Titus 4 - (2:10-16) – 23 April 2020, Anno Domini

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 UT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.   (Titus 2:1-15)

Sound Doctrine

That is the foremost entity that is missing in most preaching of our day. Unfortunately opinion, speculation, hearsay, lessons learned on the golf course, and downright fables predominate in the sermons (?) preached in some churches. Ministers seem to believe the scriptures need human embellishment to make them germane to current society. Of course, that is worse than wrong. The Bible means exactly to us today what it meant to those to whom its words were first shared millenia ago. There are ministers who spend endless hours in sermon preparation trying to include a fanciful story or illustration for the sermon, and in outlining their sermon to produce the greatest effect. To me, that is simply an exercise in futility. If God has gone to the effort to tell us something in His Word, I believe that Word will be sufficient for the preacher as well as the congregation in its exposition. I do not mean to say Godly illustrations are not useful. 

            This chapter of Titus is a perfect example of the outline form the Scriptures give of itself. Please note that the overall topic is ‘sound doctrine’ and the importance of preaching that doctrine. Included in the outline is the effect and fruit of sound doctrine. Paul delineates six different features related to the fruits of sound preaching of doctrine: 

1.        The effect on behavior aged men.

2.        The effect on behavior aged women.

3.        The effect on behavior of young women.

4.        The effect on behavior of young men.

5.        The effect on behavior of teachers and ministers.

6.        The effect on behavior of Christian laity.

The above divisions seem to me to be an outline that this Scripture text gives of itself that cannot be improved upon by mortal man. One salient point that stands out in common to all six subdivisions in the emphasis on BEHAVIOR. Our behavior has not led us to salvation since salvation comes by unmerited grace; but Godly Behavior will follow in the path of salvation as evidence of the new man in Christ brought to life by that salvation.

Behavior of Aged Men

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” When the older men have been rightly fed with the Bread of Heaven in the preaching of the unstained Word of God, that fact will be born out in exemplary behavior. Knowing the time of sleep draws near, the aged men will be sober; serious; temperate in food, drink, and leisure; strong in faith and wisdom of the word; generous with their resources; and patient with those of lesser age whose eagerness has yet to have been tempered by time and experience.

Behavior of Aged Women

“3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Some greater detail is given for the behavior of aged women than aged men. I believe it is because aged men stand more as a greater example of character while aged women, like Martha of Bethany, never finish their service and labors until the evening sun sinks below the horizon. The motherly instinct survives the aches and pains of age. Womanhood is the most honorable of the two sexes, and mankind has come to attach a higher expectation of holiness, forebearance in daily intercourse with others, certainly sobriety, and finally full of wisdom gained over a life of sacrifice and love. Being so, they are peculiarly able to teach the young women like values of how to love – especially their husbands and children. The older women are strong role models for the younger. They must tender advice to the younger women who will not fail to seek their counsel on household management, nurture of children, and fidelity to family that honors God.

Behavior of Young Women

That will be behavior that reflects the example provided by the older women. It will reflect a purity of thought and action in their families, an undying love, and a high regard for the needs of others. They will be the builders of a happy home well-provided with warmth, cleanliness, sound diet, and a welcoming smile.

Behavior of Young Men

One of the best expositions on this quality of young men may be found in the writings of Bishop J. C. Ryle who said: “Young men, I beseech you earnestly, beware of pride. Two things are said to be very rare sights in the world — one is a young man humble, and the other is an old man content.” In his book, Bishop Ryle summarized the various principles and counsel for young men from an array of biblical references. “6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” It is quite a challenge to show oneself in “all things” to be a doer of good works, using pure doctrine as a rule of life, serious (a great challenge for young men), honest and of pure speech.  George Washington, I believe, embodied all these qualities as a young man. 

Behavior of Servants

Ministers and teachers: “9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” It may occur to you that I may have mislabeled ministers under the category of servants. I did not! The minister must be servant to all including other servants. We are to follow the example of Christ to serve and not be served. If the servant of God pleases His Master in all things, he will have simply done his minimal duty. Purloining is theft. Unfortunately, men who preach for filthy lucre are guilty of this injunction.

Behavior of Christian Laity and All of The Church

“11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” We should conduct our lives as if we were going to stand before God this very night to give an account of our lives. The track champion does not glance aside at the cheering crowds in the race – his focus is fixed on the all-important ribbon of the finish line. So should the Christian be focused on the eternal truths and values that honor God.  If such doctrines are strongly preached, the society will reflect that learning both in, and out, of the church.   

Titus 3 - (1:10-16) – 22 April 2020, Anno Domini

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 OR there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:10-16)

            For some reason unknown to man nor beast, there are far more wagging tongues in churches than in brothels. Why could this be the case? In my opinion, it all boils down to false pride of righteousness. Many in church believe the length of their membership, their much giving, and their social status qualify them as members of the disciplinary committee of the church. The damage done by loose tongues and uncharitable gossip would exceed that of the bubonic plague. But the far greater danger arises from those who are false teachers – wolves in sheep’s clothing - posing as preachers of the Word which they subvert. 15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

            Christ warned us of false prophets, and we may have considered them to be more rare than common; however, our Lord also warned that these false prophets would not be few but MANY! 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11 Not only will there be MANY false prophets, but MANY who are deceived thereby. Mass deception builds without logical consideration. 

            Even in the mouth of an idle tale-bearer is much poison, but that poison is multiplied by dark spiritual powers that embody false prophets. 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6)

            They present us with these facts:

1.     The evil false prophets oppose truth. (v 10-12)

2.     Such men must be rebuked (v 13-14)

3.     They are totally impure (v 15)

4.     They profess belief in God, but deny Him by their works. (Jesus said, By their fruits ye shall know them.

Those deceived by false teachers, such as Osteen and Meyer, will suffer the same fate as their teachers. 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.(Matthew 15:13-14) These are the words of the Lord, not my opinion! (see 2 Pet 2:1)

What defense do the people have against such false preachers of our day? The key is knowledge! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. If you fear your standing with the Lord of Heaven, learn all that you can from His word. Study to show yourselves approved of God. A daily study of the Word of God will open the mind of the reader to such truth as cannot be overcome by deceiving charms of false minsters. Being well acquainted with the true Word, counterfeit gospels cannot deceive you. You will immediately know the false from the genuine. Every word you hear preached from the pulpit must be confirmed by a reference to Holy Scripture – and that will come from informed and conscientious study.

We read of the many heresies that arose in the first century almost like wild flowers on the desert scape after a spring rain. Those heresies were fought against by the early fathers; yet, they have a frequent re-introduction in preaching of our own day. Though they were plentiful in the early church, they will be just as plentiful in the latter church. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)

False prophets teach a works-oriented religion – not one based upon grace and faith. The false prophet teaches that our salvation is based on our works and not upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we could be righteous by our works, why would our Lord have come to suffer for our redemption?  8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 In plain bold-faced letters, the Lord has told us that we could do NOTHING to awaken ourselves from the death of sin – it was unmerited grace that called through our stone-walled tombs to arouse us to the Lord’s call. Our good works are only filthy rags. We must come before the Throne of Grace by Faith, and that salvation will then be evidenced by good works. Those good works will then belong to our Lord working in, and through, us – not works of our own good pleasure.

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. A glass of pure water is pure until polluted by some mixture of poison. One drop of strychnine will render the glass deadly even though the volume of pure water has remained unchanged. A glass of strychnine will remain deadly regardless the pure water added. But the blood of Christ purifies, and it is that purifying blood that provides a constant cleansing to the redeemed. The outward works of the defiled is also impure. Their outward appearance belies an inward filth. It is for this reason that salvation ALWAYS begins in the inner man – in the heart! Before the outside of the cup is cleansed, we must first clean the inner part.  7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hyssop is a green plant which is used, even today in Asia, as a purgative to cleanse the alimentary canal.

Digestive health must precede a complete bodily restoration in times of illness. God cleanses the heart first before He washes our outward appearance – wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. This is one of the most impressive text in the Old Testament. Its science is golden. How can we be whiter than snow? Any reader of my devotions will know the answer to that question since I have written often about it. Every flake of snow has a tiny impurity at its core. In order to crystalize in the upper atmosphere, there must be a tiny point of dust or smoke around which the forming flake can coalesce. So, there is a tiny speck of dust at the center of every flake. But when God washes your soul, you will be whiter than snow because the inner core is free of dirt.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. If so much harm were not done by false scientists and philosophers of our day, their actions would be humorous; but they deceive and mislead the simple who have lost the gift of logic and reason.  20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: You can command multitudes if you convince them that it is science that motivates your commands. There is no conflict between God’s Word and science – in fact, God is the Author of science. God would have men and women to be true scientist, not dabblers in the politico-science of our day. Remember the four Israelites chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be trained in his royal court: 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. These were well-versed in science, wisdom, and practical knowledge, yet, they were pure and without blemish of character – Godly. Thus should we be. Our failure to know the wisdom of God and His will has led to a great vulnerability to deception. We see it in all churches of our day. Good conduct, wise reason, righteous character – these all require cultivation. But sloven ignorance and deluded faith require no such cultivation, but spring up everywhere as the wild weeds of the wilderness.

Hymns of the Church – Taps – 21 April 2020, Anno Domini

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E are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

(1 Thessalonians 5:5-10)

I

 WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.  (Psalms 121:1-6)

            Though you may not recognize it as a hymn, this hymn is probably heard more often than any other – TAPS. There are few who have not heard this plaintive hymn played at close of day, or at a military funeral, and there are no soldier, sailor, or airman who is not intimately familiar with its every note if not its lyrics. The name of the original author is lost in obscurity, however, Brigadier General Daniel A. Butterfield of the Union Army of the Potomac is credited with the lyrics we have today as revised by him.  I have written a history of this tune before, but will now do so as a hymn. There are conflicting reports as to the author of the tune and original notes, but this version that we have today was first played following the Wilderness Campaign (1862) in which the Union Army was badly mangled by the Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee. The tune wafted across the battle lines and was taken up by both sides (North & South) as the second and final Tattoo of the day.

            Every day of my life at the Military Academy, I heard this piece played as the last bugle notes of the day. There are five major calls played in the evening in the military – Retreat, To the Color, Call to Quarters, Tattoo, and, finally, Taps (lights out). TAPS (sometimes referred to as the 2^nd Tattoo or last tattoo) may bode well to a nation that needs to silently consider and meditate upon the engagements of our day and resolve to awaken after the dark night of her soul to a new heart and a new direction under God.  According to Jari Vilanueva of the Arlington Bugle Exhibit, the lyrics are as follows:

Taps

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills, from the lake,

From the sky.

All is well, safely rest,

God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,

May the soldier or sailor,

God keep.

On the land or the deep,

Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go,

When the day, And the night

Need thee so?

All is well. Speedeth all

To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar

Goeth day, And the stars

Shineth bright,

Fare thee well; Day has gone,

Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,

'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,

'Neath the sky,

As we go, This we know,

God is nigh.

            Day is done, gone the sun,  From the hills, from the lake, From the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.There is a chilling memory I have of a cold day of 21^st February 1967 when our family we gathered on a hillside cemetery overlooking Dug Gap Valley. The occasion was the burial of my younger brother, Spec4 Kenneth Ogles who was KIA in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam on 16 February 1967 with the 1^st Cavalry Division. The funeral service had earlier included the hymn, Jesus Loves Me, This I know, which seemed a bit out of place in the presence of a military Honor Guard; but it was not. Ken was still a child at the age of 19 when he died; moreover, that hymn was written and first sung at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At the conclusion of the burial and the gun salute came the notes of the bugler playing Taps. It is both sad and also inspiring to hear. For the warrior, whether of mortal combat, or in the service of the Lord, the day is finished and the light fades with the sun. The sharp, piercing notes of Taps echoed and re-echoed from the mountains and ridges surrounding that cemetery. It was the final salute, yet it was so memorial that all present will never forget the event. The soldier was finally home and the attending his last bivouac. God is always nigh the heart of the believer in Him, and my brother was certainly a believer from the early days of his childhood. 

            Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep. Whether the bed be made on land or at sea, the meaning is the same. Sailors go to the swirling deep with the same notes as the infantryman. The honors paid are particularly meaningful for those who died in defense of liberty and freedom. The peace they could not enjoy on the battlefield is grant ed finally in the bosom of Abraham. No more cannon artillery fire, mortar bursts, or muffled screams and rifle fire will be heard by the sleeper. That day will come as if by a blinking of the eye when the deep shall surrender her dead, and the ground will give up those who have slept in silent rest. “13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Revelations 20:13) The largest cemetery in the earth is the sea bearing her untold millions.

            Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day, And the night Need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest. No love can beckon more strongly than the loved of God to His own.. The midnight hour comes for every child of dod as well as those of the world. The appointment cannot be broken. Our love for the departing soldier-soul cannot delay his posting to his new duty station with God. Taps is a way of saying goodbye to a gallant soldier. It is a final goodbye this side of Jordan Waters. Soldiers must always obey orders, and there are no orders from a Higher Headquarters than Heaven. So, we bid Godspeed in the final bivouac of the soldier.

            Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, Night is on. Suffering from either the bloody wounds of battle or else the sudden blast of the cannon, the soldier sees his vision began to fail and fade. He has never seen it so, but the time has come for his posting Beyond.. Though the mortal lights fade, the heavenly lights gleam more brilliantly than ever before the soldier’s failing vision. The soldier has gone to his narrow home in the heart of the earth, and his soul to his Maker on High.

            Thanks and praise, For our days, 'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh. The nation owes a debt of gratitude and honor to her soldiers who have given the last full measure of devotion to its defense and preservation. Rightly so, the American flags line the boulevards of our cities on Memorial Day. We must go thankful to our Lord for those wonderful past days “'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky.” We have no regrets, for every second of our days were gifts from God. AS the final notes of Taps fade away on the hills and valleys, the Christian soldier awakes to a different Bugler playing Reveille!

AOC Sunday Report - First Sunday after Easter

Happy First Sunday after Easter.  The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

There are really great sermons today from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack, Ryan and Bryan.  Each is different, each is interesting and each will bring you a bit more knowledge.  Please take the time to read through them.

There are a lot of people in need of your prayer, please start with Bob and Shamu and work out from there.

There is a great week ahead.  While a lot of our readers are in 'lock down', 'quarantine' or 'self-isolation' and others are still hard at work, your minds are not.  Take a bit of time to think about the contents of the report.  Rev Jack talks a lot about the Holy Ghost, read it and think about Him.

Have an EPIC WEEK.

Godspeed,

Hap

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

Sermon Notes - First Sunday after Easter - 19 April 2020, Anno Domini

The First Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

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LMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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HEN  the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:19-23)

It is a little baffling to understand why the people of God are shocked to know that our Lord is with them – even in mundane places. Mary was surprised with joy to see Christ right beside her, and the two men on the Road to Damascus were equally surprised that Christ had walked all the way home with them – he does for us as well.

It will prosper our love and understanding of the fear the disciples experienced following the crucifixion. Only having heard, through a veil of ignorance, the Words of Christ that after the third day He would arise, the disciples were not expecting the Words of Christ to become a literal fact. So they hid and cowered behind closed doors.

While He was yet with them, their courage never failed, but when separated from the physical presence of Christ – they were mere cowards.

You will note that Christ rose from the Tomb with a living body though different in some respects than His pre-crucifixion body. He was recognizable in appearance, but He could also pass through material barriers without any impediment.

He came to His disciples in Peace as He always comes to us. “Peace be unto you!”

His glorified body still retained the scars of His sacrifice. Did you know that when we all get to heaven, we will have perfect bodies? There shall be only One whose body is marred from suffering – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ sends us into the World as His Father had sent Him. Let us stop to contemplate how the Father sent the Son into the World? 

1)    He came under humble circumstances having been born of a humble mother and laid in a wooden manger used for feeding sheep.  That was appropriate for Christ is our Bread of Life and we are the Sheep of His Pasture.

2)    Christ lived a normal life for His time and was a carpenter for his surrogate father, Joseph.  We must, likewise, labor for our daily bread.

3)    He was notable in His innocence of life. When we are notoriously wicked, the whole world notices. But when we are humble and righteous, the world makes no mention of it. We, too, must live lives that are righteous and above the contempt of men.

4)    He came to set the captives free, but who are the captives? Those who are burdened with their heavy sins – all of us. He preached and taught. Our true testimony of Christ will likewise set the captives free. Before we can teach others of the means of coming to Christ to lift their burdens, we must first allow Him to lift our own unbecoming yoke and burden.

5)    He showed compassion to all, but greatest of all to sinners who KNEW they were sinners. We must show compassion to ALL men and, especially, those who are hopelessly drowning in a sea of sin. A drowning man flails helplessly in the briny foam, unable to save himself. That burden of throwing out the life raft falls to us.

6)    Christ proved Himself by His works. So must we. Though we cannot perform miracles, we have a Master who can, indeed. 

7)    He changed the requirements of obedience from that of strictly adhering to Commandments written on Stone Tables to that of the Commandment of Love written in the soft sinews of our hearts. That which we love warrants that we commit no sin against.

8)    He was the only Man ever born without sin, and the only One who lived a sinless life. Thereby He was worthy to die in our stead for our sins. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the righteousness of God’ and “The wages of sin is death.”  If we all have sinned, we deserved to go to the cross instead of Christ. But He went in our stead so that we may have the privileges of sonship with the Father as sons and daughters of God.

9)    He bore all of our sins on the cross when, at any moment, He could have come down from the cross. He was WILLING to go all the way for us. We must be WILLING to go all the way for Him and those He loves.

10) He arose from the Tomb on the third day as He had promised. That gives us the privilege to rise from our own graves if we are in Him and He in us. He is our Ark of Salvation that shall insure our living above the floods and terrors of this world.

11) He ascended to the Father and there intercedes for us with Him. He has left us as keepers of the Vineyard to labor in His stead. The teaching of the Apostles persists today though many have waxed cold and passionless in our day. Our task is to press on to the mark set in Christ by living a pure and clean life and telling others about the hope that is in us in Christ Jesus.

Have you lived the kind of life that causes men to know you belong to Christ?

Rev Ryan Underwood’s Sermon Notes - First Sunday after Easter - The Victory of Christ that overcomes the world! - 19 April 2020 - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

My Dear Brethren in Christ. In today’s Epistle we hear of a great victory, the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers of this world, over sin and death and the devil; we hear of a people born of God who partake of this victory by faith; we hear of the divine Testimony to this Victory in Scripture; we hear of the inward witness of the Holy Ghost, and the everlasting life given to all the faithful in Jesus Christ. Let us examine this glorious message from God’s Word today, dividing the text into three points:

1.     Those born of God partake by faith in the Victory of Jesus Christ that overcomes the world! (5-4:6) 

2.     The Testimony of God in Scripture to the Victory of Christ. (5:6-9)

3.     The Inward Testimony and Everlasting Life given to every Believer!  (5-9:12)

The Epistle. 

(1 John 5. 4)

Those born of God partake by faith in the Victory of Jesus Christ that overcomes the world.

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HATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

What does it mean for a man to be born of God? Saint John tells us in 1 John 4:7-10, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Thus, to be born of God is to partake of His love as revealed in the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son, to repent of our sins, and to show forth this love in our dealings with our fellow men. 

 “Born of God”. Think about this language. No man gives birth to himself. It is the work of another. So too is it with our birth in God, it is not our work, it is the unmerited gift of God worked in us by the Word and the Holy Ghost. Notice also that none of you are “born of God” from your mother's wombs, for we all partake of sinful human nature, so that to be “born of God” you must be born again by God’s Word and Spirit. What is the fruit of this spiritual new birth? It is that you partake of God’s love by faith, that you faithfully know God by that divine love shown to all the faithful in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that you repent of your sins, that you hate sin, that you trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and that you strive by God’s grace to live in loving service to God and neighbor according to God’s Commandments for His honor and glory. Where do we find this love of God? We see the love of God in the wounds of Jesus Christ, which were inflicted upon Him for our sins. In His Wounds we have life and health, and in His blessed passion and precious death we have the propitiation for our sins. Here is our victory that overcomes the spirit of antichrist which dwells in the world, even the victory of God’s Only Begotten Son over sin and death! How do we partake of this victory over sin and death? We partake of this victory by a lively faith in the Son of God and in His finished work of loving obedience on the Cross, faith which is itself an unmerited gift of God! Therefore, rejoice Christians, for Christ’s victory becomes our victory through faith in Him!

What does it mean that our Lord came by water and blood? Remember what John records about Our Lord’s Passion and death on Mount Calvary, But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. Indeed, the water and blood signify that our Lord fulfills those things which the Old Testament rites foreshadowed, even as Calvin says,  “And though they were of various kinds, yet under these two [water and blood] the Apostle denotes the whole perfection of holiness and righteousness, for by water was all filth washed away, so that men might come before God pure and clean, and by blood was expiation made, and a pledge given of a full reconciliation with God; but the law only adumbrated by external symbols what was to be really and fully performed by the Messiah.” Faithful friends, the powers of this world, sin and death, are put to death in you by the blood of Jesus Christ! You are washed and cleansed by the Word of God and the blood of the Lamb. Christians, here is your victory over the world and your reconciliation with God, accomplished for you by the Only begotten Son of God! Christ has conquered sin and death for you. Through God’s grace, let us repent of our sins, let us take hold of this victory over sin and death by Faith in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and give God the glory with our lips and in our lives! 

The Witness of God in Scripture to the Victory of Christ. 

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

What does the Spirit bear witness to? To the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect God-Man and Saviour of the world. He bears witness to the power of Jesus Christ, to the power of Christ that has overcome the spirit of antichrist which is in the world, to the power of His blood as the propitiation for our sins, to the power of His righteousness that justifies us, to the power of His loving sacrifice wherein we find salvation and the forgiveness of our sins, to the power of His atonement which reconciles us to God. The Spirit testifies of all this, not secretly, but plainly and openly in the inspired Holy Scriptures. Here is the witness of the Spirit!

There are today many who claim to speak by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals and Popes claim to speak by the Holy Ghost, and even communists claim a kind of inspiration for their little red book. Know, friends, that the Spirit only speaks to us through the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, trust no other alleged oracle or divination, for they are false prophets who claim to speak for God what God has not spoken in His Word. The Spirit’s witness to Jesus Christ in the Holy Scriptures is most certain truth upon which the faith of the Church, the faith of you and I, can rest established and secure. 

In these verses, we hear the famous Johanne comma, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. One of the most obvious Trinitarian passages in the Bible, it has been hated and despised by many down the centuries, and has been expunged from certain corrupted versions of the Bible both anciently and in our own day. John includes these verses to say that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one, and agree in their witness to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the Gospel in His Blood. If our courts accept the testimony of men, of fallible lying men, then how much more certain and valuable is the testimony of the Holy Trinity to the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it is infallibly said, “Thy Word is Truth”. The truthfulness of Jesus Christ, that He is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word made Flesh, the Lord and Saviour of the world, is witnessed by the whole Godhead, a witness which is infallibly recorded in Holy Scripture! Therefore, know that your salvation in Christ, your victory by faith in Christ over sin and death as divinely witnessed to in Scripture, rests on the most sure and certain authority and witness of Almighty God. Take confidence in this in the midst of modern doubt, and glorify God that He so wonderfully testifies of His Only Begotten Son, and preserves this witness for us in the Holy Scriptures!  

The Inward Testimony and Everlasting Life given to every Believer!  

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

We see in these verses that God gives an inner witness of the Holy Spirit to the faithful heart which establishes and confirms our faith in God’s Word, so that in the words of the Westminster Catechism, “our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority [of Scripture], is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our heart.” This inner witness of the Holy Ghost in the heart of the believer witnesses to the truth of God’s Word. This inner witness tells you that what you read in the Bible is true; that the victory is won by Jesus Christ, that His blood is the propitiation for our sins, that God has regenerated us by His Word and Spirit and given the faithful eternal life in His only Begotten Son. Indeed, in this we see that Jesus Christ is risen indeed, that He is the Life and offers life to every man, woman, and child who believes on Him, not because of what that person does, but because of the gracious love of God shown towards him or her in the passion and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Whereas those who have not the Son of God have not this life, but are overcome by the world, and sink into everlasting death. May God move us to hear this inner witness to His Word, and to believe on His Son. This is the only way to life eternal! 

Thus, the testimony which the Holy Trinity gives to the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture is witnessed to and confirmed by the inner working of the Holy Spirit in the faithful. This inner witness of the Spirit has moved Christians of every age to put themselves on the executioner's block, into the fiery stake, or in front of a firing squad, to accept worldly death rather than deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

Think of Martin Luther, who stood before the might of papistical Europe, and in the face of death, was strengthened by the inner witness of the Holy Ghost to the truth of God’s Word, to the victory of Christ over sin and death, so that he could boldly proclaim, “My conscious is captive to the Word of God”. Behold what a wonderful blessing this inner witness is, for by it the Holy Ghost strengthens our faith in God’s Word, in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that not even death can make us depart from Him!

Friends, May God give us the grace to listen attentively to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to the truth of God’s Word, that our faith may be strengthened in this time of tribulation, that we may know by faith that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, that we may repent of our sins, that we may live in His Love and partake of His victory over sin and death,  that we may glorifying God by witnessing to His Word with our lips and in our lives unto our last breath, knowing that death can do nothing to harm those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He has already gained the victory over sin and conquered death for us on the Cross, and has opened the gates of everlasting life to all believers. 

For to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The First Sunday after Easter - Propers and Rev Jack's Sermon

The Propers for today are found on Page 170-171, with the Collect first:

The First Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

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LMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Today’s Epistle came from the First General Epistle of Saint John, the Fifth Chapter beginning at the Fourth Verse: 

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HATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 

The Holy Gospel for this Sunday comes from the Twentieth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint John beginning at the Nineteenth verse: 

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he same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above. 

 Consider these words from the Collect:

… given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth…

In the Collect, we acknowledge by the sacrifice made on Good Friday by the One and Only Perfect Man, a single sacrifice, made one time, for all mankind, for all time by our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ of God, we have eternal life.  Malice and wickedness are pervasive; like leavening, that is yeast, mixed into bread dough, they permeate our being, worming their way into the most remote corners of our souls, hearts and minds. Tiny, wanting only to be fed so they can grow and distort our being.  We need God’s Help, in the form of the Holy Ghost, to root out all malice and wickedness so we might serve Him with pure souls, hearts and minds.  Without that help, we are destined to fail.  On the other hand, with God’s help all things are possible.

In his general Epistle, Saint John continues that thought that without God’s help, that is being re-born in Him, as Saint Paul says, becoming or putting on the New Man, we are destined to failure.   Saint John makes it clear the entity we refer to as God is a Triune Being, that is Three in One; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  What he does not make clear is the relationship between the Three.  All we need to know is that God is comprised of three separate entities who are of one substance and form a single entity, each has its function.  Jesus Christ is our key to life and the Holy Ghost is our key to understanding and accepting Jesus Christ.  Christ, who was there at the beginning, will be there at our end; the Holy Ghost who breathed life into this world is our key to finding Christ in our hearts.  God has made it so.

The Holy Ghost is not often talked about in the church, yet He is the key to understanding.  God sent us the Holy Ghost that we might have:

·      Comfort

·      Understanding

·      Patience

·      Insight

·      Perseverance

·      Courage

·      Sympathy

He is our key to finding Jesus in our souls, hearts and minds.  Without His Guidance, Scripture seems a poorly written fairy tale, with His Guidance we find Truth, the Truth that is our Lord and Savior.  

When John relates the story of Jesus coming in to the Upper Room, note three things:

·      He came into a closed room in bodily form;

·      Then gave them His Peace;

·      He breathed the Holy Ghost upon them.

The entry into the closed room is of interest.  When we leave the Shadowlands, we will gain an optimized body with shape and form, but as Jesus demonstrated things are different in the Real World.  Different can be better or worse.  In this case, He demonstrates the better.  We will no longer be halt, blind and maimed, we will live as God has meant for us.  Quite a nice feeling.

Jesus gave them His Peace.  Not peace like world understands it, but God’s Peace.  This is a totally different concept.  A perfect and stabilizing peace, not what the World considers as Peace. God’s Peace is  what will really help us. Jesus brings us, like those disciples, the peace of mind and soul which comes with giving all our worry, sadness and terror to Him.  He leaves in His wake not confusion, but order and wellbeing.  With Him in our hearts we cannot fail at anything that needs be done.  His Peace.  This Peace is what we are looking for and have been looking for since we came into this world, for it is our passport out.

The Holy Ghost is the breath of life, not just physical, whereas to die is to give up the Ghost, which really means to have our soul leave our body for heaven.   He is our spiritual life, for without Him in our souls, hearts and minds we cannot see the narrow road to the summit.  Without Him we see only the broad even way which gently curves downward and gets smoother and smoother as it nears the Pit.   The Holy Ghost is the key to knowing our Lord! He is our perfect vision in place of our defective natural vision, that will help us see the way.

Without the Holy Ghost, we are lost.  With Him we find and join Jesus and are found.  Then we can act accordingly and enjoy our time here on earth to the extent it is to be enjoyed.  

Note the parting line of this Scripture: … He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.  Jesus gave this power to those present, He did not establish an intermediary priesthood.  The Triune God is the only one who has the power to remit us of our sins.  And, He does when we ask and act in accordance with the request.

There is much joy and satisfaction to be found in proper action.

When the time comes, how will you ACT?

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God