I want to say what an honor,
what a blessed honor it is to be in this place where God has
been pleased to raise up the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Annabelle Lane, that's about
like Katie, West Virginia. If you've ever been to Katy,
West Virginia, it's about as big as these two wings. And God raised up a preacher
years ago. I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Jonah. Jonah chapter
2. I was thinking about that song
we were singing just a few minutes ago. This is the song. Make the message clear and make
the message plain. I don't want to try to say something
that just dazzles your mind. I want to talk to you for a few
minutes. about the most despised truth
in all of Scripture. This, what I'm about to tell
you, this is the most despised truth. This world hates this
truth right here. Jonah chapter 2 verse 9. Here
it is. Latter part. Salvation is of the Lord. Now man by nature hates that
truth. God had called a man, a prophet
named Jonah. Jonah 1 verse 2, he said, Arise,
go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their
wickedness has come up before me. And this prophet resisted
God. Verse 3, But Jonah rose up to
flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to
Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare
thereof, and went down into it to go with them unto Tarshish
from the presence of the LORD. And God crossed His path on the
way. Verse 4, Jonah 1. But the Lord
sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest
in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. You know what happened. Almighty
God arrested that man. Jonah said in verse 11 of the
first chapter, when the men, the mariners, saw that things
are not going well for us. And Jonah said, verse 11, And
they asked, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be
calm unto us? For the sea wrought and was tempestuous. Now, I'm going to tell you this,
this passage of Scripture right here, One of the most beautiful
passages of scripture on substitution. You take that passage, Fred you've
preached out of that, I know you have. Here's a picture of
the Lord Jesus Christ laying down His life. That His people
might be made the righteousness of God in Him. There's a gospel,
I'm not going to preach out of that passage. I'm just telling
you there's a good one to preach out of. Just listen to this. Think of Jonah now as a picture
of Christ laying down His life. Then said they unto Him, verse
11, What shall we do unto thee that the sea may be calm unto
us? For the sea wrought was tempestuous. And He said unto them, Take Me
up, cast Me forth into the sea, so shall the sea be calm unto
you. For I know that for My sake This
great tempest is upon you. And I don't know, I might just
go ahead and preach out. Jonah was thrown into the sea.
The Lord sent a great fish, verse 17, swallowed him up. Jonah was in the belly of the
fish three days and three nights. And the scripture declares in
verse 1, Jonah prayed unto the Lord his
God out of the fish's belly. And the scripture declares that
Almighty God delivered him out of this. In our passage this morning,
when the Lord arrested this prophet, the prophet declared in verse
9, of chapter 2 of Jonah. He said this, I will sacrifice
unto thee with a voice of thanksgiving. This is what I'm going to do.
I'm going to honor you with the praise of my mouth in thanksgiving. And I'm going to pay that I have
vowed. What did he vow? The scripture
says in chapter 2 verse 4, Then I said, I am cast out of thy
sight, yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. This
is what I'm going to do. I am promising. I'm going to look unto the Lord.
I'm going to look unto the Christ. I'm going to look to your openly
revealed temple. That's what he said. I will look
again toward thy holy temple. I'm going to look to Him who
is the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Why? God had made it willing in the
day of His power. And Jonah then said, Salvation
is of the Lord. Now this is what I know. No one shares in salvation. No one shares in the salvation
of God's elect. Not me, not you. No one. Salvation is of the Lord. He
established it in covenant mercy and electing grace. Salvation
is of the Lord. He procured it in the redemption
of His people by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He
bestows it in regenerating grace by His Holy Spirit and He maintains
it in preserving grace. So I want us to look for just
a few minutes on this glorious truth of salvation. I want us to look two points. That's all I got, two points.
Number one, what is salvation? And number two, when have we
been saved? When? Alright, just for a few
minutes. Let's just look at this blessed
truth. What is salvation? Everybody and their brother.
Talks about being saved. Well, I got saved. I got saved
when I was... I got saved. I got... Okay, let me tell you
what the scripture has to say about what salvation is. There was a man named Simeon.
I'll be turning to a few scriptures. This is in Luke 2. Luke chapter
2. And there was a man. He was in
the temple. In verse 25. There was a man
in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, the same man, was just devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was
upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that
he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents
brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him after the custom
of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God,
and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according
to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. What do I know concerning salvation? Number one, it is a person. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He's the author, He's the finisher,
and He's the merit of our salvation. When we say, the Lord has saved
me, what is it? I have seen Him by faith. Moses was told, you take a piece
of brass and you make a serpent. And you put it on a pole because
there were some snakes out there and it was biting the people
and they were dying. Moses was told, you hold that
brass serpent up. Now here's what was required
for salvation. Look. That's it? That's it. Look. and live. God's people look by faith. Someone might say, you mean to tell me all it is
is to look to Christ and I'll be saved? Well, in light of a
man being born blind in his trespasses and sins, that's a marvelous
truth. that I can see Him, that God
will give me a heart to see Him, eyes to see. What is salvation? It's a person. But I know this, salvation is
revealed to be the spiritual enlightenment of a sinner as
to who God is. John 17, verse 3, This is life
eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Salvation is a person revealed
to someone in time. There is a time when I was blind
and now I see. And someone might say, well,
tell me exactly. And if you can't tell me when
exactly, 2-17 on Thursday afternoon, August the 4th, and I will tell
you this. My mama told me that I was born
October the 5th, 1949. I got a piece of paper. that says I was born October
the 5th, 1949. But you know for the life of
me, Walter, I don't remember it. But I can tell you this, I'm
standing here right now with you. I know that salvation is
a person. And that that person reveals
himself to a sinner. through the preaching of the
gospel in time. And it's like Saul of Tarsus
on the road to Damascus. Religious, religious, a Pharisee. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? Who are you, Lord? I'm Jesus,
whom you're persecuting. It's hard to kick against the
pricks. And something happened. Lord, what would you have me
to do? He was a different man. Like
that thief on a cross. Railing against the Lord. You like the other one? And in
a moment, something happened. How do you know? Because he wasn't
railing anymore. All of a sudden, he said, Lord,
when you enter into your kingdom. Will you remember me? I love
that. I love that story. Salvation
is revealed to the objects of God's mercy. It's a marvelous work of God. It is that which Almighty God
has eternally purposed brought out in the person of His Son
and reveals it to His people in time. They know it. They realize it. They behold
it. Delivered from the power of sin. Delivered from the dominion of
sin. And soon, very soon, delivered from the very presence of sin. Salvation. Now, I know what the
scripture says concerning what it is. It's a person experienced
in time. Sometimes we don't like to use
that word experience. That's the best one I can think
of right now. I know this salvation is of the Lord. But here's what
I want to know secondly. When? When does a person, when
does the scripture reveal that a person has actually been converted. The first thing I know about
this salvation being of the Lord and Almighty God is eternal and
Almighty God changeth not. The eternal God who has eternally
purposed to save a people from their sins, chosen them in Christ
from before the foundation of the world, and God who does not
change, who looks at the converted saints now, saved in Christ,
and God who does not change, when was salvation original? When was it originally? Well,
let's just see what God has to say. 2 Timothy 2 Timothy chapter
1. Now I realize, I do understand,
and we'll look at this in just a second. I realize that salvation
is something that is experienced in time. But I'm talking about
salvation is of the Lord. What does the Scripture say?
Salvation is said, number one, to be eternal. 2 Timothy chapter
1 verse 8. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord. Paul said, Timothy, don't be
ashamed of the Gospel. What does he say in Romans 1,
16? It. It is the power of God unto salvation. I've had someone tell me, say,
well I was originally saved sitting under a free will. No, not according to the Scriptures
you weren't. The Scriptures declare that the
Gospel is the power of God. God uses the message that honors
His Son. Timothy, be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. nor me as prisoner. Don't be ashamed of God's preachers. I consider it an honor to not be ashamed of God's preachers. God has raised up preachers after
His heart. He said, I'll send you pastors
after my heart, and they're going to feed you. Don't be ashamed
of the gospel, don't be ashamed of me, but be thou partaker of
the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
who has saved us and called us in that order with
a holy calling, with an effectual calling, not according to our
works, not according to any of our works. We are the recipient of the mercy
and compassion of Almighty God. God Almighty, who saved us and
called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose. Man, what a scripture! And grace
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. When were God's people saved
in Christ? Before the world began. It's
just a matter of time until they find out. But I'm telling you,
God Almighty eternally has been satisfied. I know God's Word reveals that
He has given His Son and elect people
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And the Scripture
declares in Revelation chapter 13 concerning His satisfaction
in choosing them. How long did He behold the Lamb
slain? Revelation 13, 8. And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship Him whose names were not written in the book
of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
God trusted Him because He eternally saw Him slain. So we think in
time. That's the only way I know how
to tell. I don't even know how to speak eternal. I start trying
to talk like that and I said, when eternity began. Well, that's
not a good statement. I don't know, but you know what
I'm talking, I don't even know how to say it. It never started. It's never,
it never has begun. How long have we been saved? Saved. It was given us in Christ
as long as God is and God's eternal. Man, 218 on Thursday afternoon. I understand that. I understand.
I understand what they say. But let me tell you how precious
this is. You're telling me that God eternally
knew me in grace? We told Jeremiah. He said, Jeremiah,
before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. I ordained you a
prophet. The Father has eternally beheld
the Lamb, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And the debt of redemption was eternally satisfied in the mind
and the will and the purpose of God Almighty. I do know in
the fullness of time Christ came into this world to save His people
by the actual shedding of His blood. But Almighty God ever
beheld that blood shed. He said, when I see the blood,
I'll pass over you. How long, David, has He passed
over us? When I see the blood. I love
that passage too. Chose us in the sun. according
to His will, and the Son who eternally stood as the surety. You know what surety is. Co-signer. That's how we think of it. Co-signer. Eternally being chosen in the Son. The
Father eternally satisfied. Having seen the blood shed from
the foundation of the world, the surety ever standing, ever
answering, the Father never looked at His sheep again to answer. If I sign a note for you, Fred,
and it's proven you can't pay, then they're going to look to
me. The Father ever knew that we
couldn't pay. So He eternally looked to the
Son. Salvation is eternal. Secondly, as I've already mentioned,
salvation is said to occur in its experience, in time. Our Lord was passing through
a place called Jericho and He came to a sycamore tree. And
there was a fellow there short of stature. Climbed up in that
sycamore tree. A man that did not know God. But God knew him. And the Lord
in Luke 19, I'll just read this to you. Here's the experience. Eternally in the mind, will,
purpose of Almighty God. But in time. Luke 19.5 says he
came to the place and he looked up and here's what I like. He saw him. He saw him and he said to him,
I don't know how many folks there were there that day, but I can
tell you this. He looked at one man and he said
to this one man, he said, Zacchaeus, You think Zacchaeus heard his
voice? He said, My sheep, they hear
my voice. I call them by name. Zacchaeus, make haste, come down,
for today I must abide at thy house. Why? Verse 9 of Luke 19
says, This day is salvation. Come to this house. You know
what He said? I have come here. Salvation Himself has in your
realization. You realize something now. Salvation. The Lord Himself. Let me depart
in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation. And the Lord said, Thee I am. Salvation. has come to this house
for as much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man
has come to seek and to save that which was lost. And lastly, salvation is that
which shall occur. Salvation is eternal. Salvation
occurs. Salvation shall be finally realized. Matthew 24, 13. But he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. Though tempted and tried, troubled
on every hand, God's people persevere. We continue. We must and we shall. Why? There's the answer. Because we're kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. Here's the confidence that we
have. Those that know Him, they realize God's eternally loved
me. God eternally saved me in Christ. He called me out of darkness.
He saved me by His grace. And Paul says in Philippians
1.16, being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it. He's going to finish
it until the day of Jesus Christ. I know that salvation is sure.
The Lord said, I give them eternal life. They shall never perish. But I know this. Here's the confidence
that I have in God's Word. They that endure to the end,
trusting Him, looking to Him, believing on Him, resting in
Him, shall be saved. He that endures to the end. shall
be eternally, finally saved. They shall be according to God's
will and purpose. Now you listen to this. Let's
look at this last verse, Matthew 25, verse 31. Matthew 25. when the Son of Man shall come
in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He
sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered
all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divideth his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on
His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King
say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. You are saved. You are saved. Oh, what is salvation? Salvation is a person, period. experienced in time by the recipients
of God's mercy and compassion. I will have mercy. I will have
compassion on whomsoever I will. What is it? It's a person. It's
a person. It's a person revealed to His
people. And when were we saved? In the eternal purpose of Almighty
God who beheld the Lamb slain from before the foundation of
the world, we have always been secure in Him. Always. We realize it in time when we
are regenerated by the grace of God, power of God. And we
understand it. And we realize that there is
a time coming when He is going to say unto us, when time will
be no more. And He's gonna say unto them,
enter in. Enter in. To the kingdom prepared
for you from before the foundation of the world. I love eternal
salvation. May God bless these words in
our heart for Christ's sake.