I was struck by Brother Neil's
reading, the last verse that he read there, and I loved it.
The whole reading, but that last verse just, and not only so,
but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom
we have now received, we've received the atonement. We didn't earn
it. We didn't seek it out. But we've
received it. Oh, what a wonderful God. What
a wonderful God we have in Christ. Tonight we'll be in 2 Timothy
1. The name of the message is Knowing Christ.
Knowing Christ. 2 Timothy 1, verses 6 to 14. Scripture declares, Wherefore,
I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gifts of God
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath
not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and
of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, But
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God, who has saved us and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior,
Jesus Christ. who hath abolished death, and
hath bought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher
of the Gentiles. For the witch cause I also suffer
these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold
fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which
was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth
in us." Now Paul the Apostle here is exhorting Timothy to
be strong and faithful in Christ. To stir up the gifts which God
has given him. To preach Christ. to preach Christ
in him alone, to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He's also telling Timothy to
not be afraid or ashamed that Paul is a prisoner. Now, this
shows us that the Christian life is not an easy life. Brother
John and I have often talked about that. You know, folks think,
well, well, you know, Lord, save me, and everything's going to
be just peaches and cream. Now, it's a rough road, but we
know the one who keeps us. We know the one who keeps us.
Though trials come and tribulations, he keeps us. And that's where
we get our joy, is knowing that God will keep us amidst all these
things that come. And Paul exhorts Timothy to be
a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God. And the sum and substance of
the Gospel is here set forth in verses 9 and 10. Look at this.
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according
to our works, which is the heart of the Gospel, right? It's not
based upon what we do. It's based upon what Christ has
done. But according to His own purpose
and grace. We looked at that purpose today, and many times
we've looked at that. God does things on purpose. which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, look
at this, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior,
Jesus Christ. Now that which was purposed and
planned by God is now made manifest by the appearing of Christ, who
has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel. So God's great purpose of salvation
through and by the Lord Jesus Christ And Him alone is set before
us, set before us. God's eternal purpose is now
made manifest. It was once hidden, was in types
and shadows in the Old Testament, but now it's manifest. God incarnate
in the flesh, the great Savior of sinners. Oh, what a great God we have.
1 Corinthians 15 says this. And
think of this as we look at the part in 2 Timothy 1.10 where
it says, But it is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death. 1 Corinthians 15. If you
want to turn there, you can. I'll read the Scriptures. Verse
55-58. O death, where is thy sting?
Where is the sting of death now? 1 Corinthians 15.55, O grave,
where is thy victory? Christ hath abolished death. The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast. Oh, be steadfast, beloved. Unmovable. Keep your eyes focused upon Christ
and Him alone. Always abounding in the work
of the Lord. For as much as you know, your
labor is not in vain in the Lord. And that text there is very similar
to what we see. Look at verse 8 of what we read. "'Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me of his prisoner, but
be thou a partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the
power of God.'" So Paul's exhorting the Corinthians in the passage
we looked at to be steadfast. He tells Timothy the same, just
rest in Christ, trust in him, Now, since death is abolished,
Christ has bought life and immortality. Look again, 2 Timothy 1.10, "...but
is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who
hath abolished death, and hath bought life and immortality to
light through the gospel." Christ has bought life and immortality
through the gospel. And in our context, Paul is saying,
Look at verse 11. Paul is saying every gospel preacher
can say, we get a life from the gospel. Look at, where unto I
am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the
Gentiles. God has appointed Paul and preachers to preach the gospel. When a preacher is raised up,
it's appointed of God. It's appointed of God. We can
rest in that. He puts his preachers wherever he's pleased. I was
talking to Kevin today, and I said, you know, it's amazing. The Lord
moved Bill Parker back to Georgia, then moved Jim to 13th Street,
and then moved us here, all by his divine purpose. And he did
it all. It's all his doing. And we just
stand in awe. It's incredible. But the Lord,
the Lord appoints a preacher. When the Lord raises up a preacher,
he's not raised up by man, he's raised up by the Lord. If he's
got the message, I remember talking to Donnie a long time ago, and
I had preached the message, and he called, and he said, well,
you got the message. You got the message. God's preachers
have a message, and that's Christ. And they're appointed to preach
that message. They're appointed to preach that
message. And Paul says, I suffer for this testimony, right? He
suffers for the gospel. The Jews hated Paul. They hated
him when this gospel was preached. But what happened when the gospel
was preached? People turned from idolatry. People turned from
wickedness. People turned from superstitions. This week we were going through
Goodwill. And it was Friday. And all of
a sudden we heard, oh, it's Friday the 13th. People are all freaking
out. And I remember before when I wasn't saved, I used to say,
oh, Friday the 13th. We would just chuckle at how
it's just another day now to us. The superstition's gone. But people really, really get
caught up in all that stuff. See, God delivers us from all
that. Christ delivers us from all that. And back in these times,
superstitions were huge. Idols were huge. Traditions were
huge. Not much has changed, but that's
just how it was. Now, what are some things that
Paul is not ashamed of? He's not ashamed of his sufferings,
is he? He's not ashamed of his sufferings because they're for
Christ. We know from Romans 1 16, he's not ashamed of the gospel.
It's the power of God and the salvation. Not ashamed of this. There was a time, as I said before,
when I used to think Christians, you know, you guys know how I
acted. Now I realize, my gosh, what
hope, what hope we have. What hope we have. Sure we say
we can't do anything because we can't. Our hope's all in Christ. We're not ashamed of that. It's
the amazing thing. We're weak. We're not ashamed
of the Christ whom we suffer. When we suffer for the gospel's
sake, we're not ashamed. When people rail against us or
say things, we're not ashamed. Go ahead, say whatever you want
about me. Don't say anything about my Savior.
Oh, my. We're not ashamed. We're not
ashamed of our faith in Christ. And Paul was not either. A believer
in Christ can say the same thing. What's our hope? Christ. What's
our hope? Who's our salvation? Christ. Where's my justification? In
Christ. Where's my sanctification? In
Christ. Where's all wisdom? In Christ. Who's the one who
redeemed me? Who's the one who delivered me?
And the cost was his precious blood, Christ. Christ. See, the believer's whole hope
is in Christ. We're not ashamed of Christ.
We're not ashamed of Christ. Oh, he's everything to us. Look
at verse 12 of our text, too, here. For the witch cause I also
suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed.
For I know whom I have believed. Who have we believed? O elect
of God, who is your hope? Who have you believed? Christ.
Not ashamed of that. Oh, well, let us proclaim it.
Let us proclaim it. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I'm chief. And that's what every
believer says, of whom I'm chief. Oh, what a wonderful God. For
which cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not
ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
he is evil. I'm not able. Oh, but he's able. He's able to keep that which
I have committed unto him against that day. What have we committed
unto him? Our eternal souls. Our eternal souls. Oh. Why does Paul have this confidence
in Christ? Because he knows Christ. He knows
Christ. Or rather, turn if you would
to Galatians chapter 4. Here's a really interesting verse
here. I remember reading this a long time ago and it just struck me. Let's start in verse 1. Now I say that the heir, as long
as he is a child, dithereth nothing from his servant, though he be
lord of all, but is under tutors and governors until the time
appointed of the father. Galatians 4.3 now. Even so, we,
when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world. Now look at this. But when the fullness of the
time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made
under the law." When the appointed time, when the fullness of time
was come, and not one second after, and not one second before. When the fullness of time was
come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, to redeem them, to deliver them, remember, to purchase them,
buy a ransom, purchase them, to pay the ransom price, to redeem
them that were under the law, that's all His people, all the
elect of all the ages, that we might receive the adoption of
sons. Verse 6, and because ye are sons,
See, because you are sons, right? God sends forth His Spirit, right?
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. Oh, wherefore thou art no more
a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ. Howbeit, then when ye knew not
God, ye did service unto them which by nature were no gods. Now look at this, verse 9. But
now, after that ye have known God, Or rather, our knowing of
God. God knows his people before they
even know him. Knowing of God. Now, after that
you have known God, we had no clue. Or rather, our knowing
of God. How turn ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements? Whereunto ye desire again to
be in bondage? Never again will we be under
the law. We're afraid from the law. Afraid. What a verse there. But now after
that ye have known God, or rather are known of God. Gnoskad of
God. That's the intimate relationship.
Gnoskad. Or edotus. And for us, it's the
believer knows Christ. He knows Him. but only because
He's made no one to us. Look at 2 Timothy 2 again, verse
12 of chapter 1. We'll look at some ways we know
God after He's been pleased to save us. For the witch cause, I also suffer
these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I believe. Now, the Greek word here for
know is idol, which is to see, to perceive with eyes, to perceive
by any means of the senses, to perceive, to notice, to discern,
to discover. To turn eyes, the mind, the attention
to anything, to pay attention or observe, to see about something. For I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day. Paul knew Christ. How? By the grace of God. By the grace
of God. Paul knew the peace of Christ,
the peace that passes all understanding, which is only found in Christ,
in him alone. And he had peace and comfort
through the Lord Jesus Christ. God's grace gives Paul and gives
believers peace, comfort, joy, and satisfaction for his soul
in the midst of sufferings. Now think of what Paul went through,
too. He was jailed several times. He was stoned. He went through
it. He was beaten. But his focus is on Christ. And he looks to Him. He looks
to him. He has joy in these tribulations,
which is really the opposite of how we as humans act normally. Don't you ever marvel that you
can have joy in a tribulation when before the Lord saved us,
we were miserable in situations like that? But God gives us grace. He gives grace to his people. How does one know Christ? when
Christ is the object of his faith. God, the Holy Spirit, reveals
Christ to a sinner, and Christ becomes the object of our faith. The object. He becomes everything. Now, how did Paul know whom he
believed? Well, let's look at a few points.
Christ was the object of his faith. 2 Timothy 1.9 says this, who has
saved us and called us with a holy call, and not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Galatians 2.20
says this, I'll read this, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless
I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me. In the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by
the faith of the Son of God. Do you see how he's centered
upon Christ? He's centered upon him who loved
me and gave himself for me. Christ is the object of Paul's
faith. In every believer, it's the same.
Christ is the object of our faith. He's the one we look to. Now,
when we get in trouble is when we look to ourselves or when
we look to the circumstance and we start freaking out. And we're
all the same. Let's be honest. We're all the
same. We do. But when we get our eyes on Christ again, when
we realize, like Vicki and I always bring up, this did not catch
God by surprise. Oh, we can just look to Him.
And we can have joy in the midst of the trial. Christ said, you believe in God?
Believe in me. And Paul believed. Is it not
so for you? The question was once asked,
what must I do to be saved? The answer was believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Who's the object? Christ. Christ. Again, this is why it's
absolutely vital that we preach Christ. Absolutely vital. How did Paul know whom he believed?
Well, he must have a knowledge of Christ before trusting. Turn, if you would, to Acts chapter
9. Acts chapter 9. Now remember, Paul is going around
and capturing Christians and having them cast into prison. Look at Acts chapter 9. He did not know Christ at this
time, verse 1. But Christ knew him. Remember?
Knowing of God. God knows His sheep. He knows
His sheep. And a lot of times, I've noticed
this, a lot of times, God's sheep, we're some of the most... We show our veminence by our
words and our actions sometimes before the Lord saves us. I'm
not going to get into how I was, but no one would want to be around
me who's a believer before the Lord saved me. And I'm sure it's the same for
you. But oh, after the Lord saves us, after He makes Himself known
to us, after He reveals Himself, we love the Savior and we love
God's people. Oh, look at this though. And
Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughtering against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest." He is veminous.
He's veminous. "...and desired of him letters
to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this
way, whether they were men or women..." He didn't care if they
were men or women. "...whether they were men or
women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Cast them into
jail. or believe in Christ. And as he journeyed, he came
near unto Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him
a light from heaven. Now, he doesn't know Christ at
the first verse, does he? Oh, God's going to reveal Himself.
God's going to reveal Himself. He's going to reveal Himself
to Paul. And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light
from heaven. And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying
unto him..." Now look at this. Look at the union, look at the
wonderful union between the body of Christ and Christ our Head. Now Paul's persecuting Christians,
isn't he? He's going Christians and dragging
them out of their homes and stuff. Look at what our Lord says here.
What union between the body in the head. And he fell to the
earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me? Oh, see the union between Christ
and the believer? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus,
whom thou persecutest. Do you remember when he said
that, remember the folks that, that he said, when you do it
under the least of the saints, you do it under me? It's all persecuting Christians
here. He's persecuting Christ. Saul, I am Jesus whom thou persecute. Is it hard for thee to kick against
the bricks? Paul's head now Christ revealed
to him. And he trembling and astonished
said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise and go unto the city, and it shall be told thee what
thou must do. Christ revealed himself to Paul. Christ revealed Himself to Paul,
and Paul trusted Him. Before trust comes faith, and
before faith comes regeneration. It's all a work of God. It's
all a work of God. We must know something about
He whom we trust. Romans 10.14 says this, How shall
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How can someone
call on someone they don't believe? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they've not heard? This is why we pray, O Lord,
open the eyes and open the hearing, we pray. And how shall they hear
without a preacher? Oh, this is why it is absolutely
vital to preach Christ and Him crucified. God's preachers don't
preach themselves, they preach Him, who is the One who can save
sinners. The Mighty One. And thus the importance of going
to a church where they preach the Gospel. It's important. When faith is given, spiritual sight is given, spiritual
ears to hear, And it all comes through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul wasn't looking for Christ. Paul wasn't running up an aisle.
Paul wasn't making no decision, was he? But God knew who Paul
was. He's one of his lost sheep. Oh, what a beautiful picture
of conversion. Faith always looks to Christ.
It always trusts Christ. He is the believer's all-in-all.
And the believer's faith sees Christ as able and willing and
all-sufficient, as an absolute, suitable Savior. And we are shown
that there's salvation in no other. but Christ. And this is our hope and prayer.
If you're here and don't know Christ, or if you're listening
and don't know Christ, or if you're listening later on and
don't know Christ, we pray that God would reveal Himself to you
just like He did to Paul. Oh, this is our hope. The believer's faith sees Christ
as able, and faith is the evidence of things hoped for, not seen.
It sees unseen things, an unseen Savior. But by the eye of faith,
we see Him, don't we? And it's continuously. Turn,
if you would, to Matthew 11. It's continuously and constantly
looking to Christ, looking to Him. I remember Brother Henry
saying, repentance is not a one-time thing. People say, well, I repented.
I punched my car. Believer, is it not so with you
as it is with me? Do we not continuously repent and continuously come
to Christ? Oh my. God be merciful to me,
the sinner, is our constant cry. Lord, help my unbelief. Oh my. So we're constantly looking and
trusting Christ and resting in Him. Look at Matthew 11, verses
28 to 30. Oh, Christ says, Come unto Me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Are you heavy laden? You're
trying to work your way to heaven by your own works. Christ says,
Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. He'll not
turn away one who comes to Him. Come unto Me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon
you. Now, works-based salvation has
a yoke that man cannot bear. I know, the Lord saved me out
of that. It's brutal. You just never measure up. The
Lord says, take my yoke upon you and learn of me. And the
Holy Spirit teaches the believer, teaches the believer about Christ. For I am meek and lowly in heart.
Think of the condescension of Christ. He who ruled and reigned
in glory becomes a man. Meek and lowly in heart. And
ye shall find rest unto your souls, your eternal souls. You'll
find rest for your eternal souls in Christ and Him alone. Nowhere
else will you find that. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light. He says, look unto me and be
saved. Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful
Savior. And the believer looks to Christ
for salvation, for all of it. For all of it. And he looks to
Christ for acceptance, right? We've been looking at this multiple
times. Complete forgiveness. Complete forgiveness. Complete
salvation. There's nothing left behind.
There's nothing for any of us to do. What a wonderful salvation
this is. And it's only in Christ. Nowhere
else. What keeps a man from coming
to Christ? Self-righteousness. Self-righteousness. Thinking that they can do it
on their own. Surely God's not like that. Surely he'll just
bend a little because I'm a good person after all. No, we're all
bad. We're all sinners. And God will
not, His justice is unbending. But His justice was satisfied
in Christ. His law was satisfied in Christ. Turn if you would to 1 Timothy
chapter 1 again. Oh. Look at this in 1 Timothy 1.
Is this not where the believer is? Is this not how we were? Look at verse 13, 1 Timothy 1. Actually, let's look at verse
12. And I thank Jesus Christ, our
Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry, who was before a blasphemer. And a persecutor. And we were. And injurious. But look at this. But I obtained
mercy. If you're a believer in Christ,
rejoice. You've obtained mercy. Undeserved,
unmerited mercy. Mercy. Because I did it ignorantly
in unbelief. In the grace of our Lord, look
at this, was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is
in Christ Jesus. 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. However, again, for this
cause, I obtained mercy. Mercy. Oh, every believer can
say, I obtained mercy. I didn't earn it. I didn't deserve
it. But I've obtained it. I've obtained
it in Christ, that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth
all longsuffering and all the longsuffering of God. The longsuffering
of God. For a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. And look at how
he sums it. And now unto the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory
forever and ever. And he's just carried away. He's
carried away. Mark those words, I've obtained
mercy. That's everyone who the Lord
saved. I've obtained mercy. Paul knew
who he believed. He knew who he trusted. And the
believer can draw nigh with full assurance that Christ is our
King. Our faith has one object, the
Lord Jesus Christ. And it's the faith of God's elect.
Titus says this, Paul, the servant of God and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging
of the truth, which is after godliness. The faith of God's
elect has one object, and that's Christ. The second point is, faith in
Christ is not blind. It's not blind. Our text in 2 Timothy says, I
know whom. I know whom. We don't see Him with our physical
eyes, but we know whom we believe. We know whom. 1 Peter 1, 8 and
9 says this, Whom having not seen, ye love. I wrote Gary Shepard this week,
and I said, I've never met your brother, but I love you. He said,
the feeling's mutual. But think of this with Christ.
Whom having not seen you love. Our face not blind. It has one
object. We look to Christ. Though now
ye see him not, yet believe him. You rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1, verses 8 and 9. We see Him by faith. We see Him
by faith. Turn to Matthew 7. Matthew 7. And actually put your finger
in Job also. Our faith is not blind. We look
to Christ. I know whom I have believed.
I know whom I have believed. For I know whom I have believed.
Look at Matthew chapter 7. Knowledge, which is not true
and it's spoken of here in Matthew 7. This is a pretty chilling
portion of scripture This is a false knowledge in the counterfeit
knowledge of a God of people's imagination Look at Matthew 7
verses 22 and 23 Many will say unto me in that day now now now
God's people, right? We marvel that what Christ has
done for us. Don't we we marvel at that and
Our boast is in Christ. Our boast is in what He's done.
Not what we've done. But religion's different. Religion
boasts in what they've done. And I know it's true because
I came out of it. Praise God, He delivered me from that. Because
if He hadn't, I'd still be there. But look at these religious folks.
They're telling the Lord what they've done. Many will say to
me in that day, Matthew 7, 22 and 23, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils,
and in Thy name done many wonderful works? Yeah, they think they
have, but it's all based upon their own doing. Do you notice
who they're saying? Have we not done all these things?
They're not talking about what Christ has done. They're talking
about what they've done. And these are religious people.
They're talking about what they've done. Look at the response. What a
chilling response. Then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you. And that's gnoska. That's that
intimate relationship. I never gnoska'd you. I never knew you, intimately. But he gnoska's his people, intimately. I never knew you. Depart from
me, ye that work iniquity. Oh, how many folks who are trusting
in their own works and in their own ways will hear those chilling
words one day. Oh, this is why it's vital to
preach Christ, to set Him before us. Look at Job chapter 13. Faith is based on Christ and
Him alone. No matter what happens, rests
in Christ, even if it means death. So, our faith is not blind, we
see Christ. Look at Job 13, verses 15 and
16. And remember, I'll read the verse,
for this cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless, I
am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed. Job 13, 15, and 16, though he
slay me, yet will I trust in him. But I will maintain mine own
ways before him. He also shall be my salvation. For an hypocrite shall not come
before him. And we saw that in Matthew 7. Oh, we look to Christ and Him
alone. And this is why we cry. Sinner, look to Christ. Look
to Christ and live. Look to Him and live. He's the
only hope. And our faith is not blind. It also involves hearing
His voice. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
10. It's trust in grace. Because
the Lord is gracious. If so be that ye have tasted
that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2, 3. But it's hearing
His voice. Look at John 10, verse 27. God's sheep hear the shepherd's
voice through the preaching of the gospel. Through the preaching
of the gospel. My sheep Hear my voice. Look at how definite this is. It's not, well, my sheep may
hear my voice if they exercise their free will. It doesn't say
that, does it? Not at all. It says, my sheep, hear my voice.
You hear the voice of the shepherd calling. Lazarus heard that voice. Lazarus, come forth. And every
one of God's elect hears the shepherd's voice through the
preaching of the gospel. Oh, it's wonderful. Oh, and I
know them. Gnoska. Intimately. He didn't know those folks in
Matthew 7, did he? But he knows these sheep here.
And I know them. And what? And they follow me. Lazarus didn't say, no, I think
I'm just going to stay in the tomb. I know. He came forth with an effectual
calling, irresistible, a call from the dead. We are dead sinners. When the shepherd calls, we hear
his voice and we're made alive and we run to Christ and we follow
him for the rest of our days. Oh, is not the Lord gracious? No, is not the Lord gracious. So faith in Christ is not blind
as it is taking Christ to be mine. Turn, if you would, to
Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon. Right after Ecclesiastes. Right before Isaiah. Song of Solomon, chapter 6. Oh, we take Christ to be mine. Look at verse 1. Whither is thy
beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither is thy beloved
turned aside that we may seek him with thee? My beloved has
gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in
the gardens, and to gather lilies. Look at this. I am my beloved's,
and my beloved is mine. He feedeth among the lilies.
So faith takes Christ to be mine. He's my Lord. He's my God. And He loved me. And He gave
Himself for me. You see why Paul says he's the
believer's all in all. He's everything. Faith in Christ is not blind.
I know whom I believe. It's not only the know there's
a Redeemer, Not just to know that He would appear upon the
earth one day, but to know Him as the only Redeemer. Job says
this, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job
19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25,
Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19,
verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25,
Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25,
Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25,
Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19,
verse 25, Job 19, verse 25, Job 19, verse Oh, that God might make it so for
you if you don't. Oh, that He might reveal Himself
to you. This is our hope. He reveals
Himself to His lost sheep. That's what He did for we who
believe. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
6. I know my Redeemer lives. I know it. And the believer says, where
should I go? Where would I go but to Christ? Now, before the Lord saved us,
we're going all over the place, aren't we? Trying to do this
and trying to do that to gain merit and favor with God. Look
at John chapter 6, verses 66 to 69. From that time, many of His disciples
went back and walked no more with Him. Then Jesus said unto
the Twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life. See, this is the believer's cry. Faith in Christ is not blind.
We know whom we believe. Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou
hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure,
believers are sure, that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God. Where does a believer go? Nowhere
but Christ. Nowhere but Christ. Because we
know whom we believe. He's the only Redeemer. He's
the perfect substitute. He's the perfect sacrifice. He's
the sinner's only hope. Where else would we go? Nowhere. Neither is there salvation in
any other. And this knowledge does not come
from flesh and blood. And Jesus answered and said unto
them, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16, 17. Oh, this must be revealed. He's our king. And you can never
educate someone into the kingdom of God. Never. Christ must be revealed. He's revealed in the Gospel. The Holy Spirit takes the preaching
of the Gospel and reveals Christ. Unless God, the Holy Spirit,
empowers the words that I speak, there's no power. Oh, if the Holy Spirit of God
reveals to your heart that you're a sinner, in desperate need of
Christ through the preaching of the Gospel, They run to Christ. They run to Him. As I said, we
who believe are just saved sinners. Just saved sinners. Back to 2
Timothy 1.12, Paul knew Christ was able to
keep that which he had committed unto Him against a certain day.
Look at 2 Timothy 1.12, For the witch cause I also suffer these
things, nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have
believed. I know whom I have believed.
And I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have
committed unto Him that day. Christ is able. We see here before
us that Christ is able. What did he commit to him? Not
his labors or sufferings, but he committed his eternal soul
to Christ. He also committed those who were
converted under his ministry. He also committed his natural
life to Christ. Acts 21, 13 says this, Then Paul
answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For
I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul was ready to give his life
for Christ. Acts 21, verse 13. He knew that
his life was in the hands of God. He knew this. So he was able to commit his
soul to God. Is it so with you? Oh, it's sweet
when we can say yes. Yes, not because of anything
I've done, because all of what he's done. He committed his soul. And every
one of us has an immortal, eternal soul. And Paul committed his
soul to the blessed Redeemer, to the blessed Savior. He knew
that Christ was able to keep all that He committed to Him
safe. Safe. And they that know thy name will
put their trust in thee. For thou, Lord, hast not forsaken
them that seek thee. Psalm 9 10. And they that know
thy name, they whom Christ has been revealed, will put their
trust in thee. For thou, Lord, hast not forsaken
them that seek thee. Now look to anyone, any time
in history, all the way up to this present day, and I ask you,
is there anyone other than Christ that you can trust your soul,
your eternal soul, including yourself? Including yourself. Anyone you
can trust your family with. Anyone you can trust your life
with. None but Christ. None but Christ. For the witch cause I also suffer
these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed. And I am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that
day, none but Christ. Now, he says, against that day. Think of this, the day of death. The day of death is appointed
unto man once to die, but after this, the judgment. Paul could commit his soul to
Christ the day of his death. For I am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand. 2 Timothy 4.6. Ready to be offered. The day of resurrection. Turn, if you would, to 1 Thessalonians
4. And also put your finger in Matthew
25, and then we're close. Paul was able to commit his eternal
soul against that day, the day of resurrection. Look at 1 Thessalonians
4, verses 16-18. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven, verse 16 of chapter 4, with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in
Christ shall rise first. then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore,
comfort one another with these words." Paul was able to commit
his soul on the day of resurrection to Christ. In Matthew 25, the great day
of judgment, Oh. Matthew chapter 25. Verse 31, When the Son of Man shall come
in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He
sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered
all nations. He shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And
He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on
His left. Every human being that's ever
lived stands before the great king. Great day of judgment. Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand, those who have committed their eternal
souls to Christ, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world. For I was hungered, and ye gave
me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink. Remember? Remember? Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me? He is persecuting Christians.
I was a stranger, and you took Me in. Naked, and you clothed
Me. I was sick, and you visited Me.
I was in prison, and you came unto Me. Then shall the righteous
answer Him, saying, Lord..." You remember the folks in Matthew
7 bragging about what they did? Look at these folks. Look at
the righteous. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying,
Lord, when saw we Thee in hunger and fed Thee, or thirsty and
gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger and
took Thee in naked and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick
or in prison and came unto Thee in the King? the King Eternal,
the King upon His throne, shall answer the King of the universe
and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have
done it unto me. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? Then shall he say unto those
of them on the left hand, the ones who are bragging about what
they've done for the Lord, All who are trusting in their
own works and their own self-righteousness, depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For
I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat. I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and ye took
me not in. Naked, and ye clothed me not.
Sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they answer
him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, a thirst, or
a stranger, or naked, or sick? or in prison, and did not minister
unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, as much as you did it not to one of the
least of these, you did it not to me. And those shall go away
into everlasting punishment, but the righteous unto life eternal."
Oh, Paul was able to commit his soul to Christ on the great day
of judgment. Oh, I'm persuaded that he is
able, that he is able. May God grant your faith to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.