Back to GOD KEEP OUR LAND page
Pastor Rev. Stephen Coates
BRILLIANT LIGHT FROM HEAVEN
I It has been said that Mercy shines more brilliant than justice!
· What is the spiritual condition of our 21st-century world?
· What does the Lord declare about you?
1
Arise, shine, for your light has
come,
and the
glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For
behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and
thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD
will arise upon you,
and his
glory will be seen upon you.
· “Darkness shall cover the earth,” prophecy predicts, “and deep darkness the people” (Isaiah 60:1-2).
· No time in history is this truer than now, in these last days.
· Prophecy not only depicts darkness, but it also predicts an end-time burst of incredible light all over the world.
· End Time Light From Heaven!
·
Heaven’s “power”
will be turned on full force.
Here’s the prediction: After
these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having
great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory
(Revelation 18:1).
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
· THIS PROPHETIC PROCLAMATION
of Heaven’s final message to a lost and dying world, is found in the hidden connection between two mighty biblical themes in the Revelation Of Jesus:
1. the righteousness of Jesus Christ and
2. the Law of God.
· Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
· THIS PROPHETIC WORD IS:
1. “God,”
2. His “commandments,”
3. “faith,” and
4. above all, “Jesus.”
· Paul wrote: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24, KJV).
24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
· Let me explain this text. The Greek word for “schoolmaster” or “guardian” is “paidagogos,” which means “instructor.”
Outline of Biblical Usage
1) a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.
· God’s law instructs us about His character, His will, and His perfect standard for humanity.
· When we look squarely and honestly at the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:3-17)—through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit—we are enabled to discern our failures.
· Yes we have:
1. we have failed to put God first,
2. we have embraced false gods (including false mental pictures of God),
3. we have dishonored His name, both in speech and life,
4. we have broken the Sabbath rest,
5. we have dishonored our parents,
6. we have practiced murder, or self-murder, or hate,
7. we have yielded to sexual impurity,
8. we have rejected strict honesty,
9. we have lied about others, and
10. we have not been content with what we have.
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
· This creates guilt within our consciences and a deep, troubling sense that we have failed our Maker.
· This is how “the law” becomes “our schoolmaster” to lead us to Jesus Christ.
· God made known to men the holiness of his character by proclaiming the Ten Commandments.
· He has also, based on the attributes of His character, provided a way out – a way that exalts both His justice and His mercy.
· Satan attempts to make void the law of God and to pervert the true meaning of the plan of salvation.
· Because of the devil’s subtly, and satanic imbalances extremes abound.
1. Some speak lovingly of Jesus, but reject God’s law.
2. Others coldly stress the importance of obedience to God’s commandments, but their hearts are devoid of sunshine, kindness, and grace.
· Did You Know That:
18And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
· God’s Rescue Plan Brought Brilliant Light From Heaven!
· An Old Testament prophecy about Jesus predicted, “And this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6).
6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'
17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
· What does it mean that Jesus Christ is “our righteousness?”
· Righteousness is right doing, or doing what is right, because it is right.
· In spite of Satan’s false accusations, God is righteous, which means that He always does the right thing 100% of the time.
· The Bible consistently connects the word “righteousness” with the “law”:
1.…all your commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172).
172My
tongue will sing of your word,
for all
your commandments are right.
2.…righteousness …. My law (Isaiah 51:7).
7
"Listen to me, you who know
righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my
law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor
be dismayed at their revilings.
3.…the righteousness of the law (Romans 2:26, KJV).
26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
4.…the righteousness of the law (Romans 8:4, KJV).
4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5.…the law of righteousness (Romans 9:31, KJV).
31but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
· Biblically speaking, “righteousness” is defined by God’s Law.
· “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20).
20 Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."
20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
· Jesus Christ flawlessly obeyed God’s law in human flesh in our behalf.
· “I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” (John 15:10).
10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I
have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
· By obeying the Ten Commandments in the flesh through faith in His Father, the Son of God—day by day, step by step, test by test – earned the royal right to receive the prophetic name, “The Lord our Righteousness.”
· “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).
10as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
· “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
· We haven’t kept God’s law, but Jesus has!
· Jesus can now legitimately forgive our sins, lift our guilt, and impute to us His own spotless righteousness as a free gift.
· A Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
· Paul’s answer was: “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
31And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
25whom
God put forward as a propitiation by his
blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s
righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had
passed over former sins.
CONCLUSIONS:
· Romans 3:19-22; Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe
· Paul wrote, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).
· To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).
· And they [the saints] overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11).
Compiled
By:
Pastor Rev. Stephen Coates
www.churchonthego.ca
Resources: www.biblegateway.com