I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Proverbs, chapter
26. Proverbs 26. I'd like to look
at one verse of Scripture, verse 16. is wiser in his own conceit than
seven men that can render a reason." Well, you think, wiser in his own conceit about
what? Well, knowing that these scriptures deal totally with the glory of
God in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, we realize that the scriptures
is talking about the rendering of a reason concerning salvation. That's the only thing that's
profitable. A sluggard A lazy, lazy man is
what it means, wiser in his own eyes, his own conceit, than seven
men, a definite number, seven, but an indefinite amount, it
just means many, that can render a reason for their salvation. Now, now listen. there can only
be two sources of hope concerning salvation. It's either man's
word or God's word. Now that's all there is to it. If it's based on man's word,
man's thoughts, man's reasoning, If it's based upon a man's conceited
idea of salvation, then salvation has got to be based on what magnifies
man. By nature, I'm not going to talk
about something that's going to put me down. I've got, if
I'm conceited in my own eyes, and if I think I've got the answer,
I know what I'm talking about. If that's my attitude, then it's
got to be based on something that's going to magnify me. But, the only problem, according
to the scriptures, is that man is born dead in trespasses and
sins. So if it's going to be based
upon man's thought, it's going to have to be based on something
that comes from a dead man. Now just stop for a second and
ask yourself this. If I'm going to ask a dead man
his opinion, what do you think about so and so? Now what kind of an answer am
I going to get? I'm not going to get an answer. There is no
answer. So, you know, salvation based
on man's thoughts is based on that that's pure
vanity. The scripture says every man
at his best state When he's talking about that,
which is the best thing to talk about, is altogether vanity. It's empty in word, it's empty
in act, it's empty in expectation. The sluggard is wiser in his
own conceit concerning salvation. and seven men that can render
a reason, or that can render a reason according to the scriptures. The sluggard is too spiritually
lazy, and this is all of us now by nature. We don't have to start
pointing fingers, this is all of us. The sluggard, that old
man, is too lazy to consider whether his own view of himself,
man of God is right. He's too lazy. He just has the
scriptures to the old man again. Now look, that's all of us. The scriptures are not worthy
of being searched, being considered, or being believed. Now concerning being able to
render a reason for our hope. You know, scripture says, 1 Peter
3.15, listen, sanctify the Lord in your hearts. Not that we're able, sanctify
means make holy, set apart. Now we don't make the Lord anything,
but we declare him to be in our hearts. in our hearts. Sanctify the Lord in your hearts
and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh
you a reason of the hope of the expectation that is in you with meekness
and fear. regard the Lord in your hearts
to be as he is, holy, God, sovereign, and be always prepared to give
an answer. That is an apology. You know,
we talk about giving an apology now and it's asking you to forgive
us for something that we've done that we did wrong. That's not
what this word apology It means give a vindication, give a ground
of truth to every man that inquires you, that inquires in a spirit
of meekness and reverence. You know, we're told, don't cast
your pearls before swine. If someone is, they're mocking,
they're just mocking you. You're trying to tell them something,
you want to be serious with them, and they're just mocking you.
Laughing at you, laughing, you know. Don't cast your pearls
before swine. But now if they come and they
truly want to know, I want to know. I'm not kidding with you. I want to know. Sanctify the Lord in your hearts
and be ready always to give a good answer. A foundational answer. Give an answer. and a reason
for the confidence that you have that God's done something for
you. And not only if they ask you
in a spirit of meekness and reverence, but you be meek also. And you be reverent back to them. Would somebody ask you to give
a reason as to why do you believe that you're one of the Lords?
and that your sins are truly pardoned." Tell them. Tell them. The sluggard is wiser
in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason
from the scriptures. Now, I remember I've told you
this before. Brother Henry said one time,
he said, if somebody came up and asked, ask a believer. Tell me the reason that you believe
that God saved you. Give me a reason. He said, I
would say that by and large, what they'll do, he said, now
they're truly immediately starting to think in their heart, okay. Well, I've sat on the gospel,
you see, for years. I ought to know this. And he
said, they'll stammer around, stutter, and they'll think, OK,
well, and you're trying your best, trying to think. But when
somebody sits down and just methodically takes the scriptures and sets
them, they'll say, there's the reason right there. That's my
reason right there. Well, Lord willing, I'm going
to give you three. And when I say simple, I don't
mean simple in the sense that they're simplistic. I don't mean
that. They're waiting, but I want to give you three fundamental. There's a word I'm looking for.
I want to give you three fundamental reasons. Why do you believe that
God has saved you? Why do you believe that? Show
me in the scriptures. I mean, everybody and their brother,
you know, ask them, are you saved? Yeah. How do you know? What's the reason? Here's my
first reason of hope. I believe God when he says that
I am a sinner. Romans 3.23 says, now listen
to this, for all have sinned and come short They've missed
the mark. They've missed the mark. All
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All have wandered from the law
of God. All have violated God's law. Now listen, let me tell you something.
This is all of us. The publican, you remember there
was two men that went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee,
the other was a publican. And you know how the Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself. God, I thank you that I'm not
as other men are. You know, I tithe. This publican,
this was one that stood afar off. He would not
lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven. He was a cheat. He was a liar. He made his living by extortion. And this man, by the grace of
God, smote upon his breast, and he said this, God, be merciful. to me, a sinner. What is a sinner? A sinner is
one that can do nothing but sin. That's all he does. Somebody said, well, I don't
know if I'm that bad. A sinner is one who always comes
short of the glory of God. And you're looking at one. In myself, I have never thought
a pure thought. That God, in that pure thought,
would say, well done. It's a good thought. I've never
done, I've never said a word that was spoken that didn't come
short of the glory of God. I've never done an act, I've
never done anything. The scripture says concerning
man as he's born in Adam, now, that in his flesh, what the Apostle
Paul said, in his flesh, There dwelleth no good thing. Isaiah said this, from the sole
of his foot even to the head, there's no soundness, there's
no wholesomeness. There's nothing that has been
unaffected in man when it comes to sin. This is just, this is
what we are. Why do you believe that you've
got a hope? Well, let's just establish the
foundation for any hope whatsoever. Here's the only foundation. Am
I a sinner? If one thinks that there's anything
in his being that is capable of obeying or pleasing God in
the establishing of salvation, then that person's not a sinner. I mean, let's just call it like
it is. Here's my first point. I believe
God. God said, all have sinned. I believe that. Here's my second
point of hope. I believe God when he says that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That's what the Apostle Paul
said in 1 Timothy 1.15. The Lord did not come into this
world to make salvation possible. He came into this world according
to God's everlasting covenant of grace to save a people of
God's choosing. He came for somebody. A people that were everlastingly
loved by God and chosen in Christ before the foundation of the
world that they should be holy, not in themselves, but in Christ. A people that by the grace of
God in regenerating grace, rejoice in Christ Jesus. What does that
mean? They rejoice in Him, what He did, what He's done for them
on their behalf. And they put no confidence in
their flesh. Now this is my hope now. You give every man, if he asks
you, you give him a reason. But your hope, tell him what
you believe. Here's what I believe. I believe
I'm a sinner. I don't believe I can do anything.
You mean to tell me you believe that you can't do anything? I
believe that I can do nothing. That's what the Lord said. He
said, without me you can do nothing. You can do nothing. Somebody
said, well at least you can believe. No, I can't. Not unless He gives
me heart to. I can't. I'm a sinner. I come short. I come short of
the glory of God, but here's some hope I got. I got one hope
that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Here's my last hope. I believe
God when He says, for by grace are you saved. through faith,
and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Now this
is it. Salvation is by the grace of
God. I believe that salvation has
been eternally purposed. Eternally purposed. established,
ordained, and accomplished. 2 Timothy, I'll read it again.
How long have God's people been in God's eyes, God's sight, in
Christ, how long has God's people been secure,
saved. I'll make sure you understand
what I'm saying. How long? How long? 2 Timothy 1, 9. I'll read 8 and 9. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord. I'm telling you, I'm going to
give you the testimony of our Lord right here. I'm not ashamed
of this. Nor of me his prisoner, Paul says, but be thou partaker
of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.
He said, I'm not ashamed. I'm not ashamed of this gospel. I'm a partaker of the afflictions.
People say, I think you're nuts. Well, that's OK. I mean, in myself,
I admit that. But I'm not ashamed of this message.
I'm not ashamed of this truth. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor me his prisoner. Be thou
the partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God who has saved us and called us. Saved us, called us. Saved us and called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, Not according to our
works. Now what's your hope, Marvin?
Here's my hope. I'm a sinner. And I can't change
that. I can't change that any more
than a leopard can change his spot. I can't change that any
more than an Ethiopian can change his skin. I can't change that.
I am a sinner. That's what I am. But listen,
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He came into this world to save
sinners. Paul said, of whom I am a chief. But I believe that God Almighty,
who saved by grace, has saved me because I believe God. I believe
Him. Somebody said, you mean to tell
me that you're going to place all of your hope, all your salvation,
on this one thing right here, your sinner, Christ Jesus came
to this world a safe sinner, and you're going to base all
your hope on this one point right here, one point, that you believe
God Yes, this is all I got. This is all I got. Not by works
of righteousness that I've done, but according to His mercy, saved me, saved us, saved us. by the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Let me ask you something. If
it's not by works of righteousness, if it's not anything that you
can do, where else are you going to go?
What else do you have? What else you got? The Lord said
in John chapter 10, At verse 27, 28, 27, 28. My sheep, they hear my voice. What did
he say? In these scriptures, which is
his voice, all have sinned, come short of the glory of God. There's
none righteous. No, not one. Without me, you
can do nothing. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them. know them in mercy, compassion,
and they follow me. They love me. They trust me. They call on me. And I give unto
them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. Any man that comes to you and
asks you a reason for the hope, this is the only scriptural reason. This sinner who can do nothing
for himself, I can walk down that aisle until I wear that
carpet out. I can come down here and I can
If this is an altar, it's not, but I'd come down here and wear
the knees out of my pants here and wet all this carpet till
it molds and falls to pieces. And it will avail nothing. I need my sin put away. I need for Him, Christ, to have
borne my sin. He must be made what I am, and
He was. And God dealt with Him on my
behalf. And I believe that. I believe
it. He came into this world to save
sinners. How's He gonna save them? He's
gonna put away their sin. And He's gonna robe them in His
righteousness. and they having no debt before
God. Now, is there still sin within
us? Yes, absolutely. If we say we
have no sin, we make God a liar. But here's the hope I've got.
I believe that when he died, I believe he died for what I
have done, am doing, and if he leaves me here, will do. I believe
he paid it. I believe that. And I have no
other hope. I have nothing. I can make claim
to nothing else. I believe God. The sluggard is
wiser in his own conceit than seven men, many men, that can
give a reason. Oh, Lord, deliver us from our
sluggardly attitude of thinking that we can please God, because
we can. I pray that this is glorifying
to the Lord and it's a comfort to God's people. Amen.