The Lamb And His Company

Q: What does the Bible say about the Lamb of God?

The Bible frequently presents Jesus as the Lamb of God, symbolizing His sacrificial role for humanity's sin. The Bible often refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God, emphasizing His role as the sacrificial offering for sin. In Revelation 14:1, John sees 'a Lamb' standing on Mount Zion, which signifies not only Christ's redemptive work but also His enduring presence in glory. This imagery is consistent throughout Scripture, where the Lamb is identified as the one who was slain even before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Jesus, as the Lamb, embodies God's eternal plan for salvation, fulfilling the righteous demands of God's law through His sacrifice.

Q: How do we know Christ's sacrifice was effective?

Christ's sacrifice is depicted as sufficient and efficacious, as seen in His declaration, 'It is finished.' Christ's sacrifice is affirmed as effective through various passages in Scripture, notably when He proclaims, 'It is finished' (John 19:30). This declaration signifies the completion of His work to satisfy God's justice on behalf of His people. In Revelation 5:6, Christ is described as a Lamb standing as slain, indicating the sufficiency of His sacrifice to atone for sin. The notion that His blood 'will never lose its power' points to the eternal merit of His redemptive work. His accomplishment secures the salvation of all for whom He died, ensuring that none will be lost.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to follow the Lamb?

Following the Lamb signifies obedience and loyalty to Christ, leading to eternal victory. For Christians, following the Lamb of God is paramount as it represents a life of obedience and faithfulness to Christ. Revelation 14:4 emphasizes that those who follow the Lamb are marked by their purity and dedication. Their following is not arbitrary but a response to grace received, wherein they remain committed to Christ against worldly temptations. The journey of faith often involves trials, as some may go through suffering, yet it's the assurance that Christ will lead them through all adversity to eternal glory. This obedience results in ultimate victory, where the faithful are gathered with Christ in His presence eternally.

Q: How does the doctrine of election relate to redemption?

Election is foundational to understanding redemption, as those chosen are redeemed by Christ's blood. The doctrine of election is central to understanding redemption in Scripture. As demonstrated in Revelation, the 144,000 symbolize God's chosen ones, marked for salvation. This teaching emphasizes that God, in His sovereign grace, selects individuals for salvation, independent of their works. Those elected are not simply given a chance but are sealed and redeemed through Christ's atoning sacrifice. Ephesians 1:4-5 elaborates that believers are chosen 'before the foundation of the world' to be His people, underscoring that redemption is both particular and assured for the elect, thus securing both their justification and glorification.

Q: What is the significance of being 'without fault' before God?

'Without fault' describes the believer's standing before God due to Christ's righteousness imputed to them. Being 'without fault' before God, as mentioned in Revelation 14:5, signifies the believer's position in Christ due to the imputed righteousness of the Savior. This state of being faultless highlights the profound impact of Christ's redemptive work, cleansing His people from all sin and guilt. Jude 1:24 echoes this truth, stating that God is able to present His people faultless before His glory, showcasing the transformative power of grace. This assurance of standing without fault is foundational for believers, promising them acceptance before a holy God because of Christ's perfect sacrifice and the washing away of their sins through His blood.

Turn with me tonight to Revelation
chapter 14. Revelation chapter 14. I'd like to read the first five
verses of the chapter. Revelation 14. In chapter 4,
John was caught up. Heard a voice saying, come up
hither. And he's caught up to heaven, to glory. And it says
he beheld a throne in heaven. And there was one, there was
only one, setting upon the throne. And again in verse 1 of chapter
14, he sees that same one. And I looked, and lo, a lamb,
a lamb stood on the mountain Zion, and with him a hundred
forty and four thousand, having his father's name written in
their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven,
as the voice of many waters, as the voice of a great thunder.
And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And
they sung, as it were, a new song before the throne and before
the four beasts and the elders. And no man can learn that song
but the 140 and 4,000, which 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 whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed 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 before
the throne of God." Look with me, if you will, again at verse
1, the opening of the chapter. John writes and says, and I looked,
and lo, a Lamb. a Lamb. He still appears to John
in glory as the Lamb. 26 times in this book alone Christ
is set before us as the Lamb. Indeed, He's referred to as the
Lamb slain in the purpose in the mind of God before the world
began. And certainly John could never
forget that day on the banks of the River Jordan when the
Baptist pointed Him out and said, That's Him. There's the Lamb
of God that taketh away the sin of the world. And here He's set
before us again in that same character, Lo, a Lamb. This exemplifies His everlasting
sameness, His immutable mediator that He is to us. Look in chapter
5, if you will. Here is again that chapter that
speaks of the purposes and will of God demonstrated or set before
us as belonging to him that sits upon the throne with that book
sealed. And the question is asked of
John, who's worthy to open this book? Who's worthy to bring God's
purposes to pass? God has purpose to save a people,
but that involves redemption. God's purpose to save itself
is not salvation. We were chosen unto salvation,
an eternal election. But that's not all. That's not
enough. Chosen unto salvation, but that
involves God's law being satisfied. That involves a ransom. That involves Christ himself
coming. So the question is asked, who's
worthy to do that? Who can pay the ransom? Who can
satisfy divine justice? Who's worthy to open the book?
To bring God's purposes into realization. Look at, if you
will, at verse 6 of chapter 5. Again, John says, and I'll be
held in love. The same words. In the midst
of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the
elders stood a lamb. There he is again, as it had
been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the
seven spirits of God sent forth unto the earth. And he came. Oh, there could be no salvation
if he didn't come. There would be no satisfaction
of God's holy law if He hadn't come. If He hadn't declared to
the Father, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God, we would have
no hope. Oh, but He can. He can. Therefore, the elder says to
John, you can quit crying now. You can quit weeping now. Behold,
the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed. He always does. He doesn't attempt to do something. He does it. He had prevailed
to open the book and loose the seals thereof. So this picture
and this character of Christ as the Lamb exemplifies His everlasting
sameness as our mediator. It also shows the everlasting
efficacy of His sacrifice. He has shed blood on the behalf
of His people. Him being pictured as a lamb
exemplifies that. He still speaks better things
than the sacrifice of Abel. Dear dying lamb, that hymn writer
wrote, and he wrote so well. He wrote so well. When he wrote
these words, dear dying lamb, thy precious blood shall never
lose its power. What Christ did over 2,000 years
ago on Mount Calvary still speaks freshly divine satisfaction to
God's holy law. Dear dying lamb, thy precious
blood will never lose its power. It'll never lose its merit. It'll
never lose its value till all the ransomed church of God, every
one, Every one for whom you shed your precious blood, every one
for whom you were a ransom, till all the ransomed church of God
be saved to sin no more. It'll never lose its power till
that blood shed for the sins of your people are applied to
the hearts of your people and they taste themselves that the
Lord is gracious. Even in eternity. He will be
our God-man mediator. He'll never change. He will never
cease to be Jesus the same yesterday, today, and in eternity, as John
saw here, forever. In Him, and by Him, and through
Him, our eternal acceptance for God, or rather with God, is forever
as well. Notice where He stood, again
verse 1, And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion. You know what that is. You know
what Mount Zion is. That is God's church. Listen
to what the prophet said concerning that, where the Lord is. In Zechariah
chapter 2 verse 5, For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall
of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of
her. Verse 8, for thus saith the Lord
of hosts, after the glory hath he sent me into the nations which
spoil you, for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his
eye. Verse 10, sing and rejoice, O
daughter of Zion, for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst
of thee, saith the Lord. His presence is the church's
glory. Oh, where two or three are met
together, He said, there am I. There am I in the midst of them. His presence is her glory. His
presence is the church's strength. His presence is the church's
security. They abide because of Him. They abide because of His ever-abiding
presence with them. This is what He told Peter. When
Peter confessed that you're the Christ, you're the Son of the
Living God, you're the Messiah, Peter, upon this rock, upon this
rock, what you just spoke, the truth of what you just said,
of who I am, upon myself I will build my church and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. The church, his bride, his
body. The psalmist said, he that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. John sees him first,
the Lamb. First because in all things he
must have the preeminence. But notice what it says next,
the Lamb stood. The Lamb stood on the mountain
Zion. In Hebrews chapter 1, we're told,
when he had by himself by himself, purged our sins, he sat down
at the right hand of the majesty on high. He sat down after redemption
was accomplished. But now we're told he stands. Both are a picture of his success. He shall not fail. He was successful
when he obtained our eternal redemption. He was successful
in putting away our sin, and He's successful now ruling and
overruling all things for His own glory and the salvation of
His people. Listen to what the prophet says
in Isaiah chapter 42. This is God speaking of our Redeemer,
God speaking of His Son, and He says, Behold My servant whom
I uphold, Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put
my spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed
shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He
shall bring forth judgment unto truth. And listen to these words. He shall not fail. He shall not
fail, nor be discouraged till he hath set judgment in the earth,
and the owl shall wait for his law. Therefore when he obtained,
when he did what he came to this world to do, When he lived for
his people, obeying the precept of God's holy law that had to
be obeyed, he did that as our substitute law. But oh, there
was another part of the law that demanded satisfaction, that law
that we had broken, that law that said the soul that sinneth,
it must die. God's justice for his broken
law must be satisfied as well. So he not only keeps the precept
of the law, in his life on the behalf of his people as their
substitute, that he goes to Calvary as well. And there he bears the
penalty, the wrath of God's broken law, again as the substitute
for his people. And after he obtained eternal
redemption for us, after he succeeded, after he brought in everlasting
righteousness, after he purged our sins, After he did it, Joe,
after he accomplished his mission, after he did what he came to
do, he exclaimed as only he could. Only he was able to say these
words. Only he accomplished this blessed
feat. He said, it's finished. And we're
told he sat down. Oh, but now, John says, I beheld
the lower lamb stood on the Mount Zion. Oh yes, both pictures his
success. He succeeded in both. And here
he stands in absolute sovereign majesty. absolute sovereign majesty,
ruling all things for His glory and the eternal salvation of
His people. Every knee, as God proclaimed,
has now bowed to Him, as John pictures this. Every knee has
bowed, and every tongue has confessed that He's the Lord to the glory
of God the Father. In Psalm chapter 2, Peter quoted
this to those that he preached to in Acts chapter 2 on the day
of Pentecost. But here in Psalms 2, these are
God's words to his son. Psalm 2 verse 1, Why do the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the
earth set themselves and the rulers took counsel together
against the Lord and against His anointed saint. Let us break
their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us." What
did God do? How did God react? Oh, they're
not willing to cooperate. What now? What now? He's undisturbed. Didn't change a thing. Look at
verse 4. He that saideth in the heavens
shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision,
visually speaking to them in his wrath, and vex them in his
sore displeasure. Yet, yet, to despite them, to
despite them saying we won't have this man rule over us, yet
have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare
the decree. The Lord has said unto me, Thou
art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall
give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost
parts of the earth for thy possession. That's our Lord. But look now
again back in Revelation 14. John, we read in verse 1, he
said, Lo, I'll be held, and a lamb stood on the Mount Zion. But
he's not alone. He's not alone. John said, and
with him, a hundred forty and four thousand. The title of my
message is, The Lamb and His Company. The Lamb and His Company. He's not alone. You remember
what he prayed that night? as our great high priest, about
to enter into the most holy place to obtain our eternal redemption,
that night in the garden, before he was arrested, he said, Father,
I will, I will that those you gave me, those you entrusted
to my care, those that I became a surety for, those that I vowed
to you in the covenant of everlasting grace that in the fullness of
time I would come and I would do everything necessary Everything
you require, I will fulfill every jot and tittle of your holy law
and I'll go to the cross and I'll bear the penalty due to
them in the fullness of time. He became our surety. for all
of his people, represented by these 140 and 4,000. And that
night, just before he went to do that, he said, Father, I will
also, that those whom you have given me, every one of them,
every one of them, not 144,999. Oh, no, no. Oh, but all of his elect, all
of his bride, all of his church, be with me where I am. I want them where I am. Where
I am, I want them to be, that they may behold my Glory. John said, I saw him first. Oh yes, he's the head. He's the
head. He's the bridegroom. He has the
preeminence. Oh, but bless God, he's not there
alone, is he? With him, with him, all of his
church, all of his elect, those given him, that He became surety
for by the Father before the world was. Those He came to redeem,
those that He called to Himself in time, they're all with Him. Turn back, if you will, to chapter
7 of Revelation. Before these plagues are loosed
upon the earth, the angel is told to seal God's
people, His chosen, His elect. In verse 3 of chapter 7, saying,
Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. And I heard
the number of them which were sealed, and they were sealed
140 and 4,000, of all the tribes of the children of Israel." The
same number John saw on Mount Zion with the Lamb. They were
all sealed. They were all kept by the power
of God. You remember what he said in
John chapter 12? Unless a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and die, it abides alone. But if it fall into the
ground and die, what happens? What did he say? Well, it might
do something. It might accomplish something
for somebody. I mean, if I die, I may offer
some vague sort of redemption that might do somebody some good
if they take advantage of it. The Bible never talks about redemption
in those sort of terms. Man does, that doesn't know any
better, but the Word of God always talks about redemption, always
talks about Christ's work upon the cross as an accomplished
work, something that he actually accomplished. Whatever he intended
to do when he died upon the cross, he did it. And I'll tell you
this, if he intended, Louis, to save the whole world, I expect,
I fully expect every sinner in this world to be saved, if that
was his intention. Then we just read in Isaiah 42,
my servant shall not fail. He shall not fail. He shall not
even be discouraged. Oh, but His intention was not
to save all mankind. His intention was to save His
people from their sins. Joseph, call Him Jesus. The name means Joshua. It means
the salvation of the Lord. Call him that because he's come
into this world to save his people from their sins. His bride. He loved the church, Paul said
in Ephesians 5, and gave himself for it. The good shepherd giveth
his life for his sheep. And if that corn of wheat fall
into the ground and die, We read in John 12, 24, "...it bringeth
forth much fruit, a multitude that no man can number, out of
every tongue and tribe and kindred and people." Oh, the redemption
of Christ accomplished at Calvary is not If, nothing if about it. It was exactly that. It was an
accomplishment. He obtained our eternal redemption. He took our sins away and as
a mighty victor, not a failure, not somebody that was only making
an attempt, but someone, the only one that could accomplish
our salvation, he exclaimed, it is finished. And that's why
John says, he's not alone. He's not alone. With Him I saw
this 144,000, the same number, the same exact ones that were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. I see them with the
Lamb on Mount Zion, whom He did foreknow. He also did predestinate
that Christ should be the firstborn among Many brethren, Paul said
in Romans 8. In Hebrews 2, because the children
are fresh in blood, he likewise took part of the same, that he
might be the firstborn, the firstfruits of many brethren. Father, I and
the children that thou has given me, I've lost none. Now, this imposter men talk about. and claim that he's Jesus, that
can't have his way, that only attempted to do something, this
is not who I preached to you tonight. That's not him. That's not the one John saw. The one John saw stands in solemn,
serene, absolute majesty, ruling this world, having his way in
the whirlwind. When does he have his way? When
does He not have His way would be a better question. He always
has His way. He always accomplishes His purpose. Isaiah 53 we read, Surely He
hath borne our griefs. and carried our sorrows. He was
stricken. He was smitten of God. There's
no question about that. And afflicted. He was bruised
for our iniquities. For the transgression of my people
was he stricken. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise
him, to crush him. He hath put him to grief. Now
what was the reason for all that? What's the purpose of all that?
What's the accomplishment of all that? Did that make anything
certain? Or did that just make something
possible? Well, if you continue to read
that blessed Fifth Evangelist, Isaiah 53, you'll find out that
He accomplished something. He shall see His seed. That is, all for whom He died. They'll be with Him in glory.
The prophet went on to say, He shall justify many. Who are the many? Who are the
many that he justifies? Those he died for. Those he shed
his precious blood for. Those many shall be redeemed. His soul shall be satisfied. He shall see it through the veil
of his soul and be satisfied. Satisfied. What will that take? What will it take to Certainly not seeing anybody
for whom he lived, for whom he shed his blood, suffering in
hell for those same sins. My soul, that would bring the
opposite of satisfaction. Oh no, that could never be. Certainly
not. No, he lost none. John said, and with him. That's heaven. That's heaven. Lord, that's glory. I don't know
a lot about heaven. I don't think it's what a lot
of people say it is, but I know this. I know what the glory of
glory is. I'm sure I know what the heaven
of heaven will be. We'll be with Him. I saw the Lamb standing and with
Him, gathered around Him, basking in the light of His eternal smile
are all His people. all His elect, all those for
whom He shed His precious blood. They're all with Him in glory.
That'll satisfy Him. Nothing less than that will.
He's satisfied, He's content with what He accomplished. Accomplished for us and in us. Now look at how they're described
in verses 4 and 5. those that are with Him, and
you'll see why He's satisfied. Look at what He's done through
the exceeding riches of His grace. First in verse 4 we're told,
these are they which were not defiled with women. Look up, if you will, in the
previous chapter, verse 8 of chapter 13. It says, and all they that dwell
upon the earth shall worship Him, that is the beast, the false
prophet, whose names are not written in the book of life,
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world, the whole world. except for God's elect will follow
him. They'll follow this man-made
free will religion except the elect. For the elect's sake,
we're told, God will shorten those days. These didn't commit
spiritual adultery. Oh no, by the grace of God they
stay true to the Lamb of God. Turn if you will to 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2. I know this is a very familiar
passage of scripture to you. But let's read it again together
because the writer Paul here speaks of the very same thing
that John saw. The whole world going after the
beast. False religion. except those
whose names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life. They'll
not be deceived. They'll be kept by the power
of God. Paul speaks of this same thing
in chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians verse 10. It says, "...with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. And for this cause God shall
send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness." Look around you. Look all around
you. We see that happening every day.
But that's not the case with everybody. There are some exceptions. Why? Why? Paul I bet he had to
quit dictating this epistle when he came to this. He was probably
overcome with joy and adoration. He probably had to pause and
worship God, seeing all this deception. But then he says this,
But, oh blessed but, blessed intervention, blessed interruption
by God's mighty grace, but we are bound to give thanks always
to God for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God, God
didn't leave everybody to be deceived. Oh, no. God had from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto He called you. He chose
you and He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast
and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether
by word or our epistle. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself,
who had loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good
hope through grace. Good hope through grace. The only hope for a guilty sinner
before the holy God is the hope, the good hope, that God's sovereign,
reigning, effectual grace gives the sinner before that holy God. Oh, a good hope grace. These are they before the Lamb
of God. It says they're virgins again
in verse 4 of Revelation 14, virgins. This is what grace has
done. Not attempted to do, but actually
done. All their sins, this is what
this denotes, this is what this is a picture of, this is what
we're reading. All their sin has been removed. I looked at that this afternoon.
I thought, my soul, Joe, what will that be like? No sin. No sin. In glory. In glory. Out of that multitude that no
man can number, the blood of Jesus Christ will so effectually
and so completely wash us from all of our sins. There will be
no trace of sin. Oh, no. The slime of the serpent's
trail will never enter that place. Oh, no sin. Virgins before the
throne of God, all of their sin removed, and all the consequences
of sin likewise removed. Now they appear before God pure
and chaste, with Christ their husband. Before the throne of
God, like a bride adorned, dressed in the righteousness of Christ,
no sin in that celestial city. in that city where the lamb is
the light thereof. You'll never hear a prayer. You'll never hear a cry. Oh,
wretched man that I am. Oh, it's sin. It's this wretched,
fallen nature within me. It's sin that's in me. You'll
never hear that. You know why? Because the very
nature is sin. It's gone forever. Gone forever. Is it any wonder that that multitude,
one and all, cast their crowns before the Lamb and sing, He's
worthy? We've been redeemed by His blood. Turn, if you will, to chapter
19 in Revelation. Again, a picture of His bride
and the result of His cleansing blood. In Revelation 19, verse
7, They sing, let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to
Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come. It's coming, brothers
and sisters. It's coming. And his wife had
made herself ready. How? And to her was granted that
she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the
fine linen is the righteousness of the saints." Turn over to
chapter 21. And I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven as a bride,
prepared, rather, as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out
of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And then secondly, look what
it says. These are they which follow the lamb whether so ever
he goeth. Follow him by grace wherever
he goes. wherever he goes. Wherever he
leads, they follow. And it's true. Often it's through
the flood. Some through the flood, some
through the fire. Oh, but bless God, all through
the blood. It's true. Some through great
sorrow. Some through great sorrow. Oh,
but God gives a song. He giveth songs in the night. Oh, His grace will prove sufficient
that it will bring them all to glory. In chapter 7 again. John
said he saw them. And he was asked, this multitude,
where did they come from, John? And the elders said, they came
out. That verse demonstrates the power
and the efficacy of the grace of God Almighty. That He keeps
all of His people. He brings them through every
trial. Job, why don't you curse God
and die? Why didn't he? Was there something
in Job that's not in me? I mean, did Job have something
that I don't know about? Was he made out of something
different than this sinner? Oh no, the same flesh, same flesh,
same fallen nature, same... proneness to sin. Oh no! Job is a demonstration of the
grace of God. If we stop and marvel at Job,
we miss the whole point of that book. Oh, we marvel at the grace
of God that enabled Job not to do that. Not to take his wife's
advice. Not to curse God and die. And of that whole multitude,
the elders said, these are they, without exception. There are
no casualties in this warfare. The captain of their salvation
proves his might, proves his power, proves his grace, because
he brings them all out on the other side, I've often thought.
What a joy it must have been to Moses when he stood on the
other side of the Red Sea that day and all the children of Israel
had crossed over on dry land. They were all safe. What a joy
it must have been to Moses. And he looked back and saw Pharaoh's
armies and chariots and horses floating in the Red Sea. And
he knew not one had been lost, not one had perished. Oh, what
a joy! It will be. What an honor it
will be to the captain of our salvation when he stands that
day with all of his people in the courts of heaven and he can
say to the Father, I and all the children that you gave me,
they're all here. I didn't lose a one. My soul. What a Savior. What a Savior
that can do that, that can keep us and present us without fault
before the throne of God. He doesn't offer glory, He gives
glory. The psalmist said, He shall give
grace and glory. He'll bring us the glory. Peter
said that night, just before our Lord was betrayed, when He
had spoken of His leaving them for a while, of their hearts
being filled with sorrow, Peter said, Lord, I want to go with
You now. And our Lord said, Peter, you
can't follow me now. but you're going to follow me
afterwards." Brothers and sisters, we'll be
here. Someone said, God's people are
immortal until he's done with them, until his work with them
is done. He said, Peter, you can't follow
me now, but you'll follow me afterwards. Afterwards. Oh, but wait, wait, wait. Didn't
Peter deny him? Doesn't that change things? No,
no, no. Doesn't change one thing, Louie.
Because our Lord Jesus loved Peter with an everlasting love. It never fluctuates. It never
varies. We fluctuate. Our love is up
and down. hot and cold, lukewarm. But our
Lord has loved us with an everlasting love. You can't follow me now,
but you shall follow me afterwards. And then thirdly, it says, of
this multitude the redeemed, they were redeemed from among
men, from among men, not with all men. All men weren't redeemed. But these were chosen out of
the world. These were marked out in eternal
election. And they were bought by that
ransom. They were purchased with the blood of the lamb. He gave the cup to them and said,
pass this among yourselves. This is my blood, which is shed
for everybody. No. No. Nothing special about
that, nothing precious about that, oh no. But he said, this
is my blood which is shed for you. For you. I'm dying especially for you. It has a special meaning. to
you and he'll have what he bought. He'll have what he purchased
because it was a particular redemption for a particular people. He loved his church and gave
himself for it. People tell me, I don't like
what you preach. I much rather like to hear about
a universal redemption. I think it's more a demonstration
of God's love and mercy to tell people that Christ died for everybody. And that God loves everybody. That exalts His love more than
this particular redemption. Not really. Not really, does
it? It does the very opposite. It really doesn't. Because it
makes God's purpose and makes Christ's death useless. Useless! Tell me that God tried to create
the world. that He attempted to say, let
there be light. But don't tell me, don't tell
me that the Son of God went to the cross, endured the wrath
of a holy God, took the place of sinners, went through that
winepress alone, trod the winepress of the wrath of God, and tell
me that was for a maybe? You can have that redemption.
You can have that because it's worthless. Oh no, the death of
Christ will never be proved a miscarriage. He shall see it through the veil
of his soul as we read and be satisfied. It's finished. It's accomplished. He obtained
our eternal redemption. He purged our sins and that's
why The total number of all those he shed his blood for are represented
by the 144,000. Complete. Entire. Whole. Every one of them. And
then in verse 5 we're told, in their mouth was no guile. No guile. What does that mean?
No deceit. No hypocrisy. They're honest
and they're open. They're sincere. They're the
only true worshippers of God. Paul describes a believer in
Philippians 3, where the true circumcision, the true Israel,
the true children of Abraham, who worship God in the Spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. And then last of all, we read
in verse 5, they are without fault. Take this with you. Take this home with you. This
will help you through the week. They are without fault before
the throne of God. without fault before the throne
of God. Look at that multitude. My, look
what His grace has accomplished. Without fault before the throne
of God. Oh, what mercy. What grace. This sinner will
not only be brought by the Lamb, with the Lamb, into the very
presence of God, but in that very presence I'll be without
fault, without fault, before the throne of God. That's right. That's what His blood shall do.
That's what His redemption shall accomplish. will be brought into
the presence of God without a blemish, without a spot, without any such
thing. This is how Jude ended his epistle,
and I'll end this message the same way. Now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only
wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. What a Savior. God bless you.
Thank you for your attention.

The Lamb And His Company

What does the Bible say about the Lamb of God?

How do we know Christ's sacrifice was effective?

Why is it important for Christians to follow the Lamb?

How does the doctrine of election relate to redemption?

What is the significance of being 'without fault' before God?

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Articles

Featured Authors

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Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

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Music

About

Legal

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The Lamb And His Company

What does the Bible say about the Lamb of God?

How do we know Christ's sacrifice was effective?

Why is it important for Christians to follow the Lamb?

How does the doctrine of election relate to redemption?

What is the significance of being 'without fault' before God?

Sermon Transcript

About Larry Criss

Comments

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