Let us commence our service this
afternoon by singing together part of hymn 802. The tune is
Harold 503. I will read the first verse, but
we will sing verses six, seven, and eight. Jesus, while he dwelt below,
as divine historians say, To a place would often go, near
to Kedron's brook it lay. In this place he loved to be,
and was named Gethsemane. Hymn 802, singing verses 6, 7
and 8. The love of two men's love's grace, Through ages
both their cross behold, This He knew the lesser ways, And
He loved the sacred note. Therefore taught He thine to
be, ? Over in Gethsemane ? ? But his
father's in the rest of the world ? ? Falling feather of divine
? ? And ever with beauty praise ? ? Round to Bethlehem fly ? Love to them and love to me,
made Him love, is heavenly. Independent, many sought temptations
met. They shunned, tempted, and hindered,
but their story to let us to peace and strength
in thee, firm in trust, good in family. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in Paul's epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 5. Hebrews chapter 5. For every
high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices
for sins, who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that
are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed
with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought,
as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh his honour
unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not
himself to be made an high priest, but he that said unto him, thou
art my son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another
place, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,
who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers
and supplications with strong crying and tears, unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.
Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which
he suffered. And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him. called
of God, and high priest after the order of Melchizedek, of
whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing
ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought
to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which
be the first principles of the oracles of God. And I'll become
such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone
that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness,
for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. May the Lord bless thee. reading
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God of heaven, we do desire to bow before thy great majesty
to call upon thy great and thy holy name. We desire, O Lord,
a spirit of reverence and godly fear As we bow before thy glorious
majesty, we come as sinners, born in sin, shapen in iniquity,
unclean and unrighteous altogether. We do pray that the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the
sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit may rest and abide upon
us As we gather together here this afternoon, as we gather
round thy word, and as we gather round thy table, we pray that
thou wouldst make one in our midst, that thou wouldst grant that
spirit of love and union unto thee and unto thy people. Thou
didst say, Lord Jesus, by this shall they know that ye are my
disciples because ye have love one to another. Lord, increase
our faith, increase our love, we do humbly beseech thee, that
we may truly love each other, serve each other, and bear each
other's burdens. Deliver us from the temptations
of Satan, whether he comes as a roaring lion to devour or whether
he comes as an angel of light to deceive, we pray to be delivered
from temptation. Deliver us from the power and
the dominion of sin, and though sin lives in us, may we not live
in sin, but may we live to him that died. May we be surrendered
to the crucified one. We pray that we may feel and
know the wonderful power of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, in
our souls, as we gather round thy word, and that thy word may
become a living word, a word that is sealed into our hearts
by the Holy Ghost. We pray that this afternoon it
may indeed be a sealing time, whereby ye are sealed by the
Holy Ghost. O Lord, we do pray that we may
know that sealing time when the word of the Lord is a living
word in our hearts we do humbly beseech thee the word of thy
grace for Lord we need thy grace and we thank thee for that precious
word and he giveth more grace for Lord we constantly feel to
need more grace we do pray most gracious God that they'll would
grant that we may feel and experience the love of our Heavenly Father, that we may know those divine
drawings, for none come except the Father draw, that we may
be drawn into spiritual things and drawn to Jesus Christ. Guide
us, O thou great Jehovah. We're pilgrims in a foreign land. We are weak, but thou art mighty.
hold us with thy powerful hand, we do humbly beseech thee. We think of those wonderful words
of grace, God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son,
that whosoever believeth in him might be saved. Oh, we thank
thee for that wonderful gift of thine only begotten son. We thank thee for what he has
done. We thank thee for that profound
mystery of godliness of God manifest in the flesh. We thank thee for
the holy life he lived as a man here upon earth, fulfilling and
honouring and magnifying the holy law of God on the behalf
of his people. Lord, we thank thee for the life
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that living witness here upon earth,
that sacred obedience of our Lord Jesus to the law and thereby
bringing in everlasting righteousness for thy people. We thank thee
for what Jesus has done on our behalf. We thank thee for the
cross of Calvary. We thank thee for the things
were read together in thy word, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered. Oh, we do pray that thou wouldst
graciously fill our hearts with gratitude. He loved not his life
unto death. He gave his life a ransom for
all. We come to bow in humble thankfulness
and adoration for the cross of Calvary, for the precious blood
of the Lamb. Oh, we do bless thee. We think
of those wonderful words of grace, for as much as ye are not redeemed
with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb slain from before
the foundations of the world. We do thank thee, O Lord, for
the wonderful glory of Calvary, where sin has been put away,
where divine justice has been satisfied, where God and sinners
are reconciled. There is none other name given
under heaven whereby you must be saved, but the name of Jesus
Christ. Help us to love him, adore him,
follow him and serve him in our day and in our generation. Be with us as we meet around
the table of the Lord this afternoon, and grant us, O Lord, a time
of sacred remembrance, even as thou hast commanded this doing,
remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread
and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. We thank thee that on the third
day he rose again from the dead. and swallowed up death in victory,
and hath bodily ascended into heaven, and sitteth at thy right
hand. And Lord, we can say here with
great confidence this afternoon, tis he instead of me is seen. When I approach to God, we come
to thee in that precious name, that wonderful name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. We do pray. that we may serve
thee in our day and in our generation. We do pray that thou wouldst
bless us as a church and as a congregation, and that thou wouldst work mightily,
powerfully, effectually among us to the great glory of thy
holy name. We do pray that there may be
an in-gathering, that there may be, O Lord, the mighty power
of thy spirit seen in our assemblies, We do pray that the prodigals
may return, and thy wonderful grace may be seen in this. Lord, we long to see these things. May the power that brings salvation
be exerted in the Word. We do humbly beseech thee, and
the quick operation of the Spirit of God be seen in our assemblies. O most gracious Lord, we do pray, always give us that joy we read
in thy word that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth and may we be given that joy lord to see sinners
repenting turning to thee coming as poor guilty wretched helpless
how deserving sinners to find grace in jesus christ oh to hear
us lord we humbly beseech thee unstop the deaf ears Open the
blind eyes, cause the tongue of the dumb to speak, make the
lame to walk. We do humbly pray thee, do hear
us in heaven, thy holy dwelling place. When thou hearest, O Lord,
forgive. We do pray for our brethren,
the deacons, and seek that thou has blessed them indeed. We thank
thee that our dear brother has been enabled to come out this
afternoon. and we pray that thou would bless
us together and graciously go before us and be with our deacons
and be with our brethren and sisters in church fellowship.
Remember and be with our dear beloved friends in Holland and
graciously bless them there and be with us each in all of life's
journey and be with us and guide us and direct us and teach us
continually. Guide us safely unto thy heavenly
kingdom. Deliver us from temptation and
deliver us from evil. Deliver us from the allurements
of this vain bewitching world that has the death ten thousands
hurled. Deliver us from the deceptions
that are in our heart. For thy word declares the heart
of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
Lord, deliver us from our wicked, sinful hearts and from the temptations
of Satan. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou in thy precious mercy would work mightily among us
as a church and as a congregation. May the power that brings salvation
be exerted in the word, and may it please thee to send out the
light and glory and power of the gospel into this village
and the surrounding villages and hamlets and farmsteads. O gracious God, do let us see
thy work, let us see thy power, let us see thy glory as thou
usest to be in the sanctuary. Have not our fathers told us?
Have we not heard with our ears the wondrous things that thou
hast done in days gone by? Lord, there is nothing too hard
for thee. There are no prodigals that are
beyond the power of thy almighty arm. Thou art able to do abundantly
more than we can even ask or think. Lord, remember, we pray
thee, all thy servants, as they labour in word and doctrine upon
the walls of Zion today, grant them the fresh anointing of thy
Holy Spirit, that the word preached may be in power in the Holy Ghost
and with much assurance there may be signs that shall follow
the preaching of the word we do humbly beseech thee for thy
great name's sake. We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ
may be exalted as a prince and as a saviour for to give faith
and repentance and remission of sins. May he be lifted high
on the gospel pole. May Christ exalted be our song
May we be given that gracious determination to know nothing
among men, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Oh Lord, do
hear us, we pray thee for thy great namesake. We pray that
we may see a loveliness, a beauty, a glory in the person of our
Lord Jesus Christ. We pray most gracious Lord that
thou in thy Precious mercy was remembered then, the little hills
of Zion, up and down the land, and that thou would strengthen
that which is ready to die, that thou would return to Jerusalem
with mercies, that thou would make bare thine holy arm in the
gospel. Oh, we do pray, most gracious
Lord, for truly thankful hearts, for all thy tender mercies, and
thy loving kindnesses, and thy great goodness, that has passed
before us in the way. We thank thee that thy mercies
to us are new every morning, and great is thy faithfulness. And O Lord, we do pray for those
with great things before them, and we lovingly commend them
to thee and to the word of thy grace, which is able to build
them up and to grant them an inheritance among them that are
sanctified. Lord do hear us and be with us
now and come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off
the heavenly altar for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us turn again to hymn number
802. and we'll sing verses 11 to 13. The tune is Norwood, 505. Verse 11. Poor disciples, tell
me now, where's the love ye lately had? Where's the faith ye all
could vow? But this hour is too, too sad. Tis not now for such as ye, to
support Gethsemane. ? Jesus, Lord, you tell me how
? ? There's one love in every heart ? ? There's one faith in
every heart ? ? The peace of his citizens ? ?
Peace on earth, peace on sky ? ? Peace on earth, peace on
sky ? O come, let us adore Him, O come,
let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us
adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
? God-fear'd angels cheer on high
? ? With their heart in wond'rous fear
? ? May his spirit rise firmly within
thee ? ? And the home of the brave be found ? ? God keep our
land glorious and free ? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help direct your attention to the chapter that we read,
the fifth chapter of Paul's epistle to the Hebrews, and we will read
verse 8 for our text. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 8. Though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered. though he were a son. We notice firstly that son is
written with a capital S because it is referring to the son of
God. It's referring to his divine
nature. Paul in writing to the Hebrews He was writing to a people that
were greatly tempted, tempted to give up, tempted to turn back.
They were completely ostracized by their families. Some would
have pursued them even unto death. And so great was the persecution
they suffered that the apostle was moved by the Holy Ghost to
write to them this epistle. It's written to the Jews in the
early church, hence the epistle to the Hebrews and that they
had particular and peculiar temptations and trials that others didn't
have. They left their religion that
was, as it were, imbibed into them from when they were little
children. it was considered a terrible
thing quite rightly to apostatize from their religion and the Jews
still hold fast to that today. But of course what the Jews were
blinded to was the Messiah, that Jesus was the Messiah. that had
been promised right from the beginning of time, when Adam
and Eve fell in the garden, the seed of the woman and this glorious
person of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God manifest in the flesh.
And so the constant reoccurring theme in the epistle to the Hebrews,
he points them to Jesus Christ. They were ready to give up, they
were ready to turn back. They were greatly tempted and
tried. He begins the epistle, God who
at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, the glorious eternal Son of the Father, whom
he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the worlds. How he exalts the glorious person
of our Lord Jesus Christ. What teaching that is to us,
my beloved friends? These people so tried, so tempted,
so perplexed, and what does he do? He sets before them the one
thing needful, the glorious person of Jesus Christ, as the only
savior of sinners, as that one that is able to save to the uttermost
all that come unto God by him. He says, who be in the brightness
of his glory, and the express image of his person and upholding
all things by the word of his power when he had by himself
purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on
high sat he sits at the right hand of the father and my beloved
friends he sits there now i do love that verse of the hymn tis
he instead of me is seen when I approach to God. We have a
glorious mediator as the apostle says here in the Hebrews, for
such an high priest have we who is passed into the heavens, Jesus,
the son of God. So to encourage them, he points
out the great and wonderful glory of Jesus the son of God the great
high priest in heaven. He sits at the right hand of
the majesty on high. Oh my beloved friends if only
you had clearer views of this. He goes on in that first chapter
and he says in verse 8 but unto the sun he said thy throne God
is forever and ever the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. I Throw no God is forever and
ever how he exhorts the person of Christ sitting in glory The king of kings the Lord of
Lords a mighty God the everlasting father the Prince of Peace that's
who Jesus is and who Jesus is. And the apostles
are at great pains to remind the brethren of who Jesus is. He's the Eternal Son. And building
on that, he begins chapter two, that therefore we ought to give
the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest
at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken
by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience
received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape,
if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? God also bearing their witness,
both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and
gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will. Therefore, it's not just a man that is speaking,
it's the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father. What emphasis He lays
on this, that He is the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father. And he says in verse 9 of chapter
2, but we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels,
the incarnation of the Son of God for the suffering of death. That
was the purpose that the Son of God became a man. That was
the purpose that the Son of God was made flesh. that he might
suffer, bleed, and die for the sins of his people. He took our
nature. He came to save man. And he took
our nature into union with his divine nature. And it was in
that holy person of Jesus, the Son of God, that salvation was
wrought out. But we see Jesus was made a little
lower than the angel for the suffering of death. But how did you see him? Crowned
with glory and honour, that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man, should taste death for every man. for it became
him see how he beautifully speaks of the divine nature of the Lord
Jesus for it became him for whom are all things and by whom are
all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings what do you mean perfect
through sufferings we often point out to you that sometimes the
same word is translated complete to make him perfect or complete
through sufferings so that his beloved bride that was given
to him by his eternal father is delivered from sin and satan's
power and he took her sins He says in verse 14 of chapter 2,
for as much then as the children, that's his own children that
were given to him by the father, the sons and daughters of Adam
that were chosen by the father and are now to be redeemed by
the son, for as much then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood, he also himself, who? The son of God, likewise
took part of the same. That's through death. Notice
the connection. between the human nature and
death, that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through
fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Though he were a son, though
he is the eternal son of the eternal Father, though he is
from everlasting to everlasting, though he is the mighty God,
He's the Prince of Peace, yet learned He. It's a very deep,
profound word, isn't it? Though He were a Son, though
He's the Eternal Son of the Father, yet learned He obedience by the
things which He suffered. And you know, friends, we come
here this afternoon to the supper of the Lord, we come to partake
of the Lord's supper. And the Lord Jesus said, this
do in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till
he come, though he were a son, yet learned he. Now what does
it mean yet learned he? Well, Let us make a clear distinction
here, friends. We must, to be clear on the doctrine. As the son of God, he's infinite
and eternal. He knows all things, he sees
all things, he understands all things. He has need of nothing. He's God over all and blessed
forevermore as the eternal son of the eternal father. He says
in Proverbs chapter 8, by me kings
reign. Who's speaking? Christ. By me
kings reign and princes decree justice. He says there, speaking
of his divine nature, I was set up from everlasting wherever
the earth was. That's his divine nature. But
in the previous verse here, it says in verse 7, who in the days
of his flesh, who the Son of God, who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and supplication with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death
and was heard in that he feared. We read in John 1 and the Word,
a speaking of the divine nature the Son of God and the Word was
made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father. Now yet learned
he, my mind was drawn very much in this yet learned he and it's
speaking and we must make this distinction we're not seeking
to separate the divine and the human but merely to highlight
what is being spoken. The Lord Jesus Christ lived here,
the Son of God lived here as a man and he was born a little
babe. He was born a little babe and he lived as a man here upon
earth. I often think of this when It says in Luke chapter 2 verse
40 and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with
wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. The child grew. So the Lord Jesus Christ, I think
of that word, he was tempted in all points like as we are
yet without sin. And he knew all the stages of
life's journey. The Son of God, in that sacred,
holy human nature, he knew what it was to be a little babe, dependent
on his mother. He knew what it was to be a little
toddler. And if we think of that word
and join them together, he was tempted in all points. He learned. In that sacred, holy human nature,
he learned. He was led and taught, guided
and directed. It says again in Luke chapter
2 verse 52, and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in
favour with God and man. He increased in wisdom and stature. So he increased in wisdom in
his holy human soul and he grew in stature. And these things
are recorded in holy scripture for our instruction. He learned. He learned what it
was to live as a little babe. He learned what it was to be
a little toddler. He learned what it was to live
as a man here upon earth. He knew what it was to be a teenager.
The Lord Jesus did. He knew all the different stages
of life's journey. So the emphasis being here in
our text, those who were a son yet learned the obedience by
the things which he suffered, is speaking of his human nature.
Of course we can't separate between the divine and the human. That
sacred union between the Son of God and human nature in the
womb of the Virgin Mary is an eternal union. He took into union with his divine
nature a sacred holy human nature. And it lived on this earth as
a man. though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience. You know the Apostle Paul in
the epistle to the Philippians in the second chapter, he speaks
of this and he says in chapter 2 verse 5, let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus. who being in the form
of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made
himself. See he learned obedience but
made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found
in fashion as a man he humbled himself as a man and became obedient
unto death even the death of the cross. She he learned obedience. Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that
the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven
and things in earth and things under the earth and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of
God the Father. If you never confess that name
here on earth You will in the great day of judgment, you'll
confess that name then. Every eye shall see him. You'll then behold the glory
of the only begotten of the Father. But if you're out of Christ,
that'll be a solemn, solemn glory that you'll behold there when
he sits upon the throne of judgment, judging righteously. Oh, my beloved
friends, we speak these things lovingly and kindly to you. Let us ask the important question. Are thou ready to meet God? Are
you ready? We spoke of it this morning,
didn't we? God requires that which is past. God requires an
answer for your life. And every idle word will be brought
into judgment in that day. It is. The only people that are
delivered from that eternal judgment is the people of God. And you
might say, how is it that they are delivered? Why? Because Jesus
lived for them, he learned obedience, he lived a life was pure and
holy here upon earth in the days of his flesh though he were a son yet learned
he obeyed him as we just read in the Hebrews he humbled himself
he humbled himself as the eternal son of God and he humbled himself
as a man not only as God he humbled himself assuming human nature
and living on earth as a man. As the Apostle says in Galatians
4 verse 4, made of a woman, made under the law that he might redeem
them that are under the law. He experienced these things. He experienced these things.
Touched with the sympathy within He knows our feeble frame. He
knows what sore temptations mean. For he has felt the same, though
he were a son. Yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered. We read of that suffering during
his life. It's spoken of in Isaiah chapter
53. A man of sorrows and acquainted
with the Lord Jesus was. You know friends, we are sinful
worms of the earth and we cannot really conceive what it must
have been like for the Son of God to live in the midst of all
the wickedness and evil of this world. To be constantly contradicted
by the Pharisees and the Sadducees to be set at naught, to be spat
upon, though he were a son. He didn't
rise up. No. We read in Peter, he threatened
not. You know, if somebody come in
the street and was to spit in your face, you'd be absolutely
horrified. And it may be that your first
reaction might be to retaliate. The Lord Jesus never did. He
learned obedience. He suffered, he bled, he died
for the sins of his people. He was wounded for our transgressions. Isn't that what we want to know?
What you want to feel? those of you that are spiritual
that you long to know that Jesus suffered and bled and died for
your sins though he were a son yet learned it is a very deep
profound word he experienced personally in his own human nature
you know I'd like to emphasize this because it was his own personal
human nature human nature that the Son of
God assumed, it never belonged ever to anyone else. As soon
as the Holy Spirit overshadowed the womb of the Virgin Mary,
the Son of God assumed human nature. And it's an indissoluble
union, never to be broken. He's now in heaven sitting at
the right hand of the Father. Just like Joseph Hart says, a
man there is, a real man. And it was in that holy human
nature, that the Father laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
Upon that His only begotten Son that was manifest in the flesh,
He laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. Or as the Apostle
says, He was made sin for us. The Lord Jesus was made sin for
us. He that knew no sin was made
sin for us. Though he were a son yet learned
he, obedience by the things which he suffered. You know when he
came out of the garden of Gethsemane and there, what a battle went
on there. And it's there you know friends
that the Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane He laid upon him
the iniquity of us all. That is where that was done.
That is the great significance of the Garden of Gethsemane.
It's where the Father laid upon him the iniquity of us all. And we read, he being in an agony,
sweat as it were, great drops of blood, he said, Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me, but not my will. thine be done he learned obedience
not my will but thine be done though he were a son yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered and he freely willingly
took those sins our sins and he nailed them to his cross he
willingly went to Calvary and hanging upon him, resting upon
him was the sin of the whole church. He suffered, he bled,
he died for the sins of his people. It's rather sweet isn't it what
the hymn writer says, was it for crimes that I have done he
hung and suffered there, were my sins laid on Jesus. And if they were, if he suffered
and bled and learned obedience on our behalf, then we shall
reach eternal glory, not by works of righteousness that I have
done, but according to his abundant mercy, that wonderful abundant
mercy that flows to the church through Jesus Christ, though
he were a son. yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered and being made perfect. Again that
beautiful word perfect, complete. We read of Jesus Christ that
he did no sin. Perfect. Complete. I often point out that lovely
verse in Psalm 37 and verse 37. Mark the perfect man. Christ. He's the only perfect
man. Mark the perfect man and behold
the upright for the end of that man is peace. That's our Lord
Jesus Christ. Though he were a son yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered of me made perfect. He became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them. that obey Him. All them that
obey Him. All them that are brought to
submit to Him. I do love that what David speaks
of, gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty. That is a psalm,
a prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
eternal word that was made flesh and dwelt among And he says,
he prays to the Lord Jesus, gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most
mighty, and ride prosperously, that thine arrows be sharp in
the heart of the king's enemies. This is the glory of the gospel
as the Lord goes forth in battle, a spiritual battle, and the people
are brought into subjection. Have you been brought into subjection
to Christ? The arrows of the Almighty entered
your heart, convinced you of your sin, and you've been brought
to see that if ever my poor soul be saved, tis Christ must be
the way. It's through that despised Nazarene. That's the way. I am the way, the truth and the
life. It's through Jesus Christ, through
the holy obedience of Christ. and through the holy sacrifice
of Christ. That pure, that holy sacrifice,
Bunyan calls it the acceptable sacrifice. Acceptable to God. And that when he shed his precious
blood on Calvary, that blood cleanses from all sin. It cleanses
from all sin, it does. That precious blood, the blood
of Jesus Christ God's son notice the emphasis all the efficacy
and power Of the cross of Christ of the blood of Christ of the
righteousness of Christ. He's the son of God He's the
eternal son of God and that that is the wonderful glory of this
sacrifice of Jesus though He were a son yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered and having paid the utmost price,
having given his life a ransom for all, having laid down his
life, that sin atoning sacrifice that entered into death itself.
Why? Because he was to destroy death.
And how did he destroy death? He rose from the dead. He paid
the penalty due to the sin of the church. He satisfied all
the demands of divine justice. He then rose from the grave.
He rose again for our justification that we might be declared to
be without sin. And then we read, he led them
out as far as unto Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed
them and was received up into heaven in a cloud. Though he
were a Yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered,
and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation. Unto all them that believe. May the Lord add his blessing.