Turn with me again to our text
in II Thessalonians Chapter 2. One of our men asked me this
past week a question that every man who's ever professed faith
in Christ has asked himself sometime in his past, and most of us more
often than we're willing to admit. Do I really know the Lord? Do I really know the Lord? I
know I go to church. I know I read my Bible. I know
I listen to messages. But do I know Him? Do I know
Him? Do I have a real and saving interest
in Him? And am I an object of God's everlasting
love? God has a people, and He loved
them from everlasting. That's what He says in this book.
Never was a time when He didn't love them. He loved them before
they were ever born. And am I an object of His everlasting
love and mercy, or have I just made a profession of faith? I don't want to and I don't want
you to come down to the end of your life only to find out that
all you ever had was just a pretense. Just a pretense. In Isaiah 28, the Lord assures
us that all those who have made lies their refuge, all those
who have made of themselves a covenant with death, and hid themselves
in falsehood shall be exposed and left naked and condemned
before the Lord in that day. He said there is going to be
a deluge and it is going to wash away that refuge of lies. Everybody in here knows John
Newton. Famous preacher and hymn writer
who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. I don't think there's a denomination
in this country that don't stand and sing Amazing Grace. Old John
Newton. But have you ever heard this
hymn John Newton wrote? Listen to this. "'Tis a point
I long to know, Oft it causes anxious thoughts, Do I love the
Lord or no? Am I His or am I not? If I love, why am I thus? Why this dull and lifeless frame? Hardly sure can they be worse
who have never known His name. When I turn my eyes within, now
you remember that line. When I turn my eyes within, all
is dark and vain and wild, filled with unbelief and sin. Can I deem myself a child? Lord,
decide this doubtful case. Thou who art the people's son,
shine upon thy work of grace, if indeed it hath begun. Let
me love Thee more and more. If I love at all, I pray. If I have not loved before, help
me, Lord, begin today." That does not sound like the same
man, does it? He wrote amazing grace. We all have doubts. We all have
doubts. There comes that time when you
sit in solitude of darkness in your closet or in your house,
and you say, do I really know Him? Do I really know Him? If you are here this morning
and truly want to know the answer to that question, I think I have
a word here from God for you. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself
and God, even our Father which hath loved us, hath given to us everlasting
consolation and a good hope through grace. And if God the Holy Spirit
will enable me, I want to ask and answer four questions that
I believe a troubled heart, a heart who questions their union with
Christ, who questions their connection with Him, their interest in Him,
four questions, that a troubled heart might ask, having read
this text. First of all, that troubled heart
might ask, what is this everlasting consolation? What is it? What is this good
hope through grace? Well, I cannot know if I have
it if I don't know what it is. How will you know you have it
if you don't know what it is? What is this consolation of Israel? It's Jesus Christ Himself. You remember right after the
birth of Jesus Christ, there was an old man. His name was
Simeon. And the Holy Ghost had told old
Simeon, it never gives us his age, I don't know how old he
was, but he was an old man, about ready to die. But the Holy Ghost
had told him that he would not see death until he saw the Lord's
Christ, the consolation of Israel. And lo and behold, Mary and Joseph
brought in Jesus to have done for him after the law, to consecrate
him to God. And they brought him into that
temple. And old Simeon went over and took the child from her mother's
arms. from his mother's arms, and held
him up. And he said, now, he said, Lord,
let us thy servant depart in peace, for I've seen the Lord's
Christ. I've seen Him. This is the consolation. It's the person of Jesus Christ. And if God the Holy Spirit will
enable me, I want to preach Him to you this morning. It is the
Lord Jesus Christ. In his person, he said, mine eyes have seen
thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all
the people. Now, it was not seeing his fleshly
body that brought peace to his soul, but seeing in that child
the Lord's Christ, understanding who that child is. I had no hope for this fallen,
depraved world outside of Christ. Being better than somebody else
does not constitute salvation. Are you aware of that? Do you
know that? Well, I'm not bad as he are. That don't mean beans. That's like one maggot saying,
well, I'm not as bad a maggot as that one. We're still maggots. We're still maggots. And being
better than somebody else don't constitute salvation. Doing certain
things and not doing others does not mean you're safe. Well, one
of these days I'm going to quit doing this. I'm going to quit
running with the boys and quit running the bars and quit going
to the gambling casinos. I'm going to quit this and quit
that. And then I'm going to start doing this and start doing that.
That doesn't constitute salvation. People do that all the time.
They do that all the time. One fellow said, boy, I used
to really be around her. You still are. You still are. All the preachers, we go to church
regular. We tithe, and we do volunteer
work, and we visit the hospitals, and we work in the shelters.
So did the Pharisees. Didn't benefit them at all. They
did all those things. Can you hear what I'm saying
to you? There's no hope, no consolation, no comfort for fallen, depraved
sinners outside of Christ. I don't care what you do. I don't
care how you look. I don't care what you say. Outside
of Christ, there's no hope for fallen, depraved sinners. Outside
Christ, God is a consuming fire. Never been a lie told and spread
so universal is that little smiley face that people put on their
bumper that says, smile, God loves you. You try to vision
that sticker on the ark. That old ark, rising up on those
floodwaters and the world, desperate now, desperate now to get aboard. But it's too late. It's too late. And there's that little sticker,
smile, God loves you. I'm trying to tell you the truth.
Peter said, you builders, he's talking to those preachers, he's
talking to those Pharisees, those doctors of the law, he said,
you builders have taken the stone, the very cornerstone of God,
and you threw it aside. Because it didn't fit in your
temple, it didn't fit in your worship, it didn't fit in your
concepts, and you laid it aside. And God took that stone and made
it the head of the corner in His temple. It's the very head
of the corner. Now listen, neither, that's what
He told His preachers, neither is there salvation in any other
for there is none other name under heaven given among men
whereby we must be saved. A good hope through grace is
a hope established in, rooted in, and grounded in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Not that Jesus preached and left
to your imagination. Well, just believe on Jesus.
That makes cold chills run up and down my spine. It will yours,
too, if He ever shows you a difference. Not that universal Jesus or that
frustrated Jesus. Won't you let Him into your heart?
If He wants in your heart, He'll come in. He'll come in. Not the Jesus who wants to save
everybody and nobody will let Him. But Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. The Son of Man, as God has set
Him forth in His Holy Word. He is the everlasting Christ.
He was appointed of the Father from the beginning. He said,
My Father sent Me. I must be about My Father's business. He's the covenant head, insurity
of God's elect, the incarnate God. God come into the flesh.
God and man in one holy, inseparable union. He's the one mediator,
the only one who can reconcile sinners to God. No man, no man,
listen to the words of our Lord Himself, no man cometh unto the
Father but by me. We better quit praying to Mary
then, shouldn't we? If there's no other way to come except through
Him, we better seek Him. We better quit bowing down to
earthly priests and seek the one priest, our high priest, this man, one
time in the end of the world, entered into that holy place
as our priest and put away our sins forever. Put them away. He's the one mediator. He's the
only one who can reconcile us to God. He's the propitiation
for our sins, the only basis upon which God can forgive sin.
He's Christ our righteousness. Paul said, oh, he said that I
might win Christ and be found in Him not having my own righteousness. There is no righteousness outside
of Christ. There is no wisdom outside of
Christ. There is no love outside of Christ. Romans 8, 38 through
39 tells us that nothing, nothing can separate us from the love
of God. Now listen, which is in Christ
Jesus the Lord. There's no love outside of Christ. I can't quote it exactly, but
Romans 3, 36 goes something like this, He that believeth not the
Son, the wrath of God abideth on him. He shall not see life,
but the wrath of God abideth on him. There's no love outside
of Christ. There's no redemption outside of Christ. There's no
sanctification outside of Christ. My boss said, one of those religious
fellows that I work with, he said, I wish I could live my
life like this. Boy, he was clean as a houndstooth. He was just like those Pharisees.
He was clean as a houndstooth in his life. But he didn't know
God. Everything God has for sinners
is in Christ Jesus the Lord. And the only profession worth
making is a profession of faith that finds Christ all in all. That's it. Everything else is
whistling in the wind. What is this everlasting consolation
and good hope through grace? It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Alright, here's another question
that troubled soul might ask if he reads this text. How is this consolation given?
Where does it come from? Does it just suddenly pop into
your brain? You think I'm just trying to
be foolish. Let me tell you something. I
heard a man say that not too long ago. A preacher. He was
giving his testimony. to a big congregation. I think
there was thirty-some preachers there that night. Thirty-eight
preachers there. He was going to give his testimony to them.
He said, when I was eight years old, just like that, I was regenerated. Just like that. Really. Really. Does it just pop into our brain?
Does it just come to us in a daydream or a vision? Do we just reason
it out? Read some scriptures and sit
there and scratch my head for a little while and say, oh, I
see how this works now. Is that how it comes? How does
it come? How is this consolation given?
Well, he tells you. Just back up a few verses there.
2 Thessalonians 2.13. Right in the middle of the verse. Through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth. Isn't that how it comes? That's
exactly how it comes. whereunto He called you by our
gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. How does this hope and consolation
come to troubled sinners? By an inward work of grace, by
the Holy Spirit of God through the preaching of the gospel and
the faith of the operation of God. That's how it comes. When
Christ is set before a chosen sinner, He receives the revelation
of the Spirit. There is in that man's preaching,
there's a confirmation by the Spirit of God in him telling
him that the gospel that man preaches is the one true gospel. My nephew said, now wait a minute.
He said, I've never been to church anywhere. I wasn't raised in
church. I don't know anything about these
things. But he knew my father really well. My father was a
true father. He really was. He was a patriarch
in our family. And he said, I always liked Grandpa. And he said, I want my children
to have whatever it was he had. I'd like for them to have it.
But he said, how somebody like me who's never been to church,
never knew him, how am I supposed to know where to go? This church
says we preach the gospel. This one over here says we preach
the gospel. This one down the road says we
preach the gospel. They're less than a quarter of
a mile apart, but they can't attend in the same building.
What's the problem? How am I supposed to know who's
telling the truth and who isn't? And I said to him, you never
will. You never will. Only God the Holy Spirit can
tell you who's preaching the truth and who's not preaching
the truth. Can I make good on that? Listen
to this. 1 John 4, verse 6. We are of God. That's what John
said. Well, so does the Methodist down
there. So does the Baptist. So does the Catholic. They're
all saying we are of God. John said, we are of God. He
that knoweth God knoweth and heareth us. That's what he said. He that's not of God heareth
not us. Hereby I know we the spirit of
truth and the spirit of error. That's the only way you can know.
God, the Holy Ghost, must come in power in your heart and work
in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He has
to make you willing. He has to make you submissive.
You're not born submissive. Otherwise, mamas wouldn't need
switches. That's right. And daddies wouldn't need belts.
That's right. We're not born submissive. We're
rebels, every one of us. We just, as you grow up a little
bit, you learn how to hide it. Learn how to hide it. But catch
one off guard sometimes. You'll find out what he is. I know I do. I have a meltdown
out on the highway sometimes. He that knoweth God, heareth
us. He that is not of God, heareth not us. Hereby I know with the
Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error. I'm telling you this,
this is the means God has ordained to save chosen sinners. They
hear. My sheep hear my voice. They
hear. They understand. Everybody else,
I don't understand. I know you don't. I know you
don't. And I pray for you. Maybe God
will give you an understanding. But if He don't, you never will.
You never will. They hear, they understand, they
believe, and they find hope and consolation in Him. Where is your hope? If God calls
you out of this world today, heart attack, cancer, car wreck,
whatever, as a fallen son of Adam, where is your hope? What
is your hope? You're called out. You're going
to stand before God. What's your hope? That's what I'm talking about
this morning. What's your hope? It's appointed unto men once
to die and after this the judgment. What's your hope toward that
judgment? Will you plead your attempts
at righteousness? Will you plead your religious
experiences? Will you plead your decisions?
What will you plead before God? Believers have a good hope. and
everlasting consolation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then thirdly,
here's another question that a troubled soul might ask. How
does this everlasting consolation get to be mine? My name is not written anywhere
that I can read it. It's yours. About as far as we
can go, put it on the church roll book. That's about it. Let's just say for argument's
sake, preacher, that you're right. Let's say that God did choose
a people and Christ came and died for his elect. that He wrought
out for them a perfect righteousness, that He was delivered for their
offenses and raised again for their justification, that even
right now He reigns in glory and ever liveth to make intercession
for them. Let's say you're right about
those things. How does all that eternal work
and glory find its application to me? How do I know that what
he did was for me? How do I know that when God loved
the people, I was one of them? How do I know that? How do I
know? John just keeps saying over and
over, and we know, and we know, and we know. How do we know?
How do we know? How can a poor fallen sinner
know his election of God? Only one way I can find in all
the Word of God. the free and sovereign grace
of God. That's the only way you know.
Listen to that same hymn writer who talked about his doubts and
fears that I read to you. Listen. I think he wrote that
hymn first and then wrote Amazing Grace. But he said, Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was
lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. Well, how come? How'd you get
there? It was grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace my
fears relieved. Oh, how precious did that grace
appear the hour I first believed. And now he's old. And he said,
through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.
It is grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will take
me home. It's the grace of God. It's the
sovereign grace of God that brings these eternal blessings to the
rightful objects of God's love. Paul said this, to the praise
of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
Beloved." And listen to this, what about faith? By grace are
you saved through faith. That not of yourselves, it's
the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. God's
gospel is the gospel of the grace of God. God's Spirit is called
the Spirit of Grace. And then faith by grace are you
saved through faith. Believers have an everlasting
consolation and a good hope. Are you listening? Listen to
the text. Through grace. Ain't that what
that says? Through grace. Distinguishing
grace. Let me tell you something. There
was a lot of visitors there that night at the meeting. But there
was only one whose heart was broken. and brought to Christ. And that's me. That's me. That's me. I looked around the
room and nobody else was weeping. Nobody else was in trouble. Nobody
else needed any comfort. But I tell you, I did. I did. And even so, I stand before you
this morning and bear witness that it was altogether an act
of God's grace. How do all these eternal blessings
and benefits get to be mine? Well, by the free and sovereign
grace of God, and secondly, by the gift of faith. We are from the beginning chosen
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, now listen, and
belief of the truth. Can you hear what I'm saying?
Do you understand who Christ is? Why He came? What He did? Where He's at? Do
you understand those things? Can you say in your heart of
hearts that sink or swim, I rest my eternal soul on Him? Can you
say that? If you can. If you can trust Him. If you
can rest in Him. If you can rejoice in Him alone,
then I believe I can say, like Peter of old, I can address you
as the elect of God. Listen to what our Lord told
His disciples. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. He didn't just say it once. He
said it two or three times in the book of John. He said the
very same word. And then lastly, here's another
question a troubled sinner might ask if he reads this text. What
does this consolation do? I've got it. What do I do with
it? Do I fold it up like my insurance plan, put it in the file cabinet? What does it do? I had this consolation. What does it do? What happens
in the heart of a sinner when he's given the gift of faith? He's comforted. That's what he
does. Isn't that what he says right
after this text? Comfort ye one another. Oh, this comfort. To
the believer it is. Let me tell you something, all
this looking back to our experiences or trying to find inspiration
in earthly little sayings is just whistling in a cemetery.
That's all that is. There's only one source of comfort
in trials and troubles and death, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now listen
to this. He says, when He said, I'm going
away, and He said, it's expedient for you that I go away. But when
I'm gone away, I'm going to send you the comforter. And when he's
come, are you listening? When he's come, he's not going
to speak about himself. He doesn't have an agenda separate
from everything else. He's not going to come and do
this and do that and use this and use that. He's going to take
the things of mine and he's going to show them to you. And boy,
if he does, you'll be comforted. You'll be comforted. You'll be
comforted like you've never been comforted. if he'll do that. He don't have to take a whole
book. He don't have to take a whole chapter. He can just take a little
piece out of a verse. And man, you can just lay back
in that, just lay back in that like the most comfortable chair
you've ever sat in and find comfort. Comfort. There's only one source
of comfort, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Comforter, He comes and He
comforts us with the washing of regeneration and renewing
of the Holy Ghost. He comforts us by sprinkling
our guilty consciences with the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. He comforts us by revealing to
us the great consolation of Israel. He comforts us by opening to
us the Scriptures and causing our hearts to burn within. Didn't
our hearts burn within? He comforts us by assuring us
that in Him we have a perfect righteousness. He comforts us
by telling us to be absent from this body is to be present with
Him. All those who know Him and are
known by Him Have everlasting consolation and a good hope through
grace. But now let me tell you something. All we have in this world is
a hope. A hope. The man who believes
God can have assurance. And I'm going to tell you something.
When you look within, you remember I told you, remember that sentence
in that poem a while ago? When I look within, that's the
only time you doubt. If you're here this morning and
you're a believer, the only time you ever doubt is when you look
in here. You look in here. Boy, I don't see any love in
there. I don't read like I ought to.
I don't pray like I ought to. I don't do this. I don't do that.
Boy, I don't even know if I know the Lord. But you can't look
at Him and doubt. There ain't no doubt in Him.
There ain't no doubt in Him. And that's why everybody just
keeps saying, all the preachers God ever sent just keep saying,
look to Christ, look to Christ, look to Christ. Don't look in
here. Look up there. Look at Him. There ain't no doubt
in Him. Everything in Him is yay and
amen. That's what Paul said. It's all
yay and amen in Him. I tell you, anywhere else you
look, you're going to die out. You're going to die out. I hope
the Holy Spirit of God will give you some comfort in that.