Would you turn with me back to
Philippians chapter 3? We read it a moment ago. Philippians
chapter 3. I've told you before about when
I was a boy growing up back there in the mountains of West Virginia
that We didn't have all those distractions that young people
have today like smartphones, iPhones, and iPads, and devices
as they're called. We had to entertain ourselves.
We played games that didn't require anything but yourself and a few
friends. I remember as it would get dark
there where I lived in that little town, we would get out and play
hide-and-seek. And y'all are familiar with that.
I don't know if children even do that anymore. But we'd play
hide-and-seek, myself and some of my friends, and the one that
was the seeker would say, once he counted to a certain point,
as we all went to hide, ready or not, here I come. Ready or not. That reminded me
of what the prophet Amos said to the rebellious nation of Israel. many years ago and it's still
true today. He said something along the same
line, ready or not, prepare to meet thy God. Oh, what a solemn,
solemn thought. Ready or not, prepare to meet
thy God, O Israel. How can a sinner, how can a sinner
hope to meet the holy God in acceptance and peace. There's
no question we're going to meet him. God's appointed a day in
which he's going to judge this world in absolute righteousness,
his standard of righteousness, his standard of holiness, his
standard of what's right. How can a sinner expect to stand
before such a God as that and be accepted? You remember what
our God told Moses when Moses rather asked him to show him
his glory. Moses said, if I found grace
in your sight, he said, do this for me, show me your glory. You
remember what our God replied to Moses? He said in Exodus chapter
33 verse 21, the Lord God said, behold, I want to behold this. He said, Behold, there is a place
by me. Oh, that's good news. There is
a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock, and it shall
come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee
in the cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand
while I pass by. There is a place. There is a
place. There is a place. Oh, this is
good news for needy sinners. It doesn't mean anything to the
self-righteous. It doesn't mean anything to those
who don't need the touch of the Great Physician's healing hand.
Oh, but to helpless needy sinners, the bankrupt beggars, this is
the best news they ever heard. God says, there is a place by
me. There is a place where God will
accept a sinner. A place where God will not refuse
a sinner. A place where a sinner can experience
forgiveness. Oh, the sweet experience of forgiveness
and pardon. A place where grace reigns in
righteousness. That's the place I want to be.
Tell me where that place is. Point that place out to me. Nothing's
more important. Nothing is more needful to me. There is a place. where mercy
and truth have met together, and righteousness and peace have
kissed each other. Where did ever those seemingly
opposite things meet in peace and unity? Where did they ever
unite other than in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ? Peace
by the cross satisfies every demand of God's holy law. Was there ever an assembly of
divine qualities, the attributes of God, so brought together and
displayed for man's salvation other than in the person of the
Lord Jesus Christ? Where else could the mercy and
truth meet together? Where else, except in the cross
of the Lord Jesus Christ, could righteousness and peace come
together as friends and kiss one another? In Ephesians chapter
1, Paul tells us that God had highly exalted his son. when
he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand
in heavenly places. Christ is that one, the only
one that sits at the right hand of God Almighty. Christ alone
occupies that place of sovereign majesty and absolute power. There is only one place where
there is a mediator between God and man. There is only one place
where there sits an advocate that intercedes on the behalf
of his people. where there stands the ever-living
High Priest that is able to save to the uttermost all that come
unto God by him. There's no getting to God by
detouring Jesus Christ. That's impossible. In the Beloved,
I quote this old hymn often because I find it so comforting. In the
Beloved, God's marvelous grace calls me to dwell in this wonderful
place. God sees my Savior and then he
sees me in the beloved. Accept it and pray, oh yes, behold,
there is a place by me. Now with that in mind, is it
any wonder we hear a sinner who's been taught of God make this
his one hope, his one desire, his one ambition? Listen to what
Paul says again here in chapter 3 of Philippians at verse 8.
Yea, doubtless, I count all things but loss, all those things he
had mentioned previously. He says, I now look at them in
a different light. I have a different perspective
now. I've been taught better. I count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but done that I may win Christ and be found in him. 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." At one time, Paul, as Saul, wanted to be found in
his own self-righteousness. He was convinced. He was convinced,
he would have bet his last penny that his righteousness, his self-righteousness
would have been enough to please God, to appease God, to make
him accepted before God. His religious pedigree, we read
about it, didn't we? His traditions, anything but
Jesus Christ. Paul, before he knew he was lost,
without God and without hope, he sounded much like that Pharisee
our Lord talked about in the parable in Luke 18. that stood
and prayed like this, God, I thank you that I'm not his other man. I'm not like other men. He looked
down his self-righteous nose at that poor publican and said,
oh, I'm not like him. I'm glad I'm not like him. I've
made myself the dipper. I'm somebody. I'm somebody. And he was so blind, so lost,
so foolish that he thought God was pleased with that. was pleased
with his robe of self-righteousness." Listen to what Paul says again
here in verses 4, 5, and 6 of chapter 3 here in Philippians.
"'Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any man thinks
he have whereof he might trust in the flesh, I am more.'" He
said, listen to this pedigree. Circumcised the eighth day of
the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin. and Hebrew of the
Hebrews as touching the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal,
persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is of
the law, blameless, blameless. But something happened that changed
Paul's tune. Something changed Paul's tune.
Jesus Christ in mighty grace said concerning Saul of Tarsus,
he was one of those. Oh, imagine that. Only grace
could make this so. Only God's mercy could make this
happen. Christ had in mind Saul of Tarsus
when he said this, all that the Father giveth me shall come to
me. They all will. Not nine out of
ten. Not most of them. Not the majority
of them. No, all of them, A-double-L,
all that God gave me in that eternal, everlasting covenant
of grace, all that God committed into my hands, and I promised
God, I promised my Father that in the fullness of time, He would
send me and I would do everything, everything He commanded, everything
that He demanded to do on the behalf of His sheep. All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me. Oh, I like that. And him
that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. And Saul of
Tarsus, believe it or not, Saul of Tarsus was one of those. The
loss of one soul for whom Jesus Christ died, one for whom the
Father gave him and put into his hands would tarnish the crown
of Jesus Christ forever. But that's just not possible,
is it? It is founded in a covenant which is ordered in all things
ensured. In that same passage, in John
6, our Lord went on to say, or John 10 rather, and other sheep
I have which are not of this fold, them also I'll do my best
to bring. Them also I will bring if they'll
allow me to do it. I'll bring if they'll cooperate.
No. He said, Them also I must bring. My honor is at stake. The glory
of God my Father is at stake. The salvation of my people is
at stake. Them also I must bring. Oh, when you hear the Son of
God, When you hear him who spake like never a man yet spake say
that he must do something, you can pretty well count on it. You can pretty well just throw
out the window any possibility of failure. When he said, I must
bring and they shall hear my voice. They're going to hear. I can't make my children hear
it. You can't either. We have loved ones, we have neighbors,
we have relations. They won't hear. They're deaf. No matter what we say, they're
not interested. They're just not interested.
But God Almighty can get their attention. He can sure get their
attention. He got mine. He got yours, didn't
he? Christ said, them also I must
bring. And they shall hear my voice.
And there shall be one horde and one shepherd. I can't hear
any suggestion in his words there, can you, that it won't be done.
I can't find a hint that the great shepherd will do anything
less than to bring all of his sheep all the way home, all the
way to glory. As Moses said to Pharaoh, and
Pharaoh said, now wait a minute, Moses, let's see, let's reach
a compromise. Now, I'll allow you to take so
much. I'll allow you to go so far. But he said, let's leave
this. Leave this with me. You remember
what Moses said to Pharaoh? He said, there shall not be a
hoof left behind. Not a hoof. All my sheep will
be presented before the Father without a spot or a blemish or
any such thing. And all the sheep, what are the
sheep going to do? They're going to cast their crowns
at the foot of the great shepherd and say, Worthy is the Lamb. This is what happened to Saul
of Tarsus. This is why he changed his tune. God changed it. He that is mighty
to save came to Saul and brought him down. Oh, I love that old
hymn that Brother Moose Park sings so often. He sang it here
years ago. Oh, hail sovereign love that
first began, the scheme to rescue fallen man, Hell matchless free
eternal grace that gave my soul a hiding place. Against the God
who rules the sky, I fought with hand uplifted high, despised
the mention of his grace, too proud to seek a hiding place.
But, but, but, just as the scripture says, but God. How do you account
for the salvation of any sinner but God? How do you account for
the salvation, this marvelous change in Saul of Tarsus? But
God, but God. But thus the eternal counsel
ran, Almighty love, arrest that man. What happens? What happens
when God, so to speak, zeroes in on a sinner? What happens
when he says, come down, sinner? What do you think happened? That
sinner comes down. That proud rebel is brought down
in the dust where he belongs and he begs God for his mercy. Have mercy on me now becomes
his cry. Oh listen to Saul's tune now. God's put a new song in his mouth
even praise to our God. Look at verse 7 here again in
Philippians 3. But, oh there it is, but what
things were gained to me Those, I count, are lost for Christ.
God, in his infinite mercy, his matchless grace, did foresaw
what he did for Adam and Eve. You remember in Genesis 3? We
read these words, Genesis 3 and 7. Adam and Eve. And the eyes
of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.
And they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves apes. made
themselves aprons, provided themselves with the covering, the work of
their own hands, the best that they could do. Surely God will
accept that. Surely God will understand. Surely
this will be enough to please and satisfy God. No, it wasn't. You know why? Because it wasn't
perfect. It wasn't perfect. There's only
one road. There's only one covering by
which a sinner stands before God Almighty accepted. There's
only one covering that satisfies God, that pleases God, and that's
the robe of the righteousness that he himself provides. And
that's what he did for Adam and Eve, didn't he? We read on down
in the chapter of Genesis 3, Unto Adam also and to his wife
did the Lord God make coats of skins, and he clothed them. He put it on them. Paul throws
away the robe of his self-righteousness, his own works, his religious,
his tradition, and he calls it all done. Paul, how do you hope
now, if you've done to throw all that away, all that your
whole life you trusted in? All that tradition, all that
work, you've spent your whole life weaving that robe of self-righteousness,
and now you're throwing that away? What do you have left?
What do you hope to stand before God without that now, Paul? And Paul would answer, let me
tell you, I found something better. I have found something better,
so much better. Verse 9, now, Paul says, My hope,
my desire is this, to be found in Him. To be found in Jesus
Christ. Not with my own righteousness,
that's dumb, that's filthy rags, but through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith. Oh, when He shall
come with trumpet sound, when God shall declare that time shall
be no more, when He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, then
I, may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness
alone, faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ a solid
rock I stand. Oh, and it won't give. It won't
waver. Oh, the storms come, the winds
blow, the rain beats down, the waves try to devour it, but you
know what? It doesn't budge. No sinner that's
built upon that foundation will ever wash away. On Christ the
solid rock I stand, all of the ground is sinking sand. Paul says he now stands before
God dressed in perfect righteousness. Perfect righteousness. It must
be perfect or God wouldn't accept it. It must be perfect. It's
the robe of Jesus Christ himself. It's that same robe that the
prodigal's father dressed that returning son in. His father
took off the filthy rags that his son came home in and commanded
his servants to do this, bring forth the best robe, the best
robe, and put it on him, put it on him, cover up that stench,
cover up that filth, put the best robe on him and put a ring
on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted
calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry. For this my son
was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found and
they began to be married. The best robe. Oh, child of God,
that ought to rejoice your heart. Oh, to know by faith that you
stand before God Almighty dressed in the very best that he can
give. Nothing better, nothing more
righteous, nothing more acceptable Nothing better than the robe
of the Lord Jesus Christ because God made him to be sin for us
who knew no sin that can only be Christ that we might be made
the very righteousness of God in him. This is what the prophet
said. I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God because he has clothed
me with the garments of salvation. I'm all dressed up. He's covered
me with the robe of righteousness. That's what Paul spoke of. That's
what the prodigal was dressed in. That's what every sinner
is dressed in that stands before God in Christ. As a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself
with her jewels. To be found in Jesus Christ. Being found in Christ means this. There's no condemnation. That's
what the book says. Romans 8 and 1. in Christ. Here's one of the blessings,
the mercies of being found in Christ. There is therefore now,
right now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus
who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. Now this
arises from being in Jesus Christ by virtue of our union with him. The reason is not in us. I'm
glad that's so. No, Jesus Christ, like this manslayer
that fled into the city of refuge, he was saved. In Jesus Christ,
we're saved. We're in Christ because we've
been justified from all sin. Because we've been crucified
with Christ. We've been risen with Christ. We're made righteous
with Christ. We're not under the law, but
under grace. Blessed be God, the verdict is
in. Here's the verdict of heaven.
Here's the verdict of the righteous judge of all the earth, that
high and lifted up, holy, righteous God. This is what he says concerning
every sinner that's in Christ Jesus. Here's the verdict. The
gavel's coming down. Not guilty. Wow. Wow. I once attended a trial of a young man whose mother I
knew very well, and she wanted me to be there the day that she
expected him to bring in the verdict, and I was. I sat with
her. Her son, her youngest son, was
on trial for murder. I sat there and the jury came
out. Boy, she squeezed my hands so tight. Have you reached the
verdict? The juror stood. Yes, what is
it? They found the fellow that actually
did the murder sometime after that. Not guilty. Oh, my soul,
that pales in comparison. To hear the judge of all the
earth say concerning every sinner that's in Christ Jesus, not guilty,
not guilty. There's no condemnation. Blessed be God, no condemnation
where there's no guilt. There's no possibility of condemnation. The precious blood of Christ
has so thoroughly put away our sins that we're not guilty. His
righteousness is so completely ours that we're made the righteousness
of God in Him. There is therefore, because of
that union with the Son of God, no condemnation. Not for our
past sins, not for present sins, not for sins to come. The blood
of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin. All sin. The text declares complete absolution
of guilt and total freedom from all possibility of condemnation. But it's only to those who are
in Christ Jesus. Because they are in Christ. We
who trust the Son of God are in Him. Therefore, because we're
in Him, there's no condemnation to us. We're in Christ as our
federal head. In Christ by Bible union. In
Christ as a marriage union. I mentioned that guilty manslayer. But the Lord God had provided
cities of refuge, and they were marked out as a city of refuge. I'm safe and secure because I'm
in the city of refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm the man who's
found grace, as Noah did, in the eyes of the Lord, and Jesus
Christ is my ark. And I'm shut up in the ark of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The floodwaters of God's holy
wrath can never touch me. They can never touch me. It would
be wrong if they did. God's not gonna punish me for
sin that he punished his son for. The lever in Christ, as
Noah was, enclosed in the ark, and the heavens, oh, can you
imagine? The rain pouring down, the waters rising from beneath
Noah, the rain beating down from above, but not one drop penetrated
that vessel that Noah was in. Not a blast of the storm touched
Noah. No condemnation to those who
are in Christ Jesus. Oh yes, doubts and fears, there
may be. No, there will be. But no condemnation,
child of God. Persecution and opposition from
the world and the devil, there will be. But no condemnation. Deep trials and sore troubles,
there may be. There will be. But no condemnation. No, that won't happen. infirmities
there will be there most certainly will but no condemnation there
is therefore now now oh don't you love that word now the prodigal
in the parable is not ordered to undergo a probationary period
was it the father didn't say well now wait a minute you just
stay where you're at You're not coming. We're just going to have
to see how this thing pans out. We're going to put you on trial
for a little while and see if you're really sincere about this.
No, no. He didn't have to wait outside
like the servants of his fathers before restoration was given
him. Oh, the robe, the ring, the sandals, the welcome are
all his at once. I'm complete in Jesus Christ.
I lack nothing. Let me accept the same consolation
The same blessings given to that son, being forgiven of all my
sin. Oh, blessed is that man to whom
the Lord will not impute sin. What a privileged state. No condemnation. Affliction, yes. But temptations, yes. Fears,
yes. Oh, there can never be condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus. That's the privilege of every
Christian. That's just not the status of
an elite super-spiritual group. No, that's the state of every
believing sinner, every Christian all the time. However their feelings
may vary, and oh, don't they though, don't they vary, up and
down sometimes like a yo-yo. Our frames change, but our state
remains exactly the same, because we're in that one that's the
same yesterday, and today, and forever. He never changes. He never changes. God's always
pleased with his son. Always. This is the verdict of
God the Father. This is my beloved son in whom
I am well pleased. And you know what? He's well
pleased with everyone that's in his son. They're not separated. They're not separated. Oh, what
a blessed, blessed state. No condemnation. This is how
Thomas Brooks, the old Puritan put it. The law cannot condemn
a believer. for Christ has fulfilled it for
them. Divine justice can't condemn
them, for that Christ is satisfied. His sins cannot condemn him,
for they are in the blood of Christ and pardoned. And his
own conscience, upon righteous grounds, can't condemn him, because
Christ that is greater than his conscience has acquitted him.
Christ is saved. His spirit has borne witness
with our spirit that our sins, though they were many, are all
forgiven of thee." No wonder he said to that woman, go in
peace. What he said to her, enter into peace. Peace with God. The peace of pardoned sin. The
peace of reconciliation. The peace of free forgiveness. The peace of grace in your heart
and glory at the finish line. Oh, enter into peace. Nothing
can give that except being united to the Son of God. In the Beloved
again they owe Him. In the Beloved how safe my retreat. In the Beloved accounted completes. Who can condemn me? In Him I
am free. Savior and Keeper forever is
He. Here's another one. To be found
in Christ Jesus is to lack nothing that God Almighty requires. Here's the verse, did you guess
where I was going? But of him, that is of God, God's
done this, of God are you in Christ Jesus, who of God has
made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. If it be demanded, if we be asked
by what authority the poor self-condemned creature comes in another's perfection,
and not his own, Here's our answer. God did it. You got a problem with that?
Take it up with God. That's what Paul said in Romans
8. Who was he? Who was he that condemned?
Huh? It's God that justifies. It's
God Almighty that's been satisfied. This is face answer. Christ is
made of God unto this believing soul, all these things. This
is the Lord's doing. God did this. Therefore, The
sinner stands before God complete. He lacks nothing. I'm with Christ. I'm with Christ. If the law accuses
me, I tell him, take it up with Christ. He answered every claim
the law had against me. All we have, we have from God
as the fountain, and in and through Christ as the channel from which
it flows the needy sinners. But of him are you in Christ
Jesus. Our being in Christ is altogether
God's work. Salvation is of the Lord. What
part? Every part. The choosing, the
calling, the preserving, the bringing the glory. Salvation
is all of the Lord. Our salvation is not the result
of something that we do, but something that Christ has done.
We're not saved because we're wiser or better or made a better
choice than others. Oh, no, no. We're in Christ because
God Almighty put us in Christ. God put us in Christ. It's His
doing. Salvation is God's work. If you
and I are in Christ, we're in Him, not by works, not our works,
but His work. It's the operation of God Almighty. The whole of God's salvation
is in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is made of God unto every
believer. This is what we read in 1 Corinthians
1. Christ is our wisdom, our righteousness,
our sanctification. Our redemption. Everything we
need is in Christ. Everything we need done has been
done by Christ. Everything God gives to sinful
men, He's given to them His elect in Christ. And Paul goes on to
say in the next verse, that according as it is written, he that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord. Well, who else would he glory
in? I mean, we give all the glory
to that one from whom we have received all the grace. That
verse in 1 Corinthians 1 and 31, Paul is referring to what
we read in Jeremiah chapter 9 verse 23. Thus saith the Lord, let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty
man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in
his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this. You can
glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. You can glory
in that. Oh, to God be the glory. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ
told Peter, didn't he? Peter, you are a blessed man
because my father's made you rich. No, because my father's
made you well. Oh, no, no, no, no. Peter was
neither of those things. He wasn't rich and he wasn't
without his infirmities, without his struggles, without his sin.
No, Peter, you're blessed. You're blessed because my father
has revealed to you who I am. My father has opened your darkened
heart and dropped into your heart the revelation of who I am. You're a blessed man, Peter.
God Almighty's blessed you. My Father's done something for
you. Here's one last thing. To be found in Christ is to be
accepted. Accepted by God Almighty. Listen
to this. Ephesians 1 verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all. all
spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as
he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should behold him without blame before him in love, having
predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the
praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he had made us accepted
in to be loved." God's Word. He's done that. in the beloved
excepted am I, risen, ascended, and seated on high, saved from
all sin through his infinite grace, with the redeemed ones
accorded a place." With those words, the Holy Spirit reveals
and declares to us one of the most comforting, delightful truths
in the Word of God, and that is, there is an everlasting,
indissolvable, immutable union between the Lord Jesus Christ
and his people that can never be broken. that can never be
torn asunder. What God's put together, no man
can put asunder. What Christ suffered and died
under the wrath of God, when he did, we suffered and died
in him. Paul said, I'm crucified with
Christ. This is what old Spurgeon said.
Justice looks upon the chosen as though they themselves had
suffered all that Christ suffered. As though they had drunk the
wormwood and the gall, and had descended into the lowest depths.
When Christ was buried, we were buried with him." That's what
Paul says in Ephesians 2. When the Son of God arose from
the dead, we arose with him, triumphant, victorious. And when
he ascended into heaven and took his place at the right hand of
the majesty on high, we ascended with him and in him, and sat
down with him at the Father's throne. The rightful possessors
of heaven and glory with him, our federal head and representative
Father, I will that those whom you have given me be with me
where I am. I want them with me. That's what
he prayed before he went to the cross. Father, the last will
and testament of the Son of God. Father, I will they be with me
where I am. Our acceptance in Christ is spoken
of as something accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ himself
in eternity. It's not something we do in time.
We can't put ourselves in Christ. We can put ourselves in church,
we can put ourselves in the doctrine, we can put ourselves in the water,
but we can't put ourselves in Christ. This is what the wise
man said, I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever. Nothing can be put to it, nor
anything taken from it, because God doeth it, that men should
fear before him. I ran across this the other day.
Let me share these few lines of a poem that I found, perhaps
it was a hymn, I'm not sure, but it went like this. Oh love
surpassing knowledge, oh grace so full and free, I know that
Jesus loves me, and that's enough for me. That's enough for me. Oh wonderful salvation from seeing
Christ set me free, I feel the sweet assurance, and that's enough
for me. Oh blood of Christ so precious,
poured out at Calvary, I feel its cleansing power, and that's
enough for me. Amen. Amen. I know whom I have
believed. Is that your testimony? Then
are the Lord's words to Peter or to you as well? Take them
as your own. Blessed art thou, for flesh and
blood hasn't revealed this to you, but God the Father, which
is in heaven. Amen. Amen. God bless you.