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. For this morning's message, if
you wish to follow along, I will read a verse from Paul's epistle
to Timothy, that's 1 Timothy 1. And in 1 Timothy 1, verse
15, we read these words of the Apostle Paul. This is a faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. My subject, my title
this morning, and my subject is, Here is God's Record of His
Son. But think about this, this verse,
a faithful saint. It's worthy of all acceptation
in here that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
What a statement of hope if you know you're a sinner, if you
know you're a sinner. What a blessing of declared mercy
and grace it is if God has convinced you that you are a sinner. And
according to God's book, the apostle John lets us know this
in John chapter 16 verse 8, that it is the spirit of God that
convinces men of sin. It is not my job to convince
men of sin. It is my responsibility to preach
what sin really is, what sin's all about, but it is the Holy
Spirit that must convince or convict or reprove a man or a
woman of sin. Yes, it is true. It is true. All men and women are sinners
by nature. We know that's true, of course,
from Romans 3.23, for all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God, but not all men and women know and are convinced
of this. Our Lord Jesus Christ even gave
these words in Matthew 9, verses 10-13. And the Lord Jesus Christ
taught this. He said, I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance. He said, if a man's whole, he
doesn't need a physician. You see, it's only those that
God Almighty, by His power and His prerogative, by His Spirit,
that He, through the preaching of the Gospel, by the power of
the Spirit of God, convinces a man or a woman that they're
a sinner. Then, when He does that, they will read this with
great joy and great hope. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners. You see, this state that is the
state of being a sinner is something that the sinner never outgrows. Because Paul goes on to say,
think of it, he's writing under the inspiration of the Spirit
of God. He's a man who's preached the gospel for years and suffered
for the cause of Christ for years. Preached his gospel under distress
at some times and trouble and tribulation and sufferings. But
yet he writes, of whom I am chief. So a true God taught sinner. A sinner that's taught by God
that they are a sinner. They never outgrow being a sinner. But the truth is much more than
a sinner is saved. It's much more than that. The
truth that Paul's getting at here is much more than a sinner
saved by grace and then that sinner never gets over being
saved by grace. Note Paul's exact words. Look
at what he says. That Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. It does not say that Christ Jesus
came into the world so sinners could be saved. That is true. The book teaches that Jesus Christ
came into the world and he did what he did and now sinners can
be saved, but that's not what Paul says here. He says that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. But let me make
it also clear, it never states in the book of God. Never is
it stated or even insinuated. Never is it taught in God's word
that Jesus Christ came into the world to make salvation possible. No, no sir, that is not the truth. He came to save sinners while
he was here in this world. You see, Let me ask you this. Would you be surprised if I say
to you, when Christ Jesus came into the world, he did save sinners? Would you be confused if I say,
when Christ Jesus came into the world, he, in his sufferings,
in his death on the cross, he actually, when he suffered and
died on the cross, that he actually reconciled he actually made peace
for, and he actually put away the sins of, that he actually
sanctified and perfected, that he actually brought to God those
for whom he died when he died. Did you hear what I just said?
Let me say that again. I know it's a little lengthy,
but think about this. If you're listening to me and
you're interested in the truth, you want to know the truth about
the person and work of Christ, think about this. When Christ
came into the world, he, in his sufferings and death on the cross,
he actually, when he suffered and died on the cross, he reconciled,
he made peace for, he put away the sins of, he sanctified and
perfected, he brought to God those for whom he died when he
died. If that surprises you, then you've
never heard the truth of the gospel of the cross work of Jesus
Christ. It's just a fact. The gospel. Hear me now. Don't turn away
now. Listen to what I have to say. Listen to what the scriptures
say. I want to go to a few passages
of scripture and let's look at exactly what is written in the
word of God. and see what does God actually
say in the scripture about what Jesus Christ accomplished when
he died on that cross. Now, if you're following along,
turn to 1 Peter 3, and listen to what Peter writes. 1 Peter
3, and I have just one verse. Let's look at it. 1 Peter chapter
three again, and let's look at verse 18. Now look at this. We'll go through these scriptures,
just four or five of them here. For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins. Christ is not suffering for sins
now. He is not making atonement for
sins now. He is not reconciling now. He
is not making peace now. He's already suffered for sins
and he'd done it once. For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just, that's Christ, for the unjust, that's sinners,
that's sinners. For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.
Do you see it? Look at it. It says right there
that he might bring us to God. So I stopped for a moment in
reading this and say, how? How is it that he might bring
us to God? Most teach today that he died on the cross and made
it possible that at some later time, now even in this time,
when you hear preaching and you go forward, you pray the sinner's
prayer, or you believe and you repent, or you believe and you
repent and are baptized, then Christ brings you to God. That
is not what this says. Now look at it. Read it with
me again if you're following along. And if you're not, just
listen to what it says. For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."
So those that Christ did bring to God, He did bring to God when
he died on that cross. And somebody says, preacher,
explain that to me. I don't have to explain it. I'm preaching
what God says. The question is, do I believe
that? Do you believe that? Look at another passage. Hebrews
chapter one, excuse me. Hebrews chapter one. And let's
look at exactly what this says. Hebrews chapter one, and mainly
verses one through three. Look at it. If you're following
along, follow along with me as I read. If you're not, if you're
just listening, listen to what it says. God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by
the prophets. hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also he made the worlds, 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 stop for a moment.
You notice, if you're following, I stopped for a moment. But now
notice what it says next. Notice what is written in the
pages of Holy Scripture. When He had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. So when did Christ purge sins? He does not purge sins. This book does not teach your
sins are purged. It never says they're purged
when you believe or you repent or you are baptized or you join
the church. Sins were purged when he died
on that tree and then he went to glory and sat down on the
right hand of the majesty on high. Now here's the question.
Did he or did he not do these things then? on the cross, that's
the gospel question. That's where faith lays hold
of. It's not about he died so I could
be saved if I do this. It is he died, he brought a people
to God, that is everyone for whom he died, he brought them
to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the
spirit. And when he died on that tree, he purged sins. He purged sins and then went
and sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Did he
or did he not? Again, I ask. Did he or did he
not do these things on the cross? I also mention to you, not only
that he brought a people to God, not only that he purged a people's
sins, that's those for whom he died, but also said that he sanctified
and perfected a people when he died. Look, same book, Hebrews
chapter 10. And listen to what Hebrews chapter
10 says, and for the sake of time this morning, I will begin
in verse eight. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse
eight, above, when he said that this is Christ speaking, and
this is actually being quoted from the Old Testament. So this
is no new thing. It was certainly, it was prophesied
by God. But in the purpose, in the mind
of God, it was already accomplished in that purpose. And in time,
Jesus Christ came and actually did these things. This is what
he says above. When he said, sacrifice and offering
and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither
has pleasure therein which are offered by the law. Then said
he, lo, I come to do thy will, O God. This is still Christ speaking.
He, that is Christ, taketh away the first, that is the old sacrifices,
offering of bulls and goats and lambs and turtle doves, all these
things. I come to do thy will, O God.
He taketh away the first that he may establish the second.
Now, did he do that or did he not? Yes, faith says yes, he
did. But look at what else it says.
By which, by the which will, we are sanctified. How? How are we sanctified? I know
a lot of people have a lot of different opinions about how
and when a man or a woman is sanctified. But listen, oh listen
if you can. Listen to what the book of God
says. By the witch will, we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. once for all, and every
priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices which can never take away sins but this man. after
he had offered one sacrifice, four sins, forever sat down on
the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be
made his footstool. And now here it is, look, here's
the kicker. Four by one offering. He's not offering himself anymore.
He offered one sacrifice, four sins, forever. And then he went
and sat down at the right hand of God the Father. For by one
offering, he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Do
you see that? So when did Christ sanctify and
perfect anyone? When did he do it? He is not
doing this now. I'm not saying there is no sanctification
and no perfection that happens in time, even now. But I am saying
that this book teaches that when Jesus Christ died, Whoever he
died for, he sanctified them and perfected them then. This
is what the book of God teaches. You see, in his cross work, he
did this. In his cross work, he did this. This work is accomplished. This
is what he was talking about when he cried on the cross, it
is finished. He was not talking about his
life was finished. He was not talking about merely
I'm ready to die now. I'm ready to give up the ghost,
which he did do. But he's saying it is finished.
What? Sanctification and perfection is done. It's done. He did it while he was on that
tree. And as I said, this is no new doctrine. If you're still
following along, if you're still with me, turn to Isaiah chapter
53. And I want to read a few verses
from Isaiah chapter 53. This is no new doctrine. This is no new teaching. I realize
this is probably not being taught in most places called churches,
but this is the gospel. This is the truth that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sinners. And I'm saying
that this book teaches that Jesus Christ, when he died, saved some
people. Yes, they must still be regenerated. Yes, they must
still be converted by the preaching of the gospel. But Jesus Christ
guaranteed all those things by doing what he did at Calvary.
And listen what was prophesied of him by Isaiah the prophet
in Isaiah chapter 53, and we'll begin in verse eight. This is
speaking of Christ. 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
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. These are real, true,
accomplished things. These things are done and over
with. But look at what else it says.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. That does not mean that
God the Father sat up in heaven and laughed when Jesus died and
suffered, when suffered and died. No, but it means God was satisfied.
the pleasure of God's holiness and his righteousness and his
wrath was satisfied and quenched by what Jesus Christ was doing
on that cross. Look, yet it pleased the Lord
to bruise him. He, that is God the Father, he
hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering
for sin. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days and
the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. If you believe, and I know a
lot of people were taught this. I was taught this years ago.
If you believe that Jesus Christ came to make it merely possible
that everybody be saved, and that is God's pleasure, then
you've got to admit, you've got to come to reckon with this,
that God's pleasure and God's will failed. And that is just
not so. Look at what he says. The pleasure. of the Lord shall prosper in
his hand. He, that is the father, shall
see the travail of his, the son's, soul, and shall be satisfied. When was God satisfied? Then,
when Christ suffered on that tree. By his knowledge shall
my righteous servant justify many. Why? Because he died for
many. Many. For he shall bear their
iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the full with the
strong, because he poured out his soul into death, and he was
numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. I have a question
again. Do you see? Do you see? Do you see? Do you believe that
Jesus Christ actually accomplished this in his cross work? Now that's what men and women
believe or they reject. That's what they believe or reject.
The gospel is the declaration that Jesus Christ actually accomplished
salvation when he died on that tree. And men and women either
believe that message by the grace of God, or they reject that message
by their own depraved wills and heart, and they perish. Do you
see that? Do you see that when Christ suffered
and died on the cross, he actually did accomplish some real salvation
for those for whom he suffered and he died? This is his cross
work. I have one more passage. Romans
chapter five. Turn to that one. Romans chapter
five, and let's read what it says there. And remember, let's
look at what the words actually say. I'm in reading them and
trying to explain them. You really don't need them explained. You just need them emphasized.
And that's what I'm trying to do. Emphasize what it's actually
saying and teaching in the words. Romans chapter five. Let's look
at verse six. Again, for the sake of time.
For when we were yet without strength. How much strength do
we have? None. Zero. This is not talking
about physical strength. A lot of people have physical
strength. This is spiritual strength. And men and women by nature have
no spiritual strength. We cannot help ourselves. But
look at what it says. For when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for, who did Christ die
for? Christ died for the ungodly. Do you see that? I'm here to
tell you this morning, if you think yourself to be a righteous
person, then you got no right to think Jesus Christ died for
you, because Jesus Christ died for who? The ungodly. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die, and that's righteous men
among men, not a righteous man in the sight of God. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good
man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Notice all the emphasis here
is upon Jesus Christ and his cross work. That which he went
through on that cross when he died once for all time. But God
commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more then, see it? But since this is so, it's even
much more than that, Paul says. Much more than. Being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. And someone
says, preacher, what does that mean? Paul's going to explain
to us what that means. Next verse, verse 10. For if,
when we were enemies, not believers, not baptized believers, not baptized
church member believers, but 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. Do you see
that? Yes, he is writing to believers,
and actually he is writing only to believers, but he's writing
to believers about a time when they were not believers. And
specifically for these people here at Rome, They were actually
alive during the time of Christ. Many of them were probably actually
alive during the time of Christ, but they were unbelievers. They
were enemies. They were against God, and yet
Christ had reconciled them even while they were an enemy. And
how did he do it? Excuse me. By the death of his
son. Again, much more, being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his life. And not only that, he says, not
only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received the atonement, or that word could
be reconciliation, the reconciliation. You see, this passage is plain. It's in black and white. It's
even translated into English for those of us who speak English. And it is saying clearly here,
now hear me now, because this is the gospel. It is saying that
everyone for whom Jesus Christ died, he reconciled them to God
when he died. When he died. And the fact that
he died for them assures assures that they, by Jesus Christ himself,
will receive that reconciliation. So again, I say, do you see that
when Christ Jesus suffered and died on the cross, that he actually
accomplished some real salvation for those for whom he suffered
and died? I will give you that statement
again. I will begin it with what Paul says in 1 Timothy 1, verse
15, a portion of that verse. When Christ Jesus came into the
world, He, in His sufferings and death on the cross, He actually,
when He so suffered and died on the cross, He reconciled. He made peace for. He put away
the sins of. He sanctified and perfected. He brought to God, you hear me? I said he brought to God those
for whom he died when he died. And again I point out, if you've
never heard that, and this is the first time you've ever heard
a man say that, then this is the first time you've ever really
heard the gospel. I pray God Almighty's Spirit
brings you under conviction and brings you to bow to this truth.
Consider this, consider this. Hear me now. Don't turn away
just these last few, last couple minutes, two or three minutes.
Hear me now. This is the record. You see it? This is the, and
I've only read but a brief portion of this book that declares this
same truth over and over and over again. This is the record. And as I said, as I mentioned,
this is my title and subject. Here is the record of God's Son.
I have given to you the record of God's Son. Now I want you,
if you're still following along, if you're still with me, turn
to 1 John chapter five. And let's look at what John says
about this. I may put this this way. Here is a summary of the
Apostle John to all of these things that I've said this morning.
And I've only scratched the surface. I've only scratched the surface.
This is what it says, 1 John chapter five and verse nine.
If we receive the witness of men, and most of us do, we pick
up that phone and we type in that person that tells us where
to go and when to turn right and when to turn left and all
of that, and we take them at their word. Listen to this. If
we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater,
for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself. He that believeth not God hath
made him a liar. They're saying God didn't really
do what God promised He would do through Jesus Christ. because
he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record that God
hath given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, do you
see it? He that hath the Son hath life. Notice it doesn't even really
say he that hath faith has life, although that is certainly true.
But it's he that hath the son, why? Because faith looks to Christ. It believes that Christ did what
this book says he did when he died on that cross. He that hath
the son hath life, and he that hath not the son of God hath
not life. Question is, do I believe that?
The question also is do you believe that? Do you believe the record
God gave of his son? I pray that God Almighty will
make you to believe that record even this day. I want to remind
you and encourage you that we also have on this WVVACW at 12
noon a portion of one of our Sunday morning broadcasts. I
would encourage you to tune in and to listen.