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. I want to welcome you to the
broadcast this morning. I want to read from Matthew,
what Matthew records. Specifically, I want to read
from Matthew chapter 3. Let me read to you the first
12 verses, Matthew chapter 3, verses 1 through 12. In those
days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and
saying, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this
is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, the voice
of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his path straight. And the same John had his raiment
of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins, and his
meat was locust and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem,
and all Judea and all the region round about, and were baptized
of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." And we, you know,
just figure that's a glorious thing. It's a glorious thing.
But then listen to what else it says. But when he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said
unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you, who hath
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore
fruits, meat for repentance. In other words, show me you mean
business with God. That's what he's saying. And
think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father,
for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise
up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid
unto the root of the trees, therefore every tree which bringeth forth
not good fruit is hewn down. and cast into the fire. I indeed
baptize you with water unto repentance, that he that cometh after me
is mightier than I, whose shoes I'm not worthy to bear, and he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. whose fan
is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his
wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire. I can just picture in my mind's
eyes this man. And the way I understand it from
the scripture, he probably didn't shave, had long beard, long hair,
and had this camel's hair and leather and girdle. And he ate
locusts and wild honey. And here he is preaching, and
men are coming to him, and he's baptizing them into repentance.
But another group, some Pharisees and Sadducees, many of them,
it says, he scolds them. Now think about it. What I want
to try to talk to you this morning is this. Some differ from others. You see it? Evidently John saw
a difference in some of these folks and in others. You see
it? Evidently he saw that difference
and evidently John was a lot different than many today. Think
about this. John the Baptist was a God sent preacher. John
the Baptist preached repentance because God's Christ, the Messiah,
the King of God's kingdom had come. The kingdom of God was
at hand. John the Baptist exalted God's Christ as the message.
And he says that here, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. But he that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, whose fan is in
his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor. He's going to
gather some wheat." And he's talking about people here. He's
going to gather some wheat. Some people are called wheat.
Some are called chaff. You see, there's a difference.
Some are wheat. Some are chaff. The scriptures
puts it this way. Some are elect. Some are reprobate.
Some are sheep. Some are goats. Some differ from
others. You see, John the Baptist was
immersing many in the water unto repentance, but He refused some,
did he not? He said, you fellas, you high-muckety-muck
religious people, you great moralist, you great legal righteousness
people, he said, you show me you mean business with God. He
said, he said, bring forth therefore fruits, meat for repentance. You show me you mean business
with God. You show me you need, you think you need repentance.
Oh, how too many church members in our day don't think they even
need repentance. They just need patted on the
back and told about how good they are. Think about it. John
was sent. Jesus of Nazareth was sent. He
was the sent one. He was the Messiah. John was
sent. Jesus of Nazareth was sent. And
neither were trying to get, all without exception, to repent.
You see it? John was not pleading with certain people to repent.
He said, you don't have it. You don't got it, I know you,
I know what you are. You don't got it, and you bring
forth therefore fruits, meat for repentance. You see, as a
matter of fact, I want you to hear what Jesus Christ said to
some folk. Now we'll read it from John chapter eight, and
don't turn away, don't turn away. You'll regret it one day if you
do. Listen to what John chapter eight says, and listen how our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, Listen to how he spoke
to some people. In John, we find it recorded
by John in John chapter eight. And listen, we start at verse
30 and read down through quite a bit here. Listen. As he spake
these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those
Jews which believed on him, if you continue in my word, then
are you my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, we be
Abraham's seed. We're good Jews, we're Israelites,
we'll be Abraham's seed, and we're never in bondage to any
man. They were liars, they were in bondage to other Rome right
at that time. We're never in bondage to any man. How sayest
thou, ye shall be made free? Oh, do you see this smart-aleck
attitude that some people have? I'm telling you, some differ
from others. Jesus answered them verily, verily,
or that is truly, truly, I say unto you, whosoever committeth
sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in
the house forever, but the son, do you see it? But the son abideth
ever. If the son therefore shall make
you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you're Abraham's
seed, but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place
in you. I speak that which I have seen
with my father, and you do that which ye have seen with your
father. Notice now he tells them they
have a father. See it? They answered and said unto him,
Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, if ye were
Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But
now ye seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth which
I have heard of God. This did not Abraham. Ye do the
deeds of your father. You see it? He has a father. Jesus Christ had the father.
God the father. He said, you got a father. Now
look what it says. You do the deeds of your father. They said
unto him, we be not born of fornication. We have one father, even God.
Jesus said unto them, if God were your father, you would love
me, for I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I
of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my
speech? even because ye cannot hear my
word. Now here, he says it. Ye are
of your father, the devil, and the lust of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning
and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When
he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own with his offspring,
children of the devil, for he is a liar and the father of it.
And because I tell you the truth, You believe me not. Do you see
it? I'm telling you. I'm trying to proclaim this morning
that there is a difference. Some do differ from others. Do you see yourself as superior
to these Jews? You say, well, I'm not like that.
I'm not like that. I pray God you're not. I pray
God you're not. But let me tell you something.
You and I are not superior. How do I know that? Listen to
what the Apostle Paul wrote. We're not superior. Romans chapter
3, and listen to these words. Listen to this great litany that
Paul pronounces against us, and he's actually quoting much of
it from the Old Testament. And he says in Romans chapter
three, we have it written, what then, verse nine, what then,
are we better than they? No and no wise. What does he
mean, we better than they? For we have before proved, both
Jews and Gentiles, that they're all under sin. As it is written,
there is none righteous. Not a one. You see it? Not a
one. No, not one. There is none that
understandeth. There is none. You see it? There
is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the
way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that
doeth good. No, not one. That's me by nature. That's you
by nature. Listen to what it says. Their throat is an open
sepulcher. With their tongues they have
used deceit. The poison of ass is under their lips, whose mouth
is full of cursing and bitterness. That's me by nature. That's you
by nature. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and
misery are in their ways. The way of peace have they not
known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Do you see
it? Do you see it? You see, another question is
vital, though. Yes, we are all under sin. We're all under sin. All men
are equally, totally depraved, corrupt under sin. But think
about it. But some are the offspring of
the devil. You hear what I said? Some are
the offspring of the devil. Now we've already read some,
but let's go back. John chapter eight. And this
is what it says in John chapter eight. I want to give you this
again. John chapter 8, and we'll read
it to you again. We need to get this. Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, so that means so were they. So
were everybody else that's like him. You're of your father the
devil, and abode not in the truth, because there's no truth in him.
When he speaketh of the lie, he speaketh of his own. For he
is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the
truth, you believe me not. Now there's a manifestation. There's something to consider.
Do you not believe Jesus Christ and what he says? Is it because
you're of your father the devil? Or is it because you're just
totally depraved? Is it because you're corrupt by nature? Oh,
you best cry out to God for mercy. That it's because you're just
corrupt by nature. Just because you're foul and
unclean and are fallen Adam and not actually you're a son or
daughter of the devil. Consider that. You see yourself
as superior or not superior. I'm not superior to any other
man in this world, but some do differ from others. Are you of
the devil? Or are you just totally depraved?
Or is it both? Is it both? You see, God declared
this distinction right after the fall. I mean, right after
the fall, we hear this distinction. I realize it's sad, sad to have
to say, but many people preach about the fall and about what
happened in the garden, but they rarely ever emphasize what I'm
going to read to you this morning. And listen to what, Christ said
in the garden. And this is what He said, and
this is what He writes, and let me find my spot in Genesis chapter
3 and verse 14 and 15, listen, and the Lord God said unto the
serpent, because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all
cattle. Now we know from the Scripture,
testimony of all the Scripture that this serpent was Satan himself,
the devil. the one who has an offspring,
the one who has some people, the one who has some people.
Listen, because thou hast done this art thou accursed above
all cattle, above every beast of the field. Upon thy belly
shalt thou go, and thus shalt thou eat all the days of thy
life. And look, and I will put enmity. Now who's speaking here?
The Lord God. And I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and look, and between thy seed, so the
serpent's got a seed, you see it? He's got a people. He's got
some children. And I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. Who's that talking about? That's
talking about Messiah. That's talking about Messiah. It shall
bruise thy head, thou shalt bruise his heel. So we see that this
distinction was made right from the get-go. Right from the get-go.
You see the devil The devil has a people. Christ, the Messiah,
Jesus of Nazareth, God in the flesh has a people. And how do
I know that? Because this book says so. And
I want to read to you from Isaiah chapter 53, and I want you to
listen. Listen to what it says. Isaiah
53, clearly this is talking about Christ. The New Testament even
quotes this. Christ quotes from this, as it's
speaking about Jesus Christ. And listen to what it says. Verse
seven, about Jesus Christ. He was oppressed. and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a
lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is
done, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and
from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he
was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression
of my people, God's people was he stricken. And he made his
grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death because
he'd done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. Now look
at it. He shall see his seed. So we see that Christ has a seed.
Christ has a people. He shall prolong his days and
the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Hebrews
chapter two. Listen to what the writer of
Hebrews says. Hebrews chapter two and one verse, just one verse
there. Hebrews chapter two and verse
13. This is Christ speaking. And
again, I will put my trust in him. And again, behold I and
the children which God hath given me. Oh, here's a question I gotta
ask myself. Question you ought to ask yourself
Which one am I and yes, we're all totally depraved by nature
Yes, we are whether you understand that or not whether you believe
that or not We're all totally depraved by nature But some people
are the seed of the devil and some people are the seed of Christ
And this is a clear delineation throughout all this book from
Genesis to Revelation This delineation is clearly there God has a people. The devil has a people. Which
are you? Which am I? Now there's a difference.
There's a difference. But, I can tell you this. By
the authority of the inspired word of God, I can tell you this.
There is a difference. First John chapter three, verse
12. Listen to what it says. First John three and verse 12.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one. and slew his brother,
and wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil,
and his brother righteous. Do you see it? There is a difference.
But here's the question. Was Abel, that's Cain's brother,
that's the one that Cain slew, was Abel, Cain's brother, exempt
from the truth that I read to you from Romans three? Was he
exempt from that? Did he by nature seek after God?
Was he by nature righteous? No, all were under Cain. after
the fall of Adam in the garden, all are under sin. The difference
is not in the people. Am I exempt? Are you exempt? No. Why? Because Romans 3.23,
I did not read that one to you, but it says, for all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. Yes, Abel's obedience manifested
a difference. And we hear, the scripture clearly
teaches us that. Now listen, let me read that
to you. Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 3 and verse 4 and I say
Abel's obedience Manifested a difference there is no doubt about that
Hebrews 11 verse 4 said this by faith Abel offered unto God
a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained a witness
that he was righteous is it it didn't make him righteous and
It didn't make him righteous. Not by offering. It didn't make
him righteous. He obtained a witness to his righteousness. What was
his righteousness? This thing called faith. That's what it
was. This thing called faith. And by faith, Abel offered unto
God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts,
and by it, he being dead, yet speaketh. You see it? Let me
ask you, what is the difference then? What is actually the difference? What made the difference of Abel
having faith and Cain being an unbeliever? What is the difference?
There's what it boils down to. Now let me turn to my passage.
If you are following along, turn to the book of Ephesians. And
we will read from that here in just a moment. Turn to Ephesians. Let me ask you again. Abel's
obedience manifested the difference. It manifested. He obtained a
witness that was righteous, but it says by faith. So then what? Faith was a difference, clearly.
Cain was an unbeliever. Cain was of that wicked one,
but not Abel. Abel was of God, but Abel wasn't
of God by nature. He wasn't of God by himself,
in and of himself. Faith is what made the difference.
So then what does a person do? Muster up faith? Do they pray
down faith? Do they work up faith? What happens? Well, look at what it says. Ephesians
chapter 2 verse 8. Now listen to it. Ephesians 2
verse 8. For by grace are you saved through
faith. And then look at it, and that
not of yourselves. And in the Greek it means the
grace, the salvation, and the faith. All three. All three.
For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Do you see that? See, you can't
make God give it to you. God's either chosen you before
the world began, and he in time will give it to you, or you'll
never have it, and you're of your father the devil. It's one
or the other. For by grace are you saved through faith, that
not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. It is
not of your own effort. That's what it means. Not of
works. Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in him. So there
we see the difference, but it's even more than that. Let me read
you another difference. This is from God's word, Romans
chapter nine. And listen to me. Listen to what
it says here. Romans chapter nine, the apostle
Paul says this. He basically says, I care about
my kinsmen, people who are Israelites. I care about them. He basically
says there was a time when I could wish myself a curse from Christ
for my kinsmen, my brethren, according to the flesh. He said
they have all these benefits, the Israelites, pertaining to
adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service
of God, the promise, who are the fathers. Of whom as concerning
the flesh Christ came, whose overall God blessed forever.
Amen. The Messiah came through them. But look, not as though
the word of God hath taken none effect. Do you see it? Not as
though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not
all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither because they are the
seed of Abraham are they all children. But in Isaac shall
thy seed be called. Do you see it? That is, they
which are the children of the flesh. These are not the children
of God. These are not the children of God, but the children of the
promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise.
He will give us an example of this promise. This is the word
of promise. At this time will I come, God
said to Sarah. At this time will I come, Sarah. shall have a son. And not only
that, it will give us another illustration of it. But when
Rebecca also had conceived, you see it? When Rebecca also had
conceived by one, even by her father Isaac, for 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, not
of human effort, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her,
the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, listen, here's
a difference. It's God that makes the difference.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Does that put you up in a twist? That's who God is. It's what
God said. This is what God meant. Jacob
have I loved, and Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Paul
anticipated this, getting all tangled up on this. What shall
we say then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? What's his answer? God forbid. For he saith to Moses,
as God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then, it is not of him that willeth, Nor of him that runneth,
although men will wheel, and men will run or endure. But it's
not of them, so it's not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith
unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, look at it,
therefore hath he mercy on whom he will, and whom he will, He
hardened us. Thou wilt say then unto me, why
dost he yet find fault? Why does God find fault then?
For who hath resisted his will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou
that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to
him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the
potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel
unto honor and another into dishonor? What if God? willing to show
his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering,
the vessels of wrath, fitted, fitted, yeah, they're fitted,
they hate God, they hate God, but they're different, look,
fitted for destruction, and that he might make known the riches
of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath aforeprepared
unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews
only, But also of the Gentiles. Oh, that's who God is. That's
exactly who God is. You see, God's free reigning
mercy and God's free compassion. That's what makes the difference.
That makes the difference. You see, the children of the
devil and the children of God do differ. They do differ, but
it's never a self-merited difference. Did you hear what I just said?
It is never a self-merited difference. Listen to what John records.
John records it in John chapter one. And this is speaking of
Jesus Christ. John chapter one in verse 10.
He was in the world, the world was made by him. That's Jesus
Christ, God the creator. He was in the world, the world
was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came into his
own, his own received him not. But as many as received him,
so you see there is a difference. Some receive him, some don't.
So here's the question, why? Why? Why is that difference?
What is that difference? Look, he came into his own, his own
received him not, but as many as received him. Did they even
give him power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name? Well see, where does that come from? Again,
I told you it's the gift of God. I read it to you from the scripture,
but look, which were born, not get born, You got to be born
first before you ever believe. That's what it say. Which were
born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of
man, but of God. Do you see it? 1 Corinthians
chapter six. Listen to what the apostle Paul writes there. 1
Corinthians chapter six and verses nine through 11. 1
Corinthians six, nine through 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived that
the fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves
with mankind, thieves, drunkards, covetous, revilers, extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God? Does that mean, well, I've
just got to quit being these things? Now, look at what it
says. Look at what it actually says. And such were some of you. And
such were some of you, but you're washed. but you're sanctified,
but you're justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the
spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians chapter four, listen
to what the apostle Paul wrote to these same people. 1 Corinthians
chapter four and verse seven. Look at it. For who maketh thee
to differ from another? Some do differ, we've seen that.
Don't argue against God on that. You know what I've told you is
in this book. Some differ, some differ from others. But look,
for who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou
that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory as if thou hast not received it? What's
he saying? He is saying God Almighty gave
you this gift. It came from God in mercy and
grace. Free, gracious, mercy. God made
the difference. That's where it's at. So the
children of the devil and the children of God do differ, but
it's not a difference that we work up in here. It's not a difference
that we can come up with. You say, but preacher, you're
sounding like you're saying that Salvation's of the Lord. That's
exactly what I'm trying to say. That's exactly what I'm trying
to hammer home. Every time I preach, I may not
say that all the time, but it's still true. What we preach is
salvation. Salvation is of the Lord. It's not of the Lord and man. It's not mostly of the Lord and
a little bit of man. Salvation is of the Lord. You
see, God made the difference. God makes the difference, and
God will continue to make the difference, and that's God's
prerogative. That's just the way it is. Now
I do want to remind you at 12 noon on WVVA, the same station,
you can hear a portion of one of our recorded Sunday morning
messages.