John 17, I have something I deeply
desire for the whole world to hear. And we'll start with this
room. But we're going to veer from
2 Corinthians this morning. We've been going through 2 Corinthians
for the Bible study. But I had something very heavily
laid on my heart. last weekend while I was at the
conference in Lexington. The Lord blessed me so much at
that conference. He blessed my heart. He blessed
it through the preaching, the men that he had to speak there. But on Saturday morning, we sang
hymn number 222, There is a Fountain. I believe the Lord blessed the
song to the whole congregation. It was a special, special blessing. I entered into that song like
I've never entered into it before. How many times have we sung 222?
But sometimes the Lord really lays hold of your heart and you
enter into what is being said and the reality of things. I was so blessed by it and what
got my attention, what I entered into was the difference in doctrine
and Christ. There's a difference in doctrine
and in Christ. And at the end of this, I'm going
to show you what I saw in that hymn. There is a big difference
in knowing correct. And I want to emphasize correct. We're not going to deal with
false doctrine this morning. We can deal with that in a moment
or we'll deal with that every other time. This morning we're
going to deal with correct doctrine. People come to see some correct
doctrine and there is a huge difference in knowing correct
doctrine and knowing Christ. There's a big difference. John 17 verse 3 says, and this is life eternal that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou hast sent." This is life eternal. This is life eternal. Being called to do this, being
called to stay in the Word, being called to stand up and declare
these things, it hits home to me. That time is running out. It's running out. It's getting
shorter. It's getting shorter. And there is a real danger in
the world today. I've started to realize this
over the last few years. There is a real danger. And the
danger is this more and more people are coming to a knowledge
of Calvinism. I think that's a shocking statement.
I think that that ought to get everybody's attention. Um, I
love my dear brother, John Calvin. I do. I love him. I, if somebody asked me, are
you a Calvinist? My answer is yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. I thank the Lord
for John Calvin. I thank the Lord for what the
Lord called that man to do. I thank the Lord for what he
revealed to that man. I believe Calvinism, even though
I don't like any word that ends in ism. No words. If it ends in "-ism", I don't
like it. I'm not a fan of it. I like small, simple words. Our precious Lord, He never used,
rarely, I'll say, rarely did He use more than two-syllable
words while He walked this earth. Sometimes three-syllable words.
But he never tried to impress people by his words. The one
who created words. Never. He preached to the simple. He preached to babes. He preached
to people like me. With that being said, I believe
Calvinism. And I preach Calvinism. And the reason is because that's
what the scripture says. That's exactly what the Word
of God says. John Calvin only pointed out
what the scripture already said. Every true God called man who
was here before John Calvin was ever even born preached Calvinism. Because that's what the scripture
says. He was just declaring what God has written and it's the
same message God gives every one of his called preachers. So I totally agree with John
Calvin. All right. Why would I fear then
there's a danger in men and women coming to a knowledge of Calvinism? The reason is because Calvinism
is still not Christ. It's just not. It's not. This is life eternal. This is
the difference. This is the difference. A man
or a woman can arrive at Calvinism. The Lord can show them some things
in this word and they can arrive at Calvinism and still not arrive
at Christ. And I think this is so important.
It's because we believe. In Calvinism, isn't that right?
We tell people these five points, don't we? It's in all of our
messages, whether we physically say the words or not, that's
the outline of the message. And men and women come to a knowledge
of these things, but I pray the Lord might really cause us to
see, cause us to really understand the difference. in Calvinism, in Christ. The
difference in holding to a doctrine and holding to Christ. Calvin never preached, look unto
me and be ye saved. You look at all these five points
that I've written out. Never. His message was, look
to Christ. Look to Christ. Don't stop at
these five points. continue to the one they're pointing
to. All five of these points are pointing to him. Turn with
me, if you would, to 2 Timothy 1. 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 12
it says for the witch cause I also suffer these things nevertheless
I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed I know whom I
have believed. Oh, if the Lord will let us,
let's all enter into this. We, we know this. How many times
have we read this scripture? We know this, but Lord, let us
enter into this. I know whom I know whom I know
whom I have believed. Not what? Whom? Not how? It's whom? It's whom? I've read this to you so many
times, but I need to read it again. Brother Henry wrote this
article, the difference between preaching Christ and preaching
about Christ. He said years ago, I read the
following quote by an unknown author. And the quote was this. I can appreciate the ability
of the learned botanist to give me the scientific name of a rose. the origin of it, the various
types of roses, how and where they grow, and the number of
petals and thorns and leaves to expect on a genuine rose.
But too often, those who become overly entangled in these things
somehow lose the most important things, the beauty and the fragrance
of the rose. You know, I could come home to
Hannah at the end of the day and say, I went to the flower
store and I saw the most beautiful flowers. I could tell her all
about those flowers. I could know every detail of
those flowers and never bring her flowers. And we can know
all the details. and never enter into the one
the details are describing. He said, I hope in our teaching,
preaching and witnessing concerning the gospel of our dear savior,
we do not become more concerned with the system rather than the
sweetness. That's the difference that that's
where love reigns in a congregation. When we're not built on a system,
when we're built on the sweetness, He said, more concerned with
the mechanics rather than the mercy, with the right terminology
rather than the right spirit and attitude. You will soon weary
my head if you don't warm my heart. While I'm eager to learn
more of how, why, and when I came to Christ, I would like to rejoice
and enjoy my relationship with him now. He is my rose of Sharon,
which brightens my life and sends his sweet fragrance through my
soul. One can preach about Christ and not preach Christ, just as
we can know how God saves sinners and not be a saved sinner. Lord, help me. Help me to not
stand up here and preach how God saved sinners and come the
end not be a saved sinner. He said, Oh, the wonder of it
all just to think that Christ loves me. Verse 12 right here in second
Timothy one. For the witch cause I also suffer
these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom
I have believed." All of the apostles declared their message
to be this. They all said, we preach Christ. Isn't that what they said? We
preach Christ. We don't preach the points about Christ, even
though we do. We're preaching Christ. He said,
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. True salvation is a person. It's a person. A saving hope
is in a person. Somebody, when somebody tells
me they're a Calvinist, if somebody comes up and says, I'm a Calvinist
through and through, I think, no, I don't, I don't, that's
not, doesn't sound like a good hope to me. I tell you what now,
buddy, I believe in all five of those points. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Don't do it. Believe the one they're pointing
to. Go with me over to Philippians
three. Philippians 3 verse 4 says, though
I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh,
I more. Oh, if I could tell people in religion one thing, it'd be
stop trusting in your flesh. Stop looking to the flesh. Verse
five. He said, I was circumcised the
eighth day, just like Moses told me to do. I did exactly what
Moses said to do in his law. Just like the Lord was circumcised
the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law of Pharisee concerning
zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness, which
is in the law, blameless. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, I count
all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of election." People say, I got it. I got it.
Election. I got it. I believe in election. Well, that's great. God elected
a people. But that's not what it says.
That's not what it says. Did Paul preach election? Absolutely he did. But he said,
yea, doubtless, I count all things loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ and be found in Him." I'm going to make a statement
on my own behalf. I don't want, come the end of
this life, I don't want to just be found in election. I want
to be found in Him. There's a difference. I want
to be found in him. Somebody will say, what do you
mean? There's a difference. What's the difference? Here's the difference. Election
is not salvation. It's not salvation. People get
this idea. Well, you know, either you're
the elector or you're not, you know, we'll find out in the end. Well, you think we ought to go
witness to the gospel to people? Nope. Either you're elect or
you're not elections, not salvation election. The scripture says
is unto salvation. Election is chosen to be found
in him. It does not matter to me what
it is. I don't want to put my hope in
a what no matter what it is. It must be whom it must be whom
the end of verse eight. He said that I may win Christ
and be found in him. Not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith, that I may
know him. Not just how limited atonement
works. Him. The atoner. That's the difference. I don't
want to just know the atonement. I want to know the atoner. the one who willingly gave His
own life and atonement for sin. Verse 10, that I may know Him
in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings
being made conformable unto His death, if by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead. I have to know Him. The moment we take the person
out of the doctrine, no matter how correct the doctrine is.
The moment we do that, the moment we turn our eyes from the person
to the doctrine itself, that's the moment we lose the gospel. That's how a person can just
be absolutely convinced of total depravity. A man can stand up
and for 45 minutes preach on total depravity and never preach
the gospel. He can stand up and preach on
election, election and never preach the gospel. The minute
we take the person out of the equation, we lose the gospel,
we lose life. This is life eternal that they
might know Thee, Thee. The gospel is not an order of
correctness. It's a person. Eternal life is
not five points. It's a person. It's a person. We were in the text of Hebrews
12 last Sunday and we're about to be in it, continue in it here
in just a moment. But it says in Hebrews 12 verse
two, looking unto Jesus. That's how we run looking unto
the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we're talking about faith,
whether we're talking about works, whether we're talking about doctrine,
it can all be summed up right here. God's sheep are looking
to Christ. They are looking to Christ. We
don't look to our faith. Our faith cannot save us. Our faith cannot Save us. The giver of the faith is the
one who saves us. The object of faith himself. It does not matter how much trust
I see in myself. This is a huge relief to me. And there's another man in this
congregation who's not here this morning. And he, it's a huge
relief to him. Every time he hears it, he always tells me,
Oh, I'm so thankful for that. And I am too. It does not matter
how much trust I see in myself. My hope is not in how much trust
I see in myself. My hope is in the faithfulness
of Christ. That's where every bit of it
is. Look into Him. We're not looking to our works,
are we? We're not looking to any deed we do. We're not looking
to how much... Are you proud of how much you
read the Bible? All the time, every morning,
first thing, I wake up, I grab that Bible. Is that what happens?
No. We're not looking to our reading. We're not looking to our worship. We're not looking to anything.
We're looking to Christ. We're looking to Christ. In the
same way that we have faith. but we're not looking to the
faith, we're not trusting in the faith, we're not hoping in
the faith. In the same way that we have works, do we desire good
works? Yes, but we're not looking to
the works, we're not trusting to the works. In that same way,
we have doctrine. We have correct doctrine. The scripture says they shall
all be taught of God. God will teach his people and
he will not lead them to a false doctrine. Christ leads his people
to the true doctrine and we hold to the true doctrine, but we're
not looking to the doctrine. We're not. My hope is not built
on the fact that I'm a Calvinist. My assurance is not grounded
on the fact that I believe in election. I'm just so glad I
believe in election. I am glad I believe in election.
I'm very thankful for that. But my hope and my assurance
is not grounded on that. What gives a believer the assurance
that he or she is one of the elect? is when God gives eyes
to see the one in whom the election is. That's the difference to
a believer. God the Father said concerning
Christ, I love this, I believe this with all my heart. God the
Father said concerning Christ, Behold mine elect. What he said was, I choose him. Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ
said concerning sinners, all sinners. Him that cometh to me,
I will in no wise cast out. He said that to every sinner. Now we know the truth of the
matter that man is totally depraved and he will not come. Isn't that
right? But he said, Him that cometh
to me, I will in no wise cast out. Now did God choose me? Did God choose me? I don't know. But God chose him. And God said
if I run to him, crying to him and begging to him, Lord have
mercy on me, I'm a sinner and I must be found in you. God said every sinner that comes
running like that, he will in no wise cast out, he will welcome
him in and hide him in Christ. hide his soul in Christ. What that means is if God chose
him, then God chooses me in him. Who gets the credit for all that?
He does. Who did all the quickening to
this dead sinner? He did. Who turned the will and
made this would not come sinner willing to come? He did. Who
did all the drawing? He did. Who provided the place
of rest? He did. He did every bit of it. But if all we hear from this
word is election, that's all we ever hear. Election. If all we ever know is the doctrine
of it and we never come to know the elector, this is all we're
going to have. And this is where place after place after place
goes wrong. If that's all we ever hear, this
is all we're ever going to have. We're going to have a cold, hard
doctrine that offers no center, any hope. All we're going to
have is a 50-50 chance. That's all we'll have. Just a
gamble. But if we ever hear the man,
Christ Jesus, say, come unto me, all ye that labor and are
heavy laden, I'll give you rest. If we ever hear the man say,
if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. If we ever
come to know that God's election is in him, Only in Him. Yes, there is a limited atonement.
It is limited to every single soul in Him. Every soul in Him
is covered under the blood. If we ever see that, that cold,
hard, dead doctrine will become life to a sinner. They'll see
eternal life. And if God reveals the grace,
the grace of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
grace will become absolutely irresistible. Absolutely irresistible. That sinner will go running,
not to a doctrine, to a person. Every totally depraved sinner
that God begins a work in, causes that sinner to see the elector,
causes that sinner to see the atoner, causes that sinner to
hear the voice of the caller. Every one of them will receive
eternal life himself. Every single one will give him
all the glory, all the glory. They'll say, he started this.
I didn't do anything, but lay here dead. He chose me in Him. He quickened me. He called me.
He gave the faith causing me to believe and desire. He did all the work. He's the
elector, the atoner, the caller. He's the keeper. He did it all. And that's the difference. That's
the difference in cold dead doctrine in Christ. Christ. Now, I'm going to close with
this. Turn with me in your hymnal to 222. I just want to show you
this. 222. We were reading this song, and as
I was reading this, you see how it has five verses? I immediately realized that's
Calvinism. Those are the five points of
Calvinism. But it occurred to me, this is
so much more than Calvinism. If God ever lets a sinner enter
into this, he won't see Calvinism. He'll see Christ. Verse 1 says,
there's a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins
and sinners, totally depraved sinners. This is why we need
the fountain. We're sinners. We're sinners. Sinners plunged beneath that
flood lose all their guilty stains. Verse 2 says, the dying thief
rejoiced to see. The other one didn't. The other
one had no heart. Two thieves, one on each side.
Oh God in His mercy turned to one, looked upon one, opened
the eyes of one, quickened the heart of one and all of a sudden
that dying thief said, I'm a sinner and I see a savior and I'm running
and I'm begging as I hang on this cross I'm running to you
as hard as I can while my hands are nailed to this cross. And it says that dying thief
rejoiced to see that. Can you imagine the joy he had
that day? And it says, there may I, even
though I'm as vile as he. wash all my sins away because
that election of God Almighty, He's provided Christ. And if
I can get to Him, I can be in His choice and in His favor.
Verse 3 says, Dear dying lamb, thy precious blood shall never
lose its power till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin
no more. That's who He came to save. You
know, people, they hate limited atonement, limited atonement.
Well, look at it like this. It's also called particular redemption. Everybody was running to hell.
Everybody was going to hell. Had God done nothing, people
think, well, He chose to send these to heaven and He chose
to send these to hell. No. All He had to do was leave
everybody alone. Everybody was running to hell.
But God, in mercy, particularly gave Himself, dear dying Lamb,
and not one is lost. All the ransomed church of God
in that are saved to sin no more. Now here's irresistible grace.
E'er since by faith, God, that faith is not of ourselves, that's
a gift of God. The Spirit of God comes and brings
this faith. E'er since by faith I saw the
stream, thy flowing wounds supply. Redeeming love has, I can't,
I can't stop talking about it. Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die. Just irresistible. And verse
five says, when this poor, lisping, stammering tongue lies silent
in the grave, at that moment, I'm going to be with him. I'm
going to persevere all the way to the end. And then in a nobler,
sweeter song, I'm going to sing his power to save. That is not
Calvinism. That's the gospel. That's the
gospel. May the Lord teach us the difference. All right, you're dismissed.