Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Good morning. Welcome to the broadcast this
morning. I want to read from 1 John chapter 5. Just a couple
verses to read this morning for my text. 1 John chapter 5, verses
9 and 10. 1 John 5, 9 and 10, where the
apostle John writes these words. If we receive the witness of
men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God
which he hath testified of his son. He that believeth on the
Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not
God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that
God gave the Son. My title this morning is a question. It's something I want to try
to emphasize, keep asking throughout this message. Do I believe God's
record of his son? And that's what we read here,
right? He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in
himself. He that believeth not God hath made him a liar. Here's
why, because, you see it? Because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his son. You see, I get, why is it? Why is it that men and women,
especially in our day to day, Almost a lot of us, most everyone
probably has one of these, what they call a smartphone or something
along that line. On this thing is called a GPS,
a map, and you can put in addresses and that thing will guide you
right to a destination. It will tell you which turns
to take, to turn right, to turn left, turn in a half a mile. Why is it that men and women
will trust their lives to a GPS but they will not trust their
souls to the mercy of God in Christ. Why is that? Why is that
we will put more credence to something on this thing than
we will to the word of God? Why is that so? The reason is
because by birth, and don't you get angry with me, this is the
truth of God. The reason is because by birth, by nature, and by practice,
we trust ourselves. rather than God. Let's just put
it like it is. We trust ourselves rather than
God. This is why we won't believe.
We'll put our hands in our very lives in a machine like that,
telling us where to go, where not to go, which way to turn,
how far to drive, how fast to drive, but we will not believe
the record God gave the Son. Why? Because we distrust ourselves.
rather than trusting God, this is why. You know, it's by birth,
it's by nature, it's by practice, we fell in Adam in the garden.
We're sinners by nature. that sinnerhood, that state of
being of sin. We're so trusting and proud of
ourselves, but we dare not trust the living God. You see, the
great sin in our text, you see it? The great sin in our text
is he that believeth not God, hath made God a liar. Do you
see that? John's strong here. I know, I
realize this language is strong. If we receive the witness of
men, and we do, we receive the witness of men, the witness of
God is greater. For this is the witness of God
which he testified of his son. He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God hath
made him a liar. Why? Why? Because he believeth
not the record God gave of his son. That's why. You see, unbelief,
to not believe, God's record of his dear son. And remember,
that's the question. Do I believe? Do I believe the
record of God's son? Do you believe the record God
gave of his son? To not believe the record of
God's dear son is not just a lack of belief. It's an insult to
God. Unbelief is not a neutral state.
It's saying God's a liar. Now this is what God says about
it. Somebody says, well, I don't like that. I don't believe that.
Well, I have nothing for you. But if you realize, yes, that
rebellion in there, I have confidence in myself. I have confidence
in some GPS on some smartphone, but I don't truly believe the
record God gave of his son. Think of that. Do we shudder
within our souls at such rebellion? Is there any shame? Is there
any guilt? I thank God by his grace and
mercy that he pours that upon some folk. He causes them to
see that their unbelief is not some neutral negative state.
We're not just in the middle. We're not just at zero. We're
in the red, as we say. We're in the negative because
to not believe. The record God gave of his son
is to call God a liar. Unbelief is saying, God, you're
a liar. What shudders within my soul
and yet I am guilty of that. And you are guilty of that. I
have five things I want to give you from the word of God. And
there's much more than this. I do understand that, believe
you me. But I want to give you five things, five things concerning
the record God gave of his son. And I asked myself, I asked you,
do I believe God's record of his son? First of all, here's
the first thing, life. When I say life, I mean true
life, spiritual life, eternal life, not just physical life. That is true as well. As Paul told some folks one time,
he said, in him, that's in God, in his son, in Jesus Christ,
we live and move and have our being, but I'm talking about
a life that's much more profound than just physical life, life. true life, spiritual life, eternal
life is in Christ, and it is a gift from Christ. Look at same
writer, 1 John chapter five, look at what it goes on to say,
what John says, verse 11. John says this, and this is the
record. Remember, do you believe the
record of God's son? If you don't believe the record of God's son,
you're saying, God, you're a liar. Look at what John says, and this
is the record. that God hath given to us eternal life, not
offered, not available, given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He that hath the Son. It's that
simple. It's that simple, and yet it's
that profound. He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. It boils down to, do you have
Christ? Do you believe the record God
gave the Son? If you don't, you're not just
at neutral. No, no, you're not just at neutral. You're calling God a liar. This
is the record that God has given to us eternal life, and this
life is at his Son. He that hath the Son hath life,
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things
have I written unto you that believe. This is even valid for
believers. This is just not for when you're first saved. This
is for the lifetime. for the lifetime. These things
have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son
of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Do you see it? So that's the record God gave
His Son. Life is in His Son only. If you
have Christ, you have life. If you don't have Christ, you
don't have life. Do you believe the record God gave His Son?
Here's the second thing. Christ's cross work. Do you hear
what I said? Christ's cross work. That work
he did on Calvary. Let me turn to Romans chapter
five. I wanna read this to you and
listen to what the word of God says in Romans chapter five. Romans chapter five in verses
six through 11. For when we were yet without
strength, none, without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. Do you see that? For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good
man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So, so far we see that Christ died for who? Those without strength.
without strength, those who were ungodly, those who were sinners.
Verse nine, much more then, being now justified by his blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, that is, let me
explain, for if, when we were enemies, do you see it? When
we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son,
much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And
not only that, he said, and not only so, but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we've now received the
reconciliation or the atonement as the KJV says. Do you believe
the record God gave his son? Again, I say, it's that simple
and yet it's that profound. Do you believe the record? Do
you believe that when Christ died, he reconciled those he
died for? Do you believe that record? Do
I believe that record? Do I believe that he died to
reconcile sinners, ungodly people? Strengthless people, powerless,
none whatsoever. Do I believe the record God gave
this son? So again, remember, life, true
life, spiritual life, eternal life is in Christ Jesus and it's
a gift from God. The second thing, Christ's cross
work, his suffering unto blood and death. In that work, he reconciled
to God those for whom he died. Do you believe the record? And
you say, well, I don't believe that way. Well, you've got to
believe the record. If you believe the record God
gave his son, you have the son and you have life. But if you
don't, if you believe not the record God gave of his son, you're
saying, God, you're a liar. Oh, but here's another thing. The
record God gave his son, I'm gonna turn, and if you follow
along, turn to Luke chapter 15, and I'll read from Luke chapter
15 here in just a moment. Now remember, life. True life,
spiritual life, eternal life is in Christ, and it's in Christ
only. It's a gift from God. Christ's
cross work, his suffering under blood and death, in that work,
he reconciled God to God, those for whom he died. Do you believe
the record God gave his son? But here's a third thought. Remember,
turn to Luke chapter 15 if you're following along. Christ, the
Lord Jesus Christ, God manifests in the flesh. God's blessed dear
son. God has some sheep. He has some
sheep. And he will seek them out and
bring them to himself. Do you hear that? This is the
record God gave the son. How can I say that? Look at Luke
chapter 15. These are the words of Christ
himself. And listen to what he says. I will give you the first
part of a three-part parable, you might say. There are three
parables in Luke chapter 15. They all deal with the same subject.
That subject is this. Christ has some sheep and he
will seek them out and he'll bring them to himself. Look at
it, Luke 15. Then drew near unto him all the
publicans and sinners. Do you see that? Then drew near
unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. If he had something to say, they
wanted to listen, you see it? And the Pharisees and the scribes
murmured. That's not even like a word,
it's a sound. They murmured, they grumbled
under their breath. The Pharisees and the scribes
murmured saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.
This sinner thanks God that's true. This ungodly person thanks
God that's true. Do you? Do you believe the record
God gave his son? Look at it. Pharisees and the
scribes murmured, saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth
with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, remember,
we're just looking at the first part for the sake of time. What
man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go
after that which is lost until he find it? Now, I'm not going
to deal with the ninety and nine. Our Lord goes on. Read all three
parts of this parable and you'll have some understanding of it.
But look what's, the key here is the one lost sheep. The one
lost sheep. Just one lost sheep, look at
it. And when he hath found it, do you see it? The owner of the
sheep, the shepherd. And when he hath found it, he
layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth
together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with
me, for I, do you see that? For I have found my sheep which
was lost. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? Do you believe that God the Father
gave to the son some people he calls him his sheep? And just
when one of them, just one of them is lost, just one of them
is lost, he will go out and do all the work. He'll go out and
seek till he finds it. And then he don't just force
it, force it home, force it home, rush it home. He lays it on his
shoulders. He carries it all the way home
and then makes this declaration, rejoice with me for I have found
my sheep which was lost. And then Christ continues, I
say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth more than over 90 and nine just persons which
need no repentance. Oh, this sinner, thanks God for
that. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? It's that simple. And yet it's that profound. Now
there's three things. This is three parts of the record
God gave his son. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? Remember, true life comes from
Christ alone. If you have Christ, you have
life. If you don't have Christ, you don't have life. Secondly,
Jesus Christ, in his cross work, reconciled those for whom he
died. That's just what it said. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? Remember, Christ has some sheep, and he will seek
them out, and he'll bring them to himself. He stated in John
chapter 10, verse 16, and other sheep I have, which are not of
this fold, them also I must bring. I must bring, and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd. But here's a fourth thought.
Here's a fourth thought. And turn, if you're following
along, turn to Philippians. Philippians chapter one. Now
think about this. Christ will finish to fruition,
that's to the end. He'll do everything necessary
to bring what he starts all the way to the end. Christ will finish
to fruition the work that he starts for those he's brought
to himself, for those sheep. Remember, he brings them, what
he said, all the way home. It says rejoice with me for I
found, I found him and he brought him all the way home. Listen
to what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. In Philippians chapter
one, I'll begin in just in verse three. I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you
all making requests with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel
from the first day until now, do you see it? From the first
time you ever heard it and you heard it by the power of the
spirit of God Almighty, he gave you, he breathed that spiritual
life through and by Jesus Christ and you heard that gospel. The
church touched your eyes and your ears and your heart. It touched you at the very core
of your being. And you came to him, you believed
on him, you rest in him, and you still do. But look at what
it says, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first
day until now. Being confident, now look at
it, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you, not just to you, Oh, no, it's much more. I know religion talks about being
under conviction and God trying to do a work to you. Now, I'm talking about a work
in you, a work in you. being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ, even as it is meet, that it is
proper for me to think this of you all, because I have you in
my heart, insomuch as both in my bonds and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, ye are all partakers of my grace. So that is the same grace of
God that I partook of. Friends, I'm not just talking
about once saved, always saved, as is generally talked about
by some. I'm not talking about walking
down some aisle and praying some prayer at some so-called altar
and making the decision and you're all fixed up no matter what.
I'm talking about God Almighty starting and continuing a work
inside your soul. Talk about God doing a work. I'm not talking about God's done
all he can do and now it's up to you. I'm not talking about
God'll do his part if you'll do your part. I'm talking about
God doing his part and that's the only part that matters. You
see, if God saves a man or a woman, they'll always be saved. If they've
made their own decision, their own profession, their own little
idea of belief, yeah, they may well fall away, they may well
perish. But what God begins in a man or a woman, he will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? Let me put it this way. Do you believe salvation is a
work of you and God, or just a work of God? That's the record
God gave his son. This is the record that he has
given to us, given, given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his son. The one who has the son has life. The one who does not have the
son does not have life. The one who does not believe
the record God gave of his son calls God a liar. So we've seen
these four things so far. This is the record God gave of
his son, as I told you. I'm trying to emphasize this. Or if I could just overemphasize
it and God be pleased to open an eye. to open ear, to open
heart. This is the record God gave his
son. True life, spiritual life, eternal life is in Christ. You
have him, you have eternal life. You don't have him, you don't
have eternal life. Christ's cross work, his suffering under blood
and death, in that work he reconciled to God those he died for. That's
the record God gave his son. Christ has some sheep, and he'll
seek them out. and he'll find them and he'll
bring them all the way home rejoicing. Do you believe the record God
gave of his son? And Christ will finish to fruition
the work he starts for those he has brought to himself. Do
you believe the record God gave of his son? Now here's one more.
And I turn, if you're following along, turn to Matthew chapter
11. This one is astounding. I'm not trying to say the others
are not astounding, but this is just astounding. Now think
about this, Matthew chapter 11, I'll read the verses here in
just a moment. Christ, think about this now, believed the
record God gave his son. If you don't believe the record
God gave his son, you're calling God a liar. That is dangerous
ground to stand on, dangerous ground. Think of this, Christ,
the Lord Jesus Christ himself, Christ thanked God the Father,
for God's sovereign right. Now listen to me. I said Christ
thanked God the Father for God's sovereign right to do with men
and women as God is pleased to do with them. Do you believe
the record God gave his son? Here it is. Here's the record.
Matthew chapter 11. And I'll begin in verse 20. Then
began he. Now look at the context. You'll
see this is Jesus Christ speaking. This is not my opinion or someone
else's opinion. This is Jesus Christ himself.
Then began he to upbraid, that's to scold, to rebuke. Then began
he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were
done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe
unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, now
look at it. For if the mighty works which were done in you
had been done in Tyre and Sidon," that was two cities long, long
ago, in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago
in sackcloth and ashes, you see it? But it's more than that,
look. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. That is for Chorazin
and Bethsaida. Do you see it? But I say unto
you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day
of judgment than for you. And as I said, remember, do you
believe the record God gave his son? Christ said if Tyre and
Sidon had had the mighty works done in them that were done in
you, they would have repented. And yet God did not send them
that mighty works, did he? You say, well, that's your opinion
on it. No, no, wait a minute, we're not done yet. But I say
unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day
of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which are
exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell. Now look
at this. For if the mighty works which
had been done in thee had been done in Sodom, do you see it? Sodom, it would have remained
until this day. Do you see that? And yet, Sodom did not get those
mighty works that Corazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had got, did they?
But it said it would have remained until this day. You say, but
is this right, preacher? Yeah, it's right, look at it,
look at it. At that time, you see verse 25
if you follow along? At that time, right in connection
with what he's just said, That here's a couple cities that have
not repented and seen Christ's mighty works, but there's a couple
more that God wiped them off the face of the earth. He didn't
even send them. He said they would have repented
had they had those mighty works. And here's Sodom. These homosexuals,
this city full of homosexuals. And it would have remained until
this day, but God wiped it out with fire, bread, and stone.
Look at that time. Do you see it? Directly connected. This is not something dissected
from or something distant from or something different from.
It's the same prayer, the same thing, the same truth, the same
record. The same record God gave this
son at that time. Jesus answered and said, I thank
thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast
hid these things from the wise and the prudent and has revealed
them unto babes. Do you remember what I said?
Christ thanked God the Father for God's sovereign right to
do with men and women as God is pleased. That's the record
God gave his son. And why? Even so, father, listen,
for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered
unto me of my father, and no man knoweth the son but the father,
neither knoweth any man the father save the son, and he to whomsoever
the son will reveal him. Do you believe the record God
gave the son? And now we see, come unto me. All ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest
unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden
is light. Do I believe the record God gave
the Son? Do you believe the record God
gave the Son? Remember, it's all bound up in
the Son. in the son's life. You have the
son, you have life. You don't have the son, you don't
have life. Christ's cross work, according to God's record, in
his cross work, in his blood and death and suffering, he reconciled
those he died for. Christ has some sheep and he
will seek them out and bring them to himself. That's the record
God gave his son. And Christ will finish to fruition
the work he starts for those he's brought to himself. That's
the record God gave of his son. And Christ thanks God the Father.
He gave thanks to God the Father for God's sovereign right to
do with men and women as he pleased. Do you believe the record God
gave his son? This is the record God gave His
Son. By His grace, by His mercy, I believe it. I ask you, do you
believe it?