God here this afternoon by singing
hymn 193, the tune Tudor 252. I am, says Christ, your glorious
head. May we attention give the resurrection of the dead, the
life of all that live. Hymn 193, Tune 252. Joyous day, may we love'st ever
be! The resurrection of the dead,
the life of all that lives. My faith in Thee, O soul received,
Could I have them before? And he that did not believe in
me shall live to find out more. Thou still, Thou still, hear
me pray, Thou that my voice may pray, And when I was beginning to sleep,
I woke up and was saved. How well thy prophets' praises
do, Our God's best example give. Wherefore my spirit with the
world hath rose again to Thee. of God. ? For sin and nation ? ? Daily
try to quench the sacred fire ? Blessing us, we pray, Lord, that
you set us free. And often sings a lullaby, And
it doth be in thee. ? To thee we cry, to thee we bow
? ? To thee, O God, we call ? ? And like the crest of the angel cloud ? ? Thou, O God, Let us read together from the
sacred scriptures, the word of God from the epistle to the Romans,
chapter eight. The eighth chapter in the epistle
to the Romans. Romans chapter eight. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
that after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of
life in Christ Jesus have made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son
in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in
the flesh, that the righteousness of the Lord might be fulfilled
in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For they that are after the flesh
do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit,
the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is
death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the spirit. if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you,
the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because
of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we
are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh. For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through
the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received
the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children,
then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If so
be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings
of his present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of
the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of
God. For the creature was made subject
to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected
the same in hope. because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit even we ourselves
grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit, the
redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope. But
hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see
not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise, the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth
the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his son. that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified,
and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us, who shall separate us
from the love of Christ, shall tribulation or distress or persecution
or famine or nakedness or peril or sword, as it is written, for
thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. May the Lord be pleased to bless
to our souls the reading of his holy word, and help us now as
we come before him in prayer. O Lord God almighty, triune Jehovah,
holy Father, holy Jesus, Holy Ghost to help us to come before
thee now. Lord, grant true prayer. May thy spirit indeed help our
infirmities. For left to ourselves, we know
not what we should pray for as we ought. We ask amiss. Our poor carnal minds, Lord,
our unbelieving hearts, and worldly-mindedness. Oh, have mercy and grant by gracious
spirit that we might pray and ask even according to the will
of God. Lord, it is according to thy
will that those of us here present in the chapel have gathered together
now. And we do thank thee for another
opportunity granted to us to meet together in thy name, around
thy word. We would be thankful for that
health and strength, which we know means a lot more to some
than to others. And we would be thankful for
journeying mercies to bring us safely here. And we would be
thankful for a place wherein we may gather. We do thank thee,
O Lord, for thy word of truth, Oh, we do thank thee for the
privilege of prayer. Lord, we have so much to be thankful
for, but thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift of the Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Oh, may it be the united cry
of each one, we would see Jesus. Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? Oh, might there be Souls here
diligently seeking him, all to find him. But I found him, whom
my soul loved if I held him and would not let him go. Dear Lord
Jesus, do come by thy spirit and by thy word and make one
in our midst this afternoon. May thy gracious presence be
known and felt like those two on Emmaus Road, or how they could
testify, did not our heart burn within us while he walked with
us by the way and opened to us the scriptures. Lord, may there
be Lydia's here, whose heart the Lord opened, or to attend
unto those things which have spoken. Good ground here is being
prepared by the Holy Ghost to receive the good seed of the
word of God. And all to prove, as the rain
and the snow cometh down from heaven, and water of the earth,
that it may bring forth and bud to give seed to the sower and
bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void. but it shall accomplish that
to which I do please and prosper in the thing whereto I send it. Oh, may there be that purpose
in our gathering here, that purpose according to thy grace and thy
goodness, Lord, to glorify thy name. Oh, come and glorify thy
name here this afternoon. Lord, get honour and glory unto
thyself. And Lord, hast thou not said
that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth? Or
might there be souls here who know what it is to repent? Or
when first convicted of sin, when the sinner is laid low,
humbled under thy mighty hand, Lord, is not repentance brought
forth? But we also think of dear, godly,
gracious Job, Oh, an upright man, one that feared God greatly,
ever sought to do that which was right in thy sight. And yet
through that fiery trial of his faith, how he was brought through
and brought to know more and more of what he was by nature,
the plague of his own heart, a sinner yet. He was brought
to cry out, wherefore I abhor myself and repent. in dust and ashes. Lord, may
we each know personally, experimentally, what it is to have that repentance
toward God, to truly repent of our sins. For Lord, we are sinners.
We have all sinned against thee. We are all guilty. There is none
righteous, no, not one. Or however him might append,
Though all are sinners in God's sight, there are but few so in
their own. Lord, are we found amongst the
few, the very same few who strive to enter in at the straight gate? For straight is the gate and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it. but with them numbered, O may
I be, now and in eternity of that little remnant by little
flock, Lord, the afflicted and poor people who shall trust in
the name of the Lord. O Lord, do come and work mightily
by thy Holy Spirit, bring sinners to repentance, and may there
be joy in heaven. Lord, do remember each one gathered
here this afternoon from the youngest to the eldest. Thou
knowest how we have come, every thought, every motive. Lord,
in our deepest hearts, thou knowest all things, nothing hidden from
thee, nothing disguised, nothing covered over, that thou, God,
seest me exactly as I am. And if any have come unconcerned,
indifferent, if any have come prayerless, Lord, if any have
come waiting for the amen, oh, touch their hearts. Lord, begin
that work of grace. Oh, show them themselves, lost,
ruined, guilty, hell-deserving sinners, humble such under thy
mighty hand. And Lord, any satisfied with
a form of godliness, with a name to live, All satisfied with a
mere profession of religion, but lacking the possession of
grace. Lord, have mercy. Pluck them as branch from the
burning. Oh, remember them for good. Lord, where that work of
grace has begun. Oh, what a wonderful thing. Where
thy Holy Spirit has begun to work. That prodigal, he began
to be in want. He began to feel a need. or he
began to be convicted, he began to be humbled, he began to be
laid low, or he began to see how he destroyed himself, but
he began to be in want, and only his father's house would offer
him any mercy. O Lord, may there be souls here,
even yet turning unto thee, Lord Jesus, in their felt need of
thee, even to save them from their sins. None but Jesus, O
seekers, diligent seekers. And ye shall seek me, and ye
shall find me, when ye search for me with all your hearts,
and I will be found of you. Oh, what a precious promise.
Seek, and ye shall find. Lord, you remember, dear souls,
to have that reason for hope, perhaps a good hope through grace,
Oh Lord, who knows something of thy love, shed abroad in the
heart, that salvation by grace. Oh Lord, that hope in thy mercy.
Oh dear Lord Jesus, that saving knowledge of thyself, whom to
know is life eternal. And yet the apostle would continue,
that I may know him more and more and more and more, that
I may know him and the power of his resurrection. and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his
death. Dear Lord Jesus, do come and
bless with the outpouring of thy Holy Spirit, and oh, grant
that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. So Lord, we affectionately remember
each one gathered and any unable to be here who would be here
if they could. Lord, remember such. We would
remember those in affliction and we think especially of our
dear beloved pastor present here, thankful that he has been strengthened
a little to be enabled to venture out. Lord, sanctify this affliction
for his soul's good. May he prove like Hezekiah, by
these things men live. Lord, could it please you, Lord,
to recover him, raise him up again, strengthen him, or we
pray that he may once more be enabled to venture into this
pulpit to preach a gospel he knows and loves, to blow the
gospel trumpet here with no uncertain sound. Lord, remember him in
all his afflictions and as a widower, his pathway, his circumstances,
and pastor here, care of his church and people, Lord, to encourage
him and stand by him and bless him. Lord, we pray that he may
yet go forth in thy name in various places we're called to preach.
Oh, Lord, and to go before him still. Bless the deacons here,
the officers of the church, and grant much grace and wisdom in
all matters. And bless the church with peace
and love and harmony, praying one for another, and grant prosperity,
and all that there might yet be souls who shall say, come
and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath
done for my soul. Lord, you bless the dear children,
remember them as they grow up, as they learn and understand
more and more, all that they might be taught of God and taught
to pray, that there's none too young to pray. Gentle Jesus,
meek and mild, Look upon a little child. Pity my simplicity. Suffer me to come to thee. Lord, work in their hearts and
protect them from this evil society and generation, the wickedness
of many all around. Put thy holy fear deep into their
hearts and young people also, those growing up into life. Oh,
be that wall of fire round about them. Lord, when tempted, by
the ways of the world, so did not I because of the fear of
God. Remember parents also and grandparents. Lord bless the families and remember
those who walk a solitary pathway, loneliness. And we pray for others
in affliction. We think of one of our deacons,
we thank thee for preserving him, restoring him, and pray
that he may yet be spared to the people here Remember one
with a procedure before her. Be very gracious, we pray, all
may go well. And Lord, who go before, and
any others we are unaware of in particular need, Lord, thou
knowest, do remember them. Lord, do remember thy people
worldwide, the household of faith, all who love and fear thy name,
who worship thee in spirit and in truth, We are living in dark
and evil days, but Thou art the same. Help us ever to look to
Thee and trust in Thee. Have mercy upon our guilty land
and nation, and in mercy stem the great tide of sin and iniquity. Overthrow the counsel of the
ungodly and bring it all to naught. And may it yet be seen, the Lord
God omnipotent reigneth. We would be thankful for every
blessing, every favour, all thy goodness, all thy kindness, the
supply of all our needs, and greatest thy faithfulness. Now
to hear our poor prayer, and make up in giving where we have
come short and failed in our asking. But hear us in heaven,
thy dwelling place, and when thou hearest, O Lord, forgive.
Help us through this service, May it be noised abroad that
Jesus is in the house, the Lord is here. We ask all in that most
worthy name of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and for his sake
alone we ask, amen. Let us continue with hymn 998,
Fortuna Laudate Dominum 910. Ye prisoners of hope, overwhelmed
with grief, to Jesus look up for certain relief. There's no
condemnation in Jesus the Lord, but strong consolation his grace
does afford. Hymn 998, tune 910. ? Let each flesh and blood ? ?
Flows as the river flows ? ? And to new creation ? ? It is the same for
all of us ? ? Jesus the Lord ? ? Mercy shall be mine ? ? Mercy,
thou blest thing, that within this house ? ? Thou blest thing,
that within this house ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? In the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As the Lord may be pleased to
grant his gracious help, I direct our prayerful attention to a
word that you will find in a chapter that we've read together, From
the epistle to the Romans chapter eight, where I feel led to verse
34. Romans chapter eight and verse
34. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died. Yea, rather, that is risen again. who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans chapter eight
and verse 34. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again. Who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. It's a beautiful word we read
in Peter's epistle. And it's a great mercy if in
our hearts we find an echo, not only an agreement, but a sacred
understanding. For unto you therefore which
believe, he is precious. He being none other than the
Lord Jesus Christ, all precious to the souls of his people. Precious
in his precious name, precious in his precious love, precious
in his person, and precious in all that he has done, and precious
also in all that he is doing. Or may there be many here this
afternoon echoing, unto you therefore which believe he is precious. That I hear one perhaps yearning,
oh could I but believe. You long to believe and yet fear
to presume. Or you long to be a real believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet you fear so much unbelief. Or you long to truly believe
in Him to the saving of your souls. Do we not also read that
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. Oh you long to know that you
are a believer and yet would you erase out that word precious. Unto you therefore which believe
he is precious. Precious to every child of God,
precious to every soul where the Holy Spirit has begun that
work of grace. Oh precious to the seeking soul,
precious to the needy soul. and more and more precious to
the child of God. Or those who long, those who
know him, yet long to know him more and more. A precious Jesus. You see, our text, in a sense,
answers the three questions set before us from verse 33. Who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? Now we have here this
doctrine of election, opposed by so many, but loved by the
people of God. Knowing being taught that if
God had not chosen me, I never would have chosen him. Oh, it
is a free grace of God, that his people find grace in his
sight, God's elect, And yet how many a poor troubled soul fears
and is tempted that they're not one of God's elect. They feel
to be outside of the secret. Although under that temptation,
there's no hope for them, no salvation for them. Well, these
fears, these concerns, the Holy Spirit overcomes. Overcomes. Because the Holy Spirit, to every
child of God, will bring them to that saving knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ. But of course, there must be
a felt need of him. Not in the head, not a mere head knowledge,
not a knowledge about the Lord Jesus, but to know him personally,
savingly. Be brought to that saving knowledge
of the Lord Jesus. Ah, to believe in him, to the
saving of our souls. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. And
the Lord's people are justified by faith. You see, being taught
by the Holy Spirit, they dare not, like that Pharisee, justify
themselves that they are righteous. Once they may have justified
themselves that they are righteous. I find the account of that rich,
young ruler in incredibly solemn. Because he had so much, he had
so much of this world's goods. He was a rich man. He was a young
rich man. He'd come to riches. He was a
ruler. He was in a position of authority.
But he also thought he had so much religion. When pointed to
the law, how he does now. All these have I kept from my
youth up. What lack are ye? All the commandments
of God I've kept from my youth up. His own self-righteousness,
he justified himself. He never knew himself as a sinner,
but Jesus said to him, one thing thou lackest. What was that one
thing? Just one thing he was lacking.
Well, it's the same thing that the foolish virgins were lacking.
Not literally oil in their vessel, but grace in the heart. And that
rich young ruler, he had so much, but he was lacking grace. That's
why he was not prepared, if you will, to deny himself and take
up his cross and follow the Lord Jesus, because he wasn't a believer. And he couldn't say the Lord
Jesus was precious to him, he'd rather go back to all his worldly
riches and have his full of this world. But unto you therefore
which believe, he is precious, or where there's grace in the
heart. It is God that justifies Ah, then we come to the publican. This poor man, I say poor man,
he was a rich man, he was the most favoured man, he was the
most blessed man, but in and of himself he felt to be such
a poor man. Indeed, he would come to the
temple to pray. But not like the Pharisee, he
would not pray within himself. It may have not been a well-lettered
prayer like the Pharisee, Indeed he felt that guilt, he felt that
shame, he felt that trouble, he felt himself to be a sinner,
he could not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven. Not
the natural eye, not proudly looking up, but the eye of faith
looked up. He stood afar off, physically,
literally stood afar off, spiritually he drew near, and he drew near
to God. he smote upon his breast, upon
his heart, because he felt much of a plague of his own heart.
And indeed he confessed unto God, not unto man, but unto God
that he was a sinner. But he had a hope. It may have
been a faint hope, it may have been a trembling hope, it may
have been a weak hope, it was still a hope. He hoped in God's
mercy. Though he knew himself to be
a vile sinner, still he would hope in the mercy of God. If
he had no hope in the mercy of God, he wouldn't have prayed
for that mercy. But because there was a glimmer
of hope, then he cried out from his heart, God, be merciful to
me, the sinner, the guilty sinner. But Lord, have mercy upon me. With the psalmist in Psalm 130,
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall
stand? Just slightly digress, but on
that theme, who shall stand before such an holy, almighty, sovereign,
eternal God in these terrible days in which we are living? In these days when men speak
so glibly lightly, flippantly, blasphemously, of the Almighty,
when there's no recognition, there's certainly no reverence,
or there's no understanding of the greatness of God, who inhabited
eternity, and God is real, and He is Almighty, and He is our
creator, and our maker, with whom we have to do He is sovereign
over all and above all. Oh, how great they are. May we know at least something
of the fear of God in our hearts. May we have an understanding,
a measure of the greatness of God. When the Lord reveals himself
to his people, they begin to understand him. They begin to
know him. And now he may be initially out
of Christ, and oh, it's a terror. And the soul shakes before Almighty
God. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand? Not one, not one. But, we have some blessed buts
in scripture, but there is forgiveness with thee. that thou mayest be
feared. Unlike the gods of the world,
the true God, the living God, is a merciful God. There is forgiveness
with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Ah, who is a God like
unto thee? That pardoneth iniquity, that
pardoneth transgressions of the heritage of thy people, who retaineth
not his anger for ever. because he delighteth in mercy. Who is he that condemneth? Ah,
that condemneth God's elect, that condemneth a guilty sinner,
that condemneth a soul. Who is he that condemneth? Well,
where that work of grace has begun, where the Holy Spirit
has begun to teach and to instruct, that soul, by and by, will be
convicted of being a sinner. Now, anyone can say that they
are a sinner. Anyone can use the words, I have
sinned against God. King Saul said, I have sinned. But as Joseph Hart put in his
hymn, O to feel. cuts deep beyond expression. When one feels to be a guilty
sinner before the Almighty God, when one begins to understand
their state, their eternal state before Almighty God, when one,
unlike that young rich ruler, would never dare boast all these
that I kept from my youth up, but rather would say, and here
my soul convicted stands of breaking all thy ten commands, guilty,
guilty, guilty, through and through. Who is he that condemneth? Well,
conscience condemns. When we know that we have sinned
against God, when we know ourselves to be sinners, lost, ruined,
and hell deserving. And that is the most awful, solemn
thought. If my soul was sent to hell,
thy righteous law approves it well. Now we have people saying
that God is a God of love. He wouldn't do that. God is so
holy, so pure. In the Garden of Eden, man in
disobedience to the commandment of God took of the forbidden
fruit. The man spiritually died and cast out of that garden.
All man must suffer over our hideous monster sin. What a curse
has thou brought in. All creation groans through thee,
pregnant cause of misery. The daughter understand that
the punishment of our sins and Sin must be punished. The sinner must be dealt with. God's justice demands it. God
cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance or toleration,
but the soul that sinneth, it shall surely die. We cannot escape
that. It's a word of God. It is true.
The soul that sinneth, it shall surely die. And all awakened
souls, who know that they have sinned against God know also
that they deserve the punishment of their sins. And they know
that they deserve hell, eternal damnation. I believe the Lord perhaps first
began with me with that knowledge of deserving hell and the terror
of the thought of being lost forever and ever, and ever. We cannot comprehend eternity. We are limited to time, a beginning
and an end, a start and a finish. Eternity, there is no time. There
is no end. And by our sins, we deserve hell.
And our conscience smites us. A guilty sinner, who is he that
condemneth? Well, again, the law of God condemns. when one has broken that law
and one has sinned against God. The law of Sinai with its thunderings
and lightenings, the fire, the voice, the mountain trembled,
the people even more trembled before Almighty God. Who is he that condemneth? Ah, another one, Satan, that
malicious foe, the tempter, He attempts to sin, and as soon
as that soul is tempted, who does not resist the devil, and
falls in a temptation, he becomes the accuser, all to condemn. He condemns that soul as a sinner. He says, there's no hope for
you, no salvation for you, no redemption for you. He does all
in his power to prevent a soul from turning to the Lord, But
blessed be God, it's a wonderful word in 1 John 4, verse four,
I believe, greater is he that is in you than he that is in
the world. Greater is he. Who is he that
condemneth? And many a poor child of God
may feel to be condemned. Perhaps some here this afternoon
feel to be condemned as a guilty sinner. Well, listen to what
follows. It is Christ that died. Yea, rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us. For us. Now, first of all, the
doctrine, it is Christ that died. Oh, the very purpose of the Lord
Jesus coming down from heaven to be made a real man under the
law of God, that he might fulfill that law of God on behalf of
his people as he lived his holy life and he never, ever, ever
sinned. Sinless, pure. Oh, there was
no blemish of sin in him. Not indeed, he did nothing amiss. Not in word, he never spoke one
word amiss, and not any thoughts, sinful thoughts. He never thought
anything wrong. All that he thought and said
and did was to God's honor and glory. He came to glorify his
father. He came to save his people from
their sins. God cannot die. God is eternal. but the Son of Man, the Lord
Jesus Christ, is a real man. Oh, he came to die. He came to
live, he lived that life, and he came to die. Greater love
hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends. The Lord Jesus came to lay down
his life, all to redeem his people, with his own heart's precious
blood, to redeem the church of God. Oh, you see, I mentioned
earlier about sin must be dealt with, a sinner must be punished.
And when Christ hung upon a cross at Calvary, there he bore all
the sins of his people. It goes beyond our understanding,
our comprehension, how he could possibly be. when we feel ourselves
to be great sinners, our sins to be innumerable. But it is
a truth. Ah, there he suffered for the
sins of his people. Again, what he suffered, or what
great agonies he suffered, what sorrows he suffered, what pains
he suffered, or that he truly suffered. But he died. It is Christ that died. to put away sin. All those tremendous
words that he died to put away sin, the sins of his people.
And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation. But he truly died. Remember how
he said, I have power to lay down my life and I have power
to take it again. Yes, he shed his own heart's
blood to make atonement for sin, for without the shedding of blood
there is no remission of sin. But Jesus shed his own heart's
blood for the remission of sin. The wrath of God against the
sins of his people fell upon him. The Holy Spirit will bring
every child of God by faith to view their suffering saviour. It is Christ that died yea rather
that is risen again the glorious doctrine of a resurrection he
had power to lay down his life had power also to take it again
and on that glorious day vain bestowing the watch the seal
christ of birth the gates of hell oh there Risen again for
our justification, it is God that justifies. You see, Christ
saw no corruption. No corruption, because he had
never sinned. And yet he died, all to save
his people from their sins. But he rose again, triumphing
over hell, sin, and death. The risen Savior, who is even
at the right hand of God. And today, this same Jesus is
at the right hand of God in heaven, the right hand of power, of authority. All power is given unto me in
heaven and upon earth. The right hand of God is the
great high priest there to represent his people. This same Jesus who
stands between in garments dyed with blood, that he instead of
me is seen when I approach to God, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. We read earlier that the Holy
Spirit makes intercession for the people of God here upon earth,
May we know what it is to be praying in the Holy Ghost. May
our prayers be indicted by the Holy Ghost. May we pray according
to the will of God. Just a word of warning, we all
need it. Ye ask and ye receive not, because ye ask amiss, that
ye might consume it upon your lusts. Now that's praying in
the flesh, to have such things which we would only use upon
ourselves and for ourselves, according to the word of God,
not to the honour and glory of God. All for grace to pray aright. By the Spirit making intercession
for us, that in heaven the Lord Jesus also maketh intercession
for us. Our poor prayers heard in heaven.
The Lord Jesus, as it were, receiving our poor prayers and to present
them faultless before his Father. Making intercession, all his
wounded hands, feet, and side. Making intercession for us, all
for his own dear people. What an intercessor. A great,
blessed intercessor. There's a very important word
here in our text. It concerns all here, and it's
the last word, us. Are we found in the us? Do we
desire to be found in the us? Who maketh intercession for us? The whole text, it speaks of
us. It speaks of the people of God.
It speaks of the believers that the Lord Jesus in heaven praying,
making intercession for all his people, the us. Or may we be
found amongst the people of God, those believers in the Lord Jesus. Again another very important
word in the opening verse of this chapter. There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. It's that little word in. We
are either in or out. Where are we this afternoon?
exceedingly solemn to be out of Christ. Out of Christ, almighty
power can do nothing but devour. Out of Christ, oh, what a solemn
place to be. You remember the, under the Old
Testament dispensation, the cities of refuge were set up strategically
throughout the land of Israel, that one who really accidentally
slew another manslayer, he might flee to one of those cities of
refuge under the Old Testament, it was life for life. So the
relative of the dead man, the pursuer of blood would be after
him to take his life. But that one, oh, how he would
literally flee for his life. And he would flee to the nearest
city of refuge. And he wouldn't loiter. He wouldn't
go back to say goodbye. He wouldn't go back to collect
his belongings. He would literally flee for his life. He longed
to lay hold upon or have sight of that city of refuge. He longed
to see it in the distance, but still he wasn't safe. The pursuer
of blood may be catching up, may be making ground. Or with
every effort of his body, this man, He flees to that city of
refuge, and oh, when he's found in, then he's safe. The pursuer of blood cannot enter
in. That was against the law. Once
one was within the city of refuge, they were perfectly safe. And
it points to Christ. A refuge for sinners. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in, Christ Jesus. I just mentioned the Ark
with Noah and how vital again to be found in the Ark. Outside of the Ark, there was
destruction, there was death. Not even the strongest man of
giants in those days could survive the wrath of God. There was an
outpouring of the wrath of God, God's judgments upon the wickedness
of the world. that Noah found grace in the
sight of God. And by faith, Noah built that
ark to the saving of his soul. And we read, when that time came,
he entered it, and the Lord shut him in. Shut him in perfectly
safe. And so it is, those who are in
Christ Jesus. And it's vital to be found in
Christ Jesus. And I believe there are those
here this afternoon in Christ Jesus. There are others, I trust,
fleeing to be found in Christ Jesus. The apostle writing to
the Hebrews that speaks of those who are fleeing. And he uses
two descriptions of the people of God in chapter six, verse
17. He speaks of them as the heirs
of promise. We might say God's elect. wherein
God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs a promise
the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that
by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to
lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge, to
lay hold upon the hope set before us, which hope we have as an
anchor of the soul both short and steadfast, which entereth
into that within the veil, or to be found entered in. Dear
souls, flee, and has not the Spirit taught you to flee to
Christ? Is not the Lord Jesus set before
you by the eye of faith? Have you been taught that vital
lesson? That one thing is needful, one thing is needful, and Jesus
is the One thing evil, he is a savior of sinners. There is
none other. And out of Christ, that soul
must be condemned. But all to be found in Christ
Jesus, that soul is perfectly safe. Now the sweet experience
of it, it is Christ that died. As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men
unto me. All men not meaning the whole
people, all the people of the world, but Jew and Gentile. The Lord's chosen people. But
I will draw unto me. Jesus draws a chosen race. by his three resistless grace,
causing them to hear his call and before his power to fall.
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with
loving kindness have I drawn thee. And as the child of God
is drawn to the Lord Jesus, he is also fleeing to that refuge
for sinners. One just goes to the woman with
the issue of blood. For all those, was it 12 years,
she suffered with that condition. She went to medics. She went to consultants. She
went to those in hope of being healed, but they all failed her.
I'm sure they took her money, but not one could find a cure.
There was no hope until she heard of the Lord Jesus. And remember,
the Lord Jesus was never known as a doctor. As a consultant,
in that sense, we understand the words. But faith, God-given
faith laid hold upon him. The Holy Spirit put it into her
heart. You see, this is real religion.
The work of the Holy Spirit, he put it into her heart. If
I may but touch a hem of his garment, I shall be made whole. Again, just look to the practical.
She, no doubt, was very poorly, very weak, very unwell. Perhaps
often upon a couch or bed, and now she rises, and if she had
family, a family, or those around her, neighbours, and said, what
are you doing? Where are you going? She said, I'm going to
a man called Jesus. I hope to touch a hem of his
garment, and I shall be made perfectly whole. I think they
might have laughed at the school. They might have tried to deter
her, prevent her. But her faith was so strong that
she must flee. She must go. She must venture. She had that real need. Those
around her didn't have the same need. Of course, her need was
sanctified. If I may but touch a hem of his
garment, if I may but fall down before him, if I may but reach
him, if I may but find him, or to touch thee, if I may, I shall
be made perfectly whole. And she ventured by faith, God-given
faith. The crowd around would be another
trial of her faith. Crowds to prevent her. Indeed,
the crowd was so dense that when Jesus said, somebody have touched
me, the disciples replied, but the people are thronging thee.
Many people are touching thee. But not like this woman. Oh,
she came to receive that healing virtue. Somebody have touched
me. May there be some somebody's
here this afternoon. Somebody have touched me, for
I perceive that healing virtue have gone out of me. And that
woman had to come and confess. She had to come and confess in
one sense of the word, but really she had to give a testimony of
what the Lord had done for her. She had to speak of how she was
drawn to the Lord Jesus. How she was blessed with that
faith to venture to Him in need. She had to testify of what the
Lord had done to heal her, to speak of those glad things. The
Lord had done great things for us. We are glad at work of grace. Oh, it is Christ that died. And
poor sinners drawn to the Lord Jesus, they come by faith. Oh,
they come to Calvary. They come to that place where
Christ died to put away sin. I won't go into detail, it's
not time, but you remember again in the Old Testament dispensation
under the law, there was that of the two goats, one to be offered
up, the other to be the scapegoat, and the high priest at the time
was to lay his hand hard upon the head of that scapegoat, as
it were, imputing the sins of the children of Israel upon the
head of that goat, who then was taken out by a strong, thick
young man into the waste wilderness, where it would be left, and surely
left to die. Now, there's a spiritual, beautiful
spiritual lesson there, and I think the hymn writer sums that up
so well, that maybe the language of our hearts, my faith would
lay her hand on that dear head of thine. While at Lyca penitent
I stand, and there confess my crimes. All coming to the feet
of Jesus, coming to the cross of Christ, coming to view by
faith those streams of mercy and streams of blood indeed,
all to come to shelter under the blood, to come to the rock
of ages, the rock smitten, rock of ages cleft for me, and there
to view, ah, the precious Jesus. It is Christ that died, and oh,
a faith's view of our sins being imputed to the Lord Jesus to
die even for us, to put away our sins, to stand in our room,
place, and stead. What love, what love. or the love of Christ, and he
draws forth from the hearts of his people their love unto him. It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again. Risen again from the dead. Death could not hold him, had
now power over him. He put away sin, he rose again,
Ah, and the people of God, like those on that resurrection day,
there's something very sweet there, they came seeking him.
Or they came initially, yes, to find his body, but oh, what
a glorious thing had happened, he is not here, for he is risen,
as he said. Why seek ye the living amongst
the dead, but is risen again? I just restrict myself to dear
Mary Magdalene of a tomb on her own as she fought, and then supposing
him to be the gardener, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me,
and I will take him away. What was the question to her? Whom seekest thou? But her precious
master, soon to be known as her precious saviour, but is risen
again. Oh, she longed to find him. She
longed to find his body. to anoint his body. But oh, when
Jesus turned and said unto her, Mary, my own sheep, he calls
his own sheep by their names. Just one word, her sorrow was
turned into joy, her captivity into liberty, her darkness into
light. Rabboni, master, risen, risen
again. that is risen again from the
dead. That sweet revelation of the
Lord Jesus to her soul, revealing herself unto her. And you notice,
after the resurrection, the Lord Jesus never revealed himself,
but unto his own people. The Holy Spirit puts into the
heart of the people of God, this my incessant cry shall be, Jesus,
reveal thyself to me. the risen Saviour, who is even at the right hand
of God. It's that beautiful word in Hebrews
chapter seven, I believe verse 25, now unto him that is able
to save unto the uttermost, all that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. able to save unto the
uttermost, who is even at the right hand of God. And poor sinners
led by the Spirit of God, we had it earlier in a chapter,
for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children
of God, they are the sons of God. To be led by the Spirit,
and the Spirit will ever lead the children of God, spiritually
and providentially, by the right way, and he leads them unto Christ.
or he leads them unto that place where they shall find him, who
is even at the right hand of God. And all those blessings,
those spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus in high places,
those blessings where he comes to bless his people, or to bless
them with that saving knowledge, to bless them with a good hope
through grace, or to bless them with that revelation unto him
of himself, to bless them to hear his voice, Oh, to bless
them with a sweet assurance. Oh, to have that assurance that
my beloved is mine and I am his, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. The Lord gives his people faith.
but that faith will be tried. Beloved, think ye not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing have happened unto you? The Lord trieth the righteous. Dear Peter, let's go into Satan's
Sith. Those of you who know through
experience what it is to be in Satan's Sith, I understand it
in the most simple way of a sieve in which a wheat is shaken, grain
is shaken. And so Satan comes to shake the
child of God in a vain attempt to cause them to make a shipwreck
of faith, to cause them to give up on God, to turn back and follow
him no more. But we think of those words of
the Lord Jesus. applicable to every child of
God and especially to those in a trial of faith. I have prayed
for thee that thy faith fail not. Precious words, precious
Jesus. I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. You have Joseph in the prison. His feet they hurt with fetters.
He was laid in iron. Until the time that his word
came, the word of the Lord tried him. It was a real trial. It's
a trial of his faith. You have Job also, that he knoweth
the way that I take. When he have tried me, I shall
come forth as gold. Who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. When Jesus constrained
his disciples to get in that ship to go over the other side
before him, and they obeyed, they submitted themselves to
the will of their master, they launched forth, and it was now
dark, and Jesus had not come unto them, but he saw them through
the dark, he saw them toiling and rowing because the wind was
contrary. But where was Jesus then? He
was high up in that mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee. He was, as he was wont to do,
in prayer unto his Father. He was praying for his people. I pray for them, I pray not for
the world, but for them whom thou hast given me. Who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us, whether it be spiritual, whether it be providential, whether
it's a trial of our faith, whether we feel the guilt of our sin,
or whether we feel that condemnation. You see, our text here speaks
of look unto Jesus, kind and strong, pity joined with Look
unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I
am God and there is none other. That grace to run the race, run
with patience the race that is set before us, but looking unto
Jesus and looking off all beside. Peter also writes, casting all
your care upon him, the care of your never dying soul. Again, the disciples in that
storm thought the Lord Jesus did not care. Care is there not
that we perish? And we have Martha also. Care is there not that
I serve alone? Oh, if only we understood the
care the Lord Jesus has of his people. In all their pilgrimage,
in all their ways, in all their sufferings, in all their afflictions,
he was afflicted. He knoweth the way that I take. He remembereth that we are but
dust. He himself Likewise, oh, in his body, in his heart, he
knows that now who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us. And oh, there we have the certainty
that for whom Christ makes intercession, for whom Christ pleads, our such
souls will ever be saved. saved with an everlasting salvation. If the Lord has taught us to
pray, then we can be assured of this, that Christ is making
intercession for us. Indeed, oh, to have that sweet
assurance that Christ died for us, that he has risen again for
us, he is even at the right hand of God in heaven for us, who
also maketh intercession for us. But in conclusion, I must
emphasize again within this first verse of this chapter, there
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. And if we are not in Christ Jesus,
then there is condemnation. How solemn, how heart-searching. Are we in Christ? Are we out
of Christ? Do we long to be found in Christ? Or is it yet in our hearts we
will not have this man to rule over us? Or may we be found again
in those words of the Lord Jesus, he spoke in John 15, abide in
me and I in you. And may we know Christ formed
in our hearts, the hope of glory. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Amen. Let us conclude this service
by singing hymn 1000, the tune St. Clement 813. Ye tempted and tried, to Jesus
draw nigh. He suffered and died, your wants
to supply. Trust him for salvation, you
need not to grieve. There's no condemnation to them
that believe. Hymn 1000, tune 813. ? Praise to thee, church full of
life ? ? Peace, love, love, and glory evermore ? ? Cross the cross of Gratia ? ?
Give me hope to live ? ? Blessed art the nation ? ? Till end of
days ? I know in my heart His love is
in all. It gives me life to suffer His love. ? When I should be free ? ? And take condemnation ? ? Till
death had me free ? in worship to the Lord, the helpless,
the weak, in worship Christ with the salvation and
strength he will be, present condemnation to encounter me. And now, may the grace of the
Saviour and the love of the Father and the communion of the Holy
Ghost be with you all. Amen.