Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. When the Lord Jesus was upon
the earth, he made this statement. Upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Some have wrongly surmised that the rock of which he speaks is
Peter, whose name means a stone or a rock. Yet he merely used
Peter's name by way of contrast, and the rock upon which his church
is built is not upon some fallible man, but rather upon his own
perfections and power. He is that living stone. Thus
he stated that even the very powers of hell could never overpower
it. He demonstrated the spiritual
nature of his kingdom when he rebuked Pontius Pilate with these
words, my kingdom is not of this world. Then he explained the
power of his kingdom at the same time. To this end was I born,
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth
heareth my voice. This is exactly what he had said
earlier to the Jews. 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 hath sent me, that of all which
he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on
him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the
last day. The success and furtherance of
the kingdom of God rests squarely upon the shoulders of him who
is the rock of offense and the stone which was rejected by the
wise builders, and who shall grind to powder all who do not
cast themselves upon his mercy. None of those shall perish for
whom he has come to seek and to save. It is his purpose to
give unto them his kingdom. He has triumphed over all of
their enemies, making a show of them openly, and has paid
every one of their debts by nailing them to his cross. The glory
of this kingdom is recounted each time the gospel of the glory
of the blessed God is declared. Who can overturn its precepts?
Thus his kingdom is established in the earth. Though the men
of this world cannot see it nor in any wise feel its power, yet
those to whom it is given rejoice in their king and exalt in the
magnification of his glory and the exaltation of his name. They
see his deliverance plainly revealed and find great comfort within
the walls of this city. This kingdom is compassed about
with truth. God is a spirit, and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. This
is not a kingdom which is built in any way upon man's grasp of
the truth, but rather this kingdom is established by the application
of the truth by the spirit of God. Howbeit when he, the spirit
of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. I will put
my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts,
and will be their God, and they shall be to me a people. This
kingdom is compassed about by grace, for the law was given
by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Truth believed
is the manifestation of grace applied. He that is of God heareth
God's words. He went on to describe those
who are his sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal
life, and they shall never perish. It is only by his grace that
any man can be called by his name. So then it is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth
mercy. This kingdom is compassed about
with righteousness. God accepted no man's person,
except that he be found perfectly righteous before him. Who shall
ascend unto the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy
place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Since
this is the standard of the kingdom, all men who are found clad in
garments of their own making are sure to be cast away. There
is only one whose righteousness exceedeth all that is required.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto
David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his
days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. And
this is his name, whereby he shall be called the Lord our
righteousness. This kingdom is compassed about
with imputation. He who is righteous has taken
the sin of his elect unto himself by imputation, and he has imputed
his righteousness unto them. For he hath made him to be sin
for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification
and redemption. Do you delight in this kingdom
and give him praise as the King of Kings? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.