Good evening, everyone. So good
to be here. Open your Bibles, if you would,
to Deuteronomy chapter 19, and then I also want you to put your
finger in 2 Peter chapter 1. Deuteronomy 19, and then 2 Peter
chapter 1. The name of the message is Three
Witnesses of Christ, or Three Witnesses of the Gospel of Christ. I'd like us to look at one verse
of scripture, first of all, for the setting of this message.
And then we'll go over to second Peter. Actually, we'll go to
John chapter eight before that, but please keep your keep your
place in second Peter. That's going to be the main area
of our text. Second Peter, chapter one. The
verse I'd like us to look at first is over in Deuteronomy,
chapter 19, verse 15. We see the laws here concerning
witnesses against someone. And there's a portion in this
verse that we'll look at and apply it to the Lord Jesus Christ
and to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we'll see that
there are three witnesses from scripture which testify of the
gospel of salvation in and through Christ alone, by grace alone,
for God's glory alone. And this is the one true gospel. the one true gospel. Salvation
is of the Lord. This is what the scripture proclaims.
And we'll see that tonight. It's very, very plainly set forth. Deuteronomy chapter 19, verse
15. One witness shall not rise up
against a man for any iniquity or for any sin and any sin that
he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of
three witnesses shall the matter be established. So So a man couldn't
be condemned for one witness standing up before
them. There had to be at least two
or three witnesses in order for a man either to be condemned
or for a man to be pardoned. So, and two or three witnesses,
and they had to agree. They had to agree. And this is
what the scripture plainly brings forth right here before us, very
plainly. Now turn, if you would, to John chapter eight, But again,
keep your finger in for a second, Peter, because that's where we'll
be going. John Chapter 8 and Mark Chapter 14. And I'm doing
this to set up the message here for us. So again, the scripture
in Deuteronomy there brings forth that that which is bought against
a man must be at the mouth of two or three witnesses, either
for acquittal or for condemnation. Look at John Chapter 8. We'll
read verses 12 to 20. Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees
therefore said unto him, Thou barest record of thyself, thy
record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto
them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true,
for I know whence I come and whither I go, but ye cannot tell
whence I come and whither I go. They did not know that he was
God incarnate in the flesh. He didn't know that there's three
that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Ghost, and that the Word is right here
incarnate before them. Ye judge after the flesh, I judge
no man, and yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not
alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in
your law that the testimony of two men is true. We just read
that in Deuteronomy chapter 19. I am one that bear witness of
myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. So
they, again, they have no idea this is the word of God speaking
to them. Then said they unto him, where is thy father? They're
probably thinking Joseph. Jesus answered, you neither know
me nor my father. If you had known me, you should
have known my father also. These words speak Jesus in the
treasury, as he taught in the temple. And no man laid hands
on him, for his hour was not yet come. Now turn, if you would,
to Mark chapter 14. The enemies of Christ brought
false witnesses against him. But they could not agree, beloved.
They could not agree. Because there's no fault in the
Son of God. There's no fault in the Lord
Jesus Christ. He's God incarnate in the flesh.
But these Pharisees, these religious folks, they tried to bring false
witnesses against him. Mark 14, verses 53 to 59. And they led Jesus away to the
high priest. With him were assembled all the
chief priests and the elders and the scribes. So the who's
who of the religious world and the Jewish religious world is
there. And Peter followed him afar off,
even into the palace of the high priest. And he sat with the servants
and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all
the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death
and found none. Remember, he made even the statement
that the prince of this world cometh and find no fault in me.
So Satan couldn't even find any fault in him. He's perfect. He's
sinless. He's the perfect lamb of God. For many bear false witness
against him, but their witness agreed not to get it. They couldn't
find two of them. Oh, how God confounds man. It's
amazing. And there arose certain and bare
false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy
this temple that is made with hands, and within three days
I will build another made without hands. But neither so did they
witness. Did their witness agree together
again? So tonight I'd like us to look
at the three-fold witness to the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the true gospel of God's free and sovereign grace, which
is only in Christ and Christ alone. A three-fold witness from
Scripture, in Scripture alone. Using these words, at the mouth
of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the
matter be established. Deuteronomy 19.15, which we looked
at at the very beginning. And this is what's being brought
before us in the Scripture. And this is what's laid down
in the Holy Scripture. For something to be counted as fact and not
fiction, it must be established on the principle of two or three
witnesses. One grace preacher brings forth
that this is what Peter's doing in 2 Peter 1. We'll look at verses
16 to 21 when he said, as he gives before us the scripture,
a threefold witness of the true gospel, a threefold witness of
the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is what he's done here
in scripture. Let's start in verse 12 and we'll read all the
way to 21 so we can get the context of the verses here. But our focus
will be on verses 16 to 21. Wherefore, I will not be negligent
to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know
them and be established in the present truth. Now remember,
too, he's writing to saints who are suffering, too. That's also
the setting. He's writing to the same folks that he wrote
to in 1 Peter that were going through on Sunday mornings at
Sunday school. He's writing to the same people. 2 Peter 1, verse 12. Wherefore, I will not be negligent
to put you always in the remembrance of these things, though ye know
them and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it
meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by
putting you in remembrance. This is why it's so important
for us to hear the gospel again and again and again to remember
the good hope that we have in Christ to not to not be discouraged
by things that are going on either in our lives or or around us
in the world. We have to be in remembrance.
That's why we we keep Christ at the forefront. so that the
world doesn't creep in, and the cares of the world, and the worries
of the world. When we look at who has us and who keeps us,
it brings us great joy and hope, so we need to keep that in remembrance.
Knowing that shortly I must put off this, my tabernacle, even
as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me, Peter knew that his
end was soon to come, just like all of us. Really, our life is
like a vapor. That's what scripture declares.
Moreover, I will endeavor that ye may be able after my death
decrease, which is his death, to have these things always in
remembrance. So he's saying, I'm preaching these things to
you, I'm proclaiming these things to you, but I hope that even
in my death you'll still remember them. And look at us reading
these words thousands of years later. It's wonderful, isn't
it? It's wonderful. For we have not
fall cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses
of his majesty. Now note here it says cunningly
devised fables. So obviously there was some opposition
to the gospel and people were calling the gospel cunningly
devised fables, saying that's just a fable, just a story. It's
not true. What do we have today? Hadn't
changed, has it? There's nothing new under the
sun. People still say the same thing. And we don't care that
they say that we believe the testimony of God rather than
the testimony of man. So obviously some had been saying
that, oh, this is just a story. But note, cunningly devised fables
here in verse 16 as opposed to the apostles who were eyewitnesses. And this is our first witness
mentioned in our text. We have not fall kindly devised
fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. But we're eyewitnesses of what
his majesty. Eyewitnesses of his majesty.
So here in this text, in verses 16 to 21, Peter was going to
give us a threefold witness of the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the first is the apostles. And then look at verses
17 and 18. where he received from God the
father be speaking of Christ honor and glory when there came
such a voice to him from the excellent glory this is my beloved
son in whom I am well pleased this voice which came from heaven
we heard when we were with him in the holy mount here's the
second witness beloved to who Christ is into the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ the father says this is the son This is
my beloved son and whom I'm well pleased. There's the second witness. Next is the third witness we
see in verses 19 to 21, which is the prophets of old who spoke
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at this. We also have a
more sure word of prophecy. Where unto you do well that you
take heed is unto a light that shineth in the dark place until
the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing
this first that no prophecy of the scriptures of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of God, or will of men, but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So here's
the third witness. So we have before us in this
text a threefold witness of the true gospel of God's grace, and
a threefold witness of Christ. And it's written by Peter, who
again writes to saints who are suffering, going through trials
and tribulations. People are telling them that
what you believe is a fable. Nothing's changed, has it? Nothing's
changed. People still do that today, but
we have a threefold witness right here in our text. And think of
this, is this written to these saints? What a comfort this would
bring to God's people who are suffering and going through trials
and tribulations at this time. This would bring them great comfort,
great comfort, great joy. So as Peter brings forth here,
we're not following some cunningly devised fable, but we have a
sure salvation. We have a sure salvation and
it's in Christ, in Christ alone. We have a sure savior. Our savior
is God himself. God himself. Not some figment
of person's imagination saying that they're gonna bow down to
angels or bow down to Mary, right? Or Buddha or Mohammed. No, we
have a sure savior. Jesus Christ, the God, the God,
God himself incarnate in the flesh. This is who our savior is, and
we see tonight that these three witnesses of who Christ. These are three witnesses of
of who Christ is, who he is, God, he's God. With that in mind,
let us consider our first point. Our first witness to the Lord
Jesus Christ and who he is and who they are, it's the apostles.
Look at this in verse 16. And Peter's writing this, he's
one of the apostles. For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter's writing about something
not only has he heard, he's seen. He's seen. Now the gospel which
the apostle Peter preached And the Savior and Redeemer which
the Apostle Peter preached and proclaimed is Christ. And he
believed and saw that he was God incarnate in the flesh. He
proclaimed that Christ was deity incarnate. The God-man, the Messiah, the
one whom the prophets spoke of. And remember, Peter's preaching
from the Old Testament. He's proclaiming Christ from
the Old Testament. He's proclaiming that Christ
is the only anointed and appointed redeemer of his people, of God's
people. This was not some cunningly devised
fable, as some must have proclaimed, and as some must have spoke against
Christ. And again, they still do it today. No, this was and
still is the truth. The one gospel of truth and it's
focused on and it's in and it's through the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is only in and through
him. And this is whom Peter wrote
about. And this is whom the scriptures
proclaim. The Lord Jesus Christ. This book
is a hymn book. It's all about Christ. It's all
about him. Now, think of this, too. Here's
Peter writing this, and he walked and he talked with our Lord,
just like we walk and talk with each other here. He knew him. He knew him. Don't forget, John
was the beloved disciple who who laid his head upon the breast
of the God man. I was like, I think he heard
the heartbeat of the God man. I remember laying my head on
my brother's chest when I was little. I used to put my head
on their chest all the time. You hear their heartbeat. This
is what John did, beloved. So Peter walked and talked with
our Lord. He was witness to his miracles
and to his works, and he was at the Mount of Transfiguration.
When Christ's glory was manifest, he saw that. And he was an eyewitness
to the second witness, which we'll look at later when the
father proclaimed, this is my beloved son, hear ye him. He's
writing this and he's one of the ones who witnessed it, who
heard the second witness. He was there when Moses, who
represents the law, and Elijah, who represents the prophets,
appeared with Christ. And again, what did they speak
of? We looked at that in the study, when we studied on the
Mount of Transfiguration. They were talking about his death. His sacrifice at Calvary's cross,
which is the fulfilling of the law, and which is the one who
was proclaimed by the prophets. So the first witness is the witness
of the apostles who were there with him. They, as Peter here
proclaimed, they were eyewitnesses of his majesty, eyewitnesses
of his works. It's incredible. For we have
not followed culminately devised fables when we made known unto
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses
of his majesty. And note here, that which has
been revealed to them They made no one. Look what it says. When we made no one unto you,
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, they made it no
one. They made it no one. They didn't hide the mysteries
of salvation that was revealed to them. They let people know. This is
what God's people do, don't we? We proclaim Christ. We didn't
hide. They didn't hide their faith
in Christ. They proclaim Christ. They proclaim what they had saw
with their own eyes, what they witnessed, the power and majesty
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fact that he's God almighty,
that he's God incarnate in the flesh, and the fact that he is
able to save to the uttermost those who come to him. He's able
to save those who come to him. And all we who believe can say,
I can testify of that. He saved me from my sins. John
17, two and three, the scriptures proclaim this of Christ, as thou
has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal
life to as many as that was given him. And this is life eternal,
that they might know the the only true God and Jesus Christ,
whom thou has sent. So Peter's proclaiming who he
knows. And and just to remember, I've
said this many times. Witnessing is just telling the
great things that God has done for us. And you don't have to
shut the door open. When someone asks a question
about Christ, you just proclaim, well, he saved me from all my
sins. He washed me in his precious blood. This is marvelous. People complicate witnessing. We just go and proclaim the great
things that God had done for us. Now, remember, too, the apostles
were eyewitnesses at his ascension into glory. He appeared to them. and they declared that he will
come again come again and they witnessed his majesty they witnessed
his deity they witnessed his magnificent magnificence and
they witnessed his great splendor and power if you would the first
John 1st John chapter 1. Listen to these magnificent words.
I just love these first few verses here. The book of 1st John, all
those, John's writings are just incredible because you know he's
the beloved disciple. He has such an intimate relationship
with our Lord Jesus. Look what he pens here in 1st
John chapter 1. Magnificent words. And remember,
all by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. And he's speaking
of Christ. That which was from the beginning,
and he means the beginning, from eternity. That which was from
the beginning, which we have heard. Oh, they've heard something. They've heard Him with their
natural ears, and they've heard Him with their spiritual ears,
too. Oh, my. Which we have seen with their
eyes. Not only have they seen them, they've seen Christ like
we see each other, but they've seen Him with spiritual eyes,
too. They've been given eyes to see who Christ really is.
And look at this, which we have looked upon. Now we're waiting
to look upon him. They looked upon him. Oh my, one day we will, who believe,
we'll look upon him. But look at this, in our hands
have handled of the word of life. Again, remember, this is the
very one who laid his head upon the breast of Christ. For the life was manifested and
we have seen it and bear witness there. Their witnesses and show
unto you that eternal life, which was with the father and was manifested
unto us. That which we have seen and heard,
declare we unto you that she also may have fellowship with
us and we do. We have fellowship with the saints, beloved. All
in Christ Jesus, our Lord, because we're born again of the Holy
Spirit of God, we who believe. And truly our fellowship is with
the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And these things
write we unto you that your what? Joy may be full. Oh my, so here's
the first witnesses. The first witnesses, the apostles.
Now let's look at our next witness, God the Father. Let's go back
to our text in 2 Peter chapter one. Our next witness, the witness
of God the Father. 2nd Peter chapter 1 verses 17
and 18. For he received from God the
Father honor and glory when there came such a voice to him from
the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased. That's a magnificent statement.
Because we know we're sinners. we who believe are safe sinners
and we're in Christ and look at that this is my beloved son
in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from heaven
we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount now Peter James
and John had the blessed honor and privilege of being eyewitnesses
of the glorious transfiguration of Jesus Christ when they were
with him in the Holy Mount they were men who were chosen
instruments of God, and they witnessed a glorious change that
came upon our blessed Redeemer. And this is must have been it
must have been spectacular. I don't think we can imagine
what they saw. It must have been spectacular.
Right before their eyes, Jesus Christ, the God man, revealed
his glory. He was still in the body that
our that God the Father had prepared for him, but bright rays of glorious
light were emulating from his pure, sinless body. And it must have been absolutely
stunning. And our Lord's face did shine
as the sun, and His remnant was white as the light. White. Whiter than any fuller on earth
could ever make it. And these chosen apostles also
saw Moses in the light, talking with our Lord again about what
he would accomplish at Calvary's cross when he laid down his life
for a sheep. So here's the second witness,
the witness of God, the father, for he received from God, the
father, honor and glory. When there came such a voice
to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved son and whom
I am well pleased. Second, Peter one 17. Turn, if
you would, to Matthew chapter three and also Matthew chapter
17. Matthew chapter three. in Matthew
chapter 17. Now, when I looked up this phrase
today, this is my beloved son and whom I am well pleased. It
was said twice of Christ. It was said twice of him. The
first time it's mentioned in the book of Matthew. Is in Matthew
chapter three at our Lord's baptism. And lo a voice from heaven, verse
17. and lower voice from heaven saying this is my beloved son
whom I am well then turn if you would Matthew
chapter 17 at the Mount of Transfiguration we'll see what's proclaimed in
Matthew 17 verse 5 which is what Peter's writing about Matthew chapter Matthew 17. I'm going to read the context
of this. And after six days Jesus taketh
Peter, James, and John, his brother, and bringeth them up to a high
mountain apart, and was transfigured before them. And his face did
shine as the sun, and his remnant was white as the light. This would be spectacular. You wouldn't even be able to
speak. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking
with them. Then they answered Peter and
said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here, if thou
will let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee and one for Moses
and one for Elijah. And we looked at that a few weeks
ago and we saw that at that point Peter's making a mistake here. He's bringing Christ down to
the same level as Moses and Elijah. But no, look what happens in
verse 5. Well, he yet spake, behold, a
bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the
cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. Hear ye Him. Look at the response. And when
the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were sore
afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, be not
afraid. Ain't that what the Lord says to his people? Fear not. Fear not, beloved. Oh, what a
Redeemer. What a Savior. So here we see,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.
In Matthew 17, 5. This is a declaration of God
the Father. The first scripture we looked
at is when he spoke of the cloud or spoke at his baptism. And
then here we see the father speaking at them on the Mount of Transfiguration
of Christ. He alone is the one who is worthy
of all glory, honor, and praise. The Lord Jesus Christ, beloved,
is the end of the law for righteousness for his people. And he is the
only one whom the father is pleased with. And it's magnificent. It's magnificent. He's the end
of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes on Christ,
to everyone who has, by the command of God and by the power of God,
been enlightened by God, the Holy Spirit, to see by God given
faith, the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
and to flee. It's all work of God and let
we who are redeemed remember this, let us remember this. that
God is always well pleased with his son and no one else. And we as believers are in Christ,
are in Christ. Oh, what a place to be, beloved,
to be in the one whom God is well pleased with, whom God is
well pleased with. Isaiah wrote this of Christ and
his sacrifice on Calvary when he died for his sheep He said
this yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him He hath put him
to grief when thou shall make him his soul and offering for
sin. He shall see his seed He shall see it shall prolong his
days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands
God is only satisfied with Christ and Christ alone Turn, if you
would, to Matthew, chapter 12. Matthew, chapter 12. The Scriptures
proclaim this truth again, that God is only pleased with Christ.
Matthew, chapter 12, starting in verse 15 to 21. But when Jesus
knew it, he withdrew himself from Athens, and a great multitude
followed him, and he healed them all, and charged them that they
should not make him known, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying behold my servant whom
I have chosen my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased God is
pleased with Christ He's pleased with him And he's pleased with
his people in Christ and only in Christ outside of Christ.
He's not pleased with any human being but in Christ He's pleased
with us only because of Christ I will put my spirit upon him
and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles He shall not strive
nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not
quench, till he set forth judgment into victory. And in his name
shall the Gentiles trust. Who do we trust in? The Lord
Jesus Christ, the one in whom God is well pleased. Oh, it's
wonderful, beloved. It's absolutely wonderful. Turn,
if you would, to Luke chapter 24. Luke chapter 24. Our Lord's chosen blood bought children
when we're delivered from the power of darkness, which we were
in. We will be taught by God, the Holy Spirit, that all the
Old Testament prophets wrote about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, turn to Luke chapter 24. And the Lord speaking to the
two on the road to Aramaus and look what he says in verse 27. Beginning at Moses and all the
prophets he expounded unto them in the scriptures the things
concerning himself himself Oh The blood-washed saint of
God who is born again by the Holy Spirit as we grow in grace
We will learn that the Old Testament prophets spoke of Christ. They speak of Christ and The
Old Testament prophecies and promises find their fulfillment
Christ in Christ and he proclaimed this after his resurrection look
at verse 44 in the same chapter here Luke 24 44 He proclaimed
this after his resurrection when he appeared to his disciples
And he said unto them verse 44 These are the words which I spake
unto you. Well, I was yet with you and
that all things must be fulfilled which were written, look at this,
in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning
me. Oh my. The only one that God
is pleased with is the one who the prophets spoke about. The
one who Moses wrote. And that's the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's my savior. Is he yours? That's my redeemer. Is he yours? If he's not, I pray
that God would make it so. Oh, my. What a savior. What a
redeemer. Now, this this verse here, I
read it again. And he said unto them, these
are the words which I speak unto you. Well, 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 leads to our next witness in our text. Let's go back to
first Peter. chapter 1 verses 19 to 21 and
the next witness is the witness of the prophets and this is what
is called in our text a more sure word of prophecy look at
verses 19 to 21 2nd Peter chapter 1 verses 19 to 21 we have also
a more sure word of prophecy where unto you do well that you
take heed is unto a light that shineth in the dark place until
the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts that's Christ
knowing this first that no prophecy of the scriptures of any private
interpretation for the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost so Peter again lays down another strong convincing proof
that the gospel is not some cunningly devised fable, as some were saying,
but it is the truth. And here before us is the third
witness. The third witness. We have, as
Peter here proclaims, a more sure word of prophecy. And the
Old Testament proclaims this truth. Turn, if you would, to
Isaiah, chapter 8. Isaiah, chapter 8. And then put your finger in
1 Corinthians, chapter 15. Isaiah chapter 8 and 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. We always, always go to the Word
of God, don't we? As believers. And as Bereans,
which we're supposed to be when a man's preaching the Gospel,
we're to be Bereans. We are always searching the Scriptures
to find that these things are so. Always I even do it myself
when I'm listening to sermons. I'm looking at the Word of God
That's what we're commanded to do. We're commanded to be burying
Search the scriptures see if it's so see if it's so Look at
Isaiah chapter 8 verse 20 to the law and to the testimony
if they speak not according to this word It is because there
is no light in them to the law and to the testimony, if they
speak not according to this word, this word, the scriptures, it
is because there is no light in them. If a man gets up and
proclaims nothing, you can know that he don't know anything.
And there's a lot of preachers out there that don't know anything
about Christ and they don't proclaim Christ. Man can't tell you, a man can't
tell you about somewhere if they've never been there, right? Man
can't tell you about Christ if you don't know Christ. That's the truth. That's what
the scripture is even declaring here. The law and the testimony,
if they speak not according to this word, it's because there's
no lie in them. And then look at 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 1 to 4. First Corinthians chapter 15
verses 1 to 4. Look what the Apostle Paul pens
over here, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. So the
believer has heard the word of God preached to them, the gospel
preached to them, they've received it by faith, by a gift of God,
they've been given Faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And
then they stand in the gospel. They stand. We stand firm in
the gospel. We stand firm in the truth that's
set before us. Salvation's only in Christ. We
reject all other things that men say about salvation. They say salvation's by works.
We reject that because the Bible says that salvation's in Christ
and Christ alone. In him alone. Which also you're saved were
saved faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God
if You keep in memory what I preached unto you unless you have believed
in vain so unless you made a false profession For I believe for
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received
look at this how that Christ died for our sins What according
to the scriptures what scriptures are met there? They didn't have
the New Testament, that's the Old Testament That's the Old
Testament, according to the Scriptures. So, there we see that Christ
is proclaimed in the Old Testament. And that He was buried and that
He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.
Again, according to the Old Testament. And then over in Acts, chapter
17, 11, I'll read this to you. If you want to turn there, you
can. But I'll read this to you about the saints in Berea. These
then, those in Berea, were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and
searched the scriptures daily, right, whether these things were
so. Even when Paul was preaching
to them, they searched. Let's see if this is right. That's
wonderful. Every preacher loves that. Oh
my, search the scriptures to see if it's so. We love it when
you turn your Bibles to where the Scriptures are, and look
at what the preacher is saying. It's wonderful. It thrills our
souls. Oh my. The prophets of the past, from
Moses to Malachi, gave witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll
read some Scriptures here. Isaiah 9.16, For unto us a child
is born. Unto us a son is given, the government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and
upon his kingdom, in order to order it and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever,
the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah chapter
9, verse 6 and 7. So Isaiah prophesied of his birth. And then of his sacrifice was
prophesied by Isaiah. Surely he hath borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities. And the chastisement of our peace
was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone, we have
turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord had laid on Him
the iniquity of us all. Oh, this speaks of His substitutionary
death upon Calvary's cross. And then His resurrection is
even spoken of. Turn, if you would, to Psalm 16, verse 10. Look at this in Psalm 16, verse
10. Psalm 16, verse 10. For thou will not leave my soul
in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.
This speaks of Christ. But notice here, John Gill brings
forth something with his comment on this text. Now it says hell
there. It's not meaning the place of the damned. It's not meaning
that Christ never went there. It means at his death, his soul
was committed to the father. He's in the grave. He's in the
grave. And the same day, that same day,
he's in paradise rather than the grave, right? He's risen.
And then Gil brings forth this nugget about this text here. Neither will thou suffer thine
holy one to see corruption. That is, to lie so long in the
grave is to putify and to be corrupted. Wherefore, he was
raised from the dead the third day according to the scriptures.
Before the time, Gil says this, before the time the body begins
to be corrupted. Lazarus was four days in the
grave. And they said, behold, it's thinking by now, which Gail
was bringing forth that that's the fourth day when it starts
to starts to turn really bad. Before the time the bodies began
to be corrupted, this was owing not to the care of Joseph or
Nicodemus and providing spices to preserve it, but of God who
raised him from the dead and gave him glory and who would
not suffer his body to be corrupted because he was holy. He's sinless. Remember, he's sinless in his
life, and he's sinless in his death. Gil goes on, and because he was
his holy one, that so there was no moral corruption in him, there
should be no natural corruption in him. That's why the scripture
says here, neither wilt thou suffer thine
holy one to see corruption. So this is speaking of his resurrection,
his resurrection. So we saw the scriptures talk
about his birth, prophesy of his birth, prophesies of his
death, and it prophesies of his resurrection. It's wonderful,
it's wonderful. The prophets all give witness
to our Lord because they testify They testify of him. So God's
people, we don't just hope we have eternal life. We know we
have eternal life because the scripture says that. And because
God has been pleased to reveal his gospel truths to us, we have
a more sure word of prophecy. And there are some things that
we know for sure, because the word of God proclaims these things
are so there's some things we know for sure. We know that the
son of God has come and has given us an understanding. And that
we may know Him that is true. And we are in Him that is true.
Even in His Son, Jesus Christ. And this is the one true God
in eternal life. 1 John 5.20. We know that we
have passed from death unto life because we love the bread. 1
John 3.14. We can say with the Apostle, I know whom I believe. and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day, 2
Timothy 2, 1-12. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose, Romans 8, 28. And we know these
things because the Holy Spirit's revealed these truths to us and
the scriptures declare these truths. And so it's so, it's
so. Peter declared in Acts chapter
10 verse 43. Turn if you would there. Acts
chapter 10 verse 43. Speaking of Christ. And speaking of our third witness
here, the prophets. Acts chapter 10 verse 43. To him, being Christ, gave all
the prophets witness. that through his name, whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Note it says,
to him gave all the prophets witness. Christ. Christ Jesus. And then, look,
witness to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, that through
his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission
of sins. we see set forth in the purposes
of God, in the types and figures and sacrifices of the law in
the Old Testament, in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament,
that he should, by the shedding of his own precious blood, obtain
the forgiveness of sins for his people. The perfect, spotless
Lamb of God. Remember, he's the sacrifice.
He's the scapegoat. He's the priest. He's the fit
man. It's all pictures him. It all
pictures him. He came forth in the fullness
of time, didn't he? Scriptures declare this. He wasn't
a second late. He wasn't a second early. He
came forth in the fullness of time, in God's time. He shed
his blood for this purpose to redeem his people and he obtained
eternal salvation for us For his sheep in this wonderful truth
is proclaimed in the everlasting gospel And whosoever believes
on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved shall be saved And they
who believe received this gift of faith, it's not by works which
we have done It's not by works which we have done. It's a gift
of God Through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God, we
are born again. And we receive the gift of faith. And then we cast ourselves upon
Christ Jesus our Lord. And this free gift which God
gives us is not purchased by money. You can't buy it. Nor
is it obtained by works. You can't earn it. You can't
earn it. Because all our righteousness
is like filthy rags, nor is it obtained by repentance. Although
God's people are given repentance, they're given a repent of heart.
And this, too, is a gift from God. But this gift, this free
gift of salvation in Christ and Christ alone is not not obtained
by anything in us. And it's not obtained by anything
we do. Preachers who say that are lying. They're lying. It's a free gift. It's given
to God's people free and sovereignly by the God of all glory to the
sinner whom He has chosen. And it's all according to the
riches of His grace. It's all according to the riches
of His grace. And it comes to the believer
in and through Christ Jesus alone. There's no other way. No other
way. It's in Him. It's in what He's
done. It's his work. And it's the blood
of Christ which was shed for the remission of God's people's
sins. And God is able to forgive his
chosen people because of what Christ has done on Calvary's
cross. Because of his work. Because
of his work. And all of that is pictured and
prophesied in type and picture, in shadow in the New Testament,
and it all finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ, in
him alone. He is the one mediator between
God and man. There is no other mediator. There
is no other hope but Christ. Again, our Lord died for our
sins according to the scriptures. Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which you also received
and wherein you stand. By which also ye are saved, if
ye keep in memory that which I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you again,
first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died
for our sins according to the Scripture, and that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses
1 to 4. All through the Old Testament
Scripture, the Lord has spoken of in type, picture, shadow.
And the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are God-given. God-given. These are not the
works of man. Man penned them by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God. But the author is the Holy Spirit
of God. The author is God. And they testify
of the Lord Jesus Christ. They testify of Him. And He is
the one who is proclaimed all through this book. From Genesis
to Revelation. It speaks of Christ. It speaks
of Him. Note in our last verse in our
text here, for the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The prophecy, the writings of
the Old Testament prophets, and we can say even the New Testament
as well, came not in old time by the will of man. The Holy Scriptures do not come
into being by man's will. 2 Peter 1.21 For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The saints of old received
the Holy Scriptures bit by bit, until all of what is called the
Old Testament was compiled into one volume. The saints throughout
most of the Gospel Age have had a complete Bible. the inspired
books of the Old Testament and the inspired books of the New
Testament. Not by the will of man. Not by the will of man. As one commentator said, bit
by bit, by the eternal purpose and will of our great majestic
God, bought together the Old and New Testament. How thankful
we should be to the God of all grace that we have not been left
to wonder and to speculate about spiritual truths, but that we
have them proclaimed in this wondrous book. It's not by the
will of man. It's not what God's doing, beloved.
God has given us His Holy Inspired Word and His Holy Spirit to guide
us unto all truth concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. And He
tells us in the Holy Scriptures that His Word shall endure forever. Forever. So let us leave here tonight
in awe and in wonder of the witnesses of Christ which we have looked
at tonight. The witness of the Apostles. The very ones who were
eyewitnesses of His Majesty. Of His Majesty. than the witness
of God the Father. This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased. And in the witness of the prophets,
they all testified of Him, of Him. Praise God that He has given
we who believe eyes to see these three witnesses and ears to hear
these three witnesses, ears to hear these three witnesses, and
also heart to believe these three witnesses. It's all a work of
God. It's all a work of God.