Go ahead and open up, if you
would, please, to Ephesians chapter 2. And while you're doing that,
a couple things. First of all, I have been treated
well down here. I've been taken care of, and
I have been looking forward to this time to be with you all,
to bring this message. But I'm on a time limit, so I'm
going to go ahead and get started. No, I'm just kidding. Now, I
do have I do want us to look at, uh, Ephesians chapter two,
by the way, Mark, thank you for that prayer. Ephesians chapter
two. Uh, that's where we'll take the
message this morning. We'll look at verses 19 through 21. Paul writes now, therefore you
are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God. What a blessing it is that
our Lord tells us that we're no more strangers and no more
foreigners. In fact, our Lord said that we
are actually fellow citizens with the saints. Every believer is a saint. Every
believer is sanctified, set apart, made holy in Christ Jesus. And
we are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of
God. Believers are in the household of God. Now that's amazing. But
we are. God tells us so right here. And
we're adopted into the family of God by his grace. By his grace. We are fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God. Now this is quite opposite
from strangers and foreigners. But actually, fellow citizens. But by nature, we are strangers. We are strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope without God in this world, without Christ
Jesus by nature, but in God, in Christ Jesus, we are fellow
citizens with the saints into the household of God. And this
is our hope and we're built up and established with this. We're
no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, but believers, fellow citizens in the household
of God. We are built up upon in resting
upon the foundation. And that foundation is there
in verse 20 is what that says. And that foundation is Jesus
Christ himself. And that is the title of the
message this morning. Jesus Christ himself. It's not only the title,
but it's also the foundation and the substance of this message.
Jesus Christ himself. It is the foundation of the apostles.
What was their foundation? What was Peter's foundation?
Well, their foundation was this. We believe and are sure that
thou art the Christ. That's their foundation. Peter's,
Paul's, and all the other apostles' foundation and hope of salvation
was 100% based on Jesus Christ himself. How about the prophets?
How about the prophets? All the prophets of the past
wrote of one thing. To him, give all the prophets
witness. the one thing to him. David,
who wrote many of the Psalms, wrote about Christ. Moses, the
first five books of the Bible, our Lord said, Moses wrote of
me, all about the Lord Jesus Christ. All the apostles and
all the prophets all had the same exact hope that I have and
that every believer has, Jesus Christ himself. Is that all your
salvation? Is that all your hope before
God who is holy The believer's hope is Jesus
Christ himself in whom all the building fitly framed. That's
verse 21. That's our hope. We're framed
together in Christ. Together groweth unto a holy
temple in the Lord Jesus Christ. The words are few and brief.
The words of this title and the words of this message and words
in this passage are few and brief. But the message and meaning of
these words are vast and inexhaustible. Right across the page in chapter
3, look at that if you would, verses 7 and 8, Paul writes,
whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this
grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ. Can you exhaust this subject
of Jesus Christ himself? Can we do that? Well, we can't. The depth of the riches of the
wisdom of God, they're unsearchable. How about the riches of his love,
the riches of his grace, the riches of his person? In this
chapter, chapter 2, God sets before us a very clear description
of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Paul describes
us in Ephesians 2. Look at the first three verses
of Ephesians 2. He describes us. While we are by nature, by
nature, Paul writes, and you hath he quickened, who were dead
in trespasses and sins, whereof in time past you walked according
to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the prince that now worketh in the children
of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in
times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others. Then he describes what God's
done for us in verses four through five there in the first Ephesians
2 there. He says, but God, there's the
difference, but God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith
he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us
together with Christ by grace you are saved. And then he describes
our present blessings. in our text here this morning,
that we have in Christ as being fellow citizens, being one with
Christ, and being in the household of God. Now, the gospel of God's
grace and glory is a marvel, and it's a wonder. The beauty,
power, and glory of the gospel, and that is Jesus Christ himself.
We glory in him who is all of our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. Now, this message has seven points
this morning. I hope to get to them all. I'll try. But it has seven points
this morning, and every point is directly related to the glory
of Jesus Christ himself. The first point is this. Jesus
Christ himself is glorious himself. He's the Lord of glory, Jesus
Christ himself. He is most glorious. God has
blessed us with all spiritual blessings and having places in
Christ Jesus himself. That's Ephesians one and verse
three, the glory and beauty and power of salvation is Jesus Christ
himself. It's not just Jesus. Not just
Jesus. That's his name. That's the name
God named him, but he is our savior. He should show for, we
should show forth the respect, honor, and reverence of who he
is. by calling him Lord. He is our Savior, but he is our
Lord. He's the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is God Almighty in human flesh. In Acts chapter two, we read,
God hath made that same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord
and Christ. Both Lord and Christ. He's not
the Lord by something we do. We hear in religion today, make
Jesus your Lord. Well, we can't do that. God's
already done it. God's already made him Lord.
He's made him Lord by decree, by death and by mediation. He
is the Lord of glory to God, the father. He's not only the
Lord, he's the savior, the only savior. Call his name, Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins. Neither is there
salvation in any other name, but the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Years ago, there was a man preaching
in Ashland, Kentucky. His name's Ralph Barnard. I don't
know if you've heard of Brother Barnard, but he was a very blunt
man, as well as a good preacher. But he came to Ashland, Kentucky,
and they had just got finished singing the song, Jesus Saves,
Jesus Saves. He probably sang it here. And
Brother Barnard got up to speak. This was many, many years ago.
But Brother Bonner got up to speak, and he said something
like this. Like I said, he's very blunt. He says, you know,
there's not a word of truth in what you're just saying. He said, it's the Lord Jesus
Christ that saves. Now, you know, we understand
that, what he's saying, but he made that point. It's not just
Jesus, but it's the Lord Jesus Christ that saves, and as he,
It is who he is that gives value to what he did on that cross.
He's the God man. He shed his blood and he bought
us. So he is the Lord Jesus, the Savior, and he is the Christ,
which means he's the Messiah. He's the Messiah. He's the anointed
one of God. He's prophet, priest, and king.
He's prophesied to tell us what we need to know. He's that prophet
that came to tell us the truth. He's that prophet. He's that
priest who represents us to God, and we need both. He is king
of kings. He is king, but he's king of
kings and lord of lords. And his character commanded respect
from even his enemies. Pilate said this, Pilate said,
I see no fault in him. Judas said, I betrayed innocent
blood. The Lord Jesus Christ is glorious
in his person. You know it takes a great savior
to save a great sinner. And he is that. We are great
sinners. And thank God we have a great
savior in the Lord Jesus Christ. Point number two. Jesus Christ
himself is the theme of all scripture. The theme of this whole book,
if you would turn to Luke chapter 24 with me. Luke chapter 24. The theme of this whole book,
it's what he is, This book has one message, it has 66 books,
but one message. And what would you say that message
was? Well, let's read verses 25 through 27 of Luke chapter
24. Then he said unto them, O fools,
and slow to heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into
his glory? And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them and all the scriptures,
the things concerning who himself himself. This is the resurrected
Lord. And when two of his disciples
were walking on the road to a maze, the Lord came unto them and talked
about the events of the day. And the Lord took the same scriptures
that they had had for all those years. and he took those scriptures
and he expounded them to them about himself. Beginning in Moses,
he explained to them the things about himself. If you will, turn
over to verse 44 of chapter 24 of Luke. He expounded these things
unto them and he said in verse 44, he said unto them, these
are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you
that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law
of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning
me. This whole book's about the personal
work of Jesus Christ. If we can read the scripture
with an eye of faith, if we can read the scripture to see that
the Lord Jesus Christ, see him in this book, it reveals everything
about Jesus Christ himself. The Old Testament declares that
someone's coming back in Genesis. He was the woman's seed that
would crush the serpent's head. That speaks of Jesus Christ.
The whole Old Testament declares someone is coming. The gospels
declare someone has come. And here are a couple of scriptures
that tell us about that. Galatians chapter four says,
when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son,
made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were
under the law. In John chapter one, verses one
and 14, John writes, in the beginning was the word and the word was
with God. The Word was God and the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. Who's this speaking of? But Jesus Christ himself. The
Old Testament declares someone's coming. They all look for the
coming of Christ. Our Lord said, Abraham rejoiced
to see my day. And he saw it and was glad. The
four gospels declare that he has come. God incarnate, he's
come. The epistles tell us he is coming
again, and this same Jesus will come again in like manner as
he left. As they stood and watched him
ascend to glory, the messenger said, he is going to come again
in like manner, the same Jesus Christ himself. He is the theme
of this book, and if anyone ever asks you what this book's about,
we must tell them Jesus Christ himself. And point number three,
if you will turn to 2 Corinthians chapter four. 2 Corinthians chapter
four, point number three. Jesus Christ himself is the only
message of gospel preaching. If he is the theme of this book,
and he is, Jesus Christ himself is the only message of gospel
preaching. Look at verses five through seven.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and
ourselves your servants for Jesus's sake. For God who command the
light to shine out of darkness have shined in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels and clay pots that the excellency of the power
may be of God and not of us. Now Paul's saying that our message
of preaching is Jesus Christ. Now, if you will turn over to
1 Corinthians chapter 2, 1 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul's saying that
our message, our message of preaching is all about Jesus Christ himself. Let's look at verse 2. Paul writes
in verse 2 of 1 Corinthians 2, for I'm determined not to know
anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. That's
pretty clear. He was determined not to know
anything but Jesus Christ and him crucified. That's all he
preached. His glorious person in all of his work. One old writer,
one old preacher said that when we're done preaching Jesus Christ
as all of our salvation, we better be done with preaching. A sermon
without Christ, without Jesus Christ is a mistake in its conception
and a crime in its execution. It is worthless and lifeless
to the children of God. We must preach that Jesus Christ
is everything in salvation. Salvation is of the Lord. Jonah
told us about that. Told us all about it. It's not
of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but God that showeth
mercy. The preaching of Jesus Christ, him crucified, is the
power of God unto salvation. Paul said it in Romans chapter
one. He said, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. The
preaching of Jesus Christ is by the commandment of God. He
told us to go preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul told young
Timothy, he said, I charge you before God to preach the word. The word was with God and was
God. Who's this talking about? Jesus Christ himself. The preaching
of Christ and him crucified is the means God uses to call out
his sheep to himself. That's God's means. The world
thinks that what we're doing today, and that is preaching,
is foolishness. But unto them which are called
by the gospel is the very power and wisdom of God. Point number four. I'm gonna
lose track of these points, so forgive me if I give you the
wrong number, but I'm good up to four, I think. The preaching
of the Lord Jesus Christ is the children's bread. He said to
Peter, if you love me, then feed my sheep." What do you feed him? The bread of life. We feed upon
him. He that cometh to me shall never
hunger and never thirst, he says. There's no message but Jesus
Christ himself that quickens the dead sinner to life, nor
the message, but that message. It's not the preacher's ability
nor the power of his speaking. The power is in Jesus Christ
himself. We have this glorious treasure
and weak vessels. In clay pots. That's where it
is. This message reveals God in the
face of Jesus Christ. How can God be just and justify
the ungodly? Our brother mentioned that in
his prayer. How can God be just and justify the ungodly? Well,
it's only through Jesus Christ himself. No other way. This is
a message that comforts a sinner's heart. And I hope that happens. What comforts your heart? What
comforts my heart? Is it not Jesus Christ himself?
Isaiah talks about comforting or comfort for a believer. He
says, comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. speaking
comfortably to Jerusalem and crying to her that her warfare
is accomplished. And her iniquity is pardoned,
it's over, it's done. There's therefore now no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the spirit. There's no condemnation in Christ. Can we preach this message too
much? Is this a message that gives Christ all the glory in
our salvation? And we can glory in this message.
we can glory in this message because it gives God all the
glory. We never have to fear driving God's people away by
preaching this message too much. Our Lord turned to those people
on that day and he said, no man can come to me except the father
which hath sent me draw him. No man. A lot of them said they
were going to quit because they were following him because of
the loaves and fishes filling their belly. They said they were
going to quit and they went back and they followed him no more.
And then our Lord turned to the 12 and he asked him if they were
going to go away also. And Peter, oh, Peter spoke up,
but boy, he was good here. It was good here by God's grace.
He spoke up and he said, to whom shall we go? Who? Where? Thou has the words
of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that
Christ, the Son of the living God. You see, you can't drive
the sheep away by preaching Jesus Christ too much or too highly.
Now, religious people won't like it. They'll get tired of it.
They want social programs, feel-good programs, children's programs
and the like. They want to hear something that
will exalt the flesh. But a hungry and thirsty sheep
A bonafide, hell-deserving sinner will want the bread and wine
of Jesus Christ himself every time. Because that's our only
peace. That's our only hope. Point number
five, I think. Jesus Christ himself accomplished
all salvation for us. Turn over a few pages, if you
would, to Ephesians chapter five. Go back to Ephesians and in chapter
five, let's look at that. Salvation is not that he do a
part and I do a part. Salvation is all of Christ and
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's read verse two, if you
would. Let's read it together. Ephesians five, verse two. And walk in love as Christ also
have loved us and have given himself for us. That's substitution. an offering and a sacrifice to
God for a sweet-smelling savor. Now, I've been reading in the
scriptures, in the book of Leviticus, and it talks a lot about that
sweet-smelling savor, sacrifice unto God, those burnt offerings
and so forth, but he was a sweet-smelling savor to God the Father. When you give yourself and your
life for someone, that's love. By this shall all men know that
you are my disciples, because you love one another. And in
verse two, Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. He was a sweet-smelling savor
to his father. That means it is satisfying to
God. God was satisfied with his offering. He was satisfied. The sacrifice
of the Lord Jesus Christ was not offered towards men. This
was not a sacrifice towards men. It was for men. It was for us,
but it wasn't towards us. But the sacrifice was unto God.
This is God's atonement. It's not up to me to accept or
reject it. It's God's atonement. It is God's
atonement for he is the one who was offended. He must be satisfied. We read
in the Old Testament through Exodus and Leviticus that it's
always the blood on the altar before the Lord. Always the blood. On the day of atonement, the
high priest went into the Holy of Holies upon the mercy seat
alone. No one was permitted into that
part of the tabernacle but the high priest. And this is teaching
us that Christ accomplished salvation by himself with himself. Only God can do that. unto God
Almighty a sweet-smelling savor. Now look what it says here in
Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 25. Jump over to verse 25 if
you will. Husbands, love your wives even
as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. This is talking about Christ
and his church is what this is talking about, but how our Lord
loved his church and showed that love by dying for it. You love
his action. He died as a representative for
a people. He didn't die for all sins of
all people. He died for all the sins for
those he represents. It says here that he loved the
church, he loved the church, that's his body, that's the elect,
and gave himself to secure and accomplish their salvation. He
put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He bore our sin. Our sins were charged to him,
to his account, the just that he might bring us, or excuse
me, the unjust, that's us, that he might bring us unto God. And
if you will turn to Hebrews chapter one with me, Hebrews chapter
one, let's look at that. Verse three, that word himself
is here too, himself. Ephesians, or excuse me, Hebrews
1 verse 3, who being the brightness of his glory and the express
image of his person and upholding all things by the power of his,
by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Now,
why did he sit down? Because the work is finished.
The work of salvation which he himself set out to do, is done. It's over. He sat down at the
right hand of the majesty on high. God said it was enough,
and God put his stamp of approval on it when he raised him from
the dead. He's seated at God's right hand,
a place of acceptance, a place of love, and a place of power.
Because God accepts him, he accepts those he represents. He brought
in for us himself everlasting redemption and everlasting righteousness. I must have sin removed. We must
have sin removed. He did that himself. I must also
have a righteousness given or imputed to us. I must have that. And that's
not something that I do. That's not something that you
do. That's something that he did. Blessed is the man to whom
God would impute or reckon or give or charge righteousness
without your or my contribution. You know the Lord Jesus Christ
himself is all my righteousness before God. Turn back if you
would to first Corinthians chapter one. He's all my righteousness
before God. First Corinthians chapter one
in verse 30. He writes verse 30 of first Corinthians
one, but of him, but of him, that's of God. Are you in Christ
Jesus? Who of God is made into us wisdom
that he's all wisdom to know God. That's what he's made into
us wisdom to know God. Uh, righteousness. He's all my
righteousness. He gave me his righteousness
that I may eternally live with God. sanctification he's all
my holiness to stand in the presence of God and I'm set apart in him
and Redemption he has redeemed me. He has bought me back from
the bondage of sin and in first in Colossians chapter 1 verses
20 through 22 Paul writes this and Having made peace through
the blood of his cross By him to reconcile all things unto
himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things
in heaven and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body
of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable
and unreprovable in his sight. He does that for us. This is
how God sees me in Christ. He sees my representative who
is perfect and holy and he loves me, he saves me, He blesses me
because I'm in Christ. In Christ Jesus, we have a perfect,
holy righteousness before God. And others may see me as wicked,
and I hope not. But others may see me as wicked.
But I'm concerned about how God sees me. How God sees me. How he sees me is in Christ,
justified. Point number whatever it is,
next one. Jesus Christ himself is the only object of saving
faith. We're getting close. Jesus Christ
himself is the only object of saving faith. Faith that is true. The faith of God's elect is objective. It has an object. Saving faith
does not look inwardly. What is the object of saving
faith? Jesus Christ himself. He is the object of saving faith.
It is the command of Holy Scripture. Isaiah chapter 45 verse 21 says,
look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for
I'm God and there's none else. In Matthew chapter 11 verse 28
our Lord said, come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I'll give you rest. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, The object of Jesus Christ, the
object of faith is Jesus Christ named crucified, says so right
there in verse 2 of Hebrews chapter 12, looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Looking unto who? The Lord Jesus Christ. Saving
faith looks to Christ. He's the object of faith. The
foundation of faith is the word of God, but the object of faith
is the Lord Jesus Christ. Saving faith looks to Christ,
not to my or our faith. Faith does not look to faith,
nor to an experience, nor to a doctrine, but rather to a person.
A living, exalted Christ himself, alone and always. Saving faith
has a fixed eye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you will, turn
to Hebrews chapter four with me. We're gonna look at that,
verses 14 through 16. It's a look by faith to an object,
and that object is Jesus Christ himself. Verse 14 through 16.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest that's passed into
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession
We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we
are yet without sin. So let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. You see, we look to him in time
of need. It says that we come boldly to
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, not that we
earn mercy, We obtain mercy as a free gift of God, and we find
grace to help in our time of need, which is all the time,
all the time. Last point, Jesus Christ himself
is the source of all joy and comfort. Turn to Hebrews 2 with
me, you're right there, Hebrews 2. Let's look at verses 17 and
18. He's the source of all joy and
comfort. Verse 17, wherefore, in all things
it behooved, it became necessary for him to be made like unto
his brethren, that we might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he's able to succor, help, encourage them that are
tempted. Here is our representative, our
high priest, reconciling us to the Father. He has reconciled,
he has atoned us to himself. Jesus Christ himself is the source
of all comfort and joy. He's given us peace, being justified
by faith, we have peace with God. He has assured us of his
constant presence. He said, I'll never leave you,
I'll never forsake you. When our Lord came forth from
the tomb and met his disciples, it says so in Matthew 28, he
said, I have all power in heaven and earth. Go preach the gospel. Go preach the gospel to every
creature. His last words were, lo, I'm
with you always, even to the end of the earth. See, he never leaves us, nor
forsakes us, never. We might not feel his presence,
that's a problem, We might not feel his presence, but he didn't
say that we would always feel his presence. He didn't say that. He said, believe my word, I'm
with you always. I'll never forsake you or leave
you. You believe it. He has promised
us his sovereign protection. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want. And in Jesus Christ himself is
all my salvation, and he's all this sinner's hope of salvation. God vested everything that he
is, all of his character and being to save my soul, everything. God gave the best heaven had
for all my salvation, all your salvation, and the best of it
is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.