Find in your Bible, please. Second
Corinthians chapter one. Second Corinthians. Chapter one. And let's begin reading at verse
fifteen. Second Corinthians chapter one.
And this is the confidence, and in this confidence I was minded
to come unto you before, that you might have a second benefit
or a second blessing. Remember, Paul spent some eighteen
months with these believers there in Corinth, and his desire was
to come and to see them again and to preach the gospel to them
again. As far as we know, he never was
permitted to go back and to visit and to preach with them again,
but his desire was to, that they might have a second benefit or
be benefited again by the blessing of the gospel to hear the apostle
preach and to pass by you into Macedonia and to come again out
of Macedonia unto you and of you to be brought on my way toward
Judea. When I therefore was thus minded. Now this was his mind. I was
thus minded this way. When I determined to come, he
said, did I use likeness? Now it was a serious thing with
Paul. He gave his life to traveling and preaching the gospel of God's
grace, setting forth the person work of Christ. And he certainly
didn't approach this in a, in a light manner. And certainly
we don't. Or the things that I purpose to do do I purpose
according to the flesh is just to call attention to Paul or
just to call attention to the flesh do I do this just to just
to put a put myself in the forefront or to get gain the preeminence
to myself that that certainly wasn't Paul's. Idea in preaching
and traveling he was determined to glorify God in the preaching
he said to those relations God forbid. that I should glory say
in Jesus Christ and him crucified do I purpose according to the
flesh the things which I purpose that with me there should be
yay and yay and nay and nay. Do do I say I'm I'm intending
to come to you but really I'm thinking in my mind that no no
I'm not. But he's saying here is some
would accuse Paul because he didn't come back. They say Paul
he just you know he just confused in mind just wishy-washy. He
really doesn't know where he wants to go. He said yes one
day and know the next. That's what some that oppose
Paul and oppose the gospel would accuse him of. And that's why
in a measure here in a sense he's defending his decision to
come. But it wasn't the Lord's will. But notice verse eighteen now,
but as God is true. That's a good statement, isn't
it? God is true. Thinking of that other scripture
in Romans three where it says, let God be true and every man
a liar. God is God. And because God is
holy, certainly we can say that God is true. His word, his character,
he's never out of character. God is true because he's holy.
God is love, we read in scripture. God is love. God is light. And God is true. He said, verse
18, read on, our word, and notice that center reference there is
preaching, our preaching. What did he preach? He preached
the word. He preached Christ. He wrote to young Timothy and
said, I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to
preach the word. And that word there is not only
the written word that had been given, but the written word testifies
of the living word, doesn't it? To him give all the prophets
witness. Moses and Isaiah and Jeremiah,
they all talk about the glorious person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our word was not yea and nay. Our preaching toward you was
not yea and nay preaching. It wasn't yea and nay preaching.
It wasn't, well, it could be this way, maybe it's that way
about salvation. Yeah, it could be my grace, you
know, but you might be by works too. He said our preaching wasn't
like that our preaching our word for you was not was not a yes
and no maybe or could be a perhaps. Perhaps it wasn't it wasn't that
way Paul preached. With a definite. Declaration
of the Lord Jesus Christ notice just across the page in chapter
two verse seventeen I was looking at this verse. Chapter two second
print in verse seventeen for we are not as many which corrupt
the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the side of
God speak we of Christ we speak with sincerity and we speak with
poignancy of speech now the same in the same book second printed
on chapter three. Chapter three verse twelve saying
then that we have such hope we use great plainness of speech
boldness of speech. God's servants are not intimidated
by anyone to declare the truth that is we don't we don't know
how to now God's servants don't know others may I don't know.
But God's servants don't compromise to try to get along and to soothe
people. We're more concerned with preaching
the truth and to glorify God, and his sheep will hear his word.
His sheep will hear that truth. He said, read on in that verse,
back to chapter one now, second Corinthians one. He said, as
God is true, as God is true, he's saying this, our preaching
was true. Our preaching was true. Our preaching was Christ. He
said in another place, in the first epistle to the Corinthians,
you remember, I'm determined, I'm determined not to know anything
among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified. As God is true,
our word is true, our gospel is true, our preaching is true,
and it's not, it's not maybe or could be or perhaps or God
done all we can do within your hand. It's not that way. It's
not. Yeah, you may read on verse nineteen for the son of God,
Jesus Christ. Now, this is our preaching the
son of God. Who is it? God incarnate, God,
the son, Jesus Christ, the Savior and anointed of God. God sent
forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law. Here's what his preaching was. Jesus Christ, who was preached
among you by us we preach Christ crucified even by me even by
me he says and by Silas. So thank this is Silas a preacher
of the gospel and here's Timothy young Timothy. Paul wrote two
letters to Timothy concerning pastoral instruction and preaching
the gospel he said even Even me and Paul and Silas of Timothy,
our preaching was not yea and nay, but in him, in Christ, was
yes. Yes. Yes. In him is yes. For all the promises
of God, in him are yes. Yes. And in him. Amen. That's another way of saying
yes, isn't it? Amen. So be it. Unto the glory
of God by us now. He which established us with
you in Christ and hath anointed us is God. This is God who has
done this. Who also sealed us. Sealed us
with the Holy Spirit of promise. and given the earnest of the
Spirit in our hearts. Now, let's go back to verse 20
and see if we can camp here for just a few minutes. All the promises of God in him,
that is, in Christ, are yes, yes. All the promises of God. Peter talked about the exceeding
great and precious promises. By these we are partakers of
the divine nature, by the exceeding great and precious promises. Is there a promise of salvation
in the Lord Jesus Christ? Now ask yourself that question.
Does God promise salvation to sinners in the Lord Jesus Christ? Now, how do you answer that question?
It's not to the believer, it's yes. It's not yay and nay, it's
yes. Is there salvation in him? Yes. Yes. We could turn to many scriptures,
but let me just quote a couple. You know John chapter fourteen
our Lord said I am the way the truth the law no man comes unto
the father no man that's pretty clear. No man comes unto the
father but by and through me and act chapter four neither
verse twelve neither is there salvation in any other or there's
no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be
saved. So as God is true and his word
is true is there salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Somebody say yes yes yes yes
we can say there is sound how do we escape if we neglect so
great salvation is there salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ yes
is there pardon pardon of sin, all sin, all iniquity. Blessed
is the man whom the Lord will not impute sin. Is there a pardon
in the Lord Jesus Christ? Pardon from all my sin against
God. Is there a pardon? Is there such
a pardon to be had? Yes. In the Lord Jesus Christ,
Nehemiah 9, 17, thou art a God ready to pardon. Ready to pardon. He's ready to pardon. He didn't
get that way just recently. He'd always been that way. Is
there justification in him? Justification being cleared from
all guilt before God's presence, God's throne. Is there justification
from sin in him? Yes. Justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Justified freely. I like that word. Freely. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?" All the promises of God in him are
yes, yes. Salvation, pardon, justification,
reconciliation, redemption. Is there forgiveness of sin in
him? Yes. Brother Stan, one of the men
prayed. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses
us from all sin. Is that? Yes, that's true. Do I need cleansing? Yes. Am
I guilty? Yes. Do I need pardon? Yes. Yes. By these precious promises, turn
over here to look at this verse here, just a few pages over to
2 Corinthians 7 verse 1. Second Corinthians seven verse
one talks about the promises over here. Second Corinthians
seven verse one. The first time I ever taught
a lesson from the scriptures. At 13th Street Baptist Church
was from this verse right here. Brother Henry assigned me this
lesson to teach to his class when he was gone. I read that
verse and I was scared to death. How am I going to handle this?
Having, therefore, these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God." How can that be done? Well, only
by having These promises dearly beloved let us cleanse ourselves
and that doesn't mean we save ourselves that this simply means
we who are redeemed by the blood of Christ look to him for the
promise of salvation. In crime so there is salvation
in crime and this promises all of grace and all in the Lord
Jesus Christ now let me give you four things. four things
about these promises. First of all, these promises
are of God. There are of they are of God,
the promises of God of God. Now, this is not the promise
of Paul, although this is what God gave him to write. This is
not just the promise of a mere creature. This is the promise
of the almighty creator, whose word cannot fail. These are the
promises of God. These promises of God are all
made according to the will and purpose of God, who works all
things after the counsel of his own purpose. Everything he works,
he works according to his eternal purpose. They're made according
to God's design and decree to his glory. Something else about
these promises that are of God, they display the qualities of
God who gave them. They are as true as God himself. You know, it's impossible for
God to lie. All these precious promises recorded
in the word can be, can we believe God? If his promise is certain
and sure, his word is true, can we believe him? Can we trust
him? Absolutely. We can believe his word without
reservation and commit the whole care of our body, soul and spirit
to him who promised, who can't lie. Because he is true he is
true that his own will be yet he up with the word of truth
so they display the qualities of God who gave them these promises
do and they can be trusted trusted these promises are unchanging
of God himself. Change and decay all around I
see we're going through a change in the season right now they
change one thing I know for sure. The promises of God don't change,
because God doesn't change. He doesn't change. He said, I'm
the Lord. I change not. Therefore, you
sons of Jacob are not consumed. If God has made a promise, if
he makes a promise and doesn't fulfill it, then he's changed.
But God never changes. Something else about these promises,
not only unchanging, but they're powerful. It shall never be said
that God failed to keep his promise or lack the power to perform
his promise. Never can be said. Now take your
Bible and turn back to Romans chapter 4, Romans chapter 4. Look what it says here in Romans
4 about the promise of God and the purpose of God to save sinners. And this promise was given to
Abraham in Romans chapter 4 verse 20. said he staggered not the
promise of God, but the promise of God to send the Messiah, the
promise of God to save sinners in Christ through unbelief. He
staggered not the promise of God through unbelief that was
strong in faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded. And here's everybody, anybody
ever ask you, what persuasion are you? You know, sometimes
I ask that out in society. What persuasion are you? Well,
Remember this verse right here. I'm persuaded that what he promised
he's able to perform. That's my persuasion. And that's
the persuasion of faith that glorifies God. And it's not written
for and therefore it was imputed to him for right that is his
is his righteousness is right now, not written for his sake
alone that was imputed, but for us all, so to whom it shall be
imputed. If we're saying we believe on
him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, the one who
delivered for our offenses and raised again to justify us in
Christ Jesus. What God has promised God is
able to perform now often. We make promises with good intentions. But due to our inability. Or due to our lack of whatever
it may be circumstances sometimes we're just hindered. We're not
able to meet that promise that we make now we are trying to.
But sometimes we're just hindered from from keeping our our word
and making those promises sure, because of our inability. My
friend, that can never be said of God. He's able to save to
the uttermost. Sometimes take your concordance
and look that word up, able. God is able to do all that he
promised to do. He's able to save to the uttermost
all that come to God by him. He's able to keep us from falling
and to present us thoughtless before the presence of God. Glory
with exceeding joy. God is able. These promises are eternal, whatsoever
the Lord doeth, it shall be forever. Don't turn, but in your Bible,
if you want to jot this down in Joshua 23, the dying words
of Joshua to his people was this in Joshua 23, 14, there hath
not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised.
I want to have that testimony on my deathbed, don't you? Of
all that God had promised me, not one word had failed." You
see, these promises are of God. Secondly, the range and scope
and dimension of these promises. Notice this, it says, all the
promises, all the promises of God in him are yes. There is not a need that we have. that his precious promises don't
meet. He's able to meet all our needs
according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus. There is
not a need we have that he does not meet and take care of. This ought to give all of us
great encouragement to look to him to provide all our need and
to trust him. In him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily And in Christ, we are complete. You say, well, you know, I have
a lot of need. You might be thinking in your
mind, you know, naturally speaking, I'm ungodly. I'm ungodly. I'm ungodly. Certainly, there
is a need there. We're ungodly. Well, my friend,
the good news of the gospel, the promise of God, is that Christ
died for the ungodly. I encourage us. You say, well,
I'm naked before God. Well, he provides everything
we need to stand before him clothed in the very righteousness of
Christ. He is the Lord, our righteous. He's made unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification and redemption. Everything I need, he provides
freely at his hand and gives it as a gift of his grace. Or
someone might think, well, I'm not only ungodly and naked and
guilty before God, but I'm hard hearted. Our Lord said, I'll
give you a new heart, a new spirit. I'll take away that stony heart.
Another person might say, well, I don't have faith. By nature,
none of us do. By nature, all we're possessed
with is a heart of unbelief. But my friend, faith is a gift
of God. Faith is a gift of God. It's not of yourself. It's a
gift of God. You say, well, you know, I can't
even pray. I know I have a need to pray,
but I just feel so wicked and godly. You know, the Lord Jesus
Christ ever lives to make the intercession for us. When you
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. See, the point I'm trying to
make is this. I have nothing to bring to God. You know he
didn't say bring something. He said receive. Receive. Salvation is a gift of God received
by simple faith. Are you weary and heavy laden?
He said come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden. I'll give you rest. Are you thirsty
for spiritual life? He said ho everyone that's thirsty.
You thirsty? Come to me and drink. When you are thirsty, naturally
speaking, what do you do? You find something to drink,
don't you? To quench that need. If you're
thirsty, made thirsty by the Spirit of God to drink the water
of life, the Lord Jesus Christ, he says, come and drink. Come and drink of him. Are you
hungry? Salvation? He's the bread. See,
the point I'm making is this. Everything we need as guilty
sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ fully, freely, eternally provides
and gives to us as a gift of his grace. That's why he died.
That he might freely give us all things, it says in Romans
8.32. Number three. Number three. We see the sureness
and certainty of these promises found in verse twenty for all
the promises of God. In him are yes and in him a man. The sureness and certainties
of these promises there in him there in Christ. They said he
says there there in him. And it's yes, certain, fixed,
true, eternal in him. They are accomplished by him. Salvation is always determined,
dependent, and accomplished by him, by the Lord Jesus Christ. Always accomplished by him. He
said at Calvary's tree, it is finished. It is accomplished. Victory is won. Salvation is
certain and sure to all his sheep. The foundation of God's stand
is sure, having this seal. The Lord knows them that are
his. Everything that he purchased for us at Calvary, we will in
time receive and enjoy by his grace. In him are yes, certain,
sure, fixed and accomplished. It's not mission attempted. It's
mission accomplished. Mission accomplished in the Lord
Jesus Christ. It pleased the father that in
him should all fullness dwell the certainty of these promises
are guaranteed by the powerful performance of the Lord Jesus
Christ says in Psalm fifty-seven to he performed all things for
me. Get a hold of it. His past performance
is a guarantee of future results. His past performance is a guarantee
of future results, future blessings. The sureness of these promises,
every spiritual blessing and gracious promise God has for
any fallen guilty sinner is in God's storehouse. In God's storehouse,
let's see if we can find a description of that storehouse. Turn to Philippians
chapter three. You remember this study through
the book of Genesis about Joseph had that storehouse. Pharaoh
appointed him over the storehouse, and when the famine got sore
in the land and they came to Pharaoh for the for the corn
of the land, he said, boys, Joseph, he's in charge. The bread's under
his authority. You go see Joseph. Do business
with Joseph. And that's a picture of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Salvation's in that storehouse,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, you got Philippians chapter
3 there, right? Now, this is one of my favorite,
favorite, favorite scriptures, verse 7. But what things were
gained to me. One time Paul considered all
of his religious doings as Saul the Pharisee. He thought one
time, he said, all these, my circumcision, my heritage, my
parentage, my Jewish religion. He said, all one time, all these
things were a plus to me. They were gain to me. But after
God got through with me, I counted all these things as loss. They're
no longer gain. They no longer recommend or an
advantage to me. They're a hindrance. I count
them loss. for Christ now. I don't look
at them with a gain of of. Meriting anything, but I look
at all my self-righteousness as lost. Yea, doubtless, I count
all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
my Lord, the knowledge of Christ, knowing him for whom I suffered
the loss of all things. All everything he had in religion,
he divorced himself from it. God stripped him from it. He
had no confidence in the flesh. It says there in verse 3, for
we worship, we are the true Israel which worship God in the spirit,
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and we have no confidence in the
flesh. He counted all things but dung, rubbish, that I may
win Christ. Gain Christ. Now there's gain
in the Lord Jesus Christ. being found in him, not having
my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteous, the faithful obedience
of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith, not
works faith. These promises of God are certain
and sure in Christ. All these promises of God in
Christ are certain and sure. Turn back to Romans four one
more time. Romans four. Roman chapter four. Notice verse 16. You know, I
like things that are certain and sure. You can depend on. I mean, just count on. Just count
on. The law of gravity. Certain and
sure isn't. You count on it. It's there.
There are those laws of physics. Do they change? Do they alter?
They're there. They're fixed by God. So is salvation. Notice Romans 4, 16. Therefore,
it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end of this
purpose that the promise might be sure sure certain that all
the feet of all the elect of God known to the Jew but also
to the Gentile that which is the faith of Abraham who is the
pattern of how God saves sinners in Christ so these promises of
God are certain sure now back to first print second printing
chapter one second printing chapter one. Verse 20, all the promises
of God. Isn't this a loaded verse when
you just look at it and take it apart and dissect it? I mean,
it's just deep. It's just deep and rich. And
you know, all the word of God is like that. with us, that we don't just see
the overwhelming banquet of mercy that flows from the Word of God.
All the promises of God in him are yes, and in him, amen. And
I told you there were four points. Here's the last one. Unto the
glory of God by us. Unto the glory of God by us.
Here is the grand design of all of God's promises. Unto the glory
of God. Unto the glory of God. The promise
of God, the promises of God are his glory. The glory of God shines
in the face of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Redeemer, the
life of the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, the death of the
Redeemer, his intercession. All make the promises of God
certain and sure and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. You know,
my greatest need is his greatest glory. I need
salvation, and that salvation in Christ glorifies the Lord
Jesus Christ. My greatest need, when Moses
asked him, Lord, show me your glory. He's thinking about everything
that Moses had seen. Show me your glory, all the Red
Sea part, all those plagues, Passover lamb. And yet he says
in Exodus 33, show me your glory. Remember what he said? I'll make
all my goodness pass before you. You reckon what is that goodness?
The Lord Jesus Christ. I'll make all my goodness pass
before you. I'll be merciful to whom I will
be merciful. The glory of God shines in the
face of Jesus Christ. His greatest glory. My greatest
need. Well, it's been good being with
you. I've enjoyed my time last evening visiting and appreciate
John and Irene's hospitality. Thank you so much. We thank God
for this congregation and the faithfulness that you have demonstrated
through the years and your commitment to the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And we thank God for your pastor
as well. We've been dear friends for many
years and look forward to being dear friends in the years to
come we have here, but then that's just the beginning, isn't it?
That's just the beginning. Remember us in Pikeville and
come and be with us when you can visit. We accept visitors. We accept visitors, so you come
and worship with us sometime. Let's sing hymn number 163 and
stand. Uh huh. Uh huh. Uh huh. I think that is all for today.