All right, he came up. It's good
to see everyone here this evening. I do want to make some announcements. Passed out those things going
around about the conference. Just look at it and then put
it back over there when it's finished. And you've got a pen,
mark whatever's wrong. I'm sure there might be some
things in there. It was cross-eyed by the time
I got done with it. The conference is going to be
held on the 25th and 26th and 27th of July. We'll go into the
logistics of eating and stuff later. I know there's been some
questions about it. We'll just address those once
I get all the information ready to go out. Really, it doesn't. We've got to get all that planned
before I send it out. Anyway, we'll discuss that. Let's
just plan on maybe Sunday if they have a plan for the conference. I don't think it'd be any different.
It seems like it worked out fine. I know that some said about eating
early on Friday. I see the issue of if there are
people here, the tables, we would have to put them out first and
then rearrange it and go back, which I think would be a harder
task. So and it's just going to be
a light meal on Friday. It's not going to be a heavy
meal anyway. Most people eat before. We'll
just have snacks and things like that. I think that'd be more
appropriate, maybe sandwiches and so forth. And then have the
meals for lunch on Saturday and Sunday. So maybe we can meet
together Sunday after services and hash that out. Y'all can
figure out what y'all want to do with that. Ask your prayers for me as I
desire to preach. I obviously wanted to preach
from Romans 12. I think I need more time. And
the Lord put this message on my heart. I hope, pray the Lord
will bless it. One thing that stands out to
me as I prepare messages is this, that I don't see anything new. I see these things as fresh. But I don't see them as new.
They're still the same old story. If you consider heaven, what
heaven is going to be, it's a continual praise of Christ's redemptive
work. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to redeem us out of every nation, kin, kindred, tongue, tribe,
and people. Worthy is the Lamb. We'll be
praising Him for eternity concerning what? His redemptive work, His
grace. Isn't that what Paul says in
Ephesians? To the praise of the glory of His grace. We'll be
praising the glory of His grace for eternity. So, as we go through
this very small window of time, it's just reasonable to praise
the glory of His grace, isn't it? If that's what we're going
to be doing for eternity, I think it's what the Lord, I know it's
what the Lord would have us do in time, is to praise the glory
of His grace. And I hope God will give us again
a refreshing word. I like that the word is often
in scripture referred to as water. Refreshing. It's for cleansing,
it's for refreshing. overgrown with the things of
the world. This is God's means by which
the dross is put away. The things of the world are set
aside so we can see how things really are. I know how you feel
things are, but the scripture gives us light as to how things
really are. And I pray God will use this
this evening to refresh you and me. concerning our Savior Christ. We want to give thanks. We prayed for Ryland, Emma, and
Jackson. We asked, and God was gracious. He finished his treatment in
really good time. And the Lord was gracious. I know he was to Rod and Emma. That is a big deal. And they're home, and now their car won't start. Well, welcome home. Welcome away
from paradise where you were. I was so thankful when, I know she probably doesn't want
me to say this, but I had to say it anyway, because I didn't
want you to enter into my joy. She had posted something on the
way to Clay's to worship. She said, you know how wonderful
the Lord is when you're 700 miles from home and he gives you a
family to worship with. Oh, that thrilled my soul. thrills
my soul. I know that they were, I've talked
to Clay several times, they were very thankful to have them, very
thankful to host them, and I'm glad that they were able to do
that. Let's go to him one more time in prayer and ask for his
mercies on us as we study tonight. Holy Father, How could we ever praise thy
name enough? How could we ever give enough
thanks for the blessed gift of thy Holy
Son? All the words of praise that
we could utter in a thousand lifetimes would not be sufficient
to give thanks for what he has done. He has made us righteous who
have no righteousness. He alone satisfied the justice
of thy wrath that we through a million hails could not endure.
or sufficient. It would not be sufficient. And He did this by one offering. We were dead, and by His Spirit
He quickened us. We believed by His grace and
are kept by His power. We surely are a murmuring and
complaining people, full of complaints, full of foolishness, we call
wisdom, in trying to direct you in your providence. Lord, that you would give us
hearts of humility and resignation to thy sovereign will. Give us peace and joy in the
Holy Ghost. I plead for this word. I beg
you. that it would go out in power
and demonstration of your spirit. Raise the dead. Comfort the living. Thank you for these things you've
done for our family, for our friends, for our brothers and
sisters. We give you praise and glory for it. We beg you to Put your arms around
and under and over your people who are sick, who struggle, who
are weak. May this gospel always be the
source of refreshing and nourishment for our souls. Give us grace
to cast aside the cares of this life and focus on the glories
of Jesus Christ and His offering and His righteousness. And we
plead these things in the name of Jesus and for His sake. Amen. All right, take your Bibles and turn
with me to Isaiah chapter 56. Isaiah chapter 56. I'm going to tell you this message,
salvation revealed and complaints answered. Salvation
revealed and complaints answered. The Lord begins this, it says,
thus saith the Lord. Thus saith your Creator. your Savior. Here in this passage,
the Lord Himself speaks, the Creator of all things, and He
is speaking to a certain group of people. We know He is speaking
to the nation of Israel, to His people, to His elect. And He says this to them. He
says this to you and me who are saved by the grace and power
of God. Listen, He says, judgment and do justice. Do justly. People of Israel in the midst
of their affliction, this is what he said. Keep ye judgment and do justice. in the very teeth of their troubles."
In other words, do good and walk uprightly. Do good and walk uprightly. Now God, who has saved us, He
is the one that commands us how we are to walk in this world. In Titus chapter 2, And verse
11, it says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us. Now when we preach the gospel
of grace, it does something, doesn't it? It teaches us something. Grace teaches. And this is what
it teaches. Denying ungodliness and worldly
lust that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this
present world. Isn't this exactly what we've
been going over in Romans 12? I beseech you, therefore, because
of the mercies of God, because of the grace of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, which is wholly unacceptable
unto God, just your reasonable service. It's your reasonable
service to walk soberly, righteously, and godly in this presence. It's
your reasonable service to keep judgment and do justice, do justly. Go to Ephesians chapter 5 and
if you were to look at last couple chapters of Colossians
and this chapter of Ephesians and then read Romans chapter
12 through the rest, you're going to see something that the apostle
is constantly rolling over this notion that everyone saved by
grace is to do good. Is that not just reasonable to
you? Seeing what good things God has
given you? Look what he says in Ephesians
5, he says, Be ye followers of God as dear children. walk in
love. And just in case you want to
try to justify what kind of love he's talking about, he'll tell
you what kind of love he's talking about. When you walk in love,
what kind of love am I to love you with? Look at this, as Christ
hath also loved us. Now is that not a high standard
of love that we are to have for one another? and hath given himself as an
offering and sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling savor. But
for an occasion of uncleanness and covetousness, let it not
be named among you as become of saints. That's not as become
your nature that God has given you. Neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but
rather giving of thanks. This you know, that no whoremonger,
unclean person, or covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance
in the kingdom of God. Don't you know that? Isn't that
simple? That no man deceive you with
vain words, and because of these things come with the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not there partakers with
him. If you were sometimes darkness,
now you're light in the Lord. Here's an exhortation, walk as
children of light. Walk according to your nature
that God has given you. Then in verse 18, he says, Be
not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. making melody
in your heart and say, Lord, giving thanks always and all
things unto God and your Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. And he talks about how we're
to walk as husbands and wives, as children. We're to love as Christ loved,
walk as children of light, Now you that believe, is what
the Lord here is commanding us, is it not reasonable? Is it not reasonable to say that?
What great things that God has done for us. So as we know this,
we never by nature could do these things. All of these things. We know
it's reasonable for us to do these things and we strive to
do these things. But we know this in our nature,
in ourselves, we could never do these things. We could never
keep judgment and do justly. We could not and we would not
ever be able to obey the law of God. Why? Because our nature Scripture
says our nature, we are haters of God. That the flesh is an
enmity against God. For it's not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be. And listen, when we were first
heard of Christ and His perfect salvation, we couldn't even come. He says, do justly. Keep judgment
and do justly. Isn't this the first thing you
realized that you could not do this? You realized that at the
very first. And we couldn't even come to
Him except the Father which has sent Him draw us. Yet that's what happened, wasn't
it? By omnipotent power He drew us. I like the way He puts it in
Ephesians 1. He says, The eye of your understanding being enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope of your calling, and what
is the riches of the glory of the inheritance of the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,
listen, according to the working of His mighty power. You that
believe, when you heard this, when you heard that we should
be just and righteous, you knew this, you couldn't do it. When He called you, you knew
this. You couldn't even come unless He gave you power to come.
But when you came, you knew this. It was by His power that you
came. It was by His power. What was it that drew us to Christ?
How is it that we who are sinners are now able to keep judgment,
and do justly. How is it now that our works,
as we perform them, are now acceptable? You're worshiping the Lord by
hearing His gospel. How is this acceptable? It is. That's what the Apostle told
us in Romans 12.1. He says, present your body as
a living sacrifice. Now why would you do that? Holy
and acceptable unto God. It's holy and acceptable. How
is that? Well, that's by the Lord Jesus
Christ, by His righteousness, by His offering. We are made
holy and acceptable to God. So was the gospel of God's grace
and power by the Holy Spirit? And this was the gospel. Go back
to your text. He says, keep judgment, do justice.
Who? His people who believe. And this
is how you can know that your works are acceptable. Look at this. This is why I'm
telling you do this not telling you do this because you can do
this I'm telling you can do this because of what I have done for
you for My salvation is near to come and my righteousness
to be revealed Now in truth There is no other
explanation for this text except Jesus Christ. I He is the fulfillment
of this text. God tells His people, keep judgment,
do justly. Well, how are you going to do
that? He's going to tell you how. Four, my salvation is near and
my righteousness ready to be revealed. This can only be speaking
of Christ. Now we know this, that God from
the beginning testified of Christ. When as soon as Adam fell and
God came to Adam, what is the first thing that He revealed?
That Christ should come. In the beginning God promised
a Savior. A Savior. The seed of the woman
shall crush the head of the serpent and He shall bruise his heel. And then you remember immediately
after He gave that prophecy, offered those sacrifices and
covered their nakedness with the skins of those animals he
offered. And as we progress through scripture,
we see then that all of the offerings and ceremonies of the Allah had
one intentional purpose, and that was to picture God's salvation. It was to picture God's salvation
and righteousness, which is Jesus Christ. You think of the Passover lamb.
Is that not a beautiful picture of God's coming salvation? God
promised a Savior would come, and then by the picture of the
Passover, He gave a detailed description of how his salvation
would come. Remember, there was a curse pronounced. He said, I am coming in the night
and I am going to destroy the firstborn of man and beast. Judgment was coming. God gave
Israel away. He said, take a lamb. This lamb
had to be very specific. It had to be without spots. It
had to be blameless. It had to be spotless. And they
would take this lamb, and they would kill it in the midst of
the congregation, so everyone could see it. And they would
take the blood of the lamb, and they would place it upon the
doorpost and the lentil. And they were to enter in to
that place. And that night that God passed
by, in wrath, in judgment, every house where He saw the blood,
He passed over. Now what do the people in the
house have to do with him passing over? Nothing. They were beneficiaries. They
had nothing to do with it. When he saw the blood, he passed
over them. What a picture of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God pronounces judgment upon every sinner. He says He's
coming in judgment upon every sin and He'll kill every sinner. Yet God has provided Himself
a Lamb. Now what John the Baptist said when Christ came into the
world? He said, Behold, the Lamb of God that beareth away the
sin of the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ was publicly
executed in front of everyone. They saw it. The spotless, sinless
Son of God was executed. He was killed. His blood was shed. Now by the grace and power of
the Holy Spirit, that blood is applied to the heart of everyone
who believes. Everyone that believes. That
blood is applied to our hearts and we have now entered into
the refuge. You have entered into Christ.
And now, listen to this, you're safe. I don't think we realize
how safe we are. You imagine the firstborn inside
every house was really afraid. That night when God passed through,
I imagine there was a lot of fear. It was unfounded, but there
was a lot of fear. As long as they had the blood,
they were safe. They were safe. What a picture
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold now he who is promised.
But now it says this. in our text. He said, My salvation
is near to come, my righteousness to be revealed. Now I want you
to see that as in prophecy, it was yet to come. But listen to
me, it has now come. What God says is near to come,
has already come. That is to be revealed, has now
been revealed. It has now come. God's salvation
that was near to come has come in the flesh. You know, the greatest
announcement that was ever made to man was the one the angel
gave. He said, Behold, this night in the city of David, to you is born a Savior, to men,
is born a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. That prophecy came
to pass, didn't it? The seed of the woman. That's
exactly what happened the night He was born of the virgin's womb.
The seed of the woman had brought forth the Savior, the Son of
God. He was made flesh. That's what
John begins his gospel with, isn't it? He said, the Word in
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. And in verse 14 He said, and
the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. This salvation that
God declares in this text to His people, the hope of you doing
justice and keeping justice and doing justly, listen, is that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. And he who was born of the seed
of the woman was sent to do a work. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to
do a work. And what did He say when He was
just a little child? He said to His mother, wish you
not that I should be about my father's business. He was constantly about His father's
And what was his father's business? His father's business was that
he should subject himself to his parents. That was astounding,
wasn't it? Those sinful parents he had.
He had to subject himself to them. And he did until the time
of his ministry. You see, our Christ came to do
this. He came to destroy the works
of the devil. Which are what? What's the fruit of Satan's work?
Sin. He's the father of it. The result of sin was death. And hell, the fruit of Adam's
rebellion, disobedience. But the spotless, sinless Son
of God has came to do something. This is what He came to do. He
came to restore. He came to restore what He did
not take away. This is grace. This is the manifestation
of God's perfect grace, that Christ came into the world to
save sinners. He declares in our text, My salvation,
My reconciliation, My restoration of men, and My righteousness
is revealed. It's revealed by Jesus Christ.
First of all, righteousness. Christ came to reveal the righteousness
of God. The righteousness of God. For man to be saved, he has to
be righteous. No one will ever be saved unless
they're righteous. How then can a sinner be made
righteous? That's the question, isn't it?
Well, God says when Christ comes, He's going to reveal how a sinner
can be made righteous. Well, how is a sinner made righteous?
The same way He was made a sinner. This is glorious. How were you
made a sinner? How did you become a sinner? Now listen, you were a sinner
before you could sin. So it's not a matter of doing
that made you a sinner. You didn't come out perfect and
then you committed your first sin at the age of six months
or a year or whatever. No, you were conceived in sin. How did that happen? How did
you become a sinner? You became a sinner by a representative,
didn't you? In Romans chapter 5, Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin, so death
passed upon all men. Verse 19 of that chapter, For
as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. How does
God reveal that a sinner be made righteous? The same way He's
made a sinner. By a representative. Listen to
this. So. As by one man's disobedience,
many were made sinners. So. This is how a man is going
to be made righteous. So. By the obedience of one,
shall many be made righteous. many shall be made righteous."
Therefore, when Jesus Christ came in the flesh, his purpose
was to obey God's law to absolute perfection. Just like that picture
of the Passover lamb had to be without spot. It had to be without
blemish. So Christ, when He came into
the world, had to be without spot. He had to be without blemish. He had to be without sin. Because
this is His work. To obtain righteousness for His
people, He must have honored God in every detail. In thought, in word, and in deed. So that's what Christ came to
do. He came to obtain what Adam failed to keep. Adam failed to
keep righteousness and plunged us all into sin. But God said, listen, my salvation
is coming and this is it. He's coming and he's going to
reveal my righteousness. That's what Paul says in Romans
chapter 3 and verse 22, even the righteousness of God. That's
what Christ came to do. He came to obtain righteousness.
What kind? Even the righteousness of God,
which is by the faith of Jesus Christ. Isn't this a plain revelation
how righteousness is made? Righteousness is made by Jesus
Christ, by His obedience. And then, by grace, that righteousness
is given to everyone that believes, to everyone the Spirit calls.
He gives both life and faith And so now you see how you are
made righteous. You're made righteous by the
revelation of Jesus Christ. That's how you're made righteous.
Do you add anything to that? Is the tapestry woven and then
there's one thread left that you need to weave in? I like that picture of the wedding
feast. Remember that? Where the man comes up and he's
got his own garment? And the king comes up and says,
friend, where's your wedding garment? What was the man saying? He was saying that that wedding
garment was not sufficient. When a man adds his own righteousness
to the righteousness of Christ, what is he saying? He's saying
Christ's righteousness is not sufficient. What do you say? Oh, He's all
my righteousness. He's all my righteousness. Why? Because when God brought His
salvation near, I see this. He revealed something. He revealed
that I had no righteousness. And He revealed that Christ is
all my righteousness. You that believe, is it not so
with you? You not see Him? Everywhere it talks about righteousness,
I see Christ. I don't see me. Do you see you?
I see Him. He's my righteousness. But listen,
that's not all. That spotless lamb on the Passover
was not sufficient in just being spotless. He had to be killed. Sin must be punished. God could never give us His righteousness
unless His holy justice is also satisfied for our sins. Therefore, in grace and power,
God charged Christ with our sin. When I say imputed, that's what
I mean. That's what the word means, charged. God charged Christ with our sins. Why? Because the scripture tells
us that He suffered for our sins in His own body on the tree. He suffered and bore the wrath
of God for our sins. I think a beautiful picture,
that's a great day of atonement, don't you? There was one man
God chose to represent everybody, represent His people, Israel,
the high priest. What a picture of Christ. Only
one person has ever been chosen to represent His elect people,
Jesus Christ, our great high priest. And how that priest came
and he had that linen garment put on him. And he confessed
the sins on the scapegoat. And that sins were carried away.
And on the second go, you remember, He slew that animal and took
the blood. Scripture says He took off that
old linen coat full of blood, took it off and washed Himself,
put on His priestly robes with the breastplate of all the names
of the children of Israel on His heart, He took that blood
and He went in to that veil and He went in before God and sprinkled
the blood on the mercy seat. What a picture of our Lord Jesus
Christ, isn't that? In His linen human garments.
He's our scapegoat, isn't He? All the sins were confessed upon
Him and He bore them away. He did that by how? The second
goat, He was killed. And not only is he the offering,
but he's also the priest. So he takes off that bloodied
robe, and he puts on his priestly garments, a picture of his resurrection,
and how he enters in before the presence of God with his own
blood, and God accepts the atonement for our sins. That's what the
work of our Lord Jesus Christ is. Look at 2 Corinthians. 2
Corinthians chapter 5. This is a vivid picture of how
it was done. To wit, verse 19, God was in
Christ, what was he doing? Reconciling the world to himself.
Behold, my salvation is near! My righteousness to be revealed!
Here it is! God was reconciling the world
to himself by Christ. Listen, not charging their trespasses
to them. Isn't that astounding? But listen, committed to us the
word of reconciliation. The Gospel. We are ambassadors
for Christ as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you
in Christ's name, be you reconciled to God. On what grounds? How
can God justly not charge me with sin when I'm actually guilty?
I'm actually guilty. Now how can God be just not to
charge me? By what grounds can I obtain
the righteousness of God? Well, it's revealed. For God
hath made Him to be sin for us. Now how could God charge Him
who is without sin with sin? Here it is. God made Him to be
sin for us. How did He do that? I don't know.
I don't know. But He did. He made Him to be sin for us. Who knew no sin. Why? That we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him. This is what Christ did. This
salvation that was to come has come. The righteousness that
was to be revealed, listen, has been revealed. It is Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. This is the only salvation for
sinners. There is no other salvation.
There is no other righteousness. There is no other reconciliation.
There is no other atonement. Christ is all. But not only this, not only His
righteousness imputed and charged to us. Isn't that what it is
when we come by faith? It's imputed to us. It's charged
to us. God says, I'm not going to charge
you with sin. What I am going to charge you
with is righteousness. That's gloriously wonderful.
God looks at you and He says, I'm charging you, Glenn, with
righteousness. I'm imputing righteousness to you. Now how can that be?
Well, because He didn't just impute it to you, He imparted
it to you. He gave it to you. God can't
charge you with something that ain't true. He's not pretending. God doesn't
pretend, does He? He's not acting. No, He takes that righteousness
that Christ made and He actually gives it to you. This is done by the new birth. You'll never understand God's
salvation and righteousness without the new birth. If you're not born again, you'll
never understand this. It'll never be a joy to you.
It'll never be a comfort to you. It'll be a burden trying to learn
it. It won't be a source of refreshment. But once the Spirit of God gives
you a new heart, a new life, it is a cause for joy, it is
a cause for peace, it is a cause for comfort. Why? Because God
brought that salvation near to you. It's not just an academic
knowledge. It's an experimental knowledge.
He gave it to you. That salvation that seems so
far is now what? Drawn near. It's near to you. The righteousness, which you
didn't know how in the world you were ever going to get it,
now you understand. Now you know. It's revealed to
you. And listen what God has done.
He has created in us a holy nature. A holy nature. Paul says to you,
they're born again. Put on the new man. You do this
by faith. It only can be done by faith.
You can't reach in there, pull him out, and put him on. It's
not literal. He's not telling you to literally
put on a new man. He's telling you by faith, understand
this, recognize this. Believe this, because it's true.
Put on the new man. Listen, which is created in righteousness
after God in righteousness and true holiness. That's how John could say in
1 John 5, 18, Whosoever is born of God sinneth not. Isn't that
astounding? Whosoever is born of God sinneth
not. How can that be? Because he's
talking about the nature that God has given us. It cannot sin. Child of God, behold these great
and precious promises. The revelation of God is that
we have now a new heart, a new man by the Holy Spirit. You have
been quickened from the dead, and by grace you are saved. And what is the evidence of all
of this? What's the evidence of your new nature? Religion tell you the evidence
of your new nature is holy living. It's not the evidence of this.
The evidence of this is singular. It's faith. Faith and love. These two go together. You can't
have one without the other. If you don't have true faith,
you won't love. Listen, if you don't have love,
you don't have faith. Both of these go together. Faith produces
love. It does. And so we know we have
this new nature. by faith in Jesus Christ. So
I ask you tonight, do you believe on the Son of God? You believe, why? Because God has brought His salvation
near, and His righteousness has been revealed. He's brought it
near to you, and now You rest completely upon Christ. Do you? You rest completely upon Him. Is all your righteousness His
alone? What about your redemption? Is
He all your redemption? What about your sanctification?
Is He all your sanctification? What about your wisdom? Is He
all your wisdom? Then this scripture has been
fulfilled to you. God has brought near His salvation and revealed
His righteousness to you. The Apostle John tells us that
there are many false preachers coming to the world. There are
many. You that believe should be warned
of this. There are many false preachers. John says this, don't
believe every spirit. Don't believe everyone that says
they're a preacher of the gospel. I remember a couple came in one
time here, and they sat down. They looked very stern. I understand. You're coming into
a new place, and I think they were wise. I think they were
very wise to be stern. They were looking and they were
intently listening, writing down almost everything I was saying.
By the time the message was finished, their faces were lightened. Their
faces were lightened because they heard the gospel of Christ.
They were relieved. I think the message I preached
that time was, it is finished. It is finished. Salvation accomplished. And they were happy. They rejoiced
in the message. Why? Because they took heed.
They just said, don't believe everybody. And they weren't.
They weren't going to believe me. Good. Don't. Try the spirits. Will they be of God? Because
many false prophets are going out in the world whereby you
know the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. These are who are of God who
preach the gospel that Christ has come in the flesh. What I've
just told you. Isn't that what I just preached
to you? That Christ has come in the flesh? This is what God has promised.
My salvation is near to come. My righteousness to be revealed.
And this is what Jesus Christ coming in the flesh has done. These words are more than just
an acknowledgment of his humanity. How many false religions acknowledge
his humanity? They acknowledge that. That's
not what he's talking about. When he says Christ has come
in the flesh, what are we saying? What are we believing? When God
says, I'm bringing my righteousness near, and I'm bringing my salvation
near, and my righteousness to be revealed, what is it revealed
to us? It revealed to us when Christ has come in the flesh,
we know this, He is God manifest in the flesh. That's what John
was saying. See, anybody who preaches that,
they're of God. God manifest in the flesh. You
that believe on Christ, you know this. I like that scripture,
without controversy. Anybody want to debate this,
go somewhere else. This is without controversy.
God was manifest in the flesh. Anybody deny that, I don't have
any time for you. This is without controversy.
He was justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, received up into
glory. This is without debate. He was
God. I scrolled through this little
podcaster, arrogant young man, just arrogant. And he said, I
defy anybody to show me where Jesus Christ said he was God. Oh. Okay, John chapter 8, for
starters. He said, if you believe not that
I am, you shall die on your sins. And just in case you didn't understand
what he meant when he said, I am, he said it later in the last
part of John chapter 8, he said before Abraham was, I am. And the Jews picked up stones
to kill him. Don't tell me he never said he
was God. He very expressly said he was God. Thomas saw Him for the first
time. After he had doubted, he kneeled
before Jesus and said, My Lord and my God. So when Christ came, we know
who came. God came. God manifests in the
flesh. And to preach Christ, Salvation
by Christ is to believe that He is the Christ. He is the Christ. Do you know what that means?
Christ. It's the Anointed One. It's the
One. To be the Christ, every prophecy and picture had to be
fulfilled in that one person. To be the Christ. He had to be
born of the Virgin. He had to be born in Bethlehem. He had
to die with the piercing of His hands and the piercing of His
feet. Out of His side had to flow blood
and water. All of these were prophetic sayings
of the Christ. So when Jesus Christ came into
the world, what do we know this? He said, beginning at Moses and
all the prophets, He testified unto them in all the scriptures,
what? concerning Himself. We who see God's salvation brought
near, we see it's Christ, and every line is about Him. Every page of this holy book
is intended to point us to His salvation, which is Jesus Christ. He's the Christ. You believe
that? You believe He's come in the flesh? You believe He's the
Christ? And I'll tell you this, you believe
He was successful. To believe He's the Christ, you
must believe He was successful. Why? Because the Scripture says,
He shall not fail. That was a prophecy, wasn't it?
Isaiah chapter 42 and verse 4, He shall not fail. And any Christ that failed is
what? Not Christ. We don't believe in a Christ
that failed. We believe in a successful Savior. I've heard this said before,
what good is a Savior that can't save? Is He a Savior if He can't save? Only a Savior saves. And God says, I'm sending forth,
I'm bringing near my salvation. And listen, his salvation is
successful. To believe on Christ is to also know that he is risen
from the dead and that he would lose none of
his people, none of them. This is what it means when God
says, I bring my salvation near. It's Christ. Christ is our salvation. He reveals His righteousness
only through Jesus Christ, our Lord. And we know this, that He will
not fail to save His people. Look at this in verse 2, blessed,
go back to your text for a second. I know I'm running long, I need
to wrap it up. Not going to get to where I want
to get to. Notice this, blessed is the man that doeth this, and
the son of man that layeth hold on it, that keepeth the sabbath
from polluting it, and keepeth his hands from doing any evil. We know this, that Jesus is the
blessed man. Isn't he the blessed man that
doeth this? Didn't He bring salvation near? Didn't He reveal righteousness? Blessed is the man that doeth
this. And the Son of Man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting
it. We can say surely that Christ
kept from polluting anything in the law. But I want you to
see this is not only talking about Christ, but yes, this is
talking about you. Blessed is the man that doeth
this, that lay hold on this, that keepeth the Sabbath What
is he talking about? He's talking about everyone that
believes on Christ and rests in Him. Do you believe Christ
is your Sabbath? That's what the Sabbath day really
was intended for, to picture Him. When God finished His creation,
He rested on the seventh day. He ceased from His work. What a picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ. When Christ died and rose again, He ceased from His
work. Why? It's finished. The work is done. Have you laid
hold on this? Have you laid hold on this Sabbath?
Christ is your Sabbath how do you keep from polluting it you
don't add anything to it that's how you know you don't pollute
it you don't add anything to it and Jeremiah 17 it says take
heed to yourself bear no burden on the Sabbath day nor bring
bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem neither carried forth nor A burden
out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Neither do any work, but
hollow the Sabbath day as I have commanded your fathers. Do you
understand this? Once you lay hold on Christ,
there is no more burden. When you go down into the grave,
you will bring no burden with you. When you ascend up into
heaven, you will bring no burden with you. Why? Christ is your rest. Your rest. I'm going to read this, I'm not
going to be able to, I'm going to have to get off my notes just
to get through this, but I want you to see this. Now look at
the complaint real quickly. God says this to the stranger
and to the eunuch. The stranger and the eunuch.
He says to the stranger, don't say this. He said, neither let
the son of the stranger that had joined himself to the Lord
speak, saying, the Lord hath utterly separated me from his
people. Now I know this, when you were
lost, you were a stranger. You were alienated from the things
of God. But now, Paul says this, your
fellow citizens, the middle wall of partition is broken down,
and by the blood of Jesus Christ you are now one. You are citizens
and no longer strangers. But yet how often does providence
make you feel as though you're a stranger? As though God is
distant from you? As though God is separate from
you? You feel like a stranger. You feel like what the law says
about a stranger, it says the stranger shall not worship at
my altar. How often do you feel estranged
from God? You feel as though God departed
from you. And he says to the eunuch, now
what is a eunuch? A eunuch is a person who can't
give life. He can't produce seed. He can't
produce fruit. How often do you feel like a
eunuch? He says to the eunuch, to one
who can't produce life or fruit, he says this, don't say you're
a dried up tree. How often do you feel like a
dried up tree? God says don't say that. Don't
say that. Why? Look what he says in verse
4 to the stranger, for thus saith the Lord. I'm sorry, look at
verse 6. the son of the stranger that
joined himself to the Lord to serve him, to love his name,
to love the name of the Lord and to be his servants. Everyone
that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold
of my coven, even them will I bring to my holy mountain and make
them joyful in the house of prayer. And their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices shall be accepted on mine altar, for mine house
shall be called a house of prayer for all people." What is He saying
to this? You that love the Sabbath, love Christ, you that are joined
to Him, listen to what He says. He says, I will bring you to
My holy mountain. And listen to me, you'll rejoice. A stranger is not allowed into
His holy mountain. What is He saying? He said, you're
not a stranger. You feel like a stranger, but
you're not a stranger. Don't say you're a strange from
Me. Listen to words of this hymn. So nigh, so very nigh to God,
I cannot nearer be. For in the person of his Son,
I am as near as he. You feel like a stranger? You're not. You're not. If you love his Sabbath, and
you keep from adding your works to it, listen, you've entered
into his covenant. He says this, I will bring you
to Myself. Like I said, often you feel like
a eunuch. Look what He says, For thus saith the Lord to the
eunuchs, that keep My Sabbath, and choose the things that please
Me, and take hold of My covenant. Same thing, if you believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen, even unto them will I
give Mine house, and within My walls a place and a name better
than sons and of daughters. I will give them an everlasting
name that shall not be cut off. I think of Mephibosheth. He was an heir to a dead lion,
worthy of death. And you remember how David fetched
him and he said, you come here and sit at the table with my
sons. What could Mephibosheth do for
David? He was lame on his feet. He could
do nothing for David. He could add no honor or glory
to David. And yet David, because of Jonathan,
because of a covenant he made with Jonathan, he said to that
worthless man, sit at my table and be my sons. Is that not a
name? We had a name of a dead lion,
but now he says to us, who can produce no life in ourselves,
he said, don't say you're a dead tree. You are my sons. You are my sons. And I'm going
to give you something much better than earthly fruit. I'm going
to give you spiritual fruit. Isn't this what He does? Do you have any faith at all? Where does that come from? The Spirit of God gives you fruit
of faith. Do you have any love? Joy? peace, meekness, temperance,
gentleness, kindness, any of those things? Where does it come
from? It comes from the Spirit of God.
Don't say you're a dry tree. You feel like a dry tree. You
feel like a stranger. But listen, because of this,
you're not a stranger. Because of this, you're not a
dead eunuch. Listen to this. because God brought
his salvation near and revealed his righteousness to you. Who
is that? It is Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the salvation of God. He is the righteousness of God. Therefore, because of this, listen,
do justice, do judgment, keep judgment, and do justly. Isn't
that reasonable, seeing that he's done that for you? Is it
not reasonable to do good and to love one another? It is. I pray God will bless this
to you. Stand and be dismissed in prayer. Gracious Father, dismiss us with
your own blessings and I pray that you'd be gracious to Take
this word and use it as you please. Pour out your spirit. Help us
to see Christ. Lay hold on him as our only hope,
our only rest. Comfort us in the very teeth
of our afflictions. Help us by faith to see what
great things you've done for us. and help us to love and serve
one another as you gave us commandment. In Christ's name, amen. I think that's the left ear.