All right, thanks everybody for coming this morning.
Please take your seats.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
If you would please turn with me to song 423.
Song number 423, Joy to the World.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room.
Let heaven and nature sing.
Let heaven and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior means.
Let men their songs employ.
White fields and floods, rock tales and play.
Repeat the sounding joy.
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
Oh, for the sins and sorrows grow.
For thorns infest the crown.
He comes to make his blessings grow.
Far as the curse is found.
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace.
And makes the nations prove.
The glories of his righteousness show wonders of his love.
And wonders of his love.
And wonders, wonders of his love.
Mr. Garrett, could you pray for us?
Thank you, God.
Thank you, God, for the opportunity to come to church on this special day, Lord.
Let's pray for your blessings on all aspects of the morning service.
Amen.
Song number four, twenty-one.
The first knowing.
Song number four, twenty-one.
The words go well.
The angels did say.
One certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay.
In fields where they lay.
They leaving their sheep on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.
Born is the King of Israel.
And by the light of that same star.
We wise men came from country far.
To seek for a King was their intent.
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.
Born is the King of Israel.
This star tonight will run on Northwest.
For Bethlehem it took its rest.
And there it did.
Oh, stop and stay right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.
Born is the King of Israel.
And it turned into those wise men free.
Over with me upon their knee.
And offered there in his presence.
Careful and firm and frank in sense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.
Born is the King of Israel.
All right, this time we'll go through our announcements
as the bulletins are being handed out.
Show it and open them up to the inside.
We have our service times listed.
Sunday mornings at 10.30 is our briefing service.
Sunday nights at 6.30 and then Wednesday nights at 7 is our Bible study.
This week will be in Jeremiah chapter 37.
We have the soul-winning times listed there below.
As well as salvations, baptisms, and offering totals.
And across the page there, Merry Christmas from Pastor Anderson and family.
Our family has a special gift for everyone on the service day.
Did we have that this morning, Tuesday, or is that tonight?
All right, so I need several men to come up here and help me hand these out.
We put together these little spice packets.
So if you've ever had the spiced apple cider
that my wife serves on the chili cook-off,
this is basically all the spices and the recipe of how to make that spice cider.
So we're just doing one per household.
So gentlemen, just go ahead and hand those out to everybody.
One per household.
So that you can make your very own spiced apple cider.
That's our Christmas gift to you from my family.
And then below that we have the coffee and doughnuts
before the service on January 8th.
Normally we do it on the first Sunday,
but because it's New Year's Day we're pushing that back to the 8th.
And then below that we have the details on the cookie bake-off.
So tonight after the service we're going to have cookies and hot cocoa.
And we're asking everybody to bring their homemade Christmas cookies.
And there's going to be a contest for the batch Christmas cookies
after the service tonight.
So don't miss that.
And then on the back we've got the church yearbooks in.
If you did not get a church yearbook,
we ordered enough for everyone to have one per household.
And I know we've already handed out a ton of them.
But if you did not yet get one,
be sure to see Brother Baker.
Brother Baker, stand for those that are new.
Be sure to see Brother Baker.
He'll set you up with one of those yearbooks.
And below that we have the Bible memory passage.
We're just finishing up with the entire chapter of Psalm 46.
So if you're working on this,
you've got one more week to get it done.
Who is already completely done with Psalm 46?
Put up your hand nice and high.
All right, great. Who's working on it?
You're not done, but you're going to get it done.
All right, lots more people.
So we're getting down to the end of that.
Try to crank that out by the end of the new year.
Or the end of this year, that is.
And then below that we have the announcement
about the wedding for Caleb and Jenny
that's going to be on Saturday, January 7th.
So please think about RSVPing for that if you've not already.
And if you don't know Caleb and Jenny
or you don't know them well,
if you're here this morning,
you are invited to that wedding.
So don't be shy about coming.
It'll be a great time of fellowship
and edification for the entire church.
And that's about it for our announcement.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Let's go ahead and sing our next song.
Song number 430.
Wash, shepherds, wash their flocks.
Song number 430.
And glory shone around.
Dear God,
send me for my
deep breath
that sees their trouble find.
That tidings
of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.
To you and all mankind.
To you and great
this boundless thing
is born of David's light.
The Savior
who is Christ
the Lord.
And this shall be
the sign.
And this shall
be the sign.
God and
we bring you
there shall find.
To you and
this plain
all ye
rapid
and
in a major
lane.
And in a major
lane.
All glory
be to God
our God and to
the earth he
needs.
And we'll dance
forth from head to head.
We can and ever
cease.
We can and ever
cease.
Alright this time we'll pass our offering plate
and as the plate goes around let's turn our Bibles
to 1 Timothy chapter number 3
toward the end of the New Testament.
1 Timothy chapter number 3
as we always do we'll read the
entire chapter beginning in verse number 1
you can follow along silently with brother Garrett
as he reads 1 Timothy
3 beginning in verse number 1
1 Timothy chapter 3 the Bible reads
this
is a true saying
if a man desire the office
of a bishop
he desireth a good work
a bishop they must be blameless
the husband of one wife
vigilant sober
of good behavior
given to hospitality
apt to teach
not given to wine no striker
not greedy of filthy
lucre but patient
not a brawler
not covetous
one that ruleth well his own house
having his children in subjection with
all gravity
for if a man know not how to rule his own house
how shall he take care of the church
of God not a novice
lest being lifted up with pride
he fall into the condemnation of the
devil moreover he must have
a good report of them which are
without lest he fall
into reproach and the snare
of the devil
likewise must the deacons
be grave not double tongued
not given to much wine
not greedy of
filthy lucre
holding the mystery of the faith
in a pure conscience
let these also first be proved
then let them use the office of a deacon
being found blameless
even so
must their wives be grave
not slanderers sober
faithful in all things
let the deacons be the husbands of one wife
ruling their children in their
own houses well
for they that have used the office
of a deacon well
purchase to themselves a good degree
and great boldness in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus
these things write
I unto thee hoping to come unto these
shortly but
if I tarry long that thou mayest know how
thou oughtest to behave thyself
in the house of God
which is the church of the living God
the pillar and ground
of the truth
and without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness
God was manifest
in the flesh
justified in the spirit
seen of angels
preached unto the Gentiles
believed on in the world
received up into glory
given an opportunity
to come to the church
probably another day
and thank you for your service
when you thank God for us
and very long again
we thank you for the sacrifice you gave us
and we pray that you also feel
passionate in the spirit
and bold to preach your word today
in the name of Jesus
amen
1 Timothy chapter 3
the part that I want to focus on is verse 16
where the Bible reads
and without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness
God was manifest in the flesh
justified in the spirit
seen of angels
preached unto the Gentiles
believed on in the world
received up into glory
and this morning I want to preach my whole sermon
just on this one verse
and go through the six statements in this verse
that are made about the Lord Jesus Christ
and explain them
God was manifest in the flesh
that's the title of the sermon this morning
God was manifest
in the flesh
now obviously this is referring
to the Lord Jesus Christ
flip over if you would to John chapter 1
keep your finger in 1 Timothy
because we'll be back here
John chapter 1
1 Timothy 3 16 is a very important verse
it's one that would be good to memorize
there are a lot of great verses in the Bible
that are numbered 3 16
and so it makes it easy to remember where these are
for example
obviously the best verse on salvation is
John 3 16
for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish
but have everlasting life
and then 2 Timothy 3 16
is a great scripture on
the inspiration of the Bible
all scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable for doctrine
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
and then this verse
1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16
is a great verse on the deity of Jesus Christ
because it says that
God was manifest
in the flesh
now look at John chapter 1
of course the beginning of the chapter starts out
in the beginning was the word
and the word was with God
and the word was God
and then if we jump down to verse 14
it says and the word
was made flesh
and dwelt among us
and we beheld
which means we saw
his glory
the glory as of the only begotten
of the father
full of grace and truth
so the Bible says the word
was in the beginning with God
and was God
and the word was made flesh
and dwelt among us
exactly like the Bible said in 1 Timothy 3 16
that God was manifest
now if we just look up the word manifest
in the dictionary it says
readily perceived by the eye
or understanding
evident, obvious, apparent
or plain
so when something is made manifest
it means that it's exposed
it's in plain sight
we can see it
the Bible is saying here that God
was manifest in the flesh
you see no man has seen God at any time
God the father
we beheld his glory
the glory as of the only begotten of the father
full of grace and truth
now back to 1 Timothy 3 16
it says without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness
without controversy means this is something
that everyone could agree on
no one could say that it's not
a great mystery
the fact that God was manifest
in the flesh
that's hard for us to understand fully
to wrap our mind around such a powerful concept
but notice it says God was manifest
in the flesh justified
in the spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles
believed on in the world
received up into glory
and the thing I want to point out is that the subject
does not change here
the subject is God
God was manifest in the flesh
and then there's no new subject
it was God who was justified in the spirit
it was God who was seen of angels
God was preached unto the Gentiles
God was believed on in the world
and God was received up into glory
and those statements can only
refer to Jesus
we know it was Jesus who was received up into glory
and Jesus who fulfilled all of these things
now if you would flip over to Romans chapter 3
I want to focus on the second point of this verse
first of all
the Bible says that God was manifest
in the flesh
Jesus Christ was God
in the form of man
God in the flesh, God born as a human being
who dwelled among us
but the second phrase I want to focus on
is where it says justified in the spirit
now what does it mean to be justified?
well to be justified means
to be declared
to be righteous
now when we think of the word justified
we usually think of it in regard to salvation
in fact salvation
is often used
interchangeably with justification
if we talk about being
saved by grace through faith
if we talk about being justified by grace
justified means declared righteous
you see the Bible says
as it is written there is none righteous
no not one
so we in our own flesh
as human beings none of us is righteous
ok
but if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
we are justified
meaning that we are declared righteous in the sight of God
and that's how we're able to get into heaven
because the Bible says except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness
of your wives and Pharisees
you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven
and so Paul said not having my own righteousness
which is of the law
but that which is through the faith of Christ
the righteousness which is of God by faith
so when we have faith in Christ
when we believe in Christ
we are justified
meaning we are declared righteous
in the sight of God
and the word just
is synonymous with the word righteous
if you study the Bible
none righteous are used interchangeably
you say well
how could God
be justified in the spirit
the Bible says God was manifest in the flesh
justified
in the spirit
you say well you know why would God need to be justified
he's never sinned
you know why would he need to be declared righteous
well actually there are multiple verses in the Bible
that talk about God being justified
you're in Romans 3 but I'll read for you
from Psalm 51 verse 4
it says against thee
thee only have I sinned
and done this evil in thy sight
that thou mightest be justified
when thou speakest
and be clear when thou judges
this is David confessing his sin with Bathsheba
unto the Lord
and he's confessing that he was in the wrong
and he said against thee and thee only
have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight
that thou mightest be justified
when thou speakest
so he is declaring
righteous judgment
in condemning the actions that he has done
another scripture on God being justified
is Luke 7 29
when the Bible says and all the people that heard him
and the publicans
justified God
being baptized
with the baptism of John
so when it says that they justified God
it's saying that they declared
God's righteousness
now look down if you would at Romans chapter 3 verse 20
Romans 3 20
says therefore by the deeds
of the law there shall no
flesh be justified in his sight
so none of us could ever be declared
righteous by following
God's laws because all
God's law does is show us all
of our unrighteousness because we've
all sinned and come short let's keep
reading here it says therefore by the deeds
of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight for by the law
is the knowledge of sin but now
the righteousness of God without
the law is manifested
being witnessed by
the law and the prophets even the
righteousness of God which is
by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and
upon all of them that believe for there is no
difference so the Bible is saying that we
can be justified or declared
righteous in the sight of God
by putting our faith in Jesus
not by the deeds of the law
not by works of righteousness which we have done
but by putting our faith in Jesus
we can be righteous we can be
declared righteous we can be justified
in the sight of God verse 23
for all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God being
justified freely
by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus
whom God had set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood
watch this to declare
his righteousness
for the remission of sins
that are past through the forbearance
of God to declare I say
at this time his righteousness
that he might be just
and the justifier
of him which believeth
in Jesus
so the Bible said that Jesus Christ
righteousness
needed to be declared
so that he could be considered
just and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus
see it's Jesus Christ
righteousness that is imputed unto us
when we believe on him
so he is just and he is
the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus
where is boasting then it says in verse 27
it's excluded
by what law of works
nay but by the law of faith
therefore we conclude
that a man is justified
by faith without
the deeds of the law
nothing could be clearer than this chapter
that the works of the law the deeds
of the law our own righteousness
has nothing to do with getting us
into heaven the thing that gets us
justified or declared righteous
in the sight of God is
our faith in Jesus so when the Bible
said in 1 Timothy 3 16
without controversy great
is the mystery of godliness God
was manifest in the flesh
justified in the
spirit that has to do
with Jesus Christ being declared
righteous and shown
to be righteous he went about
doing good he lived a perfect
life he was tempted in all points
like as we are yet
without sin
and that declaration of Christ's
righteousness or his perfect
sinless life is
essential to us being saved
because he is just
that he might be the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus
so basically justified can really have
two meanings in a sense it can either
declare someone righteous
who was unrighteous
like us where we start
out being unrighteous but then God declares
us righteous he justifies
us freely by his grace or
justify can be used to just declare
the righteousness of someone who's
always been righteous always was
righteous and always will be righteous
but either way to justify means to
declare the righteousness
of someone so
the Bible says that God was manifest
in the flesh and justified in the
spirit the next statement made of
Jesus is
that he was seen of angels
now go to Luke chapter 2
this is the famous chapter
that's usually known as the Christmas
story or the Christmas passage this
is the most popular scripture to
read on Christmas Luke chapter 2
and this will show
us part of the story of
Jesus being seen of angels
it says in Luke chapter 2
verse 8
there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock
by night and lo the angel of the Lord came
upon them and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them and they were sore
afraid and the angel said to them fear
not behold I bring you good tidings
of great joy which shall be
to all people for unto you is
born this day in the city of David
a savior which is Christ the Lord
and this shall be a sign unto you
you shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes lying in a manger
and suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising
God and saying glory to
God in the highest and on earth
peace good will toward men
and it came to pass
as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven the shepherd said
one to another let us now go even
unto Bethlehem and see this thing
which has come to pass which the Lord
have made known unto us and they came with
haste and found Mary and Joseph
and the babe lying in
a manger jump down to verse 21
and when eight days were accomplished
for the circumcising of the child
his name was called Jesus
which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived
in the womb flip over to
John chapter 1 John chapter
number 1 Jesus Christ
was God manifest
in the flesh he was also
justified in the spirit
or declared his righteousness
and then thirdly he was seen
of angels Jesus Christ birth
was announced by angels
the angel even revealed
unto Joseph that his name would be called
Jesus and
then angels witnessed
of the event to the shepherds
and praise and glorified
God a heavenly host of angels
also when Jesus Christ later
would be tempted of the devil
angels
ministered unto Jesus the Bible says in Mark
chapter 1 verse 13 and he was there
in the wilderness forty days
tempted of Satan and was with
the wild beasts and the
angels ministered
unto him look at John chapter 1
verse 49 Nathaniel answered
and saith unto him rabbi thou
art the son of God thou art the
king of Israel Jesus answered and
said unto him because I said unto thee
I saw thee under the fig tree believeth thou
thou shalt see greater things than
these and he saith unto him verily
verily I say unto you hereafter
ye shall see heaven open
and the angels of God
ascending and
descending upon the
son of man angels also
witnessed Jesus Christ
agony in the garden of Gethsemane
when he prayed to the father and said
father if thou be willing remove
this cup from me nevertheless
not my will but thine be done
the next verse says and there appeared
an angel unto him from heaven
strengthening him at the
resurrection it was angels who witnessed
the resurrection and rolled away
the stone from the door and said he's not
here for he has risen
as he said come see the place where
the Lord lay so in all
phases of Jesus Christ ministry
from his birth his
temptations his
ministry his uh
agony his death burial and
resurrection the angels witnessed these
events Jesus Christ truly was seen
of angels the third point
is that he was preached unto the Gentiles
go to Luke chapter 2 again
Luke chapter number 2
without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness
God was manifest
in the flesh justified
in the spirit seen of angels
preached unto
the Gentiles
preached unto the Gentiles
now if you think about first Timothy
chapter 3 verse 16
in this list of six points
about Jesus it starts
out with God was manifest in the
flesh which would obviously
be the birth of Christ when he was
you know made flesh and dwelled among us
and then it ends with him being
received up into glory
so obviously this is talking about the
life and ministry of Jesus starting
with him being manifest in the flesh
justified in the spirit seen of
angels preached unto the Gentiles believed
on the world and then ultimately
received up into glory to be seated
at the right hand of the father therefore
the phrase preached unto the
Gentiles this is not
referring to after Jesus rose
again and after the
apostle Paul is called
and sent forth to the Gentiles
this is obviously talking about Jesus
earthly ministry because it wouldn't
make any sense to transport that
you know from way later
and bring it into this verse
no this verse is talking about Jesus
being preached unto the Gentiles
in his earthly ministry
now let's see the fulfillment of that
in scripture before we
see the fulfillment of that look at the
emphasis placed on Jesus
preaching to the Gentiles even
at his birth this is when Jesus is just a baby
being dedicated at the
temple a small baby look what it
says in verse 29 of Luke 2
Lord now let us thou
thy servant depart in peace according to
thy word for mine eyes have
seen thy salvation which
thou has prepared before the face of all
people watch this a light
to lighten the Gentiles
you see that was the intent
of Jesus life and
Jesus birth and Jesus ministry
from the moment he was born
even before this the angels said glad
tidings of great joy which shall be to
all people even
in the old testament over and over again
Isaiah and others prophesied
about how Jesus would be a light to the
Gentiles and that the gospel would be
preached to the Gentiles
even all the way back
to Abraham being called
to even be the progenitor
of the nation of Israel he was
told and these shall all families
of the earth be blessed and these shall all
nations be blessed it says in verse
32 a light to lighten the
Gentiles and the glory of thy people
Israel and Joseph and his mother marveled
at those things which were spoken
of him go to Matthew chapter 4
Matthew chapter number 4
see there's a false doctrine out there
called dispensationalism
and it teaches this idea
that somehow the gospel
going to the Gentiles was some kind of
an afterthought or some kind of an
accident of history like Jesus
just really just cares about the Jews the
Jews the Jews the Jews the Jews
but you know because they
rejected him we're kind of living
in this little parenthetical
sort of glitch
period where the gospel goes
to the Gentiles or something and that it
was an afterthought like he's trying
to only bring it to the Jews but then
because they rejected him it's like well I
guess we got to go to the Gentiles
now we see
that attitude with the apostle Paul
in acts where the Jews
are unreceptive he goes to
the Gentiles he keeps wanting to preach
to Jews but he keeps just
kind of beating his head against the wall with that because
they're not interested so he keeps turning
to the Gentiles turning to the Gentiles
but that doesn't change the fact
that God's plan was
always for the gospel to go
to the Gentiles God's plan has
always been for the whole world God
so loved the world he didn't so
love a certain nation
or a certain family
or a certain group and no one
else no God so loved the world that
he gave his only begotten son Jesus
Christ was sent to this earth not
to just be the Messiah of the Jews
and then because they rejected him
the Gentiles get in on the action
wrong he was sent to be a light
to lighten the Gentiles even from his birth
even from day one even before
anybody had
talked about him being killed or crucified
because of the Jews
rejection of him that's coming
way later from the beginning this was the plan
look at Matthew 4 and see
how Jesus was preached
unto the Gentiles
in his earthly ministry
not just later
with the apostle Paul
look at verse number 12
now when Jesus had heard that John was
cast into prison he departed
into Galilee and leaving Nazareth
he came and dwelt in Capernaum
which is upon the sea coast in the borders
of Zabulon and Nephthalem
what does that mean in the borders
basically he's right on the edge
of what would be considered the tribes of
Zabulon and Nephthalem he's right on
the border between
these tribes where they would live
and
the Gentiles he's right on a border town
now if you've ever been to a border town
you know that there are people from both
sides of the border living in that town
you know if you go down to Nogales
Arizona or if you go down
to Calexico Arizona
or if you go to bordering
towns in Texas like say for example
McAllen Texas you'll notice
that there's a lot of Spanish being spoken
a lot of signs are in Spanish
businesses are in Spanish I mean I remember
walking into businesses and the cashiers
are all speaking Spanish and McAllen Texas
the everybody who's a customer
speaking Spanish and I remember waiting in line
wondering I wonder if this person is even going to be able to speak
English to me you know when I get up to the counter
but most people who work
in businesses down there are bilingual because
it's a border town well
Jesus is in the border towns here
and it says in verse 14
why was he there? that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets saying the land of Zabulon
and the land of Nephthalem
by the way of the sea beyond Jordan
watch this
Galilee of the Gentiles
Galilee
Jesus is preaching where? Jesus is ministering
where? Galilee
of the Gentiles
the people which sat in darkness saw
great light and to them which sat
in the region and shadow of death
light is sprung up from that time Jesus
began to preach and to say repent
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
jump down to verse 23
and Jesus went about all Galilee
teaching in their synagogues
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom
and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease
among the people and his fame
went throughout all
where? Syria
so is Jesus only being preached
within
the nation of Israel? no
he's preaching in Galilee of the Gentiles
his fame
is going throughout all of Syria
and they brought
into him all sick people that were taken with divers
diseases and torments and those which were possessed
with devils and those which were lunatic
and those that had the palsy and he healed
them and there followed him great
multitudes of people from Galilee
and from Decapolis
and from Jerusalem and
from Judea and from beyond
Jordan go to Matthew 12
Matthew chapter number 12
Matthew 12 the Bible's clear that Jesus Christ
in his earthly ministry
was preached unto the Gentiles
and let me tell you something
this was not by accident
this was to fulfill
prophecy
God had decided way earlier
that he's going to be a light
to light in the Gentiles
he's going to be preached unto the Gentiles
and in fact it's so important it's put in this short list
1 Timothy 3 16 is not giving us a list of everything about Jesus
it's hitting key points key highlights
he was manifest in the flesh
he was justified in the spirit
he was seen of angels
he was preached unto the Gentiles
he was believed on in the world
he was received up into glory
that makes his preaching unto the Gentiles a very significant event
to be in that short list
Matthew 12 15
but when Jesus knew it
he withdrew himself from thence
and great multitudes followed him
and he healed them all
and charged them that they should not make him known
that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by his eyes
the prophet saying
behold my servant whom I have chosen
my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased
I will put my spirit upon him
and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles
he shall not strive nor cry
neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets
a bruised reed shall he not break
and smoking flax shall he not quench
his judgment unto victory
and here's the final point
the goal, what's the goal?
and in his name
shall the Gentiles trust
that's the mission
that's the goal
that's the plan from the beginning
that in his name the Gentiles would trust in him
go to Romans chapter 15
Romans chapter 15
the false doctrine of dispensationalism
further goes on
they claim that the apostle Paul
is the apostle to the Gentiles
and that the other apostles
are not the apostles to the Gentiles
now let me say this
they're right about Paul being an apostle to the Gentiles
he said that
I'm an apostle to the Gentiles
amen
but all other 11 of the apostles
were supposed to be
apostles to the Gentiles also
that's where dispensationalism
gets it wrong
they say, well Paul's our apostle
you know, Peter, James, John
the 11th, you know
they had the ministry of the circumcision
you know what, just because that's what they did
doesn't mean that's what they were supposed to do
I seem to remember
a key scripture in Matthew 28
where Jesus took those 11 men
and the apostle Paul wasn't even there
and he said to those 11 men
he said, go ye therefore
and teach all nations
he didn't say, go ye therefore
and teach Israel again
even though we've already done that for three and a half years
even though we've already gone
to every town, every city
every village in Israel
because that's what they did
even though we've already preached in all areas
of Judea
all areas of the lost sheep of the house
even though we've already finished
this country
go ye therefore and keep doing that
and I'm going to go find another guy
that's going to do the whole rest of the world
we're going to task 11 of you
with one country that's already been canvassed
that's already been preached to
that's already been covered
that's unreceptive
that by and large has rejected me
let's just keep witnessing to them
and then one guy is going to do the whole rest of the world
is that what he said?
look, the fact that some of the apostles
stayed in Jerusalem
when they were commanded to go teach all nations
doesn't change the fact
that they were commanded to teach all nations
they were in disobedience
they did not obey the commandment
to get out of Judea
and that's why God even had to send persecution
and scatter them
so that they would go everywhere preaching the gospel
but even then the apostles
just kept wanting to stay in Jerusalem
even Paul couldn't get this through his head
and had to keep going
go back to Jerusalem
get over it!
there's a whole world out there
he's a light to lighten the Gentiles
there are all these fish in the sea
but the false doctrine of dispensationalism says
well Paul is our apostle
everybody in the whole world
and then
you know, the rest of the apostles
are just sent to Israel
that is a lie and a fraud and contradicts the Great Commission
where they're told to go teach all nations
look what the Bible says in Romans 15 verse 8
now I say that Jesus Christ
was a minister of the circumcision
for the truth of God
to confirm the promises made unto the fathers
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy
as it is written for this cause
I will confess to thee among the Gentiles
and sing unto thy name
and again he saith
and these are Old Testament quotes
rejoice ye Gentiles with his people
and again
praise the Lord all ye Gentiles
and laud him all ye people
and again as I sayeth there shall be a root of Jesse
and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles
in him shall the Gentiles trust
now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace
and believing that you may abound in hope
through the power of the Holy Ghost
who was the book of Romans written to?
the Gentiles
who was the book of 1 Corinthians written to?
the Gentiles
who was the book of 2 Corinthians written to?
the Gentiles
who was the book of Galatians written to?
the Gentiles
but it was all originally written in Hebrew
that's what these Judaizers and Hebrew roots
types claim
no it was written in Greek
it was written to the Gentiles
Ephesians, why would God write an epistle to Ephesians
Galatians, Philippians, Colossians
Thessalonians
in Hebrew
doesn't make any sense folks
is written in Greek
the language of those people
who was the Gospel of Luke written to?
Theophilus
who was the book of Acts written to?
a Gentile named Theophilus
who was the book of Revelation written to?
the seven churches in Judea?
nope
the seven churches in Asia
and so we see that God's plan
always was to preach the Gospel
to the whole world
to teach all nations
that in all nations
that the families of the earth
would be blessed through Abraham
and Jesus Christ
the whole purpose of even having the chosen people
of Israel in the Old Testament
was to be a light to lighten the Gentiles
didn't work but that was the plan
see just because man
messes up God's plan
that doesn't change God's original intent
God's intent has always been love
and redemption
for all peoples of the earth
and God shows throughout the Bible
over and over and over again
that he is not a respecter of persons
and that there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek
I mean even in the Old Testament
God's lifting up and praising
Ethiopians and other foreigners
for great works that they did for God
even in the New Testament
we see people being called
even Simon the Canaanite
as one of his disciples
and we see people of all nations
being reached
even when Jesus healed the man's servant
he said
many shall come from the east and west
and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven
but the children of the kingdom
meaning the earthly kingdom of Israel
shall be cast out into outer darkness
there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth
it's quite significant that Jesus Christ
was preached unto
the Gentiles even while he was on this earth
not after he ascended to glory
get the order right
he was preached unto the Gentiles
he was believed on in the world
he was received up into glory
go to John chapter 2
let's look at the fifth point
the fifth point of this verse
this is a powerful verse packed with truth
1 Timothy 3.16
memorize it
it's a great verse
why is it such a great verse?
because number one, it proves that Jesus is God
because it calls him God
it says God was manifest in the flesh
why is it such a great verse?
because secondly, it says that
he was justified in the spirit
he was declared to be righteous
he was totally without sin
he was tempted in all points like as we are
yet without sin
he was seen of angels
he was witnessed and declared and proclaimed
to be the son of God with power
even by the angels of heaven
fourthly, it shows that he was
preached unto the Gentiles
just because he sent them out
in Matthew 10
there's a certain time and a certain mission
where he says, go not into the way of the Gentiles
and into any city of the Samaritans
and unto ye not, but go rather to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel
it doesn't change the fact that his plan
was ultimately to reach the whole world
he wanted to start with
them, that's why Paul said
it was necessary
that the gospel first be spoken unto you
to the Jews, but then he said, now we're going to the Gentiles
but even while Jesus
was on this earth
his fame went throughout all Syria
he preached in Galilee of the Gentiles
many Gentiles were saved
through his preaching
fifthly, this, from this powerful verse
he was believed on in the world
look at some scriptures to back that up
I'm just showing you, basically
how all of these things were fulfilled
in the life of Christ
how he truly was preached unto the Gentiles
and believed on in the world
look at John chapter 2, verse 11
as we turn through these verses
this beginning of miracles did Jesus
and Cana of Galilee
and manifested forth his glory
and his disciples believed on him
go to John chapter 4, verse 39
and many of the Samaritans
of that city believed on him
for the saying of the woman
which testified, he told me
all that ever I did
go to chapter 7, verse 31
and many of the people believed on him
and said, when Christ cometh
will he do more miracles
than these which this man had done?
look at John chapter 8, verse 30
these are just all the numerous examples
where the Bible talks about people
believing on Jesus Christ
while he was in this world
John chapter 8, verse 30
as he spake these words
many believed on him
look at chapter 10, verse 42
John chapter 10, verse 42
by the way, the book of John
is the only book in the Bible
that claims to be written
to tell someone how to get saved
and it used the word believe
over 90 times
where did I return? chapter 10?
verse 42
and many believed on him there
look at John chapter 11, verse 45
John 11, 45
then many of the Jews which came to Mary
and had seen the things which Jesus did
believed on him
and then lastly turn to John chapter 12
we're going to look at verse 11 and verse 42
John chapter 12, 11 and 42
because by reason of him
many of the Jews went away
and believed on Jesus
verse 42
nevertheless, among the chief rulers also
many believed on him
but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess him
lest they should be put out of the synagogue
last place we're going to turn
Acts chapter 1
and then we'll come back full circle to 1 Timothy 3
look at Acts chapter 1
the final point is this
Jesus was received up into glory
God was manifest in the flesh
God was justified in the spirit
God was seen of angels
God was preached unto the Gentiles
God was believed on in the world
and God was received up into glory
God was received up into glory
someone could say
well, when the Bible says God
was manifest in the flesh
you know that just means that
God kind of showed
forth his glory through the man
Jesus, you know
and that Jesus was just kind of a
reflection of who God was
ok, but what about when it says that God
was received up into glory
I mean, you know what I mean
what about when it says that God
was preached unto the Gentiles
God was believed on in the world
and God was received up into glory
that stuff can only be referring to Jesus
not the father in heaven
he's already there
you don't have to be received
the one who was received up into glory is Jesus
so that's why when you take this verse
as a whole, it's a powerful declaration
of the deity of Jesus Christ, one of many
Acts chapter 1 verse 8
but ye shall receive power
after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you
and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem and in all Judea
and in Samaria and in the uttermost
part of the earth
and when he had spoken these things
while they beheld, he was
taken up and a cloud
received him out of their sight
and while
they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel
which also said, ye men of Galilee
why stand ye gazing
up into heaven?
this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven
shall so come in like manner
as you've seen him go into heaven
so there Jesus is received up
into glory
just as 1 Timothy 3.16 said
go back to 1 Timothy 3.16
the reason I preach this sermon today is because
today being Christmas, people are celebrating
the birth of Jesus Christ
which is the event where, you know
God basically became flesh and dwelled among us
and was born as a baby
and it's important
that we realize and stay focused
on the fact that Jesus
Christ should have
the preeminence in all areas
of our life. In all things
he must have the preeminence. So
today we need to make sure that we keep the
focus on him, his
birth, his life, his ministry
his death, burial and resurrection
and not to just get caught up in a lot of
just, you know, material things
or partying
or, you know, some kind of fables
about Santa and his reindeer or something
you know, we have something actually
worth celebrating about today
when God was manifest in the flesh
this is a powerful verse
you look down at your King James Bible
but let me read for you how the modern
versions just butcher
this verse. Now you say, oh man, you're really
beating that dead horse again. Well you know what
I'm just going to keep beating that dead horse
until
until these bunch of
modern versions go in the trash can where
they belong and where we get back
as a nation to the King James Bible
and when
even people in independent fundamental
Baptist churches stop thinking that the new
King James and the NIV
are okay to read, I'm just going to
keep on just ringing that bell
I'm going to kick that dog every time I walk by it
you know, we need
to be grounded and
rooted and firm on what we believe
we've spent
the last however long
preaching on a powerful
verse, we've been studying powerful verse
together, we looked at each phrase
and saw the significance, the
importance, the power, the
fulfillment in the life of Christ
watch how all of this
great doctrine and all
this great truth about our
Lord just goes up in smoke
when we pull out one of these
messed up modern perversions
of the Bible, here's the NIV
you're looking down in your Bible at the King James
beyond
all question, the
mystery from which true godliness
springs is great
he appeared in the flesh
so instead of God was manifest
in the flesh, it's just he appeared in the flesh, who?
the spring?
beyond all
question, the mystery from
which true godliness springs
is great, he appeared in the flesh, so the mystery
appeared in the flesh, who?
there's no mention that it's God
that was manifest in the flesh
and thereafter
it no longer
is it God who was preached to the Gentiles
believed on in the world or received up in the glory
here's the NIV, beyond all question
the mystery from which true godliness springs is
great, he appeared in the flesh, was
vindicated by the spirit
which again, vindication is a stupid
word because that implies that you have done
something wrong or are being accused
of doing something wrong
okay, was seen by angels
was preached among the nations
not Gentiles, the nations
was believed on in the world and was taken up in the glory
here's the RSV
which I thought was a childhood
illness, but great indeed
we confess is the mystery of our
religion, he was manifested
in the flesh, vindicated in
the spirit, again it's just he
not God, just he
seen by angels, preached
among the nations, believed on in the world
taken up in the glory, here's the
NET, which is what James White
uses, and we all agree
our religion contains amazing
revelation
he was revealed in the flesh
what, our religion was revealed in the flesh?
he?
he was revealed in the flesh
vindicated by the spirit, seen by angels
proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world
taken up in the glory, here's the ESV
great indeed, we confess
is the mystery of godliness
he was manifested in the flesh, just he
vindicated by the spirit
seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations
believed on in the world, taken up
in glory, here's the good news
translation, good news for
modern man, no one
can deny how great is the secret
of our religion, he appeared
in human form, was
shown to be right by the spirit and was
seen by angels, blah blah blah
here's the living Bible
the living Bible
it is quite
true that the way to live a godly
life is not an easy matter
but the answer lies in
Christ, who came to
earth as a man, was
proved spotless and pure in his
spirit, was served by angels
which preached among the nations
was accepted by men everywhere
I mean, he was just accepted
by men everywhere
and was received
up again to his glory in heaven
here's the message
here's another version known as the message
we're getting to the weirder versions now
this Christian
life is a great mystery
far
exceeding our understanding
but some things are clear
enough
he appeared in a human body
yeah, that's real clear when you don't tell us who he is
some things are
clear enough
yeah, it was clear enough in the King James
that was clear enough for you ruined it
he appeared
in a human body
was proved right by the invisible
spirit, was seen by angels
he was proclaimed among
all kinds of peoples
believed in all over the world
taken up into heavenly glory
so we see that
this verse has been totally butchered
so much
of the doctrine, so much of the
teaching has been removed and ruined
and you say, well
it's just these new versions are a little easier to understand
really?
because I don't have any trouble understanding
that without
controversy
great is the mystery of godliness
God
was manifest in the flesh
justified in the spirit
seen of angels
preached unto the gentiles
believed on in the world
received up into glory
that's a powerful verse
that's a powerful teaching
that's a powerful truth
that's powerful doctrine
that's god's word
accept no imitations
Father we thank you so much for this powerful verse in your word
Lord
and we thank you for this beautiful day that you've given us
to be in your house, gathered with your people
to read your word
and to worship you, Lord
thank you so much
for the fact that you were manifest
in the flesh
and that you performed all of these great acts
Lord, that we might be saved
thank you for that salvation
and justification through
the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
and it isn't in his name that we pray
Amen
Song number 259
I'm sorry, 301
Song number 301
sweet hour of prayer
Song number 301
sweet hour of prayer
Song number 301
sweet hour of prayer
that calls me from the world of care
and beats me at my father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known
to him who's true in faithfulness,
engage the way he sold to bless.
And since he missed, he's seen his face,
believe his word and trust his grace.
I'll cast a hand by every care
and wait for the sweet hour of prayer,
sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer.
May I not cause a relationship
till from a vicious rocky height
I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
to seize the everlasting prize
and shout while passing through the air.
Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer.
Amen.