Author: Art Davison

LET THERE BE LIGHT–MATTHEW 5:14-16

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LET THERE BE LIGHT
MATTHEW 5:14-16
Genesis 1:4, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” MATTHEW 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15-Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Introduction:

Solomon said that the physical light is said to be sweet: Ecclesiastes 11:7, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:” It is a pleasant thing to see the sun.

I believe there is something much more pleasant to feast our eyes upon and that is the Light of Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a privilege we have to share that LIGHT with others.

I. THE GOSPEL LIGHT IS INFINITELY MORE PRECIOUS

A. For the Gospel Light reveals eternal things…
1. The deep things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

2. His everlasting mercy, Psalm 100:5, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

3. Everlasting life, 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.

B. The Gospel Light ministers to our need of the Saviour.

1. The sick need a physician, Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

2. It tells us where we can find help, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US SPIRITUAL LIGHT

A. He reveals the Saviour, Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”

1. That He is the Son of God, Matthew 16:16-17, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

2. To give knowledge of the Glory of God, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

B. He sets forth the plan of mercy.

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

2. Come with your heavy burden…

a. Of sin, Psalm 38:4, “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”

b. Put that burden on Him and He will give you rest…

1) For the penitent sinner, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2) For the burden believer, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
c. His burden is light, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30-For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

III. THIS GOSPEL LIGHT IS…

A. The light of Wonderful knowledge, Psalm 139:4-6, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

IV. THE LIGHT IS JOY
 Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

C. The light of Holiness, Ephesians 4:10, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

1. Established in true holiness, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
2. You are called unto holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
D. The light of Life, Colossians 3:3, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4-When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
CONCLUSION
Satan is doing everything he can to see that the light of the Gospel does not reach the lost. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” We need to do everything possible to see that the Light of the Gospel shines through us.

JOHN THE BAPTIST, WAS JOHN’S BAPTISM CHRISTIAN?–MATTHEW 3:1-6,11

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JOHN THE BAPTIST, WAS JOHN’S BAPTISM CHRISTIAN?
MATTHEW 3:1-6,11
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
11- I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
Introduction:
Was John’s baptism Christian baptism? According to my understanding of the Scriptures it has to be.
Was John a part of the Old Testament economy or the New Testament economy?
He was of the New Testament.
Matthew 11:13, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” His ministry, of which his baptism was a part, opened the new era of the Word of God. The Protestants relegate John to the Old Testament along with his baptism saying that his baptism was not Christian because the Church had not been founded yet. Let’s look at what the Scriptures say and draw our own conclusions.
I. Sent from God, John 1:6,
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
II. To bare witness of Christ, John 1:15.
“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
III. John’s record, John 1:19-23.
19- And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20- And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21- And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22- Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23- He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
IV. John’s baptism, Matthew 3:6, 11.
A. Ordained in Heaven, Matthew 3:1-11.
a. To repentance, vs. 1-6. “The sum of his preaching was the necessity of repentance.” (Eaton’s Bible Dictionary).
b. By implication, to faith in Christ, v. 11. John was the forerunner of Christ, therefore his whole ministry was centered around introducing Jesus Christ to Israel. Therefore his preaching was not limited to repentance only.
c. All of the Apostles had John’s baptism, Acts 1:16-24.
1) The qualifications to fill the place of Judas Iscariot was: to be one of John’s disciples since the beginning; to have John’s baptism.
2) The other Apostles insisted on those requirements.
B. Were the Apostles ever rebaptized? If so, by whom? By what authority?
V. The baptism with which Jesus baptized.
A. Not in water,
John 4:1-2, “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”
B. In the Holy Spirit, Matthew 3:11;
Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
C. On the Day of Pentecost Jesus baptized His Church in the Holy Spirit empowering them to realize the work that God had commanded it to do in Matthew 28:19-20.
Conclusion:
John’s baptism was Christian baptism according to the Apostles. They had only John’s baptism and the Lord never mentioned any need of rebaptizing them and there is no record of their being rebaptized. It was good enough for the Lord and it is good enough for me.

JESUS THE SAVIOUR–MATTHEW 1:18-25

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JESUS THE SAVIOUR
MATTHEW 1:18-25
Introduction:

In two weeks the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the world does not know Jesus Christ. All of this is just religion that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Mardi Gras and Carnaval in Latin America has taken place in the Catholic world and man has sinned in all of his festivities in the name of Christ. Now he abstains from meat during Lent and yet non of this will bring men to Christ because it is not about the Savior.

Let us look to the true story of Jesus Christ found in the Word of God, the Bible.

I. Jesus, The Baby, Is Not The Savior.

A. It is true that Jesus was born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

B. It is true that Jesus is the promised Savior.

C. It is true that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah, Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

D. But Jesus as the Baby cannot save anyone.

II. Jesus, The Good Teacher, Is Not The Savior.

A. The One who taught the truth in the Temple, Mark 14:49, “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

B. The One who fed the multitudes, Matthew 14:14-21.

C. The One who calmed the waters of the sea, Mark 4:36-41.

D. All of this is part of His history.

III. Jesus On The Cross Is Not The Savior.

A. The Crucifix is a symbol of SIN, 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.”

B. The Crucifix is a symbol of JUDGEMENT.

C. The Crucifix is a symbol of SUFFERING.

D. The Crucifix IS NOT a symbol of SALVATION.

IV. Jesus, The One Who Rose From The Dead, Is The Savior.

A. Jesus was born exactly as it was stated earlier in the message, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. He was born of a virgin.

2. He was born in Bethlehem.

3. He was the promised Savior.

B. He was the good teacher of the truth.

1. He taught all of the truth.

2. He fed the multitudes as the Bible says.

3. He healed the sick and raised the dead.

C. Jesus died on the cross according to the Scriptures.

1. He suffered for our sins on the cross.

2. He died for our sins.

3. He paid the debt of our sins.

D. But HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!!

1. He has WON over death.

2. He SAVES those who trust Him.

3. He JUSTIFIES those who believe in Him, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Conclusion:

Jesus invites the sinner to trust Him, to come to Him for salvation. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
See John 10:28-30

JESUS’ AMAZING LOVE FOR HIS ENEMIES–MATTHEW 5:38-48

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JESUS’ AMAZING LOVE FOR HIS ENEMIES
MATTHEW  5:38-48

Luke 22:50-51, “And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”

Introduction:

Satan has been very sly in the way he has deceived man. He has taken advantage of the deceitful heart of man for the Scripture says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The deceitfulness of man’s heart has led him to believe that God wants to kill him rather than save him. Look at what the Bible says in that regard.

I. THE LORD DOES NOT HAVE PLEASURE AT THE DEATH OF THE LOST

A. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

B. The Lord admonishes man to turn to the Lord, Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”

C. The Lord has taught His people not to rejoice in the destruction of those that hate them, Job 31:29-30, “If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.”

1. David prayed, “Lord, plead my cause,” Psalm 35:1-7, “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.”

2. He asked the Lord to confuse them and make them ashamed, Psalm 35:4, “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.”

D. The Lord is DISPLEASED with the Believer who rejoices when the enemy falls, Proverbs 24:17-18, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it , and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”

E. The Lord gives commandment regarding grudges, Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

II. THE LORD DOES GOOD TO HIS ENEMIES

A. Christ DIED FOR His enemies, Romans 5:6, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

1. When we were without strength to correct the problem, Ezekiel 16:5, “None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.”

2. At the right time according to God’s plan He sent His Son to die for sinners, Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

B. God IDENTIFIES His enemies? Romans 5:10, “For if, WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

1. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

2. We were reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ His Son having slain the enmity thereby, Ephesians 2:16, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,

III. THE LORD’S GUIDELINES FOR THE BELIEVER REGARDING HIS ENEMIES

A. Treat others as you would like to be treated, Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

B. Live peaceable with all men, Romans 12:18-19, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

C. Overcome evil with good, Romans 12:20-21, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

1. The example set forth by the Lord Jesus, 1 Peter 2:23, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

2. Our good works must shine brighter, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

3. Like the beacon set on a hill top, Matthew 6:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

4. Is it a light thing to you to be the Light of Jesus Christ to those who walk in darkness, Isaiah 49:6, “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord loved us when we were unlovely. The Lord Jesus Christ died for us when we were yet sinners. He has saved everyone who has trusted Him as Savior. Doesn’t seem a small thing to do if we love the lost as He does?

HE–MATTHEW 1:18-23

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
HE
MATTHEW 1:18-23
Key verse: v. 21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Introduction:
The whole value of the statement in verse 21 is found by placing the emphasis upon the “HE.” The name that the angels commanded Joseph to give to Mary’s Child was one that was common at that time. It had a glorious history. Hoshea or Joshua (Jesus in the Greek form) was Moses successor. The name meant “Salvation” with some of the letters of the Divine name “Jehovah,” so that its full meaning is “the Salvation of Jehovah.”
Thus the name of Jesus is equivalent the Jehovah of the Old Testament.
I.   HE DEALS WITH SIN.
A. He shall redeem His people, Psalm 130:7, “Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8-And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
B. You shall be clean, Ezekiel 36:25, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26-A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27-And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
1. A new heart, Deuteronomy 30:6, “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.”
a. A changed heart, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
b. A clean heart, Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
2. A new spirit.
a. My Spirit, Ezekiel 37:14, “And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.”
b. A right spirit (attitude), Psalm 51:10.
II. “HE” FORGIVES SIN AND DOES AWAY WITH ITS PENALTY.
A. All have sinned, Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
1. All under sin, Roman 3:9, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”
2. We are all guilty and therefore subject to judgment, 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.”
B. The penalty of sin is death, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1. Because of our sin we are under God’s condemnation, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
2. Because of God’s GRACE we can be free from that condemnation, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Hebrews 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
C. The gift of God, 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.”
III. “HE” CLEANSES MAN FROM SIN’S POLUTION.
A. A New man, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
B. Newness of life, Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
IV. “HE” DESTROYS SIN’S POWER.
A. Free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2-3, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3-For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
B. What man was unable to do, Christ did for him.
1. The deeds of the law, man was not justified, 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.”
2. Christ, the Righteous of God, destroyed the power of sin over man, Romans 3:21-22, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22-Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”
CONCLUSION
“HE,” that is, Jesus, accomplished in the giving of Himself as our sacrifice for sin, what man could never do for himself – save his soul from death and hell, and much more.