Chambersburg Bible Church

Text: Luke 18:9-14Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: that...: or, as being righteous ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  

Topic: Understanding how man can have a right relationship with a Holy God

Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths in physical illustrations. His teachings were difficult concepts to some of the Jewish people, and his use of parables assisted in his ministry. Jesus often used very common things in his parables, such as soil, wind, and sheep to illustrate things such as “what God is like” and “what the Kingdom is like.”

Listen Online!

Download mp3

One such parable can be found in Luke 18:9-14Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: that...: or, as being righteous ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  
. This parable illustrates how a man can enter into a right relationship with the Holy God. The parable contrasts two men participating in a common activity in the temple: praying. One man was a Pharisee; the other was a tax collector. Both were speaking to God, but they were communicating very different things.

• Those who trust themselves
  • An Inflated view of oneself
    • Verse 9 indicates that Jesus told this parable to those who were trusting in their own righteousness and ability
    • They were convinced and confident that God would accept them because of who they were and what they did (Verse 10-12)
    • The Pharisee speaks of himself and his religion and thanks HIMSELF not God
  • An inferior view of others
    • “I’m not as sinful as other people”
    • Guilty of lateral comparison of righteousness – between men
    • Displayed his arrogance and haughty spirit

• Those who understand themselves
  • Separated from God
    • Illustrated in verse 13 by the tax collector
    • He knew he was a great sinner, a traitor, despised by men
    • He did not consider himself worthy of entering God’s presence
    • He was aware of his relational distance from God
  • Broken before God
    • Unwilling to lift his eyes towards the Holy God
    • Feelings of guilt and remorse
    • Hopelessness and contrition for sin

• Those who are right before God
  • Understanding the nature of God
    • Verse 14 indicates that this parable is also about the nature of God
    • God is HOLY and JUST
  • Understanding the nature of Man
    • Man is a sinner
    • Man is dead to righteousness and must pay the penalty for sin
  • Understanding the nature of mercy
    • We need forgiveness, although we don’t deserve it
    • God is merciful to those who come to him in God’s Way
    • God is gracious and offers righteousness and a relationship
    • God will save!

Are you right with God?

Are you right with God because of who you are and what you do? Or are you right with God because you understand the holiness of God and the depravity of self and have called upon God for mercy and grace through repentance and faith in the sacrificial Lamb of God?

Text: 1 Corinthians 5:1-131 Corinthians 5:1-13
5 ¹ It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. ² And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. ³ For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, judged: or, determined ⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵ To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: is sacrificed; or, is slain ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. the feast: or, holyday ⁹ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: ¹⁰ Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹² For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? expedient: or, profitable ¹³ But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.  

Topic: Understanding the local church’s responsibility to deal with sin within the church

Listen Online!

Download mp3

Consider some of the most deadliest diseases in history…

• Smallpox – During its deadliest years, this highly contagious disease killed as many as 30% of people who contracted it, and most survivors were left with lasting impacts
• Spanish Flu – In 1918, the Spanish flu struck quickly, leaving a death toll at estimates around 50 million
• Bubonic Plague / Black Death – A plague of recurrence, killing a possible 25 million in Europe in the mid 1300s
• Tuberculosis – Ranked as the 8^th leading cause of death worldwide by the WHO
• Malaria – Caused by a parasite, often transmitted by infected mosquitoes, leading to an estimated 1 million deaths annually

1 Corinthians 5 mentions a disease in the Church of God which is every bit as deadly… Immorality was being tolerated in the church at Corinth (verse 1), and this sin affected the entire body of Christ, like leaven affects a lump of dough. Sin affects others, and when left alone, defiles the entire body.

• Sin in the Church of God is Scandalous
  • It is impossible to conceal sin in the church
    • Consider the universal spread of ‘such news’
    • Sin in the church becomes the ‘talk of the town’
    • Draws out accusations of hypocrisy and degrades the name of Christ
  • How the church deals with sin is important
    • Corinth was very slow to deal with this sin
    • Verses 1-4 indicate an arrogant spirit of tolerance in the body
    • Believers are not perfect, but tolerating sin is not pleasing to our Holy God

• Sin in the Church of God is Serious
  • It is to be mourned by God’s people
    • Verse 2 indicates the seriousness of our response towards sin – mourning
    • When our brother or sister in Christ is living in sin, it should grieve us as if someone has died
    • We ought to be moved with emotion
  • It is to be judged by God’s people
    • The word ‘judged’ in verse 3 means to ‘pass judgment’ or ‘reach a decision’
    • Judgment should not be based upon personal feelings or an arbitrary standard
    • Judgment should be of the Word of God, publically (verse 4)
    • Public sin should be dealt with publically
  • It is to be removed from God’s people
    • Verses 6-13 instruct the church concerning their actions when an offender of God’s law is unwilling to repent
    • Drastic measures are to be employed by God’s people
      • Verse 2 – ‘taken away from you’
      • Verse 5 – ‘deliver one to Satan’ (not an issue of salvation, but removing from the hand of God’s protection)
      • Verse 13 – ‘to put away’
    • The relationship has been damaged – sin changes everything

• Sin in the Church of God Demands Separation
  • The sinful believer must be removed from the assembly
    • Why? Because tolerated, unrepented sin damages the body
    • Church discipline is difficult, but commanded
  • The sinful believer must be avoided by the assembly
    • Verse 9 – ‘no company with them’ – speaking of public association
    • So-called brothers cannot walk together as one in Christ when their lives are diametrically different – it confuses the holiness of God before the world

This issue within the church is NOT easy, nor is it popular… many times, such discipline by a local church is misunderstood or misapplied. However, when properly administered in accordance with God’s Word, the desired outcome often results in repentance, reconciliation, and restoration. 2 Corinthians 2:1-112 Corinthians 2:1-11
2 ¹ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. ² For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? ³ And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. ⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. ⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. punishment: or, censure ⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. ⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. ⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. ¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; person: or, sight ¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  
speaks of the return of the repentant… embracing, welcoming, loving… The defense of the Holiness of God and his demands upon his people must be made! Consider 2 Corinthians 13:142 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.  
.

A “Veteran’s Day” is someday coming for all the saints!

We are presently in the army of the King of Heaven, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:1-52 Timothy 2:1-5
2 ¹ Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. among: or, by ³ Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. ⁵ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.  
, we are to “endure hardness as a good soldier.” As believers, we are called to a life of service to the king, and a spiritual battle is raging around us. In the final days of the Great Tribulation, believers previously raptured to glory will return with Christ as members of the heavenly army descending upon Armageddon, where God has assured the victory for righteousness (Revelation 19:14,19Revelation 19:14,19
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁹ And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  
).

As believers, we also have an ongoing battle with our mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-62 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ through God: or, to God ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; imaginations: or, reasonings ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  
), the flesh (James 4:1-4James 4:1-4
4 ¹ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? fightings: or, brawlings lusts: or, pleasures ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. lusts: or, pleasures ⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  
), and the world (1Peter 2:11r 2:11
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.  
). The scripture tells us that the friendship of the world is at enmity with God, but he has given us spiritual armor: Light (Romans 13:12Romans 13:12
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  
), righteousness (2 Corinthians 6:72 Corinthians 6:7
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  
), and the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18Ephesians 6:11-18
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh...: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual...: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. having...: or, having overcome all ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  
). Righteousness will prevail, and all of His saints will be victorious (1 John 4:41 John 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  
)!

Let us look forward to that glorious day in heaven when we are rewarded for our service to the King -  a Spiritual “Veteran’s Day!”

Mid-week Minutes is a weekly summary of Pastor’s Bible Study from the mid-week Prayer Service.