Turn with me now to Luke chapter one. Luke chapter one, let's read the first four verses here. For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

We looked this morning at those four verses. focusing on the subject matter of us. For our Bible study, that's what we looked at. Verse one says, for as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us. I titled the Bible study, I Want to Be One of the Us. I want to be one of the us. And we saw who the us were. God's chosen us. God chose his us. The predestinated, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, abounded toward, gathered in Christ. us.

I want to be one of the us. And you do too. Well, we're going to continue looking a little bit more into that tonight. We're going to look more deeply into what it is to be one of the us by way of seeing what it is exactly that the us believe. I want to be one of the us. And Luke said right here that there are some things that all of the us believe.

The scripture calls it the common faith. There is a common faith. The Lord God causes all of his people to believe some things regarding his declaration of truth. And this is it, his declaration of truth and his spirit convinces his people so strongly of it, there is no doubt in their minds. No doubt in their minds. Verse one says, for as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us. even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things, from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty. of those things wherein thou hast been instructed." Certainty, most surely believed. Hebrews 11 says that all of God's people die in faith, not having received the promises yet, but being fully persuaded of them.

Fully persuaded, that's what God does for his people. He fully persuades. And we could be here all night declaring what he fully persuades his people of. What do God's people believe? What do God's people believe? Here's the answer. Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, whether we understand it or not, if God said it, God's people believe it.

You will not open the scripture with a child of God and say, well, it says that, and then that child will look at that and say, I don't believe that. No, I don't believe that part. I don't read that chapter. We skip that verse. Understand it or not, we believe it.

Somebody said, I heard that one time Brother Donny Bell made the statement that if the Word of God said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it. If that's what God said, I'd believe it. So we could be here all night. declaring what he has fully persuaded his people of. For the sake of time, I have written down a few scriptures in order that either say I know or we know. And all I want to do is set forth in order that declaration. Things that the scripture says God's people know and are sure of. And in seeing this, I pray we might know that we're one of the us. By saying, yeah, that's exactly what I believe.

I fully, fully am persuaded of that. All right, we're gonna go in order here. Go with me to Exodus 18. Exodus 18 verse 10. And Jethro said, blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods. For in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, He was above them." Let me tell you something that all of God's people most surely know, most surely believe. Number one, God Almighty is God Almighty. God is God.

If he speaks, it's done. If he purposes it, it's done. It's a done deal. It shall come to pass. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. Nothing. and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? Our God is in the heavens and he does as he pleases. He kills, he makes alive. He wounds, he heals. He works all things after the counsel of His own will. The Lord Jesus Christ Jehovah is God Almighty.

Now let's just take a break, okay? Answer this, is there any doubt in your mind that that's so? Is there any doubt in your mind that God Almighty is God Almighty? There's not if we're one of the us. If we're in us, we will say, I most surely believe that. I believe that God Almighty is God Almighty and Jesus Christ is his name. Let me ask you the second question. Who is God? You know what the us will say? Jesus Christ. Who is the highest God? Jesus Christ. Whose name is above every name? Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Turn with me to Job 9. just before Psalms, Job chapter nine. Verse one says, Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth, but how should man be just with God? Look at verse 28. I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent. Job said, I know that I am a sinner before the just and holy God. That is something that every one of God's us most surely believes.

Now let me just tell you, the average person does not believe he or she is a sinner against God. The average person does not believe that. The average person does not believe he or she is perfect. The average person believes that he or she has committed sins, but the average person does not believe that the moment he or she leaves this world, if he or she goes alone without the blood of Christ, he or she will die and be condemned eternally for their sin. But God's people know that. And God's people believe that. They believe they are sinners against the holy God. They do not believe that me and Jesus have a good thing going. They do not believe they are sitting in God's co-pilot seat.

I know that I'm a sinner before the just and holy God. Every child of God is certain Certain, is there any doubt in your mind that you're a sinner against God? The Apostle Paul said in Romans 7, I know that in me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing. I know I'm a sinner. I know I'm a sinner. David said in Psalm 51, against thee, thee only have I sinned. I acknowledge my transgression. My sin is ever before me. How far can you get away from your sin? Start running from it. Leave your sin somewhere. Leave it right there and start running away from it. How far can you get before it catches up to you?

I'm certain. I'm absolutely certain of it. God Almighty is God Almighty. God is God. And I'm a wretched, miserable sinner against God. I'm a sinner against him. God is holy and I'm a sinner. I believe that with all my heart. That's not theory. That's not word only. I'm talking about me. I believe that with all my heart. Now go with me to Job 19. Job 19 verse 23 says, oh, that my words were now written. Oh, that they were printed in a book. That they were graven with an iron pen and led in the rock forever.

For I know that my Redeemer liveth. and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold and not another. And then these last few words, I always like to point this out.

There is a center margin in my Bible, and this is what it says. My reigns within me are consumed with earnest desire for that day. I just cannot wait for that day. Though my reigns be consumed within me. This is something that every child of God certainly, most surely believes.

My only hope is in the redemption of a redeemer. You know, people are always trying to redeem themselves. Well, I messed up and I need to redeem myself. And people believe that's what salvation is. You gotta right your wrongs and change your ways and redeem yourself. The us, God's people, are certain of the fact that I cannot redeem myself. I cannot redeem myself. I must have a Redeemer to redeem me from my sins. And I know who my Redeemer is. I know who my Redeemer is. God's people are not confused on this. They do not see Christ and them as being a collective Redeemer. There's one Redeemer and one Redeemer only. The Lord Jesus Christ is his name. I know who my Redeemer is and I know that he lives. I know that my Redeemer liveth.

That's what Job said. He said, I know what he was saying is, Job is considered to be the earliest, the first book penned before the books of Moses. And he said, I know my Redeemer liveth and that he's going to stand on the earth at the light of day. The time that he was born, the time that he lived, the time that he died.

I know that he lives to die. He's my redeemer. Verse 25, I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. I know that he will in his good time come to this earth to bear my sin in my place to die for me. And God's people now say, I know that he died to live. I know that in his good time he came to this earth and he bore my sin. And he died in my place so I could live, live with him.

I most surely believe this. We read for our scripture reading where the disciples said, we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. God manifest in the flesh to redeem us, to come and redeem us. God is the most holy, almighty, sovereign God. I am a wicked, wretched sinner against him, but I have a redeemer. who died for me and arose for me and ever lives to make intercession for me in Jesus Christ is his name. I'm certain of it. That's so restful. Don't you love knowing that it all rests right there? There is no if, there is no but. It all rests with him.

Turn with me to Ecclesiastes chapter 3, just before Isaiah. Ecclesiastes 3. Verse 14, it says, I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever, and nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it, and God doeth it that men should fear before him. This is what God's spirit absolutely convinces God's people of. Whatever God does, it's forever. Whatever he does, it's forever.

He does not change. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. He does not give grace and then take it back. Aren't you so glad for that? He does not give mercy and then take it back. If he saves, it's an everlasting salvation. If he loves, it's an everlasting love. When Christ finished the work of redemption on the cross, he finished it forever. He finished it forever. The peace and the rest that he provided, he provided it forever. His blood atones forever, forever. The life that he's given to us, it's an eternal life, forever. What God does is forever. God is God, man is sin, salvation is of the Lord, and that salvation is forever. Turn with me to Romans 8. Romans 8 verse 28 says, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This is one that the flesh doubts. This is one that the flesh doubts. God's people don't doubt that they're sinners before God. But this is one that the flesh doubts. But even though the flesh has doubt, the Spirit of Christ in us is convinced of it. And he overrules our doubt and continually convinces us of it. Verse 28, does not say we know that all things work together for the outcome that we desire. It doesn't say we know that all things work together to make life easier for us. If that was the case, God's people could not believe it. Just could not believe it.

But because it says all things work together for good, God's people know that because the good God, God is good. And the good God who does all things because he is the one doing it, the only possible outcome that can come is good. And therefore we trust him in whatever, whatever he does, whatever happens, he's doing it. And it's for the purpose of bringing good.

And even though our flesh gets in the way, the spirit in us is certain of it. Certain of it. All right, let me leave us with this one. Go with me to 2 Timothy 1. Second Timothy 1 verse 12 says, for the 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 able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. I know whom I have believed, not just what I have believed, but whom.

Christ is our certainty. God's people have certainty because Christ is our certainty. Christ is our most sure belief. Everything hangs on him. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. What do God's people commit to Christ? Everything. Everything, all of it, everything. The entire Word of God confirms to us that everything that needs to be fulfilled concerning us, Christ will do it. That's what I love about God's Word so much. Every time it says, Christ will do it. Christ will. Christ will handle it. Christ will fulfill it. Everything is accomplished in him. We're complete in him. We're complete in him.

That is what all of the us most surely believe. And the certainty of that is confirmed to us because of this declaration. It becomes certain, our hearts become, sometimes we feel like we walk in here so weak and walk out so strong because of the declaration. Because of this declaration that has been set forth in order and delivered to us by the Spirit of God through the preaching of the gospel. That's what causes us to be certain and sure.

And for that, we're grateful. We're truly grateful. And as God raised up men to preach it to us, that's what motivates us to, in thankfulness, go ahead and preach it to others. Luke said, for as much as so many men before me took this in hand, to go out and set forth this declaration in order, it seemed good to me to do the same thing. for His glory, all of His people's good. Amen.