Let's open the Scriptures to
Romans chapter 11. This is where I will begin. It's amazing the things that
go through your mind just before you step up to speak. And I was thinking It sure would
be bad to take a drink of this water and baptize this microphone
in the water. My, what thoughts come to your
mind. Let me read a few verses here
from Romans chapter 11. Notice in verse 5, Even so then, at this present
time, also there is a remnant. There is a seed. There is a generation. And this is according to the
election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no
more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace. Otherwise
work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not Israel
hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election
hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." In this portion
of scripture, God's servant, the Apostle Paul, is led to set
before us a statement of fact. The fact is this. He said, Israel
is divided. It is divided into two groups
and only two groups. And I might say that even as
Israel is divided into two groups, so also is all of mankind. And he says in this passage Israel
is divided into these groups. Number one, the election. Those that God set apart from
before the foundation of the world unto salvation. God made a difference. He said
here's all of Israel. Within Israel, there's an elect
group. elected unto salvation, chosen
in Christ Jesus. Then he says there's another
group and these he refers to as being the rest. And I say to you ever since God
in his covenant of grace made a difference between all of Adam's
offspring. There had been, there is now,
and there always shall be just two groups of people. There's
the elect of God, and there is the rest. The rest. Let me show you a verse back
in the book of Exodus chapter 11. Exodus chapter 11. God has given forth the word
to Moses that He is going to deliver His people. He says there will be the death
of the firstborn throughout all the land of Egypt. We know that
the exceptions to that were those whose houses were marked by blood
on their door posts and on the side posts. For God would say
in the next chapter, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Notice what he says here in chapter
11 and verse 7. But against any of the children
of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast. that ye may know, that ye may be assured, that
the Lord, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, God who saves, that
ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference God has
made a difference. God has made a separation between
the Egyptians and Israel. In this portion of scripture,
the Egyptians, that's the world. That's the world. Indeed, in
the context of the book of Exodus, Pharaoh is Satan. Satan is likened
unto Pharaoh. The Egyptians are likened unto
the world. And Israel is likened unto God's
redeemed church. God has made a difference. It's
a difference that is always been in the mind of God and it has
been revealed in His Holy Word. Now if you would, go back to
the passage that was read to us in Matthew chapter 13. For in this passage, our Lord
Jesus also lets us know that there is a distinction. There
is a distinction. Matthew chapter 13. Let's notice
the way he puts it. The way he says it. Matthew chapter
13. Look at verse number 10. Matthew 13. 10. And the disciples
came and said unto him, There's the them in parables. Why speakest thou to them? In verse 11, he answered and said
unto these his disciples, because, here's the reason, it is given,
it is granted, It is given to you. It is granted. It is furnished
to you. To know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven. To you. To you it is given to
know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to them it isn't given. Here are two
groups of people. The Lord makes a distinction. To you, it is given to know the
mysteries of the kingdom, the mystery of the gospel, the mystery
of redemption, the mystery of how God can be just and ungodly,
the mystery of salvation, the mystery that originated in heaven,
and the mystery that will culminate in heaven. To you it is given
to know the mysteries, the mysteries of how God saves sinners. The mystery of how we are declared
to be righteous in the Lord Jesus. The mystery of imputation of
our sins credited or charged to the Savior and His righteous
obedience unto death credited to us. To you it is given to
know to know the people of God are those who know some things. We know some things about God. perfection. We know something
of what we are. We know of our state before Him. Of our alienation. Of our sinfulness. And we know by God's revealing
grace of the Lord Jesus and His work of redemption. We know that
because God has taught us. In the book of John, the Savior
says in chapter 6, quoting from Isaiah, they shall all be taught
of God. We know some things. Who knows
the things of God? You do. That's what Christ says. You know. It's given to you to
know. It's granted to you. to you to know. It is furnished
to you to know. You wouldn't know it any other
way except God taught you. It's given to you to know. But to them, to them, it's not given. Oh, how sovereign and free grace
is seen specifically before us in this
passage of Scripture. Our Lord Jesus divides all of
mankind. He uses two simple words and
He says, you and them. You know some things they don't. You know who I am. Peter said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. The Lord said,
Simon, flesh and blood didn't teach you that. My Father taught
you that. Because Simon Peter was among
the you. The you. Those marked out from
old eternity. God made a distinction. He's
amongst the Israel of God. To you it is given to know the
mysteries of the kingdom. But to them, to them, it isn't given. Let me ask you,
do you know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? Do you
know how the God of the Bible saves sinners without compromising
His law or justice? Do you know of the Lord Jesus
and His work of redemption? Do you know and realize and understand
all of salvation is by grace and found in only one person,
the Lord Jesus Christ? You know these things! Because
God taught you. He set you apart to know. And others, He left them alone. The only distinction that this
is due to is the will and purpose of God. You know and the them
they don't know because God didn't show them but he showed you. One of the old hymn writers said,
why was I made to hear thy voice and enter while there's room
when thousands made a wretched choice and rather starve than
come? It was the same grace that spread
the feast, that sweetly forced me in, else I had still refused
to taste and perished in my sin. The Apostle asked the Corinthians
this simple question, who maketh thee to differ from another? Who made the difference in your
salvation? Did you make the difference?
If you are among the you, then you know God made the difference. It wasn't you. It was the Lord. He has taught us the mysteries
of heaven, the mystery of salvation, all together by grace, without
any contribution on our part. If you believe the gospel of
God's sovereign mercy, of redemption, substitution, and satisfaction
If you look to the Lord Jesus, as you preached Wednesday, for
your wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
that faith to look to Him has been granted to you. were often told in the scriptures
of things which God has given to you who are His people. He says in John chapter 3 and
verse 16, For God so loved the world, the world of His elect,
the world of His true Israel, God so loved the world that He
gave. What was the gift that He gave?
His only begotten Son. God said to Abraham, Abraham
take Isaac, that son whom you love, your only son, the son
that is so him up to a mountain that I will show you, offering
as a burnt offering unto me. And Abraham took Isaac up on
Mount Moriah. He told his two servants, abide
ye here with the Asses, and I and Isaac, I and the lad, will go
yonder and worship. And Isaac didn't spare his own
son, that son of promise, that son that God said he would give
to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. He didn't spare him. He took him up there, bound him
to an altar, raised the sacrificial knife up, was ready to execute
his own son and then set him afire. And God said, Stop. Stop. I see that you fear me. There is a ram caught by its
horns in the thicket. Offer him in Isaac's stead. As
Abraham spared not his son, God spared not His only begotten
Son. Isaac was a sinner. Isaac was
a rebel against God by nature, just as we all are. But God's own Son, His only begotten
Son, His Son that is unique, His everlasting Son, He had no
sin. He did no sin. And yet we read,
God spared not His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. For God
so loved the world that He gave. He gave His Son, listen, for
you. For the you. Not for the them. Not for them. but for you, the beloved of God,
those that the Lord has always known, those favored people,
favored not because of anything in them. We read in Romans chapter
9 that God's election of grace, it took place before there was
anything done by us, either good or bad. the purpose of God according
to election might stand. God gave to us the gift of His
Son, the gift of His love. No wonder the Apostle said over
in 2 Corinthians, thanks be unto God for His unspeakable God has given, God has granted,
God has supplied you with a suitable Savior and listen, you are complete. You are fully furnished only
in Him. You are. In John chapter 3 and verse 27,
John the Baptist said, a man can receive nothing except it
be given him from heaven. You can't receive anything unless
God gives it to you. You can't know anything. You
can't learn anything. You don't have any spiritual
knowledge. You don't have any spiritual
life. You don't have any salvation unless God gives it to you. And
He has given it to one group of people. Oh, it's a big group
of people. It's a multitude which no man
can number. And the Savior says, it's given
to you. It's given to you. But it's not
given to them. To you and not them. In Luke chapter 12 and verse
37, the Savior said, Fear not, little flock, for it is your
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It's His good
will. It's His determination. It's
His decision to give you saving grace in Christ Jesus. Look with me in John chapter
10. John chapter 10. It's given to you and not to
them. Notice what he says here in John
chapter 10. This is the shepherd speaking
to and of his sheep. He says in verse 27, My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal
life. To this specific group, to this group favored of God,
to these people beloved of the Lord from all eternity, He says,
I give to you eternal life. And concerning these, he says,
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand. My Father which gave them me
is greater than all. and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father's hand. This eternal life, it can't be
earned, it can't be merited, it can't be worked for, it has
to be given. And you know, it's given to you. It's given freely to you. In John 14, the Savior says,
I give you the comforter. I give you another comforter,
He says. The comforter who convicts of
sin and righteousness and judgment. He convinces us of sin. We haven't believed on Christ.
He convinces us of righteousness which the Savior brought in by
His obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. And He
convinced us of judgment, that all of our sins were judged when
Christ Jesus died. Even Satan himself was bound
and defeated at the cross. Indeed, our Lord has given to
you many things. He says in John 14, 27, My peace
I give unto you. He gives us peace with God because
He made our peace by the blood of His cross. John 17, look at
John 17 with me. Let me read these verses. Look at John 17 verse 14. First of all, he says, I've given
them thy word. To you who are the people of
God. Our Lord Jesus says, I've given
you my word. My word. This is the word that
sanctifies us. Because he later says in verse
17, sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Be careful when you hear men
preach. Sometimes they'll say, liberals
say this, the Bible contains the truth of God. No, the Bible
is the truth of God. It is the word of God. And the
Savior says, I've given thy truth to these that you've given Me.
Notice what He says a little further in verse 22. And the glory which thou gavest
Me, I have given them. The glory which thou gavest Me,
I have given them that they may be one even as we are one. Now, what is that glory that
the Father gave Him? Well, not His essential glory,
because whatever this glory is, He says, the Father gave it to
me, and I give it to these that you've given me. It's not His
essential glory. We're not gods. We're not going
to be gods. We're not divine. We're sinners saved by grace. That's what we are. So it's not
His essential glory and it's not His glory of saving sinners. That belongs
to Him alone. He saved us by His blood. He
saved us by His righteousness. He saved us by His work. He saved
us by His merits. He is our salvation. So it's
not the glory of salvation. Well, what is this glory that
the Father has given Him and He has given to you? It is the
glory of exaltation and future glory in heaven. Even as our
Lord has been given glory, He has given us glory. Even as He
rose from the dead, so shall we. In fact, we rose from the
dead in Him. When He ascended back to heaven,
we ascended back with Him. When He took His seat in the
heavenlies, we took His seat with Him. He gave us glory. He gave us glory. Acts 5.31 says He's been exalted
to give repentance. You know what He's given to you
who are the people of God? He's given repentance. Repentance. Repentance toward God. Faith
in our Lord Jesus. Repentance of our dead idols. What has He given to us? So many
things. I give you To you it's given
to know the mysteries of the kingdom. What is it given to
us? Well it says in 1 Corinthians
1 and in 2 Timothy chapter 1, grace has been given to us. Oh,
to grace how great a debtor. That's what we sing. Daily I'm
constrained to be. Let thy goodness like a fetter
bind my wandering heart to thee. Oh, the grace of God has been
given to you. It was given to you before the
world began. Justifying grace, saving grace,
keeping grace, regenerating grace, preserving grace, someday glorifying
grace. Grace is given to you, but not
to them. Not to them. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 57, Thanks
be unto God which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus. God has
already given us the victory, for we are more than conquerors
through Him that loved us. We are the victors, the victors. He has given to you all of these
things. This is the record, 1 John 5.11,
that God has given to us, that is to you who are the people
of God, eternal life. And this life is in His Son. Now hear the sovereignty of God
in this passage of Scripture. All of these things have been
given to you who are But not given to them. You know what the text says?
To you it is given to know the mysteries of heaven. But to them,
to them it is not given. Grace is not given to them. Salvation
is not given to them. The Lord Jesus is not given to
them. The peace of God is not given
to them. The knowledge of God is not given
to them. The understanding of the things
of God, that's not given to them. The Kingdom of God, it's been
given to you, but not to them. God has given to you everlasting
consolation and a good hope through grace, but He didn't give it
to them. My friends, right here is the
sovereignty of God in salvation. Unto you it is given to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is
not given. Look with me in Mark chapter
4. Mark chapter 4. This is essentially the same
thing that's found in Matthew chapter 13. But notice verse 11. He said
unto them, he said unto his disciples, Unto you it is given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God. Now notice how Mark words
it. by the inspiration of the Spirit,
just a little different. But unto them that are without,
but unto them which are without, all these things are done in
parables. The word out, without, means
outside, outside. It's like here's the house of
salvation and all of the elect of God are in it. It's the you. But outside, outside, there's
them. They'll always be outside. And
listen to me, you would have been outside also were it not
for God's distinguishing grace. Isn't that amazing? Don't you
often find yourself asking, why me? Why me? The Savior's words will indeed
suffice for an answer, even so Father, for so it seemed good
in thy sight. I'm going to give you two more
verses And then I'll quit. 1 Peter chapter 2. In fact, I
think I'll just stop here at 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2. And verse 7. We're talking about the you and
the them. It's given to you, but not to
them. Look at verse 7. Unto you. Unto you therefore which believe.
Oh, that begs the question. Do you believe? Do you believe? unto you therefore which believe
He is precious. But unto them, unto them which
be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the
same is made the head of the corner." Thank God for His distinguishing
grace to me and to you. All that we are and all that
we ever aspire to be, we owe to the grace of God given to
us in the Lord Jesus Christ.