Across my peaceful breath. Across my peaceful breath. Across my peaceful breath. And not a wave of trouble roll
across my peaceful breath. Alright, go back to Revelation
20, derevelation, chapter 20. We'll read a few verses. The thought crossed my mind that
someone might, I don't believe anyone in here, but someone listening
right now over the internet or later on might ask the question,
why deal with these verses? And I thought, this is God's
Word. I was struck by it. And all Scripture,
Scripture says, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.
It's God's Word. It's profitable, Scripture says,
for doctrine, teaching, reproof, rebuke, instruction in righteousness
that the man of God may be. Throughly furnished unto all
good works, all Scripture speaks of Christ, so it's all a blessing,
and may the Lord bless this. There's some fearful verses here,
but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, isn't it?
And we live in a day, a generation, that there's no fear of God before
their eyes. And I bet you to say you haven't
heard anyone in religion much say things like that. Revelation
20, look at verse 11 through 15 again. I saw a great white
throne and him that sat on it. That's the Lord Jesus Christ
is who that is. from whose face the earth and
the heaven fled away. In a previous chapter, the people
all over prayed, cried for the rocks and hills to fall on them
and hide them from the face of Him. The Lord Jesus Christ. And the
earth and heaven fled away, perished. It was gone. No place left for it. And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were
opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of
life. And the dead were judged out
of those things which were written in the books according to their
works. And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it. And death and hell, or the grave,
delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged,
every man, according to their works. and death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire. And the books were open, is the
title of this message on the subject. And I asked you this
question when I texted everyone, V-text. I said, which book are
you in? Can you know? Can we know? John says we may. Paul says we
may know. Now, the world scoffs at this.
The world scoffs at any mention of judgment and hell and people
standing before God to be judged for their works. And I'm not
going to address that. False religion uses it, though,
to scare people into making some kind of religious profession.
And that's all false. We're not scared into the kingdom
of God. We're born into it. The books
were open. Now, they probably are not literal
books, okay? Scriptures, the revelation, much
of it is very symbolic, isn't it? Probably not literal books,
but books in the sense, for our understanding, when you think
of books, you think of things recorded, don't you? Books have
things written in them, things recorded. Scripture speaks of at least
four books. Scripture speaks of at least
four books. The book you have in your hand,
the Bible, the word Biblia comes from Latin or Greek meaning book,
the book, the book of God. It's called throughout the Old
Testament the book of the law. The book of the gospel, the law
and the prophets. This is the book written by God. Divinely inspired book of the
living God. His Word, His infallible Word,
the Word of God. Do you believe that? Then you
must believe everything written in this book. That's what Paul
said one time. He said, I must confess. that
after the way they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers,
and I believe all things written in the law and in the prophets.
All things. The Bible, all right? Then there's
the book. Scripture seems to speak of the
book of God's decrees. In Revelation chapter 5, and
we won't turn there, and I heard my pastor preach on this, and
it opened it up for me. That where it says, none was
worthy to open the book. It was a sealed book. Well, the
Scriptures, the Bible is not sealed to us, is it? It's revealed. But in Revelation 5, it talks
about the book that had seven seals on it. And in the next
chapter, they begin to open each seal. That is the book of God's
decrees, God's purpose, God's will, God's mind, God's works
in all things. Acts 15, 18 says, Known unto
God are all His works from the beginning of the world. God predestined
all things. after the counsel of his own
will. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
He purposed everything. And it was all written, all recorded,
known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
David spoke of the book and he said, Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being unperfect. That is, before he was born,
David said, and in thy book They were written before there was
any other. Everything about everyone is
in God's record or God's will, mind, His book, if you will,
of decrees. Okay? His book of decrees. Every day, every hour, every
second, every person, place, and thing down to the very hairs
of your head are numbered. You say, I don't believe that. I can't help you, but that's
what the scripture said. That's who God is. All right,
then there are the books that we just read about. Books, plural. Books of records of the works,
the words, everything, even the thoughts of every human being are written
in books. I believe perhaps it's referred
to as books because each one, each person has a book recorded
with all of their works, words, thoughts, deeds, intents, purposes
of their hearts, everything in it. Matthew 12, go over there
and I'll show you. The Lord Jesus Christ said this. Matthew chapter 12. Matthew 12. Now this is the word of God,
the omniscient, all-knowing, omnipotent, all-powerful God
in whom we live and move and have our being, whose ways are
past finding out. This is what he says. Every single
thing that every person has ever done or said or thought is recorded
in books. And our Lord said in verse 36,
I say unto you, Matthew 12, I say unto you that every idle word
that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the
day of judgment. Our Lord never, ever said anything
by way of exaggeration, never, ever. By figure of speech, He
did not do that. You say, you won't say this,
but maybe someone later who hears this, that's ridiculous, that's
impossible. Well, with man, it is impossible. However, I thought
about this. In this day and age where men
professing themselves to be wise, you know, technology is pretty
amazing, isn't it? Computers are pretty amazing,
aren't they? And from what I read and what
I gather, that whatever is done out there over the Internet is
impossible to erase. that it can be brought up by
somebody smart enough. And you don't think God's able? The books. Now here's several
key words here. It says the books. And I said
the reason I believe it's plural is because so many people that
this person has a record written. Hebrews chapter 2 says this,
verse 2, you don't have to turn, it says, every transgression
and disobedience shall receive a just recompense and reward. Hebrews 2. That's what it says. Matthew 12 that we just read,
every thought, every idle word. Genesis 6, right before the Lord
destroyed the world with the flood, He said, God saw that
every imagination of man's thoughts was only evil continually. And He said, I will destroy man.
That's what God said, who knows our thoughts. Listen, go with
me to Hebrews 4. Hebrews chapter 4. I'm not trying
to scare anybody. I'm just telling you what God's
Word says, okay? But Hebrews 4, see this is the God of the
Bible. This is the God that most people
don't know. Hebrews 4, verse 12 and 13. The Word of God is quick, alive,
living, life-giving, and powerful, all-powerful. It's His Word.
Sharper than any two-edged sword. It's able to kill, able to heal
or give life, able to wound, able to heal. Piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, the joints and the
marrow is a discerner, exposes the thoughts and intents of the
heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. All things are naked and opened
unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. that we must face, have to do. Now this is the God of the Bible.
He's holy. He's holy. He's holy. He's righteous. He loveth righteousness
and He hateth iniquity. That's the God of the Bible.
People say God loves the sinner but hates his sin. It doesn't
say that in the Bible anywhere. We are what we do. We sin because we're sinners. And the scripture says, God says
of himself in Exodus 33, I will by no means clear the guilt. Exodus 34, I will by no means
clear the guilt. The soul that sinneth must surely
die. That's what God said. And the
books were opened. And everyone You know, everyone
now gives excuses or claims this or that. Well, I didn't say that.
I didn't do that. Well, the books will be open. I didn't do that. I didn't say
that. I did this. I did that. We'll find out. The Scripture says in Romans
2.16, the day when God shall reveal the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ according to my gospel. All things revealed.
All things will be brought to light. Paul said it in 2 Corinthians
5. All will stand before the judgment
seat to receive the things done in their body whether good or
bad. Now that's scriptural, and the books were open. Now it's
a sad fact, and men and women are fools, that think this. Most believe that their good
will outweigh their bad. Most people believe that. Most
people think their good works, their good intentions, if they
didn't have good works, they at least had good intentions.
that God will take that into account and just forget the rest. Think, whatever sins, they couldn't
help it, they just couldn't help it, and they tried to do better,
or maybe they did better, turned over a new leaf, and quit this
or quit that, and straightened up, and surely God will accept
that, and I'll be alright in the end. Our Lord said, You will by no
means clear the guilt. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. So let sinneth, the scripture
says, shall surely die. It doesn't say if you straighten
up and do this or do that, if you quit sinning, which you can't.
It doesn't say I won't kill you. It says you shall surely die. So the books will be opened. Now here's a key word also. And
look at it again in that Revelation 20, the key word. The books were
opened and verse 12 says, I saw the dead. small and great, standing before
God, and the books were opened. On down it says, the dead were
judged out of those things written in the book. See, in the sea,
verse 13, gave up the dead which were in it. Death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man
according to their worth. The dead. And you know something? I read in
Ephesians 2, Verse 1, where it says, And you had thee quicken
who were deaf. The dead are judged according
to their word. Those dead and trespassing in
sin. We read that in chapter 21, didn't
we? The fearful and unbelieving and
whoremongering and so on. And such were some of you, but
you're washed, you're justified, you're sanctified through the
Lord Jesus Christ. Being born again, not a corruptible
seed, but incorruptible. The Word of God that liveth and
abideth forever. Spirit of God dwelling in you.
You're not dead anymore. You're quickened. You just breathe a sigh. I just
think people breathe in a sigh of relief. The dead, and there
are those that are in religion that are just as dead. You can
be dead in a pew as well as the gutter. The scriptures talks about dead
works, doesn't it? Repentance, doesn't it, John?
You know the Scriptures well. The Scriptures talks about repentance
from dead works. This is what people think, that
I turned over a new leaf, or I did this, I did that, I made
a decision, I joined a church, I was baptized, I started witnessing,
I was doing this and doing that, and God accepts that now, and
I'm a good boy, I'm living a good life, and He accepts that, and
I accepted His Son, and now God accepts those works of mine.
Salvation is not by works. Those are dead works. God doesn't
accept those works. It's not by works of righteousness
which we have done. No one is saved, no one is justified
by the works of the law or by anything they do. We're saved,
we're justified, we're accepted by God solely, completely, 100%
by the work of Jesus Christ. His righteousness imputed to
us, imparted by the Spirit, and His blood shed to pay for all
of our sin. Period. Even faith is a gift
of God. Faith is not the cause of salvation,
it's the result. Because this is all to the praise
of the glory of His grace. Saving grace. The books were
opened and the dead were judged. Alright, the fourth and final
book. The book of life. Now let's talk about that a while,
shall we? You can just rest right now, breathe easy. We're going
to talk about this book of life. We'll see if we're in this book
of life. Verse 12 says it, "'Til I saw
the dead, all in graves, standing before God, and the books were
opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of
life.' And down in verse 15, "'Whosoever is not found written
in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire.'" Chapter 3,
verse 5, the book of life. All through the Old Testament
scripture, David speaks of God's book. He says, my tears are in
that book. And on and on it goes. The book
of life. Look at Revelation 13. Chapter
13, verse 8. And then we'll look at a couple
of others. Revelation 13, verse 8. You have it? All right. All that
dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, that is the beast, false
religion, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Did you hear that?
That's what the next verse says. Do you have ears? Did you hear
that? The book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Chapter 17 speaks of this book. Chapter 17, same verse, verse
8. Chapter 17, verse 8. The beast
that thou sawest was and is not shall ascend out of the bottomless
pit and go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth
shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life
from the foundation of the world. One more. Revelation 21. And
you saw it with me in chapter 20, didn't you? The book of life,
the book of life. Revelation 21 verse 7. It says, He that overcometh and
will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving,
and abominable and murderers, those whose names are not written
in the book of life. That's not the verse I was looking
for. At any rate, it talks about the
Lamb's Book of Life. The Lamb's Book of Life. All
right. Here's the facts about this book. It's a book, THE book. It's called
THE book. THE Book of Life. There's only
one book. THE Lamb's Book of Life. And that book was written
before the foundation of the world. That's what it said. The Lamb's Book of Life. And
these names were written in this book before the foundation of
the Word. They were chosen by God. They
were elected by God. That's what the Scripture said.
Chosen of the... All right, look at Ephesians
1 with me. Ephesians 1. These people whose names are
in this book were chosen by God And their names were put in this
book before the foundation of the Word. Somebody said, I don't
like that. Well, I'm sorry that you don't because that's the
way it is. God's people do like it because
God said it and because this is our security. Ephesians 1,
look at verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus, cried
by the will of God to the saints, that's the sanctified one, set
apart. which are at emphasis to the
faithful in Christ Jesus. And you'll notice how many times
he says that. In Christ Jesus. Put in him. Grace be to you.
He's writing not to everyone, not to the world, but to those
who are in Christ. Do the same. Grace be to you
and peace from God our Father. He's the Father of His people,
not all mankind. And from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who
hath blessed us, the saints, those in Christ, with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ according. Now here's the verse. First great
blessing, according as he hath chosen us in Christ before the
foundation of the world. And he put their names in a book
before the foundation of the world and sealed it up. And nothing and no one can change
that. I like that. Don't you? like Noah's ark. Remember those
that were in the ark? They were in there because God
chose them. God brought them there and God put them in and
it says God shut them in. Doesn't it say that? God shut
them in and sealed that door on the outside. They can't get
out. They don't want out, but they can't get out. Isn't that
good? I love that. Read on, it says
here in Ephesians 1, He's predestinated us, the saints, the faithful,
those in Christ, chosen and put in Christ, names in the book
of life, predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ. He's the firstborn. and only
begotten well-beloved Son, and all are loved and chosen in Him
according to the good pleasure of God's will." It's not man's
will, God's will. Not of him that willeth or him
that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. It's God that
worketh in us both the will and do of His good pleasure. And
His people are made willing in the day of His power. It's His
will. He does all things according
to His will. And it's all, verse 6, to the praise of the glory
of His grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. Nowhere in the Bible does it
say, accept Jesus as your personal Savior. But it does say in Ephesians
1, 6, and we have it on our sign out there, that we're accepted
in the beloved. To the praise of the glory of
His grace. Do you like that? See, we're not accepted because
of our work. Not rejected for me. This is good news if you're a
sinner. In whom, verse 7, in Christ we have redemption. Not
might have, not will have, not hope to have. We have redemption
through His blood. See, the blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son, cleanses, puts away sin, blots them out. The forgiveness of sin according
to the riches of His grace. And I wanted to go on and on,
but time won't let me. Romans 8. Go over there. Romans
8. This is just a basic gospel message. That's all it is. Romans chapter 8. They write
the same things like Paul said. It's not grievous to me. It's
safe for you. Romans chapter 8. Oh, don't you
love these verses? God's people do. He says, we
know. In all things, verse 28, all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, that's
love before the world began, set His mind, His heart, His
love upon them. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, to be His children. that
Christ might be the firstborn of many brethren. Moreover, whom
He did predestinate, them He also called, that is, by the
gospel. And whom He called, He gave them
faith to believe, and He justified them. Justified them. Justified
them. Justified them. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified. All of that is past tense, isn't
it? The preacher, we're not there yet, but it's as good as done
in the mind of God. No, then to God are all His works
from the beginning of the world, Acts 15 and 18. So it says in
verse 31, what shall we then say to these things? Now people
have this on their bumpers and truck drivers have them, don't
they Joseph? They have this verse on the back
of their truck. If God be for us, who can be against Him? That's
not talking to everybody, is it Stephen? It's talking to those
He foreknew, those He predestinated, those He justified, and those
He glorified in Christ. Those whose names are written
in the Book of Life. Who shall lay anything, verse 33, to the
charge of God's wife? God's what? Elect. It is God that justified. Who
is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died. Yea,
rather, He's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. And then He goes on to
say, Who shall separate us from this, from the love of Christ,
shall this, shall that? Nothing, He says, shall separate
us from the love of God. The last verse says, is in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Like that arch. If you're in
Christ, you're loved of God, you're chosen of God, How do
you get in Christ? I mean, just go ahead and say
it again. You know I'm going to get to it. 1 Corinthians 1.30. How is anyone in Christ? Of God
are we in Christ. Who of God is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. That according
as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. There's
no room for boasting. No one gets in Christ because
of anything they've done. or even their faith, that's the
gift of God. This is to the praise of the glory of His sovereign,
electing, predestinating, redeeming, keeping grace. You like that? Sounds to me like your names
are there. Someone says, I don't like that. Then you just prove
your name's not in this book. You've just deemed yourself unworthy
to be in that book. You're not in that book. All
of God's people love it. And Peter said, give diligence
to make your calling and election sure. They want to know. I'm
getting ahead of myself a little bit, but this is the Lamb's book. The Lamb's book, it's called.
He's the author and he's the finisher. It's his book. If I
wrote a book, How dare you say, I've got something to add? Huh? I wrote a book and I finished
it. And I sealed it up. And you say, hold on now. I've
got something to say about this. Oh, you do, do you? Huh. We'll see about that. He's the author and the what?
The finisher. Of what? Our faith. Don't you like that? He gave
it to us. And He'll perform it. He'll finish
it. He'll perfect it until the day
you come. He said to Simon Peter, Satan
hath desired to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for
you. That what? Your faith fail not. What faith?
The faith I gave you. The faith Peter said later on,
delivered to the saint. Those who have obtained like
precious faith. The faith delivered to the saint.
The faith of God's elect. What is it? This. What have we
been saying? It's the Lamb's book. It's His
book. He's the author and the finisher. He decides who's in
it. Huh? Nothing can be plainer. He decides
who's in it. It's His book, and it's all about
Him. It's in Him. Those that are in
this book are in Him. The names of His elect are chosen
in Him. Romans 3, and I was going to
have you turn there, but it says, by the offense of one, judgment
came upon all men under condemnation. But by the obedience of one,
righteousness, justification, forgiveness, pardon came upon
many. Not all, but many. being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that's in Christ Jesus. Now, oh my, there is no condemnation
to them that are in Christ. There's no judgment for those
that are in Christ. Because Christ died, because
Christ was judged, because Scripture says God hath made Him to be
sin to His people. He made his soul an offering
for sin, Scripture said. But the transgression of my people
was he stricken, Isaiah 53 said. Not all people. Christ didn't
make an attempt to save. He didn't make a down payment
of salvation. He didn't die for everyone and
whoever accepts it. That's not what the Bible said.
He died for his sheep. He said, I lay down my life for
my sheep. And what he did on Calvary's tree was put away completely
the sins of all of God's people. Paid in full. Paid in full. People sing that
song. Do they mean it? Jesus paid it
all. All the debt I owe. Not Jesus
and me. He paid it all. Because Christ died, you see.
Every sin shall receive a just recompense and reward. the thoughts
and intents of your heart, it shall be perfect to be accepted
now. Every single sin. Now if Christ didn't pay for every
sin, past, present, and future, we're going to be judged. We're
going to stand before God in the judgment. And our books are
going to be opened. And we're going to be cast into
that lake of fire. If Christ didn't pay for them
all. The mass, you know, people, Catholics give people that die
their last rites. In other words, a fellow, somebody
laying on the deathbed, they call for the priest and he comes
and gives last rites, meaning he gives some kind of little
mass and prays over them, asks God for forgiveness of sins that
they might not have repented of. Oh boy. We have a great high priest in
the heavens. seated at the right hand of the
majesty on high. And the scripture says God accepted
the work that he did. Payment in full for all the sins
of all of God's people. And he ever lives to make intercession
for us. Sins I don't repent of are gone.
Sins I haven't repented of are paid for. There are sins that
I don't know, that you don't know we've committed. David says,
keep back thy servant from secret sins. Presumptuous sins. Over in Leviticus 14, I believe
it is, the whole chapter talks about sins of ignorance. Sins
you don't know. Lawyers don't know that you've
broken. Jesus paid it off. Anybody like that? Your name's
in the book. I tell you, this book is for
sinners. Sinners saved by grace. Everybody
in this book is a sinner saved by grace. The Scripture says
that their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The
Lamb's Book of Life. The Lamb's Book of Life. When
God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He didn't bring
the Egyptians out, He brought the children of Israel, His elect,
His chosen ones. And how did He bring them out?
Who was brought out? Who escaped the death angel?
Those under the blood, the blood of a lamb. And every single Israelite
walking out of Egypt knew they were saved because of one thing. The blood of a lamb. And everybody in glory is singing,
worthy is the Lamb that was slain and hath redeemed us. Yes, I'm
going to holler it. People in heaven right now are
hollering at the top of their lungs. Do you like this? Some
of you want to holler with me. Your name's there. This is what
people are singing right now in glory. They're there because of the
Lamb. It's the Lamb's book of life. And they know they're there
because of the Lamb. You say, settle down, preacher.
That's not what God's people say. Shout it out, preacher.
He told Isaiah, get up on the top of the roof, say it loud,
cry it loud and spare not. The Lamb's book of life. In Him we live. In Him we're
redeemed. In Him we're forgiven. In Him
we're justified. Our sins are covered by His blood.
Our righteousness is His imputed to us. What could be clearer? It says the sins and iniquities
of Israel shall be sought and not be found. Why? They're gone. They're blotted out! There's no wrath, no judgment,
no hell, no death, no sins, no punishment for God's people. Why? Because Christ died! Period! Period! Exclamation point. Do you like that? Let me give
you a good illustration of that. Some of you haven't heard this.
Most of you have. My father was a 22-year-old boy
or young man. He was in false religion. He
was in free will, Arminian, false religion. He was a pastor, so-called,
of a church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, fresh out of Bible school. And
he had a carload of young people in his car, and he was riding
down the road. He's an old, like a, I think
he was a 40, 8 Hudson, Hudson and Steven. You
know, those weighed 10 tons, you know. And he had a carload
of young people and they were talking and carrying on. They
had just 22, just a boy, you know. And he ran through a stop
sign. And T-Bone took another car,
car passing by, and ran into the side of that, just destroyed
that other car. Thankfully, no one was hurt. And so police came and they summonsed
him to court. The other day came for him to
show up in court. His dad went with him and dad
was scared to death. He's guilty. It's all kind of
witnesses. He is guilty. Charged with reckless
driving and so on. They went to court and his dad
was with him and they said they were on the back row, he and
his dad. And the judge was a stern-looking
fellow. And that judge was throwing the
book at everybody. Didn't matter what anybody did.
Says he was throwing the book at them. 30 days in the pen.
30 days in the jail. 30 days in the hole. Throwing
the book at them. Dad said the closer, the more
it went on, the more afraid he got. Until finally, case after
case after case, until finally the courtroom was clear. There
was nobody in there but him and his dad. And the judge was looking down
and he finally looked up and said, what can I do for you all? And dad stood up and said, in
a shaky voice, my name's Henry Mahan. I was summonsed to appear
here in court for an accident on such and such date. And the
judge, there's nothing here. So y'all
free to go. And they got up and left. There
is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ. He
blotted out our transgression. He paid for them. It just didn't
disappear. Christ died for them. Christ
paid for them. God would be unjust to punish
His Son on Calvary's tree for my sin and then make me pay for
Him later on, wouldn't it? That's not just. God is just. He will by no means clear the
guilty. And if Christ was guilty in my stead, Christ died for
my sin, then my sins are gone. My sins are paid for. All right, quickly. I hate time constraints. I hate
it. One of these days there won't
be any time. 1 Thessalonians, Paul said,
Knowing, brethren, beloved of the Lord, your election. Can
you know your names in this book? If you have enjoyed what you've
heard thus far, I believe your name is that. But Paul said,
knowing, brethren, beloved of the Lord, your election of God
for, and here's what he said, our gospel came unto you. What
I've been saying thus far, this is the gospel. There is no other
gospel. This is the gospel. The gospel is not God loves you
and Jesus died for you and I want you to accept. That's not the
gospel. The gospel is what I've been preaching to you tonight.
who God is and what Christ did for His people. That's the gospel.
It came into you, not in word only, not in doctrine only, but
in power. Life-giving. Heart-thrilling. Heart-giving. Bondage free power
and in the Holy Ghost this Holy Ghost. What does the Holy Ghost
do? Well, number one, he takes the things of Christ and shows
them unto you. You know what Christ said in
John 14, John 16? He'll take the things of mine
and show them to me. Everything. He'll bring to remembrance
everything I said, everything I did. He'll point you to me.
He'll teach you of me. He'll cause you to look to me.
And the Holy Ghost, we're regenerated by Him, born again by Him through
the preaching of the Gospel. He gives fruit. What's the first
fruit? Love, joy, faith, and all these
things. Fruit, the Holy Ghost. And in
much assurance. Know your election. Know your
names in the book because you have much assurance. About what?
What do you have assurance about? Yourself. Do you have any assurance
in yourself? Do you think, I know my name's
in the book because I... He gives you assurance of Christ. He is our surety. He is the surety
of an everlasting covenant. So the Holy Spirit takes the
things of Christ and gives you much assurance that He died for
sinners. Is that true? This is a faithful
saying. and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Did He
do it? He said so. On Calvary's tree,
He said, it's finished. It gives you much assurance. And
it goes on to say, you became followers. And Revelation said,
followers of the Lamb, followers of the Lord, examples. And from
you, He says, sounded out the Word of the Lord. In every place. And they were persecuted for.
They were afflicted for the truth. Just for believing the truth.
Just for telling people the truth. They went home and told people
what God had done for them. I believe the Lord has chosen
me. I believe the Lord saved me. I believe the Lord died for
me. I believe the... And people get mad at him for
telling the truth. Those people's names are in the book of life.
That's what he said. I know your election. He says, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure. If you've been called by the
gospel, you can know your election. If you love this gospel that
I've preached tonight, your name's in the book of life. Here's another
thing. I already said it, but who's
in the book of life? They want to know they're in
the book of Christ. They want to be in the book of
Christ, the book of life. Do you? Not just, I want my sins
gone so I don't have to pay for them. Not, I don't want to get
caught. That's Esau. These are they,
like David, who said, one thing have I desired of the Lord, and
that what I seek after. That I may dwell in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, behold the beauty of the
Lord, and inquire in His temple. One thing, he said, seek my face.
I said, out of your face I'll seek, Lord. Oh Lord, he said,
I want to be in your kingdom. Those that are in the book want
to be in the book. They want to be found in Christ.
Didn't Paul say that? One thing. Oh, that I might win
Christ and be found in Him. Is that you? And there was so much more I
wanted to say, but time ordered out. And the books were open.
And the books were opened and the dead were judged by everything
they did, said, or thought. Would you like right now for
us to put a screen up to show the thoughts you've had while
you've been sitting in this room? Anybody? Our Lord said to be judged for
every idle word. What about thoughts? What about
evil thoughts and intent? Would you like for a screen to
be shown of your thoughts tonight? Do you like that Jesus Christ's
blood puts away your sins? Do you like? Do you love? Have you received the love of
the truth? If so, then your name is in the
book, the book of life. Now, isn't that good news? And
that's the best I can do with that. Okay, stand up. Our Lord and our God, in the
name of Thy blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You
so much for Your Word, sure promises, exceeding precious promises. How we thank You. God who cannot
lie promised salvation, has given us salvation. That's in Christ
Jesus. How we thank You that You sent
Christ, that unspeakable gift, Son of Thy love to be the propitiation
for the sins of Thy people. And all our sins are gone. Oh
Lord, but we don't want the sin against it. We want to be conformed
to His blessed image. We want to be without sin. But
we know why we're here. We have this body of death. We have this vile body. We have
this sin in us. And oh, Lord, we're so thankful,
though, that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, puts away
sin, covers our sins, our transgressions, how thankful we are. And so we
praise thy holy name for Christ and Him crucified. He is our
hope. He is our salvation. He is our
all and end all. It's in His name we've met here
tonight and pray these things. I give thanks. Amen. Hear this,
men. It's okay, it's okay.