All right, Galatians chapter
two. I want to read just the first 10 verses, but I'm gonna
try to zero in on a particular phrase. Galatians chapter two,
Paul is continuing writing, of course, and he says, then 14
years after, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and
took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation and
communicated unto them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles,
but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means
I should run or had run in vain. But neither Titus, who was with
me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And that because
of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily or privately
to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that
they might bring us into bondage. Now, I'm sure they weren't saying
it that way, but that's what they were doing. to whom we gave
place by subjection, no, not for an hour, that the truth of
the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seem to
be somewhat, and this is what I want to deal with today, is
a phrase that's in this verse here. But of these who seem to
be somewhat, and then notice the parentheses, whatsoever they
were, it maketh no matter to me. Here it is. accepteth no
man's person. That's the title of my message.
That's what I want to try to zero in on. Why did it make no
matter to Paul? Whatsoever they were, it didn't
make no matter to me. God accepteth no man's person.
For they who seem to be somewhat in conference, that is in an
open meeting, that's what that's talking about, added nothing
added nothing to me. But contrary-wise, when they
saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the
gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the
gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter, For he that wrought affectionately
in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was
mighty in me toward the Gentiles. And when James and Cephas, or
that is Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived
the grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas
the right hands of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen
and they under the circumcision. Only they would that we should
remember the poor, the same which I also was forward to do. Our brother the Apostle Paul
refused, he refused, but he had to refuse to do this because
we are so prone to do this. I haven't finished the sentence,
Our brother, the Apostle Paul, refused. But I want to emphasize,
he had to refuse to do so. It was a struggle. It was a battle, something he
had to engage in. Our brother, the Apostle Paul,
refused to be enamored with men's positions. their religious professions,
their social or their religious status and moralities. Why? To whom we gave place by
subjection, no not for an hour. Here's the first reason that
the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Error can never be baptized enough. to become truth. You just can't
do it. You just can't do it. Truth must
always be at the forefront. At the forefront, as Earl used
to say, you can't sneak it in the back door. Even though we
are prone to do so because it makes it seem to be a little
easier way to do it. The best way to do it is face
to face. Straight up, okay? To whom we
gave place by subjection, know not for an hour that the truth
of the gospel might continue. But there's another reason. But
of these who seem to be somewhat, and Paul is being honest, they
were impressive. These men, knew the law. They were versed
in the law. They had ways of conversing about
the law. They were impressive before men. And it's easily to be impressed
if you are but another fallen man or woman. Don't ever think,
well, I'm a believer in Christ. I believe in sovereign grace.
None of this will ever affect me. It affected Peter. As we'll see. And it was just
removing. It was just removing from one
table where a certain kind of people sat and getting up and
removing to another table where another kind of people sat. It can be that simple and yet
that deadly. You see, error never just, it
never just comes marching in the front doors as we believe
nothing that you all believe. Here's the truth. It doesn't
do that. And I had a fellow years ago
when I was on the internet quite a bit when I had a computer and
had a guy from the Philippines. One of the first texts he texts
me says, I believe everything you say. And automatically the
red flag went up. One, because I knew he hadn't
heard everything I'd ever said, that's for sure. And two was,
you're just trying to butter me up. And later, as texts went
back and forth, of course the subject of what came up. Money, money came up. Why? But of those who seem to be somewhat,
whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me. But then Paul's
opinion was not based upon his opinion. His opinion was based
upon this. God accepteth no man's person. That's why. That's why Paul was
not enamored with men's, but he refused to be enamored with
men's positions, their religious professions, their social or
religious status, and their moralities. And it even backfired on Peter
and went to Peter one day. And I am sure for the rest of
Peter's life that when that thought of that incident came up, Ellen,
I'm sure he just had that chill in his conscience. Huh? Ever been there? Ever look
back at something? And it may not, nobody, he got
up from one table and moved to another. Most people never caught
it. But Paul did. Paul seen what
was going on. But that's why. Why? Because
God accepteth no man's person. Now I will jump ahead, but then
go back to where I left off. But God does accept people. Or reject people. Now chew on
that for just a moment. You see, God does not show favor
because of position, profession, or status, or morality, or religion. And why? Let me give you why. You just hold tight. Let me turn
to it. I'm gonna give you why God doesn't have any respect
of persons. That word, persons. Here's why. Just a moment, please. The fool
has said in his heart, no, God. Now, I know if you read this,
you would see there's a there is there. That's not the point. It's not talking about somebody
denying the existence. There is no God. No, the fool
has said in his heart, no, God. And fools constantly say this
all the time. You can just quote from the Bible
and they'll say, that ain't God. I don't believe that. You know
what they're saying? No, God. No. They are corrupt. They have done
abominable works. Now someone says, oh, but that's
the fool. There is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down
from heaven. I used to hear that a lot years
ago when I was in religion, okay? The Lord looked down from heaven
upon the children of men to see. He was looking, now not because
he was ignorant, But he engaged in this so he could have the
psalmist, David, it says the psalmist, have David write it
down so we'd know for sure how God sees things. The Lord looked
down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there was any
that did understand and seek God. Here was God's conclusion
when he looked down. They are all gone aside. They are all together become
filthy. Filthy, do you see it? There
is none that doeth good, and just so we get it, no not one. That's why God accepts no man's
person. You see it? Isaiah 64, of course
we know. Even our righteousnesses, and
I still don't see that. Like God sees that. Even our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. And Joe, I'm still at a loss. to be able to explain that because
I'm one of those filthy rag righteousness people. We don't see our righteousness,
even our righteousness, like God does. Like God does. See a woman lie about where some
spies are, and we'd say, well, that's a lie. She was not being
honest. Right? Right? Hear her tell the
king, they went that way. But you knew, you were there
and you knew, they didn't go that way. They went that way. But what does the scripture call
that? An act of faith. An act of faith
with obedience hooked to it like this. Somebody says, that don't
make sense to me. It's because you ain't God. Because
you and I don't truly know what absolute righteousness is by
experience. We just do not because even our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. I wanna read to you another passage
of scripture. You just hang tight and just
listen to what the word says. Now, I am not, believe me, I
am not throwing off on following along. But sometimes the preacher's
preaching, and he's stating the truth he's trying to state, and
you're still trying to find it in the Bible. Just so you could
be, I'm following along. You understand what I'm saying?
Huh? He done over with, you're still
looking for the passage. And you really ain't heard what
he said. So listen to what the prophet Jeremiah said of us.
Jeremiah chapter 17, don't be turning now. You just heard what
I said. The heart is deceitful above all things. I mean, there's nothing worse
in this world when it comes to evil and wicked and unrighteousness. Oh, and self-righteousness. That's there too. That's just
as evil in God's sight Now you listen to me. You out there listen
to me. That's just as evil in God's
sight as molesting a little child. Do you hear me? Do you hear me? The heart is deceitful above
all things. And we all got one. And that's
what it's like. And desperately wicked. Who can
know it? I would just, I'm venturing to
say, this is my opinion. I figure, Mac, at best, we'd
only know like this of it. We don't see it like God sees
it. The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I, the Lord,
search the heart. You see, now, all I really see
is the actions, and sometimes our actions betray what's down
in here. How many times you been nice
to somebody when down and out, boy, you love just to give them
a piece of your mind? Huh? Huh? How many times have
you given somebody a piece of your mind and then realized my
mind wasn't worth much? I should have just kept it quiet.
Huh? The Lord, I the Lord search the
heart. I try the reins. What's it mean?
What guides me. What truly motivates me, that's
what, it's a metaphor explaining the rain. You got a horse, right?
What guides you, you see? I, the Lord, search the heart,
I try the rains, even, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Now that's who
God is. Do you want that? Is that how you want God to act
toward you? If he accepted your person, he
would obliterate you. And I don't mean cause you to
never, he would cause you to suffer the pains of the lake
of fire forever. If it was based upon God accepting
our persons, that's our person. That's what we are. Our heart
dictates and controls everything about us. And we may put flowers
on the grave, and it may smell okay, but God sees through the
bouquet. He sees through the bouquet. There's not a just man, now there
are some just men upon the face of the earth. But there's not
a just man upon the face of the earth that doeth good and sinneth
not. That is right why you're doing
the very good God ordained for you to do. You still got that
old evil man in you and it's still a lot of self and hell
shut up all in the midst of it. Now we know why God accepted
no man's person. Let me put it this way. If God
did accept us, have to accept us, was bound to accept us based
upon our person, we would all be consumed. You see, here God's
take on it, that's what God says about it. That's what our heart's
like. And what did our Lord say? Our Lord confirmed it out of
the abundance of the heart, this right here. The mouth speaketh. Now while
this is truth, While this is truth, yet men use this phrase,
God accepteth no man's person. Or similar phrases to it, and
I thought once to give you every one, but then they're not overwhelming. There's maybe 10, 11, 12 of them.
But they're interesting. Go look them up where it has
this, this idea of God accepteth no man's person. Get you a concordance
if you have that ability. Look it up. Or this phrase, God
is no respecter of persons. It means the exact same thing.
It is the same thing just stated with different words, but they
all mean the same thing. God is no respecter of persons.
Now while this truth, our heart is desperately wicked above anything,
and God sees it for what it really is. I'm paraphrasing, but that's
what Jeremiah was saying to us. God sees it, Ellen, even when
we don't see it for what it really is. God knows the true motivation.
You know? And didn't our Lord say you could
even give vast sums of money and it still all be wickedness
and self-righteousness? And then another widow woman
comes along and just throws in two pence. Nothing, nothing. I mean, like a couple pennies
and throws it in the plate. And people's like, what was the
difference between all their vast amounts and her two little
pennies? That's all she had. That's what
it was all about. It's all she had. Now, I'm going to ask you, don't
answer, how many of us have done that? I have to keep my hands
right here. Do you dare start yours up? Hmm,
she gave all, as the one lady, he broke that alabaster box of
ointment. Shit, lady did it, poured it
out and anointed it. What did he, what ain't she anointed
for? He said, for my burial. She hath done a, this is what
the Lord himself said, she hath done a good work upon me, upon
me. That's a real work and a good
work is when you do it truly for the honor and the glory of
Christ. But I rarely have confidence
that I ever really have. But if Christ says that about
one of your works, you can mark it down, it is. But that's the
whole point, it's how he sees it, and not how we see it. Because
Judas said, well, that was a waste. Didn't he? That could have been
sold and given to the poor. But we knew, we are given, God
see it, we knew Judas' real reason. He didn't care for the poor.
He would like to put some of that right here. Ain't that what
the book says? God help us. But again I say,
while this is truth, while we are what we are by nature, and
this is why God accepteth no man's person, and we best be
glad for it. We best be glad for it. Yet this
very phrase some people use to deny God has the sovereign right
to do with his own what he will. I've been told that directly.
Now this was years ago. And God had first opened my eyes
to the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I don't even remember
who the person was, but I remember what happened. And I was trying
to express in some way with these, what little bit of knowledge
I had, to some degree, the blessedness of the truth of God's election
of grace. and the blessedness of God's
predestinating sovereign purpose towards some people. And they
said, that can't be true. God is no respecter of persons.
They used that to deny God his sovereign right to do what he
will with his own, and they thought they were scriptural. And did
not realize they were saying the exact opposite of what is
being said by God in God's book. Hmm. Again, I say, while this
is truth, yet men use this phrase to deny God, that God has the
sovereign right to do what he will with his own. Now listen
to me. When God shows grace, and when
God shows grace, he gives grace. He doesn't show it as to just
present it and then leave it up to wicked-hearted men to receive
it or not. When God shows grace, when he
gives grace, he shows and gives favor. Now the very phrase, God
is no respecter of persons, means this, God does not show favoritism
toward persons. That's the whole point. That
phrase, that word is always there. Because God does show favor. That's the very meaning of the
word grace. Look it up in the Old Testament.
The first time the word grace is used, it means favor from
God. That's what it means. But he does not show favoritism
toward persons, but he does show favoritism toward people. You say, that's the same thing. No, it ain't. No, it ain't. Our person is what we are. And what are we? A person with
a heart that is desperately wicked above all things. Above all things. When God shows grace, when He
gives grace, He shows and gives favor. But it is never because
of a man or woman's person. never because of their position
in life, high or low, never because of their profession, no matter
how seemingly great it is or hypocritical it is. You don't do something for God
and he gives you grace. He's got to give you grace before
you ever even really believe in him. Believe in him as he
is for who he is and who his son is. You see, again, God does
show favor, but he does not show favoritism because of men's person,
that is their position, their profession, their status, and
their morality, and this is exactly what the book says, and you can
turn to this one if you want. I'm not telling you can't turn
in the Bible. Romans chapter nine, I did a moment ago, but
I'm not now. Romans chapter nine, you know
the passage. And not only this, now Paul's already given one
illustration of God's sovereign right to do with his own what
he will. And not only this, there's another illustration of it. No,
mark that example of it. Illustration would apply, but
I know people can, well it's just to illustrate, no this is
an actual example. And not only this, but when Rebecca
also had conceived by one, even by her father Isaac, and she
conceived, what? Twins, that's twins. Twins, same mom, same daddy,
and in the same belly of the same mom at the same time, in
that womb. For the children, look at it,
look at what God says, somebody don't like it. I understand,
I don't like it either, but it's just true. And I'll be honest,
I don't like it either. My flesh hates it. And hates it still today. But
I know it's true. God Almighty's done something
to me and for me and in me that makes me say, if this is who
God is, I need to believe it and bow to him. For the children be not yet born. That's the time frame. but there's
more than time frame here. Neither having done any good
or evil. You see it? For what? That the
purpose of God according to election might stand. And it always does. It always does, that the purpose
of God, according to election might stand, not of works. That's not, it was God's work,
yes, but not of men's works. Even these two little ones in
the womb, they hadn't even been born, but it wasn't even in consideration
of any good or evil. Why, because when God looked
down from heaven, what did he see in them two little boys?
A desperate. Huh? That's what God sees in
me and you too. That's what he sees there. Not
of works, but of him that calleth it was said unto her, that's
the mother, the elder shall serve the younger, which was totally
unaccustomed to custom. Okay? Even on a physical level,
you know? Physical level, but look, it's
deeper than that. As it is written, Jacob have
I loved, but Esau have I hated. God says that can't be God, it
is though. I don't care how much your flesh
says that can't be God, it is. And until God bows you down to
acknowledge that he is who he is, you do not truly believe
him. It was said unto her the elder
shall serve the younger. Why? Because it is written, Jacob
have I loved, Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? No philosophical trying to explain
it and make it a little more palatable. The only answer is
what? God forbid. If God does it, it's
right. Even with me doing the same thing.
is wrong. Now do you hear what I said?
Because he's God. He don't do what is right. What
he does is right. Somebody says I don't like that
God. I understand that. Believe you me. My flesh don't
either. It recalls even today at the
very thought of this. What if God loved someone that's
totally against my family? God hates someone that is hated
by these over here. God loved that one and don't
love mine? That's his sovereign right. God's got the right to cast me
into hell and to save my worst enemy. Do you understand that? Can you acknowledge that? If
you can't, I hold your conversion suspect. And if I can't, I hold
my conversion suspect. Why? There is no one, God forbid. Why? 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. Never, ever, ever, ever has been. It is not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Move on down. Verse 18, therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will
he harness. Folks, that is who God is. Now
you can throw up all you want with God except no man's person.
You best be glad for that. Because if it was based upon
good or evil, we'd all went to hell. Because there's no good
in us and all we are is evil. And even our best deeds, again,
are what? Filthy rags in God's sight. Oh, God. Open somebody's eyes to that
this morning out there. And I say this morning, I'm not
particularly talking about, I believe everybody here has had your eyes
open to that. I'm talking about this morning that that message
may go out there, and I pray that this truth, God uses this
truth and his spirit just opens up an eye, and they say, I see.
As much as I hate it, I still see it. It don't matter how much
I dislike it, it's the truth of who God is. And you know, I kind of understand
a little. Maybe they just, I kind of understand.
I can understand why God would hate Esau. Look at me. Why would he love me? Even if
he shows you just that much about yourself. The problem is most
people see this much about themself. Nothing. Nothing as God sees
it. You see, again, I say when it's
never because of a man's person, his position, his profession,
his status. There are people who think God's
got to save them because they walked forward, prayed the prayer,
and made a profession to faith and believe in Jesus. Do you
know that? They really are. I used to be one of them. I thought
God had to save me. I thought that was a righteous
act, though I would have never, Elizabeth, said so. I thought
I've done what I was told to do, and they said this is what
God says to do, therefore God's got to save me. Anyone who's
ever really been saved by God knows God didn't have to. He
could have left me where I was and been totally just in doing
so. Totally just in doing so. Let me tell you something. Turn
to Genesis chapter four. Now I am trying to hurry. I realize
it is a little late, but just bear with me. Turn to Genesis
chapter four. And let me say this, no, God is not a respecter
of persons, but God does show respect unto people. And sometimes
he does not show respect unto another person, another people.
That's what God's book says, look at it. Genesis chapter four,
and Adam knew Eve, his wife. She conceived and bear Cain.
and said, I've gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare
his brother, which lets me know they were evidently apart. They
weren't twins. One was born and another one
was born. And she again bare his brother
Abel and Abel was the keeper of the sheep. But even if what
I just said is not so and they were twins, it still don't matter.
What's said still goes. What's actually said, look at
it. Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time,
it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an
offering unto the Lord. What's wrong with that? He is
worshiping God. He is. Don't say he's not. He is. It's an offering unto
the Lord. God's book says it was. Okay? Quit trying to figure it out.
Just look at what it says, okay? And Abel, he also brought of
the first leads of the flock. But it don't stop there. He didn't
herd one in and say, here, Lord, this is yours. Okay, God, okay,
okay, I'm taking it back now. And the fat thereof, you know
what that lets us know? He slaughtered it. He killed
it, and he didn't just give the lamb to the Lord, he gave the
Lord what? It's fat. That part that smells
so good when you plop it on that fire. Look. And Abel, he also brought of
the first of his flock and of the fat thereof, and the Lord
had respect unto Abel. and his offering. But unto Cain
and his offering he had not respect. Now if the book of God starts
out in the fourth chapter of the first book, don't throw up
to me that well God accepteth no man's person, therefore God
can't choose one or not the other. Hogwash, you are flying in the
face of God's truth. And you're actually mocking and
denying God the very thing that's the only thing that will save
your soul, God to act in sovereign mercy on you. They think this means God can't
choose one or the other. No, this means God is not gonna
accept you based upon who you are. because he would not have
accepted Abel had it not been for the fat of that flock. Do you see it? The fat of that
flock. Something had to die in Abel's
place. Abel, and the book of God says
so. Now you can turn to this one
if you wish, Hebrews. Now this is, And the reason I
know this is so good, this is the writer of Hebrews inspired
of God take on it. Let me tell you, again, we'll
go back. God does show favor, respect
unto one person and then not respect toward another. Is that
not how the book starts off right from the get-go? Okay. God, though, does honor faith. Now just hang in there. Faith,
look at it, Hebrews 11. Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for. It's the reality when all we've
got is just a hope. Now it's a good hope, it's a
solid hope, but it's just a hope. We ain't seen it yet. Somebody
says I'm righteous in Christ, show that to me. The only way you can show that
to me is saying I believe God. And I can say, you know what,
I think you do. I think you got it. Look, now
faith is the substance of things hoped for. It's the evidence
of things not said. That's the only evidence you
need. Why do you demand of everybody else more evidence than faith?
When God says all it is, the only evidence is what? Faith.
Now look, for by it, that's faith, for by it the elders obtained
a good report. Now don't start getting Calvinistic
on me now. Well, we need to explain all.
No, by faith the elders obtained a good report. Before who? God
and other people with faith. Now, unbelievers, no, no. Look. Through faith, we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things
which are seen were not made by the things which do appear.
It was not a big bang of this little something, and all of
a sudden it became a big something. It was a big zero. God says,
exist, and it existed. Now that's an overstatement,
oversimplification, but still yet, Joe, that's the way it was.
But then look. By faith, Abel offered unto God
a more excellent sacrifice. Sacrifice than Cain. By which
he obtained witness that he was what? Righteous. Do you see it? That's what God
was respecting, not Abel's person, not his morality, not his position,
not his place or his status. God was respecting faith, faith. By faith, Abel offered unto God
a more excellent sacrifice that came, by the which he obtained
witness that he was righteous. Listen, God testifying of his
gifts, and by it, he being dead, yes, telling a story. You see
it? He's yet telling a story. Somebody
says, well, if I got faith then, God will accept me. If you have
that attitude, you haven't really been given that faith yet. How
do I know that? Now go on down and look at the
next, what we call a chapter. Wherefore, seeing we are all
so compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. Abel wasn't
the only one that faith was of great value for, huh? Was it?
Compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight and what is it? Yourself, your own righteousness,
your own beliefs, your own faith. Mm-hmm, all of it. Lay aside
every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking,
there's our faith in action, here it is, looking unto Jesus.
But then look at what it says about Jesus. The author and finisher
of faith. And I got no problem there with
the hour, we have it. It's a gift of God. He gave it
to us, but it's not ours intrinsically. We didn't work it up. We didn't
muster it up. We're not better than Cain. We
were just shown favor. When somebody says God can't
do that, hey, he does. I don't care what you, you might
say God can't do anything, but he does. He does. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, all three of them. Grace, salvation,
and faith, all three of them. It's not of yourselves. Not of works. It's not by human
effort. It's a what? A gift of God. Again, somebody says, well, but
God can't do that. He does. And you know what? If He ever does it for you, you'll
be glad he does. You'll fight about it and bellyache
and moan and murmur about it until he gives it to you and
you'll say, thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God,
you showed me favor. And you certainly didn't do it
because of my what? Person. because God accepteth
no man's person. So again, remember this is a,
this, you gotta heed, we gotta heed, we gotta heed this caveat.
This ain't just any old kind of faith. You don't work this
faith up. You don't muster it up. You don't come up with faith
and then God blesses you. He blesses you and then you have
it. But look at this faith in particular.
Look at what Paul specifically says about it. Turn with me to
Romans three. Trying to move on here. Romans
three, listen to what it says. Romans three, verse 19. Now we
know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
that are under the law, that every mouth may be what stopped.
Now, if you read the law, if you hear the law, and you're
reading the law, and you're reading the Bible, and you say, okay, I'm gonna
do that, and I'm gonna do that, and I'm gonna do that, you've
missed it. You've missed it. Because the true intent of the
law is what? To shut us up. That every mouth
may be stopped, and all the world become what? Guilty before God. You see, if you start reading
God's Bible, and you start hearing of his law, and you start feeling
guilty, and you can't escape it, and the more you try to do,
the worse you feel. It may just be that God's done
something for you. But look, therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh be justified in sight, for by the
law is what? The knowledge of sin. But now,
the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness
of God, which is what? By faith of Jesus Christ. It's his faith that made the
difference. It's his faith. Listen, the faith
of Jesus unto all and upon all them that believe. See, it's not my little speck
of faith that makes the difference. It's his faith. His perfection,
His believing God the Father, His doing God the Father's will.
We go on, we read it this way in our own text letter. In Galatians chapter two, just
one verse. Knowing this, verse 16, that
a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus
Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ. Do you
see it? Do you see it? Isn't that glorious? And not by the works of the law,
for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. And then Paul went on to say
even more in Philippians chapter two, he put it this way, and
be found in him, Philippians three verse nine, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of God. the righteousness which is of
God by faith. Now that's the kind of faith
we're talking about. So when a person walks in the
house and says, I believe in Jesus, that ain't it. Do you hear me? That ain't it. It's believing that Jesus Christ
is everything to me. He's all of it. He's wisdom,
he's righteousness, he's sanctification, he's redemption, he is all and
in all. You see, God accepteth men, any
and all whom he accepteth, but he does so only in Christ. There is one caveat to this God
accepteth no man's person. That one caveat is God Almighty
accepted the person of Jesus Christ. His religion was pure. His status was pure. His profession was pure. And that's why the book of God
says this in Ephesians one and verse six, to the praise of the
glory of his favor, his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted. How? Not in our own person, not
in our person, in the beloved. So when a person says, but I
believe God looked down and seen who would believe, you're actually
saying that God is accepting your person. Now they don't say
it that way, but that's what they're teaching. We're accepted
in the beloved. Because he is the one and only
man God ever accepted of his own person. And God accepts us
in him. And I got this little caveat,
turn to 2 Corinthians chapter two. 2 Corinthians chapter two. Now since this is so, not if
it's so, I'm saying since it is so, so there's no doubt. I
can say if it's so, but I mean if in the sense of since. Since
this is so, here's the way we ought to be. Now look at it,
2 Corinthians chapter two, just a couple verses. Verse 10, right
there. To whom ye forgive anything,
I forgive also. For if I forgave anything, to
whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it, how? In the person,
do you see it? In the person, that's not just
that man, though that's certainly true, but it's his person. His
character, his religion, his faith, his actions, his works,
his obedience. I forgive it how? In the person
of Christ. I don't forgive you because you
deserve it. And you don't forgive me because
I deserve it. We forgive it how? In the person
of Christ. That's where we're to stand,
folks. That's where we're to stand. Now while this legalistic,
man-centered, professing, so-called Christianity, Is that a mouthful? Well, let me say it again. While
this legalistic, man-centered professing, so-called Christianity,
denies God's sovereign right, they actually usurp their supposed
right, and they're like these people one of our brothers spoke
of. Turn to Jude. Look at what Jude
says. Our brother Jude. Now, Jude has no Jude has nothing
good to say about some folk. Because it comes not from Jude's
opinion about man's person, it comes from who God sees man as
in his person. Look at it, here they are. Let
me just spot. Verse 12, the word spots there.
Look, these are spots, but where? In your feast of charity. They
might be right among you. Now that's a little scary. These
are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear. Clouds they are, but they're
what? Without water. Carried about of winds, trees
whose fruit withereth without fruit, twice dead, plucked up
by the roots. Now those are metaphors. But
that don't sound good, does it, to you? Uh-uh. But now the metaphors, well,
a few more metaphors. Raging waves of the sea, foaming
out of their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the
blackness of darkness forever. I don't want to be one of those. Look, and Enoch also, the seventh
from Adam, prophesied of these, and we're never given that. This
was evidently a revelation given to Jude from God Almighty. That's
never written down in scripture anywhere. But evidently this
is what he prophesied. He was a preacher. And Enoch
also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with 10,000 of his saints, with 10,000,
I'm sorry, of his saints, what, to execute judgment upon all,
and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their
ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all
their hard speeches of which ungodly sinners, now here it
is, which they have what, spoken against? Who? Not Enoch. God. There's the real crux. Because a man can be one of the
most moral men, a woman can be one of the most moral women that
ever walked the face of the earth. And if they're murmuring and
complaining against who God is, that's them. But look, there
it is, here's what it is. What I'm getting to, these are
murmurers, complainers. They're always complaining about
what? Who God really is. Ain't that what they really complain
about? Well God, why'd you do that? Because he's sovereign.
And he can do with you what he will. He can give you great wealth
and then just take it from you like that. just like that. He could give
you great health and you'd take it just like that. And he's never
done anything wrong in doing so. These are murmurs and complainers
walking after their own lust. I know there are people that
always think the really sexual immorality, that's certainly
included. Look at the whole context. When you murmur and complain
against God and His sovereign right to do what He will, you're
a murmurer and a complainer. You're walking after your own
what? Lust. Lust. And look, and their mouth
speaketh great swelling words. Why? Here's what, they take to
them the exact same thing they deny God the right to. Now look
at what it says. having men's persons in admiration
because of advantage. They'll play the game. They'll
play the game. Nevertheless, though this is
true, never think, oh, we need to pray that this don't happen
in our age. It's happened in every age. There
before of old ordained this condemnation. That's what Jude says. Turning
the grace of God into what? Lasciviousness. Well, since I
believe in grace, I'll just live like I want. They do. They do. They'll say I'm a Calvinist and
just live like hell. Do whatever they want to do.
It don't matter. I'm saved by grace. No, if you're saved by
grace, you would follow Christ, honor Christ, and serve Christ.
You'd repent when you do do wrong. They just get sorry because they
get caught. Yeah, they just get sorry because they're caught.
They never repent till they get caught. You ever notice that? These preachers, they go on for
years till they get caught. Nevertheless, we who believe
by grace bow to and rejoice in him who does as he pleases. And he does so, here's how he
does so. He does so, this is according
to scripture. That's how he does it. He does so among the armies
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay
his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? And you know what? There's a part of me says, Lord,
I'm glad it's like that. Amen, I am. I'm glad you don't
accept a man or a woman because of their person. Because I've
got nothing acceptable in me. Heavenly Father, Lord, continually
remind us of this truth. We're so prone to forget it and
put ourselves in the forefront. Forgive us of our sins, in Christ's
name, amen.