Would you turn to Romans chapter
8, verse 33. who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect. It is God that justifieth. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you that you've
made the way to be just and to justify your people. We ask that the gospel of your
son might be preached in the power of your spirit and that
we might be enabled by your grace to hear with hearing ears. You said in your word, he that
hath ears to hear, let him hear. We ask that we might be given
these hearing ears that hear what you say in your word. Forgive
us of our sins for Christ's sake. We ask that you unite our hearts
together to fear thy name. We pray for your blessing upon
us. We wait on me. In Christ's name,
we pray. Amen. Now I want you to think of the
magnitude of this statement. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? If I'm one of God's elect, there
can be no accusation brought against me. Now think of the
magnitude of that. If a judge had a criminal who
was guilty come before him, And he said, nothing is laid to your
charge. What would that be? It would not be just, would it? It would be an act of injustice.
But yet we read here with regard to God's elect that there is
absolutely nothing that can be laid to their charge. No accusation
of wrongdoing can be brought against any of God's elect. Now think about this. Nothing
laid to your charge. God sees you if you're one of
his elect. Scripture points that out. Who
shall I be in charge of God's elect? He doesn't say this about
everybody, but he talks about God's elect. This is God's word. If
you're one of God's elect, you have lived a life of sinlessness. That's what justification means.
It means you have never committed a sin. Now think of these scriptures. If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves. And the truth is not in us. We've
lost all credibility. If we say we've not sinned, That's
with regard to anything I do. If we say we've not sinned, if
I am bringing this message and I say I'm not sinning in bringing
this message, I'm telling the truth. I'm calling God a liar
because he says everything I do is sin because I did it. Now
that's the fact of the matter. If thou, Lord, should mark iniquity,
O Lord, who should stand? There's not a just man on the
earth that doeth good and sinneth not. David said, behold, I was
shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. He
said, my sins are ever before me. The scripture says the carnal
mind, that's what we're all born with, is enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. There's none that doeth good,
no, not one. We all do faith as a leaf and
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. God saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. You're going to tell me somebody
like that can make this statement or God makes this statement with
regard to them, they're justified. cleared of all guilt, they are
not guilty. Now that sampling of scriptures
I just read, and yet we read in this verse of scripture, who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect. Who are God's elect? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Who are God's elect? You know, the Bible deals with
something that no other religion does. The gospel deals with something
that no other religion does. God's elect. And how God justifies
them. You know, that's not even an
issue in other religions. It's not even brought up, how can
God be just and justify the ungodly? But it is the message of the
scripture brought out in Job chapter 25 early. How can God
be just and justify the ungodly? How can he be clean that's born
a woman? Well, who are God's elect? In
John chapter 15, verse 16, the Lord said to his disciples, you
did not choose me. The word is elect. You did not
elect me, but I elected you. And if you're a believer, you
so much just know that's so. I don't have to convince you
of it. You know that's so. Ephesians 1.4 says, according
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. God's elect. There was a woman who came up
to her pastor one time and she said, I really don't understand.
I don't think what you're meaning when you talk about election.
What is Tell me exactly what you're talking about. He said,
well, are you saved? And she said,
I hope I am. He said, did you save yourself
or did God save you? She said, oh, God saved me. He
said, did you help him or did he do it all? She said, he did
it all. And he said, did you do it on
purpose or accident? And she said, I see. I see. God's election. Now, let's look at this verse
in Ephesians chapter one. Paul's great epistle to the Ephesians. Verse four, according as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. He chose us. When was this choice made? before
the foundation of the world, before there was a creation,
before there were any angels or planets or all there was,
was God. And he made this choice of us. And somebody says, well, how
did he, did he say, well, I'm going to, I'm going to choose
rich. I'm going to reject it. That's not the way election works. According
as he has chosen us in him. Christ be my first elect, he
said, and then chose us in him, our living head. He didn't just
choose you. God's elect have never been seen independent of
Jesus Christ. Isn't that wonderful? I love
it that way. I wouldn't want it to be any
other way. Somebody says, I don't like that. I do. I do. I love
it as a matter of fact. Chosen in him. before the foundation
of the world. Now, let me say this about election.
We see this in this verse of scripture. Let me say this about
election. God's choice of his people before creation. Number
one, it's true. Amen. That's what the Bible teaches. Number two, it's God being God. Anything less, it's just not
God. Three, it stems from God's goodness. Remember that passage of scripture
in Exodus 33, where Moses said, show me your glory. He said,
I'll make all my goodness pass before you. I'll proclaim my
name before you and I'll be gracious to whom I will be gracious. And
I'll show mercy on whom I will show mercy. You know why God
elected people? Because of his goodness. God
is good. It's essential to his glory.
Now, there's no salvation without it. Remember this. Election does
not prevent people from being saved who otherwise would have
been saved. It saves people who most certainly
would have otherwise been damned. The goodness of God. It's essential to salvation.
The work of the Son, the work of the Spirit, that's essential
in salvation. Christ dying for you, God the Holy Spirit giving
you life, isn't that essential to salvation? Well, God electing
you is essential to salvation. That's why when I think of people
asking the question, well, is it essential to preach this?
Well, it is for you. That's the way somebody takes
God's glorious truth and says, well, is it essential to preach
this? Of course it is. It's who God is. It's how he
saves. And when someone skims on election,
they're skimming on the character of God. They're skimming on who
God is. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Now, with regard to this holy
truth concerning God's character and salvation, this was just
so given in the early church. I mean, if you had said, I don't
believe in election, what, who are you? What planet did you
come from? You've not heard the gospel.
When Luke talked about Paul's sermon in Acts chapter 13, and
at the end of that sermon where these people were brought to
a knowledge of Christ, Luke summarized it like this, as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed. That's just the way it is. When
Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he says in 1 Thessalonians 1,
4, this is a new church, an early church. And this is the first
time he wrote to him. Some say just several weeks after he'd
been there, he said, knowing brethren beloved your election
of God. When Peter writes, he says in
his general epistle, elect This is the way he opens the epistle,
elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the father. And he closes
the epistle by saying the church that's at Babylon elected together
with you. John writes to the elect lady. And he says, the children of
thy elect sister greet thee. I mean, look at the way that
this was used in the early church. And yet, if you went into your
average religious assembly and you said something about election
day, I didn't know it was election day. They wouldn't even know
what you're talking about. But how essential this is. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect. Now, how is it that nothing can
be laid to their charge? How is it that no accusation
can be brought against them? It's God that justifies. There's no higher court to appeal
to. It's God that justifies. And this is the great mystery
of the gospel. This is what the Bible is about. This is what glorifies every
attribute of God. How God can be just, not unjust. If we did this, it would be unjust.
If somebody committed a crime and got up before the judge and
the judge says, you know, I'm a loving judge and I'm a forgiving
judge, I'll just forgive you of that crime. You know what
we'd do? We'd have to get rid of him, wouldn't we? He wouldn't be a good judge.
He would be nothing but destructive to society. God has made the
way, and God can do this. See, he's God. Is anything too
hard for the Lord? Is anything beyond his ability? The justice of God, God is able
to take somebody who, like me, and I really believe this, all
I've ever done is sin. That's it. With regard to every
action, every motive, every thought, every sermon I've preached, every
prayer I've prayed. And somebody's thinking, what
are you doing? Being. Is that enough of an answer? Being. That answers that question. God is able to take somebody
that's utterly sinful in and of himself. and make me to where
there's nothing that can be brought against me. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Now turn with me to Romans chapter
three. Romans chapter three, now in
the first two and a half chapters of the book of Romans, Paul did
this, look in verse nine of chapter three. What then? Are we better than
they? Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? No, and no wise, for we have
before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin. Now, what was going on? Well, in Romans 1, Paul talked
about the Gentile world. Look in verse 28, and this is
talking about the best the Gentile world had to produce. This is
talking about the Greek philosophers. That's where these injunctions
against homosexuality come in in Romans chapter one. It's because
these fellows rejected the truth and God gave them over. The reason
is they rejected the gospel. Wherefore God gave them over.
Now look, beginning in verse 28. And even as they did not
like to retain God and their knowledge, God gave them over
to a reprobate mind. This is talking about Plato,
Socrates, Aristotle, the best the Gentiles could produce. God gave them over to a reprobate
mind to do those things which are not convenient. Being filled
with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, Covetousness, maliciousness,
fool of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whispers,
backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant
breakers, without natural affection. Implacable, unmerciful, who knowing
the judgment of God that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them. Not only do they enjoy committing
these sins, they have pleasure in other people who commit these
sins. Now, what do you think about
these people? What do you think? Here's what Paul concludes. Therefore,
chapter two, verse one, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever
thou art that judgest. Did you say, man, these are bad
people? These are wicked people. The sins they commit, here's
what Paul says, if you judge them, you condemn yourself, for
you that judge, do the same things. Every sin mentioned, for you
to sit in judgment on anybody, Immoral superiority is pure hypocrisy,
he says, because you do the same things. Now, I wonder if anybody's
thinking, I haven't done all those things. Well, God says
you have. Who am I to believe you are God? I believe God, and
this is God's testimony. Now, there's the Gentile world
and our view of them. Now, look at the Jewish world. Verse 17, behold, chapter 2,
verse 17, behold, thou art called a Jew. Now he'd already proved
the Gentiles. Behold, thou art called a Jew and restest in the
law and make us thy boast of God and knowest his will and
approve us the things which are more excellent being instructed
out of the law and are confident that thou thyself are the guide
of the blind, the light. of them which are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which has
the form of knowledge and of the truth and the law. You've
got a revelation from God. You've got the Bible. You've
got the oracles of God. You have something the Gentiles
never had. The Gentiles never had a Bible. You do. Now, what
do you do with it? Verse 21, thou therefore which
teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest
that a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Do you rob glory
from God? Do you rob your employer of your
best effort? Verse 22, thou that sayest the
man should not commit adultery, does thou commit adultery? Like
those ones who were wanting to stone the woman that was caught
red handed. There was no doubt about her
guilt and They said, Moses commanded that such should be stoned, but
what sayest thou? And he said, he that's without
sin among you. And I have no doubt he saw about that particular
sin. If not physically in your mind, that's what the scripture
says. He that's without sin among you, let him throw the first
stone, go for it. And they began with shame to
walk away. Verse 23 or verse 22, thou that
abhorrest idols, does thou commit sacrilege? Have you made false
idols in your heart and mind? Thou that makest thy boast of
the law through breaking the law dishonors thou God for the
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. Now go back to verse nine. What
then? Chapter three, verse nine. Remember,
this is about how God can be just and justify the ungodly. This is about how nothing can
be brought to my charge. Verse nine. What then? Are we better than they? No and
no wise for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they
are all under sin as it's written. There's none righteous. No, not
one. There's none that understands.
There's none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of
the way. They are together, become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good,
no, not one. Now skip down to verse 19. Now
we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law. Do you know you're under the
law of God? Someone says, I'm not going to be judged by that
standard. You don't have any choice. It's not like you can
just pick and choose what you want to be under. No, we all
stand before God to be judged by His holy law. And what should we conclude? Now, we know that what thing
soever the law saith, it saith to them who are the under the
law, that every mouth may be stopped. You can't vindicate
yourself. You can't justify yourself. You
are guilty before that law and you can't make any excuses. It's all your fault. You can't blame the devil. You
can't blame your circumstances. All my sin is 100 percent all
my fault. Every mouth is to be stopped.
and all the world may become guilty before God. Now remember, we're talking about
how God's made a way to make it to where these guilty people
stand before God with nothing even being brought to their charge.
Let's keep that in mind as we read. Therefore, by the deeds
of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, For
by the law is the knowledge of sin. Is there anything we can
do to get out of this mess? No. No. By the deeds of the law, if salvation
is dependent upon anything you or I do, we will not be saved. Does that mean we have absolutely
no hope? No, it doesn't mean that at all.
Look in verse 21. the righteousness of God. Now
that's one of the key phrases of the book of Romans, the righteousness
of God. But now the righteousness of
God without the law, without my personal obedience in my flesh
to the law, but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested
being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Now that's important.
This is what scripture is always taught. This isn't new to the
New Testament. This is the way every sinner
who has ever been saved has been saved. This is what the law and
the prophets, the Old Testament scriptures, have always taught. Verse 22, even the righteousness
of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe, for there is no difference. Now here's
one of the reasons that I think It's best to have a King James
Version. In every other version, you'll
read, but now by faith in Christ. That's what you read in every
other version. But that's not what the King James Version says,
and this is the way it should be read. The faith of, the faithfulness
of, the obedience of Jesus Christ. Now, the righteousness of God,
which is by the faith of Christ. Now, do you hear what that's
saying? The very righteousness of God was worked out by the
faith of Christ. The righteousness of God. Remember
that scripture, for he had made him to be sin for us who knew
no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. And this is given unto all and
upon all them that believe. Now, do you believe the gospel? I'm not asking you how holy you
think you are or how much progress you think you've made. Do you
believe the gospel? Do you believe this is God's
testimony? Do you believe that God has made a way to be just
and justify the ungodly? Do you believe that Jesus Christ
is all you need? Nothing more, nothing less, and
nothing else. Do you believe that Jesus Christ
is all you need to make you perfect before God? That's who believes.
That's who believes. For there's no difference. Verse
22, there's no difference. For all sin comes short of the
glory of God. You know, there's no difference
between men. I'm talking about in God's sight. You take the
finest person you've ever known, and there's good people, so to
speak, and I'm thankful for that. But you take the finest person
you've ever known, and you find the most moral reprobate ever
known. And before God, one's no better
than the other. There's no difference. You believe
that? There's no difference. See, all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's what
sin is, is coming short of his glory, being justified, verse
24, freely by his grace, through the redemption that's in Christ
Jesus, his redeeming work on the cross, whom God has set forth
or foreordained. This has always been God's purpose.
Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
and he created the universe for this to take place. whom God
set forth to be a propitiation, a sin-removing sacrifice through
faith in his blood to declare not his mercy, not his loving
kindness and forgiveness, although that's seen, but his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance
of God, to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness,
that he might be just. and justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus, where is boasting then? Anybody got anything you can
say? Well, I brought this to the table.
Where is boasting then? It is what? Excluded. Altogether. excluded. By what law of works?
Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a
man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Who shall
lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It's God that justifies
men. Amen.