Go with me, if you would, back
to Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4, we're going to skip
down a few verses. Normally, as I am looking at
a chapter and we're going through a chapter, when I see something,
I set it to the side, I think on it and set it to the side.
And when we get to that verse, we deal with it. But I felt very
strongly led to look at this, I felt like this was our message
for the morning. So we're going to skip down to
verse 32. And before I read it to you,
I want to give you the title of the message. Why would God forgive me? Why would God forgive me? Ephesians
4 verse 32 says, And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you. One man said years ago, many
years ago, that three things ought to characterize our preaching.
Three things ought to characterize our preaching. Number one, knowledge. A man ought to know who he's
preaching. A man ought to know what he's
preaching. If a man is going to stand up
and preach, he ought to know what he's preaching. Paul said,
I know whom I have believed. John said, that which we have
seen and heard declare we unto you personally. So a man ought to know what this
word says. If a man is going to stand up
and declare God's word, he needs to know what the word says. So
knowledge. And the second thing is sincerity. A fearful, honest, sincerity. Romans 1 verse 9 says, God is
my witness. God is my witness. God is witnessing
what men are declaring in his name. Men are supposedly supposed
to be standing in his name. God is witnessing and he is going
to hold every man who stands accountable. Every man who is
standing in his name, he is going to hold that man accountable. If a man is lying on what God
has written, he will be held accountable. Every man, though, who stands
in the name of God, he's going to have to give an account. So
knowledge needs to be there. Sincerity needs to be there.
And the third thing that should characterize our preaching is
simplicity. Simplicity. The Apostle Paul
said, I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through
his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ Jesus." When a man stands on God's behalf, declaring what God has written
in His Word, The most simple mind in the room ought to be
able to understand what he said, the most simple mind in the room. I don't know why men try to impress
with their knowledge and their big words and men say things
and I don't have any idea what they're talking about. I was told whenever I first started
preaching and I went to my first conference, a man wisely told
me, don't preach to the preachers. Don't preach to the preachers. Simplicity. Our Lord himself
said, I thank the old father Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and has
revealed them unto babes. Even so, father. For so it seemed
good in thy sight. Hid these things from the wise
and prudent and revealed them unto babes. So those three things
ought to stand out. Knowledge, sincerity, simplicity. Now again, the title of this
message is Why Would God Forgive Me? Why Would God Forgive Me? Three words are in that verse
that we just read and those three words answer that question with
all knowledge, with all sincerity and with all simplicity. They're
at the end of verse 32. For Christ's sake. For Christ's sake. For Christ's
sake. Those three words are the foundation
of the entire gospel. For Christ's sake. It's for Christ's
sake. That is the beginning, the middle
and the end of the gospel message. For Christ's sake. Even as God, for Christ's sake,
hath forgiven you. It's the only reason for our
forgiveness. For Christ's sake. Also, those three words. They
are the reason that we are allowed to approach God in prayer. It's
the reason our words don't hit the ceiling. You see men praying
all the time. And if they are not in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, truly, if they are not speaking to God
in him and through him, the words don't make it through the ceiling.
We are allowed to talk to him and he will hear us for Christ's
sake. We're allowed to cry unto him.
Father, we ask all these things for Christ's sake. We're praying
in His name. Those three words are the key
to understanding all of the Scripture. It's the key to understanding
why every story was written. We flip through this Word and
we read story after story after story after story. Why were they
written? For Christ's sake. For Christ's
sake. It's the key to understanding
the whole book. That's the common thread in the
whole book. It's all for Christ's sake. Acts 10 43 says to him, give
all the prophets witness. All the prophets are speaking
of him. In Luke 24, he expounded to those
two on the road to Emmaus. in all the scriptures, the things
concerning himself. It's all about him. You've heard
people say before, this is a hymn book. It's a hymn book all about
him. Those three words are the key
to understanding how a child of God, this one's a, this is
a important one. Those three words are the key
to understanding how a child of God can be totally free from
the bondage of the law and the commandments in this book. I
mean, totally free from the bondage of the law and the bondage of
all the commandments. And yet at the same point in
time, have a heart to fulfill every word in every line, even
though he can't fulfill any word, he has a heart to. Why? For Christ's sake. For Christ's sake. Because he
loves Christ. Because of what Christ has done
for him. Those three words are the only plea that a sinner has
before the throne of God. Now, if we hear anything this
morning, let's hear this. All of us, okay? All of us. If
today or tonight, Any of us are taken from this world. Whenever
that time may be, it is appointed to every person here to be taken
and stand before the judgment throne. And if all of the sudden
you find yourself standing there before the judgment throne. And
the question is asked to you. Why should I allow a sinful,
wretched person like you to enter into my eternity? Give me one reason why I shouldn't
cast you into outer darkness right now. Let's not answer. Do not answer. Oh, I'm not a sinner. I'm not a sinner against you.
You said I was a sinful, wretched person against you. No, that's
not me. I'm not a sinner against you. Don't say that. His response
will be, Oh, so you're calling me a liar? Look with me at first
John chapter one. 1 John 1 verse 10. If we say that we have not sinned,
we make him a liar and his word is not in us. I fear that that's
what many people will say. All of a sudden they're going
to be standing there and that's what they're going to say. I'm
not a sinner. Pleading I'm not a sinner is
a straight ticket into destruction. So let's not plead death. If
we find ourselves having to answer the question, what right do you
have to enter in to the glory of my kingdom? Let's not plead
our works. Don't plead anything we have
done. Not one thing that we've done.
Turn with me over to Matthew 7. Matthew 7 verse 21 says, Not everyone that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Not everyone
who says to me, Lord, Lord, is going to enter into the kingdom
of heaven. But he that does the will of my Father which is in
heaven. What is the will of the Father? Plead Christ. Believe on Christ. Bow the knee to Christ. Cast
your all on Christ. He that hath the Son hath life. This is my beloved Son. Hear Him. The Lord Jesus Christ said, this
is the will of Him that sent me. This is the Father's will.
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." So he said right here in Matthew 7, not everyone who
says to me, I'm ready to come in is going to be accepted in. Verse 22, Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done
many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. Being a preacher will do nothing
for a man. It will do nothing for a man.
You don't get a ticket in just because you're a preacher. It would shock all of us to know
how many preachers are turned away. It would shock us to know
how many preachers are turned away, not allowed in, cast into
outer darkness. If a man's plea is, but I'm a
preacher, that is a straight ticket to destruction. You see these guys on TV healing
people. You know, they come to them and
they smack them in the forehead and, you know, that'll do nothing
for them. That will do nothing for them
eternally. If their plea is, but didn't
you see what we did on TV? If that's their plea, that's
a straight ticket to destruction. If our plea is, Well, no, I'm
not perfect. Now, I will admit I'm not perfect,
and yes, I have sinned a little. And no, I didn't do any great
works for God or any great works for the sick or those in need,
but somewhere there's just an inner goodness in me. I just
know deep inside somewhere there is a goodness. I never gave anybody
any trouble. I tried to just be a peaceful,
law-abiding citizen. If that is our plea, that's a
straight ticket to destruction. Isaiah said all of our righteousnesses,
all of the things that we believe are good, they're all filthy
rags before God. The only plea The only plea that
a sinner has before the throne of God is for Christ's sake. I'm telling you plead that. I'm just me to you. I'm just
telling you're going to stand there. And in that moment say,
for Christ's sake. And mean it in your heart, for
Christ's sake. For Christ's sake. Give me one
good reason why I should not destroy you right now. For Christ's
sake. Lord, please don't destroy me
for Christ's sake. That publican in the temple,
he cried, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. What he was saying
was for Christ's sake. That's where mercy is found. And he found mercy. God granted
him mercy. Every sinner who pleads mercy
finds mercy. Now, let me see if I can explain
what it means. And explain why God will show
mercy for Christ's sake. Number one, God will show mercy
to a sinner when a sinner pleads for Christ's sake because of
the glory and the honor and the majesty of the person of Christ. God will show mercy for Christ's
sake because of who he is, who it is we're pleading. Who it
is. Isaiah said unto us a child is
born but this is God manifest in the flesh. This is God. Who this person is. Hebrews 1
says Christ is the brightness of God's glory. The express image
of God's person. He is the one who upholds all
things by the word of his power who is seated on the right hand
of the majesty on high. And the right hand does not mean
that his throne is seated right next to God's throne. The right
hand means the seat of honor. He is seated in the seat of honor. God the father said to God the
son it's your throne. Thy throne. So who is he? Who is this person? He's the
king. He is God, the king. Peter said we were eyewitnesses
of his majesty. God will have mercy because of
who he is. Who Christ is, the glory of his
person, the glory of his office. I knew a man. years ago, who was in the military. And he was special forces of
some kind. He was special operations of
some kind. And he was deployed overseas. And he was out on a mission.
And his whole team was captured. And he became a prisoner of war. And his team was being held with
other prisoners of war. And I don't know how long he
was there, but obviously they were using them to try to negotiate
things and to try to be tactful for our
children. The enemy was deceasing them one by one. And it came his turn to be deceased. And right before they did it,
he told them to get his phone. It was either in his pocket or
they'd already taken it from him. And he said, get my phone. And just before he had been deployed
on that mission, he was at an event where the President and
the First Lady were in attendance. And he had his picture taken
with the First Lady, and this was years ago. But he had his
picture taken with the First Lady and he held up him and the
First Lady. And because of that picture,
they thought that he was important to the President. And they feared if they took
him, The president would retaliate heavily on them and they didn't
do it. He was spared. In that moment, he did not plead
to them, but I'm a decorated soldier. In that moment, he did not plead
to them, but wait a minute, I'm a good person. In that moment
he pleaded the President of the United States of America. He
pleaded the glory of that office and he was spared. He was spared. He cried, don't destroy me because
of my union with him. The father will show mercy to
us because of our union with Christ. And the father will show
mercy because of Christ's union with him. The president was not
in the picture. It was the president's beloved. Pleading for Christ's sake. is
pleading the beloved, pleading the father's beloved. He said,
this is my beloved. I'm pleading the sweetest name,
you know, I plead your beloved. About a year or so ago, Hannah couldn't be in two places
at one time, and Sophie was having a Thanksgiving dinner at school, and the parents were invited.
It was a parent-invited event, and neither one of us wanted
her to be without a parent, so I went and had lunch with her.
And when I got there, she was with this little friend of hers,
this cute little girl, And they were going through their line
and getting their turkey and dressing dinner. I stood there
and waited on them. And after they got their trays,
here they were walking towards me. And as soon as they got within
earshot, Sophie starts asking me, is it okay if my friend eats
lunch with us? Because her mom couldn't make
it. She doesn't have a parent here.
So would it be okay if she sits and eats with us? The whole time
Sophie was telling me that as she's walking up, this little
girl is looking me right in the eyes going, it's okay. It's okay. I know her mother. She said,
it's okay. Sophie saying, can she, is it
okay if she, it's okay. I know her mother. And I looked
at that little girl and she said, I know her mother. It's okay. And I looked at her and I said,
oh, you know her mother. She said, yes, I know her mother.
And I said, well, you come on and eat with us then. How could
I deny her when she was pleading my beloved? You see that? Oh, absolutely. You come on.
I'm pleading the beloved. For Christ's sake. Please, for
Christ's sake. Say that name again. Sweetest
name I know. God will show mercy to us for
Christ's sake because of who he is, because of who he is,
our relationship to him and his relationship to the Father. And
God will show mercy to us for Christ's sake because of what
he's done, who he is and what he has done. Go with me to John
17. John 17 verse 4, I have glorified thee on the
earth. I have finished the work which
thou gavest me to do. That's the Lord Jesus Christ
speaking to his father. I've glorified thee on the earth.
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. What was
that work? Go with me to Philippians 2.
Our brother just read this for us. Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 says, Let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men. And being found in fashion as
a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross." Isaiah 53 verse 12 says He poured out
His soul unto death. Why would He do that? He did
that because God his father laid on him all of the iniquity, all
the sin of all of his people. He bore our griefs, he carried
our sorrows, he was wounded for our transgressions. Our chastisement
was laid upon him and like a lamb done before his shearer, he didn't
open his mouth. Everything we were supposed to
get was laid on him and he never said a word. Never said a word. He fulfilled all righteousness
for us, everything that God demanded. And he purged all sin from us
in the shedding of his own blood. And for every soul He shed that
blood for, there is a covenant in that blood, there is a promise.
Every soul He put that blood on, a promise goes with the blood. God the Father says to every
soul that is covered in the blood of His beloved, when I see His
blood, not other blood, not bulls and goats, not other people,
when I see the blood of the beloved, I'll pass over you. I will not
destroy you for Christ's sake. I will not destroy you because
I destroyed him for you. Now go back to our text and I'll
close with this. This is a sincere word. I want to sincerely say this
to us. May the Lord teach us and help
us to apply it honestly. May this be a true application. If God, for Christ's sake, has
forgiven us, shouldn't we, for Christ's sake,
forgive each other? Because God has been so kind
toward us, so tenderhearted toward us. Do we need any other motivation
to be kind and tenderhearted toward each other? Our Lord said, as I have done
for you, do it for each other. Do it for each other. If we could
only enter into the offense that we are to him still in this flesh,
the offense that we were, the offense that we are, and what
has he done for us? God has forgiven us for Christ's
sake. He has reconciled. reconciled
us. And he said, as I've done for
you, do the same for each other. He said, by this shall all men
know that you are my disciples, if you have love for the brethren.
Love for the brethren. For that reason, for Christ's
sake, verse 31 says, let all bitterness and wrath and anger
and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all
malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
you." All right, let's all stand together. Turn with me to 221.