GOD'S PLUMB-LINE
Amos 7: 7 - 9

INTRODUCTION
1. In this third vision that Amos sees, Jehovah is standing on a wall with a plumb-line in His hand.
2. The Plumb-line, with a plumb-bob on the end, is used to determine the vertical perfection of a wall.
3. The Plumb-line is the TESTING instrument with which a building must tally.
4. The Plumb-line shows whether a wall bows outward or inward, or if it is truly vertical.
5. Israel had been formed by the Plumb-line of the Lord -- His Law.
6. Now, with a Plumb-line in his hand, He is going to show how far out of line the nation is, how far it is from being upright, and how completely crooked and unbalanced it has become.
7. There is a great lesson here for us to learn today.
8. Everything spiritual and moral must measure to God's Plumb-line, His Law.
9. There is a need today that religious practices be measured by the Plumb-line of God's Word -- Rev. 11: 1
10. The purpose of the gospel of Christ is to BEND the lives of men back to the requirements of God.
11. God's Word is an unbending and unyielding thing -- It is true, no matter what man says or does.

I. GOD'S PLUMB-LINE OF WHO IS A CHRISTIAN

1. Many religious people say:
(1) "All good moral people are Christians."
(2) "All who just believe that Jesus is the Son of God are Christians."
(3) "All religious people are Christians."
(4) " All who are a member of some church are Christians."

2. God's Plumb-line for a Christians is:
(1) Acts 11:26
(2) What did these people do? Acts 11:21 -- "believed and turned unto the Lord" . . .
(3) Acts 3:19 -- "Repent ye therefore, and turn again" ASV
(4) Acts 2:38
(5) Acts 18: 8 -- "hearing believed, and were baptized"
(6) To be a Christian one must Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized

3. People who have not done this do not measure up to God's Plumb-line.

II. GOD'S PLUMB-LINE ON THE CHURCH

1. Many people say:
(1) "One church is as good as another."
(2) "All the denominations make up the church of the New Testament"
(3) Some say, "The church is not important."

2. God's Plumb-line on the church:
(1) There is but ONE church -- Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4
(2) It is UNDENOMINATIONAL
1. The New Testament church is NOT a denomination.
2. The word "church" is used in two ways in the New Testament:
(1) The church Universal -- Heb. 12:23; Matt. 16:18
1. The saved are added to the church universal -- Acts 2: 47; 5:14
2. The church universal is made up of individuals -- not local churches -- Eph. 2:6
(2) The church Local -- Rom. 16:16; Acts 14:23
1. The church local has organization -- Acts 20: 17, 28
2. The church local has work.
(3) Some facts about the New Testament church:
1. No denomination name
2. No denominational organization -- Acts 14: 23
3. No denominational creed -- II Tim. 3: 16 - 17
4. No denominational law of pardon
5. No denominational baptism
6. No denominational work

III. GOD'S PLUMB-LINE ON A MAN PLEASING TO HIM

1. God wants a man after His own heart -- I Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22; I Sam. 16:7
2. What were the attributes of character found in David that made God pleased with him?

(1) David had a heart willing to CONFESS HIS SINS
1. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord" -- 2 Sam. 12:13
2. Psa. 51: 2 - 4
3. When we sin against one another we are to confess it -- James 5:16; Matt. 18:15
4. Confess our sins to God -- I John 1:9; Acts 8:22

(2) David was OBEDIENT TO GOD'S WORD
1. Psa. 119: "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole
heart."
2. Men in their sins must obey the gospel -- II Thess. 1:8 - 9
3. Children of God must be obedient.

(3) David hated every false way.
1. Psa. 119: 104 "Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way."
2. Rom. 12:9
3. We are to hate every false way -- denominationalism, digression, worldliness

(4) David loved God's word.
1. Psa. 119: 97 -- O how love I thy law; it is my meditation all the day"
2. We are to love the truth.

(5) David hid the Word of God in his heart.
1. Psa. 119:11
2. Col. 3:16

(6) David had a broken and contrite heart after he sinned.
1. Psa. 51:17

(7) David loved unity.
1. Psa. 113:1
2. John 17: 20 - 21

(8) David longed to worship God.
1. Psa. 27: 4; Psa. 122:1

(9) He was humble in heart.
1. In the death of Saul -- 2 Sam. 1:2 -- "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of
Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the
uncircumcised triumph.

(10) He trusted in God.
1. Psa. 11:1; 31:1; 23:1

CONCLUSION
1. How do you measure to God's Plumb-line??

Sermon by Donald Townsley

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