Name of the message today is
who is like Jehovah? Who is like Jehovah? Open your
Bibles if you would the Isaiah 46, but first of all, I'd like
you to go to Deuteronomy chapter 4 But our text will be found
in Isaiah chapter 46 But we need to go to Deuteronomy chapter
4 First now idolatry is the paying of divine honors
to any created thing. So we can conclude from that
that paying honor to anything but God is idolatry. Whether it be a person, thing,
a river, anything. And such idols include inanimate
objects. The Egyptians, they worshiped
the Nile River. Idols can also be animals, birds
and four-footed beasts and creeping things in Romans 1.23. And let
us remember that any animal that man bows down to, to worship,
becomes an idol. Or anything that man bows down
to, to worship, becomes an idol. Idols can be celestial bodies,
which men bow down to, in worship, the sun, the moon and the stars.
Look at Deuteronomy chapter four. We're starting verse 15, but
we'll read the verse 20. Take ye therefore good heed unto
yourselves, for you saw no manner of similitude on that day that
the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.
Lest you corrupt yourselves and make you a graven image. the
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the
likeness of any beast that is of the earth, the likeness of
any winged fowl that flyeth in the air, the likeness of anything
that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that
is in the waters beneath the earth. Unless thou lift up thine
eyes unto heaven, so men doesn't only make idols of things on
the earth, but look what the scriptures proclaim, unless thou
lift up thine eyes unto heaven, we'll now see as the sun and
the moon and the stars and even all the hosts of heaven should
this be driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord
thy God had divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
But the Lord hath taken you and brought you forth out of the
iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance
as ye are this day. Now people of old, again, worshiped
the forces of nature. They worshiped the fire and the
wind and... These two can be an idol that
men would bow down and worship to. And idolatry also includes
the worship of any God under image or symbol or the worship
of any such image or symbol itself. And this was prevalent in the
times when the scriptures were written. This was prevalent in
the times when our Lord was here upon the earth. And believe it
or not, it's still prevalent today. People still bow down
to worship and idols and stuff. When I was growing up, we had
crucifixes all over the house. Nothing but idols, beloved. Statues
of Mary, nothing but idols. People, there's statues of Buddha,
and there's statues of all these other things, and people worship
angels. Nothing new under the sun, is
there? Really isn't. Nothing new. Some people say,
well, that doesn't apply today. Yeah, it sure does. It sure does. It sure does. And these are all condemned in
Exodus. Exodus 20 verse 4 says thou shall not make unto thee
any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven
or that is in earth beneath or that is in the water under the
earth. These are condemned. Idols are condemned. Now turn,
if you would, to Isaiah chapter 46. We'll read the whole chapter
first and then we'll just go back and look at certain portions. Nebo stupid. Their idols were
upon the beasts and upon the cattle. Your carriages were heavy
loading. They are a burden to the weary
beast. They stoop. They bow down together. They
could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into
captivity. Harken unto me, O house of Jacob
and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by
me from the belly. which are carried from the womb.
And even to your old age, I am he. And even to the whore hairs
will I carry you. I have made and I will bear,
even I will carry and will deliver you. To whom will you liken me? And this is where the text comes
from for the message. Who is like Jehovah? To whom
will you liken me and make me equal? And compare me that we may be
like. They lavish gold out of the bag,
and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith, and make
it a god. They fall down, yea, they worship.
They bear him upon their shoulder. They carry him and set him in
his place, and he standeth from the place, shall he not remove
him? So they take their idol that
has been made, And they set Him in a certain place. They put
their God where they want their God. Oh my! They bear Him upon the shoulder,
they carry Him, they set Him in His place, and He standeth.
From His place shall He not remove. He can't move. Yea, one shall cry unto him,
yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember
this, and show yourselves, men, bring it again to mind, O ye
transgressors, remember the former things of old, for I am God. And remember he asked in verse
5, To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare
me, that ye may, that we may be like? For I am God, and there
is none else. There is none else. And there
is none like me. There's no one like Him. No one. Like Brother John was bringing
up, Jack Shanks was bragging on Him, and he's bragging on
the great God of glory, Jehovah. And there's none like Him. No
one. No one. There in the end from
the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not
yet done Saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure
Call on the ravenous bird from the east man that executed my
counsel from a far country Yeah, I've spoken it. I'll bring it
to pass So he what he speaks is authoritative and and he has
the power all power to bring the to bring it to pass I have
purposed it I will also do it. No, there's no. Well, I might.
Well, well, I want to save you if you let me. That's not even in that scripture,
is it? Oh, God saves whom he wills. When he was. I've spoken it. I also bring
it to pass, I have purposed it, I will also do it. Hearken unto
me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness, I will
bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and
my salvation shall not tarry, I will place salvation in Zion,
there's the church, for Israel my glory. Now there's us in our
natural state, stout-hearted, far from righteousness, And has
He not brought near His righteousness to us in Christ Jesus our Lord,
our Savior? Oh, my. Oh, my. What salvation do we have? Look at verse 5 again. To whom
will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me that we
may be like? Jehovah, the Almighty, Sovereign,
One, True God, asks the question, To whom will ye liken me? To whom will ye liken me? And
make me equal. He has no equals. None. And compare me that we should
be alike. Now people cook up in their minds who they think
God is. But he ain't like that. Not at all. God is sovereign
and almighty. And there's none that compares
to him. None. Now the context of this question
he gives And the reason I read the whole chapter is the context
of this question he gives us understanding and answering this
question by contrasting the idols of men to himself. By contrasting
the idols of men to himself, he gives us the answer to this
question. The first point I'd like us to
consider is this. Jehovah is incomparable in existence. Look
at Isaiah 46, verse 9. Remember the former things of
old, for I am God. There is none else. I am God
and there is none like me Now idols in comparison are the products
of man's hands Our Lord is incomparable In existence,
but look at idols. They're the product of man's
hands. Look at verse 6 They lavish gold out of the bag and waste
silver in the balance and hire a goldsmith And he maketh it
a god They fall down. Yay, they worship So our Lord,
our God is incomparable in existence and idols are just the works
of man's hands. See the contrast that he puts
forth here before us in scripture. And this is the description of
man in verse six. There is the description of man
making and molding an image. Turn if you would to Isaiah chapter
40 verse 20 and then put your finger in Isaiah 44 as well.
This is a description of man making and molding an image that
others will bow down to. They take it to the goldsmith
and he makes an image. And people bow down to it. Oh, look at Isaiah 40 verse 19.
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooses the
tree that will not rot. So he goes out and he finds a
tree in the forest that won't rot. that won't rot. He seeketh unto him a cunning
workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved. Now
go over to Isaiah 44, and here we have a little more description
of what occurs. And look what the Lord even says
about the one who makes the graven image. They're in vanity too.
They're blind. Look at Isaiah 44 verse 9, they
that make a graven image, and remember this is a contrast between
God who has always been, and always will
be, in the contrast that idols are made by man's hands. Isaiah
44 verses 9, they that make a graven image are all of them vanity,
Delectable things shall not profit and they are their own witnesses.
They see not nor know That they may be ashamed Who hath formed
a god or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
So so they don't they make these images because they're getting
money to make these images people are paying them to do this They're
profiting from this They don't do it for nothing They're profiting
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed. And the workmen,
they are of men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. Yet they shall
fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the
tongs worketh in the coals. And we can see this. They've
got a tong, and they're pulling this image out. And then they're
going to hammer it. They're pulling the metal out,
and then they're going to hammer it into whatever they want, whatever
they want it to be. The smith with the tongs both
worketh in the coals, and fashioneth with hammers." He's hammering
it into what they want it to be, right? "...and worketh it
with the strength of his arms. Yea, he is hungry, and his strength
faileth. He drinketh no water, and is
faint." He's getting weary and tired. The carpenter stretches
out his rule and he marketh it with a line. So that first one
was about a goldsmith or somebody forming it in a fire in a forge,
and now we see a carpenter maybe making the idol out of wood.
Carpenter stretches out his rule, he marketh it out with a line,
he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with a compass
and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty
of a man, that it may remain in the house. Now here, look
at this, he heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the
oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the
forest, he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to
burn. for he will take thereof, and warm himself, yea, he kindles
it, and baketh bread, so he takes part of the tree that he's cut
down to be used for an idol, and he takes the rest of the
tree, and he puts it in the fire, and cooks his meals over it,
and warms his house with it, and the other part went to the
smith, or went to the person, the idol maker. Oh my. Ye heweth down cedars, and taketh
the cypress, and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself
among the trees of the forest, he planteth the last, and the
rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn, for
he will take thereof, and warm himself. Yea, he kindleth it,
and baketh bread. Yea, he maketh a god, and worshipeth
it. So out of the same tree that he's using to warm himself and
to cook his fire, now he's made himself a god. He's going to
bow down to that piece of wood. It's foolish, isn't it? People still do that. They bow down to statues of Mary.
I remember my mom one time. We went to a dollar store. Boy,
did we have a conversation that night? We went to a dollar store,
a dollar store. And there was there and she's
she's Catholic and there was a statue of Mary. And she said,
I'm going to buy that one. It'll answer my prayers. And
I said, Mom, it's a piece of stone. And the Lord had saved
me. I said, it's a piece of stone. It's nothing. It's an idol. She
couldn't see it. She bought that thing. And boy,
we had a talk that night. And she wasn't too happy with
what I was saying. But that's an idol, beloved. And that's
the same thing. Those trinket store dollar things
you see all the way up to things that are super expensive that
people bow down to if they're all idols and the same thing. So it still goes on today. It
still goes on today. They fall down to it. They worship
it. Oh, it's awful. He burneth part thereof in the
fire. With part thereof he eateth flesh, he roasteth and is satisfied,
yea, he warmeth himself and say, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the
fire. And the residue thereof he maketh
a God. So he takes part of that same tree and he makes himself
a God. Even his grave and image he falleth down unto it, and
worshipeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me, for
thou art my God. Do you notice what he just said
to a piece of wood? All the depths of the poverty
of man, beloved, when they will bow down to anything but God. They'll bow down to anything
but God, unless God makes you bow. And then you're praising
for making you bow to him. Deliver me, for thou art my God.
They have not known nor understood. They're blind. For He has shut
their eyes. They cannot see in their hearts
that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart,
neither is their knowledge nor understanding. They have no knowledge
of God, who He is. And I was in that same place
when God delivered me. I have burned part of it in the
fire, yea. Also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof.
I have roasted flesh and eaten it. And shall I make the residue
thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stalk
of a tree? Now think of it. Even that little statue my mom
bows down to, it's made of stone. That's awful. Pray for our family members who
are caught up in this idolatry. It's awful. and they have no
understanding unless God delivers them, unless God reveals to them.
He feedeth on ashes a deceived heart, they're deceived, hath
turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, is
there not a lie in my right hand? That piece of wood can't deliver
them from nothing. It's a piece of wood or stone. Can't deliver them from nothing. My, and we see there in Isaiah
9.20, or 44, 9 to 20, the idolaters are mocked for cutting down a
tree in which they will fashion their God from, burning half
of it in a fire which they bake their bread and cook their meat
and warm their hands and falling down to the other piece which
they formed into a knife. Next point I'd like us to consider
in contrast to worthless idols in our text is Isaiah 46 verses
six and seven. In contrast to the worthless
idols found in Isaiah. 46 verses six and seven is found
in verse 10. The fact that Jehovah is eternal. Declare in the end from the beginning.
And from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, my counsel
shall stand, and I'll do all my pleasure. So these idols are
the fashions of man's hands. They're created by man. Our God
is eternal, beloved. He always has been, and He always
will be. So the contrast we see there
in verse 10, declare in the end from the beginning and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall
stand and I will do my pleasure. Before the foundation of the
world, the eternal Jehovah purposed all things that will occur in
time and throughout eternity. And things unfold before our
eyes, beloved, all according to his eternal purpose which
he has purposed. Now think of that in light of
your salvation, you who are redeemed. You're saved according to the
purpose of God. The eternal purpose of God. It's incredible. The next point
I'd like us to consider in contrast to the worthless idols in verses
six and seven is found again in verses 10 and 11. Look at
this. Jehovah is incomparable in power. Those idols can do
nothing, can they? In the text we see, the idols
are powerless. They're powerless to do anything.
Look at Isaiah chapter 46 verses 10 and 11 declaring the end from
the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not
yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure
calling a ravenous bird from the east. The man that executed
my counsel from a far country. Yeah, I've spoken it. I will
bring it the past. I have purposed it. I will also
do it. Oh, look how great God is. He
is all All power. All power. My. Contrast that again to the idols
in verses 6 and 7 that are powerless. They can do nothing. They're
immobile. They must be carried and moved
by their owners. Look at verse 7. They bear him
upon the shoulder. They carry him and set him in
place. They have to pick up, if there's a fire in the house,
they got to grab the idol. It can't get itself out. And then they got to bear it
wherever they go. They got to bear it. They carry
him and set him in his place. They got to put him in his place
and he stays there and he don't move. He doesn't move. From his place shall he not remove.
One shall cry unto him. He can't answer. It's a piece
of wood. It's a worthless idol. It's a
worthless idol. Nor save him out of his trouble.
People cry out to these things. And consider this. The idolater
must go to their idols because their idols can't come to them. We go to our great God in prayer,
but how many times does our God come to us in the midst of trial
and tribulation, even when we don't cry out to Him? He's always
there for us. Always. Carrying us. Taking us
through various things. So contrast the fact that the
idolater must go to their idols because the idol can't come to
them. Contrast this with Jehovah. Look at verse 3. Who cares for
his people? because he is the one true and living God. Hearken
unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house
of Israel, which are what? Born by me. O beloved, he's born
you. He's born you from the womb. Born by me from the belly, which
are carried from the womb. Even to your old age I am he. Oh, they carry us all the way
to glory. Take us all the way to glory.
Even I will carry and deliver you. Has there ever been a time
when he hadn't delivered you? Now it might not have been on
our timing, right? We might have thought he might have delivered
us a little quicker. No. He always delivers us, doesn't
he? He always takes care of us. Always. In his time. In his time. And let us remember that he always
will. He always will. Now idols, again, must be carried
to safety or moved by people all the time, whether they are
moving or calamity comes upon them. And contrast that with
Jehovah. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
40. Psalm chapter 40. Psalm 40. Contrast that with
Jehovah, who sets his people in a secure place. And where
is that secure place that God sets his people? Where is that
secure place that Jehovah sets his people? It's in Christ, beloved. It's in Christ alone. Nowhere
else are we secure. We're secure in him. Him who
is God. Remember that, too. The believer
is secure in he who is God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Look at Psalm 40, verses one
and two. I waited patiently for the Lord.
There it is, the self-existent one, Jehovah. And he inclined
unto me and heard my cry. He bought me up also out of a
horrible pit. OK. What a horrible pit we were in,
weren't we? In our natural depravity, in
our sin, we couldn't get out. And the scripture says, he bought
me up. Oh, beloved of God, is it not
so? Did he not bring you up out of a horrible pit? He did me. pit of all my sins out of the
miry clay and that's that wet clay where you you try to climb
out now imagine that to a pit and you're trying to climb out
and it's that wet miry muddy clay and what happens you you
put your fingers in it you just slide down oh what a pit we were
in beloved a miry pit miry clay and what what has he done for
us in Christ and set my feet upon a rock Oh, what a rock the
believer's feet are set upon. And He's established and established
my goings. The steps of a good man are ordered
by the Lord. He watches over His people. He
watches over His people. Now idols must be set in place
by their worshipers, by the idolaters. They cannot move on their own.
Again, they're a piece of wood or stone. They're lifeless material. lifeless material. And the men
and women who worship these worthless idols, they live in fear that
someone may may mar them or steal them. May mar or steal their God. Or
that a fire or flood will destroy it. When all the time it's nothing
but wood and stone. Look at verses seven again. The
idols mentioned in verse 6 and 7 are helpless to save. They
bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him and set him in his
place. And he standeth from his place, shall he not remove? Yea, one shall cry unto him,
yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble. They're
helpless to save. They're helpless to save. Now
turn, if you would. to Psalm 115. People cry out to these idols
and they cannot answer or save those who are crying out to them
out of their trouble. Idols are senseless. They are
as senseless as their makers and their worshipers. Look at
Psalm 119, verse 5. Look what the scripture says
about the idols and their worshipers. Psalm 115 verses 5 to 8, and
I remember I saved out of this because in Catholicism I was
worshiping Mary. And so are billions of other
people. It's sad. Look at Psalm 115 verses 5 to
8. They have mouths, but they speak not. So these idols, they
have mouths. They do little figures on their
mouth, or they make them into, but they can't speak. They're
a piece of stone, or a piece of pottery, or a piece of wood. They have eyes. Eyes have they,
but they see not. They have ears, but they hear
not. Noses have they, but they smell
not. They have hands, but they handle
not. Feet have they, but they walk
not. Neither speak they through their
throat. They that make them are like
unto them. So is everyone that trusts in
them. What an indictment. Oh, God has mercy when he delivers,
delivers his people from this idolatry. And contrast these
facts that we saw right there with the fact that Jehovah will
come to save his people. And he needs absolutely no help
from anyone. He doesn't need no help from
anyone. No one. Idols depend upon their worshipers
coming to save them. We who are redeemed depend upon
our God to save us and keep us. The next point I'd like us to
consider in contrast to the worthless idols mentioned in Isaiah 46
verses six and seven, again, it's found in verse 10, which
is Jehovah will perform all his purposes. He will not be thwarted. He will never be. Declaring the
end from the beginning and from ancient times, the things that
are not yet done. From ancient times. the things
that are not yet done from eternity, saying, My counsel shall stand
and I will do all my pleasure. My counsel shall stand and I
will do all my pleasure. He is absolutely and immutably
almighty. He is infinite in power and he
is sovereign in all things, beloved. Infinite in power, sovereign
in his works of providence. This is the God of the Bible.
It's not the God that's being talked about out there in religion,
is it? No, because they don't have a clue. This is just what
the, this is, we see plainly what the scriptures declare.
This is the God of the Bible. Infinite in power, absolutely
sovereign, and his cause will never be hindered. That which
is purpose will never be hindered by none turn if you would to
Psalm 135 135 And then put your finger back in Isaiah 46 because
we'll go right back over there None can stay his hand. He rules
and reigns in heaven And look at Psalm 135 verse 6 That's the
reason I Brother John read that psalm.
It's just an absolutely wonderful psalm. It just proclaims the
greatness of our God Look at verse 6 whatsoever the Lord pleased
that did he in heaven and in earth And in the seas and all
deep places He will perform his purpose and
you know, he even uses ungodly men to fulfill his will Turn
it back, if you would, to Isaiah 46 and look at verse 11. Calling a ravenous bird from
the east, the man that executed my counsel from a far country.
Yeah, I have spoken it. I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it and I will do it. Now the reference here
is to Cyrus, king of Persia, a heathen whom Jehovah raised
to defeat many nations, which include the Syrians, the Assyrians,
the Arabians, the Cappadocians, the Phoenicians, the Babylonians,
the Greeks that inhabit Asia, Cyprus, and the Egyptians, and
many more nations. One chapter over in Isaiah 45,
look at what it says in verse one. Thus saith the Lord to his
anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden to subdue
nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings to open
before him the two levied gates, and the gates shall not be shut.
Now it says to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, there Gil
comments, Cyrus is called the Lord's anointed, not because
he was anointed with material oil, we know the Lord's anointed
is Christ. not because he was anointed with
material oils, the kings of Israel and Judah were, but because he
was appointed by the Lord to be a king and was qualified by
him for that office and raised up by him to be an instrument
of doing great things in the world and particularly of delivering
the Jews from captivity and restoring them to their own land. He does
whatever he pleases. He's in control of all the governments
of this world. He has them do whatever He pleases. He uses whatever means He desires. He's sovereign. He's God. And He will perform His purpose
to bring His own righteousness to His people for their salvation.
He has done this in Christ, in Christ alone. Look at verses
12 and 13 of Isaiah 46. Hearken unto me, ye stout hearted
that are far from righteousness. I bring near my righteousness.
It shall not be far off and my salvation shall not tarry, for
I will place salvation in Zion for my glory. Now turn over to
Luke chapter two, if you would. He brings to His people righteousness
and salvation, and it's only in Christ and Christ alone. Christ alone is our righteousness.
He's the Lord our righteousness. Look at Luke chapter 2, verses
25 to 32. And behold, there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and
devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost
was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that
he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents
bought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of
the law, then took he up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to
thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. which thou
hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten
the Gentiles in the glory of thy people Israel. We know the
Lord is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. That which was planned and purposed
by God came to pass just as God had purposed it. Oh my. Now think of that in light of
your salvation. You who are redeemed. God has
purposed your salvation. It's wondrous. It's absolutely
wondrous. The next point I'd like us to
consider, in contrast to the worthless idols in our text,
is Jehovah has all power and all idols are powerless. Again,
they need to be carted around by their they need to be carted
around by their worshipers. Look at Isaiah 46 verses one
and two. bowed down evil stupid their
idols were upon the breast upon the beast and upon the cattle
your carriages were heavy loading their burden to the weary beast
they stoop they bow down together they could not deliver the burden
but themselves are gone into captivity now Bell was the chief
and patron god of the Babylonians and evil was the god who who
wrote the fate of all according to history but they could not
deliver themselves because they're false gods. They're false gods. And note they're a burden to
the beasts that even carried them. They're burdensome to them. And such is the end of all the
gods of the heathen. They're worthless pieces of stone
or wood. They're absolutely worthless. Worthless. Now contrast that
with the God of the Bible. Jehovah who graciously carries
his people like we saw in verses three and four Who graciously
carries his people? Who's loved us with an almighty
everlasting love from eternity And he brings us into his presence
by his almighty power He saves us by his grace and by his power
and then one day here bring us into his presence by his almighty
power Now the God of works-based religion is just as powerless
as the idols of old. Think of that. The God of works-based
religion is just as powerless as the idols of old. How do we
know this? Well, many professing Christians
deny the truth that Jehovah here declares concerning himself.
Some even deny that Jehovah has purposed all things that will
occur in time and throughout eternity. They instead speak
of such occurrences as happening according to luck or chance. No. And with regard to the salvation
of his people, they deny that it is according to his predestination
and eternal decree. They deny that before the foundation
of the world, God chose a people in Christ, even though the scriptures
plainly, plainly proclaim and declare this precious, precious
truth. Turn, if you would, the second
Thessalonians chapter two. And I'll read Ephesians one five,
which says heaven predestinated us. unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. And look at Second Thessalonians
2, 13. But we are bound to give thanks
always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the spirit and belief of the truth. Oh, my. Some even proclaim that you can
mess up your salvation, which would be to deny that this salvation
is eternal. The Lord gives his people eternal
life. In Titus chapter one, verse two, it says this, in the hope
of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the
world began. Some proclaim, I've heard this
before, some proclaim that when you believe, then your name is
written in the book of life, the Lamb's book of life. Some people say that. You can
find it in some gospel tracts that people hand out. They say
that, oh, now your name's written in the Lamb's Book of Life, because
you believed. Well, beloved, Revelation 17.8
says this, the beast that thou sawest was and is not, and shall
ascend up out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And
they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were
not written in the Book of Life. from the foundation of the world.
If you're a believer in Christ, your name was written in the
Lamb's Book of Life from eternity. That just leaves us speechless,
doesn't it? It leaves us absolutely speechless.
Absolutely speechless. Some even deny that God has decreed
the eternal inheritance of His people. Instead, they put in
the hands of the sinner salvation. And this is flat out contrary
to Scripture, because the Word of God proclaims this, in whom
also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of Him, who worketh all things after the counsel
of His own will. His own will. My... Some honor Jehovah with their
lips, but their hearts are far from Him. Works-based religion
perverts the gospel of salvation by God's sovereign grace alone,
through God-given faith alone. And instead offers salvation
through man's works, through something you have to do. And this idolatry is found in
works-based religion. It's nothing but idolatry. In biblical times, it was found
in Canaanism and Baalism and Phariseeism and unbelieving Judaism. In post-biblical times, it's
found in plagiarism, Romanism, Arminianism, and many others. And many others. Look at Isaiah 46, verses 8 and
9. Remember this, and show yourselves,
men. Bring it again to mind, O ye
transgressors. For more are the former things
of old, for I am God, and there is none else. I am God and there
is none like me. So we've seen today the contrast
between idols and the idol worshipers and how these idols are powerless
to save. And you might be sitting here
saying, well, I don't worship no idols. Are you counting on
yourself to get to heaven? Oh, you're worshiping yourself. Because God says there's no other
way to heaven. There's no other way to glory but through Christ
and Christ alone. See, people make idols of other
people. People make idols of themselves. People make idols
of wood and stone. People make idols of money. People
make idols of all different things. And they all perish. And those
who worship them perish. Oh, my prayer. If you're here
and you do not know Christ, if he hasn't revealed himself, my
prayer is that the great God of glory who has all power will
reveal himself to you. Because one day we're all going
to stand before him. We all will. Every one of us
in this room and every human being on this earth. And he will either be our savior
or he will be our judge. Oh, may God grant your faith
to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Gracious Heavenly Father,
we thank thee for your goodness and mercy and grace to us, to
we who believe. Oh, Lord, we who some of us were
caught up in this idolatry that we've seen today. Oh, Lord, we
thank you for delivering us from the miry pit and all of us who
are redeemed, thank you for Delivering us from the mirey the horrible
pit that we were in the mirey clay that we were in We couldn't
help ourselves, but yet Yet you delivered us and saved us in
Christ Jesus our Lord May these messages be used for your glory
and honor and praise And may you be pleased to draw your lost
sheep to thee in Jesus name. We pray amen