Daniel

The Excommunication of Christ

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2011-08-14

Synopsis: John Weaver explores the concept of Christ being excommunicated—cast out and rejected—by the religious and political establishments, drawing from Hebrews 13:11-13. He argues that Christ suffered outside the gate, symbolizing His rejection by the world, and calls believers to go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. The sermon contrasts empty religious rituals with genuine obedience and fellowship with the rejected Christ.

[John Weaver] Alright, let's open our Bibles today to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. The book of Hebrews chapter 13, and we're going to be reading verses 11 through 13. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 11 through 13. The title of the message today is the excommunication of Christ. Some time ago, Brother Ron and Sister Linda were reading in, I think, Rush Dooney's book, and they hit this thought, and Ron told me, he said, will you ever preach someday on the excommunication of Christ?

[John Weaver] And I said, well, I will. And so I got around to it. So Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 11, the Word of God says, For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." When we hear the word excommunication, the word sounds strange to our ears simply because we immediately know that it is a strong word and that it's a word that speaks of sin, suffering, and estrangement.

[John Weaver] We think of it in reference to saints that have sinned and have refused to repent, and consequently, church discipline has been exercised upon them. We immediately think of a passage like 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 6, where the Apostle Paul commanded, Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which you received of us. I want you to hold Hebrews chapter 13, but look in your Bibles to First Corinthians chapter five, because I want to show you a passage where one individual was indeed disciplined or, as some would say, excommunicated. Notice in First Corinthians chapter five, beginning there with verse one. First Corinthians chapter five and verse one. Paul is reproaching the Corinthians and rebuking them for he writes, it is reported commonly that there is fornication among you and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles that one should have his father's wife.

[John Weaver] So here was a son was not necessarily his mother, but maybe a stepmother was committing fornication with his stepmother. And he says, and you were puffed up. and have not rather mourned that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily is absent in body, but present in spirit have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

[John Weaver] Notice, if you would, evidently the church discipline that was exercised for his sin had a desirable effect. You say, how can you say that? Well, turn right over to 2 Corinthians 2 and look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians 2 and verse 5, because Paul now speaks concerning the same individual and he says this, 2 Corinthians 2, beginning with verse 5, but if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part, that I may not overcharge you all. Now look what he says in verse 6, sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

[John Weaver] So that contrarierwise, now that he's repented, you ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you, That you would confirm your love toward him. So here is an individual who had committed sin. He was disciplined by the church. He was put out from among them, excommunicated as we would say. But evidently he repented and now Paul is saying you need to bring him back now in light of these verses.

[John Weaver] How can we speak of the excommunication of Christ? We know, we acknowledge, we confess, and believe that Jesus Christ was and is the sinless Son of God. We know that in Him is no sin. The word excommunication not only speaks of censure, but it also means to exclude from fellowship, or to cast to one side, or to put out. In many instances, Christ has been censured by his professing people in that he had been set aside or excluded from fellowship because of the strictness of his doctrine and his demands for a holy, obedient life.

[John Weaver] I'm going to show you in just a moment, but it's much like the incident in John chapter 6. where our Lord gave his message on the bread of life. He proclaimed there that he was indeed the bread of life sent down from heaven and that he alone could provide life and nourishment. Many of his disciples at that particular point forsook him.

[John Weaver] Now, it was not necessarily an official censure from a religious body, but by their forsaking him, they certainly excluded him from any future teaching or fellowship. So in one sense of the word, their actions cast him out, and their refusal to believe and submit to his teaching and doctrine was a censure in one sense of the word against that which he taught. So I want you to look in John chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 32. John 6, verse 32. This is a tremendous passage, but I want you to watch how this develops. John 6, in verse 32. We will read through verse 35. John 6, verse 32.

[John Weaver] Then Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giving you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life into the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down to verse 51. Remember, he's teaching that he is the bread of life. Verse 51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The Jews, therefore, strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.

[John Weaver] And I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

[John Weaver] Now of course our Lord was not necessarily talking literally and physically. He was speaking metaphorically and spiritually. But look what happens. Skip down to verse 60. Watch what happens. Verse 60. Many, therefore, of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is a hard saying. Who can hear it now? Skip down to verse 66. From that time, many of his disciples went back and walk no more with Him.

[John Weaver] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Would you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ. John 6 is very emphatic. Now listen carefully. When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, verses 2 and 3. Let's put this together. Paul told Timothy, preach the word.

[John Weaver] The instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Now listen, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But after their own lust shall heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears. Now listen to what he said, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. What will they do? They will heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears. In other words, they want someone to scratch their ears. They want someone to teach what they want taught. They want someone to say what they want said.

[John Weaver] They're not interested in truth. They're not interested in doctrine. They're interested only in what they want.

[John Weaver] Now the interesting thing here is this. When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ, he will always turn to others that will give him that which he wants to hear. At the same time, when he turns to others, he has also rejected Christ and His Word, and he has effectively cut him off and cast him out. In other words, he has excommunicated Christ from his life.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and look at verse 12. I'm mainly going to deal with verse 12 and verse 13 today. I read verse 11 so that you could see in the context exactly what was happening. Let's go back to verse 11. He says, for the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought in the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Now watch. Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Now, let's ask a question. Where is Christ? We confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is in the heaven of heavens.

[John Weaver] He is in the most holy place, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Okay? This was prophesied in the Old Testament. And it's confirmed in the New Testament. Let me just quote, go ahead and turn to Acts chapter 2 if you would please. Just Acts chapter 2. And as you turn to Acts chapter 2, let me quote from Psalm 110 and verse 1. Listen, as I quote Psalm 110 verse 1, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. This is the most frequently quoted verse in the Old Testament. It's quoted more in the New Testament than any other verse. So the Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Now you will see how it's applied to Christ. Look in Acts chapter two and verse twenty five. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved.

[John Weaver] Verse thirty three. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he had shed forth this which you now see and hear." Look in verse 34,"'For David is not ascended into the heavens, but he said himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand.'" Now, listen carefully. We know where our Lord is theologically and positionally. But do we know where he is metaphorically and morally?

[John Weaver] Let me give you a clue. He is not anywhere around established religion. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the other isms are without Jesus Christ. Moreover, all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment, programs, buildings, ecumenism, compromise, seeker-friendly atmospheres, and building a name for themselves without Christ. He is nowhere near them. His word is not there. He is not there. Where is He? He is outside the gate and without the camp.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Hosea. Whole Hebrews were coming back there. Look in Hosea chapter 8. Daniel, Hosea, Joel and Amos. Look in Hosea chapter 8, because I want you to see That modern-day Christendom, or let me say it like this, the religious establishment, has basically fallen into the same trap that ancient Israel did. In Hosea 8, beginning there, verse 12, look what God says concerning Israel. God says, I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

[John Weaver] Let me just stop there. They were counted as a strange thing. I've got a message on this passage that I preached a multitude of years ago. The word strange does not just simply refer to something that's funny sounding or something that we've never heard before. Remember, the word refers to a prostitute as a strange woman. The word strange here I've written in him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange, that is, an alien thing to him.

[John Weaver] Now, watch what happens when you reject the word of God. Here it is. Watch now, verse 13. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings and eat it. But the Lord accepted them not.

[John Weaver] Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins, they shall return to Egypt. Here it is, for Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples." What? He's forgotten God and buildeth temples. What's he doing? He's making a professing or a profession of worshipping God, and he's building these magnificent buildings But the worship of God is not there. God is not there. It's all external. It's all hypocritical. In other words, we basically have forgotten Christ. We've forgotten his word, repentance, faith and obedience. And basically what modern day Christendom is doing is this.

[John Weaver] We're majoring on the minors. And somehow we think that structures and rituals and ceremonies and pageants and programs can please the sovereign God of heaven and earth. We've forgotten that empty ceremonies and heartless rituals are absolutely despised by God. Turn right over. Hosea, Joel, Amos. Look at Amos chapter 5. Let me show you God's attitude toward these empty ceremonies and heartless rituals. Notice if you would, Amos chapter 5, beginning there in verse 21. Look what God says to Israel.

[John Weaver] I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though you offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them. Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beast. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs, for I will not hear the melody of thy vows. But let judgment run down its waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Now go back to verse 21 when God says, I hate and I despise your feast days. Did not God appoint those feast days? Did not God appoint those sacrifices? Did not God appoint those solemn assemblies? Did not God appoint the music and the musicians and the songs? Why does God look at Israel and say, I hate and despise all of your rituals and all of your ceremonies? And the answer is. Because they had turned away from God's judgment, God's word, God's justice and the ceremonies and the rituals were absolutely empty and meaningless and heartless.

[John Weaver] We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in first Samuel 15 in verse 22. Or Samuel asks all. hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of rams. What is God saying? He'd rather have our obedience than all of the sacrifices and all the rituals and all the ceremonies that we can perform. That's why in Micah 6 and verse 8. God said this.

[John Weaver] He has showed the old man what is good. And what does the Lord require of thee but to do justly? And to love mercy. And to walk humbly with thy God. Now notice. What does God require of thee to do justice? To love mercy. And to walk humbly with thy God. You know, I thought about this verse even this morning. I probably need to come back and just preach on this verse one day. To describe justice and mercy. And what it means to walk humbly with thy God.

[John Weaver] Sure, remember that passage in Luke chapter 18? Where the Pharisee and the publican went up to the temple to pray. And the Pharisee prayed thus with himself, Lord, I thank Thee that I'm not as other men. I thank Thee that I'm not as this publican. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all opposites. And it went on and on. And the old publican would not even so much as lift his eyes toward heaven, but smote himself on his breast and said, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. And our Lord said, verily, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. What was he doing? He was walking humbly.

[John Weaver] He acknowledged what He was. He acknowledged that He deserved nothing. I'm just simply saying, God has showed us what He demands of us. I want you to look in your Bibles. Go back to the book of Jeremiah chapter 22. Jeremiah 22. Jeremiah Lamentations. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 13. Jeremiah 22 and verse 13. I want to show you. What God says, Jeremiah 22, verse 13. Jeremiah 22, verse 13, watch carefully. God says, would him that built this house by unrighteousness.

[John Weaver] And his chambers by wrong. that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work, that saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth them out windows, and it is sealed with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Now watch. So here's what he's done. He's built a big, beautiful mansion.

[John Weaver] Now look at the question God asked in verse 15. Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? Now watch. He judged the cause of the poor and the needy, then it was well with him. Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? What good is a big, beautiful building without truth and righteousness and holiness and justice? I don't know if you've ever been through Atlanta on I-75, but as you get on the outskirts of the city, there's this huge church building. I mean, huge. I don't even know the name of the church. Is that it? Wow. Well, I'll tell you this.

[John Weaver] I've often said, how would you like to have one Federal Reserve note for each brick in that building? I mean, come on. I don't know how many bricks are in that building. It is humongous. But the question is this. We can do all of those things. What good is a building without obedience and without holiness, without righteousness? All I'm trying to show you today is this. The context of Hebrews chapter 13. Is consistent.

[John Weaver] with that which was foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. I'm going to explain it and we'll show it to you. We need not look for Christ in fine buildings, in great works, in rituals, or in ceremonies. Why? Because He is not there.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Hebrews 13, but I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and look in chapter 33 and verse 7. Exodus 33 and verse 7.

[John Weaver] Exodus 33, verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33, verse 7. And Moses took a tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just refresh your memory. Exodus chapter 32 deals with the Golden Camp incident. You remember how Aaron collected the golden earrings, fashioned the molten camp and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. The people had disobeyed God, they had rebelled, they refused to obey God's law. Incidentally, they broke all ten commandments at one time. And because of their sin, and because of their rebellion, God now refuses to walk among them. Look in Exodus 33, verses 2 and 3. Look what God says. And I will send an angel before thee, and I will drive out the Canaanite, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite unto a land flowing with milk and honey. For I will not go up in the midst of thee, For thou art a stiff-necked people, lest I consume thee in the way."

[John Weaver] So what did Moses do? In verse 7, looked at it again. And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp afar off from the camp and called it the tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that everyone that sought the Lord went out under the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without. The camp. So Moses then took the tabernacle, which in all of its parts, as well as the ceremonies. Was pictures, symbols and types of Christ and pitched it without the camp note. If you would, verse 7 says it came to pass that everyone that sought the Lord went out. unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."

[John Weaver] Now, go back in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Here's the whole point. The Israelites that really wanted to seek the Lord had to separate themselves from their wickedness and go forth unto Christ. Christ cannot and will not abide compromise, complacency, or iniquity. So, look in verse 12, Hebrews 13, Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. That is, he suffered without the gate at Jerusalem, as the sin offering was consumed without the camp, when the tabernacle abode in the wilderness.

[John Weaver] Now, let's ask a question. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? Someone's going to say, well, to fulfill prophecy. Well, that's true. I mean, prophecy was fulfilled. That's what Hebrews 13 is telling us based upon Exodus 33 and verse seven. That's true. But that's not the practical answer. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? And the answer is because the religious leaders, along with the political leaders, despised, hated, refused and crucified him.

[John Weaver] They did not desire him. They did not desire his word. They did not desire his rule. They did not desire his law. They wanted no part of Christ. They cast him out. They excommunicated him. If you think for one moment that the political and the religious leaders of this world have any interest of Christ and His kingdom at heart, you need to think again. Because if you really believe the political and the religious establishments really, truly, genuinely want Christ and His law, then I believe you're deceived.

[John Weaver] I've had many well-meaning Christians come to me after I preached a particular sermon and would say something like this, wow, if only our leaders could hear this. If only you could preach this before Congress. Or if you could only preach this at the White House. Let me ask you a question. Do you think for one minute that Congress or those in the White House would listen or would hear?

[John Weaver] It would make absolutely no impression upon them at all. Why? They do not want the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, it is true that they will use Christ and his followers. Have you noticed that every politician professes to be religious and many of them profess to be Christians? They say one thing and then do the opposite. It's a total, absolute charade to them. They know how to talk the talk, and they know talking the talk is sufficient for most professing Christians. Why? Because we are so dull, so dead, and so deformed, spiritually speaking, we cannot even discern their hypocrisy. What did our Lord say? It is by their fruits you shall know them, not by their words. It does not matter what a politician says, and it really does not matter what an established religious leader says, you look at his life. The interesting thing is, most of the black religious leaders, as well as the white religious leaders, naturally known, are adulterers and whoremongers. and fornicators and thieves. They will talk the talk, but they certainly do not want the walk. And those who profess to be Christians.

[John Weaver] To get your vote when they get an office, they will vote for and pass anti-biblical and anti-Christian laws without even wincing. They think nothing about it. The only kingdom they're interested in is their own kingdom. Much like Nebuchadnezzar, when he said in Daniel four and verse 30, then the king's pagan said, is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for my honor and for my majesty? They're not interested in Christ. They're not interested in His law. They're interested in their kingdom. You may look in all the political places that you would like, but you will not find Christ there. You may look in all the established religious places that you like, but you will not find Christ there. Christ is not in religion. Christ is not in the politically correct crowd.

[John Weaver] He's been shut out, kicked out, excommunicated and shunned. Those who think that Christ is still in the establishment have never read the scriptures. and have no understanding how governments and religious establishments really, really work. I want you to look in the book of Hosea chapter 4. Daniel, Hosea, Hosea 4 and verse 6. I could quote this one, but I want you to see it. Well, that is not even the passage that I want, hang on. Let me see, I can quote the passage.

[John Weaver] Yeah, I was there 5-6. So they have 5-6. Look what he says. They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord. But they shall not find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. Why? They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children. They go to seek the Lord, yet they're not going to find Him. Why? He has withdrawn Himself from them.

[John Weaver] In the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 6, now listen to this. The bride is so concerned with herself. The groom is knocking at the door. And she says, how can I arise? You know, I perfume myself. You know what? How can I get up now and go to him? And so when you get the song of Solomon, chapter five, verse six, when she finally goes, she says, I opened to my beloved. But my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone.

[John Weaver] My soul failed when he spake, I saw him, but I could not find him, I called him, but he gave me no answer. What did she say? I went to open the door, but he had withdrawn himself. In the book of Micah, chapter 3 and verse 4, I tell you what, just go ahead and turn to Revelation because we're going there next. Revelation 3, but let me just quote Micah 3 and verse 4. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] The Scripture says, Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them. He will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. What did he say? He will not hear them. Why? He will even hide his face from them at that time, because they behaved themselves ill in their doings.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Revelation chapter 3, beginning there with verse 14. I want you to see what our Lord said to the church of the Laodiceans. Watch carefully. Revelation 3, beginning there, verse 14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would that thou wert cold or hot. Isn't it interesting?

[John Weaver] He's saying I'd rather you be either out and out for me or out and out against me. Watch verse 16. So then because our lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

[John Weaver] Now, if you put these scriptures together that I just read to you. Christ spits out. hides his face and withdraws himself from those that hate him, despise him and disobey him. So how can Christ be in any place that rejects him and his word? So in light of these truths, the question has to be asked, what must we do? We cannot support anything that's unbiblical and unchristian. If we wish to be pleasing to our Lord, we must be where he is.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to this passage, John 12 and verse 26. Here's what our Lord said. Listen, if any man serve me, let him follow me. And where I am. There also shall my servant be. If any man served me, him will my father honor. Did you hear what he said? And where I am, wherever I am. There will my servant also be.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go back to Hebrews chapter 13. Because I want to share with you very quickly. Verse 13. Notice, if you would, Hebrews chapter 13. And I've got four points, Hebrews 13, verse 13. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. Christ has been kicked out, Christ has been excommunicated. So what are we to do? Here's the plea. Let us go forth.

[John Weaver] In other words, now is not the time to sit still. We know where Christ is. metaphysically and morally, so let us arise and go forth. The plea in verse 13, if you take it in its context, is actually a plea for the early believers to leave the temple worship with all of its rituals and all of its ceremonies and go to Christ. Why? Because the tabernacle and the temple, with all of those rituals and all of those ceremonies, were nothing but types and emblems and shadows.

[John Weaver] And they are now useless since the reality has come. So the apostle is saying, look, Christ has fulfilled every type and every shadow. He is not in the tabernacle. He is not in the temple. He is not in the ceremonies. He is not in the rituals. He is here and he is outside the camp. He's not going to be there in the established, politically correct religion. Look in Hebrews chapter 10. Go back, if you would, Hebrews 10, beginning there with verse 9. Hebrews 10, verse 9. Look at what the scripture says.

[John Weaver] Here's why the apostles pleading let us go forth. Hebrews 10 verse 9, Then said he, that is Christ, will I come to do thy will, O God? He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. Watch. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering Oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins, but this man, Jesus Christ, this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever them that He has sanctified."

[John Weaver] Why in the world would we leave the tabernacle? Why would we leave the temple? Because Christ is not there. The rituals are empty. The ceremonies are worthless. They were pictures. They were types. They were emblems. They were shadows, and now we have the real thing. And so the plea is, let us arise and go forth to Christ in the fullness of His sacrifice, in the fullness of His work, in the fullness of His obedience, in the fullness of His worship. Let's leave sin and the world and the pleasures, as well as our own works and our own righteousness, and go to Him. That's the plea.

[John Weaver] Look, if you would please, secondly, at the person. He says in verse 13, let us go forth therefore unto Him. The plea is not to go forth to a system or religion or establishment. The plea is for you and I to go forth to a person, to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is a living person. You remember what he said where I am there will my servant also be. Do you not remember that invitation that he gave in Matthew 11 in verse 28 when he said come unto me?

[John Weaver] All you that labor are heavy laden and I will give you rest. The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 in verse 34, he said, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. John chapter 6, as we read earlier, is on the bread of life. John chapter 7 is on the water of life. Jesus Christ isn't only the bread of life, He's the water of life. And in John 7, verse 37, He said this, In that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. There's a huge difference between coming down an aisle and coming to Christ. There's a huge difference between joining a church and being joined to Christ. There's a huge difference between being associated with a religion and being a partaker of Jesus Christ. Listen, the gospel is not about Christ. Is the gospel. The gospel. Is not facts about Christ. Christ. Is the gospel.

[John Weaver] We must be in him. He's a living person and we must partake of him. He that would be saved must come to Christ.

[John Weaver] He that would be saved must come to Christ. There is no church that can save you. There is no act that can save you. There is no religious establishment that can save you. He that would be saved must come to Christ. He that would be holy must come to Christ. Alice and I get tickled many times at the names of churches that we see. Many probably have seen that one around Nahauna, the Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church. Philadelphia Sawgrass. We've seen a Weeping Mary Baptist Church. And I suppose the truest sign of all we saw in Tennessee was Compromise Baptist Church.

[John Weaver] I'm serious, I've got a picture of it. Compromised Baptist Church and they had an error going that way. I said, well, that's probably the most truthful church sign I've ever seen in my life. But you can join every church in the world and it will not save you. Only Christ will save you. Only Christ will make you holy. We've seen the holy church of God in Christ's sign. And you wonder, If the people are really genuinely holy. You will never be holy by joining a church. You will only become holy in Christ. You will never become obedient by joining a church. You will only become obedient by submitting to Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] So the plea is, let us go forth. The person is unto Him.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, I want you to look in Hebrews 13 verse 13. Here's the place. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp. Without the camp. I want to read to you three paragraphs. Written by Arthur W. Pink. And he's dealing with Hebrews 13 in verse 13, and he's dealing particularly with this phrase, without the camp. Listen to what he says. It is that particular point, the Jews casting out of Christ, anathematizing him, condemning him to a malefactor's death, which must guide us when seeking to identify the modern counterpart of the camp.

[John Weaver] There is really no exact replica on earth today of that Judaism which crucified the Lord Jesus. Certainly neither Romanism, blasphemous and horrible, as are many of its doctrines and practices, nor the most degenerate branches of Protestantism, rotten as some of them are in doctrines and works, can rightly be designated the present-day tempt. No, as we pointed out previously, that which most closely resembles it That which in principle is essentially like there to is the secular profane world.

[John Weaver] Let me just stop there. Although he's equating the camp with the world. Certainly, I believe the profane religious establishments as well as the profane governments would certainly be applicable as well. Because when you get to the book of Revelation, we read not only about A spiritual Babylon, but an economic Babylon as well. He goes on, he says this, so he's identifying the camp with the world. It is unregenerate and it's unregenerate and godly members do not profess to love Christ.

[John Weaver] The very mention of him is hateful to them. They desire to banish him entirely from their schemes and thoughts, except when they take his holy name in vain.

[John Weaver] Next, we sought to show in what sense the Lord requires his people to go forth outside the camp, that is, separate themselves from the ungodly, from those who hate and revile Christ. This, as we saw, is not to be understood literally or physically, but metaphorically or morally. It is not a local withdrawal from the world, but a religious and spiritual one. In other words, God does not bid his people be fanatics and lead the lives of hermits.

[John Weaver] taking refuge in monasteries and convents, is the devil's perversion of this important practical truth. No, the Krishna is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world. Its policy and maxims must not regulate him. Its pleasures and attractions must not capture his heart. Its friendship must not be sought. Its politics are no concern of his. In heart and soul interest, he is a stranger here, and he is to conduct himself as a pilgrim, passing through this scene, using this world, but not abusing it.

[John Weaver] To go forth under Christ without the camp means, for the believer, to make a complete break with his former manner of life, to renounce everything which is opposed to Christ, to relinquish whatever would hinder communion with him. In a word, the exhortation of our text is only another way of presenting the declaration of the Lord, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Sin must be mortified, the flesh with its affections and lusts crucified, the world forsaken, And the example which Christ has left us diligently followed. So then going forth on him outside the camp is not a single act done once for all at conversion, but a habitual thing, a constant attitude of life. The cross must be taken up by the Christian daily.

[John Weaver] So what he is saying is very appropriate. Going forth unto him is not a one-time thing. It is an attitude. It is a lifestyle. It is a perspective. It is a worldview. We, like all the other men of faith, in Hebrews 11, verse 13, like our forefathers, must confess and acknowledge that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. And like the Apostle Paul said, we must learn to die daily. Where is Christ?

[John Weaver] Theologically and positionally, he's at the right hand of God. Metaphorically and morally, he's been cast out of this world, been cast out of religious establishments, been cast out of political correct governments. Martin Luther said it like this. I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ. Truly, heaven without Christ would be hell. And hell with Christ would be heaven. So we must go forth, therefore, unto Him without the camp. One last point.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in Hebrews 13 and verse 13. Here's the performance. He said, Let us go forth, therefore, and without the camp bearing his reproach. Are we willing to bear his reproach? Let me ask you a question. Do you perform very well under pressure? Criticism and complaints. Are you able to drink of his cup? Are you ready, willing and able to bear the reproach that will be cast upon you Are you willing and ready and able to suffer for his sake? Do you understand and did you know that Christ was willing to bear the reproach of the father? What? What do you mean the reproach of the father? Well, don't you remember all of these Old Testament times when the people provoked God and sinned against God? They reproached God.

[John Weaver] Anytime you deny God's law, you're saying, in essence, God's not right. His law is not perfect. I can be my own God. You are thus reproaching God. Do you remember? The passage in Psalm 69 in verse 9, where it is written, For the zeal of thine house hath eaten thee up, and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me." He was speaking about the Messiah, and when you get to Romans chapter 15 and verse 13, the Bible says, for even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproach thee fell on me. So Christ then, bore all the reproaches that the wicked and rebellious people had placed upon God. They placed upon Him. If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves. We shall also be excommunicated by the religious and politically correct establishment.

[John Weaver] We will be labeled and counted as zealots, dogmatists, right-wing nuts, survivalists, cultists, hate groups, terrorists, and narrow-minded bigots. We'll probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. And have you ever noticed that every home that has been invaded by the federal government has been designated as a compound. I wonder what's the difference between a compound and a home? The world may hate us, but their hatred and their accusations and their ill will will not deter us.

[John Weaver] You know what our Lord said in Luke 6 verse 22? Listen to this. Our Lord said, Blessed are you when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake. Our Lord said blessed are you when men will reproach us for Christ's sake. The Apostle Paul in 1st Timothy chapter 4 verse 10 said this, For therefore, we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God. You're in the book of Hebrews, turn right back to Hebrews chapter 11.

[John Weaver] I want you to watch this. Moses, of course, forsook the headship and all the treasures of Egypt. Do you know why? Watch this. Hebrews 11 and verse 24, By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Why? Esteeming the reproach of Christ. Greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect and the recompense of the reward. How much do you treasure the reproach of Christ? What is your estimation of the reproach of Jesus Christ?

[John Weaver] How do you value it? Moses turned down the headship of Egypt. He turned down the pharaohship of Egypt. He turned down all the wealth of Egypt. For he believed the reproach of Christ was greater than all the riches of Egypt. In that light and with that understanding. We can easily and clearly understand what Paul meant. And Second Corinthians 12 and verse 10, when he said this, therefore.

[John Weaver] I take pleasures in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. What did he say? I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches for Christ's sake. The plea, let us go forth a person unto him, the place without the camp, the performance bearing his reproach. Let me make just two applications very quickly. The first one is this the world.

[John Weaver] religion and political correctness have not only condemned and crucified Christ, they've excommunicated him. He's been officially censured and cast out by the world. He was officially censured, cast out by his own. Well, the scripture said he came into his own, but his own received him not. Our Lord said in John 15 in verse 18, if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. What's the world do? It hates him. It has cast him out. Personally, I'd rather have fellowship with the excommunicated Christ. Than to be excommunicated by Christ. I'd rather have fellowship with Christ whom the world despises. than to have fellowship with the world and be despised by Christ. We must understand that if we stand for Christ, His righteousness, His truth, His word, the world will hate and despise us. We have been well warned by our Lord when He said in Luke 6 and verse 26, Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers, the false prophets. There is something dreadfully wrong with professing Christendom when those who hate Christ and His law speak well and approvingly of Christians.

[John Weaver] The second application is this. We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently. Did He not suffer in our stead? Did He not bear our shame and reproach? One last passage, I want you to look in the book of Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. I want you to look in Philippians chapter three of what the Apostle Paul said. We must understand that he bore our reproach. We should be willing to bear his. Philippians chapter three, beginning there with verse eight. Look what the Apostle Paul said. Yay. Doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them, but done that I may win Christ.

[John Weaver] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Now watch that I may know him. And the power of his resurrection, are you looking? And the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. What did he say? That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.

[John Weaver] In this day and time, when the powers that be and the religious establishments are anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-God, anti-family, we need to come to this one conclusion. It's an honor to be reproached for Christ's sake. It's an honor to be condemned with Christ. It's an honor to be excommunicated with Christ. We need not fear the reproach or the reviling of men. Our goal should be to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.

[John Weaver] and the fellowship of his sufferings, that we may be with him without the gate. And I had rather be with Christ without the gate. Than to be inside the gate without Christ. Father, help us, I pray. Prepare our hearts, prepare our minds. May we love thee and serve thee and give us grace that we would be willing to cheerfully and gladly suffer with Thee and for Thee and to be reproached for Thy honor and Thy namesake. Help us deliver Thee, we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

[John Weaver] This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-833-7000. You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

The Excommunication of Christ

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	112811111697
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-08-14
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	88

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Concept of Excommunication

Weaver introduces the topic by referencing church discipline and the excommunication of a sinning believer in 1 Corinthians 5, then transitions to the unusual idea of Christ being excommunicated.

Alright, let's open our Bibles today to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. The book of Hebrews chapter 13, and we're going to be reading verses 11 through 13. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 11 through 13. The title of the message today is "The Excommunication of Christ." Some time ago, Brother Ron and Sister Linda were reading in, I think, Rushdoony's book, and they hit this thought, and Ron told me, he said, "Will you ever preach someday on the excommunication of Christ?" And I said, "Well, I will." And so I got around to it. So Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 11, the Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:11-13

"For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

When we hear the word excommunication, the word sounds strange to our ears simply because we immediately know that it is a strong word and that it's a word that speaks of sin, suffering, and estrangement.

We think of it in reference to saints that have sinned and have refused to repent, and consequently, church discipline has been exercised upon them. We immediately think of a passage like 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 6, where the Apostle Paul commanded,

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:6

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which you received of us."

I want you to hold Hebrews chapter 13, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 5, because I want to show you a passage where one individual was indeed disciplined or, as some would say, excommunicated. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, beginning there with verse 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 1. Paul is reproaching the Corinthians and rebuking them, for he writes, "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife."

So here was a son—not necessarily his mother, but maybe a stepmother—was committing fornication with his stepmother. And he says, "And you were puffed up, and have not rather mourned that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Notice, if you would, evidently the church discipline that was exercised for his sin had a desirable effect. You say, "How can you say that?" Well, turn right over to 2 Corinthians 2 and look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians 2 and verse 5, because Paul now speaks concerning the same individual and he says this, 2 Corinthians 2, beginning with verse 5, "But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part, that I may not overcharge you all." Now look what he says in verse 6, "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many."

So that contrariwise, now that he's repented, you ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him. So here is an individual who had committed sin. He was disciplined by the church. He was put out from among them, excommunicated as we would say. But evidently he repented and now Paul is saying you need to bring him back now in light of these verses. How can we speak of the excommunication of Christ? We know, we acknowledge, we confess, and believe that Jesus Christ was and is the sinless Son of God. We know that in Him is no sin. The word excommunication not only speaks of censure, but it also means to exclude from fellowship, or to cast to one side, or to put out. In many instances, Christ has been censured by His professing people in that He has been set aside or excluded from fellowship because of the strictness of His doctrine and His demands for a holy, obedient life.

Christ Excommunicated by His Professing People

Christ is censured and excluded by those who reject His strict doctrine and demands for holiness, illustrated by the disciples forsaking Him in John 6.

How can we speak of the excommunication of Christ? We know, we acknowledge, we confess, and believe that Jesus Christ was and is the sinless Son of God. We know that in Him is no sin. The word excommunication not only speaks of censure, but it also means to exclude from fellowship, or to cast to one side, or to put out. In many instances, Christ has been censured by His professing people in that He has been set aside or excluded from fellowship because of the strictness of His doctrine and His demands for a holy, obedient life. I'm going to show you in just a moment, but it's much like the incident in John chapter 6, where our Lord gave His message on the bread of life. He proclaimed there that He was indeed the bread of life sent down from heaven and that He alone could provide life and nourishment. Many of His disciples at that particular point forsook Him.

Now, it was not necessarily an official censure from a religious body, but by their forsaking Him, they certainly excluded Him from any future teaching or fellowship. So in one sense of the word, their actions cast Him out, and their refusal to believe and submit to His teaching and doctrine was a censure in one sense of the word against that which He taught. So I want you to look in John chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 32. John 6, verse 32. This is a tremendous passage, but I want you to watch how this develops. John 6, in verse 32. We will read through verse 35. John 6, verse 32.

Then Jesus said to them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world." Then said they unto him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Now, skip down to verse 51. Remember, He's teaching that He is the bread of life. Verse 51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life."

"And I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." Now of course our Lord was not necessarily talking literally and physically. He was speaking metaphorically and spiritually. But look what happens. Skip down to verse 60. Watch what happens. Verse 60, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" Now skip down to verse 66. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" Then Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ. John 6 is very emphatic. Now listen carefully. When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, verses 2 and 3. Let's put this together. Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word."

Rejecting Sound Doctrine Rejects Christ

When people reject sound doctrine, they turn to teachers who scratch their itching ears, effectively cutting off and casting out Christ from their lives.

"Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Now listen, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." Now listen to what he said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." What will they do? They will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. In other words, they want someone to scratch their ears. They want someone to teach what they want taught. They want someone to say what they want said. They're not interested in truth. They're not interested in doctrine. They're interested only in what they want.

Now the interesting thing here is this. When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ, he will always turn to others that will give him that which he wants to hear. At the same time, when he turns to others, he has also rejected Christ and His Word, and he has effectively cut him off and cast him out. In other words, he has excommunicated Christ from his life.

Now, I want you to look back to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and look at verse 12. I'm mainly going to deal with verse 12 and verse 13 today. I read verse 11 so that you could see in the context exactly what was happening. Let's go back to verse 11. He says, "For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp." Now watch. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Now, let's ask a question. Where is Christ? We confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is in the heaven of heavens.

Christ's Position: Outside the Gate and Without the Camp

Theologically, Christ is at God's right hand, but metaphorically and morally, He is outside the camp—absent from established religion and worldly systems.

He is in the most holy place, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Okay? This was prophesied in the Old Testament, and it's confirmed in the New Testament. Let me just quote—go ahead and turn to Acts chapter 2 if you would please. Just Acts chapter 2. And as you turn to Acts chapter 2, let me quote from Psalm 110 and verse 1. Listen, as I quote Psalm 110 verse 1,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

This is the most frequently quoted verse in the Old Testament. It's quoted more in the New Testament than any other verse. So the Lord said to my Lord,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

"Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Now you will see how it's applied to Christ. Look in Acts chapter 2 and verse 25. "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved."

Verse 33, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Look in verse 34, "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand." Now, listen carefully. We know where our Lord is theologically and positionally. But do we know where He is metaphorically and morally? Let me give you a clue. He is not anywhere around established religion. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the other isms are without Jesus Christ. Moreover, all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment, programs, buildings, ecumenism, compromise, seeker-friendly atmospheres, and building a name for themselves are without Christ. He is nowhere near them. His word is not there. He is not there. Where is He? He is outside the gate and without the camp.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Hosea. Hold Hebrews, we're coming back there. Look in Hosea chapter 8. Daniel, Hosea, Joel, and Amos. Look in Hosea chapter 8, because I want you to see that modern-day Christendom, or let me say it like this, the religious establishment, has basically fallen into the same trap that ancient Israel did. In Hosea 8, beginning there verse 12, look what God says concerning Israel. God says, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing."

Old Testament Parallels: Empty Rituals and Rejection of God

Weaver cites Hosea 8, Amos 5, and other passages to show that God despises heartless ceremonies and that Israel's rejection of God's law led to His withdrawal.

Let me just stop there. "They were counted as a strange thing." I've got a message on this passage that I preached a multitude of years ago. The word strange does not just simply refer to something that's funny sounding or something that we've never heard before. Remember, the word refers to a prostitute as a strange woman. The word strange here, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange," that is, an alien thing to him.

Now, watch what happens when you reject the word of God. Here it is. Watch now, verse 13. "They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not." "Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt." Here it is, "For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples." What? He's forgotten God and buildeth temples. What's he doing? He's making a profession of worshipping God, and he's building these magnificent buildings, but the worship of God is not there. God is not there. It's all external. It's all hypocritical. In other words, we basically have forgotten Christ. We've forgotten His word, repentance, faith, and obedience. And basically what modern-day Christendom is doing is this.

We're majoring on the minors. And somehow we think that structures and rituals and ceremonies and pageants and programs can please the sovereign God of heaven and earth. We've forgotten that empty ceremonies and heartless rituals are absolutely despised by God. Turn right over. Hosea, Joel, Amos. Look at Amos chapter 5. Let me show you God's attitude toward these empty ceremonies and heartless rituals. Notice if you would, Amos chapter 5, beginning there in verse 21. Look what God says to Israel.

"I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Now go back to verse 21 when God says, "I hate and I despise your feast days." Did not God appoint those feast days? Did not God appoint those sacrifices? Did not God appoint those solemn assemblies? Did not God appoint the music and the musicians and the songs? Why does God look at Israel and say, "I hate and despise all of your rituals and all of your ceremonies"? And the answer is, because they had turned away from God's judgment, God's word, God's justice, and the ceremonies and the rituals were absolutely empty and meaningless and heartless.

We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in 1 Samuel 15 and verse 22. Or Samuel asks,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:22

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

What is God saying? He'd rather have our obedience than all of the sacrifices and all the rituals and all the ceremonies that we can perform. That's why in Micah 6 and verse 8, God said this. "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Now notice. What does God require of thee? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. You know, I thought about this verse even this morning. I probably need to come back and just preach on this verse one day. To describe justice and mercy, and what it means to walk humbly with thy God.

Sure, remember that passage in Luke chapter 18? Where the Pharisee and the publican went up to the temple to pray. And the Pharisee prayed thus with himself, "Lord, I thank thee that I am not as other men. I thank thee that I am not as this publican. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess." And it went on and on. And the old publican would not even so much as lift his eyes toward heaven, but smote himself on his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." And our Lord said, "Verily, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other." What was he doing? He was walking humbly.

He acknowledged what he was. He acknowledged that he deserved nothing. I'm just simply saying, God has showed us what He demands of us. I want you to look in your Bibles. Go back to the book of Jeremiah chapter 22. Jeremiah 22. Jeremiah, Lamentations. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 13. Jeremiah 22 and verse 13. I want to show you what God says. Jeremiah 22, verse 13. Jeremiah 22, verse 13, watch carefully. God says, "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness."

"And his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; that saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion." Now watch. So here's what he's done. He's built a big, beautiful mansion. Now look at the question God asked in verse 15. "Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?" Now watch. "He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord." Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? What good is a big, beautiful building without truth and righteousness and holiness and justice? I don't know if you've ever been through Atlanta on I-75, but as you get on the outskirts of the city, there's this huge church building. I mean, huge. I don't even know the name of the church. Is that it? Wow. Well, I'll tell you this.

The Tabernacle Without the Camp: A Type of Christ

Exodus 33:7 shows Moses pitching the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, prefiguring Christ's suffering outside the gate and the need to seek Him there.

Exodus 33, verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33, verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:7

"And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."

Now, let me just refresh your memory. Exodus chapter 32 deals with the golden calf incident. You remember how Aaron collected the golden earrings, fashioned the molten calf, and said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." The people had disobeyed God, they had rebelled, they refused to obey God's law. Incidentally, they broke all ten commandments at one time. And because of their sin, and because of their rebellion, God now refuses to walk among them. Look in Exodus 33, verses 2 and 3. Look what God says. "And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way."

So what did Moses do? In verse 7, look at it again. "And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp." So Moses then took the tabernacle, which in all of its parts, as well as the ceremonies, was pictures, symbols, and types of Christ, and pitched it without the camp. Note, if you would, verse 7 says, "It came to pass that everyone that sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."

Now, go back in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Here's the whole point. The Israelites that really wanted to seek the Lord had to separate themselves from their wickedness and go forth unto Christ. Christ cannot and will not abide compromise, complacency, or iniquity. So, look in verse 12, Hebrews 13, "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is, He suffered without the gate at Jerusalem, as the sin offering was consumed without the camp, when the tabernacle abode in the wilderness.

Why Christ Suffered Without the Gate

Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders despised and rejected Him; modern establishments similarly have no genuine interest in Christ.

Now, let's ask a question. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? Someone's going to say, "Well, to fulfill prophecy." Well, that's true. I mean, prophecy was fulfilled. That's what Hebrews 13 is telling us based upon Exodus 33 and verse 7. That's true. But that's not the practical answer. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? And the answer is because the religious leaders, along with the political leaders, despised, hated, refused, and crucified Him.

They did not desire Him. They did not desire His word. They did not desire His rule. They did not desire His law. They wanted no part of Christ. They cast Him out. They excommunicated Him. If you think for one moment that the political and the religious leaders of this world have any interest of Christ and His kingdom at heart, you need to think again. Because if you really believe the political and the religious establishments really, truly, genuinely want Christ and His law, then I believe you're deceived.

I've had many well-meaning Christians come to me after I preached a particular sermon and would say something like this, "Wow, if only our leaders could hear this. If only you could preach this before Congress. Or if you could only preach this at the White House." Let me ask you a question. Do you think for one minute that Congress or those in the White House would listen or would hear? It would make absolutely no impression upon them at all. Why? They do not want the truth.

Now, it is true that they will use Christ and His followers. Have you noticed that every politician professes to be religious and many of them profess to be Christians? They say one thing and then do the opposite. It's a total, absolute charade to them. They know how to talk the talk, and they know talking the talk is sufficient for most professing Christians. Why? Because we are so dull, so dead, and so deformed, spiritually speaking, we cannot even discern their hypocrisy. What did our Lord say? "It is by their fruits ye shall know them," not by their words. It does not matter what a politician says, and it really does not matter what an established religious leader says, you look at his life. The interesting thing is, most of the black religious leaders, as well as the white religious leaders, nationally known, are adulterers and whoremongers and fornicators and thieves. They will talk the talk, but they certainly do not want the walk. And those who profess to be Christians

The Plea: Go Forth to Christ Outside the Camp

Hebrews 13:13 calls believers to leave empty religious systems and go to Christ, bearing His reproach, as the old covenant types are fulfilled in Him.

In other words, now is not the time to sit still. We know where Christ is metaphysically and morally, so let us arise and go forth. The plea in verse 13, if you take it in its context, is actually a plea for the early believers to leave the temple worship with all of its rituals and all of its ceremonies and go to Christ. Why? Because the tabernacle and the temple, with all of those rituals and all of those ceremonies, were nothing but types and emblems and shadows. And they are now useless since the reality has come. So the apostle is saying, look, Christ has fulfilled every type and every shadow. He is not in the tabernacle. He is not in the temple. He is not in the ceremonies. He is not in the rituals. He is here and He is outside the camp. He's not going to be there in the established, politically correct religion. Look in Hebrews chapter 10. Go back, if you would, Hebrews 10, beginning there with verse 9. Hebrews 10, verse 9. Look at what the scripture says.

Here's why the apostle's pleading, "Let us go forth." Hebrews 10 verse 9, "Then said he," that is Christ, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Watch. "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man," Jesus Christ, "this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Why in the world would we leave the tabernacle? Why would we leave the temple? Because Christ is not there. The rituals are empty. The ceremonies are worthless. They were pictures. They were types. They were emblems. They were shadows, and now we have the real thing. And so the plea is, let us arise and go forth to Christ in the fullness of His sacrifice, in the fullness of His work, in the fullness of His obedience, in the fullness of His worship. Let's leave sin and the world and the pleasures, as well as our own works and our own righteousness, and go to Him. That's the plea.

Look, if you would please, secondly, at the person. He says in verse 13, "Let us go forth therefore unto him." The plea is not to go forth to a system or religion or establishment. The plea is for you and I to go forth to a person, to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is a living person. You remember what He said, "Where I am, there will my servant also be." Do you not remember that invitation that He gave in Matthew 11 in verse 28 when He said, "Come unto me"?

The Person: Coming to Christ, Not a System

Salvation and holiness are found only in a living relationship with Christ, not in joining churches or performing rituals.

"All ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 in verse 34, He said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." John chapter 6, as we read earlier, is on the bread of life. John chapter 7 is on the water of life. Jesus Christ isn't only the bread of life, He's the water of life. And in John 7, verse 37, He said this, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." There's a huge difference between coming down an aisle and coming to Christ. There's a huge difference between joining a church and being joined to Christ. There's a huge difference between being associated with a religion and being a partaker of Jesus Christ. Listen, the gospel is not about Christ. The gospel is not facts about Christ. Christ is the gospel.

We must be in Him. He's a living person and we must partake of Him. He that would be saved must come to Christ.

He that would be saved must come to Christ. There is no church that can save you. There is no act that can save you. There is no religious establishment that can save you. He that would be saved must come to Christ. He that would be holy must come to Christ. Alice and I get tickled many times at the names of churches that we see. Many probably have seen that one around Nahunta, the Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church. Philadelphia Sawgrass. We've seen a Weeping Mary Baptist Church. And I suppose the truest sign of all we saw in Tennessee was Compromise Baptist Church.

I'm serious, I've got a picture of it. Compromise Baptist Church and they had an arrow going that way. I said, "Well, that's probably the most truthful church sign I've ever seen in my life." But you can join every church in the world and it will not save you. Only Christ will save you. Only Christ will make you holy. We've seen the Holy Church of God in Christ sign. And you wonder if the people are really genuinely holy. You will never be holy by joining a church. You will only become holy in Christ. You will never become obedient by joining a church. You will only become obedient by submitting to Jesus Christ.

So the plea is, let us go forth. The person is unto Him.

The Place: Without the Camp—Separation from the World

Going forth without the camp means a moral and spiritual separation from the ungodly world, not physical isolation, but a daily denial of self and following Christ.

Thirdly, I want you to look in Hebrews 13 verse 13. Here's the place. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp." Without the camp. I want to read to you three paragraphs written by Arthur W. Pink. And he's dealing with Hebrews 13 in verse 13, and he's dealing particularly with this phrase, "without the camp." Listen to what he says. "It is that particular point, the Jews casting out of Christ, anathematizing him, condemning him to a malefactor's death, which must guide us when seeking to identify the modern counterpart of the camp."

"There is really no exact replica on earth today of that Judaism which crucified the Lord Jesus. Certainly neither Romanism, blasphemous and horrible as are many of its doctrines and practices, nor the most degenerate branches of Protestantism, rotten as some of them are in doctrine and works, can rightly be designated the present-day camp. No, as we pointed out previously, that which most closely resembles it, that which in principle is essentially like thereto, is the secular profane world." Let me just stop there. Although he's equating the camp with the world, certainly, I believe the profane religious establishments as well as the profane governments would certainly be applicable as well. Because when you get to the book of Revelation, we read not only about a spiritual Babylon, but an economic Babylon as well. He goes on, he says this, so he's identifying the camp with the world. "It is unregenerate, and its unregenerate and godly members do not profess to love Christ."

"The very mention of him is hateful to them. They desire to banish him entirely from their schemes and thoughts, except when they take his holy name in vain." "Next, we sought to show in what sense the Lord requires his people to go forth outside the camp, that is, separate themselves from the ungodly, from those who hate and revile Christ. This, as we saw, is not to be understood literally or physically, but metaphorically or morally. It is not a local withdrawal from the world, but a religious and spiritual one. In other words, God does not bid his people be fanatics and lead the lives of hermits." "Taking refuge in monasteries and convents is the devil's perversion of this important practical truth. No, the Christian is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world. Its policy and maxims must not regulate him. Its pleasures and attractions must not capture his heart. Its friendship must not be sought. Its politics are no concern of his. In heart and soul interest, he is a stranger here, and he is to conduct himself as a pilgrim, passing through this scene, using this world, but not abusing it."

"To go forth unto Christ without the camp means, for the believer, to make a complete break with his former manner of life, to renounce everything which is opposed to Christ, to relinquish whatever would hinder communion with him. In a word, the exhortation of our text is only another way of presenting the declaration of the Lord, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.' Sin must be mortified, the flesh with its affections and lusts crucified, the world forsaken, and the example which Christ has left us diligently followed. So then going forth unto him outside the camp is not a single act done once for all at conversion, but a habitual thing, a constant attitude of life. The cross must be taken up by the Christian daily."

So what he is saying is very appropriate. Going forth unto him is not a one-time thing. It is an attitude. It is a lifestyle. It is a perspective. It is a worldview. We, like all the other men of faith in Hebrews 11, verse 13, like our forefathers, must confess and acknowledge that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. And like the Apostle Paul said, we must learn to die daily. Where is Christ?

The Performance: Bearing His Reproach

Believers must willingly bear the reproach of Christ, as He bore the reproaches of God, and count it an honor to suffer with Him.

I want you to look in Hebrews 13 and verse 13. Here's the performance. He said, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Are we willing to bear His reproach? Let me ask you a question. Do you perform very well under pressure? Criticism and complaints. Are you able to drink of His cup? Are you ready, willing, and able to bear the reproach that will be cast upon you? Are you willing and ready and able to suffer for His sake? Do you understand and did you know that Christ was willing to bear the reproach of the Father? What? What do you mean the reproach of the Father? Well, don't you remember all of these Old Testament times when the people provoked God and sinned against God? They reproached God.

Anytime you deny God's law, you're saying, in essence, God's not right. His law is not perfect. I can be my own God. You are thus reproaching God. Do you remember the passage in Psalm 69 in verse 9, where it is written, "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." He was speaking about the Messiah, and when you get to Romans chapter 15 and verse 3, the Bible says, "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." So Christ then bore all the reproaches that the wicked and rebellious people had placed upon God. They placed upon Him. If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves. We shall also be excommunicated by the religious and politically correct establishment.

We will be labeled and counted as zealots, dogmatists, right-wing nuts, survivalists, cultists, hate groups, terrorists, and narrow-minded bigots. We'll probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. And have you ever noticed that every home that has been invaded by the federal government has been designated as a compound? I wonder what's the difference between a compound and a home? The world may hate us, but their hatred and their accusations and their ill will will not deter us. You know what our Lord said in Luke 6 verse 22? Listen to this. Our Lord said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." Our Lord said blessed are you when men will reproach us for Christ's sake. The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10 said this, "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God." You're in the book of Hebrews, turn right back to Hebrews chapter 11.

I want you to watch this. Moses, of course, forsook the headship and all the treasures of Egypt. Do you know why? Watch this. Hebrews 11 and verse 24, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" Why? "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." How much do you treasure the reproach of Christ? What is your estimation of the reproach of Jesus Christ?

How do you value it? Moses turned down the headship of Egypt. He turned down the pharaohship of Egypt. He turned down all the wealth of Egypt. For he believed the reproach of Christ was greater than all the riches of Egypt. In that light and with that understanding, we can easily and clearly understand what Paul meant in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 10, when he said this, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." What did he say? "I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches for Christ's sake." The plea, let us go forth; a person, unto him; the place, without the camp; the performance, bearing his reproach. Let me make just two applications very quickly. The first one is this: the world,

Applications: Fellowship with the Excommunicated Christ

Weaver concludes that it is better to be with Christ outside the camp than inside without Him, and calls for cheerful endurance of reproach for His sake.

religion, and political correctness have not only condemned and crucified Christ, they've excommunicated Him. He's been officially censured and cast out by the world. He was officially censured, cast out by His own. Well, the scripture said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Our Lord said in John 15 in verse 18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." What's the world do? It hates Him. It has cast Him out. Personally, I'd rather have fellowship with the excommunicated Christ than to be excommunicated by Christ. I'd rather have fellowship with Christ whom the world despises than to have fellowship with the world and be despised by Christ. We must understand that if we stand for Christ, His righteousness, His truth, His word, the world will hate and despise us. We have been well warned by our Lord when He said in Luke 6 and verse 26, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." There is something dreadfully wrong with professing Christendom when those who hate Christ and His law speak well and approvingly of Christians.

The second application is this. We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently. Did He not suffer in our stead? Did He not bear our shame and reproach? One last passage, I want you to look in the book of Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. I want you to look in Philippians chapter 3 at what the Apostle Paul said. We must understand that He bore our reproach. We should be willing to bear His. Philippians chapter 3, beginning there with verse 8. Look what the Apostle Paul said. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" Now watch, "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection," are you looking? "and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." What did he say? "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings." In this day and time, when the powers that be and the religious establishments are anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-God, anti-family, we need to come to this one conclusion. It's an honor to be reproached for Christ's sake. It's an honor to be condemned with Christ. It's an honor to be excommunicated with Christ. We need not fear the reproach or the reviling of men. Our goal should be to know Christ and the power of His resurrection

and the fellowship of His sufferings, that we may be with Him without the gate. And I had rather be with Christ without the gate than to be inside the gate without Christ. Father, help us, I pray. Prepare our hearts, prepare our minds. May we love Thee and serve Thee and give us grace that we would be willing to cheerfully and gladly suffer with Thee and for Thee and to be reproached for Thy honor and Thy name's sake. Help us, deliver us, we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Excommunication of Christ

Summary: Christ has been rejected, cast out, and excommunicated by the religious and political establishments, both in His earthly ministry and today.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ.'

Rejection of Sound Doctrine

Summary: Rejecting Christ's doctrine is equivalent to rejecting Christ Himself; people prefer teachers who tell them what they want to hear.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ, he will always turn to others that will give him that which he wants to hear... he has effectively cut him off and cast him out.'

Christ Outside the Camp

Summary: Christ is not found in established religion, empty rituals, or worldly systems; He is outside the gate, and believers must go to Him there.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'He is not anywhere around established religion... He is outside the gate and without the camp.'

Empty Religion vs. Obedience

Summary: God despises heartless ceremonies and rituals; He desires obedience, justice, mercy, and humility over sacrifices.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Amos 5:21 and 1 Samuel 15:22 to show God's preference for obedience over sacrifice.

Separation from the World

Summary: Believers must morally and spiritually separate from the ungodly world, not physically, but by renouncing its values and following Christ daily.

Evidence: Weaver reads Pink: 'To go forth unto Christ without the camp means... to make a complete break with his former manner of life, to renounce everything which is opposed to Christ.'

Bearing Christ's Reproach

Summary: Christians are called to willingly bear the shame and reproach that comes from identifying with the rejected Christ, counting it an honor.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves.'

Fellowship with Christ Over Worldly Acceptance

Summary: It is better to have fellowship with the excommunicated Christ than to be accepted by the world and rejected by Him.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'I'd rather have fellowship with the excommunicated Christ than to be excommunicated by Christ.'

Christ as the Gospel

Summary: The gospel is not merely facts about Christ; Christ Himself is the gospel, and salvation is found only in a personal relationship with Him.

Evidence: Weaver declares, 'The gospel is not about Christ. The gospel is not facts about Christ. Christ is the gospel.'

Key Arguments

Christ was excommunicated by religious and political leaders

Summary: The religious and political establishments of His day rejected and crucified Christ, casting Him outside the gate, and modern establishments continue to exclude Him.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? And the answer is because the religious leaders, along with the political leaders, despised, hated, refused, and crucified Him.'

Rejecting Christ's doctrine is rejecting Christ

Summary: When people refuse sound doctrine, they effectively excommunicate Christ from their lives, turning to teachers who satisfy their own desires.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ.'

Christ is not in established religion or worldly systems

Summary: Christ is absent from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and even professing Christian churches that prioritize entertainment and compromise over truth.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment, programs, buildings, ecumenism, compromise... are without Christ.'

God despises empty rituals without obedience

Summary: God hates and despises religious ceremonies when they are not accompanied by justice, righteousness, and obedience to His word.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Amos 5:21-24 and explains, 'they had turned away from God's judgment, God's word, God's justice, and the ceremonies and the rituals were absolutely empty and meaningless and heartless.'

Believers must go forth to Christ outside the camp

Summary: Hebrews 13:13 calls Christians to leave behind empty religious systems and go to Christ, who is outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'the apostle is saying, look, Christ has fulfilled every type and every shadow. He is not in the tabernacle... He is here and He is outside the camp.'

Salvation is in a person, not a system

Summary: Salvation and holiness come only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not through church membership or religious rituals.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'There is no church that can save you. There is no act that can save you. There is no religious establishment that can save you. He that would be saved must come to Christ.'

Separation from the world is moral, not physical

Summary: Going outside the camp means a spiritual and moral separation from worldly values and practices, not physical withdrawal from society.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Pink: 'It is not a local withdrawal from the world, but a religious and spiritual one... the Christian is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world.'

Bearing reproach is part of following Christ

Summary: Christians should expect and willingly endure reproach for Christ's sake, as He bore reproach for us, and count it a privilege.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently. Did He not suffer in our stead? Did He not bear our shame and reproach?'

Scripture References

Hebrews 13:11-13

Context: The main text of the sermon, describing Christ suffering outside the gate and the call to go forth to Him bearing His reproach.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Context: Command to withdraw from disorderly brethren, used to introduce the concept of excommunication.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Context: Paul's instruction to deliver a sinning brother to Satan, illustrating church discipline and excommunication.

2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Context: Paul's instruction to forgive and comfort the repentant sinner, showing the purpose of discipline.

John 6:32-35, 51-56, 60, 66-69

Context: Jesus' teaching on the bread of life, causing many disciples to forsake Him, illustrating rejection of Christ's doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2-3

Context: Prophecy that people will not endure sound doctrine but will heap up teachers with itching ears.

Psalm 110:1

Context: Prophecy of Christ seated at God's right hand, quoted to show His theological position.

Acts 2:25, 33-34

Context: Peter's sermon applying Psalm 110:1 to Christ's exaltation at God's right hand.

Hosea 8:12-13

Context: Israel counted God's law as a strange thing and built temples while forgetting God, paralleling modern empty religion.

Amos 5:21-24

Context: God's hatred of empty feast days and sacrifices, desiring justice and righteousness instead.

1 Samuel 15:22

Context: Obedience is better than sacrifice, emphasizing God's priority over rituals.

Micah 6:8

Context: God requires justice, mercy, and humble walking, not empty ceremonies.

Luke 18:10-14

Context: Parable of the Pharisee and publican, illustrating humble walking with God.

Jeremiah 22:13-16

Context: Woe to those who build houses by unrighteousness; knowing God is doing justice and righteousness.

Exodus 33:7

Context: Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp, a type of Christ being outside the gate.

Exodus 33:2-3

Context: God refused to go with Israel because of their stiffneckedness, leading to the tabernacle being outside.

Daniel 4:30

Context: Nebuchadnezzar's boast about his kingdom, illustrating self-serving leaders.

Hosea 5:6

Context: They shall seek the Lord but not find Him because He has withdrawn Himself.

Song of Solomon 5:6

Context: The beloved had withdrawn and was gone, illustrating Christ's withdrawal from the complacent.

Micah 3:4

Context: God will hide His face from those who behave ill, not hearing their cries.

Historical References

Rushdoony's book

Context: Brother Ron and Sister Linda read a thought in Rushdoony's book that prompted the sermon topic.

Golden calf incident (Exodus 32)

Context: Israel's idolatry with the golden calf led to God refusing to dwell among them, prompting Moses to pitch the tabernacle outside the camp.

Martin Luther

Context: Weaver quotes Luther: 'I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ.'

Arthur W. Pink

Context: Weaver reads three paragraphs from Pink's commentary on Hebrews 13:13 regarding going outside the camp.

Nebuchadnezzar

Context: Weaver references Nebuchadnezzar's boast in Daniel 4:30 as an example of leaders interested only in their own kingdom.

Compromise Baptist Church

Context: Weaver mentions seeing a church sign in Tennessee named 'Compromise Baptist Church' as an ironic example.

Weeping Mary Baptist Church

Context: Weaver mentions seeing a church named 'Weeping Mary Baptist Church' as an example of unusual church names.

Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church

Context: Weaver mentions seeing a church named 'Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church' as an example of unusual church names.

Important Quotes

Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ.

Significance: Summarizes the central thesis that Christ is rejected by nominal Christians.

When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ.

Significance: Equates rejection of Christ's doctrine with rejection of Christ Himself.

He is not anywhere around established religion. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the other isms are without Jesus Christ.

Significance: Declares Christ's absence from all non-Christian religions and compromised Christianity.

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Significance: Quotes Amos 5:21 to show God's rejection of empty rituals.

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Significance: Quotes 1 Samuel 15:22 to emphasize obedience over ritual.

The gospel is not about Christ. The gospel is not facts about Christ. Christ is the gospel.

Significance: Stresses that salvation is a personal relationship with Christ, not mere doctrine.

I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ.

Significance: Quotes Martin Luther to illustrate the supreme value of Christ's presence.

If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves.

Significance: Warns that following Christ will lead to similar rejection by the world.

Discussion Questions

In what ways do modern churches and religious institutions 'excommunicate' Christ by their practices or teachings?

Context: Weaver argues that Christ is absent from churches focused on entertainment, compromise, and empty rituals.

How can we discern whether we are truly following Christ or merely participating in empty religious rituals?

Context: Weaver contrasts heartless ceremonies with genuine obedience, justice, and humility.

What does it mean practically to 'go forth to Christ outside the camp' in our daily lives?

Context: Weaver explains this as a moral and spiritual separation from worldly values, not physical isolation.

Why is it so difficult for people to endure sound doctrine, and how should we respond when we are tempted to seek teachers who scratch our itching ears?

Context: Weaver discusses 2 Timothy 4:2-3 and the human tendency to reject truth for comfort.

How should we view the reproach and rejection that may come from identifying with Christ?

Context: Weaver calls believers to bear Christ's reproach willingly, as Moses and Paul did.

What is the difference between coming to a church or religious system and coming to Christ Himself?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that salvation is found only in a personal relationship with Christ, not in institutions.

How can we maintain a pilgrim mindset in a world that constantly pressures us to conform?

Context: Weaver quotes Pink on being strangers and pilgrims, using the world but not abusing it.

In what ways might we be tempted to seek the approval of the world rather than fellowship with the rejected Christ?

Context: Weaver warns that woe comes when all men speak well of us, as they did false prophets.

Applications

Seek Christ outside the camp

Summary: Believers must leave behind empty religious systems and worldly values to find Christ where He is—outside the gate, bearing His reproach.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.'

Prioritize obedience over ritual

Summary: God desires obedience, justice, mercy, and humility more than religious ceremonies; we must examine our hearts and practices.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Micah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 15:22 to show God's requirements.

Come to Christ personally

Summary: Salvation and holiness are found only in a living relationship with Jesus Christ, not in church membership or religious acts.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'He that would be saved must come to Christ. He that would be holy must come to Christ.'

Bear reproach willingly

Summary: Christians should expect and cheerfully endure reproach for Christ's sake, counting it an honor to suffer with Him.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently.'

Separate morally from the world

Summary: While living in the world, believers must not adopt its values or seek its friendship, maintaining a pilgrim mindset.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Pink: 'the Christian is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world.'

Value Christ's reproach above worldly riches

Summary: Like Moses, we should esteem the reproach of Christ as greater treasure than the pleasures and wealth of this world.

Evidence: Weaver references Hebrews 11:24-26 and Moses' choice.

Discern the hypocrisy of leaders

Summary: We must not be deceived by politicians or religious leaders who profess Christ but live contrary to His word; we judge by fruits.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'It is by their fruits ye shall know them, not by their words.'

Choose fellowship with Christ over worldly acceptance

Summary: It is better to be with Christ outside the camp than to be inside the gate without Him, even if it means rejection by the world.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'I had rather be with Christ without the gate than to be inside the gate without Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:41:45Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:03:22Z

Clean Transcript

The Excommunication of Christ

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Alright, let's open our Bibles today to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. The book of Hebrews chapter 13, and we're going to be reading verses 11 through 13. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 11 through 13. The title of the message today is "The Excommunication of Christ." Some time ago, Brother Ron and Sister Linda were reading in, I think, Rushdoony's book, and they hit this thought, and Ron told me, he said, "Will you ever preach someday on the excommunication of Christ?"
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And I said, "Well, I will." And so I got around to it. So Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 11, the Word of God says, "For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." When we hear the word excommunication, the word sounds strange to our ears simply because we immediately know that it is a strong word and that it's a word that speaks of sin, suffering, and estrangement.
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We think of it in reference to saints that have sinned and have refused to repent, and consequently, church discipline has been exercised upon them. We immediately think of a passage like 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 6, where the Apostle Paul commanded, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which you received of us." I want you to hold Hebrews chapter 13, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 5, because I want to show you a passage where one individual was indeed disciplined or, as some would say, excommunicated. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, beginning there with verse 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 1. Paul is reproaching the Corinthians and rebuking them, for he writes, "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife."
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So here was a son—not necessarily his mother, but maybe a stepmother—was committing fornication with his stepmother. And he says, "And you were puffed up, and have not rather mourned that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
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Notice, if you would, evidently the church discipline that was exercised for his sin had a desirable effect. You say, "How can you say that?" Well, turn right over to 2 Corinthians 2 and look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians 2 and verse 5, because Paul now speaks concerning the same individual and he says this, 2 Corinthians 2, beginning with verse 5, "But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part, that I may not overcharge you all." Now look what he says in verse 6, "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many."
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So that contrariwise, now that he's repented, you ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him. So here is an individual who had committed sin. He was disciplined by the church. He was put out from among them, excommunicated as we would say. But evidently he repented and now Paul is saying you need to bring him back now in light of these verses.
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How can we speak of the excommunication of Christ? We know, we acknowledge, we confess, and believe that Jesus Christ was and is the sinless Son of God. We know that in Him is no sin. The word excommunication not only speaks of censure, but it also means to exclude from fellowship, or to cast to one side, or to put out. In many instances, Christ has been censured by His professing people in that He has been set aside or excluded from fellowship because of the strictness of His doctrine and His demands for a holy, obedient life.
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I'm going to show you in just a moment, but it's much like the incident in John chapter 6, where our Lord gave His message on the bread of life. He proclaimed there that He was indeed the bread of life sent down from heaven and that He alone could provide life and nourishment. Many of His disciples at that particular point forsook Him.
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Now, it was not necessarily an official censure from a religious body, but by their forsaking Him, they certainly excluded Him from any future teaching or fellowship. So in one sense of the word, their actions cast Him out, and their refusal to believe and submit to His teaching and doctrine was a censure in one sense of the word against that which He taught. So I want you to look in John chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 32. John 6, verse 32. This is a tremendous passage, but I want you to watch how this develops. John 6, in verse 32. We will read through verse 35. John 6, verse 32.
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Then Jesus said to them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world." Then said they unto him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
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Now, skip down to verse 51. Remember, He's teaching that He is the bread of life. Verse 51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life."
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"And I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."
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Now of course our Lord was not necessarily talking literally and physically. He was speaking metaphorically and spiritually. But look what happens. Skip down to verse 60. Watch what happens. Verse 60, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" Now skip down to verse 66. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
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Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" Then Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ. John 6 is very emphatic. Now listen carefully. When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, verses 2 and 3. Let's put this together. Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word."
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"Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Now listen, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." Now listen to what he said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." What will they do? They will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. In other words, they want someone to scratch their ears. They want someone to teach what they want taught. They want someone to say what they want said.
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They're not interested in truth. They're not interested in doctrine. They're interested only in what they want.
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Now the interesting thing here is this. When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ, he will always turn to others that will give him that which he wants to hear. At the same time, when he turns to others, he has also rejected Christ and His Word, and he has effectively cut him off and cast him out. In other words, he has excommunicated Christ from his life.
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Now, I want you to look back to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and look at verse 12. I'm mainly going to deal with verse 12 and verse 13 today. I read verse 11 so that you could see in the context exactly what was happening. Let's go back to verse 11. He says, "For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp." Now watch. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Now, let's ask a question. Where is Christ? We confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is in the heaven of heavens.
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He is in the most holy place, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Okay? This was prophesied in the Old Testament, and it's confirmed in the New Testament. Let me just quote—go ahead and turn to Acts chapter 2 if you would please. Just Acts chapter 2. And as you turn to Acts chapter 2, let me quote from Psalm 110 and verse 1. Listen, as I quote Psalm 110 verse 1, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This is the most frequently quoted verse in the Old Testament. It's quoted more in the New Testament than any other verse. So the Lord said to my Lord, "Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Now you will see how it's applied to Christ. Look in Acts chapter 2 and verse 25. "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved."
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Verse 33, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Look in verse 34, "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand." Now, listen carefully. We know where our Lord is theologically and positionally. But do we know where He is metaphorically and morally?
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Let me give you a clue. He is not anywhere around established religion. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the other isms are without Jesus Christ. Moreover, all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment, programs, buildings, ecumenism, compromise, seeker-friendly atmospheres, and building a name for themselves are without Christ. He is nowhere near them. His word is not there. He is not there. Where is He? He is outside the gate and without the camp.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Hosea. Hold Hebrews, we're coming back there. Look in Hosea chapter 8. Daniel, Hosea, Joel, and Amos. Look in Hosea chapter 8, because I want you to see that modern-day Christendom, or let me say it like this, the religious establishment, has basically fallen into the same trap that ancient Israel did. In Hosea 8, beginning there verse 12, look what God says concerning Israel. God says, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing."
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Let me just stop there. "They were counted as a strange thing." I've got a message on this passage that I preached a multitude of years ago. The word strange does not just simply refer to something that's funny sounding or something that we've never heard before. Remember, the word refers to a prostitute as a strange woman. The word strange here, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange," that is, an alien thing to him.
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Now, watch what happens when you reject the word of God. Here it is. Watch now, verse 13. "They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not."
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"Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt." Here it is, "For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples." What? He's forgotten God and buildeth temples. What's he doing? He's making a profession of worshipping God, and he's building these magnificent buildings, but the worship of God is not there. God is not there. It's all external. It's all hypocritical. In other words, we basically have forgotten Christ. We've forgotten His word, repentance, faith, and obedience. And basically what modern-day Christendom is doing is this.
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We're majoring on the minors. And somehow we think that structures and rituals and ceremonies and pageants and programs can please the sovereign God of heaven and earth. We've forgotten that empty ceremonies and heartless rituals are absolutely despised by God. Turn right over. Hosea, Joel, Amos. Look at Amos chapter 5. Let me show you God's attitude toward these empty ceremonies and heartless rituals. Notice if you would, Amos chapter 5, beginning there in verse 21. Look what God says to Israel.
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"I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Now go back to verse 21 when God says, "I hate and I despise your feast days." Did not God appoint those feast days? Did not God appoint those sacrifices? Did not God appoint those solemn assemblies? Did not God appoint the music and the musicians and the songs? Why does God look at Israel and say, "I hate and despise all of your rituals and all of your ceremonies"? And the answer is, because they had turned away from God's judgment, God's word, God's justice, and the ceremonies and the rituals were absolutely empty and meaningless and heartless.
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We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in 1 Samuel 15 and verse 22. Or Samuel asks, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." What is God saying? He'd rather have our obedience than all of the sacrifices and all the rituals and all the ceremonies that we can perform. That's why in Micah 6 and verse 8, God said this.
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"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Now notice. What does God require of thee? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. You know, I thought about this verse even this morning. I probably need to come back and just preach on this verse one day. To describe justice and mercy, and what it means to walk humbly with thy God.
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Sure, remember that passage in Luke chapter 18? Where the Pharisee and the publican went up to the temple to pray. And the Pharisee prayed thus with himself, "Lord, I thank thee that I am not as other men. I thank thee that I am not as this publican. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess." And it went on and on. And the old publican would not even so much as lift his eyes toward heaven, but smote himself on his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." And our Lord said, "Verily, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other." What was he doing? He was walking humbly.
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He acknowledged what he was. He acknowledged that he deserved nothing. I'm just simply saying, God has showed us what He demands of us. I want you to look in your Bibles. Go back to the book of Jeremiah chapter 22. Jeremiah 22. Jeremiah, Lamentations. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 13. Jeremiah 22 and verse 13. I want to show you what God says. Jeremiah 22, verse 13. Jeremiah 22, verse 13, watch carefully. God says, "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness."
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"And his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; that saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion." Now watch. So here's what he's done. He's built a big, beautiful mansion.
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Now look at the question God asked in verse 15. "Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?" Now watch. "He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord." Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? What good is a big, beautiful building without truth and righteousness and holiness and justice? I don't know if you've ever been through Atlanta on I-75, but as you get on the outskirts of the city, there's this huge church building. I mean, huge. I don't even know the name of the church. Is that it? Wow. Well, I'll tell you this.
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I've often said, how would you like to have one Federal Reserve note for each brick in that building? I mean, come on. I don't know how many bricks are in that building. It is humongous. But the question is this. We can do all of those things. What good is a building without obedience and without holiness, without righteousness? All I'm trying to show you today is this. The context of Hebrews chapter 13 is consistent.
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with that which was foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. I'm going to explain it and we'll show it to you. We need not look for Christ in fine buildings, in great works, in rituals, or in ceremonies. Why? Because He is not there.
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Now, I want you to hold Hebrews 13, but I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and look in chapter 33 and verse 7. Exodus 33 and verse 7.
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Exodus 33, verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33, verse 7. "And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."
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Now, let me just refresh your memory. Exodus chapter 32 deals with the golden calf incident. You remember how Aaron collected the golden earrings, fashioned the molten calf, and said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." The people had disobeyed God, they had rebelled, they refused to obey God's law. Incidentally, they broke all ten commandments at one time. And because of their sin, and because of their rebellion, God now refuses to walk among them. Look in Exodus 33, verses 2 and 3. Look what God says. "And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way."
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So what did Moses do? In verse 7, look at it again. "And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp." So Moses then took the tabernacle, which in all of its parts, as well as the ceremonies, was pictures, symbols, and types of Christ, and pitched it without the camp. Note, if you would, verse 7 says, "It came to pass that everyone that sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."
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Now, go back in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Here's the whole point. The Israelites that really wanted to seek the Lord had to separate themselves from their wickedness and go forth unto Christ. Christ cannot and will not abide compromise, complacency, or iniquity. So, look in verse 12, Hebrews 13, "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is, He suffered without the gate at Jerusalem, as the sin offering was consumed without the camp, when the tabernacle abode in the wilderness.
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Now, let's ask a question. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? Someone's going to say, "Well, to fulfill prophecy." Well, that's true. I mean, prophecy was fulfilled. That's what Hebrews 13 is telling us based upon Exodus 33 and verse 7. That's true. But that's not the practical answer. Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? And the answer is because the religious leaders, along with the political leaders, despised, hated, refused, and crucified Him.
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They did not desire Him. They did not desire His word. They did not desire His rule. They did not desire His law. They wanted no part of Christ. They cast Him out. They excommunicated Him. If you think for one moment that the political and the religious leaders of this world have any interest of Christ and His kingdom at heart, you need to think again. Because if you really believe the political and the religious establishments really, truly, genuinely want Christ and His law, then I believe you're deceived.
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I've had many well-meaning Christians come to me after I preached a particular sermon and would say something like this, "Wow, if only our leaders could hear this. If only you could preach this before Congress. Or if you could only preach this at the White House." Let me ask you a question. Do you think for one minute that Congress or those in the White House would listen or would hear?
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It would make absolutely no impression upon them at all. Why? They do not want the truth.
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Now, it is true that they will use Christ and His followers. Have you noticed that every politician professes to be religious and many of them profess to be Christians? They say one thing and then do the opposite. It's a total, absolute charade to them. They know how to talk the talk, and they know talking the talk is sufficient for most professing Christians. Why? Because we are so dull, so dead, and so deformed, spiritually speaking, we cannot even discern their hypocrisy. What did our Lord say? "It is by their fruits ye shall know them," not by their words. It does not matter what a politician says, and it really does not matter what an established religious leader says, you look at his life. The interesting thing is, most of the black religious leaders, as well as the white religious leaders, nationally known, are adulterers and whoremongers and fornicators and thieves. They will talk the talk, but they certainly do not want the walk. And those who profess to be Christians
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to get your vote, when they get in office, they will vote for and pass anti-biblical and anti-Christian laws without even wincing. They think nothing about it. The only kingdom they're interested in is their own kingdom. Much like Nebuchadnezzar, when he said in Daniel 4 and verse 30, "Then the king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" They're not interested in Christ. They're not interested in His law. They're interested in their kingdom. You may look in all the political places that you would like, but you will not find Christ there. You may look in all the established religious places that you like, but you will not find Christ there. Christ is not in religion. Christ is not in the politically correct crowd.
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He's been shut out, kicked out, excommunicated, and shunned. Those who think that Christ is still in the establishment have never read the scriptures and have no understanding how governments and religious establishments really, really work. I want you to look in the book of Hosea chapter 4. Daniel, Hosea, Hosea 4 and verse 6. I could quote this one, but I want you to see it. Well, that is not even the passage that I want, hang on. Let me see, I can quote the passage.
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Yeah, I was there, 5:6. So they have 5:6. Look what he says. "They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them." Why? "They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children." They go to seek the Lord, yet they're not going to find Him. Why? He has withdrawn Himself from them.
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In the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 6, now listen to this. The bride is so concerned with herself. The groom is knocking at the door. And she says, "How can I arise? You know, I've perfumed myself. You know what? How can I get up now and go to him?" And so when you get to the Song of Solomon, chapter 5, verse 6, when she finally goes, she says, "I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone."
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"My soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." What did she say? "I went to open the door, but he had withdrawn himself." In the book of Micah, chapter 3 and verse 4, I tell you what, just go ahead and turn to Revelation because we're going there next. Revelation 3, but let me just quote Micah 3 and verse 4. Listen carefully.
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The Scripture says, "Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings." What did he say? He will not hear them. Why? He will even hide his face from them at that time, because they behaved themselves ill in their doings.
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Now, if you look in Revelation chapter 3, beginning there with verse 14. I want you to see what our Lord said to the church of the Laodiceans. Watch carefully. Revelation 3, beginning there, verse 14. "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Isn't it interesting?
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He's saying I'd rather you be either out and out for me or out and out against me. Watch verse 16. "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
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Now, if you put these scriptures together that I just read to you, Christ spits out, hides His face, and withdraws Himself from those that hate Him, despise Him, and disobey Him. So how can Christ be in any place that rejects Him and His word? So in light of these truths, the question has to be asked, what must we do? We cannot support anything that's unbiblical and unchristian. If we wish to be pleasing to our Lord, we must be where He is.
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I want you to listen to this passage, John 12 and verse 26. Here's what our Lord said. Listen, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." Did you hear what He said? "And where I am," wherever I am, "there will my servant also be."
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Now, let's go back to Hebrews chapter 13. Because I want to share with you very quickly. Verse 13. Notice, if you would, Hebrews chapter 13. And I've got four points. Hebrews 13, verse 13. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Christ has been kicked out, Christ has been excommunicated. So what are we to do? Here's the plea. "Let us go forth."
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In other words, now is not the time to sit still. We know where Christ is metaphysically and morally, so let us arise and go forth. The plea in verse 13, if you take it in its context, is actually a plea for the early believers to leave the temple worship with all of its rituals and all of its ceremonies and go to Christ. Why? Because the tabernacle and the temple, with all of those rituals and all of those ceremonies, were nothing but types and emblems and shadows.
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And they are now useless since the reality has come. So the apostle is saying, look, Christ has fulfilled every type and every shadow. He is not in the tabernacle. He is not in the temple. He is not in the ceremonies. He is not in the rituals. He is here and He is outside the camp. He's not going to be there in the established, politically correct religion. Look in Hebrews chapter 10. Go back, if you would, Hebrews 10, beginning there with verse 9. Hebrews 10, verse 9. Look at what the scripture says.
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Here's why the apostle's pleading, "Let us go forth." Hebrews 10 verse 9, "Then said he," that is Christ, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Watch. "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man," Jesus Christ, "this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
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Why in the world would we leave the tabernacle? Why would we leave the temple? Because Christ is not there. The rituals are empty. The ceremonies are worthless. They were pictures. They were types. They were emblems. They were shadows, and now we have the real thing. And so the plea is, let us arise and go forth to Christ in the fullness of His sacrifice, in the fullness of His work, in the fullness of His obedience, in the fullness of His worship. Let's leave sin and the world and the pleasures, as well as our own works and our own righteousness, and go to Him. That's the plea.
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Look, if you would please, secondly, at the person. He says in verse 13, "Let us go forth therefore unto him." The plea is not to go forth to a system or religion or establishment. The plea is for you and I to go forth to a person, to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is a living person. You remember what He said, "Where I am, there will my servant also be." Do you not remember that invitation that He gave in Matthew 11 in verse 28 when He said, "Come unto me"?
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"All ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 in verse 34, He said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." John chapter 6, as we read earlier, is on the bread of life. John chapter 7 is on the water of life. Jesus Christ isn't only the bread of life, He's the water of life. And in John 7, verse 37, He said this, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." There's a huge difference between coming down an aisle and coming to Christ. There's a huge difference between joining a church and being joined to Christ. There's a huge difference between being associated with a religion and being a partaker of Jesus Christ. Listen, the gospel is not about Christ. The gospel is not facts about Christ. Christ is the gospel.
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We must be in Him. He's a living person and we must partake of Him. He that would be saved must come to Christ.
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He that would be saved must come to Christ. There is no church that can save you. There is no act that can save you. There is no religious establishment that can save you. He that would be saved must come to Christ. He that would be holy must come to Christ. Alice and I get tickled many times at the names of churches that we see. Many probably have seen that one around Nahunta, the Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church. Philadelphia Sawgrass. We've seen a Weeping Mary Baptist Church. And I suppose the truest sign of all we saw in Tennessee was Compromise Baptist Church.
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I'm serious, I've got a picture of it. Compromise Baptist Church and they had an arrow going that way. I said, "Well, that's probably the most truthful church sign I've ever seen in my life." But you can join every church in the world and it will not save you. Only Christ will save you. Only Christ will make you holy. We've seen the Holy Church of God in Christ sign. And you wonder if the people are really genuinely holy. You will never be holy by joining a church. You will only become holy in Christ. You will never become obedient by joining a church. You will only become obedient by submitting to Jesus Christ.
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So the plea is, let us go forth. The person is unto Him.
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Thirdly, I want you to look in Hebrews 13 verse 13. Here's the place. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp." Without the camp. I want to read to you three paragraphs written by Arthur W. Pink. And he's dealing with Hebrews 13 in verse 13, and he's dealing particularly with this phrase, "without the camp." Listen to what he says. "It is that particular point, the Jews casting out of Christ, anathematizing him, condemning him to a malefactor's death, which must guide us when seeking to identify the modern counterpart of the camp."
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"There is really no exact replica on earth today of that Judaism which crucified the Lord Jesus. Certainly neither Romanism, blasphemous and horrible as are many of its doctrines and practices, nor the most degenerate branches of Protestantism, rotten as some of them are in doctrine and works, can rightly be designated the present-day camp. No, as we pointed out previously, that which most closely resembles it, that which in principle is essentially like thereto, is the secular profane world."
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Let me just stop there. Although he's equating the camp with the world, certainly, I believe the profane religious establishments as well as the profane governments would certainly be applicable as well. Because when you get to the book of Revelation, we read not only about a spiritual Babylon, but an economic Babylon as well. He goes on, he says this, so he's identifying the camp with the world. "It is unregenerate, and its unregenerate and godly members do not profess to love Christ."
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"The very mention of him is hateful to them. They desire to banish him entirely from their schemes and thoughts, except when they take his holy name in vain."
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"Next, we sought to show in what sense the Lord requires his people to go forth outside the camp, that is, separate themselves from the ungodly, from those who hate and revile Christ. This, as we saw, is not to be understood literally or physically, but metaphorically or morally. It is not a local withdrawal from the world, but a religious and spiritual one. In other words, God does not bid his people be fanatics and lead the lives of hermits."
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"Taking refuge in monasteries and convents is the devil's perversion of this important practical truth. No, the Christian is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world. Its policy and maxims must not regulate him. Its pleasures and attractions must not capture his heart. Its friendship must not be sought. Its politics are no concern of his. In heart and soul interest, he is a stranger here, and he is to conduct himself as a pilgrim, passing through this scene, using this world, but not abusing it."
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"To go forth unto Christ without the camp means, for the believer, to make a complete break with his former manner of life, to renounce everything which is opposed to Christ, to relinquish whatever would hinder communion with him. In a word, the exhortation of our text is only another way of presenting the declaration of the Lord, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.' Sin must be mortified, the flesh with its affections and lusts crucified, the world forsaken, and the example which Christ has left us diligently followed. So then going forth unto him outside the camp is not a single act done once for all at conversion, but a habitual thing, a constant attitude of life. The cross must be taken up by the Christian daily."
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So what he is saying is very appropriate. Going forth unto him is not a one-time thing. It is an attitude. It is a lifestyle. It is a perspective. It is a worldview. We, like all the other men of faith in Hebrews 11, verse 13, like our forefathers, must confess and acknowledge that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. And like the Apostle Paul said, we must learn to die daily. Where is Christ?
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Theologically and positionally, He's at the right hand of God. Metaphorically and morally, He's been cast out of this world, been cast out of religious establishments, been cast out of politically correct governments. Martin Luther said it like this: "I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ." Truly, heaven without Christ would be hell, and hell with Christ would be heaven. So we must go forth, therefore, unto Him without the camp. One last point.
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I want you to look in Hebrews 13 and verse 13. Here's the performance. He said, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Are we willing to bear His reproach? Let me ask you a question. Do you perform very well under pressure? Criticism and complaints. Are you able to drink of His cup? Are you ready, willing, and able to bear the reproach that will be cast upon you? Are you willing and ready and able to suffer for His sake? Do you understand and did you know that Christ was willing to bear the reproach of the Father? What? What do you mean the reproach of the Father? Well, don't you remember all of these Old Testament times when the people provoked God and sinned against God? They reproached God.
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Anytime you deny God's law, you're saying, in essence, God's not right. His law is not perfect. I can be my own God. You are thus reproaching God. Do you remember the passage in Psalm 69 in verse 9, where it is written, "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." He was speaking about the Messiah, and when you get to Romans chapter 15 and verse 3, the Bible says, "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." So Christ then bore all the reproaches that the wicked and rebellious people had placed upon God. They placed upon Him. If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves. We shall also be excommunicated by the religious and politically correct establishment.
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We will be labeled and counted as zealots, dogmatists, right-wing nuts, survivalists, cultists, hate groups, terrorists, and narrow-minded bigots. We'll probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. And have you ever noticed that every home that has been invaded by the federal government has been designated as a compound? I wonder what's the difference between a compound and a home? The world may hate us, but their hatred and their accusations and their ill will will not deter us.
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You know what our Lord said in Luke 6 verse 22? Listen to this. Our Lord said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." Our Lord said blessed are you when men will reproach us for Christ's sake. The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10 said this, "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God." You're in the book of Hebrews, turn right back to Hebrews chapter 11.
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I want you to watch this. Moses, of course, forsook the headship and all the treasures of Egypt. Do you know why? Watch this. Hebrews 11 and verse 24, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" Why? "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." How much do you treasure the reproach of Christ? What is your estimation of the reproach of Jesus Christ?
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How do you value it? Moses turned down the headship of Egypt. He turned down the pharaohship of Egypt. He turned down all the wealth of Egypt. For he believed the reproach of Christ was greater than all the riches of Egypt. In that light and with that understanding, we can easily and clearly understand what Paul meant in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 10, when he said this, "Therefore
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I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." What did he say? "I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches for Christ's sake." The plea, let us go forth; a person, unto him; the place, without the camp; the performance, bearing his reproach. Let me make just two applications very quickly. The first one is this: the world,
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religion, and political correctness have not only condemned and crucified Christ, they've excommunicated Him. He's been officially censured and cast out by the world. He was officially censured, cast out by His own. Well, the scripture said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Our Lord said in John 15 in verse 18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." What's the world do? It hates Him. It has cast Him out. Personally, I'd rather have fellowship with the excommunicated Christ than to be excommunicated by Christ. I'd rather have fellowship with Christ whom the world despises than to have fellowship with the world and be despised by Christ. We must understand that if we stand for Christ, His righteousness, His truth, His word, the world will hate and despise us. We have been well warned by our Lord when He said in Luke 6 and verse 26, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." There is something dreadfully wrong with professing Christendom when those who hate Christ and His law speak well and approvingly of Christians.
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The second application is this. We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently. Did He not suffer in our stead? Did He not bear our shame and reproach? One last passage, I want you to look in the book of Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. I want you to look in Philippians chapter 3 at what the Apostle Paul said. We must understand that He bore our reproach. We should be willing to bear His. Philippians chapter 3, beginning there with verse 8. Look what the Apostle Paul said. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" Now watch, "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection," are you looking? "and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." What did he say? "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings."
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In this day and time, when the powers that be and the religious establishments are anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-God, anti-family, we need to come to this one conclusion. It's an honor to be reproached for Christ's sake. It's an honor to be condemned with Christ. It's an honor to be excommunicated with Christ. We need not fear the reproach or the reviling of men. Our goal should be to know Christ and the power of His resurrection
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and the fellowship of His sufferings, that we may be with Him without the gate. And I had rather be with Christ without the gate than to be inside the gate without Christ. Father, help us, I pray. Prepare our hearts, prepare our minds. May we love Thee and serve Thee and give us grace that we would be willing to cheerfully and gladly suffer with Thee and for Thee and to be reproached for Thy honor and Thy name's sake. Help us, deliver us, we pray in Christ's name. Amen.
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This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-833-7000. You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:41:45Z

The Excommunication of Christ

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver explores the concept of Christ being excommunicated—cast out and rejected—by the religious and political establishments, drawing from Hebrews 13:11-13. He argues that Christ suffered outside the gate, symbolizing His rejection by the world, and calls believers to go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. The sermon contrasts empty religious rituals with genuine obedience and fellowship with the rejected Christ.

Introduction: The Concept of Excommunication

Weaver introduces the topic by referencing church discipline and the excommunication of a sinning believer in 1 Corinthians 5, then transitions to the unusual idea of Christ being excommunicated.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:11-13

"For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:6

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which you received of us."

Christ Excommunicated by His Professing People

Christ is censured and excluded by those who reject His strict doctrine and demands for holiness, illustrated by the disciples forsaking Him in John 6.

Rejecting Sound Doctrine Rejects Christ

When people reject sound doctrine, they turn to teachers who scratch their itching ears, effectively cutting off and casting out Christ from their lives.

Christ's Position: Outside the Gate and Without the Camp

Theologically, Christ is at God's right hand, but metaphorically and morally, He is outside the camp—absent from established religion and worldly systems.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

This is the most frequently quoted verse in the Old Testament. It's quoted more in the New Testament than any other verse. So the Lord said to my Lord,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

"Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Old Testament Parallels: Empty Rituals and Rejection of God

Weaver cites Hosea 8, Amos 5, and other passages to show that God despises heartless ceremonies and that Israel's rejection of God's law led to His withdrawal.

We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in 1 Samuel 15 and verse 22. Or Samuel asks,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:22

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

The Tabernacle Without the Camp: A Type of Christ

Exodus 33:7 shows Moses pitching the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, prefiguring Christ's suffering outside the gate and the need to seek Him there.

Exodus 33, verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33, verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:7

"And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."

Why Christ Suffered Without the Gate

Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders despised and rejected Him; modern establishments similarly have no genuine interest in Christ.

The Plea: Go Forth to Christ Outside the Camp

Hebrews 13:13 calls believers to leave empty religious systems and go to Christ, bearing His reproach, as the old covenant types are fulfilled in Him.

The Person: Coming to Christ, Not a System

Salvation and holiness are found only in a living relationship with Christ, not in joining churches or performing rituals.

We must be in Him. He's a living person and we must partake of Him. He that would be saved must come to Christ.

So the plea is, let us go forth. The person is unto Him.

The Place: Without the Camp—Separation from the World

Going forth without the camp means a moral and spiritual separation from the ungodly world, not physical isolation, but a daily denial of self and following Christ.

The Performance: Bearing His Reproach

Believers must willingly bear the reproach of Christ, as He bore the reproaches of God, and count it an honor to suffer with Him.

Applications: Fellowship with the Excommunicated Christ

Weaver concludes that it is better to be with Christ outside the camp than inside without Him, and calls for cheerful endurance of reproach for His sake.

The Excommunication of Christ

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	112811111697
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-08-14
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	88

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Concept of Excommunication: Weaver introduces the topic by referencing church discipline and the excommunication of a sinning believer in 1 Corinthians 5, then transitions to the unusual idea of Christ being excommunicated.
Christ Excommunicated by His Professing People: Christ is censured and excluded by those who reject His strict doctrine and demands for holiness, illustrated by the disciples forsaking Him in John 6.
Rejecting Sound Doctrine Rejects Christ: When people reject sound doctrine, they turn to teachers who scratch their itching ears, effectively cutting off and casting out Christ from their lives.
Christ's Position: Outside the Gate and Without the Camp: Theologically, Christ is at God's right hand, but metaphorically and morally, He is outside the camp—absent from established religion and worldly systems.
Old Testament Parallels: Empty Rituals and Rejection of God: Weaver cites Hosea 8, Amos 5, and other passages to show that God despises heartless ceremonies and that Israel's rejection of God's law led to His withdrawal.
The Tabernacle Without the Camp: A Type of Christ: Exodus 33:7 shows Moses pitching the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, prefiguring Christ's suffering outside the gate and the need to seek Him there.
Why Christ Suffered Without the Gate: Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders despised and rejected Him; modern establishments similarly have no genuine interest in Christ.
The Plea: Go Forth to Christ Outside the Camp: Hebrews 13:13 calls believers to leave empty religious systems and go to Christ, bearing His reproach, as the old covenant types are fulfilled in Him.
The Person: Coming to Christ, Not a System: Salvation and holiness are found only in a living relationship with Christ, not in joining churches or performing rituals.
The Place: Without the Camp—Separation from the World: Going forth without the camp means a moral and spiritual separation from the ungodly world, not physical isolation, but a daily denial of self and following Christ.
The Performance: Bearing His Reproach: Believers must willingly bear the reproach of Christ, as He bore the reproaches of God, and count it an honor to suffer with Him.
Applications: Fellowship with the Excommunicated Christ: Weaver concludes that it is better to be with Christ outside the camp than inside without Him, and calls for cheerful endurance of reproach for His sake.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Christ was excommunicated by religious and political leaders

The religious and political establishments of His day rejected and crucified Christ, casting Him outside the gate, and modern establishments continue to exclude Him.

Weaver argues, 'Why did Christ suffer without the gate of Jerusalem? And the answer is because the religious leaders, along with the political leaders, despised, hated, refused, and crucified Him.'

Rejecting Christ's doctrine is rejecting Christ

When people refuse sound doctrine, they effectively excommunicate Christ from their lives, turning to teachers who satisfy their own desires.

Weaver states, 'When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ.'

Christ is not in established religion or worldly systems

Christ is absent from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and even professing Christian churches that prioritize entertainment and compromise over truth.

Weaver says, 'all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment, programs, buildings, ecumenism, compromise... are without Christ.'

God despises empty rituals without obedience

God hates and despises religious ceremonies when they are not accompanied by justice, righteousness, and obedience to His word.

Weaver quotes Amos 5:21-24 and explains, 'they had turned away from God's judgment, God's word, God's justice, and the ceremonies and the rituals were absolutely empty and meaningless and heartless.'

Believers must go forth to Christ outside the camp

Hebrews 13:13 calls Christians to leave behind empty religious systems and go to Christ, who is outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

Weaver explains, 'the apostle is saying, look, Christ has fulfilled every type and every shadow. He is not in the tabernacle... He is here and He is outside the camp.'

Salvation is in a person, not a system

Salvation and holiness come only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not through church membership or religious rituals.

Weaver states, 'There is no church that can save you. There is no act that can save you. There is no religious establishment that can save you. He that would be saved must come to Christ.'

Separation from the world is moral, not physical

Going outside the camp means a spiritual and moral separation from worldly values and practices, not physical withdrawal from society.

Weaver quotes Pink: 'It is not a local withdrawal from the world, but a religious and spiritual one... the Christian is still left in the world, but he must not be of the world.'

Bearing reproach is part of following Christ

Christians should expect and willingly endure reproach for Christ's sake, as He bore reproach for us, and count it a privilege.

Weaver says, 'We need to bear the reproach of our Lord willingly, cheerfully, courageously, and patiently. Did He not suffer in our stead? Did He not bear our shame and reproach?'

Scripture References

Hebrews 13:11-13: The main text of the sermon, describing Christ suffering outside the gate and the call to go forth to Him bearing His reproach.
2 Thessalonians 3:6: Command to withdraw from disorderly brethren, used to introduce the concept of excommunication.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5: Paul's instruction to deliver a sinning brother to Satan, illustrating church discipline and excommunication.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8: Paul's instruction to forgive and comfort the repentant sinner, showing the purpose of discipline.
John 6:32-35, 51-56, 60, 66-69: Jesus' teaching on the bread of life, causing many disciples to forsake Him, illustrating rejection of Christ's doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2-3: Prophecy that people will not endure sound doctrine but will heap up teachers with itching ears.
Psalm 110:1: Prophecy of Christ seated at God's right hand, quoted to show His theological position.
Acts 2:25, 33-34: Peter's sermon applying Psalm 110:1 to Christ's exaltation at God's right hand.
Hosea 8:12-13: Israel counted God's law as a strange thing and built temples while forgetting God, paralleling modern empty religion.
Amos 5:21-24: God's hatred of empty feast days and sacrifices, desiring justice and righteousness instead.
1 Samuel 15:22: Obedience is better than sacrifice, emphasizing God's priority over rituals.
Micah 6:8: God requires justice, mercy, and humble walking, not empty ceremonies.
Luke 18:10-14: Parable of the Pharisee and publican, illustrating humble walking with God.
Jeremiah 22:13-16: Woe to those who build houses by unrighteousness; knowing God is doing justice and righteousness.
Exodus 33:7: Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp, a type of Christ being outside the gate.
Exodus 33:2-3: God refused to go with Israel because of their stiffneckedness, leading to the tabernacle being outside.
Daniel 4:30: Nebuchadnezzar's boast about his kingdom, illustrating self-serving leaders.
Hosea 5:6: They shall seek the Lord but not find Him because He has withdrawn Himself.
Song of Solomon 5:6: The beloved had withdrawn and was gone, illustrating Christ's withdrawal from the complacent.
Micah 3:4: God will hide His face from those who behave ill, not hearing their cries.

Historical References

Rushdoony's book: Brother Ron and Sister Linda read a thought in Rushdoony's book that prompted the sermon topic.
Golden calf incident (Exodus 32): Israel's idolatry with the golden calf led to God refusing to dwell among them, prompting Moses to pitch the tabernacle outside the camp.
Martin Luther: Weaver quotes Luther: 'I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ.'
Arthur W. Pink: Weaver reads three paragraphs from Pink's commentary on Hebrews 13:13 regarding going outside the camp.
Nebuchadnezzar: Weaver references Nebuchadnezzar's boast in Daniel 4:30 as an example of leaders interested only in their own kingdom.
Compromise Baptist Church: Weaver mentions seeing a church sign in Tennessee named 'Compromise Baptist Church' as an ironic example.
Weeping Mary Baptist Church: Weaver mentions seeing a church named 'Weeping Mary Baptist Church' as an example of unusual church names.
Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church: Weaver mentions seeing a church named 'Philadelphia Sawgrass Wesleyan Methodist Church' as an example of unusual church names.

Important Quotes

Christ has been essentially excommunicated from His own church by those who profess religion but do not possess Christ.

Summarizes the central thesis that Christ is rejected by nominal Christians.

When you walk away from the doctrine and teaching of Christ, you walk away from Christ. When you exclude His Word, you exclude Christ.

Equates rejection of Christ's doctrine with rejection of Christ Himself.

He is not anywhere around established religion. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the other isms are without Jesus Christ.

Declares Christ's absence from all non-Christian religions and compromised Christianity.

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Quotes Amos 5:21 to show God's rejection of empty rituals.

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Quotes 1 Samuel 15:22 to emphasize obedience over ritual.

The gospel is not about Christ. The gospel is not facts about Christ. Christ is the gospel.

Stresses that salvation is a personal relationship with Christ, not mere doctrine.

I had rather be in hell with Christ than in heaven without Christ.

Quotes Martin Luther to illustrate the supreme value of Christ's presence.

If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves.

Warns that following Christ will lead to similar rejection by the world.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways do modern churches and religious institutions 'excommunicate' Christ by their practices or teachings?

[Context]

Weaver argues that Christ is absent from churches focused on entertainment, compromise, and empty rituals.

[Question]

How can we discern whether we are truly following Christ or merely participating in empty religious rituals?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts heartless ceremonies with genuine obedience, justice, and humility.

[Question]

What does it mean practically to 'go forth to Christ outside the camp' in our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver explains this as a moral and spiritual separation from worldly values, not physical isolation.

[Question]

Why is it so difficult for people to endure sound doctrine, and how should we respond when we are tempted to seek teachers who scratch our itching ears?

[Context]

Weaver discusses 2 Timothy 4:2-3 and the human tendency to reject truth for comfort.

[Question]

How should we view the reproach and rejection that may come from identifying with Christ?

[Context]

Weaver calls believers to bear Christ's reproach willingly, as Moses and Paul did.

[Question]

What is the difference between coming to a church or religious system and coming to Christ Himself?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that salvation is found only in a personal relationship with Christ, not in institutions.

[Question]

How can we maintain a pilgrim mindset in a world that constantly pressures us to conform?

[Context]

Weaver quotes Pink on being strangers and pilgrims, using the world but not abusing it.

[Question]

In what ways might we be tempted to seek the approval of the world rather than fellowship with the rejected Christ?

[Context]

Weaver warns that woe comes when all men speak well of us, as they did false prophets.

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:03:22Z