Okay, guess what we're still
in Romans 16 And I'm gonna begin reading in verse 25 of Romans
chapter 16 Now To him that is of power to
establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept
secret since the world began. But now is made manifest. And by the scriptures of the
prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made
known to all nations for the obedience of the faith. To God,
only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ forever. Amen, amen. Now, what I'm gonna try and talk to
you about today is the everlasting God. It's in verse 26. But now is made manifest by the
scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting
God. I just kind of caught my eye.
I had just read a little article in Bulletin entitled The Everlasting
God. And I've been thinking about
this last part of Romans for a while, but I'm not gonna deal
with that as I normally do. This is gonna be a more topical
sermon. than an expository sermon. But while it will be topical,
it will also be expository, which is the way you're supposed to
do it. We want to know what the scripture say. Now this particular word I looked
at, if you want to know, is G one 66 according to the Strong's
numbers. Now, It is translated as everlasting,
but also in many places, it is translated as the word eternal. It's the same Greek word. I wanna be clear with that, okay? In 69 times, this word is used
in the New Testament as everlasting or eternal. So I wanna tell you
of the everlasting God. That's what we're shooting for
today. But in order to explain some things about the everlasting
God, you need to know about some of the everlasting things. I'm gonna start with one from
the Old Testament. You don't have to turn there
if you don't want to. I've got all these written down. I wanna
talk about the everlasting covenant. It's from 2 Samuel chapter 23
and verse five. These are the words of David
as he lay dying. Although my house be not so with
God yet. He hath made with me an everlasting
covenant Ordered in all things and sure For this is all my salvation
and all my desire Although he make it not to grow God's covenant
with David was an everlasting covenant. And I looked in the
Hebrew, it's the same sort of word. What does eternal mean,
what does everlasting mean? Without beginning and without
end. That's what it means. That's
the way Thayer's got it defined. Strong has it defined this way,
and I like this too. Perpetual. But I like that, without
beginning and without end. God's covenant with David is
an everlasting covenant. It's ordered in all things, and
it's sure. Now, there's a reason why it's
ordered in all things and it's sure. It's God's covenant. It's not David's covenant. It's
God's covenant. Now, but David made this statement
here at the front, although my house be not so. Now wait a minute. It's not his whole family is
what David is saying here. But if this is the Mosaic covenant,
weren't all of David's children, weren't they Jews? That's not
what he's talking about. He's talking about the everlasting
covenant. David was speaking of the Messianic
covenant that was actually given to Adam and Eve before the law
ever was. Where it said the seed of the
woman's gonna come and gonna bruise the head of the serpent.
Even though the serpent will bruise his heel, he's gonna bruise
the head of his serpent. And that's who David was looking
for. David was looking for and believing the one who said, God
said to him, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand
until I make thine enemies thy footstool. That's who David was
looking for. That's who this covenant is about.
It's about the Lord of glory, and I'll just say it, it's about
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messianic covenant, because
David was looking for his Lord to come. And he believed his
Lord was coming. That's the covenant. Now this
covenant was not so with his house. His family, his wives,
his sons, and his daughters. But this was an everlasting covenant,
without beginning and without end. Oh, I like that. It was
made before the law, and it was believed on in the
world, but not by all the world. The second thing I want to mention
is everlasting life. He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life. That's John 3.36. And he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life. But the wrath of God
abides on him. John 4 verse 14 puts it this
way. He was talking to the woman at
the well. He said, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I
shall give him shall never thirst, But the water that I shall give
him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life That's life without beginning and life without end The life
that God has given to his people is a perpetual life So Am I saying that the everlasting
life we are given is without beginning and will have no end?
No, I'm not saying that. Jesus Christ said that. And yes, let's be clear. I want to try and say this succinctly
and correctly. Being chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world is not the same thing as being in
Christ. We can't know that. But as far as in God's sight,
we are in Christ. From before the beginning of
the world. He chose us in his son. God sees everything all
the time. And I can't even explain that.
And it's a good thing we're not in the explaining business, we're
in the preaching business. God sees all, knows all. We, being very, very finite beings,
are really horrible at understanding eternal things. We can't grasp
it. But it's in here. It's in this
book. The more we learn, the more we
find out we don't know. All believers know is nothing
until Christ reveals himself. And shows us a little bit of
how big a sinner we are and how great a God he is. Paul tells
us we're dead and our life is hid with Christ in God. God sees
us in his son from the beginning. And I'm gonna tell you this,
I've told you before, and I'll tell you again, I certainly will.
God's sight is the only sight that matters. I mean, I like to see things,
I like to learn things, I like to know things, but what I see,
what I learn, and what I know don't matter compared to what
God knows. And God sees us in his son from the beginning of
the world, from before the foundation of the world. And we don't. We see through a glass darkly.
We see shadows. We get glimpses. We have his
word. But I'm going to tell you something,
folks. There's a lot of stuff in this book that I don't understand.
And if anybody tells you that they understand everything in
this book, and they've got it down pat, and they have a perfect
systematic theology, I'm gonna tell you right now, they're lying
to you. Because no man can grasp the
entirety of the scripture. And the scripture doesn't tell
the entirety of God. It doesn't tell the entirety
of Christ. We've got four gospels that tell us of Christ, now this
is just Christ's ministry for what, three and a half years.
And you understand, we got maybe what, 200 pages? And four chapters
of John is taken up with one 24 hour period. I think there's
a lot of stuff that's been left out. But here's the thing, God
has always known his people. He chose them in His Son, in
the Son. The amazing thing to me sometimes
is how much I don't know. Because the more I learn, the
more I find out what I don't know. But what about this everlasting
life? First John five and verse 11 puts it this way. And this
is the record. There's a record. There's a record,
and this is the record that God has given to us, believers, his
chosen people brought in, has given to us eternal life. Everlasting life. And here's
how it's eternal. This life is in his Son. The Son's eternal. Therefore
our life is eternal because it's This life is in his son It's
in his son Everlasting life our life given to us by God is in
Christ And it has always been in Christ Now believers don't
know it until Christ makes it known and How can you believe on him in
whom you've not heard? You can't. You can't. It has always been in Christ
until he makes it known I believe him. I know that. And I really wish
I knew that. He has given us his life. Our life is not our own. You
are bought with a price. But our life that we've been
given is in him. Because of everlasting redemption. Everlasting redemption. Hebrews
9, 12 put it this way. Neither by the blood of goats
and calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy
place having obtained eternal redemption for us. And that word eternal redemption
is everlasting. Now this is another tricky one.
You have eternal redemption without beginning and without end. Now
how is that possible? How is that possible? Because
we say it and we preach it. Redemption is a one-time work.
It was the death of Christ on the tree, his blood was shed,
and God raised him from the dead. And he made the offering before
the Father. And that's true, redemption is
a one-time work. But redemption was and is in
the thoughts of God from the beginning. Because this was not a new idea.
The redemption of Christ, I know some people preach it like this,
well like it was just, I gotta do something to get somebody
saved. So he tried to save people by the law in the Old Testament,
and that didn't work out good. No, David said it was an everlasting
covenant. You know why? Because it's an everlasting redemption.
This was the thought of God, this was not a new idea. Redemption
was purposed by, and we'll get to it, baby. an eternal purpose,
and it was carried out in time. Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from before
the foundation of the world. It's an everlasting redemption,
purposed and planned and provided, oh my. Because of this everlasting redemption
Guess what? Salvation is an everlasting salvation
Hebrews 5 and 9 and being made perfect. He became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him as Redemption
is everlasting So is the salvation purchased by that redemption?
Redeemed eternally, salvation is also eternal. He was the lamb
slain from before the foundation of the world. He is the lamb
slain from before the foundation of the world, and he always shall
be the lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. Oh my, his salvation is everlasting. In the beginning, God. And the first thing God commanded
was, let there be light. And he is the light. He is the
light. And in the beginning, the word
was with God and the word was God. Then we come to the everlasting
God. Before the mountains were brought
forth, or ever thou hast formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. That's Psalms 90 and verse 2.
Now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets according to
the commandment of the everlasting God I like that phrase. It's in a couple times in in
I think in Psalms and Proverbs From everlasting to everlasting
you understand that's the definition of everlasting Without beginning
and without end from everlasting to everlasting Can't get a hold
of that. I really wish I could But he's
the everlasting God from everlasting to everlasting. He's God He is
the Lord let him do what he wills You know why they said that because
he's the Lord he's going to do as he wills among all the armies
of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay
his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? And that's the way
it always has been and the way it always shall be. He has no
beginning and he has no end because the everlasting God is eternal. Where was God before the beginning?
He was there. He was there. He's everywhere.
He's everywhere. He is, by definition, the self-existent
one. He has no beginning and no end,
and guess what? The everlasting son was with
God in the beginning, and the everlasting son was God from
the beginning. The Lamb slain from before the
foundation of the world. Oh my. An everlasting God and
an everlasting God gives an everlasting mercy. Here's another one, Psalms 103
verse 17. But the mercy of the Lord, the
mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. upon them that
fear him and his righteousness unto children's children. God's
mercy is eternal, eternal, without beginning or end. What did he
say about his mercy? Well, he said I'll be gracious
to whom I'll be gracious. He said I'll have mercy on whom
I'll have mercy. and he has had mercy on us from
the beginning until no end. How's that possible? Well, he's
God. He's God. Jesus Christ is God. Proverbs tells us I was set up
from everlasting. From the beginning or ever the
earth was. That's from Proverbs chapter
eight where it's speaking of wisdom. And that wisdom is Jesus
Christ. Jesus Christ was set up from
everlasting, from the beginning, wherever the earth was. Because
Jesus Christ is the everlasting wisdom of God. His mercy endures forever. He has everlasting mercy for
his people. You understand, he says, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy. He didn't say I'll have
mercy when I'll have mercy. There's no time element given
with God. If God's merciful towards you, he always has been merciful
towards you. If God is gracious towards you,
he always has been gracious towards you. It's just you don't know
about it. He knew. He knows, and he always
has known. And here's what's good. The everlasting
God who has everlasting mercy is also the everlasting King. 1 Timothy 1 and 17. Now unto the King eternal. eternal everlasting Immortal
invisible the only wise God be honor and glory forever and ever
Amen Also in the Old Testament Psalm 93 in verse 2 says this
thy throne is established of old Thou art from everlasting
Thou art from everlasting Now I said it before, I'll say it
again. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Here
it says he's the king eternal. The everlasting king. What's
that mean? Without beginning and without
end. That's what the word means. We
say that Christ was king. People are waiting for Jesus
Christ to come back as king. He was king when he was here.
He was king before he came here. He's king right now, now he's
just coming back this time with it written on his thigh and on
his vesture. But he has always been the king of kings and lord
of lords. He is the eternal king. Now a few knew it when he was
here before, but most people didn't know. But I'm gonna tell
you this, next time he comes, more are going to know it and
they're not gonna like it. They're gonna cry for the rocks
in the mountains to come cover them. From who? From the eternal
king. The everlasting king. They're
not gonna like it, but they're gonna know. And lastly here for this part.
And I saw another angel fly into the midst of heaven. This is
Revelation 14 and verse six. Having the everlasting gospel. to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. The everlasting God has his everlasting
gospel. I like that. You know the great thing about
good news, Walter, is everlasting. It's everlasting. His good news,
his gospel, it didn't have a beginning and it didn't have an end. I
already said it, he's the lamb slain from before the foundation
of the world, prophesied in the garden. The first time the gospel was
preached, Jesus Christ preached it to Adam and Eve. People think we're making up
new stuff when we talk about election and redemption and salvation. Oh No, it's not new. It's not
new. It may be new to you. It may
be new to you, but it's not new. It's fun pulling this book His
throne was established of everlasting established of old The gospel
is everlasting. The gospel is perpetual. I like that The good news of
Jesus Christ has no beginning and it'll have no end. You understand? We're gonna be rejoicing in that
lamb slain from before the foundation of the world throughout all eternity.
Of his kingdom, there shall be no end. Oh, I like that. That's good news. That's good
news. And we have been granted, given
the right the duty, the responsibility, the privilege, and the pleasure
to preach and to hear his everlasting gospel. It's an amazing thing. I read it here. Now to him that is of the power
to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ according to the revelation What of the mystery
which was kept secret since the world began? It wasn't known. This gospel was
not known as it is now, but is now made manifest by the scriptures
of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known unto all nations for the obedience of the faith.
The gospel is no longer a mystery. The lamb slain from before the
foundation of the world has come. And he was slain, as was foretold
in the Old Testament. There's no mystery about it.
The only question is, will you believe the good news? Will you
believe his gospel? The gospel of the everlasting
God, the gospel of the everlasting Son. It's a pleasure to hear
his gospel. And sometimes it's a pleasure
to preach it. But here's the thing. There is no end to the
good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's an everlasting gospel. It's an everlasting gospel of
an everlasting God. So what's the conclusion? God
is everlasting. Eternal and forever. and the
believer's life is hid with Christ in God. And this life is in his son,
the eternal son. That may not be much of an explanation,
but that's the truth. That's the truth. Question is,
do you believe him? I was listening to Henry the
other day, And he got to talking, he says, I know a lot of places
are caught up with bringing people into church. And believe me,
folks, if you're listening, you're more than welcome here, as long
as you behave yourself, that's all we ask. People are caught
up with bringing people into church, bringing people into
church. He says, if you hunger and thirst after righteousness,
you'll come to be filled. If you're hungry, you'll come
to the table and eat of the words of life. If you're thirsty, you'll
come to the well and you'll drink. He said his problem was he didn't
know many hungry people, he didn't know many thirsty people. And I mean, you know, he said
this was 40 years ago, back in the 70s, I'm listening to tapes
from the 70s. And you know what, the gospel's
still the same. He's saying there's people there
where he was at that he wasn't sure why they were there. Because
they don't seem to pay attention to what anybody says. But here's
the thing, this man saved sinners. the everlasting God with an everlasting
salvation and sent his everlasting gospel and tells us that he saves
sinners. So if you labor and are heavy
laden, this is the everlasting God for you. This is the everlasting
son for you. because Jesus Christ has saved
every sinner that comes to him, everyone. And he saved them through
his everlasting mercy, his everlasting redemption, his everlasting salvation,
his everlasting life, his everlasting consolation, that's from 2 Thessalonians
2.16, and we are given an everlasting inheritance, that's
Hebrews 9 and 15. And we are given this everlasting
inheritance in his everlasting kingdom. That's 2 Peter 1 and
11. And all of this is done through
his everlasting honor and power. First Timothy six and verse 16.
and by his everlasting purpose. That's in Ephesians 3 and verse
11. In his everlasting glory. I like that, that's 1 Peter 5
and 10. The everlasting God does everlasting
work. I don't know anything in here
where God's done anything temporary. We're temporal people. I know
a little bit about right now, I know nothing about tomorrow.
God knows everything. He knows how we got to this point.
I can only speculate. Because you understand, I don't
trust some of man's history books, Mason. And the ones I do trust are the
ones I agree with. So where's he at with that? I
don't want to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. No. This prophecy's
right here. And every word has come true.
Why? Because he's the everlasting
God of everlasting power. And not only power, honor. Everlasting honor. Shall not
the judge of all the earth do right? Listen, if he did it,
It's right. You understand? You don't take
what's right and judge God by it, no. You take what God does
and you know it's right. He's the everlasting God. And Jesus Christ is the everlasting
Christ. He is the everlasting Christ.
He is seated at the right hand of the majesty on high and he
ever lives to make intercession for us. Who? Sinners. Sinners. The everlasting God does everlasting
work. And you know what you can say
about that? Jesus has done all things well. And he always will. Heavenly Father, thankful for
this time and this place. Thank you most of all for your
son, our Lord, in whom you've given us all things that pertain
to life and faith. They're all your creation and
they're both eternal. Thank you, Lord. Be with Paul
and Walter as they come to preach your word. and bless us with
the meaning of your son in his gospel. Amen.