Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. When the Philippian jailer
cried out, sirs, what must I do to be saved? He was not given
a checklist or a decision card. Rather, Paul said, believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. This was not
a formula, which if the man followed, he would gain salvation. This
was a command by Paul for him to cast himself upon the mercy
of Christ, whom he had little, if any, knowledge of. How could
he believe on him of whom he had not heard? Thus we believe
that Paul was given grace to declare unto him the unsearchable
riches of Christ. And as the Lord gave him faith,
he did indeed believe on Christ. He rejoiced in the joyful sound. The gospel is a joyful sound
because it is a declaration of the supremacy of Christ, who
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. The gospel is a joyful sound
because it is a manifestation of the complete work of Christ
in the salvation of that people which he has loved with an everlasting
love. But we are bound to give thanks
all the way to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto he called you
by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. His choice of a people and his work in their behalf
ensures that everyone for whom he came into the world to redeem
shall obtain the glory to which they are ordained. All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And
this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which
he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day. The gospel is a joyful sound
because he who tasted death as every man has triumphed over
it, arising from the tomb upon the third day, laying aside his
grave clothes and clothed in a glory which he is pleased to
share with all of those for whom he came to deliver. But now is
Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also
the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own
order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's
at his coming. The sting of death is forever
taken away in Christ. The gospel is a joyful sound
because he who came into the world to save sinners shall so
come again in like fashion as he ascended into the heavens
to gather his purchased possession from every kindred, tribe, and
tongue upon the earth. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with
the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another
with these words. To be ever with the Lord is to
be found walking in the light of his countenance that is before
his face, a joyous place indeed for those who have known the
joyful sound. Blessed are the souls that hear and know the
gospel's joyful sound. Peace shall attend the path they
go and light their steps around. Their joy shall bear their spirits
up through their Redeemer's name. His righteousness exalts their
hope, nor Satan dares condemn. The Lord said joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons which need no repentance. This joy is begun even now in
the heart and mind of those sinners who have been granted repentance
by the mercy of God and who believe the gospel because of His grace.
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. They shall
walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name
shall they rejoice all the day, and in Thy righteousness shall
they be exalted. For Thou art the glory of their
strength, and in Thy favor our horn shall be exalted. For the
Lord is our defense, and the Holy One of Israel is our King. Have you heard that joyful sound?
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