I ask you to open your Bibles
to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. We'll be reading in verse 1. I want
to read the first three verses here. 1 Corinthians 15. Paul
writes, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel, the gospel
which I preached unto you. gospel which also you received,
gospel wherein you stand, gospel which also you're saved, if you
keep in memory what I've preached unto you, unless you have believed
in vain. For I delivered unto you, first
of all, that which I received, how? That Christ died for our
sins according to the I have three questions this morning
that I would ask you. Three questions I believe would
be good to ask ourselves. Three questions I hope will bring
you comfort, as they have me in these circumstances. It's one that's been on my mind
for a couple years now, and it's been on my heart particularly
in the past few days. Shortly, shortly before our brother
Dale passed away, we were up at Cleveland Clinic, and sitting there in the hospital
room, and he had sent Jackie and Amy and Abby home for the
evening. It was getting dark. He wanted
them home before it was dark. He sent them home, and we were
just sitting there talking. And he said, you know, I've had
a lot of time here laying on my back, a lot of time to consider
these scriptures, a lot of time to think about He spent a lot
of time in prayer and he said, I really believe it boils down
to these three things. He said, I think you can take
it all and you can boil it down to these three things. Here they are. This is an outline
he gave me a couple years ago. First question was this. Am I
a sinner? Am I a sinner? Second question,
did Christ die for me? Did the Lord Jesus Christ die
for me? And the third question was this,
is He my only hope? Is all my hope, all my confidence
in Him, in Christ and Christ alone? So here for just a A few
minutes this morning, I'd like for us to look at these three
questions in light of the Scriptures. Again, the first question, am
I a sinner? Am I, as I stand before you right
now, am I a sinner? The Scriptures declare that all,
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Back in
Genesis chapter 2, turn there with me if you will. Genesis
chapter 2. Beginning with verse 16 of Genesis
2. And the Lord God commanded the
man saying of every tree of the garden, thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day
that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." And the Lord
God said, it's not good that a man should be alone. I'll make
him a helpmate for him. Out of the ground, the Lord God
formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and
brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them. And
whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the
name thereof. Adam gave names to all the cattle,
and the fowl of the air, and every beast of the field. But
for Adam there was not found in help meat for him. And the
Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam. And he slept. He took one of his ribs, and
he closed up the flesh, and stayed thereof. And the rib which the
Lord God had taken from man made he a woman. and brought her unto
the man. And Adam said, This is now bone
of my bone, flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman, because
she was taken out of a man. Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and he shall cleave unto his wife, and
they shall be one flesh. Look at verse 25. And they were
both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed. Let's
read on here, look in chapter 3. The serpent was more subtle
than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he
said to the woman, yea, hath God said ye shall not eat of
every tree of the garden? Notice how he kind of takes away
from, subtly takes away from God's word. You shall not eat
of any tree. Well, the woman said unto the serpent, we may
eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the The
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God
has said, You shall not eat it, neither shall you touch it, lest
you die. The woman added, added to God's Word. And the serpent
said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. For God knows
that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be open,
you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman,
when the woman saw the tree was good for food and it was pleasant
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave it to her husband
with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of both of them
were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed
fig leaves together and made themselves table. They tried
to cover, that quickly, that quickly they tried to cover their
own sins. And they heard the voice of the
Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam
and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God
amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto
Adam, and he said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard
thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked,
and I hid myself. And he said, Who hath told thee
thou wast naked? Hadst thou eaten of the tree
that I commanded thee, that thou shouldest not eat? The man said,
The woman whom thou gavest to me gave to me, and she gave of
me the tree, and I did eat." Here we read on God pronounced
judgment on Adam for his sin. Adam rebelled against God. Adam disobeyed God. In Romans
5.12 we read, Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the
world. So death passed upon all men. We're sinners by birth. We're
born into this world sinners. David wrote in Psalm 58, he said,
the wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon
as they be born, speaking, Speaking lies. Of the many things that
we have to teach our children, lying is not one of them, is
it? We don't have to teach our children
to lie. It's like weeds growing in the
garden, or weeds growing out in the yard. We spend all this
time and effort because we just want grass out there growing.
But those weeds prop up. without any effort, and they
grow taller than anything else in the yard or the garden as
well. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me. We're sinners, sinners by birth.
We're sinners by choice. I told Adam, he said, you can
eat, imagine, I just can't imagine what the beauty of that garden
must have been. He said, everything there, everything
there is yours. Don't leave that one for him.
What did Adam, in a short, we don't know how much time, but
I'm guessing a pretty short amount of time, they were out there. Probably, as we know, Eve started
out just kind of walking by the tree, and then looking at the
tree, and then before you know it, she's taken it. She's taken
that tree and given it to Adam. And when Adam ate of that tree,
He failed. He disobeyed God. Well, Paul,
writing the Romans, he said, even when I would do good, even
when I'm on it, even when I'm doing my best, evil, evil is
present with me. We're sinners by practice. It's
who and what we are. Look at, turn with me to Romans
chapter 3, just back a few pages. Romans chapter three. Beginning with verse nine of
Romans three. What then? Are we better than they? No and no wise. For we have before
proved, both Jew and Gentile, that they are all, all under
sin. As it is written, there's none
righteous, no, not one. There's none that understandeth.
There's none that seeketh after God. They're all going out of
the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good,
no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre.
With their tongues, they've used deceit. The poison of Asp is
under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed
blood. Destruction and misery are in
their ways, and the way of peace they have not known. There's
no fear of God before their eyes. Now, we know that whatsoever
thing the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law,
that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty,
guilty before Almighty God. And our sin is pictured throughout
God's Word. Yet, men and women deny that
fact, deny that they're sinners. Why is that? Because they have
no need of Christ. They have no need Men will readily say, well, I'm
a Baptist, or I'm a Methodist, or I'm a Presbyterian, or I'm
whatever. That's a quick answer. And people
can talk about religious things. Go to work. Just listen. People talk about religious things,
and they can talk about religious works. They can talk about being
pretty good people. They'll say, oh, I'm not perfect.
But I'm not, you know, I'm not that, I'm not that man. They
could say that just flows off the lips, doesn't it? Well, but
they'll quickly say this, I'm not a sinner. In fact, you'll
see men and women get red in the face over it. I'm not, I'm
not a sinner. So-called churches even encourage
men and women to get themselves right, to straighten themselves
up before they even before they even appraised God. Well, what do the Scriptures
say? Who did Christ come to save? Do the Scriptures say He came
to save those that could straighten themselves up? That He'd save
those who could get themselves right in His eyes? The Scriptures
say this. Turn to 1 Timothy chapter 1.
1 Timothy chapter 1, look at verse 15. Paul writing to Timothy, he says,
this is a faithful saying, this is a true saying. This is a saying
that's not to be doubted. This is a saying that cannot
be argued. This is a saying to be believed
and received. And it's worthy of all acceptation. It's the gospel. It's worthy
to be heard. It's the truth that's worthy
to be heard. Christ Jesus came into the world. Almighty God robed himself in
human flesh. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners. That's who he came. That's who
he came to save. He came to save sinners. And
listen, it doesn't say he came to try and save. It doesn't say he came to attempt
to save. It doesn't say he came to help
save or offer to save. or partially saved by doing his
part and let man do the rest. It said he came to save. He came to save sinners. He lived, he died, he rose again
to save sinners. So I ask you that question again.
Am I a sinner? Question two. Did Christ die
for me? Did the Lord Jesus Christ die
for me? Look at, turn with me to Luke. Luke chapter nine. Look at verse 11 of Luke 9. It says, when the people, when they
knew it, our Lord had went about healing and He went to a place
there in the desert. It says, and the people, when
they knew it, they followed Him. They followed Him. And He received
them. And He spake unto them of the
kingdom of God I'm going to see this part, this last part. He
healed them that needed healing. He said in another place, the
whole don't need a physician. But we read that he healed those
that were in need of healing. Can I take my place, as he said? Can I fall at his feet seeking
mercy? Am I without help, without hope,
without God in this world? Time and time in the Scriptures,
we see needy sinners approach the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy. And time and time again, He heals
them. Look at just a few Scriptures.
They're close by here. Look at Luke. You're still in
Luke 9. Turn over to Luke chapter 8. Luke chapter 8. The woman, look at verse 43 of
Luke 8. There was a woman here. She had
an issue of blood. Twelve years, spent all her living
upon physicians. Neither could be healed of any.
She came behind him and touched the border of his garment and
immediately the issue of blood was stanched. Jesus said, Who
touched me? When all denied, Peter and they
that were with him said, Master, the multitude thronged thee and
pressed thee. And you say, Who touched thee?
Jesus said, Somebody. somebody had touched me for I
perceived that virtue was going out of me and when the woman
saw that she was not hid she came trembling falling down before
him and she declared unto him for all the people for what cause
she had touched him and how she was healed immediately and he
said unto her daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made
thee whole turn back another page to Luke Luke 7 and again
these are just a These are throughout the Scriptures. Look at Luke
7. Look at verse 37. Behold, behold a woman in the
city which was a sinner. She was a sinner. When she knew
that Jesus set at meat in the Pharisees' house, she brought
an alabaster box of ointment. stood at his feet beside him,
behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears,
and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet,
and anointed them with ointment. And when the Pharisees, the self-righteous
Pharisees, which had bidden him, saw it, they spake within themselves,
saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and
what manner of woman this is that touches him, for she is
a sinner." Everybody around knew she was a sinner, right? And
Jesus answered and said unto them, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he said, Master, say on.
And he sent a certain creditor, which had two debtors. The one
owed 500 pence and the other 50. When he had nothing to pay,
he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them
will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose
he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, thou hast
rightly judged. He turned to the woman and he
said unto Simon, see this woman? I entered into thy house. You
gave me no water for my feet. She's washed my feet with her
tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. You gave me
no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not
ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil you didn't anoint,
but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore,
I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven. For she loved much, but to whom
little is forgiven, the same love of little, and he said unto
her, thy sins, thy sins are forgiven. They that said it meet with him
began to say within themselves, who is this that forgiveth sins
also? He said to the woman, thy faith
has saved thee. Did he die? Did he die for me? Did the Lord Jesus Christ die
for man? Jesus Christ came into the world
to save sinners. Turn to Romans chapter five. Romans chapter five, verse six. Look here in verse 6 of Romans
5. For when we were without strength,
in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. Who died? Who died for the ungodly? The
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of God. He died. He died
a death of shame. He died under the wrath and judgment
of God. He died the death of the cross,
bearing our sin, bearing our shame. What do we read? Without the shedding of blood,
there is no remission. Philippians 2.8, let me just
read it to you. Found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross. He died for his people. As the
sinner's substitute, he died for all of God's elect, that
God might be just and justify. Here in Romans 5, 6, if you still
have it, it says he died for our sins. He died when we were
without strength to obey him, unable to keep his law, no ability
to help ourselves. in bondage to the law and unable
to do anything about it in due time, at the appointed time,
at God's time. He died. Christ died for us. He died for sinners. Much more,
much more than being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from the wrath through Him. Did the Lord Jesus Christ die
for me? Turn back to 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 15. My sinner. Look at verse 3. Christ died for our sins. See that? My sin, did he die
for me? Read that again. It says Christ
died for our sins. And then the third question.
Is he my only hope? Is the Lord Jesus Christ my only
hope? Look at verse one there. It says,
moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also you've received and wherein you stand. Wherein you have hope, wherein
you have confidence. What is this gospel? Jesus Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures. Is the Lord Jesus
Christ, is he my only hope? Turn with me to Luke chapter
two. Luke chapter two. Look at verse 25. It says, Behold, there was a man
in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. His name, it means hearkening. It means one who listens. We're
told to be slow to speak and quick to hear. This same man, this same man
Simeon, he was a just and a devout man. In his community, he was known
like Job was, a man that feared God and avoided evil. And he was waiting for the consolation
of Israel, waiting for the comfort of Israel. And the Holy Ghost
was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen
the Lord's Christ. By faith, there he was, waiting.
Waiting for the Lord. Waiting on the Lord. Verse 27.
He came by the Spirit into the temple. He came into the house
of worship. You know, if a man would seek
Christ, it would make sense. That's where he'd seek Him, wouldn't
it? In the temple. He'd seek Him where the Word's
preached. God can save a man however He's pleased to do so.
I believe we'd be wise. We're told to forsake not the
assembling of ourselves together. As the manner of some is, we're
to come and hear the Word preached. But there He was in the temple,
in the house of worship. And He came by the Spirit into
the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to
do after Him the custom of the law, He took Him. took him up
in his arms, and he blessed God, and he said, look at verse 29,
Lord, Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace according to
thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Is Christ, is the Lord Jesus
Christ my only hope? You know by nature, We like to
cling to the things of this world. Anyone who would have been over
our house in the last week, we cleaned out the garage, would
have definitely quickly agreed that we're quick. I know I am. We hauled off a truckload of
stuff, stacked over the cab of the truck. It's been out there
in that garage for Who knows how long? And as Adam would say,
it's junk. It's just a bunch of junk. And
when you get right down to it, most of the things on this earth,
that's exactly what they are. Junk. Just a bunch of junk. The
works of our hands, the things that we do, we take pride in
those things. We cling to them. We just do.
By nature, that's what we do. And if we're being honest, the
things of this world, again, the things in it, and I'm not
saying that to try to make anybody feel guilty or feel bad about
yourself. Don't get me wrong, okay? That's
not why I'm saying this. It's just true. It's just what
we do. But in salvation, in salvation,
in the saving of a sinner, All of them. All of them, John. All of them. What we say, what
we do. The Lord Jesus, He told Martha
over in Luke 10, He said, Martha, Martha, Martha, He said, you're
careful, you're troubled about many things. But one thing, one thing is needful. Mary hath chosen the good part. Mary hath chosen that part which
shall not be taken away. What was that? What was Mary
doing? She was sitting right there at
the feet of the Master, sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus
Christ, listening to Every word. Everything he had to say. Simeon,
when he took him up in his arms, what did he say? What did he
say? Did he say, you guys have no
idea how long I've been in this temple waiting. I've just been
here every day. Is that what he said? Did he say, you go around and
ask about me. You go around this community
and you ask about who I am. I'm a faithful and just man. Not what he said, did he? What'd
he say? He said this. He said, let thy
servant depart in peace. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Thou hast promised, thou hast
I've seen thy salvation." What had he seen? He'd seen Christ. There he was, right there. He
was looking to Christ. Christ and Christ alone. Well, I ask you again. Am I a sinner? Am I a sinner? Did Christ die for me? Is He
all my salvation? Is He all my hope? You know,
I can't think of one sinner in God's Word, and I'm certainly
no Bible scholar, but I can't think of one occasion in God's
Word where a seeking sinner came to Him, cried out for mercy,
but He didn't receive it. Time and time again. That scripture
we read earlier in Luke 9 said the people, when they knew it,
they followed Him. They followed Him. And he received
them. And he spake unto them of the
kingdom of God. And he healed them that needed
those that were in need of him. He did it. He did it. Why would
a man or a woman or a young person seek salvation anywhere else? Anyone or anyone else but the
Lord Jesus Christ. Neither is there salvation in
any other, for there is none other name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved."