Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The mantra of freewillism is
a comforting message for those unacquainted with the depths
of their own depravity and ignorant of their inability to approach
unto God or discover His whereabouts. It is especially appealing to
those who are religiously inclined and convinced that they can render
obedience to God whenever they feel like it and are satisfied
with various acts of devotion and service. Such men soon weary
of those who continually declare that there is none that seeketh
after God, and that all men without exception are lower than the
worms which devour a rotting corpse, and unable to perform
even the slightest degree of righteousness which would be
pleasing in the sight of a holy God. They generally label such
preachers as being negative and uncaring. They will often accuse
such preachers of accusing God of unrighteousness or of attributing
a man's lusts and wickedness to God. The man who has been
made aware of his depraved nature, received from his parents, knows
that he was conceived in sin, and has come forth from the womb
speaking lies. He cannot lay the blame for his
sinful and powerless condition at the feet of anybody but himself,
and can but lament the condition he finds himself in. Those who
preach the total depravity of men are simply telling the truth
without regard to result and in no wise make an excuse for
the wickedness of men. When the Spirit of God is pleased
to convince a man of sin, righteousness, and judgment, that man will find
no help in the platitudes of men, which are an encouragement
for him to do something about his situation. The more that
the Spirit is pleased to teach a man about his own corruption,
the less help he can find in any of the remedies which the
physicians of no value set forth as a sure cure. When a man is
convinced of his own powerlessness to conform to that which is commanded
by God, or to find a way wherein he might approach unto the presence
of God, he cannot be comforted by any deliverance which depends
upon his own actions in any form. Such a notion leaves him in complete
despair of any deliverance at all. There is no shortage of
those preachers who declare that a man can be saved whenever he
gets ready to be saved by an action of his own. They say all
that a man must do is believe. They view this action of belief
as though it is something men can perform and spend no little
bit of effort in trying to cajole and persuade men to do just that,
thinking that men can believe as a function of the same free
will. that they are convinced a man can use to make himself
pleasing in God's sight. We are quite convinced that all
who believe shall be saved. But we are also convinced that
apart from the grace of God bestowing the gift of faith to a man, none
shall ever do so. Not only that, but we see the
scriptures to teach that faith is the result of a man's favor
with God, rather than the cause of it. So the man who knows himself
to be a helpless sinner cannot ultimately be comforted by the
same message which might bring comfort to the man who thinks
he has the ability to perform acts of righteousness, which
cause his acceptance and favor with God. The man who knows himself
to be lost and undone needs, first of all, a Savior who is
mighty to save. Christ says of himself, I speak
in righteousness, mighty to save. He needs a Savior who has accomplished
the salvation of his people. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,
saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity
is pardoned. He needs a Savior who has triumphed
over all the enemies of the sons of God and taken away their sin. He rejoices to hear that Christ
was blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing
it to His cross. And having spoiled principalities
and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over
them in it. He needs a Savior who shall return
to gather his purchased possession. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that
where I am, there ye may be also. He needs a Savior whose deliverance
of his people is without end. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace,
you're saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages
to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. Blessed be His name forever. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.