Sermon #07 Zechariah Series

Title: “Deliver Thyself”

Text: Zechariah 2:6-7

Subject: The Necessity of Forsaking Babylon

Date: Sunday Morning — July 17, 2005

Tape # Zechariah #7

Reading: Exodus 32 or Numbers 16

Our text will be found in Zechariah chapter 2. But before I come to my text and give you its message, I have to give you a little history lesson.

Remember, as we have already seen in our study of Zechariah’s prophecy, Zechariah and Haggai were fellow-laborers among God’s people, working together in the rebuilding of the temple after 70 years of Babylonian captivity (Ezra 5:1). So the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther cover the same time frame as Zechariah. All of them cover the history of Israel immediately following their return from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem.

Elect Remnant

There was only a remnant, a remnant “whose spirit God had raised,” who returned to Jerusalem. Though there were probably three million Jews in Babylon at the time, only 50,000 returned.

God has a people, “a remnant according to the election of grace,” scattered through all the nations of the world, a people scattered in wrath, yet scattered in mercy, scattered to the place where they shall be preserved in bondage until the day of their calling, just as these Jews were preserved in Babylon until God raised up Cyrus and Zerubbabel to bring them out of that place. At God’s appointed time of love, each of these chosen ones, loved of God with an everlasting love, redeemed by Christ’s precious blood, and preserved in him (Jude 1), shall be brought out into the liberty of the City of God. — "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:26).

The Jews had gone down into Babylon as shepherds. But while they were there they learned the ways of Babylon and became successful businessmen, merchants, and shopkeepers. They became so prosperous, so lost to materialism, that they did not want to go back to Jerusalem, even though they were still slaves in exile from their own land. They preferred the drudgery of Babylonian bondage, with its wealth, to the liberty of worshipping God in Jerusalem.

Some have suggested that they became a different people while in Babylon. But that was not the case at all. The Lord sent them into captivity to prove them; and there they proved what they really were. So it is with all trials. Trials do not change us. They simply prove what we are.

Ezra

The Book of Ezra shows us that there was an elect remnant in Babylon whom the Lord reserved, whose spirit he revived, whose seventy-year trial in Babylon made them pine for liberty and the worship of God in Jerusalem. Many of the Jews refused to return when God opened the door. But the Spirit of God stirred up the hearts of some and made them willing in the day of his power. The message of the Book of Ezra is found in Ezra 9:9. —“Our God hath not forsaken us.” The Book of Ezra is all about God’s great grace in keeping, reviving, and restoring his people.

Actually there were two returns from Babylon. Ezra and Zechariah tell us about the first. — Zerubbabel led about 50,000 back to Jerusalem. After building again the altar of God and laying the foundation of the temple, there was another long period of languishing. This is the period covered by the Book of Esther.

That brings us to our text (Zech. 2:6-7). In this passage, Zechariah is describing his third vision, in which he sees the Lord Jesus measuring his holy city, Jerusalem, the Church of God. In this vision, the prophet is assured and assures us that God will save his people, that contrary to all outward appearance, no harm shall ever come to God’s Church and Kingdom (Zech. 2:4-5).

(Zechariah 2:4-5) "And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (5) For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."

God’s Call

Having made that promise, the Lord God issues a gracious call for his people to come out of Babylon (vv. 6-7).

(Zechariah 2:6-7) "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. (7) Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon."

Ancient Babylon was the city to the north of Judea (Jer. 1:13-14; 3:12; 6:22; 16:15). But this call is just as relevant today as it was in Zechariah’s day. In fact, in its widest, fullest sense, it is specifically intended for us today. You see, just as Jerusalem was typical of and referred to the Church and Kingdom of God, throughout the Scriptures Babylon typifies and refers to all false religion in this world. Babylon is “the mother of harlots and the abomination of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). It is the mother of all idolatry and abominable doctrine found in the world. In a word, Babylon is the religion of antichrist in every age.

Let me show you this from the Scriptures. Turn to the Book of Revelation, chapters 17 and 18.

(Revelation 17:1-8) "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (2) With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (3) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (4) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (5) And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (7) And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (8) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

(Revelation 18:1-3) "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."

Now, look at Revelation 18:4. In first part of this chapter John described the certain judgment of God upon all false religion, symbolized by Babylon, the great whore. In verse 4, we have a command from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the command our Lord gives to his people in every age. It is the very same command we saw in Zechariah 2:6-7. Here he tells us why we must Deliver ourselves and come out of Babylon.

(Revelation 18:4) "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Proposition: It is the responsibility of God’s people in every age to thoroughly and distinctly separate themselves from false, apostate religion.

As God commanded Lot to come out of Sodom, so he commands us to come out of Babylon. But, like Bro. Lot, we are all reluctant to do so. Our flesh is opposed to distinct separation. The religion of Babylon is so appealing and gratifying to our flesh that we will not leave it unless God lays hold of our hearts by the hand of his omnipotent grace and brings us out, even as the angel laid hold of Lot and brought him out of his beloved and cherished Sodom. May the Lord God be pleased to lay hold of any who are yet in Babylon and bring you out by his omnipotent grace.

Babylon is God’s name for all false religion. It is any religion and all religions which declare that salvation is ultimately dependent upon, decided by, or determined by man. Babylon is the religion of man. Babylon is the religion of the world. From Babylon, we must come out, “and deliver every man his soul” (Jer. 51:6).

Divisions: I will take those three points given in Revelation 18:4 for the outline of my message.

1. “Come out of her, my people.”

2. “That ye be not partakers of her sins.”

3. “That ye receive not of her plagues.”

My People

I. “Come out of her, my people.” — Here our Lord calls for his people to make a clean break from the idolatrous religion of Babylon.

This call is not a suggestion, or a mere invitation, but an imperative command, a command that all of God’s elect obey. Here the Good Shepherd “calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out…and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

A. The Lord Jesus issues this command to his people.

His concern is always for his people. He does not pray for any, but his people. His did not redeem any, but his people. And he does not call any, but his people. He says, “Come out of her, My people.” Are you one of his people?

· His are an elect people, loved of God and chosen by grace unto salvation before the world began (Eph. 1:3-6).

· His people are a blood-bought, redeemed people, bought out from under the curse of the law by the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-20).

· His people are a divinely called, regenerated, heaven born people, called to life and faith in Christ by the almighty, effectual, irresistible call of God the Holy Spirit (John 1:11-13 Ps. 65:4; 110:3).

We know our eternal election and our blood redemption by our calling (1 Thess. 1:4-5). If we have been called to life and faith in Christ by God the Holy Spirit, we are among that great multitude of sinners chosen of God in eternity and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb at Calvary. And all who are called by the Spirit rejoice in and give thanks for God’s electing love, Christ’s atoning blood, and the Holy Spirit’s irresistible call (Ps. 65:4).

B. The Lord Jesus here commands us to separate ourselves from Babylon, the great whore.

Again, I stress the fact that Babylon does not refer to the literal, ancient city to the north of Israel. And though it is portrayed as a great whore, the reference is not to a literal woman. Just as Jerusalem was typical of and referred to the Church and Kingdom of God, throughout the Scriptures Babylon typifies and refers to all false religion in this world. Babylon is “the mother of harlots and the abomination of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). It is the mother of all idolatry and abominable doctrine found in the world. In a word, Babylon is the religion of antichrist in every age.

Dead Carcass

There are many descriptions of Babylon given in the Scriptures, but none is more fitting than that given by our Savior in Matthew 24:23-28. Here the Son of God describes Babylon as a dead carcass around which the vultures of hell swarm.

(Matthew 24:23-28) "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."

Babylon is “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev. 18:2). That is a very accurate and suitable description of the religion of this world. True, it is “a form of godliness,” with signs, and wonders, and miracles, and emotionalism; but it totally denies the gospel of Christ, the power of true godliness. The religion of Babylon is such a deceptive “form of godliness” that, were it possible, it would deceive the very elect. But God’s elect cannot be deceived by the old strumpet of hell, though she be ever so gorgeously arrayed.

· Babylon proclaims a “Jesus;” but it is “another Jesus.” The Jesus of Babylon is a poor, helpless, frustrated, defeated Jesus. He tried to redeem everyone, but his blood was shed in vain for many. He prays for all, but his prayers are not answered. He loves everyone, but his love is lost upon the masses. He wants to save the whole world, but his desires are frustrated by the will of man and the works of Satan.

· Babylon offers men and women a god; but Babylon’s god is a useless God. As Isaiah put it, they “pray unto a god that cannot save” (Isa. 45:20). The god of this religious world is little more than a “good luck charm.” He has a purpose; but he cannot execute it because men will not let him. He has a will; but he cannot perform it because it is subject to man’s “free will.” He is gracious; but his grace is nothing but a helpless, frustrated desire to save multitudes who will not let poor god save them!

· Babylon talks a great deal about the holy spirit; but the spirit of Babylon is “another spirit,” not the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Babylon performs signs and wonders, causes people to act crazy in church, and gives them the hellish gibberish that they imagine is the apostolic gift of tongues. The spirit of Babylon heals hang-nails, wax build-up in the ear, and diseases no one knew they had, and especially bank accounts. The spirit of Babylon stirs people to great heights and depths of emotionalism and causes them to glory in themselves. — The spirit of Babylon causes men and women to hate the sins of others. The Spirit of Christ causes saved sinners to abhor themselves! — The spirit of Babylon causes people to do good works by which they make themselves more righteous and holy than others. The Spirit of Christ causes helpless sinners to seek the righteousness of Christ! — The spirit of Babylon causes people to stand up and be counted. The Spirit of Christ causes sinners to fall in the dust and mourn over their sin! — The spirit of Babylon tries its best to get sinners to, “pretty please,” come to Jesus and let him save them. The Spirit of Christ effectually calls and irresistibly causes helplessly lost, dead sinners to live and brings them to Christ their Savior! —

· Babylon preaches a gospel; but it is “another gospel.” The gospel of Babylon is the good advice of man-centered, free-will, good works religion. It is good advice full of fables (2 Tim. 4:4).

THREE RELIGIOUS FABLES

The apostle Paul spoke of a day in which men and women would, "turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:4). The day of which Paul spoke has come upon us! Here are three religious fables, doctrinal fabrications, by which the hearts of men are almost universally deceived.

1. "God loves everyone." — The fact is, God does not love everyone. He states that emphatically and clearly (Psa. 7:11; 11:5; Rom. 9:13). God's love is sovereign. He has compassion on whom he will have compassion (Rom. 9:15-16). His love is immutable, too (Mal. 3:6). If he ever loves, he loves forever! To say that God loves everyone is to assert that God's love is useless and meaningless, and has nothing to do with the salvation of men.

2. "Christ died for everyone." — He did not. God says, "For the transgression of my people was he stricken." The Good Shepherd laid down his life "for the sheep," not the goats. He died to "save his people from their sins." Read the Scriptures and ignore the opinions, customs, and traditions of men. If Christ died for everyone, the death of Christ is meaningless! He died in vain for many! If he died for everyone, his death has nothing to do with the salvation of anyone!

3. "The Holy Spirit is trying to save everyone." — He is not. He will not allow some to even hear the gospel (Acts 16:6). God the Holy Spirit sovereignly regenerates and effectually calls every chosen, redeemed sinner by his saving grace (John 3:8; 6:63; Psa. 65:4), and no one else. Is your doctrine fact or fable?

· Babylon is the religion of man. — According to Babylon, everything ultimately depends upon man. It is my intention to be perfectly clear. Any religion that proclaims a salvation that is conditioned upon the will of man, or upon something man does or does not do, is Babylonian, anti-God and antichrist, and is damning to the souls of men. No one ever has been saved in Babylon. No one can be saved in Babylon. Babylon is damned. And all who cling to Babylon shall e damned with her. The only way to be saved is to come out of Babylon to Christ.

Come Out

C. Therefore, the Lord Jesus commands us to come out of Babylon.

The command is clear. — “Come out of her, my people!”

(Zechariah 2:7) "Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon."

Will you, or will you not obey the Lord’s command? If we come out of Babylon, there will be a price to pay. Like Abraham, we will have to leave our idolatrous kinsmen and friends behind. But, if we come out, God will be a Father to us (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). If we refuse to come out of Babylon, we cannot be saved. We cannot turn to the true and living God without forsaking our idols (1 Thess. 1:9).

(2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Come to Christ

The Son of God calls upon all who hear his voice to come out of Babylon, to come out of all false religion, to himself. It will do you no good simply to forsake religion. You must forsake religion for Christ. As Moses forsook Egypt, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ (the offense of the cross) greater riches than the treasures of Egypt” (Heb. 11:25-26), so we must come out of Babylon for Christ and unto Christ (Heb. 13:13).

(Hebrews 13:13) "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

· Give up your imaginary “free-will,” and bow to God’s sovereign will.

· Give up your imaginary “good works,” and trust Christ’s finished work.

· Give up your emotional experience, and trust Christ’s heavenly intercession.

· Give up your religious rituals, and trust Christ’s perfect righteousness.

· Give up your religious ceremonies, and trust Christ’s redeeming blood.

We must come out of Babylon spiritually just as our Lord commanded the Jews to come out of Babylon literally (Isa. 48:20; 49:9; 52:11-12; Jer. 51:6-11, 45-46; Zech. 2:6-7).

(Isaiah 48:20) "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob."

(Isaiah 49:9) "That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places."

(Isaiah 52:11-12) "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (12) For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward."

(Jeremiah 51:6-11) "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense. (7) Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. (8) Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. (9) We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. (10) The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. (11) Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple."

(Jeremiah 51:45-46) "My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. (46) And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler."

To come out of Babylon is to publicly forsake her doctrines and practices, renounce and repudiate them by publicly confessing Christ in believer’s baptism, identifying yourself with Christ, his Church, and the gospel of his free grace.

Illustrations: Jewish Converts

Early Gentile Converts

· Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.

· Refuse to own and acknowledge as your brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God those who deny the vital truths of the Gospel. Can I own as my brethren those who deny the glorious sovereignty of my God, who chose me as his own? — Can I own as my brethren those who deny the utter depravity of man? — Can I own as my brethren those who deny the accomplished redemption of Christ’s precious blood, by which I am redeemed and justified? — Can I own as my brethren those who deny the effectual, saving grace and power of God the Holy Spirit who has called me from death to life? Can I own as my brethren those who deny the infallible security of God’s elect and the power of God’s grace by which I am kept? — I can tell you this, God’s servants, according to the record of this Book, did not own such as their brethren (Ps. 139:21-22; Gal. 1:6-8; Phil. 3:18).

(Psalms 139:21-22) "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? (22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

(Galatians 1:6-8) "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

(Philippians 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:"

The Reason

II. Look at our Lord’s command again. He says, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partaker of her sins.” — Here is the reason why we must come out of Babylon: Those who hold to, support, and remain a part of Babylon are guilty of Babylon’s sins.

This is not guilt by association; but association by guilt. I know that many try to justify their union with those who deny the Gospel in the name of “peace,” “brotherly love,” and “unity.” Those are pretty sounding words. But the love of Babylon is enmity against God. Brotherhood with Babylon is brotherhood with devils. And unity with Babylon is unity with antichrist (1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 6-11).

(1 John 2:15-17) "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

The word of God is crystal clear. If we embrace as our brethren, support, and encourage those who deny the Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, we are partakers of the sin and guilt of those men, even though we profess to believe the Gospel ourselves.

(2 John 1:6-11) "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

Babylon’s Sins

What are Babylon’s sins? What is Babylon’s guilt? Babylon is guilty of the blood of God’s prophets and saints throughout history, who have been persecuted and slain for the testimony of Christ (Rev. 18:24; Luke 11:47-52).

(Revelation 18:24) "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

(Luke 11:47-52) "Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. (48) Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. (49) Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: (50) That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; (51) From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. (52) Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

Babylon has on her hands the blood of the immortal souls, forever damned under the wrath of God, who are deluded with the false hopes of free-will\works religion (Ezek. 33:7-9).

(Ezekiel 33:7-9) "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (8) When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (9) Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

Babylon cried, and still cries, against the Son of God, “Crucify him! Crucify him! His blood be upon us and our children!” And so it shall be forever! We read in the Book of God that Pilate “delivered Jesus to their will” (Luke 23:25); and men and women, by their free will, in the name of God, crucified the Lord of Glory! They crucified him because he plainly declared salvation by grace aloe, through faith alone, in Christ alone!

· Free will hung the Lord of Glory on the gruesome cross, and threw a hellish party to celebrate his agony!

· Self-righteous legalists, (“Law -keepers” they boasted themselves to be!) spit in Immanuel’s face!

· Being good sabbatarians, they made sure he was dead and buried before their “holy day” began, lest their sabbath day be defiled!

Babylon is guilty of attempting to rob the triune God of his glory in his most glorious work. Babylon would…

· Take God off his throne and put man upon it.

· Sacrifice the will of God to protect the free will of man.

· Rob God of the glory of electing love.

· Rob Christ of the glory of blood redemption.

· Rob the Holy Spirit of the glory of the new birth.

· Disannul and invalidate the covenant of grace.

· Rob the triune of his glory in heaven and make the glory of heaven itself a matter of debt paid to man, something he has earned by his polluted hands!

Her Plagues

III. Look at our Lord’s command one more time. — “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” — Here our Lord plainly declares that all who refuse to come out of Babylon shall perish with Babylon.

If you refuse to give up, renounce, repudiate, and forsake the self-righteous, free-will, works religion of Babylon, you will perish with Babylon. — This is what I am saying…

· Give up your former idolatry.

· Give up your old profession.

· Give up Babylon’s basis of righteousness (Your Works or Your Faith).

· Give up family and friend for Christ (Deut. 13:1-11).

(Deuteronomy 13:1-11) "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, (2) And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; (3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (4) Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. (5) And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. (6) If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; (7) Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (8) Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: (9) But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. (10) And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (11) And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you."

If you refuse to give up Babylon, it is because you love Babylon; and you will perish with her. To remain a part of any church, denomination, or religious organization that denies the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ is to line up with the Lord’s enemies and court eternal damnation. You cannot heal Babylon. The old whore is not going to change. She must be forsaken!

Application: God help you to hear and obey the command of Christ. “Deliver thyself!” — “Come out of her, my people!” — “Who is on the Lord’s side?” Let him now come out of Babylon and deliver his soul!

· If your profession does not glorify God, give it up.

· If your doctrine does not glorify God, renounce it.

· If your religion does not glorify God, forsake it.

· If your church does not glorify God, leave it.

(Exodus 32:26-29) "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (27) And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. (28) And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. (29) For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

(2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Amen.