This week, a representative of
Satellite TV contacted me about an opening they have on Sunday
mornings at 10.30 a.m. It would be right before Joel
Osteen. So you have quite a juxtaposition. But at any rate, 1030 Sunday
mornings, it reaches, according to them, 150 countries and 165
million homes. Whether that's the case, I don't
know, but they say that anyway. And we were on DirecTV several
years ago and got a lot of response from it, but the station closed
down. But this seems to be another
open door for us to preach the gospel. And it's $575 a week.
and I believe we should do it. I don't know of any other TV
preacher that's preaching the gospel, so pray for that, and
pray for the Lord's blessing on that, and that he would make
himself known, and if it becomes a financial burden, we won't
continue it, but let's pray the Lord's blessing on that. Also,
Debbie Williams had a PET scan this week, and something else
has come up, and they don't know what it is, so everybody remember
her. She's had such a difficult time for some time. John chapter 12. I've entitled this message, The
Exaltation of Christ. The Lord said in verse 32, and
I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all. You'll notice men is in italics
supplied by the translators. It reads literally, I will draw
thee all unto me. The word lift up is found 20
times in the New Testament. 14 times it's translated exalted
or exalt. Six times it's translated lift
up and the word means literally to lift up on high, to elevate,
to exalt, to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity
to raise to dignity, honor, and happiness. And I, if I be lifted up, exalted, will draw the all to me. Obviously not all men without
exception because all men without exception are not drawn to him.
It's the same all as all that the father giveth me shall come
to me. It's the same all as he that
spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all. How shall
he not with him freely give us all things. And I, if I be lifted
up from the earth. will draw all to me." This is
the drawing of irresistible and invincible grace. If you can resist it, you were
never drawn. You see all he draws come to
him. This is the Invincible and irresistible
work of his grace. Now look what verse 33 says,
this he said, signifying what? Death, he should
die. Do you know the death of Jesus
Christ, him being nailed to a cross We just sang about it, him being
nailed to a cross, writhing in anguish and pain, such that I cannot possibly describe. Do you know that is the greatest
exaltation and the greatest glory of Jesus Christ? Him being nailed
to a cross. Now that would be meaningless
without the resurrection. It's the resurrection of Jesus
Christ that lets us know that his death was his greatest glory.
You see, if he stayed dead, there would be no glory in it, would
there? He'd be dying just like me or you. But he was raised
from the dead. He lived, he was nailed to a
cross. And he says with regard to that,
nailing him to a cross. I, if I be exalted, that's what
he's calling his death. If I be lifted up, if I be raised
on high will draw all to me. The cross Now, understand me,
this cannot be understood apart from the resurrection. We're
not just talking about the cross by itself because the cross is
meaningless without the resurrection. But Jesus Christ being nailed
to a tree is the most God-like thing God ever did. Do you see that? Do you see the glory of that? Jesus Christ being nailed to
a tree is the most God-like thing God ever did. It's the highest
glory and exaltation of Christ. Now, here I see the character of God. That's what's known more than
anything else. Here I see the punishment of sin and the pardon
of sin in the same act. I see how God can be just and
justify the ungodly. I see that, do you? I see that. The cross, Jesus Christ nailed
to a cross is the whole counsel of God. The whole counsel of God. Jesus Christ nailed to a cross
is the eternal purpose of God. Before there was a creation,
before we had the planet earth, before there was any material
matter, when all there was was God, no universe, Jesus Christ
was called the Lamb slain. That's the cross. The Lamb slain
from the very foundation of the world. This is God's eternal
purpose. The reason for the creation of
the universe. The reason you're here right
now. is gonna have something to do with the glory of the cross. God hath made all things for
himself, yea, even the wicked, for the day of evil. He is in
control of everything and everything has something to do with the
power and the glory of the cross of Jesus Christ. You know, when the Lord gave
his most harsh rebuke to one of his disciples, He said in
Matthew chapter 16, let me read it to you. From that time forth,
Jesus began to show unto his disciples how that he must go
unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief
priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third
day. Then Peter took him and began
to rebuke him saying, be it far from thee, Lord. This shall not
be unto thee, but he turned and said unto Peter, get thee behind
me, Satan. There is no sterner rebuke than
that. Thou art an offense unto me,
for thou savest not the things that be of God. but those that
be of men." This was the Lord's harshest rebuke. And it's when
Peter said, don't go to the cross. I think of the 22nd Psalm written
a thousand years before the cross. when he said, they pierced my
hands and feet. The great psalm of the cross. What are the first words of that
psalm? My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? Now that is what was going on
on the cross. As Martin Luther said, how can
God forsake God? Yet that is what took place on
the cross when Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross and Jesus Christ
says, this is my highest, most exalted glory. Now the Lord used this word earlier
when he's speaking to Nicodemus when he says, as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be
lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. Now the cross was the Roman style
of execution. When he said this signifying
what death he should die, if I be lifted up, he's talking
about Roman execution, the cross. This is how Rome would strike
fear in her enemies. This is the end of all the enemies
of Rome. You're going to be nailed to
a cross. And it was foretold in scripture.
Proverbs 21, 23, I mean, Deuteronomy 21, 23 says, curse it is everyone. that hangeth on a tree. And Jesus Christ knew this referred
to him. The scripture says, he humbled
himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the
cross. Wherefore God hath also highly
exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. And every tongue is
gonna confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The Lord said, I am he that liveth
and was dead. Nobody else could say that. I
am he that liveth and was dead. When he was nailed to that cross,
he died on that cross. And behold, I am alive forevermore
and have the keys of hell and death. What that means is you're
in my hand. I have the keys of hell and death. Your eternity will be determined
by me. Now, what I'd like to do in light
of that amazing statement, and I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, and I've heard people use that and say, we lift you
up. He's too heavy for you to lift up. He's too heavy for me
to lift up. This is God the Father that lifted
him up on that cross and glorified and exalted him. And I, if I
be lifted up, speaking of being nailed to a cross, I will draw
all to me. Now, what I'd like you to do
is turn to 1 Corinthians 1. Verse 17. Paul says, for Christ sent me
not to baptize. Now, does that mean baptism is
of no importance? Of course not. What Paul is saying is this is
not about trying to see results. You know, when we talked about
getting on direct TV, yes, I would love to see thousands
of people saved if the Lord's pleased to do that. And you would
too. We want to see that, but this is not about results. This
is about the declaration of his gospel. Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach The gospel. There's only one gospel. The
gospel. Notice what he says, not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect. Now, whatever wisdom of words, it's trying to market
the gospel to make it more appealing, less offensive. So people will
be more likely to believe. Now the moment a man does that,
the cross of Christ is made of none effect. No one is saved
through that kind of preaching. It is offensive to God. You remember when Paul said in
Galatians chapter five, verse 11, if I yet preach circumcision,
why do I suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross
ceased. And when the offense of the cross
has ceased, the truth has ceased. That's why I don't try to make
them more attractive. I want to preach the gospel as
it is and trust God with the results. I'm not going to try
to manipulate people. I'm not going to try to scare
people. I'm not going to try to do anything with people, I
preach the gospel and leave the results in God's hand. That's the only place they are
anyway, isn't it? Verse 18, for the preaching of the cross is
to them that perish foolishness. But unto us, which are saved,
it, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. The preaching, the Word, the
doctrine, the message of the cross. Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, nailed to a cross is the full revelation of the character
of God Almighty. All you and I will ever truly
know of the character of God is revealed in Him nailing His
Son to a cross. You say, didn't men do it? Yeah,
they did. They did whatsoever His hand
and His counsel determined before to be done. God makes His full
character known, His justice, No sin will ever go unpunished. That's what God thinks of sin.
He makes known His purpose. This is His eternal purpose.
He makes known His power, His power to put away sin and make
it not to be. His wisdom in making a way to
be just and justify the ungodly. His sovereignty. One thief is
saved, the other is not. The two men beside him, his love. God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten son, his grace. You know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes,
he became poor. Every attribute that God has
been pleased to make known with regard to who he is, is seen
in the cross of Jesus Christ. We see, this is the doctrine
of the cross. This is how bad me and you are. Murderers of Jesus Christ. If God left me to myself, and
if he left you to yourself, you know what we do? Nail his son
to a tree. The only way you're gonna find
out how bad you are is not by looking within, not by thinking
of all the things that you've done that you shouldn't have
done. The only way you're gonna know how bad you are, how God
sees you, is by looking at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not looking within. Quit doing
it. You'll find out a way to make
yourself look better than you really are is what you do. The cross
is the only thing that tells the truth about me and you. The
preaching, the doctrine of the cross, tells the truth of how
God saves sinners. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. There's only one way mere you
can be saved. is by Christ keeping the law
for me, bearing my sin, putting them away on the cross, being
forsaken by His Father, suffering the full equivalent of eternal
hell in my place and completely satisfying God's justice so that
God is actually satisfied with and pleased with me because of
what Christ did in my behalf. It's all found in the cross,
the doctrine of the cross. And to them that perish, Foolishness. But unto us which
are saved, it's the power of God. Do you see that? Verse 19, for
it's written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the
wise? Where is the scribe? Where is
the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the
wisdom of this world? He sure has. For after that in
the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching. And might I, I'm not adding it
because he said the preaching of the cross. It's talking about
the preaching of the cross. You see, Anytime the gospel is
preached, the preaching of the cross is taking place. And if
the preaching of the cross is not the center of the message,
it's not the gospel. The preaching of the cross. For after that in the wisdom
of God, the world by wisdom knew not God had pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Four, the
Jews. The religious require a sign,
and the Greeks seek after wisdom. The Jews require a sign, something
they can see. I need to see something before
I can believe. Do you mean that faith alone
in Christ saves? Well, what about good works? What about your life? I need
to see something. that'll enable me to believe.
I need visible, tangible proof. I need to see something. Why,
what you're saying will lead men to sin. What you're saying
will lead men to indifference. To say that you're saved altogether
by what Christ did and it has nothing to do with your works,
well, that's opening up the door to lost righteousness. That's
opening up the door to sin, to preach like that. I gotta see
something more than that. I gotta see some better evidence.
I can't really believe I'm saved unless I see something that proves
to me that I'm saved. To simply speak of the message
of the cross like this, no, the Jews require a sign. The Greeks,
they seek after wisdom. What's the cross have to do with
helping the economy? What's the cross have to do with helping
education? What's the cross have to do with helping poverty? What's
the cross have to do with striking out all the social ills? I need
more wisdom than that. Verse 23, Paul says, while the
Jews are requiring a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom,
we preach Christ crucified, nailed to a cross, his highest glory
and exaltation. To the Jews, it's a stumbling
block. I just don't get it, says the
Jew. You're going to tell me that
all my acceptance is simply because of that man nailed to the cross
and it has nothing to do with any work performed by me? Why? I can't accept that. You're taking
all sense of personal responsibility and efforts to do good away by
that. I stumble at that. I do not believe
that. I can't accept it. To the Greeks, foolishness. This is not gonna
make the world a better place. This is not going to improve
our culture. But, verse 24, unto them which are called. And this is talking about the
call of his irresistible and invincible grace. To them, which are thee called. Whom he did predestinate, them
he also called. And the call is the preaching
of the cross. That is the call. To them which
are called. He saved us, Paul said, and he
called us. And I love the order of that.
I say it all the time. What came first? The saving.
What comes next? The calling. I was saved by what
he did on the cross. When were you saved? When Christ
said it is finished. That's when I was saved. When
were you saved? Well, actually it was before
then. I was saved before the foundation of the world in the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. When were you saved? When I believe
this message. When I believe this message,
not before then. That's contradictory. No, it's not. It's scriptural.
I don't have to make something logical as far as my logic goes,
but I know I was saved before time again. I was saved when
Christ died and I was saved when I believed the gospel, not before
then. All of those are true. But unto them which are called
both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, Christ, the
wisdom of God, Christ on a cross, the power of God to put away
sin. Christ on the cross, the power of God to be just and justify
the ungodly. Christ, the wisdom of God. Turn with me to Galatians chapter
three. Now think of the language the
Lord used. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, if I be exalted,
if I be raised to the height of opulence and prosperity and
glory, and yet he's talking about being nailed to a cross, this
signifying what death he should die. Now that language is, well
it's divine. That's all you can call it, divine.
This is not the way of men. Galatians chapter three, verse
eight. And the scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen through faith. Now, don't miss
that. The scripture foresaw. You see, the scripture and the
person of God cannot be separated. He wrote this book. The scripture,
foreseeing. Well, it's just written words. It's the word of God. The scripture,
foreseeing. that God would justify the heathen
through faith. That's always been the way. Preached before the gospel, the
scripture preached before the gospel and Abraham saying, in
thee shall all nations be blessed. Now there we have the gospel.
In thee. You see the only way, anybody
that's saved, whatever nation they're from, they're gonna be
saved for this one reason, they're in him. He wasn't saying to Abraham
because in thee, he's talking about the seed that was in Abraham.
That's where God is going to bless every nation, the Lord
Jesus Christ being in him. That's the gospel. In thee shall
all, shall all nations be blessed. So then, verse nine, they which
be of faith are blessed with faithful, faithful Abraham for
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written, cursed is
everyone that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. Now, what does it mean
to be of the law? Does it mean, well, if I think
the only way I can be saved is by keeping the 10 commandments,
that's the only way I can be saved, is that what it means
to be of the law? Well, it's part of it. But to be of the
law is to think any part of your salvation is dependent upon or
activated by something you do. Now, if you believe any part
of your salvation is dependent upon you doing something before
God can do something for you, you are of the works of the law. Are you of the works of the law? Look what he says with regard
to those who are of the works of the law. As many as are of
the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written,
cursed. Cursed by God is everyone that
continueth not in all things which are in the book of the
law to do them. All the law recognizes is perfect, continual obedience.
That's it. But verse 11, that no man is
justified by the law and the sight of God. It is evident.
It is very clear. This is the way it's always been.
The just shall live by faith. It's always been that way. No
one's ever been saved by law keeping. You talk about the Old
Testament saints, they're saved the same way New Testament saints
are, by looking to Christ alone. Now this statement, the gesture
to live by faith is found in the Old Testament. Habakkuk chapter two, verse four
says, his soul, which is lifted up is not upright in him. But the just shall live by faith. Now, faith is completely contrary
to being lifted up. Having a high opinion of yourself
and your own ability and your own righteousness and your own
ability to do anything. His soul that's lifted up in
him is not upright. It's contrary to everything that
God is. The just shall live by faith. Not by anything that you can
feel proud about and take credit for. The just shall live by faith. And then it's quoted in Romans
chapter one, verses 16 and 17, where Paul said, I'm not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation
to everyone that believeth to the Jew. and also to the Greek.
For therein in the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed
as it's written, the just shall live by faith. Now, what does
that mean? The only way the righteousness of God is received is by personal
righteousness, is by faith. Not by works, not by what you
do, but by believing what he has done. The only way you honor
God's law and the righteousness of God's law is by looking to
Christ. Anything else is a dishonoring
of God's holy law. And then in our text, it says,
this is the way it's always been, but that no man is justified
by the law on the side of God. It's evident for the just shall
live by faith. And the writer to the Hebrews
said the same thing. Now the just shall live by faith,
but if any man draw back, What's that mean? If you quit at any time looking
to Christ only as everything in your salvation, you're gone. You're done. God's taken his
hand off you. It's only looking to Christ only
all the way to the end. Not the first time you look,
but the last time you look. That's what perseverance in the
faith is. It's looking to Christ only until your dying breath. You never have any more than
Him. And you know what? If He's all
you have, you have everything, don't you? Everything God requires. Everything God's pleased with.
The just shall live by faith. Now let's go on reading. Verse 12, and the law is not
a faith. The law's opposed to faith. And
faith is opposed to the law in the sense that you know you can't
be saved by law keeping, but really the only way the law is
honored is by faith. No other way. But the law is
not a faith. But the man that doeth them shall
live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law
being made a curse for us. Now that's what was going on
on the cross. Jesus Christ was made a curse. He bore the full equivalent of
eternal hell, the eternal curse of God. He did what no man could
do. Let me, there is a place called hell.
And people that go there suffer eternally there. And the reason is because they
could never satisfy God for the wickedness of killing his son. God would never say, well, I'm
satisfied with that punishment. That's why hell is eternal, the
eternal wickedness of what men have done to his son. Jesus Christ
satisfied God. The moment he died, complete
satisfaction was made on the cross. He was delivered for our
offenses, raised again for our justification. He was made a
curse. That's such awful language. That's as awful as him being
made sin. For he who knew no sin was made
sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
He was made sin, that's why he was made a curse. Now here's the result. Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us, for it's written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a
tree. That passage from Deuteronomy, that the blessing of Abraham
might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 6. Verse 14. Well, let's start in
verse 11. You see how large a letter I've
written unto you with mine own hand? As many as desire to make
a fair show in the flesh. You know, that's what religion is.
Men making a fair show in the flesh. Look at me. Look how good I am. Look how
different I am. And I'm gonna try to prove it
to you. I'm going to act this out, making a fair show. That's what it is. It's a show.
It's not real. It's a show. It's acting. It's
play acting. It's pretend. As many as desire
to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised. They say, here's what you need
to do. That's not merely talking about physical circumcision.
It's talking about anything that you need to do to make yourself
more pleasing to God. Anything. You need to keep the
law. You need to straighten up. As many as desire to make a fair
show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised. And here's
what's behind this. They don't want to suffer persecution
for the cross of Christ to preach salvation completely accomplished
by Christ on the cross. My people won't like that. You're
just destroying all motive for holiness and good works. You're
opening up the door for sin by doing that. They don't want to
suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. And here's what's
ironic for neither they themselves who were circumcised keep the
law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may
glory in your flesh. They don't keep the law. They
say they do, but they don't. It's all hypocrisy. It's all
an act. Here's what it is. They wouldn't
get you to keep the law because so they can say, look what a
good influence I've had on their life. I've done something. It
counts for something. I've helped them in some way.
But God forbid that I should glory
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says, I don't
glory that I'm an apostle. I don't glory in the fact that
I've been used to write the scriptures. I don't glory in my preaching.
There's one thing I glory in. And God forbid that I glory in
anything else. I glory in the cross of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I glory in what He accomplished
on the cross, the full revelation of the character of His Father,
the complete salvation of everybody He died for. I glory only in
the cross. I don't glory in anything else.
You know, Paul went so far as to say in 1 Corinthians 1, verses
1 and 2, I determined not to know anything among you, save
Jesus Christ and him crucified. And if you don't understand that,
it's because you don't understand the gospel. You don't understand
who he is. If you know who he is, you'll
know exactly what Paul means. There is no other message. God
forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world. Now the Lord said, and I, if
I be lifted up from the earth, nailed to a cross, I will draw
all men. And like I said, the word men
is in italics, the all. to me. The cross is God's magnet and
it's an irresistible and invincible magnet. If you belong to him,
if I belong to him, We will be irresistibly and invincibly drawn
to the Christ of the cross, the God of the cross, the Holy Spirit
of the cross. Now the word draw means to drag. Did you know that? Do not rich
men draw you before their judgment seats? That doesn't mean they're
saying, come on. No, they drag you in and you're
going to be put on trial. That's what the word means. Drag. Who does this? Drawing. Christ said, and I, if I be lifted
up, I will draw all the elect to me. This is irresistible. This is invincible. It cannot
be resisted. I can't resist this. You know, the law never drew anybody to
Christ, only makes you resent, feel like you're not measuring
up. Fear of hell never drew anyone to Christ. I could paint pictures
of hell that would make your skin crawl, but it won't draw
anybody to Christ. Reward in heaven won't draw anybody
to Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who draws
people to himself. I will draw. The great magnet. The songwriter said, in evil
long I took delight, unawed by shame or fear, till a new object
caught my sight and stopped my wild career. I saw one hanging
on a tree in agony and blood. who fixed his languid eyes on
me as near his cross I stood. Sure never till my latest breath
can I forget that look. It seemed to charge me with his
death, though not a word he spoke. My conscience felt and owned
the guilt and plunged me in despair I saw my sins, his blood had
spilled, and helped to nail him there. Alas, I knew not what
I did, but now my tears are vain. Where shall my trembling soul
be hid? For I, the Lord, have slain."
A second look he gave, which said, I freely all forgive. This blood was for thy ransom
paid. I died that thou mayest live. Thus while his death displays
my sin in all its blackest hue, Such is the mystery of grace
it sealed my pardon to. With pleasing grief and mournful
joy, my spirit now is filled that I should such a life destroy,
yet live by him I killed. Our merciful heavenly father,
we ask that by your spirit, you would draw us. Lord, we cry, draw us and we'll
run after thee. Draw us to the glories of the accomplishments of the
cross of thy son. enable us to see in our hearts
that your son nailed to a tree, raised from the dead, is your
highest glory, your complete revelation of yourself. Bless
this message for your glory and for our good. In Christ's name
we pray. Amen.