And if you'd like to follow along,
turn to Jude chapter one. There's only one chapter in Jude.
But it's right before the book of Revelations if you're looking
for it. And I'm just gonna read verse, well, let's read verses 20 and
21. But ye, beloved, building up
yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. We are looking unto eternal life.
And in Christ right now, we have eternal life. But this life,
even though we do have eternal life in Christ, this life is
not all that we have. There's more coming. I like that. I like that thought. But today, I wanna bring you
a message today about the attitude of the believer, And where am I going with this
is right here at this one point. The attitude of the believer
is looking. Looking, that's what we were
talking about. That's why I picked that song this morning. I really
like that song. The believer's looking. And the believer continues to
look, just like what Walter started talking and I told him to stop. This is a consistent attitude
of the believer because this is a continuous attitude of the
believer. The believer's eyes have been
opened by the Lord Jesus Christ. His eyes are open and he looks. The believer looks. And even more, here's the thing,
the believer sees. Because God has opened his eyes,
because Christ has opened his eyes. And here's the thing, the
believer keeps looking. And let's be clear, the believers
are commanded to look. We'll get to that in a little
bit. And keep on looking. All throughout the scripture,
I'm just gonna give you an overview of this attitude of looking,
the believer looking. All right, first point. We are looking, believers are
looking at the past. This verse, Jude 121, keep yourselves
in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life. The gospel, the good news is
that grace and mercy and redemption are done. It's not that we're
doing. That's done. Redemption is done. Grace and mercy are given. Oh,
and thank God for that. Right now, looking for the mercy
of the Lord Jesus Christ, believers look and see that his mercy was
made manifest, shown at the cross. You understand? I was listening
to Henry this morning, he was talking today about people believe
the doctrine of substitution, but they don't look to the substitute.
You understand, he's who we're looking at. We're gonna get into
that more than that. But what I'm saying here, our
Lord Jesus Christ was made to be sin for us upon the tree. Oh my. He bore our iniquities
on the tree. As gracious and as glorious as
that is, and it is, that part's done. We're looking at the past. You understand? I'm not looking
for Christ to make a sacrifice for me today. He's made the sacrifice. It's done, folks, it's done.
He had laid upon him the transgression, I can't say it, the transgressions,
the sins, and the iniquities of us all. Jesus Christ is not bearing our
sins today. They're born. They were bore
away. They're never to be remembered,
cast as far as the east is from the west. To be remembered, what? No more, no more, oh my. His mercy, his loving kindness,
and his sacrifice for sin forever means his people right now have
no sin. Sin. I'm not boasting. But by gollies, I'm happy. You
understand? People think you're boasting
if you actually would tell them you have no sin. But no, I'm
not boasting. I'm happy. I'm joyous. I can rejoice in the fact that
Jesus Christ has paid for my sins. Matter of fact, I'm commanded
to be joyful about it. Well, Romans 6.22 says this,
but now being made, what? Free from sin. And become servants to God, ye
have your fruit unto holiness and the end. everlasting life. Oh, I like that. Now being made
free. Now being made free from sin.
Believers looking for his mercy see his mercy in his substitutionary
sacrifice on the tree. It's done. The great transaction's
done. Oh, I like that. He said it's
finished. And that meant it's finished. It's finished, oh my. We look
at his promise of mercy and grace in the garden, the promise of
one to come, and we look at that rock in the wilderness that gave
forth water, that rock was Christ. Oh my, oh my. We look, and by
his grace, even in the Old Testament, we see, we see. Oh, I like that. Second point, I'm not gonna keep
you long this morning, I don't think. The second point is we
are looking for the future. We were looking at the past,
we're looking for the future. Titus 2 and 13 says this, looking
for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh, I like that, I like that. the great God, the great God. You know, most people are preaching
all around us. Okay. And on TV and on the radio
probably, but I don't listen to the radio anymore. I give
up on that, but they're not preaching to the great God. Now I'm preaching
a very good God. Well here, we are looking to
what? The great God. The glorious appearing of the
great God and our savior, Jesus Christ. Oh my. Believers are
looking for Jesus Christ to come again. The reason that is, is
because he said, I'm coming again. Oh my, and we're looking to his
coming this time in power and in glory. Come on, what? On his vesture and on his thigh,
he's gonna have a name written. What? King of kings and Lord
of lords. Oh my. That's who we're looking
for. There's gonna be a day when he
comes, and I tell you this right now, not all are gonna rejoice.
I mean, that's what it says. Behold, he cometh with clouds.
This is Revelations one and verse seven. And every eye shall see
him. and they also which pierced him,
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Because of him. Even so, amen. So be it. You understand? Why? For it seemed good in thy
sight. Oh my. We're looking for his
day. I'm not looking for your day.
I'm not looking for my day, I'm looking for his day. Oh, I like
that, I do. And the reason that is, because
believers are looking for him, for him. The world, not at all,
not at all. I'm gonna tell you something. We believers look forward with
joy. You understand? We know, because
he said so, things are gonna get better when he comes again. Things are gonna be better when
he comes again. And things are not gonna be the
way the world wants it, or the world would like to see. They're
gonna be his way. He's told us, oh my, this same
one that brings us joy, that we wanna see with joy, is the
same one that's causing the wailing of the world. Because the world
doesn't want him and the world's not looking for him. There's gonna be some at one
time or another gonna call for the rocks in the mountains to
fall upon them and what, hide them. You can't hide from God. He's the great God and our savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh my. And he's coming, understand. His gospel, the very same gospel
that we believe, that we love, that we want to hear, is the
savor of death unto death unto other people. It's the savor
of life unto life to some. That's us. That's believers. But it's the savor of death unto
death for others. The same gospel, the same preacher
preaching that same gospel. Oh my. but there's only one gospel. There's only one gospel. He's
the only good news, and the good news is, part of it, he's coming
again. He's coming again, and we are
looking for him. Oh my. 2 Peter 3 and 12 says this. Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. What's this about? Wherein the
heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved. And the elements
shall melt with fervent heat. And believers are looking for
that day. Mm, I like that. Believers are
looking for the day of God when the heavens are dissolved. That
might sound a little harsh to some people. It's not. It's not, not if you're a believer,
it's not. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth wherein, oh, I like that, wherein dwelleth
righteousness. Oh, I like that, I do. The world
we live in right now is not eternal. It's not. It's gonna pass away. But there's a better one coming.
Oh my, there's a better one. A new heavens and a new earth
and here it is. Wherein dwells, lives righteousness. Oh, I like that. Now we are to what? Looking for
and hasting. Let's get it done. I would have
already, but it ain't up to me. I'm done. I'm tired. I've seen
enough of this world. I don't really need to see more
of the world. I wanna see of the world to come. And I wanna
see him who's gonna bring in that world to come. But we are looking for and hasting
unto that day because That's gonna be the earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness. Oh, I like that. I'm gonna tell
you something. And the Lord God, what? And the
Lamb are the temple of it. And the Lamb, the glory of God,
and the Lamb is the light thereof. Oh, I like that. The glory of
God lightens it, and the lamb is the light thereof. And we
are to be looking for and hasting unto that day. Well, let's see. Third thing, we look at the past. We look for the future. But the
main thing is we are looking to the Lord. Isaiah 45 and 22 says this, look
unto me. Look unto me, what? And be ye saved. All the ends
of the earth, why? For I am God and there is none
else. Oh, I like that. I am God and
there is no else, what? Look unto me, that's what it
says. And that's what it means. Hebrews
12 and verse two says this, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God. Looking unto Jesus. Oh my. And right now, he's seated
at the right hand of God. And right now, he's promised
to be here in this assembly where we're gathered in his name. And
we're looking to him. Oh, I like that. You can look
at the past. You can look for the future.
But you better be looking to the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking
unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, I like that. Because I'm
gonna tell you something. The believer, and here's the
difference between the believer and the world. the believer has
bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, he didn't do it
of his own free will. Ah, but nevertheless, he did
it by the power of God. You'll bow to Jesus Christ. Why? And you'll look to Jesus Christ,
also by his power, because he is, just read it, the author
and finisher of faith. Just preached on that a little
while ago. We bow to him, and here's the thing, in worship.
What does it say in Psalms? Kiss the son. Kiss the son. That's kiss his feet. Bow before
him. Placate the son. Kiss the son.
Show your affection. Show your devotion to him. What? Lest he be angry. Oh my. You don't want God angry at you. Although you deserve God's anger.
I deserve God's anger. But kiss the son lest he be angry
and you perish. Oh my. He's the author and finisher
of faith. He is the shepherd and bishop
of your soul. He's the apostle and high priest
of your profession. And believers bow to him in worship. In worship. Behold. What's that mean? Look. We're
told to behold. Behold, a virgin shall be with
child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name
Immanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. You ever stop and think about
that verse in the Old Testament? This is a body, thou hast prepared
me. You understand? Before there
was a body, there was a me. A body has thou prepared me.
Me already existed. The child was born, but hey,
the son is given. Our Lord Jesus Christ doesn't
have a birthday. Now you can have your Christmas
tree and give out Christmas presents. I like doing that myself, but
you understand Jesus Christ existed before he came to this earth.
And he's seated at the right hand of the Father, and he's
coming again in glory and power. Oh, and guess what? Believers
are looking to him. To him. Looking to the Son of
God, called Emmanuel. Looking to God with us. With us. Oh, I like that. Oh,
man. What was he, who is he, Emmanuel?
He is God with us? What did it say? Made of a woman,
made under the law. Why? To redeem. To redeem them that were under
the law. Oh, I like that. And to what
end was this redemption? That we receive the adoption
of sons. Oh. Heirs of God and joint heirs
with Jesus Christ. John 1.29 says this, the next
day John, this is good, John seeth Jesus coming unto him and
saith, behold, look, the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sins of the world. Then in verse 36, John the Baptist
said, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, saith, behold,
the Lamb of God. Look, look, looking unto Jesus. John the Baptist, looking upon
Jesus, said, behold, look upon Jesus, the Lamb of God. He took away the sins of the
world. That redemption part, we already said, it's already
done. He took away the sins of the world. Behold, look, the
Lamb of God. He is going to be the light of
the new heaven and the new earth. Oh, I like that. And look, he's
called the Lamb of God. The perfect sacrifice of the
perfect Son of God. I just talked about a minute
ago, a body has thou prepared me. He took upon himself the
form of a servant. What's to say? He humbled himself. We're the ones need humbling,
but he humbled himself and took upon himself the form of a servant.
Oh my. He made himself of no reputation. He died the death we should have
died. He was numbered with the malefactors
and has redeemed us to God. He reconciled us. Now be ye reconciled
to God, but he reconciled us. Oh my, and here's the thing. What are we to do today? We are
still to be looking unto Jesus. Every day. I'll put it in there, it's part
of, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. What's that? Looking unto Jesus.
Looking unto Jesus. Because here's the thing, the
believer is always looking. The believer looks unto Jesus
himself personally and the believer looks to him for all of his salvation. The believer looks to his life
and his completed work of his sacrifice and his offering. He
looks to God's mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ. And the believer is always looking
for the return of the Lord of glory. because believers continue
looking. That's what I mean by an attitude
of the believer. There's more. Maybe I'll do some
more, I don't know. Some may ask why believers are
looking unto Jesus. But if you have to ask that,
you don't know. It's been 2,000 years. since his death and resurrection.
Haven't we outgrown religion? Well, yes, I have outgrown religion,
but I'm never gonna outgrow Christ. Please outgrow religion, if that's
what you're looking at. Look to him, look to him, oh
my. Because most don't understand,
this is the problem, they don't understand the good news, the
gospel hasn't changed. The gospel's the same as it was
in Genesis 3. It hasn't changed. It's been
expanded upon, it's been explained more, and then he actually came
and performed the redemption that was promised in the Old
Testament. And then his apostles went out
and preached it, and wrote us letters about it, trying to explain
him that we're to look to. Oh, I like that. We have his
word in his scripture, the God breathed word and believers born
again from above by the power of God are given grace and faith and
their eyes are open that they may see. Their hearts and their
ears have been circumcised that they may hear. and understand
his word. Oh, I like that. There's nowhere else to look.
There is no one else to whom we should look. Oh my. And we see Jesus Christ, I'm
gonna tell you something folks, in the Old Testament and the
New, this is the book of Jesus Christ. And we are to see him,
we are to look to him, Oh my. Believers continue in his word. What does it say? Study to show
thyself approved, right? How? Hebrews 12, 15 says this,
looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest
any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many
be defiled. Well he said, look diligently. Look continuously. Look. You understand? Believers are to believe every
day. And believers are to look every
day. And who they looking at? They're looking to the one they
believe in. looking unto Jesus, oh my, in grace, in love, in
hope, not bitterness, in love. Now here's the thing. You understand, when you're looking
to the sun, all the shadows are behind you. That's the problem. The problem's
not us looking to Jesus. The problem is when we don't.
When we take our eyes off Him. Oh my. But here's the thing. Continue, continue, and continue
looking unto Jesus. He's the Lord Jesus Christ. He's
the Savior. The angels proclaimed Him when
He came to this earth. As what? Good news. Glad tidings. Why? Because born
this day is the Savior and Lord. Your Lord is born. And that's
who we are to keep looking unto. Jesus Christ, our Lord. And continue. Our Heavenly Father, Thank you
again for this day and this time and this place. We set it aside to try to come
and worship you in spirit and in truth and to preach your word
and to hear your word preached. Be with those who couldn't be
with us today for whatever hindering cause. I know, Lord, Your child
is your child wherever they are. The Lord bless them, touch them. Be with Walter as he comes to
preach your gospel. Be with us later as we take your
table. In Christ's name we pray.