Turn with me, if you would, to
1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. In one
verse of Scripture right here, the apostle Paul got to the heart
of the truth. He got to the heart of the gospel,
and that's what we're here for, isn't it? We're here to get to
the heart of the truth. We're here for the truth. That's
why we're meeting here. That's why we're meeting together.
We're here for the Gospel. And Paul got to the heart of
the truth of the Gospel by asking four questions. Who? What? How? And Why? Don't you just love it when you
come across a Scripture that really makes you think? Really
gets to the heart of it and really makes you think. Something that
digs deep past the surface of just religion and truly makes
you think. Who, what, how, and why. That's
what we have in one verse of Scripture right here. Let's read
it together. It's verse 7. 1 Corinthians 4
verse 7, it says, For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
Why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? That's
good, isn't it? That's good. What a verse. What a soul-searching question,
series of questions that is. Who maketh thee to differ from
another? If we get to the heart of that,
we'll get to the heart of the truth and the heart of the gospel.
Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?" He asks
that coming off of verse 6, saying at the end of that verse, that
no one needs to be puffed up above anybody else. If you look
at the very end of verse 6, he said that no one of you be puffed
up for one against another. We don't need to puff ourselves
up. That's what false religion is
and that's what it does. It just puffs up the flesh. And
he said we don't need to puff ourselves up and we don't need
to puff Any other man or woman up. No other man or woman. Why? It's because in the flesh,
we're all the same. We are all the same. I love the
story of many, many years ago, Brother Henry Mahan was preaching
on television there in his area, and a man who was on hard times,
very hard times. He ended up in a wheelchair and
his family fell apart. He lost everything. This man
lost everything. He was sitting in an apartment he had rented
and he turned the TV on and when the television screen came on,
there was Henry with his finger pointed at him. And he said, now, you and I may
come from different backgrounds, And there may be many differences
about us in life, but he said, I can tell you this, we have
one thing in common. He said, I'm a sinner and you're a sinner. And that guy got mad and he turned
the TV off and he said, don't you tell me I'm a sinner. And
he sat there for a minute and he said, well you know what,
maybe I am a sinner. So he turned the TV back on. And he started
listening to Brother Henry and the Lord had mercy on him and
saved that man. He was a dear brother for many years. But the
truth of the matter is, we're all the same. We're all exactly
the same. We're all in the same boat. We
all come from the same lump. Paul said in Romans 9, we all
come from the same dead lump. Ephesians 2 says, to all of God's
people, speaking to God's people, you were spiritually dead just
like everybody else. You were captive to the adversary
just like everybody else. Your conversation was in the
lust of your flesh. You were a child of disobedience
just like everybody else. James chapter 5 says, Elijah
was a man subject to like passions, just like everybody else. We
tend to puff those men up, don't we? We tend to puff those men
up. Paul said, O wretched man that
I am, just like everybody else. David said, My sins are ever
before me, just like everybody else. Isaiah 53 says, All we,
like sheep, have gone astray, we have turned to our own way. Everyone has turned to his own
way. There's a way that seems right
to a man, and the end of that way is destruction. Talking about religion, this
one will say, well, I think, and that one says, no, I think,
Let me tell you how we know we're hearing the truth. When a man
says, it doesn't matter what I think. All that matters is
what's written right here. What does God say? What does
God say? Isaiah 64 says, we are all as
an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are filthy
rags. Psalm 14 says, "...the Lord looked
down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any
that did understand and seek God." That's amazing, isn't it?
They are all gone aside. They are all together become
filthy. There is none that doeth good. You know how you hear people
say, well, I believe there's a little bit of good in everybody.
What do you mean, none good? None good? The Scripture says,
no, not one. Not one. You mean to tell me
there's not one good person on this earth? Not according to
God. But... Alright, now this is that
good news transition of the Gospel. That's one of the greatest words
in the Scripture. But, turn with me to Genesis
chapter 6. If a soul ever gets a hold of
that word, but, and the truth that comes after it, that'll
make a heart glad, that'll set a soul free. Genesis 6 verse 5, it says, And
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually. And it repented the Lord that
he had made man on the earth." He consoled himself and sighed
and breathed heavily. That's what that word means.
That he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart.
And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from
the face of the earth, both man and beast, and all creeping thing,
and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth Me that I have made
them. But Noah found grace." Why? Why? Out of everybody, why did Noah
find grace? Why was Noah and his family spared
when everybody else on this earth was destroyed? Everybody else
on this earth. What made the difference? What
made the difference? Well, this verse right here says
it was not a what, it was a who. It says, but Noah found grace
in the eyes of the Lord. Is that not amazing? I mean,
we're talking about God. We're talking about God. Don't
you love just thinking of the thoughts of God and the intent
of the heart of God? We know what the intent of man's
heart is. But this is God we're talking
about. The Lord God. The Lord Jesus Christ. I was
telling Brother Rick earlier today that there's a very dear
brother in Kingsport And for years, when I first got there,
he would ask the question, and this is a question that every
child of God has asked, and everyone here can relate to, he asked
the question, why me? Why would God choose me? We've all asked that question.
But he didn't ask it in a way like, well, let's just ponder
that and move on. He wanted to know the answer. And for years
he would bring it up and say, I don't understand. Why me? Why would he choose me? I don't understand. And I would
try to tell him something and come up with a scripture and
all those things and it just never sufficed for years, for
years. Finally, this is what I told
him. He said, why me? I said, because you were the
worst. I was the worst, and you were
the worst. And that's why He had mercy on
us. And He said, for the first time in my life, I understand
why. We were the worst. We were the worst. Paul said,
let me pose this question to you. Okay, this is what he said
in our text. when every soul on this earth
deserves the same punishment. If we ever get a hold of man
and we ever get a hold of sin, all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Have you ever wondered why would
God just have mercy on some when everybody's done the same thing?
And everybody deserves the same thing. And when God is holy and
He can't just sweep sin under the rug, He can't just say, you
know what, I tell you what, we'll take yours and we'll just put
those under here and we won't worry about those. God can't
do that. He's holy. He's just. He must do what's right. Paul
said, when all were born with the same nature and when all
have produced the same sin, if mercy and grace are going
to come to us. If mercy and grace are going
to spare us from the wrath to come. Wrath is coming. I know the world doesn't believe
it, and they don't care, but wrath is coming. I mean, it's
coming. That's why we're doing this. If we're going to be spared,
if God's grace and mercy will spare us from this wrath to come,
who made us to differ on this thing of salvation? Everybody
wants to know what is it to be saved, and how do you become
saved, and how do you become spared? Who made us to differ? Did we make ourselves to differ?
Do we make ourselves to differ? Do we stand up here and say,
now, if you want to differ, you're going to have to make yourself
to differ now. If we differ, it's because we
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Why did we find grace in
the eyes of the Lord? I don't know. That was His business. Why me? Really? I don't know. That was his business. I don't
know. He has a heart. And he said, Abraham's my friend. And David is a man after my own
heart. And I've loved you with an everlasting love. If we differ, it's because we
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. That's an amazing thing.
That's an amazing thing. We are what we are by the grace
of God. You know, you tell men and women
that this is in God's hands, and this is God's decision. This
is according to God's will, not mine. Man hates that. until God makes a man or a woman
see what His own will is and see that He would not choose
God and He will not come to God. He's just a sinner against God. And once God reveals that to
a sinner and sees the will of God in choosing to have mercy
on sinners, they say, that's the greatest thing I've ever
heard in my life. That's the most wonderful thing I've ever
heard in my life. Who made us to differ? The Lord did. The
Lord did it. Turn with me to Exodus chapter
11. Moses is giving the announcement
of the final plague of God on Egypt. Here, Exodus 11 verse
4, Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go
out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that
sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant
that is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of beasts.
And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt,
such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move
his tongue, against man or beast, that you may know how that the
Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel." Who made the difference? The
Lord did. The Lord did alone. He alone
made the difference. Who gets all the glory in this?
When we listen to a message preached, that ought to be the question
every time we hear a message preached. Who is getting the
glory in this? Who gets the credit for this?
He does. The Lord does. He gets all the
glory. The Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Go with me if you would to Romans chapter 9. Romans 9 verse 6, it says, Not
as though the word of God hath taken none effect, for they are
not all Israel which are of Israel. Neither because they are the
seed of Abraham are they all children, but in Isaac shall
thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children
of the flesh, these are not the children of God, But the children
of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word
of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have
a son. And not only this, but when Rebecca
also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, For the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said unto
her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the Scripture saith unto
Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I
might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom
he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt
say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath
resisted his will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou
that replyest against God? Shall the thing formed say to
him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the
potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel
unto honor and another unto dishonor?" Doesn't he have the right? This
is what he's saying. Doesn't he have the right? Did
he not make us? Doesn't He have the power? Doesn't He have the ability?
Doesn't He have the authority? Is this not God? The Sovereign
God? To make whatever difference He
wants to make in whomever He wants to make it. Can He not
do that? He most definitely can. And He
most definitely does have that right. Who maketh thee to differ? Who
maketh thee to differ? The Lord does. The Lord God Almighty
does. It is the Lord. The Lord Jesus
Christ. Let Him do what seemeth Him good.
Alright. What seemed Him good? What seemed Him good? We know who does everything.
Who did all this? Now let's look at Paul's question
of what. Don't turn back to our text because
I want you to turn somewhere else. But our text says, Who
maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? What hast thou? What do we have
because of the difference that He made? What do we have? The simple answer to that is,
all things. That's going to be the theme
of the weekend, okay? What we have in Him. All things
in Him. Every spiritual blessing that
can be received, that's what we have in Him. Look with me
if you would at Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians 1 verse 3, it says,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ. Oh, if we could only get a hold
of what is being said right there. We read that and we think, well,
that sounds good. We have no idea. Every spiritual
blessing of heaven itself. has been given to His people
in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4 says, according
as He hath chosen us in Him. We keep saying, why me? Why would
God choose me? Why would God choose me? God
didn't choose me. God chose Christ. He chose us
in Christ. If there's anything that causes
favor toward us, it's only because of Christ. Only because He placed
us in Christ. according as He hath chosen us
in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love." What do we have? We have election. We have election. He chose us
in Him. We have holiness. We have it. Is that not amazing? It's not
that we will have it. Everybody's trying to figure
out how to be holy. How do I get holy? We have it in Christ. We are in Christ. We have it
right now. We have purity. We are without
blame. We are innocent. innocent, totally innocent. We
have love before Him in love. All of the love of God is in
the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have God's love. God is love in Christ. Outside of Christ, He's a consuming
fire. Verse 4 says, "...according as
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
Himself according to the good pleasure of His will." We have
adoption into the family of God. Sonship. Made to be sons of God. Joint heirs with Christ. You talk about amazing. Inheritors
of everything with Him. Everything. When I was a teenager,
maybe, I don't know, teenager, maybe very early twenties, Brother
Don Fortner, I assume most everybody here knows Brother Don Fortner,
but his daughter, Faith, got married to a man named Doug.
And I was at a conference as a teenager, and Brother Don Fortner
was preaching, and they had just gotten married, and he was telling
the story that right after they got married, he made Doug a set
of keys. and gave them to him. He said,
Doug, here's all my keys. He said, here's a key to my car,
here's a key to my house, here's a key to my garage. You know,
if you need anything, just go in there and get it. You don't
even have to ask. And Doug said, really? I don't have to ask?
I can just go in there and get it? And Don said, son, I gave
you my daughter. You don't think I'd give you
a wrench? If we have Him, we have it all.
We have it all. Inheritors of all things. Verse
6 says, "...to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein
He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." What do we have? What have we? We have acceptance
in the Beloved. If we have Him, we have it all. He said, All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. They will be accepted. They'll
be accepted. Verse 7 says, In whom we have
redemption through His blood. What an amazing statement that
is. The forgiveness of sins. Are there any sinners in here
by chance? There are not many out there. They're hard to find. But if you ever become convinced,
if the Holy Spirit ever convinces a man or a woman of his or her
sin, forgiveness of sin is the most amazing thing that will
ever cross your heart. Just to think that God would
all those sins that haunt me and haunt you, and that you just
wish would go away, but they won't leave your mind. They keep
coming back up. Every single one of those have
had blood poured all over them. Covered in blood. Those sins
and iniquities, He said, I'll remember them no more. They're
gone. That is just glorious. We have forgiveness through His
blood. Forgiveness poured all over our
sins in the blood of God's Holy Lamb. Just amazing. In that we
have redemption of eternal life. That is the difference that He
made. Who made the difference? He did.
What difference did He make? He made an eternal life from
eternal death difference. That's the difference He made. What hast thou? What do we have?
All things in Him. Every good and perfect thing.
Now, how did we get all this? I'm not going to keep us here
all night. But we need to get to the bottom of this question
right here. How did we get all this? How did all this come to
us? All this favor from the Father
and all this mercy from the Son, did we earn it? Did we earn it? Well done, thou good and faithful
servant. Here you go. Was he talking about
us? How did His goodness come to
us? How did it come to us? Don't
turn back. I'm going to quote our text again because I want
you to go somewhere else. I know we're turning a lot, but
I like it. I just like turning a lot. This
is what the text says. Who maketh thee to differ from
another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Receive. How did His goodness
come to us? We freely received it. We freely
received it. Is that not an amazing thing
to get a hold of? When grace is revealed, that it is free. It costs somebody everything.
but to all the recipients it is freely given." That is glorious
news. Let me show you something in
Matthew 13. Matthew 13. Verse 10, it says, "...the disciples came
and said unto Him, Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?"
Why do you tell these parables to people? Why are you preaching
in parables? Verse 11, "...He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven. But to them it is not given."
It's not given to you. This is given. This is given. Not earned. Freely given. Salvation is freely given. Life is freely given. Grace is
freely given. Let me just quote a couple of
things to you. Don't turn to these. This is
2 Corinthians 4 verse 6. It says, For God who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. This is how all of this salvation
and grace comes. God shines it to us. He just
gives it to us. God shines. God gives. That's how it comes to us. This
one, just listen to this. This is 2 Timothy chapter 1. He said in verse 6, Wherefore
I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God. The gift. which is in thee by
the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the
spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Be not there therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner. But be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God, who hath saved
us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given
us. in Christ Jesus before the world
began. Given to us. Freely given before
the foundation of the world. So who made us to differ? Christ
did. What do we have in Him? What
do we not have in Him? Just start naming things. We
have everything, all things in Him. Every soul-redeeming thing
that our salvation required, we have it in Him. How did we
get it? He freely gave it to us. We freely
received it. Here's the last question Paul
asked in the text. Go back there with me now, okay? 1 Corinthians 4. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 7, Who maketh
thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? He said, Now if thou didst receive
it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? If we have received this glorious
salvation from our God, if we have received it, if we are among
the ones who He chose to put a difference in, and He chose
to give Himself for, to die for, to put away our sin, if we are
counted among the ones that He has revealed grace to and mercy
to, if He has redeemed us, if we have received this glorious
salvation, why? Why would we glory in it as though
we didn't receive it? Well, if we have received it,
and if He has revealed all of that to us, we won't. We just won't. God's people will
not. If we have received this, We
will not glory in one bit of it. We will cry, God forbid that
I should glory save in the cross of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will cry, if any man glory,
Let him glory in the Lord. By His grace, that's what we're
going to do this weekend. That's all I want to do. I want
us to glory in the Lord. Just glory in who He is and what
He has done. We'll give all the glory to Him
because He made us to differ. All things of salvation and eternal
life are in Him. By His mercy and grace, He freely
gave it all to us. and therefore He's worthy of
all the glory. Amen.