Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ

The Excommunication of Jesus Christ

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-12-03

Synopsis: Pastor 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 just as the sin offering was burned outside the camp, Jesus suffered outside the gate, rejected by those who should have received Him. Believers are called to go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach, separating from empty religion and worldly systems.

[John Weaver] Alright, let's open our Bible's day 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, and I think Rush Duny'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 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.

[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 are 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 has 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 chapter 2 and look if you would please beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 5 because Paul now speaks concerning this 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 contrary wise, 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's 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.

[John Weaver] 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 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 and 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 the 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 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 to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

[John Weaver] 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."

[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 walked 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 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] Be instant in season, out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering in doctrine.

[John Weaver] 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. And 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's 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 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.

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

[John Weaver] Now you'll 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 had shed forth this which you now see and hear. Look in verse 34. For David is not ascended in the heavens, but he said himself, the Lord said to 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's 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] 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 chapter 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 them 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.

[John Weaver] But the Lord accepted 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 built a temples. He's forgotten God and built the 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 in 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 of 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. We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in first Samuel 15 in verse 22, where Samuel asks Saul, hath the Lord as great delight in burn offerings and sacrifices?

[John Weaver] 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, He hath showed 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 it by God.

[John Weaver] You 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, Woe to him that buildeth this house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong.

[John Weaver] 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. Shout thou rain, because our closest thyself in cedar did not thy father eat and drink and do judgment and justice. And then it was well with him at watch. He judged the cause of the poor and the needy. Then it was well with him. Was not this to know me, set the Lord. Was not this to know me, set 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 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 with that which was foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. I'm going to explain it. I'm going to 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 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 Exodus 33 and verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33 verse 7.

[John Weaver] And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, far 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 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 had 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, 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 everyone that 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 its 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 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.

[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 a 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 walk the walk. And those who profess to be Christians, to get your vote when they get in office, they will vote for and pass anti-biblical and anti-Christian laws without even wincing.

[John Weaver] 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 in verse 30, then the king Spagin 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 has 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. Yeah, Hosea 5, 6. It's Hosea 5, 6. Look what he says, They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord, for 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 are not going to find him. Why? He has withdrawn himself from them. In the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 6, now listen to this.

[John Weaver] 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. How can I get up now and go to him? And so when you get the Song of Solomon, chapter 5, verse 6, when she finally goes, she says, I open to my beloved. But my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone. My soul failed when he spake.

[John Weaver] 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.

[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 behave 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 art 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 serve 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. 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.

[John Weaver] 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. 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. Here's why the Apostle is pleading, let us go forth. Hebrews 10 verse 9, Then said He, that is Christ, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.

[John Weaver] 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 a 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 and verse 28 when he said, come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 and verse 34, he said, whose servant will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, And follow me.

[John Weaver] 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 on 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. The gospel is not about Christ. 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 have probably seen that one around Nahunna, 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 compromised Baptist Church. I'm serious.

[John Weaver] I've got a picture of it. Compromised Baptist Church and 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 sign. And you wonder if the people are really genuinely holy. You'll never be holy by joining a church. You'll only become holy in Christ. You'll never become obedient by joining a church. You'll 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 and 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 camp. No, as we pointed out previously, that which most closely resembles it That which in principle is essentially like their do 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 ungodly 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 cap 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 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.

[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 me up, and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me. It 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. Yep.

[John Weaver] We will be labeled and counted as zealots, dogmatist, right-wing nuts, survivalists, cultists, hate groups, terrorists, and narrow-minded bigots. will probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. 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] 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 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10 said this, For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God.

[John Weaver] 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?

[John Weaver] 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? 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.

[John Weaver] 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 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.

[John Weaver] Let me make just two applications very quickly. The first one is this. The world, 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 and 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, Wonder you when all men shall speak well of you, For so did the fathers, the false prophets.

[John Weaver] There's 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. That 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 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 the resurrection

[John Weaver] 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.

[John Weaver] 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. Amen.

The Excommunication of Jesus Christ

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	aqFb8C3Nnos
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-12-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 078: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 1 — Chapter 21
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Strange Word 'Excommunication'

Weaver introduces the topic, noting that excommunication typically refers to church discipline for unrepentant sin, but he will apply it to Christ.

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, 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."

Biblical Examples of Church Discipline

He cites 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2 to show a case of excommunication and restoration, establishing the normal use of the term.

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."

So here was a son—it was not necessarily his mother, but maybe a stepmother—was committing fornication with his stepmother. And he says, "And you are 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 may 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 chapter 2 and look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 5, because Paul now speaks concerning this 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's 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 Own

Weaver explains that Christ was censured and excluded by those who rejected His strict doctrine, using John 6 as an example where many disciples forsook Him.

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 and 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 to 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."

"Whoso 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 an 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 him, "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

He connects 2 Timothy 4:2-3 to show that turning from sound doctrine is effectively excommunicating Christ from one's life.

"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. And 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's 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.

Where Is Christ? Theologically and Morally

Weaver distinguishes Christ's positional location at God's right hand from His moral location—outside the camp of 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 unto my Lord,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

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

Now you'll see how it's applied to Christ. Look in Acts chapter 2 and verse 25.

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:25, 33-34

"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.

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:25, 33-34

"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on 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's nowhere near them. His Word is not there. He is not there. Where is He? He is outside the gate and without the camp.

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, 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 chapter 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 Religion Rejected

He uses Hosea 8, Amos 5, and Jeremiah 22 to show God's hatred of heartless rituals and buildings without obedience, paralleling modern Christendom.

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 thing," 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." He's forgotten God and built the 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 in 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 at 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, where Samuel asks Saul, "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 justly, 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.

You 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 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 tell you this.

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 with that which was foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. I'm going to explain it. I'm going to 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. 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. Exodus 33 and verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33 verse 7.

The Tabernacle Outside the Camp

Weaver references Exodus 33:7, where Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, typifying Christ being outside the camp.

"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 had 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.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:2-3, 7

"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 its 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 every one which 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 Outside the Gate

He explains that Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders rejected and excommunicated Him.

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 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, nationally known, are adulterers and whoremongers and fornicators and thieves. They will talk the talk, but they certainly do not walk the walk. And those who profess to be Christians, to get your vote when they get in office, they will vote for and pass anti-biblical and anti-Christian laws without even wincing.

Christ Withdrawn from the Establishment

Weaver cites Hosea 5:6, Song of Solomon 5:6, Micah 3:4, and Revelation 3:14-16 to show God withdraws from those who reject Him.

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.

He has 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. Yeah, Hosea 5, 6. It's Hosea 5, 6. Look what he says,

Scripture Reading — Hosea 5:6

"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 are not going to find him. Why? He has withdrawn himself from them. 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. 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,

Scripture Reading — Song of Solomon 5:6

"I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: 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.

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 have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

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? 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."

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.

The Plea: Go Forth to Him

He expounds Hebrews 13:13, calling believers to leave empty religion and go to Christ, the person, outside the camp.

I want you to listen to this passage, John 12 and verse 26. Here's what our Lord said. Listen.

Scripture Reading — John 12:26

"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." 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." 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 is pleading, "Let us go forth." Hebrews 10 verse 9, "Then said he, 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, 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 a 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 and verse 28 when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 and 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 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. The gospel is not about Christ. Christ is the gospel. 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 have probably 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 Compromised Baptist Church. I'm serious.

I've got a picture of it. Compromised Baptist Church and 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'll never be holy by joining a church. You'll only become holy in Christ. You'll never become obedient by joining a church. You'll only become obedient by submitting to Jesus Christ.

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

Bearing His Reproach

Weaver emphasizes the cost of following the excommunicated Christ—bearing reproach willingly, as Moses and Paul did.

Thirdly, I want you to look in Hebrews 13 and 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 and 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 doctrines 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 their do, 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 ungodly 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?

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. 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." It 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. Yep.

We will be labeled and counted as zealots, dogmatists, right-wing nuts, survivalists, cultists, hate groups, terrorists, and narrow-minded bigots. We will probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. 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. 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, 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, but his own received him not. Our Lord said in John 15 and 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."

Applications and Conclusion

He applies the message: choose fellowship with the rejected Christ over acceptance by the world, and bear His reproach cheerfully.

There's 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. That 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, 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. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Excommunication of Christ

Summary: Christ has been cast out and rejected by the religious and political establishments, just as He was crucified outside the gate.

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

Separation from Empty Religion

Summary: Believers must leave behind rituals, ceremonies, and institutions that lack true obedience and go to Christ outside the camp.

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

Christ as the Only Way

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

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

Bearing Reproach for Christ

Summary: Following the rejected Christ means willingly enduring shame, criticism, and persecution from the world.

Evidence: He quotes Luke 6:22 and says, 'If we identify ourselves with the reproached and excommunicated Christ, we shall be reproached and excommunicated ourselves.'

God's Hatred of Hypocritical Worship

Summary: God despises empty ceremonies and heartless rituals when obedience and justice are neglected.

Evidence: Weaver reads Amos 5:21-24 and says, 'I hate, I despise your feast days... because they had turned away from God's judgment.'

The World's Rejection of Truth

Summary: Political and religious leaders have no genuine interest in Christ or His law; they use religion for their own ends.

Evidence: He states, '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.'

Key Arguments

Christ was excommunicated by His own people

Summary: The religious leaders and many disciples rejected Christ's strict teachings, effectively casting Him out.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 6:66: 'From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.'

Rejecting sound doctrine is rejecting Christ

Summary: When people turn from Christ's Word to teachers who scratch their itching ears, they excommunicate Christ from their lives.

Evidence: He references 2 Timothy 4:2-3 and says, 'When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ... he has effectively cut Him off and cast Him out.'

Christ is not in established religion or politics

Summary: Modern Christendom, with its focus on buildings and programs, has forgotten God, and Christ is outside such systems.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'He is not anywhere around established religion... all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment... are without Christ.'

The Old Testament tabernacle outside the camp typifies Christ's rejection

Summary: Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, and those who sought the Lord had to go out to it, prefiguring Christ.

Evidence: He reads Exodus 33:7 and says, 'The Israelites that really wanted to seek the Lord had to separate themselves from their wickedness and go forth unto Christ.'

Believers must go to Christ outside the camp

Summary: The call of Hebrews 13:13 is to leave the empty shadows of religion and come to the person of Christ, bearing His reproach.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'The plea is not to go forth to a system, or a religion, or establishment. The plea is for you and I to go forth to a person.'

Bearing Christ's reproach is a privilege

Summary: Like Moses and Paul, believers should value the reproach of Christ above worldly riches and comfort.

Evidence: He quotes Hebrews 11:24-26 and says, 'Moses... believed the reproach of Christ was greater than all the riches of Egypt.'

Scripture References

Hebrews 13:11-13

Context: The main text: Christ suffered outside the gate, and believers are called to go to Him outside the camp.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Context: Command to withdraw from disorderly brethren, illustrating church discipline.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Context: Paul rebukes the Corinthians for tolerating fornication and commands delivering the sinner to Satan.

2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Context: Paul urges forgiveness and restoration for the repentant sinner previously disciplined.

John 6:32-35, 51-66

Context: Jesus teaches He is the bread of life; many disciples forsake Him because of the hard saying.

2 Timothy 4:2-3

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

Psalm 110:1

Context: Prophecy of Christ seated at God's right hand, quoted in Acts 2.

Acts 2:25, 33-34

Context: Peter applies Psalm 110:1 to Christ's exaltation.

Hosea 8:12-13

Context: Israel counted God's law as a strange thing and built temples while forgetting God.

Amos 5:21-24

Context: God hates and despises empty feast days and sacrifices without justice and righteousness.

1 Samuel 15:22

Context: Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Micah 6:8

Context: God requires justice, mercy, and humble walking with Him.

Jeremiah 22:13-16

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

Exodus 33:2-3, 7

Context: God refuses to go with Israel; Moses pitches the tabernacle outside the camp.

Hosea 5:6

Context: They seek the Lord but will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.

Song of Solomon 5:6

Context: The beloved withdraws; the bride seeks but cannot find him.

Micah 3:4

Context: God will hide His face from those who behave ill.

Revelation 3:14-16

Context: Christ will spew the lukewarm Laodiceans out of His mouth.

John 12:26

Context: Where Christ is, there His servant will be.

Hebrews 10:9-14

Context: Christ's one offering perfects the sanctified; the old sacrifices are taken away.

Historical References

Rushdoony's book

Context: Brother Ron and Sister Linda read Rushdoony's book and suggested the topic of the excommunication of Christ.

Golden calf incident (Exodus 32)

Context: Israel's idolatry led to God refusing to dwell among them, prompting Moses to move 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.

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 believers.

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: Connects rejection of 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 worship.

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Significance: The key verse and call to action of the entire message.

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.

Significance: Emphasizes the exclusivity of Christ for salvation.

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

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

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Significance: Quotes Hebrews 11:26 to show Moses' valuation of Christ's reproach.

Discussion Questions

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

Context: Weaver argues that Christ is outside the camp of established religion.

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

Context: He contrasts heartless ceremonies with obedience and justice.

What does it mean practically to 'go forth unto him without the camp' in our daily lives?

Context: The call of Hebrews 13:13 is to leave the world's systems and identify with Christ.

Why is it so difficult for believers to bear the reproach of Christ, and how can we grow in willingness to suffer for Him?

Context: Weaver emphasizes the cost of following the rejected Christ.

How does the example of Moses in Hebrews 11 challenge our priorities regarding wealth, status, and comfort?

Context: Moses chose reproach with Christ over the treasures of Egypt.

In what ways might we be tempted to seek Christ in political or religious establishments rather than in a personal relationship with Him?

Context: Weaver warns that Christ is not found in political or religious systems.

Applications

Leave empty religion and go to Christ

Summary: Believers must abandon trust in rituals, buildings, and religious systems and instead pursue a personal, obedient relationship with Jesus.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Let us arise and go forth to Christ in the fullness of His sacrifice... Let's leave sin and the world and the pleasures, as well as our own works and our own righteousness, and go to Him.'

Value the reproach of Christ above worldly approval

Summary: We should count it an honor to be shamed and rejected for Christ's sake, following the example of Moses and Paul.

Evidence: He states, '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.'

Do not seek Christ in political or religious establishments

Summary: Christ is not found in worldly governments or compromised churches; we must look for Him outside these systems.

Evidence: Weaver warns, '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.'

Bear reproach willingly and cheerfully

Summary: We are called to endure criticism and persecution for Christ with joy, knowing that He bore our reproach first.

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

Examine whether we have truly come to Christ

Summary: Salvation is not about joining a church or performing acts, but about a personal coming to Christ in faith and obedience.

Evidence: Weaver emphasizes, 'There's a huge difference between coming down an aisle and coming to Christ... He that would be saved must come to Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:10:42Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:47:14Z

Clean Transcript

The Excommunication of Jesus 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, 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—it was not necessarily his mother, but maybe a stepmother—was committing fornication with his stepmother. And he says, "And you are 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 may 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 chapter 2 and look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 5, because Paul now speaks concerning this 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's 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.
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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.
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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 and 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." 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 to 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."
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"Whoso 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."
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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 an 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 him, "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."
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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. And 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's 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 unto my Lord, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."
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Now you'll 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 on 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's 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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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, 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 chapter 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 thing," 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."
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"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." He's forgotten God and built the 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 in 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 at 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. We have forgotten the simple question that is asked in 1 Samuel 15 and verse 22, where Samuel asks Saul, "Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
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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 justly, 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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You 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 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, and his chambers by wrong;
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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 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 with that which was foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. I'm going to explain it. I'm going to 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. 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. Exodus 33 and verse 7. Look carefully. Exodus 33 verse 7.
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"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 had 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 its 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 every one which 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 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, nationally known, are adulterers and whoremongers and fornicators and thieves. They will talk the talk, but they certainly do not walk the walk. And those who profess to be Christians, to get your vote when they get in office, they will vote for and pass anti-biblical and anti-Christian laws without even wincing.
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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 has 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. Yeah, Hosea 5, 6. It's Hosea 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 are not going to find him. Why? He has withdrawn himself from them. In the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 6, now listen to this.
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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. 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: my soul failed when he spake."
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"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 have 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." 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.
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"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." 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. Here's why the Apostle is pleading, "Let us go forth." Hebrews 10 verse 9, "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God."
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"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, 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 a 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 and verse 28 when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The invitation was to come to Christ. In Mark 8 and verse 34, he said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
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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 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. The gospel is not about Christ. Christ is the gospel. 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 have probably 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 Compromised Baptist Church. I'm serious.
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I've got a picture of it. Compromised Baptist Church and 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'll never be holy by joining a church. You'll only become holy in Christ. You'll never become obedient by joining a church. You'll 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 and 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 and 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 doctrines 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 their do, 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 ungodly 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." It 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. Yep.
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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 will probably also be referred to as a compound or a militia group. 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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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."
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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?
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"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.
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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.
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Let me make just two applications very quickly. The first one is this. The world, 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, but his own received him not. Our Lord said in John 15 and 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."
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There's 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. That 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, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
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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.
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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. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:10:42Z

The Excommunication of Jesus Christ

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor 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 just as the sin offering was burned outside the camp, Jesus suffered outside the gate, rejected by those who should have received Him. Believers are called to go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach, separating from empty religion and worldly systems.

Introduction: The Strange Word 'Excommunication'

Weaver introduces the topic, noting that excommunication typically refers to church discipline for unrepentant sin, but he will apply it to Christ.

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."

Biblical Examples of Church Discipline

He cites 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2 to show a case of excommunication and restoration, establishing the normal use of the term.

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 Own

Weaver explains that Christ was censured and excluded by those who rejected His strict doctrine, using John 6 as an example where many disciples forsook Him.

Rejecting Sound Doctrine Rejects Christ

He connects 2 Timothy 4:2-3 to show that turning from sound doctrine is effectively excommunicating Christ from one's life.

Where Is Christ? Theologically and Morally

Weaver distinguishes Christ's positional location at God's right hand from His moral location—outside the camp of 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 unto my Lord,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 110:1

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

Now you'll see how it's applied to Christ. Look in Acts chapter 2 and verse 25.

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:25, 33-34

"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.

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:25, 33-34

"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand."

Old Testament Parallels: Empty Religion Rejected

He uses Hosea 8, Amos 5, and Jeremiah 22 to show God's hatred of heartless rituals and buildings without obedience, paralleling modern Christendom.

The Tabernacle Outside the Camp

Weaver references Exodus 33:7, where Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, typifying Christ being outside the camp.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:2-3, 7

"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."

Why Christ Suffered Outside the Gate

He explains that Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders rejected and excommunicated Him.

Christ Withdrawn from the Establishment

Weaver cites Hosea 5:6, Song of Solomon 5:6, Micah 3:4, and Revelation 3:14-16 to show God withdraws from those who reject Him.

Scripture Reading — Hosea 5:6

"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."

Scripture Reading — Song of Solomon 5:6

"I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake." "I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer."

The Plea: Go Forth to Him

He expounds Hebrews 13:13, calling believers to leave empty religion and go to Christ, the person, outside the camp.

I want you to listen to this passage, John 12 and verse 26. Here's what our Lord said. Listen.

Scripture Reading — John 12:26

"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."

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.

Bearing His Reproach

Weaver emphasizes the cost of following the excommunicated Christ—bearing reproach willingly, as Moses and Paul did.

Applications and Conclusion

He applies the message: choose fellowship with the rejected Christ over acceptance by the world, and bear His reproach cheerfully.

The Excommunication of Jesus Christ

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	aqFb8C3Nnos
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-12-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 078: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 1 — Chapter 21
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Strange Word 'Excommunication': Weaver introduces the topic, noting that excommunication typically refers to church discipline for unrepentant sin, but he will apply it to Christ.
Biblical Examples of Church Discipline: He cites 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2 to show a case of excommunication and restoration, establishing the normal use of the term.
Christ Excommunicated by His Own: Weaver explains that Christ was censured and excluded by those who rejected His strict doctrine, using John 6 as an example where many disciples forsook Him.
Rejecting Sound Doctrine Rejects Christ: He connects 2 Timothy 4:2-3 to show that turning from sound doctrine is effectively excommunicating Christ from one's life.
Where Is Christ? Theologically and Morally: Weaver distinguishes Christ's positional location at God's right hand from His moral location—outside the camp of established religion and worldly systems.
Old Testament Parallels: Empty Religion Rejected: He uses Hosea 8, Amos 5, and Jeremiah 22 to show God's hatred of heartless rituals and buildings without obedience, paralleling modern Christendom.
The Tabernacle Outside the Camp: Weaver references Exodus 33:7, where Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, typifying Christ being outside the camp.
Why Christ Suffered Outside the Gate: He explains that Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem because religious and political leaders rejected and excommunicated Him.
Christ Withdrawn from the Establishment: Weaver cites Hosea 5:6, Song of Solomon 5:6, Micah 3:4, and Revelation 3:14-16 to show God withdraws from those who reject Him.
The Plea: Go Forth to Him: He expounds Hebrews 13:13, calling believers to leave empty religion and go to Christ, the person, outside the camp.
Bearing His Reproach: Weaver emphasizes the cost of following the excommunicated Christ—bearing reproach willingly, as Moses and Paul did.
Applications and Conclusion: He applies the message: choose fellowship with the rejected Christ over acceptance by the world, and bear His reproach cheerfully.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Christ was excommunicated by His own people

The religious leaders and many disciples rejected Christ's strict teachings, effectively casting Him out.

Weaver cites John 6:66: 'From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.'

Rejecting sound doctrine is rejecting Christ

When people turn from Christ's Word to teachers who scratch their itching ears, they excommunicate Christ from their lives.

He references 2 Timothy 4:2-3 and says, 'When one rejects the sound doctrine of Christ... he has effectively cut Him off and cast Him out.'

Christ is not in established religion or politics

Modern Christendom, with its focus on buildings and programs, has forgotten God, and Christ is outside such systems.

Weaver says, 'He is not anywhere around established religion... all of those professing Christian churches that are more interested in entertainment... are without Christ.'

The Old Testament tabernacle outside the camp typifies Christ's rejection

Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp after Israel's sin, and those who sought the Lord had to go out to it, prefiguring Christ.

He reads Exodus 33:7 and says, 'The Israelites that really wanted to seek the Lord had to separate themselves from their wickedness and go forth unto Christ.'

Believers must go to Christ outside the camp

The call of Hebrews 13:13 is to leave the empty shadows of religion and come to the person of Christ, bearing His reproach.

Weaver explains, 'The plea is not to go forth to a system, or a religion, or establishment. The plea is for you and I to go forth to a person.'

Bearing Christ's reproach is a privilege

Like Moses and Paul, believers should value the reproach of Christ above worldly riches and comfort.

He quotes Hebrews 11:24-26 and says, 'Moses... believed the reproach of Christ was greater than all the riches of Egypt.'

Scripture References

Hebrews 13:11-13: The main text: Christ suffered outside the gate, and believers are called to go to Him outside the camp.
2 Thessalonians 3:6: Command to withdraw from disorderly brethren, illustrating church discipline.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5: Paul rebukes the Corinthians for tolerating fornication and commands delivering the sinner to Satan.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8: Paul urges forgiveness and restoration for the repentant sinner previously disciplined.
John 6:32-35, 51-66: Jesus teaches He is the bread of life; many disciples forsake Him because of the hard saying.
2 Timothy 4:2-3: Prophecy that people will not endure sound doctrine but heap up teachers with itching ears.
Psalm 110:1: Prophecy of Christ seated at God's right hand, quoted in Acts 2.
Acts 2:25, 33-34: Peter applies Psalm 110:1 to Christ's exaltation.
Hosea 8:12-13: Israel counted God's law as a strange thing and built temples while forgetting God.
Amos 5:21-24: God hates and despises empty feast days and sacrifices without justice and righteousness.
1 Samuel 15:22: Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Micah 6:8: God requires justice, mercy, and humble walking with Him.
Jeremiah 22:13-16: Woe to those who build houses by unrighteousness; knowing God is doing justice.
Exodus 33:2-3, 7: God refuses to go with Israel; Moses pitches the tabernacle outside the camp.
Hosea 5:6: They seek the Lord but will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
Song of Solomon 5:6: The beloved withdraws; the bride seeks but cannot find him.
Micah 3:4: God will hide His face from those who behave ill.
Revelation 3:14-16: Christ will spew the lukewarm Laodiceans out of His mouth.
John 12:26: Where Christ is, there His servant will be.
Hebrews 10:9-14: Christ's one offering perfects the sanctified; the old sacrifices are taken away.

Historical References

Rushdoony's book: Brother Ron and Sister Linda read Rushdoony's book and suggested the topic of the excommunication of Christ.
Golden calf incident (Exodus 32): Israel's idolatry led to God refusing to dwell among them, prompting Moses to move 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.

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 believers.

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

Connects rejection of 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 worship.

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The key verse and call to action of the entire message.

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.

Emphasizes the exclusivity of Christ for salvation.

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

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

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Quotes Hebrews 11:26 to show Moses' valuation of Christ's reproach.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

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

[Context]

Weaver argues that Christ is outside the camp of established religion.

[Question]

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

[Context]

He contrasts heartless ceremonies with obedience and justice.

[Question]

What does it mean practically to 'go forth unto him without the camp' in our daily lives?

[Context]

The call of Hebrews 13:13 is to leave the world's systems and identify with Christ.

[Question]

Why is it so difficult for believers to bear the reproach of Christ, and how can we grow in willingness to suffer for Him?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes the cost of following the rejected Christ.

[Question]

How does the example of Moses in Hebrews 11 challenge our priorities regarding wealth, status, and comfort?

[Context]

Moses chose reproach with Christ over the treasures of Egypt.

[Question]

In what ways might we be tempted to seek Christ in political or religious establishments rather than in a personal relationship with Him?

[Context]

Weaver warns that Christ is not found in political or religious systems.

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:47:14Z