The God With Whom We Have To Do

Q: What does the Bible say about God's sovereignty?

The Bible declares God's sovereignty over all creation, including the hearts and minds of humanity. God's sovereignty is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing that He is in control of all things. Hebrews 4:13 states that all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do, highlighting that nothing escapes His sight. This sovereignty reassures believers that God is ultimately governing all events in their lives and the world, assuring them of His omnipotent presence in every circumstance. The acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty brings both comfort and responsibility, as every individual must recognize their accountability before Him, the Creator and Judge of all.

Q: How do we know we will be judged by God?

The Bible clearly affirms that every person will stand before God for judgment based on their actions. Scripture teaches that all people will face a holy and just judgment from God. Romans 14:12 states, 'So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God,' indicating that individual accountability is an unavoidable truth. Hebrews 4:13 reinforces that nothing is hidden from God's sight, ensuring that every thought, motive, and action is fully known. The reality of judgment is essential for understanding the weight of our sins and the necessity of Christ's atoning sacrifice. Believers find comfort in this truth, knowing that they are covered by the righteousness of Christ and spared from judgment, while those outside of Christ face the reality of their sins before the just God.

Q: Why is repentance important for Christians?

Repentance is crucial for Christians as it reconciles them with God and acknowledges their need for grace. Repentance serves as a foundational aspect of the Christian faith, highlighting our recognition of sin and our need for redemption. Many believe they can postpone repentance, but Scripture teaches that repentance is necessary for salvation and growth in faith. As noted in Romans 3:23, 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' acknowledging our sinfulness leads to true repentance. This act not only positions us to receive God's grace but also deepens our relationship with Him as we turn away from our sins and toward Christ. Genuine repentance transforms our lives, enabling us to live in accordance with God's will, and fosters continuous spiritual growth.

Q: What is the significance of Christ as our High Priest?

Christ, as our High Priest, intercedes for us and provides the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The significance of Christ as our High Priest is profound and essential to the Gospel. In Hebrews 4:14, we are reminded that we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens. This office means that Christ not only offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice but also continuously intercedes on behalf of believers. His role as both the sacrificial Lamb and the High Priest ensures that those who trust in Him are cloaked in His righteousness rather than their own, which is essential because we cannot approach God based on our merit. His compassion and understanding of human frailty mean that He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, having endured trials Himself. This combination of holiness and mercy assures believers of their acceptance before God.

Q: How does God's judgment relate to His mercy?

God's judgment is just, yet His mercy through Christ provides forgiveness and grace to sinners. God's judgment and mercy are intricately connected, showcasing His perfect justice and grace. While He is the righteous judge who cannot overlook sin, His mercy is seen fully in the sacrifice of Christ. Romans 5:8 proclaims that 'while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,' emphasizing that God's mercy does not negate His judgment but rather fulfills it by providing a way for sinners to be redeemed. Through Christ, the penalty for sin is satisfied, allowing God's justice to be upheld while offering mercy to those who repent and believe. Consequently, believers find assurance in God's grace, knowing they are forgiven through Christ, making the throne of judgment a throne of grace.

Turn back with me to Hebrews chapter 4 if you would please. My text to be found in verse 13. The title of the message, The God With Whom We Have To Do. Hebrews 4.13, Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. Whose sight? God's sight. But all things, how many things? All things, everything, are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." What a declaration of God's sovereignty.

Many, many today do not take God seriously because they don't really believe there is a God. Now let's just call it what it is. They don't fear the warnings of eternal condemnation because they really don't believe in life after death or the consequence of sin. Fallen humanity is spiritually blind, morally corrupt, and enmity. That word, it means hostile. We've said that many times. toward God because they're spiritually dead. Men do not naturally fear God. They believe that time is on their side. Death is something far, far away. Heart attacks and strokes and cancer happens to other people, but not them. Many believe their goodness will be enough. They'll stand before God and say, haven't we, haven't we done this? And haven't we done that? They'll find it's not, their goodness is not good enough. The Lord said, I never knew you.

Repentance, many believe, is unnecessary and can be postponed. There's always a later time for that. You know, I've got to get my life, I'll get my life straight and then I'll repent. Well, you never will. You know, sin is like a narcotic that dulls the soul to eternal realities. Men and women love darkness rather than light. Now, how do you explain that? I can do it with one word. Sin. Sin. And this is all of us by nature. But ultimately, every human being is gonna deal with God. Our text shows us that.

Whether they acknowledge Him or ignore Him. Whether they love Christ or rebel against Him. Whether they trust Him or deny Him. Humanity. cannot escape the reality that their lives are lived before God's all-seeing eyes and will be assessed one day by His perfect judgment. Every thought, every motive, every secret desire, every spoken word, every outward action is fully known to the God with whom we have to do." We pull the wool over some folks' eyes, but you're not going to pull the wool over God's eyes. Nothing is hidden from His sight.

Nothing. Men may deny God's existence, but it doesn't change a thing. Doesn't change a thing. Mankind's denial does not alter reality. Paul asked, for what if some do not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Absolutely not. Men may shake their fists in rebellion, they may shake their heads in unbelief, but God remains enthroned in the heaven.

There's nowhere that we can flee from His presence. That's what Psalm 139 tells us. It assures us that if we ascend into heaven, He's there. If we make our bed in the depths, He's there. Darkness and light are all alike to God. He sees all. God doesn't merely observe what we do, friends. He sees why we do it. He knows why we do it.

God judges with perfect accuracy. Nobody's going to get an unfair shake when it comes to judgment. Everybody's going to get exactly what they deserve. Well then, how are you and I going to escape? Because we're getting what we deserve. Christ paid our sin debt. Christ put our sin away. In Christ, we don't have any sin. But those whom He didn't, They're going to get exactly what they deserve because God judges with perfect accuracy. He alone searches the heart, Jeremiah said. He alone tries the reins. He alone gives every man according to his ways.

We've talked about that a lot recently. I don't want what I got coming. I don't want what I deserve. I don't want God to give me what I deserve according to my ways." And friends, every day moves us closer and closer to the day when every man and woman is going to give an account to God.

You might say, well, I'm just barely 20 years old. Well, you'll go to bed tonight, and you'll wake up at 40, and then you'll go to bed again, and you'll wake up at 70. And some of you know this better than I. You'll wake up again and be 80 or dead, and you'll be standing before God without an account. To give account without an excuse is what I meant to say.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Whether it be good or bad. For those outside of Christ that day will reveal every sin and will confirm the justice of their eternal condemnation.

Only two ways to stand before God. In your own righteousness or in Christ's righteousness. To stand in your own righteousness is to stand exposed and guilty. Naked and open. Because all sin and come short to the glory of God. Romans 3.23 To stand in Christ though is to stand and be clothed in a perfect righteousness not our own. God sees the believer as accepted because they are accepted in the Beloved. This is the heart of the Gospel. The Judge Himself has provided the righteousness that He requires through His Beloved Son.

And this is the folly of ignoring God. Many live as though God doesn't matter. They plan, they work, they buy, they sell, and they pursue pleasure without serious thought of eternity. That's what they did in the days of Noah. That's exactly what they did. And one day the rain started coming down, and one day the water started coming up, and they're fleeing for their life. For 120 years they heard the hammer of Noah's, God's judgment. What it was. Beat her that hammer. Judgment's coming. Judgment's coming. They kept right on. They laughed. They mocked. Still the same today. Still the same today. Folly. And ignoring God does not diminish His authority.

A prisoner may deny the court's verdict. Someone breaks the law, they go before a court of law, it pronounces them guilty, It gives them a verdict. And they may say, well, I don't accept that. Well, guess what? You're going to pay the price anyway. Doesn't matter if you think you deserve it or not. The sentence remains in force. And in the same way, our opinions do not alter God's reality. Whether you believe it or not, friends, the wages of sin is death.

Why am I addressing this subject this morning? For the believer, living before God's face is not only sobering, but it's deeply comforting. I'm bringing what is bad news to some, to you is good news who believe. Because it's the same God that sees every sin. Now, get a hold of this if God enabled you The same God who sees every sin also sees every tear, and He knows every burden, and He knows every temptation, and He knows every secret cry for mercy.

Oh, I know sometimes the heavens seem as brass, and we lower our heads and say, Lord, help me. Nobody hears us. It's inaudible. We say, Lord, help me. Sometimes we don't even have to say the words. We just think it. God hears you. God hears you. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing in the believer's life escapes God's wise and providential care.

Isn't that good news? Because of Christ, the One who sees all is no longer only judge, but He's also our Father. I mentioned that in the first hour. And that's something that I've just grown to just cherish the thought of. That I am a child of God. Wow! Every breath is taken in His presence. Every thought occurs under His grace. Every action is recorded by His perfect knowledge. Every life is going to be measured by His holy standard.

And to be found outside of Christ is to stand naked before infinite justice, but to be found in Christ. Oh my, different story altogether. It's to stand accepted, to stand forgiven, and to stand eternally secure. All that the Father giveth me, he said. How many in the whole world know all that the Father giveth me? All those that believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ shall come to me, and I won't By any wise cast them out. Secure, accepted, forgiven.

That's what makes grace so amazing. You know people for years now have sung Amazing Grace and have no idea what they're singing about. They don't. I did for years. Amazing grace. Don't know why it's amazing. But that's what makes grace amazing is the fact that God, seeing and knowing everything about me, about us, His fallen creatures, would still call and save us in spite of us.

Right? Well, I mean, we've got friends that know us pretty well and they still seem to love us and we're thankful for that. But even they don't see the dark things, do they? They see what we let them see. God sees all. All things are naked and open unto Him. That's what makes grace amazing. Scripture doesn't soften the diagnosis. Grace is not amazing because people are mildly flawed. And God decides to overlook, well, he's a pretty good boy. I remember my mom used to tell me, she said, you're a pretty good boy. There just ain't no demand for good boys. And they're not.

Grace is amazing because God sees the full depth of our depravity and our morality. And spiritually, He makes us perfect in His sight. And He still chooses to act in mercy and grace rather than in judgment toward us. That is amazing. Because that's what we deserve, death and condemnation. Romans 5a declares that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We looked at that a few weeks back. God saved us knowing fully and exactly who and what we are. Now let me ask you, is that good news? If you see who and what you are, it is. It sure is. And He does so, it just gets better. He does so freely.

Yet at infinite cost to himself with no contribution from us. None. None. Well, don't I have to give him my heart? He don't want it. It's deceitful above all things, desperately wicked. Don't I have to exercise my will? You have no will. You will not come to him that you might have liked. Well, don't I have to do this? And don't I have to do that? Without me, you can do nothing, he said. Nothing. That's what makes grace amazing. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Not saved a pretty good boy or somebody that, you know, just made a few mistakes. A wretch! You know what a wretch is? Look it up.

Now let's read the verse together once again. Verse 13, neither is there any creature, that means all of us. That means grandma and mama and all, it means everyone. There's no creature, neither is there any creature that's not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

God is the God with whom we have to do. And I'm so glad. Because He's not only just a just God, but He's a God of mercy. We have to do with God as our Creator. I'm just going to give you a few things here. In order to have a creature, there's got to be a Creator. We did not bring ourselves into existence. God forms us, God sustains us, and God owns us. And everybody will agree with that. But they'll disagree with you when you talk about the creation of spiritual life within us.

That's when they say, now wait a minute here! Nobody argues that God spoke the world into existence. That God said, let there be light, and there was light. But you tell them that God spoke that to your dead, dark, cold, void soul, and oh, they'll take exception with it. Now wait a minute. Ah, it's He that hath made us. Now we are set.

Psalm 100 verse 3. Every breath is borrowed from Him. Every heartbeat is granted by Him. Any abilities that we have, any opportunities given to us, all come from His hand. Before He created us, we were dead, unaccountable to Him. Listen, secondly, we have to do with a God as the all-seeing one. That changes everything. Nothing's hidden from His sight. He sees our outward actions. As I said, every word, every deed, every thought.

He discerns every motive. You know, we don't even know our own motives sometimes. We can convince ourselves about anything. Well, I did that because I was really trying to... God sees through all that. God sees all that, even when we don't know. He sees every motive. He sees every single secret sin. No secrets with God.

None. That word naked there in our text, you know what it means? Absolute. You know what the word absolute means? Not diminished in any way. God sees everything. Everything. That word absolute means undivided. You know what that means? That means that God in the fullest sense sees exactly what we are. We have His undivided attention. He sees everything. It's all naked. We can try to put on our little coats of righteousness, our little big leaves like Adam and Eve did. Adam, where are you? We're shaking, hiding in the trees, camouflaged by leaves. And God says, why did you put that on? He said, well, we saw we were naked. Who told you you was naked? What did he do? He clothed them with skins, the shedding of blood.

Without the shedding of blood, no remission. And God covered them. And that's what he's got to do for us. I've got to have the perfect righteousness of Christ as my covering. Otherwise, there's no hope for me. Nothing's hidden. Nothing's hidden. David said in Psalm 139 verse one, O Lord, thou has searched me and known me. We can hide things from one another, but no one can hide anything from God. He's the all seeing one. Thirdly, we have to do with God as our moral governor. Now, what do I mean by that? God's not just merely an observer. God is the righteous judge. He alone defines right and wrong. Shall not the judge of the earth do right?

Yes, every single time. Nobody's going to get an unfair shake with God. They're going to get exactly what they deserve. Either they deserve death and condemnation for what they've done, or they deserve life, mercy, and grace for what Christ has done. His law exposes our guilt. His holiness condemns our sin. His justice requires total satisfaction.

But He also in mercy provides all that He requires. Man, oh man. Did you hear that? Everything that this holy and just God requires of me, He provides for me. Every person born throughout time is going to have to answer to Him for what they've done. And you may ask, well, where's the hope in that? Our hope is in Christ who does all things well. And He does all those things well for us. What a God.

We have to do fourthly with a God as our judge. So then, every one of us, according to Romans 14, 12, shall give an account of himself to God. Every other one of us? No. Every one of us. Everyone from the beginning of time? to the end of time, gonna have to give an account of Himself to God.

Fallen men and women shall give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. That's what Peter said, 1 Peter 4, 5. That means every person is gonna one day stand responsible for the right, before the righteous judge of heaven and earth, and both the quick, the spiritually alive, that's what it means, and the dead, spiritually dead, both of them, all of them. Every one of them will stand responsible for every spoken word, every thought entertained, every motive of the heart, every deed committed, the rejection of God's truth, which you've already told us that. Do you believe me yet?

Folks will then discover that they do not have a good thing going on with Jesus. It'll then be revealed that God's not the little old man upstairs who wants everybody to love him. They're gonna be standing in front of the judge, the holy and righteous judge. And it will then be made known that Jesus didn't die for those who never bowed their knee to Him. All things, all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

What's that mean? We're gonna have to give an account. Those who mock the gospel, those who ignore God, those who reject Christ, those who continue in sin, all will one day answer to the very one they disregard. That don't sound like good news to me. It ain't if you're not in Christ. All excuses are gonna fail. But, no, ain't no buts. All secrets gonna be exposed, all guilt's gonna be undeniable. Well, the woman thou gavest me. Nope. Don't fly. Not going to fly. Well, the serpent you put here beguiled me. No, sir. Nope, nope, nope.

And all guilt will be undeniable, and judgment will be righteous, and the wicked may seem to prosper now." That's what David said. He said, the wicked prosper. But then they're not gonna evade the justice of God. Nobody's gonna pull the wool over God's eyes, as I said a moment ago.

And I love how verse 13 here is wrapped in a blanket, a covering. That's what a blanket is. A covering of grace. Verse 12 and 14 are the covering. And I want to look at those and then we'll stop. But how can one who's nothing but sin, and how can one who does nothing but sin, and how can one whose heart is deceitful above all things, how can a heart that is desperately wicked believe? Verse 12 tells us, look at it.

The Word of God's the means, for the Word of God is quick, alive. and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints in the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Now, what does that mean? That means the Bible is not a dead document. It's not a dead doctrine. You can leave it on the shelf and get it down once a year on Christmas and Easter or whatever and dust it off and read it.

It never went anywhere. It's still as quick and powerful as it ever was. It's quick. It's living. It carries the life of God. The Word of God is powerful. It's proactive. It does something every time it's encountered. It never returns void. It always accomplishes what God sends it forth to do. It confronts, it exposes, it convicts, and it either hardens or it humbles the hearer. What's it done for you? The Word of God cuts to the cord sharper than any two-edged sword.

It's piercing with surgical precision. You know, I wouldn't go to a doctor that pulled out his pocket knife and cut on me, would you? No, no, we're gonna have to have some surgical, precise surgical procedure. I know I'll be asleep, but I'll come away quick if you pull out your pocket knife. This is not a blunt instrument this is talking about. This is a precise blade.

Why, it divides soul and spirit. It divides the joints and marrow. It reaches to the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God's Word judges what we cannot see. Human judgment is limited. It's tainted by sin. But God's Word never ever misdiagnoses. It exposes the truth without error.

And then verse 14 tells us, seeing then that we have a great high priest, Seeing what? Seeing these wonderful truths after being told that everything that we do is exposed to God. The all-seeing eye of God. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens.

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Our profession of what? Faith and trust in Him. And this brings us to the fifth thing. The God with whom we have to do is our Redeemer. He's our Redeemer. He's our Savior. He's our Advocate. God, who sees all our sins, gives us a great High Priest.

Now, listen. Hang with me. This is so good. One who obeyed in our place. One who died for our sins. One who rose again for our justification. One who intercedes for us in prayer forever. He never gets tired. A friend calls you, you help me do this. Well, I can maybe help you Friday. I'm a little bit tired right now. I'm taking a nap. Not God. Not Christ.

He forever intercedes for us. He's one who brings us safely to God. So who is this God with whom we have to do? He's the God that created us. He's the God who sees us inside and out. He's the God who knows us. He's the God that judges us. He's the God that we've offended. But most importantly, He is the God who saves sinners through Christ, His beloved Son. And what a long-suffering and compassionate Savior He is.

That's what we need. Because we change like the weather. It's a beautiful day out here today. I think it's going to rain the next several days. You just never know what we're going to get, do we? We get what God sends us. But listen, why is Christ so long-suffering and compassionate? Verse 15, look at it. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Not only do we need a great high priest, brothers and sisters, we need a sympathetic great high priest, and we have one in Christ.

He's been touched with the feelings of our infirmities. You think about that. He is profoundly moved by our weaknesses. That word infirmities includes our frailty, our sorrow, our temptations, Our sufferings, our fears. Christ is not cold and distant. He's not indifferent to our struggles. He knows what it is to be weary. He knows what it is to be misunderstood. He knows what it is to be rejected. He knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it is to be tempted by Satan.

And when a believer cries out to Him, they're crying out to One who truly understands because He was in all points and all ways tempted as we are. And as our substitute, our Lord, as a man, experienced every means of human trial, testing, and suffering.

Hungerness in the wilderness. Opposition from sinners. Betrayal from friends. You know something about that? The assaults of Satan. Agony. Who experienced more agony than Him in Gethsemane's garden? He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. What about the horrors of the cross? He felt the full pressure of these things far more than we do for the simple fact that He never yielded to any of them. You know, we fold under pressure pretty easily, don't we? We sure do. We often give in. And we just say, I give up. Okay. And then we do what we know we shouldn't do.

But not the Lord Jesus Christ. He was sinless, yet without sin. Born holy. Lived perfectly. Obeyed flawlessly. Died innocently. That's our great High Priest. What a High Priest He is. He's experienced everything We think we're the only ones, don't we? Nobody's suffered like I have. Oh, yeah. Yes, they have. Yes, they have.

And this is how Christ can save the worst of sinners. If Christ were compassionate but sinful, He couldn't fulfill God's holy justice. And if Christ was sinless without compassion, we'd be scared to death to approach Him. But in Christ, perfect holiness, perfect mercy meet together. He sympathizes not to excuse sin, but to provide grace.

Where do I get grace is one place to get it. He is a great high priest. He's able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him. How do they come? He enables them to come. No man can come unless He draws them. So if you come, He drew you, right?

It's the salvations of the Lord, right? You will not come to Him that you might have life. Well then, how did my will change? In the day of His power, He made us willing. It all goes back to Him. You can't find anywhere in this book that will convince me that you had something to do with being saved.

You're a recipient of grace. That's the good news. That's the good news. So what is that good news? Verse 16. Let us therefore come boldly into the throne of grace that we may obtain You know what that means? That we may get. You want it? Come to His throne of grace that you may obtain it, mercy, and find grace in time of need. Three wonderful words there.

Because we have such a high priest, we need not run from God. We need not hide in shame. We need not despair under guilt. We may boldly come to Him. It's a throne of grace. It's there we obtain mercy. It's there that we find help in time of need. Four words. The throne of the judge becomes the throne of grace because the great high priest has satisfied divine justice.

And that just simply means that he took the punishment of his people's sin and he paid their debt in full. Tell me something better now. I'll give you the last five minutes if you can. That's what I thought. In doing so, God can righteously forgive and save all who trust in Him. So none are too guilty to be forgiven. Well, you don't know what I've done. No, you're right. But God does.

He's all seeing, isn't He? All things are naked and open unto Him. He says, Come. Come to Me and I'll give you life. My burden's easy and light. None are too weak to continue. Our strength comes from Him. Yes, we were without strength, but He gave us His strength. None are too ashamed to come to Christ. The one seated at God's right hand understands our misery and He has no sin of His own. And He's the very one that gives us the perfect righteousness of God that we need to stand before God. I said all that to say this. Come to Christ. Bring your guilt, bring your fears, bring your burdens. God doesn't accept you by any work or worth of your own. God accepts sinners on the work and worth of His beloved Son.

The God With Whom We Have To Do

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's sovereignty?

How do we know we will be judged by God?

Why is repentance important for Christians?

What is the significance of Christ as our High Priest?

How does God's judgment relate to His mercy?

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The God With Whom We Have To Do

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's sovereignty?

How do we know we will be judged by God?

Why is repentance important for Christians?

What is the significance of Christ as our High Priest?

How does God's judgment relate to His mercy?

Sermon Transcript

About David Eddmenson

Comments

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