Hebrews chapter 11. In verse 1 we're given the definition
of what real faith is. We read here, verse 1 of Hebrews
11. Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith demonstrates to the eye
of the mind the reality of those things that can't be discerned
by the eye of the body. Now we look through a glass darkly,
darkly, oh, but soon face to face, faith alone, we know this,
Paul more than any other, but they all did, all the writers
of the New Testament, teach emphatically, they're dogmatic about this,
That faith alone without works saves. You're saved by grace
through faith and that's not your own, it's the gift of God.
The salvation, the faith, the grace, all of it. But that faith,
that faith that does save is never alone. Does that make sense? That's how James deals with it.
Show me your faith without your works and I'll show you my faith
by my works. He wasn't contradicting Paul.
He was just saying that faith that saves Though it's alone. Faith alone saves. The faith
that does save is never alone. And here in Hebrews 11, the writer
gives us example after example of that very thing. Each of these
examples demonstrate the very definition of faith as it's given
in verse 1. Look for example at verse 13.
This is not our text, but an example of it in verse 13. We
read, These all died in faith. those he had spoken of prior
to this. These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. Thy faith sees them, and were
persuaded of them, and embraced them. Embraced them just as real,
they embraced them, and they were just as real to them as
when Simeon took the Lord Jesus as a babe into his arms and said,
I see your salvation. By faith, we do the very same
thing. We see Christ, our salvation,
and we embrace him. They embraced him and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Remember
what the Lord said to Thomas. Thomas, because you've seen me,
you believe. Oh, Thomas, blessed are they
that have not seen me and yet have believed. And every child
of God is blessed with that precious gift of faith. We have not seen
Christ with the eyes of the flesh, but we've seen him with the eyes
of faith. And it's because God has revealed
his son to us that makes this so, that we confess what Peter
did. When our Lord asked him, whom
do you say that I am, Peter? Let's bring it a little more
closer to home. We don't care. We're not interested
in what others say. Who am I to you? Remember what
Peter said? And this is the confession of
every child of God. We know. We know. Oh, believer,
if you can say this, you're a blessed individual. We know that you're
the Christ. You're the Messiah. You're the
anointed that should come into the world. You're the Son of
God. Oh, Peter, you're a blessed man. that so-called gospel, that other
gospel that's preached today that tells me and God wants them
all healthy and wants them all wealthy, says that's what it
is to be blessed by God, to have a fat bank account, to have much
of this world's goods. Oh, no, no, no, no. You're blessed
if you know who Jesus Christ is. Money can't buy that. Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona. And our faith to us is the evidence
of things not seen. Remember what we read Last Sunday,
the chapter from which we took our text in 1 Peter 1, verse
6. Remember, he's writing to suffering
believers. He says, wherein ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if need be. Boy, that's tough. That's tough there, isn't it? Oh, it takes grace to bow to
God's will and say, well, this must be a need be. This heartache
must be a need be for me, otherwise he wouldn't send it, otherwise
I wouldn't be going through it all, but it's hard on the flesh.
For a season, if need be, you're in heaviness through manifold
temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious
than of gold it perishes, though it be tried with fire, might
be found in the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love, in whom though
now you see him not yet believing, yet believing, ye rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith,
even the salvation of your souls." Now, let's look at one example
here in Hebrews 11 as a demonstration of faith, genuine faith. Moses. Moses. He was one of those to
whom God granted faith. We'll just read four verses beginning
at verse 24. Here in Hebrews 11, 24. By faith
Moses, when he was come to you, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter. Man, that would be a place of
prominence. A place of wealth. a place of
power. But Moses said, no, no. Choosing
rather, look at verse 25 with me. Choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ's
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect
unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not
fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured it, seeing him
who is invisible. Moses, like every child of God,
makes a deliberate choice to turn their back on this world,
to leave Egypt. Christ won't grant mercy until
we do. No man that comes to me and doesn't take up his cross
can be my disciple, Christ said. Moses made a deliberate, determined
choice to leave Egypt to leave Pharaoh's palace, to leave all
the treasures of Egypt, and instead to do this. This is the choice
he made. Choosing rather, my soul. This is an example of God's amazing
grace. Moses was just a man. He wasn't
made out of anything any different than you and I, Billy. He had
the same struggles, the same sinful fallen nature, the same
battles as you and I. But by the grace of God, he turned
his back on everything in Egypt. Pharaoh, his palace, his power,
his treasure. And he chose rather to suffer
with the people of God esteeming, valuing the reproach of Christ's
greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Moses looked at it
all and made this determination, I'd rather have Jesus. I'd rather
have Jesus. Bobby, there's a song that way
that says that. I looked, I found it. I'd rather
have Jesus than silver or gold. I'd rather be his than have riches
untold. I'd rather have Jesus than houses
or lands. I'd rather be led by his nail-pierced
hands. I'd rather have Jesus. I'd rather
have Jesus than men's applause. I'd rather be faithful to his
dear cause. I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide
fame. I'd rather be true to his holy
name than to be a king of a vast domain. or to be held in sin's
dread sway. I'd rather have Jesus than anything.
This world affords the day. First consider this. Moses said,
I would rather have Christ, rather be a son of God than a son of
Pharaoh. I would rather be a son of God. I would rather be counted with
my brothers and sisters in the family of God than to be in the
family of Pharaoh. This is what John said about
that. Behold. Behold. This is worth your time.
This is worth your consideration. This is worth a pause. Behold
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we
should be called the sons of God. The sons of God? The sons of God? Therefore the
world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Beloved, Now,
right now, not after we die, now are we the sons of God, and
it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when
he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as
he is." John's mind seems to be overwhelmed in the consideration
of being a son of God, and he didn't seem to know how to express
himself. When he calls into view the love
of God the Father, behold, he says, behold, mark the astonishing
mercy both in the love of God as it is in God himself, and
in the manner in which he bestows it, and those on whom he does
bestow it. Oh, creatures born in sin, dead
in sin, should be called sons of God? From everlasting God
has chosen us, chosen us in his son, given us to his son, predestinated
us unto the adoption of children in Jesus Christ, called us by
his grace. Behold, behold, behold. Accepted
us in his son and calls us sons of God with Jesus Christ as our
elder brother. Oh, what love, what manner of
love is this? Behold, behold, think about it. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul
says much the same thing, doesn't he? Blessed, blessed. He brags
on God. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who had blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Nothing's left out. You're complete in Him. According
as He has chosen us. Billy Cobb chosen you. Chose you? Isn't that a wonder? Isn't that a marvel? Oh, chose
you in Him, that is, in Christ, before the foundation of the
world. And it wasn't based on foreseen faith. The freewillers
tell us, in order to give man the glory instead of God, that
God looked down and saw who would believe. You know, they at least
grant God foreknowledge. It says God saw who would believe,
so He chose them to believe. That represents God in a bit
of nonsense, doesn't it? If they would believe, why choose
them to believe? Oh no, they believe because God
gives them faith. As many as were ordained to eternal
life, we read in Acts 13, as many as were ordained unto eternal
life believed ordination comes first. according as he has chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
to what? foreseen faith, our merit, our
will, our work, our worth, no, according to the good pleasure
of his will. God chose whom he chose just
because he would do so. The reasons were in himself.
I guarantee you they weren't in us. They weren't in us. We
were children of wrath just like everyone else. As old Josiah
Condor wrote, it's not that I did choose thee, Lord, that could
never be. This heart would still refuse thee if you had not chosen
me. Thou from the sin that stained
me has cleansed and set me free. Of old thou hast ordained me
that I should live with thee. Behold. For sovereign mercy called
me and taught my opening mind. The world had else enthralled
me, the heavenly glories blind. My heart owns none before thee,
for thy rich grace I thirst. This, knowing if I love thee,
thou must have loved me first. The Lord hath appeared unto old
unto me, the prophet said, declaring, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love. Therefore, with bands of love,
cords of love, have I drawn thee. All that the Father giveth me,
Christ said, shall come to me. No man can come otherwise unless
the Father draws them to me. Everyone that's chosen of the
Father Christ says, they'll come to me. Our elder brother, that
one in whom we were chosen, made this promise to each of his own.
You know this by heart. Oh, may God make it fresh to
us this hour. Let not your heart be troubled.
This is our elder brother speaking. This is our glorious God and
Savior. This is our Redeemer. This is
God. Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions. Oh God, Christ has a glorious
crown, many jewels, many monuments of grace, many trophies of grace,
multitude that none can number, all the elect, the elect, Millions
and millions and millions, many mansions, and they'll everyone
be occupied. None of them gonna be empty.
In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Wow. No wonder Moses said, I'd
rather have Jesus. I'd rather have Christ. If I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also." The children
of God have the best house, don't they? The best dwelling, mansions,
dwelling places in heaven. That's the very best house. We
have a home in heaven above. Peter spoke about that, didn't
he? He would include this to inheritance. preserved in heaven
for you. What earthly mansion can compare
to that? This is the Father's house. This
is God the Father's house. This is where Jesus Christ himself
is. I go to my Father, to my God,
your Father and your God. And this is where all his elect,
all his redeemed, all of his called must be. They must be
there. They must be there, and they
will be there. It's a prepared place for a prepared
people, and in due time, he'll put us in possession of it. John
chapter 17, verse 24, I love this verse. Father, I will. This is the one speaking, this
is the one expressing the will of him who has his way in the
whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust at his feet. This is
the one of whose will none can resist. He has his way in the
armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and
none can resist his will. He has his will, his way, all
the time. Listen to what he says. Father,
I will. Well, that by itself makes it
certain. No matter what follows after
that, it's bound to be. I will that they also whom thou
hast given me, oh, listen to this, be with me where I am,
where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given
me, for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.
Be with me where I am. Oh, there's the heaven of heaven.
There's the glory of glory. Brothers and sisters in Christ,
all that requires faith, doesn't it? To think that one day, soon,
soon, we will be with Christ where He is. Oh, there's only
a breath. I'm only a breath away from being
with Christ where He is. And soon, very soon, I'll be
with him who loved me and gave himself for me. With old Job,
though the skin worms divide this flesh, yet in my flesh shall
I see God in the person of his dear son. I will that they be
with me where I am. Old Fanny Crosby wrote so many
of our good old hymns, didn't she? She wrote, Someday this
silver cord will break. and I know more is now shall
seem. Oh, but all the joy when I shall wake within the palace
of the king. We're children of the king. We have a mansion in glory. Someday my earthly house will
fall. I cannot tell how soon it will
be, but this I know my all in all has now a place in heaven
for me. And I shall see him. And I shall see him. Not through a glass darkly. Not
with a veil between. No. Nothing can cloud my vision. Nothing can instruct my view. I'll have the ability. No sin. to see, perceive, and appreciate
Jesus Christ. And not only will I have the
ability in that day, but I'll have the opportunity. There He
is. Behold the Lamb of God upon His
throne. He wipes away all tears. All pain, he declares. He declares
in that day that he shall wipe all tears from all the eyes of
his chosen children. They shall never weep again.
They'll never shed another tear, not in the Father's house, not
where Jesus Christ is. Oh, they have the best home.
And God's children, children of the King, God's elect, the
redeemed, they're the best dressed, ain't they? They're the best
dressed. Listen to this. John saw them
and he told us. Oh, they're dressed. They're
the best dressed. I beheld and lo, a great multitude,
Revelation 7 and 9, which no man could number, of all nations
and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before
the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands. As
you know, that white robe is a picture of the perfect righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why God's children stand
before him accepting. They stand in the robe of perfect
righteousness without a spot or a blemish, without sin and
without fault. How can that be? Ah, so how can
that be? Only one way. We read it earlier. Paul said, O 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,
the righteousness which is of God by faith, that righteousness
which is of God, from God, provided by God, and accepted by God. Believers are dressed in the
very best that God could give, the very best. They're dressed
in the perfect righteousness of His own Son, the very righteousness
of Jesus Christ. This is the best robe that God
the Father commands all the returning particles to be dressed in, the
robe of Jesus Christ. But the Father said to His servant,
they're that rebel. that rebel, that stinking rebel,
that ungrateful son, that prodigal, that had squandered all of his
inheritance, he had the nerve to come back and ask for mercy,
ask for forgiveness. Oh, before it ever entered his
heart, his father had determined to give it. He had been watching
down that dusty road every day, hoping, oh, is that my son? Is that my son? And then one
day, here he came. Could hardly recognize him, he
lost so much weight. He was enraged. Oh, he was coming
back so different than how he left. He's no longer proud. He's
broken. He's come down. Father, I'm not
worthy. Shhh. Wouldn't even let him finish
his well-rehearsed confession, did he? Father shocked him. Bring forth the best robe, the
best robe, and put it on him. Believers are dressed in the
very best that God can give. They're dressed in the perfect
righteousness of Jesus Christ. Listen to what the prophet said,
Isaiah 61, verse 10. I like this. I will greatly rejoice
in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my
God, because he hath clothed me in the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness. As a bridegroom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Oh, when he shall come with trumpet
sound." Oh, wouldn't that be something? Wouldn't that be something? Oh, it may be today. I don't know. It may be 10,000
years from today. I won't be here. Oh, but if Jesus
Christ would come today, oh, with trumpet sound. The clouds
depart, and here he comes, accompanied by a multitude of angels in power
and great glory, and he takes his church home to be with him
forever. Oh, and he shall come with trumpet
sound. or may I then in him be found
dressed in his righteousness alone. Oh man, thoughtless. That's exactly right. John saw
him in Revelation 14 and said therewith I'll thought before
the throne of God. Ezekiel 16, God says concerning
his bride, and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy
beauty. Listen, for it was perfect perfect
through my comeliness, which I put upon thee, saith the Lord
God, the best clothes, white robes, the best robe. My hope
is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus'
name. For God hath made him sin for
us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. I'd rather be a child of God
than the child of any earthly king." Wouldn't you? Moses turned
his back on Pharaoh, the palace, the treasures in Egypt, the seasonal
pleasure of sin, and said, I would rather have Christ. I would rather
have Christ and the way he marched. Moses, here's another thought.
He would rather have the riches of God's grace than the treasures
of Egypt. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. The praise of the
glory of his grace were in he had made us accepted in the beloved,
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace. What a priceless
treasure Paul speaks of there in Ephesians 1. And all according
to the riches of God's grace. grace, his unmerited favor, his
unearned undeserved grace. That makes these things certain. That makes these things sure.
That makes these must-be things because God's grace is so much
better, so much surer a foundation than my work, or my will, or
my worth. If I thought that any aspect
of my salvation depended upon me, my soul, it would be the
opposite of peace. No, my salvation is dependent
upon Him. God's choice of sinners to salvation
was not based upon anything He saw in them, but according to
His own purpose and grace which was given them in Christ Jesus
before the world began. God's election was an election
of grace. There would be no election otherwise. Adoption, likewise, into the
family of God is according to grace and to the praise of the
glory of His grace. Grace chose His people. It was
grace that adopted His children. Grace came down. Grace came down
personified. John said, we saw him, the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Grace came
down in the person of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and redeemed
us with his own precious blood by himself. Oh, look at the captain
of our salvation. By himself, he purged our sins. He got it done. And because he
did, God in absolute justice says, deliver his soul from going
down to the pit. I found the ransom. And from
redemption there flows that ocean of grace, the forgiveness of
sins. Hmm. Forgiveness of sins. Oh, what a priceless possession
that is. Forgiveness. What a sweet word. What an even sweeter reality. Forgiveness. Forgiveness with
God. Thy sins, which are many, they're
all forgiven thee. My sin, O the bliss of the glorious
thought. My sin, not in part, but the
whole, are nailed to his cross, and I bear them no more. Oh,
praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. The riches of God's grace, the
sinner saved by grace, is delivered from every penal consequence
of sin. To him there is no curse, for
Christ was made a curse for him. To him there's no wrath from
God. God is at peace with him and loves him with an everlasting
love. There's no fear of future punishment, for he's justified
from every charge and has everlasting life. He deserved hell for his
sins, there's no question about that, but he deserves grace and
heaven and glory, because of the Lord Jesus Christ, saved
by his Redeemers, loving him and giving himself for him. Oh,
the riches, oh, the riches of God's sovereign grace. I like
this. It was grace that wrote my name
in life's eternal book. Imagine that. Oh, that takes
faith, that in the Lamb's book of life, under his name, there's
the name of Larry Crisp. It was grace that wrote my name
in life's eternal book. It was grace that gave me to
the Lamb who all my sorrows took. Grace taught my heart to pray
and made my eyes overflow. It was grace that's kept me to
this day and will not let me go. It's grace that's kept me
to this day and will not, will not let me go. Grace all the
works shall crown through everlasting days. It lays in heaven the topmost
stone. and well deserves the praise. Yes, by God's grace, we say with
Moses, I would rather have Jesus. I would rather suffer a little
while longer here below and then go to be with Christ forever
in glory with you. And Paul said, you know what?
I reckon, Paul said, I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be
revealed in us. Let me close with the prayer
that Paul prayed for those believers at Ephesus. Let me close with
it in Ephesians chapter 3. Ephesians 3 and verse 14. What
a good prayer. Paul said, For this cause I bow
my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man. that Christ might
dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded
in love, may be able to comprehend with all things what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us, but to him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Let me close the message
by reading another one of old Fannie Crosby's good hymns. Take the world, but give me Jesus. I'd rather have Jesus. Take the
world, but give me Jesus. All his joys are but a name,
but his love abides forever through eternal years the same. Take
the world, but give me Jesus. sweetest comfort of my soul.
With the Savior watching over me, I can sing though thunders
roll. Take the world, but give me Jesus.
In his cross my trust shall be, till with clearer, brighter vision,
face to face, my Lord I see. Oh, the height and depth of mercy. Oh, the length and breadth of
love. Oh, the fullness of redemption, pledge of endless life I'd rather
have Jesus. God bless you. Thank you for
your attention.