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Mike McInnis

Jeshurun #357

Mike McInnis • September, 17 2019 • Audio
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What does the Bible say about God's mercy?

God's mercy is a central theme in the Bible, demonstrating His compassion and grace towards sinners.

God's mercy is prominently featured in Scripture, often highlighted as a source of hope for those who recognize their unworthiness. In the sermon, it is noted that God's mercy endures forever, emphasizing that He sees His people clothed in the righteousness of Christ, even though they are guilty. Ephesians 2:4-5 states, 'But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.' This illustrates that God's mercy is foundational not only to His character but also to the salvation of those who are undeserving.

Psalm 136:1, Ephesians 2:4-5

How do we know the doctrine of imputed righteousness is true?

Imputed righteousness is affirmed in Scripture, showing that believers are viewed as righteous in Christ's sight.

The doctrine of imputed righteousness is integral to Reformed theology, rooted in the belief that Christ's righteousness is credited to believers. In the sermon, it is stated that those chosen by God are seen as righteous due to the imputed righteousness of Christ. This is supported by 2 Corinthians 5:21, which says, 'For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' This transformation occurs not based on our works but through faith in Christ, allowing God to see His people as 'without spot or blemish.' Thus, imputed righteousness stands as a core truth of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 4:5

Why is understanding election important for Christians?

Understanding election fosters gratitude for God's grace and assurance of salvation.

The doctrine of election, as described in the sermon, affirms that before the foundation of the world, God chose a people for Himself out of His mercy and grace. Ephesians 1:4 reminds us of this truth: 'Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.' Recognizing that our salvation is rooted in God's sovereign choice eliminates any notion of self-sufficiency and induces a deep sense of humility and gratitude. It comforts believers with the assurance that their salvation does not depend on their own efforts but on God's unchanging will and covenant promises. This understanding changes the way Christians live, prompting them to worship and serve in response to such grace.

Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:29-30

What does it mean that Christ is our Redeemer?

Christ, our Redeemer, bore our sins and paid the price for our salvation.

In the context of sovereign grace theology, Christ as our Redeemer means that He has taken upon Himself the sins of His people and paid the necessary price for their redemption. The sermon illustrates this by affirming that Jesus bore the sin debt incurred by our disobedience to God's law. Galatians 3:13 states, 'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.' This profound truth highlights not only Christ's sacrificial death but also the restoration He provides, bringing believers into a right relationship with God. Furthermore, the defeat of death as His servant assures believers that He reigns supreme, making redemption complete and securing eternal life for those who trust in Him.

Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. It is impossible that one of
the fallen sons of Adam could ever discover God by his own
searching. Canst thou by searching find
out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell,
what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer
than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he cut off and shut
up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? He is that
one who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no
man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to
whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. The Lord said to Israel
that He is the God of Jeshurun. Jeshurun literally means upright
or of an ideal character. We understand that He is speaking
in a spiritual manner and while there is a fulfillment of His
deliverance of this earthly nation from their enemies, He is actually
speaking of a promise which far exceeds that carnal blessing
and uses the nation of Israel as an illustration of His deliverance
of that true Israel of God, the elect bride which is hidden in
the bosom of Christ from before the foundation of the world.
He said that he is the God of Jeshurun, the upright, and yet
those to whom he is speaking are to the casual observer anything
but upright. In the same fashion, he speaks
of that bride of Christ as being without spot or blemish, yet
we find that she has been unfaithful to him time and again. In fact,
the Lord testified that those He came together unto Himself
are not fine, upstanding religious folk, but rather sinners of the
worst kind. When Jesus heard it, He saith
unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician,
but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance. So how is it that He is the God
of the upright, when it is obvious that those for which He came
into the earth are wicked men, worthy of death, and fed only
for destruction? It is this, that He has made
them upright in His own sight, by the imputed righteousness
of Christ. When came this righteousness to be imputed to them? Did He
who is of purer eyes than to look upon sin embrace them in
wickedness? No, a thousand times no. Yea,
before the foundation of the world, before ever any crimes
which they became guilty of by the breaking of the law to which
He subjected them to, He decreed them without sin in an everlasting
covenant with His Son. They were created upright and
appointed unto eternal life as those who are righteous in Christ
and made heirs and joint heirs with Him. If you ask them what
they are, they will hang their heads and confess that they are
guilty and hell-deserving sinners, unworthy of the least of His
mercies. They know that they should be destroyed for their
crimes against Him. Yet when the Lord looks upon
them, He sees nothing but the robe of Christ's righteousness,
which covers them from head to foot. He sees a people accepted
in the beloved, a nation of kings and priests, a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that they
should show forth the praises of him who hath called them out
of darkness into his marvelous light. Oh, that the Lord's people
might bow down and worship this God of Jeshurun. He is worthy
of praise. His mercy endureth forever, even
to those generations not yet born, which he sees in his Son,
an upright and perfect people. There is no remembrance of sin
with Him. He has embraced the holy people which are hidden
in His Son. The Scripture plainly speaks of one who is the Redeemer
and of a people who are the redeemed. The Lord Jesus Christ did come
into this earth made in the likeness of sinful flesh and owned the
account of sin. He did bear the sin debt which
His people incurred by their disobedience to the holy law
of God. He came to destroy all of the enemies of those people
which were chosen in Him. He has unsheathed and wet his
glittering sword and triumphed gloriously over all of his people's
enemies. Not one remains unbowed, yet
we see not yet all things put under him, since he has made
death his servant and uses that for his purpose until such time
as he is pleased with the brightness of his coming to cast it forever
away in the pit of destruction. Even so come, Lord Jesus. All
of the accusers of God's people are made liars, as their mouths
are stopped by the display of His absolute righteousness, which
He has called His people to stand in. They cannot be accused, for
there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Happy art
thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord,
the shield of thy help. And who is the sword of thy excellency,
and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt
tread upon their high places. In union with the Lamb, from
condemnation free, the saints from everlasting were, and shall
forever be. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.
Mike McInnis
About Mike McInnis
Mike McInnis is an elder at Grace Chapel in O'Brien Florida. He is also editor of the Grace Gazette.
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