Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

OUR CITY OF REFUGE
Joshua 20: 1-9

A refuge is a place of hope to which the guilty may flee for safety and security.  These six cities of refuge typify God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the refuge for guilty sinners. If the avenger of blood caught the guilty man outside the city of refuge, he could kill him.  So it is that if God almighty finds you outside of Christ, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die!”  But if the guilty person fled into the city of refuge, so long as he stayed in that city, he was under the protection of God’s law. Likewise, every sinner who flees into Christ by faith is under the protection of God’s holy law and justice! (Hebrews 6:18-20).  You are a guilty sinner. God's holy justice demands you die.  The only refuge is in Christ.  Flee to Christ by faith and you shall be saved.

The Names of the Cities (Joshua 20: 7, 8)

Kedesh means 'holy'.  Christ is the Holy One (Hebrews 7:26). Shechem means 'the shoulder'.  The government of the world and of his church is on the shoulder of Christ (Isaiah 9:6). The sin of his people fell on his shoulder and he put it away (Isaiah 53:6).  He shall find each of his lost sheep, "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing" (Luke 15:5).  Hebron means 'fellowship'--communion--"Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9).  Bezer means 'a fortified place'.  Christ is the refuge and fortress of protection (Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 91:2).  Ramoth means 'exalted'.  God the Father is well-pleased with the faithfulness of his Son and has exalted him and given him a name above every name.  All those quickened together with Christ are raised with him (Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 2:4-7). Golan means 'revealed', or 'manifested'. Christ is God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). In Christ, the righteousness of God is revealed (Romans 3:21, 22). Christ is known by divine revelation in those who are called by his grace (Galatians 1:15-16). So we see that God in Christ is the refuge for sinners.  Do you need a refuge?  Flee to Christ (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 62:6-8).

The Way (Joshua 20: 1; Deuteronomy 19: 3.)

The way to these cities is important.  First, Christ himself is the Way (Joshua 20:6). When the high priest died in the city, the guilty man went free. So long as the high priest was living, no harm could befall the guilty criminal who dwelled in the city of refuge. When Christ our High Priest died at Calvary, he obtained eternal redemption for God’s elect.  Now he lives forever at God’s right hand, the High Priest over the house of God (Hebrews 10:11-14). Secondly, the way was to be kept clear. Christ himself has removed all obstacles in the way for each child for whom he died to draw near unto God: Christ fulfilled the law, satisfied justice, put away sin and conquered Satan. The city of refuge was only for those guilty of manslaughter but Christ is the refuge for those guilty of all sin. Christ is our Refuge to preserve us in temptation, to comfort us in trouble (John 14:1-3), and to protect his redeemed from every danger (Psalms 56:3; 112:7).  Thirdly, Christ has sent his messengers to make clear the Way by the preaching of the gospel, giving this charge, "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the Way of the people; cast up, cast up the High-Way; gather out the stones; lift up a Standard for the people" (Isaiah 62:10).  Christ is that Way, his finished work is the High-Way, and Christ is the Ensign-Standard-Banner toward whom his people flee as the guilty into the city of refuge.

The Cities Were Near

No matter where you were in Israel you could easily flee to one of these cities.  So it is that Christ Jesus is near for refuge to any who are truly guilty (Romans 10:6-10).  We enter Christ by faith, by believing on him, and inside Christ our Refuge means no death (John 5:24; Romans 8:1; 33-34; Galatians 3:13; John 3:18).

Abide in Christ and Live (Joshua 20:6)

Those who stayed in the city eventually got to return to the city from which they fled.  The redeemed who God has chosen and redeemed originally fled from God's presence.  Those who are called by his grace abide in Christ (Hebrews 3:14).  And one day soon, when we are found perfect in Christ we shall be accepted into our heavenly city to live in the presence of our God forever.  Oh, enter, abide in Christ and live!

ANNOUCEMENTS

Friday, October 1, 7 p.m., youth bible class at our home.

Saturday, October 9, 6:30 p.m. Todd Nibert will be preaching in Telford, PA and again Sunday morning, 9:30 a.m. at the East Greenville Firehouse.

Sunday, October 10, Gabe Stalnaker will bring the bible class in the 10 a.m. hour and Paul Mahan will bring the message at 11 a.m.