That's the very beginning here.
Open up your word to Isaiah chapter 7 and then put your finger in
Matthew chapter 1 and then Luke chapter 2. Isaiah chapter 7,
Matthew chapter 1, and Luke chapter 2. Now the original name of the
message was the birth of Jesus Christ, but as I pondered the
content of the message, I changed the title to Born to Die. Born to Die. Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14, the
scriptures proclaim, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you
a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. which is God with us. Now turn,
if you would, to Matthew chapter 1. And look at verses 18 to 25. Matthew chapter 1, verses 18
to 25. Now the birth of Jesus Christ
was on the wise, when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph. Before they came together, she
was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband,
being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,
was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his
people from their sin. Now all this was done, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being
interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from
sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took
unto him his wife, and knew her not till she brought forth her
firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus. And then turn,
if you would, to Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2 verses 1 to 7. And it came to
pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenus was governor of Syria. And all went to be
taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph went up from
Galilee out of the city of Nazareth unto Judea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child. And so it was that while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she bought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn. Now, as I was preparing this
message, I was pondering that on the day Christ was born, there
was no doubt many other children born in the world on that day. Many of them. Many of them. But there was none like this
child. There was none like this child.
He's his no other. He's the Ancient of Days, clothing
Himself in human flesh. Emmanuel, God with us. 1 Timothy 3.16, the Scripture
proclaims this, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.
God was manifest in the flesh. God with us. Justified in the
Spirit. seen of angels preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world and received up into
glory. So let's go back to Matthew chapter
one, let's consider verse 21, where it says, and she shall
bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name
Jesus. Now, look at this little hinge word. Think of this. We all have doors in our houses
and doors in buildings, right? And huge doors, what do they
swing on? They swing on little hinges,
don't they? They swing on little hinges.
Look at this little hinge word, shall. Shall. and she shall bring forth a son
and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall it's not maybe
there's no question he shall save his people from their sins
he shall and he did so let us consider that also in the passage
that brother Tim read there was a prophecy about a child who
would be born the Messiah a child like no other like no other God
incarnate in the flesh This child was to be born in Bethlehem.
Turn, if you would, to Micah, chapter five, verse two. Was
to be born in Bethlehem of Judah, Judea in the land of Palestine,
as the scriptures proclaim in the book of Micah. Look at Micah,
chapter five, verse two. And we know from the text that
we read earlier that he was born in Bethlehem. Micah, chapter
five, verse two. But now Bethlehem. Ephraitia
thou thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of
these shall come forth unto me that is to be one yet out of
these shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel
who is going forth have been from of old from everlasting
Micah chapter 5 verse 2 now this child was a humble beginnings
beloved he is born in a stable There was no room in the inn.
He had a manger for his first cradle. No room in the inn. We read that in Luke chapter
2. And she bought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in the manger because there was no room for
them in the inn. No room. And he was called Jesus in obedience
to the command of the angel of the Lord to Mary. We read that
in Matthew chapter 1 verse 20. in our text here, and she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. He was a very humble beginnings,
and he grew to manhood in the despised village of Nazareth.
And at the age of 30, publicly entered upon his divine mission,
completing it and crowning it with his glorious success and
his death on Calvary Street. Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ
was born to die. He was born, He was on a mission.
His face was set like a flint to Jerusalem. And now He is seated
at the right hand of the Father. Having completed that which He
came to earth to do. Think of this, Jesus never traveled
beyond the border of the small country of Israel where He was
born. He never wrote a book. He never
wrote a book, yet more books have been written about Him than
than any other person of all time. And think of this, too. If all the books could be written
of all the things that Christ has done, the world couldn't
contain all those books. He never invented anything, and
yet all inventions date their patents from the time of His
birth. He never owned anything, and
yet every man is eternally poor without Him. He was poor while He was here
in this world, yet He's made His people rich by His death. Richer than any man upon this
earth. Every saint of God is richer
than the richest man on earth because of what Christ has done
and because of who He is. He willingly went to the cross
to die for His people. He did not stop the man who crucified
him. Even though he had all power
to do so. He could have called legions
of angels. One legion is 6,000 angels. One angel destroyed 100,000 men. He could have destroyed the whole
world. He has that power. Yet He died upon the cross willingly,
willingly for His people, to save His people from their sins. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His
people from their sins. And He did at Calvary's cross. What power is on display at the
cross of Calvary. that the Son of God would die
for the sins of His people, all the elect of all the ages, and
that He would willingly give up the ghost. Turn, if you would,
to Luke, chapter 23, that He would willingly give up the ghost,
that He would willingly die for His people. Remember, He had
no sin. He's perfect, spotless, and yet
He dies to save His people. from their sins. Look at Luke
23, verses 44 to 46. And it was about the sixth hour,
and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and
the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus
cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend
my spirit. And having said thus, He gave
up the ghost. He willingly died for his people. Now, as I mentioned earlier,
the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was very unique. Very unique. It was different from all other
births that night. That day or that night. And any
which will come. Look at Matthew 1 18. The first
thing I'd like us to look at is his birth was unique in its
nature. was supernatural. Look at Matthew
1.18, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise, when,
as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph before they came together,
she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. There's nothing known
to science that can explain the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's true that Isaac had a supernatural birth, as Sarah was past the
time of childbearing, but Abraham was his father. Sarah was his
mother, and Isaac was born a sinner just like every one of us here. But Jesus had no human father.
He was born of a virgin, begotten of the Holy Spirit of God. Turn,
if you would, to Hebrews chapter 10. Keep your finger there, though,
in Matthew chapter 1. And also put your finger in Luke
chapter 1. He was born of a virgin, begotten
of the Holy Spirit. Again, Matthew 1.18 says, Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise, when his mother
Mary was a spouse to Joseph. Before they came together, she
was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Do you know his body was
prepared for him by God? Look what the scriptures declare
in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into
this world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not,
but a body hast thou prepared. Now turn, if you would, to Luke
chapter 1. Luke chapter 1. I know I've got us turning around
a lot here today, but this is important. What does the scripture
say? What does the scripture say?
Luke chapter 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
only sinless person ever to be born. Luke chapter 1 verses 26
to 35. And in the sixth month the angel
Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth
to a virgin, a spouse to a man whose name was Joseph, the house
of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou art highly
favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled, let us say, and cast
in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel
said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with
God. Beloved, every single one of God's saints have found favor
with God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mary's a sinner just like
you and I. Oh, my. And behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shall call his
name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be
called the son of the highest, and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father, David, and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, there shall
be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be
seen? I know not a man. And the angel answered her and
said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore, that also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. That holy thing, perfect, spotless, sinless, the only sinless
man to ever be born upon this earth. Other babies are born
dead in trespasses and sins, because the Scripture declares
this in Psalm 58, 3. The wicked are estranged from
the woman. They go astray as soon as they
be born, speaking lies. Every child is born dead in trespasses
and sins. Except Christ. He was born sinless. He was born sinless. He never
sinned in His life. Because He's God incarnate in
the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. He was born sinless, He died
sinless too. The perfect, spotless, sin-atoning
sacrifice for His people. He's called by John the Baptist,
the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God. The Lord Jesus
Christ is truth incarnate. I am the way, the truth and the
life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. I look at Luke
2, verses 8 to 11. And we'll go all the way to 14,
but first let's look at 8 to 11. Here, the birth of the great
peacemaker, the Lord Jesus Christ. What did He do? By His death,
He made peace for His people, didn't He? He reconciled us to
God. He's the great peacemaker, beloved. Again, He was born to
die. He came here to die. Sacrificed
for his people the great peacemaker the Lord Jesus Christ was heralded
by angels. Look at Luke chapter 2 Verses
8 to 11 and there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field keeping watch over the flock by night And lo the
angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them and they were so afraid And the angel said unto them
fear not I love those two words don't you as a believer and Fear
not. We're going to do a whole study
down the road on that. Fear not. That's what God says to his people. Fear not in Christ. Oh my. For behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Savior. You need a Savior. I need a Savior. This is good news. Sinners who've been shown by God that
they're sinners, that they're lost, we need a Savior, don't
we? We need a Savior. Well, here's
good news. There's a Savior born, which
is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign unto you.
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in
a manger. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men. The great peacemaker has been
born. The Savior, the only Savior. There is salvation in no other
but Christ and Christ alone. Now think of this. There was
no announcement by the high priest of Israel that their Messiah
was just born. No, lowly shepherds were the
first to hear the good news of the Messiah's birth. So we see the uniqueness of the
birth of Christ. He's the only one born sinless.
And His birth was announced by angels. Before He was born, and
as he was born. The next point I'd like us to
look at is the birth of Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament.
I had us turn to Isaiah chapter 7 at the very beginning of the
message. I'll read the scripture again.
It says, therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign.
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call
his name Emmanuel, which we know is being interpreted God with
us. We saw already in the scripture
that our Lord's birth is a virgin birth. When our first parents fell,
God announced that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's
head in Genesis chapter 3. And that's Christ, the seed of
the woman, virgin born. And I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. It shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Contrast that
again to our verse that we looked at in Isaiah chapter 7. Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and thou shall call his name Immanuel.
Turn, if you would, to Genesis 22. Genesis 22. God promised
Abraham that one of his descendants should be a blessing. to all nations. This was speaking
of Christ and Christ alone. Genesis chapter 22, verses 15
to 18. And how would all the nations
be blessed? Well, God's elect are scattered
all through the nations, aren't they? They are. Out of every people, kindred,
tongue. And they're blessed in Christ. And how are they blessed?
By His death. by the fact that the one who
was born was born to die. Born to die in our place. Look
at Genesis 22 verses 15 to 18. And the angel of the Lord called
unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said by myself,
Have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this
thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that
in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply
thy seed as the stars of heaven. You won't be able to count. You
won't be able to count. Count the seed and as the sand
which is upon the sea how many how many did the Lord save by
the shedding of his blood a number that no man can number oh My
Which is upon the seashore and thy seed shall possess the gate
of his enemies And then thy seed shall all the nations of the
earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice Now turn
if you would to Genesis chapter 28 few chapters over Look at verses 13 to 14 This birth was prophesied. The one who was born to die was
prophesied about all through the Old Testament. Look at Genesis
28, verses 13-14. And said, I am the Lord God of
Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac, the land whereon
thou liest. To thee will I give it, and to
thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the
dust of the earth. And thou shalt spread abroad
to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the
south. And in thee and in thy seed shall
all the families of the earth be blessed. And then turn, if you would,
the Galatians chapter three, verse 16. Now look at this. Notice that said thy seed in
Genesis 28, 14. Look what it says in Genesis
or Galatians chapter three, verse 16. And again, notice he said, and
in I see to all the families of the earth be blessed, beloved,
that's speaking of Christ. is look at Galatians 3, verse
16. It says, Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not unto seeds as of
many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. Which is Christ. The tribe of
Christ, or the tribe which Christ would come, was prophesied in
the Old Testament. The scepter shall not part from
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come,
and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." And then over
in Revelation chapter 5, oh I love this scripture, and one of the
elders say unto me, Weep not, behold the Lion of the tribe
of Judah hath prevailed. The Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose
the seven seals. Oh, the line of the tribe of
Judah prevailed at Calvary's cross, didn't. The Lord Jesus
Christ. Oh, my. Turn, if you would, the
second Samuel, second Samuel. Chapter seven. Second Samuel,
the Messiah would be from the family of David, second Samuel,
and then I'll also go to Luke chapter one, second Samuel. Luke chapter one. 2nd Samuel 7 verses 16 to 17
in thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever Before thee thy throne shall
be established forever According to all these words and according
to all this vision So did Nathan speak unto David in thine house
and thy kingdom shall be established forever. Well that didn't happen
with David did it? and thy throne shall be established
forever. That's speaking of Christ, who
is of the lineage of David. Now turn, if you would, to Luke,
chapter 1, verses 31 to 33. Luke, chapter 1, verses 31 to
33. And behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
Jesus. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house
of Jacob for how long? Forever. He reigns over his people
forever. We'll be with Him in glory forever.
Forever. And of His kingdom there shall
be what? No end. No end. Oh, see how that ties
in over there with 2 Samuel where it says, Thy throne shall be
established forever. It's all in Christ. It's all in Christ. And again, we looked at earlier,
the place of His birth was prophesied in the book of Micah. that the
Messiah should be born in Bethlehem. Now the Jewish people were looking
for some great person to come. They were looking for the long-promised
Messiah. They had lost their freedom again,
and they were looking for a deliverer. They were looking for a deliverer
from those who rule over them, from those who oppress them.
They did not expect to find the Messiah among the lowly. among the lowly, and they did
not know him when he came. None of them thought of going
to a stable to find the Messiah. None of them. That's the last
place they would have thought. None of them thought of going
to the stable to find the King of Glory. They expected Him to be found
among the great and the noble. But God's ways are not our ways. The lowly birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
and His childhood spent in Nazareth were always being brought up
against Him in the eyes of the people. And one commentator said,
This is another way God pours contempt on human pride. The next point I'd like us to
consider is this. The birth of Christ was unique
in its purpose. Was unique in its purpose. Why was the Lord Jesus Christ
born into this world? Why did the ancient of days become
in infant become a man? Why did he clothe himself in
humanity? The purpose of the birth of Christ
was different from the purpose of the birth of any other man
that's been born on this earth. Christ was born to die. Christ was born to die. He came to save His people from
their sins. And the only way for Him to save
us, His people, was for Him to die. Was for Him to die. I ask you
here, and I want you to honestly search yourself. Can anyone in
this room save yourself? Can you save yourself? I can't save myself. I know you
can't save yourself either. The Lord Jesus Christ came to
save His people from the sins. He's a Savior. This is good news
for sinners. This is good news for sinners
who cannot save themselves. The only way for him to save
his people from their sins was for him to die as a substitute.
Just as our text in Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 proclaims. And she
shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name Jesus for
he shall save his people from their sins. Now we can think of men who have
lived in this world. One was born to rule. Another
may be born a genius. Another baby born for some other
great purpose. We think of Moses as the chosen
of God to lead Israel out of bondage. Elijah, a great prophet
of God to call a sinful nation to repentance. David was God's
choice to be king of Israel. Cyrus, although a heathen ruler,
was used by God to have the Jewish people rebuild the temple at
Jerusalem. Alexander, another heathen Another heathen leader
and ruler. Think of this. Alexander the
Great was used by God to spread the Greek language over parts
of the world that he conquered. Right? Because as he conquered,
he was one of those leaders that as he conquered, he assimilated
the Greek language along with conquering. Now think of this
in God's providence. He conquered a lot of the known
world then, didn't he? And he did this before the New
Testament was written. And then the New Testament is
written in Greek, and what happens? It spreads like wildfire, beloved.
All by the providence of God. One of our leaders here was looked
upon as the emancipator of those who were slaves, and he's looked
at as the preserver of the union. But beloved, Christ was born
for a far greater work than any other man has performed. His mission to earth was different
from that of any other man. The Lord Jesus Christ was born
to God. Born to die. The purpose of the
birth of all other men is for us to live a little while, work,
contribute to society, and man likes to get all they can, right?
Get all we can, that's how natural man is, and then die, and in
death relinquish it all. And they cease from their lives'
worth. And in 50, 60 years, 70 years,
100 years, they're forgotten. There's no one else around that
knew them. But let us contrast this with
the death of Christ. Death was the supreme task of
the Lord Jesus Christ. His death upon Calvary's cross. He came to this earth to die. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
10. John chapter 10, verses 17 and 18. He came to do the Father's
will. What was the Father's will for
Christ? To lay down His life for His people. To die the great
substitute. of his people. Look at John chapter
17 verses, John chapter 10 I mean, verses 17 and 18. Therefore doth
my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take
it again. No man taketh it from me. Remember
he willingly. That right there, that little
portion right there tells us that Christ willingly went to
the cross to die for his people. No man taketh it from me. He's
sinless. Remember he gave up the ghost. We die because we're
sinners. He was perfect and spotless.
He died, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God. No man taketh it
from me, but I lay it down of myself, willingly. I have power
to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
have I received of my Father. He is born to die, O Lord. Every man is born to live, but
the Lord Jesus Christ was born to die. He was born to obtain
eternal life for His people through His death. He came to give His
life a ransom. Turn, if you would, to Matthew,
chapter 20, verses 28. He came to serve, to minister
unto, but He came to give His life a ransom for many. And that
many is His people. That many is His people. Look at this Matthew 20 verse
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto But
to minister and to give his life a ransom for many he came to
die He came to give his life a ransom and the believer says
for me For my sins, I'm one of the many are you oh This is wonderful Ransom for me a payment He paid
the price for all our sins all He gave his life a ransom This
is good news for sinners The question is are you a sinner?
Has God shown you that you're a sinner? Now the great peacemaker
has come to die and to make peace with God for his people and by
the shedding of his own precious blood. Again, this is good news
for sinners. Again, the question is, are you
a sinner? Are you a sinner? Has God shown
you that you're a sinner? Because I'm a sinner. And gospel
preachers don't, when we ask you, are you a sinner? We're not trying to be condescending
because we're sinners. We who are proclaiming the gospel
are saved sinners. I once was lost, but now I'm
saved. I'm found. He found me. I didn't
find Him. He found me. Oh my. So I ask you, are you a sinner?
Has God shown you that you're a sinner? Has God revealed to
you that you're a sinner? Oh, if not, I pray He will. I
pray He will. The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ and salvation in Christ alone is truly good news, beloved. Truly good news. Glad tidings
of great joy. Remember we read in Luke chapter
2, verses 10 and 11, the angels said unto them, Fear not, but
behold, I bring you good tidings. Good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. And God's electors are scattered
amongst all people, aren't they? For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior. Savior. Which is Christ the Lord. There's
only one Savior. Christ. And we who are redeemed,
the blood-bought church of God, proclaim this wonderful news
to a lost and dying world, that salvation is only in and through
the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. We are commanded, go ye
unto the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus
was born to save his people from their sins. The name Jesus means
Jehovah saves. Emmanuel, God with us. God with us, and this is an appropriate
name for the one with such a mission as in our text, and she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. What a name for he who is God
incarnate in the flesh. He is the only one who's able
to save. No other man can save. We can't save ourselves. Not
one of us in this room can save ourselves. Not one of us who
will hear this message can save ourselves. Not one of us. We
have no ability to save ourselves. And men perish in their sins
thinking they can. Because they say, well I'm good.
I'm not, surely I'm not that bad. I'm a good person. Not in the eyes of God. The scriptures declare there's
none righteous. No, not one. There's none good. There's none
that understand. There's none that seeketh after God. Oh my. There's only one Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither is there salvation in
the other, for there is none other name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. Salvation is only in Christ
and Christ alone. And she shall bring forth a son
and also call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people
from their sins. Who are his people? How does
he save them? The Scriptures give us the answer
to both questions. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
6 and John chapter 17. First we'll go to John 17 and
then we'll go to John chapter 6. The Scriptures give us the
answer to both questions. The people of Christ are those
given to Him by the Father in eternity, in the eternal covenant
of grace. Look at John chapter 17, we'll
look at one verse, verse 2. Who are His people? Those that
the Father gave Him in eternity. John 17, 2. As Thou hast given
Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to
as many as Thou hast given Him. Now go over to John chapter 6.
Oh. How does He save them? He died
upon the cross, at Calvary's cross for them. And then the
Holy Spirit draws us to Christ. He draws us to Christ with love
and draws us and we we we flee to Christ. Look at John chapter
six, verse thirty seven to forty. All that the father giveth me,
those are the ones spoken of in John 17 to shall come to me. There's another. Notice that
little hit little hinge word again. Remember, big doors swing
on little words, little hinges. Look at that. All that the father
giveth me shall come. There's no doubt. And him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out. For I come down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all
which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again for the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on
him." Do you believe on Christ? Everyone that seeth the Son,
they be given eyes to see him, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
But one may ask, how do I know if I belong to that number? Here's a sure way to settle that
you were given to Christ by the Father in eternity. If you belong
to that number, you repent of your sins. And you believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit will draw you. When the Holy Spirit has drawn
us, we run to Christ, don't we? We run to Christ. And our cry,
our hope for you who do not know Christ is, Oh, may God save you.
May He grant you faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit is moving
on a sinner, drawing him to Christ, they will not sit still and sin.
The lost sinner will become aware of their lost condition and flee
to Christ, trusting Christ as Savior, because they're made
willing in the day of his power. And every one of God's people
can say amen. That's what happened to me. That's what happened to
me. I wasn't looking for the Lord, were you? You who are redeemed? Oh, but he drew us, didn't he?
And think of this, Christ's people are his both secretly and openly.
They are his secretly by the Father's choice. We don't know
who God's elect are, right? Therefore the gospel is preached
and proclaimed. Now God knows. He knows who they are. I don't
have any idea. So I preach the gospel. And out
it goes. The Lord uses it for His glory.
They're His both secretly and openly. They are His secretly
by the Father's choice of them and gift of them to Christ. And
then they openly profess They openly profess Him as Savior
and Lord. When they are given faith to
believe, when they're born again by the Holy Spirit of God. Now
again, what comes first? Regeneration or faith? Regeneration. You must be born again. And if
you're born again, you're gonna believe. You're gonna flee to
Christ. Oh my. Turn, if you would, to
Acts chapter 18. Acts chapter 18. In the book
of Acts, in chapter 18, the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth
was converted and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. And it
appears that some folks were quite worked up, because we see
the Lord tells Paul to not be afraid. And several commentators,
as I was reading them, say that when this chief ruler was converted,
it probably stirred up a lot of folks. It stirred up a lot
of folks. But the Lord tells Paul to not
be afraid and to keep proclaiming the gospel. Why? Because he has
much people in the city. Again, only God knows who his
elect are. And he knows who they are. Oh,
my. And he sent a preacher to preach
to them here. Look at this in Acts chapter
18 verses 8 to 11. And Crispus, the chief ruler
of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house.
And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. Then
the Lord spake to Paul in a night vision, night by a vision. Be not afraid, but speak and
hold not thy peace. Look at this. For I am with thee.
And no man shall sit on thee to hurt thee, for I have much
people in this city. And he continued there a year
and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Now,
the much people had not at that time been saved. God knew who they were. God tells
Paul, I have much people in the city. You preach the gospel. That's the charge to every gospel
preacher. We just proclaim Christ. We know he's got his sheep scattered
abroad. Oh my. They were not converted yet,
but they were known to God because he chose them internally. He's
a much people. And they were regenerated by
the Holy Spirit of God through the preaching of the gospel.
of God's free grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. Those who are
Christ's people secretly by God's electing grace become His openly
through faith. They are granted faith and repentance
to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they proclaim Christ
is my Savior. Jesus Christ died upon Calvary's
tree to save His people. He was born to die. And he died
upon Calvary's tree to save his people from the penalty of their
sins by suffering the penalty that was due us in our place. The sinless one, dying for sins. The sinner's substitute, the
surety of God's people. He was born to die as our substitute.
Born to die as a substitute of his people, that we might escape
the second death and have everlasting life, which he has obtained by
his death upon the cross of Calvary. Now think upon this. As we gather with family and
friends, Christ was born to die. born to die surety for his people,
to pay the sin debt that we owe. And he settles with the justice
of God and the law of God by the shedding of his own blood
in the place of his people and obtains our pardon. Let's pray that the Lord will
give us doors of utterance to proclaim the wondrous things
that Christ has done for us. Die in for me. dying for me. There on the cross, He was dying
for me. Now in His death, my redemption
I see. All because Jesus was dying for
me. Bless His holy name, the believer
in Christ proclaims. Christ was born to die for me. Gracious Heavenly Father, we
thank Thee for this time that we've had together. We thank
Thee for Thy Word. Oh, the wonder of wonders. You, Lord Jesus, the Word of
God, clothed Yourself in humanity and came to this earth to die
for the sins of Your people, the perfect, spotless Lamb of
God. And oh, Lord, may we remember
this precious truth that You came to die. in the place of
your people. Glory to your name. In Jesus
name we pray.