Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. If you'd like to follow along,
I'm gonna be in John chapter 20. And I'm just gonna read the
last two verses, verse 30 and 31. John chapter 20 and verse 30. And many other signs truly did
Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written
in this book. These are written that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
ye might have life through his name. Now, my title is this,
These Are Written. That's the title, Paul. These
Are Written. And I did a little checking.
80 times in the Bible is this exact statement written, it is
written. That is written 80 times in the
scriptures. 63 of them are in the New Testament,
the vast majority. 26 times in the gospel alone. The written word of God is his
gift to us. The written word of God is important. The written word of God is vital. Matter of fact, this written
word of God is the sole authority of the church and of believers. Old Testament and New Testament,
both, both. Matter of fact, well, Peter wrote
this, because I know a lot of people think, well, whatever
it says it's written, usually it means the Old Testament, and
that's true in the scriptures. What it is, it's referring to
the Old Testament. But Peter wrote this, in 2 Peter
3, 15 and 16, you don't have to turn there if you don't want
to. An account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation,
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom
given unto him hath written unto you. As also in all his epistles
speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard
to be understood. Which they that are unlearned
and unstable rest. As they do, and here it is, as
they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction. Paul
states clearly that he put Paul's epistles, Paul's writing, as
scripture. He's comparing it with the other
scriptures. Because here's the thing, this
is what Peter understood, this is what the world doesn't understand.
If you're gonna disagree with Paul, you're gonna be disagreeing
with the whole book. If you're gonna disagree with
the Old Testament, you're gonna be disagreeing with the Apostle
Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Because this is one
book. It's made of many books, but
it has one message. And that is Jesus is the Christ. That's the message. But it starts
off here, many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of
his disciples, which are not written in this book. All right? If you look on the next page,
or chapter 21, and verses 24 and 25, the last two verses of
chapter 21, this is the disciple which testifieth of these things
and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other
things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written, every
one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that should be written. Amen. Amen. We sing a song sometimes. I've heard it sung. The half
has never yet been told. That's true. That's true. I mean
if you stop and think about it, there's about four chapters,
five chapters in John where you're dealing with the space of one
night. And the next day. And there's only 21 chapters
in the book. The half has never yet been told.
Now, here's the fact. We don't know anything more than
what has been written in this book. That's a fact. Now, here's another fact. We don't know everything that
has been written in this book. There is such a thing as to grow
in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I see
things in this book every time I look at it that I didn't know
before. Not from that particular spot.
But here's the thing. The book of Isaiah agrees with
the book of John. The books of Moses agree with
the epistles of the apostle Paul. It all agrees in one, and that
one is Jesus Christ the Lord. The half has never yet been told,
but we don't know what's in here. Not all of it, by any stretch
of the imagination. Because we've got enough trouble
keeping up with what's written. That's why you have to study
to show yourself approved, a workman unto God. Rightly dividing what? The word of truth, what is written. These are written. The world
doesn't believe him or what has been written. And as a matter
of fact, there has been a conscientious effort to deny this book, to
deny the writers of this book, to deny the written word that
those writers wrote. But these are written, these
are written. But God's children, his adopted
sons and daughters, Christ's brethren, do believe him and
his word as it is written. Then John writes this, but these
are written. These are written. These words
are written down, and we have them preserved for us, translated
into English, right now. Right now. And here's the thing. These words were written because
they were to be written. God didn't leave his word up
to chance. He did not leave his word up to chance. God wanted
these to be written. 2 Timothy 3 and verse 15 and 16,
17 says this. And that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith. through faith, which is in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness. Oh, in Christ. That the man of
God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The scriptures are important.
The scriptures are vital. They are the only guide we have
for what is true and what is not true. Now, this is not hard
for a believer, but it's impossible for an unbeliever. You understand? I mean, I've heard, what was
it Earl used to say up here? Well, God said all men are created
equal. No, that was Abraham Lincoln. God didn't say that. God said
Jesus Christ is supreme. God said Jesus Christ is superior
to men and to angels and to the prophets and to the priests and
to the kings of the Old Testament. By him, all things consist. And these are written, these
are written. What was it, 2 Peter 1 and 21
says this, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man, talking about the Old Testament, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Well, I know that's Old Testament,
right. But Peter went on, what? In his
next epistle, no, I'm sorry, the same epistle, chapter three,
I already read it. to say that the Apostle Paul's
words were scripture. What's that mean? He wrote as
was directed by the Holy Spirit of God. That's true. Because here's the thing. This
is the thing. Seven words, okay? I am the Lord. which everybody agrees with,
even though they don't believe it, they'll agree with that.
I am the Lord. Here's the part they don't get.
I change not. Because you understand, those
seven words are for me a glorious, gracious truth. You understand? If God loves you, he'll never
change. If Christ loves you, he's God.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He'll
never change. But I'm gonna tell you something,
for some people, those same seven words, I am the Lord, I change
not, those are words of doom and despair. And they're also
the words of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Understand,
I am the Lord, I change not. And these things are written,
these are written Because those in the Old Testament were written
to those that believe. And these words that John has
written here in the New Testament, they're written to those who
believe. That's what it says. First John
two and verse 21 says this. I have not written unto you because
ye know not the truth, but because ye know it. And that no lie is
of the truth. Who is a liar? What did John
say? Who is a liar? But he that denieth
that Jesus is the Christ. These are written. He is antichrist
that denieth the Father and the Son. I wrote to you. That's what John told us. I wrote
to you. Why? That know the truth. That believe
the truth. Those who know that Jesus is
the Christ, these are written to believers, to believers. Because
there is one uncontested, incontrovertible fact about the natural man, about
the natural man, and here's that fact. The natural man will not
have this man, Jesus the Christ, to reign over him. Okay, he might
have him to reign, but he won't have him to reign over him. He
might say, oh yes, God is sovereign. He's just not sovereign over
me. But I can do what I want. I can go where I will. Oh no,
scripture's clear. Man proposes, but God disposes. The lot is cast into the lap,
rolling dice. The dispersal thereof, the disposal
thereof is of the Lord. Ah, I'd be tough being an insurance
agent, because everything would be an act of God to me. I don't
believe in accidents. I believe in providence. I believe
in providence. Jesus spoke that in a parable,
that they would not have this man to reign over them, and it's
still true. It's still true today. This unbelieving
world, while Christ was here walking on it, speaking nothing
but truth, healing, raising the dead, opening blind eyes, curing
lepers, not only just curing lepers, making them whole, making
them whole. And they went about trying to
kill it. the religious and the secular alike. They hated me,
Christ said it himself, they hated me without a cause. And you know what? That's written
too. That's written too. These things
are written, these are written. What? That you believe that Jesus
is the Christ. See here's the miracle of it.
Some do believe. As we are naturally. In our father
Adam, we're nothing but sin. There's none good, no not one.
There's none that understandeth. There's none that, what? Seeks
after God. But some do. Some do. Christ told some himself, art
thou the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them,
if I tell you, if I tell ye, You will not believe. That's
the facts. This book is written. It's available
everywhere. People will give you one. They'll
give you one even if you don't ask for it, some of them will. But man, the natural man, will
not have this man to reign over them. They don't like what is
written. They don't like what he said,
they don't like what he did. The things of Christ, the fact
that Jesus is the Christ is spiritually discerned. It is spiritually perceived,
understood, and believed that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus of
Nazareth Jesus of Galilee Jesus the one born of a woman made
under the law oh Made under the law what that
those under the law Might be saved oh wow The one that John
wrote about the one whose words and actions Matthew Mark and
Luke and John wrote about They wrote it down. This Jesus is
the Christ of God, the one prophesied in the Old Testament. Yes, what
was it? A child is born, but the son
was given. A child is born and the son is
given. I like that, I do. What'd he
say? He was looked for and seen in
the Old Testament. What'd he say? Christ said it
himself, Moses saw my day. But not only that, he was glad.
He was glad. Moses saw the day of Jesus Christ
and was glad. We have it written in here and
people will scoff. People will murmur, people will
complain, people will say, you talk too much about Christ. You
talk too much about Jesus. Don't you know anything else?
Well, certainly I know something else, but nothing is valuable.
I know lots of things, but that's not why I'm here. And I hope
to God that's not why you're here, and I hope that's not why
you're listening. He's the message. These are written. What? They're
written of him. Moses wrote of me. That's what Jesus Christ said.
He told some of them, he said, you search the scriptures. Why?
They're written. You search the scriptures. But
they are they which testify of me. Jesus Christ. These are written that you may
know that Jesus is the Christ. And these are written so that
I can preach that Jesus is the Christ. And you can hear that
Jesus is the Christ. This is his word. What? Why is that so important? Yeah,
in 1 John, chapter five, verse one. Whosoever believeth that
Jesus is the Christ, and here it is, is born of God. Born of God. Oh, I like that. And everyone that loveth him
that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. All right,
if you love Christ, you'll love his people. That's what it says. He that loves not his brother
is a murderer. He that hates his brother is
a murderer. And that's not talking about
your rotten brother-in-law, it's talking about your brothers and
sisters in Christ. If you love him that begat, you'll love those
that are begotten of him. Only those who are born from
above, born of God, believe that Jesus is the Christ. These are
written. These are written. What? That
Jesus is the Christ, and here he makes it even more specific.
The son of God. The son of God. There's a lot
of people going around, think Jesus was a really good teacher.
They don't do what he taught, they don't do what he said, but
they think he was a really good teacher. He had some good points.
No, this Jesus is the Christ, what? The Son of God. The Christ
is God. The Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, what? These three are one. Isaiah 47 and verse four. As
for our Redeemer, now Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. Is there any
question about that from the New Testament? As for our Redeemer,
what? The Lord of hosts is his name. Oh, what? The Holy One of Israel. Jesus is the Christ. Isaiah 48
verse two says this, for they call themselves of the holy city
and stay themselves upon the God of Israel. The Lord of hosts
is his name. What? Isaiah 51 and 15. But I am the Lord thy God. What? That divided the sea whose
waves roared. The Lord of hosts is his name. And he's your redeemer. If you're
redeemed, he's the only redeemer. He's the only redeemer. Here,
this one, Isaiah 54 and verse five, I love this one. For thy
maker is thine husband. The Lord of hosts is his name,
and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. What? The God of the
whole earth, what? Shall he be called. You know
why he's gonna be called that? Because he is. That's right. The Redeemer is the God of the
whole earth. The Son of God, Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God. This was revealed to Peter by
the Father. You know who said that? Well,
it's written down. This is written. And Simon Peter answered and
said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which
is in heaven. Oh my. What? Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth him
that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. I like that,
I do. Flesh and blood, if not revealed
it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And believing,
you have life through his name. By faith, the just live. by faith that just live, by the
faith of God's elect, by grace, through faith of Jesus Christ,
the gift of God, the called of God, we all live and move and
what? Have our being. In Christ, in Christ. Can I make that any more clear?
Knowing Christ is not the act of a natural man. It's not, it's
not. Believing Christ is not the act
of the natural man. It takes the power of God to
believe Christ. It takes the Holy Spirit of God
in you to believe Christ. Oh, that's written too. Ah, I'm gonna send the Holy Spirit,
I'm gonna send the Comforter, and he's gonna take the things
of mine and show them to you. Oh, I like that, I like that.
Knowing Christ is not the act of the natural fleshly man, because
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. What? No man can come unto the
Father except by me. Because our life, true eternal
life, is hid with Christ in God. You don't see it. We don't see
it. But the Holy Spirit is in you.
If you're born of God. If you don't have the Holy Spirit,
you're none of His. That's what it says. These are written. One more thing, just on the off
end here. What did it say about the Bereans
in the Book of Acts? They were more noble than others.
Why, what'd they do? They searched the scriptures.
They studied the scriptures. What? To see if Paul was telling
the truth. And he was. And he was. Nothing Paul wrote in the New
Testament disagrees with anything written in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ in the gospels is the one that mostly says, it
is written. It is written. Oh my. See this is the thing
nowadays, nobody wants to search the scriptures. Hey, I got them
on my phone, okay? I got them on a tablet, I got
them on a computer at my house. And guess what, I got a little
magnifying glass there that has search function. That's how I
know it was 80 times in the whole scriptures that it was written
down. I didn't count them. You used
to have to do that. You used to get out strong concordance
and count out. And I'd miscount and count three
times to get three different numbers. So I let the computer
do it for me. But here's the thing. They don't
even want to do that. But these Marines did. And they
went the right direction. That's why I said they were more
noble. I don't know whether they believed or not. But here's the
thing. They were searching scriptures to see if these things were so
that Paul was saying. That's a good thing. Walter said
it this morning on TV. I was thinking about it and I
thought, hey, try the spirits. Am I speaking right now any different
than what this book says, what this book has written down? These
are written. If I am, you don't have to listen
to me. But if I am speaking what this book says, You better hear,
you better hear. Oh, that's another thing about
those that are born of God, they'll hear us. Why? Because he's speaking
according to the scriptures.