Turn with me to the book of Colossians,
and while you're turning, let me say it's an honor to be with
you. And I mean that from the heart. I think the world of your
pastor, and I'm sure you do too. We've been without a pastor in
Danville now for over four years. And I know it's nice getting
to hear different men come and preach to us. There's nothing
that replaces having a shepherd. over your souls. I think the
world of your pastor, he and I have become good friends over
the years. And I was honored that he asked
me to come and preach for you all. I want to begin today in
the book of Colossians chapter 1. Recently I started working on
a subject I noticed in a lot of Paul's writings that he uses the word repeatedly,
in Christ or in Christ Jesus. And I started looking at all
the places in his writings and a few others that these words,
in Christ or in Christ Jesus, are found. And I found I had
to divide this into three different messages, two of which I've already
brought at our church. Those are on sermon audio, if
you care to listen. This message today I've entitled,
In Christ Jesus, Part Three. I'll be bringing this message
probably in a week at our church, but I'd like to look at some
of the places that we find these terms, in Christ and in Christ
Jesus. And before we get into this third
part, what we've looked at so far is that our redemption Our
freedom from condemnation, the love of God, our sanctification,
our hope, our life, our triumph, our liberty, God himself, are
all found in Christ Jesus. We find also that we're established
in him. That the veil that was in place
in the Old Testament is taken away in Christ Jesus. That the
simplicity of the gospel is in Christ. That New Covenant, our
faith, the unity of the members of Christ's Church, the faithfulness
of the saints, all spiritual blessings, and the power of God
we've looked at so far are all found in Christ Jesus. So pray for me as I attempt to
exalt our Lord. I want to begin in Colossians
chapter 1, verse 15. Speaking of Christ, who is the
image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers. All things were created by him
and for him. And he is before all things,
and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body,
the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased
the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Now in chapter
2, I want to read the first three verses. For I would that ye knew
what great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea,
and for as many have not seen my face in the flesh, that their
hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto
all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ, in
whom are hid all, all the treasures, of wisdom and knowledge. Now
flip over a few books back to Ephesians. We'll look at these
in the order in which they're found in the scriptures. And
I'll try not to be too lengthy. But I want you to understand
that everything we have is found in
Christ Jesus. Everything we have. So in Ephesians,
let's begin in verse two, I'm sorry, chapter two, verse 10. Ephesians 2.10, for we are his
workmanship created in Christ Jesus on two good works which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Now with
all things which exist in this universe, we were created by
Christ and we were created in Christ. Before time ever was,
we were in Christ. I know a lot of times we use
the term God the Father put us in Christ. And we have to say
that because as humans, we can't understand the eternal being. But there's never a time for
the untold trillions of years of eternity past that we were
not in Christ. As long as he has been, We have
been in Him. This is, of course, as I said,
impossible for us to comprehend. The finite cannot comprehend
the infinite. It's impossible. We think of
all things happening in time. We list things in history in
chronological order. That's the only way that we can
understand them, in the order in which they happen. We assign
certain dates to certain events. But our God sees all things in
the present tense. That's why he refers to himself
as I am. For an eternal being, there is
no such thing as time. But as I said, I'm engaging in
a futile effort trying to put this into words that we can explain
and trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. Now further,
this text tells us that we were created unto good works, yet
clearly throughout the scriptures we're told in no uncertain terms,
that the works of our hands are as filthy rags. So how is it
then that we're seen as doing good works? Hebrews 13, 20 and
21 tells us how. Now the God of peace that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working
in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight. And how does that
take place? Through Jesus Christ, to whom
be glory forever and ever. Again, we see, as with all things,
our works are wrought for us in and through Jesus Christ. Next, look at Ephesians 2.13.
And now, in Christ Jesus, Ye who were sometimes far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Now, we'll find as we
go through these texts that most of these terms or most of these
texts would make sense if you leave these words, in Christ
Jesus, out. It would make perfect sense.
But our Father wants us to understand that all things are centered
in this man, Christ Jesus. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye
who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. We, who at one time were far,
far from righteousness, far from goodness, far from anything pleasing
in the sight of God, are now brought into the very family
of God, made, made heirs of Christ, joined heirs with Christ, called
children of the living God. If that's not astounding, I don't
know what is. and were made to be near to the
very heart of God. We who were by nature the children
of wrath are made the children of promise. We who by our wicked
works deserve the wrath of God are now delivered from that wrath
to come by the efficacious blood of our Savior, made nigh, we're
told, by the blood of Christ. But before we were made nigh
by the blood of Christ, we were in a most woeful condition. Isaiah 59 describes this, we
roar all like bears and mourn sore like doves. We look for
judgment, but there is none. For salvation, but it is far
off from us. But now that we're made nigh
by the blood of Christ, we which would have been dragged down
to the lowest pits of hell are now made far off from any
judgment. That verse we're so familiar
with in Psalm 103, 12, as far as the East is from the West,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. This is the most blessed
reversal of fortunes that you can imagine. We who were sometimes
far off from God because of the transgressions that we committed
are now made nigh in Christ Jesus. How is this possible? Only by
the hand of an almighty, merciful God. Psalm 65, 3. Iniquities prevail against me,
but as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. And
I especially love that verse in Isaiah 42, 25. I, even I am he that blotteth
out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and I will not remember
thy sins. How can our hearts not leap with
joy when we read those words? And better than that, Isaiah
44, 22, I have blotted out as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
and as a cloud, thy sins. Return unto me, for I have redeemed
thee. But we know that our God cannot
just randomly forgive sin. He can't just ignore it. He can't
sweep it under the rug. It must be punished. And we know from that last verse
in Isaiah 53 that I spoke about a few minutes ago, that indeed
our sins were punished in Christ. It says, therefore will I divide
him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil
with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death. And he was numbered with the
transgressors and he bear the sins of many. and made intercession
for the transgressors. Next in Ephesians, verse six
of chapter three, Ephesians 3.6, just flip over one page. We read that the Gentiles should
be fellow heirs and of the same body, partakers of his promise
in Christ by the gospel. Now, what is this promise that's
referred to here? It's written in Hebrews 8, verse
12. It says, For I will be merciful
to their unrighteousness. It doesn't say He'll judge us
for our unrighteousness. He'll be merciful to our unrighteousness. And their sins and iniquities
will I remember no more. This is the Gospel. This is the Good News that is
spoken of in this verse here in Ephesians 6. Now, many times
in this life, we make promises and we have full intention to
keep them. I promised David I'd be here today to preach to you
all, but very easily I could have gotten in an accident, I
could have run off the road, I could have gotten sick, could
have had a flat tire. And I intended to keep that promise,
But so many things are beyond our control. They say that a
man's bond is his word, and those of us that believe that don't
take promises lightly. But there are just too many things
beyond our control. There's an old saying, man plans
and God laughs. One of my favorite texts is found
in Psalms 2 and speaks of this very thing, how that men's plans
often fall to the ground. because of a sovereign God who
overrules him. We saw that yesterday when someone attempted to assassinate
our former president. But these verses in Psalm 2 say
this, why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain
thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers
take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed,
saying, Let us break their bands asunder and cast their cord from
us. And this is God's reaction. He that sitteth in the heavens
shall laugh. He shall have them in derision.
This word derision means a scornful laugh. He shall have them in derision. But how is it that a God who
makes it clear that he will by no means clear the guilty promises
that he will be merciful to our unrighteousness? Did he reward
our unrighteousness in violation of his law? Absolutely not. That cannot happen. But there's only one way this
God can forgive these sins. You cannot remember something
that doesn't exist. And the blood of Christ was so
effectual in annihilating any trace of our sins that the all-seeing,
all-knowing God of this universe cannot see them. It's as if they
never existed. They were done away with when
Christ became that blessed eternal scapegoat and carried our iniquities
into the wilderness of God's forgetfulness. When the God of
this universe laid on his Son the iniquity of us all, he bore
it away He bore our grief and carried our sorrows, carried
them far away so that this infinitely holy, all-seeing God sees us
as pure and righteous as Christ himself. Because the scriptures
tell us that we are part of his body, which is a church, his
eternal bride. We are one in Christ Jesus, as
holy as he. Now, if that doesn't set you
back on your heels, I don't know what would. These are the better
promises that are spoken of in Hebrews 8, which are built upon
a better covenant that Christ brought in. Peter also wrote
of these promises in 2 Peter 1, verse 2, grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of our Lord
Jesus Christ, according as his divine power hath given unto
us all things that pertain unto life and goodness through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby
are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by
these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in this world through lust. And all of
the promises that are given throughout God's word, of all that they're
found, or I forget how many there are of the promises of God, There's
one we find in 1 John 2.25 that exceeds them all, speaking of
God's promise. And this is the promise that
He has promised unto us, even eternal life. And we know that
that promise is with all of other God's promises are found only
in Christ Jesus. Now, while you're in Ephesians
3, look at verse 8, unto me who am the least or the less than
the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make
all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things
by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now under the principalities
and powers and heavenly places might be known by the church
the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which
He purposed." There's an in there, isn't there? According to the
eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now all of God's eggs are in
one basket. All of them. That basket being
His blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All of our hopes are
in one basket. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Now, all of God's purposes are dependent on and are found in
the finished work of Christ. This word purpose means something
that is set up as an object or an end to be attained, an intention,
a design, a desired end, a goal. And the book of Isaiah has much
to say about the purpose of God, how that it is sure, rock solid,
and steadfast, Isaiah 14, 24. Let me read you just a couple
of these. The Lord of Hoth has sworn, saying, surely, as I have
thought. Now, how much effort do you put
into a thought? None. But our Lord God, that's
how easily He controls all things in this universe. Surely, as
I have thought, so shall it come to pass. As I have purposed,
so shall it stand. Two verses later in Isaiah 14,
this is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth. And this
is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For
the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall dishonor? And his
hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Daniel, in
that text we love so much, we're so familiar with, and none can
stay his hand nor say unto him, what doest thou? In Ephesians
1, 9, we read this, having made known unto us the mystery of
his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed
in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in
heaven and which are on earth, even in him, in whom we have
also obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory
who first trusted in Christ." Our Lord told us what this purpose
is, what this will of the Father is in John chapter 6 when he
stated starting in verse 39, and this is the Father's will
which hath sent me. You want to know what God's will
is? Christ tells us right here. This is the Father's will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And
this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which
seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life. and I will raise him up at the
last day." 2 Timothy 1.9, speaking of the purpose of God, who has
saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us, where? In Christ Jesus, before the world
began. And our God never keeps us guessing
what that purpose is. He states it clearly in Jeremiah
32, 37. Behold, I will gather them out
of the country, whether I have driven them in mine anger, and
in my fury, and in my great wrath, and I will bring them again unto
this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. And this
is the good part. And they shall be my people,
and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart
and one way that they may fear me for the good of them and for
their children after them. And I will make with them an
everlasting covenant that I will not turn away from them to do
them good. But I will put my fear in their
hearts that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice
over them to do them good. And I will plant them in this
land assuredly with my whole heart and my whole soul, all
of which is purposed in Christ Jesus. Now flip over to the book
of Philippians. A few pages to Philippians chapter
2. Speaking of all things being
in Christ. Philippians chapter 2, verse
1. If there be therefore any consolation
in Christ, If any comfort of love, if any vows and mercies
fulfill ye my joy, that ye may be like one minded, having the
same love, being of one accord and of one mind. This word consolation
means comfort, reassurance, solace, something that lifts the spirit
of one who is sad and mourning. Consolation. One who has been
shown that they are hopeless and helpless. and justly condemned
before a holy God, one who had been taught by God that all of
their praying, all of their giving, all of their church going, all
of their so-called soul winning, all of their Bible reading, all
of their praying, all of their supposed good works, that they
are depending on to carry them to heaven are worthless. They're
even worse than worthless. They're shown to be damning.
Now, if your experience of coming to Christ was an easy, Worry-free,
carefree affair. If there was no anguish of heart,
no feeling of sure doom, no terror of soul. And I'm afraid you need
to take another look at your so-called salvation because the
awakened sinner is like Isaiah when he was shown the Lord and
who he was and who Isaiah was at heart. that verse that we're
so familiar with. Then said I, woe is me, for I
am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips. For mine eyes have seen
the King, the Lord of hosts. Now, when a merciful God begins
a work of salvation in a man or woman, it is a terror to be
shown just how wretched, how undone we truly are. That this holy God who holds
our very breath in his hand can snuff us out at any moment. Isaiah
uses the word undone to express his condition. This word undone
means to be without any hope for the future. Without any hope
for the future. To have experienced great loss
or disappointment. That's so well described to a
religious man or woman. who suddenly realizes that her
house of cards is about to crumble. And all the hope you had in heaven
is wiped out by God's tsunami of the truth of the gospel. And
your religious house of cards is turned into a heap of splinters,
and you find yourself without any hope whatsoever, deserving
of God's wrath. It is indeed a most miserable
experience, sure of damnation, but praying that our God will
let you live just one more hour, maybe one more day. And being
shown these things, the awakened sinner cries to the Lord as did
David in Psalm 41, 4. Lord, be merciful unto me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee. And he cries out as did that
publican, Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner. And after the
God of heaven leaves the awakened sinner in this state for a while,
he then comes to him in mercy and begins to speak words of
kindness to the heart of that awakened sinner who is sure of
his doom. But our Lord begins to show him
that there is hope. He reads in Psalm 116.5, Gracious
is the Lord, and yea, our God is merciful. He reads in Psalm
1038, the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
plenteous in mercy. He reads in Psalm 1038, the Lord
is merciful and gracious, slow to anger. He reads in Nehemiah,
nevertheless, for thy great mercy's sake, thou dost not utterly consume
them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God. He reads in Nehemiah, but thou
art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and of great, great kindness. And finally, the Spirit of God
speaks to that troubled heart and gives that sinner assurance
that because of the finished work of Christ on his behalf,
he now has consolation, and that consolation is found only in
Christ Jesus. Now in Philippians 3.3 we read
this, for we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit
and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. This word rejoice means to feel
exceedingly great happiness about something, to be overwhelmed
with joy. And this is the joy that takes
place in the heart and mind of a sinner who's now been aware
that through the blood of Christ He has forgiveness. This overwhelming
terror has been replaced by overwhelming joy so that we can now rejoice
in all that Christ is and all that He does. We can rejoice. Christ told His disciples in
Luke 10, He said, Behold, I give you I give unto you power to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Now that's pretty
spectacular stuff to rejoice in, isn't it? But he told them
this in the very next verse. He said, notwithstanding in this,
rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, Why is
that? Because those things are merely
temporary. But our Lord told his disciples this, but rather
rejoice because your names are written in heaven. This is why
Paul exhorted the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. Why? He told the Thessalonians.
to rejoice evermore, and why David wrote in Psalm 68, 3, but
let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God, and
he doesn't leave it there, let them exceedingly rejoice. There's no such thing as overdoing
it when it comes to this thing of rejoicing. Some people say,
now you're carrying this a little too far. There's no such thing
as carrying rejoicing in our Lord too far. And once we drop
this robe of flesh, we'll understand that. Revelation 21.4 gives us
a preview of the happy condition that we can one day look forward
to. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain for the former things are passed away. Let me skip over a couple of
points here. I'm going a little long. Let's go to 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1. 2 Timothy chapter
2 verse 1. Thou therefore, my son, be strong
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Now, we commonly refer
to grace as the unmerited favor of God, something that he gives
us that we truly don't deserve. And the first chapter of the
Gospel of John tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ is full
of grace and truth, and that grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ. Our salvation comes through the
grace of God. Acts 15.11 confirms this truth. It says, But we believe that
through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. And Romans 3.24 tells us that
we are justified freely through His grace, the redemption, or
by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This
redemption that is so well described in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty
might be made rich. Turn with me to Proverbs Chapter
8. Proverbs Chapter 8. I want to look for just a second
at a description of just how truly rich that our Savior was. Proverbs Chapter 8. Proverbs 8, starting in verse
22. This is a description. You want
to know how rich our Savior was? Starting in verse 22, Proverbs
chapter 8. The Lord possessed me in the
beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up
from everlasting, from the beginning, wherever the earth was. When
there were no depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains,
abounding with water. before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth. While as yet he had not
made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust
of the world, when he prepared the heavens, I was there, when
he set a compass upon the face of the deep, when he established
the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when
he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass
his commandment, when he appointed the fountains of the earth. Then
was I with him as one brought up with him, and I was daily
his delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in a habitable
part of the earth, and my delights were with the sons of men." This
is a description of the majesty that Christ enjoyed before he
was made sin for us. Our Savior knew no sorrow before
he came to this earth, but he became, we're told, a man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief. Now, throughout history, I'm
a student of history, I love reading history, but so many
of the things that you read are just unimaginably heartbreaking. Of the loss that men and women
suffered, Even this state of Kentucky, I've read a lot of
Kentucky history, a lot of blood was shed. A lot of loved ones
were lost in the settling of this Commonwealth. And those deaths no doubt brought
just unimaginable sorrow. But those broken hearts are nothing
compared to what our Savior experienced when he cried out, my God, my
God, why? has thou forsaken me? He gives us some insight into
this deep, deep sorrow in Lamentations 112, where we read this. Is it
nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see if there be any
sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me. For with the Lord hath afflicted
me in the day of his fierce wrath no other human being has ever
experienced the depth of sorrow that our Savior experienced.
No human being has ever gone from the height of majesty that
our Lord enjoyed with His Father to the depths of such suffering
and despair, not only forsaken by His Father, but hated of man. Just think about this, from going
from being the most holy being in the universe to being By imputation,
the most vile sinner who ever lived. Becoming what you hate. Becoming sin for us. When He took on Him, the iniquity
of us all. 2 Timothy 2.10, Therefore I endure
all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. True salvation.
God's salvation. is only found in one place, rather,
one person. Acts 4.12, that verse that we're
so familiar with, neither is there salvation in any other.
That sounds kind of closed-minded, doesn't it? You're telling me
all the Buddhists and all the Muslims, and that's what I'm
telling you. That's not what I'm telling you,
that's what God has told us. There is, therefore, salvation in any other, for there
is none other name under heaven given among man whereby we must
be saved. Salvation cannot be wrought by
the works of our hands. It is not obtained by a man or
woman to deciding to give their heart and life to Jesus. Before the Spirit comes to a
man, he is taught what David wrote in Psalm 3.8, salvation
belongeth to the Lord. He's taught what Jonah learned
the hard way. Salvation is of the Lord. is not only in Christ Jesus,
but he himself is salvation. What did Simeon say when he held
the infant Lord in his arms in the temple, when his parents
brought him there, described in Luke chapter 2, he said this,
Lord, now let us, thy servant, depart in peace according to
thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou
hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten
the Gentiles in the glory of thy people Israel, and as with
all other blessings of God, salvation is found only in Christ Jesus. Now let me conclude this. We've seen from the writings
of Paul what he meant when he wrote to
the Colossians and said of Christ Jesus, in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom, and knowledge. All that we will ever need in
this life, and that which is to come, is found only in the
person of Christ Jesus. Now, if you're sitting here,
or you may hear this in the future, be sure of this, as all the blessings
of God are found in this man, Christ Jesus. The most blessed
place that you can possibly be found is in Christ Jesus. But let me say this as a word
of warning. There is no place more terrifying than to be found
outside of Christ. Christ described this when he
said, the very wrath of God abides on you. Without Christ, you will
surely perish. But as I've mentioned, there
is hope. God is a God who delights in mercy. If it were not so,
none of us would be here today. But he delights in mercy, that
mercy which is found only in Christ Jesus. I pray that the
Lord will bless that to your heart. Again, I appreciate the
invitation, and I hope the Lord will bless that to you.