Trust
in God & You Need Not Fear
in God & You Need Not Fear
“Jesus
Christ is the same Yesterday & Today & Forever”
Christ is the same Yesterday & Today & Forever”
(In
God I Trust, I will Not be Afraid, What can Man Do To Me?)
God I Trust, I will Not be Afraid, What can Man Do To Me?)
Hebrews
13:8; Psalm 56:11
13:8; Psalm 56:11
Introduction
On the First of July 1750, the man who was in essence the leader
of the Great Awakening gave his farewell sermon to the congregation of
the Northampton Church in Massachusetts.
of the Great Awakening gave his farewell sermon to the congregation of
the Northampton Church in Massachusetts.
He was fired from his position as Pastor of the church that had been
the center of that Great Awakening revival some years earlier.
the center of that Great Awakening revival some years earlier.
It was a very dark time for Jonathan Edwrds and his family - But
Edwards turned to God with Whom he had been walking very very closely.
Edwards turned to God with Whom he had been walking very very closely.
Edwards known for his writings on revival, the bible, was very
respected in much of America & Europe was now without a source of income
and also any job prospects, with a rather large family to feed. To make matters
worse, the land they were using to graze their livestock, which consisted of a
total of 50 acres, was taken back by the church.
respected in much of America & Europe was now without a source of income
and also any job prospects, with a rather large family to feed. To make matters
worse, the land they were using to graze their livestock, which consisted of a
total of 50 acres, was taken back by the church.
All this over the issue of who can & cannot partake of
communion, the Lord’s Supper; add to this the fact that many in the
congregation just didn’t like him.
communion, the Lord’s Supper; add to this the fact that many in the
congregation just didn’t like him.
Edwards grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, had been the pastor of the
Northampton church for years, and in 1726 Jonathan had been called to be the
associate minister there to help his grandfather in the work of the ministry.
The following year Jonathan married Sarah Pierrepont the daughter of James
Pierrepont one of the founders of Yale. At the time Yale along with Harvard
collegiate school had been established with the sole purpose of equipping
ministers of the gospel.
Northampton church for years, and in 1726 Jonathan had been called to be the
associate minister there to help his grandfather in the work of the ministry.
The following year Jonathan married Sarah Pierrepont the daughter of James
Pierrepont one of the founders of Yale. At the time Yale along with Harvard
collegiate school had been established with the sole purpose of equipping
ministers of the gospel.
Well, just about 18 month later Solomon Stoddard died &
Edwards took over as pastor & so established his name with Northampton
forever. He pastored there for about 23 years.
Edwards took over as pastor & so established his name with Northampton
forever. He pastored there for about 23 years.
Solomon Stoddard was a great man of God but it seemed that he
compromised on a point of Scripture by allowing any member of Northampton to
partake of the Lord’s Supper. He hoped by this that conversion would eventually
take place. Stoddard was called the “Congregational Pope of New England” (I
guess it’s like Buddy calls Billy Miller “The Pope of Isle of Hope”); any way,
this was for establishing what was called the “Half-way Covenant” which
basically was that the conversion experience wasn’t required for full
membership; Now, because only members of the Church were allowed to have their
children baptized, the requirements then for obtaining full communion
membership was limited to acknowledging what the Church believed without
necessarily giving proof that the membership candidate had actually been born
again so anyone that desired Church Membership would be granted it, and so then
anyone could have their children baptized; this created a cycle that
allowed people to be full members of a Church without truly believing the
Church's dogma. Edwards was never comfortable with it but continued with the
custom. If one was baptized & possessed adequate knowledge of Scripture,
they could partake of Communion, the Lord’s Supper
compromised on a point of Scripture by allowing any member of Northampton to
partake of the Lord’s Supper. He hoped by this that conversion would eventually
take place. Stoddard was called the “Congregational Pope of New England” (I
guess it’s like Buddy calls Billy Miller “The Pope of Isle of Hope”); any way,
this was for establishing what was called the “Half-way Covenant” which
basically was that the conversion experience wasn’t required for full
membership; Now, because only members of the Church were allowed to have their
children baptized, the requirements then for obtaining full communion
membership was limited to acknowledging what the Church believed without
necessarily giving proof that the membership candidate had actually been born
again so anyone that desired Church Membership would be granted it, and so then
anyone could have their children baptized; this created a cycle that
allowed people to be full members of a Church without truly believing the
Church's dogma. Edwards was never comfortable with it but continued with the
custom. If one was baptized & possessed adequate knowledge of Scripture,
they could partake of Communion, the Lord’s Supper
By 1744, Edwards was convicted on this issue & couldn’t
continue the tradition. He knew the New Testament passages concerning the
Lord’s Supper, but he used the Old Testament to convict his heart, Ezekiel
44:6-8 -- "You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the
house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Enough of all your
abominations, O house of Israel, when you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised
in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, [even]
My house, when you offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they made My
covenant void--[this] in addition to all your abominations. "And you have
not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set [foreigners] to
keep charge of My sanctuary."
continue the tradition. He knew the New Testament passages concerning the
Lord’s Supper, but he used the Old Testament to convict his heart, Ezekiel
44:6-8 -- "You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the
house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Enough of all your
abominations, O house of Israel, when you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised
in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, [even]
My house, when you offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they made My
covenant void--[this] in addition to all your abominations. "And you have
not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set [foreigners] to
keep charge of My sanctuary."
This is why Jonathan Edwards opposed the Half-Way Covenant, and
one of reasons, if not the main one, he was eventually removed from his Church
by his congregation. A slow rebellion brewed though he was loved by many, most
especially those touched by the Great Awakening, he did, though, have some
enemies and these eagerly grasped the decision to stir unrest.
one of reasons, if not the main one, he was eventually removed from his Church
by his congregation. A slow rebellion brewed though he was loved by many, most
especially those touched by the Great Awakening, he did, though, have some
enemies and these eagerly grasped the decision to stir unrest.
Most of the attacks on Edwards were personal and not directly on
the issue of Communion, because he could soundly defend his position; He was right.
So the attacks were on his spending on his wife’s clothing, on his traveling.
They appeared to be petty. His family was large, his spending wasn’t
extravagant and Sarah was a careful purchaser. For a period of six years he
carried on the pastoral work there under this cloud.
the issue of Communion, because he could soundly defend his position; He was right.
So the attacks were on his spending on his wife’s clothing, on his traveling.
They appeared to be petty. His family was large, his spending wasn’t
extravagant and Sarah was a careful purchaser. For a period of six years he
carried on the pastoral work there under this cloud.
As the revival faded over the years so it appeared did his stature
among his congregation and by 1749 the majority of the elders were ready to
dismiss him and largely over the Communion issue. Then in a 10-9 vote in 1750
Edwards was removed ending the tenure of the man most linked with the Great
Awakening.
among his congregation and by 1749 the majority of the elders were ready to
dismiss him and largely over the Communion issue. Then in a 10-9 vote in 1750
Edwards was removed ending the tenure of the man most linked with the Great
Awakening.
One thing I found that Edwards and others in the Great Awakening,
most notably the result of his sermon in 1741, (Sinners in the Hands of an
Angry God), at Enfield Ct. where large numbers were repentant and saved, he
never mentioned the Enfield sermon himself and he and the others did not keep
numbers converts [as is a common practice today] in that they believed it all
to be a movement of the Holy Spirit so they didn’t concern themselves. Edwards
hints that doing so leads to the sin of pride and he could see it creeping into
his heart when revealing the numbers earlier in 1734.
most notably the result of his sermon in 1741, (Sinners in the Hands of an
Angry God), at Enfield Ct. where large numbers were repentant and saved, he
never mentioned the Enfield sermon himself and he and the others did not keep
numbers converts [as is a common practice today] in that they believed it all
to be a movement of the Holy Spirit so they didn’t concern themselves. Edwards
hints that doing so leads to the sin of pride and he could see it creeping into
his heart when revealing the numbers earlier in 1734.
Now was a time of testing for Edwards, he had no way to support
himself. He had no choice but to put himself completely in the hands of God. He
spent about six years as a missionary to the Indians in Stockbridge Mass. What
is notable is that during that time he wrote most of his great work. Looking
back it can be seen the hand of God his removal from Northampton. What some
meant for evil and their selfish desires, God meant it for good.
himself. He had no choice but to put himself completely in the hands of God. He
spent about six years as a missionary to the Indians in Stockbridge Mass. What
is notable is that during that time he wrote most of his great work. Looking
back it can be seen the hand of God his removal from Northampton. What some
meant for evil and their selfish desires, God meant it for good.
His daughter Esther, married AaronBurr who was president of the
College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton, which was another training
ground for ministers. Aaron Burr died in 1757 at age of 41 and soon after the
trustees asked Edwards to take the position which he did with reluctance. He
thought he was too old for the job and not well enough educated. But he
accepted the position. Shortly after there was an outbreak of smallpox, and he
was encouraged to get inoculated with a new procedure. It seemed to work at
first but he shortly developed pustules in his mouth and throat; his condition
got worse and worse rapidly.
College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton, which was another training
ground for ministers. Aaron Burr died in 1757 at age of 41 and soon after the
trustees asked Edwards to take the position which he did with reluctance. He
thought he was too old for the job and not well enough educated. But he
accepted the position. Shortly after there was an outbreak of smallpox, and he
was encouraged to get inoculated with a new procedure. It seemed to work at
first but he shortly developed pustules in his mouth and throat; his condition
got worse and worse rapidly.
On his deathbed he says to his daughter Esther to tell his
children, “you are going to be fatherless, which I hope will be an inducement
to you all to seek a Father who will never leave you”
children, “you are going to be fatherless, which I hope will be an inducement
to you all to seek a Father who will never leave you”
He then looked around the room and said, “Now where is Jesus of
Nazareth, my true and never failing friend?” He went into unconsciousness
when suddenly, he opened his mouth & uttered his last words, “Trust in
God, and you need not fear.” He then went to be with Jesus into eternity on
March 22, 1758.
Nazareth, my true and never failing friend?” He went into unconsciousness
when suddenly, he opened his mouth & uttered his last words, “Trust in
God, and you need not fear.” He then went to be with Jesus into eternity on
March 22, 1758.
So there we have it, Trust in God, and there’s no need to fear!
Psalm 56:11 says in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me? And Jesus tells us to "... not let our heart be
troubled; [to] believe in God, [and] believe also in [Him] Me. John
14:1
Psalm 56:11 says in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me? And Jesus tells us to "... not let our heart be
troubled; [to] believe in God, [and] believe also in [Him] Me. John
14:1
Transition
The Christian faith doesn’t change.It isn’t one
way today and one way when the first believers were converted about 2000 years
ago, and throughout the centuries since, by this is meant the doctrine of the
Christian faith.This brings us to the main part of this message, Hebrews 13:8; Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday today and forever..
way today and one way when the first believers were converted about 2000 years
ago, and throughout the centuries since, by this is meant the doctrine of the
Christian faith.This brings us to the main part of this message, Hebrews 13:8; Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday today and forever..
Jesus is unchangeable; He is so in two
ways. One because of His Divine nature and two, in His office as mediator &
Savior of His church & people. I wish to briefly look at His office
ways. One because of His Divine nature and two, in His office as mediator &
Savior of His church & people. I wish to briefly look at His office
First, His office never ceases nor is it replaced. Jesus is the
only mediator between God and man who ever has been or who will forever be. He
is the everlasting Savior. There have been others that have passed temporarily
in the office but they are all dead. Yet Christ the One true mediator continues
forever. Moses gave way to Christ but Christ never gives place to any other.
John the Baptist like the morning star, forerunner of the sun, shined for a
little while then. His ministry decreased and ceased and gave way to the
ministry of Christ. As John says in John 3:30, I must decrease and He must
increase. Jesus’ ministry never deceases.
only mediator between God and man who ever has been or who will forever be. He
is the everlasting Savior. There have been others that have passed temporarily
in the office but they are all dead. Yet Christ the One true mediator continues
forever. Moses gave way to Christ but Christ never gives place to any other.
John the Baptist like the morning star, forerunner of the sun, shined for a
little while then. His ministry decreased and ceased and gave way to the
ministry of Christ. As John says in John 3:30, I must decrease and He must
increase. Jesus’ ministry never deceases.
We can go on with the changing priesthoods; but the Son of God,
the things that pertain to His priesthood are everlasting.
the things that pertain to His priesthood are everlasting.
Christ is everlasting with reference to His kingly office. David
& Solomons were great kings & beautiful types of Christ; yet their
kingdoms & greatness ended at their deaths. The Greek & Roman Empires
have all come to an end, but Christ’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His
throne is eternal. (Daniel (:13-14).
& Solomons were great kings & beautiful types of Christ; yet their
kingdoms & greatness ended at their deaths. The Greek & Roman Empires
have all come to an end, but Christ’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His
throne is eternal. (Daniel (:13-14).
He’s had the office from all eternity, has been exercising His
office & has remained sufficient throughout all ages.His power, wisdom,
love, compassion, & worthiness has been forever all sufficient for the
salvation sinners and for the upholding & glorifying of believers. He is
able to forgive forever because He lives forever. His life is endless &
unchangeable.
office & has remained sufficient throughout all ages.His power, wisdom,
love, compassion, & worthiness has been forever all sufficient for the
salvation sinners and for the upholding & glorifying of believers. He is
able to forgive forever because He lives forever. His life is endless &
unchangeable.
He is always, at all times equally accepted as a Mediator in the
sight of the Father who is always pleased in Him and lovely in His sight. The
sacrifice He offers & the righteousness that He performs are no and have
always been totally sufficient. His blood is as sufficient to cleanse sin away
now as it was when it was fresh from His wounds.
sight of the Father who is always pleased in Him and lovely in His sight. The
sacrifice He offers & the righteousness that He performs are no and have
always been totally sufficient. His blood is as sufficient to cleanse sin away
now as it was when it was fresh from His wounds.
Jesus was, is now & will be faithful in the duty of His
office. He never alters from His readiness to receive & embrace all that in
faith come to Him, who answer His call. Jesus is always equally willing to
receive us all.
office. He never alters from His readiness to receive & embrace all that in
faith come to Him, who answer His call. Jesus is always equally willing to
receive us all.
His love never changes. He loved from eternity; from everlasting
and will love to everlasting. Jeremiah 31:3, The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an
everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Jesus has loved us with an everlasting love, and He
will love us forever. John 13:1a tells us that Jesus having loved His own
who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
and will love to everlasting. Jeremiah 31:3, The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an
everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Jesus has loved us with an everlasting love, and He
will love us forever. John 13:1a tells us that Jesus having loved His own
who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Jesus’ supreme purpose has been & is the
glory of God, in particular for the honor of God’s justice & majesty, and
that the law be vindicated in His sufferings. Jesus undertook the office also
to glorify the free grace of God. His special purposes were the salvation &
happiness of the elect, those accepting the call to salvation.
glory of God, in particular for the honor of God’s justice & majesty, and
that the law be vindicated in His sufferings. Jesus undertook the office also
to glorify the free grace of God. His special purposes were the salvation &
happiness of the elect, those accepting the call to salvation.
Standing as mediator with fallen man is
Jesus’ highest rule He acts by in His office from which He never departs. His
intercession before God in heaven in continual; a continual intercession. It is
a constant presentation of His will before the Father for the salvation and the
happiness of those that are His. So, just as He is unchangeable in His
intercession, so He is unchangeable in upholding & preserving those that
are His.
Jesus’ highest rule He acts by in His office from which He never departs. His
intercession before God in heaven in continual; a continual intercession. It is
a constant presentation of His will before the Father for the salvation and the
happiness of those that are His. So, just as He is unchangeable in His
intercession, so He is unchangeable in upholding & preserving those that
are His.
He orders everything for their good until He
brings them into His glory in heaven. His is unchangeable in how He takes care
of His own. He will take care of them until He receives them up for their
enjoyment forever.
brings them into His glory in heaven. His is unchangeable in how He takes care
of His own. He will take care of them until He receives them up for their
enjoyment forever.
In Closing
Those of you that are unsaved, those sinners,
regardless of what you have done, what you have said, what you have denied; all
those who are concerned about the eternal state of their souls, know that it is
the Holy Spirit that is prodding you, to come to Christ and to put your trust
in Him for salvation. If Christ is now and ever will be the same, this is
a great encouragement for you to come to Him.
regardless of what you have done, what you have said, what you have denied; all
those who are concerned about the eternal state of their souls, know that it is
the Holy Spirit that is prodding you, to come to Christ and to put your trust
in Him for salvation. If Christ is now and ever will be the same, this is
a great encouragement for you to come to Him.
Jesus Christ is inviting you to come to Him
with the promise that He will accept you. He is often inviting and calling on
the lost, the unsaved, the sinners to come to Him.
with the promise that He will accept you. He is often inviting and calling on
the lost, the unsaved, the sinners to come to Him.
Proverbs 8:4 - To you, O men, I call, And my
voice is to the sons of men. [Pro 9:4-5 NASB] 4 "Whoever is naive, let him
turn in here!" To him who lacks understanding she says, 5 "Come, eat
of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. [Rev 3:20 NASB] 20 'Behold, I
stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. [Rev 22:17 NASB] 17 The
Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say,
"Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes
take the water of life without cost.
voice is to the sons of men. [Pro 9:4-5 NASB] 4 "Whoever is naive, let him
turn in here!" To him who lacks understanding she says, 5 "Come, eat
of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. [Rev 3:20 NASB] 20 'Behold, I
stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. [Rev 22:17 NASB] 17 The
Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say,
"Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes
take the water of life without cost.
If you think your, or consider your
circumstances a burden on your soul about your condition Christ is especially
inviting you - [Mat 11:28] 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. And Isaiah 55:1 - Ho!
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy
and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
circumstances a burden on your soul about your condition Christ is especially
inviting you - [Mat 11:28] 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. And Isaiah 55:1 - Ho!
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy
and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
And John 7:37 -Now on the last day, the
great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is
thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is
thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
Jesus
is truly gracious & sweet in His invitations & He is just as racious
& sweet in His acceptance of you, again no matter what type of sinner, lost
person you are, if you answer His call; John 6:37 - All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast
out.
is truly gracious & sweet in His invitations & He is just as racious
& sweet in His acceptance of you, again no matter what type of sinner, lost
person you are, if you answer His call; John 6:37 - All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast
out.
Be amongst those who accept His invitation to
eternal life. Don’t be content to be amongst the children of the devil. This is
the day of salvation; This is the acceptable day of the Lord.
eternal life. Don’t be content to be amongst the children of the devil. This is
the day of salvation; This is the acceptable day of the Lord.
How is it with you? Will you amongst those to
whom Christ will say ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE
LAWLESSNESS?
whom Christ will say ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE
LAWLESSNESS?
