Checks to Unconditional Covenants 7

The Valiant Guardsman of the New Covenant

Let’s Take a Short Aside• Laying aside “The Lord’s Seal” for a moment• Spend with me a few moments while we

consider the implications of the Guardsman set in the Scriptures to guard the way

• There is no doubt that the Lord Jesus is the way

We Want the Narrow Way• At no point do we want to wander off the

narrow way and find ourselves on the Broadway

• As in all journeys the way is clearly signposted and we will find an occurrence of a certain Guardsman at every fork and crossroad

The Appointed Guardsman• The Captain of Our Salvation has clearly set a

Guardsman to ensure that we don’t wander Off the Narrow Way.

• Although this Guardsman may appear to be diminutive in stature, in authority he is absolute.

Before I Introduce Him• I ought to tell you that many today try to

suggest that his authority only extends to those of the natural born, firstborn, seed of Abraham.

• They suggest that his authority is limited to the Jews and that he certainly has no lasting authority over the Christian church.

That Being Said• Our Guardsman Is a Monosyllable, Low in

Stature, but of lofty significance!• A very valiant guard nonetheless

I Will Let the Context of the Scriptures Plainly Speak

• As we track his authority to the teachings of Jesus, Paul and the rest of the new Testament you will see that he, indeed, has authority over you who have been born again of the spirit of God and are numbered amongst the fellowship of the Lord.

The Name of This Guardsman• Our Guardsman is called “IF”• Low in stature, maybe, but mightily empowered• He stands as a valiant sentinel over the camp and

directs, as a journey marshal, the way, the route to safety.

• Let’s look had his authoritative direction over our path and journey.

Yes He Is The CONDITIONAL IF• A very vigilant, valiant guard to the scriptural

doctrine of perseverance and an in reconcilable enemy to the fable of unconditional grace, sometimes known as Ultra grace

Consider the Scriptures• Look carefully at the Scriptures and their

context and discern the meaning of the word of God.

1 John 2:24 • Let that therefore abide in you, which ye

have heard from the beginning. IF that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Hebrews 3:14 • For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we

hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

James 1:25 • But whoso looketh into the perfect law of

liberty, and continueth therein [that is, IF he that looketh doth continue], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

• The IF here is most certainly implied.

Consider This Logic from Geneva• Geneva Logic proclaims, “If backsliders fancy

they must all be restored by repentance and faith merely because David and Peter were; they might as well suppose they must all be translated into heaven without dying on the grounds that Enoch and Elijah were.”

The Other Side of This Coin• Is to insinuate that the recovery of backsliders is

as improbable as their bodily translation into heaven on the same grounds.

• This is somewhat harsh to say the least but what can you expect from a believe system that irrecoverably damns, without a chance, most of mankind.

The Geneva Logic• Someone who is pre-elected can’t backslide so

then David and Peter were not backslidden in their state of sinfulness (perhaps it was unintentional or unknowing sinfulness that God winked at, you may say) therefore repentance and faith did not restore them because they had never fallen from grace in the first place.

According to Geneva Logic• They irrevocably remained saved during the

course of their misdeeds because their salvation was not of themselves but of the election of God.

• In other words, their covenant with God was unconditional.

The Noble Guardsman Continues• Consider this, this Guardian of the way, this

barrier to the path of destruction:• Consider this very valiant guard to check the

forward in attitude:

These Following Remarks Are Not Limited to Jews

• John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

A Man – Whosoever• John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a

man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

The Conditional IF• 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,

give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

The Guardsman At Work Again• 1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you,

which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

The Guardsman Continues His Vigil• Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of

Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

the Guardsman in James• James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the

perfect law of liberty, and continueth [that is IF he looks and continues] therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The Guardsman Erects Two Quick Barriers

• Matthew 5:46-47 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

The Guardsman at the Barricades• Matthew 6:14-16 For if ye forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

• (Kindly note that it is WHEN not if ye fast)

The Guardsman’s Logic Is Firm• Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know

how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

The Guardsman Always Offers Choice• Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this

is Elias, which was for to come.

The Guardsman Presents Possibilities• Matthew 12:7 But if ye had known what this

meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Guardsman’s Warning Is Dire• Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my

heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

The Guardsman Presents Possibilities• Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto

them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

The Guardsman Seeks to Bar the Way• Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying,

forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

The Guardsman’s Logic Is Irrefutable• Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you,

what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

The Guardsman Lifts the Bar High• Luke 6:33-34 And if ye do good to them

which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

The Guardsman Encourages Living Faith

• Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The Guardsman Presents Comparisons

• Luke 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

The Guardsman’s Logic Is Irrefutable• Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful

in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

The Guardsman Is Encouraging• Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith

as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

The Guardsman Sets the Tone• John 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings,

how shall ye believe my words?

The Guardsman Suggests Glory• John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of

man ascend up where he was before?

The Guardsman At Work• John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is

thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

The Guardsman’s Ultimatum• John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye

shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The Guardsman Is Not Racist• John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews

which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

The Guardsman Opens a Door of Hope for the World

• John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

As you can see• This Guardsman holds a very dear place in

the heart of our commander-in-chief, the captain of our salvation, The Lord of Hosts• It is true that truth sometimes takes a

solitary walk

IF is a powerful Word• I once learnt a poem by Rudyard Kipling called “IF”• If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken • Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, • Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, • And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

The Use of IF• Introducing a clause of condition or

supposition • On condition that; given or granted that; in

(the) case that; supposing that; on the supposition that.

The Guardsman Offset against WHEN• 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things

write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

• Consider the offset between having IF & WHEN in this verse!

And so the Guardsman Spans the Way• To the most intimate friendships and the most

precious of journeys• All you have to do is accept his condition to the

sweetest fellowship that affords mankind!• John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do

whatsoever I command you.