The unsearchable riches of Christ

New Life in Christ, Pt1.

Ephesians 4:20-32.

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt54

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The verses we have been looking at over the last few weeks dealt with the subject of the need of the Christian to remain separated from the ways of the ungodly. This takes the matter a stage further.

The pupils of Christ cannot fellowship with those who remain in ignorance.
Rather, a great contrast should be observable.

I. THE CHRISTIAN IS A GRADUATE OF CHRIST’S SCHOOL

1. Christ runs a school. What an education He gives! The call of the gospel is one to attend upon learning. It requires an acknowledgement of our ignorance and inability to discover the knowledge of God for ourselves. Zophar the Naamathite said: “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” Job 11:7. No man can.

2. Christ is the teacher in His school. One of the offices of Christ is that of Prophet. SC. Q24: Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him,” John 1:18, K. “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name,” John 20:31. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,” John 14:26. John 6:45.

3. The chief instrument of instruction is hearing His Word. Verse 21.  God the Father’s charge to mankind is to HEAR His Son. Matt 17:5. It is not enough to hear ABOUT Christ, we must hear HIM, His voice. “Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire, ” Deuteronomy 4:36. “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,” Psalm 95:7-8. “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,” Matthew 11:29.

4. Conversion is the consequence of being taught by Christ. SC. Effectual calling is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. Acts 26:18; Eze 36:26; John 6:44-45.

The total depravity of mankind, Pt3.

Ephesians 4:17-19. 

4:17-19. The total depravity of mankind.III. SEPARATION IN LIFESTYLE BECOMES ALL THE MORE NECESSARY GIVEN THE OUTWORKINGS OF THE DEPRAVED HEART.
We are commanded “not to walk” as the unconverted Gentile. Their problem is not just one of the mind and heart but it is also one of practice. That which their heart and mind contemplates must be seen in their actions and deeds.
See what Paul says is the consequence of having the understandiug darkened and the heart blinded.

1. The sinner is past feeling. Literally “beyond feeling”. They cannot feel that which a living soul feels. Why did not David “feel” his sins? Because for a time he was under the rule of the old nature which is devoid of such feelings.
The sinner has no sympathy or empathy with the saint and his fears and dreads. Public morality is a morality “imposed” by Christians. That is why it constantly resisted and eroded. Unconverted members of a family outwardly abide within the parameters of acceptable behaviour but inwardly desire the ways of the flesh.

2. They have willingly become the slaves of depravity. “Given themselves over”. Thus they pass from one sin to another without restraint. “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries,” 1 Peter 4:3. “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?” Job 15:16. That the world has not swiftly sunk down into a Sodom is due to the restraints exercised by God through the witness of His people rather than any lack of zeal or desire on the part of the wicked, Romans 1:24, 26.

3. Sin is the business of the sinner. That is what he works at.He works at uncleanness and that with greed. He has a large and insatiable appetite for sin.
From such we must, for our own safety and for the honour of the Lord, withdraw.
The way of the child of God takes them on a different path altogether as the next section of the chapter sets forth.

The total depravity of mankind, Pt2

Ephesians 4:17-19. 

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt 52

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II. GIVEN THE CHARACTER OF THE SINNER, SEPARATION IS A NECESSITY.
If it is right for the child of God to understand what God has wrought in him and what he has become by the grace of God, it is also right for the Christian to understand the true character of the sinful man. Thus he will see that he has nothing in common with the worldling. Isaiah 51:1.

1. The sinner is moved by a vain mind. Their mind is void of truth. Vanity fills it and governs it. That is its natural condition from which it cannot move in and of itself. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee,” Proverbs 23:7. What hope of self-regeneration is there for one whose fountain of thought is so utterly corrupted? Rich young man’s vain notions of his own desires, Matt 19:16.

2. This vanity springs from the utter darkness within. They are in darkness concerning the chief of all light — God. They know nothing of the life of God. This why Christ says man requires to be “born again.” How can they act in accordance with the will of Him of Whom they cannot know anything.

3. They are and will remain alienated from God because of the hardness of their hearts. Nothing of good can make an impression on the natural heart. The word “blindness” means “covered with a callus.” So we see where the idea of blindness and hardness comes from.
How can those who separated unto God walk with those who are separated from God?