The One Great Concern

Q: What does the Bible say about the importance of preaching the gospel?

The Bible emphasizes that preaching the gospel is essential, focusing on Jesus Christ as the central message. The Apostle Paul, in his ministry, was consumed with the responsibility to preach the gospel of the grace of God. He declared in Acts 20:24 that only this gospel, which testifies of the grace available through Jesus Christ, was his life's concern. It is through preaching the gospel that sinners hear of their need for salvation, as Christ is the sole means of redemption. Romans 1:16 affirms, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.' Thus, the centrality of Christ in the gospel makes it fundamental to Christian faith and practice.

Q: How do we know that God's grace is sovereign?

God's grace is sovereign as it is unmerited and extends to those whom He has chosen, as evidenced in Scripture. The sovereignty of God's grace is clearly illustrated in the life of Saul of Tarsus, who was chosen by God even as he actively persecuted Christians. Acts 9 recounts how God intervened, showing that salvation is not based on human effort or worthiness, but purely on God's elected grace. Paul himself recognized this in Romans 9:15 when he quotes God saying, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.' God's grace operates independently of human actions, reinforcing the Reformed understanding of total depravity and unmerited favor, a central theme in the doctrine of sovereign grace.

Q: Why is preaching about Jesus Christ so central to the Christian faith?

Preaching about Jesus Christ is central because He is the embodiment of the gospel and the only means of salvation. Jesus Christ is the focal point of the gospel message, as emphasized throughout Scripture. In Acts 28, Paul diligently preached 'those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ,' because he understood that all of Scripture, including the Law and the Prophets, ultimately points to Christ (Luke 24:27). The gospel is not merely a collection of moral teachings, but the good news about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which secures salvation for His people. This centrality of Christ in preaching ensures that the message remains focused on the only one who can save us from our sins, as articulated in John 14:6, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'

Q: What does it mean to testify the gospel of the grace of God?

To testify the gospel of the grace of God means to proclaim the message of salvation that is freely offered through Christ's sacrifice. Testifying to the gospel of the grace of God implies actively sharing the message that salvation is a gift from God, extended to sinners who cannot earn it. In Acts 20:24, Paul expresses his commitment to this mission, reminding us that grace is integral to the gospel. It means declaring that God initiated salvation through Christ's finished work on the cross, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9, which tells us that it is by grace through faith that we are saved—not by works. Therefore, testifying to the gospel involves both sharing personal experiences of God’s grace and proclaiming the transformative news of Jesus Christ to others, inviting them to receive the same grace.

Q: Why is understanding election important in Reformed theology?

Understanding election is important because it highlights God's sovereignty in salvation and assures believers of their security in Christ. In Reformed theology, the concept of election shows that God's choice to save individuals is based on His will and grace, not human merit. Romans 9:11-13 discusses God's sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau, illustrating that God's election is not contingent upon any foreseen action or quality in individuals. This doctrine brings comfort to believers, affirming that their salvation is secure because it rests on God's unchanging purpose (2 Timothy 1:9). Such understanding encourages humility and deep gratitude, as it reveals the depth of God's mercy towards those He has chosen to save, further emphasizing the theme of grace throughout Scripture.

I already mentioned the two that
came, because if he didn't, I would. It's good to be here. That is
a favorite, as Don said, song of mine. Thank God for a grace
that reaches deeper than disdain is gone. That's the only kind
of help this center. Turn, if you will, to Acts chapter
28. I'll begin reading at verse 16,
but before I do, I just want to thank the members of Grace
Baptist Church, you men, ladies, for your kindness and encouragement
to me. I have nothing but fond memories
of the 20 years that I was here, and thank you so much. And I want to go on record. When somebody says that, that
means it's certain, before witnesses. My pastor sitting behind me here
makes me a little nervous where she'd sit down now. But anyway, as probably most
of you know, if you've been around Mr. Fortner much at all, He claims
that he's a little younger than his pretty wife, Shelby. And I want to go on record as
saying I have never believed that in my life. I met him when
I think I was 27 and he was about the same. And he looked then
about the way he looks now. But Shelby never seems to age. So even if it says that on her
birth certificate that she's older than Don, I think there
was some mix up with the record. I don't believe it. I want to
say this. There are no two people that
God has used more in my life to be a blessing and an encouragement
and a friend. friends to me when I needed a
friend than Don and Shelby Fortner. I love them and I appreciate
them. Where is Shelby? She's downstairs cooking. All right, all right. Let's begin
at verse 16 of Acts chapter 28. And when we came to Rome, the
centurion delivered the presents to the captain of the guard,
but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that
kept him. And it came to pass that after
three days, Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and when
they were come together, he said unto them, men and brethren,
though I have committed nothing against the people or customs
of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into
the hands of the Romans. who, when they had examined me,
would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in
me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal
unto Caesar, not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. For this
cause, therefore, have I called you, to see you, and to speak
with you, because that were the hope of Israel. And that was
it. That was the lone reason. For
the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain. And they said
unto him, We neither receive letters out of Judea concerning
thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any
harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee
what thou thinkest. For as concerning this sect,
we know that everywhere it is spoken against. And when they
had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging,
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading
them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of
the prophets from morning till evening. And some believed the
things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they
agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul
had spoken one word. Well spake the Holy Ghost by
Isaiah, the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this
people and say, Hearing you shall hear and shall not understand,
and seeing you shall see and not perceive. For the heart of
this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing.
And their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known
therefore unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles,
and that they will hear it." And when he had said these words,
the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves. And
Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received
all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all competence,
no man forbidding him." These verses that conclude the
book of Acts Give us a glimpse into the last two years of Paul's
life. As the curtain, so to speak,
is being drawn, we see Paul under house arrest, ending his ministry
exactly as he began it. Verse 31 says, teaching those
things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter
9, the record of this man's conversion after he comes to Ananias, is
baptized. We read in verse 20, and straightway
that is solved. He preached Christ in the synagogues
that he is the Son of God. That's what we read in the last
verse of Acts, isn't it? But all that heard him were amazed
and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on
this name in Jerusalem and came hither for that intent, that
he might bring them bound unto the chief priest? But Saul, but
Saul increased more in strength and confounded the Jews which
dwelt at Jerusalem, proving that this is very Christ. Actually, Paul had been under
arrest for at least three years before we read what we did in
Acts chapter 28. Before arriving as a prisoner
at Rome, he had been arrested in Jerusalem three years before. Just prior to his last visit
to Jerusalem, he met with the elders of the Church of Ephesus.
Turn back just for a moment to Acts chapter 20. And read what
the apostle says here in Acts chapter 20. He's on his way to Jerusalem,
but he meets with the elders of the church at Ephesus first. At verse 18, he speaks these
words. And when they were come to him,
he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into
Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. serving the Lord with all humility
of mind and with many tears. I'm a man just like you, Paul
said, and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the
Jews and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from
house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not
knowing the things that shall befall me there. Say that the
Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions
abide me." They won't roll out the red carpet for Paul. Bonds
and afflictions abide me. Look what he says in verse 24. But none of these things moved
me. Neither count I my life dear unto myself that I might finish
my course with joy." What obsessed Paul, and that's not too strong
a word, what so obsessed the Apostle Paul to always act as
he did? What had this overriding, this
overwhelming influence on him? And it was this. It was this,
the last half of verse 24 in Acts 20, and the ministry which
I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the
grace of God. Period. Nothing else. And in this last chapter of Acts,
we see him doing that very thing. In these last few years of his
life, His own nation, when he goes to Jerusalem, after what
we read in Acts 20, he's arrested. And he was under house, or rather
under arrest for two years under Felix. And then the voyage, while
he was a prisoner on ship, took a year. And now he arrives in
Rome, and the last two years of his life he spends chained
to a Roman soldier. Romans chapter 9, Paul said,
I have a continual heaviness and sorrow in my heart for my
brethren, Israel after the flesh. He said, I could wish myself
accursed for their sake. In chapter 10, he said, oh, I
pray that they might be saved. And these were the people who,
upon learning of Paul's visit to Jerusalem, drug him out of the temple, crying,
away with such a fellow from the earth, it's not fit that
he should even live. That's the people Paul said,
I have such a heaviness and sorrow in my heart for. And they were beating him to
death until the soldiers, Roman soldiers, came down and rescued
Paul. And as they're carrying him away
from that angry mob, and the mob's following, saying, give
us to him, give him to us rather. Paul was bloody, beaten, and
he speaks to the guard and says, allow me, allow me, stop here,
and allow me to speak to the people. Isn't that amazing? That's why I say this, preaching
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was an obsession with
the Apostle Paul. In Acts chapter 23, the Lord
appears to Paul and tells him, Paul, don't be afraid. He's in
jail now. And the Lord says, Paul, don't
be afraid. As you have testified of me in
Jerusalem, so shall you testify and bear witness of me in Rome
also. And that's what we read in Acts
28. Paul arrives at Rome a prisoner. More than that, not a prisoner
of Rome, a prisoner, a bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. from that eventful, never-to-be-forgotten
day, went on the road to Damascus to arrest God's people. Can you
just picture that man? Saul of Tarsus. Oh, he sits high
on his horse. He's got a saddlebag full of
warrants to arrest God's people. And there he goes. There he goes
on to Damascus Road. But while he was doing that,
in the very act of doing that, cursing with every breath the
name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord spoke from heaven and said,
arrest that man. Saul's going to arrest God's
people, but that one, who sits on his throne forever and always,
the king of glory that has his way in the whirlwind, and the
clouds are just the dust of his feet. He said, arrest that man. And Saul was arrested. Arrested
by God's sovereign grace. By that one who said, all that
the Father giveth me shall come to me. And Saul was one of those. He was one of the all. Who would
have ever thought that? And Saul came down. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me. But no, no, no buts in that. Thank God, no buts. All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me. Isn't that discouraging? Oh no. Oh no. It's not discouraging
to hear the great shepherd of the sheep say, other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and there
will be one fold and one shepherd. And then to hear this prisoner
of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus himself say, even so,
Even so, at this present time, it was true in Paul's day, and
it's true today. It'll be true as long as God
allows this world to stand, because it stands only for this reason. There isn't a remnant according
to the election of grace. So discouraging. I've been told that. Oh no, thank
God, no, not at all. And Paul, from that day that
he bowed before King Jesus on the Damascus Road, to this that
we read of in Acts chapter 28, he stayed the course. As he told
the Ephesian elders, none of these things move me that I might
finish my course to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Sometime after this, he writes
to his beloved son Timothy, his son in the faith. And he says,
Timothy, try to come see me before winter. He's in prison under
the Emperor Nero. And he says, when you come, bring
the cloak. He must have been cold. And bring
the parchments. He says, Timothy, I can almost
hear the footsteps of the executioner at the door. And I'm now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand. I fought a good fight,
and I finished my course. I finished my course. I've kept
the faith. Look, if you will, again at verse
31 of Acts 28. We take our text from these words. Those things which concern the
Lord Jesus Christ. The title of my message is The
One Great Concern. The one great concern, and it's
this, those things that concern Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, that's
what the gospel is. It's about Him. It's all about
Him. You notice, as we read here in
Acts 28, Paul, out of Moses, verse 23, out of the prophets,
out of the entire Word of God, Paul preached unto them Jesus
Christ, because it's all about Him, as He told His disciples
after the resurrection. Moses testified of Me. Out of the book of Moses, the
first five books, all the prophets, Major prophets and minor prophets.
The Psalms, that covers it all. It's all about Him. That's what makes the gospel
glorious. It's about the glorious person. The glorious person, that unique
individual. That one who stands alone as
none other. As the God-man. as God with us. The message is about Him. Look,
if you would, in Romans, turn over just a few pages in your
Bibles. The gospel concerns Him. It's not about things. It's about
Him. A person. Take Him out. And what do you have left, Lindsay? Take Christ out of the Bible.
Take him out. And you know what I would have
here? A binding. That's it. Because Christ is
all. Look what Paul says here in Romans
chapter 1, verse 1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which
he had promised to for by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.
And here's the gospel concerning his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh
and declared to be the son of God with power according to the
spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. This was Paul's
one concern. To testify the gospel of the
grace of God. To teach those things concerning
him. And that's all. All of you pastors
and believers. I'm sure I've had people say
to you when you've invited them to come hear the gospel. Well,
what are you going to do there this weekend? going to preach
the gospel?" And they look at you and say, is that all? What are you going to have for
the young people? The gospel. Is that all? Is that all? Is that all? The glorious gospel
of the blessed God? Oh yes, it concerns Him. He's the whole counsel of God. When God the Father Himself spoke
from heaven that day, as our glorious substitute came up out
of the water after being immersed, covered, in the river Jordan
by John the Baptist, the clouds rolled by, a dove descended,
It didn't land on John the Baptist. John said, I'm not worthy to
unloose his sandal. It lighted upon Jesus Christ
and in that same moment, God Almighty spoke from heaven and
said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Eleven
words. Oh, but they say so much, don't
they? They're recorded identically by Matthew, Mark, and John. This is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased. Not with whom, that's true. But
notice he said, in whom I am well pleased. And how often do
we find that expression in Scripture, especially the book of Ephesians,
in Him. In Him. Only those that are in
Him are well-pleasing to God. Only those that are accepted
in the Beloved can be accepted by a holy God. Because I'm in
Him. Listen to what the Scripture
says. Isn't this amazing? Isn't this astounding? In Jesus Christ, I stand before
a holy God without spot, without blemish, without any such thing. John saw the multitude of the
redeemed in glory and were told they were without fault. without fault before the throne
of God. That's the message of the gospel,
the glorious gospel of His blessed Son. And folks say, is that all? Oh, my. And in Him, there's no
condemnation. This is my Son in whom I am well
pleased. My father, my earthly father,
was a man of few words. That's all he needed, a few words. And he spoke once to tell me
to do something, I better do it. He wouldn't let me have a timeout. No timeouts, Dave. I could just imagine going up
to my dad when I've not done something I was supposed to do
or did something I shouldn't have done and say, Dad, how about
let's not do what we usually do. Let's have a little dialogue. No, no. Never happened. Never
happened. The only dialogue we had was
his belt sending a message to my butt. That was the dialogue. Spoke once. And God spoke concerning
his son and said, this is final. This is not up for a vote. This
is not something to be discussed. This is my son and who I am well
pleased, period. And he that has the Son has life. And you that sat here this morning
that don't have the Son, you don't have life. I don't care
what else you claim to have or have experienced. Without the
Son, you don't have life. God spoke these words on the
Mount of Transfiguration, but He added three more. This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him." Remember,
Peter and James and John were there with our Lord, and they
got drowsy and dozed off. And when they woke up, Peter
saw Moses and Elijah talking to the Lord. And they departed,
and Peter said, he didn't know what to say. You ever been in
that boat? You know, just to be caught off guard, just blurt
something out and wish, did I say that? And Peter said, and the
Scriptures tells us not knowing what he said. He said, Lord,
it's good that we're here. Let's make three tabernacles.
One for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. And then
a cloud overshadowed them. And God spoke and said, Peter,
This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye. Him. And Matthew says, when they
lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. Luke says, when the voice was
passed, Jesus was found alone, without Moses, without Elijah,
without a rival, without an equal. As a matter of fact, Moses, Luke
tells us, Moses and Elijah, when they conversed with our Lord,
you know what they talked about. They didn't talk about the receiving
of the law. I mean, that was certainly a
spectacular time and event, but it wasn't mentioned. They didn't
talk about Elijah's encounter with the prophets on Mount Carmel. No, no. It wasn't mentioned. You know what they talked about?
The greatest event that ever took place on this earth. They
talked about His decease that He should accomplish at Jerusalem. That's what they talked about.
They talked about the Lord Jesus Christ entering in one time into
the holy place and there obtaining eternal redemption for all of
His people. No wonder Paul said it's the
glorious gospel. of the blessing of God. Hallelujah. What a Savior. Peter, you don't
need three tabernacles. Not since that word was made
flesh and tabernacled among us. You don't need Moses and Elijah
anymore. Jesus was found alone. I have trodden the winepress
alone, and there was none with me." When the fullness of the
time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made
under the law. When He had by Himself, all by
Himself, what merit, what What preciousness must this person
be, who by himself purged all of our sins, purged them, and
then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and God
the Father said, set down, my son, until I make all your enemies
your footstool. And that's why Paul here And
everywhere else always preached those things concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ. To the Jews, that he called for,
in verse 23. To the Gentiles, Gentiles included,
and those that came to him afterwards, in verse 30. Out of the law of
Moses, Paul preached Christ. Out of the prophets, he preached
Christ. And he preached Him in the morning,
and he preached Him in the evening, we're told. And in between, from
morning to evening, he preached those things concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ. And he didn't stop. He didn't
stop until he was absent from the body and present with the
Lord. Look at verse 29. And when he
had said these words, the Jews departed and had great reasoning
among themselves. The Jews left, scratching their
heads, saying, That man's a fanatic. He only knows one tune. Jesus
Christ. I mean, from the time we got
there in the morning until we left that night, that's all the
man talked about. That's what they say. The Lord
Jesus Christ. The things concerning Him. And
now here come the Gentiles. What are you going to do now,
Paul? Going to have to change your message? Because these are
just pure heathens. You know, they don't have the
law, the sacrifices, the temple. I mean, they are just vagabond
heathens. What will you tell them? Same
thing. Same thing, Don. The things concerning
Christ. Because the only means, the only
means that God Almighty has ordained for the calling out of sinners
is the gospel concerning His Son. Why preach anything else? Why? Because there's no other
name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved
except through that name of the Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder this apostle wrote
in another place, I'll become all things to all men that I
might by all means save some. Paul knew and he never forgot. that he was a debtor to mercy
alone. Again, that day on the Damascus
road, that blind, self-righteous Pharisee, jealous for the tradition
of his father's, Paul knew he would have remained there until
he lifted up his eyes in hell, except for this reason alone,
but God. But God, who was rich in mercy,
for His great love. He loved me, Paul said. Oh, the
wonder of it! Christ loved me, and He gave
Himself for me. Second, this was Paul's one concern,
and this must be our one concern too. It must be, brothers and
sisters. It must be mine. Why wouldn't
it be? Why wouldn't it be? I asked myself
that question. Why wouldn't it be? Why should
I not do whatever God entrusts me to do? Why should I not be
as zealous as the Apostle Paul? Why should I not be as dedicated
as the Apostle Paul? I've experienced the same grace
as Saul of Tarsus. I've been redeemed by the same
precious blood as Saul of Tarsus. The Lord Jesus Christ did the
same for me as He did Saul of Tarsus. He loved me with an everlasting
love. And He was made sin for me just
like He was Saul of Tarsus. The same cost Himself. And I hope I'm sincere in what I'm about to say right
now. God make me sincere. I'd be in hell this morning except
for one reason. But God, but God, it's not been
that long ago. It's certainly not been too long
that I can't remember that that same one that appeared to Saul
of Tarsus spoke from the throne of his everlasting majesty and
said concerning this rebel, arrest that man. How can I get over that? Walking those railroad tracks,
through the mountains of West Virginia, God had gotten me lost. And it seemed like every railroad
tire I laid my foot on shouted back at me, lost, lost, lost. And I thought, yes, I am. For
the first time in my life, Don, I realized I'm lost. And I went to people. Grandmother, I'm lost. What should
I do? She said, get a haircut. I was a hippie. Get a haircut. And just like old Bunyan's pilgrim,
remember? Traveling with that burden on
his back. that weight of sin and guilt
and condemnation, and he couldn't get it all until that day he came up to
the cross. And Bunyan wrote, just as Pilgrim
came up to the cross, The burden fell. The burden fell
off his back. And he said, it began to roll.
And it just kept rolling until it went to the foot of the hill
and tumbled into the sepulcher. And Bunyan, or Pilgrim, said,
I saw it no more. Oh, my soul. And this sinner
here stands before you this morning before the Holy God as righteous
as His Son. Why? Because God made Him to be sin
for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him. If one's true, the other must
be true. Glory to His name. Oh, I quote
hymns a lot because they help me express what I find difficult
to express. When I think that God, His Son
not sparing, sent Him to die, I just can't hardly take it in.
That on the cross, my sins gladly bearing, He bled and died. He bled and died to take away
my sins. I can never preach Christ too
much. It will never be a question,
will it? Never be a question, will I think
I've preached Christ enough? No. I've exhausted my subject. I've had some men tell me that. You know, we've got to find something
else. You have at it, have at it. Don't,
don't, I don't want to hear that. Exhausted the subject of Jesus
Christ? Need something else to preach?
No, the very opposite is true. It's never enough about Him.
We can never preach Him too high, or too glorious, or too gracious. My soul, a frail man like me
whose life's a vapor, I'm going to exhaust the message concerning
He who is the everlasting Father? and the Prince of Peace, the
mighty God whose name is wonderful, Emmanuel, God with us. I'm going
to exhaust that. Nonsense. Nonsense. Oh, I pray that like Paul, the
message concerning his son exhaust me. I tend to think that the apostle
probably kept on preaching those things concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ right up until the time that executioner severed his
head from his body. Paul was still speaking those
things concerning the glorious person of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a subject! What a person! What a Savior! What a salvation! A year ago, it's been a year
already, my how time flies, eight men gathered here with a similar
crowd. And since that time, those pastors
have preached two to three times a week. It's a lot of messages,
a lot of other preachers have as well. This pastor, my pastor,
has traveled thousands of miles. I can't even keep up with him
on paper. My soul. Now what could suffice? What subject could suffice for
all those messages? This weekend, people have traveled
many, many miles. Some of you have traveled hundreds
of miles and arranged your schedules for this time. To hear eight
men preach on the same subject. To hear these eight men preach
on the very same subject, those things concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ. Why? Because there's nothing
that compares to that. I've heard nothing that can compare
to that. What can compare to this? called
His name Jesus. He shall save His people from
their sins. My soul, have you ever heard
anything like that? Anything better than that? And
thirty-three years later, listen, are you listening? Thirty-three
years after those words were spoken, He left His head up on the cross
and said, it's finished! It is finished! Bless His glorious
name. And folks say, is that all you
preach? All that blessed, blessed cry
of victory by our substitute reaches to eternity past and
forward to eternity to come. It's done! The great transaction's
done! Let me read just a couple of
words. This was in a bulletin that Brother
Don made up, oh, I don't know how long ago, but I took this
page out of it. It's an article by Brother Henry
Mahan. And I've highlighted these few
sentences because I think, I don't need to forget this. I need reminded
of this always. Henry wrote, Where can I go this
Lord's day and hear the mercy of God and not the mechanics
of grace? Where can I go and hear the love
of Christ and not the law of God for saints? Where can I go
and hear the righteousness of God fulfilled by Christ and not
the righteousness of the creature to be rewarded by God? Let us say, let us say, brothers
and sisters, by God's grace, this will be the place and I'll
be the preacher. The message will not be flowery,
but full of grace. It will not be with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but with the sovereign mercy of God to
help the sinners in a language all men understand. Let the scholars
and theologians go somewhere else to have their ears tickled. to have their intellects challenged.
Lord, make me thy voice to the people. Last of all, is this
your concern? Paul preached those things concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that your concern? Verse 24
says, And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed
not. And some believed not. That'll happen today. That'll
happen today. Our Lord looked at those religious
Pharisees and said, if you believe not that I am He, you'll die
in your sins. I think of those words often
when I stand to preach to a small crowd, a big crowd. Am I looking into the faces of
people that are going to die in their sins? Hmm? Woe is unto me if I don't preach
the gospel to you and bid you look unto Him, look unto Him
and be ye saved. You say, what do I need to know
to be saved? That you're a sinner and He's
the Savior. That's it. Well, Larry, I've
heard the word election used. Yes, you'll hear that from time
to time here. Don't I need to understand that? No, you do not.
You need to know that you're a sinner and He's the Savior. Look unto Me, He says, and be
ye saved. Brother Scott used to ask, didn't
he, Don? Is there a sinner in the house?
Is there a needy sinner in the house? Listen, listen. He delights to show mercy. He delights to show mercy. Let
not conscience make you leaner, nor of fitness fondly dream.
All the fitness He requireth is to fill your need of Him. I can tell you that so. Because
when this sinner came to Him, fearful, confused, stripped. You know what? You know what? He didn't cast me out. He didn't cast me out. He said,
Larry, thy sins are all forgiven. And there was rejoicing in heaven.
There was rejoicing in heaven that day over this prodigal son brought
home by His matchless grace. Let me close with these words
of the Apostle from 1 Timothy chapter 1. Paul says, Verse 12 of 1 Timothy 1, And
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that
he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, who was
before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I'll tell
you the mercy. Do you hear that? Do you hear
that? Anyone here want mercy? Paul says, look at me, I'm an
example. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly and
unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was
exceeding abundant, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saint, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
chief." Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me
first Jesus Christ might show forth longsuffering for a pattern
to them which should hereafter believe on Him to everlasting
life. God grant you faith to look,
to behold His Son. Now to the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and
ever. Amen. God bless you.

The One Great Concern

What does the Bible say about the importance of preaching the gospel?

How do we know that God's grace is sovereign?

Why is preaching about Jesus Christ so central to the Christian faith?

What does it mean to testify the gospel of the grace of God?

Why is understanding election important in Reformed theology?

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The One Great Concern

What does the Bible say about the importance of preaching the gospel?

How do we know that God's grace is sovereign?

Why is preaching about Jesus Christ so central to the Christian faith?

What does it mean to testify the gospel of the grace of God?

Why is understanding election important in Reformed theology?

Sermon Transcript

About Larry Criss

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