2 Peter 2: 20: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

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1 Series: 2 Peter Title: The Holy Commandment Text: 2 Peter 2: 21 Date: September 9, 2012 Place: SGBC, New Jersey 2 Peter 2: 21: For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from THE HOLY COMMANDMENT delivered unto them. The false teacher promises their hearers liberty. 2 Peter 2: 19: While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. But the bondage is they teach liberty is found somewhere other than Christ and his finished work of redemption. The false teacher and those they lead away are not ignorant of the work of our Savior. 2 Peter 2: 20: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, They have heard with the carnal ear the truth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; they made a profession, appear to have escaped the pollutions of the world. But they followed after liberty someplace else other than Christ, thus they turned back to the pollutions of the world. When this happens 2 Peter 2: 20: they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Now they are twice dead dead plus they have a false refuge. The worst kind of worldliness, the worst lawlessness is: self-righteousness. 2 Peter 21: For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from THE HOLY COMMANDMENT delivered unto them. 22: But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. We know their knowledge was only a natural, carnal knowledge, because they turned away and were overcome. None who are truly, effectual given the unction of the Spirit are able to resist or turn from the holy commandment. This is our question: WHAT IS THE HOLY COMMANDMENT? When we hear the word commandment many think of the ten commandments the law given through Moses from Mt. Sinai. The law of God is indeed holy, but the law of Moses is not what is called here the holy commandment. So what is the holy commandment? The Holy Commandment is the gospel. It was delivered to them, like it is here, through the preaching of the gospel. But this is what we will focus on tonight. Proposition: When the gospel is preached, when the Holy Commandment is spoken into the heart of the sinner by THE Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, the Holy Commandment makes the sinner willing and the sinner obeys.

2 Psalm 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. Three things: 1) When Christ speaks the holy commandment he commands and brings about repentance; 2) When Christ speaks the holy commandment he teaches and convinces us of THE WAY of righteousness of the only way a sinner is made righteous and holy to be accepted of God; 3) When Christ speaks the holy commandment he commands us to believe on Christ and to love one another and causes us to do so. I. WHEN THE VOICE OF THE LORD JESUS SPEAKS THE HOLY COMMANDMENT, HE COMMANDS REPENTANCE and CAUSES US TO REPENT. Roman 7: 9: For I was alive without the law once: Paul had the Ten Commandments. He truly thought he had life by what he had done. Philippians 3: 5: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6: Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Romans 7: 9 but when THE COMMANDMENT came, sin revived, and I died. From WHOM did the commandment come? Remember what John declared: John 1:17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Acts 22: 1: Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. 2: (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 3: I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of THE LAW OF THE FATHERS, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4: And I PERSECUTED THIS WAY [the Way of Righteousness Christ the Way] unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5: As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there BOUND unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. When he thought he was alive by the law, Paul was the one bound. Entangled in the corruption of the world Entangled in the bondage of the law He had letters to BIND the believers who had true liberty to bring them to be punished because he accused them of LAWLESSNESS, of destroying THE LAW. Now, those to whom Paul spoke this had BOUND Paul. Why? Acts 21: 28: Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and THE LAW, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. When Paul was in bondage to the law, how was he delivered? The Holy Commandment came! Acts 22: 6: And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a GREAT LIGHT round about me. 7: And I fell unto the ground, and HEARD A VOICE saying unto me, Saul, Saul, WHY PERSECUTEST THOU ME? 8:

3 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, WHOM THOU PERSECUTEST. 9: And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not THE VOICE OF HIM that spake to me. This is when the Holy Commandment came to Paul. The Holy Commandment comes when Christ speaks through the Spirit into the heart. He singles out his elect child and speaks with Authority into our heart as he did Paul on the Damascus road. Christ does not speak to us audibly like he did Paul (Paul was an apostle called and taught directly by the Lord Jesus). Yet, as real as when Christ sat teaching the sermon on the earthly mountain, teaching the true spiritual meaning of the law, right now from his throne in the heavenly Mount as the gospel is preached, Christ through the Spirit of God, draws the sinner to him and begins teaching us the true spiritual meaning of the law in our hearts, convincing us of sin. He said, I will send the Holy Spirit and he will reprove, convince of sin, because they believe not on me. Acts 22: 10: And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11: And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. [Another account says he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.and the Lord said to Ananis, behold, he prayeth,] As Paul lay there for those three days, I can hear Paul saying as I did as you did Lord, I thought I had kept the law from my youth up? But the Lord Jesus says Do you not hear the law? The law says thou shalt not covet. You have not sold all and followed after me! You are guilty of the whole law! This is what Christ does as the gospel is preached. The Holy Commandment comes! SIN REVIVED AND I DIED! All our righteousnesses became as filthy rags. We don t hear the law of Moses till grace and truth comes by Jesus the Holy Commandment. Illustration: Strictness of the law My Teachers Birthday Party 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. 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. And Paul repented Lord what will you have me to do? II. WHEN CHRIST SPEAKS THE HOLY COMMANDMENT HE TEACHES US THE ONLY WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THE ONLY WAY A SINNER IS MADE RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY BEFORE GOD. The Holy Commandment commands us to behold Christ. Isaiah 42:1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.21: The LORD is well pleased for HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE; HE will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Through the Holy Spirit, through the gospel, Christ teaches us that the Holy Commandment was given to Christ from the Father to come forth and as a Man to magnify and honor the law as the Representative and Substitute of his people. So..

4 Galatians 4: 4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Matthew 5: 17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, BUT TO FULFILL. 18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till ALL BE FULFILLED. Illustration: The glass filled full The righteousness of the law was fulfilled by Christ s obedience. Romans 5:19 For as by one man s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous by Christ Jesus. The righteousness of the law requires holiness of nature Christ is that Holy One not conceived of corruptible seed but formed in the womb by the Holy Ghost. The law requires righteousness of obedience Christ fulfilled all righteousness by his obedience. The righteousness of the law requires death for disobedience Christ laid down his life for the offenses of his people satisfying justice. The Holy Commandment given to Christ of the Father was the Father s will for Christ to fulfill all righteousness making his elect the righteousness of God in him. John 10: 14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. THIS COMMANDMENT have I received of my Father. John 14: 30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31: But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me COMMANDMENT, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. This Holy Commandment that given him of the Father is the will, the law, that was in his heart when he said, Psalm 40: 8: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, THY LAW is within my heart. Hebrew 10: 5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. When the Holy Commandment comes he teaches us that Christ is the Righteousness of God. He laid down his life for the sheep 2 Corinthians 5: 21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

5 Galatains 3: 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Justified his people Purged his people of our sin then sat down Perfected forever them that are sanctified III. WHEN CHRIST SPEAKS THE HOLY COMMANDMENT, HE COMMANDS AND MAKES US WILLING, TO BELIEVE ON CHRIST AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. The Father gave Christ the Holy Commandment to preach that righteousness salvation life everlasting is through faith in Christ. Psalm 40:9: I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10: I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. John 12: 49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me A COMMANDMENT what I should say, and what I should speak. 50: And I know that HIS COMMANDMENT is LIFE EVERLASTING: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. John 6: 40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I will raise him up at the last day 47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Christ established the law and through faith in him the believer establishes it. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. When we are born of God, given his Spirit, we overcome by his love for us in laying down his life for us and we love him and we love one another constrained only by his grace and love for us. Love is the essence of the new, inward man and love is the constraint whereby we serve him by serving one another. John 13: 34: A new COMMANDMENT I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 1 John 3:23: And this is HIS COMMANDMENT, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, AS HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT. The Lord summed up what it is to love in his sermon on the mount. Matthew 7: 12: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. We would have others to agree with us when they have wronged us, the love of Christ who we wronged yet who came to us in mercy and grace, constrains us to do the same to others. (Mt. 5: ) We would have

6 our brethren to turn from fleshly lusts which hurt us and cause division. The love of Christ who was willing to be cut off so that the rest of the body could be saved, constrains us to do the same for them (Mt. 5: ) We want our brethren to be true to their word, the love of Christ in whom all God promises are yes and Amen, constrains us to be true to our word (Mt. 5: ) We want our brethren to turn the other cheek rather than lashing back when we have not been loving to them. The love of Christ who have his back to the smiters in our place constrains us to do the same. (Mt 5: ) We were enemies and Christ loved us, his love constrains us to love our enemies. (Mt. 5: ) We don t want others to draw attention to themselves in their service to the Lord, the love of Christ which caused him to make himself of no reputation as he redeemed us from sin constrains us to do likewise before them. (Mt. 6: 1-18.) We want to see the Lord s people to have their treasure in Christ so that they trust him and are willing to provide for the Lord s needy people in faith cheerfully. The love of Christ who is our Treasure constrains us to do the same for our needy brethren. We want our brethren to put off the old, condemning spirit, to help restore us and bear our burdens, the love of Christ who bore our sins in his own body on the tree constrains us to do the same for our brethren. Ultimately, faith which works by love constrains us to do nothing that will hinder sinners from beholding Christ Jesus in whom the righteousness of God is manifest. This is exactly what we desire for others to do for us. This is the spirit God gives in the inner man, the faith and love which God imparts in the new creation. Those who have been joined to God by irresistible grace have this law of Christ written on our hearts. Note: The holy commandment does not come one-time the Lord continually makes us willing to do these things by continually speaking the gospel of these great things he has done for us into our hearts. Illustration: Brother Henry Mahan, Love em to Christ. 1 Timothy 1: 5: Now the end of THE COMMANDMENT is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 FROM WHICH some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of THE LAW; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. Amen!