Do this for your own glory. Forgive
us our sins in Christ's name. Amen. All right, if you take your Bibles
and turn with me to Romans chapter 4. Romans chapter 4. Our text will be found in verse
16. I've entitled this message, A Sure
Salvation. in an uncertain world, a sure
salvation in an uncertain world. The apostle says, therefore,
it is a faith that by grace, notice the reason, to the end,
to this purpose, to this purpose, that the promise might be sure."
To who? To all the seed. Now the Apostle
begins here the conclusion of this matter of justification
by faith. He has concluded that all men
are guilty before God. There is none righteous, no not
one. There is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after
God. They are all together become unprofitable, there's none that
doeth good, no not one, therefore by the deeds of the law shall
no flesh be justified in his sight." He concludes this that
salvation is not by works. That's his conclusion. Yet God has purposed and intended
to justify sinners by one means. by the justification of faith. Now listen, this is speaking
of two faiths. The faith of Jesus Christ, that's
how righteousness is obtained. That's how it's merited. By the
faith of Jesus Christ and by the blood of Jesus Christ are
the elect justified. Then in faith they receive it. This is the means by which God
justifies the sinner. that they should receive this
by one means, by faith. So God has purposed and decreed
that salvation of his children be through faith. He said, faith
cometh, later on he'll tell us the means by which faith is conveyed,
and that is the preaching of the gospel in Romans 10. He'll
say this, that faith cometh by hearing. and hearing by the word
of God. So God not only ordained who
should be justified, he ordained how they should be justified,
he ordained how they should receive it, and he ordained the means
by which they should receive it. And notice this, he says, therefore
it is of faith, justification is of faith, justified by the
faith of Christ, received by faith in Christ, But how does
faith then come? Look what he says. Therefore,
it is of faith, notice, how does faith come? That by grace. Exclude those words, it might
be. They're not there. They're not there. It is of faith
that faith is by grace. Now why? Why is it this way? Listen to this end. that the
promise might be sure. There's no other way it could
be sure. If anything was left up to the seed, if anything was
left up to the elect to perform or to do, it would not be what? It would not be sure. It would
not be sure. And so faith is not to be mixed
with our obedience or our works. It doesn't come by the will of
man. As many as received him, to them gave he the right to
become the sons of God. Isn't that right? You received him.
Do you receive him? Of course you do. Well, how did
you receive him? He says, it's not by blood. nor by the will of man, nor by
the will of the flesh, but by the will of God. That's why you
receive him. It was the will of God that you
should receive him. That's how you were born. You
were born of the will of God. Apostle testifies clearly that
it is by grace. It is by grace. Faith in Jesus
Christ, true faith, is a gift of God's grace. Jesus told us
this, didn't he? No man can. He said, why do you
murmur among yourselves? They were complaining. They were
bickering back and forth about what he said he was. He said,
I'm the true bread from heaven. And they started bickering. He
said, why are you bickering? It's useless. It's pointless.
Your bickering has nothing to do with it. Your education, your
knowledge has nothing to do with this. No man can come to me except
the Father which has sent me draw him. Very conclusive. No
man has the ability to come by faith except by grace. That's what the apostle is saying
here. Now let us see then the hope, the confidence of all who
believe. You who believe. Are you sure that the promise
is secured? Are you sure? What is your hope? Because of
this. He says to this end. This is
why it's this way. That the promise should be sure. To all the seed. Not to everyone
without exception. To the seed. That's it. To the seed. Now this morning
I desire God the Holy Spirit be willing to comfort and settle
your minds. Because that's what I need. My mind is often in turmoil. It's often like a raging sea. It's never calm. It's always
moving. I can't get it to stop turning,
my mind. I'll lay there and my mind will
just turn. So my heart is to tell you to
just fix your minds. If we could fix our minds on
something that is sure, May God give us grace to do that and
settle our minds. Now we know this in life, nothing
is sure. You read the book of Ecclesiastes,
I read it this morning, I read the book of Ecclesiastes this
morning, and I know for certain that under the sun, that's all
he was talking about, under the sun, nothing is certain. Nothing is certain. Ecclesiastes
8 and verse 5, he said, whoso keepeth the commandment shall
feel no evil. Talking about the commandment
of the king. And a wise man's heart discerneth both time and
judgment. There's a time and a season for
everything under heaven. There's a time and a season.
A wise man discerns the right time and the right season. And
he makes a judgment as to how to act in that time and that
season. what the apostles sing, or the writer of Ecclesiastes
sing. And this is why he does it. Because
to every purpose there is a time and judgment, therefore the misery
of man is great upon the earth. Now why is the misery of man
great? There's a time and a season for
everything. The problem is we're not wise to discern it. We seek
to be wise to discern the right time and judgment. How often
are you right? on time and judgment. There's misery in the earth because
of this. Listen, for he knoweth not that
which shall be. That's why. You don't know what's
next. You don't know. For who can tell when it shall
be? Now this is the wisest man that God ever placed upon the
face of the earth, other than Jesus Christ who knew everything.
This man knew the limit of man's knowledge this man was given.
You know what he says? I don't know what's next. Do
you know what's next? What does this cause us? Misery.
Uncertainty. Ecclesiastes 6 and verse 12,
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life? All the
days of his life of vain, this vain life, which he spendeth
as a shadow, for who can tell a man what shall be after him
under the sun? And so yet even though this is
true, that there's nothing certain in this world, there are things
that are sure for God's people. In this you can be sure, every
believer knows this, God is sovereign. Every true believer knows this.
Now, if your God's not sovereign, you don't know God, period. You
don't know who he is. If your God only controls certain
things and everything else is left to chance or circumstance
or whatever, then your God's not God. It's just not God. And
he's not worthy to be called God if your God's not sovereign.
What does the scripture say about our God? Our God is in the heavens
and hath done what? Whatsoever it please. Whatever
is happening is His pleasure. Maybe you don't like what's happening.
What does it have to do with it? What does it have to do with
our liking it or not liking it? Our being angry at it or bitter
at it, what does it have to do with it? Nothing. Our God is
in the heavens. He does whatsoever it please.
He says, I am God and there is none else. declaring the end
when? When did God declare the end?
When did God declare the beginning of your days? And when did God
declare the end of your days and all that's in between from
the beginning? Did He ask your opinion? Did
He seek your counsel as to what to do? He said, I will do all my pleasure
what God said. And my counsel will stand. I'll
do it. And there ain't nothing you can
do. Matter of fact, if you're against it, you're just doing
His will. Isn't that something? That men are against Him and
they're just performing His will unknowingly, yet they are doing
it. And so it is. We know this. Our
God is sovereign. That's one thing you can be sure
of. Whatever's happening, God ordained it. Is there not evil
in the city, and hath not the Lord done it? He's not talking
about sin. He's talking about calamities.
Is there not calamity in your life? Hath not the Lord done
it? And listen, when is anything
certain? You've got a man, and Solomon says this in Ecclesiastes
9. He said, the race is not to the
swift. Now, isn't that against what
you think? And if a guy is really a good runner, that he's going
to win? No. There's no certainty he's going to win. I remember
watching basketball a lot. I loved basketball. And you'd
watch this. This team had no chance in the
world. All of a sudden, at the end, he'd throw up a full short
shot and win the game. And whoever thought? And yet, it happens. Why? Because
it's not certain. He said, nor yet riches of men of understanding. Now,
you got a man who's understanding and he knows his business and
he does a good job and he's dedicated. That's no guarantee, is it? It's
uncertain, friends. Now, this truth, as we shall
see, The only truth that we're going to look at is the only
thing that can actually bring you any joy of certainty is salvation. The salvation of God is the only
thing that you can be sure of. But in matters of circumstance
and providence, we are often overcome with fear and anxiety. because we cannot tell what God
will do. Now, I know God's doing it, but
I can't tell what He's going to do. This still drives me to
fear and anxiety. Although I know Him, though I
know He loved me, though I know He... everything it seems that
He, in providence, seems is against what He promised me. It causes fear and anxiety. That's why we have to say, if
the Lord will, we would do this and that. Isn't that correct?
I mean, is that not so? Is that not sure you got to say
that? You better say that, or you're in the wrong. You don't
know anything at all about the sovereignty of God. We often
determine, well, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. In truth, if the Lord will, you'll
do that. And if He won't, you won't. So there's no certainty in health.
You found that out? There's no certainty in family. There's no certainty in your
job and your finances. There's no certainty. Don't put
any trust in these things. Hold them very loosely in your
hand because they are at a moment gone. It's uncertain. You don't know.
You don't know. It is wise to say with the psalmist,
my times are in thine hands. Now what does that mean? Not
just my days of life, that is in his hands, but everything
in between, my times, all of it, are in your hands. Not only the days of my life,
but all that is in between is ordained of God. known unto God
are all his works, when? From the beginning. All my sickness
and all my health, all my poverty and all my wealth,
all my sorrows and all my joys, all my fears and all my peace
are in his hands. And yet we Know this, that none
of those things, though they are certain to God, are not certain
to me. They're not certain to me. And it causes me sorrow. It causes me great misery not
to know what is next. And so as we view divine providence,
God unfolding His purpose every hour, often we're confused. I'm not only in misery, not only
fearful, I'm confused. I'm confused. I confess, I do
not know how this is going to work together for the good of
them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
I don't see it. Do you? The wicked prosper. the righteous suffer. I think we're like Newton. Newton
wrote this hymn, and listen, see if this doesn't ring true
to you. He says, I ask the Lord that I might grow in faith and
love and every grace. Might more his salvation know
and seek more earnestly his face. Is this not our heart? I mean,
is that not why you've come here? I hope it's the reason you've
come here, to seek His face, to understand more of His grace,
to know more of Him. "'Twas He who taught me thus
to pray. He I trust has answered prayer. But it hath been in such a way
it almost drove me to despair. I hoped in some favored hour
at once He'd answer my request, and by His loving, constraining
power, subdue my sins and give me rest. Isn't that what you
think? Man, I'm just thinking, Lord, please help me to do this,
and you'd think it should just happen like that. He's going
to subdue that sin, and He's going to give you that faith
just in a moment. That's what you hoped. No wonder
we're miserable. We don't know the way God does
things. Instead of this, he made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart, let angry powers of hell assault
my soul in every part, yea, more with his own hand. He seemed
intent to aggravate my woe, crossed all my fair designs I schemed,
humbled my heart, and laid me low. Does that feel very similar to
what you go through as a believer? That is my life in a nutshell. Are we in such uncertain times?
Yes. Are we cast down? Are we laid
low? Do the afflictions of the flesh
too grievous to be borne? Are the sorrows so great and
the fears too heavy? Are you weary? In such uncertain times, we may
look to something that is sure. We may look to something that
is sure. Paul says the promise of God
is sure to all the seed. How can we know this to be true
in the times of uncertainty? How can we know that that's sure
when everything else is so unsure? I've got several things that
are sure. First of all, The Word of God
is sure. The Word of God is sure. Go to 1 Peter 1. We can know
that the salvation of God is the promises of God to the seed
are sure because simply this, the Word of God is sure. 1 Peter 1, look at verse 24. He says, For all flesh is as
grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower fadeth away. Brother Glenn takes care of the
yard out here. I'm just sure of this. He doesn't know if it's
going to go brown or green. He tries his best to make it
green. He has no clue when it's going to go brown. It's going
to go brown eventually. It's going to die. It's going
to be winter soon. And no control over that. It's
uncertain. One thing is certain, it will
die. What are we certain about our
flesh? Again, the Ecclesiastes tells
us nobody wins this war. Nobody is discharged from this
war, wise or foolish. The grass withered, the flower
faded away, all flesh is as grass. And the best of it, the glory
of it, is as a flower. The grass withered, the flower
faded away, what then is left? What is sure? The word of the
Lord endureth forever. By which the gospel is preached. to you. How can we know the promise
of salvation is sure to all the seed through faith in Christ?
Because the word of God, which is the gospel, which we preach,
is eternal and cannot fail. It cannot fail. Listen to me. It cannot fail. Everything else can fail. This Word cannot fail. It is the Word of God. So no matter what takes place
in time, regardless of our circumstances, it just doesn't matter. The Word
of God is the only sure thing here that stands forever. The Word of God as we have it
is infallible, immutable, unchangeable, undefiled. You can't defile it. I'll tell you what, for God's
people it's simple. You know, there are more translations
of scripture today than you can probably count. I mean, everybody's
got their own translation it seems nowadays. You let a child of God read some
of those translations and they'll say, I ain't readin' that. Why? You know, it's not right. It's
not the word of God. This word as it is written is
the infallible word of God. And like, let the heathen rage
about it. Let people get angry when I say
that. Let them stomp up and down and hold their breath till their
face turns blue. It just doesn't matter. They'll
die and this Word will continue. Hasn't that been the way? Everyone that has stood against
this Word is dead. And if they're standing against
it today, they'll be dead soon. What's going to last? This Word. This Word. The Word of God endures
forever. The Word of God, and this word
is not a passive word. I've got tons of books back there.
None of them are like this book. None of them are like this book.
Why? Because this is the Word of God.
It is as sharp as it ever was. It will pierce the soul of the
sinner in the hands of the Holy Spirit. It is powerful and effectual. It will get the job done, whatever
God intends to do with it. And so as we preach the subject
and theme, what is the subject and theme of this book? It is
about a person, isn't it? It's about Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. This is the sum and theme of
this book. And as we preach this gospel,
it is in the hands of God to do with it as He pleases. This
morning, He's doing with it as He wants to. There are people
who say, you know, I don't have any interest in this stuff. God's
doing what He wants to do with it. He's heart in your heart. And you take this word and it's
very effectual to you. It's very powerful to you. It's
not the preacher. It's not mannerisms. It doesn't have anything to do
with that. I could stand here and be monotone
all the time. It's just not my personality.
That's just who I am. But if I was, if I just read
it like this and God used it just like that. He doesn't need
me. You don't need mind fluctuations and all the oratory. You don't
need any of that. In the hands of the Spirit of
God, a sinner will be convicted and he'll come to Christ. Why? Because this Word is powerful.
You can be sure of that. Listen to what God says about
His Word. We preach the Gospel over in Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55,
you know this real well. We preach to those who are thirsty.
Anybody thirsty? I don't know if you're thirsty.
I don't know if you want righteousness. I don't know if you want redemption.
I say, ho, everyone that's thirsty, come to the waters. Come, you
buy wine and milk without money, without price. Christ is free.
He's free to anyone who needs Him. Anyone need a Savior? Well, come on to the waters and
drink freely. He's yours. It's yours for the
taking, there he is. That's what I preach. Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous, forget your religion! Throw it away! That's what he's
talking about is your religion. He's not talking about just your
sinful deeds and stop fornicating and stop doing this and stop
doing that. Surely that will fall off. But he's talking about
really your religion. Forsake your way, what you thought
is the way. Forsake it and let him return
unto the Lord and he will abundantly pardon. That's our message. But what I'm sure about is this.
It will only do what God intends it to do. That's it. I'm sure
of that. Why? Look at verse 10. For as the rain cometh down,
and the snow from heaven returneth not thither. Isn't that right?
Rain comes down, doesn't go back up. You see it fall, hits the ground.
There it is. It's laying there. It's in the
ground. Snow, same thing. But it has
a purpose, doesn't it? The rain and snow come down in
the water. What does it do? It watereth the earth and maketh
it bring forth in bud that it may give seed to the sower and
bread to the eater. You see, it comes down and has
a purpose. Listen, so shall my word be. Where does this word
come from? It comes from heaven. It comes
from God. And God says it comes out of
my mouth, and it shall not return to me void. Isn't this opposite of religion?
Religion thinks that, man, God's somehow disappointed. These people
aren't coming. What's wrong? Well, I've got
to do something different. I've got to entertain them. I've
got to do this. I've got to do that. They need
to do this. We need to keep them in the church. We've got to keep
them busy. What else? That word's going to go out and
it's going to be void and it's not going to do anything. Nope,
not us. We are sure. I don't care what
happens. When God sends His word out,
it's going to do exactly what He purposed to do. Either harden
your heart or save you. That's it. God'll do with it
as He pleases. He'll do with what He pleases.
He says, shall not return to me but accomplish that which
I please, not which the preacher pleases or what the hearer pleases. God's gonna do what He pleases
with His Word. And it's going to prosper. In
what? In the thing I send it to do.
Now is that any of my business? Not any of my business at all.
God will do with His Word as He pleases. So no matter what
men say, no matter the providence we face, the Word of God, we
can hold to this. You can stand on this. The Word
of God is sure. The Word of the Lord cannot be
affected by circumstance and providence. It cannot be changed
or disannulled by the power or the will of man. For all the
circumstances and providences and the works of men are ordained
of God." How do I know that? According to the Word of God.
That's how I know that. I know it because the Word of
God said, therefore, all that God declares in His Word is true. All God says is just and right
and pure. We just read that in Isaiah 46.
He said, will do all my pleasure." So,
believer in the darkness, in this state of uncertainty, it
is very important that we trust
completely that the Word of God is sure. We say, let God be true and every
man a liar. Let God be true regardless of
what I see or what I feel or what I think. God's Word is sure
and all that God has promised to do, He will do. And this surely should give every
believer a foundation when all around his life is crumbling. You have something to stand on.
You have this, you have this that doesn't move and doesn't
change with the times everything else does. And so I'm sure of several things
according to this word. First of all, I'm sure of this.
Now listen, very carefully, there's several things that we can be
sure of since we know the word of God is sure, everything else
uncertain, we can be sure of this, that all men are depraved.
You can be sure of that. How can I be so sure? Because
the Word of God declares it so. That all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. And therefore, I am sure of this,
that no man is saved by his works. I'm sure of that, are you? I'm
positive of that. That's a certainty. By the deeds
of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by
the law is only what? The knowledge of sin. It can't
help you. It can't save you. I'm sure of
that. Have you found that to be true? You that believe, I
know you have. I know you've found that to be true. That there's
no amount of obedience that you can perform that will be acceptable
to God. So I know this, all works religion
is false. I've told you this many times,
only two religions in the world, right? Works and grace. You're
either saved by works or you're saved by grace. If you are saved
by a combination of both of them, it's works. Paul says, it is
of grace and not of works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace. You can't call it grace if you
say, well, I'm saved 99.9% by Jesus Christ, and this one little
thing is mine. Well, it's all works. It's no
more grace. So I'm sure that all works religion
is false. No matter how great or small,
if you add anything to Christ, the word of God is clear that
Christ shall profit you nothing. You got that? That is clear.
That's something sure. You can guarantee, you can bank
on it. That's it. Well, I just don't feel that
way. Who cares how you feel? It doesn't matter how I feel.
This is not an opinionated sermon. Thus saith the Lord. That's all
that matters. So if you want to go on and try
to earn your favor with God, go ahead. Go to hell. I can't
help you. I couldn't help myself. Who thinks
I can help you? I can't. And so I'm sure of this, that
everyone that follows after work religion will perish. Paul said, if you be circumcised,
you have that one thing, Christ shall profit you what? What does
he say? Nothing. And he said it twice,
and he said, whosoever you are. I don't care if you're a deacon.
I don't care if you're a bishop. I don't care if you're the pope.
I don't care if you're the president. I don't care who you are. If
you add one thing to Christ, you shall perish. Now I'm sure
of that. All men are depraved. There's no hope in the law. There's
no way to be justified by works. Are you sure of that? I am, because
the Word of God said so. Secondly, I'm sure of this, that
God will judge the world in righteousness. Nobody is going to get a pass.
Ecclesiastes 3 says, I said in mine heart, God shall judge the
righteous and the wicked. Same measurement. The elect don't get a shorter
measurement. We're judged by the same measurement.
Either you are holy as God is, or you are a sinner. But God says to the righteous,
ìSay you to the righteous, it shall be well with him. Say you
to the wicked, it shall be ill with him.î And Iím sure of this,
that God judges all men by the same standard of holiness. ìWho
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?î David said. ìWho shall
stand in his holy place?î Listen, ìHe that hath clean hands and
a pure heart.î That you? Look at your hands. Are they
pure without sin? your heart. Just judge yourself
during this message. Is it pure? What then is the hope of anybody?
How am I sure then that there's any hope for any of us? I am
sure because of this, according to the Word of God, God has an
elect people. I'm sure of that. Without doubt, I know this, before
the foundation of the world, God chose a people that he set
his love on and God purposed to save them. I know that. According to what? According
to that which is sure, the word of God. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings and heavenly places. How do you know that? How are
you so sure? According as He had chosen us
in Christ before the foundation of the world. Why did He do that? That we should be holy. Isn't
that the standard? It's a standard. So God chose
a people and He purposed that they should meet the standard.
Holiness. Without blame before Him. Motivation. Why in the world would he do
that? In love. In love. This whole thing is
a love story. It is God's love for his elect. The most unlovable people upon
the face of God's earth. And yet God says, I love thee
with an everlasting love, an immutable love, an unchangeable
love. And he purposed how they're going
to be holy. Listen to what Paul said, by Jesus Christ. You got
that? That's how they're going to be holy. By Jesus Christ.
Not by Jesus Christ plus their words. Not by Jesus Christ plus
their obedience. Not by Jesus Christ plus their
will. Not by Jesus Christ plus their
obedience to the law. No, by Jesus Christ. That's how
they're going to be holy. wherein he hath made us, something
we by nature are, made us accepted in the Beloved. I'm sure that
God has an elect people. And this is the hope of every
one of his elect, the covenant. Paul calls it the promise. That's
what he made with Abraham, wasn't it? We're talking about Abraham
in Romans chapter 4. God made a promise. God made
a covenant with Abraham. So he says the promise is sure
to all the seed. The covenant is sure. The covenant. Go to 2 Samuel, the end of David's
life here. 2 Samuel chapter 23. Look what David's hope was in
his final days, hours. He said, these be the last words
of David. There it is. These be the last
words of David. David, the son of Jesse, the
man who was raised up on high, the anointed of God, the God
of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, the Spirit of
the Lord spake by me. His word was in my tongue. Wasn't
that a blessing? You suppose that was a high thing?
God put his word in the tongue of David. When we read the Psalms,
who are we really reading? Are we reading David or are we
reading God's word? We're reading what God gave to David. David
acknowledges this. And notice this. The God of Israel,
the Rock of Israel, spake to me, he that ruleth over men,
this is what he said to David, he said, he that ruleth over
men must be just, ruling in the fear of God, and it shall be
as the light of the morning. The sun riseth even in the morning
without clouds, as a tender grass springing out of the earth by
clear shining after Rain, he said, this is the way you should
be, David. If you're a just ruler, this
is what you're going to be like. You're going to be like a bright,
the rain as it's on the tender plants just glistens in the sun.
It's beautiful. You see it sparkle. He said,
that's how you should be. What David's saying. When he
looked at his house, Heard what God said about he should be.
What did David say? Although my house be not so with
God. When you look in your life, is
that not what you see? God said you should be upright. You should walk after me. You
should serve me. You should imitate. Be you imitators
of God as dear children. Is that what you see? When you
lay there on your deathbed, was that what you'll look back on
and say, man, look at that, I was a bright shining as the rain
off of the... No. David said, my house not
like that. David's house was a wreck. You
see David's house? Does that remind you of your
house? Reminds me of my house. David's house reminds me of my
house. Although my house be not so with God. What was David's
hope? He hath made with me an everlasting covenant. That's
his hope. Listen. Ordered. in all things
and what? Sure. The hope of the elect is the
covenant. My hope is not found in my life
circumstance. How I deal with these troubles,
that's not my hope. I long to deal with them wisely.
I long to be able to, by faith, look to Christ constantly. Yet
I find this, my house not like that. What's my hope? In an uncertain world, what's
my sure thing? The covenant that God made with
me. This is the ground on which the
elect stand. And what is this covenant ordered
in all things, and how is it sure? Listen, I am sure that
this covenant is sure. Because this covenant is wrapped
up in the work of one man, Jesus Christ. But of God are you in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us what wisdom? Got any wisdom?
Who's your wisdom? He is. Righteousness, who's your
righteousness? He is. Who's your sanctification?
He is. Who's your redemption? He is.
Why? God made him that in the covenant.
I'm sure because that's what God made him. And so I am sure
of this, every believer can be sure of this, that all Christ
was purposed to do for the elect, He did. I was reminded this week
I talked to a man about Malcolm Lilly. I preached his funeral
and I remember there was one of the pastors, largest Southern
Baptist church here in Louisville attended. And I preached a message on Jesus.
Malcolm Christ served was the name of the message. And I preached
it. I said he was, first of all, he was God and he was man. You
see the man nodding. You see the man agreeing. Second
point was this. He came to save his people from
their sins. Not much reaction. Kind of questioning. This third point, was one that
was totally rejected by him and all religion. I said Jesus Christ
was successful. That he actually saved his people
from their sins. Well, how do I know that? Well,
the Word of God is sure and it told me that. Thou shalt call
his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Any clearer than that? Paul said, by the witch will,
by the will of God, we were sanctified through the offering of the body
of Christ once for all. He hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified. And so Jesus Christ was ordained
to become our high priest, and as our high priest, he offered
both righteousness, obedience, and blood. Both things required
of the law. He offered them both, and God
accepted them both. I am sure of this. I am sure
that He was successful. I know this. All those for whom
Christ died, He saved them. Isn't that what Paul says? The order of it is, I believe,
in 1 Timothy 1.9. He says, He had saved us, and
then what? Called us. Which was first? He saved us when he died. And
it was proven. And I am sure that he's successful.
You know why I'm sure? Because he's the only one God
raised from the dead. He raised him from the dead and
sat him on the throne of heaven. Nobody else got that. Now he
raised a couple of men from the dead. You know what they did?
They died again. This man didn't die again. This is the only man. He was raised from the dead.
And God set him on the throne. To testify of what? That the
promise of God, the covenant of God is sure to all his elect. God swore. And Christ actually accomplished
the redemption of his people. And I know this also is sure.
That all that God chose and Christ died will be called. Not one
of them will be not called. Not one of them will miss it.
Jesus tells them this plainly in John chapter 6, All that the
Father giveth me, they shall come to me. All that the Father
giveth me, they shall come to me. Is this clear? This is plain. Who's going to
come? All that the Father gave me. I don't know who they are.
I know this. They'll come. I'm sure of it.
I'm sure of it. Are you sure of that? I'm sure
of it. I'm positively sure. Everyone named in this covenant
will come to him, and how is he going to treat them when they
come? I will in no wise cast them out. I came down from heaven
not through my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will that has sent me. In case you don't
know what the will of God is, this is it. This is the will
of God. God said, I'm going to do all
my pleasure. And this is my pleasure, God said, that of all he has
given me, I should lose nothing. So how many will he lose? Are
you sure? He said nothing. I'm not going
to lose one of them. You know what I know? He's not
going to lose one of them. So in all my uncertainty, I've
got some things that I'm really sure about. I'm really sure God
has people. I'm really sure that Christ died
for them. I'm really sure that he's going to call them. And
not one of them shall be missing. Another thing I'm sure about
is this. that none who are born of God shall fail to receive
all that God had promised." What has God promised you? You
that believe, what has God promised you? He's promised you righteousness. You already have that in the
new man. Wait a second, that's not how
I feel. I don't feel righteous, do you? Yet God says I am. He said, whosoever is born of
God sinneth not. Do you believe that? That's the
word of God. That's what God said in John
chapter 5, 1 John chapter 5. He says, that which is born of
God sinneth not. Do you believe that? Yet I also
am sure of this, whosoever say he hath not sinned, he has deceived
himself, and the truth is not in him. I'm sure of that, too.
Why? Because I have two natures sitting in me. I have one that
has never done anything righteous at all, and I have one made of
God, created of God, that has only done righteousness. And
these two are at constant war. That's why these uncertainties
trouble me so much. But I'm sure of this, that all
God promised me, I'll have righteousness, redemption, Peace with God? We just read what Noon said,
with his own hand he seemed intent to aggravate my woes. That's
what he's doing to me. Feels like he's put his foot
on my neck and he's not letting up. So how do I know I'm at peace
with God? I sure don't feel like peace. God's Word said he hath made
peace by the blood of his cross. I'm at peace with God. Eternal
life. Eternal life. I don't feel like
I'll have eternal life. I'll tell you what, I don't have
any clue what that's like. Do you have any understanding
what eternal life's like? We live in time. We're all sick.
We're troubled. We're afflicted. We don't have
any idea what that's like. But whatever that is, I'm going
to get that too. I'm sure of it. Why? Because Christ promised. He who cannot lie promised. He told Abraham when he could
swear by none greater, he swore by his own self. That by two immutable things
that we might have a strong consolation, his oath and his counsel, his
oath and his decree. We have a strong consolation.
Everything around us is crumbling. The world is on fire everywhere
we turn. Our lives are uncertain. We don't
know if we're going to live or die tomorrow. In the midst of all that, you
can stand firm on this, that God will not fail to give you
everything he promised. And then I want to lastly show
you this. Why? Why is it this way? God has given us so much to be
sure of in his word. Yet why is it that all around
us is uncertain? Why doesn't he make it smooth?
Why doesn't He just move every obstacle out of our way so we
can live a life of peace and joy all the way till we are taken
up to glory? Why? Why? I am sure of this, that this
is how God causes our faith to grow. He ordained our faith,
our love, our temperance, our meekness, all the fruits of the
Spirit. He who ordained that also ordained
the means by which it would grow. Now it's not what you think.
You think your faith should grow if you just read more. If I just
study more, if I just memorize this, if I just attend the worship
faithfully. If I just, you know, if I just
cease from sin, then He's going to cause me to grow. No! That's not how God causes us
to grow. Surely these things are used
of God. These are necessary things you
should read, you should study, you should be faithful. But know
this, God causes our faith to grow. Now our knowledge may go
from reading, Right? Your understanding may grow from
reading, but I'll tell you what, God only makes it effectual by
experience, I'm telling you. You may know a lot of things,
but you don't know it until you've really experienced it. So what does God do with these
things? He tries our faith. Go to 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 1, look at this. Peter says in verse 6, wherein
you greatly rejoice, you rejoice in your election, your redemption,
all those sure things I just told you, you rejoice in those
things. Don't you? I do. I'm thankful for them,
they're sure. You greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations." Why? That's
the trial of your faith. Why is everything uncertain? It's to try your faith. Why are
you in the dilemma you're in? To try your faith. Why is this necessary? Because
it's much more precious than gold that perishes. True faith
doesn't perish. Pretty soon all the gold, all
that stuff's just gonna go away and not be of any value to you
at all. One thing is, faith is important. I need to be sure that my faith
is real. You can know all the certainty
of election, all the certainty of redemption, all the certainty
of God's calling, all the certainty of God's keeping. You know all
that in your head. But am I His elect? Has He redeemed me? Has He called
me? Do I really believe? Don't worry, that'll be tested.
Not for God, for you. Didn't you ask that your faith
might grow? And then we're perplexed as to
why we got all this trouble. Listen to what he told Newton
in that hymn. He asked the Lord to grow and
he caused all these things. He said, Lord, why is this? I trembled and cried. Wilt thou
pursue thy worm to death? I feel that. "'Tis in this way,'
the Lord replied. I answer prayer for grace and
faith. These inward trials I employ
from self and pride to set thee free and break the schemes of
earthly joy that thou mightest find thine all in me." You found
that's what trials do? When you're in a trial, where
do you go? Now you'll go anywhere you can until he cuts all that
off. And when he cuts all that off, where do you go? You go back to the one thing
that's sure. You go back to his promise. So regardless of what's happening
to me, regardless if I live or I die, regardless if I have joy or I
have pain. This is true. He hath made with
me an everlasting covenant in order in all things and sure,
sure, trial of our faith is the cause of these things. So we'll read you one passage
of scripture and we'll close. Look at this in Psalm chapter
46. Psalm chapter 46. Here's the sure thing for David.
God is our refuge. I am sure of this. God is my refuge and strength. I need strength. I'm sure God's
my strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed. though the mountains be carried
in the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be
troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
Is that how you feel? In your uncertainty? Mountains are crumbling. Everything
I've trusted in, everything I'm leaning on is falling. There is a river Christ, the streams whereof make glad
the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the
Most High. God is in the midst of her, and
listen to this sure statement, she shall not be moved. Do you understand this? You will
not be moved. If you're in Christ, you won't
be moved. Nothing outside will ever affect this. Nothing outside
will ever change this. Matter of fact, all providence
is ordained to make this happen. And so everything that's happening
is ordained by the sovereign hand of God and will be sure
to work for your good. And I'm sure of that because
that word is sure. And I just don't care how I feel
or what I think. And don't enter into it. Don't
change it. Who shall separate me from the
love of God that's in Christ Jesus? Is anything in your life going
to do that? Any trouble you face, is that going to separate you? Nothing shall separate me from
the love of God's in Christ. I don't care who or what. Why? Because the promise is sure. To who? All to see. To all who
believe on Christ, this is your promise. I do hope God settles you. And I hope he calms the storm. But even if he don't, you have
a firm foundation to stand on that cannot be moved. May God make it sure to your
heart. Let's stand and be dismissed in prayer. Father, dismiss us with your
mercies and pour out your grace. Oh, I'm sure you'll do whatever
you please. I'm sure you'll do it. I'm sure
that it will work to the good of your people. Comfort us in these things. Strengthen
us in the inner man. I pray that you would be gracious
to calm the seas of our troubles. Heal our afflictions. Give us
grace to patiently wait for it. Forgive us our sins in it. I
pray it in Jesus' name.