The Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Q: What does the Bible say about the grace of God?

The Bible teaches that the grace of God is a key aspect of salvation, as seen in passages like 2 Corinthians 8:9, which states that Jesus became poor for our sakes so that we might be rich. The grace of God is the unmerited favor extended to humankind, especially as it pertains to salvation. 2 Corinthians 8:9 encapsulates this doctrine beautifully: 'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.' This highlights that Jesus, who is eternally rich in His divine nature, willingly became poor by taking on human flesh and bearing the sins of His people. This act not only demonstrates His mercy and love but also underscores the depth of His grace—a grace which is sovereign, as it is God who initiates salvation according to His purpose and will.

Q: How do we know that Jesus died for our sins?

We know Jesus died for our sins through Scripture, such as 1 Peter 2:24, which states that He bore our sins in His body on the tree. The assurance that Jesus died for our sins is founded on the authoritative witness of Scripture. 1 Peter 2:24 declares, 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' This profound truth is reiterated throughout the New Testament, demonstrating that His sacrificial death was not an accident but a divine plan instituted by God from eternity. In Isaiah 53:5, we read that 'He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.' This evidential basis, together with His resurrection, affirms the effectiveness of His atonement.

Q: Why is the grace of Jesus Christ important for Christians?

The grace of Jesus Christ is crucial for Christians because it is the foundation of our salvation and empowers us for righteous living. The importance of the grace of Jesus Christ for Christians cannot be overstated. It is by grace that we are saved, as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9: 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' This grace not only initiates our salvation but sustains it, providing the strength and hope we need to live according to God's will. As Romans 5:2 states, 'By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' In essence, grace is a transformative reality in the life of a believer, leading to a life of joyful obedience and service to God.

Alright, if you would open your Bibles with me to Acts chapter 10. I'd like to begin this weekend's conference reading a few verses from Acts chapter 10. I welcome all of you here. We have waited and prayed for this weekend and I'm glad it's here, aren't you? I look forward to a blessing from our God. Acts chapter 10, we'll begin reading in verse 24.

And on the morrow, after they entered into Caesarea, and Cornelius waited for them, and he called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter took him up, saying, stand up, I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many that were come together, and he said unto them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or to come unto one of another nation.

But God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, And behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send, therefore, to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter, and he lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner by the seaside, who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee, and thou hast well done that thou art come.

Are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God? That is the seriousness of what we're doing this weekend. I look forward to being able to visit and have some fellowship with some folks maybe I hadn't seen in a while, some folks I see every week.

But we're here to hear what God has commanded these men to pray. I mean, that's how serious what they're preaching is. God's commanded them to preach it. And I pray that each one of us has this same attitude that Cornelius does. I'm thirsty to hear. And I fully intend to believe what I hear, don't you? All right, let's bow together in prayer.

Our Father, we're so thankful that you've given us this opportunity tonight to be able to meet together to worship your precious name, to hear your gospel preached. And Father, I pray that you would be with your servants as they've traveled all this way to come here tonight, as they step in this place, to be able to, by the power of your spirit, preach God's gospel to God's people. Father, be with them in a mighty and special way. Speak to their heart and open their lips that they could in clear and simple terms preach Christ and him crucified. And Father, I beg of you that you would unstop the ears of us listeners and lay open our heart that we would hear and believe the things of Christ that we hear preached tonight.

Father, bless us for Christ's sake, and we ask that you'd be pleased tonight to show us your glory. For it's in Christ's precious name, for his sake we pray, amen. If you would, turn in your hymnal to song number 228 and stand as we sing, My Faith Has Found a Resting Place. 228. My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed. I trust the ever-living one.

His wounds for me shall plead. I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. Enough for me that Jesus saves, this ends my fear and doubt. A sinful soul, I come to Him, He'll never cast me out. I need no other argument. I need no other plea.

It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God. Salvation by my Savior's name, salvation through His blood. I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. My great physician heals the sick, the lost he came to save. For me, his precious blood he shed. For me, his life he gave. I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.

You may be seated. If you would now turn in your hymnal to song number 337, and we'll sing, Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord. 337. Teach me thy way, O Lord. Teach me thy way. Thy guiding grace afford. Teach me thy way. Help me to walk aright. More by faith, less by sight. Lead me with heavenly light. Teach me thy way.

When I am sad at heart, teach me thy way. When earthly joys depart, teach me thy way. In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, in failure or success, teach me thy way. When doubts and fears arise, Teach me thy way. When storms o'erspread the skies, teach me thy way. Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil, and pain. Make thou my pathway plain, teach me thy way. Long as my life shall last, teach me thy way. Where'er my lot be cast, teach me thy way. Until the race is run, until the journey's done, until the crown is won, teach me thy way.

Well, our first speaker, Pastor Tom Harding of Zebulon Grace Church, been a friend a long, long time. The first person who ever asked me to go preach for them was Pastor Tom Harding. Janet might want a word with you someday, but he was the first person that did. We've been friends a long time. I'm anxious to hear what God's commanded you for us to hear. You come preach to us. Well, good evening to everyone. It is my honor to be with you, privilege to be with you. I remember when we moved to Pikeville back in 94, 32 years ago, Frank volunteered to help us move. I appreciate that so much. We've been good friends for many years. Many years.

Well, I have a scripture text that the Lord has given me. And it's found in 2 Corinthians chapter 8. 2 Corinthians chapter 8. 2 Corinthians chapter 8. When Brother Frank asked me about coming, I sought the Lord for a scripture text. We always, when we preach, we have the same message. I mean, it's the same gospel. It's the gospel of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

But oftentimes, we struggle finding a text that we might use for a special occasion such as this. But in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9, look at verse 9. 2 Corinthians 8, verse 9. This is one of those special verses to me. For you know the grace, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, your sakes, he became poor. That you, through his poverty, through his poverty, might be rich. Now that's the whole lot. That's the whole gospel right there. That's all the counsel of God right there. Now I have a confession to make.

Good to be back in Ashland. Good to worship with you all again. The Lord brought us here, Bridget and I, 51 years ago to this city. The Lord moved us here to this city, 1975. They used to be, they used to call this city Ashland, where coal meets iron. Remember that? Remember the old cement salvie plant? Had a real distinct perfume. And they made that coke and then they sent it on down to Armco Steel. And those days were, Those days were special way back then.

The Lord brought me here to hear. I'm glad you read that. The Lord brought me here to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to meet the Lord Jesus Christ, to hear God's servant as the means to give me faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord took this lump of coal, where coal meets iron. The Lord took this lump of coal and brought me to the feet of the master of the Lord Jesus Christ, the crowning jewel of heaven. And the Lord made me an object of his mercy, an object of his love.

He made me a new creature in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm eternally thankful. God sent me a gospel preacher. to tell me the truth about who I am, a sinner, about who Christ is, the successful, victorious Savior. And we do give thanks. We do give thanks. Now, I tell you why this text is a special text to me.

43 years ago, 43 years ago, I was asked for the first time by Pastor Henry Mahan to bring a Wednesday night gospel message. And I brought a message from this text, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, 43 years ago. My first attempt to preach the gospel there at 13th Street. I brought the message from this text, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. It's one of my favorite verses then, still one of my favorite verses. Never wary of hearing it. But I'm going to use for a title of the message, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, we don't know that naturally. We have no knowledge of a true and living God. We're ignorant of God. He must teach us. All those who have heard and learned of the Father, they come to Christ. He must teach us the lesson. We know, he says, we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ because he taught us. He was pleased to reveal the gospel of Christ unto us. We only know this because he's revealed these things unto us.

We know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember in Acts 15, Peter said, we believe, remember they had that counsel about circumcision where the Jews said, you really, to be saved, you need to be circumcised to be saved. And they had that council and Peter stood up and said, we believe that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved even as others. So it's all, it's all by the grace of God. We know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ because he's taught us. He revealed himself unto us that he is gracious. He is gracious.

Peter, when he writes his epistle, 1 Peter, 5, verse 10, he said, the God of all grace, who had called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, established, strengthened, sell you to him, be glory and dominion forever and ever. The God of all grace. And he is the God of all grace. That was Peter's writing, and Paul said this, and this too is one of my favorite verses, is God who saved us, God who called us with a holy calling, not according to our worth, but according to his own purpose and grace, given us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

Now, have you ever noticed, maybe I'm a little peculiar, but have you noticed how much that word grace sounds like Christ? You ever notice that? Grace, Christ. It's the same. He is gracious. I looked this word up. I don't think I've ever done this before. But I looked that word up today. Grace. Grace.

It's used 163 times. 163 times. Salvation's all of God's grace, isn't it? God who saved us. God who called us. Grace. 163 times. It's used 124 times in the New Testament. Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord. First time we read about that. And then I thought about taking this word grace, G-R-A-C-E. What do those letters stand for? And I thought about this.

G is God our Savior. He's God our Savior. He's the God of glory. R could represent Christ our Redeemer, Christ our righteousness, Christ our ransom. Christ who reigns over all. And then A, what would you say would be a good definition for A? Christ is our advocate, Christ is our atonement, and then C, Christ of the covenant, covenant surety, the chief cornerstone.

And then when you get down to the last letter, E, what comes to your mind? He's the eternal God. He's the everlasting Father. He's excellent in all things that He does, and He's the elect of God. Did you know the first time that word elect is used in Scripture, Isaiah 42 verse 1, Behold my servant, my elect, and whom my soul delights. The Lord Jesus Christ, He is the elect. We're chosen in Him. We're chosen in Him.

Now this verse, like many other verses found in the Word of God, gives unto us the central theme of the Gospel in a nutshell. It's much like, turn back one page, it's much like this verse here, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21. Everybody knows this scripture, don't they? But do we really, really understand all that's being said here? We just know in part and preach in part, For God, He had made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." That's the whole counsel of God in the salvation of God's people. Martin Luther called these verses small Bibles. Small Bibles. And it's the Bible in the nutshell, isn't it? All about the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know something of God's saving sovereign grace. Paul writing to these believers with words of God to declare believers do know the grace of God. The believers do know that they are saved by the grace of God. Believers have no doubt in their heart about the wonderful graciousness of our blessed Savior, his wonderful compassion toward his people. Having loved his own, he loved them unto the end.

Herein is love, not that we love God, but he loved us, sent his son to be the sacrifice for our sin. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called sons of God. We know something of God's grace, something of his love, something of his mercy. Sovereign mercy, sovereign love. That's what this book teaches.

He said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I'll be gracious to whom I will be gracious. But note this, he said, I will show mercy. I will show grace. You who are made objects of his grace know the Lord is gracious. How gracious the Lord is to his people. We can all say with the apostle, I am what I am by the grace of God, by the grace of God. You who are recipients and have received his grace, you know that the Lord is gracious.

You know the Lord Jesus Christ came to save folks just like you, sinners. And I have to say with Paul, I'm the chief one. I'm the chief offender. Christ, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all exceptation. The Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Christ died when we were yet without strength. Christ died for the ungodly. Can you come in there? Can you identify with that?

You who are recipients of His grace know that the Lord is gracious. You who are justified by His grace know that He is a just God and Savior, that we're justified freely by His grace through the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You who know this, you know this because You believe and trust him. You've experienced this grace of Christ in your heart and you can say with Paul, I know whom I have believed and I'm persuaded he's able, he's able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. What have you committed unto him? Everything. Everything.

We glory not merely in the doctrine of grace, we glory in the grace of the doctrine, the Christ of the doctrine. We do glory in the Lord who was sovereign, the Lord who was sovereign. I think sometimes we get in trouble when we talk so much about the sovereignty of God, the sovereignty of God. It's not that we're trusting the sovereignty of God, we're trusting God who is sovereign.

That's the deal. It's like people say, well, I'm trusting the finished work of Christ. That's not a good statement. I'm trusting Christ who finished the work. Now, there's a difference. There is to me. There is to me. So we glory in the Lord who is sovereign, the Lord who is gracious, the Lord who is merciful, the Lord who is loving and kind and gracious and to his own. Listen to this description that he gives in Exodus.

34. The Lord God, the Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. The Lord is merciful, gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands.

Now, I've got three points to this message. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet, yet, for your sake, he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich. Now, let's just absorb ourselves into that text for a minute and just let it soak in. Let it soak in for a minute. Three things I want us to consider.

A wonderful truth and reality. His eternal riches. His eternal riches. A wonderful, a wonderful reality and truth. His eternal riches. Wonderful. You know, that's his name. Wonderful. Counselor. The mighty God. The everlasting Father. The second thing I want to consider, a more wonderful truth, yet for your sake he became poor. He became poor. And then thirdly, a most wonderful truth, that you through his poverty might be rich, eternally blessed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now let's consider that first point, a wonderful truth and reality, his eternal riches, his eternal riches. The Lord Jesus Christ being the eternal Son of God or eternally God the Son has, possess, has and does possess all riches. He's infinitely rich. in power, in sovereignty, glory, for he is very God of very God. None can be compared with him who has boundless wealth and eternal riches.

There's none like him. None like him. We read that in Isaiah, don't we? He said, I am the Lord, there is none else. I am God, beside me there is no other. I go to thee, though thou hast not known me. He's the only just God and Savior, and he says, look unto me. Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other."

How rich is he? Let's consider this. He's rich in possessions, for he possesses all things. He created all things by the word of his power. As such, he owns all things. Listen to this scripture, Colossians 1, 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in the earth, visible, invisible, whether it be thrones or dominions, principalities or power, all things were created by him and for him. and all things serve his purpose.

He's working all things at the counsel of his own will. He's rich in possessions. In the book of Haggai, we read, he said, the silver is mine, the gold is mine, saith the Lord. Psalm 24. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. You may have a deed, to a piece of property, and it may be recorded at the courthouse. But who does it really belong to? All things belong to Him. All things belong to Him. Rich in possessions. How about rich in the perfection of His divine nature?

When He's manifested in the flesh, He never stopped being God. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, but he never stopped being God. He's the God-man, mediator. Without controversy, greatness, and mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh.

Rich in the perfections of his divine nature, in him dwelleth all the fullness of a Godhead bodily. rich in holiness as well. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee? Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, holy and reverent is his name. He's rich in holiness. Holy, holy, holy, the angels cried, Lord God Almighty, rich in holiness, rich in power.

He has all power in heaven and earth. He does according to his will in the army of heaven among the inhabitants of this earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, Lord God Almighty, what doest thou? As the God-man mediator, he has all power in heaven and earth. The Father loveth the Son, hath given all things into his hands." All things are in his hands.

The resurrected Lord said to his apostles, He said, all powers given in me in heaven and earth, go therefore and preach the gospel. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth. Rich in power. Can you describe the vastness of his omnipotence, his sovereign rule and reign over all things whatsoever the Lord please? That's what he does in heaven and earth, sea and all deep places. Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever and ever. And I say, amen. Amen. Rich in holiness, rich in power.

How about his love? How about his love? Hearing his love. Not that we love God, but he loved us. and sent his son to be the sacrifice for our sin. He's loved us with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness does he draw us unto himself. He's rich in love, isn't he? Rich in love.

Let me read this to you over here. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's rich in his love toward his people. Everlastingly so. Rich in the excellency of his character. He's rich in mercy, isn't he? But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ.

By grace are you saved." Grace, grace, grace, grace. You can't get along. You can't preach the gospel without declaring that salvation's all of the Lord and salvation is by the grace of God. Rich in the excellency of his character, of his character. Listen to this scripture.

Who being in the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power, when he by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. Who is he? The brightness of his glory, the express image of his person, he is God Almighty. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? He's God Almighty, the eternal everlasting God. Christ is the righteousness of God revealed. He's the holiness of God.

He was tempted at all points like as we are yet without sin. The scripture says of him, he had no sin. He knew no sin. He did no sin. He perfectly obeyed God's law in every jot and every tittle. And he did that for his people, for his covenant people. I love the scripture in Isaiah 42, 21, The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness sake. For He'll magnify the law and make it honorable. He said, I didn't come to destroy the law and the prophets. I came to fulfill all things. Rich in the excellency of His character. There's none like Him. There's none like our Lord Jesus Christ. He said, I'm the Lord. I change not. He hasn't changed. He's the same. Today, yesterday, and forever. He's sovereign, eternally so. Holy, eternally so. Rich in mercy, eternally so. Such a high priest became us who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens. We have a great high priest who is seated in the heavenlies. He ever lives to intercede for us, doesn't he?

There's one God and one mediator between God and men. Who is it? God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. If we have any righteousness before God, because of our union by faith with Him, it will be as God considers us and accepts us and receives us and regards us in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord, our righteousness before God. You see, that's the only righteousness we have. You remember what Isaiah called ours?

Filthy rags in God's sight. Blessed is a man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works. Without works. I love what the Apostle Paul, one of my favorite chapters, is Philippians chapter 3. He talks about everything he was a Saul of Tarsus. And then he said, he'd count that all dung, rubbish.

Oh, that I may win Christ and be found in him. Not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. Righteousness which is of God by faith. Christ alone is our righteousness. You see, we're accepted in the beloved.

To the praise of the glory of his grace, his grace, his grace. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, he that would glory, let him glory only in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul said, God forbid us your glory, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot press into that word rich You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, rich, you cannot press into that word rich all that the Lord Jesus Christ is. He is more than rich, He's more than great, He's more than grand, He is God Almighty. From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

I like how the Apostle calls Him, God our Savior. God our Savior. That gives me hope. If He's not God our Savior, this sinner has no hope of salvation. It's who He is that gives infinite power and value to what He did. It's who He is. God bought us with His own blood. If He's not God, we have no salvation. We have no righteousness before God. He is God our Savior. He is the Almighty God.

So, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, Baccalaureate Tech, that though he was rich, yet, 2 Corinthians 8, 9, yet, yet, for your sake, he became poor. Now, there's more here than I understand, but a more wonderful truth, yet for your sake, he became poor. Here we learn something of his deep poverty. Here we see something of his, what the old writers call, condescending grace of our great God and Savior when he's manifested in the flesh.

He took our humanity into union with his divine, perfect nature. God and man in one person. One person. Although he never stopped being God, he became what he was not. He remained what he was and became what he was not. He never stopped being God. When you've seen me, you've seen the Father. He remained what he was and became what he was not, flesh and dwelt among us. Think about this. It's just, it's just, it's unexplainable. It's the unspeakable.

God who inhabits eternity inhabited a body of a man. That's God our Savior. That's the Lord Jesus Christ. God our Savior. The difference between the richest man, whoever that may be, or the poorest man in this life is nothing compared with the difference between Christ in glory, the glory of his Godhead, and Christ in his humiliation as a real man. The difference is immeasurable. Listen to scripture. Now this is one who created all things, who owns all things.

Matthew 8, the foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. That's poverty, homeless, he's a homeless man. You cannot fully declare his riches nor fully explain his poverty. We cannot fully comprehend how high he is as God, nor how low he became when he cried, my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? It's amazing, is it not?

Hold your place here and find Hebrews chapter two. He took upon Him the form of a servant, as made in the likeness of me. He thought not robbery to be equal with God, but He took upon Himself the form of a servant. Became obedient unto death, even the death of the crop. Hebrews chapter 2, look at verse 14.

For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same. That through death, He might destroy him that hath power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them. He destroyed him and delivered them. who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of Daniel, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things, verse 17, it behooved him 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 and atonement for the sin of the people. Call his name Jesus, he shall save his people from their sin. Or, in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he's able to succor them or to save them to the uttermost. You remember that scripture over here and it reminded me that word uttermost.

Hebrews 7.25, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us. For such a high priest became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens. It's who He is, my friend, that gives power and glory to what He accomplished.

And I declare unto you, this Bible doesn't know anything of the defeated. Savior. It knows everything about the victorious, conquering King, the Lord Jesus Christ, that has won every battle, that has defeated every enemy, that established righteousness for us, that saves his people with a, he saves us with a everlasting salvation. Everlasting. The Lord Jesus Christ, he became identified with our humanity. When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law.

He became identified with our humanity. He knew weariness in body. He hungered, he thirsted. He knew pain, grief, sorrow. He was tempted and tested in all points like as we are, yet without sin. He never performed a miracle to relieve his own suffering. He did for others, but not for himself. He identified with our humanity, but more than that, He also identified with our sin.

And this is the good news of the gospel, that our sin was laid upon Him, that God made Him that particular sacrifice for sin as a Lamb of God from all eternity. This is what God has done for us in Christ. It's not what men did at Calvary that's our hope. They did some wicked things. But it's what God was doing at the cross. That's our hope.

It pleased God to bruise Him in our room and in our stead. God is the only one that could make Him sin for us who knew no sin. He's a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. You see, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ wasn't an accident. He died on purpose. God's purpose. It's an eternal purpose. The whole dilemma of God that takes away our sin. No one else could. No one else would.

Peter says, and 1 Peter 2, who his own self bare our sins and his own body on the tree. Peter again writes, the Lord laid on him the just for the unjust. He suffered once for our sin, the just for the unjust, that he might do what? bring us to God. He brings us, he draws us with his everlasting power. He makes us willing in the day of his power.

Behold his poverty as he hangs on Calvary's cross for the sin of God's people, stripped of all possession. He hangs naked on the tree, forsaken of all of his disciples, forsaken of God, hated of men. This is our sacrifice for sin. As he suffers for our sin in our room and in our stead, wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquity, the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him. And with his stripes, we're healed. We're healed. It pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.

He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper." I love that word, prosper. Prosper in his hand. None can stay his hand or say unto him, Lord God Almighty, what doest thou? He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. Are you satisfied with the death of Christ? I am. But more importantly, God is. God's satisfied, well satisfied. How do we know he's satisfied? How do we know that God is satisfied with the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ?

He was delivered from our offenses. What happened? Raised again for our justification. Raised again because he put away our sin by the sacrifice of himself. So thorough and so complete is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ that God Almighty said their sin and their iniquity I remember no more. Separated as far as the east is from the west. He put away our sin so thoroughly and so completely that we have no sin before God. Think of that. Justified freely by His grace.

Why was he forsaken of God? God too holy to look upon sin with favor. He's bearing our sin in His own body. He's just not carrying the load of sin in a mere legal way, but in reality, He became the load of sin. He became the mass of sin for us. He justly died under the weight and guilt and burden of our sin. If he was not guilty, God couldn't justly punish him. But he was guilty. My sin was made his.

All the sin of God's people laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ and he answered the charge of every one of those. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. Yet for your sake he became poor, for your sin, for your transgression, for your iniquity, at deep poverty. Almighty God took upon himself our flesh, took upon himself our sin, died under the judgment and wrath of God to be just and the justifier of the ungodly. Now, in closing, let me give you this. Let's read that verse one more time. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

You know, we know the Son of God has come. He's given us an understanding that we may know Him, that is true. And we're in Him, that is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God in eternal life. But we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you, you, through His poverty, through His sacrifice, through His humiliation, we might be rich. We might be rich. Through his effectual sacrifice for our sin, his sacrifice, his righteousness, his merit, his obedience unto death, that we might be richly justified, richly redeemed, richly made righteous in Christ Jesus.

So much so that he says this, for it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him I say, whether they be things in earth or in heaven, and you that were sometime alienated, enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet Now hath he reconciled us in the body of his flesh to present you holy, unblameable, unreprovable in his sight. Think about that. You remember that closing scripture in the book of Jude? He's able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless for the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior be honor and glory forever and ever. And I love that word. Amen. Amen. Amen. I went back and listened to a sermon by our dear Pastor Henry that he preached in 1977 from this text, 2 Corinthians 8-9. And you know what he entitled the message? He said, how I became the world's richest man. He made us rich. We lack nothing. Is He enough, we sang?

If He's all you got, Christ is all and in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete. You are complete in Him. Complete in Him. Let me read this to you. Therefore, let no man glory in men, for all things are yours, whether Paul, or Paulus, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or present, or things to come. All are yours, and you are Christ, and Christ is God's.

We're blessed with all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of it. All spiritual blessings. Now this is not talking about physical material things, is it, or temporal riches. But every believer has in the Lord Jesus Christ durable, eternal, spiritual riches of God's everlasting grace. Believers in Christ are blessed with all spiritual blessing.

He has given us eternal life and we shall never perish. God who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. How shall He not with Him also freely, I love that word, don't you? Freely give us all things, all things. We are blessed with the abundance of blessings because of His poverty. It's always through Christ, because of Him, and in Him that we are blessed. Peter writes about the inheritance that we have that's incorruptible, undefiled, laid if not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God.

Think about it. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that you through his poverty might be saved by his grace. Saved by his grace. His willingness to become what He was, not sin, in order to make us what we are not by nature, righteous and redeemed from all sin. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. We have remission from all our sin.

I'll tell you a personal story. I'll tell one on myself. I had cancer treatment last year. And the doctor that treated me was a good doctor. And he said it was successful. I went back for a follow-up visit. And, you know, we've all heard that term, cancer's in remission. Well, I asked the good doctor, I said, can I say or can I tell our folks that my cancer's in remission? And he looked at me like I cursed at him. He said, no, you can't say that. I'm thinking to myself, wow, I'm so disappointed. Why can't I say that? And I just, I got so down and got so blue. And then I thought, I have something much better.

I have the remission of all my sin. All my sin is gone in whom we have redemption. We have it right now. He obtained for us. eternal redemption with his own blood. The believer in Christ is lifted up so high because he was brought down so low. We give thanks unto the Father who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in Christ in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, the Son of his love. in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Think of it. I am a vile, wretched, guilty sinner that all I do is sin against God. Yet in God's presence, I have no sin. Now if that doesn't make your heart leap for joy, you're dead. You're dead. We've been filled because he was emptied. We live because he died. We're blessed because he was cursed. We're made righteous because he was made sin. We're set at liberty because he was bound by our sin. We're made nigh unto God by the blood of Christ. because he made full satisfaction for our sin. We receive all spiritual blessing as mercy beggars, don't we? He said, come boldly under the throne of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

You know, I've been around a while. I've studied a while. I've been in the ministry over 40 years, studying the word of God, trying to preach the gospel. I've never read one time in the scripture where a needy sinner, guilty, came to the Lord Jesus Christ seeking mercy and was turned away. Not one time. Now, those Pharisees, he dealt with them. You are they that justify yourselves before men. That which is highly esteemed is an abomination in the sight of God. But He never turned a mercy beggar away.

I remember reading one time where it said, He healed all those who had need of healing. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches through the Lord Jesus Christ. There's not one blessing that we enjoy that does not have the blood mark upon it. It's the blood. It's still the blood. the blood that maketh atonement for the soul. We know we are redeemed with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

May you always be mindful of these things that God has done for us in Christ. Christ in you is a hope of glory. We try as best we can to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. We say with the apostle, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift of his love, his grace, his mercy and salvation. Thanks be unto God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now look at that verse one more time. I'll let you go. I want, I want this to sink in. I want, I want you to take this home with you. And look at it this weekend and next weekend. Just think of these words.

For you know, because He taught us, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He's the Lord. He's the Savior. He's the Christ of God, the Anointed. Yet for your sakes, He became poor. That you, through His poverty, his work, his substitution, that we might be rich, richly blessed with all spiritual blessing.

God bless you. Thank you. If you're wondering why that was such a blessing, I believe I know. It's because there wasn't a drop of human logic in that message. Everything Tom said, he backed up with scripture, didn't he? It was such a blessing. Tom, thank you so much. And we're going to take about a 10 or 15 minute break. When you hear the music, come back in because we'll be ready to start, all right?

The Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

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What does the Bible say about the grace of God?

How do we know that Jesus died for our sins?

Why is the grace of Jesus Christ important for Christians?

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The Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the grace of God?

How do we know that Jesus died for our sins?

Why is the grace of Jesus Christ important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Tom Harding

Comments

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