Chapter 18. While you're turning there, tonight
I'm going to be preaching from Hebrews 11, verses 5 and 6, where
it's said that Enoch pleased God. That's what we're going
to look at. And next Sunday, we're going
to begin a study in Bible study in the book of Philippians. John chapter 18, let me say this
before I read this passage of Scripture. I have felt all this week that
somebody is willing to hear the gospel for the first time this
morning. Well, that would be a blessing,
wouldn't it? I mean, you might have heard
many times audibly, but I mean you hear. Verse 39, this is Pilate speaking. And he says, But you have a custom
that I should release unto you one at the Passover. Will ye
therefore that I release unto you the king of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying,
Not this man, Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a robber. One morning, a man woke up in
a Roman prison cell. He was in chains, bound And that
day was the day of his execution. And he knew it. He was to be
crucified with two others. His name was Barabbas. His name
means son of the father. Bar always means son of. Abba,
the father. Son of the Father. And I think that there's great
typical significance to that. He is a picture of what a son
of our first father, Adam, is. And he's also a picture of what
a true Son of God is. Barabbas, the Son of the Father. Barabbas was a wicked man. Matthew's
account tells us that he was a notable or a notorious prisoner. John tells us he was a robber.
That's more than a thief. He was one who plundered by violence. He committed violent crime. And you think of what a horrible
thing that is when someone commits a crime of violence against somebody
else. People are left dealing with
that for the rest of their lives. He was a deeply wicked man. He was a murderer. And he was
guilty of insurrection, a standing against authority. Now he wakes
up this morning and he knows it's his day to be crucified. Who knows what was going on in
his mind that day? Was he hardened? Was he feeling
remorse? over his life. He was thinking
about his life that day. You can be sure of that. Was
he afraid of being crucified? Certainly he was. Was he afraid
of death going into the unknown? I'm sure he was. And there he lays, bound, knowing
that this is the day of his crucifixion. He would soon be nailed to a
cross. The execution reserved for the
vilest of criminals. Now try to put yourself in his
place. He knows he will soon be crucified and he has no way
of getting out of this. He's bound powerless to deliver
himself. Now would you turn back to Matthew
chapter 27. I want us to go to another scene. Matthew 27, verse 11, And Jesus stood before the governor,
and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews?
And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest, or you said it, And when
he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest
thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he
answered him never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.
Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the
people a prisoner whom they would And they had then a notable or
a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered
together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto
you, Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ? For he knew
that for envy they had delivered him. You see, Pilate was a savvy
politician. He knew exactly what was going
on. Verse 19, when he was set down
on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou
nothing to do with that just man? For I have suffered many
things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders
persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and
destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said
unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
They said, Barabbas, this one who was a murderer, this one
who was a rebel against all authority, this one who committed crimes
of violence, they were asking for him to be put back out in
society. The chief priest, verse 20, and
elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas
and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said
unto them, Whither of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What
shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say
unto him, Let him be crucified. The governor said, Why, what
evil hath he done? But they cried out the more,
saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could
prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water
and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent
of the blood of this just person. See ye to it. Then answered all
the people and said, His blood be upon us and our children."
Boy, that's a good prayer, isn't it? They were saying, let us be held
responsible, but Lord, may His blood be upon me and my children. Verse 26, Then released Hebarabbas
unto them, And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be
crucified. Now, let's go back to that cold,
dark, Roman prison cell. Barabbas hears the guards coming
and unlocking his cell. Fear and dread take hold upon
him. He's getting ready to be nailed
to a cross. Can you imagine how you would
feel if you knew that was what was coming up upon you? They
open up the jail cell and they say to him, you've been set free. Go your way. You have been free. Now here we have an instance. The guilty is set free. And the innocent is condemned. Now I have entitled this message,
A Salvation Story. And the Lord mercifully gives
us this real event that took place to teach us the gospel. Now, if you and I can hear what's
being said, we're going to understand the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I have four points to this
message regarding how God saves sinners. The first point is sovereignty. The second point is sin. The third point is substitution. And the fourth point is salvation. We see all of these things in
this story. Now would you turn to Luke's
account in Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23, verse 16. Pilate speaking of the Lord.
He says, I will therefore chastise him and release him for of necessity. Luke 23 verse 17, for of necessity
he must release one unto them at the feast. Now this was a
custom in the days of the Passover. It was not prescribed in the
law of Moses. It was not necessary in that
sense. God never said in his word, one must be released at
the feast of the Passover. But it was necessary because
God willed for this to take place. You see, everything God wills
becomes absolutely necessary. His will is never thwarted. When
He wills something, it must take place. You see, God is sovereign.
You know what that means? That means He has complete control. He has complete control of you.
He's got a will. He's got the power to make sure
His will comes to place and He always does make sure. His will
comes to place. He doeth according to His will
in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth,
and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What doest thou? Now, this happens of necessity
because God willed it to happen, and God's will being done is
a necessity. This is what we call God's sovereignty.
Now, God is sovereign. That means He has complete control.
He's sovereign in creation. He willed this creation into
existence, and that's why it is. He's sovereign in providence. That means everything that happens
in time, he's in control of. He's the first cause behind everything.
You know, I think this is interesting. A lot of folks will say, yeah,
I believe God's sovereign in creation. They'll even say, I believe he's
sovereign in providence. There must be a meaning for this.
There must be a purpose behind this. But he's also sovereign
in salvation. He controls who will be saved.
You're in His hand. I'm in His hand. He can save
or He can damn as He is pleased. And whatever He does is right
and nobody has the right to argue against it. God is absolutely
sovereign and everything that took place, took place that His
will might be done. Now this is why this is a necessity
that one must be released at the Passover. Turn with me for
a moment to John chapter 19. Back to I want you to look at the language
here. Look at the last phrase of verse
24, or the last sentence. These things therefore the soldiers
did. These things, this is why they
did it. Well, why did they do what they
did? Verse 23, then the soldiers, when they crucified Jesus, took
his garments and made four parts to every soldier a part, and
also his coat. Now, the coat was without seam,
woven from the top throughout. They said, therefore, among themselves,
let us not rent it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be. Now, did they know that the Scripture
said they would do this? Did they look up Psalm 22 and
say, well, we need to cast lots because Psalm 22 says that's
what we're going to do? No! They did what they wanted
to do. They had no idea that the Scripture
said they would do this. They were following what they
wanted to do. But let's go on reading. They
said, therefore, among themselves, let us not rend it, but cast
lots for it, whose it should be, that the Scripture might
be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them,
and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore
the soldiers did. Everything was orchestrated by
God. He was in control of every event. Look down in verse 28.
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished
that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Everything He
did, He did that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Turn over
to Acts chapter 2. Now this is Peter's preaching on the day
of Pentecost. And he says to the murderers, the people who
actually put to death the Lord Jesus Christ, the people that
participated in this thing. Look what he says. In verse 22,
you men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also
know, Him being delivered by the determinant counsel and foreknowledge
of God, you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain. Look in Acts chapter 4. This
is the church. The early church, look what they
had to say. Look in verse 26. The kings of the earth stood
up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against His Christ for the truth against the holy child Jesus
whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with
the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before
to be done. Now, everything that took place,
took place because His determinate counsel and foreknowledge determined
for it to be done. Everything. Oh, the first thing
I see in He must of necessity be delivered is the sovereignty
of our God, the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is
in control of this situation. Now, this custom was made for
this one purpose. On the Passover, they would release
a prisoner to teach us and to give us an illustration of the
gospel. You'll understand the cross if you understand what's
going on right now. Here's my second point. My first
point was sovereignty. Here's my second point. Sin. Sin. Barabbas was a sinful man. Obviously, a plunder by violence. What a horrible thing that is.
Violent crime. Look at the... If you've ever
had a violent crime committed against you, look what it's done
to you. If you've known someone close that's had a violent crime
committed, look what it's done. What a horrible thing. He was
a murderer. He was a thief. He was a rebel
who stood against authority, and he typifies what all men
are by nature. Rebels by choice, by practice,
and by nature. And Barabbas was bound, the scripture
points out. He was powerless to get himself
out of this condition, powerless to deliver himself. Brabus is
a sinful man, but I believe the chief priest's desire for Brabus
give us more of a true look at the nature of sin. Now would
you turn with me to Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23. Beginning in verse 15. Now look
what Pilate says. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent
you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I
will therefore chastise him and release him, for of necessity
he must release one unto them in the feast.' And they cried
out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto
us Barabbas, who for a certain sedition made in the city, and
for murder was cast into prison. Pilate, therefore, willing to
release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying,
Crucify him! Crucify him! And he said unto
them the third time, Why? What evil hath he done? I found
no cause of death in him. I therefore chastise him, and
let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that
he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of
the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence, that
it should be as they required. And he released unto them him
that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they
had desired. But he delivered Jesus to their
will." Here's man's will. Here's man's
desire. And you know what you desire.
Listen to me real carefully. What you desire is what you really
are. What you desire is what you really
are. Everything else is a cover-up.
What you desire is what you really are. Now, these men desired the
death of Christ. The crucifixion of Christ. How
they hated Christ. And Mark's account tells us that
Pilate gave in to their will in order to content, to satisfy
the people. The people could not be satisfied
unless they got rid of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now here is the
total and complete depravity of all men by nature. This is a description of me and
this is a description of you. And this is what God says. Every
one of us are guilty of this. If God left us to our will, we would murder His Son. Do you believe that about yourself? Now, if you don't believe this
about yourself, it's because you don't believe the testimony
of God's Word. He delivered Jesus to their will. You see, free will is a lie. We have an evil will. And that's
why it's so bad. Born with an evil will. A will
chained to sin. A will that cannot do right. Somebody says, well, how can
God hold you responsible if that's your nature to be that way? Huh.
If somebody tells me, I want to kill Aubrey. It's my nature.
I can't help it. I'm not going to say, oh, well,
we'll let it go then. No. Put him in prison and throw
away the key. Throw it away. We have an evil
will. And that is our sin. That is
our crime. Our Lord said, you will not come
to me that you might have life. Now, these people preferred a
robber over the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's what God holds every
one of us guilty of. Now my third point is substitution. And if you would understand the
gospel, ask God to give you hearing ears right now. I'm going by
the grace of God to preach the gospel. Now God is sovereign. Men are sin. Substitution. Now here's what
took place. The guilty was set free. And the innocent was condemned. What a horrible thing when the
guilty are set free. I've been following in the newspapers
recently where that man who was set free, he was guilty of horrible
crimes. He was a rapist. And he was set
free And there was a little 11-year-old girl. You all remember this story
in the paper? It's been just in the last few weeks. There
was an 11-year-old girl whom he had captured and kept imprisoned
for 18 years and they finally found her when she was 29 years
old. Now here's an example of the
guilty being set free and the horrible things that result of
that. What would you think of a judge who just let the guilty
go free? Why, he couldn't be a judge,
could he? This is a horrible thing when the guilty go free. What if somebody murdered your
child and was set free by our judicial system? Back out in
society. Oh, it'd be horrible. What a horrible thing when the
guilty go free. And what a horrible thing when
the innocent is condemned. What do you think a man feels?
I don't know how many times this has happened in history, but
it's happened plenty. Can you imagine how a man who
didn't commit a crime, yet he's held responsible and guilty. It's wrong, but he's held guilty.
How do you reckon he feels when they either put the noose around
his neck, or they strap him to an electric chair, or they put
the lethal injection in his veins, and he's knowing, I didn't do
it, and this is happening to me. What a horrible thing when
the innocent are accused. Now the only way that this guilty
man, Barabbas, a wicked man, an evil man, the only way he
could be released is if the innocent was condemned. And that's what happened that
day. Barabbas got what was due to Christ, and Christ got what
was due to Barabbas. But like all illustrations, this
does not give us a complete picture. What if you committed a crime
and were sentenced to die? And I love you so much, I said,
I'll take your place. That'd be nice of me, wouldn't
it? But would justice be served? No. As a matter of fact, it would
be a crime. The one who must be punished
is the one who is guilty of the crime. It's an abomination to
God for someone to condemn the just or to justify The criminal. That's an abomination to God.
I love my daughter. And if she committed a crime
worthy of death, I have no doubt that I would be perfectly willing
to take her place. And if I could do it, I would.
But would justice be served? No! The only way justice could
be served is if the one who's guilty of the crime is punished. That's the only way justice can
be served. Now, here is the gospel. God is just. He would never punish the innocent. Never. Under no circumstance
will He ever punish the innocent. God is just. He would never clear
someone who's guilty of the crime. He said, I will by no means clear
the guilty. Now did you hear that? I will
by no means clear the guilty. God is just. He's not going to
let, He's not going to punish the innocent. And He's not going
to let the guilty go free. God is just and you know that
so. God is absolutely just. He's no respecter of persons.
Absolute justice. Judgment and justice are the
habitations of His throne. That's who God is. Now how can God be just and yet
justify the ungodly? Would you turn with me to Romans
chapter 3 verse 19. Now we know that what things soever the law
saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth
may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Now, here's where we begin. Our
state before God. I'm not going to try to prove
God's existence. It's a self-evident fact. But here's what I'm talking
about. Our state before God. What is
it? Guilty. Guilty as charged. That every mouth may be stopped.
No excuses. No extenuating circumstances.
But guilty before God. Verse 20. Is there anything we
can do about this? No. Therefore, by the deeds of
the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for
by the law is the knowledge of sin. That's all God's law does,
is it exposes sin. It exposes what we are. Nothing
we can do about this. Does that mean there's no hope?
No. Look in verse 21, but now. The righteousness of God without
the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
This is what the Old Testament Scriptures taught. Even the righteousness
of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe. For there is no difference for
all who sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified
freely. by His grace, through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation."
What does that word mean? Propitiation. That means God
has made a way to remove the sin, therefore remove His reason
for anger. That's what that propitiation
is. It's an appeasement. My sin was placed upon Christ. His righteousness is placed upon
me, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in His blood, to declare His mercy for the remission of sins
that are passed, to declare His Grace for the remission of sins
in the past? No! To declare His righteousness. His absolute justice in the forgiveness
of sins. The Scripture says He is faithful
and just to forgive us of our sins. And to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. You see, the Gospel declares
the righteousness of God. To declare, I say, verse 26,
at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then?
It's excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay, but
by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a
man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. My sin. became his, so that he was guilty. The scripture says, the Lord
hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all, who by his own self
bear our sins in his own body on the tree. And listen real
carefully. What I'm talking about is the
gospel. This is so profoundly mysterious
that it cannot be explained. And if you try to explain it,
you darken counsel with words without knowledge. This can only
be declared and believed. Isn't that so? God punished him because he was
guilty. You see, God's not going to punish
the innocent. It's not going to happen. My
sin became His so that He Himself was guilty of that sin and God
gave Him what He deserved. And just as truly as my sin became
His, so that He died, His perfect righteousness, His obedience,
His law-keeping becomes mine, so that when God saves me, it's
because I deserve it. I deserve His salvation. I've
kept the law. I myself, I've done it. His law-keeping
becomes mine. Substitution. Now here's the last point. Salvation. Sovereignty. God is in control
of this. Sin. I see what I am in Barabbas
and the people's desire for him. Substitution. Barabbas is set
free. because Christ died in his place. And salvation, how clearly I
see this, the one reason for my release is Christ taking my
place. Now, throughout the gospel accounts,
this is the word that is used to describe what happened to
Barabbas. He was released. Can you imagine
how he felt? Because I think he was down in
a dark dungeon cell and he didn't hear all the stuff that was going
on outside. He didn't know about this. And here the prisoners,
the prison keepers come and they say, you're released. You're
released. You're set free. The things that
were holding you here are gone. You're now set free. Now, this word, release, describes
God's salvation. And let me give you the various
words in the Bible that are used to translate it. This same word
is translated loose. You're loose. You're set loose.
It's described or it's translated dismiss. Case dismissed. You've been set free. It's translated,
depart. It's translated, forgive. It's translated, go, go, go on,
go on. It's translated, liberty. It's translated, send away. It's
translated, put away. Now in this story of Barabbas,
I see the absolute justice of God. You know what else I see? I see the love of God for sinners. If there's anybody in this room
That is a sinner. A real bonafide sinner that has
no better than Barabbas. And you see that. I can tell
you this. Christ died for you. Christ died
for every sinner. Now, if you're not a sinner,
I can't say that Christ died for you. I can't give you that assurance.
But if you're a real sinner, as bad as Barabbas, I can say
to you, Christ died for you. I see the love of God for sinners. I see God's glory. What glory God gives himself. And I see what captivates my heart. Were the whole realm of nature
mine, that were a present far too small, love so amazing, so
divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Now, we're not told what
happens to Brabus after this. We're not told. But in my heart,
I believe that somebody said, you're released because Christ
took your place. And he heard the gospel and believed. And I believe that
He's in that great choir right now singing even now, worthy
is the Lamb that was slain. Now this gives hope to the very
chief of sinners. Thank God for this salvation
story. Let's pray.