1 John chapter 3. As I usually do on Saturday evening,
I come down here and adjust the thermostat. Didn't want you ladies
to get hot this morning. And as I stood here, looked out
on the empty I thought of those who would be here today, the
Lord willing, that would most likely be here today, those of
you who are always here, unless you're providentially hindered
from being so. And I prayed that God would be
pleased to meet with us. We have the promise of our Savior
that where two or three are gathered, not simply gather themselves,
but are gathered, he does the gathering. And where two or three
are gathered together in my name, he said, there am I, there am
I. It doesn't matter a whole lot
who's here or who's not, if the Lord isn't, does it? But he said,
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them. Let's pray. Let's pray that he
would be pleased to be in our midst this hour. Let's read the
first three verses here in 1 John chapter 3. Behold, behold, several wonders
here, several things worth beholding. Behold what manner of love the
Father had bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons
of God. Therefore, the world knoweth
us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, another wonder. And it doth not yet appear what
we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, not if
he shall appear, but when he shall appear, we shall be like
him. For we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifyeth himself
even as he is pure." John speaks of a day, a day in which Christ
shall appear. When He shall appear, just as
certainly as He appeared the first time, He'll appear a second
time. The first time he came to put
away the sins of his people. The second time he'll come to
take those people to be with him whose sins he put away. He
shall see the reveal of his soul and be satisfied. Look in chapter
1 here of 1 John. He speaks of that first coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, that which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon, this is no, this is no
fable, this is no fairy tale. John says, we're telling you
what we saw with our own eyes. We heard Him with our own ears.
Our eyes have handled, have handled of the word of life, for the
life was manifested and we have seen it. and bear witness and
show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and
was manifested unto us, that which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with
us. And truly, our fellowship is with the Father and with his
Son, Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto
you, that your joy may be full. Yes, when the fullness of the
time had come, God sent forth his Son to redeem them that were
under the law. to save his people from their
sins. Listen or look with me in Hebrews
chapter 9. It speaks of that first coming
here in Hebrews 9 verse 26. Speaking of our Redeemer, for
then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world,
Hebrews 9 verse 26, but now, but now once Once in the end
of the world had he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice
of himself. That was the purpose of his coming. He didn't come to set up an earthly
kingdom. He didn't come as an example
of morality. He didn't come to be simply a
martyr. He came being sent by the Father. He appeared on this earth for
this purpose as a man, being made like unto his brethren,
to put away their sin by the sacrifice of himself. Did he
succeed? Did he succeed? Did he do what
he came to do? Did he, at the time, that he
was nailed to that cross, did he then and there, without any
stipulation of its success, being dependent upon what men do in
time, no, then and there, Without any addition by anyone, did Christ
succeed in accomplishing the redemption of His people? Was He successful? Look back
at verse 12 in this same chapter of Hebrews, chapter 9. We're told here and a hundred
other places, oh yes, He was successful. Verse 12, neither
by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood. Does that make a difference? His own blood being poured out
for his people. But by his own blood he entered
in once into the holy place having obtained. Don't you love that
child of God? Don't you love that? Having obtained,
past tense, having obtained eternal redemption for us. That's what
we celebrate today. As we close our service today,
we'll observe the Lord's Supper. And we celebrate not his failure,
but his success. We rejoice to know that Christ
has redeemed us from the curse of the law. We rejoice to know
that what He said concerning the salvation of His people,
the redemption of His people, He said, it's finished. It's
finished. It's not dependent upon what
those people do. No, I've accomplished their eternal
redemption and we rejoice that it's so. In Revelation chapter
5, we're told this is the theme of the song they sing in glory. that multitude around the throne
are united in singing the praises of the Lamb, not because he failed. No, he shall not fail, but because
he succeeded. Verse 9 of Revelation 5, and
they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy, thou art worthy. Because you made something possible? Oh, no. No. Thou art worthy to
take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast
slain and hast redeemed us to God. You then and there redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and
people and tribe. Chapter 14. Chapter 14 of Revelation. Look at it with me. Verse 3. And they sung, as it were, a
new song before the throne and before the four beasts and
the elders. And no man could learn that song
but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed
from the earth." Notice that, which were redeemed from the
earth. Which were not redeemed with all men of the earth, but
were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not
defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which
follow the Lamb, whethersoever he goeth. These were redeemed
with all other men." No, no, that's not the teaching of Scripture.
These were redeemed the same as those who wake up in hell. No, no, no. These were redeemed
from among men. from among men, being the firstfruits
unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found
no guile, for they are without fault. For they are without fault
before the throne of God. Those who perish were not redeemed. Those in hell cannot claim to
have been redeemed." Oh, this would be the merriment of demons,
if one for whom Christ dies, one that Christ redeemed with
his own precious blood should ever perish, it would be the
laughter of demons that Christ failed. Oh, that's terrible,
folks say. You mean to say that you don't
believe Christ died for everybody. Do you really believe that? The
book says he didn't. They were redeemed from among
men. This is my blood, Christ said,
which is shed for you. Christ loved the church, Ephesians
5, and he gave himself for it. I love my sheep. I lay down my
life for the sheep. And he said, you're not my sheep.
Father, I don't pray for the world, but I pray for those you
gave me out of the world." And folks hear that and they say,
oh my, that's terrible. That's terrible. No, it's not.
No, it's not. I'll tell you what's terrible,
is to slander God and to make Christ's death to be a failure. That's what's terrible. Look
again, if you will, back in Hebrews chapter 9, verse 27. Hebrews
9 and 27. As it is appointed unto men,
once to die. One time. One time. You're not
going to float around in some state of purgatory. Or you're
not going to see light in a tunnel. You're not going into a hospital
room, float above your bed, and then come back in your body.
No, you're going to die one time. And after this, the judgment.
It's final. It's final. Not twice, but once. Verse 28, in the same manner. So Christ was once offered to
bear the sins of many. That's why He suffered. That's
why He died. He bore the sins of many. And
unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without
sin unto salvation. Did He succeed? Glory to His
name. Yes, He did. Yes, he did. He successfully bore the sins
of his people all away. So in that day, the prophet said,
the sins of Israel, God's true Israel, God's church, they'll
be looked for, but they shall not be found. Gone. Gone forever. And John, in our
text, speaks of that second time of our Lord's coming. Together,
together, all the sheep, all those, a multitude that none
could number, all those that he redeemed, he shall gather
to be with him. I'm coming again, he said, that
where I am, there you may be, you that I've loved with an everlasting
love. You that I shed my blood for,
that where I am, there ye may be also. In Acts chapter 1, as
our Lord, our glorious King ascended back to glory. The disciples
stand there just in utter amazement. I would have too, wouldn't have
you? And two angels stood by and said, ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus. This same Jesus. Not Jesus that can't have His
way. Not Jesus that wants to, but
man has his hands tied. No, not Him. That's an imposter. This same Jesus. This same everlasting
Father. This same Jesus, the mighty God. This same Jesus, King of kings
and Lord of lords, that as He ascends in all His glory, His
majesty, His sovereignty, He's the one that's coming back. He's
the one that's coming back to gather you to be with Himself.
Oh, this is indeed in 1 John 3 and 3, Heaven's glory, is it not? This
is heaven's glory. Look what John says. He says,
we shall be like him for we shall see him. That's what Bobby sang
about a moment ago, face to face. We shall see him as he is. Oh, is that not the pinnacle? the highlight of heaven's glory. Oh, there's much to see in the
Father's house, and there's much, thankfully, that we won't see.
You'll never see any tears shed in heaven. Never. You never will. Nobody will ever be crying in
heaven. You'll never, as you walk through that celestial city,
that building made of God, eternal in the heavens. As you walk through
there, you'll never see one sick individual. You'll never see
a hospital. Don't need any. You'll never
see a cemetery. You'll never see anyone suffer.
There in that place, you'll never see anybody die. Christ said they shall never
die. But best of all, best of all, we shall see Him, Jesus Christ Himself. Then, as
David said, we shall be satisfied. Then we shall be like Him, John
said. Then we shall be removed from
all sin. All sin. Imagine that. And then all sin shall be removed
from us. From us. Without fault before
the throne of God. As John saw in Revelation, concerning
that multitude that none could number, they shall see His face. My. And John says here, we shall
see Him. Who are these? Who are the we
that John speaks of? Turn, if you will, to Revelation
chapter 7. John was given a picture of them.
John was allowed to see them before the throne of God. In
Revelation chapter 7, chapter 7, verse 9, and after this I'll
be held in low, low, a great multitude. Our Lord shall have
a glorious crown. He's the firstfruits of them
that slept. He's the firstborn among many
brethren. a great multitude which no man
could number, of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues,
they stood before the throne and before the land, clothed
in white robes and palms in their hands." Different nationalities from different parts of the world
But they all have this one thing in common. Among that multitude
that none can number, they have this in common. Every one of
them, every one of them are sinners saved by the grace of God. No exceptions. No exceptions. There's not one there do to anything
that they did for themselves. Everyone standing before the
throne shouts, salvation to our God. He and he alone has made
us to differ from another. Grace, grace they have in common. But by the grace of God, they
all testify I am what I am. Imagine being among that white
robed thrall. thousands and hundreds of thousands
Pick out any one you want any one of them and ask them. Why
are you here? Why are you here? Why aren't
you in hell? Why aren't you among those? who have heard him say, depart
from me, you workers of iniquity. What's made you to differ? And
every one of them, no matter who you ask, every one of them
will say, I am what I am by the grace of God. And that's all. That's all. Old John Newton said,
when I get to heaven, By the grace of God, there are three
things I expect to be surprised by. I'll be surprised to see
some there that I really didn't expect to. He said, I'll be surprised
not to see some there that I thought I would. But he said, most of
all, Mike, most of all, he said, I'll be surprised by God's mighty
grace that old John Newton should be there. Oh, how did you come
to be there, Newton? How in this world do you, you
old slave traitor, how do you now stand before the
throne and sing that song that only the redeemed know? How is
it you stand before the throne of God basking in the light of
His everlasting smile? How is it that you stand there
without fault before the throne of God? And Newton would say,
it was like this. It was amazing grace. Amazing grace. How sweet that
sound that saved a wretch like me. I was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind, but now I see. Oh, child of God, listen. They're
all singing the same song. And they're not singing about
mansions, or streets of gold, or mother, or rewards. They're all singing the same
song, worthy is the Lamb. Oh my, look what the Lamb has
done. The Lamb's responsible for all
these. It's by His blood, His sacrifice,
His atonement. That's the reason we're here.
And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about
the throne and the beast and the elders and the number of
them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands saying
with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive
power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory
and blessing. Yes, all those that shall see
him were sinners saved by grace without exception. Yes, by nature
they were children of wrath even as others. Yet, yet, this is
also true. Every one of them are the elect
of God. To God's glory, these that see
His face are the very ones that God purposed to see His face. Their destination was a predestination. Most churches in our day would
be less startled if you stood in the pulpit and cursed than
use that word. But the scriptures teach that
what our God does, He doesn't do as an afterthought. God loved
us with an everlasting love. God on purpose gave us to Christ. Christ came to this world on
purpose. Christ lived on purpose and died
on purpose and we're brought to glory on purpose all due to
God's amazing purpose. Turn if you will to 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2. Our God doesn't... He said to
those in David's time, you thought that I was altogether like one
of you." He said, I'm not like you. I'm not God. Lonnie, God
doesn't have a new idea. God never has a new thought.
He knows all of His works from beginning to end. Look what Paul
says here in verse 13 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. When we see the whole
religious world bowing down to the Whore of Babylon. When we see the whole religious
world engulfed in their so-called free will-ism. My soul, who's
made you to differ? But we are bound to give thanks
always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because
God had, from the beginning, from the beginning, chosen you
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth. He did this on purpose. Turn,
if you will, to 2 Timothy chapter 1. We're told the very same thing
here, 2 Timothy 1, verse 8 and 9. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. But be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us
and called us with the holy calling Why? Not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began. God did all this on purpose. This is what the prophet spoke
of in Isaiah chapter 53. Listen to this. Speaking of our
suffering Savior, Speaking of him bearing our griefs and carrying
our sorrows, speaking of him as being stricken of God, smitten
and afflicted, bruised for our iniquities. Verse 10, Yet it
pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief, when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. What shall be the outcome? What shall be the fruit of that?
Did Christ endure what He did for a perchance? For a maybe? For a hope so? You mean to tell
me that Christ endured all that for a possibility? My soul never, never, never. For he shall see his seed, he
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper
in his hand. He shall see a travail of his
soul, and he shall be satisfied. How in the name of common sense. Much more according to God's
word. How could he ever be satisfied looking down from heaven upon
one for whom he suffered and died, who's suffering for those
same sins that he supposedly suffered for in hell. How could
he ever be satisfied? Not so. Not so. He shall see
his seed. He shall prolong his days and
the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper. He shall see it through
the veil of his soul and be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many. for he shall bear their iniquities. Verse 12, therefore God says,
will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong because he had poured out his soul unto
death and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bear
the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. He said, The Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto but to minister and to give His life a ransom
for many. Yes, God chose the people. And the Son of God came to redeem
those same people. And the Holy Spirit in time calls
every one God chose, every one that Christ redeemed will be
brought to Him by His mighty grace. Every one of them in Zion
shall appear before God. It will be the boast of the great
shepherd of the sheep in that day when he brings all the redeemed
around the throne of God. It will be his claim and the
theme of our song forever. Father, every one of them are
here. I lost none. And you know what we'll do? We'll
cast our crown down at his feet and say worthy. Worthy. Not worthy is the preacher. Worthy
is the Baptist. Worthy is the church. Oh no,
we'll say worthy is A lamb that was slain because He had redeemed
us to God by His own blood. Secondly, back in 1 John 3 and
3, notice the certainty with which John speaks. He says, we
shall see Him. We shall see Him. This is the
Father's will. This is God's, the Father's will. As John read a moment ago, God
performs his will. I shall do all my pleasures,
saith the Lord. None can stay his hand. None
can stay his hand. Or say unto him, what doest thou? No man. No devil, no power, none
can overcome the will of God Almighty. In Revelation chapter
19 they cry, The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. This is what Moses
led the children of Israel in singing at the Red Sea after
God had led them across. The Lord is great. The Lord has
prevailed. There is not another like our
God. Who is like unto thee, O God? Thou and thy mercy has led forth
the people which thou hast redeemed. Thou shalt lead them unto thy
holy temple. Our great God and Savior says,
All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me." Don't you like that? All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh unto
me I'll in no wise cast out. They'll hear His voice and they'll
come. They'll come. In time before
one redeemed sinner before any of them, leave this world, they're
going to hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that here
shall live, they'll come most willingly, being made willing
in the day of His power, most willingly they'll come to Christ,
crying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean, everyone. They'll hear His voice in time,
and they'll hear His voice saying, in that day come up hither. and
they'll come. Despite indwelling sin, where
sin abounded, grace doth much more abound. That despite the
devil, we're told the Lord shall shortly bruise him under your
feet. That despite the world, this
is the victory that overcometh the world, John said in chapter
5, even our faith. We shall see him as he is. Yes, some through the water and some
through the flood, some through fire, but all through the blood. Yes, some through great sorrow. Oh, but our God gives a song
in the night season and all the day long. Last of all, Consider
the wonder of this. Oh, the wonder of it. We shall
see Him. If you think I've had some difficulty
prior to this, oh, how should I explain this? How can you illustrate
this? Oh, the wonder of seeing Him.
See. Comprehend in a way we can't
now. appreciate in a way that's just
not possible to do now, because now we see through a glass darkly. Oh, but then, then, face to face. Face to face with Christ my Savior. Face to face, what will it be,
when with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, who died for me? What shall that perfect vision
That ability to see, to appreciate, to know. What shall it look to? John says, Him. Him. Of whom it was said, call his
name Jesus. He shall save his people from
their sins. Him who said, I come to do thy
will, O God. Him who said, Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me. Him who was made sin for
me. Him who loved me. and gave himself
for me. Him, I shall behold, that first
looked to me when I was without hope, without God in the world. This is how he found me. As for
thy nativity, in the day that thou was born, thy navel was
not cut, neither was thou washed in water to supple thee. Thou
was not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee
to do any of these things to thee, to have compassion upon
thee, but thou was cast out in the open field to thy loathing
of thy person in the day that you were born. And that's where I would have
lived and died, except for this, Joe. And when I passed by thee
and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee,
when you were in your own blood, live. Live. I said unto thee, when
you were in your own blood, live. I'll see him who saw me and loved
me with an everlasting love. Imagine looking into those eyes
that look to you and hearing that voice enter in to the joy
prepared for you from the foundation of the world and bowing down
at the feet of Jesus Christ Those feet that walked this sin-cursed
earth for me. And walked it in every step of
perfect obedience before the law of God. And then walked up
Calvary's hill and was nailed to the cross for me. Love so amazing, so divine, deserves
my heart, my life, my all. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, when
we rightfully remember those men, women, who gave their life
in the service of this country. Several years ago, I watched
a movie that was supposed to be a true movie. There was a
young man who along with four brothers who joined the military
to fight in World War II, and four brothers died. The president heard of that,
was brought to his attention, so he ordered that that last
surviving son be found, be found and brought back home so that
mother wouldn't grieve over the death of her last son. The movie, in its closing scene,
has this man who was rescued standing before a grave in Arlington
National Cemetery. Behind him is his wife, children,
and grandchildren. And he calls his wife over as
he stands there before that grave, and he asks, have I been a good
man? Have I led a good life? Has my
life meant anything? Because when they found him, those men who lost their lives
for him, the lieutenant that he lay dying that led the mission
to rescue this young man, as he himself lay dying, being wounded,
in the rescue, he whispered to this fellow, Don't you forget
what was done for you here. You live up to the sacrifice
that was made for you. And with that, the old man steps
back and salutes the grave of that lieutenant who gave his
life for him. that God, His Son not sparing,
sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross,
my sins He gladly bearing, He bled out to take away my sin. And the captain of my salvation
said, Lurie Chris, don't you ever forget it. Remember me. Remember me. May God allow us
to remember Him today. God bless you.