Okay, well good morning out there
everyone. I'm bringing the message this morning and it's titled,
How Can I Help God? January 1961, John F. Kennedy, during his inaugural
address, challenged America with this comment, ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
I don't have a particular passage of scripture that I will be anchoring
this lesson from, but we will be looking at several passages
from the Book of Romans, we'll spend some time in Ezekiel, and
quote some other scriptures, mostly from Galatians and Ephesians.
Last week, I think both Mike and Craig read from Romans 8,
15 through 17. So I would like to start this
morning by reading that passage again. Romans 8, verses 15 through
17. For you did not receive a spirit
that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the
spirit of sonship, and by him we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit himself testifies
with our spirit that we are God's children. Now, if we are God's
children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings,
in order that we may also share in his glory. How often do you
read or hear a passage that you have read or heard many times
before, but this time you see something new? You see some new
light, some new meat on the bone, as has been said here before.
Well, that happened for me when this was read last week. While
hearing the passages read, my mind went to the blessings we
have in salvation and remembering where we once were to thinking
about where we are now. from a lost sinner to a child
of God with his spirit of adoption in us crying out, Abba, Father. How could this happen to an undeserving
sinner like me? How can it be that I should gain? I want to look at these questions
just a bit today. So you might be wondering, what
does all this have to do with the opening statement that I
left just kind of hanging out there at the beginning? Well,
in today's church, and I say that with quotation marks, there
are varying thoughts on how this salvation thing happens. So to
open up the discussion of these opposing theologies, I thought
it would work to change up the president's statement a bit,
put a little different spin on it, and also change the cast
of characters. So now the statement goes like
this, ask not what you can do for God, ask what God has done
for you. And as that statement is presented
in two different aspects, so too are there basically two different
thoughts, two theologies about how we obtain salvation. Variations
of them certainly exist, but it boils down basically to two
different theologies. Is it by grace or is it by works? Is it by grace where God did
it all? Or is it by works where man helps God complete that work
of salvation? Is it by grace that we are kept
in His love, persevering to the end because of His work on our
behalf? Or do we retain our position
in Christ by our works? There is obviously a very, very
big and important difference as it really determines, I believe,
how we see Christ. In John chapter six, Jesus is
asked by a crowd of people who have been pursuing him, what
works must we do to do the works of God? And Jesus' response was
telling but simple, the works of God is this, believe on the
one whom he has sent. That's it, believe on the one
whom he sent. There's no command to observe
a special day, no command to not eat and serve, certain foods,
no command to be circumcised, no command to take communion,
no command to be baptized, just simply believe in the one whom
he has sent. I'm hearing that many will say,
and we've all heard it before, does that mean we do not worry
about doing good works? The book of James warns us about
such a thought, as James tells us that faith without works or
deeds is dead. In Matthew 25, we get an idea
of where it's done, not to obtain salvation, but because we are
saved and it's part of our new nature. Jesus, when speaking
to the sheep at the gathering of the sheep and the goats, said
this, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and
you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed
me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and
you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer
him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When
did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The king
will reply, truly I tell you, we're Whatever you did for one
of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did
for me. These righteous ones were not
counting their good works like you would score points in a game.
In fact, they weren't counting them at all. They didn't see
it as helping God. They saw it as being good, faithful
servants, as helping their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were
not using good works as a way to finding favor with God. What the works world fails to
take into account is when it comes to the flesh in any way
being able to please God or to help God, there has been a problem. It reminds me of another well-known
statement from American history. It comes from the crew of the
Apollo 13 spacecraft, when after an explosion 200,000 miles up
in space, they radioed Mission Control in Houston Houston, we've
had a problem. And they had a problem, all right.
A problem that could have turned out to be quite catastrophic.
Fortunately, NASA was able to bring the crew home safely back
to Earth. But to the world today, we can
say, world, we've had a problem. And it was a problem at catastrophic
proportions. It happened in the garden, and
it's called the fall. and it has affected the world
and all its inhabitants since that very moment when Adam partook
of the tree of knowledge and evil, the very fruit which God
had told him he should not eat, for when he did, he would surely
die. And he did die, not a physical
death right away, though that death was also ushered in at
the time, but he immediately suffered a much worse death,
the spiritual death, that separation from God. no more communion,
total separation. He had, in fact, ushered in sin
and death. From then on, natural man was
at enmity with God, hostile towards God, separated spiritually with
God, no longer in that divine fellowship with Him. So just
how serious is that problem? Let's go to Romans chapter 3
verses 9 through 12 and see just how far man has dropped from
that sweet communion with God that was enjoyed before the dreadful
fall. Romans 3 verses 9 through 12. What shall we conclude then?
Are we any better? Not at all. We have already made
the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written, there is no
one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have
together become worthless. There is no one who does good,
not even one. So do you see that he was talking
about us, we as part of that world, the world he was looking
down on and said, There is no one righteous, not even one.
We certainly were in no position in that state to ask God, how
can we help? We are not willing, we are not
able. In fact, as Adam and Eve attempted
to hide from God in the garden, ashamed of their nakedness, we
will run from God, not towards God. Let's go and let's look
at Romans chapter eight, verses five through eight. Romans 8 verses 5 through 8,
those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds
set on what the nature desires. But those who live in accordance
with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires.
The mind of sinful man is death. but the mind controlled by the
spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to
God. It does not submit to God's law,
nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful
nature cannot please God. So once again, we are reminded
the sinful mind is death. The carnal mind is enmity against
God, hostile towards God, unable and unwilling to please God.
Thankfully, we do not now count ourselves among those hostile
towards God. Why? There's one reason and only
one reason. Therefore, there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus,
the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the
law of sin and death. So, by Christ Jesus and him alone,
We have been set free from the condemnation of the sinful mind,
but still we know this, all have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of God. And as Paul tells us in Ephesians
chapter two, verses one through three, which I will share with
you here, as for you, you are dead in your transgressions and
sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit
who is now at work in those who were disobedient. All of us also
lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our
flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest,
we were by nature deserving of wrath. So, where are we now? Have things changed much? One
more passage, and then we will start looking at the other side.
Romans 7. Romans chapter 7. I'm gonna start
reading here in verse 21. I'm gonna read 21 through 24. So, I find this law at work when
I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For my inner being,
I delight in God's law. But I see another law at work
in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my
members. What a wretched man I am. Who
will rescue me from this body of death? Paul gives us some good insight
into the battle between the spirit and the flesh, a battle he knows
cannot be won on our own. So he asks, who can deliver me? Who can rescue me from this body
of death? I'd like now to turn to Ezekiel
chapter 36. Here we can start to put together
an answer to start looking on the positive side of things.
Ezekiel chapter 36. And I'd like to pick up reading
there in verse 22. Ezekiel chapter 36, verse 22. Therefore say to the house of
Israel, this is what the sovereign Lord says. It is not for your
sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these sayings,
but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among
the nations where you have gone. I will show you the holiness
of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the
name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know
that I am the Lord, declares the sovereign Lord, when I show
myself holy through you before their eyes. These first two verses give us
a clear message. It was not for our sake He will
be doing these things, but for His holy name. He will prove
His name holy when He rebuilds the fallen nation and the world
will know He is the Sovereign Lord. That's His purpose. It's
for His glory and His alone. Thankfully, though, we do become
benefactors of all He does. So let's read on. For I will
take you out of the nations. I will gather you from all the
countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle
clean water on you and you will be clean. I will cleanse you
from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give
you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove
from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees
and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave
your forefathers. You will be my people and I will
be your God. I will save you from all your
uncleanness. I will call for the grain and
make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will
increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field so
that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because
of famine. Then you will remember your evil
ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your
sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am
not doing this for your sake, declares the sovereign Lord.
Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel. There are many, many, many sermons
in those few verses there, For the purposes of this, we're gonna
just break it down to some simple things. So let's look at the
number of I's that are presented here. As we break this down,
let's substitute he for the word I. It says there in verses 24
through 32, he will gather his people and bring them back into
the land that he had promised their forefathers. He will cleanse
them from all their sins. He gives the new heart of flesh,
removing the old stony heart. He restores fellowship with Him
through the spirit that He will give, the spirit of life. A spirit,
not at enmity with Him, but in full communion and fellowship
with Him. That spirit that testifies to
our spirit that we are children of God and by Him we cry, Abba
Father. and he quickens us, awakening
us to see who we are, that we are desperate sinners in need
of a savior, which takes us back, right back to Romans, where Paul
was expressing his desperation, asking who would rescue him?
Who would deliver him from that wretched body of death? I left
off reading at the end of verse 24, but what does verse 25 have
to say? Thanks be to God who delivers
me through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Wretched man, meet Jesus. You who cries out, who will deliver
me from this body of death? Meet Jesus. This man, Jesus,
sent from the Father, born of a virgin. ministered to the lost
souls, the great physician who could bring life to the dead.
He, who for his people was beaten, had a crown of thorns placed
upon his head. He was nailed to a cross, flogged,
pierced through his side by a sword, mocked by the crowd. He shed
his blood, crying out to God his father, my God, my God, Why
hast thou forsaken me? Then with his last breath, he
cries out, it is finished. Who will rescue me from this
body of death? Meet this man, Jesus, the risen
savior. He delivered us from the body
of death, raising to life on the third day, victorious over
hell. He was victorious over sin and
He was victorious over death. He delivered us from that body
of death. He delivered us from that spirit
of death that has had us at enmity with God. He, through his death,
brought us the spirit of life, reconciling us once again to
that perfect, sweet communion with God the Father that was
lost in the garden. We are no longer enemies of God,
but willing, loving servants of the Almighty God. Let's go
once again to Ephesians chapter two. I'm picking up reading there
in verse four, Ephesians two. But because of His great love
for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even
when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been
saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming
ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed
in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you
have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves.
It is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. God did, and he
continues to do it all. It is by His grace we have been
saved, not of ourselves, not by our works. Let no one boast. It is by His grace we are saved. Remember those couple verses
that we read back there at the end of Ezekiel chapter 36, where
it told us that this is what you will do. You will loathe
yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. You will
be ashamed and disgraced for your sinful conduct. It says,
for his namesake, for his glory, for himself he will raise a people. And we look at ourselves. How
can we not feel ashamed? feel disgraced. Just that image
of this man hanging on the cross, bleeding and dying because of
my sin, my enmity against God, my detestable acts, my wretchedness. How can we not feel ashamed and
disgraced? But, you know what? He died for
it. He died for it all. We have been
saved by His grace. We no longer have to look at
us as that wretched man. We have been saved. Can you believe
it? I believe it. I know it. We've read it several times now
just this morning right here from God's Word. We are sinners
saved by grace. It's not by works. It's not partly
grace and partly works. It is by grace and grace alone.
Jesus paid the price and Jesus paid it all. He did it all or
he did none. I'd like to conclude by reading
a short excerpt from a sermon preached by a man many of us
had the privilege of meeting several years ago, Pastor D.J. Warren from Main Street Baptist
Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Hard to believe, It was over
30 years ago that he was the speaker at one of our summer
camps up at Rock Creek Reservoir, where we used to hold our camps.
He has since passed, but his preaching lives on, as there
are many of his sermons on YouTube, which is where I originally heard
this. I don't know what the title of
the sermon was, but the original poster on YouTube titled this
excerpt from that sermon, Jesus Paid It All. It's a perfect cap
to the lesson this morning. I won't be able to deliver it
like he did, but the message is what is important, and I go
back to it quite often on YouTube and listen to it again. It's
a great way to start the day. Jesus Paid It All. I contend
this morning that the death of Christ was not an attempt, it
was an accomplishment. And now, brothers and sisters,
when one accomplishes something, it means somewhere they had to
have an assignment. Well, what was the assignment? His name shall be called Jesus,
for he shall save. Not attempt to save, not try
to save, not hope to save, not want to save, but he shall save
his people from their sin. Is that right? Now, I hear this. I hear this, I hear it on television,
and I hear it in the churches, that God has done all he can
do The rest is up to you. If the rest is up to you, then
he didn't accomplish it. If anything is up to you, he
didn't accomplish it. I've even heard this. You've
got to help God save you. He can't do it himself. If God
cannot do it by himself, then he didn't accomplish it. He's
a false god. He's a liar, and you best not
trust him. If he didn't do it, then we ought
to stop singing, Jesus paid it all. Sing instead, he paid some
of it. Now, brothers and sisters, if
he did not accomplish it, we are here in vain, and you can
have all the religion you want, If this was not accomplished,
we are going to hell. It's just that blunt. It's just
that simple. It's just that clear. But if
he didn't do it, he doesn't need your best and your works need
not speak for you. If he did do it, you can leave
here rejoicing that your sins are now under the blood. And
he stands as your substitute, your mediator before God this
morning, pleading the blood, pleading his blood, that perfect
sacrifice, that holy atonement. He's pleading the blood. You
can rest that all of my sins are under that blood. Did he
accomplish it? Did he fail? Do we need more
having to come after him? Do we need another prophet after
him? I declare this morning he paid
it all. He paid it all, every drop of
it, every sin I was going to commit, every sin I thought about
committing. He nailed it to his cross and
I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. Jesus paid it all. It is well
with my soul. And may it be so with each one
of your souls that this morning you can say, it is well with
my soul. Well, that's into my time, so
I'd like to just say, with the power that's not invested in
me in any way, have an enjoyable intermission.