Okay, if you wish to follow along,
turn to Galatians chapter two. Galatians chapter two. I want
to read just one verse as my text this morning. This is the
last verse of chapter two, but I will probably try to give a
little context here in a moment, but Paul wrote these astounding
words. I do not frustrate the grace
of God, for if righteousness come by the law, And then think
of this phrase, then Christ is dead in vain. What a horrendous thought to
even consider, isn't it? A horrendous thought. But think
of it, the two parts of this thought are both equally horrendous. To think that righteousness comes
by the law is as horrendous For you are actually saying Christ
died for nothing. And I want to say that righteousness
never comes by the law. Before conversion, during conversion,
or after conversion, which is clearly, as God willing we will
see later, Paul actually goes on to in what we look at as chapter
three, the first few verses. So again, what a horrendous thought
to any spirit-born, gospel-converted believer. And I'm gonna ask it
as a question, and I pondered, I wrote it down first, then I
erased it, then I wrote it down again, and I pondered on it,
and I thought, should I even say it that way? But I will,
I'm gonna ask it as a question. Is Christ's death in vain? Now
I don't mean to, I'm not even necessarily going to deal with
the context in detail because we've dealt with this over and
over the past several Sundays that we've been able to be here.
For instance, for if I build again the things which I destroyed,
he's talking about the law. but he's talking specifically
about righteousness by the law. Paul's not talking about tearing
down the law, making the law bad, but men in their unregeneracy
tell lies about the law, and they convince themselves that
they can keep the law. But again, for if I build again
the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
for I through the law am dead to the law that I might live
unto God. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live,
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And again, as I said last
week, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by
the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for
me. My motivation is not It's not even looking to Him, though
look to Him we do. My motivation is Him. He's the one that moves me to
live this life I now live. In the life which I now live
in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me. And I can just picture in my
mind's eye, the Spirit just immediately moving him to say, ah, here it
is. I do not frustrate the grace
of God. For if righteousness come by
the law, then Christ died for nothing. Now, I realize, that
while that may seem a horrendous thought to us, those of us who
believe, those of us who've been called by his grace, it really,
the very thought, even as a question, is Christ's death in vain? That
really isn't that horrendous to this world. Because they actually
believe to the greater degree his death was in vain. They believe
he died equally for everyone. And yet some of them will even
admit that the greatest majority of people for whom Christ died
will still perish under the wrath of God. Some preachers have even
said it, that Christ died for nothing if you don't accept him. But that's not what I mean to
deal with this morning. You see, the unregenerate world
has no real concern and goes about consumed with their lusts,
whether it's immoral lusts or religious, self-righteous lusts. The believer shudders to even
say the words, put it in a question. Is Christ's death in vain? You
see, Paul's statement here is premise, not supposition. He's not saying, well, if righteousness
does come, he's already proved it does not come. Righteousness
does not come by the law. So he's talking again here about
premise, not supposition. Paul is declaring Christ's death
to be efficacious. And people like me, and Paul,
Joe, and many other preachers say that. Christ's death was
efficacious. And here Paul even refuses to
entertain the idea of a God-accepted righteousness by legal deeds,
right? I do not frustrate the grace of God. And he didn't say
just Christ did not die in vain. He said if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. He's not denying Christ's
death. He's just saying Christ's death
meant nothing. If righteousness at any time
could come by the law, then God the Father was a monster for
having his son go through what he went through. Do you understand
that? You see, if righteousness were
by the law, then the death of Christ, the death of the Messiah
was an empty act. That's what Paul is saying here.
That's the premise, not a supposition. Now let me give you three things
and then I'll get into the message itself. One, And I'm not gonna
read all the, well, I'll read some of them, I won't read all
of them, but let me give you three things. One, concerning the Messiah,
concerning the Messiah, and you know this, you've read it before,
you're aware of it, at least everyone here, maybe someone
who hears this later may not, but concerning the Messiah, here's
the truth declared. He would crush Satan's head,
Genesis chapter three, verse 15. The KJV puts it bruise, and
it's a good word, but it's a real bruise, not a superficial bruise.
It could be translated to crush. The Messiah would crush Satan's
head, so then look at Hebrews chapter two, and look at what
it says. Now the question is, are we going
to believe the words that this book says or not? Not do we read
them and then try to make them fit our denominational beliefs,
whatever. Look at what the book says about
the Messiah. Hebrews 10, or I'm sorry, two,
look at starting in verse 10. For it became him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. for both he that sanctifies and
they who are sanctified are all of one. So here's what this says. If he sanctified you, you're
one with him by his sanctifying act. That's what that says, right? You see, it's not, well, he died
to sanctify everybody and then those who believe are then sanctified.
That's not what it says. It says, for both he that sanctifies
and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he's
not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name
unto my brethren in the midst of the church. Will I sing praise
unto thee? And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold I in the children
which God hath given me. But then look at it, for as much
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same. Now look at it, here it is. Here's
what the book says. That through death, he might
destroy him. That means to crush, to render
useless. Do you see it? He might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is the devil. Did he or
did he not? Isn't it? Did he or did he not? Look, and deliver them, who through
fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
And basically the rest of that chapter, you might say, goes
on to say, prove that those for whom Christ died will be saved. Here's the second thought about
the Messiah. Well, let me give you another one. I'm sorry, this
first thought. He would crush Satan's head. Look to, look at
1 John chapter three. I do want to, I want to read
this one. First John chapter three, verse eight. First John
three, verse eight. He that committeth sin is of
the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. Now then
look at this next phrase. For this purpose, the Son of
God was manifested that he might destroy, do you see it? The works
of the devil. Now somebody says, I see the
devil acting out here everywhere. No, you do not. No, you do not. The devil is not omniscient,
omnipresent, or omnipowerful. What you see is men acting out
this way and men want to say the devil made me do it. It ain't
the devil, it's me, it's me. But for this purpose, do you
see it? For this purpose was the Son
of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.
The question again is did he do it or not? Was his death in
vain, Ellen, or was it efficacious? Here's another thought, here's
the second thing. Messiah would accomplish exactly what God purposed
for him to accomplish, and you can read that, I'm not going
to read that one, but you can read that in Isaiah 42, verses
one through nine, and in that passage, our brother Isaiah says
concerning the Messiah, he shall not fail nor be discouraged. Isaiah 46, verses eight through
13, God makes it clear. I will bring salvation to Zion
for Israel, my glory. And then look at John chapter
10, verse 16. And I know that's, as soon as
I mention it, most of you probably already know what it is. But
remember what our Lord said in John chapter 10, verse 16? And
other sheep I have, do you see it? Which are not of this fold,
Now, notice he already has it. He declares himself that he possesses
them, right? And other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold, them also I must bring. Do you see it? Them I must, them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd. Did he do it or did he not? That's the whole question, is
it not? Here's the third thought. Messiah came specifically to
do God's will. Turn to this one, Psalm chapter
40. The 40th Psalm. I said chapters,
not really chapters. Remember, the Psalms is the only
book in the Bible that was actually already divided up into what
we might call chapters. They're different songs, that's
what they are, you know that. Look at Psalm chapter 40. And
I wanna read just a few verses here. Psalm chapter 40 verse
five. Many, O Lord my God, are thy
wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which
are to usward. They cannot be reckoned up in
order unto thee. If I would declare and speak
of them, they are more than be numbered. This is why I did hear
one preacher one time say that song that some people sing, count
your many blessings, name them one by one. You can't do it. That's what the psalmist had
just said. You can't count them. You can't, but look. Sacrifice
and offering thou didst not desire. Does that sound familiar? Hebrews
chapter 10. Sacrifice and offering thou didst
not desire. Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt
offering and sin offering thou hast not required. What? I thought the whole of the law
demanded them. The law does. But God's righteousness
and holiness won't have it. The gallons, how do I put it?
The gallons and gallons and gallons of blood that was shed never
took away not one sin of those animals, those sacrifices. Sacrifice
an offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt
offerings and sin offering hast thou not required Then said I
lo we know who this is. Don't this is Christ Then said
I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written to me
Paul how many times did Isaiah speak of Christ just in them
first few chapters and of Christ the Messiah, just in the first
few chapters. And then men talk about, well,
now we're in the day of grace. Isaiah was under the day of grace
as well. But look, I delight to do thy
will, O my God, yea, thy law is where? Within my heart. Here's the question. Did he do
God's will or not? That's quite simple, is it not?
But then, of course, when you go and read Hebrews chapter 10,
verses one through 14, you find out this. Those he died for,
he sanctified them when he died for them. That's what it says.
Not he died to make it possible for someone or anyone or everyone. It doesn't say none of that.
It's not about how many did he die for. It says that those he
died for, he sanctified them when he died for them. And those
that he sanctified, in his death he also perfected them. This is what the book says. So
let me give you this. Now that's the three things I
wanted to give you. Our brother Paul is clear. I do not frustrate. That is, I do not set aside.
I do not neutralize, or even a stronger word, it can be translated
according to Strong's, I do not violate. I do not violate the
grace of God. For if righteousness come by
the law, then Christ is dead without a cause. He is dead for
nothing. He is dead and it accomplished
nothing if righteousness come by the law. Now listen to me,
I want to give you these four things. This is my message. But
before I give you those four things, I want you to think about
this. It's not about Christ dying just
for the elect. Do you hear me? It's not about
Christ dying just for the elect. I believe and am assured that
Christ died just for the elect. But you can believe that and
perish forever. You can believe that Christ died
just for the elect and yet truly not believe what Christ accomplished
when he died on that tree. There are thousands of Calvinistic
people that still want to run to the law before, during, or
after their salvation. And they're Calvinist. It's not
about Christ dying just for the elect. Now listen, now I know
you're, if you're like me, if you're as jaundiced as me, you
think, where in the world's he going with this one? Think about
it. It's not about Christ dying just
for the elect. That's not the question. Well,
I believe Christ died for the elect. Woo, I'm going to heaven
because of that. Do you understand what I'm saying?
That's not it. That's not it. according to this
book, is what did Christ accomplish when he died? If God opens your
eyes to see what the book says about what he actually accomplished
when he died, then God's gonna hem you in to believe, I can't
believe nothing else but certain things. Do you get what I'm saying? It's not about believing the
doctrine or the phrase, Christ died just for the elect. That
don't cut it. Christ said, I lay down my life
for who? The sheep. Christ died for who? The ungodly, right? But that in and of itself is
not enough. Now let me, think about it. Our
conclusion as to for whom Christ died, for whom did Christ die,
is dictated by the scripture's declaration of what he actually
accomplished when he died on the cross. Number one. Romans chapter five, and I know
these are familiar, but God's gospel has never changed, and
therefore, Tommy, there's no need for me, I just keep saying
the same thing over and over and over and over. Same thing,
I don't have to find better words, I don't have to find more important
words, I don't have to find more gripping words, just preach,
thus saith the Lord. What does this book say? And
you know what'll happen? One of these days that'll usher
over someone and God'll open an eye and a heart and an ear
and they'll say, I get it. I get it. Now look at Romans
chapter five, verse 10. And before I read the verse,
let me make this statement. When Christ died, he reconciled
those he died for when he died. Now does the book say that? Look
at Romans 5 verse 10. For if, so he's explaining, so
this is going to explain verses eight and nine. For if, when
we were, what? Enemy, see I've often, there's
nothing wrong with it. Christ died for believers. That's
certainly true, right? Christ died only for believers.
but that's not it. You still are not declaring what
did Christ accomplish when he died for believers. Do you see
what I'm getting at? Look, for if when we were enemies,
not believers, but when we were enemies, clearly these people
here were believers now, but at one time they were not. For
if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his son, what does that say? That even if you're an enemy,
if he died for you, he reconciled you to God when he died for you. Yes or no? That's what it says,
doesn't it? You see it? It's right there
in language and yet, The unregenerate mind says, okay, but what that
really means is he died for everybody, and reconciliation's possible,
and then if you'll cease being the enemy and start being a believer,
then it'll be a benefit. No, that's not what it says.
If that were the truth, why didn't God just tell us the truth? He
has. But the unregenerate mind won't
have it. Do you see it? For if, 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. Now you, you
can't get it any plainer than that. Now, Kenya, I don't care,
I might use bigger words, but many of us here wouldn't probably,
I probably wouldn't understand the word. Tommy, I'd have to
look what the word, look up what the word meant before I could
even use it myself. This is quite clear. Whoever
Christ died for, and we know they were enemies when he died
for them, right? Whoever they were, he reconciled each and
every one of them. And each and every one of them
that he reconciled when he died shall be saved because he's still
alive. He raised from the dead. He's
seated at the right hand of God the Father. Do you see that?
Look at Colossians chapter one. We're talking about what does
the book say, not what do men say about the book. Is that a
valid? This is not about what men say
about the book, but what does the book itself say? Look at
Colossians chapter one, just a few verses. Verse 20, now I
know this is familiar, but here's the whole thing. The familiarity,
I can't even say that this morning, of that blesses those who already
believe. It blesses us. Just hearing that,
it didn't just bless me when I was first converted, it is
blessing me today, 40 years after I was converted. It gives me
hope now today, okay? But look at what it says. And
you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, do you see that? Our actions were at enmity against
God. Do you see that? But look at
it. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, but before, where does that wicked work start? Where does it start? It's not
somebody bothering me from out here. It starts right in here. Inside, right? Inside. Enemies
in your mind by wicked work, look at it, yet now hath he reconciled. Okay, that's clear enough, right?
Here's the same thing Paul was saying to the Roman believers
as he's saying to the Colossian believers with just a little
bit different language, right? And you that were sometime alienated
and the enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath
he reconciled. And notice there's not even a
period on that verse. Now, I know it might be capitalized,
the end might be capitalized in verse 22, but that's just
the way the translator, this is the same sentence, the same
thought. How did he reconcile us? In the
body of his flesh through death. You see that? in the body of
his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and
unreprovable in his sight. Do you see it? And somebody says,
but it says then if you continue in the faith. So that lets me
know this. If you don't believe, you got
no right to think Christ died for you. Because you gotta continue
in it for it to be a reality for you. Right? See, that don't
scare me at all. But it gives me hope. You know
why? Because I believe, how? By the faith of the Son of God
who loved me and gave himself for me. I believe him because
of him. He's the one that wrought it
in me. Do you see it? Okay. So again, when Christ died,
he reconciled those he died for when he died. Here's the second
thought, turn to Ephesians two. If you're in Colossians, you
should be fairly close to Ephesians. Ephesians chapter two. When Christ, now we're not talking
about, this is not, well, these are the elect. I understand that,
but that's not the point. It's not believing Christ died
just for the elect, it's conversion. It's believing that Christ did
what he did when he died on that tree that's conversion. It's
believing the record God gave of his son. And nowhere does
he say, I died only for the elect. If he said that, Tommy, I could
believe that and have peace in that itself. But never does he
say that. But this is what it does say
about him. Look at it. Ephesians chapter two, verse 13, but now, In Christ Jesus, ye who were
sometimes far off are made nigh, how? By the blood of Christ. Now, now religion gets mystical
now and they talk about what happens to you in your experience.
He shed his blood how many times? Once, that's what Hebrew says.
He's not out there sprinkling his blood on men and women. and yet being presented that
way. As though when you repent and you believe, then he'll give
you that mystical sprinkling and all of a sudden you're saved.
All of a sudden you're reconciled. All of a sudden you have peace.
Look at what it says though. Now look at it, but now in Christ
Jesus, ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the
blood of Christ, for he is our peace, who hath made both one
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.
He's talking about Jew and Gentile. having abolished in his flesh
the enmity. I don't care if a believing Jew
don't like a believing Gentile, or a believing Gentile don't
like a believing Jew, he's already made them one. One, do you see that? One. For
he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down
the middle wall or partition between us, having abolished
in his flesh the enmity. It may exist in us, but it don't
exist with God. Do you see that? Having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, Uh-oh, here he goes again, that old
Apostle Paul. He just won't let it go. Even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances. For to make in
himself of twain one new man, so making peace. Do you see that? So making peace. Did he do it or not? Don't worry about who he did
it for. It's this, whoever he did it for, Jack, do you believe
he did what this book says he did? Now then your mind will
start functioning right down, right down to where it belongs.
Before you believe the record God gave his son, you'll come
up with your own ideas of what this really means. But look,
he's not done yet. And that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body, By repentance, is that what it says? By faith,
is that what it says? No, by the cross. Do you see it? By the cross,
having slain the enmity, thereby God killed it, whether we see
it or not. And is that not the cry of the Passover? Did not
God say to Israel, when I see the blood, Not when you see the
blood. As a matter of fact, while they
were in them little old huts and little old houses, they couldn't
see the blood. The blood was on the outside. If it wasn't, you were in trouble.
You could have all the blood you wanted right there on your
table. But the blood had to be where? Where God said it was
to be. And God said, when I see the blood, what's he going to
do? I will pass over. Now, I can guarantee you, even
though Jack, some of those Israelites, they believed God, but I guarantee
you when they start hearing the wails of the Egyptians, huh,
these little babies dying, God killed them. Now, that's a fact.
God coming, not the death angel. Don't talk about no death angel.
God said, when I pass through, and little babies dying, and
a little eight-year-old, firstborn, A 18-year-old firstborn, dying. A 35-year-old firstborn, right
there, speaking with his parents, and he drops down dead. Can you
hear the whales coming up from Egypt? And I can see them slaves
in them little old hovels, little old shacks, hearing the cries,
and I thought, oh, this is real. This is real. Is that blood gonna
be enough? It wasn't up to them. Now was
it? It wasn't up to them. Because
God said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. And then
Paul comes along and talks about Christ, who is our Passover. Huh? Huh? You see it? Now let me get back, where was
I? I got off track there a little.
Chapter three. Ephesians chapter two, oh look,
here it is. Let's go back, Ephesians two, verse 16, and that he might
reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. Our reconciliation
has nothing to do with anything he did for us, with us, by us,
to us, after the cross. It all was dealt with at the
cross. But look, and that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby, and look, and came and preached peace. He didn't preach
you could have peace if. He was preaching peace is accomplished. And that's what we're doing today.
Peace is done. He is our peace. So remember, when Christ died,
he reconciled those he died for. When Christ shed his blood, he
made peace. Here's the third thought. Turn
to Hebrews chapter one. And see, it's difficult. Paul and Tommy and I talked a
little bit about it before. Then Tommy and I talked about
it a little bit more there in the kitchen. There's a part of
me that if I just had some better words, if I just had more pointed
words, Jack, if I could just use those words, people would
just see it. No, we never see anything till
God opens our eyes. We never perceive anything until
God opens our heart. We never hear, really hear anything
till God opens our ears. It's okay to keep saying the
same thing over and over. and over and over. Now, when
you got a young kid, let me try to illustrate it, you bear with
me. When you got a young kid and
you got that stove out, I don't care whether it's gas, electric,
whatever it is, and you got that stove out and it's red hot, and
you say, don't touch that, okay? Do you think it's gonna be better
for him if you find some better phrase? What kind of better phrase
you have than don't touch that? What are you, you ain't gonna
worry about these great swelling words. What are you gonna keep
saying to them? Don't touch that. What we need to do is just keep
saying what the book says over and over and over, as redundant
as it becomes even to ourselves. But I said that over and over,
nothing's happened. Nothing may ever happen. Noah
preached it for 120 years. 120 years. Isaiah preached it and
was told only a tenth's gonna believe. Remember God telling
him that? Only a tenth's gonna believe.
But look at what it says. Look at Hebrews now. Remember
what it said. When Christ died, he reconciled
those he died for. When Christ shed his blood, he
made peace. That's believing the record God
gave his son. Here's the third one. When Christ
suffered on the tree, he purged the very sins he died for. The
question is not how many did he die for, but what did he do
when he died? Right? Look at Hebrews chapter
one in just one verse. Verse three. Who being the brightness
of his glory, that is Christ the son is the brightness of
the father's glory. Who being the brightness of his
glory and the express image of his person and upholding all
things by the word of his power. Now here's just several words
and yet it is the gospel all wrapped up. When he had by himself,
believe the record God gave us, he did it all. You don't have
to do anything. You don't have to do anything.
When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the majesty on high. So when did he purge sins? The
sins that he died for, when did he purge them? Before he even
sat down in glory. Isn't that what that says? The
question is, do I believe the record God gave his son? Isn't
that the question? You can say I believe Christ
died for the elect all day long, and you still haven't said what
I've read from this book, right? You could preach it, all that
Christ died just for the elect, and you could go and argue from
the text, but how about just preaching what he really accomplished
when he died on that tree? How about just saying it over
and over and over and over again? When Christ suffered on the tree,
he purged the very sins that he died for. Now turn to Hebrews
chapter 10. This is the last one, number
four. Hebrews chapter 10. Remember, when Christ died, now
there's a lot more than what I'm giving you, but this is the
foundation of it all. When Christ died, he reconciled
those he died for. When Christ shed his blood, he
made peace. When Christ suffered on the tree, he purged the sins
he died for. Now here's the fourth one from
Hebrews 10. When Christ died, he sanctified and perfected those
for whom he died. Just two verses. Hebrews 10 verse
10. By the witch, will, we are sanctified. How? How are we sanctified? through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once. Now the for all doesn't mean
for all people, it means you could say for all time, whatever.
But here's the way to read it straight from the translators,
at least we're honest enough to let us know they added that
last two words. By the which will we are sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once. So if I
am sanctified, when was I sanctified? When he offered up his body once. Do you see that? Is that not
what this book says? Well, but you gotta understand
it the right way. All you gotta do is believe the
words. Just believe the word, believe the record God gave his
son. Don't try to make sense of it.
Don't try to add it all up together and make one plus one plus one
equals three. That's not the point. Do you
believe that Christ did what he did when he died on that tree? And then look at, I'll give you
verse 10, look at verse 14. For by, how many? One offering
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Now that's
not just a redundancy, but that's like ice cream on top of the
cake. You know what I mean? It's like Henry Mahan said, you
know, he said it's good to have the meat and the beans and the
potatoes of the word, he said, but it's nice to have a little
ice cream every once in a while. Well, that's a little ice cream
on top. He sanctified, if he sanctified me, he did it when
he died for me, Jack. And he perfected me at the same
time he sanctified me. And you say, I don't see it.
Remember, when I see the blood, it's not how much we see of it,
it's God who sees it. God the Father. For by one offering
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. You remember even the apostle
Paul said this. I am not yet what? Perfect. Somebody says that contradicts. Not at all, because Paul still
had to go read that chapter. The last few verses, Paul talks
about this vile body. One of these days will be rid
even of this. I know it's tough right now.
And some of us are nearer the jumping off place as they say
than others are. But one day it'll all be over,
and you know what? Now, this is my thoughts on the
matter. It's not a quote from scripture. I think we're gonna
look back and say, hmm, that was nothing. Huh? That was nothing. Does not Paul
say, and I've got, I can't quote it. You all probably know the
verse. You can quote it before I get there. Romans chapter eight,
let me find it. Let me find it. Romans chapter
eight, verse 18. For I reckon, I just count this
to be so. For I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed. And as our blessed Pastor Earl
Cochran pointed out years ago, he had this profound, profound
way of putting this. He just quoted what it says.
In us. In us. One day this will be over, Jack.
And I just got it, because of that verse right there, I got
a reason to think we'll just look back and say, hmm, that
don't make much difference. That don't make much difference.
Without question, God's Christ did not die in vain. Isn't that what the whole of
this book is teaching? God's Christ did not die in vain. So again, let me give it to you.
It's that one quote. And then I'll put that, I'll
give you, let me just give you the quote. Let me get back to
it. Listen to it. I do not frustrate
the grace of God. That is to set it aside or neutralize
it or violate it. I do not frustrate the grace
of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. The truth is, Jack, Christ is
not dead in vain. So you know what that is? What's
the only alternative? Whatever he meant to accomplish
when he died, he did it. There's no, I don't, this ain't
an argument about Arminianism versus Calvinism. There's some
Calvinism, Calvinisms, there's some Calvinists that just have
no idea what they're talking about. But when a person begins
to see and believe the record God gave his son, it'll rock
your boat. Let me just give you this and
I'll close. Years ago, this has been, 39, 40 years ago, a handful
of us had to leave what was called a church, and we started meeting
in my mother and father's house, Roy Jr. and Linda Pendleton.
And I was preaching, I was the preacher. They were kicked out
along with me. I was sitting on the couch one
Sunday morning because we were meeting in their house, and Ellen,
I was reading, let me turn to it, I was reading this verse,
turn to it, 2 Corinthians, Chapter five. And I'm not trying to tell you
this is when I was converted. I don't know exactly when I was
converted. You know what I mean? I don't know when exactly I was
converted. Because you know what? Even if I wasn't converted yesterday,
oh God pray I be converted today. You understand what I'm saying?
But listen to this verse. I was reading this verse and
preaching from it, and all of a sudden it dawned on me. Now
look at what it says, 2 Corinthians chapter five and verse 18. A couple verses, I'm sorry, two
verses. And all things are of God. who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation, to wit, or in other words, you might, that
is to say, that God was, was, that's past tense, correct? I'm
no English major, but I know that. that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Not the offer, the word of, it's
done. Reconciliation's done, and you
know what? Sitting there on that couch, preaching to other people,
it dawned on me, Christ's got the job done. Huh? Now you could say, this is what
I thought. I thought I became a five-point
Calvinist when I was a four-point Calvinist. Did I do that right?
I became a five, no, that wasn't it. I began to realize and believe
the record God gave of his son. It wasn't, oh, now I believe
Christ died only for the elect, whoopee. I began to see he did
something. He accomplished something when
he died on that cross. And folks, that's conversion.
That's conversion. Heavenly Father, I pray that
you take your word, not my stammering words. clay pot, but Lord, take
your word and by the power of your spirit, apply it to our
hearts and give us some comfort, give us some joy. Lord, force
us to just rely on Christ, lean on him, believe him, trust him. We thank you in his name, amen.