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FOCUSING ON THOSE WITHOUT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    As we study with others about the church, we often focus upon those who are “within” the confines of safety.

1.      We talk about the church’s being composed of the saved (Acts 2:47).

 

Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

2.      We will use illustrations of individuals who found salvation within the confines of God-ordained structures or boundaries.

a.      Noah and his family were safe within the ark.

b.      The children of Israel were safe in their homes that had blood the blood of the Passover lamb on the door posts and lintels when death came upon the firstborn in Israel.

c.       Rehab and her family were safe within the walls of her house.

d.      The ones who were safe inside the city walls of one of the cities of refuge

 

B.      These are wonderful teachings from God’s Word.  However, as I was thinking about these things, my mind was drawn to those who were without. 

 

C.     The title of our lesson this morning is:  “Focusing on Those Without.”

 

I.                   THOSE WITHOUT AT THE TIME OF THE FLOOD

 

A.    There were eight safely housed in the ark built by Noah, but there were multitudes, in fact, the remainder of the population of the world who were without.

 

B.      A description of these individuals:

1.      Those who were the “sons of God” who intermingled with the “daughters of men” by means of marriage (Gen. 6:2).

2.      “…every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).

3.      “The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Gen. 6:11).

 

C.     Because they were on the outside of the ark, they perished in the waters of the flood.

1.      Genesis 6:21

 

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man.

 

2.      This was not just a regular thunderstorm (Gen. 7:11b)

 

…the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.  And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

 

a.      The conditions that existed on the earth were catastrophic.

b.      The waters rose quickly.

c.       Fear, panic, and utter helplessness would have filled the minds of those upon the earth before they died in the flood waters.

 

D.    Remember, they died because they were without.

 

II.                THOSE WITHOUT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT

 

A.    On the night that God passed over the land of Egypt to destroy the firstborn, only the Israelites were given the command to put blood on the doorposts and lintels (Exo. 12:7).

 

B.      All of the Egyptians were in their own homes.  They were not inside the houses of the Israelites.  In other words, they were without.

 

C.     A description of these individuals:

1.      They were an idolatrous nation.

2.      They were under the allegiance to Pharaoh.

3.      Their hearts were hardened, especially the heart of Pharaoh, to the message of God.

 

D.    Can you imagine being on outside the salvation of God that night?

1.      There would have been a deep dread of anticipation because Moses had warned Pharaoh of what would happen (Exo. 11:4-6).

2.      Death came upon all the firstborn (Exo. 12:29-30)

 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat upon the throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

 

a.      It is interesting that the Egyptians were not sleeping. 

b.      Death came to every firstborn.

c.       Can you imagine the pain and sorrow that entered into the hearts of the Egyptians who lost a love one that night?

1)      “…there was not a house where there was not one dead.”

2)      Truly, “…there was a great cry in Egypt…”

 

E.      Remember, the devastation and heartache came because they were without.

 

III.             THOSE WHO WERE WITHOUT IN THE CITY OF JERICHO

 

A.    When the armies of Israel approached the city of Jericho, there was only one house that had a scarlet line in the window, the house of Rehab (Josh. 2:18, 21).

 

B.      Every other citizen of Jericho was without the place of safety.

 

C.     A description of these people.

1.      They were Canaanites.

2.      They were idol worshippers.

3.      They were the enemies of God’s people.

 

 

 

 

D.    What was the end of those who were not inside the house of Rehab? (Josh. 6:21)

 

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

 

E.      Remember, these individuals perished because they were without.

 

IV.             THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT TODAY

 

A.    When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, He shed His blood in order to purchase the church (Acts 20:28).

1.      Salvation is found in this church (Eph. 5:23). 

2.      If you are not in the church, then you are without.

 

B.      A description of those who are without:

1.      With regard to sin:

a.      Those who are morally corrupt and defiled (I Cor. 6:9-10).

 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 

b.      Those who are practicing doctrinal error (Tit. 3:10-11)

 

A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

 

2.      With regard to knowledge:

a.      Those who know, but choose to be willingly ignorant (II Pet. 3:5)

 

For this they willingly are ignorant of…

 

b.      Those who are ignorant of God’s law (Rom. 10:3).

 

For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

 

3.      With regard to behavior:

a.      Those who actively oppose God and His will (Phil. 3:18)

 

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

 

b.      Those who are not concerned about their souls (Acts 26:28)

 

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

 

4.      With regard to religion:

a.      Those with no religion (Ps. 14:1)

 

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

 

b.      Those who are in religious error (Matt. 15:9)

 

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

C.     The end of those who are without.

1.      They are without God (II John 9).

2.      They are without forgiveness (John 8:24).

3.      They are without hope (I Thess. 4:13).

4.      They will be without the gates of heaven (Rev. 22:14-15).

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    God does not want any human being to be part of those who are without.

 

B.      For this reason, Jesus calls out to all that are in the world:  “Come unto me” (Matt. 11:28).

 

C.     If we answer His call through obedience to the gospel, we can become part of the called out ones, the church.

1.      He will come back only for those who are His (Eph. 5:27).

2.      Those who are without will be without the Christ forever and ever.