The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lasser Bradley Jr. Mm-hmm. Dozen tumblers seem My great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my god and king, the triumphs of this race. This is LaSayer Bradley Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace.
Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear? To own his cause, or blush to speak his name. Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of e While others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas. Are there No false.
For me. to face Must I not stem the flag? Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God? Sure, I must fight if I would reign. Increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the The toil will endure the pain supported by thy word. Thy saints in all this glorious war shall conquer though they die. They see the triumph from afar by faith. It is brought nigh When that illustrious day shall rise, and all thy No. For me, shine.
In robes of victory through the skies, the glory shall be thine. I'm glad to welcome you to our first Sunday broadcast of the new year. We look back with thanksgiving that the Lord blessed us to keep this program on the air for another year. And as we look forward, I hope that you will pray for us. And if you can help us with the support, we'll certainly be thankful for it.
Our address is Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. You can also make a donation by going to our website at BaptistBibleHour.org. And there you can read the Baptist Witness. We continue today with our series from the book of Joshua. It's interesting to me to see how many practical lessons.
And also, references by type and shadow to the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. are found in this Old Testament book. I pray these messages will be a blessing to you. Today we go once again to the book of Joshua. Joshua chapter 8.
Verse thirty Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. An altar built. In our last message from this book, We saw the victory at AI. where there had been previous defeat. An encouraging message.
to know that when there has been difficulty When there has been downright defeat as it was on the first effort to attack AI. That doesn't mean it's all over. That by returning to the Lord, Dealing with a problem. Coming to trust him. that victory can yet be enjoyed.
So first we saw the work. Work was necessary. They believe God. He gave them encouragement. That faith They depended upon him, but they also recognized that there was work to do and true faith.
does produce work. Secondly, we observed the battle. It required complete dependence upon God's promise. complete implementation of his plan Part of the problem of the first go-around They weren't following God's plan. They were listening to the advice of some in the military.
and it required complete self-denial. It was inconvenient. to follow the plan that was laid out. It put some of these soldiers in a place of potential danger, and when they recalled the fact that 32 men had been killed the first go-around, they could not help but have been somewhat apprehensive.
Some of this mission was carried out at night.
So some might have said, I just don't feel good about this. But They didn't have that option. As a part of the soldiers of the Israelite Army. They had to deny themselves. And if we're going to have success in the battles that we encounter in life, We're going to have to understand, as they did, it requires complete dependence upon the Lord.
It has to do with the implementation of his plan, not our own. and of self denial. Thirdly, we saw the victory. The city was burned. All the people in it were slain.
The king's body was put on a tree until evening. But before we move on. I want to note verse 29. It says, Joshua commanded that they should take the carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city. and raised thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
There are four times that a monument of stones was erected. The first one was when they had come across safely. Crossing Jordan. There were twelve stones that were put in the river. and twelve more were set up on the bank of the river as a memorial.
Saying that in time to come, when your children might inquire what mean these stones, it will give you the opportunity to tell them. that you were once in the bondage of Egypt. God brought you out. Led you through the wilderness, brought you to this new land, rolled back the waters of Jordan so that you came across safely. Over and over throughout the Old Testament, we find emphasis on the fact that the children were to be taught.
They were to be told about the mighty works of God, what he had done for them in times past. They were not ignored, they were not neglected. They were to be taught and trained. And certainly there is an example in that for us in our time today. Then secondly, they raised a great heap of stones, After Aiken.
Had been Put to death. And his body burned. And that heap of stones stood there as a warning. To those who would Reject. The word of the Lord.
God had specifically said on that first encounter, they were not to take any spoil. But Achan saw those valuable garments and they different items that were of such appeal to him and buried them in his tent that it caused the whole nation to be defeated. And when it was revealed that he was guilty, He was put to death. and a heap of stones set up as a warning to other evil doers. And then After they did have the victory at AI, There was a heap of stones put up at the gate of Ai.
This was judgment. on a wicked people. And this too was a reminder. And not only was it a reminder that God's judgment comes upon the wicked, but it was a reminder of God's blessing on his people. to give them victory over the enemy.
And furthermore, as we've said, it. was a reminder that there can be victory even after defeat. because God then had blessed them to overcome their enemy.
Now it says There were stones to be used in the building of an altar. under which was to be written the law of God as a reminder of their obligation to Him. And that they Would have success in obedience.
So, on those four occasions, stones are set up. God did not want his people to forget. He wanted them to remember what victory was about. He wanted them to remember the cause of defeat. He wanted them to remember the importance of obeying Him, submitting to Him, yielding to His law.
So now, as we look at this 30th verse in chapter 8, that Joshua built an altar. He built it because God commanded it. It wasn't a situation where the people discussed what might be their plan for the future, and somebody said, I've got a good idea. I think we ought to build an altar. No, this was built because God commanded it.
And we need to be careful. Not to implement something just because it seems to us to be a good idea. But whatever we do. As far as the practice and order of the church, as far as the conduct of our individual lives, we want to explicitly carry out what God has commanded us.
So verse 30 says: Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Eagle. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses.
So before the death of Moses, as he anticipated their journey into the Promised Land, he gave instruction that when they arrived there they were to build an altar. Deuteronomy chapter 27 verse 4. Wherefore it shall be, when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones which I command you this day in Mount Ebel.
Now one thing we observe here that worship was a priority. They had just had a remarkable victory at Jericho. marching around the city and the walls falling flat to the ground. They had another stunning victory now at AI. When all of the people were killed, the enemy was wiped out.
And now they say we're going to take time to worship. You can imagine that somebody might have said, Well, now we're on a roll, things are going well. This is a good time to move forward to another battle. The people over the land have heard the report of our victories, and they're already intimidated.
So it's the best time to attack them. Would it not be a good idea to move forward? But God had commanded them to build an altar.
So it was more important to do what God said. than to do white what might have appeared to be the ideal strategy on the part of some military leader. And so Worshiping God. was a priority. What takes the priority in your life.
Are you pursuing personal goals? To such an extent that you sometimes are negligent in the realm of spiritual duties. You may sometimes say, I need to do better about my reading of the Bible. And you have good intentions. You say I'm I'm I'm going to do that.
But other things press in. and duties of life distract you. And so you don't get to it. I suppose every one of us would say here today that A prayer life. could be improved.
But even that Sometimes we're distracted. We've come discouraged and say, well, I've prayed about some things and it didn't seem that God was hearing me, and so we give up. And yet we're told repeatedly in Scripture that we must not faint, but continue to pray and seek our God. What are your priorities? Do you seek first?
The kingdom of God. Then the altar Not only was it built because God commanded it, but according to His specifications. Deuteronomy chapter 27. Verse 4, Therefore it shall be when ye are gone over Jordan, that ye build up these stones which I command you this day in Mount Ebel. and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
And there thou shalt build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones. Thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God with whole stones, and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God.
So not only does God say You're to build an altar. You're to build it. out of stones Not using any tool upon them. They are not to be hewn. They are not to be cut.
And obviously, there's a reason for it. Verse thirty one of Joshua eight. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded the children of Israel, so we saw in Deuteronomy 27 that during the days of Moses he had given commandment, this was what was to be done when they came into the land. And now it said that as Moses the servant commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones over which no man hath lift his head. up any iron.
No tool to be used. No human work to be associated with this sacrifice. Works are not the basis of our salvation. The sacrifice. The animal that was offered on the altar.
Was representative of the fact that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would come. Go to the cross, shed his blood. for the saving of sinners. No human work. attached to that.
The altar, therefore, was to be made of stones that were not. acted upon with a tool. Concerning Jesus Christ, There was no adjustment that needed to be made in his life.
Now it said there was no beauty about him, that we should be attracted to him as far as his physical appearance. He was despised and rejected of men. And so it was at this altar. was basic and simple. No human art.
No human work. to be added to it. Nothing needed to be added to Jesus Christ. Nothing needed to be cut off. There was no fault or flaw in him.
And so this altar was built simply that this might be represented. While there was no form nor comeliness, That we should desire him by his physical appearance, yet in the presence of his father, he was the precious cornerstone. No. Man-made. Religion.
No human effort. puts away sin. but the shedding of blood. And that's what this was all about. That's why this altar was to be Very basic, plain.
Nothing added to it. to impress those that might observe it. Nothing done to the stones to change their original form or shape. No effort of man whatever. The Book of Leviticus.
Chapter 17. Confirms this important fact that it is. through the shedding of blood. that sins are remitted. Leviticus 17 verse 11.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood. And I have given to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for your soul. The animal must be slain upon the altar. The blood must be shed.
You see, we're talking about a sacrifice. We're talking about a substitutionary death. We're not talking about somebody reforming, somebody turning over a new leaf and saying, I'm going to do better, somebody joining the church, somebody becoming religious. We're talking about something that was absolutely essential for the salvation of sinners, the shedding of blood. And so when we come to the New Testament, we find in Hebrews chapter 9, verse 22, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.
So no other plan, no other method, no other scheme will work. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.
Some are offended by the gospel. because it speaks of sin. Being covered, washed, cleansed because of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. But when your eyes are open, To see your need of a Savior, to see your own sin, it's good news to hear that there is a remedy. that because of his shed blood there is the remission of sin.
Now, not only was the altar built because God commanded it, And built according to his specifications, it was built where he commanded that it should be built. The offer was built on Mount Ebol, which was across from Mount Gerizim.
Now when it was suggested That we go there to build this altar and to worship God. I think you can see why The thought at least crossed my mind that somebody might have protested and said, Well, it just doesn't seem that's the best use of our time. We ought to be moving on, because they had to journey thirty miles to Shechem. and then to separate, one part going to one mountain and one to the other.
Now think about it. We're talking about thousands of people. We're going to have to Walk. To this Next city. Suppose we announced here next Sunday morning, we want all of you to gather outside the building and we're going to walk together for 30 miles to a place where we're going to have the afternoon service.
I think many of you would say, this is too much for me. I can't make it the first mile.
Well, I'm sure that it was a challenge, a task. I mean, you had women and children and all these that had to make this journey, but this is what was expected and required. And so they journeyed these 30 miles to Shechem, which lies between Uh the two mountains, Ebol and Gerizim. Ebol was the mount of cursing. And our Gerizm, the Mount of Blessing.
Now we think about the sacrifice. Interestingly enough, you would think perhaps, well, the altar. will be built on Mount Gerizim because it's the mountain of blessing. But it was built upon Mount Ebol because it was the mount of cursing. And it was there that the curse would be removed.
It's because of the sacrifice. Because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, that the curse that was upon us is removed. And so Sacrifice was offered. Only the sacrifice, the blood sacrifice, can save us from the curse. And that's exactly what we find in the book of Galatians, chapter 3.
Galatians chapter 3, verse 10. For as many as or of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.
Now we can stop right there. and be made to realize that every one of us by our fallen nature, we're under the curse. First of all, Adam stood as the head and representative of the human family, and when he violated the law of God, he plunged himself and all of his posterity into a state of guilt, corruption, and alienation from God. But all of us have acted out from that human nature of ours. We have demonstrated the fact that we are sinners, we are lawbreakers, we have violated God's law.
So, if you've not continued in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them, You're in your cars. You might say, well I can I give myself credit for a few worthy acts that I think are notable. But how close do you come? To being able to say, I have kept the law to perfection.
Well, if anybody would dare say that, we'd certainly pray for them because we know they're in the dark. He says because of the fact You have not continued in all things in the book of the law to do them. You're under a curse. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God. For it is evident The just shall live by faith.
And the law is not of faith. But the man that doeth them shall live in them. The words, if you're gonna try to earn salvation by law service, there's no compromise. It has to be perfection, has to be kept in every detail. But Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.
For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
So because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Because he went to the cross. He came to do the will of the Father. The will of the Father was not just that he came here to minister and to preach or to set an example. All of that he did, but the purpose of his coming was to go to the cross.
to redeem a people. those that were given to him in the covenant of grace. It came for that specific purpose. And now he says, therefore this blessing came, the blessing that was on Abraham initially. But God promised to him that in his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.
And when we come to the book of Galatians, we find he's not talking about seeds multiple but singular, talking about Jesus Christ, the promised seed, in the promised seed. All the family of the earth would be blessed. And so now these blessings, the blessing of Abraham, has come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.
Now that you might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And the faith through which you receive it is itself. the gift of God.
So Jesus. is the only mediator. between God and man. The only way that fallen, condemned sinners can be reconciled. Have peace with God.
Have fellowship with Him. Ultimately, live with him forever. Acts chapter 4, verse 12 says, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved. I know I emphasize this point regularly, but it needs to be in this day when we're living. In this day when so many What to be charitable and broad in their thinking.
and suggests that There must be. several ways, maybe many ways to heaven. And that as long as a person is sincere in whatever they believe and whatever they do, if they're making the best effort. They'll be in heaven someday. But here's what God's word says.
There's Salvation and no other. No other name. given under heaven, whereby we must be saved. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.
No other salvation. No other way to heaven. No other savior. But Jesus Christ. Hi, Jay.
My life for thee, my precious blood I shed, that thou stands on me, and make them father. Here in the Old Testament, as the coming of the Savior is anticipated, who reminded of the basic truth of the Gospel. that there is salvation alone through Jesus Christ. the Saviour of sinners. I hope that you will write us until next week at this same time.
May the Lord richly bless you all. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder Lessere Bradley Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. My suffering bloods for thee, for and my son can tell.
From his hand on thee, to answer thee from hell. My Lord I glory did all for thee, what hast thou born for me?
