Study – North Greenville Church

Let’s Study Ezekiel!

March 20, 2020 by Don Woodard

Since November, our Wednesday Evening Prayer/Bible Study meetings have presented Pastor Barron’s study on the Book of Ezekiel. This book of visions looks ahead to the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the last group of Israelites to Babylon. This is one of the times in redemptive history when repentance is too late … [Read more…]

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North Greenville Church

North Greenville Church is a Reformed and Presbyterian fellowship that seeks to establish a traditio

North Greenville Church

2 months ago

The reason for Jesus' death is because it was the will of God, anchored in the Trinity's agreement and will, the eternal covenant, before the world began. It was established then that the Son would be crushed and put to grief. This is part of Christ's passive obedience to God the Father's will. Jesus submitted to the eternal covenant for our salvation. In this, God worked through secondary causes, including Pontius Pilate, who declared that he found no guilt in this man, but who assented to the justice of God. This was that someone else, Jesus, would suffer death in our place. To the world, Jesus' life was a waste. However, to those given spiritual discernment, this was the only way to our salvation. This is the doctrine of intercession, by which comes our victory over sin and death. Through it, we become heirs, sharing in Jesus' victory. Who receives this victory? Those whom the Father has chosen. He died for the sins of some people, not all people. This leads to the doctrine of adoption, by which those who are chosen become sons of the living God, living in obedience to His commands and receiving light, which we must strive to let shine. We receive a new sense of God's care and a new sense of eternity and destiny. ... See MoreSee Less

Sermons – North Greenville Church

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North Greenville Church

3 months ago

We encounter a change here; instead of another vision, Zechariah receives the word of God. A delegation from Babylon arrives with gold and silver to support the restoration. Zechariah is to use some of it to make a crown for the head of Joshua the high priest. This will symbolize a new order; the crown is intended for a king, not a priest. We remember the previous vision, however, of the two olive trees being brought together, symbolizing the uniting of the offices of king and priest. Joshua is proclaimed the Branch, who will spread and build the temple of the Lord. This new temple is the eternal kingdom of God. This is a messianic prophecy of the offices and mission of Christ. The priestly office was foreshadowed by Melchizedek, priest of Salem (Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Hebrews 7). Aaron was a priest for Israel; Jesus is a priest for all the world. Jesus became the sacrifice and also the ruler, now on His throne in heaven, where He intercedes as a priest for His people. The prophetic office is wrapped up in the Branch also. He is the promised prophet "like Moses." The Branch is a new order, brought to fulfillment in Christ as the new covenant in His body and blood. He was even proclaimed by Pilate at His arraignment, crying, "Behold the man," a clear messianic reference. Yet, His crown was one of thorns, not of metal. Christ is still working in all power upon His throne, having bought us victory over sin and death. ... See MoreSee Less

Sermons – North Greenville Church

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North Greenville Church

3 months ago

Bronze meant strength in Zechariah's time. In this vision, two strong, bronze mountains marked out a valley in which chariots could pass. In a connection to the past, Solomon hired Hiram to cast two pillars of bronze for the temple (1 Kings 7: 15). Four chariots came out between the bronze mountains, patrolling the earth. These scouts found an ungodly peace, brought about by earthly power that leads to judgment. The colors of the horses pulling the chariots are as we find in Revelation 6: white, red, black and dappled, symbolizing conquering, taking away peace, economic ruin and pestilence. By God's providence the picture is one of universal judgment, through which God is working for His people to deal with wickedness. God may be on His throne, but He is involved with history, knowing and taking action. The horses were anxious to go, but they had to be patient, waiting for God's timing. God's people will have to give an account for their deeds, but they will not be punished for sin as long as they are united to Christ by faith. Judging nations always invade Israel from the north. The dappled horse invades from the south, symbolizing Egypt and slavery. The red horse removes earthly peace from everywhere. Psalm 2 shows the nations standing against God and hating His people. Earthly government will ultimately stand against the things of God. We must be aware of the spiritual reality around us. Physical problems are based on spiritual problems. Elisha's messenger finally opened his eyes and saw the army of God arrayed against the Syrian army. Elisha was protected by chariots of fire as an answer to his prayer to God. Likewise, we must open our eyes to the spiritual reality of what God is doing in the world. We, as God's people, have nothing to fear, because (1) God deals with the lives of His people, (2) God gives a message to all the world--mess with my people, and I will mess with you, and (3) God's agents are patrolling the earth, working to bring about His purposes. ... See MoreSee Less

Sermons – North Greenville Church

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North Greenville Church

3 months ago

Our text today covers Zechariah's sixth vision, that of the flying scroll. The scroll was approximately 30 ft x 15 ft and was essentially a large message board. Interestingly, it was the same size as the holy place in the temple. The message board represents the Word of God calling us to repentance. It proclaims a curse upon two representative sins, called out on the two sides of the message board. The example is the one who curses and the one who steals. The house of the judged, unrepentant sinners will be completely consumed in the consummation of the curse. This is a complete, absolute judgment on those who refuse the call to repentance. Yet those who come to true repentance will find healing provided by God, who brings every deed into judgment (Eccl. 12: 13-14. The question comes to us, "How are we to live?" We must fear God unto salvation, and then we are to hold to His law. Our time is one of changing morality into falsehood. If we refuse to fear God and keep His commandments, we will experience eternal death in hell. One of the purposes of the law is to provide a mirror to us, showing that we do not attain to His standard no matter how hard we try. We must trust in Christ, our redeemer, who kept the law perfectly. This trust is pictured in the Passover, where the choice was life or immediate death. So, where do we stand? Do we hold to God's law or man's law? God's law consequences are eternal. The next vision is the basket with the woman inside. This represents a basket full of wickedness. The basket was resealed and flown to the land of Shinar (in Babylon, where proud men built the Tower of Babel in a vain effort to find their own way to God.) There is no way to God but by Christ. The basket represents the Jesus' cross. Babel was man's first worldwide rebellion against God. In Revelation, Babylon is the representation of hell. The basket of wickedness was hauled to judgment. We gain assurance of peace with God through trust. The scroll goes everywhere to issue the call to repent. God's kingdom is wonderful, a temple where sin is dealt with. Trust, and you shall be holy; it is a firm promise. ... See MoreSee Less

Sermons – North Greenville Church

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North Greenville Church

3 months ago

The lampstand is called a menorah, and in this vision the menorah had a bowl above with seven pipes fueling the lamps. This was something more than a common menorah used to light the temple. The lampstand in the vision is the witness of God outside the temple, the witness to the world. We remember that we must not be anxious about defending our witness to the truth of the gospel (Luke 12). This lampstand vision foretells that the temple will be rebuilt, and that God will be with them in the spirit of Isaiah 9, Emmanuel. Jesus is the light of the world, and within His church, we are now the light of the world. We are to witness what God is doing. Vs. 6 proclaims to Zerubbabel that the restoration will be accomplished by the Holy Spirit, and that this light will go forth by the Spirit as well. The Persian emperor Darius would be pushed by the Spirit to support the work of finishing the temple. The Lord's moves forward in small things (vs. 10). Paul preached a simple, not flowery, gospel, spoken plainly. The Spirit enables the light of truth to be spoken, and for us to live the Christian life. The two olive trees in the vision are the two sons of oil: Zerubbabel the civic leader and Joshua, the high priest in the temple. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Jesus comes and fulfills both offices, king and priest. Jesus is a priest not of Levi, but of the order of Melchizedek, with no beginning or end. Are we trustworthy and faithful to our calling, shining forth for Christ? ... See MoreSee Less

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