, whose direction and means of walking are illuminated by the Word of Truth, to make a straight path to the Kingdom of the heavens. The man of the Spirit, who is continually filled with the Spirit who will understand and proclaim the gospel of peace and take his immovable stand in the spiritual warfare.

Our old man, because of his inseparable connection to death and darkness, cannot access anything to do with light and life. He has nothing to proclaim except the wisdom of the world, his feet can only remain lame and unstable, and his path is inexorably set towards death.

It is then only as a result of receiving spiritual life, that we are then able to make the choice to walk in the Spirit or walk in the flesh. Only then can we receive and understand the wisdom brought forth from above out of God – Jas 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Only through having spiritual life can we make the choice to follow the process to complete redemption by being continually filled with the Spirit, to make the choice that will lead us to the goal of our faith, the salvation of our soul, culminating in rulership in the Seventh Day over the redeemed inheritance, the restored material creation, as the Wife of Christ on the one hand and an adopted firstborn son on the other.

But let’s keep in mind, that having the ability to make the correct spiritual choice and making that choice remain two different things. And this is because that represented by the light and the dark remain together within us, just as the day and the night existed together in the same twenty-four-hour period in the days in Genesis Chapter 1 - Ga 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

It remains and will continue to be, our choice – Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life……….

We will continue with this next time if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed.

The Beginning and the End - Part Ten

Refresh A Recap from the Sermon

The Beginning and the End - Part Ten

Dec 15, 2024

Speaker: John Herbert

Series: The Beginning and the End

Category: Sunday Morning

Refresh
A Recap from the Sermon