Sunday School Lesson

We had a surprise 60th birthday party for my little sister, Cindy, in Houston this week, and she was surprised. I was so happy about that, she flipped out when she saw it. She had no idea. First Peter, chapter one. Verse eight. Whom, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. In whom, though now you see him not, yet believing.

You rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Let's pray. Lord, we come into your presence in Christ's name. And Lord, would you speak to us from this word Enable this, cause this to be the description of every one of us, whom having not seen, we haven't seen your blessed son physically, but oh Lord, how we love his glorious person, how we love his salvation. We ask that we might be described by those who yet believe him, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Lord, enable us to enter into that.

Lord, accept our thanksgiving. We're so thankful for who you are. We're so thankful for your salvation. We're so thankful for the revelation of your person. Bless us with your presence. Be with all your people wherever they meet together. And Lord, forgive us of our sins for Christ's sake. May we be found in him. In his name we pray, amen. Whom having not seen You love. What a amazing concept, would I call it that? Whom having not seen, you've never seen him. You don't know what he looks like physically. Yet this one you've never seen, you love.

You love him more than anyone else by far that you know. If you're a believer, you love him better than your children, you love him better than your spouse, you love him better than your parents, whom having not seen, you've never seen him before, yet you love him. Now you can only love somebody that you know personally. There may be historical figures we have great admiration for, things they've done, but you can only truly love someone that you know personally.

Now, this is amazing. You've never seen the Lord Jesus Christ, but you love him more than anybody else. You really do. You can say, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. You've never seen him, yet you love his person. Now, one day we'll see him. I love that scripture in 1 John 3, it says, when he shall appear, we'll be like him, but we'll see him as he is. We'll see him face to face at that time. But until then, you have never seen him, but you know him. You can only love somebody that you know. Now, when I talk about our knowledge of him, every one of us thinks, Well, I don't know him very well. I don't know him like I ought to know him. I see so little.

And yes, you're right. I think of what Paul said to the Galatians in Galatians 4, 9. He said, now that you've known God, or rather are known of God, I'm more concerned about him knowing me. And if he knows me, I'll know him. I'm not asking you to think about your knowledge of him in that sense. We know him at least like the thief did. Now, if you would ask the thief, do you know him intimately and personally? I'd say you'd probably say no, but he knew who he was. And knowing who he is is knowing him. I love the power of the thief on the cross. I kind of think of seeing him in glory and what was that like? What was that like?

He knew who he was. He knew he was God. He said, don't you fear God? He knew that man hanging on the cross was God. How'd he know? Because he knew who he was. He knew he was man. He knew he was the Lord. He knew he'd done nothing amiss. He said, this man has done nothing amiss. Now, he'd only known him for a few minutes, but because he knew who he was, he knew he'd never committed a sin because he knew him.

See, that's the issue, is knowing who He is. I'm not asking you about how intimately you feel you know Him, although we ought to feel intimate. I'm not discounting that, but I know us because I know me, and we always start looking within. Whatever we're doing, we're looking within. Forget about yourself for a second. Do you know who He is? Do you know He's the Lord? Do you know He's incapable of failure?

Like that thief, remember me when you come into your kingdom. You're not gonna remain on that cross. You're the mighty reigning king of kings and Lord of lords, and you're gonna come back as a mighty victor, king of kings. Remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Now, that's what happens when people know him. They're like the thief. They know who he is. And really, this is the only issue is who is Jesus Christ? Everything we believe is determined by who he is. And if I know who he is, the doctrine will just fall out of that. If you believe who he is, you know he must be successful in all that he does. Knowing him. Every believer knows who he is.

Who? having not seen. Although you've never seen him, yet you know he's altogether lovely, don't you? You can't describe his face, you don't know how tall he was, yet you know he is altogether lovely, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He is the whom of which God said for his sake, for Christ's sake, God's forgiven you of your sins. Why is he forgiving you?

For Christ's sake. No other reason is needed. For Christ's sake. Whom. Salvation is not a what, but a whom. We trust a person who is God, who is man. The God-man. We don't look to a system of religion and its dogmas. We trust whom. My salvation is all in him. We never seen him, but we love him. We love his person. We love his character. We love his attributes. We love his way of saving.

Whom? Whom? Having not seen, you love. Isn't that a glorious thought? Whom? Having not seen. I've never seen him. I love you. And I hope you love me, but I hope you love him better than you love me. And I hope I love him better than I love you. He is the altogether lovely one. Whom? Having not you seen, you love. Now look at the next phrase. In whom? He begins with whom and then and in whom. In whom?

Though now you seem not yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory in whom all of God's salvation is in Christ. I love the way he closed his address to his disciples in John chapter 16 before he prayed that great high priestly prayer which we'll be considering again this morning. He closed that glorious sermon to his disciples the day before he died with this, these things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have the peace. Not in yourselves, not in your works, not in your experience, not in your intentions, not in your knowledge, not in your understanding, but in me. In Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he has chosen us in him. In whom? All of my hope, all of my trust is in whom? In whom?

Though now you see him not. He's talking about us not seeing him right now again. This is the second time he makes a reference to this. Do you know that if we saw him right now in his glorified state without us being conformed to his image in the sense of being in a glorified body, it'd kill us?

What did he say to Moses? He said, no man can see my face and live. Why did he put him in a cleft of the rock and show him only his back parts? Because no man could see his face and live. In these current states, if we saw him in his glorified state, it would kill us. That's how altogether glorious his being is, and I know I don't understand that, and you don't understand it, but we know it's so. No man can see my face and live.

Now, one of these days we're going to see him face to face, but it's going to be with a glorified body. All seeing God, we'll see him as he is and we'll be glorified when we see him as he is. Oh, we'll see that glorious person and we'll be perfectly conformed to his image. In whom? No. Now, we see him not. I love what Paul said, we see through a glass darkly, but then face-to-face the fact remains in whom though now we seem not what's the next word look at verse 8 again whom having not seen you love in whom though now you seem not yet believing yet believing now that describes every believer believing.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you believe he's God's Christ? Do you believe he's the God-man? Do you believe he's the creator of the universe? Do you believe he's the only savior of sinners? Do you believe he must be successful in whatever he does? Do you believe he's even now seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling and reigning, controlling everything and everybody?

Believing. Now this is what a believer is, he believes. This is what he does, he believes. Yet believing. Although now you seem not yet believing. You know, that love you have is a result of believing. That's where the love comes from. If you believe, you'll love him. You can't help but love him if you believe. Now, if you don't love him, it's because you don't believe. That's the only reason. If you believe, you love him. And the reason you love him, you believe. Now, he gave you that love. He gave you that faith. You realize that. But oh, what a glorious description of those people who don't see him. Don't know what he looks like, yet love him, believe him. Believe him.

The Lord's public ministry began with these words, repent ye and believe the gospel. Now, preachers, people get this thing of repenting so messed up, they separate it. Repent of your sins and believe the gospel. That's not what it says. Repent of everything that's contrary to believing him. That's what repentance is.

Believe. Right now, believe. Believe the gospel. Believe who he is. Paul said in Romans 1 16, I'm not ashamed of the gospel for it's the power of God to salvation to everyone that believeth. This is the work of God that you believe. on him whom he has sent to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly. His faith is counted for righteousness. Now, is that you?

You see that you can't be saved by your works. Let's just forget everything else and everybody else. Do you see, are you convinced beyond the shadow of the doubt that you cannot be saved by your works? to him that worketh not. Salvation by works, there's no hope for you. To him that worketh not, but believeth. On him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Paul said, I know whom I have believed. He didn't say, I know what I believed. He said, I know whom I have believed. And I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed to Him against that day.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Now listen to this statement very carefully. We have to believe. The Holy Spirit doesn't believe for us. We have to believe. Now I know if we believe it's because He caused it. But you and I must personally believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We must personally trust Christ as all in our salvation. And though now you've seen him not, yet believing. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Whoso believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ? you can answer that with yes or no. Do you believe that Jesus is God's Christ, God's prophet, God's priest, God's king? You're relying on who he is as God's prophet, God's priest, God's king. Whoso believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. You've been birthed by God if you believe that Jesus is the Christ.

Listen to this scripture. Romans chapter 15, verse 13, the God of hope. I love that name for him. The God of hope. What a hope we have now. Hope that's seen is not hope. I have a hope that I'm going to stand on judgment day without seeing perfectly conformed to the image of Christ. What a hope. And he's the God of that hope. The God of hope.

Fill you. Fill you. Not just a couple of drops in here and there. Fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Turn with me to Romans chapter 14. Fill you with all joy and peace in believing. I know you know this scripture, but I want you to look at the order of it. Think of the glory of it. Verse 17. Romans chapter 14.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, it's not do's and don'ts, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Now notice the order, righteousness. If I'm a believer, I'm the very righteousness of God in him. That's the righteousness I possess. Don't look to how you're doing. His righteousness.

Now, 2 Corinthians 5.21 says, for he hath made him to be sin for us who do no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. If I'm a believer, I have the very righteousness of God. What a thought. That's over my head, but I believe it. Now what is a result of having the very righteousness of God?

Peace. What peace? It can't get any better for me. It can't become improved. Peace. And what comes out of that? Joy. Joy in the Holy Ghost. What a glorious thing it is to be a believer. Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Verse eight of our text, Romans, or first Peter chapter one.

Whom having not seen you love. In whom though now you seem not yet believing. You rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Receiving, what do you have that you didn't receive? If you received it, it's because he gave it to you. You know, I think humorous is not the correct word, but people make, well, at least I received. Well, why'd you receive? You receive something because he gave it to you. There's no merit in your receiving of it. He gave you the grace to receive it. Of his fullness have we all received. The reason you receive is because he gave it to you.

Receiving the end, the goal, the consummation, the purpose of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Now, this one you've never seen you believe, and here's what you receive, believing this one, the salvation of your souls. Now I would be remiss if I did not say first, because when we think of salvation, we always think of something inward. And I understand that.

But don't forget what Simeon said, Lord, Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." He didn't look within. The Lord Jesus Christ is salvation. You don't have to look anywhere else. He is salvation. Receiving the end, the consummation, the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Salvation. Matthew 121, thou shalt call his name Jesus, Savior, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now, he says, at the end of your faith, this is the goal, receiving the salvation of your souls. Think of salvation in this sense. Number one, salvation.

And I love thinking about this. I was saved. I was saved. I was, past tense, saved in eternity past before in my conscious experience now, I hadn't the experience of it. That's what the Bible teaches. Second Timothy 1.9, He saved us. He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works. but according to his own purpose and grace, which were given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Everything I have, salvation and all the aspects of salvation was given me in Christ Jesus before the world began. Now that's secure. That is secure.

Romans 8, 29, for whom he did foreknow, them he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he predestinated, them he also called. Whom he called, them he also justified. Whom he justified, them he also glorified." Already glorified.

I love salvation. eternity. I realize people make all kinds of objections to it. Well, that'll cause you... I don't care what objections you make. It's just the truth. Thank God for a salvation that was accomplished in eternity. And my salvation was accomplished. The salvation of my soul was accomplished when Christ said, it is finished. What? Salvation. God's glory. Todd Norbert salvation. Put your name in there. It is is finished. There's nothing to do. It's already been done. There's nothing for you to do. Christ did it all. It is finished.

Now, in my experience, I was saved when I heard and believed the gospel. and not a second before then and no man has the right to even suspect that he's saved until he hears and believes the gospel. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Now I'm saying to everybody in this room, this is a command from God to you right now. You don't have to wait. Don't wait for an experience. Don't wait. Don't look within.

Right now, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Him. Believe who He is. Trust Him is all you need. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. I hope by the grace of God there isn't anybody in here that doesn't believe. It's a crime not to believe, to not believe Him. Oh, that's a crime. Don't think, well, I can't believe unless God enables me. No, you're in a criminal activity right now. Believe. This is God's command to you.

And I'm so thankful it's a command. This is a lot better than an invitation because if it was an invitation, I think I wouldn't invite it. And as far as that goes, it's not a crime to turn down an invitation, is it? But it's a crime to reject a command. This is God's command to you.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must believe. You must believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. I'm saved when I hear and when I believe the gospel that's also true. I'm not saved yet. How do you say that? Well, Paul said, now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. There was a time when I first believed. When was that? Do you know? Well, whenever I believed, whenever I believed, you know, sometimes I think I didn't believe till just now. Did I even know the gospel?

I've thought that so many times. I don't know how many times I thought, you know, I ought to be baptized again. Not that you're ever baptized again. You're only baptized once. But you think, did I even understand the gospel when I was first baptized? Well, I don't know, but I believe now. I believe now. Faith is in the present. I was saved when I believed and heard the gospel, but I'm still a sinner.

And I'm saying all the time, Lord, save me. Save me from myself, save me from my sins, save me from the sins I commit, deliver me, save me. And I won't be plumb saved until I stand in his presence, perfectly conformed to the image of his son. Then I'll be saved.

When I stand before thy throne dressed in beauty, not my own, When I see thee, as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart, then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Amen.

Sunday School Lesson

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

Sunday School Lesson

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

More from Todd Nibert

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Todd Nibert

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book