I'm sure that these few verses
we'll read are familiar to you. Luke chapter 10, only five verses. Verses 38 through 42. Our Lord, previous in the chapter,
after the 70 disciples that he had sent out came back rejoicing, that the devils were even subject
to them through his name. Our Lord said, rejoice rather
not over this, but because your names are written in heaven.
You've experienced something that all men haven't. And he
thanked God for that. Our Lord did. He rejoiced himself. I think this is the only time
in Scripture we find that our Lord rejoiced. Rejoiced in the
Father's distinguishing mercy and grace upon those men and
told them they were indeed blessed. And now he comes to Bethany,
to the home of a family, two women, two sisters and a brother,
who likewise had experienced the distinguishing grace of the
triune God. Verse 38, and it came to pass as they went
that he entered into a certain village and a certain woman named
Martha, apparently Martha was the oldest, she was the head
of the household so to speak, and a certain woman named Martha
received him into her house And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. But Martha
was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said, Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said
unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful. and troubled about
many things. But one thing is needful, and
Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away
from her. Look at verse 38 again. It came
to pass as they went that he entered into a certain village,
and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. A certain village The master
comes to Bethany and he goes to a certain house because he
wants to see a certain family. A visit from the Son of God. Imagine that. He that was described
by the prophet as being Immanuel, God with us. This one who was
also foretold to be the son given, the child born, who was the mighty
God, the everlasting Father, Counselor, the Prince of Peace,
upon whose shoulders the government shall be, the government of the
rule and kingdom of God. That's the one. That's the one
that comes to this house, this particular house, this certain
house, to visit this family. My soul, what a privilege that
was. What a privilege. When I read
this yesterday over and over and thought about it, I also
thought of what our Lord said concerning when his people come
together. He said, where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I. There am I in the
midst of them. What a privilege. There are many
needful lessons that we could draw from these five verses of
Scripture, important lessons. But the most important, our Lord
himself tells us of. In verse 42 again, in his words
to Martha, distracted, troubled Martha. But this one thing is
needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not
be taken away from her. That is what is most important,
like Martha, I need reminded of that, don't you? Don't you,
child of God? I need for my Lord to remind
me again that which is most needful to my soul, that which I can't
do without. A more literal translation of
our Lord's words would have been this. Of one thing, there is
a necessity. The necessity, that's my subject. And I have a twofold purpose,
if God will enable me, in bringing this message. I want believers
to be comforted. And I want any that are lost
to see their need. And if God is pleased to bless
His Word, this will accomplish both those ends. To be convinced
of our necessity, remember, What we read in Hebrews 9, we're told
it's appointed. It's appointed by God. It's appointed
by man, all men, wants to die. Now, if that were all, if that
were all, no need to be alarmed. But it's not, is it? If a man
would die like a dog, and that would be the end of it, no need
to be alarmed. Go ahead, eat, drink, be merry.
But that's not what it says. It's appointed unto men once
to die, but after that, the judgment. The judgment. In Revelation chapter
20, we read of that day when all men will be brought before
the presence of the Lord God. In view of this, In the prospect
of this, the most certain certainty of this, the words of our Lord
seem all that more important, don't they? One thing is needful,
just one thing. Martha, it's not the many things.
Martha, be careful. You're neglecting the one thing
because of the many things. In verse 11 of Revelation 20,
and I saw a great white throne. This white throne depicts God's
purity, his majesty, his holiness. And him that sat on it, and from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was
found no more place for them. And I saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And
another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in
the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the
dead which were in it. And death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man
according to their works. and the dead, or rather in death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. No wonder
our Lord said to the seven dead, rejoice because your names are
written in heaven. In view of that certain, certain,
event of all men standing before the Lord God in judgment, our
Lord says, but one thing is needful. Notice that, first of all, how
that he introduces this. He says, but, but, in contrast
to the many things, one thing, one thing is essential. That
is so Opposite of what the world's philosophy is, isn't it? Get
all you can get. Grab it all. Because you're only
going around one time, so get all you can get. And our Lord
says, not so. Not so. One thing is essential. There's only one necessity. And
consider this. in the light of this one necessity
that alone makes the difference. Remember, ask yourself the question,
what's needful? What's needful? What's essential
for me when I stand before God like we read a moment ago? When I stand before God, what's
necessary? for me to be declared just by
God himself. A man must be just before God
to enter glory. How can that be? How can that
be? God himself must declare him
just. And that includes this. That
includes this. Justification before the Lord
God includes this. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. How can any son of
Adam be declared by the Lord God himself, who knows all about
us, declare him to be not guilty? Think of that. Paul in Romans
8 said, it is God that justifieth. And that includes this as well,
to be pronounced righteous before God's law. That's what the law
demands, righteousness. Perfection. It demands that and
it won't accept anything less. Remember in our Lord's Sermon
on the Mount, he told the multitude that were gathered around, except
your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of
heaven. Exceed, be much more than what
they claim. What's needful? What's the necessity
to be accepted before God? What's needful to enter into
glory? What do I need? What is that
one thing that I must have to have eternal
life? What's needful for me not to
be lost forever? not to be cast into hell forever. What will it take for God not
to say to me, depart into outer darkness, but to enter in? Come in forever, forever. What will that require? Is that
not important? Is that not important? Now, in
comparison to the other things, is the answer to those questions
the one thing, needful? Is there anything more important
than that? To be saved, what's needful? Well, I know this. I know this. In answer to the question, who
can be saved? I know this beyond a doubt. It's clear as can be throughout
God's Word, but the Lord Jesus Christ himself had that question
put to him. His disciples asked him, didn't
they? Who can be saved? Who can be saved? And you remember
what he said. Could words be plainer? With
men, it's impossible. With man, it's impossible. All of his works, all of his
morality, all of his religion won't save him. It's impossible.
It requires more than man can do for himself. It requires certainly
more than a decision, more than man's so-called free will can
muster up, more than reciting the sinner's prayer. And there
are multitudes. Most, the majority, of professing
Christians base their hope of heaven on no more than that. And our Lord said, it's impossible
with man. What's required? What's necessary? It takes a miracle, doesn't it,
Lord? It takes the miracle of God's
grace. Paul in Ephesians 2 said it takes
the same power, the same omnipotence that it took to raise Jesus Christ
from the dead to give us sin or faith in God. It takes a miracle
for a man to believe. I don't mean simply to give some
mental agreement to certain facts. I mean, everybody in this country,
at least, pretty much, professes they believe God and believe
in Jesus Christ. Is that saving faith? No, it
takes a miracle for a sinner. A miracle of God's grace to bring
a sinner to trust Jesus Christ, period. Jesus Christ alone to
say, to say like that believer did when questioned as to what
his hope was based upon, this is what he said, I am a poor
sinner and nothing at all. But Jesus Christ is my all in
all. And those who questioned him,
the story goes, weren't satisfied with that. They wanted to know
more. But that's all that he would answer. And bless God,
that's a good answer. That's a good hope, isn't it? In our Lord's day, turn if you
will to Mark, Mark chapter 7 for a moment. In our Lord's day,
the Jews religion consisted in many things, many things. Our Lord said that. In Mark chapter
7, look at verse 3. For the Pharisees and all the
Jews, except they wash their hands often and eat, they eat
not, holding the tradition, the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market,
except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be,
many things, which they have received to hold as one washing
of cups and pots and brazen vessels and of tables. Look what our
Lord said concerning them in verse 7. How be it in vain do
they worship me, teasing for doctrines the commandments, the
traditions of men. For laying aside the commandment
of God, ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots
and cups and many other such like things ye do." The last
week of our Lord's life before his crucifixion, the Sadducees and the Pharisees
and the Herodians, the religious party and the political parties,
got together and they nominated from each group a mouthpiece,
a spokesman. They said, we're going to catch
him in his words. So first they sent the Pharisees.
Master, what thinkest thou? What do you say? Is it right,
is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar? Well, they thought,
he'll never be able to get out of this one. However he answers
will have him. And you know, that one to whom
they spoke, that they thought they could trap, the very wisdom
of God, the whole counsel of God, that one that Paul said,
of him and through him and to him are all things, that one
who himself said, behold, a greater than Solomon is here, said, show
me a coin. Whose image is that? Caesar's.
We'll give it to Caesar. Render to Caesar's the things
that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God. And
they turned away like a dog with their tails tucked between their
legs. And then here come the Sadducees.
They didn't even believe in the resurrection. They didn't believe
in it. But they made up a story about a woman who was married
to five brothers and that she outlived them all. Now, in the
resurrection, whose wife will she be? Remember how our Lord
answered that? He said, you just don't understand
the scriptures, nor the power of God. Likewise, they turn and
go away. Then here comes the Herodian.
Which is the greatest commandment? And our Lord answered that. And
then he put forth to them one question. One question. The necessity. The necessity. The one thing
needful. What do you think of Christ? What think ye of Christ? That's
the real issue. Preachers talking. about everything
but that, don't they? The one thing needful, the one
absolute necessity, what think ye of Christ? Do you know Him? Remember when the rich young
ruler came to Christ? Matthew 19, he came to the Lord,
he bowed down before Him. Good Master, what must I do to
inherit eternal life? What can I do? And our Lord told him, remember
what he said, I've done all those things. Not been a problem. Not
been a problem. I've done all that. What like
I yet? What like I yet? And really,
he didn't think he liked anything. But he liked everything, didn't
he? He liked everything. He lacked that one thing needful. He didn't have Christ. And our
Lord told him in Mark's account of it, our Lord looked at that
rich young ruler and he said, one thing thou lackest. One thing
thou lackest. The one necessity. The one thing
to justify. The one thing to make you righteous
before God, the one thing to bring a sinner to God, you don't
have that. The one door to heaven, the one
door into salvation, you don't have that. The one mediator,
the only mediator between God and a sinner, the only advocate
by which we can approach God, you lack that. That one necessity,
of course, is Jesus Christ himself. Paul wrote to Timothy. He said,
Timothy, Jesus Christ, our hope. Nothing else. Nothing else. He is that one necessity. Only
him, Todd. Because when the angel spoke
to Joseph concerning him, He spoke of only one Savior. Only one glorious Redeemer. Only one blessed substitute. There's only one that was set
up from everlasting as the Redeemer of His people. There was only
one ordained by God. to trod the
winepress alone. There's only one that shall be
made sin. Joseph, there's only one. And
he alone shall save his people from their sins. There's only
one that shall purge his people from their sins. Only him. I must have him. When the fullness
of the time was come, God sent forth his Son. only Him. And His Son responded in that
body that God had prepared Him, I come to do Thy will, O my God. Child of God, I want to remind
you and myself, as our Lord did Martha, if you have Christ, if
you have Christ, the one necessity, It doesn't too much matter what
else we don't have, does it? You perhaps have all heard the
story. I read it again just the other
day. A poor widow sat down, a believer,
a Christian, one of the Lord's chosen, sat down to a meager
meal, not very much at all. And she bowed her head and thanked
her God for it. And then she looked up and said,
my, all of this and Jesus Christ too. I don't need anything. Last week in our bulletin in
the quote above the daily readings, there was this by Mr. John Newton. He wrote, in the hour when death
shall come upon, or rather shall open the door into eternity. Hmm. Wow, what solemn words. In the hour when death shall
open the door into eternity, many things which now assume
an air of importance will be found as light and unsubstantial
as a child's dream. Oh, believer, remember, you have
Christ. You have Christ. And Christ is
all. That's what Paul said, didn't
he? There were people that came into the church at Galatia that
tried to put angels on an equal footing with Christ. And Paul
said, don't do it. Don't listen to him. Don't. Don't
you be influenced by that. It's not so. He said, Christ
is all. Christ is all. And having him. If I have Christ and Christ is
all, I have all. I have all. And Paul said that
too, didn't he? You're complete. You're complete
in him. How could you not be? If he is
all, a child of God will never hear. Will never hear these words. A believing sinner will never
hear, one thing thou lackest. Never. A child of God lacks nothing
needed to take him to glory. Isn't that comforting? Lay your
head down on that pillow of mercy. A child of God lacks nothing
needed, nothing required to enter glory. Turn, if you will, to
Romans chapter 3. Romans chapter 3. Complete in him. Romans 3 verse 23, for all have
sinned and comes short of the glory
of God, missed the mark. No question about it. Then is there no hope? Paul goes
on to say, being justified freely, being justified freely, the same
word he used when he said concerning those debtors who had nothing
to pay, he freely, freely forgave them both. Being justified freely,
declared not guilty, not guilty? Are we being told that the God
of glory looks down on believers in this world and declares them
to be not guilty? Absolutely. Absolutely. Being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption, oh, there's
the price, through the redemption that's in Christ Jesus whom God
has set forth to be the propitiation through faith in His blood to
declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are
passed through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say at
this time, His righteousness, that He might be just. and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Turn over to chapter
8. Along this same line, look what Paul says in chapter 8 of
Romans. Verse 33. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? God's justified them. It is God
that's done the justifying. Who is He that condemneth? It's
Christ that died. Christ that died in their place.
Yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who condemns? Who condemns? In verse 1 Paul
says, in chapter 8, there is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation in Christ. The top lady wrote in one of
his hymns, for whence this fear and unbelief? Has not the Father
put to grief his darling son for me? And can the righteous
judge of men condemn me for that debt of sin, charge to my great
surety, complete atonement Christ has made? Well, he did say it is finished,
didn't he? Complete atonement Christ has made, and to God's
utmost justice paid, all that His people owed. Payment God
cannot twice demand. First at my bleeding surety's
hand, and then again at mine. Having Christ, there's no condemnation. Never will be. Found in Him. Secure. Turn to Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians chapter 1. The one
necessity, the Lord Jesus Christ, also includes this. Look what
Paul says in verse 7. Isn't this a blessing? Speaking
of the Lord Jesus, in whom? In whom we have redemption through
his blood? the forgiveness of sins according
to the riches of his grace. The forgiveness of sins. I, even
I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, saith the Lord,
for my own self, and will not, will not remember thy sins. Will not. Free from sin, I walk
at large. The Savior's blood, my full discharge."
Turn to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians 3. At one time, the
man who wrote this and tells us that his hope is centered
on the one thing, the Lord Jesus Christ at one time, As he says
in this chapter, it was many, many things, but now there's
only one. In verse 7, but what things were
gained to me, those I count a loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless 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," one of my favorite expressions
in God's Word, 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. Oh, to know Christ, Paul said. To know him. Our Lord, in his high priestly
prayer, said, this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God and Jesus Christ. Paul says, that's what I want,
to know him. And to win him. What a prize. What a treasure. And then he
says, to be found in him. To be found in him. And we'll
all be found. We'll all be found. We read in
Revelation 20, and death and hell delivered up the dead that
were in them, and all stood before the throne of the thrice holy
God. Yes, we'll all be found. No question
about that. But by God's matchless grace, this sinner fully expects, I
believe, I'll be found in Him. I'll be found in Him. If God's
Word is true, the redeemed of Jesus Christ are not going to
stand before the throne of God shivering, frightful, doubtful,
oh no, oh no, no. They'll stand there found in
Him, complete in Him, accepted in Him. robed in the perfect
righteousness of God's own Son. And you know what that will entail.
You know what that will mean? To stand before God clothed in
the very righteousness of God's Son, that's the robe that the
Father Himself put on us. And in the righteousness of God's
dear Son, we have no fault at all. It's the very best robe. God Almighty looks and says,
no fault, not a stain, not a blemish, not a wrinkle. They're perfect. Perfect. Found in Him. Turn back, if you will, to Ezekiel. This is what we read in Ezekiel
chapter 16. Read a few verses here. Concerning
our Lord coming to that newborn infant, that babe, that picture
of absolute helplessness, cast out into the field to die. And
notice in these verses that all that was done was done by God. I did this, I did this, I did
this. God did it all. Verse 6 of Ezekiel
chapter 16, and when I passed by thee, I passed by thee, Oh, He came to where I was. He didn't pass me by. No, He
came to me. When I passed by thee, I saw
thee polluted in thine own blood. And I said unto thee, when thou
was in thine own blood, live, live, live. Lazarus, come forth. You that were dead, he quickened.
I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and
thou has increased in wax and grade, and thou art come to excellent
ornaments. Thy breast are fashioned, and
thine hair is grown, whereas thou was naked and bare. And
when I passed by thee and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was
the time of love, loved with an everlasting love. And I spread
my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness, Yea, I swear unto
thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God,
and thou becamest mine. Thou becamest mine. Then washed
I thee with water, yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee,
and anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered
work, and shod thee with badger skin, and I girded thee about
with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee
also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and
a chain on thy neck, and I put a jewel on thy forehead, and
earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head." Boy, what
a picture. Thus was thou decked with gold
and silver, and thy raiment was of fine linen and silk, embroidered
work. Thou didst eat fine flour and
honey, And thou, and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou
didst prosper into a kingdom, and thy renown went forth among
the heathen for thy beauty. For it was perfect. It was perfect. Oh, with his holy garments on,
as holy as God's own Son, for it was perfect through my comeliness
which I put upon thee, saith the Lord God. Absolutely perfect. And remember, our Lord said to
Martha, that one thing needful, that one necessity shall never
be taken away. Never. Do you hear that, child
of God? Never be taken away. God, Christ promised to you this
very hour. I'll never leave you. I'll never
leave you. When you feel alone, you're not
alone. He'll never leave you. Friends
may, but He says, I won't. I'll never leave you. When the
storms of life are raging, He'll stand by me. And when I'm growing
old and feeble, he'll stand by me. Mr. Warburton wrote this. It's on the back page of your
bulletin. Christ is all. I couldn't agree more with what
he says here. He says, the longer I live, We
learn some things, don't we, by experience. I dare say most
things we don't really learn until we experience them. But
he said, the longer I live, the more I feel if there was one
thing left undone, if the devil were not conquered, sin not expiated,
justice not satisfied, the law not honored and magnified, death
not overcome and every burden carried, I should not have a
ray of hope. I see and feel now that if one
hair breath is left for me to do, to merit heaven, or bring
as a plea before God, I am undone forever." When this life is almost
gone, this vapor is vanished like the plants in the backyard
at the house. Beautiful to look at. Enjoyed
them all summer. But one night this past week,
it got cold and frosted. I looked at them the next morning,
Lord, they're just withered and died, withered, gone. So is your life, like a blade
of grass. But I'll still have, I'll still
have this one necessity, Jesus Christ. when I soar to worlds
unknown and behold thee on thy throne. Oh, Rock of Ages, cleft
for me, let me hide myself in thee. David lay dying. And he says, oh, I've got regrets. My house is not as I would it
was with God. But he said, I have a good hope. I have the
one necessity. And he's all my salvation. He's
all my salvation. Let me wrap this up. You who
don't have Christ, now the believer that has Christ, it doesn't much
matter what else he may not have. But you that don't have Christ,
it doesn't much matter what else you do have. I hope that you
don't learn too late that Christ was the one thing needful. Like
that man our Lord spoke about who had so much he had to build
bigger barns to store it in. And God said, oh, you're a fool.
Tonight. Man, those are solemn words,
isn't it? Tonight, I require your soul of you, then whose
things will those be? May God be pleased to reveal
today your real necessity. Christ, the hope of glory, the
hope of glory. God bless you. Thank you for
your attention.