Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Peter exhorts the people
of God to be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. In order to be
able to do that, it is necessary for a believer to know why and
whom he believes. We live in a time when it is
quite common to hear professing Christians confuse a belief in
God with having a hope in Christ. No spiritual light at all is
necessary for men to believe in God. The devils believe and
also tremble. Only a fool will say there is
no God. True saving faith in Christ is more than a simple
agreement to some terms or an acknowledgment of one's sins
and adherence to some creed or confession written down by men. It is more than the repetition
of some prescribed prayer or a formula that would-be soul
winners have concocted. It begins with a revelation of
light and life in the heart, brought about by the quickening
work of the Spirit of God. The gift of faith is manifested
in true believers as they hear the gospel and delight in it.
Saving faith is not a momentary work, but the lifelong vocation
of the Spirit in the children of God, as He works in them both
to will and to do of His good pleasure. He writes His law upon
their heart and leads them into all truth. They are made new
creatures without human effort, yet it is this transforming work
which evidences itself in them. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. There are definite truths which
the people of God embrace which sets them apart from common men
who have no knowledge of Christ. These things are the very foundation
upon which their confidence and hope in Jesus Christ is built.
1. The true and living God, who inhabits eternity, has designed
and ordained the redemption of a people in Jesus Christ, His
only begotten Son. 2. This same Jesus, being one
with the Father, is not ashamed to be called God. He is the total
revelation of all that the Father intends His people to know about
Him. Neither is there salvation in any other name. He is an absolute
sovereign God who holds sway over every aspect of the universe,
both seen and unseen. Number three, man's sin and his
willful disobedience to God has separated him from the favor
and enjoyment of his Creator, not only temporarily but eternally.
He is born into a state of condemnation and cannot escape from it by
his own power. Apart from the mercy of God being
extended to him, he will physically die in his sin and will taste
everlasting destruction in the pit of hell. Number four, Jesus
Christ is the Savior of sinners. He came to give light to those
who are in darkness, called the unrighteous to repentance, and
to set them free from the principle of sin and death. He has purchased
an eternal redemption for his people by his perfect obedience
to the law, by his death as an offering for their sin, and by
his resurrection from the dead, giving evidence of his triumph
over death as a man. Number five, in order for a man
to enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again. God who
is rich in mercy does indeed regenerate dead sinners and awakens
in them the light of life that they may both hear and believe
the gospel. This is an activity which is
entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. The moment of the new
birth cannot be discerned by men, but the evidence that it
has taken place can be known by the activity of men calling
upon the name of the Lord for salvation. Number six, when the
Spirit of God produces the new birth, the result is obedience
to the precepts of the gospel by those who are born again.
This obedience is the result of God's grace and not the cause
of grace being bestowed or earned. The obedience of God's children
is imperfect as long as they live in this sinful flesh, yet
they are considered as perfect in God's sight because of the
imputed perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. They enjoy the
blessings of God regardless of the physical circumstances they
are placed in. God works all things for their
good and never forsakes those who are the apple of his eye.
The scriptural exhortations and warnings about disobedience are
placed before them as a lamp unto their feet and a light unto
their path. 7. The Lord Jesus Christ will
return to earth in the same body in which he left it. He is presently
interceding before the throne of God in that body for those
who call upon his name. His presence there is a most
effective intercession. When he returns to the earth
in the final day, he will raise the dead bodies of his elect
children from the dust of the earth and cause them to live
again in bodies which are incorruptible and immortal. So shall we ever
be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another
with these words. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.