Alright, let's return to Luke
chapter 2. Luke chapter 2, beginning there
at verse 25. Now, a couple of weeks ago I
told you I was going to preach a few messages that revolve around
the subject of the last words. the last words of believers as
recorded in the scripture. And I basically just have three
messages. The last time I preached on the last words of David. You
can read those again in 2 Samuel chapter 23. The first few verses
of 2 Samuel 23. That's where David in verse five
made the statement, although my house be not so with God,
he hath made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things
insure. David looking toward his savior,
looking forward as he did in that time to the coming of the
Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the salvation that God had
ordered, ordered before the foundation of the world, in his purpose
and in his sovereign planning, his wisdom, and salvation that
was sure in all things because all of that salvation for David,
a sinner saved by grace, was conditioned on his surety, who
is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the surety of the covenant. And then he said, this is all
my salvation and all my desire. Well, today, I want us to go
to Luke 2, and we're gonna look at the last words of a man named
Simeon. Simeon. And let's just look at
this. And one of the things you can
think of, see, these are examples. You know, we talk about dying
grace. People say, well, I need dying
grace. And I believe, A lot of people
have a misconception about dying grace. I know we say, well, God
will give it to you when you need it. And I think there's
a sense in which that's true. But I also think there's a sense
in which we always need it. We don't know when we're going
to die. And I'm not just trying to be morbid. I'm trying to be
real here, trying to be truthful to you. We think, well, we'd all love
to live to be a ripe old age. And I don't know how old age
is ripe. But whatever it is, you know, we talk about living,
you know, the three score and 10 and anything beyond, that's
a gift of God. I think every day, I know the
scripture says it that way, but it's making a point there. And
the point is, is that all life, every breath we take is a gift
from God. It's not like, you know, well,
we earned the first 70, now the rest of it, God just gives, no.
No, it's all a gift from God. But you can look at this in terms
of this, are you ready to die? Am I ready to die? When is a
person ready to die? And that's what I want these
messages to help us with, help me with, and help you with. It's
like David's message. He spoke of that salvation. Simeon's
gonna talk about God's salvation. David said, this is all my salvation. I know a man is ready to die
if Christ truly is all His salvation. Now, if you're looking anywhere
else for salvation but in Christ and Him crucified, you're not
ready to die. You may die whether you're ready
or not. It may come like that, ready or not, here I come. But
if a sinner is truly looking to Christ, the true Christ, the
God-man, and him crucified, his blood and righteousness alone,
for all, he's all my salvation. That's what David said. That's
what he meant. He said, I'm ready to die. This
is all my, I don't have any other hope. That's what he's saying.
I don't have any other hope for salvation, for eternal life and
glory, for forgiveness of all my sins, for righteousness, but
in what Christ, the surety, the God-man, what he accomplished
and what David looking forward to that, what he would accomplish
on the cross of Calvary to save me from my sins. Well, Simeon's
looking forward too. He's, you know, he lived during
the time of the birth of Christ and here Mary and Joseph are
bringing the baby into the temple to dedicate him to the Lord. That's what they're doing. That
was the custom. And it says in verse 25, It says, behold, there
was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. Most people
think that Simeon was a priest, and he probably was. He was there
at the temple. It says here, the same man was
just, or you could say justified, and devout. And then the next
phrase defines that. How do you know he was just and
devout? Now, I want you to understand something about this. What is
said about Simeon here is the, this is the judgment of God.
This is the assessment of God upon this man, not the judgment
of men. And the reason I'm saying that is this, it says he was
just and devout. Now who does God call among sinners? Among men and women, who does
God describe as just and devout? God who looks upon the heart.
God who knows me better than I know myself, let alone better
than you know me. Who does God call just and devout?
And this is something we have to really see on our minds on
this because so many people, they'll go to a passage like
that and then they'll talk about how Simeon was such a good guy
in life towards men. And I'll tell you what, I don't
doubt that Simeon was, he acted justly in his dealings with men.
I don't doubt that at all. But it's not upon that basis
that God calls any person just. To say that Simeon was just means
that he was a sinner saved by the grace of God. That's what
that means. He was justified. What is the
ground or cause of Simeon's justification before God? It's not his actions
towards men. Listen, and that's not, listen,
that's not denying that we as believers should act justly towards
men and fairly and honestly. Oh, we should be the most just
and fair and honest people on earth. But my point is that's
not how we're justified before God. That's not our righteousness
before God. I should treat you better than
I treat myself. I should deal with you better
than I deal with myself. I should love my neighbor as
myself. But my attempts to do that are not how God justifies
me. It's not my righteousness before
God. It doesn't balance out the scales
of my sin, you say. How is a sinner just before God? It's only by the blood and righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that's it. That's what David was saying
in his last words. Christ is all my salvation. I
have no claim upon God to forgive or remit my sins, but the blood
of the Lamb. Just like Abel. I don't doubt
that Abel was an honest man, a just man, a fair man. I don't doubt hardworking man,
good husband, whatever. I don't doubt all that. But that's
when he brought that land, the blood of the land to sacrifice
before God. Here's what he's saying. Lord,
I'm a sinner. I deserve damnation based upon
my best. I have no hope. No hope but the
seed of woman, the Messiah to come. I have no hope of salvation,
no hope of forgiveness, no hope of righteousness and glory, but
Christ. And that's the way it is with
all of us. We're all in the same boat there, Simeon too. So to
say he was just means that he was justified before God by the
grace of God through the blood and righteousness of Christ.
That's what he was. And it was, and somebody said,
well, Simeon didn't need the blood of Christ if he was already
just before Christ died. Oh, no. No, don't get that confused. Simeon was waiting for the consolation
of Israel. His justification before God
was based upon that consolation of Israel. What is the consolation
of Israel? We can read all through the Old
Testament on it, but the comfort, that's what that word consolation
means. It means comfort, it means peace. That's Christ. Christ is the consolation of
it. Christ is my consolation. If
you're a believer, Christ is your consolation. He's our comfort. He's our peace. He established
peace by the blood of his cross. Simeon was looking forward to
the cross, to the death of Christ, to the blood of Christ. And it
was upon that basis, as Christ was his surety, that God justified
him, even before Christ actually accomplished it in time. Same
way with Abel, same way with Abraham. You see, it was always
sure and certain that it was going to happen. And in God's
eternal mind, it had already happened, because he was so sure. Hadn't happened in time yet,
but it was going to. And then it says he was devout.
What does that mean? That means he was devoted. Devoted
to Christ. Now that's indicative of the
work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. That's faith in Christ. That's repentance of dead works. That's the love of God shed abroad
in the hearts. That's Christ in you. The hope
of glory. That's the dwelling of the Holy
Spirit. That's given. He was born again
by the Spirit. He was devout. That means he
believed. He served the Lord. His desire was to obey the Lord.
And all of it is summed up in that phrase, waiting for the
consolation of it. He was anticipating, he was expecting
excitedly for the Messiah to come. His only hope was in that
consolation. And then it says here, and that's
the comforter. It says here in verse 25, it
says, and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Now what he's talking
about, the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Trinity, is the
sovereign agent of the new birth for every believing sinner, for
every one of God's elect people, through the preaching of the
gospel. And the Holy Ghost indwells every one of God's people. and
we have the fruit of the spirit. But here he's talking about a
special, a special visitation and revelation of the Holy Ghost.
for this believer, this sinner saved by grace. And here's what
he says, look at verse 26, he describes it here, he says, and
it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not
see death before he had seen the Lord's cry. In other words,
the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon, you're not gonna die, you're
not gonna leave this world before you actually see the Messiah
in the flesh. God in human flesh, the Word
made flesh and dwelling among us, the God man. And don't you
know how that excited this man? He'd already seen the Lord's
Christ by the power of the Spirit in the new birth by faith. How
you know that preacher? He was waiting for the consolation
of Israel. He'd already come to faith in
Christ and repentance of dead works. He was already serving
the Lord. But the Holy Spirit comes and
says, Simeon, you're not gonna leave this life. You're not gonna
die physically. and leave this earth until you
see the Lord's Messiah, the Lord's Christ, the anointed one. What
a glorious privilege given to this man by the Lord. Isn't that
something? But you know what? Something
that's even more glorious than seeing the God-man physically,
is seeing Him spiritually by faith. That's a greater miracle.
You know, there were many who looked upon our Savior as He
walked along this earth, but still rejected Him. Still counted Him to be a criminal,
a God-hater, a blasphemer, and didn't see. In fact, over there
in verse 34, look across the page there, It says Simeon blessed
them, that is, he blessed Joseph and Mary. And it says, behold,
this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.
The fall of many in Israel means those who rejected the Messiah.
They saw him in the flesh, but they rejected him. The rising
of many in Israel, that's the ones who received him by the
power of the Spirit, born again by the Spirit, believers. So
there are many who saw him in the flesh, But Simeon, before
he saw him in the flesh, he saw him with the eye of faith. Do
you believe? Are you looking to Christ? That's the key. Now
look back over at verse 27. It says, and he came by the Spirit
in the temple. That's the Holy Spirit led Simeon
to the temple. And when the parents, Joseph
and Mary, brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the
custom of the law, what that's talking about, They were to bring
the child in and make an offering of purification. It tells you
back up there in verse 24 what that is, a pair of turtledoves
and two young pigeons, all according to the law of Moses. It was an
offering of purification for him and to present him to the
Lord, that is to dedicate him to the Lord. That's what the
parents were to do for these children. And it says in verse
28, then took he him up in his arms. He took that baby up in
his arms and blessed God, he praised God. And he said, now
listen to these dying words here. Verse 29, Lord, now let us thou
thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. I'm ready to die
now. He says, for mine eyes have seen
thy salvation. which thou hast prepared before
the face of all people. That's God's elect out of every
tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation. And he defines it here, verse
32, a light to lighten the Gentiles. You see, it's not to be confined
within any nation, any tribe, any ethnic group, any racial
group. You know who this salvation is
for? You know who it's for? Anybody
who wants it. The problem is, is that man by
nature doesn't want it. That's the problem. And that's
why God comes along, he gives us the want to. By conviction,
we'll talk about that. But he says, a light to lighten
the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. Mine eyes
have seen thy salvation. You see, Christ is God's salvation. You want salvation. I want salvation. What do we need to be saved from?
We need to be saved from our sins. That's what. Our problem is sin. Our sickness
is sin. Our death is sin. Sin brings
death. Condemnation. Eternal damnation. That's what we need to be saved
from. I want salvation. Well, Christ is God's salvation. Nowhere else He is the way, the
truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
by him. Now listen to him. The baptismal
pool is not salvation. Should believers be baptized?
Yes, but not for salvation because that's not salvation. Joining
a church is not salvation. Should believers join a church
where the gospel is preached, where the people of God meet
in fellowship and worship the Lord corporately? Yes. That's
a command. Forsake not the assembling of
yourselves together. To do so is a denial of Christ.
That's what the scripture says, Hebrews chapter 10, and we can
talk about other passages. But joining the church is not
salvation. Reformation. If you have bad
habits of life, do you have bad habits of life? We all have some
bad habits of life. If you have some immoral habits
of life, should you reform and change? Yes. Yes. In fact, it's a shame if you
mar your witness with bad habits of life, but that's not salvation. Christ is God's salvation. You understand what I'm saying?
That's what Simeon knew. He's the essence of salvation.
Christ in his person. He's God and man in one person. He's the God-man. There's no
salvation except in the God-man, in God in human flesh, the Word
made flesh dwelling amongst us. His work of redemption on the
cross is the ground of salvation. There's no forgiveness of sins
apart from his shed blood. to pay for all my sins. There's
no justification before God apart from his righteousness imputed,
charged, accounted to me. I have no other, he's the Lord
my righteousness. I have no other before God. All
salvation is in him, all salvation is by him, all salvation is conditioned
on him, all salvation is secure in him. We could go on and on,
couldn't we? Today, in religion, sinners are
called upon to walk an aisle, say a prayer, repeat after me,
send in your seed, put your hand on the television screen, Otherwise,
do something to obtain salvation. Moses declared this. You remember,
it reminds me when the children of Israel, when they were on
the shore of the Red Sea, and they didn't know how they were
going to get across, and they looked back and they saw Pharaoh's
army pursuing them, and their chariots, and their spears, and
their swords, and they knew they were dead. and they murmured
around and scurried around and cussed and discussed and all
of this and complained and Moses stood up on that rock there beside
the sea and he looked at them and he said, stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord. Stand still. It's kind of indicative
in a spiritual way Stop trying to work your way into God's favor. Stop trying to establish a righteousness
of your own. Stand still. Stop running in
your reformation trying to make yourself acceptable before God.
You can't do it. As good as you may think you've
made yourself, it will not be good enough. Have you seen God's
salvation? who is none other than Christ
the Lord. Have you seen God's forgiveness? Who is none other
than the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Have
you seen God's righteousness? Who's none other than Jehovah
Sid Canoe, Christ himself, who died on the cross and established
the justice of God for his people. Who enabled God to be both a
just God and a savior. Stand still. and see the salvation
of the Lord. Let me give you a few things
about his salvation. And you notice there in verse
30, he said, mine eyes have seen thy salvation. This is God's
salvation. What do you mean by that? It's
not of man, it's of God. Jonah said it, Jonah 2.9, salvation
is of the Lord. This salvation is of God. It's God's, it belongs to God. And he gives it to whom he will,
the scripture says. It belongs to him. It's of God
in its planning, in its purpose. It's of God in its execution
and its application. It's of God in its completion. Let me give you these things.
Turn to Ephesians chapter one. And ask yourself this question,
have I seen God's salvation? Well, here it is. I'm going to
show it to you from the scripture. And I want you to keep something
in mind as you go through these scriptures. The issue of whether
or not I've seen God's salvation, like Simeon, and I'll tell you
something now, if you've seen God's salvation, you're ready
to die. That doesn't mean you have a death wish. That doesn't
mean you want to go today. But it means whenever you're
called upon, whenever that time appointed of God, and it is appointed
unto man once to die, whenever that time comes, you'll be ready.
That's what it means. That's dying grace. And maybe
God will prepare you spiritually and mentally for that, I don't
know. But whatever it is, it may come to you so quick you
won't even know what hit you. You know that's happened, hadn't
it? But have I seen God's salvation?
Well, the issue of whether or not I've seen God's salvation
is not what I think, not what you think, not what I learned
here, there, or everywhere, but what does God's word say? Now,
that's the issue. And here's God's salvation. Number
one, God's salvation is a sovereign salvation. It's a sovereign salvation. Now, what do you mean by that?
Well, look at Ephesians chapter one in verse three. This is one
of the best descriptions of God's salvation you'll find in the
Bible in one chapter. It says, blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings. Now how many spiritual blessings
has he blessed us with? All. However many that is. One
hundred percent, in heavenly places, in Christ. You see, if I've seen God's salvation,
it doesn't mean I've seen all the blessings. I'm sure there
are blessings in that salvation that I have not yet seen. But
I'll tell you what, if I've seen God's salvation, I've seen Christ
in whom are all blessings, but look on verse four. According
as he, God, hath chosen us in Christ. That's electing grace. God's salvation is a sovereign
salvation. He chose a people before the
foundation of the world. That's what this book says. That
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. That's what He makes us in Christ.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to Himself. according to the good pleasure
of his will, you see, not according to the good pleasure of your
will or my will, but his will. Salvation is not based on my
will, it's based on God's will. He makes us willing in the day
of his power. Scripture says, he saith, verse
six, to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath
made us accepted in the beloved, that's Christ. That's what Simeon's
saying, I've seen that I'm accepted in Christ. Nowhere else. It's
not Christ and me, it's Christ. It's not Christ plus my faith,
it's Christ. It's not Christ plus my works,
it's Christ. And he says in verse seven, in
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins according to the riches of his grace, it's all of grace,
sovereign grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom
and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself
that in the dispensation or the segment of the fullness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which
are in heaven and which are on earth and even in him in whom
also we've obtained an inheritance being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will." Have you seen his salvation? Well, if you've
seen his, you'll know it's a sovereign salvation. That's right. That's
right. God has a people. He chose them
before the foundation of the world. He gave them to Christ. And he sent Christ into this
world to redeem them by his blood. That's what that says, that's
his death. To establish the only righteousness whereby he could
be just and justify them. And he's going to send his spirit.
Look down at verse 12. He says, that we should be to
the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ, in whom you
also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation. in whom also, after that you
believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. They were ruined by the fall,
redeemed by the blood, they'll be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
His salvation is a sovereign salvation. Turn to Romans chapter
three. Secondly, his salvation is a
just salvation. It's a righteous salvation. You
can mark it down. God will save no one except he
can be just and righteous in doing so. That's God's salvation. That's why the Bible uses the
word redemption. You know what redemption is.
Somebody has to pay the price. Justice has to be satisfied. The law must be satisfied. Righteousness
must be established. In Adam we owe a debt, a sin
debt we couldn't pay. The wages of sin is death. That's the penalty, you see.
And so it's called a redemption. Look at Romans chapter 3 and
verse 19. It's a just salvation. God must be just when he says.
He must be just when he justifies. He's not gonna judge according
to a lie or a pretense. He says in verse 19, now we know
that what thing soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world
may become guilty before God. Now what does that guilty mean?
It means we deserve condemnation and death. That's what it means. Why do we deserve it? Because
we're sinners. We fell in Adam, we're born dead in trespasses
and sin, and we're sinners from our youth. And that's what he's
saying. Therefore, look at verse 20,
therefore, now listen to this, by deeds of the law, by our attempts
to obey the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his
sight. There's no flesh that's going
to be declared not guilty or righteous in the sight of God,
for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Now, if God were to ever
give any one of us what we've earned or what we deserve, what
would it be? Death. Well, where's God's salvation
then? We'll look at verse 21. But now, the righteousness of
God without the law, that is, without our obedience to the
law, is manifested, it's appeared, it's been made known, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets. This is Old Testament gospel.
New Testament gospel, it's the same thing. Even the righteousness
of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ. You see, this
righteousness doesn't come by my faith in Him. It comes by
His faith to do what He was sent to do. My faith is in Him. And He is my righteousness. It
says, unto all that is preached unto all, and upon all them that
believe. It's imputed to all who believe.
It's charged to your account. for there's no difference for
all sin and come short of the glory of God being justified
freely that is without a cause unconditionally by his grace
through what? through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus through the payment of the price through justice
satisfied he says in verse 25 whom God set forth which literally
means foreordained to be a propitiation a satisfaction to law and justice. That's what a propitiation is.
It's a sin-bearing sacrifice that makes satisfaction through
faith in his blood, his death. And why? To declare his righteousness,
his justice. For the remission of sins that
are passed through the forbearance of God to declare, I say at this
time, his righteousness. If you've seen God's salvation,
you've seen his righteousness. If you see your righteousness,
you haven't seen his salvation. If you've seen his salvation,
you've seen you've got no righteousness but him. You see? And he says that he might be
just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. His
salvation is a just salvation. For God made him to be sinned,
Christ who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. That's just to satisfy. Thirdly,
his salvation is a gracious and a merciful salvation. Look over
Romans chapter 9. Now this verse here speaks both
of God's sovereignty in salvation and God's mercy in salvation. Look at Romans chapter 9. His salvation is a gracious and
a merciful salvation. He's talking about spiritual
Israel here. Who is spiritual Israel? Well,
it's God's elect people. You know who spiritual Israel
is made up of? You know who the citizens of spiritual Israel
are? Every sinner saved by the grace of God. Everyone who comes
to faith in Jesus Christ. And it says here in verse 10,
he's talking about Rebekah. You know Rebekah and Isaac. Isaac
was Abraham's son. He was the child of promise that
Abraham and Sarah had when they were of a ripe old age. Abraham
was like 100 and Sarah was in her 90s. God had promised them
a seed from their bodies, a baby, and Isaac was the child of promise.
It was through Isaac that the Messiah would come. And he says,
and not only this, but when Rebekah also conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac, look at verse 11 of Romans 9. For the children
being not yet born, now listen to what God's word says here.
The children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works. In other words, it wasn't based
on their works. It wasn't God looking down through a telescope
of time and foreseeing what Jacob would do and what Esau would
do. No, he says, but of him that calleth, verse 12, it was said
unto her, the elder shall serve the younger, as it is written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Jacob was a recipient
of mercy, God's sovereign love. Esau got what he deserved. He
says in verse 14, now the first question that pops in the mind
of the natural man, look here, verse 14, what shall we say then?
Is there unrighteousness with God? Is there injustice with
God? Is God not being fair? And he
says, God forbid, look at verse 15 of Romans 9. For he saith
to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. God says
I'll have mercy, I'll have grace upon whom I will. God is the
one. Now, here's where our minds ought
to go here on this thing. Instead of taking our side with
the world against God and saying, well, God, you're unfair, let's
focus on this fact here. God Almighty, the judge of all
the earth who shall always do right. You know what he says
here? He says, I will have mercy. You'll have mercy? He said, I
will have compassion. Well, look at what he says in
verse 16. So then, now here's the conclusion. It is not of
him that willeth. It's not based on the will of
men. Man left to his own will will not receive Christ. It's not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth. Running there indicates man's
pursuits and hard work and efforts to save himself. but of God that
showeth mercy. You see, His salvation is a gracious
salvation. It's a merciful salvation. Ephesians
2 and verse 8, For by grace are you saved through faith, that
not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. Let me tell you something. If
salvation were conditioned on our wills or our works, none
of us would be saved. That's right. That's what this
book teaches. None of us would be saved. But
the fact that God will have mercy, that he will be gracious to any
sinner, ought to inspire every one of us to seek the Lord. His
salvation is a gracious salvation. God be merciful to me, the sinner. That's what that old publican
prayed. Remember that old leper? who came to him and said, Lord,
if thou will, you can make me clean. I know you have the ability. If you're willing, you can make
me clean. How about that? You know what? He made him clean
according to his will. God is merciful. God is gracious. God, give me what I don't deserve. Give me Christ. Lord, don't give
me what I do deserve. Have mercy upon me. Turn to Matthew
chapter one. Here's the fourth thing. Matthew
chapter one. His salvation is a powerful salvation. It's a powerful. If you've seen
his salvation, you've seen the power of it. It's effectual. It's not an attempt to save anybody. His salvation is. It is the salvation
of all for whom Christ died. It's a powerful salvation. Look
at Matthew chapter one. You can see it first because
of who Christ is. And his name identifies him,
tells us who he is. Look at Matthew one and verse
21. This is the angel speaking to Joseph. And he tells Joseph
what the name of the Christ child is going to be. He didn't let
Joseph name him or Mary. You know why? Because only the
father can name his son. And Joseph wasn't his father.
Physically. He's the son of God. Now who's
going to name him? God's going to name him. And it says in verse
21, And she shall bring forth a son, thou shalt call his name
Jesus. What does that name Jesus mean?
It means Savior, but it means more than that. It means Jehovah. our Savior. Or Jehovah saves
God, our Savior. That's who He is. For He shall
save His people from their sin. He's not going to try or attempt.
He shall do it. And then down there in verse
23, If you're questioning, well, is he able? Well, look at verse
23. Behold, a virgin shall be with
child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Who is the Savior? Who is God's salvation? He's
Jesus, Jehovah says. He's God, our Savior. He's the
God-man. That's why Paul wrote, he is
able to save to the uttermost them that come unto the Father
by him. That's why he wrote, for I'm persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that
day. What have I committed to him? My whole eternal salvation. That's what I've committed to
him. I've not committed any of that to myself. Because I'll
fail. I already have failed. Committed
all to him. That's what Simeon's saying.
Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. He said this, he said in John
6 and verse 37, here's the effectual power of his salvation. John
6, 37. He said, all that the father
giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. He said, this is the will of
him that sent me that of all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing but raise it up again at the last day. That's
powerful. In the hands of the Holy Spirit,
it's powerful because of what Christ accomplished on Calvary.
He said in John chapter 12, He said, I, if I be lifted up on
the cross, will draw all unto me. His death is the life of
His people. His death is that powerful. He
died, He was buried, He arose again the third day. And He sends
forth His Spirit to sovereignly bring His people powerfully to
Himself. Look at John chapter one. Now you remember over there in
Luke chapter two it talked about he shall be set for the fall
and the rising of many people in Israel. Well look at John
chapter one. Now listen to this. Remember
the falling of many in Israel, that's the ones who reject him,
who receive him not. That's the natural man. That's
man left to himself. The rising of many people, that's
those who receive Him, who are born again by the Spirit. Look
at John chapter 1 and verse 11. He came unto His own, and His
own received Him not. That's His own nation. But as
many as received Him, to them gave He power. Now that word
power there is not ability. That word power there is right
or privilege. In other words, to as many as
received Christ, to them gave He the privilege or the right
to become or to be called the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name. Now look at verse 13, which were
born, not of blood, it's not, it doesn't come down through
the physical generation, pedigree, heritage, nor of the will of
the flesh, it's not by the will of man, nor the will of man,
it's not by the will of other men, but of God. When God calls
His people into His family by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He does it powerfully. And they come. His salvation
is a powerful salvation. Then lastly, turn to Philippians
1. His salvation is a complete salvation. It's a complete salvation. I
mean, it never stops. It's never hindered. It doesn't
end. It's not saved today, lost tomorrow. Not his salvation now. Now there's
a lot of people who claim to be Christian and say you can
be saved one day and then lost the next day. That's not his
salvation. That's man's salvation. That's
natural man, you see. If I can be saved by my believing
or by my works, then I can be lost by my unbelief and my not
working. That's salvation by works. But
look here in verse six of Philippians one, he says, being confident
of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you. Now what is that good work in
you? That's the new birth. That's being born again of the
spirit. That's Christ in you. Who begun that work? Did you
begin it? Well I'm gonna tell you something,
if you begun it, It's gonna fail. If I begun it, it's gonna fail.
Who begun it? God did. He who begun that good
work in you will perform it. That means complete it, finish
it, perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. It won't stop. He who's able to keep you and
to present you faultless before the throne Have I seen, that's
God's salvation. That's what Simeon saw here.
Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Have I seen God's salvation? Have I seen Christ? Have you
seen Christ? That's the issue at death. You
may think about all kinds of other things. People do. They may look back on a profession
they made as a child or something they've done. That's not salvation. Christ and Him crucified and
risen again. That's what Simeon, that's what
David saw. This is all, He is all my salvation
and all my desire. Okay.