Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Some preachers center their
teaching on the blessings that men may or may not receive relative
to their obedience to God. They often promote physical and
mental healing, formulas for happy marriages, and life in
general, financial windfalls, and practical monetary advice.
Then there are those who delight in certain tests which prove
whether or not a person is a true disciple, such as water baptism,
the length of one's hair, or head coverings for women. Some
become enamored with doctrines which may be true enough, but
they promote the form of the doctrine rather than the one
who is the substance of the doctrine. It does not matter how straight
one may be in dotting all of his theological eyes and crossing
all of the T's of his eschatology. If the crux of all of his preaching
or conversation is not Jesus Christ and him crucified, then
he has missed the gospel. Paul continually preached one
message, and his message was Christ. When he taught about
the Christian's relationship to the law, his message was Christ.
When he taught about the believer's place among the saints of God
in the local church, his message was Christ. If he taught on marriage,
his message was Christ. If he taught on giving, his message
was Christ. If he taught on the Lord's Supper
or baptism, his message was Christ. If he taught on walking in the
Spirit and not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, his message
was Christ. If he talked about putting on
the whole armor of God, his message was Christ. If Christ is the
center sum and substance of the gospel, then it behooves us not
only to be sure that we preach Christ, but that Christ which
we preach is the one of whom the scriptures bear record. And
this is the record that God has given to us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son. So who is this Christ? He is
the Savior of sinners, but God commendeth His love toward us,
and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He is not the
Savior of those who have some form of righteousness which they
can lay claim to. He is not the Savior of the moral
majority, good citizens, or those who help themselves. He is the
one in whom all truth is found, in whom are hid all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge. He is not just true, but truth
is wrapped up in him. If a man has seen the Son, he
has seen the Father. There is no further revelation
nor mystery which is not in and of him. He is the one who came
into the world for a particular purpose, and she shall bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. He determined to save his people
before the foundation of the world, and manifested his resolve
when he fulfilled his purpose at Calvary and the empty tomb.
So who is this Christ? He is mighty to save. But this
man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them. And I looked, and there was none
to help, and I wondered if there was none to uphold. Therefore
mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury it upheld
me. He is not trying to save all
and failing, but he is mighty to save everyone he has determined
to save. He is utterly triumphant. He
shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.
By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he
shall bear their iniquities. And having spoiled principalities
and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over
them in it. To the victor belong the spoils,
and he is pleased with the results of his labor, and has left nothing
undone, nor has he in any way left the redemption of his elect
to chance. He has borne their sin and imputed
his righteousness to them, so that there is therefore now no
condemnation to them. He shall yet raise our bodies
in like fashion as his. But now is Christ risen from
the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept, who shall
change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even
to subdue all things unto himself. Paul said that if the dead were
not raised, we who believe in the resurrection would have all
of our hopes overturned. He has placed within us the hope
of the resurrection, and we wait until our change occurs, content
that what he has promised, he will perform. He shall lose none
of those which were given to him by the Father. 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. His elect shall hear His voice
and come to Him, and none of those that thus come to Him shall
ever be cast out. Being confident of this very
thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ. For a free CD containing five
of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.