All right, let's stay right there
in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. I'm going to read a couple of
these verses over. If you look at verse 1, moreover
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel. The word gospel,
as you know, means good news. I declare unto you the good news,
which I preached unto you. which also you have received
and wherein you stand. The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation, the scripture tells us. It's the power of God. And so if anyone receives it
and stands in it, stands firm in it, we give glory to God. We don't give glory to the person.
We give glory to God. We attribute it to God's power. God's goodness, God's grace,
God's mercy in Christ. And he says, by which also you
are saved if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless
you believed in vain. There are some who claim to believe
this gospel, but they believe in vain. And what's the difference? Well, the difference is the grace
of God. But he says, if you keep in memory, that literally means
to hold fast. The gospel is a message of complete
salvation, all conditioned on and accomplished by the Lord
Jesus Christ in his obedience unto death as the surety, the
substitute, the redeemer, and the preserver of his people.
And so those who claim to believe the true gospel, and we need
to understand this now, not everybody who claims to believe the gospel
believes the true gospel. There are false gospels. The
Bible teaches that, shows us that. There are perversions of
the truth. There are counterfeits. And so
we're not talking about them. We're talking about those who
profess to believe the true gospel, and then they don't stand fast,
they don't keep on. And of course, we know that God,
if we're truly saved, he preserves his people unto glory. And those
who leave it, or apostatize, as the scripture says, from it,
They never believed it to begin with. And when Paul says, if
you keep in memory, if you stand fast, again, I always make this
distinction because it's so important, especially in light of today's
majority heresy, is the if there is not conditional, it's evidential. If you keep in memory, if you
claim to believe the gospel and you stay there, it's by the power
and grace of God, then that's evidence that you've been saved
by grace. You'll be saved by grace, kept by grace, and you'll
be glorified by grace in Christ. And if you don't, believed in
vain, that's what he says. Now look at verses three and
four. He says, for I delivered unto you first of all that which
also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures. Verse four, that he was buried
and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures.
I'll never forget this. It's when I first moved to Albany
back in 1985. I was preaching on what is the
gospel from Romans 1, 16 and 17 mainly, where Paul said, I'm
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it's the power of
God and the salvation. And I was making the points of
how the true gospel taken in light of the revelation of our
sinfulness and our depravity shows how God can be both a just
God and a Savior, and save us through His grace, through Christ,
the righteousness of God, and I was showing how all that, and
there was a lady that was there, she was visiting, it was just
her first time being here, and as she was going out the door,
she said, I thought the gospel was the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ. And this is where she gets that
from. And often you'll hear people say, the gospel is the death,
burial, and resurrection of Christ. In other words, it's just the
preaching of his death, he died for our sins, his burial, he
was buried, and then he arose again the third day. And I told
her this, I said, well, those historical facts are included
in the gospel as I just preached. But the Bible says more than
just Christ died for our sins and that he was buried. and that
he arose again. And the key phrase here on that
issue in verses three and four is the phrase according to the
scriptures. Now, the scriptures certainly
say that Christ died for our sins. That's according to the
scriptures. But is that all it says? The scriptures say that he was
buried and that he arose again the third day. But is that all
that it says? Oh, no, it says a lot more than
that, doesn't it? It says something about why he died for our sins. It says something about God's
plan and purpose from the foundation of the Bible. This is the scriptures
now. Somebody said, well, you're just
complicating it. Well, I got news for you. I didn't
write this. This book was not authored by
Bill Parker. The scriptures, what is the scripture?
That's the written word of God. The Bible says something about
who it is that died. Who is Jesus? It's not just that
Christ died, a particular person died. And who is he? Well, the Bible says he's God
manifest in the flesh. Now, do you know anybody who
claims to be a Christian who denies either one of those truths,
his deity or his humanity? I do. There's a whole denomination,
Jehovah's Witnesses, they deny his deity. But they'll tell you
Christ died for their sins. You see what I'm saying? They
denied the true Christ. And then? The scriptures tell
us that he died according to the will of God for the sins
of a people that were given to him before the foundation. Well,
that's what the scriptures say. Somebody says, well, you're saying
everybody has to know everything and have their own. I'm just
telling you what the scriptures say, who it is, why he died. He died to establish the righteousness
of God. Most people who claim to be Christian,
they don't even know what that is. the justice of God, the righteousness
of God. False Christianity is that which
denies either the glorious person of Christ and or denies or diminishes
the death of Christ, the finished work of Christ. What did he accomplish? Do the scriptures say anything
about that? About what Christ accomplished? Many people today,
they believe in a Christ who died to make it possible for
you to be saved if you'll do your part. If you will just fan
that spark of goodness within and let it come out in your faith. Now my question, is that what
the scriptures teach? The answer is no. Scriptures
teach that man's dead in trespasses and sins, and if left to himself,
he will not choose Christ. False Christianity claims that
Christ died for all without exception, even for those who perish. Now
my question is this, is that the justice of God revealed in
the gospel? And the answer's no, according
to the scriptures. Our text says that he died for
our sins. according to the scriptures.
Well, do the scriptures say that he died for the sins of every
individual without exception, even those who perish? And the
answer is no, it does not say that. If Christ died on the cross for
my sins. Now that's the title of the message.
If Christ died for me. When you look at that passage
and you say, it says Christ died for our sins. Does the hour there,
does it include me? That's what I wanna know, how
about you? Am I in that hour? Well, if that means everybody
without exception, I would be included, but even for those
who perish, where does that leave me? Where does that tell me to go?
If he died for, if the hour there is everybody without exception,
and even for those who perish eternally, Where do I have to
go? I'll tell you exactly where I
have to go. Right here. It's up to me. It's my choice. Now, do the scriptures
teach that? The answer is no. So here's what I wanna do. I
wanna give you several things here. If Christ died for me,
then there are several things that the scriptures say about
me. then I cannot deny if I'm going
to believe the scriptures. So if Christ died for me, what
does God's word say about me? If he died for me, all right,
here's what it says. Number one, if Christ died for
me, then it tells me that I'm a sinner who cannot save myself. I need salvation if he died for
me. And what did he die for? My sins.
I'm a sinner. I fell in Adam into a state of
sin and death, that's what the scriptures say, and I'm born
spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. And in myself, I have
no capacity, spiritually, to make the right choice. If Christ
died for me, that's what the scripture says. The natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he
know them. They're spiritually discerned. All who have received him have
received him because they've been born again. Romans 5 and
verse 8, we read it. God commendeth his love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1.15,
this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am
chief. Matthew 121 says his name shall
be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.
So if Christ died for me, I'm a sinner who cannot save myself. My works will not save me and
my choice will not save me if Christ died for me. Number two, if Christ died for
me according to the scriptures, Then it tells me that God chose
me before the world began. Appointed Christ to be my surety. Charged my entire sin debt to
Christ. Think about it. That's what the
scripture says. Listen to this in Hebrews chapter
two and verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behooved
him. What does that mean? It means
that he was obligated. To be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. What
is it to make reconciliation for the sins of the people? It
means their sins are all taken away. Isaiah 53 and verse four, surely
he hath borne our griefs, carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, afflicted. but he was wounded
for our transgressions. This is a message, this is a
fact that was set up before this world ever began. Paul spoke
of it in 2 Timothy 1, of salvation which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began. If Christ died for me, the Bible
tells me, the scriptures tell me that God chose me. before
the foundation of the world. And it wasn't based upon anything
he foresaw that I would do or would not do. It was totally
his free, sovereign choice. Paul wrote of it. Peter wrote
of it. John wrote of it. The Old Testament
is full of it. Think about it. It's not of him
that runneth. It's not of him that willeth,
but of God that showeth mercy. That's what the scriptures say
about me. Here's the third thing. Now listen to this. The Bible
tells me, the scriptures tell me that if Christ died for me,
God cannot and will not charge my sins to me or condemn me for
them. That's what the scriptures teach.
Romans 8.33, who shall lay anything to the charge of those who elected
God? I saw some furrowed brows there.
And you know why? Because I misquoted that, didn't
I? That's not what it said. It doesn't say who shall lay
anything to the charge of those who elected God. It says who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect, whom God chose. That's what the scripture says.
It is God that justified. Now what does that tell you?
God justified his elect. And therefore they cannot be
condemned. Romans 8 34. Who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that died. Yea, rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. If Christ died for me, God
has justified me. He cannot charge my sins to me.
He cannot condemn me. And Christ is seated at the right
hand of the Father, interceding for me. But let me go on to the fourth
thing. It's related right here. If Christ died for me, God has
imputed the righteousness of Christ to me for my justification. God cannot impute my sins to
me. He cannot charge me with sin. They've been taken away.
He'll remember them no more. He will not lay them to my charge.
He will not bring up them on record. They're not on record.
They've been erased. They've been erased by the blood
of the Lamb of God. My name was written in the Lamb's
book of life before the foundation of the world. That Lamb slain,
worthy is the Lamb that was slain. He was charged with my sins.
He was made sin for me. And I'm made righteous in Him.
What is it to be justified? It means to be forgiven. On a
just ground. And what is that just ground?
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood. But the
world will say, well that's no good unless you seal the deal. Unless you make the choice. No. Forgiveness is forgiveness in
God's sight. God would be unjust to send any sinner to hell for
whom Christ died. That's what the scriptures teach.
The gospel is the revelation of the righteousness of God.
But see, to be justified means that I'm declared righteous in
the sight of God. Do the scriptures declare that?
Romans 4, 6, even as David also described the blessedness of
the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. David testified of that over
in Psalm 32 when he said, Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord will not impute sin. Do you understand that? If Christ died for me, He put
my sins away. He purged me from all my sins. And God cannot condemn a sinner
for whom Christ died. That's what the scriptures say.
He died for our sins according to the scripture. He was buried
and arose again according to the scriptures. Here's the fifth
thing. If Christ died for me, then by his death on the cross,
Christ paid the full redemption price for me and secured my salvation. The price is paid. Redemption
is finished. Redeemed, oh, how I love to proclaim
it. Redeemed by the blood of the
Lamb. There's no more price to be paid.
There's no more offering for sin, Hebrews 10 tells us. For
by one offering, he hath perfected, completed, finished forever. them that are sanctified, those
whom God set apart and gave to him. One offering. By his one act, he purged our
sins. The price has been paid. Salvation
is secure. Christ said it in John 6, 37,
all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. By his death on the cross, he
completed it. Let me show you another one.
Here's the sixth thing. If Christ died for me, God will, without
fail, at his appointed time, bring me under the preaching
of the gospel, give me spiritual life in the new birth, and bring
me to faith in Christ and repentance of dead works. If he died for me, I will be
born again. I will hear and believe the gospel
by the power of God. The gospel is the power of God
and the salvation to everyone that believe it. to the Jew first,
the Greek also, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live
by faith. Listen to this, this is Galatians four, verse four.
But when the fullness of the time was come, God's appointed
time, now when did God appoint this time? Now think about that. According to the scriptures,
before this world was ever created, God appointed this time. And
what did he do? He sent forth his son. That's
the deity of Christ. The second person of the trinity.
Made of a woman. That's his sinless humanity.
Made under the law. That's his responsibility for
the salvation of his people. He had to satisfy the law. To
do what? Verse five. To redeem them that
were under the law. That was his goal. But it didn't
stop there. Did He redeem us? The Bible says
He did. The scriptures say He did. He
didn't make redemption possible now. Jesus paid it all, the song
says. And He did. And He did it to
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. And because you are sons, and
when did we become sons? Children of God, before the foundation
of the world, according to the scriptures, God hath sent forth
the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
That's the new birth. This is one thing I know about
anybody for whom Christ died. Before they take their last breath
on this earth, they're gonna hear and believe the gospel by
the power of God. Somebody said, well, what about
infants? That's a different matter. And I'm not going to deal with
that this morning. And I'd take a whole three or four messages.
But I'll tell you what, there are sinners saved by grace. And they'll hear the gospel directly
from our Lord, I guess. But we can talk about that later
on. But here's what I'm saying. If
Christ died for my sins, they're going to hear and believe the
gospel. And here's the seventh thing.
If Christ died for me, God will, without fail, preserve me unto
glory and cause me to persevere in the faith. He will not let
me go. He will not allow me to forsake Him and apostatize from
Him. Over there in John 6, after he
said, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me, And him
that cometh to me, I will no wise cast out." He goes on to
say, this is the will of him that sent me, that of all which
he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day. In John chapter 10, he said,
no man will pluck them out of my Father's hand, his sheep.
Second Timothy 1, 12, Paul said, I know whom I have believed,
and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've
committed. unto him against that day. If
Christ died for me, God will without fail preserve me unto
glory, bring me to final glory. There's no way that I can lose
it. There's no way that I can give it away. It's something
he gave to me and he implanted in my heart and it'll never go
away. If Christ died for me, Now that's
what the scripture says when he talks about I've delivered
unto you that which I received. Paul received it from God. How that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures. How that he was buried and that
he arose again the third day according to the scriptures.
That's what we need to be concerned with. If I claim that Christ
died for me, if I claim to be saved, Is my claim according
to the scriptures? Or is it according to my thoughts,
my feelings, or the opinions of others? Where do I go? Go to God's Word. All right?