Sovereign Grace Landmark Baptist

SINNERS ARE INVITED TO COME TO JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH

FOR SALVATION

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.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

ALL SINNERS ARE COMMANDED TO REPENT AND BELIEVE IN JESUS

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

ONLY THE ELECT WILL REPENT AND COME TO JESUS BY FAITH

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

MANKIND IS TOTALLY DEPRAVED

Romans 1:21-32...

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 3:10-19...

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

SIN & DEPRAVITY BRING DEATH AND THE JUDGMENT AND

ETERNAL WRATH OF GOD

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Revelation 20:11-15...

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

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.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9...

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

GOD IS SOVEREIGN IN SALVATION

Romans 9...

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

GOD ELECTED SOME TO BE SAVED

Ephesians 1:3-14...

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father...

JESUS CAME TO DIE

FOR THE ELECT

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Isaiah 53

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

THE HOLY SPIRIT EFFECTUALLY CALLS THE ELECT TO SALVATION

Psalms 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14...

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

THE ELECT ARE ETERNALLY SAVED

John 10...

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

THE ELECT ARE KEPT

SAFE AND SECURE

Romans 8:28-39...

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

SALVATION IS BY GRACE

THROUGH FAITH ALONE

Ephesians 2:1-10...

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

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.

SALVATION IS NOT OF WORKS

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 3:20 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.

Romans 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:1-5...

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31...

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

A Sermon by Pastor Chris Burke

I want to begin this message by simply stating that the 10 commandments are still in effect today. None of them have been abolished, or otherwise repealed by the Lord. All of them still have their rightful purpose and place in society. All of them should have their place in our nation’s government and court systems. All of the 10 commandments still have their place in the lives of God’s people and churches, and the 10 commandments even have their place in evangelism.

We will not expound the 10 commandments in this message, but we encourage you to read them in Exodus 20:1-17. Suffice it to say that the 10 commandments are essentially a summary of God’s moral law, which He gave to mankind in the Holy Bible, which is His Word. In this message we want to consider the nature and purpose of God’s moral law in four points, which are as follows:

1. The spiritual nature of God’s moral law.

Romans 7:12-14 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The moral law of God is spiritual. It was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16) and was received by the disposition of angels (Acts 7:53), which are spiritual beings. Because the law is spiritual in its origin it is also spiritual in its nature. And because the law is spiritual (and hence divine), it follows that it must also be holy, just and good (Romans 7:12).

The moral law of God sets forth His holiness and perfection. If men want to understand God’s holiness, then I would first point them to His holy law, for His law reveals His holiness. Furthermore, the moral law of God is not sin or sinful, nor does it encourage men to commit sin. On the contrary, the law of God is holy and pure, and demands holiness and purity in mankind, and requires nothing less than absolute perfection in all men.

Because the moral law of God is spiritual, it also declares God’s justice. God is just and all His judgments are truth, and His righteous judgments are executed in accordance with His holy law, which is also just and true. God’s law is the standard for God’s justice and judgment. How will God judge the world, and by what standard? He will judge in accordance with His holy law as revealed to mankind in His Word. It was God’s law that judged and condemned Jesus Christ to death on the cross by which Jesus became the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.

Because God’s law is spiritual, it is also good. God’s law is not evil but it is inherently and intrinsically good because its Author is good. The law is not only good in its essence, but it is good in a very practical way because it has a good effect upon the lives of sinful men, and nations, and societies where it is administered. We are going to see some of the good effects of God’s moral law in this message, but suffice it to say here that the law of God is not evil, or harmful, or destructive to mankind, but on the contrary, it is for our good!

Because the moral law of God is spiritual, it is much deeper than what natural men read on the surface. Carnal men can only perceive the surficial “dos and don’ts” of the moral law, and the many warnings and cursings for disobeying and the blessings for obeying it. But the spiritual nature of the law reaches far deeper into the depths of the soul of the spiritual man, inciting him to be conformed into the very image and likeness of God Himself, and to be like Him in all aspects of life.

Because the moral law is spiritual it can only be fully understood and rightfully applied by people who are spiritual. My friends, the moral law brings terror and bondage to the unsaved, who mistakenly attempt to obtain righteousness and a good standing with God by trying to keep it. This is an impossibility! No lost man can please God or be just with God by keeping the moral law. He shall fall miserably short of the standard of God’s law, which is absolute perfection.

But the spiritual man, who is free from the bondage and condemnation of the law, can make good use of God’s holy moral law, as we shall see in our next point. So then, we’ve seen that the moral law of God is spiritual.

2. The sanctifying nature of the moral law in believers.

The moral law of God is the believer’s friend, not our enemy. It is no longer against us to judge us and condemn us. We are no longer under the government of the law, but we are under the government of grace. Therefore, believers are not under the condemnation of the law, which demands justice and punishment of the sinner. No, Christ bore the penalty and punishment of the law that all His people have miserably broken.

And because of the work of Jesus on the cross, believers enter into a new relationship with God’s holy law. The law is now our friend. And as a good friend, God’s moral law steers us away from the paths of sin and destruction, and into paths of holiness, righteousness, and godliness. Psalms 119, and many other Scriptures, teach this truth.

In progressive sanctification believers are separated more and more from the sinful affairs and effects of this old wicked world. In like manner, in sanctification believers are set apart more and more unto the Lord and the good things of His Kingdom. The moral law of God is active and instrumental in this process. No spiritual soul can read the Scriptures and not experience the sanctifying and cleansing power of God’s holy law.

The New Testament authors restated God’s moral law over and over again when writing to believers and churches. The exhortations to serve, to worship, and to love God supremely, as well as the many admonitions to abstain from the immoral deeds of the flesh, are stated in many ways throughout the writings of Paul.

The many exhortations to faithful obedience and undivided loyalty to Christ in the New Testament, are essentially the First Table of the law restated for believers today. The many and various exhortations to abstain from sin of all kinds, to love one another, to obey parents, etc., etc., are nothing less than the Second Table of the law restated for believers today.

Take away the moral law of God and you have Christians and churches without a standard for sanctification and godly living. Take away the moral law of God and you will have lawlessness, chaos, and confusion in the lives of Christians and in churches.

3. The evangelistic purpose of God’s moral law.

Those who think that God’s moral law has no place in evangelistic work simply don’t understand the work of God’s law in the conviction of sin and in directing sinners to repentance and faith in Christ for salvation. Please notice the following verses:

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

You can be sure that people will not see their need for Christ and His work on the cross until they see themselves as wicked sinners under the wrath and judgment of God. And sinners will not see their sinfulness except the law of God reveals their sin to them. Dear reader, sin is the transgression or breaking of God’s moral law. Paul said that he had not known sin, but by the law. The law of God revealed to Paul his wicked sin of covetousness, and showed him the depths of his sinful condition. Without the convicting power of the law, Paul thought he was OK. But when the law entered into Paul’s heart he was convicted and convinced that he was the very “chief of sinners”!

Therefore, the law is a schoolmaster, or tutor, which leads sinners to Christ for salvation. It does this by showing sinners their sinful condition and their need for a substitutionary sacrifice for their sins. The law was given to stop sinners’ self-righteous mouths, and show them they are guilty sinners in need of Jesus Christ.

Take away the preaching of the law, and you have unrepentant, unregenerate “converts” who have “accepted Jesus” on their terms, and not as the sacrifice for their sins. Take away the law from evangelism and you have easy believism, which is another gospel!

4. The preserving power of God’s moral law.

My friends, God’s moral law is good for people and for nations, as America has abundantly witnessed over the years.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

When the Israelites were obedient to God’s moral law, they were greatly blessed of God. He upheld them and preserved them from internal corruption, as well as from external enemies. When they disobeyed and disregarded His law, He brought them down to the very dust.

God will exalt any nation that will fear Him and honor His holy law. America has been greatly blessed because she honored and upheld God’s moral law in the past. But look at where America is today and where we are headed since God’s moral law has been forsaken by our nation. Except America repents of our wicked sins of abortion, Sodomy, fornication, desecrating the Lord’s Day, etc., etc., etc., we are headed for a great fall. Where there is light there is responsibility. America was founded, in part, on the light of God’s moral law, and God will not hold America guiltless for forsaking His law.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, some Christians are enemies of the 10 Commandments! They would not only remove them from courthouse walls (as the ACLU has done), but also from church house walls, and even from the Bible itself. Children of God, let’s not throw out God’s moral law! Rather, let us love His law. Let us honor and obey it with our lives, and preach it from our pulpits.

Finally, the moral law of God cannot save the soul. You cannot be justified or made right with God by keeping the moral law. Lost sinner, the law of God reveals that you are a sinner, and it points you to Jesus Christ for salvation from your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for your sins, and “thou shalt be saved.” May God bless this message to your soul is my prayer.