Seeing God's Salvation

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation?

The Bible states that salvation is found in Jesus Christ, who saves His people from their sins. Salvation is central to Christian theology and is explicitly defined in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The name 'Jesus' itself means 'God shall save' (Matthew 1:21), emphasizing that God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sins. This redemptive purpose underscores the necessity of Christ's coming. As stated in Acts 4:12, 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Salvation is not merely a concept; it is a profound reality tied to the person of Christ who is our comfort and consolation.

Q: How do we know justification by faith is true?

Justification by faith is confirmed in Scripture and evidenced by the belief of Old Testament figures like Abraham. Justification by faith is a fundamental doctrine of the Reformed faith, asserting that individuals are declared righteous before God solely through faith in Christ. Romans 5:1 conveys this truth: 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Additionally, the faith of Abraham, as described in Genesis 15:6 and confirmed in Romans 4:3, shows that he was counted righteous because of his belief in God's promises, not his works. This pattern continues throughout Scripture, establishing that true justification comes from faith in Christ's completed work.

Q: Why is worship important for Christians?

Worship is essential for Christians as it reflects devotion to God and an acknowledgment of His sovereignty. Worship is more than a periodic activity; it is a lifestyle for the Christian. It represents a believer's devotion to God, mirroring the relationship between God and His people. Simeon exemplifies this devotion as he regularly went to the temple, waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). Worship acknowledges God's sovereignty, reinforcing the truth that our lives are not our own, but belong to Him. Moreover, true worship enhances our understanding of God's nature and His promises, fostering a deeper, more personal relationship with Christ.

Q: What is the meaning of 'consolation of Israel'?

The 'consolation of Israel' refers to the comfort and salvation found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills God's promises. The term 'consolation of Israel' is deeply rooted in the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah, who offers hope and salvation to God's people. Simeon, a devout man waiting for this consolation (Luke 2:25), recognized that Jesus embodied this hope. The prophecy from Isaiah 40 emphasizes comfort for God's people, and Christ's arrival fulfills this promise. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus becomes the ultimate consolation for believers, providing both spiritual peace and eternal hope in a world fraught with trials and tribulations.

Q: Why did God choose Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus?

God chose Mary and Joseph as they were humble and obedient servants, fulfilling His sovereign plan. God's choice of Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus exemplifies His sovereign will and purpose in salvation history. They were not of high social status; instead, they were humble and obedient individuals called to fulfill an extraordinary role in God's plan (Luke 2:22-24). Their poverty did not disqualify them; on the contrary, it highlighted God's provision, as they were entrusted with the 'Lamb of God' (John 1:29) for the expiation of sins. This choice underscores the biblical theme that God often uses the humble and lowly to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

I had it running for a little
bit. His name is called Jesus because it means something. Like we've seen before, God didn't
just give him that name just because it sounded good. It means
something. Jesus means, in the Old Testament
words, Joshua, right? It means God shall save or God
our Savior. God named this child Jesus. He named him that on purpose.
Because God had a purpose for him, and the purpose was, he
shall save. Call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. That's why he came. He came to
do just that. God manifests in the flesh, God
our Savior. Now look at verses 22 and following. When the days of her purification,
Mary had a child, and this was recorded in the Law of Leviticus,
that every woman who gave birth was to go through a purification
rite. And this was it, basically, verse
22. According to the Law of Moses,
they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As
it is written in the Law of the Lord, every male that opened
up the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And she came to
do this, to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said
in the law of the Lord. A pair of turtledoves or two
young pigeons. Now, I didn't have you turn,
but back in Leviticus 12, that's not all it said. It said back
there in Leviticus 12 that the woman who gave birth, every woman,
every Jewish woman who gave birth was to bring a lamb, a lamb, OK, to the sacrifice
for her own purification and to present this child before
the Lord. All right? But if they were too poor, if they were too poor to have
a lamb, then they'd bring two That's all they could afford.
They'd bring two doves or two pigeons, all right? Well, Joseph
and Mary were very poor, weren't they? They were very poor, so
they didn't have a lamb. Or did they? They did, and they didn't know
it. You see, everyone who is poor, truly poor and needy, God
has provided. a lamb, himself a lamb. They had the best lamb of all.
They had the only lamb they needed. They had the lamb to put away
all the lambs, didn't they? God's lamb to take away the sin
of the world, and didn't know it. Jesus Christ. All right,
verse 25. So they came, and behold, there
was a man in Jerusalem. Every step Christ took was on
purpose. Everywhere that Christ went was
on purpose. He never went anywhere without purpose. The purpose
why he came was to seek and save the lost, all right? Before he
took steps, as a babe in arms, the Father brought him to this
place. He had somebody waiting on him.
One of his sheep was there. He was manipulating this whole
thing before he could speak, before he could walk. You know
who had the babe circumcised, who had the child brought to
Jerusalem circumcised that day? He did. He had them bring himself
to be circumcised. You see, the child is the father
of the mother. The babe in the mother's arms
is really the mother's father. And manipulating this whole thing.
Well, like I said, he never went anywhere. John, he never went
anywhere without purpose. And that purpose was to save
his sheep. He said, I've come to seek and to save the lost.
Well, he's brought to Jerusalem as a babe in arms. Why? Because
there was a sheep. And just as John gave witness
of him, even from the mother's womb. John was in his own mother's
womb. He was filled with the Holy Spirit
from his mother's womb, and John bore witness of Christ and prepared
the way of Christ. And before John was even born,
he was pointing out to Christ to Elizabeth. There he is. He's
in her belly. Well, Christ came to speak and
to save the lost. And even as a child in arms,
he came to save this man in Jerusalem, to reveal himself to them. That's
right. That's right. Behold, there was
a man in Jerusalem. Just like there was a woman at
the well, just like there was a man in the tombs, just like
there was a man up a tree, there was a man in Jerusalem. And Christ
had to reveal himself to them. Right? One of God's children. All right? Behold, there was
a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. Every name, every word in God's
word is significant. It's not without reason. It's
not without purpose. What does Simeon mean? Well,
it's the same—it's the Old Testament name for Simon. Simon. Simeon. What does it mean? It means hearing. That's what
Simeon means. Here is a man in Jerusalem, and
read on. It says, His name was Simeon,
the same was a just and devout man waiting for the consolation
of Israel. The Holy Ghost was upon him.
His name means something, and this is what he was. Hearing. He was a hearing man. He had
heard from God's Word, especially Isaiah. This is where the consolation
of Israel comes from. Isaiah 40, Comfort ye, comfort
ye my people. That's what consolation meant. This man had heard of the Christ
from Isaiah. He had heard of the Christ. He
had read and heard. He was a devout man. You can't
be a devout man and not read the Word of God or hear the preaching
of the Word of God. That's what it means to be devoted,
devoted to his worship. He'd heard the word. He'd read
the word where it said, Under us a child is born, a son is
given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. He'd heard
the word, all right? He'd heard. He'd heard of the
Christ, and now he was looking for him, waiting on him. And he was in the right place
looking for him. If you're going to find Christ,
you're going to find him where he is, where he has revealed
himself. And this is the picture of every
son of God who has heard the gospel. Everyone who has heard
the gospel, has heard the word, and is looking for Christ and
waiting upon him and seeking him. They hear the gospel and
they seek him, and like this man, they're going to find him.
All right? Read on. It says there was a
man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man. Now, this fearing man, this man
who had heard, how are they going to believe in him whom they had
not heard? Huh? How are they going to call on him
whom they had not believed? All right, this man had heard,
the same man who had heard, everyone who had truly heard, he that
hath ears to hear, this same man who had heard, it says, was
just. This man who had heard of the
Christ and now was in the temple looking for him, seeking him,
waiting him, he was just. The word means holy. The word
means righteous. Does that mean that this man
was better than everybody else? Does that mean that he lived
according to the law, therefore God accepted him? Does that mean
that he was holy before God because he didn't do this, or didn't
do that, or did do this, or did do that. Is that how somebody
is declared just before God? Huh? The Scripture says there
is none righteous. No, not one. Just. Huh? Doesn't it? Then why was Simeon
called just? Because he'd heard of the Christ
Emperor, and he believed. By faith, we are justified. therefore being justified by
faith. All who believe, the scripture
says, by him. In Acts chapter 13 verse 39 it
says, by him all that believe are justified from all things
which they cannot be justified by the law of Moses. By him,
by who? By the Christ that you believe
in. Abraham believed God. And it
was counted unto him for righteousness. What did he believe? It wasn't
a what, it was a who. Christ said, Abraham sought my
day. He saw it and was glad. He believed
me. He believed Christ. All right? Simeon, is this old hat? This is just the heart and soul
of being saved. If you believe Christ, you're
justified. Without the deeds of the law,
which you cannot be justified by. And now the righteousness of
God is revealed by the law, even the righteousness which is of
faith, of his faith, of Christ's faithfulness, who he is and what
he's done. We're going to see in a minute,
Sidney's going to sum it up in one line, isn't he? His salvation. He's going to tell us without
a shadow of a doubt how come he's just. We need to know that, everybody
who truly thinks that God accepts them, or God is pleased with
them, or God, they're saved, they'd better have Simeon's confession
of faith. He was just. He was holy. He was accepted. How? In the
beloved. Just. Just. Whom he called, he
justified. He heard. He believed in the
coming Christ. He came looking for him. He was
waiting on them. He was just. All right? Simeon came to the temple. All
right? And God ordained that, didn't
he? God ordained that. You come to the temple. You take
part in the sacrifices which God ordered. The temple, the
altar, the bread, the candlestick, the veil, the blood, the mercy
seat, the ark, and all that. But Simeon knew, Rick, he knew
It's not these things. When he came there, Rick, he
wasn't looking at things, was he? He wasn't thinking about
things. He wasn't making him feel good
all over because all this ceremony was going on, was he? Why? He
knows God. He knows Christ. He's looking
to Christ. He's looking for a person. He said, all these things represent
the one who's coming. He said, I need a person. He
said, all these things can't put away sin, only Christ can
put away sin, the Christ who is to come. Now, these things
are a beautiful picture of Christ, but I need a person, not a picture.
I need a Savior, not a shadow. And I'm the same way. Religion
doesn't make me feel good. But when I hear the gospel of
Christ, it does. The person of Christ. This is
what sinners need to hear. All that seek redemption, I'm
going to speak of him. All those trying to be religious
will deal with issues, but all those that seek redemption, like
Anna, said, I'm going to speak of him. Well, Simeon was seeking
him. It says he was devoted, he was
devout. Look at verse 25. He was a devout
man, he was just. And he was devout. Everyone who's
truly just, every child of God, is devout and waiting, as I said,
waiting on the consolation of Israel. Devout means devoted. When you're devoted to something,
that means you're given to it. That means you're given to it, wholly
to it. You're not a part-time. That's
not possible. He wasn't a part-time seeker.
Simeon didn't just come on the Sabbath. I guarantee you. He wasn't a Sabbath-day seeker.
He was devoted. He was devoted. He wasn't a seventh-day
Adventist, if you will. He was a seven-day-a-week seeker. He was devoted to worship. He
was devoted to seeking Christ. He was devoted. He was devout. Everyone who is truly just is
devoted. This really goes without saying.
Devoted to worship and waiting. No part-time believers and seekers. Simeon didn't wake up on the
Sabbath day. It was wise not to wake him up,
since it's time. He didn't have to wake up that
morning and decide, well, am I going to go to worship or not? I've got other things to do.
Well, let's see, what do I want to do? He was devout, as all
who are just are. Christ is his life. Christ is
his life. Paul said, for me to live is Christ. What's that? To win Christ,
be found in him. He said, I'm not there yet, so
I'm going to press. He was devout. Devout. Worship is waiting. Do you know
that? Do you know what worship is?
It's waiting on the constellation of Abraham. Waiting. Worship's not an option. It's a way of life. It's a new
the new creature worship. Did Christ have to think to worship? Oh, it's him. And he worshiped
God. Did he not? What about the new
creature in Christ? No. No, he had to think. Do we
think to breathe? Do you have to stop and think about
it? Decide whether to breathe? What about eat? Did you wake up this morning,
Henry, and try to decide whether or not you're going to eat or
not? No, why? Hunger. And this is what God puts within
all of his people, hunger and thirst after righteousness. They'll
be filled. And they come where the filling,
where the food is. All right? Waiting. Worship is
waiting. Unto them that wait for him,
Scripture says, shall he appear the second time. How did he appear the first time? And man was waiting on him. How
did he leave the first time? The angel said, you men of Israel,
why do you stand gazing up in heaven? This same Jesus shall
so come in like manner as you've seen him go. How did he leave? It's a bunch of people standing
around, assembled, listening to him. Those that wait for the
consolation of Israel. All right, Simeon was looking
for and waiting. To see the comfort of all of
God's people. The comfort of all of God's people.
Consolation of Israel. This is the title. This is the
text. This is the meaning of it all. Comfort. Consolation
of God's people. Comfort. Comfort ye, comfort
ye my people, saith the Lord. Speak ye to Jerusalem. say unto her, and all that the
rest of that says, her warfare is accompanied. Comfort. What is your comfort? What is
your comfort? Look at verse 25. It says the
Holy Ghost was upon him. And verse 26, and it was revealed
unto him by the Holy Ghost. that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord's Christ. All right, he's waiting
on the comfort of God's people, the consolation, the one who
he's living for, the one who makes life worth living, his
comfort, his consolation, without whom he doesn't want to live
anymore. And God had promised him, you're not going to die
until you see. Consolation, it is. What's your
comfort? What's your comfort? Where do
you find happiness or joy or peace or strength, your life
in? What do you get your comfort
from? Comfort? You know, this world
is, he said, in this world you shall have tribulation. And this
world's a world full of trouble and sin and sorrow and sickness. just from cradle to the grave.
I know young people don't believe that, but even you have gone
through some tough things, if you'd stop and think about it.
Where are you going to find consolation? What's life all about? What's
it worth living for? Some young people don't. They
kill themselves because they can't find anything worth living
for, right? What's your What's your concept?
What are you living for? What are you hoping to seek or
find? What are you seeking? What are
you reaching for? What's it all about? Well, you know, many people try
to find it in the same old thing, family. Don't they? Oh, if I
could just, you know, if I could, a young person, if I could just
get married, then all my troubles would get me a little house.
Had me a little husband, a little house, a little car, a little
all. It's all, my troubles are over. Oh, no, no, no. Paul said,
when you get married, you're going to have trouble. Oh, if I will, and material possessions.
If I could just get a bigger this or a bigger that or a nicer
this or a nicer that, then I'll really be happy. I'm going to
really be comfortable. Oh, no, then the payments go up. And
then you've really got trouble. Well, let's hope your marriage
survives it. Huh? Oh, good health. That'll
do it. If I can just have good health
for an inexpensive period of time. No, then you get old. And you might have good health,
but then your mind's gone. Comfort. Well, right here it says this
man, he was an old man too, this man had the Holy Ghost upon him. The Holy Ghost was upon him. And everyone, listen, everyone,
you know what the Holy Ghost is called? John 11, John chapter
14, chapter 16, Christ said, when the who is come? Comforter
is come. He's called the Comforter, the
Holy Spirit. That's what he does. He comforts
God's people. How? He takes the consolation
of Israel, the comfort. He said, Christ said, He'll take
the things of mine and reveal them unto you. Simeon was an
old man by this time. He'd seen that, been there, done
that, you know. Had this, had that. He had him
a wife, I think, or had one at one time or all. It didn't bring
him happiness. He's writing on happiness. He's
waiting on comfort. It's in a person. It's in a person. The Holy Spirit takes the things
of Christ and reveals them unto a person. He reveals to that
person that Christ is all you need. Christ is all the comfort
you need. Do you hear that? We saw the shepherds. The angel said to the shepherd,
you're going to find him in a swaddling clothes and in a manger. Remember
that? It says that they found him swaddling
clothes in a manger. We saw how that represents Christ,
our righteousness, and Christ, the food of God's people. Sheep
food. And didn't Paul say, having food
and raiment? Be content. What did Paul have
when Paul said, I am content? I've learned in whatsoever state
I am to be content, whether it be a prison cell or whatever.
Where was his comfort? Vicki, he didn't have a home,
he didn't have a friend. After a while, where was his
comfort? What was his consolation in all that? Nobody called him.
Nobody looked him up. Nobody invited him for dinner.
Huh? He said, everybody has left me.
But the only one that counts hasn't. Christ said, though my
father and my mother forsake me, yet the Lord will take me.
The consolation of Israel. Brother Scott Richards said,
Christ is all to you if he's all you've got. He's never going
to be all to you unless he's all you've got. And you know, the Lord teaches
tough lessons sometimes. Christ is all to us, so he's
nothing at all. He said, you can't serve God
and man. A man loves father, mother, brother, sister, brother,
husband, wife, son or daughter, his own life more than me. It's all going to be gone. It's
all perishing. Ah, comfort, all joy, peace,
happiness, comfort, consolation. Christ is the consolation of
every belief. You don't know what I'm talking
about? Then you'd better find out. And you know, the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Spirit reveals to every believer that you will never
die when you see the Christ. That's what he told Simeon. You're
not going to die until you see the cry. You know, he told me
the same thing. He said, he that believeth in
me, he'll never die. Do you believe that? I am the
resurrection, he said. And so old believers don't have
to face death with fear. Oh, they're waiting. They're
waiting on the consolation. They'll have it when they need
it. Phyllis Coles Spurgeon one time said, I don't believe I
have dying grace. The Virgin said, Well, are you
dying? He said, As far as I know, I'm not. He said, Well, you don't
need it then, do you? But when you come to die, and I've witnessed many, it's not like the old country
singer said, We ought to walk that lonesome valley all by ourselves,
you know. the dark. Oh no. Though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. Why?
For thou art with me. And thy rod and thy staff shall
comfort me. Consolation. Comfort me. All right, look at verse twenty-seven.
I've got to get to the story, don't I? If I don't say anything
else, I've said something worth saying, haven't I? I've been saying Christ from
the start. All right, this is verse 27.
So it says, He came. It was revealed unto him that
he'd see the Christ. And he came by the Spirit into
the temple. The Holy Spirit had him there
on that particular day according to his sovereign will and purpose.
He had old Simeon in the temple on this day. He came by the Spirit
into the temple. And if you see Christ, it'll
be where Christ is preached. If you see Christ, it's going
to be where Christ is preached. And so there finally came a day,
after many years of worshiping and waiting, he woke up one morning. Now listen, this is not just
a—this really happened. This is a man like me, no different
than me, no different than you, if he was married, He had a wife,
family, job. He's just an ordinary man, all
right? There came a time, one day, one
morning, he woke up. He woke up. And his wife may have said to
him, where are you going? He said, I'm going down to worship.
Again? You going down there again? You
went there yesterday. Yeah, that's what I want to do. Well, I don't
know what's a matter with you. I do the root of the matters
in him. He's a devout man. He's a just man. And he woke
up and he's going to worship. All right. And like I said, worship's
not an option. It's not something believers
decide. It's what they are. Right? It's not something they decide.
It's what they are. They're worshipers. He came there. He woke up one morning, and he
says, Yeah, I'm going to go worship, and I'm going to keep worshiping
until I see Christ. Woman, don't speak like a fool.
And he may have thought his favorite verse may have been like the
Job whom I spoke of. Job who said, Now I know my Redeemer
liveth, and he'll stand on this earth the latter day. And I'm
going to see him. Yes, with my eyes, not another.
I'm going to see him. I bet you haven't seen his favorite
person. Especially after the Lord told him, Stan, that you're
not going to die until you see the Christ. I bet you see him
and love that person, Joe. I'm going to see him. I'm going
to go where he is, where he's revealed. And I'm not going to
quit going until I see him. He's my life. He's my consolation.
He's who I want to see. And once I see him, I'm ready
to die. Okay? So he came. He came. And he was worshiping
God in the temple this morning. And verse 27 says, He came by
the Spirit into the temple. And he was worshiping in the
temple. And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus,
to do for him after the custom of the law, this particular morning,
in walked this young Jewish mother and her husband, all right? And
here was Simeon was, worshiping the Lord. And in walked this—and
I guarantee you a verse of Scripture came flooding in his mind and
heart. Under us a child is born, but
the son is given. The government shall be upon
his shoulders." I guarantee you that scripture verse, that's
how God bears witness of who Christ is through the Word. He
came into him and God said, a child is born, a son is given, right
when that woman walked in with that child. And he ran over and
grabbed that child, didn't ask her, he don't ask when you lay
hold on something. Any more than Christ asked him,
and he said, go get that coat. Simeon had to have that child.
And it says, look at verse 27, and verse 28, and he took him
up in his arm, and bless He took him up in his arms and
blessed God, and here's his confession and the confession of every single
believer who's heard the gospel, who's waiting on the consolation
of Israel, who's looking for Christ, who sees Christ. This
is their confession. Verse twenty-nine, I'm ready
to go. Let me depart in peace. I have peace according to thy
word. You see that? According to your
word, that's where I found peace. 4, verse 30, I see the Christ,
I see, mine eyes have seen thy salvation. He laid hold on a person. It's like those shepherds. I
guarantee you those shepherds didn't come. Now, they'd already
heard, they'd already seen the glory of God, the glory of God
shone round about them, the lights. They'd already heard who he was,
the Savior, the Christ, the Lord. The glory of God, they already
heard all this, they already heard who he was, and when they
came in and saw him, they had him revealed as what he was to
them, their covering, and who he was to them, their food. And
when they came in and saw this baby laying in a manger, you
reckon those shepherds say, well, isn't he a cute little baby Jesus?
Why, look at there, ain't he cute? So helpless. You reckon
so? Long before they even knew he
was a baby, they'd seen the glory of the Lord. And when they did
see him, they didn't think of him as a baby. And neither do
God's people now. Neither do they acknowledge him
as such, neither do they talk about him as such, as a baby.
And Simeon didn't say, look, a cute little baby Jesus, didn't
he? He said, thy salvation. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. You know, somebody said this
is the only time salvation was ever in a man's hands. Only time ever. Salvation was
in a man's hands. Simeon said, right here he is. By salvation. Well, you know, think about this.
He said he lifted him up when he took him up in his arm. Christ
said, if I be lifted up. First time he came to Jerusalem,
he was lifted up, and this man was saved. The last time he came
to Jerusalem, he was lifted up, and all that looked to him and
waited for him to be saved there. God be lifted up. He didn't even
walk into that city. He was lifted up on a donkey. The whole docking company was
lifted up. What is your salvation? Who is
your consolation? Where is your consolation? Your
comfort, your life. What's it all about? Is it in
that husband? He's going to die. Is it in that child? They may die too. Is it in that wife? She's going
to die. In that home. Is it in Christ? And never lose. Never lose. What about your salvation? They go hand in hand, if he is
your salvation, he's your consolation. He's your comfort. He's your
life. Where do you find your salvation? Oh, if you say with
Simeon, Christ is my salvation. He is the salvation of God. He's
my salvation. And I have peace because I've
laid hold on him. Look at verse 31. I'll quit.
Let me go on down through here and wrap this up. Verse 31, Simeon
says, Oh, I've seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of the people."
Before the people had a face. Christ was a lamb slain before
the foundation of the world. He was a prepared one, and he
prepared him before the face of the people. In verse 32, a
light. Face. Light. Does that ring a bell?
Face. Light. Light. In a face, 2 Corinthians
4 or 6, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in a face
of Jesus Christ. Thou hast prepared before the
face of all God's people. God's people see, as face answered
to face, they see Christ in this world. They see their salvation,
Christ. A light, the light of the Gentiles. Yeah, we're Gentiles, everyone
in here. Yes, we are. We're not Jews. Anybody born in Israel in here? Raise your hand. None. We're Gentiles, aren't we? And
the glory of thy people Israel. Everybody in here is Jew, too.
We're Jews, too. He's a Jew which is one inwardly. This is the consolation of all
Israel, all Israel. Oh, there's a bunch of Jews over
in Israel right now that despise Jesus Christ. Read on. This is
what Simeon says here, "...and Joseph and his mother marveled
at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is sent for
the fall and the rising again of many in Israel." Those who don't believe will
fall. Those who do will rise again. going to be crucified with Christ
and buried, but quickened together with him. And for a sign, for
a sign like the prophet Jonas, a sign which shall be spoken
against. Everywhere this is spoken against.
This way is spoken against. Ah, but I confess that after
the way they call heresy, So I believe and worship the God
of my fathers, believing all things written in the law, believing
that Christ is all. He's all my salvation. For you. Huh? And it says, read on. Yea, a sword shall pierce through
thine own soul also. Has the sword pierced through
your soul? The word of God is quick, sharper than a two-edged
sword. Huh? Able to. It pierces. It was a divide asunder, the
thoughts in the mirror, the joints in the mirror, and the thoughts
as the word of God pierced through your heart. You will not see
Christ. He will not be your consolation.
He will not be your salvation. You won't be waiting on him until
the word does, until the word of God. Oh, how I wish it would,
son. And like so many times I say,
I'm like that boy with a bow and arrow, you know, shooting
that adventure. hoping the Lord will bring this arrow, this sword,
home to some heart and say, You're mine. I can't do it. He must decide. And it says here,
read on. It says, The sword shall pierce
through thine own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may
be revealed. Oh, my. And there was one Anna.
I know one family that just perks their ears up. There was one
Anna. We've got one Anna. You know, Rick, like we were
talking the other day about Zachariah, he had one desire for that boy
of his. He wanted him to be a preacher
of the gospel. Ain't nobody wants their boy
to be that today, do they? Preacher? They're all scouring
the earth. Not a true one. Zachariah, oh,
he wanted John to be the forerunner and a preacher and a prophet
of the Christ, didn't he? He knows, old Joe, that he's
going to get his head cut off if he did. And I asked Brother
Rick, I said, if you knew that Isaac would grow up to be a preacher
of this gospel, and that everybody in town would
hate him because he did it, I mean, hurt your son, talk about him
behind his back. Would you still want him to be
a preacher of the gospel? He didn't hesitate. Oh, yes,
he said, what a high calling. Well, there was one Anna. What
about your Anna? Wouldn't you like for her to
believe this? Wouldn't you like for her to
say some day, look, what this Anna said? And she was an old
woman by this time. And verse 37, a widow for, what,
eighty-four years. My, she was old, wasn't she? And she'd serve God with fasting
and prayer night and day. Oh, my. And she'd come in in that instance,
at the same time. See, the Lord brought her at
the same time. The Holy Spirit brought her at the same time
of sinning. What? To do what? To see Christ! All who are looking for and waiting
to see him. And they'll never die, till they do. And says,
she coming and likewise that gave thanks unto the Lord. Thank
you, Lord, for bringing me here. I see. Gave thanks. And she spake. What did she speak
about? What was her testimony? Well,
what was John's testimony? What was Zechariah's testimony?
What was Elizabeth's testimony? What was Mary's testimony? What was Simeon's testimony? It's the same with all who see
it. I like this. I underline this.
I underline very few verses in this book, but this is one I
did. It says, She spake of Him to
all them that look for redemption. If you're looking for redemption, let me tell you about Him, because
He is our redemption. In Him is redemption. In Him
is redemption. You're looking for consolation,
comfort. I'm going to tell you about Him, because in Him is
comfort, is consolation. You're looking for salvation.
Let me tell you about Him, because in Him, He is God's salvation. Neither is there salvation in
any other. That in the name of Jesus, every
knee should bow, every tongue confesses His glory, the glory
of God the Father. I hope you're seeking it, everyone,
man, woman, and child. All right, Brother Joe, do you
have a hymn picked out, buddy? 228.

Seeing God's Salvation

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know justification by faith is true?

Why is worship important for Christians?

What is the meaning of 'consolation of Israel'?

Why did God choose Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus?

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Seeing God's Salvation

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know justification by faith is true?

Why is worship important for Christians?

What is the meaning of 'consolation of Israel'?

Why did God choose Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

Comments

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